Liquor World~ Favorite Liquor Store West of the Mississippi

Does anyone even wonder how I can come to have a 'favorite liquor store' at all? I didn't think so! Here is a picture of me and you can tell I am very happy to be back in Durango, CO. We spent a week there and visited  Brad's grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins, on both sides.

What (of all the very beautiful sites) am I most excited to visit and see? You got it, Liquor World.  Even the name sounds cool.  It is right on the main drag going through Durango. To hear me talk you'd think it's the only liquor store in town, but it's not. It does however happen to be the one with the most character and I wouldn't be surprised if some, if not all the guys that work there were Hell's Angels at one time. 

Check out some of the items they sell.  Skinny Girl Margaritas and apparently a flavor for any day of the week from Dr. McGillicuddy's and for the discerning wine drinker...fear not.  There is even a special room for the wine snob! This is why Liquor World really is one of the best stores west of the Mississippi.

It is very fancy inside Pop's Wine Cellar and it is NOT cheap in there either! I think the least expensive bottle of wine in Pop's was $65 minimum! Love this place.  So, I get to come to Durango, every few years, more if we can and I always get to stop at Liquor World. This year I won $3 in scratch offs, purchased a few bottles of Skinny Girl Margarita's for the lake and a couple bottles of wine to share with Smoochie Auntie Jess.  I had to help support the local economy right??

Like I said, something for everyone! Piper even got two lollipops from this nice man.  He was one of the really great men and women that work there, and remember we were on the west coast so everyone is actually genuinely friendly. 

Finally, look at one more draw to Liquor World.  I mean who else thinks to have a Happy Hour?? If you get to Durango (and you won't hear me plug too many places on my blog) you really should stop at Liquor World, you will be instantly comfortable roaming the aisles, checking out the rows of wine, finding every single different kind of liquor in every single different price range there is. 

When I say something for everyone, I do mean everyone, even the ever present Bronco fan. They are everywhere, especially in Colorado!!!! Nonetheless, I do love Liquor World. 

Brad promoted to CEO of Morpho Detection

Morpho’s Detection Business Announces Senior Leadership Change

Dennis Cooke leaves Morpho Detection after Six-plus Years as CEO, Succeeded by Brad Buswell, Former VP, Global Strategy

Newark, Calif. – July 26, 2011 – Morpho Detection, Inc., the detection business of Morpho, Safran group’s security unit, today announced its president and CEO of the last six-plus years is leaving the business and is succeeded by Brad Buswell, former vice president of global strategy. Dennis Cooke is moving to Ryder System, Inc., a transportation and supply chain management company. The change is effective today.
Appointment of Buswell as president and CEO leverages his extensive experience to position Morpho Detection for continued growth in the homeland security space.

Buswell is an accomplished strategist with a solid background in driving growth, strategic business development and legislative affairs. He has a track record of success in working with the U.S. government, including the legislative and executive branches. His most recent prior assignment was Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Technology at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He joined Morpho Detection in July, 2010.

Cooke was appointed president of GE Security Homeland Protection, now Morpho Detection, Inc., in January, 2005.

“Brad Buswell’s unique combination of government and business experience along with leadership skill makes him the clear choice to lead Morpho Detection to continued and further success.” said Jay Cohen, chairman of the board, Morpho Detection, Inc. “The board and I have complete confidence in Brad’s ability to continue and enhance Morpho Detection’s track record of homeland security leadership. At the same time, we are appreciative of Dennis’ strong leadership, which will be missed.”

“Morpho Detection represents an important and strategic part of Morpho and Safran growth plans and I am completely confident in Brad Buswell’s ability to oversee its continued integration into Safran’s plans for security industry leadership,” said Jean-Paul Jainsky, chairman and CEO, Morpho. “Morpho Detection is positioned for growth and Brad’s experience in government and business makes him uniquely qualified for this new role.”

In his previous DHS role, Buswell led a 1,200 person staff in the development and implementation of Science and Technology Directorate strategy, organization, human capital and business processes, including responsibility for research programs with an annual budget of more than $800 million. Prior to DHS, he held various leadership roles in the U.S. Navy, including executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Research, Office of Naval Research. He also worked as manager, government relations for GE.
For more information on Morpho Detection, visit www.morpho.com/detection.
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About Morpho Detection, Inc.
Morpho Detection, Inc., part of Morpho, a business of the Safran group (PAR: SAF), is a leading supplier of explosives and narcotics and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) detection systems for government, military, air and ground transportation, first responder, critical infrastructure and other high-risk organizations. Following Safran Group’s 2009 acquisition of GE Security’s GE Homeland Protection, Inc. business, Morpho Detection integrates computed tomography (CT), Raman Spectroscopy, trace (ITMS™ technology), X-ray and X-ray Diffraction technologies into solutions that can make security activities more accurate, productive and efficient. With industry-leading products such as the Itemiser® DX trace detection system, the CTX line of explosive detection systems (EDS), and the StreetLab® Mobile hand-held chemical and biological substance identification unit, Morpho Detection’s solutions are deployed to help protect people and property in some of the most important and sensitive world locations.

