woohoo!

I have lots to do, including a discussion of two papers that I'm leading at 12:30 (it's 10), but I just cant focus on work. I am pretty happy about how the election went yesterday, and am feeling cautiously optimistic about the future. But, politics, blah, so I'm going to write about the wonderful weekend I had.

Chris and I are ALMOST 100% done with our landscaping. We've killed weeds, planted new shrubbery (probably at least half are low-water), put down landscaping fabric and mulch, outlined the backyard area with some edging and made a stone/rock walkway from our back gate. All that is left is to get some timbers to edge the front yard part and to buy some drip-line dripper-thingies for the front yard.

Also, we finally picked up our house from the mouse fiasco a few weeks ago. I have been feeling awful about our house the last couple of weeks. After being at an interview for 14 hours Thursday, I actually dreaded coming home b/c it was such a mess. It was really stressing me out, I am not usually a neat freak but I do have my limits! So I am feeling very good about both our house and our yard right now.

Oh, yes, my interview was for a co-teaching position at Colorado College in Co. Springs next March/April. I found out yesterday I got the position (there were 3 positions and 3 applicants, so it wasn't a huge surprise). I think it will be very challenging b/c they are on the block schedule. Classes go from 9-12, with labs usually from 1-4 and maybe office hours after that. So it is a crazy day! But the whole course (climate) is crammed into 3.5 weeks. So I think it will be hard but a great experience and a good way to get my hands wet in the world of teaching. I don't get paid, but I get free housing and food on the CC campus, which is nice. I'm kind of looking forward to exploring the Springs, and I hope Chris can come down for one or two weekends to explore with me.

One more thing is that I decided last weekend to go see Obama with Nick, Michelle, and Rachel. Nick and Michelle got in line at 6 AM (I showed up at 9:30), and so we got a spot 20 ft. from the podium. It was pretty incredible. Even if you don't agree with his politics, you have to agree that he is an excellent public speaker (the exact opposite of a certain President I can think of). I feel even more fortunate about seeing him now that he is President-elect. Big thanks to Nick and Michelle for being hard core and getting in line so early!

So ... yes, I am excited about life right now, which feels great to be able to say! (maybe there is a correlation between that statement and the fact that I am on my second cup of coffee) :) Thanks for stopping by.

I'll post some pictures that Michelle and Nick took last Sunday.

He was so close!


It was estimated that 45,000-50,000 people showed up, I believe it. There was a huge crowd and the line to get in stretched a couple of miles!

The weekend

Today (and last night) have been really nice! Well, for me. Probably not for Chris unfortunately because he has been working :(. His company is hosting a conference in Denver from Thurs till tomorrow. The upside is that it is at a pretty nice hotel and Rachel and I stayed with him last night. First, Rachel and I went out to dinner at Illegal Petes (good food, and margaritas!). Chris met up with us and we had some beers back at the hotel. It was a fun but relaxing evening.

This morning we were all up early. Chris to work, and Rachel and I to go to Veloswap, which is a big convention-type event with a ton of bike-related stuff for sale from any one who has something they want to sell. I've never been before and it was great! I got a Specialized helmet, High Road bib shorts, Chipotle long-sleeve jersey (I love the argyle!), CSC jersey (for Chris), and handle bar grips for $95! Sweet! Rachel got a nice pair of road shoes for $10! It was nice, and we were done by 11:15.

I was feeling good and it has been a gorgeous day, so I went to Cherry Creek Res. for a run. I ran 55 minutes (well, walked for 10 of those)! My longest run since July and I felt pretty good. :) The beauty of where I was running definitely helped. I had some nice views of the mountains, which have a dusting of snow. I ran 3 days this week (about 12 miles), which was my goal, and have felt pretty good for all of them. I am excited about getting back into running! Who knows, maybe I will run tomorrow and make it 4?

I got done running just in time to watch the amazing Georgia-LSU game. I figured that Georgia SHOULD win, but that doesn't always mean anything. But they looked great! I guess the defense could have done better, but other than that I was very impressed. I think they are ready for Florida, which will be an even tougher game. Go Dawgs!

Now I'm hanging out waiting to hear from Chris. Maybe we will have time to eat dinner together. Then I will probably head back to the Fort for the night, although there are a few football games tonight I would like to watch, so maybe I will stay. Who knows. I'm also trying to decide if I should see Obama speak at CSU tomorrow. It will be an all-day affair because of the crowds, but it is also a pretty great opportunity to see the possible future president just a few miles from my house. Hmmm ... I am going to get political for the first time ever on my blog!

I think I am voting for Obama. I was kind of on the fence but you know what pushed me over? I've always been a little leary of McCain because he is old! What if he dies in office?? Seriously. And as I get to know Palin more, I really don't think she could be president. I think it would be a disaster. I think she is probably a fine governor of Alaska, but I can't see her being the ruler of the free world and sitting down with foreign diplomats and using her hockey-mom language with them. So, that is what tipped me. But I like a lot of things about Obama. I like his views of energy and the environment. I like that he wants us out of Iraq sooner than McCain, although I hope he doesn't rush it. I like the idea of universal health care coverage. I don't like McCain's ideas for health care. When was it, 2000, I was hoping McCain would get the republican nomination. I would have voted for him then. But I like Obama. And I don't want Palin to be president. So, there you have it! Politics! Scary! Oh, one last thing, THE SINGLE GREATEST MOMENT in the debates was when Obama and McCain were talking about helping in Darfur. Please, please please, next president, do something to help those people!

ALright that's it. Thanks for stopping by!