OK, I'll have more to post when I get down there... photos and such but Bryan just had dinner at the Lake Kiowa Lodge and Tavern. Well, I don't think he made it past the bar to the dining room area actually. He said it was pretty good - he had a reuben sandwich and a beer or two - $1 beers at that! I guess every Friday night they have a buffet of some sort - tonight was seafood, I think next Friday is Asian. Saturday nights is half-price steak fajitas and margaritas!!!
He did say lots of 'blue hairs' were in the dining room and lots of wine and "pink" wine was being served. And lots and lots of golf carts.
I can't wait to get there. The population of LK seems to be mostly people over 55, which in a way is quite all right with Bryan and I. Hopefully it will be QUIET. There's even a curfew for kids under 17 - I LOVE it!!!! When did I become old?!?!?!
There's a quilting club I hope to join once I get moved. I've always wanted to join one but never have had the chance... now maybe I will.
Can you tell I'm bored?
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Not Too Much To Say
Well, another week closer to Bryan coming back for a visit. Not much has happened since he left - homework, clinicals and packing a little. Boredom has set in... Big time. Oh, there's things I could be doing: my new Zumba DVD's, cleaning/packing more, studying for my board exams (which, by the way, I say I will do every night when I go to bed - "tomorrow, I'll study for my boards, I WILL". Then tomorrow comes and goes with no studying getting done. Maybe tomorrow.
The past three semesters seemed to have flown by, but this one - oivee! It is DRAGGING. We still have six months to go and the whole class is already has short-timers. Nerves are frayed and tolerance is low. NOT a good sign. I hope my clinical instructor gets a move on and gets my Texas affiliations set up so I can do clinicals down there in Nov/Dec.
I have decided... because I know you all care... to move just as soon as I graduate (Jan 21) and take my exams in TX. I just don't think I can stand being here another month and I think I'll be less stressed if I move first and then take the boards. So the plan is to be 'home' Jan 23. That's better, a date I can look forward to and plan for.
The past three semesters seemed to have flown by, but this one - oivee! It is DRAGGING. We still have six months to go and the whole class is already has short-timers. Nerves are frayed and tolerance is low. NOT a good sign. I hope my clinical instructor gets a move on and gets my Texas affiliations set up so I can do clinicals down there in Nov/Dec.
I have decided... because I know you all care... to move just as soon as I graduate (Jan 21) and take my exams in TX. I just don't think I can stand being here another month and I think I'll be less stressed if I move first and then take the boards. So the plan is to be 'home' Jan 23. That's better, a date I can look forward to and plan for.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Backyard
Bryan sent a few more photos of the house - the back yard. It's rather quite large, especially since he'll have to mow it. HAHA Too bad it isn't fenced and we couldn't get the landlords to agree to fence it. They did agree to a 20x30+ dog kennel for Hannah & Maggie.
Bryan says there's quite a bit of open space around so we will certainly start taking them on walks to burn up energy. He's even met some neighbor's and they want to set up play dates between their over-active Blue Heeler and our two - and they have a fenced yard!!
Bryan says there's quite a bit of open space around so we will certainly start taking them on walks to burn up energy. He's even met some neighbor's and they want to set up play dates between their over-active Blue Heeler and our two - and they have a fenced yard!!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
New House
It seems so weird to me that I'm not helping to move into our new house in Texas... that other people are seeing it before me, cleaning it, deciding where the furniture goes, what cabinets hold what. Weird and a bit disconcerting and honestly, I'm not happy about it. Happy that Bryan has someone help him move and get things set up - not happy that that someone is not me. Boo hoo - pity party of one, pity party of one. :-)
But really, MANY thanks to his Mom, my nephew and his sister and bro-in-law for ALL of their help, scrubbing, cleaning, hoisting, moving, dragging... all of our crap from two different storage units! We couldn't have done it without your support and help! THANK YOU!!!!
So here is a few photos of the new rental. Now you know about as much about it as I do. :-)
But really, MANY thanks to his Mom, my nephew and his sister and bro-in-law for ALL of their help, scrubbing, cleaning, hoisting, moving, dragging... all of our crap from two different storage units! We couldn't have done it without your support and help! THANK YOU!!!!
