I went job hopping yesterday. Went to coffee making at 8.15am. Straight from there to interpret at WIC at 8.45am. Straight from WIC to Hope Haven at 4pm. Stayed there until 10pm. Only went home once inbetween all that, for about 3 minutes around 4.15pm on my way to see one of my community guys.

I got my exercise in yesterday too, since my car is out of commission and I had to bike from home to Dordt, to New Life, to Ridgebrook, to the New Homestead, to Ridgebrook, and then home again. Plus I went for a 30min walk with another couple clients. SOOOO HOT!

Tonight we go wild.

I saw the coolest looking old man today. Tall, lean, wrinkled, good old man style, and a flat cap. I wanted to call him grandpa and I don't even know his name. But he reminded me of my Grandpa Vanderploeg.

For the first time in ages, it seems, I am bored at work. Caught up on my documenting, nobody to see at the moment, just waiting to pass meds and for teeth-brushing sessions.

I finished Grapes of Wrath this week. Gave me the chills. Yikes! So I thought I'd read some Jane Austen next to cure my depression, but came out of the library with some Emily Bronte instead. Hmmm. Hopefully it's not too depressing.

All in a days work.

Adventure #1.
Lisa and I packed up my bike baskets and strapped her into a backpack and cycled all the way to Oak Grove. 15 miles. Two and a half hours of strenuous work up hills, in the sun, and against east bound wind. Totally worth it.

Adventure #2.
Upon arriving we saw there was a boy scout day camp. We asked a woman what time they would all be leaving and she said 4pm. She asked where we came from. We said Sioux Center. She looked a bit bewildered. "You biked?"
"Yes."
"And you're camping here tonight?"
"Yes."
"Do your mom's know you're here?"

Now it was Lisa's and my turn to look bewildered. Apparently this woman thought we were 16. In our surprised amusement, we acted quite awkwardly, probably just confirming her suspicions about our age, no matter what age we claimed to be.

Adventure #3.
Lisa and I had a goal of getting out of state, which required us to cross the river. We were a bit concerned about the water being safe to swim across, but swim we must for we needed to reach South Dakota and did not want to bike another 10 miles to do so. Determined to meet our goal, we cautiously maneuvered our way across the rocks by the shore and then plopped off and began swimming like crazy to get across without getting carried too far down the bank. Just when I was getting quite tired, I looked over at Lisa who suddenly popped up a bit and said, "Hey, I can touch." As it turns out, you can pretty much walk straight across the whole river. A sheepish smile, a slight blush, and then some roaring laughter to regain our self confidence.

Adventure #4.
Begging for bug spray from other campers.

Adventure #5.
After a very rigid search, Lisa and I finally came upon the perfect camping site. Two trees secluded enough to not be found by the park ranger, and close enough together with branches sturdy enough and low enough to hang a hammock from. That's right. We shared one hammock and one blanket. Slightly difficult, slightly uncomfortable, really cold. And we got bug bit.

Adventure #6.
Watching the sunset, then skinny dipping, then almost getting caught...

Adventure #7.
Getting up with the sun, hearing birds all around, and seeing deer calmly grazing nearby. Packing up and heading home with no wind, cool morning air, and just a few stops for breakfast and to strip down as we warmed up from exertion. Thinking I might not make it, but I had to, so I would. Almost bagels. And finally making it back in time for church.

Seven is a good number, so we end there.

Once upon a time...

This morning I worked (and still am there) at one of the waiver homes in Sioux Center. Not my usual place. In fact I've only worked here a few times in all. Anyway, I went with one of the guys to his church, as is custom. He goes to 1st CRC.
Towards the beginning of the sermon, when everyone is still fully alert and not shuffling around yet, I noticed my client had a runny nose and was coughing too so he had snot running down and smearing all over his face. I took him to the bathroom and he cleaned himself up.
After fixing his belt and tucking in his shirt all mother-like, we began to walk back to our seats... only he was in front of me and before I could stop him he power walked right down the wrong isle - the middle isle. Not until he was all the way at the very front of the church did he stop in confusion, realizing he missed something. The pastor just ignored the whole scenario and preached on, which was nice, so I calmly followed my client in my noisy heels (didn't have my chasing shoes on) and quietly directed him to make a right turn, cross through an empty pew to the next isle, and then back track a little to get to our pew. He walked right past that too, but I was a little quicker this time and managed to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention before he walked right back down to the back of the church...
Finally we were safe and sound back in our little pew. *sigh* And then I realized this is the church that gets aired on television (I think). How embarrassing. Though at least now I can maybe say I've been on TV.

little of this and a little of that.

I've been biking to work lately so I get to use my nifty headlamp with four different settings.  Yeah, night vision! 

