I-80: Home of Cars

(This title, by the way, is shameless plagiarism from the title of one of Tracey's blogs. Only now it's not, because I gave credit where credit was due. Dang it. I just DK'd at plagiarizing. And that's kind of sad.)

I got back last night from my little excursion to Marly's house and Cynthia's house, and now I'm going to tell you about it. Because I want to. And it's my blog, so there. Anyway, it was sooo good to see everyone. I wrote last time about my little fishing adventure at Marly's house. Well, that set the tone for the rest of the weekend. Tres fun. (For those of you who don't speak French, or who can't recognize it without the proper accent that I don't know how to do on the computer, 'tres' means very.) The little retirement party for Bonnie was great, although sad at times, and it was wonderful to see her and everyone else I've been missing.

And the drive there from Marly's house was very fun. I'd never driven on I-80 before, and I wasn't used to there being other cars on the road. There usually aren't that many on the little two-lane highways I drive on in rural Iowa. So I got to pass people, and be passed, and change lanes all the time...and it was really fun. Of course, that was only a two hour trip. When I was coming back, I was on I-80 for almost four hours. Then it wasn't quite so amusing.

The bonfire at Cynthia's house was lovely, and we went shopping on Monday, and that was also quite agreeable. I've decided I must find a good job so that I can afford to go to both Drama Day Camps this summer. Because I love those people. And it costs almost $50 just in gas to drive there and back, and I'm broke. So my fingers are crossed. We'll see.

So, this blog was going to be a lot more interesting when I started it, but I see I've DK'd in that endeavor as well. It seems as though I'm starting a sinister pattern for the day. Although, conceivably, it might make it more interesting.

The One That Got Away...

I am at Marly's house as we speak. Or type. Or whatever. Guess what we did today? Give up? We went on the paddle boat on the lake behind her house and...we went fishing!! I have never fished before in my life. It was an adventure.

We began with a casting lesson. I'm good at it. Sometimes. Sometimes not. But I try hard. Anyway, so we went in the boat and I fished. I cast my line into the water like a pro, and then we "trolled" through the water. And then my line got caught on something...or rather, something got caught on my line. Marly said, "A fish! Lindsay, you caught a fish! Reel in, reel in!" So I reeled in. And then I discovered yet another unknown phobia of mine. I--for whatever reason--could not stand the thought of seeing my fish when it wasn't safely in a tank. So, I reeled in with my eyes closed, making ridiculous little girly noises the whole time. I know. It's pathetic. Don't judge me. Luckily, before I got the fish reeled all the way in, the wily creature escaped. Marly was disappointed. I was too...only not really, because I was too relieved not to have to look at it. Grin.

Then Marly caught one too. It was a big one. I saw it, but it was okay, because it was on her line and she was on the other side of the boat from me. Apparently, however, it had taken the same class as mine, because just as it broke the surface of the water, it slipped off back into the lake. That time we were both really for real disappointed. Marly wanted to kiss it. Who can fathom the mysteries of the Marly-brain?

I've decided I like fishing. I don't really want to actually catch anything, but sitting out there in the boat with a fishing pole, casting and re-casting, is really very peaceful and enjoyable. Maybe next time I'll fish with just a string and a rock on my pole, so that the rock will pull the line so that I can cast, but won't attract any of those scary fish.

I know, I'm ridiculous. But then, so is life. I'm just trying to blend in.

Batty

Tomorrow I get to drive for three hours and thirteen minutes (according to mapquest) to see my good friend Marly! And on Sunday I get to drive for one hour and fifty-five minutes to see a bunch of my good friends in Davenport! How lovely, indeed. And then on Monday, I get to drive back...

I sent an email out to a bunch of people about the terrifying experience I had the other night. And I've decided to include it in this blog, because I think it belongs here. But most of you have already read this, so if this sounds familiar, there is no need to read further. Because redundancy is just pointless.

