Next weekend will be landmark. For the first time in 6 years, I will take a three day vacation which will include the undivided attention of a grown male person in a city and state that are entirely new to me - Denver, Colorado. It being a colder place than I'm used to, I'm not geared for the weather, but my new friend has promised that I will be kept warm and cozy. Here are some fun facts about Denver:

• State Dinosaur: Stegosaurus (States have a dinosaur?)


• Colorado has a professional Lacrosse team: Colorado Mammoth. What the hell is Lacrosse anyway? (Sorry, Mammoth fans! No clue whatsoever.)


• Colorado has more microbreweries per capita than any other state. (Foooaammy.)


• Dove Creek is the "Pinto Bean" capital of the World. (The land of the musical fruit. I still maintain the uncooked bean is one of the all-time cutest foods in existence.)


• In Fruita, the town folk celebrate "Mike the Headless Chicken Day". Seems that a farmer named L.A. Olsen cut off Mike's head on September 10, 1945 in anticipation of a chicken dinner - and Mike lived for another 4 years without a head. (Wow, dude. Wow. I don't even have a witty byline for that. Nothing can top 4 years without a head.)


• The 13th step of the state capital building in Denver is exactly 1 mile high above sea level. (Denver's called the Mile High City. I'm finally joining the club!)

And a fun fact about my new friend: though he is a proud Republican-American, he can sing every lyric to the Canadian National Anthem. I don't know why, but that may have been what sealed the deal.

Long live the Queen!