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I really need to start journaling on here everyday again. I miss this and I think it keeps me more on track. So that's my goal this week. Anyway, here's that email to my family and friends (and FS buddies!) that I was talking about in my last journal.
Also, I think there is a difference between my Dad's scale and mine because when I was at home I weighed in at the 115.4 and since I've been back mine has read 117+, well today it was 115.2! So I don't know if I've lost only .2 in the couple weeks, or more since it was a different scale. Oh well, as long as it's going down! I haven't really had a chance to exercise this week. I've been busy doing job applications for both myself AND Greg b/c he doesn't have internet access at the Boy Scout camp he's teaching at. I had to rearrange my resume and filled out about 4 applications on Tuesday and was up until 3:30am, I was doing job things until pretty late, but I laid in bed for a long time too. I think it's stress, neither of us have jobs yet and we're looking to move and really don't have any money. Things will happen, I just wish it would be soon!
I'm eating fairly well. I'm trying to eat all the food that's left since I really don't want to carry it back and I would like to get my money out of it instead of leaving it for the next intern. So it's a lot of the same stuff. I have chicken, brown rice and fish and veggies. So at least it's all healthy. All my chocolate is gone (thank goodness) and I don't have that many snack things around. Could be good news and let me drop a few more lbs!
Alaina
Sorry it's been so long since I sent out an email about what's happening here in the West. The last one was at the end of May, and quite a lot has gone on in the past few weeks.
Let's see, so Greg came to visit May 29-June 4. I had a couple days off so after I picked him up from the airport we drove all the way across Kansas...let me just say it's not the greatest. The state is so large I felt like it took days to get across it, and because everything looked similar it didn't seem as if we were getting anywhere fast. At least we decided we do NOT want to live in Kansas. But we had a good time overall, we did some geocaching and stopped in some little towns along the way. We did see these geological structures called "Monument Rocks" and they are these limestone rocks just in the middle of flat KS, they're several stories high! I'll try and attach a picture. Anyway, so it was good that he got to come and see me and spend some time before starting Boy Scout Camp.
Just a couple days after Greg left dad and Cait flew in for Good 'Ol Days weekend.Good Ol Days is an annual town festival. They block the streets off and have vendors and a parade, some carnival rides, music, etc. The fort was housing the Budweiser Clydesdale and so we made our portion be a transportation theme. So not only were the Clydesdales here, but we had a Civil War Ambulance, covered wagon, oxen and mules. There were talks all throughout the day and it was free admission to the Fort Saturday and Sunday. Basically what I did was hand out maps and brochures to people, walk around, and just help when needed. It was exhausting because we were standing outside all day.
Dad and Cait left Monday the June 9th and many of you know mom had her accident that night. I flew home Tuesday morning and stayed about a week there. Mom is doing alright, still in pain, but going to get surgery June 30th. I'm glad I was able to get back and be there in such a scary time!
Since I've been back Alan and I have started cleaning the exhibit rooms. This entails dusting all artifacts, cleaning them depending on the type, vacuuming the room and setting the room back in place. It's a lot of work. Books have to be brush dusted with a natural hair paint brush and then cover, back and all sides are brushed. Then the book is opened and the first several pages also are brushed - this is because if there are bugs those are the loosest pages and where they are more likely to be, so we're cleaning the page and checking for bugs too. This is done on both front and back pages. Ceramics and glass are cleaned with a cottonball and a solution of ammonia and distilled water. Modern textiles can be vacuumed with a goat hair extension piece and older textiles are brushed with the vacuum nearby, but not on the individual item. I cleaned 2 wicker baskets last week and those get cleaned with the ammonia/water solution and q-tips! So far we have cleaned 4 rooms and now we are working on the curatorial store room. The public doesn't see it, but it's where files about the artifacts and artifacts are housed. We're putting things back in their drawers, and going through piles of things since that area is sort of left alone because Alan has so many other things to do.
I still am working on my museum exhibit, I have the artifacts, but just need to write some text. I also don't like the background cloth options of the Fort, so I may buy a different color at Wal-Mart.
I've been working 6 day weeks to make up for those 3 days I missed and I'm also trying to get in an extra 20 hours. When a volunteer works 500 hours in a year you get a National Parks pass that's good for a year and will get you into any National Park for free. I was already working 480 with my internship, so thought an extra 20 wouldn't be bad. Luckily I'm able to do that from the apartment.
I can't believe I leave in only 2 weeks! I've been putting off typing this since I got back from Charleston and the time has just flown by and so I'm sorry for not sending it before now. My last day is July 11 and my friend Kimmee is going to fly into Springfield, IL on the 12th and I'm going to pick her up and we're going to go to the Lincoln museum there that Aunt Fiona told me about. Then we'll be on our way home. We're going to do some geocaching and it will be good to have someone to ride with on the long drive back!
Anyway, I'll be back before you know it! Love you all!
Alaina
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