Road Trip, Part Two

After getting on the road again, we drove from Boulder to Las Vegas... up and over the beautiful Rockys through mountains meadows that are exactly as you imagine them. Then we wound our way through canyons that bordered the Colorado River. My pictures, taken from the car while speeding, arent great but give you an idea.

I am voting Utah as the most beautiful state we drove through. Both the northern and southern parts were gorgeous! Very different, but amazing. Then into Las Vegas where we partied like rock stars for three nights and two days! Ok, our level of rocks stars... no shows, penny and nickel slot machines (about a $1 at a time)... our big cash winning was won by Ovid - $10.85!!!!

This is one of my favorite things in Las Vegas... the water fountain show at the Bellagio. It is truly wonderful.

Here's Ovid inside of the "palazzo " in the Venetian Hotel. Its my favorite hotel on the strip. This picture makes it looks like it is daytime, but its not that bright. All the commercialism aside, I love all of the various forms of art that are celebrated in Las Vegas.


We spent one day on the strip (that was enough for me) and one day going out to the west rim of the Grand Canyon. We came within 25 miles of Kingman, AZ and thought we would have time to go see my friend Laura... but we ran out of time driving down and back this 14 mile unpaved road in our brand new car. Laura, I was thinking hard about you all day long hoping we'd get a chance to see you.

Gail this is for you: On our way to our hotel we walked by the TK (Toby Keith) nightclub!!!! Ok, I didn't see him, but I did see a poster of him. At that moment, I was too tired to even take my picture, but I sure was thinking about you!

Ok, if you're wondering why we went to LV it is because Ovid has grown nieces there. So I dubbed this The Niece & Nephew Tour. We had a chance to see two out of three of his nieces and spend quality time with them. They are amazing young women and I am enjoying getting to know them.

Road Trip!!! Part One

Ovid and I went on a great road trip last week! We drove north, then east, through three states: Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, then took a left into Colorado. We spent three nights and two days with my adorable nephews:

This is baby Gray or Graybug as we affectionately call him. He is eight months old and so incredibly sweet! He cried only once when we were there & it was his auntie's fault. He loves to laugh, loves balls of all sizes, and is crazy about his older brother. This boy has the perfect baby's body. He's solid, has the cutest thighs and is strong! I have never met such a strong baby before!

My mom sent out an easel for Colton so he and I did some wild painting: including painting hands, making paint pies (you've heard of mud pies, right?) and standing with both feet in the paint bucket. Yep, some of the paint got on the paper... and a bath was definitely needed later! But, oh we had a great time of it!

This is Ovid and Colton at the Farmer's Market. I love going to Farmer's Markets and Boulder has a really great one. We tasted lots and bought some treats for later.

Here's Colton trying on his Auntie's reading glasses. This boy makes me LAUGH!

We had such a great time with all of them! It was definitely too short a stay... I miss them already!

My Everyday List

My dear friend Gail loves making lists and asked her friends to send her their lists. So here's mine:

1. Drink black tea with milk & sugar (till I feel awake!)
2. Tell my sweetie I love him
3. Talk to my mom & brother every day (I love them too!)
4. Stay present
5. Talk to my nephew at least once a week... more if I can reach my Boulder family (I love them too, of course!)
6. Get a good nights sleep
7. Eat well
8. Stay in contact with friends
9. Do the best job I can at work with kindness, understanding & compassion
10. Keep learning
11. Read
12. Exercise & make artwork whenever I can....

On other news, I bought a new digital camera, but it didn't come with a user manual... so one day soon... I should say one week soon, I will start posting with pictures again!

More Changes

This past week we found out that the foundation I work for is laying off almost one-third of its staff, my sweetie and immediate supervisor included. This is the only time in its 55+ year history that they have had to do this. Working with the homeless, they know how devastating losing one's job can be. So the severance packages are really generous.

But, to tell you about the quality of the people I work with... I know that many of them are worried about their loss of jobs... but, they are even more worried about the clients they are leaving behind. Several very vital and key programs are being eliminated. We work with the poorest of the poor and we offer some of the best services, in terms of in-depth work, caring, and kindness, to our clients. It is truly heart breaking. I am so glad that my sweetie and I have each other.

Grateful

I think I have two of the world's cutest nephews! This picture was taken yesterday... baby Gray (on the left) is six months old today. He's one big boy... weighing just 5 lbs less than his 2 year old brother! I have said this a million times and will say it millions of times again... I am so very happy that they are part of my life.

Sweeeeeet!

My sweetie and I are in Nevada City celebrating Passover with my mom, my brother Michael & his partner Richard. We had a very low key Passover dinner with all of our favorite foods on Friday night. Michael invited a friend from work & her two adorable teenagers to join us for dinner. The kids were so much fun. They had never been to a Passover Dinner before, and bravely tried all of our foods. Liked them too! They also taught us all about raising and selling pigs. This city gurl never knew how much money you could make from one pig!

Yesterday, we talked to our Boulder family who had just returned from a week's vacation. Even though they were away for just a week it felt like six weeks! There's not much that squeezes my heart like, "I love Aunt Sissy" and the sound of my nephews giggling in the background.

We have had such a wonderful, relaxing time here. Its warm, quiet, and easy with lots of good food to eat. We get lots of dog loving and naps! Aaaaaahhh! Paradise!

Babysitting Duty

Yesterday while placing my jar of sun tea outside on my balcony, I accidentally startled two baby mourning doves who were hiding under my chair. They startled me too. Scared, one bird flew off right away while the other one fretted about trying to fly before she was finally able to wobble off to the nearby tree.

When I checked later they were back. The two baby doves sitting together shoulder to shoulder, beak to beak just like they were in a nest. Four eyes watching me... so very cute. As the sun was setting the momma bird came back for them and off they went. The one bird taking her time and finally wobbling off.

They were back early again this morning. Carefully hidden under my chair... nesting together shoulder to shoulder. And as I write this, the momma bird came back and fed them. I am happy to babysit these sweet ones anytime... just doing my part for Earth Day I guess.