And now it's time for the subject of this blog...the part of the blog where I come out, and tell a silly story...
So, I was reading in my bed Wednesday night, about 11:45-midnightish, when I hear a strange noise in the hall. It sounded like a cicada or a june bug or something. So, immediately, I'm slightly uptight. The dog seems threatened, and is backing into my room. My cat, Joshua, is making his way down the hall and into my room, toward the closet. My first thought is that he's caught a june bug or whatever in his mouth, and is taking it into "his" closet to play with. But what I see in his mouth looks like some sort of velvety leaf--obviously no bug. My second glance prompts a scream of mortal terror, "A BAAAAAT!!!!!! AAAAAAAHHHH!!!!" which startles Joshua and the bat flies out of his mouth...in my general direction! Practically hysterical at this point, I have just enough presence of mind left to throw the blanket over my head and continue screaming indiscriminately. Of course, bedroom doors fly open in all directions (well, two, anyway), and my parents and my youngest brother, Peter (he's 15), convince me that the bat is under the bed so that I will come out from under the blanket and leave the room. My dad and my brother go in with a broom and a plastic bag, and close the door, while my mother and I barricade ourselves in the master bedroom. I have never been so terrified in my recent memory. It was the kind of fear where you shake uncontrollably, and cry, but no tears come out because you're laughing nervously at the same time. Hysterics.

Here comes the most sinister part: the men can't find the bat. They've searched my bedroom, and they're certain it's not in there anymore. But I didn't see it leave, so I'm not convinced. I refuse to sleep in there, and no one argues with me. I make myself a cup of tea and set up camp in my parents' room for the night.

My other brother, Steven (17), comes home probably about 1:30 or so. Everone else is asleep, but the cat is guarding his closet, from whence strange noises are emanating. More than a little unnerved himself, he slams the closet door shut, chases the cat out of his room, and goes to bed.

And that's where the bat is now, hanging around in Steven's closet, waiting--like the rest of us--for my dad to come home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Epilogue: The bat has been neutralized, the screens have been repaired, and all other conceivable bat portals have been eliminated. And now it takes an extra two hours to get all your luggage through the customs lines.

Two In One Day!

(Aren't you lucky?)

I just finally called one of my favorite people. I've been wanting to call her for just about ever, but I hate the phone. I am not a gifted phone user. I suddenly forget everything interesting I've ever known and become the most inane, babbly, pointless human being. Seriously. But it was totally worth it. My old friend Cynthia has to be one of the most fabulous people I know. (It sounds weird to say "my old friend," like I'm 80 years old or something. I'm not, by the way. Neither is Cynthia.) I'm going to see her in a few days. I'm super excited.

New subject. Since today has been a day of new discoveries, I've decided to preserve them forever in cyberspace. Yes, once again, it's all part of my plan to cultivate an air of mystery and excitement about my life. (Or, as Aubrey once thought, an "Arab mystery and excitement.")

Today's Discoveries:

No matter how hard I try, my car key will not start my mom's car

My friend Matt DG has way too much time to write emails (but I have way too much time to check them, so I appreciated it)

When the sun comes out, it gets hotter

If you spend more money than you make, you will run out faster

I have a magic talent: according to three different people, my emails transmit an actual audio of my voice directly to the reader's brain. That's got to be pretty mysterious and exciting, right there.

There is a man in Richfield, Minnesota who has made a hummingbird feeder out of a bicycle helmet so he can wear it on his head

I'm hungry.

The End.

Psychotherapy may be required.

So, I had the weirdest dream last night. I dreamed a bunch of my NWC theatre friends and I were making another Lord of the Rings movie. But not as an independent project or anything, it was like, New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson and the whole deal. And I played Pippin. And I think Eric was there, and Matt H., and Tracey, and K.O.J., and Marly...and Christopher Lee. And a lot of other people too. It was really odd. But not in the dream, of course; in the dream it was all perfectly natural. And I gave Christopher Lee a line note.

The weird thing is, that was like, the fifth dream I've had since I've been home that NWC people have been in. I don't remember ever dreaming about them when I was there. Except maybe once. Perhaps Mundania is getting to me, a bit. It may be time for drastic measures. Like....okay, I can't think of anything drastic. Don't judge me.

