Montana does have summer

In April it snowed (10 inches over 2 days in  the last week); in May, it snowed; the first part of June had flurries.  But then, true to the stories from my mom’s childhood, June 14th rolled around and the yellow roses bloomed and POW, it was summer.  It has been in the 80s for the past few days, even hitting 90/91.  Okay, right now it is 78.   At night it drops down to a nice and comfy temperature so Grant and I don’t swelter.  SO NICE!!  We don’t need AC, we just need ceiling fans.  My room/office/Percy’s new play-room has no such fan, and a window screen that doesn’t even fit the window.  No air flow in here. Ew.

Anyways, as for going’s on, work has been work.  I’ve digitized a ton of areas in Southern Montana, Grant has started running with our Helena Running Club and doing a few trail races.  I’ve attempted to start jogging, and am getting into it.  Trails FTW, sidewalk running = B.O.R.I.N.G.

Last weekend we went to the Helena Airshow, also called the Gateway to Freedom Airshow.  I’ll put up pictures on Flickr at some point.  The Air Force Thunderbirds were there as were the Army Golden Knights (parachuters).  It was AWESOME. Food cost way too much, but it was a good time.  I’d never been to an airshow before, so this was just the best thing ever for me.  Grant was not nearly as happy as I was.  The weather was a stunning 78 or so with a steady wind so you didn’t sweat buckets.

Two weekends ago Grant ran the Wulfman Trail Run outside of Butte along the continental divide.  It was raining steadily and about 53 F.  I found out a friend of mine is pregnant (YAY!!) and had a long chat with my mom.  There was a cell phone tower across the road from where I was standing, so there’s no wonder I had reception.  The finish line (where I had to wait) was right off of I-90, just east of Butte before the Hodgeman Pass.  So the temperature shift from 53 to 83 during the day has been a welcome reprieve.

I’ve even taken to occasionally wearing skirts.  Oh yes, that’s right.  Some days I just go for girly.  Shocking.  I’m also getting my chaco tan back.  I got the ones with the thin double-straps so I don’t QUITE have the Zorro Tan from my last year in Boston.

Percy, the little spastic ball of fur, is growing up.  She’s a full sized cat now, but is just as cute as ever.  She no longer fits comfortably in my lap.  She has also stopped digging her claws into people’s legs to just look at them.  She does it to chairs though.  The past few nights she has been BLISSFULLY quiet and we’ve been able to sleep, but for the past few months she has been a right nightmare and Grant and I have had to contemplate various things to do with her overnight.  As long as she is good (i.e. we play with the laser pointer, chase her around and make sure she has food and water) we’re alright. . hopefully.  We just need to put in some evening effort to keep her wired up so she’ll calm down by 10 pm.

People are coming to visit us too!!!  These will be our first non-family guests!!  My cousins came for a visit in March, which ended in finding out our Grandfather had died (they drove over to Missoula to see people and him and on their way to the nursing home got the call he had just passed away that morning).  But on a happier note, Grant’s friends will be here . . NEXT WEEKEND and then they are off to Glacier and other sites to explore and hang out with us in short doses.  Then my friends will be here from Baltimore with their mom.  WOOHOO!!  So yeah, we are super excited about this.

My Aunt and Uncle will actually come over tomorrow for a late morning-early afternoon visit (they’re in Missoula seeing my grandmother).  It’s a good thing we cleaned today!!  Our apartment was looking like a pig sty and in the course of several hours it looks like a clean-ish place.  We’ve washed A LOT of dishes, and broken down a TON of cardboard.   We still have more to do, but it looks 10x’s better than it did.
Now for that mountain of laundry we have to do. . .

Latest news

Percy, our kitten is a crazy little spaz monkey.  She is fascinated by all things keyboard.  You should see what she does as I sit here typing.  She keeps sitting up suddenly and watching my fingers intently.  With my laptop she used to curl up over my fingers and take a nap.  She likes the feel of the keys.  Weird kitten.

In other news, my mom called me up last night to read a letter Newcastle University had sent me. It was my transcript.  Apparently I have passed and am now the proud graduate of a British university.  Yay?  I’m really not very thrilled.  I’m relieved that I do graduate in December.  Actually, in less than a month.  I’m just not very excited about some of my grades.

