Back to School

I can definitely tell that school is back in session here in Laramie. Our weekend trip to Wal-mart was chaotic due to the mass amounts of students purchasing bedding, notebooks, and ramen noodles. The streets are suddenly more trafficy and it takes twice as long to get to work (a whole 4-5 min. now). Summer is Laramie is nice, mostly because it is quite and the weather is fantastic. I have to admit though that I do have a sort of fondness for the starting of school. It marks the beginning of fall which is my favorite season. The temperatures start to cool down, and life comes back to this otherwise small, boring town. While work is crazy at this time of year, I somehow still find the time to enjoy it.

Today for instance, I had to walk across campus to drop off some paperwork. It's still pretty warm, so people are everywhere. Students are socializing and buzzing around. The campus shuttle buses are busy transporting some students, while the other stops are waiting for the right one. It's great! I love the opportunity to get out of my office and stroll around campus from time to time. I was reminded today of one of my absolute favorite things about this campus. The bikes. There are bikes as far as the eye can see. People zipping by you on one or pulling up to one of the racks or simply standing in riding position while talking to their friends. I walked past the bike rack that is next to the student union today. It was packed! As many problems as there are trying to find a parking space for your car on campus, there are just as many trying to find a place to park your bike. The bike racks near the union were full, so people had just locked them up wherever there was space....a tree, the handicapped access railing, the stairs, picnic tables.

I made me smile to see all of the bikes, as it does so often. I guess it's just because it reminds me of how active people are here, or maybe it makes me feel like a kid again. I don't know, but I love it, so I just thought I would share. Maybe in the next day or two I will remember to bring my camera so that you can see the really craziness of it all!

Bambi's Mom Lives

So I was planning on going hunting with my friend Michell this fall. I wasn't actually going hunt deer, but antelope (see right) instead. I thought (and still think) that it would be pretty awesome to go because it would fill your freezer for months, if not the whole year. This may sound sick to some, but I really have no problem killing an animal as long as you can eat it. I never intended on becoming one of those hunters that kills everything (bears, moose, mountain lions) just for the thrill of the hunt or even to help control the animal population. If I can't eat it, I'm not shooting it. That was my intention.

I still have no real aversion to the act of hunting. It's the gun. I hate guns, and pretty much always have. It really didn't cross my mind that I would have to get over this fear/hate of guns, until just recently. I never really considered it, and thought that when we practiced I would just somehow miraculously get over it. Not so much! It scared the poo out of me! It made my stomach churn and my hand shake (not a good thing when aiming either). I got a little more secure by the end, but then started imagining having to carry it all day, belly crawl with it, and do whatever else was necessary to spend an entire day, probably weekend, and maybe more of hunting for the perfect shot. That's what got me. I imagined that the gun wouldn't be loaded when we took it out. Then I would just load it when I was ready to shoot. That is not the case...you actually have to load it and carry it around like that!

So I decided, after many self-given pep talks, that I would not do it. I couldn't stand the thought of walking around all day with a loaded gun. I think the stress of that alone would make the whole thing miserable. So I had to bear the bad news to my friend this morning. I think she understood, but was a little disappointed. I am a chicken when it comes to guns, and I'm okay with that. I am rather disappointed myself, as I was looking forward to the freezer full of food, the mount that I was going to be give to the Shelton's at some point (perhaps for Christmas), and the fact that I would get to be out tromping around the mountains for days on end. Oh well. I think I made the right decision and know that I can deal with it. Maybe it will give Jon and me some time to go out and camp among the changing Aspen trees, while enjoying the crisp fall weather.

Week of Friends

It has been quite a week! Some friends are returning after being gone all summer, while one is leaving.

