Saturday Slight

It's 7:29 Denver time.  I'm still looking for the Rocky Mountain sunshine---uggh!  Pretty dreary looking out that window.  Denver was supposed to get six inches of snow last night.

All I see is fog and wet ground with maybe a dusting of snow.  

Annie has headed off for a breakfast with geocaching reviewers.  It's a low key affair since some reviewers like to remain anonymous to the general population of cachers.

This hotel lobby was crammed with cachers last night when I arrived via shuttle.  My shuttle ride from the airport took a circuitous route to the hotel which is in the southeasternmost portion of Denver.

The driver was quick to point out the mall where the shooter murdered so many people at the theater a few months ago.  Gave me the creeps to think about it as we passed by.

My stop was the last for the shuttle so I enjoyed conversations with a lady returning from Spain, a lady whose flight to Billings had been cancelled due to mechanical problems and a lady from Florida who audits insurance companies. 

It was a friendly, talkative group so we almost did hugs as each came to her respective destination. 

I also enjoyed visiting with a very nice couple from Spokane on the flight to Denver---we shared several commonalities----horses, a mini Aussie pup, 30-something kids, love for the outdoors.  

He retired as an architect at age 49; she worked as a horticulturist.  They were headed to her son's wedding in Denver.

Sadly, my planned meeting with a former student, Karren, who's attending another conference in Denver, did not work out.  So, I told Annie I'd play nerd at the "meet-and-greet."  

Turns out the cachers I met put their nerd activities aside for the social gathering.  I spent most of my time visiting with an IT lady who works at Los Alamos Lab in New Mexico.  She's a Master Gardner and mother of two daughters.

We hit it off and had a great time talking about life in general and some geocaching experiences.  

Since I haven't done much of anything this morning besides bathing, dressing and drinking that first cup of coffee, I'll probably add some more thoughts later in the day.

After seminars, there's a big geocaching poker party tonight here at the hotel.  A lottery system determined the 40 places at the table.  Annie will be playing.

So, I'll have plenty of hotel time today in preparation for the death-defying jeep rides tomorrow at Idaho Springs.  

Might just spend the day today relishing a low-key, safe existence. 

Happy Saturday.