Rascally Rabbit - A Touch Of The Eclectic In Cripple Creek

 

Song:  Treat Me Well

Group:  Heart

I received more good news today...

and so...

I treated myself to one of my favorite restaurants in Cripple Creek...

'Rascally Rabbit'.

I not only love that they have a wonderful menu of mixed cultures

(as best as I can make out...various areas of the Mediterranean mixed in with American)...

and that their prices are very reasonable...

but that they have excellent coffee drinks and desserts as well.

I usually get this large iced vanilla latte with my meals.

The Cubano

The Baller (meatball sandwich)

I had wanted to try two of their many sandwiches...

the Cubano (pulled pork and ham, melted cheese...with a delicious dipping broth)...

and a meatball sandwich (meatballs, melted cheese, pesto, marinara)...

both of which were served hot and so savory.

They were both just so good.

Each had their own unique flavors...

and the green salads were so delicious as well...

as the dressing had a wonderful mixture of being vinegary and sweet.

I finished off with an Affogato...

(espresso over vanilla ice cream).

Everything was just so delicious.

After eating...

I then drove the less than 15 minutes to my home.

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Once again...

everything in life is just falling into place.

I take such great pleasure in living life.

And...

once again...

it is because that I recognize that life will eventually come to an end

that I savor life as do I savor great meals.

I greatly enjoy a variety of foods...

as do I greatly enjoy a variety of experiences in life. 

And...

I fully notice and revel in everything around me.

Each moment in time is unique...

and to not take in the beauty all around us...

is to miss out on the many beautiful experiences to be had in life.

The refreshing alpine country air...

the clouds...

the wildlife and the mountains...

are all the seasonings of our grand feast in life.

Walk through life with your eyes wide open...

and appreciate all of the great simple pleasures to be had...

for it is the difference between merely spending your life stuffing your gut with fast food...

just to kill your appetite...

and that of feasting on a variety of new tastes and grand meals with a ravenous appetite...

of which also feeds your soul.

------------

There comes a point in life when you must treat yourself well...

for if you had made the requisite sacrifices in life...

you will have deserved it.

Two Mexican Restaurants

 

Song:  Look Out, Here Comes Tomorrow

Group:  The Monkees

The other night...

I was just watching some videos on YouTube after 1:30 AM...

when I, once again...

just got the craziest cravings for Mexican food.

I searched the web for any Mexican restaurants which were open 24 hours.

I had found one...

in Colorado Springs.

Say no more...

I got into the car and started driving.

On the way there...

I stopped in at a local filling station...

and filled up the car.

While I knew it would be a drive through...

I was surprised at the number of offerings available.

I had gotten a taco / tostada combo plate...

and a carnitas torta.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality.

Tacos and tostadas are my favorite Mexican food.

Even the rice and frijoles (refried beans) were so good.

I ate my fill and drove back quite satisfied.

Those late night cravings are maddening until sated.

I now have a 24 hour Mexican place at which to eat...

whenever I get a deep craving for Mexican food...

and every other place is closed.

---------

I awakened today with another craving for Mexican food.

I decided to try another Mexican restaurant I had never tried before...

and this one is just 20 or so minutes from home.

It is located in the small town of Florissant (20 minutes away)...

just at the crossroads of the main county road going past my community...

and the major highway leading East / West towards Woodland Park / Colorado Springs.

This restaurant has a nice outdoor seating area as well as an indoor area.

Before I had finished my initial basket of chips and dip...

the waitress brought me out another one.

I had gotten the steak tacos...

and they were very good...

and each was packed with pieces of steak that had a delicious char to them.

Although it came with beans and rice...

I prefer frijoles to black beans.

I then drove back home to a wonderful sky filled with clouds.

The community center is building an outdoor pavilion for our residents to enjoy 

more of the outdoor views.

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Exploring and enjoying new restaurants is just one of my hobbies.

Life is just so good when it is filled with new adventures...

and of which may be partaken at will.

------------

My wife is still working on our 3 week upcoming Japan trip.

We are going to be visiting some of the most beautiful Fall color locations in Japan...

including taking a couple of overnight ferry rides (one of which is a luxury ferry)...

and the other one is a smaller one visiting a small island and passing through 

places where there are many smaller islands to see in passing.

Of course...

we will be going to Kyoto as well...

as it is famous for its Fall colors.

After this trip to Japan...

we will be planning our next trip

to see the Northern Lights in Finland...

and we will most likely combine it with a trip to Norway...

and we plan on taking a cruise of the Fjords and waterfalls while there.

