A Walkabout In Tioga

My Backyard

Angst

I have been pretty sick ever since I got to Tioga a week ago. I had bronchitis pretty bad before I came up here, but I thought I was over it. Nope. Once I got here, it came back full force! I interviewed on the 9th, and heard from my would-be boss on the 13th, who called to tell me it would be another week until a decision was made. I am going to apply at some surrounding companies, just as a backup plan. Needless to say, I thought the job was a done deal before I made the move. Oh yes, my phone is roaming and I have no data... I only have internet when my roommate is home (he uses his phone as a WiFi modem, and I am mooching), but even with the limited access, my online courses are going well. My exhaust FELL OFF of my car 4 days ago. It has since been "fixed" by my dad (he tied it back together with wire), and now it sounds like a lawn mower. On top of the cough, now my eyeball is swollen and maybe infected or something? My voice sounds like I'm taking testosterone supplements. I miss home terribly. I spent most of my week in bed, reading, playing with my camera, but mostly feeling sorry for myself.

So, obviously, things are not going according to plan. But you know what? Things never go according to plan! I have a cozy place to live, the weather is beautiful, I have wonderful friends, wonderful family, and a wonderful man back home. I have a lot going for me! Yes I am sick as f*** but I will heal. All of this silliness is temporary. I went on my first run since I've been up here earlier today, I saw a curious snake (still not sure if it was dangerous or not, but it was bigger than small) and a wicked bird carcass. The field behind my house is like a giant wild prairie (not sure who owns it) and it's full of interesting critters. I saw a few other interesting things today (including an extremely old observatory, AND a nuclear warhead station, more on that later I promise) and I am excited to wander and actually take photos of these things that are around me. There's probably about 50 abandoned homes within 15 mins of my place, but I'm not sure that any of them are really worth checking out. I'm most interested in all of these trains!! I've never seen such train traffic, it's unreal. I may or may not do something to them which may or may not be in a legal grey area. I also downloaded a pretty sweet video game (yea..it's still downloading 3 days later AHEM) and ordered some canvases. I promise I will actually start DOING very soon!

 My body needs to stop being so weak and get over whatever this is. Mind over matter, right? I miss you all LIKE CRAZY!!! Sending love!!

-Lita

You are what you drink

Sorry for this, but this photo is too good not to post. This is Luther, the vomiting cow.

Here is a nicer photo with Luther the Vomiting Cow, and my friend Kat, who is dressed as Dr. Who.

The Drive

So I woke up this morning at 1:30 AM to make the 9 1/2 hour trip to Tioga from Oakdale. After a very difficult goodbye, a quick stop at the gas station, and cursing at my GPS, I was on my way. The first 4 hours or so went by relatively quickly. I was about 45 minutes from Fargo when a massive storm hit. Hail, lightning, and torrential rain, it was so bad I almost parked under a bridge. It lasted about 30 minutes and then eased up. By that time, it was nearly 6 AM and still pitch black outside. I passed through Fargo and kept hauling ass trying to make up for lost time. The sky started to lighten up with the sunrise, and there was fog everywhere. I thought the daylight would help me wake up, but it sort of made me feel insane, so I snapped some pictures to help stay awake.

 The highway was straight as an arrow and the landscape was generally unimpressive.

Like I said, I was feeling crazy, with the radio blasting Golden Oldies. I had put my monkey hat on my passenger seat like this when I left town, and had forgotten about it. When daylight hit, I saw this out of the corner of my eye and almost had a heart attack.

Anyway, North Dakota has a large amount of a small variety of things to look at. I saw some hay...

....and some cows...

....and some trains....

...and lots of mills.....

....and some oil pumps....

...and some trucks....

.....yeah.

The weather was weird. I kept running into strange storm pockets. This picture doesn't do the sky much justice, it was putting on a pretty awesome show from time to time.

 More ROAD!! This is about 7.5 hours in.

Then I rolled up on this, which was very pretty! Too bad the landscape isn't like this all over. It's pretty flat, mostly.

Feeling sick to my stomach and delirious 10 hours into the drive, I finally see this....

...which made me do this.

 I called my Dad and told him I was outside his apartment. He came outside and made this face.

And (awww) he already had me all set up with a brand new bed and headboard with an oh-so-cute pink and white quilt. I'm all settled in now.

I took a shower and got dolled up, went to my interview at Power Fuels (which went great), came back to the apartment and proceeded to pass out. I haven't explored the area much yet, but I will. I have some homework to do right now but I will update again soon. I already miss everybody terribly, but I'm feeling good about the move and am excited for what's ahead.

Sending Love!

Lita