Colorado is roughly 1200 miles from family. After spending three weeks on the road visiting family all over the south-eastern United States, I don't know exactly why I find that so appealing.

And, yet after TWO family reunions and an episode involving a five-foot water-moccassin and a hot-tub, I find myself ... lighter ... when I think about finishing the move to Colorado. We'll be here in the MIdwest another ten days, but then we're going someplace ... happy. Where there are bunnies on the excessively-watered lawn and really good local lotions that will help me not wrinkle.

Plus, I got to see Sam. My husband, who is fabulous, called her where she was hiding out (avoiding the afore-mentioned family reunion) and arranged for her to surprise me at an outlet-mall on the trip home! It was the coolest thing ever! I miss her. She immediately dragged me into the dressing-room and demonstrated the cut that would "fix" my hair. *sigh* I just LOVE her! And, yes, it would SO fix my hair. She called a few minutes ago, from a Walgreens in TN to tell me that she just bought hair-dye and a magazine with a picture of the cut I needed. She'll be here in less than 48 hours. Sam refuses to let me move to the Hinterlands with bad hair :)

Did you know that Prell Original (the green slime shampoo) will totally strip artificial coloring from hair without damaging it? Just one of those little things ya' might need to know someday.

Regular blogging will commence shortly after my arrival in Colorado :)

Another funny thing that happened in what shall hence-forth be referred to as "The Colorado Adventure" (and I couldn't tell anyone until the contract was signed) .

We were in Colorado house-hunting (which is a whole other bizarre story involving people who think its ok to gravel their yard and then spray paint it green, like THAT'S a good solution) ...

Days passed. Dreary overcast days full of gravel and tumbleweed. I started to wonder if we had really made the right decision. And we did have a choice. Even in this economy there was a bidding war for my husband. Sometimes I forget what he is. True, Anchorage offered "more" but he chose Colorado because they offered "better" (and he has a brother there). The management there is impressively creatively brilliant. (And he does SO love outside the box thinking, see below) Still, I started second-guessing the choice, even if it was just in my own head.

I flipped on the computer to go over the real-estate listing yet again, hoping the perfect house had listed that morning. Or that maybe I had just missed something before. THAT'S WHEN I SAW IT! Even as I sat there thinking that maybe Colorado was not the right choice, I saw the headlines about the VOLCANO ERUPTING AT ANCHORAGE! Talk about timing! Suddenly, I felt absolutely GIDDY to be sitting in a hotel in Colorado looking at houses with crazy yards! (And we evenutually ended up with a house with an absolutely lovely yard :)

We are moving to Colorado.

More importantly, we feel that GOD is moving us to Colorado.

Lots of words I could use up, most of which would be ill-advised on a public site. Here's the funny moment I most remember from the whole ugly episode ...

Wondering if we should move or stay or move or stay or move. Wondering. Wondering. Wondering. Finally, in a fit of passion, deciding to flip open my Bible, read a verse, let God deal with it, and just finally go to bed! (I don't sleep well when my husband is out of town)

The verse? I couldn't have found it if I had tried! In Jeremiah ... "HARK! They flee and escape Babylon to Zion, leaving the wrath of the Lord in their wake" I laughed so hard I cried!

Seriously? I still smile every time I think about it. God has a truly delicious sense of humor, and a profound knowledge of me. I especially loved "hark" with the exclamation point :)

Although, I'm moderately concerned about my own inability to separate an appreciation for justice and a taste for revenge. I find its hard for me to pray for mercy on those people. What if God gives it to them!?!

I was going to be very sad to announce that due to the uncertainty of my husband's employment situation, we have abandoned our extensive and interesting landscaping plans for this year. No raised beds for me :(

BUT then something unexpectedly lovely happened!

I don't say that in a "mean" way. I really thought my dog was stupid. Maybe even retarded. Can you have retarded dogs? But I digress, as is so very often the case.

A few days last week I watched The Dog run around in big circles in the yard, frantically looking at the sky and barking wildly. "Great, now he's chasing clouds!". But, no. On closer inspection, he was chasing the eagles that play in the winds above our hill. I just rolled my eyes and went on with the laundry.

Then my husband asked "Whats with the dead turkeys in the yard?"

It hit me like a bolt of lightning! Turkeys don't fly! They glide! My husband and I often argue over the difference. Well. Apparently the difference is that if The Dog runs around under a flying eagle, it will keep flying. But if he runs around under a gliding turkey, he gets a meal when it has to eventually drop to the ground! And, sweetie that he is, The Dog killed an extra turkey for his friend. (And by "sweetie", I do indeed mean that he'll eat a burgler in a heartbeat! Just so you know.)