So here is a few photos of the new rental. Now you know about as much about it as I do. :-)
Garage/Side view
Looking from dining room into kitchen and laundry room beyond
One living room
From one living room down hall to kitchen... I think
Deck
Kitchen
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Moving Forward
So, we are moving forward with the move to Texas. Bryan and I have most of the house packed and already moved to the Lone Star State. I've got the bare-bones left here and will soon be getting it packed to move into an apartment until February when I join him.
And. I. Think. We. Found. A. House. A rental house that is, as we aren't sure where we want to end up exactly - a lot depends on where I find employment there. (I keep wanting to say down there but really I think its over there as it isn't south of us). Let's see, where was I? Oh, the rental... Its in a small community about 11 miles southeast of Gainesville, called Lake Kiowa. It's a gated community, which makes it sound fancier than it really is. It was 'created' in the late 1960s to be a lakeside community. The community of Lake Kiowa comprises 1700 acres of which 563 acres comprise the lake itself. The lake is approximately two miles long, 2900 feet wide at its widest point and has a maximum depth of 35 feet with an average depth of 15 feet. Indian Creek and numerous springs feed the lake. The dam is approximately 1800 feet long with a 150-foot wide concrete spillway at an elevation of 700 feet above mean sea level.
Not sure how we'll feel about living in an actual neighborhood - the house we have now is about as close as we've come to that and I really wouldn't consider this a neighborhood. Anyway, the house is a bit large but thats OK as we have a bunch of crap and can use the room. Hopefully we'll be able to get rid of the storage rooms. The house is on 0.8 acres and there are CC&R's to be followed (we've NEVER-EVER had those to contend with) so all in all it will be an adventure. According to the 2000 census data over 50% of the population is over 50 and there are a little over 1800 people living here. I'm a bit intrigued and kinda hope we connect with the neighbors. We are A-OK with the age group and hope its quiet. HAHA :-)
Oh, yeah, not that it matters to us but there's a golf course in the community... maybe we'll learn how to play. I'd rather get a boat. hee hee
Anyway, here's to part two (or maybe 10) of our adventures. Maybe I should change the name of the blog...???
And. I. Think. We. Found. A. House. A rental house that is, as we aren't sure where we want to end up exactly - a lot depends on where I find employment there. (I keep wanting to say down there but really I think its over there as it isn't south of us). Let's see, where was I? Oh, the rental... Its in a small community about 11 miles southeast of Gainesville, called Lake Kiowa. It's a gated community, which makes it sound fancier than it really is. It was 'created' in the late 1960s to be a lakeside community. The community of Lake Kiowa comprises 1700 acres of which 563 acres comprise the lake itself. The lake is approximately two miles long, 2900 feet wide at its widest point and has a maximum depth of 35 feet with an average depth of 15 feet. Indian Creek and numerous springs feed the lake. The dam is approximately 1800 feet long with a 150-foot wide concrete spillway at an elevation of 700 feet above mean sea level.
Not sure how we'll feel about living in an actual neighborhood - the house we have now is about as close as we've come to that and I really wouldn't consider this a neighborhood. Anyway, the house is a bit large but thats OK as we have a bunch of crap and can use the room. Hopefully we'll be able to get rid of the storage rooms. The house is on 0.8 acres and there are CC&R's to be followed (we've NEVER-EVER had those to contend with) so all in all it will be an adventure. According to the 2000 census data over 50% of the population is over 50 and there are a little over 1800 people living here. I'm a bit intrigued and kinda hope we connect with the neighbors. We are A-OK with the age group and hope its quiet. HAHA :-)
Oh, yeah, not that it matters to us but there's a golf course in the community... maybe we'll learn how to play. I'd rather get a boat. hee hee
Anyway, here's to part two (or maybe 10) of our adventures. Maybe I should change the name of the blog...???
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Big News
Well, what we said would never-EVER happen... happened. Or rather is happening... we are moving back to Texas. Yes, you can stop rubbing your eyes, you read it correctly and its true. We. Are. Moving. To.Texas. I know, un-freaking-believable!!! I still can't really comprehend it.
Neither of us is thrilled for a whole bunch of reasons but Bryan got a great job offer and so, off we go. Here's how it started...
Two - three months ago after months of fruitless searching here in New Mexico and much soul searching on both our parts we decided he should move his job search to Texas. I did some looking too, for Respiratory Therapy jobs, and there were quite a few positions in the Dallas-Fort Worth area so he put his sister's address on his resume and had more calls and subsequent interviews in 2 mos than he did in 22 months here. A long story short (more or less) he received a job offer from Weber Aircraft, a subsidiary of Zodiac Aerospace, a French firm. http://www.weberair.com/homeB.html The company seems like a great company with great people and we feel very blessed with the opportunity. Now the fun begins.
