Love is in the air...

 Love is in the air, though its likely competing with COVID virus particles including those born out of mutations from the United Kingdom, Brazil, and South Africa. 

Mr. Brady is certainly loving life, though Mr. Mahomes perhaps less so. I was hoping for a close game but after all these years watching Super Bowls you'd think I'd know better. This year's commercials were a mixed bag, but that's nothing new either. We did see the Boss, Mr. Springsteen, break his decades-long refusal to do advertisements for the dual interests of reuniting around "the center" and selling Jeeps. Oh, and a Texas man who flew to Colorado to take advantage of Colorado's on-line gambling won $6.2 million (on a $3.46 million bet) when the Buccaneers clinched the Lombardi Trophy. Now that's a LOT of love.

This year's Loveland stamp

Up in Loveland, Colorado, they've been stamping love notes with this year's imprimatur. Kudos to them - they're now in their 75th year. If you haven't already sent your romantic missive for them to re-mail you're likely not going to feel the love since the U.S. Post Office won't guarantee on-time delivery after tomorrow, February 10th. Of course, on-time means by the 14th, Valentines Day which has transformed the Feast of Saint Valentine ( honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine) into the commercial juggernaut we know it as today. Now, I can accept roses. chocolates, and one-knee proposals as legitimate expressions of perhaps what is after all our deepest and most heartfelt emotion, but to me the T.V. and Internet ads suggesting that Valentines is just another excuse to give a gift (one ad shows the gift recipient opening a box to see they've received - wait for it - a new pair of shoes) as pushing the romantic envelope a wee bit far. 

Apart from Cupid's day in the spotlight I've never been particularly fond of our shortest month. In Colorado I think February is the cruelest on the calendar - it can suggestively hint at Spring then suddenly lambast us with the coldest temps of the year. I still remember the February when I was wooing my better half featuring temps below zero for more than ten days straight but that was alright as all my attention was let's just say, not particularly focused on the weather. 

Speaking of love, we took our two pups, Yukon and Mr. Bentley, to doggie daycare today up at Canines' Canyon near Genesee. They love to play with all their four-legged friends and we didn't even need to spring for new shoes. Or Roses. Or chocolates. And certainly no one-kneed proposals - seeing me struggle to get back up would probably tickle my better half's funny bone more than make a love connection. Still, I try - I did get my sweetheart a very nice Valentine card. And my flower budget went to my mother-in-law in the form of twelve beautiful white long-stem roses (marital tip number 4023 - never pass up a chance to win brownie points with your wife's mother). So all in all I guess I'm in the mood for Love with a capital L. Given what we've all been through in the last year or so, I guess we all deserve a little of that. 

Completely off the subject of amore, my wife and I had a chance to take a road trip down to El Paso County (think Colorado Springs) to see the Paint Mines of Colorado. Unless you've been there, the name doesn't convey anything meaningful about this unique Colorado attraction. So I've provided a short video to give you some idea of what this site offers:

I also had a chance to get out and do some filming closer to home at South Valley Park. This park is part of Jefferson County Open Space and is near Ken Caryl in the western suburbs of Denver and features great hiking/walking trails and beautiful rock outcroppings. Here's a sneak peak: 

I'm fortunate to spend time doing what I'm passionate about and with people (and animals!) I love. For me that's what makes life worth living. This Valentines Day I hope you get the chance to do the same...

https://loveland.org/programs/valentine-re-mailing-program/