Blisters with Blisters

Blisters can get blisters. I found that out today.

We're going to have a vegetable garden! My starts are doing well and need to be planted soon. Yesterday and today Justin and I worked on turning over ground in the back yard. Tomorrow we will work on fencing and smoothing out the turned ground. Hopefully the starts can be transplanted later this week. Turning ground full of weeds and grass is hard work, and I've got several impressively ugly blisters on my thumbs at the moment, despite wearing gloves. They developed and burst yesterday. Today I used lots of Bandaids and went back out. When Justin came out to relieve me, I took off the gloves and the bandages and more skin went with. No pain, no gain, I guess.

Today when I absolutely had to take a break from the shovel, while still wanting to be useful, I got behind a lawn mower for the first time in 12 years and mowed our lawn. Justin had to show me how to get the mower going (it's old and cantankerous) but I did all the mowing myself. I am sure it took me longer than it takes Justin and Mom, but our yard has a lot of weird angles and obstacles, and it took me some time to figure out the best way to maneuver the mower. In the end, it doesn't matter how long it takes, but that the finished product is a job well done.

And if all of that wasn't enough, today marks the first "official" day of summer - I got my first sunburn of the year. Overall it's not too bad, although the color has been developing throughout the day and my shoulders and arms are now the color of watered-down cranberry juice. It is nowhere near the sunburn I got last year while on vacation in Arizona. That sunburn was vomit-inducing painful. I'll try to not get to that stage ever again.

The job search continues to be rather nonexistent. My final grades and GPA were released last Friday, so I can now update my resume and start deciding what I really want to apply for. I have no fear of becoming complacent and unmotivated while I am here in Denver, but I am also keeping in mind that finding a job is a process that may take some time and that I need to be mentally ready for. Right now, I am not ready, so I will give it a bit more time.

This past weekend Mom and I joined Carrie on a trip to southern Iowa to see Carrie's mom be installed as the pastor with the First United Church. It was a fun time and I am glad we were able to support Carrie and her family.

This coming Monday, May 25 marks the one-year anniversary of the giant tornado that ripped apart Parkersburg. Over the weekend and Memorial Day Parkersburg is holding a town celebration of sorts, including a street dance on Saturday night. Carrie's co-worker has invited Carrie et al. over for a barbecue prior to the dance. I will most likely be accompanying Carrie and Justin to this event.

My subtenant for my apartment in Chicago arrived as scheduled and, from what I hear, is a hit with my old roommates. I should be receiving a check in the mail soon that includes my security deposit and a refund for 1/2 of May's rent, prorated of course. Once I get and deposit that check, all business I had left in Chicago will be taken care of. Yayy!

This Sunday my cousin will graduate high school from Denver. All family available that day, including myself, will be in attendance. I can't believe how quickly time has flow and how fast my cousins are growing up. Time certainly flies.

That's about it. There is not much to tell now that my life has dramatically slowed down. This is not necessarily a bad thing!

Love!

~g