I heard this on one of my brother's mixes today. It's by Starfield:
"What do I have if I don't have you, Jesus? What in this life could mean any more?" I've decided it's the quote of the day. Right now it says what I feel like saying. Only more musically.

I saw an emu today.

It was standing in the middle of an unplanted cornfield. Isn't that weird? I couldn't figure out what it was at first, but we're pretty sure it was an emu. Odd.

Poetry

My mother and I went for a walk in a wooded park just outside of town, and what we found when we got home resulted in this wondrous literary achievement:

Today we walked
(cause we should)
Walked in a wood
(it was good)
We crossed a stream
And then, I deem,
We stepped into
And walked right through
A family's nest.
They thought it best
To cling to us.
I know because
When we were back in
I checked my skin
And I found some ticks.
They numbered six.
I let out a shout
And plucked them out
And I put them, in time,
In a little rhyme
That doesn't actually rhyme at all
In the last little bit.

And there you have it, folks. The most amazing example of literary genius this side of the Mississippi. But seriously, all poetics aside, I really did find six ticks. And if anyone can think of a creature more disgusting than a tick, let me know. I dare you. When I found the first one I had to go into an elaborate ritual to drum up enough courage to touch it, even with the tweezers. I freely admit--I'm not ashamed--this included jumping up and down and screaming like a girl. Go ahead. Laugh. But let this be a warning to you to wear long sleeves and bug spray the next time you venture out for some fresh air. Because you never know when a tick might be waiting for you...

I watched Finding Neverland with my parents tonight. It was nice, because I noticed a whole bunch of things I never realized before, and it's really a fantastically made movie. I love how intrically the plot is woven together. And I think so much of the diologue is just beautiful. I approve.

Goodnight friends.

It's Ridiculous

It's ridiculous. I do not know who was voted off American Idol last night!!! For the first time in...a long time...I don't have a bunch of wonderful girls to watch it with, and then I forgot, and now I don't know! It better not have been Vonzell, because then I'll be mad.

A week since I've been home, and boredom has officially set in. I've done dishes, laundry, grocery shopping, I've read three books--everything except actually unpack, which I planned to do this afternoon, but I guess my procrastination came home with me too. My mom worked all day today, and my dad slept since he's on painkillers (long story), so my day has been silently boring. Ah well. I do, of course, have those boxes to go through if things become too tedious.

On a brighter note, I got three emails from my wingmates yesterday, and another from my roommate today! How lovely.

Word of the Day: Hmmm

I just shipped off my roommate back to her hometown in Oregon. This is now officially the beginning of my not-school life, and it feels weird. Ever since I got home on Thursday, I keep feeling like I need to get ready to drive back in a few days. And I keep laughing at little inside joke things--or making little inside joke things--that I forget normal people don't understand. How do you explain to people that "DK" means failure, or that "Wrong answer!" isn't actually an insult? I tried to impart the joy that was Mario Party on a humongous screen, but it so falls short of the actual event. And then of course there's sky monster, and Eric's laugh, and Betsy's funny noises, and BMW episodes, and Friends episodes, and long walks in the rain, and long geeky talks about theatre, and freaking out (slightly) about American Idol, and being able to borrow practically any movie you could possibly want to watch...College is a unique place.

So is my house, though. I really missed our inside jokes, too. Well, and the people, of course. I called my brother from a rest stop on the way home to tell everyone I'd be later than I'd planned (I'd of course no idea how late, because I hadn't really planned on missing that turn-off and adding an extra hour to my drive time) and he said "Okay-bee" which is from...well, nevermind. Anyway, I got all excited that now I can use my old, family inside jokes. And I can hang out with my mom, and go to all the cute restaurants, and sit around and play video games or read and not feel guilty for procrastinating, and catch up with my brothers and my dad on what's going on in their lives, and cuddle with my cat...It's kind of odd to be sooo happy to be in one place, yet miss the other.

Life is kind of a weird place. I guess that's okay, though. I pretty much like it anyway.