Teatro Hotel Photo Shoot

Yesterday was the photo shoot at the lovely Teatro Hotel in downtown Denver.  I met my photographer, Roy Daniel, marketing guy David, and fellow models for the upcoming Vail shoot, Randi and Alex.  What a great group!  The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly, collaborative and just fun.  This is how all shoots should be.  On the down side, I wasn't aware valet parking was free for the shoot and I parked in the garage across the street.  That wouldn't have been a big deal except for the fact that I brought as much of my closet as would fit in my ginormous suitcase (of course Randi's super cute continent-sized polka dot suitcase outweighed mine).  I'm not going to lie--my upper body strength is somewhat lacking.  I had to stop to breathe a few times on the trip down the one hundred and ten flights of stairs and nintey miles down the street to the hotel.  Oooo, baby, the suite was nice though.  Associated with the fine arts center, authentic costumes are framed on the walls as well as photos from productions.  It's just too bad the hotel didn't deem an overnight necessary.  Hopefully, I gathered enough info to to do a writing piece for Examiner. 

The Vail shoot is three weeks away--whoo hoo!  :)

Casting Call Today

Today I have a casting call for a TV commercial.  I have mixed feelings about this--I got a mercy C in Drama in high school.  I model--I don't act!  You're probably thinking, why go then?  I've been thinking the same thing.  :)  I guess I'm going for the new experience.

On a related topic, I just got two new photos from my last photo shoot.  It was located in the dirt and weeds in the middle of nowhere, but it was worth it.  I'm always happy to get shots that show a little of my personality. 

   

Vista Verde Day Two

Where to start for day two?  I woke up feeling as serene as I think I've ever felt before.  The large windows in the vaulted ceilings gave me a panoramic view of the white world outside.  It snowed almost the whole time and that morning was no exception.  In a word--it was beautiful. 

The day began with yummy breakfast.  Chef Rob (whom I met later) makes everything from scratch--everything.  I think he should make and package his granola.  It would make a fortune.  I talked quite a bit with my favorite dining room staff member--Sallie from Alabama.  I didn't realize that places in Colorado are always as wintery as Steamboat and she thought that all of Colorado was covered in snow for a good part of the year.  Imagine that.  After breakfast was the highlight of my trip--horseback riding lessons.  Being the citified city girl of cities that I am, I honestly didn't think I'd do very well, but I'm always up for a new experience.  It was, after all, my idea.  Liam went first on his cute little horse.  His sensitive nose was obviously in overdrive--he held it clamped shut for the first hour.  Erik, who had taken care of him the night before during adults-only dinner, led him around on the horse, then did circles in the arena in a motorized cart with him in the passenger seat.  I could tell he really, really liked Erik because he actually spoke to him after a while.  I think I even caught a smile on his adorable little white face.  (Liam's :)).  

My horse was D.B.  I had a close friend in high school named D.B., which stood for Darling Boy.  I have no idea if the acronyms are the same, but the horse was darling, for sure.  He must have liked me as I didn't get bucked off and he did everything I asked him to do.  When I got off and held the lead, he nuzzled me.  Awwwwww!  I've never been an animal person, but I wanted to take D.B. home.  Brian's horse decided he was done near the end and flatly refused to cooperate.  Frustrating for him--funny to me.  My biggest surprise of the day--riding horses is WORK.  I still ache and have new respect for the most boring of movie genres--the western.  Our teacher, Terry, will go to cowboy heaven for his incredible patience and true skill.

After lunch was hot tub time and cooking class.  I'm not sure it was meant to be a private lesson, but that's what I got.  The executive chef, Rob Citto, let me think I was cooking as he deftly created around me.  I mostly enjoyed the dry humor.  I did learn that it does, in fact, matter which order you throw in ingredients.  I was hoping to never find that out.  Knowledge is dangerous, you know.  I have no excuse now for my speed method of cooking.

It was difficult to say goodbye and even more difficult to drive home.  At one point, the white of the sky, the road, the land and the scenery (non-existent) blended into a white-out.  We were driving by the relative positions of the thin, green-grey posts placed every-so-often on the sides of the road.  I'm always happy to be home after a trip, but never so happy as that day.  However, I cannot wait to get back to Vista Verde this summer!

Click here to read VVR part two on Examiner.com.


      

Vista Verde Ranch, Day One

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to stay and review the lovely Vista Verde Ranch near Steamboat Springs.  Brian, Liam and I packed up and headed out early (8am--super early) with the hopes of being there by noon.  Six hours and wayyyy too much snow later, we were there.  The kind and considerate staff fed us immediately, then showed us to our cabin.  It's not what I expected!  Ranches and cabins bring to mind cold, drafts, outdated decor and suspicious furniture.  Not so here--it was tastefully decorated (always vital to me) and comfortable.

Liam ran upstairs to the loft and claimed the largest bed even though he had no competition.  Next, he let me know that he loved it here because he had his very own Kleenex and garbage can.  (Why do I bother buying him toys???)  The rest of the day was spent sledding.  Since we came (well, mostly I came) woefully unprepared, Charlie, our sledding guide, lent us snowsuits and gave Liam goggles.  I only brought my thin boots with heels, so yes, I went sledding in heels.  The ride up on a sled pulled behind a snowcat was as much fun as the rush downhill.  

Dinner was fantastic.  The other two couples at our table, from Steamboat and New Jersey, had plenty to share and made us feel like we had been expected there.  I practiced my sad and sorry French on Martine, originally from France.  She was kind enough not to comment.  Liam searched the room for a stuffed Moose housekeeping had hidden for him that night.  Before bed, I sat in a leather chair by the fire and typed away on my laptop.  Eventually I made my way to bed and slept well (unusual for me).

Click here to see part one of my Vista Verde Ranch series on Examiner.com.  

I'll save the next day for a post tomorrow.  Time to go watch "House."  Goodnight!