Life feels normal, and at the same time everything but. normal. Since I'm not at the ranch anymore, I decided that that I would give the keys to the Blazer back to my brother and now I'm bike powered. The possibilities of my car getting fixed are slim to almost definitely none, so now I'm looking into donating it. Riding my bike has been great so far, at first I was worried that I would find it hassle-some, but in reality, at times its faster than driving. :) Plus, it's always good to stretch the legs a bit.
College and it's financial matters are going well, somehow I keep getting grants without even trying! It's a glorious thing and my patience and trust have paid off. Lets hope it's a lesson learned! The wonderful thing is that I might even have money left in my savings after I pay for the rest of tuition and expenses. I don't think I could ask for more; being able to start saving for next year early would help tremendously in the long run!
And friends are wonderful. The power of friendship can never be underestimated. I find it amazing that talking to a dear friend for even an hour can raise my spirits and put a smile back on my face. Maybe I just have some great friends, but I know that they are good for my heart and soul. Not to mention my abs with all the laughter that goes on! Bless their hearts!
Chao
17 July 2008
08 July 2008
Time for Le Tour
Everything I Know About Boys, I Learned From A Dog Named Murphy.
What they are:
Crazy
Immature
Adventurous
Arrogant
Sweet
Stupid
Imperfect
Competitive
Who they want to be:
A hero
A protector
A leader
A savior
A bad-boy
A child
A heartthrob
A millionaire
How they act:
Like they can’t hear you.
Like they own everything.
Like everything they do is a success.
Like food is always on their mind.
Like girls are a tie with food.
What they like:
Food
Girls
A chase
Toys
A backrub
What they are:
Crazy
Immature
Adventurous
Arrogant
Sweet
Stupid
Imperfect
Competitive
Who they want to be:
A hero
A protector
A leader
A savior
A bad-boy
A child
A heartthrob
A millionaire
How they act:
Like they can’t hear you.
Like they own everything.
Like everything they do is a success.
Like food is always on their mind.
Like girls are a tie with food.
What they like:
Food
Girls
A chase
Toys
A backrub
03 July 2008
Ranchers Reserve
Looks like my stay at the "Summer Home" has been extended. In fact, this place will be my home for the rest of the summer. My boss got some horrible news a week ago; her best friend was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and only has two weeks to two months to live. So my boss will be trying to spend as much time as she can with her this summer and I will do my part by staying with the dogs. Its almost been three weeks out here and everyday seems the same, but different. I wake up to the same hairy faces at the same unreasonable hour and we walk the same routes. The dogs eat the same food at the same time as the day before. But I find solace in the changes of the sunrise and the different flowers I see bloom. Changes in the winds and the patterns of the lakes. Nature brings a constant aire of change and rejuvenation. I want to leave you with some pictures of my summer home landscape and a few of our coyote "friend" (he's hard to see, but he's in the last three).
26 June 2008
The dogs' bollocks
Murphy is a ham. I don’t think that one could be more of a ham even if they were a pig. He is seriously full of himself and enjoys it every minute. The dogs will go swimming in the lake to chase toys and afterward Murphy comes bounding out and off into the tall grass, as if he’s running only because he knows he can go fast. But he’s a sweetheart and, boy does he know how to suck up to a girl. Of course, my heart melts for him and his puppy dog browns. But he’s a bad boy and has selective hearing. Murphy and Abby have their fun together chasing birds and rabbits and squirrels. They do their own thing and run off at every opportune moment. It can be kind of stressful keeping an eye out for them when I don’t know if they are running for fun or to hunt. Darling Katie is always by my side, though, because of her arthritis she can’t keep up with the others, so instead keeps me company. She walks in my shadow and is sometimes in the way, but I help keep the flies off her head all the same. Sometimes we are four and others five. Maggie has her own agenda and sometimes likes to stay in the barn and sleep. Never the less, we follow almost the same route everyday.
