Did I really skip blogging for the entire month of April? It's true - I've been a little grumpy since returning from Guatemala to the U.S. I think part of the difficulty is returning to the realities of life such as oil changes and house hunting and school registration and haggling about school registration, etc. Another, bigger part is that I miss the adventures and the exploring and new sights and people in Guatemala. I could wander around Antigua every day noticing interesting details, taking photos of faces with character, and eating new foods. I really enjoyed the ongoing challenge of trying to communicate in Spanish and meeting interesting new people. Since returning to Boulder, I've been in a bit of a cranky rut with the same daily workout on the elliptical machine in the hotel fitness room, the same breakfast at the hotel breakfast buffet, and even sliding into an addiction with watching "House" every night. This is NOT okay. Then this morning while walking along the South Boulder Creek, I remembered that there is nothing stopping me from exploring Boulder with the eyes of a tourist; I can bring an adventurous fresh approach even to a place where I've lived for more than ten years. When I lived in Colorado Springs, we mocked people who drove half way across the country to spend their week's vacation camping on the street where we lived all year. It wasn't until I had moved away for years and then visited with Kelsey & Larissa that I appreciated all the fun touristy things Colorado Springs had to offer. We had a blast visiting the zoo, Cave of the Winds, the USAFA, Garden of the Gods and camping at nearby Rampart Reservoir. I never appreciated what was in my own backyard and am sincerely sorry for mocking those tourists who could see and value what I couldn't.
Boulder was gorgeous this morning - the air was fresh and clean after a few days of rain and things are just starting to green up. I saw some wild iris just about to bloom and the wild cows that inhabit the Boulder Mountain Parks & Open Space have been busily augmenting their population. There was also a beautiful red tail hawk that had an impressive chunk missing from one of its wings....and seemed to be soaring without any difficulties. I'm going to start carrying my camera around on my walks again, so I can continue the travels. Bon voyage!
