Once upon a midnight dreary...

Am I completely losing my mind? Because I just dragged 25 lbs of dry ice from my car into the basement, which also happens to be my bedroom. Dry ice, which I know nothing about, because I had no idea it could chemically burn you if you touch it. I was given this information JUST in the nick of time.

Why, you may ask, do I have 25 lbs of dry ice in my bedroom? Because I'm taking it to school tomorrow. Yep. I am about to take 25 lbs of a substance that can cause chemical burns and use it to create a fog effect in a classroom of 29 INSANE 14 year olds. Sometimes this is what it takes to understand poetry. That's all I'm saying.

It was either this or a fog machine, and I went with the cheaper option of the two. Though I DO plan on getting a fog machine in the near future---for educational purposes, of course.

It was kind of a stink going back to work today after such a fun weekend, but I did have Monday off, so I can't complain. And the day was pretty good compared to most.

Other news:

1. I went to the dermatologist for the first time ever yesterday, and I don't appear to have skin cancer. Those of you who know how much time I've spent in the sun during my life will know what good news that is--I've been paranoid about it for a long, long time.

2. We have a cat! His name is Lemons, and he belongs to our new roommate, Abby. Things should be interesting when Dooley returns from dog boot camp.

3. Has anyone seen Ben Stein's documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed on the theory of evolution? I don't know much about it, but I'm going to see it tomorrow night.

where the deer and the antelope play...

West Texas was all I hoped it would be and more. LT, Mere and I had THE BEST time this weekend in the wild west. Alpine (and surrounding areas) was NOTHING like any place I've ever been before. I sort of felt like I'd been dropped onto the set of an old western movie.

The only thing that could have made the weekend any better is if 1) I'd seen the station wagon with a pastoral mural painted on it with real, huge horns (bull or elk--not sure) built into the sides, and 2) if I had encountered a cowboy with a curled mustache who subtly whistled when he made "s" sounds in his speech.


I DID see plenty of handlebar staches, though, so that was almost as good. I really don't even know where to start recounting the trip. Laura and Mere are going to post all the exact same pictures, so I'm trying to beat them to it.


We arrived Thursday late afternoon and stocked up on groceries of the healthy sort (cheese, wine, and wine and cheese) in Midland before heading to Alpine. That night, all we did was sit around, drink wine, and howl with laughter much overdue. Meredith's friend Amanda baked us tons of sweets, and we might have had one or two of those, as well.


Really, I won't even TRY to tell you how much we ate while we were together. Because there's no reason your stomach should hurt as much as mine does right now. My appetite is WHACKED for a good week, at least.


Anyway, most of our time was spent riding down long, flat roads and enjoying the mountains, duststorms, antelopes and other cattle, and tumbleweed. The desert is much prettier than I thought. Here are some pictures.




If I ever become a famed country music singer, I already have an album cover.

This was the best margarita I've ever had. Ever.Real chaps, ladies and gentlemen. I think they fit me surprisingly well.Meredith didn't want me to post this one. It was an accident that I even TOOK it. Which makes it even more ripe...Meredith Horn, in her element.Practicing for my next trip out west. You think I'm kidding? Nay.The greatest hosts ever.This was not a funny joke.

What an all around extraordinary weekend. I miss these girls so very much. I'd move to Alpine if I knew we could live like we did this weekend all the time. But as fate would have it, I do not have ranching know-how, nor the ability to break wild cattle. So I don't think I'd have too much luck with employment. For the time being, I suppose I have to stay here in tame Birmingham.

Until, that is, we make our fortunes and can retire and retreat to the wild to write our memoirs.

Until then...don't squat with your spurs on.

Summer reading

I'm compiling my list of books to devour this summer. Since I barely read at all for recreation during the school year, I have to take it all in, for the most part, during the hot weather months. I've gotten a jump on it and started one, Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar (which, so far, is really good and peculiar), and I've put a few others on the list, but I want my readership's input on some must-reads. After all, you do have a taste for fine literature. Clearly.

Here is my list so far:

1. The Bell Jar

2. Ian McEwan's Atonement

3. Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones

4. Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita

5. Philippa Gregory's The Other Boleyn Girl

6. Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's

7. Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner

Have any of you read these? Any recommendations?

In case anyone's wondering how I plan to spend my summer days, see below. This is me, after my cool fountain bath laden with perfume and rose petals.