So, yesterday a surprise wandered onto our front lawn. Two goats. No idea where they came from. but they were friendly. They even tried to eat off the barren trees and bushes. I found it completely hilarious.
Just a crazy moment in the prairie.
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Friday, November 20, 2015
Blizzards on the East Coast vs. the West.....
From my three months living on the prairie, I've met three people from the East. They've all said they will take the West's version of a snowstorm over the East anytime.
Well....I've officially survived my first Colorado blizzard and I have to say....it was scary! Once you've driven past the edge of Colorado Springs, there's nothing. Not even a gas station for two miles. No McDonalds. No CVS! Nothing! The only thing there that will greet you is darkness. There are no street lights so you seriously have to stare at the lights of the car in front of you if you want to reach the land of the living again. Seriously.
Monday night as I was driving back to warmth and safety....though the car was quite comfy if you ignored everything around you....the wind was howling and the snow was going horizontally. That's not supposed to happen. On top of that, we have drifts out here. Half way down the street I live on, there has been a ditch for who knows how long, but when the snow came it kind of got stuck and just pilled up. Driving across it is like driving through a marsh or maybe a ski slope. That was not fun.
In reference to the East, this blizzard happened on Monday and the snow is almost gone. You can barely tell we had a storm much less any amount of snow more than a dusting. In the East...the snow would still be there Christmas Day... just saying. However, I'm not a huge fan of driving in zero viability so honestly, not sure if I like the West's version of snow more than the East or not. Maybe it will be different in other parts of this state.
Well....I've officially survived my first Colorado blizzard and I have to say....it was scary! Once you've driven past the edge of Colorado Springs, there's nothing. Not even a gas station for two miles. No McDonalds. No CVS! Nothing! The only thing there that will greet you is darkness. There are no street lights so you seriously have to stare at the lights of the car in front of you if you want to reach the land of the living again. Seriously.
Monday night as I was driving back to warmth and safety....though the car was quite comfy if you ignored everything around you....the wind was howling and the snow was going horizontally. That's not supposed to happen. On top of that, we have drifts out here. Half way down the street I live on, there has been a ditch for who knows how long, but when the snow came it kind of got stuck and just pilled up. Driving across it is like driving through a marsh or maybe a ski slope. That was not fun.
In reference to the East, this blizzard happened on Monday and the snow is almost gone. You can barely tell we had a storm much less any amount of snow more than a dusting. In the East...the snow would still be there Christmas Day... just saying. However, I'm not a huge fan of driving in zero viability so honestly, not sure if I like the West's version of snow more than the East or not. Maybe it will be different in other parts of this state.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Friendly!
Compared to the East Coast, Colorado natives are so friendly and helpful! Whether I'm digging through my purse to find a penny or I drop something or even putting on blinkers when changing lanes! The people seem always willing to help you out and give you the right of way. I love it out here!!!
In the past week, I've met two people from the East Coast, one from CT and another from MA. Both have said they noticed the same thing. It's different pace of life and sense of calm not rushed. I'm curious when the snow comes how they drive. People have told me that there are many from CA who live here and they have NO idea whatsoever how to drive in snow. SMH. Just like New England.
I also love the faces I get when I say I'm from Connecticut. Their jaws just drops. At least they don't ask, "Where's that?" like people in New Jersey do.......seriously!?
In the past week, I've met two people from the East Coast, one from CT and another from MA. Both have said they noticed the same thing. It's different pace of life and sense of calm not rushed. I'm curious when the snow comes how they drive. People have told me that there are many from CA who live here and they have NO idea whatsoever how to drive in snow. SMH. Just like New England.
I also love the faces I get when I say I'm from Connecticut. Their jaws just drops. At least they don't ask, "Where's that?" like people in New Jersey do.......seriously!?
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Prairie Life
One huge difference from my hometown in CT and Falcon, CO is the fact that there are animals. Don't laugh. I'm serious. Sure, in CT we have squirrels and raccoons and woodchucks. Not really that spectacular. However, in the prairie, there are antelopes, cows, horses, frogs, bunnies, chickens, pigs and probably a whole lot more I haven't seen yet. They are everywhere! I am however pleased to say that the area doesn't smell like manure like most of Iowa does......
I also find it somewhat nerve wreaking, coming from a busy town next door to Hartford, that most people around here are very trusting. Now, my dad made it a point to get to know our neighbors and here is the same. The family I'm living with now have no idea where the house keys are....why, you ask? Because they never use them unless they are gone for weeks at a time, which hasn't happened in quite a few years. Even when we went camping for the weekend, the doors were shut like the windows but not locked. Weird for me but slowly becoming natural. I don't even lock the car doors here. On our street, you pretty much know what vehicle belongs to who. It's a rather short street and it's dirt to boot. Until recently, there were potholes everywhere. Thank goodness the county decided to fill them in. Before that, we had to drive in the middle of the road, but hey it's a quiet street. We never run into anyone coming the opposite direction.
