So the girls weekend in Aspen is over and I am alive to blog to you today. And the only reason I think that is, is because Molly was sober enough to look after us. The altitude/alcohol thing bothered her so she was the mother hen we all needed. She had us in bed by 12:00 both nights. Don't you judge me, you weren't there! There was drinking in excess, I'm talking about 10:00 am to midnight. I am thirty you know....
We survived the plane ride with Fran the plane virgin. The barf bag came in real handy, for breathing purposes thank god! And yes I have a visual for you...
Unlucky for us the first flight from Greenville to Dallas was a certified puddle jumper. Let's put it this way, you had to duck your head in order to walk down the aisle. I positioned myself behind Fran as we boarded the plane because I knew when she saw this thing she was going to make a break for it. She tried but I strong armed her and the Xanex the doctor prescribed her slowed her down and I got us to our seats. Seats if you want to call them that were smack at the end of the "school bus" right against the crapper. Great. Unknowingly to me this really was a godsent since we proceeded to drink the plane dry, yes that's right I said dry. The bathroom was conviently located to our advantage.
Now I guess we can't take all the credit for drinking the plane dry, we had the help of some friends we made about 5 seconds of taking off. Mario and Emanuel from LA and the Dina? from Dallas. And yes I have another visual for you...
Dina from Dallas got hammered drunk on red wine and could not form a complete sentence by landing. It was only a two hour flight. So from the puddle jumper we moved to a 757 for the flight to Vail. It was more of the same but I would same far more subdued than the first flight. We arrive to Vail and see Amanda and there is a lot of screaming across the airport with some high kicks involved. People were staring...you get the picture. We pile into the Jetta and are off for what turned out to be a trip of a lifetime. We were not out of the airport parking lot for 5 minutes before Amanda takes a sharp right onto a dirt road before saying to me, "This is Cottonwood Pass right?" I turn to look at Molly and Fran in the back and they look like they just saw a ghost. Before I could answer Amanda, Molly says "Is your car made for this kind of road?" We all crack up. If you know Molly this question made perfect sense. So we drove that road, making Amanda stop every 10 feet to take pictures, not passing another soul for over an hour. Here are some pics from Cottonwood Pass ...
After we hit pavement is was almost dark and the directions because more unclear. It took us a little longer than anticipated but the important thing is the beer was still cold and we made it just in time to see Ben Harper play for the last hour. By far the best performance I have ever seen him give. Sweet...
The next morning we were up at sunrise. After a yummy breakfast it was off to downton Aspen for shopping. I tried to blame the fact that I felt like poo on the altitude but now that I am sober enough to think i realize it was the 14 hours of drinking the day before. But I put my big girl panties on and had a blast. There was a farmers market with local organic produce, homemade pastries and even a muffin lady (the next best thing to a pie lady). Mmmm...Amanda and I had the peach muffin.
This grizzly bear was made out of nails...very cool
After we get back to the hotel we shower up for cocktail time and pictures beore the concerts. There was this really pretty area behind the deck off our room with a little bridge and stream with flowers everywhere. 
The best part of picture taking was watching Amanda running to get in the picture after pushing the timer. Not always succcesfully I might add. Then it was on to the show. We drug the comforter off the bed at the hotel and dubbed it "big nasty" to sit on at the show. Well we show up an hour late and Joss Stone is already playing. We look around for a place to unfurl the big nasty and it is packed...I see no places for 4 drunk girls to sit. Amanda says, "I see a place." "Where?" I ask. "Follow me" she says. We begin the tedious walk through herds of people trying not to step on them or their blankets. We finally get to this little patch of green grass, when I say little, I mean about 5 feet. The people in front and the people in the back look at us with pure disgust. Amanda immediately chimes in, "You don't mind if we sit here, right?" After about 20 seconds of dead silence the lady finally says in a very unsure of herself kind of way, "I guess...". "Great, thanks!" Amanda says as she rolls out the 12 foot long comforter. Not to worry after about an hour they were all our friends. Fran's inner black woman came out when John Legend performed. She danced and screamed over and over, "I love you John!!!! I am your biggest fan EVER!!!!"Now Fran did not know I snuck this video. But I have to say it seemed entirtely necessary at the time. And Amanda agreed.And yes that Fran I have put on You Tube and no she dosen't know yet. Sorry I couldn't get it right side up but you get the idea.
So the trip continued that evening until we passed out after a quick game of charades. It was Fran't idea and ended up being freaking hysterical. All I'm saying is Molly and the Thriller dance.So it seems as soon as it began it was over. We made it out of Snowmass early just in time for sunrise...
Amanda kept her longstanding record for perfect drop off a the airport. But not before we made her stop to take pictures of all the wildlife. We saw a group of elk, two with antlers and a some big damn turkeys.
When all is said and done I would have flown halfway around the world to see Grace's expression when I walked in the door after being gone. Priceless I tell you. I know this post is supposed to be all about my trip but I have to include a picture of Grace's first day of school. She goes two days a week for a few hours. So proud...
I miss you Manda
