Snooze…

The blog will be taking a bit of a snooze for about a week… :)

Burns and Full Moons

Remember the walk to the “frog pond”? These are the results. If you’ve seen the pictures of me on here, you’ll know that my skin is very fair, and it takes about five minutes to burn without sunscreen. Even the day before (Friday), when I was at work (babysitting), we played outside with water, and I had sunscreen on, and I still burnt, not within five minutes, but about 15. Yesterday, knowing that I was going to be mowing the lawn, I slathered on 60 SPF. Then the sun went away, and I covered up anyways.

Did anyone see the moon the 28th? It was so bright and full and beautiful! I noticed it when I was driving home from work at about 10.30, because the dirt road is usually so dark, even with headlights, and that night, it was bright. When I got home, I tried to take a picture of it, but my camera just doesn’t do it justice. I’m waiting for the day that I can buy a nice SLR camera without guilt, but until then, I’ll have to make do with my little Samsung.

In the morning, I’ll be leaving for about a week to go help my sister out while she’s at an Army thing. Kyle will be here (again) with his grandpa this weekend, so I’ll try to make it back then.

I’ll leave you with the wonderful (ha!) photo I took of the moon. (That’s a tree in front of it, by the way.)

I just realized this new blog template doesn’t date the entries. Strange…

Leading a (Black) Dog to Water…

You know its summer when you wake up sweaty, like I did this morning. I pried myself out of bed, took a cool shower, and made myself some french toast. Which had blood in it. (I got the eggs from the ranch, and apparently one of them was a little bit bloody. Salem enjoyed his breakfast.) After deciding that a t-shirt was too hot, I went back inside, which was cooler by about 4 degrees (it really matters when its hot), and put on a swimsuit, with a tank top over it. I proceeded to jump out my window, and invite Pat to walk down to the “frog pond”. It’s where we used to catch frogs when we were younger. Creative name, I know.

Then, Pat and I took Salem for a walk. Down a dusty road. When it was 80+ degrees. Bad idea? You betcha. Salem was a trooper though, not pulling the lead too much, and walking beside me. When we got to the creek, cows were everywhere and Salem was really excited, even though i kept yanking him backwards. They ended up running off, and we headed to the cool, tan water. Salem leaped into it, lapping up the dirty water, happy to be cool. We took several pictures, and then went home. Within minutes, walking back up the dusty road, Salem was dry and miserable again. When we got home, we sprayed him down. Poor guy is still covered in winter hair, which is thick, and very black. Maybe I’ll shave him.

Good news, my things from RHL shipped today! I’m looking forward to having them, even though I won’t be able to use them until September.

The good thing about a hot day, and exerting Salem is the fact that he’s been quiet since we got back. No annoying half-puppy, half-grown bark, part squeak, part bark. Lovely sounding, I assure you.By the way, who totally loves my new blog look? The colors are just what this summer-starved, snow-in-May girl needs!

High School Graduate

I finally graduated, and I’m getting used to the fact that I’m not going to go back to school at HHS. I’ve been spending a lot of time reading, and also on the computer (which I would like to cut down on…). Today, I went through a bunch of my old stuff that was boxed away, and threw most of it in the dumpster. I saved books, a few really old journals, and a note or two from elementary. I found three journal entries, un-dated, that are written entirely in French. I remember my French phase, but I do not remember writing these, and I’ve no clue what they say. I’ve tried translating them online, but the translation is strange, so I gave up. Everything graduation is almost over; I’ve kept up on writing my thank-you notes, and I’ve only got a few left to write and send out.

Other than cleaning and throwing stuff away, I spent time outside with Salem, in the nice weather. I picked up boxes that he got a hold of and destroyed, and picked up plastic bottles that get tossed to him to make him stop barking. Today was about 70 degrees; hot enough to make me seriously crave water after going through those old boxes! I also seriously considered walking down to the creek to dip my feet in…

I also spent some time online researching insurances, because my current is a Wyoming-only plan, and I’ll have to get a new one when I move. Major headache there. Another decision I have to make soon; whether to fly out to Naperville, and send stuff to myself, or drive out there with a fully packed car. The latter is somewhat impossible right now, due to the fact my car broke down while Kyle was visiting, and needs a new fuel pump, which costs anywhere from $150 to $450. I don’t have that money right now, even with all the graduation gifts. I’m leaning towards flying out, because the ticket will probably cost less than the gas to drive, and I could pack all of my clothes in my suitcases, one checked bag, another carry-on, and have pretty much everything I need.

Speaking of things I need. With gifts cards I received, I ordered some sheets (extra long twin-sorta rare around here) (I linked the site that I ordered from because the value packs are awesome! They come with EVERYTHING you need for your dorm, even pillows, and they have free shipping!) and a new comforter for my dorm room. Just thinking about the set makes me anxious to get to college already!

