Let's Go to Bed

Jake enjoying the Westin Heavenly Dog Bed in front of the fireplace.

To All New Arrivals

Beautiful, brand new resort right on the river. Check-in was a breeze and everyone was so welcoming. I had booked a one-bedroom suite and was really impressed. Spectacular mountain views. Massive living room area. Full kitchen. Flat screen tv's and fireplace. Jake headed straight for the Heavenly Bath. OK, so maybe the tile floor was just a tiny bit larger than the one he has at home. I ordered room service for us and turned on the Nuggets game.

All the Roadrunning

Jake loves the outdoors so I thought it would be fun to head up to the mountains for the weekend. Starwood Hotels has a great program called “Love That Dog”. Pet-friendly policies that include beds and bowls in your room. I booked a room at the Westin Riverfront Resort in Avon, Colorado and we got on the road. Have you ever packed a suitcase for a dog before? Leash…check…dog food…check…medicine…check…squeaky stuffed squirrel…check. A couple hours later, we were at the hotel. Amazing place. There will be lots of photos this weekend.

Doctor Doctor

We went to see Jake’s primary care vet today. Dr. Hedlin is fantastic and he has always loved coming here. He needed x-rays before we could consider any additional steps. The good news is that it looks like the cancer has not spread internally. However, the bump on his leg is still growing rapidly and will soon cause other problems. We meet with his oncologist on Thursday to see if radiation is an option to slow it down. As long as we’re waiting, let’s do something constructive. Time for a road trip...

Denver Parks #15

This is one you probably already know about. Great football field here. Always busy.

Lunch Break

Ah, much better. The Tokyo Joe’s on Grant Street. Paul and Jake waited outside while I checked with their staff on their pet policy. “Of course your dog is welcome on the patio! Can I bring him a bowl of water?” According to their website: “Colorado Grown. Colorado Owned.” Right on. We shoulda come here first. Wonderful, healthy food. Smart attitude towards hiring the right people. And love the commitment to cycling.

Lunch Break

Jake, Paul and I headed into the Capitol Hill area for a late lunch. First stop…oops…well, I guess we’re not welcome here…let’s try next door…

Denver Parks #14

Technically we’ve already been here (for the Furry Scurry). But that was before I took my first photo at a park sign. Now, the completionist in me wants the whole set. Paul took him back there last weekend and snapped this one for me.

Coat of Many Colors

I worked for the Denver Nuggets/Colorado Avalanche from 1986 to 1996. Made some really lasting friendships there. Absolutely LOVE the fact that the community is finally on the Nuggets bandwagon. Where have you guys been??? Jake’s wearing the jersey of my all-time favorite NBA player, Walter Davis. That ain’t no replica or “authentic” jersey. It was really his. And no, it’s not for sale, even though people are suddenly kookoo for the old school stuff. You could not give that Crayola merchandise away back in the day. Did you know Walt’s nickname was “The Greyhound”? Um, and oh yeah…BEAT L.A.!

Soak Up the Sun

One more Red Rocks pic and story. I worked the Sheryl Crow concert that summer. Shortly before the show started, I was walking around the private outdoor area behind the stage, and Sheryl was playing fetch with her dog. Just the two of them…no roadies, no managers, no production crew. I thought the idea of taking your dog on tour and having them ride on the bus to your next gig was so perfect.

Red Dirt Girl

Worked at Fey Concerts for a bit. Spent many nights here. Best...Summer...Job...Ever. I saw so many great live acts during that period, at so many venues. Fiddler’s Green, Odgen Theatre, Bluebird Theatre, Macky Auditorium, Paramount Theatre and so on. However, nothing beats Red Rocks for live music. I still go to a few shows here every summer. My favorite show last year was Emmylou Harris. Jake is sitting in the exact same seat I had at that show. Yep, I’m one of those obsessive types that saves every ticket stub. Emmylou’s cover versions are always better than the originals but I’m partial to her own material. This is at the top of my list. She played it at that show. Although I must admit…I’m a sucker for any song that mentions a dog in the first line.

Me and my best friend Lillian and her blue tick hound dog Gideon,
Sittin on the front porch cooling in the shade
Singin every song the radio played
Waitin for the Alabama sun to go down
Two red dirt girls in a red dirt town
Me and Lillian
Just across the line and a little southeast of Meridian.

“Red Dirt Girl” by Emmylou Harris

Lunch Break

Red Rocks was definitely on Jake’s bucket list. You already know it’s the best outdoor concert venue in the world, right? Unfortunately, you can’t bring your dog to a show but you can go up there during the day. Our first stop was the Ship Rock Grille for lunch. Knockout views on the patio. Fantastic, friendly staff. They brought Jake some water the second we sat down. We ordered the Bison Sliders…2 for me and 1 for him. Jake’s vet just happened to call and check in while we were there. I told her we were up here enjoying life (and a beer). Next: the photo shoot. More pics inside the bowl coming up…

Denver Parks #13

Good smells at this one.

Blue Monday

Ah, the Blue Bear at the Colorado Convention Center. Here’s a piece of public artwork that everyone raves about. It’s “I See What You Mean” by Lawrence Argent. We stopped here in the morning when people were rushing to their jobs downtown. Some in suits. Some in sensible white tennis shoes that they change out of when they hit the office. They always smile when they see Jake. Nobody expects to see a dog on a workday. I love the scale of this photo. This tiny little white shape in front of a 40-foot blue wall.

Denver Parks #12

Right off Quebec Street. Jake has the routine nailed down. Sees a green sign…hits the mark…waits for his glamour shot…then off to explore the rest of the park. What a pro.