ABBA - Mamma Mia

A GAMBLE IN LIFE (AN OPEN LETTER TO JENNY LEWIS)

I wanted to write a song about French films and trains, but I couldn't focus, focus on the pain.

So now I am just sittin' here thinkin' of you, I am on the Texas Eagle, it's route 22.

You know already that my middle name is always, so why must you dance around my hallways?

I am waiting for you, now in the car, it looks like however, we'll never get far.

Baby, I know your bad news, after all that's the reason I like you.

Don't you think I know it's a hit? Your starring in it, but I think you know, you're the shit.

shu-bop. shu-bop. my baby...

I must wonder, do you love me like I love you? I want to know you, but will I ever get to?

I'll hold your life in my hands, not just that pretty little face.
When I get to California, please, put me in my place.

Cause I love you, and I don't care if you love me. Go ahead, have the baby.

If it turns out to be all for love, you will be loved. Open up your eyes, keep it up, it will be enough. You know it, you will be loved.

I wanted to find myself by travelin' out west, but I don't think however that there is anyone who is better. This is the reason, I will not drop the rock on you, and so you know, it's here in this letter.

If you're telling me that you're lonely too, why do I sit here waiting, panting for you? If you have had enough o fthe breakdowns, why don't you just let your guard down? I'll never deconstruct, but I'll live my life to build you up.

Please don't murder what matters to me, cause you'll be killing yourself if you did.

I know I'm all alone, and seriously what the hell is sleep? I hope that one day you will sing this song, and we'll get the chance to meet.

Could you really be my American wife, or is this just one more gamble in life?

VINNIE & DOM
Well it has only taken a month or so, but I wanted to introduce you all to the newlyweds Mr and Mrs. Vince & Dominique Carson. The union of the souls took place on Tuesday March 21, 2006 at Restaurant Barclay in Aspen, CO. The event went off without a hitch thanks to the efforts of the tireless citizens of Stumble Town, who had way too long to plan the shebang anyhow. The kids are now ready to spread their wings and fly as they prepare for a move out to sunny California. While we shall miss them tremendously, we know it is only a matter of time before their lives are chronicled on "the Real Housewives of Orange County"
So say your "see-ya-lata's" now, cause these kiddies are out! Love you two to death.

THE ONLY TIME I TELL THE TRUTH WHEN I AM SOBER.
Here's a post from the fabulous Ms. Huck that was regrettably lost in the piles of paper on my desk. Lucky for you, I found it.

SURROUNDED

I hiked the Ute with Huck yesterday. We hike it a lot. We went up and down all summer; my new ACL held its own but each step of the descent reminded me that I was not yet fully healed.

The trail is different in the fall; dark and cool and mostly empty. It is beautiful in a mature way, somehow different than hikes in the spring, when the trailÂ’s fresh splendor and my freshly un-bandaged knee had the energy of an anxious puppy. Now it is like an old friend, one who you know so well, each root, curve, and vista, that you notice the subtle but ongoing changes. Hidden roots are exposed as dirt is washed away by the rain and views are altered by the newly bare Aspens. Rain and snow have left it wet and slippery, so I bought some trekking poles for support on the hike down.

An old friend came to town to have dinner. We met in Aspen almost seven years ago and he changed my life. Once my best friend and the love of my life, he is now just an old friend and someone who has known me completely and loved me anyway. Walking through town after dinner he asked me why I was so in love with Aspen. I looked around, surrounded by the familiar sights and smells that make Aspen my home, and with an enormous smile I replied, “Even when it's bad, it is so good.”

Heartbreak is humbling. I am fortunate in that I was humbled into the arms of my friends. It felt like I hit the hard ground, but I know that my fall was softened by the ready hands, shoulders and words of my friends. Not wanting to be home alone I crashed on everyone'’s couch, I lost my pants in J and Da'’s loft, I got a pep talk from Brades that meant more than he knew. I drank wine with the other two badass brunettes, I ate take out with Riss, and Bean and I sang along loudly and badly to Air Supply. My dad called to say "“hi"” and I cried. I saw the knight at Bentley's with the new girl and I cried. I ran a stop sign that I could not see for tears and while the officer wrote up the ticket, I cried. I cried to El and El at work, I cried buckets on Beanie's couch, and in Cook's hug I cried until I finally laughed.

The descent was excruciating, but I had a lot of support.

