WELSH RUGBY SCARF 2012 ... a travel log in pictures.

**azwildcat96** · 8th February 12, 08:12 AM

Great pictures LitTrog...

So, you're getting into tossing heavy stuff?!?!?! Welcome to the addiction! I've found it to be the one sport where your competition gladly offers tips and pointers freely, to help make you a better competitor. Not to mention that alcohol is considered a "legal", and sometime mandatory, performance enhancing drug. Maybe we'll see you at the games somewhere.

**Alan H** · 8th February 12, 10:22 AM

Hammer?? OH MY GOD!...

Clear the Area!!!! Don protective gear!

BTW, that's a cool spoon.

**Mickey** · 8th February 12, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Alan H

BTW, that's a cool spoon.

I agree. A few months ago my wife added a love spoon to my ever growing list of things to do around here. I really need to get started on one soon.

**LitTrog** · 8th February 12, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by azwildcat96

Great pictures LitTrog...

So, you're getting into tossing heavy stuff?!?!?! Welcome to the addiction! I've found it to be the one sport where your competition gladly offers tips and pointers freely, to help make you a better competitor. Not to mention that alcohol is considered a "legal", and sometime mandatory, performance enhancing drug. Maybe we'll see you at the games somewhere.

The fun environment and attitudes of the competitors I've witnessed is what spurred me past my reluctance to look like a complete novice which, duh, is exactly what I'll be.

Enjoyed watching, now I've made the commitment to buck up and throw with the big guys--who cares if I suck at first?! As to the alcohol...I think I set aside some significant practice time to that, just to make sure I get it right!

**LitTrog** · 9th February 12, 05:46 AM

Sunday morning, a group of us headed into Denver for a pre-Super Bowl brunch at The Corner Office. They feature an extensive Bloody Mary bar which allows one to add to their glass of vodka just about anything he or she wishes. Picture a buffet for alcoholics and you've got an idea. They even have a huge carafe of PBR to add to your bloody. For our overseas friends who are not familiar with PBR, take the most uninspiring lager you've ever tasted, run it through a beloved family pet, and you've got something close. By itself, not a good beer. Pair it with vodka, tomato juice, bacon, jalapenos, fried pickles, shaved fennel, blue cheese stuffed olives and celery salt? Nectar.

My wife, neighbor, bloodys and a very nervous scarf.

After we arrived home, my wife decided to take a quick nap (tomato juice apparently has some very soporific qualities

) while I popped over to Red Rocks Amphitheater. Located about a mile from our house, the amphitheater is a very popular music venue in the middle of a 850+ acre public park. The capacity is not quite that of the huge arenas (it seats less than 10,000) but just about every band who tours through our area has put on a show here. One of the first rock n' roll performances here was by some band called the Beatles. Don't know why they allowed that scrofulous, scruffy quartet to peddle their "music" in such a lovely setting, but the kids seemed to dig it.

You can see Denver's skyline off in the distance...

Obviously, the recent storm covered the area, but most other times, you would see a significant number of people picnicking or exercising. Forget running stadium steps...to get from bench to bench, even a long-legger has to leap! The surrounding park also has extensive hiking and running trails winding through the beautiful rock formations.

Later that night, while everyone else was cloistered inside watching football, my wife and I went out to dinner in Lakewood's Bel Mar area...

Lakewood was one of those suburban "nightmares" that had no discernible downtown or "old town" center. In the 90's my wife's uncle (city manager at the time) induced developers and speculators to invest in several square blocks of commercially depressed blight and create that center. Upscale shops, restaurants, trendy condos, outdoor ice skating rink (pictured above) and a movie theater all went up seemingly overnight and transformed a neighborhood. Normally, I tend to balk at gentrifying and homogenizing efforts like this, but since all it replaced was one of those sad, sad shopping malls which had lost viability, I applaud this change. The tax revenues from this area helped make Lakewood one of the only area communities that has been running in the black in recent years.

Monday, off to work. Pictures? Just one:

Since most of what I do is controlled by ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations), I wasn't allowed to take any outside devices past this unassuming glass case. It does show a fair sampling of the optics (commercial versions, at least) my company (not "mine," of course, or I could buy each X-marker the kilt of his dreams!) designs and fabricates. I design and produce thin-film coatings even though I wanted to be a historian or writer when I grew up. Since I really haven't grown up yet, I suppose I can spin my wheels as an engineer for a few more years. Amazing what a man will do to feed his family.

That's it. Thank you, Derek, for sending the scarf around for another tour. I hope this can turn into a regular tool for getting to know our fellow kilters.

And I promise to leave my name off next time.

It's just so much fun!

**Alan H** · 9th February 12, 12:04 PM

Wow, the ammpitheatre is gorgeous. I've heard of it, never even seen a picture though.

"scrofulous"...LOL

**LitTrog** · 9th February 12, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Alan H

Wow, the ammpitheatre is gorgeous. I've heard of it, never even seen a picture though.

It is a wonderful place to see some live music. In the summer, the Denver Symphony Orchestra puts on the occasional free show, and every Wednesday night is Film on the Rocks, where for about 10 bucks you can see a good local band, have a beer, and watch a movie. The entire park is well used but extremely well-maintained.

You know, I think it's been awhile since I've heard any killer klezmer bouncing off those rocks...

**Kilted Rogue** · 9th February 12, 07:05 PM

And Now for my turn!!!
Look what was waiting for me when i got home from work and school tonight.

This one will be bit of a pass the baton and go.

Pictures to follow and the clue to the next player

**Derek** · 10th February 12, 12:35 AM

Thanks LitTrog for posting the pics and giving all a little insight to you and your part of the world. The pics are great.
And the scarf seems to have entered a bit of warp speed again. Good news the scarf has arrived with you Kilted Rogue. Hope you have fun with the scarf. Look forward to your pics. Also ... could your cross the borderer off the list of hosts. He will not be able to paricipate this time around due to health reasons but will be joining in on its next adventure later in the year after it has returned to base first in July.
Iechyd Da

Derek