July 28, 2010

there and back again... again

It's been a while since I've posted, I'm sure. I've been without internet for the last few days. Also sorry if you sent me an email and I just got back to you today. It's been a struggle being without the web.

We just moved to Laurel and are beginning to get settled into a house we're renting. My beagle seems to enjoy the extra space. I like the extra space. Things on the job front are also looking pretty good. I'm working as a counselor in one of the girls' lodges. The girls I'm working with are pretty neat, though they are in need of a ton of help (some of which cannot be provided by our facility, but that's sometimes how life goes...). I still feel sort of awkward and out of place, but it's a challenge I feel that I can meet. My boss seemed afraid that I might not like it, but I feel that this is definitely a place to learn and grow. Not only am I helping a kid, (or hopefully several kids) I am theoretically helping myself to grow.

I have not had much time to explore the city of Billings, but I've had a little time. I've found a co-op called the Good Earth Market. It's like Great Grains, but a lot larger. It seems like a small grocery store full of whole food products and bins bulk items, like granola or oatmeal. They also have soaps, and holistic dog food. (I don't plan to get dog food there- the beagle seems good as she is... Just think it's weird. While I don't feel comfy feeding my dog things I wouldn't eat, I don't think it's necessary to have a hippie dog...) I don't know that I'm going to get a membership yet, but we'll see. I have also found a church that I plan to attend. Bailey and I went to explore Billings, but the church was not open and then a guy started telling me about his enjoyment of dog eating. At this point, we took off and returned to Laurel, the city we live in just outside of Billings.

Besides that, things are going pretty well. Nothing too new to describe just yet...

July 14, 2010

The struggle of moving has once again hit me. (Hit me like what, you might ask. I am not entirely sure to be completely honest.) Anyway, we're struggling to get into an apartment (for various reasons), but I'm really hoping something works out really quickly, as I start my new job in one week, two days. I've been told that so long as I'm actively looking for a solution to my problemos, something is bound to turn up. So, I have been constantly searching. And nothing has turned up for sure just yet. And if it does not, well..... we'll cross that bridge when Ty and I burn it, I suppose.

On a more positive note, Bailey and I have managed to go out on several walks (or, in her case, runs...) and we have successfully managed to avoid both rattlesnakes and people on dirt bikes. We have also recently managed to avoid wolves, and make friends with other (friendly looking) dogs.

I'm really looking forward to the move to Billings. Don't get me wrong- Miles City has been a great community to live in for a year, but I feel as though I'm getting too comfortable with living in a small town... and I cannot say that I'm a huge fan of being too comfortable or the small town feeling that comes with being here. It's been welcoming, after you get over the, "Who are you? You're not from here!" stage of things. I feel more than ready, however, to move on. The job at Yellowstone sounds amazing! I really can't wait to start working with kids and actually doing stuff, that doesn't involve sitting in one place all day, writing articles that get torn completely to shreds. (S0 I recognize that revision is important, but if someone is going to completely re-write what I've written, what's the point of asking me to write something? I have an English degree. I spent four (okay, three and a half) years writing papers at a college level. I think I know what I'm doing. ) I'll be getting paid to make someone's day a little better and not sit on Facebook all day. I'll be getting paid to do something I like, and maybe learn something while I'm at it. I'll be getting paid to do stuff, period, that isn't sitting around and doing nothing.

On a slightly more fun note, I went to see this year's Shakesphere in the Park with a friend and her kid. It was Julius Caesar, so naturally, I wasn't really paying too much attention to the performance (though their costumes were neat). I found myself more focused on the kid I was with. He's so friggin' funny. He made a comment to the effect of, "Mom, this beer tastes a lot like soda." My friend looks at him, and replies, " that's because it is soda, honey." He then went on to tell me about how his step-dad drank a lot of beer. This conversation kind of made me giggle. Quite a bit.

July 06, 2010

4th of July

Independence weekend this year was rather... interesting to say the least.

On Friday, Tyson and I traveled to Billings on his motorcycle to check out apartments, and found something we liked. It's small, but cute, and dog friendly. It's a lot nicer than the place we're living in now. A plus. So, that's one thing out of the way. We got back a bit later than planned, and I missed the softball game, but it's ok. I got some sleep.

Saturday was fun. Miles City had a parade, and there was some stuff going on in the park. The Farmers' Market was great, as usual. The parade was lacking in the marching band department, but had a horse-drawn hurse. (spelling? one of those things that carries dead people...) Tyson and I, after the town festivities concluded, went out for a hike near Fort Keough. We allowed Bailey the Beagle to run off of her lead, and she did well for a while, until she caught a smell and took off. Despite our constant calling, it took us seemingly forever to get her back. I was getting anxious, while Tyson kept reassuring me that she would return. As I started to return to the car to see if she had gone back, Tyson calls to tell me he found her, and that he had gotten bit by a rattle snake. I called emergency, and an ambulance, several cop cars and a four wheeler (not to be confused with a quad) appear on the scene. We manage to find Tyson, who shortly after gets picked up and placed on the back of the four wheeler. He gets taken to the ER, where one of my co-workers meets me, and agrees to look after the dog for a few hours. We spent 15 hours in the hospital this weekend, and all worked out ok.

The rest of the weekend was pretty chill. We wound up taking Rose to the city's fireworks on the 4th. At this point Ty tried to explain that we were moving, and that he wouldn't get to see her as often. She hardly seemed phased by this... But hopefully, all will work itself out...