There are certain faux-pas in the workplace that can often lead to sudden termination. inappropriate relations with the CEO’s daughter generally ends in a pink slip, turning in an expense receipt from Shotgun Willie’s is often frowned upon, and losing back-to-back games to the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns is another tragic mistake that will most likely lead to another short employment. Vance Joseph’s tenure as head coach of the Denver Broncos looks to be over. The Broncos hadn’t lost to Cleveland since 1990, but after losing to the Browns 17-16, at Mile High, Vance Joseph... Read More

As much as I love Unforgiven, In the Line of Fire, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, and Dirty Harry, I think my favorite Clint Eastwood film is Escape from Alcatraz. As bank robber Frank Morris, you can see him plotting a way off the famed prison from the very first scenes of the film. Eastwood’s Morris is taciturn, intelligent, and does not suffer fools gladly.* Clint Eastwood casts a long shadow. He’s been in the entertainment industry since 1955, and he has 72 acting credits and 40 directorial credits. At age 88, he keeps at it, releasing a film or two every few years. He’s made some... Read More

While proper knowledge on which knives to buy is essential as there are so many choices in today’s society, knowledge of the food you are making whether it is at home or in the restaurant is easily of the utmost importance. A good portion of the list provided below is based on books I use at home and at work, and I have included a few suggestions by Chef Dylan Montanio and Jeremiah Gray; to make the list easier to follow I have broken it up into the following categories: Essential References- 4 books Alternative Cuisines- 2 books For The Advanced Cook- 3 books Others Worth Noting- 7 books The... Read More

People often struggle to find ways to preserve health and happiness when they live in stress-inducing urban environments. Recent research suggests parks have a unique capacity to enhance physical health and foster a sense of community for city dwellers. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, used information from the Gallup-Healthways Well-being Index, the U.S. Census Bureau, and a variety of other sources and combined this analysis with city-level data on park quantity, quality and accessibility... Read More

Christmas is right around the corner and if you haven’t bought a tree yet I would like to offer up a cheaper and much more eco-friendly alternative. Now, this isn’t to detract from any other major religious holiday but if you celebrate Christmas and you don’t have a tree yet then this article is for you.   What if I told you that you could help mitigate the risk of forest fires here in Colorado and get a Christmas tree for anywhere from $5 – $20? Now, you will have to head out into the National forest of Colorado and cut it yourself, but you can pick just about any tree you find.... Read More

Of the many stigmatized issues that young people face, a significant one is the use and abuse of substances; which includes alcohol and other recreational drugs. As a full-time college student myself, I see how these issues plague my peers. I also see how these problems are not properly addressed in a university setting. As I watch my friends consistently struggle with the abuse of substances, I find myself becoming more and more frustrated. Many of my fellow students, a significant number of whom are not even twenty-one yet, have become dependent on alcohol. Nevertheless, we pretend as though... Read More

Humans are social beings. There are hundreds of scientific studies that prove this to be true.  I believe that that our desire for social acceptance along with a desire to be loved, are the core intrinsic motivators for most of our behavior.  I love socializing which is one of the reasons I enjoy the holiday season so much.  At a holiday party this weekend I met a woman who told me about a study that was done at the University of Kansas to determine how long it takes for friendships to develop. The article states: “In a new report published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,... Read More

Just imagine it. You step up to the corner of the skyscraper. You look down through the plastic lenses of your mask — and down is a long way down. But who cares? It’s a beautiful spring day, the sun is out, and you’re in New York City. So you step off into space, gravity catches you, and you’re cannonballing toward the ground. Lazily, you stretch your right arm out, aim, and double-tap your web shooters. The webline streams out and adheres to a wall. The line goes taut, but you’re holding on as you swing in a tight parabola. Then you let go, pull a pretty slick backflip, and momentum... Read More

Denver is one of the most concentrated areas of the country for telecommuting.  Pop into a neighborhood café or brewery on any given day and the evidence is clear…we are a culture of remote workers looking for virtual offices.  A few months ago I started working from home, and it’s not my first swing at it.  There are WONDERFUL things about working from home, and there are tragic consequences.  Read on for the lowdown! The Good! The Commute: It’s no secret that hectic commutes result in stress-related health issues, effected work performance, and a negative impact on personal relationships. ... Read More

Notes: This is a continued topic from my article last week “Chef Knives: What Do The Professionals Use?” So, if you have any questions about the content or persons mentioned, please refer to my previous article. Thank you! So, now that we know what some of our beloved local professionals use in their kitchens, you have enough knowledge to go out and find your own knives, right? Well, yes, but there are other factors to consider, like the pros and cons of a specific metal over another. While it is a given to go and buy a really nice stainless steel Chef knife, there are also carbon Chef knives... Read More

