Make it Rain!

Hello again!

It's been a little while since I've posted so I thought I would write a little bit about what's been going on.

As for me and my personal things, not a lot is happening. I'm taking it easy this summer. I've been looking at part-time jobs since the job I got with Denver Public Schools is only a .5 position. Hoping I'll be able to find something to supplement that other half of income. (DARN YOU STUDENT LOANS!) I'm leaving on Thursday to go visit good 'ole arkansassy. I'm excited to see my family and friends, and to go to some of my old haunts.

As I've said, not a lot of things are happening in my personal life, but if you've been paying any attention to the news, you'll see that Colorado is pretty much on fire. I'm very lucky to be in Denver where there are no current fires, but it's been hard for me to see the wildfires that have been happening all across the state. The Waldo Canyon Fire in Colorado Springs in particular. I lived there for 2 years, and just moved away about 3 weeks before the fire started. I still have a lot of friends and students that live there. I've been thinking about them everyday since the fire started. I'm also just thinking about the community there and all those who have lost their homes. Please keep those people, the firefighters, and that community in your thoughts and prayers. The fire isn't as much of a danger as it was, but it's still burning.

Do your rain dance. 

Run Like a Bear is Chasing You!

Hey all!

Just wanted to do a quick post recapping my weekend in Estes Park, Colorado. We were there so I could run my half-marathon (That's 13.1 miles in case you didn't know). Running a half-marathon was my New Year's Resolution. We decided to get there early (to get acclimated to the higher altitude) and checked into our hotel Friday night and spent Saturday enjoying the cute town. We got all of my racing gear, looked at shops, found a fun zone and went down a giant slide, and had some good food. Sunday morning we got up bright and early and headed to Estes Park High School for my race.

For some odd reason, driving up to the event, getting in line and ready to start, I became really emotional. I mean trying not to cry emotional. I still can't put a finger on it. Maybe because I had been working so hard to get there. Maybe I was just nervous. Who knows.

The bell sounded and we were off! The first hill we came to I could feel the altitude having an effect on me. (7500ft-8000ft) I thought I was going to lose the banana I had eaten for breakfast and had to go off to the side a few times to make sure I was okay. I think it was nerves. I took it easy on the bigger hills running when I could and walking when I needed to. My husband was there at several mile markers taking pictures and cheering me on.

 I finished at about 2hrs and 48min. Not exactly fast, but my goal wasn't to be fast. My goal was to finish. It was my first race besides a 5K and I just wanted to see if I could do it. Now I want to do another one (with less hills and at a lower altitude) to see how fast I could do it. I got the bug. Another thing that's been bothering me was I feel pretty awesome running a half-marathon, but all I can think about is how hardcore the actual marathon runners were. Maybe one day I can work my way up to that. Maybe.

I Think I'll Go To Austin...

Hello all!

Sean and I just got back from a great trip in Austin, TX. It was so good to see my family, especially my niece. She's 3 years old and is a spitfire! Last time I saw her was in November at my wedding. It's amazing how much she's grown since then! She will talk your ear off and is super smart.

We spent our time hanging out with family and exploring some of the wonderful things Austin has to offer. We ate A LOT of Tex-Mex, walked around South Congress, ran around the city park and checked out Downtown. The one thing that was difficult was the heat and humidity. I'm not used to the weather we experienced down there and it wore me out. I found myself wanting to take a nap everyday!

downtown Austin

The day we flew back we had to go straight from the Denver airport to Colorado Springs to participate in the Relay for Life. If you don't know what that is, it's a 12 hour event that symbolizes the struggle a cancer patient goes through. It's meant to honor and support those who are struggling with cancer right now and to remember those we've lost to the disease. Teams raise money to donate to the American Cancer Society to help find a cure.  This cause means a lot to me as my family has been affected by cancer directly and I also have many friends who have a similar story. Needless to say, by the end of the event Sean and I were EXHAUSTED. We drove home and slept. Woke up for a few hours, and slept some more. I think I've finally caught up with my sleep.

The Luminaria Ceremony

Overall, it's been a good week. Saturday is my half-marathon, so I'm a bit nervous and excited all at the same time. Wish me luck!

Denverites

Hello all. Sean and I are now official Denverites. We have moved in and are somewhat settled. So far we're really enjoying it.

As I wrote in an earlier post, there's a lot of change that comes with moving very close to downtown Denver. Parking is a lot different. We feed the meter at 9 and then go back out at 2. The good thing is you can use a credit card, so no looking for spare change in my car floorboards. We're still looking for parking alternatives, especially for me over the summer since I'm being a lazy bum (perks of being a teacher). I'll slowly start giving you guys some pictures and glimpses of our new like here in Denver.

