MUS 'wit' Andrew in Philly

Mus making an appearance in a random city?! Must be ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) time again!

ITSE 2011 - Philadelphia

I've been to Philly before but being Mus' first time we had to start things out the right way ... CHEESESTEAKS!

We stopped at both Geno's & Pat's to sample the cuisine.  Because you can't just step up and order we familiarized ourselves with the vocab.  All we were concerned with was 'Wit' (with onions) and 'Wiz' (cheese wiz).  The nervous lady in front of us got it wrong and got sent to the back of the line but we got it on our first try and soon had some cheesy goodness to sample.

Pat claims to be the 'King' and had a historical marker out front

Geno had some awfully flashy signs and a GIANT cheesesteak on top

Pat's King of Steaks won our taste test and we went for 'Wit-out' & 'Wiz'.  The fries were great as well and we 'washed' it down w/ a frosty @ Rita's down the block.

Looking forward to more adventures in Philly this week and we will try not to miss our 19 month old buddy Alekzander too much.

UPDATE:  Cheesesteak counter --> 5 (In 2.5 days in Philly)

Mile High Mus

By this point, if you really know Andrew, you might be thinking... What about Mile High Stadium?!  The trip to Denver wouldn't be complete without a pilgrimage to the home of the DENVER BRONCOS!

We couldn't pass this one up so on we went to invesco Mile High Stadium!

Upon arrival, Mus immediately jumped out of the car and scurried all around the stadium to look for mile high markers like the ones from the capital steps.

Andrew just sat there with a shortness of breath... not the kind of shortness of breath that comes from physically being a mile high, but from the shortness of breath that comes from the awe of being at Mile High Stadium.  He's kind of a big fan!

While looking about for any geological markers Mus saw some friends... more 'horses' only these weren't only horses.  They were Broncos!

The Broncos filled Mus in on what it meant to be a Bronco and about their storied past.  Mus met back up with Andrew and told him about the Soup Bowls they've won and how he knew why Andrew's favorite # is 7.  

Mus enjoyed running with the team of Broncos and just like before, Mus found that he identified with these horses.  In the past he thought that maybe he could be a horse but it has now become clear... he's not a horse... he's a BRONCO!

 

Mus learned that he was always a Bronco at heart and will forever be a part of the team of Broncos.

Upon leaving Mus thought about his new friends and how he was an honorary Bronco.  Thinking about all of this, he turned to Andrew and said... "I'm really glad I'm a Bronco  now, but I've decided I would rather win cheese platters than soup bowls."

Mus @ Red Rocks

While Andrew was at conferences all day Mus often found himself returning to one special place over and over again... RED ROCKS!

Of the many reasons for one to have an affinity for Red Rocks, Mus' was unique.  In a world where things haven't quite made sense to Mus (like Hard Rock Cafe not serving any rocks in their cafe), he appreciates that Red Rocks is just that... Red Rocks.

Of course there has to be more to it than that for Mus to keep returning but I hope it is rather obvious from the pictures (which will never do it justice).

The area leading up to Red Rocks has amazing views of rock outcrops fighting their way toward the sky but these are merely a tease of the splendor that awaits you inside.

The heart of Red Rocks is the natural amphitheater (bowl shaped) which draws travelers and locals for everything from concerts to movies to workouts on the steps.  And of course the awesomeness of it all leaves many simply standing with jaw dropped taking it all in.

 :: the red arrow points to Mus sitting center stage ::

With so many visits you would think there would be more pictures but Andrew wasn't always there to hold the camera and a 'hold out' picture doesn't work really well when your arms (or is it legs?) are 1/2" long.

Here are some pictures Mus took but didn't get a chance to be in.

:: city view of Denver from between the rocks ::

more info @ http://www.redrocksonline.com/

Hard Rockin' Mus

Mus started the night with a limo ride in an Escalade around Denver.  He only got one shot of him riding in the limo (next to a really nice looking pitcher of sweat tea) but he didn't get to try any.

After a first class tour of Denver, Mus met up with Andrew at the rock eating place.  Things were soon cleared up when Mus heard the music and realized just what type of rock the cafe was serving.

Hard Rock Cafe proved to be a fun time with entertainment coming from dueling pianos and several individuals in the crowd.  Mus even got up on the piano... with a little bit of help from Andrew.

After a fun ride around the party in a shot glass, Mus found himself a little dizzy from the journey and needed a break.  He retreated to the cool surface of the piano, and amidst all the noise, Mus took the time to 'reflect' on his time in Denver.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring?!

