THE TRUTH HAS CHANGED

OK... Allow me to introduce myself. I am Bill, the ugly guy with the sunglasses in the pictures with Kari. I have taken over the blogging responsibilities in our home until she has more time to catch you all up on her own.

To say that Kari has been busy would be an understatement, but it is the best description I can manage at my current level of intellectual output. You see, I rake gravel for a living. That can be another post.

As Kari mentioned in her previous post, we were only supposed to be here for a short while - through 1 April.

Well... THE TRUTH HAS CHANGED... Kari had the opportunity to continue her education here in Las Cruces and to finish her Bachelor's Degree at New Mexico State University for a fraction of the cost it would have cost us in Oregon. So - we will be here until April, alright - APRIL OF 2010!!! Actually, May of 2010. Kari is majoring in Anthropology & Sociology with a Minor in Native American Studies. So far, so good. She seems to be enjoying her time at NMSU, and she is doing well in all of her classes. Kari is now an "Aggie", and she is happy. A happy Kari makes for a happy Bill, so Bill is happy.

Kari has also had a change at her work. You may recall that she was working part time at a "Curves for Women" fitness center in Las Cruces, right down the street from our RV Park.

Well... THE TRUTH HAS CHANGED... After a short while as a part timer, Kari was asked to work full time - and was subsequently promoted to Assistant Manager. She is also the lead trainer for a new line of computerized fitness equipment at all 3 stores in her Curves franchise chain. So - Kari is busy. Right. Busy like a tornado. But Kari is always at her best when she is busy. A happy Kari makes for a happy Bill, so Bill is happy.

So - here we sit, and here we will stay. In sunny Las Cruces. Enjoying the warm desert sun and gentle borderland breeze, right?

WRONG! THE TRUTH HAS CHANGED... As I write this (15 FEB 08), Las Cruces is under a severe winter weather advisory and HEAVY SNOW WARNING! No kidding. The weather when we first arrived was great, and remained that way through November. After winter arrived, it got comfy on the sofa and decided it would stick around for a while.

OK... I know - WAH, WAH, WAH, and... WE DON'T KNOW WINTER. The weather "back home" which has pummeled our family and friends in Pennsylvania, Washington, and Oregon has been FAR worse. But WE CAME HERE TO BE WARM! You people stay in the bad weather by choice! We left in search of sunny skies and warmer climates.

Winds here in Las Cruces have been clocked as high as 65 MPH, but gusts average 40, with sustained winds around 15-20MPH in the winter. In Oregon, we were beaten by the rain and blowing sand on the Pacific Coast. Here, we just get sand blasted in dust storms that - no kidding - limit visibility to less than 500 feet at times. The gusts right now are 30 MPH, but the temp is 53. The Land of Enchantment. Right.

When things are not so crazy, Kari and I still enjoy frequent visits to SONIC for Cherry Lime-Aids during "Half-Price Happy Hour", we still enjoy beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and the stars shine clear and bright in the night sky. Life is very busy, though, so our chances to enjoy these things TOGETHER are rare.

When these rare times come for us - when everything around us, including time, stands still - life is good. Our time together remains the focal point of our existence. For that, Bill is happy. I have my wife, my home, my truck, and my freedom. For that, Bill is happy. A happy Bill Makes for a Happy Kari. Life is good.

Yup - Life is good, and - yes, life is crazy... but I would not trade it for any other life I know of. That "TRUTH" will never change.

See you next time - maybe even with some photos?

Bill