Tuesday, June 29

Going well.

"Hope you are going well!" exclaimed Bubba at the end of his email.

Ah, that boy. I love that I know such vibrant people.

Things are going well, except for the bug bite I managed to get on my face. B and I went to Dunning's Spring last night for a KwikStar-sponsored picnicky dinner. Except for the bugs, it was very pleasant. The water was rushing along - in a hurry, I suppose - and it was incredibly cool there (temperature-wise).

I've moved on from The Poisonwood Bible to Bel Canto, and I might begin reading a couple of others, too. I brought Prodigal Summer back from home (written by the same author as TPB), and I'm going to check out at least two books here at the public library. Of course, there's always The Inferno to continue on - I've stalled temporarily at Canto 3.

Chez Pizza Ranch isn't so bad ... sure, the managers are neurotic, but it's money. And I've managed to acquire $4 in tips so far - a rather large feat during the buffet hours (which are the only ones I work).

Oh, and I finally got to watch Kissing Jessica Stein last night with B, and the ending was very disappointing. I'm sad that she didn't stick with Helen ...

Tuesday, June 22

Tuesday.

I have been catching up on my sleep. It's been insane, really, the amount of sleep I've gotten in the past couple of nights. Of course, I was slightly delirious and thought that today was Wednesday, but other than that, things are fairly decent.

By fairly I mean that June's rent was not taken care of with the initial deposit as previously supposed, which I was dismayed to hear this morning. So on July 1, we will all be paying two months worth of rent - a sad $277 to depart from my newly acquired bank account in Decorah.

Really, though, I can't complain. Dorian was fabulous, mixo was fun (although I still don't know if Johnny P ever showed up), and the return to near solitude was wonderful.

I've been finishing up The Poisonwood Bible, which has been quite entertaining and stimulating thus far. As a new cardholder at the public library (which is just down the street from our apartment), I will be devouring books at a hopefully high rate. (And, although I don't love being part of pop culture, I'm going to put myself on the waiting list for The DaVinci Code, which I've heard is worth the read.)

All in all, I'm a happy camper.

Saturday, June 19

To make an end.

"I cannot rest from travel; I will drink life to the lees. ... I am a part of all that I have met. ... How dull it ist to pause, to make an end, to rust unburnished, not to shine in use! As though to breathe were life! ... for my purpose holds to sail beyond the sunset, and the baths of all the western stars, until I die," proclaimed Alfred Lord Tennyson.

The paycheck is in hand. The final concert is tomorrow, followed by mixolydian. [Translation: bash for counselors, faculty, and staff at the house of the camp's director; includes alcohol.] All in all, it is done.

I love Dorian.

Saturday, June 12

Oh Dorian!

"Oh Dorian! Oh Dorian! Oh Dorian!" The chorus of a new song, an ode to Dorian written by homesick children to get their minds away from sadness.

Junior high week was exhausting, but oh so much fun. Lots of random jokes and quotes, which may follow at a later time, were shared. Very cool kids. I want to convince my brother(s) to come next year. I think the younger one might have more fun, but both might have a grand old time.

We just got back from the Peter's house - they invited us to dinner at their lovely home [Mabe's pizza + yummy strawberries, brownies, and ice cream, plus the usual assortment of chips & soda.]

That's all for now, I think. I recieved a package today from the dear Timmy - an "I heart NY" shot glass. Danke schoen.

"Oh Dorian! Oh Dorian! Oh Dorian!"

Tuesday, June 1

Overwhelmed.

I just got back to Decorah about an hour ago, and I'm feeling very overwhelmed. I had this unbelievable sense of "I don't know if I can do this - I don't know if I can handle it," so I decided to seek refuge in the Decorah Public Library. I'm feeling a bit better. We'll see if I can mellow out tonight. It doesn't help that I was insanely emotional this morning when getting ready to leave - I was very teary-eyed and snorty.

It also seems that I'm not on the schedule this week for the Ranch, but I think that's my fault for forgetting to call John last week. Fabulous.

One bucket of eek! after the other.

I finally got to see the apartment today. It's pretty cool - very big, but dingy. Thadd intends to paint, so that will definitely perk it up.

And Dorian starts on Saturday, so that's a very good thing.

And gas was down to $1.91 in Waterloo. Definitely. Things aren't all as bad as they seem.