well here we are in Wyoming! It took us 3 days of solid driving and enduring the pitiful meows of our kitty, but we made it. We are now unpacked and organizing our things. Yesterday we got our tv and internet package and today we had our living room measured for new carpet. Johnny finds out about his work schedule on Wednesday and I have been applying for jobs left and right. Hopefully something will pop up soon. It sure seems like everyone in town is hiring. I applied to work at the police department (not as an officer), at the city Utilities district office, at Alberstons in the baking department, at the University of Wyoming's Art Museum as an assistant to the director and curator, and at the local cable company's Laramie office. We'll see if anything pans out.

Speaking of the the town....We are at 7,100 feet above sea level, which is very different from sea level! It is actually difficult to get used to the altitude, but we're making do and hopefully will get used to it soon. Laramie has just 27,000 people, most of which I'd say are students at the University of Wyoming (the Cowboys aka the Cowpokes if you wanna know) or Wyotech. At any rate, the town is young. Also, apparently it's about time for it to start snowing out here, and when it snows really bad the freeways close down and Laramie is pretty much an island. greeeeeeeeeeeat.

So what's in Laramie? Let's see...we've got Safeway, Kmart, Albertsons, WalMart, ACE Hardware, quite a few hotels, a bunch of auto parts stores, a host of fast food places, 29 bars, a few thrift stores, and a few car lots. That's pretty much all we know about so far since we haven't really explored, but we have driven around the town and we're pretty sure that's it. haha. But there is for sure NO Target! :(

Yesterday we drove to Cheyenne (about 45 minutes away) and on the way there (through the mountains in the middle of nowhere) we saw a few real cowboys herding cattle with their dog. They were dressed just as you'd imagine cowboys, and it was so neat! I couldn't believe it. In fact, many people around here wear cowboy hats and the like, which is so totally different from Seattle.

Anyways, here are some pictures from the drive over. Once we get new carpet in the living room and a dining table and chairs, I'll take pictures of our apartment to show y'all. For some reason blogspot is cutting the pictures in half because they won't fit on the template I've chosen, I'll try to fix that soon, in the meantime, you can see the pictures here: http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x274/johnnyjessica/

entering the Cascade Mountains

still in the Cascades

leaving the Cascades

Vantage and the Columbia River

Eastern Washington

Idaho I think

Idaho again

Montana

Montana

Rocky Mountains

leaving the Rockies

more mountains in Montana

some intimidating mountains in Montana

still in Montana as it nears evening

Day 3, traveling through Montana still

more Montana

Wyoming tractor graveyard

neat cutout of a mountain in Wyoming

This is for mom. hahahah

ooooo Wheatland - I think we lived there when I was about 3?


apartment pictures to come soon!

- Jessica