Funny what hits you....

So here are the things that have Tom and I saying: " Wow. we're not in the desert anymore!"

Having to pump our own gas.
Having to shut off the car when you pump the gas!
Paying for the gas - its about 2x as expensive as home.

Colorado is LUSH LUSH LUSH! just looking out the window is like drinking. The trees are all so big and lovely.

Hearing the breeze in the leaves. I haven't heard that since we moved.

Of course the choices in the grocery store - too mind-blowing to go shopping other than trying to find what a generic brand of diapers looks like.

Everything looks so CLEAN - there isn't any layer of dust on everything!

Even the clothespins in America feel more substantial and like they are higher quality!

There are SO MANY ads on the TV and radio!

I'd forgotten how to cook on an electric stove.

We ran out of milk and while we were out picking up a crib we were borrowing, I thought to myself. "I can't handle a grocery store right now. Let's just go to the corner store where we can honk and the guy can bring the milk out..." still haven't found that store here for some reason.

The house feels so PADDED! We have tile floors and cement walls at home and the carpeting, wallpaper and decorations here all make it seem so FULL. My house seems empty in comparison, but I know it wasn't.

There is a sense of something close to freedom or just emotional space or something like that, to be able to wear what I want, hold Tom's hand, and things like that. Not following cultural norms is a yoke that has lifted here. It isn't oppressive over there or anything...... just something you adjust to, but it is nice to have a break from it!

Well, I'm getting tired. It's 330am and I think I'll head back to bed. We have Lj in our room until her sleeping settles down. It is so sweet to hear her breathing (= I'm sure her nose is dry like ours. Can't believe it is drier here than back home.