Speaking Of Colfax...

I was driving down Colfax Avenue the other evening and noticed that the scaffolding was coming down from around the state capitol dome after several years of restoration work (see photograph above).  The results are impressive.  The gold dome is looking much brighter these days. On the other hand, after the scaffolding came down from Union Station, it looked the same. EXACTLY the same.  Talk about a ripoff.  Hopefully the inside looks different, or it might be time to call one of those ambulance chasing lawyers that advertise on late night television all the time.  Is Norton Frickey still around?

Saving Historic Relics - And I Don't Mean Me

In referring to the saving of historic relics, I am talking about all the neon signs on Colfax Avenue here in Denver.  Many of them are in a severe state of disrepair.  The Big Bunny Motel's neon sign doesn't even light up anymore.  The Big Bunny, by the way, was the onetime home of actress Sue Lyons of Lolita fame. Colorado Preservation Inc. has placed these signs on it's 2014 list of endangered places.  If you want to contribute to their upkeep, just send me the cash and I will make sure places like the Satire Lounge (in the photograph above) wind up getting it, one way or the other.

TMI (Too Much Information) From The Denver Zoo

I admire the Denver Zoo's attempt to educate the public about the various animals it has on display, but sometimes I think they tell us a little too much, with Exhibit A being the "Piles of Poop" plaque next to the hyena compound.  And while we are on the subject, it looks to me like hyenas are simply big, friendly dogs. They appear to be far better behaved than my sister Susan and brother-in-law George's two dogs.  The hyenas are certainly far quieter, anyway.  Maybe Susan and George could work out some sort of trade with the zoo.  Be sure to check with your homeowner's association first, guys!

Revisiting The Denver Zoo's Lion Cub

I dropped by the Denver Zoo Sunday afternoon to take a few animal portraits.  As usual, the lion cub was more than happy to pose for the camera.  I like an animal that looks you right in the eye when you take their photograph. Those are the ones that make the best house pets.  I imagine that's why that guy who was in the news a few months ago kept a 200 pound Bengal tiger and a 5 foot alligator in his Manhattan apartment.  It is estimated by experts that 10,000 to 15,000 tigers are kept in captivity as pets, as opposed to just 5,000 who are left in the wild.  I, for one, am convinced what great pets these wild animals can be.  I assume, of course, that they come already housebroken.    

One Senior For Monument Men - A Movie Review

On my friend Stuart's recommendation, I went to see Monument Men at the AMC Theater in the Cherry Creek Mall here in Denver.  It was a pretty good movie - not an Academy Award winner or anything, but very entertaining.  In fact, it was the first World War II movie I have seen in decades.  The most striking thing about it for me was finally recognizing what other people have been me for years. George Clooney was wearing a mustache in this movie, and because of that I now realize that if I ever decided to wear a toupee, people would never be able to tell us apart.  As they say, it's like we were separated at birth.

Off To See The Wizard

I finished work around 3:00 in the afternoon a few days ago, and it was such a nice day that I decided to walk downtown and take the Light Rail home instead of the bus.  I made my way down trendy 17th street, passing dozens of ultra hip bars, bistros, and coffee shops.  They all seemed to be doing a box office business - it is just amazing how many people (mostly in their 20s) have the afternoon off these days. However, when I got to the 16th Street Mall, Denver's main drag, I noticed a very disturbing thing - we seem to have a big wizard problem downtown.  They are everywhere, walking around in their brightly colored robes and pointed hats, long white beards, carrying their staffs, tarot cards at the ready in case you want your fortune told for a small fee. Can nothing be done about this?  I myself blame those damn Harry Potter books.  How many wizards did you ever see walking around town before those books started coming out?  And for God's sake, don't give them money - it only encourages them.

Remembering My Mother And Her Family

For most of the time I was growing up, my father's parents, as well as his brother and his brother's family, lived in California.  Therefore, I spent much more time with my mother's family.  And although our side of the Spillard family is gone now, I still have many fond memories of them.  Assuming my mother was around 8 years old when it was taken, the top photograph is from around 1924.  My Grandmother and Grandfather Spillard are in the back, while in the front (from left to right) are my mother, my Uncle Jack, and my Uncle Bill.  The bottom photograph was taken in November of 1968, on the occasion of my grandparent's 60th (I think) wedding anniversary party at our house in Country Club Hills, Illinois.  In the back row - once again - are my grandparents, William and Louise Spillard, and in the front row, on the couch, are my Uncle Jack, my mother Mary, and my Uncle Bill, all of them a little older and wiser than in the first photograph. The scary thing is that my mother was a mere 52 years old in this photo, my Uncle Bill was 59 (two years younger than I am now), and my Uncle Jack was even younger than that.  Also, that reminds me!  After reading a recent Blog post, my friend Stuart wants me to make sure everyone knows that I am actually two years older than he is, which means that while his first car may have been a Ford Model A, mine was the classic Model T.