As I sat waiting for my hotel shuttle I saw many other hotels and resorts stop to pick up people. This van stopped right in front of me. I used to work there so I find it ironic that I’m back in the city recruiting for another company. I only worked there for 4 months after Sept 11, 2001. The travel and tourism industry in Arizona tanked and so went my job. About 18 months later they called to offer my job back. I didn’t take it. I am in a better place now. When I put all the events together that have brought me to this point I realize that it was Sept 11 that directed my path. I interviewed on 9/7 and 9/10. I got the job. Then economic woes forced a job change. The next job allowed me to go to school. School put me in touch with my current employer. The rest is history.

I decided I would try out video on my blog. Ahhh!!! Another nightmare but I think I got it. When I want to do something with a web technology I will try until I get it. Video was one thing. I didn’t want to use YouTube or any other service like that and I wanted the video to be directly in the post (no links). This is the result of 3 hours of trial and error.

This video is from Saturday February 2, 2008. Our house was packed and ready to move.

Well we did it. We packed (Dircks Moving) and loaded (Dircks again) the truck. I now sit in our hotel room in El Paso, TX. Now after midnight I am starting to feel sleepy. The day has been long, stressful and sad. While driving away from our home felt like any other day there was a sadness and a heavy heart. We had a lot of good memories in that house. Both the boys were born in Mesa. That was to only house they knew. Many times Grant would ask for new house with a garage. Now I can finally give it to him. Now we face to prospect of doing this all over again in 12 months. Maybe it will be a more permanent house the next time. 

While most people wished us well on our trip and new adventure in Houston, there were a few who took our leaving personally and let us know that they were not happy with us. It is hard to admit it but I never really saw us living in Arizona for any real length of time. It was always in the back of my mind that we would end up somewhere else. Maybe closer to Idaho (but not Utah) or closer to Ohio. Texas is a fine choice while still not close to any of those previously mentioned locations.  

So my point is: We moved to Texas. Like it or not we left Arizona. It happened rather quickly. I knew I was going to finish my degree. Susan prompted me to go look for jobs. I even took myself to the job fair on campus. This is where I met the people from Exxon. Their presentation made me feel good. I wanted to pursue the interview process. I told Susan that I would follow the process all the way through before looking outside of the school recruiting process. Turns out I didn’t have to do that.

The answers to my prayers arrived in a way I could not mistake them. I believe that is why this move has been so easy for me. I know I am doing the right thing. I will miss Arizona, the 5th ward, Preferred Therapy and most everything else about our life in Mesa. But like a missionary after 24 months, my work there is done. I/We have been given a new assignment. We will do our best to fulfill our stewardships. 

The sun has been beating down hard this fall. We have had abnormally high temperatures. Two days ago this got out of control. I took a photo to record the momentous occasion. See the outside temp on the right.

A hot day in November.

A cold front has moved in. It is parked over Arizona. This is the first time I can recall having two days in a row freeze. The last two mornings upon waking I have found the thermometer reading 29 degrees. That is far from the 121 from last summer. Looking at the forecast for the week it doesn’t look to get any better/warmer. Well a little bit. It might not freeze any more.
Current reading on the internet is 30. This is in direct conflict with Reason 158 on “Why to move to Arizona. – Warm Winters”
At work the heat was off and/or broken when I arrived. It took a while to get it turned on/fixed. So I have been cold all day. I hate being cold.