More Mayberry (aka Monument) Life

Fall is wonderful here. We have had our first snow, but it melted in a day or two and it has been sunny, warm and beautiful since. This weekend we went and decorated pumpkins at the local feed store and then took a hayride history tour which was fun and interesting at the same time. Had lunch in town at the café and ran into Lucy and Kelly who sat and joined us. It's all very Capra-esque (but, of course, that is what I was looking for). Saturday night we went to a Halloween party with friends, Doug was Van Gogh, complete with a bloody bandaged ear and a reddish beard. Thad was Billy Idol and looked exactly like him, truly, it was eerie. He won a "coolest" costume award (at the bowling alley) so was in great spirits, but always is anyway.

Frankie's Report Card

Had a parent-teacher conference today and Frank got an outstanding report card. He was pretty far behind when we moved here and last year's first parent-teacher conference was alarming. He has worked so hard that he has not only caught up, but has also surpassed expectations for reading, math and science. I am so proud of him.

Micki's Retiring

Micki told me this morning that she's decided to retire. She'll be 75 in November and thinks it's time. Okay, I can accept that. Her timing is a little questionable, but everything happens for a reason and the truth is that whatever happens, happens and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it.

Last Art Hop this Year

The last Art Hop of the season was last night. The turnout was good for October, although the artist was less than impressed. I overheard that she was disappointed that the Christmas merchandise was overpowering her art. I guess she may have been right, but we need to sell things in order to stay in business, so we had different priorities.

She left early, so we did too and had dinner with Jeri and her husband, which we've been trying to do for months. It was great to get together with them, but Doug and I were tired and babbling. We'll have to do it again when we're more ourselves. I feel like the last week has been such a whirlwind of activity that all I want to do now is sleep, for four days.

Sunday Night

Just took CJ, Janel and Jackson to the airport and we miss them already. We had such a great time while they were here. Thursday we unloaded the truck and showed CJ around town. In the afternoon CJ and I looked at some houses and then met up with Doug to pick up the boys. CJ was as impressed with Frank's school as anyone else who has seen it, and rightly so. Janel and Jackson flew in Thursday night and all of us went to DIA to pick them up. Stopped at our favorite after-airport spot, the Castle Café in Castle Rock, home of the best pan-fried chicken in Colorado (according to the best of Colorado books).

Friday we had breakfast at the Coffee Cup, looked around the market and then went to Denver and walked around Lodo, something Janel and I had done when she and I came here two years ago. Later we met up with Thad, Lecey and their kids at the local bowling alley, had a blast and then ordered pizzas and went back to the house to watch the Rockies game.

Saturday morning we all hit the farmer's market, then Janel and I did some shopping and had lunch while all the boys when hiking and fishing. We met up in the afternoon to go looking at houses and of course, there were several CJ and Janel just loved. We again met up with Thad and Lecey, had Danielle babysit (ALL of the kids, she's amazing!), and went down to Jack Quinn's. After too much to eat and drink, and so much laughter that my body ached, we went back to the house where all the kids were still awake. I played iPod DJ and the kids (and sometimes the adults) danced until after midnight.

Today we went to Garden of the Gods and then tried to spend some time at the house. I listened to the Rockies game on the way home from the airport, which kept me awake. They're off to the World Series, first time ever for them. Great fun.

Home Again, Home Again

Seems like I've used that title before, but I am home again. CJ decided he didn't want to stop, so we drove straight through.

Everything DID go like clockwork in California and CJ and I were on the road a little more than 2 hours after my plane landed. We made it to Colorado by noon today, very tired, in need of showers, but very, very happy to be home.

Opted not to go the Empty Bowl dinner tonight and will likely feel a million times better after a good night's sleep.

Off to California

I'm slated to leave for California in the morning. It'll be quick. Bonnie is picking me up at the airport, I'm going to the Neptune Society to pick up my mother's ashes, picking up the reserved U-haul truck, driving to Home Depot to pick up a couple of Mexican guys to help me load the truck, driving to the storage unit, loading the truck and then meeting CJ who will drive with me here. We have to stop in Riverside to pickup some things from my mother's house and then head to Colorado. It all needs to go like clockwork, or not. I'm anxious to simply get back home to my husband, children and store, so can't sleep and will be very tired on the drive I'm sure. I hope to make Flagstaff at least before we stop, we'll see.