Last Days of Freedom

So I've been avoiding the blog because I really don't want to admit that summer is coming to an end.... but it is :( Next week I start teaching half-days of summer school for two weeks, and then there's a week of inservice and work-days, and then all the kiddos come on the 23rd. I'm ready to be back in a routine, and I am ready to have the fun of teaching... but not quite ready for the stress that I know will come with it.
Anyway, just to catch you up on life stuff, I was in a bit of a post-Africa funk for a while. It was hard to come back to "normal" life after that amazing trip. Luckily, I got to go spend a week down at the parents' house and play with the Vermont Frostman crew. Since then I've just been enjoying the perks of living in a Colorado mountain town (although I would be really happy if I didn't have to share it with all the stupid tourists). I got to see my first Estes Park bear just across the road from my house (he was little and very cute!). A long-time friend (and life guru) from California stopped by for a visit and it was wonderful to see him. I also drove down to Colorado Springs for an unofficial reunion with my CC-Masters crew. Most of all, i've finally had time to hang out with my friends here and have enjoyed hikes, lunches, shopping trips, and dinners. Here's a picture of some of the gals on a hike that we did recently to some lakes up in RMNP.

In other life news, I'm also car shopping since Cujo is 10 years old and I REALLY want a new car. I'm 99% sure that I'll be getting a 2011 Subaru Impreza hatchback. I'll have to wait until I get my extra $$ from teaching summer school to pay off the final portion of the Africa trip before I bite into the new-car-loan debt... but the 2011's haven't hit the dealerships yet anyway, so I think (hope) I'll have time to find my perfect car before the snow gets here.
Anyway, today I'm off to get my hair cut, play some putt putt golf, and enjoy a summer concert in the park. Gotta enjoy these last days as much as possible :)