Montana

I have a few new exciting things going on...

First of all, I got the job in Billings, which is exciting. I have a real, grown up job. It's exciting. I'm excited about the opportunities that come with this. While it's not paying the most, it's a great place to begin. The current trick is finding an apartment that's dog friendly very quickly.

Speaking of my doggy, she's come down with a staph infection. She's on some crazy medicine, but seems to be doing ok with love and yogurt to supplement her diet to help the good bacterias return to her otherwise seemingly empty tummy. She's struggling to eat her kibble, but it might be the heat as well as her infection... I haven't been feeling so good, either, but it's super warm (like 100 degrees), so I'm trying to stay comfy as well as help my hound recover. Oh, the life.

edit 30 June: I'd also like to note that I'm excited about the Billings move, if not slightly intimidated. There are a few VISTAs remaining in that area, which will be cool. But, my time and "weekends" are completely different than the rest of the world, or so it seems. It's ok, though. I would eventually like to apply to MSU- Billings for a Masters in Mental Health and Rehab consoling. Seems interesting, and would probably result in promotions or a better job. The cool thing is that they offer online courses and classroom courses. I hope my life plan works out, and that this grown up thing really isn't as scary as it seems to be. So far, I've had someone else around to help make decisions for me or walk me through the processes that I needed to take. And now, well, I'm trying to do things myself. And really, it doesn't seem so bad. Yet.

Once again, there's...

...nothing too new or exciting happening on the horizon. I've been applying for jobs, mostly by sending out lots of resumes to places that look interesting and are hiring. I have an interview on Tuesday that I'm very excited about at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in Billings. I hope this works out. If not, well, apply, apply, and apply some more and hopefully something will pop up. Jobs are really had to come by, I've heard, so I'm quite glad that I've had the opportunity to interview as much as I've had.

Several people that I'm close with have had to quit their jobs or have recently been let go because their employers are cutting back on staffing. Which sucks. Several of these people, it seems, are far more skilled than I am. This doesn't help me in the confidence department, but hey, at least I look good on paper.

My dad came out to visit a few weeks ago. This turned out to be a decent adventure, and they seemed to enjoy most of the things that I thought they would. We visited the ranch and a local vineyard. We also went to Spotted Eagle, where Bailey the Beagle did her thing and they got to marvel at the wide open spaces that I've come to take for granted. I managed to forget just how open things are here, as compared to the city I lived in before coming here. A friend of mine, after hearing about some of my and Bailey's adventures, asked that I return to "civilization" as soon as possible. I don't know how I feel about this. The big skies and open spaces are beginning to seem more and more appealing each time Bailey and I discover a new place that she can roam.

Tucker is moving onward, which will bring some change for me. The health foods store won't feel the same, and I feel as though I'm losing friends. Tucker and Scott have helped to make this place a lot better for me than it was when I got here. And now, the comfort bubble seems to be taking off. But, it all seems to be a growing process. I've got an amazing beagle. And some pretty good friends out here besides. Maybe Montana isn't such a bad place, after all.

Nothing too new or exciting is happening, besides me sending in two tons of job applications daily. (Which has proven to not be so successful.) I've only landed one interview, and, upon telling them that I wouldn't be able to start until the middle of July, they seemed disappointed. Or something to that effect. But, you know, that's how the world works sometimes.

I do, however, have some Bailey the Beagle stories to share. We went hiking over the past weekend, and she found some turkeys in some bushes, and decided that she wanted to chase them. She managed to get them out, and follow them for a bit, until they jumped off of a hillside. This caused her some confusion, but she continued smelling around, seemingly hoping to find a new smell. On Monday, she had the opportunity to meet something that looked like a lab, but had huge feet. The lab was following it's person who was riding a horse and seemed kind of cowgirl-tastic (which seemed kind of badass, of course). Anyway, they became friends and all went on after their doggy mohawks went down. (When my dog becomes nervous or unsure of herself, she has a patch of hair on her back near her neck that sticks up and looks kind of like a Mohawk.) I've determined that I'm still infatuated with cowboy culture. It's not so much that I desire to live on a ranch and have like 30,000 cows, but it's still neat being able to visit, and "help" to work with cows. It's also cool being able to participate in a culture that seems to be all about the cows and ranches, and having a ton of extra space available to do whatever on, like letting Bailey and her dog friends run on. Or, letting my dog walk with me off her leash, and recognizing that we're not going to get in trouble if she minds her manners and doesn't decide to jump on anything that shouldn't be jumped on (say a small child- but this happened once. Ty's kid was flailing the dog's toy around and Bail decided she wanted it back. When dog jumped up to grab it, she knocked the kid right over.).