Post RV and Rocky Mountain High Recap

The view from Mt. Evans

It took a day or two to catch up on sleep once we returned to civilization. I did not miss sleeping in the RV at all, it was amazing to be home. My parents' guest bed is a million times more comfortable than my beds in Taiwan.  I spared no time and quickly got online and starting ordering goods I couldn't get in Taiwan and calling friends to make plans.


One of the observations my daughter made about the States, or at least where we were was, "There's so many white people here!" Which one of my brothers found hilarious. For me I noticed how much worse the traffic was, how everyone has smart TVs and bluetooth their cell phones to theirs cars and of course there were all the green cross shops from marijuana legalization.

High above Berthoud Pass

 America is more comfortable generally. I ate well to say the least. While all my friends were avoiding carbs at all costs for health reasons, I was happy to eat spelt tortillas and bread. I couldn't get enough. Unlike bread in Taiwan, one slice with organic butter is all you need to be satiated. I was having turkey melts for lunch, with New Mexican green chili. That was one intention I did do as planned, eat green chili for every meal. I had it with my eggs, my lunch, my dinner.

 I embraced my inner hobbit and had 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners; or one breakfast, one brunch, lunch, supper, dinner and dessert. Suffice to say I gained 2 kg, which is fine with me (and totally noticeable as I'm so short) because I had the creamiest yogurts, kefir, cottage cheese with peaches and blueberries, Ben and Jerry's ice-creams- my bones were stocking up on all the calcium I ate from the dairy. (Here in Yilan I hardly eat dairy, a little yogurt or kefir as its expensive at the local Santa Cruz health store.) I had so much cheese as my mom gets raw cheddar. It was fabulous.

 I went to the gym almost everyday with my Mom for a Zumba class, which was fun if the teacher was decent. I caught one amazing yoga class with my friend who taught it and mostly did yoga in my folks' backyard. I wanted to do a massive morning yoga class at Red Rocks, but they were all sold out, so before I left CO, my friend and I went to a Yoga Journal sponsored Yoga Rocks the Park downtown taught  by Amy Ippoliti. It was incredible. I was inspired to walk in wheel pose, see the demonstration here.

Hiking at Chataqua, Boulder

 Sadly I didnt do half the things or catch up with half the people I wanted to.  I had this brainstorm of places to go and things to do, and who to do it with- but its ok, resting at home, my daughter playing with her cousin, me trying to bake at altitude (upside down lemon cake, zucchini bread with goji berries and pumpkin seeds) and cook (chicken tandori, biriyani) was relaxing.

Bear Creek Lake.

 We had wanted to go to Water World, Elitches (an amusement park), but never made it. However my friend took us to Bear Creek Lake where our kids could play and we could catch up. It was blistering hot that day, I stayed under an umbrella most of the time, the sun at altitude was intense, but every afternoon like clockwork there was summer thunderstorm. I love the crackle of thunder right over head, the Thor dazzling lightening,  The weather the whole time was in a word-perfection. It wasn't too hot (80F/ 24-26C) and in the evening and night it got chilly. My daughter liked to say, "This is like winter in Yilan!" She loved it. People, kept on telling us how hot it was "just the other day", but we didnt really see it. What a relief not to be melting in the sweltering Tropic of Cancer humidity. It felt more like the end of September than August, autumn is early. Colorado was uncharacteristically green due to a monsoon summer, El Nido no doubt. Everyone agreed winter will be intense this year.  I hate to miss the aspens change color.

Hail Out of Nowhere 2
They had a blast gathering hail for cranberry snow cones! I was weary for them, with the thunder and lightening.
Posted by Kathy Benavides on Monday, August 10, 2015

 It was just like Colorado weather to unleash a mighty hail storm for my daughter to experience. I pitied anyone caught in it, it would be painful. My daughter and niece braved the hail under a massive umbrella and gathered buckets of it which they later ate with condensed cranberry juice, heaven's own slushie.

View from our campsite

We had another family camping weekend at YMCA's Snow Mountain Ranch in my parent's pop up. During a short hike to a waterfall we saw a mama moose with her calf just a few yards away, it was indubitably memorable. I felt honored that this massive animal let us be so close to her precious baby. I've seen elk before but never moose, let a lone at this close range. My sister in law, got great video of the calf, I only saw it on the way down from the waterfall and my photo unfortunately was too blurry.

We saddled up in the morning and went on a trail through the mountain forests. The scenery was stunning, relaxing. We stopped for ice-cream in Empire on the way up and for views of Berthoud Pass on the return trip back to Denver.

