We made it to Gillette! (Buffalo: movers, live, restaurants)

[septocaine_queen]

Hey everyone,
We are finally here. We have been so busy with unpacking and just getting used to everything that it is the first time I have had a chance to write.
I don't think we could have ask for better weather for our move. I was thinking the weather would be crap when we moved being January, but we ended getting bright sunny days in the 40's and 50's. The movers actually got our stuff here ahead of schedule. The drive from Vegas was great. The roads were dry and snowfree.
Everyone is SO friendly and nice. My neighbor Ed takes our garbage can out for us and our other neighbor Jim lent us his truck and trailer to take the boxes to the dump. I plan to bake and take them pies tomorrow. It seems that almost everyone knows each other in town.
I was also really pleased about the abundance of sunshine here. We went to Toronto for Christmas and every day was gray with more gray and the occasional sucker hole of blue. I was thinking if that was what Gillette was like then I would need sun lamps stat.
The only thing we didn't expect was how long it would take to get food at the local restaurants in town. But I was told that was due to lack of workers and caliber of workers. Oh well, guess we're cooking at home.
Yesterday the roads were dry so we took my car out for a run. I LOVE WYOMING ROADS!! We got on the 90 to Buffalo and drove about 20 miles. In that time we saw about 20 cars.
Everyone that I have met is really happy to have us in town and it is really nice to be wanted for a change.

[sunsprit]

Glad you made it OK!

Enjoy the nice(r) weather while it lasts. Winter isn't over yet ....

[WyoNewk]

Welcome to Gillette! I hope you feel settled soon and like it here.

[GEORGIAINMT]

I'm glad you made it! I thought about you guys a lot while I was out in D.C.! Glad the weather cooperated for the move. I'm so happy that things are so positive here for you so far. Let me know if you need anything. I'll email you my phone #. Just a quick note here to say "welcome" & I'll write more this weekend when I have more time. Looking forward to seeing you next week!

[Clay Lady]

Glad to hear your move went so smoothly and you have met nice neighbors. Welcome to Wyoming!

[jkb826]

Welcome to Wyoming and I hope everything continues to go well for you and you family. The weather has taken a change for the worse this weekend so it looks like you had good timing for your move.

[septocaine_queen]

Thanks everyone. Yeah, no doubt the weather has changed. We went to a get together at the Clarion this past thursday and when we got there it was 44 degrees and when we left 3 hours later it was 15 degrees. I laughed because I have seen and experienced more weather changes in one week here than the entire 5 years I lived in San Diego.

Another good thing that I have noticed is the supermarkets are amazingly stocked with a variety of goods. Today I was at Smiths and there was 8 different types of flour and almost every type of gourmet oil. I wouldn't go to Walmart for produce because it looks like there is nothing on their shelves. I tried the Healthstyles market and it had some good stuff too.

First day of work is coming and my biggest fear is driving to work.

[NVDave]

Originally Posted by septocaine_queen

First day of work is coming and my biggest fear is driving to work.

Slow down. Allow extra time. Don't make sudden moves, don't try to stop as if it were dry pavement, and you'll do fine.

[WyoNewk]

Originally Posted by septocaine_queen

... First day of work is coming and my biggest fear is driving to work.

You're actually planning to drive yourself? My wife moved here (Gillette) from southern Oregon 10 years ago, and I still have to drive her to work if there might be a slick spot on the street anywhere!

If the roads are slick, drive like you have no brakes and the front tires have been replaced with sled runners. Allow plenty of space between you and the car ahead of you and PAY ATTENTION. If you just do this you'll already be a better driver than 90% of the others on the road.

I got hit last week by a young guy as I was turning into my driveway. I saw him in my rearview mirror half a block behind me, signaled and made a wide turn to my driveway. I didn't realize he was moving so fast. He tried to pass me on the inside and ended up 30 feet into my lawn, almost hitting the house. (Although he hit my vehicle, there was no damage.) He got out of his vehicle, still talking on his cell phone. "What happened? I was just talking on my cell and...." We were both at fault, which is usually the case when there's an accident. Hopefully we both learned a cheap lesson.

[septocaine_queen]

Originally Posted by WyoNewk

I got hit last week by a young guy as I was turning into my driveway. I saw him in my rearview mirror half a block behind me, signaled and made a wide turn to my driveway. I didn't realize he was moving so fast. He tried to pass me on the inside and ended up 30 feet into my lawn, almost hitting the house. (Although he hit my vehicle, there was no damage.) He got out of his vehicle, still talking on his cell phone. "What happened? I was just talking on my cell and...." We were both at fault, which is usually the case when there's an accident. Hopefully we both learned a cheap lesson.

Wow! that is really lucky. The office is off 4J road and from my place I would take 7th St. The fact that it runs uphill freaks me out if it is cold and icy. Right now I am practicing by making small trips to Smiths and Starbucks. I am remembering to go slow and barely accelerate (meaning I take my foot off the break and let the car roll forward)

We had dinner at Prime Rib tonight and it was good. The cream of mushroom was super yummy and service was prompt and good.

I also noticed when I went to Smiths this morning that people leave their cars running while they are inside. Do they have starters or just leave the keys in the ignition? Is it no worries that your car will be stolen because it is Wyoming?

My friend says that in order to get our cars registered you have to have the police do a VIN check? Is that hard to do?


The snow is really beautiful and I like how everything is quiet and when you go outside you can just watch the snow fall. Sorry to be so amazed, but I have never lived (visited, yes) where it snows so it is really fascinating.