Home Sweet Home

Hello!

As I am writing this, another severe thunderstorm is moving through the valley. The past 2 days, one after the other has come through. Up on the mountain, where I live, the the thunder shakes the house and hail pelts the windows. Each thunderstorm seems to only last 20 minutes or so, but they keep coming; rolling down from Mount Sopris. Last night, I had to outrace one to take care of the dogs. I could see it over Sopris, quickly blowing towards me. The dogs could have cared less when the wind started picking up, but I didn't really like standing on an open mountainside with a metal bucket full of water. As soon as I reached the puppy pen, it started to hail; I booked it back into the house. That experience taught me that I am not yet used to the altitude to run up and down a hill...either that, or I'm just out of shape. A couple minutes later, the eye of the storm seemed to open up and sun came streaming through. A massive double rainbow stretched across the valley in front of the house. It was incredibly bright, a spot of light in the middle of torrential rain. These storms are violent, sudden, and supposedly typical of the area. I'll have to get used to them as I have gotten used to everything else.
Glenwood Springs is really starting to feel like home. I can find my way around town; have met several locals; and with my first visitor, I have a certain sense of pride. My friend, Laura, came to visit me for a night this week. She attends school over in Colorado Springs and we are both very excited to live so near to each other now. We started our day by taking a gondola ride up to the top of a nearby peak. At the top there is a view of the entire town and the canyon down below. Also on top of this mountain is a cave network. We took a tour of the extensive tunnels. They were discovered in the 1800s and several of them are still "alive" with water. The rock formations were spectacular and I have decided that when I grow up I want to take up spelunking (as long as I don't have to go into the really really dark places).

View of Glenwood Springs

Afterwards, I showed Lo the town and then, of course, the dogs. Showing her around and giving her a sense of my job, I really felt at home. I felt as if I belong here. It is an incredible place with very interesting people and even more interesting adventure opportunities. I hope to show this place off to all of you at some point.

My house!

Dining room and living room