I walked to my car last week to find that my front right tire was completely flat. Sadly, I had no idea what to do. Freezing and helpless I ran (in high heels) to find Ry-ry, who went to the gas station with me, showed me how to put air in my tire, and told me how to get to the tire store. My couch weighs five hundred pounds. Literally. It now rests beautifully on the second floor of my new apartment. I knew that I was going to need a little help to get it up the very narrow stair case so I made a few calls. I didn'’t say much and did my best to stay out of the way as the boys uncrated, disassembled, and maneuvered the couch up to my living room. Following the effort we sat on my front porch, basking in one of fallÂ’s last warm afternoons; me, my ex-boyfriend, his college roommates and my friend's soon-to-be ex-husband. My friends. Who needs frogs when I am surrounded by princes?

The day I moved to Aspen I found a group of people who have since become my friends. They have been my problem solvers, dog walkers, drinking buddies, ski buddies, confidants, counselors, and my cheerleaders. They have made me laugh, made me cry, made me drink, eat and sleep. I have been laughed with, laughed at, hugged, kissed, carried, thrown and drug. I have been listened to, understood, confided in and trusted. They have been my sisters, my brothers, my family, and I have been loved. I am loved.

Everyday I walk out of my front door and look around. I am surrounded by the mountains that I have known and loved all of my life, surrounded by my old familiar friends. Last night I walked under their comforting gaze to meet some other familiar faces. Perched on my usual seat at 39, surrounded by my friends, I laughed until I cried.

Only a few more times up the Ute until winter sets in for good. It is already snowy and icy up top, but not to worry, I have my trekking poles. I will miss my old friend but I will be skiing down the other side of the mountain in no time, on a healed but scarred knee, surrounded by friends who have seen me through it all.

Even when itÂ’s bad, it is so good. ThatÂ’s the beauty of living in Aspen. That is the beauty of living.

THE GALS FROM DOWN UNDER.

Today marks the last day in town for all of my fabulous new Australian ladies that I met this winter. We had good times, good laughs, and plenty of availment! It was my pleasure to get to know all of you individually and collectively. Though you are all headed your separate ways, I know that the times we shared will not be soon forgotten. I would also like to thank you for introducing me to more new friends and for always being your sweet little selves. I know that you have all caught the Aspen bug, so I have no worries that I will see you again. If not, then I guess I'll just have to hop on down to your town. Thank you for the memories. Go get em' gals!

I'M JUST A LONESOME LA COWBOY, HANGIN OUT AND HANGIN ON.

Well let me first thank The Shins for the text of my last post. That song seemed to some it up well that day. Well as I said my divorce is now final and oddly enough it hasn't felt at all like I thought it would. I thought there would be some sort of "free at last" feeling, but the party felt more like a funeral. As I signed the final documents to officially end the bond of David and Carrie Cook, I couldn't shake the felling that I was burying the ashes of a great friendship that was too scarred to repair. It was a sad day. Afterall, while the end of result was negative, the marriage definitely had it's good times. This person had been my best friend for a long time, and it's still weird not having that friendship to pull you through the tough times. It is as the say. The end of an era, the good thing is that it's the start of a new one. What will happen I have no idea. I just know that I'm a bit older, wiser, and harder. My heart though bruised still has hope. And hope is a magnificent thing. So here's to new beginnings, and new experiences. Cheers kiddies.

GONE FOR GOOD.

I will be posting some more personal reactions to today very soon, but I have had this song in my head for quite some time and so I am going to present you with it now. Let me know if you wants to hear it.

Untie me, I've said no vows
The train is getting way too loud
I gotta leave here my girl
Get on with my lonely life

Just leave the ring on the rail
For the wheels to nullify

Until this turn in my head
I let you stay and you paid no rent
I spent twelve long months on the lam

That's enough sitting on the fence
For the fear of breaking dams

I find a fatal flaw
In the logic of love
And go out of my head

You love a sinking stone
That'll never elope
So get used to the lonesome
Girl, you must atone some
Don't leave me no phone number there

It took me all of a year
To put the poison pill to your ear
But now I stand on honest ground, on honest ground

You want to fight for this love
But honey you cannot wrestle a dove
So baby it's clear

You want to jump and dance
But you sat on your hands
And lost your only chance

Go back to your hometown
Get your feet on the ground
And stop floating around

I find a fatal flaw
In the logic of love
And go out of my head

You love a sinking stone
That'll never elope
So get used to used to the lonesome
Girl, you must atone some
Don't leave me no phone number there