Getaway Glimpse: A Hairy Christian??

The Setting: Exiting the museum, Elijah's with me and Judsen as Craig and Grace bring up the rear. A woman approaches with books and pamphlets sing-songing, "Hare Krishna."


The Dialogue:

Elijah (to me): Is that woman wearing a sheet? It doesn't match the sheet on her bottom. Do you think she knows?
Me: Ummmmmm......

I politely "No thank you" her offer of materials and hear Craig quickly do the same behind me.
We all move toward the car and, after a few minutes of walking...


Craig: Did you hear that, Grace? That woman doesn't even know me and she just called me a hairy Christian!

Grace (who defines literal, you realize): Really!?! Maybe she's pathetic! (Boy, I hope she meant "prophetic.")

Daddy stirring the pot again.

Spring Getaway, Stop #2

Ever been on a vacation, getaway, weekend-spree, or even a quickie layover in a city, town, village, or neighborhood (that oughtta' 'bout cover it) and discovered one of its hidden treasures? Maybe it's the perfect little bookstore serving the perfectly prepared pumpkin latte. Or a second-hand resale shop that has bargains galore in your favorite style and size? How about a restaurant that serves the best (insert your favorite restaurant food here) done just the way you like it, served with a smile? Uh-huh. Those are hidden treasure moments.

Consider this: every nook and cranny on the planet has a hidden treasure (except for Ogalalla, NE...that's a sad and sorry joint). You know...the ones the locals know about but won't share with you. The place they'll go eat even as they point you somewhere three miles down the dusty highway. Think hole-in-the-wall, beat-up storefronts, maybe a wee lackluster. Now you've found it....well, so did we.

I thank grad school, in particular, for my stellar research skills - if it exists, I can find it. So don't ask me to explain the mysticism of it because I could only reply that I disappear into the dark hole of the quest and come out with some good, good stuff! One such boolean return was The Shoppe. Located off Colfax in 16th Ave district of Denver, it's a little stop-or-drop that boasts two specialties as its niche - cupcakes and cereal.

I KNOW, right?! It's a fave of the neighboring locals who apparently do it all here - from coffee-claches and mama-meetings to dessert dates and slumber parties. They all show up! While the obvious choices are the cupcakes, they've got more off-the-wall choices, too, including your pick of cereal you then customize with your favorite toppings and milk choice. Each day offers a new "cupcake of the day" - which is also the flavor of the day's featured latte - and rather eclectic but charming round tables where you can cop a squat and enjoy your confection. What's the result of our adventure?

Yummo!

Here's our selections in their cute little folded box.

(Yeah, this one needed to be a BIG photo. From left, Elijah picked the Lemon Creme. Grace, the Strawberries n' Creme. Craig the Samoan Girl Scout Cookie. Me, the Peanut Butter Chocolate.)

Now, these cupcakes were $3 each. That's a pricey cupcake. But the frosting's piled high, the cake is made from scratch, and they either have filling inside, an array of toppings above, or both! They were moist and tasty...and we smiled every bite through them!

I love that Grace's fingernails and shirt matched here cupcake. Purely circumstance...but worth a snicker and grin nevertheless.

Elijah's had lemon creme bursting from beneath the frosting...and above the lemony cake. It was tart...yes, I tried it. We all shared bites (except for Craig's because I'm allergic to coconut. Bummer).

Look at that monster smile...totally Elijah's reaction when good food's piled up in front of him.

Next time you're there, pull in for a homemade (literally) treasure that, while hidden, is too buried to be found. Your taste buds are gonna' thank you, and you get a little taste of secret Denver to boot. 

Now it's your turn...got any hidden spots of your own?  

Do tell!

Spring Getaway, Stop #1

"Hit the Road, Covaks!"

Between home and our first stop there laid one of the most heralded events in the Covak household - road trip!!! I love road trips. Love everything about them...that is, as long as no one's potty training, screaming, bickering, or otherwise complaining about their lot in life as we cruise through America in an options-loaded, leather-seated, movie-playing, music-making minivan. 'Cuz that ain't roughin' it, troops.

Now, if you can manage it, take your family getaway to a locale requiring a short road trip. This is the way to go. It's like eating gooey pizza or rich cheesecake - a little goes a long way when all you want is a touch of taste. We traveled to Denver and right on to our first destination without stopping at the hotel - this maximized the naptime for the toddler while allowing Night at the Museum to finish playing.

And why that movie, you ask?

Well, it seemed to be a good segue to our first stop on our little Rocky Mountain Metropolis Getaway - The Denver Museum of Nature and Science. 

"Just the Facts, Man."