Sugar is both a delightful treat and the bane of our existence because, while it is delicious, it also seems to be addictive. Scientific evidence is mounting to suggest that too much added sugar in our diets could lead to true addiction. Sugar is linked to addiction because when we eat it, dopamine and opioids are released into the bloodstream. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that creates a reward associated with addictive behavior. Once dopamine is released into the system, it gives us a pleasurable “high.” Why do we crave sugar? The main natural source of sugar is fruit. Thousands of years... Read More

With the season of giving well upon us and that major holiday only weeks away, I thought it would be a good idea to create an outdoor holiday gift guide for that adventurer on your list. It can be hard to shop for your outdoor inclined someone on your list, especially if you are more the indoor type.  Hopefully, the following guide can help you navigate the process. We will cover everything from small inexpensive stocking stuffers to big-ticket items. GSI Outdoors Soft Sided Wine Carafe – 750ml This thing holds an entire bottle of wine and is practically indestructible.  I have owned one... Read More

What better gift than a gift of wellness? What better reason to treat yourself to a gift than simply because you deserve it? There’s no need to wait for your birthday or the holidays to roll around, especially when the reward is good for your well-being — good for your mind, your body, and your soul. We all deserve to treat ourselves now and again, and the fact that we are doing it for the sake of own health minimizes the guilt and maximizes the benefits. The following are just a few suggestions for wellness items to add to your personal wishlist. Your mind Of course, you want to take care... Read More

I spent the better part of this evening researching how to prevent an outdoor hose from freezing in extreme conditions with the intention of making it safely through my first winter as a full-time Airstreamer. This topic was quickly followed up by the Google searches “what is the best space heater for a travel trailer” and “how to skirt my Airstream.” Three hours into the interwebs and $427 later, I have gained an inkling of confidence that I might be able to make it out alive. Hear me when I say that “might” is the key word in that sentence. Dramatic? Maybe. But, with each place I... Read More

The Colorado football team may have disappointed with their late season collapse, but that doesn’t have to mean the absence of a Bol game.  A game that features University of Oregon’s Freshman sensation, Bol Bol that is.  While the basketball game doesn’t take place until February 2nd, the hype surrounding Bol is turning into must-see-tv. Listed at 7’3, Bol is averaging 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks a game in what most assume will be a one-and-done season at Oregon.  But if you’re asking whether Bol will be a “project” at the next level, it’s time for a history lesson. Bol’s... Read More

When someone starts a comment with, “It’s been one of those days…,” what is the first thing that comes to your mind?   From my experience, that statement often leads to a rant about all the things that went wrong and usually ends with a list of excuses for why that person either did or didn’t do something. Have you ever witnessed this? When my husband came home on Friday afternoon his first words to me started with, “It’s been one of those days…”  I held my breath for a moment waiting for what he was going to say next.  He finished his sentence with,” When everything has... Read More

I’ve mentioned to you guys before that my wife is not the world’s biggest fan of going to the movies. As a semi-professional introvert, the notion of being crammed into a theater with loud talkers, loud eaters, and dipsticks checking their smartphones every three minutes does not appeal to her. Weird, huh? Along with all of that, she feels a high degree of scorn toward a certain type of film — dramas that are “Inspired By A True Story.” When she sees that phrase in a trailer, she just can’t help herself and she’ll snort disdainfully. Why that particular phrase? It implies that the... Read More

The local literary scene is, one must remember, a community.  (One you can be a part of, by the way, whether you’re a writer or reader!) In fact, after I interviewed the poet Elizabeth Robinson who connected me with fiction writer David Hicks, and it was David Hicks who recommended that I reach out to poet Alyse Knorr. It was my pleasure to read two of Alyse Knorr’s poetry collections, Copper Mother and Mega-City Redux for the purpose of this interview. These collections of poetry and prose respectively are both delightfully dense and unusual explorations which perpetuate insightful... Read More

Hotel Luna Mystica Down in New Mexico at the foot of Wheeler peak and right next to the Taos Mesa Brewery Mothership stands a little-known hotel…if you want to call it that.  Hotel Luna Mystica is what they call it and it is an amazing place dotted with restored vintage trailers, campsites, and even trailer hookups if you bring your own. Trailer park? Not quite. At the risk of this place being overrun, let me tell you a little bit about it. The Best Winter Glamping Escape Close to Colorado Hotel Luna Mystica is an experience, to say the least, they have several restored vintage trailers... Read More

Thanksgiving kicks off weeks of eating, shopping, parties, and family gatherings. Most people feel a mix of joy and anxiety right before and during the holidays. Statistics show that up to 69 percent of people are stressed by lack of time, 69 percent are stressed by a lack of money, and 51 percent are stressed out about the pressure to give or get gifts. A British study examined people’s stress levels and other behavior during the holiday season. For anyone feeling less than on top of things, the turning point from mild to severe stress comes on December 18 and peaks on Christmas Day. According... Read More