No. 4: Performance at Red Rocks

No.4: Performance at Red Rocks

Imagine. In spite of the pandemic, I managed to make it to Red Rocks Amphitheatre for a performance.

For those not in Colorado, maybe Red Rocks needs an introduction. It is a natural open air amphitheater outside of Denver. An amazing setting tucked amongst some enormous red rocks (hence the name)  with naturally occurring perfect acoustics. Many artists consider it their favorite place to perform.  If you want to know more, click here. The theater seats almost 10,000 people.

The view from the top entrance to the theater.

The Colorado Symphony has been experimenting with small sections of the symphony playing to a limited number of performers. Tickets were procured for the weekday performance of the brass and percussion sections. Maximum number of tickets sold: 175.  Which means we pretty much had the place to ourselves. I counted. Somewhere between 150 and 170 people were there the same night we were. 

From the top, looking down on the seating and stage. 

Pretty amazing set up.

Of course, we needed refreshments and I had my first White Claw which I suspect pretty much makes me a 20something, doesn't it?  Only one concession stand was open and our choices were limited- beer, wine, coolers, soft drinks, pretzels and chips. So much for dinner.

My first foray into the land of hard seltzers. 

Turns out it was pretty yummy.

Here was the set up for the symphony sections:

17 performers more or less and one conductor

The music obviously could not be full on classical with such a limited orchestra so there was an assortment. Some classical, some Star Wars, a march, it was a nice combination. And the best part? It was all acoustic, NO amplifiers. (Well, the conductor had his amp so we could hear his voice. The instruments needed no amplification.) 

The conductor, Christopher Dragon (what a GREAT name) made the evening. There is a reason he is so thin. He never stopped moving, dancing, jumping the entire performance.  He even played the drums at one point. 

 Goodness, he was having fun.

While I don't feel I got the full experience...parking was convenient and just a few steps from the entrance, no crowds hence no combined anticipation of a large group waiting for something to begin...it was very special. And now, I've been.

Me and Friend, appropriately masked, at the end of the night. 

And just in case the musical aspect of a Red Rocks performance did not qualify, a second trip to Red Rocks that same week cemented my completion of No.4.

We went to the Drive-In! Film on the Rocks, presented by the Denver Film group, has movies in the parking lot of the amphitheater.  Admission is one set price per car and includes two Coke products, popcorn, and two boxes of candy. (Twizzlers and M&Ms!) Every show day except Sunday they also offer the pre-purchase of a ChickFilA sandwich and waffle chips. We saw Clueless. It was perfect except we needed to do a little better planning. Cars are too smart these days. The sound comes through your radio but few cars allow you to turn the car off and leave the radio on. At least not long enough for a two hour movie. Once the radio cut off, the car had to be restarted which meant the lights came on and then the parking lot attendants came over to tell us to turn the lights off. And so went the night. A portable FM radio solved that problem when we went again last night to see Field of Dreams.

While waiting for the movie to start they have entertainment.

So, No. 4 is done. I followed up with adding to No. 65: Travel to new states and repeating No.77: Continuing Education: Take a class.  Technically I completed No. 77 last year with my silver working class but more education is ALWAYS a good thing.

Stay tuned.

Also, wash your hands, wear your mask and VOTE. (Register, request your mail in ballot, whatever you need to do.)

PSA: Public Septic Announcement

PSA:  Public Septic Announcement



Today's post is a PSA for everyone with a septic tank and an education for those that do not.

I wrote last that I was thrilled to finally have a scheduled meeting with Mountain High Septic to get my septic tank cleaned out. It only took a year of waiting.  (They assured me that if it was an emergency, they could be out sooner. Fortunately, there was no emergency.)
First, let me say that my excitement about having the septic tank emptied was an emotion that 18 years old me could never have imagined.

And why was I so excited? Well, a septic tank holds all the household human waste that comes out of your house. If there's a problem with your septic then that waste ends up in the house or yard. Not good. The only way to keep that little disaster at bay is to have the tank emptied every few years.

Cabin was purchased 11 years ago. At the time the owner was in hospice, his wife did not know where the tank was located and we bought the cabin anyway. Standard policy is to have the tank emptied when a house sells. Ours wasn't.  Soooo..... I had no clue where the tank was although I did have an idea. As Erma Bombeck said "the grass is always greener over the septic tank".  She was right.  And I had never had any issues with the set up. But. Still. It was about 7 or 8 years overdue. So there was excitement mixed with dread. Because what if there was no tank? No system? Something major?

Also, I've heard enough disaster stories. Behind me the sweet neighbor had her septic tank collapse. She realized the problem once her basement filled up with waste. Another sweet friend, who shall remain nameless, confessed that she didn't know she had a septic tank on a house they had built themselves and lived in for twenty years. She figured it out once she started having problems.
Those are issues I just did not want to have.

In comes Ace, from Mountain High!

You have no idea how happy I was to see this truck.

He brought his shovel and poker and got to work. First he poked around the ground listening for a reverberating hollow sound. That was the tank. Once he located the tank he continued poking into the ground towards the house until he got to the edge. Apparently that's where the clean out is usually located. (Instructions just in case you need to find your tank some day.)