Views overlooking Boulder

 My trip would be incomplete without more hikes and a trip to Boulder to catch up with friends. I hiked the flat irons at Chataqua in my mom's clogs which wasn't ideal and I def felt the altitude having to stop a few times, but it was worth the views and exercise in the end.

Z had to see Red Rocks! Maybe next time we can catch a show

My Dad took my daughter and I to Mt. Evans, which has the highest paved road in America, far above tree line. The views are usually extraordinary, with big horn sheep and the Rocky Mountains extending as far as the eyes can see in all directions, but because of forest fires in Washington State and Oregon, the visibility was compromised. It was still stunning and cold despite the sunny day, the wind chill made it 45 F (7 C). My daughter was cold and the altitude made her dizzy. As is our tradition, we went down to Echo Lake at the base of America's highest road and had some famous pie at the Lodge while watching the alpine hummingbirds feed out the windows.

My Dad and daughter, Mt. Evans

Later we went fishing. My kid has been lucky in Taiwan to catch fish easily with her little bamboo pole, but for some reason her patience was tested with these brown trout. It took  several hours for her to catch 2 brown trout while everyone around us seemed to be reeling them in. I had a few bites myself I failed to hook. The real kicker was when the fisherman on site was teaching my kid how to gut a fish. She was utterly disgusted, but being the adventurous epicure I know she is I dared her to eat one of the beating fish hearts and she did. She popped it in her mouth like a little raspberry, 'Temple of Doom' style. I knew she would, she's eaten fish eyes, grasshoppers, some kin of larvae caterpillar and  crickets before. That kid won't do anything she doesn't want to.

Z ate a fish heart while it was still pumping! She caught 2 brown trout (after much time and effort) and when the guy was teaching her how to gut it, I I dared her. She chewed it up! Haha!
Posted by Kathy Benavides on Friday, August 21, 2015

One of the things my daughter hankered to do was eat at the nearby Fondue Restaurant. She's been keen to eat Fondue the past year after reading about Switzerland and wanting to live there when she's an adult.  It was my first time at the Melting Pot, although it's in my neighborhood, I suppose its slightly been out of my price range or occasion. Anyways, it was expensive, but amazing. We shared a few dishes and were stuffed. I enjoyed a local Denver cider with the mouth watering white wine, Gruyere, blue cheese, whatever it was, which was perfect with green apple, strawberries, anything. It was the ultimate delectable experience. It reminded me of Hot Pot places in Taiwan, all the family gathered around heated pots of vegetables and meats, except fondue, chocolates and cheeses are so much more appetizing. I doubt Taiwanese would like to eat there as the place is haunted, they have ghost dinners for Halloween and the staff testified to their own personal close encounters.

Dip it good!

My folks, it will be their 42nd anniversary the beginning of September

The day before we had to fly out of DIA, all 4 of my brothers and their kids got together in the park, which had prior been impossible with everyone's schedules. My little nieces and nephews are beyond cute, precious and of course I think they are all extremely intelligent. We ended the day with chicken wings and beer, the restaurant had the Bronco cheerleaders and mascot so my daughter and niece got some posters and autographs, a great souvenir for her, although the meaning is lost on her not having grown up at the mercy of Bronco season.

The first time my kid tried Gatorade, which boggled my brothers

Z with Miles the Mascot

The highlight of my trip of course was spending time with family and resting. The entire time in the forefront of my mind was when and how I would settle back in Colorado. I cried when I said goodbye to my grandparents, because tears ran down my grandpa's face when he said, "I probably will never see you again," implying they will die soon. It wasn't pleasant to leave him like that. It wasn't pleasant to leave America as it turned out, but that's another story.

Uncle Mike behind the camera, and some of the Benavides clan, Albuquerque.

Football manager inspires others with dedication

 This is the latest article on my brother Eddie and his passion for high school football in the face of his disabilities. The article failed to mention the moving across the country, the details of medical mishaps, the epileptic seizures. Those details are for my dad who finished a rough draft about my amazing brother.

Arapahoe Herald /Tuesday, December 6, 2011

SPORTS Football manager inspires others with dedication  by Maggie Hurlbut

Arapahoe Herald Every fall, students and parents crowd the stands for Friday night football. Seventy-eight players line the field along with coaches, managers and trainers. Along with these typical team members is
someone distinctly unique to Arapahoe. Manager Eddie Benavides has been with the team for eleven years. Benavides graduated from Arapahoe High School in 2001 and started managing a year later. “Honestly, I can’t imagine Arapahoefootball without Eddie,” junior Taven Sparks said. “There is something special about football and the camaraderie that you develop as a team. Our coaches often refer to us asa football family. Eddie is a very important member of that family. It just wouldn’t be the same without him.”

