I went to a buddy's 51st birthday party last night. It was a grand affair, with old friends mixing together, and his high school buddies from 30-plus years ago, and a pretty lady sitting next to me that just met him 24 hours previous and who enjoys tequila and grew up in Colorado (which is a fairly rare thing).

My buddy was in his element, surrounded by those who love him, taking grief and dishing it out. He looked pretty dashing, actually. I might catch a little grief of my own for saying that, but it's true.

His mom and dad and his sister were at his side, proud and happy. Go to his parent's house and be sure your stomach is empty because his mom won't let you leave before you sit down for a bite to eat. They are from Puerto Rico and his dad served in the U.S. military and they are the best. I love them all.

My buddy has a degenerative disease. He has lost 50 pounds over the last few years. He is on permanent disability. He has borrowed on his home's equity to try to make things meet.

My buddy is losing his home to foreclosure.

Does anybody besides myself see the madness of this cozy little world we call Castle Rock?

I drive down the new and improved I-25 and see cars, cars everywhere. I exit on Meadows Parkway and the cars continue to fill the roads. They look anxious, in a hurry. Nobody walks, because where can you walk to?

There is a lot of movement, one of the superficial signs of a bustling economy. The signs of progress, American style. The signs of the American Dream, 2008 edition.

I go up to Founders Village to see my buddy and I see For Sale signs. I see HUD signs andI see lots of homes empty and in foreclosure.

I go to The Meadows and I see new construction. All new, certified great investment, get it while you can new housing.

Does anyone else see the madness? Or is the madness in me?

We are caught in the convulsions of an economy in recession. I don't have a real problem with recessions; I've seen a few now and in my opinion they serve to mostly slow down the unsustainable.

I have a problem with greed, and again, in my humble opinion, this county is full of it. Chock full of it and good luck to you if you bought your house up in Founders Village for the investment.

Good luck to you if your health went south and what you owe is more than what you can get, because the whole dang neighborhood is suffering. Anyone looking to buy knows it's a heck of a lot better to just buy a new place across the highway.

We are in danger of creating a slum on the hill even as the town builds a new arterial connection to it.

We have big box stores that have already choked out the little guy, yet I hear whispers that our newest one (designed to do the City Council proud, by the way) has yet to make a profit.

We are in danger of closed down box stores, with empty parking lots and empty tax coffers, while the local hardware store that was here forever is but a distant memory.

I'll be helping my buddy move soon, out of the home he was so proud of and into his parent's house in Colorado Springs. I know it's breaking his heart but I doubt he'll show it much. He's not that kind of guy.

We'll have plenty of help because there are plenty of friends who care, but in the end what we will do is drive away and leave another house in foreclosure in a neighborhood already too full of them.

As we drive off we'll probably get another dose of that commercial for The Meadows. You know the one, where the land gets interesting? I doubt if we'll hear much about Founders Village though. You know, where the houses sit empty?

Maybe the madness is in me, because most everyone else seems fine with the shape of things. Never mind the whispers, because this county is one of the richest in the nation!

Welcome to Castle Rock. It's party time.