Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Art Works

A few things learned.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

This weekend, over the course of the days and various activities, I learned a few things:

1. There is a fine line between being polite or inquisitive, and being nosy. However, once that line is crossed, the divide suddenly becomes screamingly clear. There are certain questions you don't ask people in casual chatting conversation (particularly if you don't know them well), and when you start to get evasive answers and the person (in this case, me) makes an excuse to get away from you, take the hint.

2. At first, after a shocking, ripping change in life, things that are merely different are seen as bad or sub-quality. The way it was before change always seems better, right, and proper. In time, hopefully, we are able to differentiate between what is merely different and what really is lesser.

3. Goals are not the same as dreams. This is something I plan on blogging about later, but the understanding of the difference explains a lot to me all of a sudden.

4. The voice of a constant complainer, or person dwelling on the negative, quickly becomes the worst, most exhausting sound in the world.

Labels: essay, lists, summer 2008

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The harvest weekend.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

This weekend, I came home from Bismarck and spent time with family and friends. It's right in the middle of harvest, and the guys are out in the field most of the day and on into the night. These photos were taken by Naomi. Her grandpa Frank, her dad Chuck and her brother Charlie are in the photos along with my dad and my brother Jerry.

Today, one of the combines broke down. Jerry and Charlie continued to drive the other two for a while, and the joke was that the two engineers were out driving the combines and the guys with 8th-grade education were fixing them (that's not true, about the education level, by the way).

What I like about the harvest photos you see above is the quintessential harvest moment, the field lunch. It reminds me of another photo and a drawing I did, from the previous generation. I also like the fact that in these photos you not only see three generations, but you see an engineer, an engineer/lawyer, a North Dakota Representative, a man who will celebrate his 90th birthday tomorrow (and still drove combine today), and of course, my awesome dad. I don't think anyone really thought the day would come when these five would all be out working the fields together. I am pretty sure my brother Jerry, after being away from the farm, and out of the country, for so long, is having the time of his life, getting dirty and driving trucks and machinery. It's good to see him happy.

For supper, we women had a meal at our house: Alice, Dorothy, Naomi, Gabie, Erika, Susan, Julie, Mom, and myself. After the meal, Alice and Dorothy told a few hilarious stories about some moments involving past Hampden residents and memories from the farm many years ago.

Earlier in the day, I gave the cat a bath (always a show-stopper moment) and caught up on some baking. Charlie, who stopped in to use the phone before going for a parts run for the defunct combine, grabbed a freshly baked cookie. It was good to get back in the kitchen and bake; it's been a few months. I like baking, and having free access to a real kitchen.

Last night, Erika and Naomi came over and we spent several hours, on past midnight, talking about important things in our lives, ending with a prayer and then a loud crash when the chair (which I had warned Naomi about) gave way. It was an excellent night of friends and laughter and serious talk, too. We also laid plans for a Jane Austen day over Christmas break where we would simply watch Jane Austen movies and wear our elastic-waisted pants and eat junk.

Mom and I have had several good conversations, and I even got in a little "computer training" for her so she has some new things to try on the computer while I'm gone. I put in several hours of piano practice, pounding out Bach and Chopin and music from the movie "The Piano."

The air is filled with the sinus-clogging weight of grain and field dust, the mind and heart full of friends and family. A pretty good weekend so far.

Labels: family, friends, north dakota, photos, summer 2008

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Oh, broccoli.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 2 comments link this post

::This is a photo of Erika, helping get the lunch out to the guys in the field. We joked about how seriously she seemed to be taking her job. And I was reminded tonight that I hinted I'd blog the photo. So I am now doing that.::

Oh, Broccoli.
A poem, with performance directions included.
By Julie R. Neidlinger

Broccoli, you deserve respect
And so,
wearing my Iowa Law shirt,
I stir you.

I know my face says
"Consternation!"
But I know the purpose of this spoon.
And that I, broccoli manipulator,
Should take it seriously.

Like I take you,
Broccoli!

(The poem has a crescendo, here.)

So I grip the bowl more tightly.

(Pause for effect.)

I slide the spoon unobtrusively down the side

(Pause, and begin lowering the voice.)

My brows furrow.
And you are complete.

(Pause. Look up at audience if possible, if the audience is still there and hasn't walked out, at this point.)

Oh, broccoli.

Labels: friends, photos, poetry, summer 2008

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Lose weight, fast and easy!