Ace at work.

I do wonder what makes you think "I want to be septic tank cleaner when I grow up."

Thirty minutes of digging later and Voila! the lid to the clean out pipe. The tank and lid were both cement and in good shape. Hallelujah. He says he has seen septic systems consisting of barrels connected by pipes; railroad ties set in a square with pipes leading out; and even just pipes with no actual tank. None of those would pass code anymore but they worked in their day.

Success. A tank and a lid.

Once Ace popped the lid on the tank, I went inside. And closed the windows. It was fragrant.

Time to go inside. And shut the windows.

And spray some air freshener.

When the pumping stopped he declared my system in perfect shape, well built and good to go. 

The magic is happening. 

Whew! Such a relief.

Last order of the day...mark the spot.

I think I'll order a sign marker. 

What should it say? 

Moral of the story? If you have a septic tank, get it emptied every few years. Recommendations run from three to five years or maybe a little longer if you don't use it constantly. Treat it kindly. I am rabid about nothing but waste and toilet paper going into ours. No grease, no food scraps, no hair, very very little bleach, nothing else. Septic systems require good bugs to keep everything being broken down. Keep those babies happy. A new septic system can run anywhere from $10,000 up to ...eek!...$50,000.   See why I was so relieved?

And...this week I am going to fulfill No. 4: A Performance at Red Rocks. Soooo excited. Red Rocks is sooo close and it has been closed all summer.  The Colorado Symphony is doing abbreviated, socially distanced performances there for smaller groups. We will be hearing the percussion and brass sections. The next night will be Drive In movie night at Red Rocks. Going to that also. So much excitement after months of NOTHING.

Everyone on public sewer systems, go thank your cities.
Everyone on a septic system, check the last clean out date.
And please, everyone wear your masks and wash your hands.
And vote.

A lovely septic system diagram:

More information than you ever wanted!

Not Quite Red Rocks....

Not Quite Red Rocks....
But Outdoor Entertainment Nevertheless
(Number 96: Houston Miller Outdoor Theater- see a show. )
(Bonus: No.71: Plan and execute a picnic)


Happy weekend!!

Number Four on my Sixty by Sixty list was/is go to Red Rocks in Denver for a performance.  For those that aren't familiar, Red Rocks is a an outdoor amphitheater with perfect acoustics in the mountains.  Stone steps make up the seats, the "walls" are the natural red (duh) rocks of the area.   I have been there early in the day when there wasn't a performance, but it is on my list to actually see a performance there, preferably musical, at some point in the future.

 Rock walls

Stone seats

And look! 

Diane, Diana and Lucy.

Can't believe this was so long ago. 

2012.

Until then, while I am back in the Houston area and doing Houston things, I hit up the next best thing. Or at least the next best thing locally.  Houston Miller Outdoor Theater, which I made No. 96 on the list. Miller Theater has FREE performances throughout the spring/summer/fall (i.e. most of the year in this part of Texas!) and they can vary from musicals, symphony, ballet, children's performances and more.  While it is outdoors, they do have some covered seating. The remaining seating is on a manmade hill overlooking the stage.

One of the benefits of outdoor venues? 

Beautiful sunsets while you wait for the show to start.

Friend Martha, along with another friend Betsy, headed to see the HITS musical production of Footloose. Side note: I have never seen the entire movie of Footloose. I HAVE seen Kevin Bacon in the dance scene at the end. Not sure where I was or what I was doing in the early 80s but I missed a few of the most popular movies around then.  (Flashdance? Never seen it either. )

Here we go....

HITS is a youth group so the presentation was entirely made up of students. Students who aspire to be real live paid actors. Not exactly Broadway caliber but there were some high points. The lead actor could really dance...very Fred Astaire-like with long legs and long arms and great moves. His singing? Eh. Hit or miss.  The preacher, on the other hand, had a great voice.

Preaching to the choir.

But overall the show was great and I guess I have an idea of how the movie played out now. Still need to watch it.

To make the most of our night, we brought a picnic and were even able to bring our own adult beverages...as long as they weren't in glass containers. (Even though I have already crossed off No. 71 on the list which was to have a picnic, I'm going to count this in the picnic list. No harm doing the fun things more than once!)  I'm sure decanting wine into plastic is the stuff of oenophiles' nightmares but it worked for Martha and Betsy. I stuck with beer in a can. We had a charcuterie platter for our dinner and snacked our way through the entire show. There were some envious glares from the surrounding seats who didn't come as prepared. (Or maybe that was anger and annoyance- we were blocking the aisle a bit.)

Look at that feast! 

So...not Red Rocks but a pretty fun substitute. Although, seriously, anywhere with friends, food and drink? Always fun.

Probably no post next week as I am headed to San Antonio on Thursday. It is Fiesta time in San Antonio and I get to help judge a parade! Talk about a new and different experience. I am super super excited and 200% looking forward to a little break. Can't wait to tell you all about it.