Dear Denver / Boulder,

I owe you many blog entries. I am aware of this. But for now, I have only this to say:

It’s snowing out there. It is likely to continue to do so all week. So would y’all do me an important personal favor? Read this. It’s all about how not to die in an automobile accident in the winter. I have a vested interest in y’all not dying. OK? Read it. Right now.

Because I care. Dammit.

Love, Niki.

There’s a place just down the street from where I live that has been in Aurora for over 20 years. It is a place that is not going to be good for your health. It’s a place that is not high falootin’ in any sense of the word. It is down to the earth straight to the dirt basic and awesome at the same time. It’s the place known as Johnny’s Diner and at Havana and Iliff it’s a place I find myself drawn to at least once a week.

It’s heaven. It’s where you can find the best breakfasts in just about the whole city (in my opinion) besides Sam’s #3 which is also down the street. Ultimate Omelet? Oh my gawrsh. Scrambled Egg Burrito (pictured below) with every single of piece of meat you can stuff in it? Knock me over with a board and bury me now y’all, I’m going to heaven on a cardiac express.

Seriously folks. That doesn’t even count the Country Fried Steak, Eggs & Spuds. My vocabulury can’t even spell out just how the juicy and fresh burgers will send you a spinnin’ into a solid food dreamland. They got hot dogs, huevo rancheros, pancakes and just about anything you can get off the menu.

So if you haven’t Dined At Johnny’s, consider this your invitation. Say hi to the guys and give ‘em a smile. A shout out to Bob if he’s still there and the guys on the line cookin’ that sweet nectar on the grill.

Every so often I try and get out and enjoy the food the Denver Area has to offer. I also realize you have to sometimes go outside the this Mile High bubble I live in to find something unique and wonderful. I did so this last Sunday. I had the chance to go with an old church friend and her family to sample the food at Thai Kitchen in Longmont.

First of all having adventured into the Philippines for a year and a half I’ve lost the usual, “What is that? Eeek!” reaction that most people seem to have when it comes to food outside their hemisphere. I’ve learned that sometimes you don’t ask what it is and simply dive into the food laid out before you. Nine point nine times out of ten it’s going to be a great experience.

The Thai Kitchen is a “hole in the wall” in the full sense of the word. Up the street from Historic Downtown Longmont, the restaurant is in strip mall that gives you pause, wondering if it’s going to be one of those places with no personality and a server who yells at all the employees all the time.

So not the case. The interior is a oasis of light and organization. The tables are tight but you never feel too close to those around you. The wait staff was so amazing on our visit in the midst of what appeared to be a rush hour (around 7-8pm) that we did leave a good tip for the excellent service. I crushed on our server. She was cute as a pie and more. It helped that the place was spotless clean and felt very warm from the colors, lighting and the way the staff handled us as we walked in the door.

The food had it’s own beauty. I don’t take pictures of my food much and this picture doesn’t do justice (my cell phone is meh) because I just kept looking at it and spinning the plate around wondering if I should destroy such majesty with my fork.

I ordered the sweat and sour chicken and it was a fascinating study in how the Thai create the dish versus what I’m used to in Chinese restaurants. The flavor was full, bold and succulent as it teased my taste buds. I finished my plate and found myself content. As beautiful as it looked it tasted like heaven in every way. All of those that were at the table could not get over how wonderful it was. Some of these folks had expressed concern about going to a Thai Food place and in a matter of an hour their opinion was changed by superior wait staff service and superb food.

Check ‘em out if you’re ever wandering up in the Longmont, Estes, Berthoud area and see what you think. Good food for a pretty solid price.

And could you get the cute waitress’s phone number for me? That’d be super.

Remember back when I said this,

“1: Never, ever no matter how cheap it is do I ever fly out of DIA in December. Eva’ again!”

Well, I am doomed to blast through that rule with a dump truck. I’m headed up to Montana for vacation on December 22, nary two days after The Blizzard one year ago. Am I tempting fate? Probably not. But I’ve knocked on every single solitary piece of wood I have come across since I got my confirmation from the airline.

What were your memories of The Blizzard the Shut Down Denver from last year?