It's also very quiet out here. Reminds me of Ithaca, minus the drunk Freshmen. You can see the stars quite clearly and the blood moon we saw recently was pretty cool. Down the street, there's a new Walmart, Domino's, some fast food places and two banks. Being used to driving 15 minutes to the nearest Walmart, this is awesome! Who'd expect that in Colorado!!??! But as they say, the West is booming!
I also find it somewhat nerve wreaking, coming from a busy town next door to Hartford, that most people around here are very trusting. Now, my dad made it a point to get to know our neighbors and here is the same. The family I'm living with now have no idea where the house keys are....why, you ask? Because they never use them unless they are gone for weeks at a time, which hasn't happened in quite a few years. Even when we went camping for the weekend, the doors were shut like the windows but not locked. Weird for me but slowly becoming natural. I don't even lock the car doors here. On our street, you pretty much know what vehicle belongs to who. It's a rather short street and it's dirt to boot. Until recently, there were potholes everywhere. Thank goodness the county decided to fill them in. Before that, we had to drive in the middle of the road, but hey it's a quiet street. We never run into anyone coming the opposite direction.
It's also very quiet out here. Reminds me of Ithaca, minus the drunk Freshmen. You can see the stars quite clearly and the blood moon we saw recently was pretty cool. Down the street, there's a new Walmart, Domino's, some fast food places and two banks. Being used to driving 15 minutes to the nearest Walmart, this is awesome! Who'd expect that in Colorado!!??! But as they say, the West is booming!
Friday, September 4, 2015
Another Check Off My BUCKET LIST!
Don't ask me why, but for the longest time I've been DYING to go to a rodeo and this past week I finally went in my cowgirl hat of course! I can honestly tell you that I wasn't the only one. :) AND it was dollar day which made it even better. I would have worn my cowboy boots too if I had them with me and it wasn't 90 degrees out. Oh well. Next time!
The rodeo itself was a lot of fun even when the power went out and it started to rain buckets. Thank goodness, CO's version of a rain shower lasts less than 15 minutes. So after it stopped, it only took us a half hour or so to become try from the heat. While the power was out, the "ringleader" and his sidekick started coming up with jokes in between songs, all western/old classic songs like Sweet Caroline. (That song was the only one I recognized....).
We watched bull riding which one has to stay on the bull for more than 8 seconds and one poor guy lasted 7.9! So close!!!! There was also barrel racing and one horse got hurt so we all sent a prayer for both the rider and the horse. The girl was beside herself and had to be carried off. Also had Bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping and down roping (where two cowboys on horses rode after a young steer and roped it tying it's feet too). Many times the young steer would try to get up after it was down and quite a few starting running even with the ropes on them! With team roping, it was just two cowboys getting both ropes around the bulls neck before it runs off.
Overall, it was a great night and I can't wait to go to another one! If you haven't gone to one, I STRONGLY suggest it :D
I LOVE COLORADO!
Monday, August 17, 2015
Tired of Country Yet? NOPE
It's been a week since I've been in Falcon and loving the emptiness of it. Though the people I'm staying with have told me that there used to be more empty fields than there are now. In the past, six years more houses and stores have been built surrounding Colorado Springs.
This miniature city, Colorado Springs, reminds me of Manchester, CT or maybe Waterbury. So many stores and literally everything you could want you'll find within a 15 minute radius. I like how the house I'm in is in the countryside yet less than 2 minutes down the road, there's a Walmart. Back in CT, it took us 15 minutes or more to the nearest Walmart. Though we did have a grocery store less than 2 minutes away. I could definitely get used to this!
A few days ago, a friend of mine came to visit! So excited! We hadn't seen each other since IC graduation. We went to Garden of the Gods and Seven Falls. Though getting to the Seven Falls proved to be quite a ride. We didn't want to wait for the shuttle since we weren't sure when the rain would start so we decided to drive there and park closer. Well, we followed the signs and then came up upon a dirt road. Unsure what to do, we continued up the dirt road. Well.....this road twisted and dipped and ascended. There were quite a few potholes as well. However, the view was gorgeous! After a good twenty minutes on this road, we see a map and got out to look at it. From my perspective, since it didn't have any landmarks other than this peak and that peak, I deduced that we should keep going since it looked like we didn't have that much farther to go before we would go down the mountain. About 5 minutes later, we came upon a ranch. There we asked whether or not we were close to Seven Falls. He shook his head sadly. It was way back where we started. Clearly, the state of CO needs to have clearer signs!
