[Insert expletive of choice here]

Published on by Casey Category: Colorado, Weather

Leaving work today was like any other day…slowly merging onto I-25 because there is undoubtedly a massive truck in front of me on the on-ramp.  I’m also on the phone with my sister (hands-free of course), but I learned to drive in California so talking on the phone while driving is required to pass the license exam.  😉  I finally make it onto the interstate, look up and there is the sky is a figgin’ tornado!  Holy crap I have never seen a funnel cloud before in my life (other than on the tube)!  My sister sure did get an earful, but like the dutiful weather-obsessed sister she is, she quickly pulled-up the radar to tell me just where the storm was headed.

I got off the phone with Gretna after I exited the freeway as soon as I could in an attempt to snap a photo.  I called Noah who had not yet seen the twisty cloud and he pulled off to take a pic with his phone as well.  I phoned my sister again and continued to chase the storm…unfortunately or fortunately, depending how you look at it, the twister sucked itself back up into the clouds before I could take a photo.  However, I did find this video online so you can see exactly what I saw.

Dear NWS and City of Lafayette

Published on by Casey Category: Colorado, Weather

First off let me say how exciting yesterday was…for storm chasers!  Seriously, 5 tornadoes in the Metro area?  Eek!

Thank you NWS for saying yesterday was going to be sunny and in the 80s so I wore capris and a lightweight shirt to church only to walk outside in Boulder and get pelted by rain and hail!

Thank you to my mad driving skills that allowed us to beat the storm home by approximately 1 minute.

Thank you NWS for conveniently forgetting to include Eastern BoCo in the tornado warning when one touched down 5-6 miles from my house!

Thank you City of Lafayette for placing your tornado warning sirens just far enough away from my house that they could not be heard.

Thank you God that the nearest tornado was 5-6 miles away!

Here’s a video I found on YouTube (embedding doesn’t want to cooperate so you’ll have to make do with clicking on a link).  This was shot from the south side of the tornado.  We are northwest of where it touched down.

The smell of rain

Published on by Casey Category: Colorado, Weather

Is always sweeter when accompanied by the tympani of thunder.  Lava and I were sitting outside for a bit this evening, probably tempting fate, watching the flashes of lightening and listening to the rolls of thunder…that was of course until it started to rain.  Thunder storms are so rare in Ventura that I almost cherish them when they happen here.  It’s one of the things I love about Colorado.  However, if my house is ever destroyed by a tornado caused by one of these storms, I will probably be singing a different tune.  Until then (which hopefully never happens) happy first thunderstorm of the season!

So much for that idea

Published on by Casey Category: Colorado, Work

Remember me mentioning how since December I’ve been training for a 10k, the Boulder Boulder?  Well that event is almost here…Memorial Day!  Yesterday my friend Marie and I went on a 6-mile route, getting ready for the full distance.  I was on the 4th mile, probably when my foot died.  Now, I’m a pretty tough cookie so I ran through the pain until it was too unbearable, then walked, then would run again.  By the time I got home I could no longer bear weight on my foot.  I hobbled around my house last night wondering if my foot would be normal by morning.  It wasn’t.  This morning I still couldn’t walk without intense pain.  I managed to leave work early this afternoon to make it into the doctor.  Turns out my ligaments decided I’m not a runner (also known as a really really really bad sprain).  I now have an aircast I have to wear 24/7 and have to be on crutches for at least the next week.  I was also informed by the doctor that I cannot run in the Boulder Boulder despite my months of training.  I might be able to walk it…might.  Woohoo.

On another topic, I had my first day at Laradon today.  I sat in orientation all day today (except for when I left early to go to the doctor).  Part of our orientation involved a tour of the school.  Since I can’t walk, a wheelchair was acquired for me.  That was a humbling experience.  One of the other women in the orientation volunteered to push me.  That was very nice of her.  Tomorrow I have more orientation and drug testing.  I probably won’t make it to my office until Wednesday.  I’ll have more details then.  I do know my boss is very excited and can’t wait for me to start…so when I do, I plan on being inundated with tasks!

Unemployment – Day 21

Published on by Casey Category: Work

So three weeks ago today I spent half of the workday going through my cube at USA Rugby.  For three weeks I have been a “bum”.  Other people will disagree considering I’m not just sitting at home on my couch all day. I have done an enormous amount of yard work.  But I have been starting out my days by scrounging the Colorado Non-Profit Association website for new employment opportunities.

