What a week. I am now COMPLETELY done with camp--that ended last Saturday with a bit a cleaning, a disappointing paycheck, some gluttony at Country Burger, a quick trip home to unpack, a nice meal at Romio's, and then The Brothers Grimm. A rather drawn out goodbye by my standards but a good way to spend some 'normal' time with camp people.


So then I had two days to tie up all the loose ends I left for Western. I had to fax my heath form, let them know that I will be attending a make-up advising thing for transfer students, and most importantly, figure out where I'm going to live. I've been waiting all summer to hear from the university about housing. So in digging through all my WWU-related papers, guess what I found. My housing application. Sealed in the envelope. I forgot to send it. [Stupid] So I decided to feel stupid about for about 5 minutes and then move on.


Luckily, a friend from Cascade Crags (Jeff) is up there in an apartment with a possible opening. It just happened that Kira was going up to see him that day. Summary: I love Bellingham, Jeff doesn't have a room for me, I still love Bellingham, I applied for housing online. Cross your fingers, pray, cross yourself, light candles, and hope that i get a closet to live in. Or even a dorm.


Moving on. Tuesday afternoon, my family loaded up the Mazda and took off for Boise to see my Grandma. I only get to see her once a year--if that--and she hasn't been feeling up to par lately. So I slept on her leaning couch for three nights, heard the same stories over and over, watched John Wayne movies, and listened to old Country records (also know as GOOD country music). I'm still humming 'Ring of Fire.'


So after much night driving, a new world record for Lake Stevens to Boise without a ticket (just under 9 hours), much practice with my new sand footbag, a fading memory of camp, a growing Newfoundland puppy named Freddie, an ambition to leave for Bellingham, a list of environmental/politcal books I want to read, a knack for long, drawn out lists that could almost be considered run-ons, and a healthy fear of Diet Pepsi...I have made it to September. And if you still want to see some photos from the summer--which I would like to make public--please tell me what else I can use besides Photobucket. I think Photobucket is run by Castro and he is trying to censor me.


Fight the power,
Ike