October 8, 2012

10/8/12

Happy WINTER! not. We woke up Thursday morning with four inches of snow on our cars :( it was quite awful since we realized that we had left our scrapper in Michigan. Funny though, there was no snow on the ground, just on the trees and the car. Apparently it snows on and off from October 1st until March in Colorado, weird how no one mentioned that to us before we got here. Dan woke me up Thursday with "Emmy, you have to look outside." I thought I was going to see beautiful fall colored trees or a car accident, anything but snow. Thankfully by the time I arrived at school, all of the snow had melted and the sun was shining. The thing I like most about Colorado weather is that no matter what, the sun is out. Rain or snow, there is still sun. I feel like we go weeks in Michigan with out seeing the sun, hopefully it stays like this all winter.

Dan and I went to a BBQ last weekend for our friend Tom's birthday. It was great getting to meet more people and get out of our apartment. Driving to the different parts of Denver reinsure that Dan and I picked the best possible area to live in. I feel so safe walking around our apartment complex in the evening time and driving around. The parts near the hospital where I go to physical therapy, unfortunately, are not as nice.

Physical Therapy has been going very well, all of the therapists are surprised at all I am able to do and don't understand why my restrictions haven't been lifted yet. (It's because I'm really enjoying having Dan do the house work) No, it's really because I have to wait another two months before I'm healed enough to bend, lift, and twist. Most of my exercises are core strengthening, pool walking, and back muscle massage therapy. Parts of my back, especially surrounding my scar are still numb so I can't feel when people are touching it (lightly), I can feel when any amount of pressure is put on my back. (gentle hugs) The only time this will be a problem is if for some reason my back catches on fire :)

Dan has been busy with his new job working at an at home nursing company. He scans tests and files paperwork which sounds boring but he gets to listen to his headphones while he does it and sometimes play on the internet. I think this mindless work is great for him to keep his mind off all of his graduate studies. Dan has a really big midterm tomorrow and has been studying a lot for that.

On Saturday we ventured to the outlet mall on the other side of Denver. It was huge and had a Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Loft, Bath and Body Works, and lots of other stores. Unfortunately I didn't feel that the prices were much better than the sale racks at the regular stores so I think I'll stick to the mall close by next time. I'll save more money in gas.

Yesterday, Dan and I ventured out to Boulder for the first time. We did a three mile hike beside a beautiful creek that ran between downtown Boulder and the University of Colorado campus. CU was beautiful and we walked around the football stadium and past several academic buildings. There was even a fine arts and sciences building called the Ketchum building! One of Dan's professors got their PhD from CU and so Dan is thinking about possibly going there once he graduates from DU. Boulder was absolutely gorgeous and had lots of shops and restaurants. It felt a bit like walking around Ann Arbor, lots of hippies.

After our walk and a quick dinner, Dan and I went to see one of our favorite bands, Beach House, at the Boulder Theater. This theater reminded me a lot of the Royal Oak Theater in that it had a nice balcony for the old people and the people with back problems to sit. We had a fantastic view of the show and the acoustics were amazing! Unfortunately it was a Sunday night show and the doors didn't open until 8pm. Beach House didn't' start playing until 10pm and by 10:45 we were exhausted and had to drive the hour long trip home and go to bed. Dan and I were two crabby patties this morning when we had to get up for work. No more Sunday night concerts for us, even though it was well worth seeing Beach House.

This week I am working on getting my Veteran's Day Concert together and preparing for my first grade concert. I cannot believe that I am having a first grade concert in only two weeks, they are definitely NOT READY. I can't tell who's more sick of these songs, me or the students, or perhaps the student's parents. :) 15 Days until I'll be home in Michigan! I cannot wait to see friends, family, and cider-mills! Dan is happily going to spend the week hanging out with Chai, the love of his life.