'lay back cause this is summertime'

The past week has really felt like summertime.  Not quite the Austin summer that I had grown accustomed to... but definitely summer.  This past week I got my first sunburn of the season; cruised around on my motorcycle; and spent the afternoon at an amusement park riding roller coasters and watching Elvis impersonators. 


While I could definitely complain about the heat and humidity (nothing compared to the rain forest, I mean, Houston), especially because of the lack of air conditioning in my residence, but to be honest it has been wonderful.  It feels so good to get a dose of heat and sunlight.  This past week I spent Thursday and Friday at the beach with my grandparents and even brought Roswell (whom Papou renamed 'Roswella' by the second day to better fit her 'shemale' self.)  The weather was beautiful - we went walking a bit, had delicious food, and even got Papou up on his feet playing with the pup.  Plus I got my first sunburn of the season!


Then on Saturday, I joined some housemates for Dale's birthday celebration.  She LOVES rollercoasters and grew up in the area, so we went back to an old, small amusement park that she would frequent as a kid.  It was a really fun, relaxed afternoon - five housemate went, and we went on log rides and coasters and swings, had pizza and funnel cake, and watched Elvis, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.  A wonderful day overall.  And so summertime.


Then, to top it off, I saw my cousins for the first time since being in Boston.  They live just about a half hour away, outside of Boston, but I hadn't had the time to go out there.  So I joined them and my grandparents for a delicious dinner.  Also, Roswell met her cousin, Riley, who is a 6 month old Boykin puppy.  They ran and wrestled and Roswell provoked him like crazy just as she always does.

There's talk of bike rides and swimming in the lake and iced coffee.  There's fresh strawberries and blooming sunflowers and raspberry muffins baking...  this season has officially begun.

Sunny

The first sunflower of the season in front of my home. And I can see the others bursting to get out!!!

more mixed up

I'm in Pittsburgh this week. Yet another week of upheaval. Going on 6 weeks of this now. This week is a little different - my Gramma passed away last Friday. It was the best for her; at least that's how I feel. Haley and I had the pleasure of stopping through on our drive up during the move. We spent the afternoon and an overnight at their house. She was doing well the day we came. She had been released from the hospital after being stabilized from heart trouble. When we visited she was set up in her living room with oxygen, a hospital bed, etc. She was obviously uncomfortable and unhappy with the situation, but we got to visit and chat. It was the first time Haley had met any of my Dad's family. I'm eternally grateful that we stopped and stayed there for a short time.

Because I'm still unemployed (and beginning to get worried) I was able to come out on Monday and I'm staying until tomorrow afternoon. There were viewings and catching up with family and the funeral service of course. And today we spent some time sight seeing and went out to et (eat) at the casino dahntahn (down town.)

Perhaps this is the beginning of my gambling problem. Actually I played the penny slots, put in two dollars total and lost it all before I figured out what all the buttons meant. Great experience. Vegas here I come!

It will be good to get back home. But I'm sick of feeling so aimless without a way to support myself. I think ASAP I'll be heading to City Feed, a neighborhood grocery/cafe, to turn in an application with some 'references' from housemates who used to work there. If I'm going to get $11 an hour, I may as well be surrounded by good food.

At least I got to spend some time with family - that I really enjoyed.

On the road again

On the road to Northampton for a weekend visit...

Puppy: why the eff are you waking me up mama

Me: because you're so darn cute i need to photograph you! and watch your language.

great quote

if you practice chicken, you’re going to get nowhere with the turkey.

relaxing

relaxing
Originally uploaded by lmobstar

- A shot from my self guided bike tour of Boston. After spending the first few days driving from place to place (by necessity) and sitting in traffic over and over and over at every random time throughout the day, I decided enough driving. The scooter was only a tiny bit better, as you couldn't completely avoid traffic - so I took to my bike. A housemate gave me a little explanation of the good paths and neighborhoods around. My route was basically up Columbus into downtown, across the river and down the Charles for a little and then back across, through the commons and back home. But of course I got lost a thousand times and it started drizzling halfway through as well.

It was a great time overall. Also, funny experience, I was completely called out in the middle of Boston Commons. A couple girls strolling by casually handed me a flier and called out 'Have you heard about the dyke march?' I just said thanks. Guess that's that.

i been gone

I haven't posted since May 8th. That's basically when we started moving. Shenanigans of the last month include cleaning out our apartment; countless trips to goodwill, half price, and the used video game store; giving away furniture; craigslisting valuables; cleaning out my room at my parents (countless trips to goodwill, half price, and the used video game store); moving the cats to the Woodlands; packing for storage at my parents; loading their trailer and car; packing for MA; loading our scooter; loading the futon; unloading the futon; crying about not having room to load the futon (or TV, or bookshelves, or planters, or massage table); loading our trailer; loading our puppy; cleaning our apartment; catching our puppy when she ran out of the apartment and went ape-shit in the parking lot for 25 minutes; driving to Arkansass, Ohio, Pittsburgh (visiting family - breathing), Northampton, Boston. Then meeting everyone; half celebrating H's birthday; unpacking my scooter; unpacking the trailer and car; unpacking the boxes; buying shelves (because we couldn't fit our old ones); cleaning the room; driving H to Northampton; unpacking her boxes; going to a job interview; receiving a job that pays too little (what else is new); being a single mama for my puppy; getting lost countless times all over Boston; having my scooter stolen; crying about my scooter being stolen; wondering what the hell I was thinking about wanting to move to Boston; sucking it all up and keeping on keepin' on.

Then I went to the beach, spent some time with family, and feel much better. Although I still don't have my scooter.

In the past couple weeks I have lost a lot of pieces of me - my kitty cats, my home in Austin, all my amazing friends and family in Texas, my lady, and now my scooter. No doubt I am feeling a little scattered.

Sitting in Whole Foods right now in Framingham (where my 4pm interview is) so that I have NO trouble with traffic or getting lost. But if you have to be stuck somewhere, Whole Foods is the place to be. Deli food, organic peanut butter cups and Kombucha = feeling better.

Posts soon to come of my self guided bike tour around Boston.