I’ve never been on a rooftop surrounded by vegetation before. I’ve seen landscaped rooftop decks on HGTV in both the Chicago and New York where real estate is at a premium. So now the same can be said about Denver. You actually have to see it to believe it. Who would have thought an outdoor living space could seem so much like a room? Even the covered canvass awning that graces a portion of the deck bordered by wooden planter boxes on two sides that elevate the vegetation well above one’s head is almost beyond belief.
In contrast, the downtown Denver side of the outdoor living area is in full view with lower level planter boxes filled with vegetation surrounding the perimeter. I had enjoyed the view immensely the night before. Yesterday morning, the view seemed a little less spectacular only because of lack of contrast between the darkness of night the lighting of the skyline of downtown in the distance.
The only other variable that was a marked contrast was the temperature. Did I mention it is hot in Denver? I’ve been in Denver when the temperature was zero degrees. It was a great way to start one’s day with the anticipation of snow skiing. Yesterday’s experience was also a first for me. Actually, it proved to be a first for Denver as well. Never before in the history of the city has the temperature been 105 degrees.
Okay, so I cowered in the outdoor heat long before the temperature reached 105. The advantage of working on a notebook is the flexibility one has. It didn’t take me long to determine that inside air conditioning trumped the ambience of the outdoor deck. It was hot outside.
Mid-afternoon after I’d called an end to my workday, I was invited to go to Denver’s Botanic Gardens. Reportedly, their collection of water lilies is one of the best in the nation. For that matter, the same could be said of all twenty-four acres. Reportedly, it is one of the top five botanic gardens in the nation. Seeing is believing and Denver’s Botanic Garden has to be experienced to fully envision. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but even then it falls short of the experience of being there in person.
Reportedly it is a great venue for outdoor weddings and other special events. In fact, late afternoon yesterday portions of the garden area were restricted because private party functions were taking place or were scheduled to be so in the evening. Wow! What a venue for a gathering.
Yesterday was a first for me. Today will be another. I guess at some level I have Facebook to thank for broadening my horizons. I had never heard of the Avett Brothers and I had never heard their music. A friend on Facebook asked if I had heard their song “No Hard Feelings”? I immediately turned to Google to capture the sound. I listened to the song two or three times and spent the remainder of the day contemplating half a dozen different possible applications. Awesome and thought provoking are the two best words I know to describe to describe the song.
I was subsequently surprised when a friend from Denver asked if I had an interest in hearing the Avett Brothers in concert at Red Rocks? With little difficulty, I said “Yes”. I didn’t know at the time that Red Rocks is a premier outdoor amphitheater.
Normally, I would have needed to give some thought to incurring the expense to travel anywhere for a concert. Seriously, who does something like that? On the other hand, if you don’t choose to color outside the lines sometimes, you miss out. I had actually previously looked online to see possible venues to where the band was playing. Consequently, when asked if I’d be interested in Red Rocks it was an easy decision to make.
Red Rocks was originally named the Garden of Angels. The earliest documented performance at the natural outdoor amphitheater was in 1906. In 1911, Mary Garden (no pun intended), a renowned opera singer put Red Rocks on the world musical map with her performance. Having performed at many opera halls around the world, she pronounced Red Rock the finest venue in which she has ever performed.
Consequently today will be another first for me. The venue sounds as though it would be impressive even if there was no music. Throw in music and it should be over the top. Reportedly, the Avett Brothers perform three concerts at Red Rocks each summer and they always play to a sold out crowd.
Speaking of over the top, a friend from Rhode Island sent me a note this morning. His wife was ordering books on Amazon last night and for whatever reason, looked up the availability of Bitter or Better, the first book I had published. The General once told me that my books might be worth more after I’m gone. Consequently, she suggested that I should sign them now. Since I’m not planning to go anywhere soon, I figure I have plenty of time and God knows, I have plenty of books. What was I thinking?
As it turns out, the publishing company that published both of my books went out of business. Either that or they hit the reset button and eradicated the need to represent previously published authors. I have never received written notification from the company, but I’ve gotten several inquiries from other publishers who’d like to publish the book.
In case your interested, you can purchase a copy of Bitter or Betterfrom me for $7.99 plus shipping or you can order one from Amazon for $510. If you’re okay with a previously read copy, you can get a used book for $270. I don’t anticipate that Amazon gets many requests for my books.
All My Best!
Don