Getting there is easy: while it's deep into the east end of Denver's core (think circa 12 miles off Colorado Blvd, locals) - which means stop-and-go traffic for a bit - who cares? You're on vacation!! It's uber-fairly priced - for our family of 5 (which includes a nearly two-year old who was free), our entry cost was a mere $34. Adults need to pony up 11 bucks for museum tickets while kids 3-18 are just $6. Yes, this can add up for a bigger family, but we were 3 hours in the exhibits before the wee ones began to spiral into mayhem and still didn't make it to Space Odyssey and all of the Wildlife Exhibit. They have cafes and a mini-bistro, but it's pricey. They'll let you pack in lunches, though, so if you're planning a day trip (and you really, really should), that's the way to go. Currently through July 18th, Body Worlds exhibit is on display at DMNS: yes, it's extra for entry, and we opted not to shell it out given the ages of our kids (G is the only one who would've appreciated it). It's plasticized skeletons, muscles, organs, and even complete bodies for perusal and education. Could be gorey, could be cool. I'm the latter in my fascination - but don't spread it around. Chuckle.

 They're listening to the world through the ears of mule deers. I shudder to think.







As for how we fared in the main wing...Grace liked the Wildlife Exhibit the best (followed by the Egyptian display in a close second). I liked the wildlife, too, but mostly because Elijah kept coming up with these crazy poses (like this one)

and asking me to take pics of him and the animals (so entirely his personality, right?) Elijah's fave was the dinosaur wing and Craig's was the Body Health where we pedaled bikes, tested eyesight, and even measured our arm spans - Craig learned that, despite what's typical (arm-span equals height), his has an extra 3". Cool. And good for b-ball.

"Did You Say Free?"

No, but I'm gonna. If you click on the museum link above, you can take a gander at the museum calendar where is posts all special exhibits dates, times, and costs. It also alerts those interested to "Free Days" at the museum. The next is in honor of Earth Day: patrons visiting Sunday, April 18th come in for free! I'm sure it'll be crowded, and the lines for the special interactive features of the Healthy Body featured exhibit are sure to be long. But the other wings shouldn't be too bad...and the savings could be worth it.

"But I'm Nowhere Near Denver!"

Yeah, that's a bummer on so many fronts, really. But don't despair too much: at www.museumlink.com, you can find a complete list of museums (you can browse by state) that tickle the fancy of any getaway, gathering, cash, or come-upping you can imagine. Go explore! Go navigate! Go memory-make! But, whatever you do, go cheap!

 This freaky-looking creature is a Three-Toed Horse that lived in the dinosaur eras. Grace insisted on a pic thus proving that ALL things horse are her treasure. Personally, I'm glad the thing is extinct.

Judsen loved this display of fiberglass sticks that formed around faces...when you shoved them into the other side. Seemed absolutely fascinating to him to see shapes of eyes, ears, noses and the like without actually seeing the face itself.

Me and Bubba at the Dinosaur exhibit.

My favorite shot of the day...taken accidentally, as most good shots are. Judsen's and Elijah's hands are carbon copies of one another...big and small. The only hand missing is Daddy's...his is the founding copy of them all. I love that.

Spring Sprung a Getaway

In August, 2006, our family struck a milestone: Grace started school. As a little kindergartener, her little four-ish foot self hit the books and started the schedule that has changed the seasonal rhythms of our entire house. Like others who enter this life phase, we succumbed our life calendar to incorporate the break in Fall, break in Spring, and a full-fledged rest-up in Summer. Holiday to-do's and go-to's now pivot on when school's out and when it resumes.

None of this is actually that bad, if you ask us. In some ways, it holds you accountable to the necessary scheduling of family connection that you're otherwise tempted to blow off as life throws you curve after curve of booked weeks and chaotic evenings. Thus, as a result of the school shift, we started planning getaways for Fall Break (one week) that have now expanded to include Spring Break, too (2 weeks). We keep it simple, pledging to "get away" as we "stay": streamlined and frugal. We take the opportunities to explore our home state of gorgeous CO (because, seriously, let's not forget that people travel for miles around to set foot in our fair land). We've even incorporated The Blessing of Staycation for our time off (if you haven't already, you've really GOT to try that). But, this time, we decided to escape to a major metropolis that boasts it's home to the following quite cool features:

• In it's "rarefied air", a golf ball travels 10% farther. Huh.
• It has bluer sky than almost anywhere else in the nation because the water vapor there is so little, the sky actually IS bluer...it doesn't just look that way. Neat.
• It bears the moniker "Napa Valley of Beer", actually hosting the Great American Beer Festival. Music to my taste buds.
• Its airport is the largest in the nation, big enough to swallow O'Hare and Dallas Fort-Worth airports.
• Almost unbelievably, it sports 300 days of sunshine per anum - that's more than San Diego or Miami Beach. It also offers 25% less protection from the sun, so...ouch. Shellack it in the name of skin cancer.
• In an astronomical growth spurt, it's metro area grew by 30% in the 1990's: that's the equivalent of 1,000 new residents A WEEK, EVERY WEEK for 10 years. Wild!
• The state capitol bears an inscription of distinction on its 13th step poured precisely 5.280 feet above sea level. It reads (hail to the dummies), "One Mile Above Sea Level."

That last one's telltale.... but are you still

wondering where we went? 

Why, Denver, of course!

If you Google "Family Getaways in Denver, you'll get quite the variety of sources as a return. When Craig and I decided we'd do well to actually engage in this great city - being as how we only live an hour from it - I did this very search. I fast learned that my definition of getaway is not (apparently) Google's. By "getaway", I mean a few days here or there...not 6 days and 7 nights at an all-inclusive resort 3000 miles away. Duh. So the planning was a bit strenuous, especially if we were going to get a lot out of a little (and dontchaknow that's my life mantra?).

