Good News!

After waiting patiently -- okay, some days not so patiently -- since I moved here in June, I finally have a JOB!!!  Which means I get to stay in Denver!!!  And the job even allows me to stay in the same apartment, so I won't have to move -- for awhile anyway.

I submitted my application for this job on June 28th with a closing date of July 1st.  I called once in the middle of July to see where they were in the hiring process only to be told that they had not decided on interviewees yet.  I finally received an email from them on the 26th of July for an interview on the 6th of August.  I had my interview on Tuesday morning which I thought went very well.  I received a call the next morning offering me the position -- and could I please come in that day to start filling out paperwork since meetings would begin Monday morning the 12th with classes beginning the following Monday!  Kind of reminds me of my previous place of employment where I received my textbooks for classes two days before classes started and those two days were full of meetings :-).  For you DMACCites, I heard about retention, completion, transfer and flipped classrooms at the meetings on Monday.  I wondered if I had really left DMACC :-)

The position I have is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry -- One-Year Limited position at the Community College of Denver.  The permanent position will be posted in January.  I can apply for it then if I so wish.  This semester I will be teaching two sections of General Chemistry I and one section of General Chemistry II.  Both which I have taught for many, many years.  A big difference is that I will have someone else doing all the lab preparation, set-up and tear down!!!  This is something that should be a real time saver for me.  One less class and no lab prep -- I won't know what to do with myself.

I will be on what is called the Auraria Campus.  This is located right in the heart of Denver as the pictures below show.  It is a campus that is shared by the Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver Campus.  In fact, all three colleges have their science departments in the Science building where I will be spending my time.  I drive about 3 miles to get to the Light Rail station and then take the Light Rail directly to the campus.  It's about a 30 minute train ride, so I'm getting lots of reading done.  Sure beats having to drive in the Denver commuter traffic and then try to find parking -- expensive parking!  My Light Rail pass is $25/month -- I'd pay that to park on campus in 4 days!!!

So far it has been a week of meetings, meetings, meetings!  But the students will be there bright and early Monday morning.  I hope I'm ready :-)

Thanks for all your love, prayers and support.  Watch for further adventures as the year continues.  Cindy

The view of downtown Denver from the courtyard outside the science building.

The Denver Performing Arts Center is directly across Speer Ave from the Campus.

This is the Denver Convention Center which is also right across Speer.  For those who know Denver, the big Blue Bear is on the other side of this building peeking in the windows.

The Denver Dancers sculpture between the Performing Arts Center and the Convention Center.

This is St. Elizabeth's church which is on the campus next to the Science building.  I think there was a funeral there one afternoon this week as there were lots of cars parked outside of it.

The Pepsi Center is just north of the campus.  This is where the Denver Nuggets and the Colorado Avalanche play.

And this is just to the west of the campus --  Peyton's play-place in Denver.

This is another church, St. Cajetan's, again right in the heart of the campus.  I didn't get a picture, but there is a house next door called the Golda Meir house.  So some real history right on campus.

 

And finally, here is one of the Light Rail trains that I get to ride twice a day!

Wildflowers and Wildlife on the Wednesday Hike

We had another memorable Wednesday hike.  This time to Silver Dollar Lakes near Georgetown.  We started out at about 11,300 ft and hiked up to about 12,000 ft.  This meant we spent quite a bit of time above the tree line.  Highlights of the hike included many, many wildflowers.  I have posted a number of pictures.  Though a picture may be worth a thousand words, it can't come anywhere close to actually being there.  The meadows full of blooming flowers were absolutely breathtaking.  We also walked through a number of pika neighborhoods and were near a marmot's home at lunch time.  This was another moderate hike, but well worth the effort!

This was a private lake that could be seen from the trail, but which is not supposed to be accessed by the general public.  There were some cabins and boats at one end.  It was really amazing how clear and still the water was.  The reflection of the surrounding trees was incredible.

The trail was very rocky and filled with tree roots.  We had to be very careful about where we stepped.  Further up the trail we walked through bushes and across large rocks.  The drop offs were a little intimidating.

  

Rock table for three for lunch, please!  And look at the view from our "table"!!!