Some friends of ours, Kyong and Emi have been gone for a month now. When I got to work on Monday I had a note on my door from them saying hi! In fact it made my day because Emi wrote in Japanese! I am so excited for them to be back in town. We have a great time together cooking, playing cards, camping, and so much more. They are great cooks too. I have actually been anxiously awaiting Kyong's return because he brought some amazing Tiramsu over just before he left (yes he's Korean, but it was the best stuff I've ever tasted)! I want him to teach me how to make it. They are also supposed to be teaching us how to make one of our favorite dishes, Mabo Tofu, and Emi promised to show me how to make dumplings. We like to exchange dinners and recipes (if you can't tell). Well mostly I like their recipes, although I think she's probably got some stuff on her list that I need to teach her. I can't wait to spend time with them and eat together again! I am so glad they are back, and can't believe how quickly the time has gone by!

Our other friends from Saudi Arabia, Khalid and Rheem, will be coming back next week. Khalid has just been gone for the summer, but Rheem has been gone since last Christmas. They had a baby in November, MD's his nick name, and we haven't gotten to see him in almost eight months! I am sure we wouldn't even recognize him, if not for the picture updates that we've gotten over the time. Jon sent Khalid an email saying that we would be happy to pick them up from the airport and added that he is anxious to see his "nephew." Khalid and Rheem said that MD will know us as his American aunt and uncle. So clearly we are dying to see him and to get to know him a lot better!

The bittersweet part of this week is that I also just found out that one of my good friends, Jesse, from work will be moving in two weeks. I am so happy for her because her fiance was finally able to get a good job, but it is all the way in Maine! I am pretty bummed out just because she is one of the semi-sane ones in our office. She is so blunt and while most people think that's bad, I admire that quality in a person. She always comes in and makes me laugh, and I will miss her terribly! She is quirky, opinionated, and a little on the liberal side (okay, maybe a lot), but I was always given a new perspective when we talked. She, Michell, and I had the best conversations and really enjoyed "picking" on each other. Michell and I just won't be the same without her. So while I am so excited for her and for the new life that she's embarking on, those that are left behind will miss her. I am also looking forward to taking her up on her offer to visit, since I have always wanted to go to Maine in the fall. Maybe some day!

In looking at this week's events so far (all of this in two days!) I have to step back and see that we really do have a great life here. I get frustrated all too often about living here, but it really is good. The Lord was good to us in providing friends, even though none of them are believers. We truly do have a full, blessed life.

Four Years Today

Well today Jon and I celebrate our anniversary. Four years seems like such a long time, yet so short at the same time. I was thinking about it over the weekend, and found that we have been friends/known each other for almost seven years! Now that's a long time!

I love our anniversary. It is quite possibly my favorite day (or week--we celebrate for a long time) of the year. Needless to say I was quite disappointed when Jon called me at work on Monday to tell me that he would be going to Riverton all week (about four hours away). He is doing an internship right now and they decided that they needed some extra help, so he would be going. He was to leave first thing the next morning. I was so bummed out! I mean we had already made plans to celebrate over the weekend, but for some reason the thought of sitting at home on our anniversary was a little depressing to me. Okay, really I was ticked! Ticked that the company was making him go, more than anything!

Well I was talking to my mother-in-law on the phone and was telling her about how I was upset about it. She said that she couldn't blame me, and that she would feel the same if she had to be alone on her anniversary! So we were talking and she said, you know you should just go up there. He's got a hotel room so I wouldn't have to worry about that, and then we could just go out for dinner or something. I thought this was brilliant! Why hadn't I thought of that?! So I mentioned it to Jon, and he thought it was a good idea too, so I am off. Well not just yet, but this afternoon. I am taking a much needed day off from work tomorrow so that I can drive over this afternoon. Then I will just find something nice to do tomorrow (which will most definitely include some much needed sleep) and maybe a pedicure, and then we will drive home together! I am so excited about it, and am continually thanking Cindy for the great advise!

While Riverton isn't exactly the coolest place to visit (pretty sure the population is only a few thousand), I am looking forward to a little exploration tomorrow, as it is close to a really beautiful area called Sinks Canyon. It's supposed to be beautiful, so I figure it is about time I check it out. I might also get to have some lunch with the grandparents-in-laws, because Thermopolis is only about 50 miles away (trust me that is really close to us!). Should be a nice day to include lots of "me" time tomorrow and some good quality hubby time tonight!