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 28, 2010
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.
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...
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...
June 29, 2010
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.
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.
June 18, 2010
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.
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.
June 09, 2010
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.).
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.).
May 24, 2010
60th post
So instead of writing my own post today, I'd like to point you to another blog. This guy is hella amazing. Pat was once an English professor at UWSP, and changed my life. Completely. I am not making this up. Anyway, he went on to write a fantasy series, entitled "Name of the Wind", which happened to be on the New York Times best seller list. Be excited. Pat is really amazing. His most recent post is great. Check it out. Now.
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