There were flowers everywhere you looked on this hillside.  Unfortunately the photo doesn't do them justice.

This was the lower of the Silver Dollar Lakes.  Gerald and I over ruled Michael about hiking to the upper lake.  We enjoyed our lunch and then made our way back down.

Yummers!  Fritos at 12,000 ft.

This little critter is called an American Pika.  They live in the rocks and are very, very vocal. If you'd like to know more about them check out American Pika

If you zoom in you should be able to see the marmot.  It was closely watching some birds in the trees at the entrance to its "home".  It scurried under the trees before I could get a closer picture.  You can check out more about these critters at Yellow-bellied Marmot

 And then there were the wildflowers!!!  Enjoy!!!

 

 

 

 

 

On a side note, I have two interviews next week.  One on Tuesday, and the other on Wednesday.  I will certainly put out the notice if either of these ends in a job offer!!!  Cindy

Two Firsts for Me

Last Wednesday, I experienced two things that in all my years coming to Colorado I have never experienced.  I completed a "moderate" hike to a beautiful mountain lake.  It was absolutely breathtaking.

Uncle Michael, Uncle Gerald and I set out from Denver to the Indian Peaks Wilderness by Nederland northwest of Denver.  It took us about an hour of curvy roads to get there.  (I have discovered that I have a tendency to carsickness, so Dramamine has become my good friend.)  The online guides warned of four miles of unpaved road to get to the trail head.  They did NOT however indicate the treacherous rocks that were present all along that road.  I think it took us almost half an hour to get from the pavement end to the trail head.  Michael did an excellent job of dodging the rocks.  We were wishing for a much higher profile vehicle!

The hike is an "out and back" hike which means we followed to same trail to the lake and back.  Basically, we went up one side of a valley, then down to cross a stream, then up the other side to the lake.  The hike is a little over 5 miles total.  We counted more than 30 streams that we crossed along the way.  Hikers that we met coming back from the lake as we were going up kept encouraging us that it was all worth it.  And they were very right!!!  I'll let the pictures speak of the beauty.

The path was pretty rugged.  Lots of rocks and tree roots required constant attention to where you put your feet.  I was glad to have a hiking stick to help keep balanced.

This interesting tree was along the path and just begged to have pictures taken with it.

As we neared the lake, we crossed a marshy bog.  Thankfully, the forest service has laid out these wooden posts to walk across.

The path went right through this fast moving stream.  We made it across both going out and back, but it did require balance and concentration.

Here is the "stream" at the bottom of the valley.  It is amazing how loud the water is as it rushes across the rocks.

One of the views across the valley.  You just don't see this in Iowa :-)

This is Diamond Lake.  Pictures just can't do justice to the size and beauty of the lake.  We watched a couple of hikers climbing on the rocks across the lake.  That would have elevated the hike from "moderate" to "very difficult".  Don't think I'm quite ready for that!

We sat on the rocks beside this stream to enjoy our lunch.  This is one of the streams that feeds into the lake.  An unbelievable lunchtime view.

No hike would be complete for me without pictures of the wild flowers along the path.  Lots and lots and lots of blooms this time of year.

This was a truly memorable hike.  The mountain lake was well worth the exertion to reach it.  The water is amazingly clear.  It was a bit windy when we were there, so it's difficult to see the clarity of the water from the pictures.  We did a lot more climbing -- up and down -- then on the other hikes I've been on.  The guides list this as a "moderate" as opposed to "easy" hike, and my calves would certainly affirm that!!!  I will say that I could feel the exertion for a couple of days after the hike.  I'm also ready to do more of these hikes!

As to the job search, I interviewed for a job in Colorado Springs last week.  I was told that they would make a decision about the job tomorrow (Monday) afternoon.  I think it would be a good fit for me.  It would allow me to stay out here and take more of these hikes!!!  You'll have to watch for an announcement -- or listen for the scream.  Headed back to Iowa late this week to help Dodi celebrate turning 50.  All four of the Olson kids will be together for the first time in 2 1/2 years.  I am so looking forward to seeing everyone.  Later......Cindy