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 3 comments link this post

The title to this blog post is going to bring in a lot of hits from Google, and leave a lot of people disappointed. I like to be a disappointing blogger, though.

So.

I've lost some weight recently. It came off pretty fast. I'm going to reveal to you the secret Julie Neidlinger Summer 2008 Weight Loss plan so that you, too, can experience this.

Go to Nicaragua and take a bunch of really strong antibiotics to combat an ear infection that you get down there. This will cause you, about a week after arriving back home, to have a digestive system that totally malfunctions because it was completely sterilized, and that will rebel for a month and a half afterward, meaning every possible thing you eat (except yogurt, which gets really old really fast) makes you feel as if your insides are twisted and you want to die. This becomes a great incentive to not eat (eat and feel like death vs. just not eat) and also makes all food completely unappetizing. Then, even as you start to get a little better, your stomach shrinks and eating one sandwich leaves you feeling like you ate a huge Thanksgiving dinner and you are full for the day.
Live in a room with a small fridge and a toaster oven. A minimal kitchen such as that makes eating more of a duty to stave off hunger than a pleasure. Food becomes simple, low prep, and not much. This isn't really such a bad thing.
Have limited funds and find ways to make one turkey wrap last for two days. Find ways to calculate your "daily food cost" and keep it low, such as by drinking water (free) before you eat and finding you're not that hungry after all.
Sign up for a 5K prior to all of this, and realize that you had better start running or face shame on race day.

Essentially, it's the age old tricky combination of (here it is, the great secret!)... fewer calories, more exercise.

A handful of almonds fills me up to uncomfortable at this point. And going out for a run in the evening is about the only thing I have to break the monotony of sitting in my rented room alone, either drawing or studying in silence. This summer is turning out to be a weight-loss dream. A few more months of this, and I'll be able to fit decently into the cute shirt I bought at Dollywood this past May.

(Yes, I won't tell you anymore about that, since it shames me to use the words "decently" and "cute shirt" and "Dollywood" in the same sentence.)

I believe the antibiotic in question was Cipro.

Labels: food, health, my life, summer 2008

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The North Dakota capitol sketches: #1.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

I've heard a fair share of insults about the appearance of the North Dakota state capitol.

Usually, it's from reprobates wearing NASCAR caps that mistakenly think all government buildings must be Neo-Classical architecture or they are, and I quote a relative, "butt ugly."

On the contrary.

I find the state capitol to be an absolutely beautiful example of what I like to call "stripped down" Art Deco. And inside, it is quite lovely as well.

I like an Ionic and Corinthian column as much as the next guy, but I sure get tired of the insults.

So, today, after studying for almost six hours, I headed up to the capitol to do a little sketching. I'm considering doing many sketches of the building over the next weeks/months and seeing how my interpretation of its essentially clean lines and forms change.

As it is, here is the second drawing I did of the capitol today. The first can be seen here.

I also did a sketch of the mastodon skeleton inside the Heritage Center at the capitol, which you can see here.

You can buy all original three sketches for $12 (plus S&H). Really. That's a pretty good deal.

Materials: Watercolor and/or ink on heavy rag paper
Size: 8.5 X 11
Other: Shipped without frame or mat
Price: $12

Labels: art, capitol sketches, north dakota, summer 2008

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Warmed over, and delicious!

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

Thanks to friends who have taken me out to eat here in Bismarck (at perfectly-spaced intervals, I might add), I have had almost enough leftovers to not have to buy many groceries!

And, even better...it's been pasta.

I personally find that pasta is one of the few foods that seem to be better the second time around, reheated.

So, thanks to my handy little toaster oven in my room and a little judicious use of rationing, I've been able to reheat pasta from a couple of different Bismarck restaurants and make it last for many days. The tremendous savings on my food bill!!!

I've just had the last of the last leftovers. Luckily, my friend Naomi is coming to town this weekend...

Heh.

After all those carbs, it'll be time for a run in about an hour. I'll let the temperature "cool" off a wee bit more and then burn, burn, burn.

God bless friends who frequent restaurants that serve good Italian food.

Labels: food, friends, summer 2008

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Nothing but crickets.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 4 comments link this post

Since 3:30 a.m., I have been up.

This is becoming an annoying habit as of late, this waking up around 3:30 and being unable to get back to sleep. For weeks I've been doing this, reason unknown.

There's not much sound, beyond the train in the distance.

Not much sound but a lot of crickets outside of my window. No loud cars, no neighborhood noise.

