Losing steam

I didn't get up until 9, and it was already 80 degrees outside so I decided against going to the park. Hazel, Nate and Sam were over so I entertained them for about an hour before they went with their grandpa to the children's museum. Hazel can't say "Sam," the closest she can get is "Dam." So it sounds pretty funny when she's screaming at him. Now I find myself with "nothing to do."

Earlier this summer, it was easy to jump in my car and go do things with Alyssa and Taylor. Then I started to get burnt out of driving across the Twin Cities. I just filled up my car again yesterday at $3.69/gallon. Saving gas is a big motivator to not leave the house unless absolutely necessary.

I also realized I just don't plan things well. I have a short list of things I want to do in Minnesota: visit Walnut Grove (where the Ingalls family lived in On the Banks of Plum Creek; it's actually having a festival and pageant thing this weekend and next, but my work schedule overlaps it so I'll just go on a normal day; less crowds that way anyway, right?), go to Valley Fair (amusement park), go to the Mall of America, go to Minnehaha Falls, go to Lake Superior (not a huge goal, since it's 3 hours each way to get there), explore downtown St. Paul... that's kind of it. I know I could still go do something today, but I have to leave for work in 4 hours and I just feel grubby. It's just one of those days. I feel kind of trapped in a fog.

I hope that tomorrow when the weather is cooler I'll have more energy. I'm going to get my planner and mark days to actually go do the things I want to do. I also have about 3 lists of things to do in the area I've gotten from coworkers. I need to have goals and plan in order to accomplish anything.

Flowers by where I park my car.

I did go for a bike ride yesterday. The calluses/blisters on my hands are getting bigger, and at work Cigale said I should probably get gloves so I don't get nerve damage on the palms of my hands which would make it difficult for me to spend the rest of my life typing. I started laughing because of how horribly bleak that sounds. But then with all the technology today, I guess most of my generation will be spending the rest of their lives typing.

If my sisters were here, we'd be putting on sunscreen and going to the beach. But going by myself just seems sad. But less sad than sitting here on my bedroom floor. I guess I'll clean out my email and organize my laptop. I've been meaning to go through my iTunes and delete the songs I never listen to and through my iPhoto to get rid of the random photos I'll never want. That's the good thing about being alone; tedious tasks don't deprive me of spending time with others.

Preliminary research has shown that Walnut Grove is 3 hours southwest of my current location. Which basically means I will postpone going until I'm leaving Minnesota. And if I'm already going that way, I may as well go through South Dakota and see Mount Rushmore and then through Wyoming to stop at Independence Rock and Martin's Cove. And whatever else I discover along the way. I'm just waiting to see if I get this job; if I do, I'm going to have to completely re-plan everything. If I don't, I need to get Sarah a plane ticket. :)

I found Arthur on my bathroom floor.