Colorado's capitol is located in downtown Denver, and is a mile high.

I got in to Denver at about 10:00 a.m., with no breakfast, it was raining hard, a cold, dark day. I got lost, went into a 7-Eleven to ask directions, but the clerk only knew three words of English — "No speak English."

Finally found someone who could direct me to the capitol — turned out I was on the right street, only a few miles west of where I needed to be. Finally got there, couldn't find a parking place nearby, had to walk a few blocks in the rain. Then, I tried to go in, but the door was locked, and a sign said "Enter South Door Basement Only." Yeah, like I know which way south is. So I walked around the building trying every door, all of which were locked. I passed a man and woman who looked lost also. They asked me where the south door was.

Well, I finally found it, a tiny little door hidden away under the stairs. Inside about a dozen guards were standing around a security machine, making sure . . . well, who knows what they were making sure of.

I was cold, wet, and hungry, so I took one shot and got out of there.