MY ELECTRONIC DISEASE

The Baby

So the baby has been acting up and claims to be infected with a virus, or spyware or something that makes it unhappy. It wanted me to activate anti-virus by paying a good chunk of money but I decided to do what I always do with an electronic crisis, call Ian. Its a good thing that boy knows so much about computers. Apparently his brother's net book just had a similar thing happen. He told me first to NOT PAY and to download this other anti-virus software since my computer was still functioning, just being annoying and popping up windows every five seconds about something being infected and making me nervous about the doom that was about to happen. After I downloaded it Ian directed me to go into "safe mode" with networking which is where I am right now. Hiding out and running virus scans with my new software. Everything looks pretty old school (the name of what that is called Ian told me and I already forgot... I think binary but that is not right) especially the virus scanning, its just black with white bits in computer rather than English. So... I'm not entirely sure if the scans worked or what is happening but I am just waiting here, in safe mode until I know what to do next. It has to be a good sign that it is still alive and functioning and that this is even an option, so I am going to be optimistic. That said... WHAT THE FUCK ELECTRONICS!? All I do is love you and you ALL DIE! Or something bad happens. Sigh. My big computer will be returned to me this week however, with more RAM more harddrive (a whole new one with 5times more space then my old one) and new OSX! So I guess that worked out in my favor in a way. I just need to get that damn apple key that sticks up fixed. It may be more trouble than its worth though. In other news, I have been babysitting a bit lately and have been doing activities such as: Making dandelion crowns

Swimming (T in her tiny weenie yellow polka dot bikini)

Face paint. (Anna made me Frankenstein and I made her Frankenstein... and then a dog.)Today while I was driving home I watched the shadow of a bird skip across the pavement. I would like to capture it in a film. Fingers crossed that the baby recovers.

INDIAN CAVE

Today I woke up and went home in my pajamas to eat something and change to go on a hike with my dad. We decided to head to Sweetwater to explore the Indian cave that is hidden there. It is a gorgeous area with a great name that was made all the better by the feeling of summer that was lingering about. We had stopped to get vegetarian subs at Chomps:

Provolone
Avocado spread
Sun dried tomatoes
Mozzarella
Sprouts
Toppings (I got tomato, onion and mustard)

They were tasty and consumed at the trail head. It was a nice mellow trail that cut through a lot of good forest, including a gorgeous patch of Aspen trees that had just popped. Needless to say I had my Diana mini and finished off a roll of film and started another. The cave was tucked into a mountain side up a little incline that took you over most of the trees. There was a info sheet tacked onto a box that contained a guest book. The cave was used by Ute Indians for storage or religious purposes ("such as births" my dad pitched in) and there are still remnants of cave drawings on the wall. There was also a lot of vandalism by people who wanted to leave their names on the cave wall as well, which is a shame but it was also interesting due to the fact that some dated back to the 1880s. We had brought headlamps so we could see how far back the cave went and set about exploring it. Coco did not like being in there and started to whimper a bit once we left natural light behind. There was one point where we had to clamor over some boulders that she could not and she was forced to wait for us on the other side. Directly after there was a hole that led to a short drop into another cavern. There was a rock climbing rope tied leading down that you could use to repel. My dad went first and I followed holding on to the rope and slowly making my way down by finding foot holds. The drop ended up being much shorter than we anticipated and once we were in the next room it seemed to be a dead end. We looked around for a bit before climbing back up and reuniting with Coco who couldn't wait to get out of there. It was a open cave that wasn't to intense or scary. Caves are interesting and amazing but completely terrifying and foreign at the same time. If you stop and be quiet in a cave there will be no sound. Its like how I imagine space would sound. There is also complete darkness if you turn off your light, it is like being in a vast expanse of nothing. Christine and I went to the fairy caves while she was here and I recognized the wet smell and had a bit of a desire to explore a bit more and slide through some things. Nothing too small and intense, just something a bit more off the beaten track. Its just good to experience things like that sometimes. After we headed down and stopped a few times to look out over the lake and the trees. We had dinner at the Brewpub and my dad got some Hanging Lake Honey Ale that I rather liked. Now I am at the dog house for the last night. I'm excited to see how my photos come out. (I may post photos from my dad's camera in the meantime when I have access to them.)

