The Western Slope

Turns out I LIKE Colorado! It is more of a high desert environment (very dry, minimal foliage) , but the terrain and surrounding bluffs are just beautiful. Especially in the morning when the rising sun hits them. I learned today everything west of Denver and its outliers is called the ‘western slope’. I was told that while Colorado is considered a blue state, the folks on the edges of the state tend to lean more on the conservative side. Still some of the consistently nicest folks I’ve ever come across. Besides the folks in Minneeesota😂😂. And North Dakota😊💕. The streets are a bit quirky, with a lot of 1/2’s and 1/10’s…They say it’s in measurement in distance from Utah😂😂😂. I don’t quite get that, but no one else here does either! There are roundabout everywhere, but most don’t seem to know how to use them, in comparison to the Brits😂😂😂. But they ARE efficient traffic control. Which is very minimal here, by the way…traffic. But then the population is roughly 66,000 I heard. Did I mention folks are nice here? Tomorrow is my last day of training before I head 60 miles further east, to yet even a smaller town. I am looking forward to that, and moving into my ‘hometel’ (house) (AirBnb for traveling medical staff) for the next 13 weeks. Dean is managing the home front well, and is ‘decluttering’. I am hoping when I return home I don’t notice any of MY stuff missing😂😂😂😂. But then, I am on a minimalist experiment just now😏.

A couple of photos from my days since I arrived…

My hospice agency’s lovely entrance.

Off to ‘playcare’.

Our very own walking path behind our hotel. 😊 AKA…Jax’s toilet 😂😂!

I am happy to report that this has been a very fun and enjoyable experience thus far. I can’t wait to meet my team on Thursday!

Walkabout

After a nice visit at an unfamiliar church, Jax and I picked up a Sam’s Club roasted chicken and Caesar salad kit, and went back to the hotel to have a proper lunch. I’ll be able to have that for lunch and dinner for my next few days, and then I will be on my way further south. Jax hasn’t been eating normally because I think the stress of the traveling has done him in. So, add a little chicken and juicy chicken fat to the boring, dry kibble, and VOILLA…down the hatch!😂😂😂

After a time I began to feel sleepy, so I decided to take Jax on a walkabout. I quickly learned the lovely road we were on this morning was mushy and soft in the afternoon sunshine. So after a quick wash in the grass (of my tomorrow work shoes), we were off to greener pastures. Well, parking lots😂. It’s like a ghost town around here! But then it IS Sunday.

In one of the empty parking lots I noticed these parking spots specifically for electric cars… I imagine they were mandated to have parking spots for electric cars being Colorado is a blue state, but they measure about 4 feet long and maaaaaybe 4 feet wide…almost a perfect square it seems. No car could really fit here, except perhaps one of those Mini Coopers🤔. And I haven’t seen a single one those yet!

And, judging by the sign, it’s been there a while. But I must say, Colorado people are the most friendly I have come across in the past two days, hands-down! Every single person passing me has either smiled or said hello, or said excuse me because they were in my way. even at Sam’s Club! Where it’s crazyville today but I found a good chicken. 😂😂😂 First impressions of Colorado… I love it. Not enough to move here, which is good, because ‘plus one’ human probably wouldn’t be up for that.😂 And it’s a little too far away from the preciouses.

Please don’t think me a bad dog mom, but Jax found a luscious bone on our walk in the greener pasture. He is happily gnawing away on it now, while I finish my frosty. His was gone in in about three minutes.😂😂

Short-lived but happy to see the smile on his face!

The booooooone🤣🤣🤣! I just didn’t have the heart to throw it away. I will distract him with the rest of my frosty, and then make a quick grab for it.

I remember one time when he was younger and we were walking our circle at home. It was around hunting season I reckon, because he literally found a half rack of ribs of a deer, judging by their size. He promptly picked it up and carried it all the way home. Which took some jaw muscle, I might add! I didn’t dissuade him from doing this, because I was so impressed with his dogged determination! But I did hide it after we got home so plus-one human could throw it away without him seeing. Husbands are good for that sort of thing😂😂😂! We are off again, sans bone, to enjoy the sunshine💕.

Peace of Mind

Since this is the first time I have ever been away for such an extended period of time, I decided to take Jax, my German Shepherd, along with me, just because I could, and for an added measure of security. He has been a stellar traveler thus far, and although he is unsure of being in random hotels along the way, he is handling it very well. Chelle sent me this sweet photo after we left for Colorado. She took it the day we got him from a family with a litter of eight in Stevensville, Montana. He was chosen because he crawled onto my lap and stayed there, and I decided HE claimed ME. The photo was on our way home, after a quick stop for pizza at Kodiak Jax, which is where his name came from!

He still has that sweet face, and an equally sweet temperament as well. Someone asked me once, ‘have you ever had somebody pretend they were going to harm you to see what he’d do?’ I answered no, because I didn’t want to see what he was capable of. I just trust that he IS capable.

As is customary, our hotel is in a more rural area, and we have a lovely walking path, which is actually just a road bordering a semi-dry-now-frozen canal behind us. It was a beautiful sunny morning as we set out for a long walk. After a time, I noticed this…

It is a tent, but I honestly don’t know who could be sleeping in it with the temperatures as cold as they are just now. Still, I am aware of it, and I will walk the other direction next time.

