Packing...

I have moved before.  I know what packing is all about.  Why it was only two years ago that I moved while on crutches (thanks, again, Minerva & Eric, Nikki, Gundy, Niffer, Andrea & Shaun, Davis & Kathy, Betty, AnnaBelle, Rudy & Nancy, Cathy, Mom...and all for your moral support)!  Granted, I have never moved out of a city in a long time, at which point I had nothing that couldn't fit in a reasonable box.  So packing up my apartment of two years reveals two things: one - I had a lot more storage space than I acknowledged previously and two - I maximized all said storage space.  Ouch! Most everything is packed up, cleaning is scheduled for Saturday, and the move should be finished by Sunday. And none of this would be possible without all of Thomas's work packing and the generous spirit of his father, who arrives with a 16' trailer and Tom's nephew to haul away all the boxes and furniture on Firday.  Yes, truly, I am blessed in the moving department yet again!

The FINISH

It is true: I did finish! Though I walked most of the half marathon (after my hip surgery, my nonexistent running career was doomed), Minerva and I jogged through City Park towards the finish line.  Nothing like the end in site to motivate!

4+ hours of pure joy

I mean, pure joy and some pain.  This morning I set my alarm for 5:30 am, an hour I do not care to be awake often.  Then I laced up my shoes, ate a breakfast of champions (almond milk and puffed grain cereal), and headed into the cold to walk 13.1 miles (plus another couple miles walking to and from the starting/finish line in City Park).  And now I kind of wobble from side to side when I walk, favoring my right knee a little. Why?  Not because I had to.  I paid to do this!!  I knew my hips would be sore, but it is my knees that are bothering me now and not my hips.  But back to the pure joy!  I got to walk (and jog a little, too) with a great friend the whole way...Minerva was a co-worker first, and now I am so grateful and privileged to call her friend.  It was a gossip fest for sure, but just to be able to share what's been happening in our respective lives is priceless.  The miles melted away for me just to be with her!  Thank you, Minerva, for allowing me to join you! And then after we spent some time resting our legs, we got to meet up with AnnaBelle for lunch!  Brilliant!  What a holy Sabbath for me!  (Not to mention the movie and sushi with birthday girl Niffer!)

Moving one last time?

Thomas and I are about 39 days shy of wedding bells, and we are finally at liberty to sing it to the mountain tops that we are moving to New Mexico!!!  While singing joyfully I am also wearing my black veil of mourning to be leaving my wonderful community in Denver. A while back an opportunity arose that we couldn't pass up: 10 acres of land in Miami, NM that is walking distance from all Tom's family, that holds water rights for irrigation, that has a water well, that has municipal water, and that has a view of the Tooth of Time.  It seemed affordable, and we went for it!  And now here we are, having decided that rather than wait to move later on when we are ready, we are ready NOW!  Here is a link to a map of the area.  We are frantically getting ready for the move and the wedding, but just excited about the adventure ahead...

sweet relief....

My cell phone has been acting a little funny.  In my apartment I can't always talk to my parents on their land line because I fade out, same with my friend Gabe.  But then other days there is no problem at all.  I got an unwanted solicitation from a person with a heavy accent asking me about updating my plan because I don't use all my minutes, and wouldn't I want to pay more for a plan with less minutes?  Anyhow, I have been thinking that I might do away with my Sprint plan altogether come Fourth of July weekend when my plan expires.  Until then...hold out, make do, etc.  This contingency plan did not include dropping my phone fell in the toilet this morning.  Nope, pretty sure I was not expecting that one! The screen stayed normal for a minute and then turned into a pool of white light... I turned it off, put it in a sunny window on my way to work, and hoped.  Walking to work, I agonized about the lost phone numbers and all that.  But tonight, it worked!  Yahoo!

FIRST SKI DAY!!!!

I know so many people who would be dismissive that it took so long to have a ski day this season.  But I am planning a wedding, working full time, and just really busy without tons of disposable income. I had to sit out last season because of hip surgery in 2008.  And the winter before I spent much time traveling and starting a new job, so I skied just a few times.  Well, unsure what the winter would hold, I didn't get a ski pass.  Anyhow, after a false alarm, today was the day.  I got a bit nervous about a snowy forecast.  Then I heard on the radio this morning that the high was 28 and snowy.  Dios mio....not Colorado conditions for a first day up.  It was sunny for alternating runs, and though I didn't look great, I got my form back a few times.  It was a lot of fun, and I am super grateful for my friend Sarah Hafner spending the day with me on the slopes! Next trip in 8 days!

Sad news...

Death has a profound way of stopping us in our tracks and making us wish we would have made one more phone call, sent one more card, paid one more visit. Ron, you were my first mentor of Denver.  You taught me to navigate the streets, to appreciate landmarks, to back a pick-up into a dock, and to notice little things nobody else could.  Riding around in the little red truck, talking about the past in full color like we could both see it on the dash, sharing stories about our families, and feeling the wind blowing through the cab... Ron, you always made me feel important.  You always took the time to notice or ask about how I was.  I can picture you like you are sitting next to me, thumbing through your beard with your cap and sunglasses on, coffee in your other hand.  I can hear you voice, chuckling.  I remember riding up to staff retreat in your truck and playing taboo with you and Steve, Beth and Jesusita, Britta and Sarah...some funny clues you gave for sandals. I am sad it has been two years since we visited.  I think you would really like Tom...soon to be my husband.  He's a handy guy like you...remember cleaning Liz's corroded car battery with a coke and a steel brush?  Tom would have liked meeting you, too.  You'd approve, but tell him to take good care of me anyway.  I am sorry I didn't make one more phone call, but know you were often in my heart.  May you rest in peace. love, tori