Yay, I’m in Denver, Colorado! I have a work meeting next week, and was able to add personal travel to the front of the trip to spend time with Val and with my coworker/Instagram artist friend Carrie. I feel so lucky this is the THIRD(!!!!) time I’ve seen Val this year, and to get to spend so much time with Carrie (it’s our first time together in person).

My flight wasn’t scheduled to leave until 1:50 pm on Friday, so I did my normal Friday routine – I got up early and did a long run. It was so cool for an August morning – in the high 50s! That did not translate to speedier miles like I hoped it maybe would, but I felt good and started a new audiobook, The Bodyguard. 

When I got home I did some laundry, took a bath, did some work work, wrote a blog post, did some Fake Meats work, finished packing, gave treats to the cats, then left.

Right after I left I thought, “I should check the parking lots at the airport to see how full they are,” and it showed all the economy lots as being temporarily full. My body immediately wanted me to panic. I tried to talk myself down, telling myself it was too late to get an uber or ask for a ride, and I’d just have to figure it out when I got there.

And sure enough, the new big parking garage was blocked off, and when I went to another one, it was also coned off, but there was a worker there handing out passes that would get you the economy rate at the garage right next to the airport. Phew.

So I drove to the main garage but ended up parking outside and I was worried the pass would not work there – so I called the airport parking and they assured me it would. Fingers crossed.

I didn’t actually end up parking much closer to my terminal since I was going out of the remote terminal and still had to take the people mover there, but I had plenty of time and didn’t mind all the extra distance. I dropped off my bag and quickly went through security, then began my journey to the almost very last gate. Gosh, I don’t fly often, but when I do my gate is almost always at the end. I got a lot of steps in Friday!

As you’ll recall, this was my first Southwest experience so I was feeling a little anxious but not too much since so many readers gave me tips! Thank you! I watched another Southwest flight nearby to see how it worked, and when it was our turn, I found my number and stood in line and talked to some nice folks. When I got on I grabbed the window seat in row 5. I really should have taken an aisle seat and gotten up and stretched during the flight. Oops. But I wanted to lean my head against the window and sleep.

We sat on the runway for about an hour (I tried to sleep) then finally took off. I finished Just My Type on the flight, started Birnam Wood and quickly gave up on it, then started Marrying the Ketchups.

We landed around 3:50 mountain time and when I got off the plane I was really surprised at how big the Denver airport is. I don’t know what I was expecting (and didn’t remember the one time I’d been here) but it’s huge! I was surprised I had to take a people mover to get to baggage claim.

And I had the dumbest grin on my face as I moved through the airport because I was so excited to see Val and Carrie, who were already there waiting for me.

When I finally got to baggage claim I snuck up and hugged them from behind. They shrieked! That wasn’t very nice of me! I make dumb decisions when I’m excited. Ha, but they didn’t care. Phew.

After we got my bag and figured out which parking garage Val was in (the airport is so big!) when went to Val’s house to drop our bags and change and freshen up. And to see her husband Steve and meet her cat Ali! And it was my first time seeing Val’s beautiful house! All very exciting.

The whole time, Val, Carrie, and I chatted as if we’d known each other forever (Val hadn’t met Carrie in person yet either). I had a feeling it would be that way, and I was so glad it was!

We hung out for a bit then headed to Denver Cat Company – one of the Denver cat cafes. We enjoyed petting and playing with the cats. It’s so fun to visit different cat cafes across the country. Surprisingly, I have NOT been to the Chicago one yet!

Val got us these shirts, and mountain earrings, and a CO bag!

Then we went to Vital Root, a mostly vegan restaurant, for dinner, and AHHHH the food was so so good! I got the Vegan “Chiken-Bacon” Ranch Wrap

and Cashew “Queso” Nachos. Both were AMAZING. I devoured each!

We sat at the restaurant talking for a long time and I enjoyed it so so much. It’s been absolutely wonderful getting to know Carrie better, in person.

We finally left and went back to Val’s and hung out with Steve and Ali for a bit then went to bed. I was so tired and fell asleep after reading for only 5 minutes.