Lisa and I biked to Sandy Hollow on Sunday to take a nap, which we never took, or to read a book, which we never read.  What caused our unproductiveness?  Making a list of ten things to accomplish this summer.  Number accomplished so far - zero. But we've only had this for a week. 

I got myself a temporary third job translating and transcribing video footage of interviews with three Guatemalan women for Prof. Volkers.  It is tedious and time consuming and hard. But I like it.  

Scott came by today.  He took me to the dark room and showed me some pictures he took with this "new" camera he is learning to use. One of those old school ones with the black blanket over it and whose name I forgot.  Thanks, man.

Tuesday night there were tornado watches. I went outside to visit a client and looked up at the sky. It was amazing!  The clouds looked like cartoon clouds. Like when a cloud face blows and the clouds coming out of its mouth are almost like smooth, round waves. I've never ever seen clouds that looked like those.  Then last night it rained a bit, but around 1.30 it quit and the clouds rolled away and the stars looked spectacular. 

I seeded some grass in some dirt patches in the lawn.  Thanks to all the rain we had this week, the grass is already over 2 inches long.  I've said this before, but seeing grass grow which I planted is quite rewarding.  

I missed my brother today, so I wrote him a letter.  I miss a lot of people, really. 

Lisa and I have a breakfast date in the morning, so to bed I must good. Goodnight, Moon.

It's been a long time since you've come around.

Some recent happenings around here include the following:

- Dee left.
- Lisa finally moved in.
- Paul is leaving.
- Ross is finally moving in.
- Pulled about 9 bags full of weeds.
- Have plans to begin planting the garden...
- Premier Communications is rewiring or something in the neighborhood.
= Loud noises.
- Cell phone is expiring this week. (Sorry, no more long distance phone calls will be made on my part.)
- Finally downloaded skype. (still no mic though.)
- Minor job searching.
- Minor plans to begin school searching...
- Expanding my music collection to include TV on the Radio, Lou Reed, Sonic Youth, and the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour.
- Keeping Fiona and the snake plant alive.
- Visited family in Grand Rapids.
- Got there via Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the UP of Michigan.
- Saw Skip.
- Did not see a bear, though we tried really hard.

I suppose that sums it up.

Until next time.

The adventures of Betty and the Bitch.

In the beginning...

Laurie and the cork screw.

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Idaho.


Slack-jawin' around.


In Bellingham, me thinks.

The Westras.

Three in the front.

Special thanks to Betty, the bitch, Jeremy (both of them) Lisa, and Ross.

The end.

good day sunshine

This morning I awoke after a restful 9hrs of sleep. I put some music on and ate breakfast on the back "porch". I proceeded to clean up the yard slightly, then checked on my sprouting flower pellets, and then began my laundry, which so desperately needed doing. I am wearing my last clean underpants. Only now I have more, hanging on the line in the backyard. I leafed through the shopper and cut out ads for jobs that looked application-worthy and then I began fixing up my resumé. Laura put coffee on, so we had koffie en stroopwafels. Then more koffie. At 3.55 I headed to work all gardened, sunned up, and caffeinated. What a good morning.

The day was rather breezy, gusty even, with short bursts of sunshine. I had rushed to work, late as usual, but upon arriving found there was not much to do, also as usual, for the rush does not begin until almost 5 when most of the clients come home from a hard days work. I stowed my supper in the office where the fragrance of freshly cut grass wafting through the window and the sound of rustling trees lured me back outside. Four trees laden with blossoms danced in the wind to what I imagined must have been a celtic violin song. I stood under them a while, enjoying the blizzard of flower petals swirling all around me and taking in their delightful aroma. What a good evening.

good night, moon.

Amanda posted about happiness. This weekend I have felt truly happy. I think. What a satisfying weekend. Friday there was the "premier" and then a relatively calm but awesome night. Saturday there were Palisades, Czech hitchhikers, waterfalls, beer, sunsets, gymnastics, rock climbing, and bonfires. Not exactly in that order. Today there was Edgerton, Wegeners, frozen fruit blends, eating outdoors, sunburn, seed planting, talks with Mom, volleyball, coffee time, old friends, and puppies. Tomorrow I anticipate a car wash, more gardening, and hopefully more puppies.

I am going to attempt running this summer. If Diane can put up with me long enough for me to get in shape, that is. Otherwise I'll granny walk it. If Mrs. Kroeze can look so good doing it, so can I, right?

Some activities I am anticipating this summer are camping, canoeing, gardening, and volleyballing.

Mom wants me to play violin for Grandma/pa's 50th anniversary party. I should start practicing. Maybe in a month I'll be able to squeek out a nice love song.