Finally embracing the snow

Now that it's been nearly two months...I decided that it might be a good thing to make another post.

Over the last couple of months I haven't gotten out as much as I would like, but the roads this weekend were great to travel on (not what felt like 3 inches of ice and snow on the roads) and the temperatures were amazing. We've had a virtual heat wave these last two weeks out here hitting highs in the mid to upper 40's but still getting down to single digits during the nights. We've also not had much snow. Not to say it hasn't snowed, heck we just had a blizzard about two weeks ago. Most of the snow recently has not stuck or at least not as much of it has stuck. According to the Craig Daily Press...we've had over 64 inches of snow between November and January . I have no idea of how much we've gotten since then. But the good news is a lot of it is beginning to melt. So now we are in the beginning stages of mud season out here.

Back at the tail end of January I finally got my car fixed from my wreck...and I am happy to say my car looks more like the new car that it is.

While my car was in the shop I got the fun of driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Biggest thing I miss about it was the heated steering wheel. And the seats could be air conditioned colder not just heated.

The beginning of February was filled with work. Which for most everyone should not be a surprise about me. I worked over Valentines/President's Day weekend. Last weekend I was dealing with allergies. I thought that I would be leaving all the allergy problems I have down south, but due to all the dust from them sanding the roads to help clear the ice and snow...my allergies came back in full force. I joked with some of the people that I work with that I must be allergic to the snow, since its the only thing that seems to be in bloom and multiplying.

But this weekend with the roads being good, me feeling much better (still have residual sinus drainage but...oh well) and not being on call I found something to do. I found a "Debunk the Winter Funk" event being held at one of the local state parks called Stagecoach State Park. They were doing ice fishing demos, sled dog demos, snowshoeing demos, archery,  and hot dogs, s'mores, a raffle ticket giveaway, and just in general having a good time in the snow.

I finally got out and had some fun in the snow and met some amazing people along the way.

My first attempt at snowshoeing.  Photo credit: Rebecca Musso

A mom and toddler on a snowbike.   Photo credit: Rebecca Musso

One of the photos I am off in the distance I am assuming I have stopped to take some of my own photos while snowshoeing out over the frozen lake. After taking lots of photos while snowshoeing, I went snow tubing...Sorry no photo of that. I prefer regular tubing on water not snow/ice. On the water at least there is less chance of breaking a tailbone. At least that's what I am telling myself.

I followed that up with driving around in circles as it turns out, but got to follow an old Chevrolet around. I did supper that night with a friend at one of the local Mexican restaurants. We decided to go see a movie at the local movie theater here in town. We went to see "How To be Single" it is a good movie. Although it has every right to be rated R, it was funny which is what I needed.

I leave you with photos from my snowshoeing...and being at the festival. For additional festival photos check out Facebook: Debunk the Winter Funk and all photo credit there goes to Rebecca Musso.

Folks doing some ice fishing

Kid on a fat tire bike.

Ice fishing House? They dismantled this shortly after the photo.

Happy New Year!!!

It has been several weeks since I have posted. I have been busy with work and trying to make a life for myself out here in the Colorado Rockies. I think today we are shooting to be the coldest place in the nation for the second time this season. (The first time was on Dec 25,2015 at -12ºF) At last look we are up to -19ºF but when I woke up just after 8:00 MST it was -24ºF.  So I am writing this drinking on Smores flavored Hot Cocoa with marshmallows. MMMMM...So good this frigid morning.

So to do some catching up, on Dec 11 on my way home from work I got involved in a wreck where the other person slid through a stop sign into an intersection and hit me. I walked away with possibly some whiplash and a busted front end of my ride but nothing anymore serious than that. 

The next day we had a Radiology Christmas party out at Mark's house. I went out to Mark and Regina's after doing some errands in town to help set everything up. We had an ugly sweater dress up and did white elephant gifts...It was so much fun. Although driving out there less than 24 hours after being in an accident was no fun, toss in the fact they live off of dirt roads that don't get plowed but during the week...BLECH!

Some of the folks from radiology and significant others.

Mark with some of the radiology girls.

Then after that things sort of slowed down for me. I have been working and running around trying to get the things needed to get my car fixed after the accident. I went and spent Christmas Eve night with a dear friend and co-workers family. That night was so fun even though I was late to arrive there. I got from her kiddos (who are as cute as can be and very very thoughtful) a blinky Christmas bulb necklace, and from her and the whole family I got a doTerra Glamour set which is awesome and a Christmas card with some photos of her children. Those photos are now up on my fridge.

Christmas day I spent the morning cooking to head back out to Mark and Regina's to do Christmas with them and Mark's youngest son Nick. There I got some fuzzy warm socks, Carhartt socks and a Moon Pie. They get that I am southern and wouldn't have it any other way. Poor Nick doesn't have a clue what it means to be southern or what southern food really tastes like. Poor guy. From the rest of my family and friends meant I got some knitting tools that will be put to use soon. (I have to find something to do with my time on the weekends when I am not on call and it's colder than a snowman's butt outside.) Some wonderful flavored hot cocoa with marshmallows. (Thank you Ayla!!) A really cute winter hat that has a lining in it to help keep my head warm, some toe separator socks, 2 new pair of gloves- my old ones have apparently been put through the ringer by me- and a clava to keep my nose and face warm.

So to finish it up...although I don't have many friends out here I do have my co-workers who are amazing. Now if I could just find somewhere that needs a whole new radiology department and was somewhere much warmer with less snow...I would convince everyone to move and I think that it would be perfect. But I doubt that will happen. One can dream right?!