One of the key lessons we had drilled into us with the disaster relief training was to always remain in the ‘yellow zone’… aware and alert. I am exercising that as a solo-traveler-plus- dog. Because while I know Jax is capable of fending off a potential threat, I would never knowingly put myself into an unsafe situation. I’ve unintentionally done that in the past, and have been protected only by divine intervention, but I have learned to follow divine direction more and more with each incident. I love the verse ‘He shall give His angels charge over you.’ But I also try to abide by the verse ‘be wise’ 😂🙏!

Now it’s off to Starbucks for a coffee and an egg, and then to a neat church near us. I think after church I will take Jax up to Ourey… 20 minutes from here, but a lovely, recommended hiking spot. I will be sure to take more pictures.💕🤗!

WOW!

I have never driven on such a consistently beautiful, scenic route in my entire life.😱. Heading south from my last (and only😂) overnight stay in Utah, I started to venture east on some random and quiet two lane highway. The traffic was minimal, but I suppose that was to be expected being Thanksgiving weekend. Nevertheless, I was grateful for the absence of traffic, because it allowed me to go more slowly and watch the beautiful scenery unfold around me!

I began watching a YouTube vlogger, who was from Poland around the time Covid began. ‘Traveling’ via vloggers on YouTube was the only way I could see the world with the pandemic going on. This woman had traveled so many countries on the European continent, since she could being in the EU, and then she decided to come to the United States once the pandemic rules and restrictions were lifted. I remember her saying that the United States was the most diverse terrain that she had ever seen in her entire life. I had to laugh at that, because it was something I had never noticed before, and I’ve lived here now for 61years!😂 I can honestly say after driving through just UTAH alone today, I’d have to agree with her! Some photos I took at the plethora of ‘scenic stops’ scattered across the state, AND accompanied by toilets!😂😂👏👏

Everywhere I looked was something photo worthy, but it just wouldn’t have been safe stopping on the shoulder of the highway (Interstate 70 by now). All so incredibly beautiful. And that was all in UTAH😱👏👏👏! I am amazed and grateful to have experienced this surreal and unexpected adventure. I just wish I could have shared it all💕

The Journey Continues

Jax, my new plus-one who NEVER doubts my best intentions (😂😂), has adapted well to this travel business. And I have discovered numerous dog parks along the way! I never realized dog parks are completely enclosed by chain-link fences, which makes letting him off the lead much more comforting. We continued down the Salt Lake City corridor today, and will finally enter into Colorado tomorrow. We are only 230 miles from our destination for the next five days, and 290 from my permanent destination for the next 13 weeks. I hope Colorado is equally as beautiful! But there is no question to that, is there?

My good morning, and my goodbye from Idaho Falls.😊

Heading into Utah💕.

Sunset as reflected on the mountains👏👏👏!

Equally lovely💕.

We had another long, leisurely walk along a pathway near our hotel this evening. It makes for a sound night’s rest for my dog, which is helpful. And it allows me to stretch my legs after being in the car much of the day. I am amazed at how quiet some of the neighborhoods are where we’ve been staying! it is such a treat to be able to let Jax off the lead and not worry about traffic or people. And now it’s off to rest for the two of us. We’ll have another relaxing morning, and a leisurely drive into Colorado. I am looking forward to exploring the area in and around where we will be for the next five days! Until later, good night.😊

A New Adventure

When I spoke of ‘solo traveler-plus-one, it was in jest. I truly do like to travel with my husband, but find myself soloing it for the next 13 weeks in Colorado. For several years now I’ve dreamed of travel nursing, and our (Dean and I) intention was to retire, and both set out for a new destination to explore for 13 weeks, housing paid for, while I worked three, four or five days each week, depending on the shifts. Recently however, I found myself in a lull for the next three months, as I am uncommitted until mid -March. So I decided to try solo travel nursing to see what I thought of it before I asked Dean to give up his life to come along. One travel assignment per year would fund my travel budget, and might be nice for both of us, but we shall see. It was a hard goodbye today…

The good…beautiful Idaho Falls. First stop of three.

Yes!! My 110# bullet is coming along!! We walked around the river for about an hour, and he is exhausted now. But he was a total sport in the car for the six hour drive💕.

I am excited for this new experience, as I will be working with a hospice agency. End of life nursing has long been my passion, and in the meantime, I will be working on getting a website up and running…’my aging parent.org’. This will allow me to offer end of life guidance and counseling for those needing help with a loved one. There are so many entities out there for those advancing in years, and equally as many unanswered questions. With my history in long-term care for the past 18 years, I’ve learned much and am eager to share. But more on that later. I think now it’s time for a hot bath.🤣 I am grateful beyond measure for this life I have been blessed with, and grateful for family and friends near and far. Stay tuned as I take you on this next adventure with me!🤗

An Italian In Munich

After saying goodbye to our Beaches of Normandy group, Plus One and I made our way to our new hometel. We had the entire day to explore the ‘Old City’ and…yep! THE SQUARE! If I haven’t mentioned it yet, I love Europe.💕 Everything ancient and beautiful is in Europe. I only wish the walls could talk…

The day passed much too quickly, and when Plus One was getting hangry, we slipped into a lovely, welcoming sidewalk cafe. Our server appeared within moments and greeted us in German. I smiled and said ‘hello’. He grinned right back and said, ‘American?’ With a slip of the tongue, I said ‘si!’

”Ah!” He laughed “Italiano!” 😂😂😂😂😂 Turns out he was from Venice! What a treat. I was able to practice what I could recall of my Italiano with him, which was MUCH better than my meager German!