But  let’s back-track a bit.  Last Thursday I got a call (while I was in Wal-Mart) from an organization I had submitted an application and resume. So I threw the package of gnocchi at Noah and half ran, half walked really fast out of the store so I could get better reception.  Thankfully the woman chose not to hang-up on me and invited me to come in for an interview.  So what was this job?  This was the opportunity I have been waiting for — a chance to start my career!  The woman was the Director of Children Services at Laradon, a school in Denver for people with special needs.  The job I applied for was to be her assistant.  I was so excited for the opportunity I was literally jumping up and down!

My interview was last Friday at 12:30 and I didn’t leave the school until after 2:00!  That had to be a good sign!  Plus, I was given a tour of the campus and introduced to other staff members.  At the end of the interview I filled out a background check authorization.  I was pumped!  Never had I had an interview last so long!  The Director mentioned that she hoped to make a decision on the position this week.  I really wanted this job.  I had people praying for me that if it’s God’s will, I would be offered this position.

Early yesterday morning (and by early I mean 8:30ish) the Director called me to confirm phone numbers for my past supervisors.  I was very encouraged!  Then yesterday afternoon she called me again to say the background check was completed.  She also mentioned she really really really (yes she said “really” that many times) wanted me for the position but could not offer it to me yet — had to wait for the clear from HR.  But she didn’t want me to accept another position while I waited.  She also wanted to know if I had my college transcripts, so I hounded those down just in case HR ended up needing them.

Around 6:00pm tonight she called me again.  This time to offer me the position!  Of course I accepted!  The Director was thrilled.  She has wanted to fill the position for a while and the fact I had accepted made her excited…perhaps more excited than me?  Anyway, I start on Monday!  I have no idea what to do when I get there, since she didn’t get me that much detail but the school is very secure (think special cards to open any door).  I am very excited and can’t wait to get started!  It’s time to retire from being a bum.  Or, paraphrasing my mom, get back to work after an almost month-long vacation!

Oh and at Laradon – I get an office!

A fresh cut and a few sprints

Published on by Casey Category: Colorado, Whatever

Spring has arrived — officially.  And what determines spring in Colorado?  Having to bring the lawn mower out of hiatus.  Yes that’s right!  Due to all of our late season snow and lots of rain our lawns have turned a lovely shade of green and grew to heights taller than Lava’s armpits.  It was time for a good healthy trim.  Now…to break out the edger!

In other news.  Spring = baseball.  My lovely Dodgers have been doing exceptionally well so far this season and tonight our summer softball season started.  I’ve created a page to keep track of the scores.  Our team had a very good 1st game tonight, despite faltering in one inning that cost us a win.  Good game Boulder Path!  I’m excited for next week’s victory!

Did Colorado not get the memo?

Published on by Casey Category: Colorado, Weather

This is spring, right?  Wasn’t it 80* just 4 days ago?  I do recall laying around in my various yards soaking up sun and reading a book.  It was ideal, very spring…in fact, almost summer-like.  But yet, this morning I wake up to see 2-inches of snow covering the ground and falling out of my trees.  This is why I have not yet planted any vegetables in my garden.  After reading the forecast for snow last night I mentioned to Noah that I would not be surprised if it snowed in May.  And seeing as how May starts this weekend…I’m not counting the snow out just yet.

Unemployment – Day 9

Published on by Casey Category: Work

I finally learned how to relax — Aaron you should be proud.

I sat outside, soaked up the sun and enjoyed a good book.

It was wonderful sitting peacefully watching fluffy white clouds float against the brilliant blue sky and listen to cicadas flitter around my yard.  I watched a robin poke its head out of the nest it built in one of the choke cherry trees.  I could hear a woodpecker tap away at one of the trees in the cottonwood grove at the end of the cul-de-sac.

I enjoyed a bowl of strawberry ice cream to help cool down in the 80* weather.

Oh, and I accepted a job.

Unemployment – Day 7

Published on by Casey Category: Work

Had an interview today – was offered the job.

Drove the truck to the interview cause the garage held my car hostage.

Found out how much my weekly unemployment wages will be.

Had a nice chat with my 6 year old neighbor.

Unemployment – Day 3

Published on by Casey Category: Work

I watched two movies starring RPattz.

I wrote my own letters of recommendation.

I walked outside in the slush to post two resumes via snail mail.

Did communicate, via email, with a company that seems interested in potentially offering me a job, but it’s only part-time.

I applied for UI.

The slushy snow temporarily killed my satellite dish and that made me sad.

My boredom is rubbing-off on my dog…or perhaps it’s the other way around.