While I am still amazed at waking up next to the mountains everyday, I am slowly realizing how far from everyone I am. Yes, I know I am on the other side of the country, but it is hitting me how alone I am. This week I experienced my first "bad news" from back home: that a family member had passed away. My step-mom's brother hit a deer while riding a motor cycle and wasn't wearing a helmet. I have met Uncle Bud enough times to know that he was a great guy and very much loved by his family. It is a shock to them and I wish that I was there for them to lean on during this time. I have lost quite a few family members and understand the pain and loss. I also know that this is not the last time I will get bad news over the phone and have to make the decision if I need to come back home.
On the other front, I did get the job babysitting for a family in town. It's fairly good pay and they are all sweet kids. I already watched the youngest girl (2 yrs) for a few hours this week, and they want me to watch all 3 for a few more hours Monday. I don't mind as it is more money in my pocket. At the same time, I am still waiting for that first sale, and have some decisions to make as far as how much money out of pocket I am willing to part with without getting any in return. It won't be for much longer, I can bet on that. I did receive a call to refinish someones table (from my ad in the paper), but that is the only response I have gotten so far. Everything was going so smoothly that I am a little (ok a lot) frustrated at not selling stuff. While I am also looking at applying to be a sub teaching, another job may be needed also. Seeing if I can get a roommate to split rent is a possibility too.
My final for class is this next week, so once that is done and out of the way I can focus on some other stuff. Like the midterm, it is open book/note so I am not worried about it. I am reading a lot of books...working my way through the alphabet and watching random foreign films. "The Weeping Camel" was interesting (to the point I was laughing) and "The Namesake" was actually a good one. I also try to walk everywhere I can, though this month has been a little more rainy from the monsoon clouds coming in off the west coast. I am just waiting for things to happen at this point and enjoying my time. I hope that you are having a great summer also!
Views from the town
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Happy Birthday America
Well another week has passed and I can't believe that I have been here over a month now. Some days it feels like longer and others shorter. It was weird celebrating a holiday without really knowing anyone here (and knowing my family and friends were having their own celebrations without me), but I managed to keep myself busy. I decided not to have my store open too much for the weekend and to enjoy the small town festivities...and there were a lot.
The development I work in had a concert Saturday and Sunday night with a bluegrass band and a lot of beer. I went for awhile Saturday night and laughed at the kids chasing each other in front of the stage and the drunk grandma who gyrated to the tunes. By the end of the evening the grassy area was packed with hippy looking dancers holding Samuel Adams cups seeing who could get the most attention from the opposite sex. I thought that the band was pretty good though and had fun.
Sunday I went to church and a little boy did a solo for one of the patriotic songs. He was awesome! Afterwards I walked downtown for the car show they had set up. There were some really neat looking ones that were from the 1920's. If you have facebook and are my friend, take a look at the pics. I could just imagine being young when those cars were in style and cruising the streets. They looked exciting to ride, but I don't know what would happen if there was a crash. Some of them were more open than our common convertible or jeep. Later that night they had a street dance, which was like a glorified middle school dance. I laughed a lot watching them try to dance. There were a few older women that did some country line dancing, to which the teens tried to learn. Many of the teens didn't even know the electric slide! I remember when it came out and was the coolest dance to know haha. I think some of them weren't even born yet when it came out. Anyhow, some of them learned it that night.
Monday they had a parade come through the town. It was almost an hour long and I sat next to the two most adorable little girls. They waved to everyone going past to try and get candy thrown to them, but were a little timid to actually go get it when it was thrown. I gave them whatever I caught, as I didn't need it. In return, when floats were throwing out Popsicles they gave me one. Good thing because it was HOT in that sun, even though it was only 10am. It ended up being in the 90's that day. After that I went to the Art in the Park show which had some food stands and various artists showing their wares. I got a huge hot dog and a tiger's blood icee (strawberry and coconut). It was very good and also helped with the hot sun. I decided to walk to the museum for the town, as it was a free admittance day. They had all sorts of things from a century ago such as machinery, clothing, furniture and school stuff. There was also a model train set of the area towns during the railroad days. Later that night, the church I've been going to had a free ice cream social (more treats- I know!) and games then fireworks. My partner Anna and I won the water balloon toss! The handful of toddlers had fun throwing an egg at each other for the egg toss and it just would not break. We were all laughing hysterically when it broke after over 20 minutes of them throwing it around and the kids had shocked faces. I guess they thought it wouldn't ever break. The fireworks were good, though we were kind of far away. The mosquitoes attacked us a bit, but I covered myself pretty good so not too many bites.