We moved ourselves (just Sean and I) on Saturday. We rented a truck, carried all our stuff down 3 flights of stairs, drove it up to Denver, and use a freight elevator to take our stuff up to the penthouse suite. No, I'm just kidding... we live on the 2nd floor. But, there is a penthouse about 15 stories up! Pictures to come. It's nice living on the second floor because we don't have to take an elevator. Anyway, off of that tangent... we moved all by ourselves and didn't argue once. That's a huge feat. We tend to argue. We're good at that. We both think we're right, all the time.

After moving, we took the elevator up to the top, popped open some cold beers, and enjoyed our new city scenery. On Sunday, I walked to a bagel place and grabbed us some breakfast. On Monday we walked to downtown and enjoyed some yummy food and funny people. I just love that we can walk to all sorts of places. We want to invest in some bicycles because then we would be really cool.

Here's one view from the penthouse roof:

I think we'll like Denver. 

In other news, we're leaving tomorrow (what? leaving so soon?) for Austin, TX to visit my sister, bro-in-law, niece, and my parents will be there for small time as well. They just bought a house down there and I can't wait to see it (and them). Austin is one of my favorite cities. I'll take lots of pictures and mental notes so I can blog about it and allow my readers to live vicariously through my glamorous life.

Until then... Adios.

Change

A lot of change is about to happen. I always view change as a good thing. I like change. I like new endeavors and experiences. I like meeting new people and finding new and exciting places. We're about to have some change.

Change comes with excitement, but following right behind that excitement is nervousness. Nervousness that things might not work out, nervousness that you won't like the change. Nervousness of the unknown.

Sean and I are saying goodbye to our home of about two years in Colorado Springs and moving just up the map to Denver. We got an apartment that's in the city. About 4 blocks or so from downtown. With that comes many changes (there's that word again). Smaller apartment (great location!), a laundry facility instead of our own washer dryer (I can get 4 loads of laundry done in the time it takes for one!), no on-site parking (exercise!), and living in a city (local breakfast places!). I'm viewing all the changes in a positive light. Life is all about how you see things.

With moving comes job changes. Now, Sean has already started his new job up in Denver. He's been commuting back and forth for quite a while and I'm sure he's ready to be up there. I, however, have not been as successful. I am in the hunt for jobs, which there are plenty of, I just need to convince some of those schools up there that I'm the right teacher for them! Along with finding a new job, means saying goodbye to an old one. I work in a challenging district. Standards for teachers are VERY high (which they should be) but at times it can become very stressful and cumbersome. Things can become unorganized and uncommunicated. There are a few things about this job that I'm okay to saying goodbye to. There are many things about this job that I am going to miss very much. I will miss the people I work with. I will miss the place that gave me my very first teaching job. My very first classroom. Most of all, I'm going to miss my kids. I freaking love those little monsters. I think some are going to miss me as well...

I've also made some good friends down here that I'm going to miss, but luckily Denver and Colorado Springs are only about an hour away.

Imma be a city girl.

Weekend

Heyy. What up muh peeps.

Tomorrow's Friday. After that, I only have one more working Friday left and I'm done for the school year. Moving on to bigger and better things. Actually, just moving.

The real reason I'm posting today is because I have a great weekend in store and I'm crazy excited for it! Let me tell you all the things I have to look forward to.

1. Sean will be getting his very first tattoo on Friday. I'm so excited for him to join up the tat club (proud member since 2006.) He' actually working on a first sleeve, but he'll just be getting the first component of that project. A tree on  his forearm. Pictures to come.

not this.

2. Rugged Maniac. A 5k obstacle race. Signed up for this baby with a friend a while back and I'm really excited. Who doesn't like/need to get down and dirty sometimes? My friend and I joke that I'll be kicking you-know-what at the running part but she'll catch up to me at all the obstacles as I am but a tiny weakling when it comes to muscle strength and she's boss. She literally lifted me up onto a stage at my bachelorette party.

3. WICKED. My lovely husband got us wicked tickets for Christmas. I've been waiting 5 months for this time to come around and it's finally here. I'm so excited.

Fun-packed, action-filled times will be had.

One is the Lonliest Number...

Hello again.

I've been lonely that past week or so. Sean left on the 29th of April for LA to get certified at his new job (WE ARE FARMERS. BAH BADADABA BA BA BA.) Yes, they actually have something like a "University of Farmers." They have a fake house and everything.

Anyway, I've been by myself at home the time he's been gone. He'll be coming back on Friday, but it's shown me a lot of things. It's the first time we've been apart for this long since we've moved to Colorado. Here's what I've learned.

1. I love the "me" time for about a day and a half. Then I'm over it.

2. Cats make great company... and are great models for pictures.

3. I have some good friends here in town that are willing to let me hang out in their living room and sing along with The Voice.

4. I have forgotten how to shop and cook for just myself. I have some eggs and ramen. That's it.

5. I'm really messy when I don't have anyone else around.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing my husband when he gets back on Friday. Absence has truly made the heart grow fonder.

Here are some pictures of my cats that I've taken while he's been gone:

Anna making herself comfty in my laundry bag

Jinx giving Anna the death stare