Honey, we're home!

Well, this has been an interesting move, to say the least. We planned to leave Albuquerque no later than 3 pm on Saturday, but we didn't get out of town until after 8 pm. We planned to stay in Trinidad, CO, that night, but we only made it to Las Vegas, NM. We planned to have movers help us unload the U-Haul at 2 pm on Sunday, but instead, I was broke down by the side of I-25, about 20 miles south of Pueblo, at that time. Our storage POD, which contains half our stuff (including our beloved grill), was supposed to be delivered on Wednesday, but then they told us unapologetically that it was going to be delayed until Saturday due to "unforeseen road conditions." In June, really?! So, what an adventure this has been! After we buy and move into a house this year, I hope we don't have to move again for a very long time.

Despite all of the drama, Aaron and I were talking this morning, and we think this feels like "home" more quickly than anywhere we have moved together so far. We're surrounded by so much natural beauty, friendly people, and cooler weather! Plus, Aaron will have the opportunity to work for an amazing doctor in the specialty in which he's most interested right now (orthopedics). I mean, really, what more could we ask for?

Here are some of my observations about Colorado Springs so far:

1. We were trying to buy salsa ingredients at a local supermarket, and we couldn't find any yellow hots. When Aaron asked an employee if they carried any, the young man responded, "You mean like yellow bell peppers?" I guess we'll have to try the Mexican market...

2. Our condo has no A/C or evaporative cooler, which is apparently normal here, although temps. have been as high as 86 degrees. Ceiling fans and open windows are pretty much what people use for cooling. Max has actually begged to be outside where it's cooler than in the house with us. Thank goodness for portable window A/C units!

3. It seems that people in Colorado Springs generally have big dogs, not ankle biters. Max should fit right in.

4. Our first time checking out our neighborhood park, Portal Park, Max made friends with a female lab mix named Oakley. We met some of her family members, who live just a few blocks from us, and they invited us over for dinner. Vicki even volunteered her sons to help us unload our POD on Saturday. Talk about friendly and welcoming!

5. There are green parks and trails everywhere. This is a community that loves its outdoor recreation. Hiking trail difficulty is indicated by the same symbols used for ski runs.

6. The Outlets at Castle Rock could be dangerous for me. It has to have the best selection of stores I've ever seen at an outlet center. We haven't stopped there yet, but you know it's on my agenda!

7. Colorado Springs is home to the best commercial ice cream I've ever had -- Josh & John's (thanks, Jamie, for the recommendation!). They make everything -- ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream -- from scratch. The oatmeal cookie ice cream is to die for.

8. Monica's Tacos may be our go-to restaurant when we're craving Mexican food and don't have time to make it at home. It reminds me of Los Betos or Nico's in Tucson, with yummy carne asada and horchata. Mmmm.

More later!

~ Christina

Ch-Ch-Changes...

Our only certainty in life is change, and Aaron and I are facing a great deal of it right now. It's official; in late June, after having lived in Albuquerque for over three years, we will be packing up our belongings and heading north to Colorado Springs. The move is bittersweet, to say the least.

I'll admit that when we first moved to Albuquerque from Tucson, I was not thrilled with our new home. In addition to experiencing a bit of culture shock, I missed my friends and family back in Arizona. Fast forward three years: We belong to an awesome church community, which is undergoing some very exciting changes right now; I work with an incredible group of people at the newswire; we rescued who has proved to be the best dog in the world from a local shelter; and I crave green chile like I never imagined I would. It was here in New Mexico that I received my first set of golf clubs, acquired a taste for wine (thank you, New Mexico Wine Festival!), started learning to downhill ski, began running, and developed a love of Texas-style barbecue. It was here that I baked my first from-scratch apple pie and hosted my first family Christmas. I do not have the words (which, as you know, is rare for me!) to express how thankful I am to all the wonderful people in Albuquerque who welcomed Aaron and me into their community and helped transform it from a place I wanted to escape to the place that I now call "home." This state, and this city in particular, will forever hold a place in my heart.

At the same time as I am sad to leave Albuquerque, I am excited about the experiences that await Aaron and me as we travel to a new city, full of unfamiliar places and unfamiliar faces. God clearly called us to Colorado Springs, and I cannot even begin to imagine what He has planned for us there. After a couple of road trips, we now have an address in Colorado Springs. We will be staying in a spacious condo with plenty of room for visitors, mountain views, and a running trail right outside. While Aaron works, I will be finishing my MBA (last day of class is Aug. 23 - woo!), looking for a job, and exploring the area with Max. We will also need a new church, so if you have any suggestions, we are all ears!

Thank you for all your support and prayers,

Christina (& Aaron)

The Latest Buzz

Our trip to Cancun in June has become a casualty of the swine flu scare. Instead of selecting a different destination, my company decided to postpone the trip until October, so chances are that Aaron and I will not be able to participate. However, I did receive a very nice glass plaque and the following embarrassing-but-cool recognition:


Yes, that is Times Square in New York, and yes, that is me (albeit an old headshot from my days as a private banker at Wells).

In other news, we had a salsa contest at work today to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Aaron made both our spicy salsa and a toned-down version that I thought might better appeal to the non-Southwest natives at the office. Since I left at 3 pm, I have not heard who won, but based upon people's feedback, I would not be surprised if we were victorious. What I didn't tell Aaron is that this was the first test to see if we can someday either (a) open our own salsa company, or (b) open our own Mexican restaurant...

Speaking of Aaron, he takes his boards on May 11, and I have been proud of his diligent studying. We are fairly certain now that we will be moving to Colorado Springs, but we have not been able to set a definite date yet; a few question marks must be erased first. With the weather getting warmer here in Albuquerque, I can hardly wait. Today, it was only in the low 80s, I think, but I felt so hot that I decided to wait until the sun went down to go running.

I also started a new marketing class this week, and it looks like it will demand a ton of time. This week alone, I have eight journal articles to read - averaging about 15 pages each - as well as a chapter of our class text. Then, I have to write 250-500 words about each one. On top of that, I have collaborative assignments, too. I hope that the course content is interesting, at least! I would also like to thank my loved ones in advance for understanding if I am somewhat antisocial for the next eight weeks; I am trying my best to juggle it all.

I am already short on sleep, so I am going to wrap up now, but I wish you a happy Cinco de Mayo!