My Scary Personal Story: What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been
I’ve never liked horror movies or scary movies of any kind. But like most everyone, I’ve had to face some pretty scary things in my own life. When someone once asked me about the scariest thing I’d ever experienced, I told him, “When you have a wife and three small kids and no job, let me tell you, it doesn’t get any scarier than that.” Thirty years ago, before DeckTec, that was me. Broke and scared, I launched DeckTec on a prayer and a maxed-out credit card. It all started back in the late 80s, during one of Denver’s infamous[...]
Oktoberfest In September?
Ever wonder why Oktoberfest happens in September? Well, true to name, Oktoberfest was originally held in October – or Oktober, in German. The first Oktoberfest, held on October 12, 1810, was a wedding celebration and parade honoring the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen . Six days of festivities took place on the outskirts of Munich on fairgrounds named “Theresenwiese” (Therese’s meadow) after the princess, concluding on October 17 with a horse race. The festival was such a hit that it was repeated in following years. Additional features such as a Bavarian agricultural show and[...]
Deck Worthy Snacks: Fresh Homemade Dill Pickles
Ingredients 1-quart jar with lid 2-3 pickling cucumbers (as many fit in jar) 5 sprigs fresh dill (or 1 tbsp. dry dill) 2-4 cloves of garlic crushed and minced 3 tbsp. white distilled vinegar ½ – 1 tbsp. kosher salt, to taste distilled or filtered water 20 black peppercorns, optional ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes, optional Directions Cut cucumbers into your desired pickle (discs, spears, sandwich slices, etc) and add to jar with all ingredients except water. Fill jar to very top with distilled or filtered water. Screw lid on very tightly. Shake jar to distribute flavors and leave on[...]
Down Old Durango Way
Why not grab Fido and Spot and your family and friends and get off the Front Range for a change of scenery? Colorado doesn’t stop at Rocky Mountain National Park or even the Vail Valley, y’know! If you time it right, you might even catch some autumn colors along your six-and-a-half-hour Denver to Durango trek. Not too far from the New Mexico border, Durango is a perfect place to start exploring the area. Home to the liberal arts-oriented Fort Lewis College and 18,500 local residents, Durango is an interesting mix of college town and Old West in a setting of[...]
Off the Beaten Path
If you’ve been following this column with any regularity for the last two-and-a-half years, you probably know that I love nothing more than relaxing in the comfort of my own outdoor retreat. I am anything but a global traveler. In fact, I’ve previously made it known that despite traveling extensively around the United States, I’ve never been outside its borders. Last month, however, I did something I didn’t think I’d ever do again and took some road trips around Colorado. There’s a backstory here. I was an avid skier and camper in my younger days but couldn’t stand “sightseeing.” The[...]