The past three weeks have been a whirlwind of decision-making, rental house hunting, packing and storing... I can tell you, its much easier to move all at once instead of just partially. We have almost emptied the house and the plan is (for now, it seems to change from day to day) is for Bryan to get a house in Texas and when the lease is up here I'll move into an apartment until I graduate and take my board exams. Things could change but for now...
Oh, I didn't say WHERE in Texas we were moving too, did I? Gainesville, TX - for those of not familiar with Texas, Gainesville is located north of the DFW area almost into Oklahoma. Within a couple of hours where we grew up. It's a small town, around 15,000 which is what is making this bearable. We don't want to be in the 'big city' of Dallas, Ft Worth or surrounds.
I'm starting to get excited about the move - if you can't change it, embrace it, right? And look forward to the next chapter in our lives. The next few months will be a challenge but we are planning several trips back and forth and with any luck I will be able to get some clinical rotations in area hospitals at the end of the year. I think the hardest adjustment for us will be (aside from the incredible heat & humidity) being back in the thick of family (both of our families are in the DFW area). We've been away for almost 18 years and are used to it being "just us". Should be interesting.
So that's our news. Our stint in the Land of Enchantment seems to be drawing to a close. I can't say its been a great ride, but is has certainly been an interesting one.
Neither of us is thrilled for a whole bunch of reasons but Bryan got a great job offer and so, off we go. Here's how it started...
Two - three months ago after months of fruitless searching here in New Mexico and much soul searching
The past three weeks have been a whirlwind of decision-making, rental house hunting, packing and storing... I can tell you, its much easier to move all at once instead of just partially. We have almost emptied the house and the plan is (for now, it seems to change from day to day) is for Bryan to get a house in Texas and when the lease is up here I'll move into an apartment until I graduate and take my board exams. Things could change but for now...
Oh, I didn't say WHERE in Texas we were moving too, did I? Gainesville, TX - for those of not familiar with Texas, Gainesville is located north of the DFW area almost into Oklahoma. Within a couple of hours where we grew up. It's a small town, around 15,000 which is what is making this bearable. We don't want to be in the 'big city' of Dallas, Ft Worth or surrounds.
I'm starting to get excited about the move - if you can't change it, embrace it, right? And look forward to the next chapter in our lives. The next few months will be a challenge but we are planning several trips back and forth and with any luck I will be able to get some clinical rotations in area hospitals at the end of the year. I think the hardest adjustment for us will be (aside from the incredible heat & humidity) being back in the thick of family (both of our families are in the DFW area). We've been away for almost 18 years and are used to it being "just us". Should be interesting.
So that's our news. Our stint in the Land of Enchantment seems to be drawing to a close. I can't say its been a great ride, but is has certainly been an interesting one.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
June 13 - Kasha-Katuwe National Monument, New Mexico
The Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument is a remarkable outdoor laboratory, offering an opportunity to observe, study, and experience the geologic processes that shape natural landscapes. The national monument, on the Pajarito Plateau in north-central New Mexico, includes a national recreation trail (see “Activities” below) and ranges from 5,570 feet to 6,760 feet above sea level.
The cone-shaped tent rock formations are the products of volcanic eruptions that occurred 6 to 7 million years ago and left pumice, ash and tuff deposits over 1,000 feet thick. Tremendous explosions from the Jemez volcanic field spewed pyroclasts (rock fragments), while searing hot gases blasted down slopes in an incandescent avalanche called a “pyroclastic flow.” In close inspections of the arroyos, visitors will discover small, rounded, translucent obsidian (volcanic glass) fragments created by rapid cooling. Please leave these fragments for others to enjoy.
Precariously perched on many of the tapering hoodoos are boulder caps that protect the softer pumice and tuff below. Some tents have lost their hard, resistant caprocks and are disintegrating. While fairly uniform in shape, the tent rock formations vary in height from a few feet to 90 feet. (Exceprted from http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/rio_puerco/kasha_katuwe_tent_rocks.html)
Here are some photos of our hike around Kasha-Katuwe National Monument. It was a beautiful day, not too hot with clear skies. Luckily we made it the day before it closed for road maintenance. If you are planning a visit, it won't reopen until July 31 - but definitely go, its amazing!! One of my favorite places in NM.
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