Observations

As I write this, I'm sipping on a Pumpkin Spice coffee, available in K-cup (!).  I would like to point out that I made it myself, in my own coffee maker, and am drinking it out of my own mug.  It has been a long time coming, people.

Also?  I'm sitting on my own furniture!  In my own living room!

We are surrounded by a sea of cardboard, but it's coming together.  Slowly but surely.  Here are some observations thus far of life in the Mile High City.

*Nine times out of ten, when we tell people we are moving/have moved to the Denver area, they say one of two things.  (1) "Oh, I love the Denver airport!" or (2) "Do you know they have medical marijuana there?"

*What 300+ days of sunshine per year?  It has rained almost every day we've been here.  False advertising.

*Everywhere we go, there are independent bookstores, coffee shops, row after row of pubs and little restaurants.  I'm in Heaven and will never leave.

*Apartment living is turning out to be an easier adjustment than I expected.  This was most likely helped by living with the in-laws for a few weeks.  I'm just sayin.  Although the overall living area is smaller, it turns out that each room, or each "mini area" actually feels larger than it did in our house (except the kitchen).  So, any given room feels spacious and complete; I never feel like I've "downgraded" to an apartment.

*I think this is helped by the type of apartment complex this is.  They call it "luxury style apartment homes" in an attempt to market it, but I have to say that little details make a big difference.  We can pick paint colors for accent walls, and the normal walls aren't an industrial white; they are a warm beige with white molding accents.  We have two balconies that are big enough for our deck furniture and bikes, and the wagon we bought (yes, you read that right) to cart our groceries up from the car to the apartment, via the elevator.  It has come to this, people.  We are also considering carting Orca around in it when she gets here.

*The appliances are modern (black) and the countertops are faux granite.  A little detail goes a long way to make it feel more homey and less temporary.

*We have been to Wal Mart four times in the last three days.  I'm not the biggest fan of that store, but as G puts it, where else can you find groceries, washer fluid, shower curtains and modems all in the same place?

*Although I'm convinced that this move has strained our marriage to the limit, it has not been without humor.  I have found myself saying things like, "Ok, G, after you unpack those boxes, don't forget to set up the router and get the oil changed in my car.  And then you will need to search through all the boxes and find the TV cords.  I can't remember what box they're in, so just look through them all.  I'm going to put up the fall decorations.  Oooh!  I forgot all about this porcelain pumpkin!"

Want to come over and help us unpack?  I'll give you some Pumpkin Spice coffee!