Under the Knife Again

Since last May, I have had four surgeries and I am becoming a pro at "going under." Yesterday my oral surgeon went in to check out what was going on with my dental implant. Well, it was in fact failing so he took it out...I am once again a toothless wonder. Actually, my dentist prepared a "flipper" (hence the photo...thought a dolphin was more appealing to look at than my new retainer) ahead of time so I am back to a retainer. Since it is a rooftop appliance I talk a little funny but I am getting used to it and practicing my s's and ch's. Twenty-nine continues to stink...only 90 more days until I turn 30! :)

Lucy's Dinner

Well, I haven't heard Lucy in almost two weeks now but that does not mean she isn't out there. I finally realized what she has been eating though. We have a ton of young bucks hanging out in the park as well. This guy is one of six that I counted the other night...no wonder she isn't leaving!

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's the Thunderbirds!
After six years in Colorado Springs (yes, I am celebrating my sixth year here and sixth year with CTS this week!), I decided it was about time I went to see the Thunderbirds at the Air Force Academy graduation. I love watching air shows and the Thunderbirds were good but would have to say the Blue Angels are better...

But that could have been due to my viewing location. I watched the show across the highway from AFA and the planes came right by me but they were not very loud. Earlier in the week I heard them practicing from my apartment and they were much louder. I think the sound was lost being out in the open space versus valley. Next year I am going to hike Blodgett Peak and watch them from there. The amazing thing is how many people go out to watch the show. Literally hundreds of cars were parked along the road...and the planes are in this picture, right by the tree.

Lori and Richard's Wedding
My friends Lori and Richard got married yesterday at Fox Run Park in the Black Forest...they really lucked out as it was pouring rain and storming about an hour before the ceremony but the clouds broke and it was beautiful. I packed my rain jacket and rain boots (red and white polka dotted) just in case it didn't clear...I am sure I would have been quite the site in my dress had I broke them out! :)

They had their reception at IT'Z Family Fun Center and I tried my skills at Dance Dance Revolution. It's safe to say I am much better at pedaling on a unilinear plane than I am at trying to tap four different squares. Boys, you can just magnify my Guitar Hero handicap by about 100 to imagine how bad I was!

The best part of the night was hanging out with all of my youth group leader friends. I stepped down from leadership last year when things got crazy so I barely see them anymore. They are as entertaining as ever and I love seeing Leslie, my fellow Hoosier! :)

My New Neighbor...Lucy the Mountain Lion

For the past month, I have been hearing these really wierd noises at night. The first night I almost called 911 because it sounded so much like a human but when I looked outside I couldn't see anything and the noise faded away. Well, it keeps coming back and I finally did some google researching to find out I have a mountain lion living in the park by my apartment. A female mountain lion, Lucy, who appears to be in heat and that is why she is screaming...I really hope she does not attract a male down off the mountain and have babies down here!

This is more what she sounds like compared to the above clip but it is R rated as the videographer had some choice language as he recorded the sound...and for some reason I can't get it to upload so here is the link if you are curious: Screaming Mountain Lion

Chris' Graduation Take 2

You may remembering me touring college campuses last year for the boys' graduations. Well, Chris decided to return to Boulder to turn his minor into a major this spring so I was back in Boulder last week celebrating his second degree...it took me 2.5 hours to get to Boulder (Denver traffic to blame) and a detour on campus sidewalks (not joking, I followed some other car across campus...on the sidewalkds) but I made it in time to watch my "little" brother earn his second degree in as many years...and then I had to head back for 12 hours of class and a final. Classes are over now and I am heading into my FINAL term of class for the rest of my life. I will be totally done with my doctoral coursework in July!!! :)