We will plan it for during the height of the Northern Lights...

and so...

we will have to book early.

---------

In the meantime...

we will be taking many local trips throughout Colorado...

some of which we will take for the Fall colors by train...

as well as by car...

before our Japan trip.

And...

before we leave for Japan...

we will be doing a lot of shopping for furniture...

and setting up the movie theater downstairs.

My wife will be arriving early next week...

as well as my little sister...

as we are giving her our second car...

as we only need one from now on.

We are now on the verge of the adventures of a lifetime.

Of course...

another hobby of mine is blogging...

and so...

I will be posting many a photo of our new adventures.

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Again...

one of the keys to life is knowing that it is a marathon.

Always finish strong by pacing yourself correctly.

In this manner...

there will be nothing in which to fear...

and through which...

you will have everything in which to look forwards.

                                                          ..... The Ant

A Mountain Top Sunset Singing Session

 

Song:  I'll Never Fall In Love Again

Artist:  Tom Jones

I was looking at YouTube in bed when this song had come up on my feed.

Tom Jones is one of the greatest vocalists of all time.

I remember my mother used to love watching his show in the mid 60s...

and I used to watch it with her.

I think this is one of his greatest songs.

And so...

just about when I started listening to his song...

I noticed the sun was beginning to set.

And so...

I changed into my cycling gear, grabbed Bandi...

and we headed out to view the sunset from atop our mountain.

On the way there...

up atop the mountain as the sun set...

and all the way back...

I kept singing this song 

(okay...attempting to...and on many portions...I had to take it down an octave).

He has this fantastic resonance to his voice...

and his lower range...

I can halfway emulate...

and so...

I turned my mountain sunset trike ride into a singing lesson.

And...

this was only possible...

because for most of the route...

it is mostly just forest.

So...

my lack of vocal ability wouldn't bother anyone  :)

On many of the uphill stretches...

I had to hold off on my singing...

as I was getting too out of breath...

but...

as soon as the ground evened out...

and especially on the downhill stretches...

I could belt out my best Tom Jones rendition  :)

I was near the top when the sun was just near the horizon.

Singing to a beautiful sunset is so inspiring for me...

however...

had anyone been able to hear me...

I would have just been considered obnoxious  :)

The clouds above me were a soft pastel pink just as I was leaving for home.

Bandi and I on our way back.

We arrived at home...

whereupon Bandi went to her water container...

and then just lay on the floor in our bedroom.

Bandi is going to sleep so well tonight.

For me...

it is going to be a hot shower...

and then just looking at YouTube videos...

and perhaps watching more Korean Dramas until I get sleepy.

A Brief Hailstorm

 

Song:  Icescapes

Artist:  Annie Parker

I was taking a nap in the evening 

when I heard the sudden thumping of hail coming down...

and with intermittent thunder following.

As I keep my windows open for the country breeze...

the thunder was louder than what it would have been with the windows closed...

and so...

when I had awakened and did not see Bandi next to me...

I called out her name.

Bandi then emerged from the 2nd floor bathroom.

Whenever there is thunder...

she will often just lie down on the bathroom floor...

as it is relatively quite in there.

Although the hail storm only lasted about 20 or so minutes...

it quickly filled up my driveway and decks.

There was so much hail in such a short time that it looked like snow had fallen.

The street, driveways, and decks were just loaded with those pellets of ice.

As I looked through my windows at the falling hail...

Bandi accompanied me and sniffed the air

as she looked out at the hail with curiosity.

She and I had been caught out in the middle of a hail storm once before

during a trike ride/run to the top of the mountain and back.

I am sure she remembers it...

and so...

she must have been looking at the falling hail with relief 

that she was not outside in the storm.

As I am typing up this article...

just half an hour after the cessation of the hail storm...

you can see how quickly the skies here clear up after brief storms.

I just took this photo from my computer chair out the left side alcove window.

This is one of the many things I love about where I live.

Overall...

the weather here is very mild...

from season to season.

We average over 300 days of sunny and/or partly cloudy days...

every year.

The storms are generally short lived...

and the temperature....

even in Summer...

is cool and mild...

and in Winter...

the air becomes crisp and invigorating.

It is so important to pick your final retirement location

for the climate as well as for the many other concerns.

My home...

is located in a paradise...

a place which rewards me everyday.

This is so important...

as the vast majority of your time will be spent at home.