This week I have been having people drift in and out of my store, but still no sales. My next plan of attack is advertising. I have ordered business cards and will be putting an ad in the newspaper. Then posting signs and cards everywhere I can! There have been 3 local kids that ride their bikes around the block my shop is on (about a hundred times a day) and they have ventured in a few times to talk with me. The oldest one, a girl around 9 or so, wanted to buy a monkey pod salad bowl set I had to give to her mom. I am now almost finished painting it for her and her grandma came in to tell me the girl is over the moon about this set. I guess someone is happy about what I'm doing!
This Saturday there is a church giving away free clothes so I am going to go check it out. I donated about half of my clothes before I left to have more room in my car, so I need to stock up again! I am also meeting a family that I might do some babysitting for this summer and school year. Getting some extra cash will be nice, as I might have to get a part time job anyways for definite income. There have been a few rainy days this week, but it is sunny out today! I have been walking to work and back, around 3 miles all together, and trying to walk everywhere as much as I can. There is a rodeo show this weekend that I might check out too, so hopefully I can have another packed weekend of fun stuff to do. Hope where-ever you are, you will have a blessed weekend as well!
The development I work in had a concert Saturday and Sunday night with a bluegrass band and a lot of beer. I went for awhile Saturday night and laughed at the kids chasing each other in front of the stage and the drunk grandma who gyrated to the tunes. By the end of the evening the grassy area was packed with hippy looking dancers holding Samuel Adams cups seeing who could get the most attention from the opposite sex. I thought that the band was pretty good though and had fun.
Sunday I went to church and a little boy did a solo for one of the patriotic songs. He was awesome! Afterwards I walked downtown for the car show they had set up. There were some really neat looking ones that were from the 1920's. If you have facebook and are my friend, take a look at the pics. I could just imagine being young when those cars were in style and cruising the streets. They looked exciting to ride, but I don't know what would happen if there was a crash. Some of them were more open than our common convertible or jeep. Later that night they had a street dance, which was like a glorified middle school dance. I laughed a lot watching them try to dance. There were a few older women that did some country line dancing, to which the teens tried to learn. Many of the teens didn't even know the electric slide! I remember when it came out and was the coolest dance to know haha. I think some of them weren't even born yet when it came out. Anyhow, some of them learned it that night.
Monday they had a parade come through the town. It was almost an hour long and I sat next to the two most adorable little girls. They waved to everyone going past to try and get candy thrown to them, but were a little timid to actually go get it when it was thrown. I gave them whatever I caught, as I didn't need it. In return, when floats were throwing out Popsicles they gave me one. Good thing because it was HOT in that sun, even though it was only 10am. It ended up being in the 90's that day. After that I went to the Art in the Park show which had some food stands and various artists showing their wares. I got a huge hot dog and a tiger's blood icee (strawberry and coconut). It was very good and also helped with the hot sun. I decided to walk to the museum for the town, as it was a free admittance day. They had all sorts of things from a century ago such as machinery, clothing, furniture and school stuff. There was also a model train set of the area towns during the railroad days. Later that night, the church I've been going to had a free ice cream social (more treats- I know!) and games then fireworks. My partner Anna and I won the water balloon toss! The handful of toddlers had fun throwing an egg at each other for the egg toss and it just would not break. We were all laughing hysterically when it broke after over 20 minutes of them throwing it around and the kids had shocked faces. I guess they thought it wouldn't ever break. The fireworks were good, though we were kind of far away. The mosquitoes attacked us a bit, but I covered myself pretty good so not too many bites.
This week I have been having people drift in and out of my store, but still no sales. My next plan of attack is advertising. I have ordered business cards and will be putting an ad in the newspaper. Then posting signs and cards everywhere I can! There have been 3 local kids that ride their bikes around the block my shop is on (about a hundred times a day) and they have ventured in a few times to talk with me. The oldest one, a girl around 9 or so, wanted to buy a monkey pod salad bowl set I had to give to her mom. I am now almost finished painting it for her and her grandma came in to tell me the girl is over the moon about this set. I guess someone is happy about what I'm doing!
This Saturday there is a church giving away free clothes so I am going to go check it out. I donated about half of my clothes before I left to have more room in my car, so I need to stock up again! I am also meeting a family that I might do some babysitting for this summer and school year. Getting some extra cash will be nice, as I might have to get a part time job anyways for definite income. There have been a few rainy days this week, but it is sunny out today! I have been walking to work and back, around 3 miles all together, and trying to walk everywhere as much as I can. There is a rodeo show this weekend that I might check out too, so hopefully I can have another packed weekend of fun stuff to do. Hope where-ever you are, you will have a blessed weekend as well!
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