Mus on Capitol Hill (Denver)

While Andrew is hanging out with IT Geeks all day Mus decided to do a quick bicycle tour of Denver's Capitol Hill.

Mus is feeling a little like Godzilla standing next to the State Capitol building.

OH NO!!  It's Mus-zilla!

Posing next to the mile high marker (5,280'4.5" on the Capitol steps)

Mus is 'le tired' from climbing these steps so he decides to take a short nap.  Then it will be time to 'fire ze missiles!'

If the steps were a mile high then the top of the capitol dome must be 2 miles high!  Mus toured the inside and even stopped to pose in place of one of the US Presidents.

Look who Mus ran into on the front steps... Andrew!  No doubt he was checking his GPS watch to confirm he was exactly at 5,280' elevation.  Andrew seems silly to Mus at times for being like that but its a good thing there are people like him.  It turns out they have changed the 'official' 5,280' marker on the steps three times!  Of course Andrew was the one to tell Mus this... but it's true... its on the interwebs and everything is true on the interwebs.

Andrew thought he would impress Mus with his knowledge about the dome of the Capitol Building and how it was covered with 24 'carrots' mined from Colorado... rather unimpressed, Mus quickly retorted about how the moon was made of cheese and that carrots are grown and not mined.

After enjoying the mile high view from the steps of the Capital Building, Mus introduced Andrew to his friend Manitou.  Mus believes he might know why the horse is up there now based on something Andrew was saying about the strange spring water where the horse is from.

On their walk Andrew told Mus about the strangest place Mus has ever heard of.  Evidently they're going to a cafe where people eat Hard Rock(s) for dinner! Now this should be interesting!

info :: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_State_Capitol

Mus & Big Blue Bear

Great news!  Mus found someone he can identify with in this land of GIANTS!   Similar if only  in build/body, the Mus felt an instant bond with Denver's Blue Bear.

In comparing himself to Blue Bear, Mus found that he fit the part.

Mus went to give his big blue cousin a hug and upon closer inspection, realized he didn't quite fit the bill.  (red arrow pointing @ Mus next to 40' Blue Bear).

Andrew came in (wearing his vintage Broncos shirt) to console Mus (and help him feel a little taller).

Mus wanted to go inside to see what was so interesting to Big Blue Bear and found all kinds of people and 'exciting' technology things.  The only mice he found all had buttons and looooong tails that connected to machines but Mus did meet a mini Blue Bear (although still a giant to Mus).

Do you think Big Blue Bear might be Mus' long lost cousin who ate too many blue 'bear'ies in the mountains of Colorado?  Do blueberries even grow in Colorado?  Mus knows one thing for sure... lingonberries (from his native Ikea-land) don't grow here.  Oh how Mus misses his lingonberries.

Know what Mus misses even more?  Alekzander & Ashley and his home of Charlotte, North Carolina.  But there's more time left in this strange land of Giants and Mus is determined to make the best of it.

At the end of the first day in Denver Mus heard Andrew on the phone with Ashley.  She asked if Andrew had met any 'cool people to hang out with at the conference'... Andrew answered simply... "Ashley, this IS a Technology conference".

Who would have known how many cool 'people' we would end up meeting!

info @ http://DenverBlueBear.com

Mus in a land of GIANTS

When you're barely 4" tall almost everything & everyone appear to be GIANTS to you.  It can be a scary world out there but if you take things into perspective Mus found you can sometimes fit in and feel just the right size.

Follow Mus as he meets some GIANT friends in Denver.

Mus first ran into a life sized horse in a GIANT chair.

The horse's name is 'Manitou' and he couldn't explain how he got up there but said he belonged to Teddy Roosevelt.  He said something about Teddy coming down off his high horse.

Moving on Mus ran into a strange looking dancing couple.  He thought he may be related because they are all bleached white in color but they just didn't look the same.  He asked if he could cut in but was snubbed.

After a quick sparring session with Jack Dempsey (native of Colorado and one of the most popular boxers in history) you'd never guess who Mus ran into...

Teddy Roosevelt himself!  Teddy thought it was hilarious that Mus would fill in for Manitou until he got back.

It started getting late but Mus had one more thing to do before calling it a day...

He finally got that dance from his GIANT friends!

::: info ::: 
not the best source of info but here's a website poking fun of a lot of the spots Mus found his GIANTS...

http://www.guidespot.com/guides/denvers_ugliest_public_art