Trinidad, we love you...

We really do. At least, we do now that we're 1000 miles away and safe at home. Why does the little town of Trinidad, Colorado hold such a special place in our hearts? Because right there in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and twenty minutes from the New Mexico border, our transmission failed. Just quit. Now we have theories...what we like to call, excessive compulsive shifting by our father while descending down icy roadways out of the Rockies could certainly have put it over the edge. Although we can't blame him entirely, as 70% of our earthly belongings being stowed in the back was probably not helpful either. But whatever the reason, it was done for.

There at a little gas station in Trinidad, CO things weren't looking too good for the home team, we were about to assign sleeping arrangements and Madeline was getting the roof, when....Esther and "Pops" showed up on the scene. Now Esther may say that she is just a substitute teacher at the middle school, and works at the Motel 8 when she's not subbing...but we know better. Esther is the mayor of Trinidad. We know this because she knew everything about everyone and every place in that little town.

Our Suburban was towed to the best auto shop in town (directed by Esther), and we were towed, ahem, I mean taken (by Esther), to our motel for the night--Budget Host. Room number 33, suite edition. Home, sweet home. One green bathroom, three beds, one roll out cot, and a purple tinted TV, constitute "suite" at Budget Host. Oh yeah, and a mini refrigerator that freezes milk. We looked longingly across the street at the bright warm glow coming from the Holiday Inn, but it was not to be...

Okay, it wasn't so bad. We survived. I have so many more stories from this experience, but I'll stop here. A big thank you to Esther and "Pops" and to our awesome transmission guys that worked overtime on a Friday to get us on the road. We do love Trinidad.

Budget Host is rockin'.

Carl is always doing work, no matter what the situation...

That's my "we're stuck in Trinidad face."
This is what you do when you have no car to go anywhere and only a green bathroom and my cameras to entertain, after having watched ALL the DVD's that you brought along and really getting tired of saying that the purple-tinted TV really isn't all that bad.