Head out on the highway...

I just have to say.  I am so excited.  We're taking Emily's car to SD rather than my Jeep.  She gets 35 mpg.  I get 18.  Gas will be 1/2 as expensive!!!!  Yahoo!

Putting together the list of things to take.  It's a long list.  Ug.

I can't wait to breathe the South Dakota prairie air!  And bask in the scent of Black Hills pine trees.  And hug my grandma.  And watch pig wrestling!  And visit with folks.  And pet the bison & elk.  And hold a baby.  And just be home.  This is going to be a great vacation.

Little Fella

Manda took this picture last week of me and the widdle baby squirrel.  Isn't he CUTE?!

TGIT

Thank Goodness It's Thursday!

So many things swirling around in my brain today.  Vacation.  House.  The cash flow situation.  What am I going to wear to the fair.  You know.  Normal stuff.

I had a great talk with my Dad last night, which pretty much took up all the evening.  That's fine by me!  I like it when he laughs.

I'll be away from internet for the next 10 days, so no blogging for me.  I hope to write a bit while on vacation so I can record the day to day here, but hey...I'm on vacation.  And I'll do what I want! 

Crush.

I couldn't sleep on the bus this morning.  Instead, I built castles in the air around my latest crush.  I've got a pretty good fictional future going for myself, I gotta say.  He called me out of the blue last night to finalize some details about my visit there next week.  I love surprises like that.  The phone rings and you assume it's some telemarketer or something and BOOM--it's a very funny, interesting, and attractive man who's calling to see what day you're coming over because his parents want to delay their vacation so they can see you.  (no, he doesn't still live with his parents.  but they're nearby.  and they love me.  it's a ranching community--visitors are a big deal out there.)  I was able to sleep last night after the conversation, but my brain was ready to obsess over it this morning and just wouldn't shut off.  Besides, daydreaming is much more fun than actual sleeping.

Oh--the meeting with the Superintendent went very well.  Yay!  We have another one tomorrow.  Heady days.

It's dark in the mornings now almost until I get to work.  Summer is leaving us, the jerk.  Just when I was starting to feel all comfortable and sure of it, it starts packing its bags.  Typical.

Where it all happens

Administration Building in Mammoth.  Used to be an Army Barracks.  I like to imagine the balconies packed with fit soldiers, lounging in their US Cavalry Blues.  It's one way to pass some time.

Mundane

It's ok if my blog is mundane sometimes, right?  I mean, that's what the nuts and bolts of life are like--hours and days of same old, same old.  Not that my life is boring.  Last night I took the tape off the walls, arranged furniture, did some touch ups, and feel pretty happy with my color choices so far!  Yay!  And then I walked over to Tom & Bonnie's and Tom gave me fresh green beans, peas, onions, garlic, and dill from the garden.  It was fun to help pick and weed the garden a little bit.  And I love green beans and peas.  The dill is in a vase in the living room and it looks beautiful.

Yesterday was the perfect evening for a walk--just a hint of coolness but perfect light and not a breath of wind.  It's the kind of day where you want to hug yourself because you just feel perfectly comfortable and there are no barriers between your heart and the air. 

We have a meeting with the Superintendent this afternoon.  It should be interesting.  I hope it goes well; I'm feeling nervous about it for some reason.

Ruffers is having a tough time staying in the house for 14 hours while I'm at work (who'd'a thunk it?) so this morning I resolved to leave him in the yard.  I took his bed out there, told him to stay about 10 times, and drove off.  I got all the way to Mark's before my courage left me.  I'd rather clean up a mess in the basement than come home to a dead dog.  So, I turned around and put him in the house.  He was very relieved.  I need to train him with his wireless collar and then will feel better about leaving him home in the yard.  Once Emily moves in, it won't be a big deal, but it's sure a bummer to deal with in the interim.  Just another one of the adjustments to getting the house!

Ok. I'm off to prepare for the big meeting.  Wish me luck!

Wherein I Discuss Reasons for Needing a Second Job

Yipes!  Owning a house is expensive! 

Emily & I painted the living room walls & ceiling this weekend, as well as about half of the kitchen.  It looks great!  But anyone who tells you that painting is a "cheap" or "affordable" way to decorate, well...I guess it's all relative.  But paint (and brushes and trays and rollers) adds up, lemme tell ya.

And I bought a bunch of new clothes at the thrift store Sacks of Bozeman on Saturday.  Size 8.  Thank you, thank you very much!  All the clothes are great brands and look great and my grand total was $34.  I got 1 pair of shorts, 3 shirts, and 4 pairs of pants.  Yay! I heart Sacks.

And I went to Costco and got supplies for the upcoming trip to SD.  I'm going to be short on cash, but I won't starve to death.

So when I get back, I'll be looking for a job for the weekends.  I'm doing some editing work for a friend, which is great, but it won't pay much.  I need something a little more consistent and lucrative.  I see the Dawg House in Livingston is looking for weekend help.  But I'm hoping something at a little coffee hut opens up.  Wish me luck!  Mamma's gotta buy some more new clothes!  And paint.  And new wiring for the house.  And food.

Panic.

FYI.  I need a second job.

The end.