Non-cantankerous in Colorado

I spent a good part of the day today on the phone. Mostly it was with airlines but I also had to get in touch with the travel agency running our tour in Mexico to figure out how I'm going to, independently, meet up with my family, who is traveling tomorrow!

Flights started leaving DIA today at noon but I'm not sure how many people got out. I feel so bad for all of the holiday travelers stuck at the airport! I'm so lucky I have Cathleen here!

Anyway, what I found out after an hour on the phone with US Airways was that the earliest flight I could take out of Denver that could get me to Mexico was on Christmas Day. Precisely at 9:45 p.m. on the 25th, which takes me to Las Vegas, then to Philly with a very tight connection, then a 5 hour overnight layover or something, then to Cancun, arriving late morning on the 26th.

Initially I was debating whether all this was worth it... and what if one of those flights goes haywire?! But, after talking with my dad, I realized that there was still a good amount (esp. archaeological ruins) to see in Mexico on days 4-7 of the trip and, since it wasn't any additional cost to change my ticket, I might as well go. I do have to, after flying in, take a 4-5 hour bus trip to Merida where they will have traveled to the preceeding day, but at least I will be somewhere warm! And, of course, I wanted to be with them! I may miss out on some Cancun beach time due to these delays, but I'm not a really beachy person anyway! Bring on the ruins!

So today, my main expedition was to return the rental car which I was supposed to return yesterday. They were really nice about understanding about the weather. But what I did get slammed with was a "cracked windshield" charge of like $175. I have no idea how this happened or even if it did happen while I had the car or whether it was a "preexisting condition," if you know what I mean. The Enterprise representative asked me, I kid you not, "Did you pour really hot water on your really cold windshield or something?" I gave him a really strange look. So lesson here: always do a look-over yourself of the rental car prior to driving it because, if they find weird things on its return that they hadn't noticed, you get charged for it. Aargh. Oh well. What can you do?

What I'm realizing is that I've changed a lot in my attitude. Sometimes I worry a lot about all of these things, none of which is in my control! But now, I'm just going with the flow. So I spend a few more days in Colorado. There could be way worse places (i.e. the airport!) to be stuck. So I miss a bit of Mexico. I still get to go! Cathleen wasn't planning on going anywhere for Christmas, so now we get to have Christmas together! She is the perfect person to be around right now-- she totally lifts my spirits, which have been at times (lately) a little low. I mean, who starts crying every time they hear 'O Holy Night' on the radio (they are playing it disproportionately much, I think!). I also heard this song today 'Christmas Shoes' that Laura told me about. And that's a really sad one too! Anyway, this is one of my favorite verses that I evoked:

Phil. 4:6: "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. "

I realize that, in this holiday season, I have much to be thankful for. And not very much to worry about.

Onto other things... here are some more pictures:

Cathleen in the blizzard (an early stage!)

Here is her enjoying some "inside" time finishing up sewing her pillows! She's become so domestic! :) She's very crafty!This next thing is one of those cool, quirky things about Colorado. They have these redbox rental thingies outside McDonalds! You can rent a movie for $1 and just return it to the same place! I had never heard about these things! And, as the Kitsteiners will be happy to hear, they also have Sonics out here (I've never been to one but I hear the waiters and waitresses come out in rollerblades!)

I can't find this other picture right now to show you, but it is hilarious! Cathleen goes to this Laundromat near her apartment (she calls it "ghetto"). There are two signs outside it. One says "Laundromat." The other says "Laundrymat." It is too funny (definitely "ghetto").

And here is the fridge comparison I mentioned. The 'before' one is its usual state: