The End

Yes, its really been that long since my last blog.  If anything it should be an indication of how fast the last month has gone by.  Its been a good experience blogging this summer, even if I did slack off a bit toward the end.  Thanks to all of my followers, I love you all and I hope you were at least slightly entertained by this documentation of my summer life!

(41) Days of Summer

This is what happens when you accidentally show up an hour early to parties that are in the middle of the country--you find beautiful sunflower fields.

Luckily my friend Josh, who graciously drove me to this party, had his camera as well.  You don't feel more like a Kansan than when you're standing in a field of sunflowers. 

(35) Days of Summer

What a holiday!  I started celebrating early with my friend from Belle Plaine, Andrew.  God knows I love roaming around Barnes and Noble (I think he does too).

And then the baby came to our house.  And all we did was stare at her because she is beautiful.

I think Jack was exhausted.  We started calling him "Nana" because he would alert us anytime the baby cried.  I half expected him to pick her up by the britches with his mouth and drag her off to bed.

While Jack took a much needed snooze, we were off to Aunt Marlies' house to see the rest of the fam.

Finally--fireworks!

(32) Days of Summer

Ahhh!  Summer is going by too quickly!  I can't believe its fourth of July weekend (but I say that every year it seems).  Here are just a few highlights from being home in Wichita for the holiday.

At last, home.

We finally caught the squirrel red-handed.  Now we just have to plan a counter-attack.

(27) Days of Summer

What a weekend.  Here are the highlights.  I'm too exhausted from consecutive crazy nights to come up with witty comments for them.

(25) Days of Summer

And I thought remembering to blog was going to be easy...NOT.

Here's what you've missed in the last twelve days.

A summer storm rolling in (the most energetic feeling ever).

Baking with whatever was left in our cupboards (now THAT'S cheap living).

Making crafts from baking supplies.

And finally, reading my one true love.

(13) Days of Summer

Last night I went to the most beautiful wedding, uniting two of my favorite people together forever.  I must say, they throw a rockin' good party. 

I was also VERY impressed by the way that they' magically transformed Bishop Miege high school into a gorgeous reception venue.  I was marveling the entire night.

I was also thrilled to see many of my Murphy Hall friends that have been absent in my life since school ended.  As we celebrated Barbara and Andy's wedding, it reminded of how much I love and cherish all of those people and how lucky I am to have them.

(10) Days of Summer

I hate those days when you get a somewhat rude awakening reminding you of the way life really is.

This morning I went to work, taking some City of Lawrence campers to the city pool in the afternoon, and watched as they splashed about in the water as if they could live in summer-land forever.  For most of the kids at that camp, summer is a time to not be a school and be reminded of how they are different or lacking in some intellectual or physical capacity.  They're just another great kid in another great town.

I had several text messages from friends at home telling me that the son in a family in our hometown is battling a life threatening disease that may very well take his life sometime soon.  He's only eighteen which to me seems too young to die and too young to feel as much pain and sorrow as he has.  Thankfully he has a family and a community that is by his side night and day.  I pray that somehow the universe will mysteriously open up the way it does sometimes and provide him with what he needs.

God does not play dice with universe, yet it seems that we're still trying to predict what the next roll will be and what's at stake for us.  I guess life doesn't make sense, but I also figure if you're still trying to answer the hard questions then you haven't really made much progress---most answers don't exist at all.

(8) Days of Summer

Its not summer without S'mores, but sadly its not REALLY campfire weather when you live in apartment--so we adapted.

The delightful finished product.  

We decided to use a lighter instead of the flame from the citronella candle.  I think Jill was too worried that some of the bizarre chemicals in those things would make it into my system and I wouldn't wake up the next morning (she's probably cringing as she's reading this).  I think the fork idea was pretty magnificent, myself.

 

(6) Days of Summer

How can you not love this cat?  Honestly.

Yesterday I was bored so I went over to my sister's apartment to visit my cat-nephew, Ike.  We took some pictures together and I think we're in love.  The truth is--I have an unhealthy obsession with cats, but I've never really had one due to living restrictions and the possibility that I may start telling them all my secrets and withdraw from society.

(5) Days of Summer

Another random day in the life of Pearl:

Last night I went out to 23rd Street with some friends I haven't seen in a while.  I ordered a gin and tonic because I'm trying to cut down on the caloric intake of my alcoholic beverages.  Let me just say--a beer is worth the calories.  The gin and tonic was just plain nasty.  Nasty!  I immediately ordered a beer and I must say that the taste of a raspberry wheat definitely compensated for the six dollars I wasted on that awful impostor.

Here's a nice shot of the line of beverages I had by the end of the evening.  According my brother I never finish a  drink and this evening was no exception.

Today, after going to swim lessons (pause for reaction--yes, I am taking swim lessons at the age of 21 and I can now say with confidence that I can "bob" as well as any three year old) I decided to take on our porch.  Its been covered with leaves and other disgusting debris all year and now that its officially summer my roommate Jill and I have been spending more time on our porch.  A couple nights ago we purchased a tiki torch without realizing how deathly afraid of fire we both are.  Let's just say the evening ended quicker then we expected when we doused the out-of-control flame with water, perhaps ruining all three dollars we spent on the damn thing.

But, take a look at our porch now!  Beautiful, I'd say.