A year old(er)…

My blog is one year old.

Actually, it’s been one-year and 16 days since my first “(Almost) Due West” post.

A lot of time has passed—and a lot of life has happened—since that first post.

I was traveling, without my laptop, on July 11, so I didn’t get to write my anniversary post, which would have gone something like this...

“During this past year, I’ve adjusted to...

A dearth of trees

Constant wind, which I now refer to as a “breeze”

Wearing jackets on the 4th of July

The three seasons in Wyoming—June, July and Winter

Snow in September, April, May and June

Shoveling, not once, not twice, but sometimes thrice on any given day

Learning to drive not just on snow, but on snow and ice packed roads

Ice covered parking lots and learning how to walk like a penguin, so as not to fall

Periods of negative 35 below temperatures

A fairly consistent and shinning sun, warming even the coldest of days by 10 to 15 degrees

College kids wearing shorts, t-shirts and sandals, in 30-degree weather

Having my windshield nicked on the beautiful Wyoming roads, and then crack when the temperature hits below zero

The fact that my windshield may very well get nicked, and crack, again and again

Igloos on wheels, as apparently no laws about cleaning snow off the tops—or sides—of cars seem to be enforced in Wyoming

Shopping at Wal-Mart and a piss-poor Kmart

Driving an hour to shop at Whole Foods, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Sam's club, Target or any other big box stores

Traveling two hours to the airport

Five and six year olds biking, or walking, to school, all by their little lonesome

Ominous clouds rolling in off the mountains on any given afternoon and strong winds whipping up as late afternoon thundershowers roll in

The sky clearing and the sun shinning 10 to 15 minutes after said late afternoon thundershowers—just like it never happened

Lighting, one can see for miles and miles

Amazing cloud formations, one can see for miles and miles

Blue sky, one can see for miles and miles

Snow capped “Snowies” in the Medicine Bow National Forest, visible from our living room windows

Sightings of sheep, lama, goats, horses, and pronghorns (with elk and moose being more elusive)

Learning how to spin roving into yarn

Traveling 30 MPH everywhere, in town

Not eating out

Eating better because home is so close to work and school, so there’s more time to cook healthier meals

Being a student again and having to learn how to study, all over again

Having school and work all within a four minute drive from home

Biking to and from work and school

Making new friends

Missing our friends back east

Trying to learn how to write

Trying to learn how to keep an online journal

The realization that we’re not too old to make major life changes

The realization that life can change, dramatically, and still be good

No Diane Rehm, Kojo Namdi, or Michelle Martin

The realization that WPR is every bit as good—if not better—than WAMU

The realization that I now want to live my days in the shadow of a mountain

The sad realization that I probably won’t get to live my days in the shadow of a mountain

The happy fact that I love living in this beautiful state and this small, but welcoming town, though I still can’t say “why,” only that I do.”

Thanks to all who have stayed with me this past year.

I wish I could say “this blog is for you,” when in reality it’s been for me—but I’ve appreciated the support and comments.

Thanks for being here for me...

Still here…

For those few who still might be reading this blog, I’m still here.

Summer travels prevented me from posting.

I hope you all have had a good summer.

To my fellow blogophiles, I have a lot of reading—and catching up—to do...

And so it begins...

I know that some out-of-town guests here for the Bar Mitzvah found the weather, and the two-hour drive from the airport, to be a bit beyond the pale.

Indeed, traveling to Laramie makes for a long travel day.

One friend equated the trip to Laramie to a “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”

She, however, used more colorful language, not quite appropriate for this G-rated blog.

On Sunday evening, we watched the fire works from our front porch, wrapped in jackets or blankets—something I’d never expect on the 4th of July.

I found myself rather bemused by the comments and the “wonder of it all” by some of our out-of-town guests.

We are in Wyoming—at an elevation of over 7,000 feet—so cool temps, wind, late afternoon thunderstorms and long car rides to get from point A to point B, are par for the course.

There must be a bit of the imp of that Frontier Woman in me—finally!

Besides, in less than 5 weeks, I become an official “resident” of the beautiful state of Wyoming.

Yee-ha!

Maiden (Road) Voyage

Yesterday, we drove out to the summer home of some friends, located just east of Centennial and the Snowy Range Ski Lodge and approximately 30 miles or so due west of Laramie.

There were six of us—my folks and a friend of the teenager’s in from Maryland were still in town, leftovers from the Bar Mitzvah.

None of our cars fit six, so I followed behind the Legal Dude in my car.

It was my first maiden voyage driving solo on one of Wyoming’s innumerable two lane highways.

Internet Map

I30, or Snowy Range Road, moseys westward to Snowy Range, which is open only up to the ski lodge during the winter months due to snow beyond that point, but re-opens during the summer months for fishing, camping, and hiking to points beyond.

There were more cars on the road than I would have preferred, since it was after all a holiday weekend and travelers were returning from hiking, fishing and camping, but it wasn’t so horrible.

I did, however, have to pry my knuckles from the steering wheel once we arrived at our destination.

Following behind the Legal Dude provided a sense of comfort, although heading back to Laramie, I did take the lead as he followed behind.

I didn’t pass, nor did any cars pass me in either direction, although there were two occasions when I started to sweat and worry.

I’m not ready to jump in the car and do it again anytime soon, but at least it's a start...

Bar Mitzvah Boy

Be still my heart!

My baby boy seemed so at ease, and displayed such a commanding presence, on the Bimah (stage/pulpit) this past Saturday.

How very proud I am.

All these months, he’s been dreading the prospect of standing in front of people to recite Shabbat morning prayers and blessings and read his Torah portion, in Hebrew.

All these months I’ve been worried how he might stutter and stammer, lose his place, and be all nervous and embarrassed.

It seems we both worried for naught.

My baby seems to have some “public speak” in him.

He looked so handsome up there.

He looked so calm.

He looked downright comfortable!

It’s been a long, and often difficult, journey –years of tears and fights during Hebrew school days back east—to reach Bar Mitzvah day, and I can’t believe it’s finally over.

I thank his Hebrew tutor, for giving my baby boy the encouragement, the courage, the confidence and the ability to be so cool-headed and at ease on Bar Mitzvah day.

The Rabbi said blessings over the Challah and wine at the start of
 Shabbat on Friday evening

Blessings also said over wine and Challah after Shabbat and
the teenager's Bar Mitzvah service

Cake made for the teenager by the Sisterhood ladies from 
Cheyenne, Mt Sinai Synagogue

Now my Bar Mitzvah boy deserves to enjoy the rest of his summer break…

Happy belated Fourth...

My picture taking doesn’t do them justice and no, they aren’t anything like the fireworks on the National Mall, but this is what we saw from our front porch last night…

Of course, they were larger—much, much larger.

Almost as if we were right under them on the Mall.

Hope you all had a Happy Fourth!

Throws in July?

While The Washington Post headlines read...

"Forecast: Blistering heat takes hold Near 100 for at least the next three days"

it was a nice chilly 58 degrees or so in Laramie and rather "cool" in the house

So it's a good thing my mom made several of these throws for us for gifts last Hanukkah.

Who knew, though, that I would be employing mine in July!