A month in Denver

So I have been in Denver for a month, hard to believe (1) because time seems to have flown and (2) because it already feels so much like home.  I settled in right away, at least as far as unpacking goes.  K's mom was here for the first few days and cleaned like only a mother can.  The kitchen and bathroom were cleaner than they have ever been, I am sure of it.  After the unpacking ended, I really just lounged and rested.  It was bitter cold here in December, which is unusual for that month... it usually doesn't get bitter until mid-January and February, so they say, but this week is topping off in the mid 50s. 

I have ventured out some on my own.  We are close to a nice shopping area, Belmar in Lakewood, with a great Wholefoods and several little shops.  K's mom got us a Garmin for Christmas and I am now very comfortable leaving the house, which I really wasn't the first couple weeks.  Although, ironically I ventured out more those first couple weeks than I have the last couple.  I guess I should admit, only because I feel like I need to say it out loud to break the cycle, I am sleeping until 9 or later these last few mornings.  K will usually leave early for work and I will be cold and not ready to get up, the dogs will pile into bed with me and before I know it is 9:15 :)  I do have the alarm set to get up at 7:30 and have just got to start turning it on!  I have been better about walking the doggies though and have managed all three for the most part, but man are they a handful.  It isn't a relaxing stroll that's for sure. 

Yesterday I ran at the local park just a couple blocks from the house and am about to go do a couple miles this afternoon.  I am also looking into this Bally Fitness place that is close by to start trying to do a spin class or two a week, you know how I love to spin! 

K and I have already seen a good bit of music and gotten out and about.  I would definitely say we make the most of his days off.  We went to the Blue Bird to see some local "Irish Whiskey Music" a couple weeks ago, and saw Robert Earl Keen at the Grizzly Rose this past Friday with a few friends.  We also found this great Jazz club with excellent happy hour specials, as well as music and atmosphere.  Dazzle has three shows almost every evening and we will definitely be going back.  For happy hour they have $4 martinis and $5 appetizers, which are more like  dinners.  We had the exquisite Brie and berry jam grilled cheese...oh my was it good!  K is off this Friday through Sunday and we are going to Tea Leaf Green at the Blue Bird and then will probably take the dogs for a good walk at Wash Park, or maybe even go to Red Rocks/Morrison for Saturday or Sunday. I think the warmer weather is supposed to hold out through the weekend.  We have a really great sushi place that we would go to every time I visited the past year and we haven't been since I've moved out, I think we'll be having sushi sometime this weekend too. 

I am enjoying being here for sure, but I am anxious (of course) to get some sort of income.  I have been trying to hold out for a contract job and recognize that I have gotten somewhat stalemate in my job search.  I am going to have to get back to a more active job searching routine soon.  It is nice to not HAVE to get out into the freezing temps in the morning time or have to tackle the stress of a new job, on top of all the other newness going on, I recognize that.  However, I am feeling ready to put myself out there and meet those challenges as well.  I have applied for several federal jobs since moving here (on top of the ones I had already applied for) and man do I hope upon hope that one of those would work out, but I also know the unlikeliness of that and am ready to just move forward through whatever door opens. 

One note on my family, they are acting about as expected (yet never really able to be prepared for).  Y is great about calling and keeping me updated with MP and their life, which I appreciate SO much.  Mom doesn't call, for some reason she always says "I'll just wait to hear from you," but she's still fairly easy to talk to when we do talk.  I can tell she's still worried about all the new changes for me, which I understand, but I wish some of the time she would show some excitement for me as well.  She's just being a mom though, and I recognize that.  Dad... dad, doesn't call and isn't able to have a conversation with me when I do (finally get him on the phone).  His only concern, or at least the only one he vocalizes (which is of course a blessing) is whether I have a job or not.  As I said, it's what I expected but it isn't easy.  I don't let the family stuff bring me down.  I know it will be better when I have a job and at least  those worries can be put to rest, although, I am realizing that it won't be the same relationships ever again.  I am just praying and hoping that the new relationships will be better than the old ones, eventually.  I truly do believe sometimes distance can bring you closer than you ever imagined.  (Maybe that is just my naive way of not letting the reality get the best of me, but I will stick with that thought for as longs as I can, and hold out hope that my relationship with mom and dad, individually, and collectively will be better in the long-term.)  I miss my sister.  Thank you for staying so in-touch with me, Y :)   

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