Good news! Scott and I have survived our first full week as empty nesters!   C’mon, you have to admit, it’s kind of funny that we are in our 40’s and that we have never lived alone.  Until now.

of course there’s fenway too, but I’m starting to think that she thinks I’m boring without any kids to pick on 😉

but seriously now, I saw a billboard over the summer that boasted ” Snowmass Balloon Festival”  It showed all sorts of beautiful balloons effortlessly floating amongst the back drop of Autumn tinted mountains.  When I looked up the dates, and the rates of the hotel rooms and found that it was actually affordable, we did it. we booked our first weekend away.

And it was kind of a cluster.

for starters, we had planned on getting up early, going to the DMV ( for the 4th time) to try to get CO plates for the jeeps.  So there we were, bright and early, only 30 in line.  WE got to the desk and the lady informed us that we were missing a document.

Lovely. Um, by the way, that is NOT listed on the CO website..

And for the other jeep, documentation that I had been on the phone with MA registry the week before ( after begin on hold 26 minutes) and after the MA guy ASSURED me would be accepted, would not be.

again, lovely.

We headed home and found said paperwork, dropped Fenway off at the kennel and set back to the DMV. time #5. And 50th in line.

2 hours later, we have Co plates. Scott got the basic green & white mountains and I picked the in memory of Columbine plate. I often think of those victims ( even though that was years ) before Colorado would become part of our lives, and having the plate on Zola makes me feel like I’ve done something to show that.

So a total of 8 complete hours wasted at the DMV. you can buy pot on every street corner here, but you need to hand over your firstborn for plates.  ( my first born was not injured during this ordeal 😉

perhaps you are supposed to stop and smoke the weed before going to the registry?

Of course I am joking, and also have never smoked at all, so that part doesn’t interest me.

But spending 8 hours trying to get plates? that irked me.

Especially when on visit # 5, the lady that helped us told us that the paperwork that we went home to get that lady #4 told us we needed, lady # 5 told us we didn’t.

it’s all good. history now.

buuuut, it took us so long that we got on the road late. And with all of the devistating floods that have happened around us, we had a very long drive … about 2 hours longer than it should have taken us.

By dinner we arrived in Snowmass Village, it’s just outside of Aspen. We scored a great slope side room with a balcony ( free upgrade ) and the balloons were set to set up Sat night on the slopes ( sans snow)

We checked into our room and went to dinner at the hotel. we were the only ones there. It was weird. Even the waiter joked about how it was like the Shining around there. Apparently it is their off season from the end of August- Mid November. ( thus the great rate on the room )

I was kind of bummed, because I love to people watch, and the only people were us. We actually watched

while waiting for our food ( which was fantastic, over priced, but fantastic)

We went to bed early since the first of the balloon shows was early in the am.

So up early on Saturday and this is what we saw

and of course that was followed by lots of rain. And guess who didn’t think to bring raincoats?

oops.  Since we were up and ready for the day, we drove into Aspen just to see it.

just as we had expected it was a quaint  mountain- surrounded town

I can only imagine how beautiful this must be in the winter….

We stopped for breakfast, tried to drive around to take pictures, then headed back to Snowmass, where we got coffee and sat inside looking out at the incredible rain.

After a while it let up a bit, so we walked around

this was a giant chair.. I’m not sure why I didn’t take a pic of the whole thing.

the outdoor ‘mall’ at snowmass. Again, how much fun would this be in the winter with snow? ( you can ski right into the resort and mall)

about his point, we both realized what we had feared, that we are incredibly boring people.

we went shopping in the mall area ( everything was on sale) but bought nothing because nothing fit me 😦

instead, we bought a deck of cards, went back to the room ( with intentions of going to the main lobby where the big fireplace was) but instead, I fell asleep.

I know, exciting, eh?

when I woke, it looked like the sun was peeking through, so we put on our hiking boots and went for a hike.  My weight loss has to start somewhere and nature calls to me.

I didn’t bring my camera or my phone, because I was convinced that The skies would open up on us. ( which they did not)

I think I saw bear poop. I mentally took note of it then looked it up when I got back. TMI? perhaps. but I was curious

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned it here or not, but I have an injured leg that has developed into nerve issues. Although I have been cleared by the doctor for physical activity, certain thing just suck. Like any sort of incline at all.  So this hike, although not intense, was really hard for me. And discouraging. But it’s a start. and since this came in today

 

( our season ski passes.. do I ski? lol.. we will find out! )

 

I need to build my leg strength up starting somewhere.

After the hike ( which Scott later informed me that we had in fact barely gained any altitude ;( ) we went to the Mexican restaurant overlooking the slope for happy hour. $5 fresh juice margaritas? yes, please.

we also ordered a bunch of happy hour snacks for dinner ( making up for the over priced meal the night before) and then something cool happened

the weather cleared! ( at least where we were)  and a band set up on the slope

and one by one the balloons started to arrived and set up!

and people too!   I was finally able to people watch!

Notice everyone’s winter coats? guess what else we didn’t bring….

we went back to our room ( warmth) and listened to the band play out from our awesome free- upgraded balcony ( which made it even sweeter)

We had every intention of getting up early Sunday to go see the balloons go off again, but in the middle of the night, I got the WORST headache that I’ve had in years. It actually woke me up.

I went to take ibuprophen and guess what? it was with the rain coats and winter coats.

( how dis I managed to travel without it? oh yeah, 8 hours at the DMV)

I ended up having to put cold washcloths on my forehead, It was intense.

I’ve had 2 migranes in my life, and it’s been 20 years since I’ve has one.  This ended up going away after breakfast on it’s own, so I don’t think it was, but it was pretty darn close.

So when the alarm went off for us to go watch the launch, there was no way 😦

a few hours later when we were ready to check out, we did get these pics from our balcony

I felt badly that we didn’t go down there, but I think it;s good that we didn’t because It gave me a chance to rest my head.

( btw, this had nothing to do with the margaritas, this was a whole ‘nother beast entirely)

So we headed out through Aspen, stopping for coffee for him and tea for me, then we drove home through Independence pass, part of the ‘ top of the Rockies roadway’.

We stopped at a ghost town

the pictures do not do this justice.. the whole area was simply breathtaking

this is an actual archealogical site, so there was all sorts of old glass and nails around with signs that warned against touching… but pictures were ok 🙂

we slowly made our way home, and it felt nice to curl up and watch ( well, Scott watch, me try to understand) the football game.

Sorry this post was so long, I like to share things like this for our family members who are so far away, so that they feel a little closer to us 🙂

Tonight I’m headed to a quilting guild. I still haven’t met a soul here, and that is getting a little disheartening.. more on that later.

I’ve been adjusting to cooking for 2, thus the lack of food posts, but they will be back, I promise. I’ve been spending lots of time walking ( strengthening leg, entertaining Fenway) and quilting.

I’d love to show you what I’m making, but it’s for someone who is reading, so I want to surprise. As soon as it’s received, I’ll post it.

pinky promise

meanwhile, I’m sending tons of prayers to all those affected by the recent floods. The Denver Post called it a Biblical storm.  It’s just been crazy.  If this had been snow it would have been 80 inches!  So many people have lost so much. I just cannot imagine.

until next time…

xoxoxoxox