Hot

It was nearly 80 degrees in Colorado Springs today! What's the weather like at home? Someone post a comment and let me know...I miss my island.

But even though I miss my island, I am thrilled to be able to be here with my sister and Connor. I have felt blessed and happy even on the nights when we got little sleep, as we were up feeding or changing him. Jocelyn's instant messenger auto reply sums it up beautifully: "up all night and wouldn't have it any other way".

Sleep well, wherever you are...

All work and no play...

...makes Kati a very tired lady.

I wish I had some great pictures of something beautiful in Colorado to show you, but I stayed inside most of the day today, working. I'll try to get out and do something tomorrow or the next day!

In the meantime, I'm going to go get some sleep. Hope you are well rested, wherever you are...

Train to the top

I rode the cog train up to the top of Pike's Peak today with my Mom and Dad and Mom's friend Pam from South Africa. It was a lovely afternoon, and I very much enjoyed the scenery along the way and the beautiful view from the top.

Near the bottom of the mountain, the rocks were HUGE:


As we climbed, we started to see more trees and clearings:


Nearing the top, we went through some incredibly deep snow:

(It's a bit hard to tell, but that's a wall of snow about 8 feet high right next to the train tracks.)

I certainly felt the effects of the altitude (I was quite dizzy) once we reached the top, but the view was amazing.

Lovely chapel

My mom and I attended church this morning at the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. It is a very unique building. I did not initially like the design the first time I saw a picture of it, but it has grown on me. I especially like the view of it head on:



I love the inside of the chapel. It has lovely ladders of stained glass in many different colors.



The organ in the choir loft is majestic. Unfortunately, because we attended the contemporary service, we didn't get to hear this organ played (or a choir singing).



My favorite part of the design of the chapel is the fact that it draws the eyes (and, hopefully, the inward focus) upward toward heaven.

I love a parade...

We went to the Air Force Academy this morning to watch a parade. No, not a floats, clowns and balloons parade - it was a military parade, of course! It was freezing cold, and my fingers and toes almost went numb while we watched, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Things started slowly. At first all we saw was a bunch of people standing around on a large field while several commands were shouted (which we couldn't hear). Then, it picked up as one person from each group brought the squadron flag forward. I loved seeing all the flags together.



Then, each squadron marched around the parade area (the terrazzo). They passed in front of where we were standing outside the chapel to watch. As they marched by us, the command "eyes right" was given, and the cadets turned their heads toward the spectators.



Each squadron was led by three people, two carrying flags and the other a sword. The small flag says AFCW (which stands for Air Force Cadet Wing), and has the squadron number on it.



I was impressed with how the cadets were in near perfect lock-step with one another. You can really see it in this picture.



My favorite part of the parade was actually the end. All the squadrons of cadets had been lining up on the side of the terrazzo and standing at attention in perfect squares. When the command dismissing them was given, a roar went up and they scattered, pleased to have completed the exercise and be free to enjoy the rest of the day.

New vocabulary

I learned a new word today: snatiation. John definitely has this condition, as you know if you have ever been around after he ate a large meal!

Here are some other facts about snatiation: it's a backronym which is also a portmanteau. And just in case you're curious, "backronym" is a neologism.

Yes, I love words. I most especially love words about words.

Hope you have words for everything in your life, wherever you are...

The mountains are beautiful...

We went to the Air Force Academy campus today, and this is the view of the mountain from there.

It is indeed lovely here, and I do enjoy visiting the mountains. But I'm definitely a beach lady, and I miss my salt water. :)