THINGS FROM THE DAY

I'm blogging like mad lately, as tends to happen when I actually have time. I had a somewhat interesting day that started with me having to pick up Kir from surgery. She was getting a cell tumor removed from her finger and needed someone to drive her home. I arrived to find her sitting on a doctors bed with a gown on drinking water through a straw. We had to chat while waiting for her goody bag of Vicadin, gauze and so on before sitting through a talk by the surgeon which included the phrase "I did a good job." Then everyone left and told her she could change and I stood up not knowing if I should leave or not when Kir asked me to untie the robe, I did and before asking if I should go she was half naked and I was helping her get dressed. It was unexpected but slightly humorous as I was getting her foot through the leg hole, it reminded me of when I have to dress her daughters. Speaking of which I am taking T to the pool tomorrow which should be fun. There is something great about carrying around a little chubby baby/toddler in a bathing suite through the water. Of course the goal of this swimming trip is to tire her out so she'll be wading around on her own too. I started getting back into making mail, I'm catching up on replying to a bunch that I got while Christine was here. I have been going through the fantastic pile of old children's books from Keighley's garage sale. Some wonderful titles include: The Official Boy Scout Handbook, I Learn About God's World: A Rainbow Activity Book: Dinosaurs, Blaze and the Indian Cave, Pages of Adventure, The How and Why Wonder Book of Rocks and Minerals, May I Come In? And more. One page that I plan to include in a letter is titled: Let's Imagine Funny Things... Can you imagine a hen with a pen? a cat who can bat? a pig with a wig? Hopefully my penpals will enjoy them. Speaking of books, I went to the library today with every intention of checking out The Windup Bird Chronicles having called before and been told that they had it... however upon arriving it couldn't be found. I ended up with nothing that I had gone in there for but a book of short stories and a copy of The Virgin Suicides (the book) to read through. I was very close to getting the second Twilight to re-watch but in the end left it behind. I will have to enjoy the awkward embarrassing repeat some other time. I keep ending up with more things at this house. Tonight I have my pillow, complete with cowboy pillowcase, its going to be a good sleepover.

WOODY AND BISBIE

I am now dog sitting. Its a bit strange to sit in a house alone for a while that isn't your space. I think it makes me feel more alone because I am not surrounded by my things. Jane might come over later since the house is just down the street from hers. The two dogs I'm watching, Woody and Bisbie are these weird little things. I keep stopping whatever I am doing (mostly internet) related to watch them in slight confusion. They both hobble around somewhat, especially Woody, its like he has a peg leg. They also do a strange licking thing where they put their tongues straight in and out. Woody went outside and sat in the rain for a bit and when he came back in he couldn't really shake and ended up sort of falling onto his butt. He is just dysfunctional when it comes to moving. Bisbie stared at me for a while when I first got here and made weird noises. They are just weird.

DUTCH PEOPLE ARE WEIRD

Another something from Arianna's blog. This is a song that I danced to during Carnival... a huge Carnival hit if you will. Actually, Arianna has summed up Carnival really well its worth a read. I just keep finding extras after I post.

MORNING RAMBLINGS

I have been interneting all morning rather than doing something more productive like letters, cleaning up, eating, reading and so on. It all started because I am trying to deal with this loan for my Prague summer program. Its better if I don't think about how much I am getting that I do not have. So after many conversations with them and getting locked out of esigning my application, I now have to fax them a copy of my social security card, a copy of my drivers licenses and a copy of my birth certificate. So I will be going to the middle school after the kids leave and after I pick up Kir's car from Carbondale to use the fax machine. I am dog sitting this week and have to sleep at the house at night. I don't really like the dogs they are annoying and kinda like... deformed, but its not grotesque. I'll have to post a pic via cell phone due to not having photobooth or my digi anymore (so sad). They changed their lock code to my pin number so I can get in easily. Maybe I'll see if Jane wants to come over for a movie and some baking or something. The nice thing is that the house is close to town. I tried to go to the library yesterday to get The Windup Bird Chronicles and some of the movies I have on a movie watching list but they were closed for renovations. So maybe I'll do that today. I think I may start Under the Banner of Heave next which is a book my dad read that is about these extremist Mormons. There is a blurb on the cover that says: On July 24, 1984, a woman and her infant daughter were murdered by two bothers who believed they were ordered to kill by God. The roots of their crime lie deep in the history of an American religion practiced by millions... These things are extremely interesting to me. Its like the stuff with the family and Charles Mason. Anyway, I have been reading through Arianna's Europe/summer blog starting will all the bits at the castle that I missed. Its extremely entertaining and has given me a few gem videos. (Notice the size! Thank you K) (As well as the European montage from Rules of Attraction because that is kinda how Europe is. Maybe a little less crazy... not so much sex.) My dad also sent me this link which is interesting. I tied a gold feather bead to my phone last night and woke up with it missing, I knew the knot wasn't too good. I hope it turns up soon though, my phone looks a little silly with just yellow, orange and green string tied to it.

OH, AND...

Keighley just informed me how to fix up my videos so I will have to start playing around with that. And I also forgot to add a few other links that I liked.

ONE
TWO
THREE

I rather like the recycled postcard wedding save the dates in two.