chains required...?

Is it that time of the year already? I've only been back to the US for a little over a month, and it sure feels like fall. This past weekend I was driving back from Denver and a roadside sign caught my eye: chains required through May 31-- for trucks, of course, and thankfully not for my little car! The accountant who comes by to collect our money at work every morning even told me how it had snowed the previous night, though high up on the mountain tops. I can't say I'm ready for it, but I guess that's what I signed up for living at altitude.

The transition to my new job here has been the easiest of them all. I would say the laid-back atmosphere of the town and its museum is the reason for it. I really enjoy the few people I work with, and having more freedom and responsibility in this role was very easy to get used to.

 Aside from the job, mountain living has its perks, and being able to walk out from work and be at the trail head in just a few minutes probably tops them all. That, and I'm more centrally located for family visits!

dad and me at Hoosier Pass

 The city isn't far away either, and that makes a big difference. I can have the best of both worlds. This past weekend while I was there, I knocked one item off my bucket list: the Ferris wheel! I'm not a fan of heights, but I always love a challenge. We were the first ones loaded on, and so we waited while the wheel slowly made its way around so the others could get loaded into their baskets.

Finally we reached the bottom again and were about to get going up to speed and the ride operator told us we would have to get off. Someone had broken a door, so the ride could not continue until it was repaired. Such a disappointment. At least I made it around once or twice and got to see the city from the top, but I was just getting started! Next time...

A few sights from my first month here:

Chihuly at the Botanic Gardens

interesting meditation exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art

concert at Red Rocks

rainbow at Loveland Pass