In addition to being an avid football fan and a crucial member of the Arapahoe football family, Benavides has prevailed over many physical challenges, disabilities and illnesses through his entire life.“I’ve had so many surgeries counting back from when I was a baby,” Benavidessaid. “We lost count at surgery number 25. That was when I was a baby.”

Benavides’s father has been with Eddie’s since the beginning and has had a frontrow view of all that he has been through “Eddie was born with multiple syndromes; a medical label for ailments,”Benavides’s father, Andy Benavides, said. “The first is Craniosynostosis. This ailment is associated with Eddie’s head. Simply stated,this is a deformity of Eddie’s skull. All of thesutures in Eddie’s head were closed at birth;that’s right, no ‘baby’ soft spots. The onl treatment for this syndrome is surgery.” “Eddie also has Arthrogryposis, a condition used to describe a number of rare conditions associated with joints and abnormally developed muscles. Eddie has locked elbows, clubfeet, and his wrists aredeformed. His wrists would not allow his
fingers to point outward, only downward.”

“We would eventually learn that addressing this syndrome would consist of multiple medical treatments and surgeries. According to his doctors in Phoenix, Eddie was the first human being to have these syndromes simultaneously. They said, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Benavides, after additional testing and evaluation, we are recommending that Eddie be institutionalized. Eddie’s brain activity is close to being nonexistent and there are strong indications that he will be in a state of vegetation for the entirety of his life.’”

Benavides has been living with his conditions since he was a baby. Even more impressive is that he continues to overcomemany challenges in his day-to-day life.“As far as physical challenges I’ve overcome, I’ve overcome life itself,” Benavides said. “From surgeries I’ve dealt with since I was a baby to my disabilities I have to deal with every day. Those two challenges have had a huge effect on my day-to-day life.Due to my disabilities, I have found ways to adjust to everyday life.”

Benavides’s attitude towards all of his conditions is remarkable. “These challenges have helped mebecome a stronger person because of my attitude,” Benavides said. “Most importantly, as a believer and Christian, God has helped me become a stronger person through my challenges with everyday life.” Benavides’s presence at games is somethingcoaches and players value deeply. “He knows the layout of where we want to position different drills and things like that,” head coach Mike Campbell said. “On game day, he’s just our biggest fan and supporter more than anything. He inspires us all.”

“Benavides means so much to the team,” Sparks said. “Although he isn’t out there coaching or playing, his presence at practice and games is invaluable. He is such an inspiration to the players and coaches on the team. If a practice or game isn’t going the way we would like, Eddie helps us put the game of football in perspective.” “Eddie is part of the Arapahoe football family. He is sad when we lose and thrilledwhen we win. Eddie is a true Warrior inspiring others through his positive attitude and passion for the game. More importantly, he has shown us how to overcome struggle and find joy in life.”

Benavides’s amazing journey and perseverance inspires players and coaches alike.“I think that he’s just a good reminder; he puts everything in perspective,” Campbell said. “Times get tough in football. You can get hurt, you can be tired and fatigued and want to quit, and when you see Eddie and everything that he’s been through, you wouldn’t dare quit.”Benavides’s commitment and love for Arapahoe football goes past his dedication and presence on the field. “His involvement with the football program cannot be put to words,” Andy Benavides said. “Simply stated, Eddie loves Arapahoe. His room is yellow and black; his clothes must include yellow and black. If it were possible, his briefs would be yellow and black. He fell and broke his wrist about a month ago. Immediately, Eddie requested a yellow and black cast.”

Benavides’s passion for the program sets the standards for the players’ performance. “Eddie is very competitive and he desires that our football players would be just as competitive,” Andy Benavides said. Benavides uses his journey to inspire the players to give their all and to keep going no matter what happens. At the game against Chatfield on Oct. 29, Benavides gavethe pregame speech.“He showed us pictures of the painful surgery he had to go through,” Sparks said. “His willingness to fight for his life every dayand persevere through such a difficult situation made each and every player realize that we must live each day to the fullest. Eddie reminds all of us to be thankful for our ability to go out and play the game of football.

In his speech, he talked about letting a bad play go. Eddie said you can’t let what happened in the past slow you down. He said you must move on and keep fighting.” After seeing what Benavides has beenthrough and how no matter what he continues to persevere and have a positive attitudemakes the players and coaches grateful forthings normally taken for granted.“He’s a person that is grateful for everyday he gets,” Campbell said. “So if you have some downs, which are going to happen during the course of any season, he just puts a smile on your face right away. And it’s pretty tough to feel sorry for yourself whenyou know what he deals with and what an average day looks like [for him].”