So after twisting and turning yet again down the mountain with stops to take pictures we found ourselves where we began. However, my friend's GPS was taking us all over town. So I turned mine on. I asked her while we were following mine, "If mine leads us somewhere else other than our destination, what do you want to do?" At this point, it's 4 pm in the afternoon and we started this trek around 2:30. Well, have dinner! Luckily, we found it and had an amazing time minus, the climbing up to get closer to the waterfall. I suggest you workout a little more before going up there :D
This miniature city, Colorado Springs, reminds me of Manchester, CT or maybe Waterbury. So many stores and literally everything you could want you'll find within a 15 minute radius. I like how the house I'm in is in the countryside yet less than 2 minutes down the road, there's a Walmart. Back in CT, it took us 15 minutes or more to the nearest Walmart. Though we did have a grocery store less than 2 minutes away. I could definitely get used to this!
A few days ago, a friend of mine came to visit! So excited! We hadn't seen each other since IC graduation. We went to Garden of the Gods and Seven Falls. Though getting to the Seven Falls proved to be quite a ride. We didn't want to wait for the shuttle since we weren't sure when the rain would start so we decided to drive there and park closer. Well, we followed the signs and then came up upon a dirt road. Unsure what to do, we continued up the dirt road. Well.....this road twisted and dipped and ascended. There were quite a few potholes as well. However, the view was gorgeous! After a good twenty minutes on this road, we see a map and got out to look at it. From my perspective, since it didn't have any landmarks other than this peak and that peak, I deduced that we should keep going since it looked like we didn't have that much farther to go before we would go down the mountain. About 5 minutes later, we came upon a ranch. There we asked whether or not we were close to Seven Falls. He shook his head sadly. It was way back where we started. Clearly, the state of CO needs to have clearer signs!
So after twisting and turning yet again down the mountain with stops to take pictures we found ourselves where we began. However, my friend's GPS was taking us all over town. So I turned mine on. I asked her while we were following mine, "If mine leads us somewhere else other than our destination, what do you want to do?" At this point, it's 4 pm in the afternoon and we started this trek around 2:30. Well, have dinner! Luckily, we found it and had an amazing time minus, the climbing up to get closer to the waterfall. I suggest you workout a little more before going up there :D
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
The End but Wait.....
Well.....camp has officially ended. Family Camp was different yet fun. The kids were great and I loved seeing the eagerness from the parents. Always asking questions is one of the best ways to learn anything. Each family had it's unique inner-family drama of course but when they worked together, everything fell into place. I wish my parents had access to this type of program. I honestly think we all would have benefited better. Maybe my life wouldn't have been catastrophic at times. Who knows what if really, but in the end as one staff member put it, "We all have a different path. We all have different gifts. Maybe we find it, maybe we don't but the point is to keep going and not give up." God has put us here for a reason and created each other for a reason. He didn't design us to be alone. He knows we need companionship, love, acceptance, encouragement and all the rest. Life is tough even for the hearing world, but we have a bond as Deaf people and that bond is something to hold on to.
People have asked me if I'm excited to be done and I reply with "1/2 and 1/2." I'm super happy to be done with the drama, the living on top of each other, the conversations that I have no desire to be a part of, disrespect from both kids as well as just sleeping in a bunk bed. I'm looking forward to a new chapter, new beginning, new town and hopefully new friends.
It's been an amazing, hard, challenging, interesting ride here at Aspen. I didn't die on a mountain so that fear hadn't come to pass :D So I'm eternally grateful to have been around people like me. I still wish I had grown up in this atmosphere but can't change the past. I have no idea what God's plan is or why he had me mainstreamed instead of at ASD, but I know He knows best and I have to keep trusting He knows what He's doing regardless if I can barely see it.
People have asked me if I'm excited to be done and I reply with "1/2 and 1/2." I'm super happy to be done with the drama, the living on top of each other, the conversations that I have no desire to be a part of, disrespect from both kids as well as just sleeping in a bunk bed. I'm looking forward to a new chapter, new beginning, new town and hopefully new friends.
It's been an amazing, hard, challenging, interesting ride here at Aspen. I didn't die on a mountain so that fear hadn't come to pass :D So I'm eternally grateful to have been around people like me. I still wish I had grown up in this atmosphere but can't change the past. I have no idea what God's plan is or why he had me mainstreamed instead of at ASD, but I know He knows best and I have to keep trusting He knows what He's doing regardless if I can barely see it.
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