My dad wants to take me to graduation.  It’s called “Congregations” over there.  Fancy shmancy. I am not entirely certain I want to be there for graduation.  I don’t even know who is going and who isn’t.  It seems like a lot of people are iffy on the whole thing, and a few more have said they won’t attend.  It’s going to cost a CRAP TON to go there.  I don’t think I really want to spend all that money for about an hour’s ceremony on a cold and blustery Wednesday. I remember last year and it was DAMN WINDY. *sigh*

I am very torn. Should I go?  Should I stay here?  Should I should I should I. . .   I need to fill in the paperwork saying they need to mail me my diploma.  I don’t want to say, “Yes I’ll be there” and then not.  I also don’t want to have to pack it up in my luggage if I do go.

Anyways, back to job applying.

That’s the other issue, if I go, I can’t get a job before Christmas.    That’s not good.  I don’t really have money to spend right now. . . I think people are going to get “New Year’s Gifts” this year. . . .

Sooo nice

I’m always amazed at how nice and genuine some people are.  Words can’t quite explain it, but I get very flustered around it.  I keep feeling like someone is going to jump out and go, “HAHAHA YOU FELL FOR IT!”  Either that or they won’t pull through on their end.

The whole high school mentality of writing in people’s yearbooks, “I don’t know you very well, but you seem really cool.  KIT”  It’s like, uh…  thanks?  The empty offers, the never calling back, etc.  So much of that has gone on and it irritates me. But when someone comes out of the blue saying wonderful things it’s like, “Whoa. .who. .what….  ACK!!” I feel very confused and it takes me a minute to get words out.  I go into shock.

On another note, my little Percy arrives today!!! My parents are coming down to VA for the Head of the Occoquan to spend time with us.  We’re living at Grant’s parent’s house for now while we look for jobs and see where our lives travel to next.  I’ve applied to several jobs and am looking for more.  Grant has had a few interviews but no, “Yes we love you” replies. We’ve got a feast of tasty goodness planned.  Tasty meats and such.  I hope there will be vegetables, or else my mom really will have a fit.

Last night we had potato soup, and it was SO GOOD.  I like soups.  A LOT.  Last weekend Grant and I made vegetarian French Onion Soup.  It was just amazing.  We made a Peasant Loaf of bread to go on top of the soup, and provolone cheese.  Mmm mmmm mmmmmmmmm    There was not very much left. 

I’m thrilled my parents will be here.  I just hope they get here sooner rather than later. Hopefully the traffic won’t be too bad.  Apparently last night things were a bit nuts in DC.  Grant’s parents headed over there to see the sights with their friends who are also staying here.  There were drunks and crazy driving and people in costumes (it was Halloween) everywhere.  I am glad I wasn’t out driving around.  I’m avoiding using my car on Tuesday as well.  There have been a ton of articles saying how accidents sky rocket on election day. I’d rather avoid it all.

Autumn FINALLY

It feels so crisp and cool outdoors.  I LOVE IT.  Die you evil mosquitoes, DIE!!!!! *ahem*  I also like getting to curl up with Grant at night.  Part of the reason is that I’m apparently a blanket hog.  I get cold, okay!!  Seriously, I managed to get the sheet up around my neck last night, all of it.  We still had two other blankets, but I was suddenly in a very small area of the bed and Grant was diagonal and curled up next to me.  WHOOPS!!

Silly getting cold.

I can see why people have left WoW.  After trying AoC I finally see just how annoying WoW is.  Those quests and respawnings, etc.  EW!!  But with the constant booting from the wireless network via Windows I’ve had to settle for WoW on the Mac side.  It’s not bad, but I’m finding a lot less help for quests than I would like to see.

Anyways, in the real world: In THREE days, the Board of Examiners meets and they will decide if I passed my MSc or not.  I hope so.  I’ve decided not to fly back to England for graduation though.  It’s too expensive and I just can’t afford the time or the costs.  Pity, but there it is.  I’m ready to get a job and move on with the world.  I just need to get that dang resume all polished up and stuff.

Game fun

The world of games is available to me again.  WHOOOHOOOO.  Today I’m going to install Age of Conan. Grant went off and bought it and has a second key, so I’m going to give it a whirl.  After that I might see about returning to the world of WoW.  I know I know, I shouldn’t. I should just move on and leave that game behind me.

I’m hoping this will be a fun time.  We’re going to severly limit ourselves in what we play and for how long.  I still have desires to play with Baldur’s Gate.  Bwahahahaha

Mmmmmm  Minsk and Boo.  I haven’t played it since March.  Sad.

On another note, I HAVE A KITTEN!!! Her name is Percy and she’s currently at home in Baltimore getting over her roundworms.  She is one bloated-belly kitten.  Poor thing.  She’s almost 4 months old.  Around December I think is when we get her spayed.  Not sure.  I need to talk to the vet about that.  I also need to find a vet down here in VA since she’ll be living at Grant’s parent’s house with us. . . . until we find jobs and move out and then she’ll go wherever we go.  She’s awesome. . .  I just hope these wormies leave her because she can stink up a whole room.

