Utah

We are moving to Utah in a few weeks. Thak was hired yesterday by a civilian contracting firm that has a test facility there for unmanned aircraft. We don't have any details yet, really. He will be doing salary negotiations and ironing out all the details with corporate on Monday, so we'll know more then. All we know right now is that we are moving, and it will be soon, within the next few weeks most likely.

We are THRILLED to get out of El Paso, and none of the crappy things people are telling us about Utah matter. It's not El Paso, and the job pays enough for us to live on. That's what matters. Salt Lake City even has a Whole Foods, a Trader Joe's, and a real cloth diaper store!! I don't CARE that everyone there is Mormon. I went to Basic and AIT with a few Mormons and they seemed like regular people to me, so I don't really see what the big deal is with Mormons, and why people keep warning me about them. Sure, I've heard they come to your door selling religion, but how's that any different from all the other people who do that every other place you might live? It seems the same to me. Plus, we're trying to get sort of out in the country. We really don't want to do another neighborhood. It's just been such a disaster living in a neighborhood here, so we decided that we're going to try not to do that again, so if we're out in the country, we'll probably get at least slightly fewer door to door types. But even if we get them every day, so what? We're leaving El Paso!! What's more, we're going to a place that has a lot more stuff that we like. There are lots of places for Thak to hunt. There is an actual body of water. There are a lot of fun outdoor activities that we and the kids will like. There is grass in every yard, and wildflowers on the roadsides. Thak said the terrain is kind of like it is in Lubbock, which is cool with me, because it's a lot prettier there than it is here!

I honestly don't think anyone can understand how great it could be just to see grass and maybe even a few trees again after living for two and a half years in a place that is nothing but brown and desolate, with only dirt, rocks, and tumble weeds. I can tell you, though, just to see some green again, is a really big deal. All the rest is awesome, too. Also not having to wonder where our next meal is coming from, or which bills we'll get to pay any given month, is a very big deal. That alone is enough to make us very excited about our new life in Utah!