The Parent, Child, Toddler and Baby Expo is being held at the Denver Merchandise Mart on January 26 and 27th. The hours are 10:00am thru 6:00pm. This is a great expo to get out and let the kids have some fun. Among the many booths with newest and latest products there will also be a Kids Expo Indoor Train.Denver Kids Expo gives children of all ages a fun-filled experience! Denver Kids Expo is filled with non-stop family entertainment, interactive exhibits, stage presentations, kids pavilions and parent resources. There will also be a Baby “R” us fastest crawler contest held each day at 1pm.

Denver Kids Expo is a ONE-STOP-SHOP for Denver metro families including the latest products, services, info and advice for parents.

Adults: $9.00
Seniors 65+: FREE
Kids under 12: FREE
Parking: FREE

30 minutes south of Denver is the town of Larkspur, Colorado here you will find the Colorado Renaissance Festivel. This eight-week extravaganza features court jesters and jousters, a King and his Queen, fun acts, turkey legs, a petting zoo and even full suits of armor for sale. Only on the weekends the Colorado Renaissance Festival is running this year from June 14th thru August 3rd.
Location: Larkspur, Colorado

Times: 10:00a.m. until 6:30p.m.

* Rain or Shine * FREE Parking * No Pets Please

Admission: $17.95(adults) - $8.00(children ages 5-12)

FREE Admission to children under 5

After a few delays Denver, Colorado announces the Grand Opening of the Ritz Carlton. $75 Million Dollar hotel with 202 Rooms and 14 floors. The Ritz Carlton hotel brings luxury to the Mile High City. Elway’s will be on the first floor and will be Ritz Carlton signature restaurant. Ritz Carlton will be hoping to achieve Denver’s first 5 Star rating.

Ritz Carlton Denver
1881 Curtis Street
Denver, Colorado 80202

Phone: (303) 312-3800
Fax: (303) 312-3801

Loveland, Colorado has been providing a Valentine re-mailing service for 62 years. Senior Volunteers will stamp a pictorial and a love verse on every envelope/postcard. Last year they mailed out more than 200,000 letters/postcards. To have valentines re-mailed with the Loveland postmark, enclose your pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes (envelopes should each have 41-cent postage; postcards should have 26 cents postage), add extra stamps/postage for heavier/odd shaped valentines, mail in a large stamped envelope to:

Postmaster Valentine Re-mailing
446 E. 29th St.
Loveland, CO 80538

Deadlines for re-mailing and delivery by Valentines Day, Feb. 14:
Valentine cards/envelopes destined for re-mailing outside of the U.S. to other countries and international destinations should be in Loveland by Monday, Feb. 4.

Valentine cards/envelopes destined for re-mailing within U.S. and outside of Colorado should be in Loveland by Saturday, Feb. 9.

Valentine cards/envelopes destined for re-mailing within the state of Colorado should be in Loveland by Tuesday, Feb. 12.

Colorado residents can also drop off pre-stamped valentine envelopes at King Soopers and City Market stores which have Loveland Valentine Re-mailing boxes, at area Loveland locations with valentine boxes, and at both Loveland Post Offices.

- Do not leave your car unless you know exactly where you are, how far it is to possible help, and are certain you will improve your situation.
- To attract attention, light two flares and place one at each end of the car a safe distance away. Hang a brightly colored cloth from your antenna. If you do not have a flare or a colored cloth, raise the hood of your car and turn on the interior light within your car to alert other motorist that there are stranded people within the car. I save on the battery life of your car, only turn the interior car light on when you see a car coming.
- If you are sure the car’s exhaust pipe is not blocked, run the engine and heater for about 10 minutes every hour or so depending upon the amount of gas in the tank. About 10 minutes every hour is really all you need to keep the car warm.
- To protect yourself from frostbite and hypothermia use woolen items and blankets to keep warm.
- Keep at least one window open slightly. Heavy snow and ice can seal a car shut.
- Eat a hard candy to keep your mouth moist.

Here are some suggestions from the National Safety Council to make sure that you and your vehicle are prepared this winter.

Car Check-up before winter- Check the following parts or mechanisms within your car to insure proper car functionality:

• Check the ignition, brakes, wiring, hoses and fan belts.
• Change and adjust the spark plugs if needed.
• Check the air, fuel and emission filters, and the PCV valve.
• Inspect the distributor.
• Check the battery.
• Check the tires for air, sidewall wear and tread depth.
• Check antifreeze levels and the freeze line.

If you are as clueless with car parts or your car in general, many auto repair shops offer winterize packages at a discount price.

Stocking up your car before winter- you should carry the following items in your trunk at all times

• Properly inflated spare tire, wheel wrench and tripod-type jack
• Shovel
• Jumper cables
• Tow and tire chains
• Bag of salt or cat litter
• Tool kit
• Working flashlight and extra batteries
• Reflective triangles and brightly-colored cloth
• Compass
• First aid kit
• Exterior windshield cleaner
• Ice scraper and snow brush
• Wooden stick matches in a waterproof container
• Scissors and string/cord
• Non-perishable, high-energy foods like unsalted canned nuts, dried fruits, and hard candy.
• Heavy wool mittens, socks, cap/hat and blankets.

Reminders During Winter:

• Gas- Always remember to keep at least half if not a full tank of gas. at all times. Winter storms can bring huge traffic problems and a 20 minute commute can turn into 2 hours.
• Drive safely- Just because you have a 4-wheel drive SUV it does not mean you are invincible. Drive as slow as possible and always be alert for other motorist around you to help prevent accidents.

9news reported a story yesterday about a Mountain Lion attack in Evergreen. The Mountain Lion attacked a 40lb dog miraculously the dog ended up surviving. You can read about the story here. I really wanted to just post a few important rules to follow when planning on hiking in the high country. If you follow these rules you can decrease your chances of any major problems.

Step One
Avoid hiking alone, especially between dusk and dawn, when lions are most active.

Step Two
Make a lot of noise when hiking so you won’t surprise a lion.

Step Three
Keep children close when hiking in mountain lion country; most mountain lion attacks are made against children.

Step Four
Keep pets on leashes while hiking.

Step Five
Avoid approaching a mountain lion if you see one in the distance - it may just be curious about you. Most lions avoid confrontation, so give it an opportunity to slip away.

Step Six
Be prepared for a possible attack if a mountain lion is nearby, staring at you aggressively and crouching or hiding.

Step Seven
Stay calm and don’t run if you’re faced with a possible attack. Take out any weapons or deterrents (such as pepper spray), or look around for rocks and sticks.

Step Eight
Raise your hands or hold things above your head to make yourself appear larger. Pick children up off the ground, but don’t crouch or bend over if you can help it.

Step Nine
Talk or yell loudly and slowly back away, maintaining eye contact with the mountain lion.

Step Ten
Fight back aggressively with weapons and deterrents if you’re attacked, all the while trying to remain standing.

DENVER — International Speedway Corp. is looking into building a 75,000-seat racetrack near Denver International Airport. ISC subsidiary, Rocky Mountain Speedway Corp., has two sites under consideration in Adams County east of Denver.

Company officials said no cost estimates were available. They said they were looking into whether a public-private partnership could be formed to build a speedway.

ISC owns or operates 13 racetracks, including Daytona International Speedway. Its other holdings include an 82,000-seat facility in Kansas City, Kan., and a 76,000-seat facility in Phoenix.

“We’ve believed for some time that the greater Denver market is a logical place for racing to have a major presence due to its substantial fan base and overall connection to professional sports,” Kathy Milthorpe, ISC managing director, said in a written release.

You have to love Colorado and our weather! Of course I am biased but I believe our weather is the best in the country, heck the world! 52° and sunny in Colorado is more like 75° in other places. Do not ask me why, maybe its the low humidity? If you think I am bragging well you got it right, I am bragging!

I find myself gravitating towards Denver Channel News to get my weather info. I think the website layout and design is easy to use and easy to understand. Where do you go to get your weather forecast?

The Barrel Man, aka Tim McKernan, has been entertaining Colorado Denver Bronco fans since he lost a bet with his brother in 1977. For over 3 decades, this super-fan has arrived at the stadium dressed in nothing but a large orange barrel. Often times you could see him running up and down the stadium steps yelling and raising his arms up in his signature mile high salute. Tim McKernan will continue to attend the games with is wife but just not in the barrel. Good luck Barrel Man! You will remain an icon figure in Bronco football forever.