Where the HELL have I been?

Good question.

Well, let me catch you up with a brief photo essay of the trip from northeastern Colorado to central Texas in a U-Haul containing all of Mr. Wonderful's worldly possessions--including his dog and gecko--and yours truly.

And here we go. Setting off on our lengthy adventure. Dog in the middle, the plains on either side.

Here's what we saw in Colorado:

Pretty, no? The rat on the dash (his name is Timmy) will have to be explained in a future post.

Dog is my copilot.

Here's what we saw in southwestern Nebraska:Breathaking.

Here's what we saw in Kansas:

Stunning.

And this: Wait. Can't see that? Here, let me zoom in for you:

No, we didn't actually get to see the Largest Prairie Dog in the World. Or the Live 6 Legged Cow. Maybe next time...

SUCH a good girl:

Kansas sunset at 65 mph:

Sunset on Mr. Wonderful:

Dog is my very sleepy copilot:

We rolled in to Norman, OK at around 10:15 pm, exhausted and hallucinating. We spent the night with the dear Jules, and then were on our way the next morning, after she made us a breakfast of Texas-shaped waffles.

Later that day--southern Oklahoma:
OMG Hills!! And trees!!


And finally:

We pulled into our driveway around 6pm on Saturday evening. Spent all Sunday unloading the U-Haul and organizing and reorganizing stuff.

To be perfectly honest, the move went very smoothly. We had great weather, no mechanical problems, a well-behaved canine companion, ran into zero traffic jams, dealt with very little road construction, saw only a couple of highway patrol (and that wasn't really until we got to Texas), only saw one wreck (and it was on the opposite side of the highway), and got along famously. Now we're just adjusting to the whole "Holy CRAP! You're really here!" thing.

The Geej is loving having Mr. Wonderful (and the dog and the gecko) here with us. She's been bossing everyone around like a crazy person, and is just pleased as punch with the whole situation.

I wish I could say the same about Earl. He's rather pissed, and that's all I'm going to say for now. I'm mad at him for some destructive stuff he decided to do, and let me just say, he's lucky to still have a place to call home. Hopefully, this is just a phase.

Mr. W. starts his new job on Monday, but for now, he's spending the days doing all that crap you have to do when you move someplace new. Also, he's being a dear about the fact that I'm crazed at work right now and am heading to Nashville for a work trip on Friday. "Hi, honey! Thanks for moving here! Bye! Have fun taking care of the kid!" God, what a jerk I am.

I'm also busy getting ready for this. Good god, y'all. As if weren't satisfied displaying my pathetic existence on the interweb, now I get to do it in front of a live audience. What is WRONG with me?! (That's rhetorical. Don't bother answering.)

Today, tomorrow, and the next day.

Today is Halloween.

Boo, y'all.

I will rustle up my little goblin, go to friend's house, put goblin in her costume, go trick-or-treating with goblin and her little goblin buddies. Go home. Wrestle candy from goblin. Put goblin to bed.

***

Tomorrow I fly to Colorado.

Mr. Wonderful picks me up at the airport and we go to his town, 2+ hours away. We hang out with his friends and kiddos.

***

The next day, we move.

That's right: on Saturday, we (me, Mr. Wonderful, his dog Shiloh and his leopard gecko Leo) pile in the U-Haul and head for Austin.

He's moving here. He's moving in. Oh. My. God.

Everything's about to change. Wish us luck, people.

More soon.

I had a really great time in Boulder.

Our work meetings were intense and inspirational. The weather was perfect. The leaves were changing. I got to hang out with Mr. Wonderful. It was all good.

Also, I devised a new drinking game*:

Next time you're in the Denver/Boulder area, drive around with an open bottle of Jagermeister in the car. Every time you see a Subaru wagon, take a shot. Trust me: this is a GREAT idea.

I've got photos and stories to post tomorrow. But for now, I'm going to bed.

*No, I didn't actually do this, because I would be dead of alcohol poisoning and/or stupidity. Seriously, it's RIDICULOUS how many Subaru wagons roam the streets of Boulder. I know they've got the all-wheel drive and whatnot, and that's good with snow. But still... I'm surprised you don't get politely escorted to the state line if you're not in a Subaru...or a Prius. There were lots of those too.

So long, suckers.

I'm sick of this heat and humidity. It's supposed to be fall, damnit. So I'm outta here. Where am I going?

Here:

Where the leaves are changing, there's almost no humidity, the high temps are in the low 70s and it's getting into the low 40s at night.

Oh HELL yes!

I'm even packing a jacket, fools! Yippee!!!

Granted, I will be spending most of my waking hours tomorrow and Friday locked in a conference room in meetings, but hey, I'll take it how I can get it.

I check back with y'all soon!

Up, up and awaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

I'm going on my first work trip since the arrival of The Geej. I leave in a couple of hours, go to Colorado, have dinner with a dear friend, go to a ribbon cutting and presentation tomorrow morning, leave tomorrow afternoon, get home tomorrow night. Mom is taking care of the wee one for me. Said it before, but I'll say it again: The woman's a lifesaver. This is going to be my first journey without the baby, and I feel like it's going to be mega-weird.

I'm excited and nervous. Taking this trip means I'm sort of "getting back out there"--like starting to date again after a divorce, which I've never really managed to do. I don't want to ever have to travel like I once was--every other week at one point. But I could handle a short trip like this every month. If for nothing else, it's good for my career. So I'm frazzled, but I'm going. I'll let you know how it goes.