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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

We went to Dallas for the weekend because my cousin got married. They were an hour and a half late for their reception! It was hilarious because they said they got lost.....rrrrrrright. Those stinkers got a standing ovation at their reception when they finally showed up! It was a fun trip and I got to see some of my relatives there. Most of all I got to see my Grandma Nora. She is such an amazing woman, I am so blessed to have grandparents with whom I am so close.
Mike and I had a long talk yesterday. He was depressed because one of my cousins asked him what he liked about his job, and he couldn't think of anything that he "liked". It pays well, has good benefits, is a stable company.....but he just doesn't like it. I mean, really- who wants to sit in a cubicle for 12 hours a day checking formulas and calculations page after page after page. When he decided that he wanted to be a mechanical engineer, he thought he would be designing machines and making things, lots of hands on stuff. Not this. We sat and tried to figure out what he would want to do that he wouldn't get bored doing, and really couldn't come up with anything. I just want him to find something that he will enjoy doing. Besides that, we hate Texas. Soooooo, I think we're moving back to Colorado when his year is up here. (yaaaaay!) We decided that we are just "Colorado" people. It would be great to be closer to family again, too. Hopefully Mike can get a job with NREL again. Plus I miss my friends!!! I can't wait to see them again! I have some of the best friends on earth back there.
Texas is just funny. These people have seriously been brainwashed to believe that everything is better in Texas, everything is bigger in Texas, blah blah blah....I bought some fajita size tortillas the other day. I noticed the package said "Texas size" and guess what....I held them up to the other fajita tortillas and they were the exact same size! Then, one guy asked Mike if they had as many trucks in Colorado as they do in Texas (like having more trucks makes them better of a state) and Mike just laughed! He said that Colorado has just as many trucks, but the difference is that the trucks in Colorado usually have mud on them and have been off the pavement. (in otherwords, Coloradans actually use trucks for what they were made for!). Anyways, people here really do have a "Texas-size" attitude. Probably because they've never been outside of Texas and don't know any better. I even saw a guy with the state of Texas tattooed on his bicep! Now, you don't see guys in Colorado with a big rectangle tattooed on their arm! You don't see houses with the Colorado flag painted on their garage, you don't see Burger King signs with "try our new Colorado size deluxe cheeseburger today!". And Coloradans don't have a "Colorado Edition" Ford truck. Yes, Texas is definitely one of a kind. I'll just leave it at that!

9 people leaving some love!:

Diana said...

Wow Texas sounds like an interesting place. A whole different world. I've heard of the Texas attitude I just didn't really believe that it was so true.

That would be great if Mike could get a job at NREL and you guys moved back to Colorado! I would be so super excited, I miss hanging out with you!

Nicholas said...

I knew Di would be excited to read this. Sorry you guys aren't liking Texas much. I sure hope to be able to avoid that place when I finish (if I ever finish).

Oh, and just FYI, Chevrolet makes a truck that is called the Colorado.... :)

Natalie said...

Oh that's right! I love the Colorado! (I knew Colorado was just as good!) That's even better than just a Ford F150 Texas Edition....the whole thing is named Colorado!!! I'll have to tell Mike to tell that to the truck guy. ;)

Don't worry, you'll finish before you know it, Nick! And you'll make bank, so it'll be worth it. I think there are other parts of Texas that aren't so bad. Houston is just awful. How much longer do you have?

Diana said...

I say we have 3-4 years but Nick says 2-3 years which sounds much better. Nick almost has 2 years done, yeah! It doesn't really seem like we have been in Colorado for that long. Time sure flies when your having fun!

Nicholas said...

Right now it feels like I have more like 6-8 years to go! In reality, I hope to be done in no more than 3 years from right now.

We like Colorado so much, though, that maybe I'll drag my feet a little so we can stay longer.

Wait, I have a better idea. Mike gets a job with NREL, then he can convince somebody there to hire me when I finish. Then we can be work buddies and we'll buy the house next door to yours and you and Di can hang out all day. How's that?

Natalie said...

Sounds like a good plan! :D That would be great if you guys could stay in Colorado! I can't imagine going to Mines for another 3 years. I hear grad school is better than undergrad, though. Hopefully that's true! Mike thought about going back and seeing if there was something else he'd rather do. Do you get to see eachother much doing grad-school?

Nicholas said...

Grad school is WAY better than undergrad. My first semester was a little rough, but after that it has been better. Di will tell you that we see each other way more than we ever did at BYU. The classes you have to take are a lot more laid back and they aren't really as focused on grades so much as they are making sure you understand what you are doing. I'm a big fan! I took my last final a few weeks ago. Now all my coursework is done and I just have to focus on my research. I pretty much make my own schedule. I'm at school usually for 8-9 hours a day. Sometimes a little longer and sometimes I take half a day and go fishing if I need a break. WAY better than undergrad!

Diana said...

That is a great plan! It would be so much fun to be neighbors! Grad school is way better than undergrad. I've seen Nick so much more since we have been in Colorado then when we were at BYU. I definetly recommend it. If Mike goes back to grad school you could move in to Mines Park and be our next door neighbors! That would be so fun!

Nicholas said...

Plus they pay you to go to grad school! It's not much, but it's better than you having to pay for it.