So much to say, so much to say (think Dave Matthews)

Well, clearly I made it to Richmond, VA.  I feel like I've been rocked like a hurricane and apparently, Richmond gets hurricanes.  I learned that in my orientation.  Great, I'm glad I knew that before I came.  There is so much I would like to share about the 4 day drive, the week long moving-in process and my first three days of seminary but I don't know where to begin.

I'm here, I'm alive, and I've started a new adventure.  I'm definitely eating crow from all the times I told people moving and new places are fun, exciting adventures.  Of course, new places and adventures seem great when you're connected to a fantastic community and know the place where you live and you are not leaving everything to start a new adventure.  Even though I didn't have any friends in Colorado, I had a support system.  Don't get me wrong, there are fantastic people who have welcomed me here but it just isn't home.  

People drive like maniacs, pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way (I've almost died a few times), the roads don't make sense (their direction or their names: Boulevard -- that's the name of the street), the super markets are weird, the weather is sticky and muggy, did I mention that they have hurricanes, I don't know where I'm going because there aren't any mountains to mark the way, I'm learning a language that looks like Elvish (Elfish?) and I've started to say Y'all.

I like it, I think.  I'm pretty sure this is where I'm supposed to be but I've wondered more times than not what the hell God brought me here for.  I guess the best adventures are the ones where imminent failure is overcome.  Those adventures are rarely easy and that's what makes it rich.  Sometimes our only way is jumping-- I sure wish I would stop being afraid of heights.  

P.S.  R. Kelley called me earlier to remind me I'm the world's greatest -- so I guess things are pretty cool.

West Virginia, Mountain Mama, Country Roads Take me Home

Well, it seems like deja vu but it isn't.  My car is bulging to the gunwales again but this time it's not snowing.  Last time it was like, "Here I go again on my own, walking down the only road, I walk alone."  However, this time, I'm not alone.  I have an ominous presence following me.  It follows me in a giant red SUV with my parents inside (don't worry, it isn't a Hummer so put your middle finger down and stop hurling those naughty words at my family and me). It has followed me in this same car before on a more different road trip.  That road trip started by almost not beginning but thanks to my father, the trip happened and Liz and I made the epic journey from Tacoma to Colorado with my dad following us.  Luckily, I did not have a car accident today and this new road trip is going to happen!  

So, we are ready...to ROCKSTEADY...all the way to Virginia!  The cars are loaded (mine is sagging in the back because of all the CRAP I'm bringing).  The good ol' road trip mixes (thanks to Lizzie's hard work) are back in their case and ready to be played.  My mom has planned out this epic road trip so it will last 4 days.  She said, "I want to be able to stop whenever I want.  There might be lots of the 'biggest balls of yarn' and I want to be able to name which is truly the biggest."  Cooper has his own pair of goggles and he is PSYCHED to be going.  

It's time for me to leave good ol' Canon City.  Michael Jackson died today and perhaps a little piece of me will die when I hit the city limit (marked by the Super Walmart).  Probably not, but who knows.  On to new things, like Hebrew.  Look up "Hebrew Alphabet Song" on YouTube, and you'll see what I've been practicing before I start class on the 6th of July!  Highly entertaining, I promise.  

I'll keep you posted.  

It doesn't matter if you're black or white...

Secret sentiments secreted...

First of all...

I love alliteration.  If I had all the time in the world I would create a language that only used alliteration.  Oh wait, I have had all the time in the world and I didn't do that.  My other problem is that I can't figure out how to make this font not be underlined.  Boo.

Anyway, last weekend I had a going away party and people were nice and brought me cards.  The notes inside the cards were very similar to this one below.  I guess the pressure is on.  Good thing I'm escaping from this town urging me to be a good wife and settle down.  

Of course, now my secret radar is on for a good husband.  The question is, should I be on the look out for a single guy who might make a good husband or should I be on the alert for someone who is already a good husband?  I'll look for both since it seems silly that I should clarify.

Mesa Verde

Iron Horse Inn

My parents and I stayed in the high class motel called the Iron Horse Inn in Durango.  It sounds about as good as it was.  After my folks and I went and grabbed dinner at the downtown Mexican joint we headed back to the Inn to find that Cooper had been stranded in the hotel during a thunder storm and had destroyed some of the carpet.  Awesome.

After trying to clean it and an hour worth of pin-ball (my parents LOVE pinball.  We have our own machine in the garage called the "Incredible Hulk") we tried to sleep.  However, there were many brawls during the night and none of us slept.  We were all pretty cranky when we headed to Mesa Verde.  It was the day of my parent's 34th wedding anniversary and they decided to dress like tourists for Mesa Verde...for fun

Moo

From Heaven to Hell...the cows should have been a sign.

After a glorious night of sleep and the best Lox and Cheese I've ever encountered, we took Cooper up to the top of some big mountains in a gondola and then headed out of town.  We drove right into a cow-drive or whatever you call those things when cowboys heard cows to somewhere else.  We had to pull over while 100 cows took over the town.  A true stampeed.  Cooper posed on the plush couch in our hotel and then we made our way to Durango.  BAD IDEA.