The Unbecoming Quality of Anger

[Notice the Friday trend.]

Anyway, the week has been fairly quiet, except for my day where I realized that anger in the heart can lead to no good. There I was, minding my own business, taking kids on tours of the barn, when the very colorful and pretty rooster that I had previously grown quite fond of, tried to attack me. Yes, it came for me. I felt it at my skirt hem. I saw it trying to get me. Word of caution: Don't turn your back on roosters. They may be small, but for some reason they think they can do damage to you. And in all reality they can. Well, this rooster made me really mad. How dare he try and get me when my back was turned? So the anger boiled. It boiled to the point where I had the pitch fork trying to shoo it away, and I thought, "I could actually kill this rooster with this pitch fork." And believe me, for a split second I seriously thought about it. Then reason returned (After all, our caretaker-the lover of all winged creatures-would never speak to me or help me out with anything again. Oh, and it may have upset some school kids to see a rooster stuck with the pitch fork). I then resorted to trying to kick it. You don't feel as bad when you merely kick a rooster, rather than kill it. Sadly, in the process of trying to kick the rooster, I hurt my foot again. [Note: This was the foot I injured playing broom hockey. Yes, I twisted my ankle playing a pretend sport. Now you see why I avoided organized team sports for my entire life.]

The moral of the rooster story: Anger doesn't pay.

Can I Stop Praying For Rain?

This is a question for my dad really (and he doesn't read my blog...go figure). As a daughter of a dry farmer in southeastern Idaho, I was trained from an early age to always pray for moisture. We are always in a drought. But is the drought over? Because seriously, I feel like it is either raining or snowing every other day. Okay, so the snow looks like it has taken a short break (I predict snow in June this year, however), but I have had the little tune "Raindrops keep falling on my head..." running around in my head for quite some time now. I get to work outdoors, so I get to fully appreciate the moisture from heaven at its best. Which translates into wet feet, wet hair, and wet pioneer dress. It also, hopefully, means full reservoirs, green trees, and the beautiful scent of rain. But I really am curious, at what point does a drought end? Because Snowbird is still open for skiing business, apparently.

Seriously Elated

I am officially excited about going to grad school now. That's because I have a small change of plans from Cooperstown and will be moving to Washington DC this fall!!! Hooray! This is what I wanted from the beginning and am now officially accepted. So it's official, I can hardly wait! It's been my dream for awhile now, as Julie can attest! I will be going to George Washington University and studying museum studies. I no longer have to fake excitement for grad school because it is 100% genuine now. Oh, and everyone that was seriously annoyed by incessant "Who wants to go to Thailand?" queries can now rest easy. I no longer need a trip to make me excited about life. This move is pretty much going to do it!

The Beauty of Forgetting

The approximate 2 week lull in my blogging means only one thing...school groups are here. Oh, and I've been sick, which means, when I get home from work, I just lie in bed and try to recover. The only problem with trying to get better has been that winter hasn't entirely passed here in Logan. And I get to be outside during the wind, the rain, the snow, the sun--which makes getting better hard. It must be spring when I can get sunburned one day, and it can be snowing the next.

I have decided that the beauty of forgetting is a double edged sword. For example, I forget the horrible details about school groups that make me think, sure, I love my job. Then, when those horrible details come back in full force, I remember, and somehow the remembering--after I've already forgotten--makes it that much worse. So, I propose that any painful experiences will soon be forgotten, and then never experienced again. Somehow I doubt that will happen. But it is nice to live in bliss for awhile anyway.

The Biggest Surprise Of All

One month ago, I was surprised at how much I actually enjoyed Kansas. After being sure Kansas wouldn't be anything to talk about because there weren't any mountains, I find myself thinking that it was actually fun. And I turned into a Kansas fan because of it. It was that surprise of life: no matter how much you think you have something categorized or figured out, the possibility exists that it will actually turn out completely different. I forget this all of the time. And I literally mean, all of the time. But today, the biggest surprise of all came. It was yet one more weekend of chaos and exhaustion, all packaged in what we call Baby Animal Days. It has taken its toll on me through the years. For example, I am fairly certain that if I am ever lucky enough to have kids, I will never take them to an Easter Egg Hunt. I get a little bit panicked and nauseous thinking about it. However, as the day unfolded, I realized that I was sad. I was sad and realized that I was actually going to miss these festivals that we do. I realized it in a very real (as opposed to purely logical) way. I can't even quantify all the ways in which I will miss it...but I will. It's the people, the setting, the personalities, the animals, the mountains, the weather all in one package that I will miss. And that was the biggest surprise of all. I don't want to forget this lesson, because most of the time I like to think that I have things figured out. But in reality, you never know what surprising events or emotions life will bring.

The Customer Is Not Always Right

That is a true statement. I know, I've worked in retail. However, in my particular situation, I am right and America First Credit Union refuses to acknowledge it. I will spare you of the details...they seem to think I'm crazy anyway when I explain. In a nutshell, however, they deposited my money in someone else's account. They put it right, but not after I unknowingly spent money as if I had the money I thought I had deposited. Needless to say, my line of credit was maxed. So I paid it off (before I realized their mistake) from my savings. That money is now gone forever. But had they not made the mistake of giving someone else my money, I would never have lost that money to my line of credit. And now it's gone. (okay, so I didn't spare you the details)

All I want them to say is this: "I see why you are so upset. You are right." They could even say there is nothing they can do and I would even be okay. (I really do just want my money back that I paid to my line of credit...I know, I may be going out on a limb) But the two tellers (at two different branches, mind you) treated me as if I am an idiot. I don't like that. So, I'm waiting for my last checks to clear and then I'm changing banks. It just feels like I should. They are the ones that are crazy and I hate the feeling when people are treating me like I'm stupid.

So, that's my story for the day. I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be mad about this, but I am really upset.

Oh, and then I came home and got the letter from University of Washington informing me I didn't get into their program (another wait list). So, naturally, I now want to go there more than anything else and am really upset. Pretty much describes how I handle things that either come my way or don't. When will I learn to be happy with what I have or where I am?

The Promised Pictures

Kansas


The farmland and me, always on the lookout for historical sites. Who would have ever guessed the Civil War pretty much started in Kansas, just outside of Lawrence?

Downtown Lawrence. More fun than it might appear. I really liked the place. And good job on the basketball team.

You too can find this sink at a restroom at a gas station in Rawlins, WY.

Cooperstown


The houses. Those on the left are the standard. The one on the right, well, I heard he painted his house that way to make the mayor mad. It probably worked. All he needs to do is boycott Christmas and he may get thrown out.

Notice the wreath and Christmas lights. The lights are on, by the way. It is just a small picture. And this was not an isolated sight. Christmas wreaths everywhere. I was there March 6-9, go figure.

James Fenimore Cooper is buried here. The town is named after one of his relatives.


It was March, probably one of the least attractive months for places that are transitioning to spring. No exception here. But it had it charm.

And the Baseball Hall of Fame. Roberto Clemente, if you can't read the dark, tiny engraving on the plaque.

Lost in Albany (left). The blue house is where I stayed (right).