Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Pictures from Ozona

Things have been pretty boring lately! I spend a lot of time at the local library using the internet and reading lots and lots of books! We found a different ward to go to rather than the disaster we had with the branch. So our church is now a 3 hour drive in all. It makes for a very long day off for Sam! I have been fortunate enough to meet a few of the other wives that live in the trailer park. A few of us walk our dogs every morning! I am starting to like the town of Ozona a little better now, but I wish we could get back closer to home soon! But on the bright side... we will be home in a few short weeks for Christmas and we cannot wait! I am posting some pictures of the town of Ozona, the local grocery store, the Crockett county library, and the amazing RV Park we are staying in! Enjoy!






Thursday, November 18, 2010

The dog and I

Sadly to say Wrangler really is the only thing that I have to talk about because I see no one else during my long days without Sam. Wrangler is teaching me a few lessons I wish I wasn't receiving until I had kids but I guess he's preparing me. If I'm sitting in the recliner and I get up to walk the two steps to the kitchen he follows me. If I go into the bedroom, he follows me. If I go to the bathroom he follows me. If I'm in the shower, he sticks his nose underneath the shower curtain and lays underneath the shower until I get out! IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!! But what can I say at least I have a companion and at least he is loyal.

This dog and I go running together, although I would hardly call it running anymore because he has to mark his territory on every bush we pass, so our runs end up being more like me getting whip lash every 10 feet. At about 10 minutes to five at night he sits in front of the front door and he waits for Sam to come home. I am not even kidding you, he has a sense when its almost time for him to be home. Its kinda sweet. During the day when I am reading a book he has this stuffed duck that he plays with that squeaks and if he makes it make noise he thinks that its alive so he will pounce on it until it moves, which it never does. But it provides great entertainment for me and him!

This is the second week that we have been here and this week has been much harder for me than last. I don't do much but cook, clean, run, and watch TV or read. Its definitely not the life I am used to. Most would tell me to live it up and enjoy the last few months of free time I will ever have. But I am getting the feeling I'm a little worthless. I don't want to get a job until after Christmas because we will be leaving for a week or so during that time. Plus my options here in town consist of the dairy queen, sonic, subway, a few gas stations, and general dollar store. Anyway... options are slim.

Anywho, I hope things are going well with all of you! We love and miss you all!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Ozona, Texas

We made it!!! After many many hours of driving! The drive was... how can I put it.... the ugliest place I've ever been to!!!! As soon as we got out of Page, AZ It was nothing but a dry wasteland. Oh flat, dry wasteland. When we finally got to Ozona, I was mildly relieved... the town was in what Texans call their "mountains" notice the quotations around mountains? That is because what Texans refer to as mountains, are more like what Utahans refer to as hills, if that. But hey at least its not flat and dry! There are cedars all over these hills, its by far the most remotely pretty place since leaving Arizona. The population in 2010 here was 3400 people, 60% Hispanic. I'm gonna guess its MAYBE 5000 now, still mostly Hispanic. I've never felt weird being white... now I do.

We realized sometime last night we may need food for Sam to pack a lunch. So we headed to the only grocery store in town. The Super S Store. Bread was $3.00. A can of soup was $3.50. Milk was $4.00. Groceries it appeared were going to be expensive! When we got home I immediately looked up the nearest wal-mart. 1.5 hours away!!!!!!!!!!! Nonetheless, I had no choice. So I high tailed it to San Angelo to go to Wal-mart.

Which is where I saw my first animal since arriving in Texas. When they say that Texas is the Cowboy capital of the world, I've realized I don't think people know the definition of a cowboy. The whole way here I have seen only a hand full of cows. Not what I was expecting. I thought I would see cowboys with their trusted horses in chaps, boots, spurs, hats, and lasso's herding cattle across the land. And I also thought they'd be... well... white.

Apparently from what I've gathered thus far, Ozona is the Mohair and Wool capital of Texas... In case you don't know what Mohair is... let me enlighten you. Its a silky cloth made from goats hair. So you may wonder what animals are here? yup that's right; goats and sheep. So much for that cowboy herding image.

Also here in the great town of Ozona, Davey Crockett is a symbol of their town. I ran past a huge sculpture of him in the middle of town this morning. They claim Davey Crockett was born and raised right here. Hence why we are Crockett county!

I was seriously hoping that the LDS ward finder was just... out of date or something? And that's why it said the nearest ward... excuse me.. branch... is 2 hours away. So me and my naive Utah attitude I figured we would see a great brick church in the middle of town... nope its true. Church really will be a 7 hour day for us. On the bright side.... well, I may have to get back to you on that. Its only Monday.

Texans have a funny way about themselves, they are very kind; like when today I was driving to San Angelo on highway 163 and people would drive at 60 MPH on the shoulder to let an individual pass. They probably just assumed because I was from Utah I would drive up their rears, so they let me pass.

Something else I've learned in this short time, Texans LOVE BEING FROM TEXAS!!! Every sign is about Texan spirit, their fast food joints have menus with things such as "The Texas Way Burger" Or "Texas BBQ Sandwich" Or "We love Texas so much if you litter you pay $2000 fine. I've never felt so much love for such a... GORGEOUS PLACE (wink, wink)

It hasn't even been 24 hours and its already been an adventure! I'm not sure what this next year will bring us, but I'm sure we will have a great thing to tell when we're old.