Rambling again

I can't believe it's been almost 5 months since that long cross country drive.

I can't believe it took so long to find jobs. (and how easily I tossed one away --- I am considering Walmart to be like my hubby's car salesman job, he lasted 2 days...me 3 weeks! -- we both get a do over! I will chose more wisely next time!)

Some people we have talked to have said this was a bad summer...hotter than usual, wetter than normal and more humid. Others say it can be worse. There were a few nasty humid days, but certainly not as bad as back East and certainly not as many...And definitely not as much rain.

Every day I wake up and it's sunny (a handful or fewer haven't been), is that why it's so easy to get up early here? On my days off I used to sleep til 10:30 sometimes later. It is a rare day I sleep past 9, and my sleep hasn't even been good lately...hormones have been acting up and lots of hot flashes (YAY....not!).

We have been hiking once a week for the past month. WOW -- it is so beautiful... I will never get tired of the beauty out here. Who would think a desert could be so beautiful. Dave is right, the mountains add to it. They were snow capped the other day for a few hours...a very early snowfall, according to the locals. I thought I would dread winter, but the lower temps were ok, as long as the sun is out!

It feels like home now. It feels like we have always been here and it feels like this is where we should be. Yes I miss my son. But, once again, he has surprised me. He texts me regularly, he has called several times..without prompting and he tells me all the time that he misses me and can't wait for winter break. He even calls from his dorm room...while his roommates are there! He says it doesn't matter anymore and he realizes how silly he was being! I thought it would take years for him to reach that conclusion!

I can not think of one negative about living here. Yes, it would have been nice to find jobs sooner and better paying jobs. But Dave is starting in a whole new direction, a job that excites him...it will be so different than anything he has done and hopefully it will be enjoyable. He will be working for a private aviation place. They take care of private planes that land at the airport. They also have a contract with the local military base. He won't be stuck inside behind a desk. His views are amazing and he gets to see some really cool planes! There is potential for advancement and if his pay increases even just a little, everything will be okay! We have a cushion to lean on, didn't want to, but that's what it was for...so maybe we won't vacation for a while...that's why we had Africa, to give us great memories to last a lifetime. Life here is like a vacation...the weather is just so damn beautiful! And PALM TREES everywhere!!

We have fixed the house up to a level we can live with. There is more to do but it is WANTS not NEEDS. What we have...the life we have...we aren't sacrificing...we have a beautiful home, wonderful friends and most importantly each other. Our relationship is stronger than ever....that seems like a good future blog....secrets to being together for over 17 years and loving each other MORE...

I have no regrets, I feel I needed to say this. My blogs are often about crap that irritates me. I may seem like an angry person. I don't dwell on any of that stuff. The blog helps, it is cathartic to write it down. Keeps it out of my head when I lay down and can't sleep because my mind keeps running.... oh yes that too.....the running out here....no more need for a treadmill EVER.. I made it through the heat of summer with no problems. It is flat...that is good and bad...it is soooo easy to run on flat ground but if I race somewhere NOT flat, that may be a problem...I have been doing some running during our hikes and plan to keep doing that...I still want to do the Tram hike and the Tram 6k run...but am definitely not in shape for that yet!

There are people I will miss back East but it's pretty easy to keep in contact with them on the internet. And a lot of them we only saw a couple times a year anyway....and once we get situated with permanent jobs we will be able to come back for visits and they can certainly come visit us too!

I still can't believe how long it has been...it was a year ago we were settling on the house. So much to worry about a year ago...and it all worked out. The birds have adjusted great and so have we!!