It's strange how the previous day's events have a different perspective at 3:30 a.m., straight from sleeping.

I guess I might as well just get out of bed.

Labels: summer 2008

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The portable office and studio.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

Wow. Technology., originally uploaded by Julie R. Neidlinger.

My mom's laptop is really coming in handy. It, along with some of the other things I've strung together, have helped make a decent facsimile of my home office/studio.

My computer printer is Staples. It's not too far from where I live, so I like to think that I'm within driving distance of my printer. I simply convert files to PDF, email them, and pick them up later.

My scanner is working wonderfully, and its small size and ability to work vertically means that it and the laptop fit nicely on the wooden TV tray by my bed.

My internet connection is provided free of charge from a nearby school.

The laptop tends to get a little warm for my problem wrists, and so typing on it became problematic. Luckily, I picked up a $9 flexible keyboard that can be rolled up for storage and attaches easily to the laptop with a USB connection. I can sit on my bed and type from a distance.

And really, I can't again express my pleasure at having a little fridge in my room. Having convenient access to food after two months is a real joy. Don't even get me started on the small toaster oven and its ability to function as a complete kitchen.

My gosh. All the conveniences of home, in my home away from home.

Labels: summer 2008

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Goes around.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

My friend Lance called this morning. He has been having far too much fun mocking me in regards to the recent Donut Disappointment.

If I have to suffer through another apple fritter joke...THAT'S IT!

However, I have been steadily needling him to get back to flying. He had a license when he was younger, but in the great scheme of life, saw fit to let it lapse.

"You should get back to flying," I would say.

"I know. I know. I miss it, actually," he'd reply.

And then...

"So Lance, when are you going to quit making excuses and work on that lapsed license?"

"Yes, yes. Geez."

And then...

"So...about flying..."

"Good grief, you're making feel guilty."

Today he called on my cell and, after a few minutes of donut depravity, started talking about flying.

Of course, there were the requisite spook stories, stories of sudden fog and icy runways... "I had to follow that road right into Leonard. Wow. That was scary, actually."

I remained numb at the other end of the line.

He continued, "...but yeah, I really miss flying. I was at Valley Fair and on those high rides and it was like flying...yeah, I definitely gotta get back to it. I just need you to keep needling me."

I am an excellent needler. I excel at guilt creation. I am working up a complex plan involving well-placed emails and text messages in which I will wreak havoc on Lance's mental well-being until he gets down here to Bismarck and gets to work on it.

I have noticed that, upon telling someone what I am doing when they have pushed me for information, the general response (particularly from males) is: I always wanted to fly.

So, do it. And don't be Lance and let it lapse.

Labels: friends, summer 2008

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I am the walrus.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

No. Not really. I'm not the Walrus.

But tonight, I ate at the restaurant so named, and it was delicious!

I never would have gone there -- never would have found it, probably -- had it not been for my Bismarck tour guide for the evening, Troy.

After discussing my dislike for fish and soup, of which he had both, I topped off the meal asking if I could take all of the leftovers.

Because I'm classy like that!

"I know it may be tacky," I said, eying the huge pile of pasta left in my bowl, and the bruschetta appetizer, "but do you suppose I could get this to go with me? It'll take care of at least a day or two for meals."

Thanks to Troy giving me a quick drive around Bismarck, I now know of some extended and wonderful trails beyond where I currently run, as well as the location of some other good places to eat. Plus, after the meal at The Walrus, there was, of course, a stop by Barnes and Noble where I could obsessively straighten all the books that were askew on the shelves as well as make fun of published writers and writing books based on the sour grapes fact that I am not a published writer.

Troy also gave me some more cool stuff from the projects he's worked on: The Call of Cthulhu (DVD); the soundtrack to The Call of Cthulhu; and the CD Dark Adventure Radio Series: At the Mountains of Madness (Find out more here.) I can't wait to watch the DVD and listen to the music and radio play. I haven't listened to the last CD he gave me, but I'm planning on taking a listen to them later this week when I need a break from studying. The visual design and the materials in the CDs is inspiring in itself. Very cool stuff.

I had to end the fun at around 9:30. I was yawning; I'd spent the day viewing and reviewing and re-reviewing the chapter on air performance numbers and all the different equations and steps to figuring out center of gravity, high density altitude, etc. etc. I need to go over it again before tomorrow, when I have to start on the next chapter in preparation for tomorrow's lesson.