Just when you thought it was safe for me to go back to Blockbuster!

I have a history of picking ... questionable ... movies. Really, some of them were NOT my fault! The whole episode with Arachnaphobia -- THAT movie was seriously misrepresented in the previews. It had John Goodman in it, and it was by Disney, and I REALLY expected a "cute" spider. Maybe one with a bow.

The list goes on and on and on and ...... its a VERY long and varied list. But I don't stop trying. Eventually, someday, I'll get it right. However, it turns out that today is NOT that day :)

My adventure started with ordering a "foreign" film. Bollywood. I just LOVE Bollywood! Pretty pretty colors, people that suddenly burst into song and dance, what could go wrong?

What could go wrong? We're going to play a little game, readers. BEFORE you look at the rest of the post, leave your guess in the comments about what kind of movie I watched with the title TA RA RUM PUM. (Here's a hint: many Bollywood movies are remakes of classic Hollywood movies.) And, yes, you can guess as many times as you want.

Have you ever had one of those "allergy medication commercial" moments? You know, where they show you the pretty picture, and then they show it to you without the dim-light-filter so that everything looks clearer and brighter and ... just better?

Well, I had one of those moments last week. And it seems to have lasted. I just feel more like ... me. I suppose its possible that this is really truly the end of post-partem. (And, yes, it can last for years)

I was standing in front of the carrots at Walmart when I got the phone-call from my husband. With some news. The mental-lights started flickering the way flurescents will do when they're first turned on. I wandered around toward the apples. The mental-lights came on full force!

At first I thought it was merely a panic-induced moment of clarity. The way things look sharper in an emergency as adreniline floods your body. God bless him, my husband noticed a change in my voice. To the point that he asked cautiously if I felt a little "cranky". In reality, I just felt focused and competent. It may have been a while since he's seen me go there.

Still, this couldn't possibly last, right? RIGHT? And then the freaky thing happened. When I was a little girl, my hand-writing matched my father's exactly. It was ... odd. But there it was. And then about the time I had Ron, I noticed that my hand-writing was changing to more like my mother's. Which didn't alarm me because she has nicer hand-writing. But then a few days ago I looked down at my grocery list and realized it was in my father's handwriting!

Its just weird.

How long have you been together?
My whole life. Since the first moment I looked in his eyes. Because then I became me. Whoever was me before was somehow ... less and different. OR, since Richard and Amy's Christmas party. We met when we both worked at a bookstore. Amy was married to his best friend and doing temp work at the bookstore. She specifically had the party to get me to meet their group of friends, hoping things would work out. Since everyone knew everyone else except me they planned to exchange gifts. Amy bought me a lovely scarf so I wouldn't feel left out, but my future-husband slipped me a small box and a smile. Amy was sitting next to me when I opened it and almost passed out! All I could say was "Did you tell him!?!" as she shook her head speechlessly. I had gone shopping with Amy that afternoon and the ONLY thing I looked at twice was silver tips for my black boots. Right now this very minute they're sitting in my jewelry box. OR, it would be true to say that we've been married 16 years.

(Continued below, since I'll probably give ridiculously long answers.)

There are four HomeDepot stores in Anchorage, Alaska.

But the average high temperature at the peak of summer is in the low 60's.

You know, when I get a new car my husband has to "prep" me for the decision months (sometimes years) in advance. Its a good thing he's had that practice. Long-term planning makes me ... twitchy. Don't know HOW I'm going to make it until May! We get news in May, and you people will get the news immediately there-after!

What I can tell you now is that it is SERIOUSLY terrifyingly awesome to watch God move. And, God has an amazing sense of humor :)

My husband returned from a business trip a few days ago. He usually brings back treats of some kind. Often local treats. Like the kangeroo jerky. Like the pickled eggplant. Like stuff I can't spell.

He was standing in the kitchen nibbleling with great delight on small chunks of ... something. He asked, ever so innocently, "Would you like a piece?" The children froze for a split second. Someone asked non-chalantly, "What is it exactly?" He wouldn't say, and no child would touch a piece.

Then I asked the magic question, "Is it plant or animal?" He laughed and confirmed "plant". Then the children were somewhat willing to take a bite. it turned out to be extremely potent fresh candied ginger! People! That stuff will really get your attention.

