UCFapalooza! (With Pictures)

Tuesday, September 16, 2008
So Michelle and Michael arrived on Sunday night for their all-too-short visit to the Rocky Mountain Branch of the UCF. They had a long drive, so we visited for only a short while before we all went to bed. But not before I got some loot!

That's tasty cinnamon bread, some chocolate, a banned books bracelet, and some very cool yarn. Unseen here is the beer Michael brought. Hmm...beer. Thanks, Michelle and Michael!

I had to work for a couple of hours in the morning due to the incompetence of others (don't get me started), so we got a somewhat late start on our activities. The good news is that by the time we arrived at the tasting room of the Coors Brewery, it was almost noon, so Michael and I didn't feel too bad about doing some quality control tasting. Hmm...beer. Here's Michael and Michelle in front of the Coors copper kettle in front of the brewery.

These kettles are still in use inside the brewery:

Here's one of me in front of the Navy section of the Coors military memorial:

We then met Anne and the Smart Man at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, one of my favorite places on Planet Earth. People who don't think going to a Nature and Science Museum can be a blast have never been with a bunch of self-confident geeks. From Michael's recitation of the intro to "Star Trek" as we entered the space exhibit to the constant - and I mean constant - references to Young Earth Creationists, we never stopped laughing.

Here's Michael, Michelle and Anne playing in the Martian sand:

Here we are about to feed our imaginary coconuts to the T-Rex behind us (nomnomnomnom):

After the Museum, it was off to Racine's, a local Denver haunt, for dinner and drinks. When we arrived, I got more loot! This time from Anne.

Yes, those are bittersweet brownies, nomnomnomnom. And a cool book on how to do cool patterns with my knitting hoops! Thanks, Anne!

We ate, we drank, we solved the problems of the world. And we made a few..ahem...phone calls to other members of the UCF. Drinking and dialing, don't try this at home. Here we are at the end of the meal:

Then Anne had to take Michelle and Michael to the train station, which was a bummer.

It was a total blast to meet Michelle and Michael. Michelle is as gracious and fun as her on-line personality suggests, and Michael was as charming and funny as I would expect Michelle's mate to be.

Thanks for stopping by the Rocky Mountain UCF, guys! You're welcome here anytime.

12 comments:

vince said...

Looks like a lot of fun was had by all. And going to museums? I agree - a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

Y'all can't see my face, but trust me - it is the face of ENVY!

Anne C. said...

I had a wonderful time with all of you! I hadn't been to that particular museum (I grew up near DC, so I'm spoiled by the Smithsonian. What? Pay for a museum?) and going to it with a bunch of geeks was truly delightful.
Thanks so much for visiting M & M!

John the Scientist said...

I know Anne - we went to the Smithsonian once per year with school from basically 2nd grade until 8th grade didn't we? It really did spoil us.

I'm lucky, though - my employer supports pretty much every major museum in NYC, so I can get in there free when I want - our trip to the MNH in NYC cost us only for the IMAX show on dinos, and even that was at a reduced rate.

Janiece said...

The Smart Man and I intend on visiting the Smithsonian next summer. We can't wait!

John the Scientist said...

Do NOT forget Udvar-Hazy. It's only about a 30 minute drive and well worth it.

Jeri said...

Looks like a LOT of fun. I also got a certain phone call - great fun to listen to on voice mail! - unfortunately it came in while I was trekking through downtown toward the ferry. There was WAY too much background noise to hear the phone ring, darn it.

We went to museums a lot when we were kids, always native artifact museums, and actually my sis and I are a little gunshy on them as a result. I don't know why - we usually enjoy it when we get there - but we saw more arrowheads than any kid should have to.

mattw said...

Sounds like you guys had a really good time.

We went to the Field Museum in Chicago a lot and the Museum of Science and Industry less, when I was a kid.

The Mechanicky Gal said...

Geez, the big thing in Philly when I was growing up was teh Mutter Museaum which is a giant freak show of bizarre medical conditions, tumors, deformities, and fetus' (yes, I said fetussus) all carefully preserved in embalming fluid.
Deee-lightful!
I think there were a couple of other museums in the area.....

Random Michelle K said...

INVISIBLE COCONUTS!

Muahahahaha!

Also, a trip to the Smithsonian is pretty much in my neck of the woods--especially as I have family in DC. Lemme know when you'll be over this way!

vince said...

And I've a coconut song over at my place just for the three of you invisible coconut holders.

Beastly said...

you never said anything about touring a brewery. I'm a bit west of your location but intend to make a trip to Denver some time after I get things in AZ figured out.