fireworks and a frozen dead guy

Just a short drive up beautiful Boulder Canyon lies a quirky little mountain town called Nederland. At an elevation of approximately 8,200 feet, the temperature is always cooler than that of Boulder, making it one of my favorite summer getaway spots. Last night, the 4th of July, Niles, Shauna, and I left our house around 6:30 p.m. The temperature was 93. Twenty minutes later, we arrived in Nederland, where the temperature was 73. Sweet.

Not only is Nederland one of my favorite places because it's literally cooler, but because it's just so interesting. Every March, Ned holds a festival called "Frozen Dead Guy Days." In a tuff shed in this tiny town lies a cryogenically frozen dead guy named Bredo Morstoel.

So last night, along with frozen Bredo and many other Ned-heads, the three of us watched the fireworks over Barker Reservoir. I believe this will become my new 4th of July tradition. Ned is just so much more laid back than Boulder (it's possible -- I swear), and the fireworks were gorgeous. This year, the city decided not to pay for the fireworks, so a local family fronted the $15,000 bill, and spent the last year raising money. Knowing this made the show so much more meaningful.