Friday the 23rd found me packing again, fortunately not too much trouble this time as we only opened boxes for the two week stay, but didn't empty them. Some I could just tape back up and others had to be reorganized a bit to sort the food we could store from what we wanted to take or give to the kids. Heather's family benefited the most because all I could offer Laurie was pickles. Turned out she was over that stage of her pregnancy and wanted nothing to do with them. Tough for her, having morning sickness all day on top of being a vegetarian.
We had most of the kids and grandkids over on Saturday to help load the trailer, pickup and car. I'm sure Budd appreciated the help with the heavy lifting, but I kept worrying that something would be put in the trailer for storage that belonged in the car to bring with us. So far all we are missing are the keyboard and mouse for this computer (Budd has no idea where he put them). Obviously, we bought new. Finished loading around noon and fed the kids, then had to keep them entertained as we waited for Laurie and Huggy, who planned the get-together but didn't make it in time for food. 6 teenaged or pre-teen boys plus one teen girl are like a swarm of locusts, and there wasn't much food left in the house anyway. That's one way to clean out a fridge for moving! We left the park around 4 p.m. and headed for Springville, UT, where we left the pickup and trailer in an RV storage lot and spent the night, all the better to get an early start for Grand Junction the next day.
Bright and early Sunday morning we left for Colorado, well-fed and well-rested, and with mixed feelings about leaving the home area once more. Budd's temp assignment here in Lakewood, CO will no doubt enhance his ability to finally get a permanent position with the Park Service, but we are somewhat weary of this nomadic life and its challenges. A highlight on the way, though, was our stop to spend the night with his mom and stepdad. Though we got to see them a couple of weeks ago for her birthday party, it really wasn't a satisfactory visit, because we had to share them with so many other people. Nearly a full day with them was a treat. We found Jim putting together a huge puzzle with a painting of a moose feeding in a pond, and pitched in to help complete it before we left. Note to self: never start a big jigsaw puzzle on my own--I can't stop for food or sleep until they are finished.
Monday found us on the road again (insert Willie Nelson tune here), and a beautiful road it was. I was happy not to be driving as it was like a roller coaster, going up and down and twisting through the Rockies. But I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery while trying valiantly to stay awake. Unusually for us, we made the entire drive without stopping and pulled in at our home-away-from-home at around 3 p.m., stiff and hungry. As our room wasn't ready, we got back in the car and went to find some food.
We are at an extended-stay hotel, Candlewood Suites, just a few minutes from Budd's office. We were pleasantly surprised that rush-hour traffic isn't as bad as we had expected, and have found all the amenities we like in a city within a reasonable distance. I was especially happy to find a nice little park just half a block from the hotel, where I'm pursuing a goal of walking a mile or more per day to get in shape, build up my stamina and lose some weight. More about that in a minute. The suite here is fairly comfortable, if small, and I'm even trying to cook--on a two-burner stove with no oven. I learned while at TICA that we could live on what's available as frozen entrees (since I didn't want to unpack all my pans), but they are not the most healthful fare, and I'm determined to have a 30-day health project.
One disappointing thing is that the TV in the room doesn't have inputs for my Wii, so the park, in-house exercise room and complimentary gym membership that come with our stay here will be essential to an exercise program. I actually hate to exercise for the sake of exercise, except for a few things I find enjoyable like step aerobics. But I do like to walk. Unfortunately, I've let myself get so heavy that walking is hard on my back and hips, but something has to be done. The nearby park has a sidewalk all the way around the perimeter that is .41 of a mile according to the sign. I walk around 2 full times and then cut through the middle where there is a picnic area and playground. Add the distance from the hotel and back for just over a mile. Today I also went out one of the other 'spokes' of sidewalk that provides an entrance to the street on the north and figured it at a mile and a half. Later I'll trace it on a Google Maps tool I've found and make sure. Must find a way to get out earlier, though. By the time I'm finished at 9 a.m., I'm drenched in sweat and need another shower.
My friend Kathy D. introduced me to a great website called SparkPeople where I can track my food/calories, exercise, calories burned, and a number of other things. It's also a social network where I can get support for my health goals from other people who have similar ones. I've spent a day and a half of exploring this wonderful resource. Admittedly, I wouldn't have spent quite so much time if the internet connection speed here at the hotel was really high-speed as advertised. I'm afraid it's too slow for tutoring, which may be the death-knell for my employment with tutor.com. They drop people after 30 days of inactivity, so I must get back on before the 7th of August to stay active. I'll give it a try, and if it's too slow will have to beg for leniency due to the circumstances. But back to exploring SparkPeople, I do recommend it for anyone whose lifestyle goals would be enhanced by tracking. I've long ascribed to the motto 'Goals measured are goals achieved.' Maybe it's just because I'm a compulsive counter.
Well, the goal for today is to do a couple of loads of laundry, then enjoy an afternoon of cross-stitch. The laundry is overdue as that was yesterday's goal, too. ;) I'd better get started!
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