All in all, a nice break from the studies as well as a quick look around Bismarck. Though I'm only here temporarily, it's nice to see some of the local places I can eat, and some of the places I can jog to work off all the food that I ate. It's good to have friends.

Links:

Labels: food, friends, summer 2008, tour north dakota

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The run.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 6 comments link this post

Last night's run was incredible, mainly on the level of humidity. I also may have gotten West Nile Virus, but only time will tell on that one. The breeze died down towards the end...shame.

I lost about four pounds from sweat alone, I think. Wow.

I also noticed, as I ran by a park bench, an empty Vodka bottle. I know it was empty, because I stopped to check.

I heard Vodka makes a good antiseptic.

Really.

That's the only reason.

You know I don't drink at all.

I'm a clean freak. That's the only reason. Really.

It was a good run, though, and I'm sure slave-driver Anna would be pleased at the ground I covered and the speed at which I did so.

Nothing like a good run to clear the mind, clear out the stress, bring the mood back up, and inspire a couple more embarrassing cartoons.

But man. Humidity. Killer.

Labels: friends, health, summer 2008

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Mail call.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

This is the mail for the day, plus some other stuff.

Yes, I've gotten a couple of things in my new Post Office box since the Blue Letter. But first, the mail that came to my Hampden address which my parents brought to me:

In the pile of mail were two of my flight training magazines, from AOPA. I got them free (!!) because my instructor signed me up for a free six-month membership to AOPA. (Free!!) Dad read them prior to giving them to me, and I'll be detailing that tragedy over on my flying blog. There were a few pieces of junk mail, and a thank-you card. My Byword T-shirt arrived (they sent it to me for free, since they used my art work on it), and the band also included a very nice sticker which I immediately adhered to my journal (as shown above, the brown book).

In my Bismarck Post Office box, I found my new scanner (seen in a vertical position in the corner of this photo), and...a mysterious postcard.

I think I know who sent the postcard.

And, it has given me an idea. Stay tuned for that.

I had dad bring me my box of pink stationery. I like pink. Yes, yes -- I know that seems like raging hypocrisy, what with my general bitter and cynical take on things. He also brought my address book, the orange book you see, partially covered by Scotch tape. I shall work on writing letters.

It's all about the mail.

Link: My BrightKite cell phone* photo stream (from whence the above photo came). Find all the blurry, boring photos you could ever want.

* Thanks to my friend Will for sending me an old cell phone he wasn't using which wasn't old at all -- Motorola Razr -- which has the advanced feature of a camera phone (!!) which means my genetic ineptness has caused me to take photos of things like my car dash, knees, and a plate of nachos on the table in front of me instead of hitting the dial button. And, thanks to my brother Jerry who took the phone, spent an afternoon downloading various freeware and doing some serious wizardry to turn that Verizon phone into an Alltel, then switching my number to it. Muchas gracias, fellows.

Labels: clippings, family, summer 2008

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No cake.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 0 comments link this post

My parents came down to Bismarck yesterday, and all three of us went to a wedding. There was no cake. There was cheesecake -- and it was good -- but alas...no cake.

I'll pause while you weep for me.

Anyway, the wedding was nice and it was good to see old friends but I've definitely met my wedding quota. Aphrodite is a hideous beast.

(Is there a "cake" god?)

The reception was rather old-school -- no fancy meal, just desserts (which are, frankly, my just desserts). I rather appreciated it. I mean, who are we kidding? I don't want catered chicken and potatoes. I just want junk.

The reception would have gone so much better had not good friend Paula knocked over the punch bowl and crippled an elderly woman whose tennis-ball-tipped walker became sodden in the pink juice and ceased functioning properly.

No.

That didn't happen.

Paula and I did, however, decide enough was enough with the bitty punch glasses and grabbed large coffee cups instead. I mean really. It's important to stay hydrated. We did this in between discussing the maturity level of a certain segment of youth pastors.

Pots and kettles; all black.

This morning I took my parents on a spell-binding tour of all the places I hang out here in Bismarck: the park where I run, the library (where I treated them to some delicioso Italian gelato), and of course, my place. My parents, truly kind indeed, bought me a small dorm fridge for my room. And a small toaster oven.

I don't want to get into the reasons why I am thrilled to have my own fridge, but let me just sum it up by saying that, for the past month, I have been terrified that an ever-expanding package of hamburger meat would soon explode and cover my meager collection of yogurt and almond milk in the shared fridge.

