Colorado

I briefly went back to Illinois, continued contracting for some small startups and related during this period, and made the transition out to Colorado. I can say I finally felt home. I had been visiting this state since I was a child and we actually have family historic roots from where my father's side of the family had come over from the Trentino Area of Northern Italy. They started out as miners in Leadville Colorado at the turn of the century, and rumor has it we still have some Anesi headstones up there and relatives out this way, cousins, etc. My grandfather's mining headlamp and pocket watch actually sit on our mantel back in Illinois there. Anyway, I was finally out where I felt I belonged! I had just entered my 30s, still had some cartilage in my knees, and started out hiking, skiing, camping, but for real this time! This was not Illinois and the midwest out here. I learned some lessons along the way, like tackling my first 14er with friends and looking like I was about to take on an Alaskan Expedition. Its a quick hike for Mt. Democrat, but I was from Illinois! And showing it. As for work I was still contracting for the most part, as indicated I did work for several startups, each with their own challenges along the way. Still in software, I have worked for a medical company out here, a camping startup, a suite sharing startup, and an animal non-profit, to name a few, until finally moving back into a more corporate role with Camp Bow Wow Corporate, in Westminister from 2018-2022. So after over a decade here now, I can say I've definitely learned. I ski now with a light jacket, some supplies on me, no poles, and basically the essentials. Cold weather doesn't seem to phase me much. I've learned once the sun goes down out here, you better have shelter setup within 30mins or its going to be rough. We're one mile up in the air here, its like stepping out on the wing of a 747 when even higher up. No humidity, so temps dip within seconds. Learned more about the local wildlife, terrain, snow, wildfires, avalanches, mudslides, 300 year flash floods, and thanks to my buddy Pat, I learned how to cut up an elk last season. Still snacking on that this year luckily. I did hit some odd issues briefly with my health just following and during the covid era, like many. I had been vaccinated, however, I had injured my foot, and due to all of this, with my immune system doing backflips and covid, some complications arose. Worked with my doctor from 2022-2023 and now, back hiking, biking, and healthy once more. P.S. - Oh yeah, high altitude means things expand, bottles, pressurize. I did have that trek out to ski at Crested Butte the other year. Drove all the way up there, in a -12 deg blizzard, needing to use the rest area after that long drive. Setup my RV in the cold, and was ready to settle in the with dogs for the night, but first, needed to use the privy. Once more folks, things pressurize in high altitude. RV has a cassette toilet. We'll pause right here, and just say some lessons are never unlearned. Cheers! Thanks for reading this far all and hope I was at least entertaining. This is sorta two things, tells my story, but shows some tech chops.