This week was one that saw some change arrive for me. I found out that I was going to keep working for the foreseeable future and not get laid off. But I do change shifts from my past swing shift, usually 3:30pm to midnight, or later, to one that will run from 7am to 3:30 pm. I guess it will be alright although I positively despise having to awaken at 6am five days a week especially in the dark, cold, and snow of winter. But I have to look at it as a means to an end: getting out of Cheyenne and back to Denver. My plan is to do that as soon as possible in the middle six months of 2009. The timing of the act will depend on how much money I have saved up. And of course, the more the better as there are always unanticipated expenses when doing a move. By working through the winter, I perhaps can leave in as early as six and one-half months or by the end of May. I could move that up to earlier that month, or wait until later in the summer. Right now I believe the latest month for leaving will be September of 2009. I simply cannot imagine or bear the thought of dealing with another winter here whatsoever.Speaking of winter, our first real blast (and I mean blast) came late Thursday evening into early Friday morning. A potent blizzard came roaring around 10 pm and dumped about six inches of heavy wet snow accompanied by fierce powerful winds. The trip home from work was a treacherous adventure as I lost control of the truck twice on the snowpacked icy roads, and once slid into a curb which fortunately caused no damage and was at a moment when no traffic was around. The switch to dayshift at work started Friday, so after only about five and a half hours home, I had to venture out in the dark and discovered drifts around 3' in height around the truck and windows covered with a thick glaze. This storm was short lived as it was gone in a matter of hours. But there was still a lot of snow around still at dusk on Saturday night although the streets were generally clear. It got down to a frigid 13 degrees this morning but warmed up to 52 degrees Saturday afternoon. And the upcoming week is supposed to be very nice with a 67 degrees afternoon forecast for Tuesday the 18th.
The past week saw a lot of wind. Most days and nights it howled, often with gusts in excess of 50 mph, and there were a few nights and days where gusts were in excess of 70 mph. One just has to bear it. The worst is still yet to come in January, February, and March.
Working over 16 hours in a 24 hour period left me exhausted as my body clock has to be reset for a major time shift which will take a good part of next week to accomplish. After completing my shift on Friday I went and had Mexican food at Guadalajara's, a joint on the main commercial drive on the north side of town, Del Range Blvd. It was okay but I have had better. I have been out to about five Mexican restaurants here in Cheyenne in the nearly two years I have been here and have yet to find one I am enthusiastic about, like what I have found in Denver with Santiagos, the Armadillo, and Little Anita's. I figure I still have about five to ten other ones to visit here in Cheyenne in the coming months, so maybe I will find one that is worthwhile.
I slept a lot after getting only about two and a half hours on Friday morning after that Thursday shift and before the Friday shift. I fell asleep on Friday night before 7pm and woke up around 3 am. After a few hours, I got sleepy again and slept from about 5:30 am until around 1:30 pm. I think I also am battling a little bit of a cold which is impacting me, so the rest was helpful with that. I have been sneezing alot and have congestion in my throat and sinal cavity which is difficult to loosen and remove with coughs. How I got it is an unknown as I am largely not exposed to possible risks, but I do touch door handles at work which may have been the source.
Saturday was largely a day of rest. I watched some college football in the afternoon and a good part of the evening. I did venture out around 5pm for about an hour to pick up a part for the truck at Checker; go to the post office; get gasoline; and pickup a submarine at Subway. The evening wrapped up with a look into the end of the Avalanche / Oilers game, which went into a shootout won by Colorado in a thriller.
The price of gasoline continues to sink like a rock, a shocking and stunning development. Even into early July we were around $3.80 to $3.90 per gallon here in Cheyenne which was a fast and furious increase from where it was last February at $2.30 per gallon. But as of today the price here in Cheyenne has fallen to $1.85 per gallon. I do not think its been this inexpensive since 2004 or 2005. And its likely to go lower. Up the road to the north 80 miles in Wheatland, the price is all the way down to $1.40 per gallon, and in Casper its around $1.65 per gallon !!! For the price to have dropped so precipitously and quickly is simply amazing. I know its going to go back up again, probably to even higher levels, but I am very surprised and grateful to have this enormous benefit. I am saving about $50 a month already which is a nice gift.
With the cold weather here, I am less than enthusiastic about getting my frozen cappucino lotte; so its back to home made hot cocoa. I also will try to drink some hot green tea regularly.
I made my reservations for my rental car and have targeted my motels that I will be staying at for my vacation which is now but ten days away. One thing about now working earlier is that I will be able to work on Tuesday 25 November before going down to Denver. But in a trade off, I will have to take Monday 1 December off since thats when I am going return the rental car. I am truly looking forward to the trip and getting an opportunity to visit with and share activities with my sisters and their families, as well as see a friend from my past, Mark. I just hope the weather is cooperative. It is a little disconcerting to see the forecast for the upcoming week to have temperatures to near and above 70 degrees across the Front Range region. I cannot think that the next week, when I need to travel, will be as pleasant.
But I still have much to do in these ten days. I have to get thoroughly organized and prepared for the trip and vacation, making sure I think of everything I need to bring with me and then be sure to do so. Usually one forgets something for a trip like this, so I have to be fully aware of what I need to bring.
Sunday was another usual quiet day. Todd surprisingly stopped by briefly in midafternoon with his three rowdy pooches as he was out on a walk with them. It turned out to be a pretty nice day as the temperature reached 60 degrees. After watching NFL for a time, I went out around 5:30 to get the Sunday papers and make a stop at Walmart for a minimal amount of supplies for lunches. I may get back there later this week if I get around to it to further stock up on foods.
The remainder of Sunday evening was spent relaxing, and I went off to bed before midnight in preparation for the early arising Monday and the following four days ahead.
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