(Almond milk is good. Don't knock it if you haven't tried it.)

My meager protests at this extremely good and generous gift were off-put by my mother. "Cody will be going to college in a few years. He can use it then."

The lady at the checkout counter asked if I was going to college. Bless her. I'll be sending her a check in the mail for her kindness towards my advancing age.

"Um, no...efficiency apartment." College. Those were the days, and they were days eleven years past.

As we were leaving WalMart with the fridge and toaster, a lady stopped us to see our receipt. It's the standard procedure, I guess, to curb large-appliance shoplifting. Dad later said I should have told the woman who asked about college that yes, I was going to college, and that I would be majoring in advanced shoplifting.

Small wonder I am the way I am.

As it is, I sit in my room, enjoying the fact that I have fresh food now available; that I can, if need be, make a hot sandwich; that I don't have to live off of yogurt and cereal, my staples the past couple of months; and that some kind woman thinks I look like I could be going to college still.

I may go get myself a cold beverage out of the new fridge right now: R.W. Knudsen's Lemon Lime Spritzer. Mmmm. Cold.

Labels: family, friends, my life, summer 2008

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The blue letter.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 4 comments link this post

I received my first piece of mail in my new Bismarck Post Office box yesterday.

I stood in front of the box, key in hand, gazing fondly at the little envelope lying inside. It was from my friend Molly. I think a little poetry is in order.

A Limerick About A Letter
Appropriate, because I am part Irish
by Julie R. Neidlinger

There once was a envelope blue
Tucked inside a metal cube
It promised so much
So was opened in a rush
Revealing a chunk of cash from a previous violin gig which will come in handy for things like food.

I amaze myself.

UPDATE: Today I received my first package: a small blue box. No, not from Tiffany's, but from my brother and sister-in-law. There will be no poetry forthcoming, but I enjoy the blue state of my incoming mail immensely.

Labels: friends, my life, poetry, summer 2008

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The best photo of me, ever.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 10 comments link this post

My sister Jacqui has taken the best photo of me, ever. It was taken while I played the piano for my niece's wedding this past weekend.

I'm totally hidden from view, except a bit of scandalous ankle exposure.

Check out those awesome shoes. I love heels, for reasons that are completely inconsistent with my various convoluted philosophies on life. My sister-in-law Julie verbalized her admiration for them, too, so I know I'm not off base.

"Those shoes are fabulous," she said (or something like that).

"I know," I said. "They are very cool shoes."

Women, as you may or may not know, actually wear shoes to impress other women. Guys don't care, unless they are gay, in which they tend to be a great source of excellent shoe advice.

"And you know how I know they are very fine?" I continued. "Watch this."

I called my sister Janet over to where we were. Janet and I seem very dissimilar (though that's not necessarily true). Compared to her, I am very girly despite the fact that, compared to many other women, I'm anything but. (Remember, I like chainsaws, and I'm pretty good at shoveling concrete in Nicaragua.)

"Janet, what do you think of my shoes?"

"Ugliest thing I've ever seen," she retorted, shaking her head before walking away.

I turned back to my sister-in-law. "See? I know they're great shoes for sure. Janet is my litmus test."

I later asked my brother Jerry his opinion. He boldly stated that he thought they were very cool. He will still be receiving his monthly support check from me.

Regarding the music I played at the wedding, it ranged from some contemporary Christian praise music that my niece said she'd like to some classical and movie soundtrack pieces. For example, if you look closely at the books on the piano, you'll see that I played a few pieces from the recent Pride and Prejudice film, as well as a book that featured music from a variety of Jane Austen films over the past decade. I also played a few pieces from the film The Piano, as well as a little Bach.

And of course...Canon in D, from the original one-hit-wonder Pachelbel.

If Pachelbel were not already dead, I would gladly take care of it for him. With a chainsaw.

Labels: family, fashion, music, my life, summer 2008, women

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Trailing.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 4 comments link this post

It seems I've created a monster.

I mentioned signing up for another 5K (despite my hatred of running) in September here in Bismarck. Now Anna and Toni from work, and their husbands, and possibly more, are going to enter, too.

Well.

Luckily, there's a shirt for it.

Anna and Toni have actually run two 5K's since the Fargo event in May, so I guess they are more serious than I, as well as being in a whole heck of a lot better shape. However, I want to point out that I was the one that got the ball rolling. Now it looks like it will roll over me.

