Cursed Caffeine

So. I haven't had a cup of coffee since 4 P.M. yet I'm still as jittery as a June-bug. I've been sitting here in the '28 house for the past three hours trying to think of something important to write. Problem is, I can't think of anything. My trip back to Illinois and back was not very restful, yet at the same time, it was just what I needed. Allow me to sum up.

In the past month I have:

Gained full certification with ox driving.
Picked and cut corn.
Moved and treated sheep for hoof-rot.
Worked multiple 20 hour days in a row.
Grown blisters under calluses.
Chopped down a tree with an axe.
Built a hog lot.
Gone to the parent's house.
Bootlegged for my mother.
Worried about family members.
Frustrated my girlfriend to the point of an argument. Three times.
Not found time to call the people closest to me.
Stacked and re-stacked three cords of firewood.
Given Lord knows how many school tours.
Worn through my boots to the point where I get a new free pair from the company.
Defended my manager.
Defended my direct supervisor to my manager.
Played peace-keeper.
Not gotten any phone calls or e-mails about any of the dozen applications I have put in.
Driven myself close to insanity about making ends meet this winter.
Gone to Pioneer seed company twice.
Smacked a pig on the noggin' with a bucket to keep it from escaping the lot it lives in.
Driven the oxen in front of Kindergartners.
Given a child fleas from the pigs when they wanted to pet them.
Made hard soap.
Cut two cords of firewood.
Soaked myself to the bone.

So, as you might tell. It has been busy.

We have "Harvest Weekend" starting Saturday. Nobody knows what we - the west side (the farm sites) - are supposed to do. 1900 is going to shock and grind corn, and press apples. But we at 1850 have no idea. If it is dry enough I suppose we'll be picking and cutting the last of our corn field.

We were supposed to have a huge Catholic event on Friday, but as it turns out only one (1), group came out to the west side. Out of 30. Talk about a waste of a day. Granted, it rained all day Thursday, and all day Friday. But I can't help but think that if I were back at SJL we would have gone. No matter what the weather conditions. One more reason to be Lutheran I guess. (How many Lutherans does it take to change a light bulb? ... Change? What does this mean?)

I'm getting a bit frantic about employment this winter. I have garaunteed hours untill the end of November, which pushes my contract a whole month, but who I am to complain? It is income. Yet, December thru April will be very lean which means a lack of funds to pay off old debts. Luckily there hasn't been any interest applied to said debts. Yet. At this point in time I would gladly accept a posting at a gas station, even if it is the dead of night hours. UPS, TSA, Pioneer, WDNR, IADNR, Urbandale Public Works, Manatis, Des Moines Sanitation...None of these companies have called me back as of yet about applications that I put in a month ago. I've got on call status for Maintanance at LHF during the winter months as a "Snow Removal Engineer", but...that is weather dependent. In all honesty, I just need enough to cover bills and rent out here. I'll figure out some way to take care of previous debt.

I will say that one of the nice things about living on 500 acres of secluded area is that the places with internet are heated on the Farms dollar. It has been terribally cold out here. Well, not terribally, but it is noticeable. I wake up and put my glasses on two hours before the sun comes up and the side of my head is freazing from the frames of the glasses.

Oh, one more thing to complain about - since I know you care - the newest addition to the BlauHaus has a fish tank. Since this person's arrival our electric bill has doubled. I can't wait until the LP tank gets filled up. Although, I have said to the land-lady, and the occupants of the BlauHaus that I will only pay to keep the house at 55 degrees. Every therm above that is on their own. I've even done the math on it. It pays to have a fabulously talented mother and grandmother who can make ribbon winning quilts. 'S called layers.

I suppose that this is all I have to say. Oh, I played a joke on the East side today. We were having a commemeration of Pope John Paul II coming out here and holding a mass. I printed out the 95 Thesis and nailed them to the door at the Church of the Land. Five staff members understood what they were, and the symbolism they entailled. So there Catholic schools! I refuse to bow to the teachings of Cathol.

Anyway. I suppose since I have to be at work in...4 hours, I should leave this as is. Enough rambling for a day. I apologize for the delay in postings.

Buck