I think I'll work backwards. I've already mentioned the job, and not to let this mention pass lightly- YES, it is a paycheck and I am ecstatic! There's potential for this project to last up to 4 weeks. Finally, Dix will get to the vet.
I've posted the pics of my new niece, MMH, born 1:51 p.m., May 19th. 8 lbs 3 oz 21 inches and full head of black hair. The truest form of blessing from God is being a part of a new life coming into this world! I just can't even imagine what it must be like as a mom in those moments.
A couple weekends back I did a volunteer project at a State park for Saturday morning. It was one of the first times that I truly felt like "this" is "my" town. I had the front top off the Jeep and it was a beautiful morning. K and I had spent Friday, as he was off, exercising and grocery shopping and grilling out on the back porch. The drive into the Foothills from our house, which is only about a 10 minute drive, was just gorgeous. The mountains are green and the sky is blue! I enjoyed the project and was glad I took the plunge and didn't back out since I was on my own for it (K had to work). Also, other big news from that weekend was I bought a bicycle at a yard sale two houses down for $30. A horrible yellow color but otherwise seems to be in great condition considering. K had just fixed up his tire on his (free, awesome, Schwinn Continental) bicycle and is starting to ride it to the light rail station some days for work. He just happened to see the ones down the street and 10 minutes later, I had a bicycle. Funny thing was I had said before the move that I was really wanting to get one, but I'd just wait and try to find one when I got out to Colorado at a yard sale. What do ya know, I did!
Also, we had one of the best times a few weekends back in Estes Park for a (FREE) Jazz Festival and Art Walk. I believe I mentioned our plans in a previous post and I do have some good pictures that I'll put up. The weather was a little chilly, as we had just had a fairly big snow for May and the mountains were blanketed in white; although, we did not get rained on and the wind was not out of control (as it has been all month . . . 50 - 75 mph winds last Monday). Anyway, we just LOVED the setting at Estes and stayed in the most awesome place ever. We were (well, at least I was) already planning anniversary trips to this Inn. It would be perfect for when any of our friend and family come visit for a trip up to Rocky Mountain National Park and a night in Estes. Some of the rooms have full kitchens and they pretty much all have a REAL fire place, as well as a great view. There were elk drippings everywhere (which is a cool thing because that means the elk come right up to the door basically) ha. We didn't see any while there but the very friendly and personable owner said they had just been down the day before and he wouldn't be surprised if they were jigging to the Jazz later (well, he didn't use those words exactly)! Anyway, we ended up meeting the coolest two couples that were staying in the two rooms next to us. They were retired and had moved to Fort Collins in the last few years and said the four of them had been doing this same Jazz Festival for (I think they said) the last four years. They had planned to hang out and grill at the Inn (which provided several gas grills at each of the buildings on the property). K ended up going to the store and grabbing us something to thrown on with their steaks and all six of us sat on the patio and just talked and talked. You would have never guessed there was such an age gap between us. K hung with the men around the grill, who had bonded instantly with him as they walked up while he was popping a PBR open, of which they were a fan. I talked with the women and eventually the food was done and we all retreated to our rooms for our dinner. It could not have been more perfect- seriously. K and I sat up, drank champagne, listened to the ipod, and just talked and talked into the early morning hours. It was a wonderful night. The next morning, one of the ladies came knocking on the door and brought me a cup of fresh brewed coffee :) I don't usually reveal names but since I really don't know any other identifiers and that would invade their privacy, one couple's name was Jack and Dianne- ha. Somehow it came up that dad and I haven't talked since February (though we have since had a one minute interchange) and the one of the men/fathers, who had potentially gone through a similar experience with his daughter but for the fact that his wife sat him down and said "You have two choices, you can either isolate her or you can chill out," to which he had clearly chosen to chill, was so concerned for mine and dad's relationship and even hugged me as he went off to bed. Sometimes, actually a lot of times, people, particularly strangers will just astonish me. I love having those chance encounters with people, who leave lasting impressions on you but yet you never know their last names.
Oh, one other weird weather thing that happened this week was some parts of Denver were covered in hail that actually looked like a snow storm had moved through. It was golf ball size, if not bigger. It wasn't in our area but it truly is nuts out here when it comes to the weather and by far is always a popular topic of discussion.
I believe I'm caught up on the happenings with me. I do have pictures, of course. We should have a nice Holiday weekend here, though nothing too big planned. Hope to catch a Rockies game, finally, as well as go to a few local events and maybe a farmers market.