So here's more random pictures of snow over the last month that we have gotten including some of the berms that are left behind here from the snow plows.

Alabama...WE HAVE SNOW!

So, its been a while since I have posted. No I still don't have my apartment completely set up the way that I would like it, but...I have with about 6.5 hours to go to complete my first on-call 3 day weekend with snow. Including driving in it every single day at least twice. I have attempted to snow shovel for the first time. My neighbor who is originally from Idaho makes it look so simple and easy. I can attest that it is a great workout and will get you sweating. I haven't yet made snowmen or had a snowball fight but...soon enough ( with the way my weekend has been going it would be my luck if I got to do either one I would be called in and have to go in covered in snow). Here are some of the sparkly shiny snow images from out of my front door. I truly never realized that fluffy snow tends to look sparkly and shiny like glitter until travelling in tonight from a call into work. It kind of looks like someone sprinkled glitter everywhere...albeit difficult to turn in but looks like glitter no less. Here's to hoping I can finish out my weekend on call with no more calls.

Forgive the heavy breathing from me...I forgot my snow brush.
Once you walk on snow it becomes ICE!

I also made it last night to attend the annual Parade of Lights here in town (for most of us Bama folks it would be a Christmas parade) which was quite a cold but fun experience doing it with a friend (Alicia) and her family. I now realize most things here happen early since the snow is here to stay and will only be getting worse (or better- if you like more snow than is seen here) and the temperatures are set to drop below zero this week. They tell me that chances are good that around the new year that temperatures will be closer to -1 to -30.  I still am not sure about all that.

As well as all the snow fun I have had, last weekend a few of the ladies from radiology made sure that I was not alone for Saturday evening . We had a girls night out over in Steamboat Springs. We started out the night at Mahogany Ridge then travelled on to Sake2U. We were hitting up the happy hours especially for the yummy appetizers.

We had an absoulte blast that night! 

For thanksgiving I went to the hospital for the Thanksgiving meal there since most people were busy with their own families ( I won't have to worry about this for Christmas though) and spent some time talking with family and friends throughout the day.

That about sums up my last several weeks. 

Out and about

Well after not doing so much the other weekend, I decided last Sunday...since I was on call on Saturday and spent several hours at work...that I was going to get out and explore once I got up and was moving around.

I headed into the ski resort town named Steamboat Springs which is about a 45 minute ride east of where I am living. The drive is absolutely stunning, I can only imagine what it looks like during the snow season. There was some snow on top of some of the taller mountains, but none to speak of at the "lower" elevation a.k.a. in town.

I spent my afternoon wandering in and out of shops in Steamboat, spent no money (tourist-y trap that is way more expensive than what it is worth) walking along the Yampa River.
Finally about 3 pm MST I decided that it might be a good idea to eat something. I wound up eating at a place called Sake2U. I had their Steamboat Crunch sushi roll which was delicious. They do serve other things but...I wanted sushi so that was what I got.

My view while eating my sushi :)

Well after I ate since it was getting later and getting colder I drove back to my place. With the colder weather here (think Alabama during December/ early Jan) comes the deer. Although I have seen so many more deer out here than I think I have ever seen in my life, there definitely is a difference in the "town" deer versus deer just 5 miles south of "town". The "town" deer don't seem to care just how close a vehicle is, if it is moving or whatnot. They just tend to stay to the side of the road as far as I can tell from what I have seen.

Over the last week or so we have had threats of getting snow but as of yet we have not gotten any. There is a place just south of town called Trapper Mine- which as you might guess is one of the coal mines here in the area- and behind a coworker/friends house up on the hill had snow on Thursday morning if memory serves me correctly. They keep changing the weather so I don't know when we will get snow...but it should be just any day now.

On Thursday night I went and helped to decorate the local elementary school for a fall festival that they were putting on for the local community Friday night. I didn't think ahead enough plus my phone died during decorating to get any photos. I was told the next morning at work by one of my coworkers Alicia that the children loved it when they walked in. As far as I know things went well for them Friday night with the fall festival. I have only seen the photos in the local paper of people enjoying themselves at the fest.

Yesterday morning since I was lazy and didn't want to cook or do dishes, I had a brunch meal at a local eatery called the Cool Water Grille and had a sausage omelette which was covered in a white pepper gravy (so good and I forgot to take a picture of it). On my way back out to my vehicle I saw three "town" deer munching on someone's grass. They were literally one street/alley off of the main drag in town.


Well that about sums up the fun I have had over the last 7 days.

Nothing too exciting happening right now.

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I have posted anything. But in my life not much has been happening. It's been wake up, go to work, come back to my apartment to study, sleep...repeat.

On Tuesday night, the radiology girls and a couple of moms went out and did a Splatz class (think Wine down with Art) and we painted a fall scene. This was my first outing as a co-worker to a great group of people. I think a fun time was had by all who were present. Wish everyone else would have came too but, things happen. I think mine looks better in the picture than in real life.

Almost all the girls from radiology.

I did go down to Grand Junction on Wednesday to attempt my registry for Abdomen again, without much success which I am bummed about.

I have started working more on getting my place in better looking condition but still is not ready for it's close up. That really about sums up these past two weeks. There hasn't been any snow as of yet, but if it had been precipitating this morning we would have either gotten sleet, ice, or snow...It was 27 degrees outside when I woke up this morning. Hopefully soon I will be able to get out and explore more of my "new hometown". Y'all have a good one!