the 4th!

Happy Independence day!

Stephen and I took a 6 and half our drive up to Denver Colorado to spend the three day weekend with Craig and Blair. Craig has been living in Colorado for over a year now and I am not 100% sure he loves it up there. It is July, I was wearing a sweater. Craig and Blair are heat dwellers like myself. They are looking for a new place to move and enjoy the heat, so far they have talked about Utah. I am not sure they know what they are getting into with the freezing weather Utah can provide.

Craig showed us all the great places to eat down town and the incredible shopping. Downtown Denver is unlike any other downtown I have been to. The town is clean and reputable. We road the bus up and down the out door mall and then headed back to the apartment to battle it out in Rock Band. (my new favorite game)

For Blair's birthday, Craig bought her a shiny sliver car to take her to her awesome advertising job in downtown Denver. I took a few pictures just so I could compare a 2008 to my 2002 mustang. My car does not compare.

We had a great weekend hanging out with family, even though they woke us up each morning to work out for an hour and a half at 6 AM!! I am so grateful to have family semi-close to spend time with.

Arizona, Dry? Have you been to New Mexico?

Well for the last few days I have been suffering from a terrible head cold. It doesn't seem to go away. I talked to a few people who are "from" here and they said it is really dry here. I told them I was from Arizona. They laughed!!! Supposedly New Mexico is drier! Stephen and I decided it might be good if we explored this new land. So we joined a hiking group and went on our first official hike last night. Lucky for me it was super easy. Stephen and I even ran the last mile back down the mountain to get a little more exercise. Of course, Stephen beat me. He has longer legs.

We took a few pictures from the sort of top of these little hills. Enjoy!

The move

Just like that, my last day has come and gone. I am sitting in front of my computer in Albuquerque New Mexico (which shall be known from this day forth as ABQ). I was given a retirement party at work for my last day/my birthday and that couldn't have been a more correct way to celebrate. I do not have a job and have decided I will substitute teach until something comes along. Cooper, Liz, and I went out to the fountains as planned. We have been planning for the last three years to run through the fountains as soon as one of us was fired or quit. Well we waited, and waited, and waited. The fountains never went off. So I took a few pictures of us pretending to run through the fountains. All in all a great way to celebrate my last day with the University of Phoenix.

The drive over to New Mexico was very uneventful. We stopped and ate lunch with Stephen's dad, John, in Heber. A nice little restaurant called the Red Onion. If you drive through you should really check it out. I ate a delicious hamburger that never quite settled in my stomach. Surprisingly, Stephen drove the entire 6 hours! How did I luck out?

I have been here for three days. I have not accomplished much, to say the least. Mostly, I have been trying to figure out how to fit all of my clothes into a tiny closet. I left half of my shoes at Susan's house and still more stuff! I have decided this apartment is the perfect size and I am too big to fit. If any of you actually lived close I might think about giving away half of my wardrobe, seeings as I wont need it for the next billion years.

All in all, ABQ is beautiful. The apartment is dark and deary (Stephen loves it) and I have one friend, Stephen. We joined a gym yesterday and I worked out in a space the size of my living room. Gyms here are a little sparse and when they do sprout up they are expensive and TINY! I suppose most people get their workout done outside while biking and running. I would probably join them, but I am addicted to lifting weights. AND NO, it is not hot here. Far from hot, actually. Yesterday the high was 89!! SERIOUSLY! Where is the heat? I did love that about Phoenix, actual heat. I walk around with a sweater on and Stephen believes I am nuts.

I suppose now that I have been freed from the slavery of a job I will be able to compose more lengthy blogs for those of you who are just as bored as I am.

my friend Stephanie

Car accidents are traumatic no matter the size. I backed into a car almost two months ago to find out it was going to cost my insurance more than $1500 dollars. I thought about how unfair it was that he used the system for a rental car and to fix his 1984 Chevy car. Today I found out how lucky I was. My accident could have been much worse. I count my blessings every day I make it home from my 26 mile drive to down town Phoenix safely.
I have known Stephanie Isaacson since my junior year in college. She moved down to Gilbert with me and we shared a dramatic summer together. Stephanie and I met our husbands together and have shared many great memories. She called me this morning at 5 am to let me know she just got out of emergency surgery. She was hit after a guy ran a red light yesterday. Luckily she made it through a broken femur (right thigh), three broken ribs, and a badly scrapped up knee. She has stitches all over her body. She is lucky to be alive. I am so grateful she is OK. She will be in the hospital trying to learn to walk again for the next few weeks. I can't believe I ever complained about my uncomplicated life. I can go running right now with out any help. I can still breathe. It is amazing how much we take for granted. I love you Stephanie and will pray that you will have a speedy recovery.

This is good-bye

Well I knew this day was coming... I have, hopefully, been counting down the days. Stephen and I are about to go through a major change and I am not sure I am completely ready. I have five days left of my Arizona life, then off to a foreign land, New Mexico! My friends threw me an awesome going away party yesterday and I was able to see people I have not seen for a while. I really feel like I am leaving behind a lot of great friends here. I had no idea so many people actually cared about me. I am very lucky to have met a great group of people and to share the last three years with them at the University of Phoenix.

Now I am on to an even bigger adventure that I am positive I am not ready for at all. I am not sure there is any way a person can prepare for change. I believe you just have to accept that things are not ever going to stay the same then move forward from there. I have had a few sleepless nights and it is only 6:14 AM this beautiful Sunday morning because of some anxiety. Will things work out? I have faith.

Here are a few shots from the going away party... I tried to get everyone in a picture so that I could remember.

Give it up

I gave my two week notice today... Many would celebrate, I cried. I will be unemployed. I was blessed to spend the weekend in Albuquerque with Stephen. I took the day off work on Monday only to realize how bored I may become while unemployed. I woke up at 7:30 AM and cleaned the apartment. It took me an hour. Then I worked out, ran, and ate breakfast. It was 10:00 AM.
I applaud all stay at home mothers and wives. It is difficult to come up with ideas to occupy time. I am sure if I had children I would be a bit more busy, but I don't. I congratulate all stay at home moms and wives for staying busy while entertaining themselves and their children. The job is a lot harder than it looks. I can only hope my stay at home will be short because I am not that inventive, yet.

Sign of the times

Obama seals nomination; McCain eager for battle







Just saw this on Yahoo.com and was completely shocked to see that the United States was ready for a man with the last name "Obama" who was raised in the muslim religion to win the democratic nomination!



I can't say that I am not some how surpised by todays events, but I am; however, now ready to open my eyes to the last days. There have been many wars and rumors of wars, tornados, major storms, destruction all over the world, and the economy is in turmoil. You decide...


On a much lighter note I had the opportunity to fly to Salt Lake City and go through the Temple with my sister. She was sealed to her fiancee, Mike, on Saturday morning. She looked beautiful and happy. I will share a few pictures from her wedding and the beautiful Salt Lake City Temple grounds.


Salt Lake Temple

Mom, Dad, and Julie










Me and Stephen











Kendra and Mike