Swim-a-thon with Piper

On July 24 Piper did her first swim-a-thon with the swim team and she swam 74 lengths! Brad was her lap counter and I swam as well with Erin counting for me.  It was a beautiful Sunday morning at the pool and so much fun.  The money raised all went to Cole's Closet, you can check out the link at http://www.colescloset.org/ .  It is a wonderful foundation in our area.

All the 8&U's swam together in one lane and I swam next to Piper with other parents, Coach Dale and the older swimmers. I will only say I completed 164 lengths and felt great (considering my upcoming shoulder surgery for a torn bicep tendon). Brad was a great lap counter and he sat with Erin and the other lap counting parents, all wishing they could go over and enjoy the delicious food they could only smell coming from the grill. Chef O and Bubba made some fabulous egg dishes.

Piper got to use her fins, a kickboard and even take a break to chat with Coach Addie. The kids (and adults) had 3 1/2 hours to swim as much as they wanted to. I did all mine at once and then was done but there were some moms that went 200 lengths! Maybe next year I can try to do that (what me competitive???), but I think Brad would have pulled me out if I had swam/kicked anymore than what I did do!


Let me just say that it was really fun to be doing something like this with Piper. To know she is a strong enough swimmer now, to be in a lane with other swimmers and do her own thing while I am in another lane doing mine. Someday, and it is coming sooner than I want, she will be faster than me and beat me.  But, until that day comes I plan to keep teaching her everything I can about swimming and prepare her as best I can for competition and all that it entails.  You don't believe me? Ask her what I always tell her to do; "drink your water, do you have your water bottle with you, and you have to stay hydrated" that is my constant mantra. 

I know as she gets older she will have a bottle of water with her. She will know Gatorade (and electrolytes) are the best liquids to recover with after an event like this or a race.  I am so proud of her and of what she did in the swim-a-thon raising over $470 for a great organization.

Summer League Swim Team

I did not think this summer would go this way. In the first place, I was not planning to have Piper do summer swim team this year. I figured we'd wait and try it out next summer once we had all her strokes together and her starts perfected. But my dear friend, Erin, convinced me we needed to join Springboard Pool and if we were joining we may as well do the swim team too. The first week of swim practice I was a nervous wreck. Panic attacks every afternoon while my one and only little girl swam back and forth up and down the lane. I was convinced with all the waves she'd barely make it there, let alone back!! Thank you Beth O'Connor Baker for the calm voice over the phone and my swim coach, Dominic Lattela via text telling me I am not totally crazy. Hmm now that I think about it they both said I wasn't 'totally' crazy, maybe they thought I was a little crazy?

Yet, here she is behind her lane getting ready to race and acting just like me. I am a total believer that it is genetic. As Brad says it is only a matter of time and she will spit in someones lane to psych a competitor out. (just like Amy Van Dyken baby!)

Once summer was in full swing and the practices moved to the morning it was a lot quieter and calmer.  It was great seeing Coach Dale, Megan and Addie in the pool working with the kids and seeing so much improvement every week. Piper loved her coaches and also got to spend time with some old friends like Michaela and new ones like Jacob.

I have to say it was a really fun experience for Brad and me too. We timed at meets and helped set up for some of the home meets as well. We have really enjoyed being members at Springboard and all the new friends we've made. I think the Friday night socials are going to become a staple of our summer's just like the Friday night pasta dinners with the team. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with the swim team watching a great lip sync show put on by the swimmers and coaches. (the coaches rocked an original rap song).

Piper was lucky enough to be asked to fill in for another 8 year old swimmer in an A meet this summer. She did the 25 meter breaststroke and she did it really well, til the 1 handed touch at the end. Not to worry we've got that fixed now, believe me. It was kind of exciting for me to see her swim in an A meet even if she was last in the heat. I was so proud of her and when she was done with her race she came over to us, and that is when I knew she was my girl. She was so angry she'd been last!! I love her!

At the end of the season Piper told me she loved the racing and that is great. All I can ask is for her to have fun. That and hopefully she will never realize what a complete stress case I was at the beginning of the season and also how nervous I was every time she competed. I am also secretly pleased she wears her ears out of her cap like me, and my swim friends, Kim (Kilgore Kimborowicz) and Piper (Hastings Mercer), used to do and still do. Brad doesn't get it but Piper tells him it is so she can hear, ha ha ha smart girl!!  You know her starts got better and better and she is now starting to work on her butterfly. So, I guess it all worked out, even better than I thought it would!