Cassie was horrified, she doesn't love spicy things.
Ron was silent, and thoughtful. Not a ringing endorsement.
We were all surprised when he asked for another piece, until he said he wanted to take it down to Lee who was in the basement. THAT explained a lot.

Baby Katherine? She volunteered to her Dad "I like it". But when he asked her if she wanted another piece, she said "NO." A few blinks later she continued, "I'll have another piece when I'm a grown-up!"

I had some epiphanies yesterday.

(1) My husband is a force to be reckoned with. It reminds me very much of that scene in Narnia where someone asks something like "Is Aslan a tame lion?" And the response is "No. But he's good."

(2) He loves me. And he takes care of me. Most men don't manage both.

(3) What-ever happens, when-ever, where-ever ... It doesn't really matter.

IF you have anything at all to say about Pueblo, Colorado this would be the time. And I would be DELIGHTED to here anything.

(All I here are crickets chirping and I just can't stand crickets.)

Some sentences just grab my attention. And hold it captive. Overheard in the back-seat of the car, between the two boys (Ron, age 11, and Lee, age 9)

Ron: You can NOT wear a green tuxedo to my wedding.
Lee: I SO will if I want to.

Ron: Not if you're the best man you won't.
Lee: Yes I will :P

Ron: Well, then, I won't let you be in any of the pictures.
Lee: I'll just bring my OWN camera and take a LOT of pictures with me in all of them.

Lucy: Boys, I hate to break this to you, but the BRIDE gets to tell everyone what to wear.
Lee: (gasp) She can't tell ME what to wear!
Ron: WHAT!?! (blink, blink)

Lucy: Seriously. The bride is in charge of everything. And that means you.
(long pause)
Lee: Let's make sure she knows that I want a bright green tuxedo with a top hat! And a CAPE!

"If you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans."

So this is the year I got serious about the gardening with the kids. And let me tell you, they are LOVING the wall-display of plants/seeds ordered and the garden grid layout. I suspect that my biggest problem will be taming the verdant lush over-growth brought about by really good compost and generous watering. Which is how gardening SHOULD be.

This is also the year that it is entirely almost perhaps maybe possible (or not) that I end up moving ... to a desert! Ok, its a "semi-arid" area. Which to a Southern girl mean DESERT!

The official website assures future residents that they'll have 180 growing days, they'll just have to supplement water. They might as well say "Its going to be ok, sweetie. You can always grow cactus!"

And its relatively near relatives. The not-so-functional ones. Words fail me!

Well, ok, some words are engrained in my mind, like "Its better than Alaska!" Let me reiterate -- I don't want to live in Alaska. Its cold and dark and full of moose.

Its a good thing I have a sense of humor :P

I've tried to limit my garden-talking. Really, I have. But ... sometimes ... I just can't help myself. For example, I had THE best gardening idea! I ordered duplicate catalogs (which was useful anyway when more than one child wanted to look at the same catalog) so that I could SCRAPBOOK my garden!

Not that I'm actually OCD, although one psych professor pointed out that I probably had mild OCT (Obsessive-compulsive-tendancies). Its just that thumbing through pages and pages of catalogs looking for the things I"ve ordered is ... inefficient. So I cleared a spot on my office wall (Ok, so I cleared the whole wall) and "scrapbooked" pages and pages of pictures and blurbs for each of the things I ordered! Cassie and Katherine thought this was the most fun ever this afternoon! Plus, now the kids can see at a glance what is coming. Soon I'm adding posters of the garden layout of raised beds, locations of beds and locations of plants.

But back to the part where my husband suffers ... Last night I was sitting on the bed, surrounded by catalogs, clipping and snipping them to pieces, comparing them against the master lists to make sure I didn't miss anything. My husband lay on the bed reading a non-gardening book. Finally, a few hours later, I couldn't take it anymore! I told him my plan for "scrapbooking" my garden plans!

He reached over, patted me absent-mindedly and muttered "It'll be ok." It took a moment for me to realize that he used the exact same gesture and tone when using the phrase "I'm sorry for your loss." He COMPLETELY missed the extreme cleverness of my idea, falling back on supportive consolation!

He started paying attention when I started laughing loudly. Its possible he thought I was having a break-down. He laughed too when I explained that the appropriate response was "WOW! THATS CLEVER! GOOD ORGANIZING! GARDENING IS FUN!" He laughed more when I explained tha the overwhelmed-break-down-stroke-thing will happen in the middle of May when the garage is full of plants.

Being married to me is no bed of roses.