But we did it! 

And the next several posts will walk down a treasured (albeit quite recent) memory lane...and I'll pass on some reviews, costs, and travel tips...just in case you decide spring has sprung, too.

Which means a getaway may be in order!

We recommend Denver, by the way. 

Wink.

I Imagine...

On a typical Sunday afternoon at the Covak house, there is much peace to be found. It is our day of rest. And since, in the language we all speak until approximately college graduation, the word "rest" actually means "play," there's a lot of that in our Sunday abode, as well.

The Covak children play with one key theme in mind, it seems; indeed, all key playing decisions stem on the statement start of "I imagine..." And there they go: off to the reeds in the grove out back (which double as the African jungle, dontchaknow) or pedaling furiously down the sidewalk before the speed demon following them ignites his extra-speed nitro flare. All's fair in the land of play, after all.

But Sunday was dreary, so in they stayed. In they stayed to play...for not a streak of sun was to found in the day.

Elijah imagined a Batman world...

 where Robin and Batman were poised to protect the cave...

after they hung Mr. Freeze by the neck with a makeshift lariat and underneath a giant vat of acid. (I imagine the locking ring from the chocolate carton and the jug itself are the lariat and vat in question.)

And let's not ignore the fight ongoing below as The Penguin and Robin come to blows while Batman races on his Batcycle to "get the troops for reinforcements." I imagine that's a pretty mess battle.












But the grin of satisfaction for an imaginary world well-played does, in fact, say it all.

Grace played alongside Bubba as the imagination ensued. Of course (gasp and shudder!), Grace's world was about horses. She assured me the aerial view of the farm was "the best angle for experiencing it."

To which I replied, "I imagine so." But the low-down to front door wasn't bad, either, I remarked. Note the detail of Grace's imagination: that's a bunny beneath the tree and a tiny bridle on the horse in the background.

Especially not with the creator's face right next to it for, as she so correctly observed: "It's a good thing this is pretend, Mommy, because if this were real right now, the people would be really scared to see my giant face outside their window." Well. Can't argue with that.

And while one barn was getting the vet's attention (that's Sarah there in the foreground leading the calf to an exam), the other barn was the site of the riding competition, complete with a corral...

(Yes, another aerial was requested for posterity.)

 

...along with a tiny rider. He's a trainer, I'm told, so he rides bareback.

And the day of riding was bright and clear and sunny...with a small chance of showers. 

Ideal weather for a Sunday.

I imagine.

Yep, I Worked It In.

At small group last Wednesday night, I was actually able to work "supercilious" into the conversation.

As a word lover, that puts me a high. I don't care what you say.

March Madness?

It's a frenzy, that's for sure. It's up. It's down. There's wins. And upsets. And losses. And upsets. It's 10 freakishly-tall men somewhere between 18 and 22 who doggedly pursue a trophy and title some of their schools have never even come close to coveting.

It's birthed an entire sub-sect of linguistic dialect. Let's see...we do have, of course, the biggies. The Big Dance. The Sweet Sixteen. The Elite Eight. The Final Four. And don't forget the Cinderella (the team that should never have a chance, but wins its pairing anyway. Last night, that was 9th seeded UNI's victory over #1 seed Kansas). Then you've got the busted bracket (not good. Not good at all). You've got the office pools, the church pools (hey, it's not really gambling....calm down), and, of course, the 1 million dollar winner who projects the perfect bracket (though Craig informs me this tradition is no more...why, I can't imagine, since to my knowledge no one ever won it in the history of the tournament).

Fans (mostly men, but not all, now) miss work over it. Become tied to the TV for it. Surf 800 channels searching for it. And the din of the crowd hundreds to even thousands of miles away blankets our house like white noise...occasionally interrupted by an outburst from my husband - sometimes good. Sometimes not.

I love March Madness. I'm not a big fan. I watch periodically in between other tasks or happenings that are, quite frankly, far more attractive on the magnet scale of fun. This is the first year in a few I haven't completed a bracket. For Craig, it's calculated observation coupled with playing records with a bit of rooting for the underdog mixed in. His bracket is, I'd say, a pseudo-science. Mine's gut. Pure instinct. And, I'll have you know, I'm right enough to accurately predict no less than 75% of the Final Four. Not too shabby for little watching and even less interest. So how come I love it?

Because Craig does. 

It's the only - the only - sports event he watches from beginning to end, riveted. He's watched it the entire time I've known him...ever since college when he'd wheedle his way onto my dorm sofa, captivated by the tv as I studied away. He's even traveled out of state with a friend to catch a few games in the series. These are warm memories. These are ways you write a story as a couple. I don't feel lost or abandoned. Don't feel neglected or threatened. I'm not mad about March Madness.

I'm happy it makes him happy, that he celebrates the losing of the big dog to the little dog...that he snorts in contempt when the "should have wons" blow it in the final seconds and shred his bracket.

He loves it. 

So I love it, too.