The Girl with Glass Feet

When the seniors were checked out, we still had to stay at the school for graduation rehearsal. Since rehearsal was an hour away, I went to the public library (which is a two minute walk from the school, and the school library was not checking books out anymore) and picked out one of the new books. The book I picked up was “The Girl with Glass Feet” by Ali Shaw. The cover really got to me; a pale blue/greenish cover with black trees, vines, birds and flowers. It looked mysterious, and when I opened it to skim the summary, I decided I would get it.
Once I started, it didn’t take me long to be completely absorbed.

The story describes a man (boy?) who is afraid of touch, and is a black and white photographer. He meets a girl while on a walk to take photos, and instantly, he is confounded by her boots (of all things). Her boots are too large for her tiny, tiny frame. Midas, the man, later learns that Ida has come back the the island, St. Hauda’s Land, to find a cure for her feet, both of which have slowly started to turn into clear, beautiful glass. Midas slowly starts to fall in love with this doomed girl, and together, they try to find a cure for her feet. Along the way, they meet Henry Fuwu (who Ida has met once, on her first visit to the island) who is obsessed with his herd of moth-winged bulls (which are exactly what they sound like; tiny bovines with translucent wings), Denver, Midas’ best friend’s daughter, a little girl who’s mother died, who draws narwhals pulling carriages with queens and gives advice to Midas about the thoughts in the back of his mind, Carl Mausen, who was tragically in love with Ida’s mother, and makes him do terrible things to Ida for the sake of “love”, and with Carl Mausen, Emiliana Stallows, married to the richest man of the island, and who also claims to know the cure for Ida’s condition. All of the characters come alive in Ali Shaw’s first novel, in a hauntingly beautiful land, where the citizens are mistrustful of anyone new, and who all hold their own secret lives.

I was so caught up in this book, the awkward tension between the main characters made me smirk, the moth-winged bovine giving birth to a tiny, tiny specimen made me smile, and the mysterious glass creeping up Ida’s legs made me afraid, and my own legs itched and went numb with sympathy. I highly recommend reading this book to find out what becomes of Midas and Ida’s precarious relationship.

New Me?

This is the day that every high school senior is waiting for. Who am I kidding, every kid in school waits for this day. The last day of school. Not to be continued after summer, just high school is complete, done, you never have to return. I was excited two weeks ago, one week ago, a few days ago. But yesterday and today, I felt like something was missing. Everyone was jumping up and down (literally) and announcing they were “DONE!!!” But I still feel, I don’t even know, left out? People warned me that I would feel letdown after I was done, but I constantly brushed them off with a shrug, a wave of my hand and a “whatever!” But I can really see what they meant.

For nearly 18 years, Hulett has been my home, and I’ve gone to school almost everyday. What am I supposed to do now? Really, who am I now? I honestly don’t know the answer to that question. In a few months, I’m going to be packing up all of my things, and going clear across the U.S. to Naperville, a place I’ve been to all of two times. I’ll be leaving everything I’ve ever known; my family, my home, my friends, my teachers, my mentors, my roots, to be with my boyfriend.

I’m happy to be going, I really am. But it’s hard to conjure up the enthusiasm right now. Graduation is going to hit me hard, because everything I am is coming to an end.

I’m going to be so different once I leave Wyoming, and I’m not sure if that’s going to be a good thing…Or a bad thing.

gratuitous prom picture

Apologies.

Because I don’t really have time to do a full post, I thought I would leave this here, just because I feel bad about not posting at all…

4 shows I like to watch:
1. JEOPARDY!
2. Desperate Housewives
3. The Middle
4. The Deep End

4 things I am passionate about:
1. Kyle
2. Reading
3. College Classes
4. Computer reading?

4 phrases I say a lot:
1. Me as well
2. Nuh uh
3. Haha
4. Like

4 things I have learned, or am learning:
1. Money does not come easily.
2. Neither do successful relationships.
3. Being angry, starting fights/drama is worthless and time consuming.
4. How to save money ;)

4 places I would like to go:
1. Italy
2. London
3. Egypt
4. Romania

4 things I did yesterday:
1. Ate
2. Macbeth essay
3. Read/Finished “A Rose In Winter”
4. Rode on a bus

4 things I am looking forward to:
1. End of the school year
2. College
3. Moving to Naperville
4. Vacation

4 things on my wish list:
1. All of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss’ books
2. My car to be fixed for as little $$ as possible
3. A nice home I’ve yet to design
4. Husband, kids, dogs, happiness

Prom pictures next post.