Rocky Mountain High ...

We just returned from a four-day stay in the Rocky Mountains ... at our own private resort, aka our friends' mountaintop perch. No matter how full our days and nights are when we are there ... we come home refreshed and ready to take on the problems of the world. Interestingly, each visit brings with it a new set of challenges regarding breathing but our friends are at 8,000 feet (with a tremendous view of Mount Evans). We don't yet require oxygen (ha) but Rob did suggest that a really great host would have some available for the flatlander visitors!

We try to earn our keep while we are there ... cooking at least one meal. This time we made one meal, one brunch, and also "brought dinner with us" ... courtesy of lasagna from our friend Mauro. (Our friend John now wants us to figure out how to overnight the food to them! He is also retired and is chief cook and bottle washer.) 

So with minimum output, either financial or physical, we have magnificent views and equally good wine. Sitting on the deck(s) requires a book in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Or feet up on the ottoman and excellent conversations among the four of us, covering a gamut of topics from ... where do we next travel ... to when did we get so old! John and I have been friends since our mid-20's ... so we know of what we speak. 

When we come down from the mountain, we have a set routine ... a nice dinner, generally Italian, a stop at Applejack's (for the best wine selection anywhere), a trip to the Denver Art Museum, and a movie. No certain order among those ... but the one inviolate stop is Applejack's. Since we buy wine to last 6 plus months, our bill breaks four digits easily. Each time, the owner mysteriously appears and shakes our hands! This time it was much more impressive than a handshake. Two (of the five) cases of wine that we were seeking were out of stock ... although the information desk showed that two cases should be "somewhere." The owner happened by as we were discussing this with the checkout clerk ... and stopped to see what he could do. When I explained the problem (and the response previously had been ... 5 days to get a special order to Applejack's), he said, "Can you come back tomorrow? We'll have it to you by then." Later that afternoon, I received the call ... all was ready for us. As Rob pointed out, when "Big Al" calls, the distributor likely loaded the two cases into his personal car and drove it over posthaste. Now that's what I call service. Plus it makes for such a great story. 

So ... here's looking at you, kid ... cheers, cin-cin, salud/salute, prost/proost, sante, skoal and all of that. 

PS ... Although Colorado is considering changing their state song ... I hope that they never do ... because John Denver's song is quintessential Colorado to me. :)