Raptor Conference HERE I COME

http://www.umt.edu/ce/cps/raptor/

I’m going I’m going I’m going I’m going. . . I think.

The funny part (okay, I think it’s funny) is when talking to my mom about it yesterday I told her I was excited and yackity yack.  She said she would check out the hotel and other stuff to see if a cheaper place is nearby and I would just walk over to the Holiday Inn it’s held at.  Seems normal right?  Then she tells me I’ve never been to the Holiday Inn.

*long pause*

“Mom, wasn’t Paul and Caroline’s wedding reception there?”

“Well yes.”  *thoughts percolate into proper order*  “Well I suppose you have been there then.”

“Yes Mom, I’ve also had their pancakes and run up and down their stairs numerous times.”

My Uncle Paul was married in Missoula when I was about 7.  I was a flower girl, the reception was atteneded by all family present in Montana at the time.  DUH I was there.

My mom forgets these things sometimes.  She’s feeling stressed.

BUT, I AM GOING TO THE RAPTOR CONFERENCE!!!!!!!!

*bounces around room*

Soon

After tomorrow around 1 pm GMT I will be done with classes and able to spend a few hours putting up more pictures on Flickr (yes there are MORE!!!), blog entries (including that half-done one about Edinburgh), and much much more.

I shall return!!  And be warned, bat survey rants are sure to pop up.  *BLARGHLE*

Also, I really want to go to Montana.  But I shall wait until September.

Spring!!!

Today is Grant’s birthday, so go on his blog and wish him a Happy Birthday.  And tell him not to feel bad about turning “old.”

Spring is officially in the air and the tank tops and shorts are out en masse.

Grant and I did the crazy and wild thing today of . . *gasp* going to the library to return some book.  Aren’t we just so out there!!  While enjoying some sun on a bench near the overpass, I noticed Grant and become home to a ladybug.  She/he was all brown with white spots.  I’m fairly convinced after watching it for several minutes it had some OCD problems.  It was all about the cleaning of feet and face.  How clean can you get?!?

In Leazes Park I noticed a guy taking pictures of. . get this. . GOSLINGS!! Awww da behbeh geese!!!  They are all yellow and poofy.  Mum and Dad were right there next to them and you better not get close. . they’ll hiss at you.  One gosling explored about 3 feet away from where everyone else was and suddenly freaked out and ran back to the safety of the group and plunked down next to sibling as if to say, “See, I’m safe!!!”  It ran with its little wings stretched out and beak open like AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!

Soon we leave for Grant’s dinner and then we’re watching Priscilla Queen of the Desert! Ahmed has never seen it, and I think it’s hilarious.  General Zod as a . . . well, I won’t ruin it for you.  Hugo Weaving, General Zod (see Superman 2) and Guy Pearce. . . oh yeah!!!!  Go see it.  NOW!

Distracted

A few days ago my grandfather underwent surgery for a subdural hematoma blood clot on his brain.  Apparently he hit his head in the garage between 2 weeks and a month ago and formed said clot.  My mom, her sister and youngest brother are there with my grandma.  I stayed up until about 4:30 a.m. waiting for news about his surgery the other night.  I haven’t heard ANYTHING else since they came back with “he came out of his anaesthesia just fine.”

Needless to say, I’m concerned.  The lack of information is understandable, everyone is flitting about between the house and the hospital and well, my mom isn’t exactly good at keeping me posted on things even when I am in the same country.  I will probably try to call her tomorrow after I get another calling card, or I change my SIM card to one with international stuff.  7p/min to call home isn’t TOO awful.  *sigh*

I want to be able to go home in September and see my grandpa alive and well telling stories and saying, “I savvy.”  He’s got some great stories and a wonderful sense of humor.  I hope my mom stays in Montana as long as she can for this, her family needs her right now.  Springfest will have to be function without her.

I’m hoping I can get a lot done today.  Homework is nothing short of evil.

And WHY is it snowing?!?!?!?!

Freakish weather. . .

Thank you

Thank you for the birthday wishes to those that read this blog.

On another note: I went out today and bought Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman.  It’s being sold for £1 today due to World Book Day.  Various authors wrote short stories for free to be put up for sale for this cause.  I really like Neil Gaiman and £1 doesn’t exactly break the bank.

I also bought my dad Barack Obama’s book The Audacity of Hope.  Perhaps he’ll like it.