Yay.

[melaniesuzanne]

We have officially reached the hair loss portion of the post-WLS process. Yay. I try not to stress too much because I do have a fair amount of hair even though the individual hairs are on the thin side. Sadly, I am ceasing the pinking and purpling until I feel confident that the bleaching process won't make the rest of my hair fall out. If I can't live without unnatural color streaks in my hair, Ulta carries various non-permanent potions which do not require bleaching before application.

The weather threatens to be absolutely gorgeous this weekend. Had I a crystal ball, I'm sure it would foretell of a bike ride or two. Maybe even three. And now that Hubbyfink's cleared for almost all physical activity, I can drag him along for a "short" ride.

Speaking of the Hubbyfink, we'd planned on zipping out to Colorado Springs this past March but surgery schedules got in the way. Why the zipping to CS? Well, back in September I got a bee in my proverbial bonnet about moving somewhere that wasn't so dang hot and humid as the DC area and CS looked fantastic on paper. The change-averse Hubbyfink warmed up to the idea a day later and was ready to move RIGHT THEN. We cooled our jets, though, and calmed down enough to realize that we really should scope out a place before picking up stakes and heading west. (Of course, I hadn't considered the possibility of something like the horrifying wildfire currently destroying the surrounding area... all those unfortunate people... it makes me want to cry.) So, we're flying out for a visit over Labor Day weekend and will see if it is just as good in real life.

Other locations on our short list of Places to Live After Fleeing DC include the Florida panhandle (preferably right on the coast); New Orleans (which, obviously, is even MORE hot and humid than DC but I've become sensitive to cold after this past miserable winter; Hubbyfink is not on board with this idea); Asheville, NC (again, himself is not quite on board); Austin (his entry; as appealing and vibrant as Austin is, I simply can't with Texas); and Columbus, OH (yes, really: my work team is there, the city is beautiful, and it gets four distinct seasons; Hubbyfink doesn't want to live in Ohio). We've got some negotiating to do.

Comments

[sandelwood]

Well, as someone who grew up in/around CSprings, I can tell you that the stats you saw might be outdated weather-wise. The drought we've been in for the last decade or so has effed whatever mild weather it used to be (hence the fires which very nearly destroyed my Dad's house last year on the west side, and now the Black Forest fire where I spent my childhood) on the east.

Winter is cold and late. Anywhere from 0-30 degrees through Jan - April, sometimes into May, even if the sun is shining or if it's not snowing. There is no "Spring" or "Fall" here anymore. I hate it. I'm a native and I used to play outside in winter until I was blue, but now I can barely tolerate the winters here.

And summer is baking hot. Dry, parched and HOT. We're in the 90's this week, close to 100 on Tuesday. Temps were around 105 last summer during the day, 80s through the night from July to nearly October. And while humidity sucks, the opposite is just as bad. You'll go through gallons of lotion and you're skin still feels likes it's falling off. If it rains, it lasts a couple of blissful minutes at best.

CSprings has Pikes Peak, but as a city (and the mentality of said city), I'm not a fan. The politics and social attitude towards minorities there is appalling, and it's gotten worse and worse in terms of crime (and I don't doubt these things go hand in hand). Nice place to visit, but I will never live anywhere near it again because of these things. It gave me an intensely sheltered view of the world until I moved away in high school. I much prefer Boulder. Stunning views from anywhere in the city, small town feel, and extremely accepting people, very friendly and safe. I loved living there (wish I still did, I'm a few miles out now in a cheaper area) and consider it my birthplace now, even if CSprings is on the certificate!

Anyway, hope you are feeling ok!

[melaniesuzanne.livejournal.com]

That's very disappointing about the climate. It's so crazy to me that y'all are having such a terrible drought when it only stopped snowing there, what, a month ago? The lack of spring and autumn would seriously hurt my heart. :/

I'm even more disappointed to hear about CS' social climate. To be honest, I've been feeling a little nervous about it considering that it's the home of some fairly vocal evangelical groups (and this is from a woman who grew up in the bible belt with a church on every corner). I'd hoped that being a cosmopolitan area, there'd be some appreciation of diversity.

Thank you very much for your perspective as a local. Neither Scott nor I personally know anyone who lives in the CS area, unlike all the other locations on our short list of potentials, and it's good to hear what's going on underneath the touristy surface.

I'm feeling pretty darn great, thank you! Got a little sunburned during today's ride, but it's nothing a little aloe won't fix. ;)

[sandelwood]

Our last snowstorm was the first week of May. And then two days later it was pushing 80 degrees. It's nuts, and it's hard on the body (or it's hard on mine, anyway, these dramatic barometric pressure swings give me migraines).

Oh, yeah, re: the evangelicals. Sadly, they have A LOT of political sway in CSprings. They're huge, they have money, and they can and will do anything to influence the local and state gov't. That and the military as well, because of the AF base there.

And I wouldn't call CSprings very cosmopolitan, really. Granted, I have not lived there for a long time and it has grown, but when I go down to visit my dad, a lot of it is old and run down, tons of strip malls and sketchy neighborhoods, very few new centers that would appeal to younger people. That's the overwhelming thing, it's starting to feel like a retirement town, because people my age, (30's and younger) don't agree with the politics and leave. On the whole, CO is not especially diverse either, compared to the coasts. You'll find a lot more widespread cultural events and communities going on in Denver and Boulder than anywhere else.

So don't take CO off your list. Personally, I'd just encourage you to look more northerly in it, if you want a less conservative and more welcoming climate. We're finally a blue state, after all, for the first time in my lifetime! A lot of that was because of younger people and minority voting, so it's a place in the process of change.