Hmmmmm.........

It has been a long time - 19 days or thereabouts. I have been so busy. Finished up the assignment from hell which actually turned out well in the end. Then, had a few days (2 weeks) off since there was not a new assignment in the works at that time.

What did I do with my two weeks? Worked with the gardener on my drip system, gardening, pruning, went to the spa for my niece's birthday, had a snack and a drink before heading off to my painting class to paint (ugh!) pears (more on that another time). Then, it was the 4th of July. Did some more gardening with the gardener and stayed in for what turned out to be a relatively quiet evening with the dogs. Fireworks were going off for about 4 hours but Smokey stayed relatively calm and we all watched TV.

After the 4th, the hecticness resumed. Closed the books for ATW, paid bills, did numerous other things too boring to mention or recall, bought a new vacuum cleaner which is awesome on the pet hair and didn't cost an arm and a leg, had my brother working on the shower some more, went to a wine cellar emptying party.

Yoga, farmer's market, steam cleaning the inside of the car, putting in a new drip system and timer for the side yard, lunch with some co-workers, 1/2 price CABI sale to buy some of the clothes I loved but could not afford, sorting out health insurance, paying bills, getting estimate on bodywork for car, talking to tile people for patio, cleaning, dusting, painting class, planning trip to Mt. Rushmore, buying new digital camera, buying other stuff I needed, dropping car off at shop, getting on plane.

Yes, it was a busy 2 weeks and zoomed by. I am now enjoying Aspen and have been hiking everyday. Beautiful trails, beautiful flowers, wildlife. A deer was right in front of us on a trail today and, when we got closer, it didn't run away but, instead, ran around us before running away. The water is rushing and the weather is very warm (shorts and light tops, sandals). It is nice to be away and in such a beautiful place. Yesterday, we went to the new county animal shelter and it is an incredible place. The cats have this very tropical cat room that they wander around and seem to love. The dogs all play together all day out in a rock enclosure with their very own ski gondola and skis! I haven't seen any of them skiing yet. They did enjoy running up the boulders like mountain goats and playing with the visitors and one another. What a happy place for them. Once I figure out this digital camera, I can upload some of the beautiful photos I have taken here.

The good news is that I have received a new assignment and will start when I come back from vacation. I am just loving this new job. The best of both world for me. Work with good pay when I want it and vacations when I want them. Woohoo!

It is hard to believe that last year at this time, I was still in treatment for cancer and, in fact, was still recovering from reconstruction surgery. It really is all a dream now. I met one woman here with breast cancer, my age and diagnosed about the same time. She is incredible and runs the gift store for the animal shelter. She is thinking of reconstruction so I gave her my contact information so she can talk when she is ready to get started. It is amazing and wonderful that I can help others but I feel as if it all never happened. Thank goodness for my wonderful life now.

My soulmate...........here somewhere near............soon.........