Week 33

Day 224: Mar 22, 2015

It was pretty rainy today so I spent the day reading. Not having a computer has really increased my pages read numbers but has also severely cut down on my knitting hours. I have finally finished the book I started reading when my dad came to visit (it was called Hild). It was a good book by had a bunch of old English (like 6th century old) which made it harder to read. I finished another book today called Plastic. Hild was a historical fiction novel whereas Plastic was nonfiction. Plastic was nice because it didn't just glorify or rip on plastics the whole time. The author focused on 5 common plastic items and told the story of plastic through them. For example, she wrote about the IV bag. It has saved many lives and has made storing blood in blood banks a possibility but it can also leach out chemicals and is a one use product. I like environmental or "green" books that are not one sided. I like to know the facts so I can make up my own mind on the subject at hand. Wow, that was a ton of writing to do on a phone, I think I will end there for now.

Day 225: Mar 23, 2015

My computer did not make it to the boat on time but I will live. I started a new book called The Pillars of the Earth. It is another historical fiction book and it is really good. I read more than 250 pages today and that was mainly done in the morning. Other than that I finished someone's baby shower gift for Shane and Meredith. They wanted a crochet edge on a hat that looked like a cupcake. I knew it wouldn't take long so I didn't mind doing it. In the afternoon, after sitting outside for an hour waiting for the bus, Alex, Jess, and I watched Jumanji, a crazy yet awesome Robin Williams film. I read before and after dinner. After a vespers about forgiving, Alex, Leah, and I played Catan again. It was a good game and only lasted about an hour. I also won which was pretty great.

Day 226: Mar 24, 2015

Today was the baby shower! After the dinner shift we all headed to one of the chalets and had a party. There was ice cream and toppings, games, and gifts. Shane, the soon to be father, had to put a cloth diaper on a doll and we had to guess the circumference of Meredith's stomach. At the end they opened gifts. There were lots of onesies and shoes. There was a diaper changing kit, a baby carrier, and a stuffed bunny. I knit them a baby blanket. It is a pale yellow with confetti-like accent colors and a soft multi colored crochet border. It is simple but cute and they loved it. I'm a little worried that Shane might keep it for himself rather than give it to baby Ember (the future baby girl who will be called Emmie for short). It was a great time.

Day 227: Mar 25, 2015

My computer came today!!! I no longer have to write my entry for the day on my phone! I am slowly getting things onto this computer but there are a few things- like some photos that are being stubborn.

Day 228: Mar 26, 2015

Another pretty average day although it was a beautiful average day. The only thing of note was that I burned my arm pretty good within the first hour of my shift so that was fun (not at all). It is a triangle an inch and a half long by about an inch wide. Luckily, it is easy for my to see so I can make sure that it isn't getting infected. Stuffi got a burn a week or two back and it got infected, not too bad but still.

Day 229: Mar 27, 2015

Another pretty average day. My burn is getting better so that's good. Otherwise a normal day ending with watching bones with Pat.

Day 230: Mar 28, 2015

I am writing this at midnight because I just spent 3 hours playing a short game of Catan and talking with my floormates. We bitched and talked about issues, how we were feeling and where we are at in our Holden experience. It was interesting. We questioned motives and found another example of being at Holden for too long. It seems that it can be too easy for people to sign up for another 6 months or whatever and by the end of their time they are down with the isolation. They are done with the issues of being in community. They are done with being constantly “on” (the only time when you are truly not working is when you are in your room or sleeping). This seems like a good place to leave while you are still on top. It is like being a professional athlete. You may feel great and at the top of your game but that might be the perfect time to leave. Brett Favre should have left the first time he retired. He was still on top but everyone knew that his prime years were behind him and everything would go downhill from there. Holden is the same way. You might feel like you can keep going and continue to be your best but when you decide to extend your contract it can result in you struggling to the finish line. The other main excitement that happened today was that I finally mended my pants (they needed some patches). It was way more exciting than it sounds.