Benavides’s dedication and commitment to the team is inspiring to everyone who meets him and without him the Arapahoe football family would not be complete. “I do it for the love of the sport and the dedication to the school,” Benavides said. “Being able to be part of the school’s football program at the school you graduated from is a blast. Next year being season 12 and being told I have a lifetime contract working at Arapahoe. What else can you ask for?”

“Who knows what’s coming next year?

Arapahoe HS and the whole Arapahoe football program are like another family to me personally. I am nowhere close to calling it quits. I’m planning on continuing working at Arapahoe for a long time,” Benavides said.
Lanius @ wplSports.com
 
 

This past week and the Denver political scene

I’ve had an exciting week enjoying the gifts of the local Denver political scene.

On Saturday night I volunteered to represent INCITE! at the Chinooks Fund’s grantee awards and anniversary shindig. No one from INCITE Denver could make it, so I came and kidnapped Kristin. We parked at the Alliance Building (former CWA headquarters where we officially never had our own parking spots) and walked down 15th to the new Museum of Modern Art, made our way up to the rooftop into the empty windowed room to see Mayor Hickenlooper there. The free bar was outside, so Kris and I put our coats back on and headed out there and started our first round. The Mayor to our surprise joined us and we three enjoyed the solitude and the view. He and Kristin started w/ Fat Tires and me with a German Riesling. We made small talk. I was a little shocked that Hickenlooper seemed to want to hang w/us. He was very down to earth, talking to us like we had hung out a million times before. The mayor had a way of talking, not like a lisp, but a something, which made him seem even more personable. He is much shorter than I thought. (Not like pharonic Webb whom Kris and I once met in his circular, dark office. We talked about meeting Webb later that night driving around for parking. How huge he was, like Goliath, very kingly, I faintly remember incense burning in the background, us groveling on our knees, everyone hushed in awe, being transported back to the days of pharaoh).

He made a comment about all the development (cranes everywhere the eye turned); pointing to one new building coming up and saying he had no idea about that one. I sarcastically replied, “You think you would know about that, being the mayor”. He laughed. He made a reference to “if you build it they will come” w/o mentioning Field of Dreams or baseball, but I piped up about the Democratic National Convention and he yelped, “Are you trying to raise my blood pressure!” Kris brought up the current play at Curious Theater, his endorsement of it, we talked a little about it, he was actually on his way there after chatting w/us and then he was off to a friend’s wedding. After the mayor left it was glasses of champagne for Kris and I. We unapologetically got sloshed on bubbly, which made having to stand and speak in front of a room of people a lot easier. It also made us literally the last people to leave, standing next to the dessert bar w/ a fresh glass of bubbly, catching up since last we hanged. We did manage to see one room of the main photography exhibit, before driving around for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot to dance off our buzz before driving home. Needless to say, I never made the drive home, having had 2 rums and cokes. We never did find the right club, well we did, w/ a world class DJ in town, but we didn’t want to spend the 20$ door charge. Anyway it was a memorable night.

I’ve got to hand it to Sherelle (Chinook’s young ED), she put on a good show. Chinook had some kind of beatnik thing going, interactive, improve drama with the audience and former EDs. It was very cool, very emotional. Sherelle is multi-talented. They opened with a pair of Aztec drummers/pipers, very emotive. I had a good time. It made going to the Frat like club afterwards a bit of a downer compared to the culture and brains that was bursting at the seams at the Museum.

A few days later I went to my friend AJ Clemmons’ fundraising event at someone’s lovely house. She is running for CU Regent and her district is the size of Connecticut (or Rhode Island, something small and Eastern) compromising Douglas Co, Jeff co, some of Arapahoe, and a few more counties. Anyway, she needs to raise like $100,000 and has only 11,000, but she is hopeful. More than hopeful she felt called by God to run (chew on that Christian Right!). She is black, liberal, Christian, did I mention liberal? And she has a mission to reform higher education like other developed countries, where they actually invest in human capitol (think France and free university). Anyway, the other 2 Democratic Regents spoke and I was flabbergasted at the necessity of AJ’s victory. The Democrats control the House, the state Senate, we now have a Democrat Governor again, but the only Republican majority is the Regents—and they are not about to give that up. Decisions are being made behind closed doors about the direction of funding for higher education and thus who has access to it. It was fun to catch up with the rest of the CWA Board, meet some new people and stuff myself on Turkish appetizers and political intrigues (AJ’s boxing and alligator wrestling stories).