Nevertheless, I've got a map of Bismarck paths and park trails to run in, here in town, and I've scoped out my route to train for the 3 miles.

I'm mainly ashamed at my own lack of fitness and the fact that, when the day comes, I'm going to be left trailing in their dust.

But I do have a map of trails.

Labels: friends, health, summer 2008

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A recipe for supper.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

This is what I had for my evening meal. I'm providing you with a recipe because I'm nice like that.

1/2 bottle of spring water
1 Airborne tablet, citrus flavor
Perrier water

Break the Airborne tablet in half and drop both halves into the bottle of water. Fill the reminder of the bottle (but leave about an inch or two at the top, since there is a fizzing factor) with Perrier. Let the magic begin. When the tablet is dissolved, drink.

You're on your way to a vitamin-y treat.

It's also pretty cheap. You know, "watered down" and all.

Labels: food, my life, summer 2008

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Vagueness.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 5 comments link this post

July is the time of year where the crop duster supersedes the alarm clock.

I woke up this morning to the buzzing of the yellow spray plane as it growled over the house, and then back and forth a few times. Time to get up; I had to drive back to Bismarck today, so no sense sleeping any later. I arrived in Bismarck, promptly slicing up the back of my heel because the screen door on the house in which I rent a room is broken and has what I would call an "aggressive return policy." But it was good to be back.

I love being home in my room on the farm. My bed. My TV. All my 800+ books around me. My stuff. Kitchen just downstairs. Piano to practice on. The country road beckoning me to go for a walk or run without having to deal with traffic and stop lights and other people.

But I was looking forward to getting back to Bismarck, and back to flying.

It has nothing to do with wanting to be away from home, but instead, has to do with vagueness.

Vagueness, in life, is destructive. Vagueness in purpose, direction, and self-identity -- not knowing who you are, where you are, and where you should be going. Having only some small bit of information to go on. Floundering. Sort of water-witching your way around, hoping whatever you're using as a stick knows more than you do.

With what I'm doing now, even if it's only for a few more months before going back home, even if it's a lot of work, even if it doesn't sense to others as to why I'm doing it, even if I sometimes feel a little lonely down here -- at least it kills that vagueness.

I can tell you, at least for now, where I am and what I should be doing and what my next step will be and what I need to do for the day. I have a specific goal and understand what it takes to get there. I go to bed with a set of things to do right away when I get up in the morning.

That's no small thing.

Labels: my life, personal, summer 2008

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Oh no!

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 2 comments link this post

Alas, I awoke this morning to discover that my "new cell phone" is falling apart.

This is probably because it really isn't so new anymore, and wasn't new when I got it.

But still.

I've been having quite a breakthrough with my cell phone this summer. I've used it tons, as opposed to my previous existence of "here's my number but don't call me because I'm not on a contract but a pay-per-minute plan and it's expensive" which would cause me to rush people through a conversation to keep it under a minute. This also led to me complaining, hypocritically, that "no one ever calls me" because, if they did, I'd tell them to hurry and get to the point in the next 50 seconds.

I've had full conversations on my phone lately!

Despite all the increased use of the summer, it's still cheaper than paying $30+ a month.

But now it's falling apart. The little battery latch thing on the back keeps popping out. I think tape will only work so long.

Dang.

Labels: my life, summer 2008

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I hate July.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 6 comments link this post

I know that hate is a strong word. I now direct that towards the month of July.

July is extremely hot.
Buggy.
Overgrown with plants and weeds and pollen.
Sunblock must be slathered on.
Sweat.
Wild weather.
Hot.
Hot.

In fact, July's only saving grace that keeps it one notch above August is that it has a holiday, a holiday marked by trips to the local burn unit and processed meat product scorched on a grill. That, and the fact that some people continue to insult me by spelling "julie" as "july" which makes very little sense.

And, now that I think about it, August is when all the kids go back to school which I like to see, since it gets them off the street, out of the library, and out of the stores.

So maybe August is pulling up closer to July here in the backstretch.

I suppose "curmudgeon" would be the word you're looking for, right now.

Maybe it's time for some more of my great poetry, dedicated to July.

Ode to July
And its many points of disgust.
Or, at least one point of disgust.
by Julie R. Neidlinger

I hate you, July.
I really do.
You convince old men
that its acceptable to wear Speedos
at the beach.
Gross.

Labels: poetry, rant, summer 2008

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Oh no!

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I hate July.