Then there are times, like today, when these dogs are going to be the death of me. Murphy and Abby decided that it would be great to go off the property and cross the road to get to the reservoir. I didn’t even know that they could get that far, but apparently this place doesn’t have a fence around the perimeter. And for some reason none of the dogs have collars or tags. Murphy and Abby were off and one of the barn managers told me he saw them on the hill across the road. So, I jumped on my bike and whistle and yell for the scoundrels. After a half hour of searching, I start to freak out. What if one of them got hit by a car?! What if someone took them to the pound?! With tears streaming down my face, I called their names at the top of my lungs. Damn Dogs.
I was scared for their lives. But mine was a subject of thought too. If you lose the dogs you are taking care of isn’t that kind of a FAIL?! Not easily explained, at least not to this lady. Anyway, after another ten minutes they finally came and were severely scolded. They both had bristles and pieces of wilderness stuck to them and all I could do was sigh in relief and anguish. Luckily, I wasn’t late to my dentist appointment and needless to say the dogs stayed in the house the rest of the day.
Conflict Resolved.
Chao
Then there are times, like today, when these dogs are going to be the death of me. Murphy and Abby decided that it would be great to go off the property and cross the road to get to the reservoir. I didn’t even know that they could get that far, but apparently this place doesn’t have a fence around the perimeter. And for some reason none of the dogs have collars or tags. Murphy and Abby were off and one of the barn managers told me he saw them on the hill across the road. So, I jumped on my bike and whistle and yell for the scoundrels. After a half hour of searching, I start to freak out. What if one of them got hit by a car?! What if someone took them to the pound?! With tears streaming down my face, I called their names at the top of my lungs. Damn Dogs.
I was scared for their lives. But mine was a subject of thought too. If you lose the dogs you are taking care of isn’t that kind of a FAIL?! Not easily explained, at least not to this lady. Anyway, after another ten minutes they finally came and were severely scolded. They both had bristles and pieces of wilderness stuck to them and all I could do was sigh in relief and anguish. Luckily, I wasn’t late to my dentist appointment and needless to say the dogs stayed in the house the rest of the day.
Conflict Resolved.
Chao
22 June 2008
Time to Think
This week I have had some good time to think, being alone will do that to a person. It's lonely out here and the fact that it's unfamiliar makes it harder. I love the dogs but there is a certain unconditional love that comes with owning your own pet. Picking up after a dog has left a surprise in the house seems easier when the animal is yours. I guess that's how parents feel about their kids, just a million times more.
I've been thinking a lot about college and how much my life is going to change. It's strange cause up until this summer I couldn't wait to get away and leaving "L-town" seemed like it couldn't come sooner. But I have so many memories here. Now that it's finally time to accept that I'll be leaving, it's a lot harder than before. That doesn't make up for how lame it can be but to think that after college I might not live here anymore, it's weird. I've lived in the same town, in the same house, for 18 years.
I know billions of people have gone to college before me and been fine, but the more it's on my mind the larger than life it feels. I know I'll leave and it will be hard at first, but I'll overcome and everything will turn out okay. There's just a part in the back of my head that fears the hardship and keeps me wondering if I will always struggle with separation. From every difficulty an opportunity can arise. Although I don't yet know what opportunities I will come across, I am hopeful that if I listen, my prayers will be answered and a beautiful life will unfold in my path.
I've been thinking a lot about college and how much my life is going to change. It's strange cause up until this summer I couldn't wait to get away and leaving "L-town" seemed like it couldn't come sooner. But I have so many memories here. Now that it's finally time to accept that I'll be leaving, it's a lot harder than before. That doesn't make up for how lame it can be but to think that after college I might not live here anymore, it's weird. I've lived in the same town, in the same house, for 18 years.
I know billions of people have gone to college before me and been fine, but the more it's on my mind the larger than life it feels. I know I'll leave and it will be hard at first, but I'll overcome and everything will turn out okay. There's just a part in the back of my head that fears the hardship and keeps me wondering if I will always struggle with separation. From every difficulty an opportunity can arise. Although I don't yet know what opportunities I will come across, I am hopeful that if I listen, my prayers will be answered and a beautiful life will unfold in my path.
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