Sights

 Just a few random shots from the past week or so to keep the blog updated and the people coming back. While no photos exist of the event, there were 42 community members that spoke to Council on Tuesday, stretching over 2 1/2 hours. All sorts of topics, including Flock, date centers, West Greeley, taxes, and open spaces. Walked in the front door at 10. Other sights include some morning walk moons and balloons, and a feature in the UNC bulletin (cute kids!), a Rotary meeting, and our first Nebraska watch party. 

22

 Birthday season rolls on! Must have been a great winter all those years ago….

Happiest of birthdays to my favorite youngest AND favorite daughter. I love you, I’m so proud of you, and I can’t wait for our next adventure together. 

Dave!

 The Dave Matthews Band made their return to Colorado for the first time since 2024, with a two night stand at Fiddler’s Green. I sacrificed my tickets for the Friday night show, so I could attend the UNC home opener under the lights. After some fits and starts and a heavy dose of indecision, I decided to make a solo trek this year, since Jen just wasn’t feeling the vibe. I made the stop at my favorite cigar lounge for a few hours, before heading to the venue. No real line for merch, plenty of both the weekend poster as well as Saturday night’s, and smooth entry inside. Dave strolled on at exactly 745, and played right up until 1015. Still no “Dreaming Tree” but got “Say Goodbye” “Eh-Hee” and a stunning closer of “The Stone.” Made friends with my seat mates, saw Raab (IFKYK), and was thisclose to the setlist that he brought back for her. I really should have asked if I could have kept it, since she had several. Overall a great night, good vibes, and grateful I decided to go. See you in 2028 Dave!

Lights PT. 3

 While the Bears ended up losing a heartbreaker 30-29, it was still a special evening for UNC and the city of Greeley. Had a great time, shared the evening with so many good friends, and the commute home was only 10 minutes. Here are a few more pictures from the evening. And as always, GO BEARS!

Lights PT.2

 A year ago, Ben and I attended the first game of the UNC football season. We hung out in the corner of the end zone, had a few beers, and watched the City Council be recognized before kickoff. I was in the middle of the campaign, and had no idea what the upcoming couple of months were about to bring. Fast-forward to last night, where I walked to midfield at halftime with my fellow city council members and had my name announced over the PA system. While we were waiting, I took a few minutes to reflect on how special the moment was. I could see the dorm that I arrived at in the fall of 1995 as a wide-eyed freshman. Right next door to that was Turner Hall, where I met Jennifer Gonzales for the first time. The memories of courting her, being on staff as RAs, the shooting in McCowen Hall, our graduations, and then several decades later, Andrew and Ari’s graduations. I recorded a video for mom and dad, acknowledging with a sense of humility and disbelief that their son was about to stroll to midfield of the first ever night game as a Councilman for the City of Greeley. I wish they could have been there, and I’m hopeful that maybe they somehow knew, and smiled down upon me. I’m grateful Jen was there, and wish the kids and their partners could have been there as well.