Back in the world

I was walking through Eisenhower Park when I remembered that I actually had a blog! That at one point in time I had planned on keeping up with. It slipped my mind for a while amid the two months at camp, MaryAshley's wonderful wedding, and hours upon hours of job searching.

After a week of serious application sending and resume attaching and cover letter writing I've discovered a few things about myself:

1.) I need to start applying to jobs that provide a way to contact them after said resume attaching and cover letter writing... I don't like just sending and waiting. I feel that if I was able to contact someone afterwards I would be more likely to get an interview.
2.) The idea of sending salary requirements in daunting and I know I'm supposed to do the research and such to match the job and my experience and yadda yadda but REALLY?! I have no effing clue.
3.) I need a job. I need a job to feel whole and normal and useful and occupied. I like being busy. I'd rather work 8 hours a day 5 days a week in a somewhat miserable job than have no job at all.

However, being jobless has given me the ability to explore San Antonio a little bit. I got a P.O. Box (woohoo! I can receive mail in the same city I'm living in!), and I've been to two area parks. The first park is north of where I'm staying, it was super busy (about 9:30am on a Sunday) and filled with bikers. The trails were mostly paved with a few narrow bike ways for trail bikes.
The landscape was pretty; tons of thin, twisted, knotted trees and prickly pear cactus amid the browns and faded greens.
The second park, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Park, was nestled between an active rock quarry and a military base. The main trail was paved but most of the trails were covered in mulch. It was pretty and further west. There was more color and it was rocky and hilly and definitely more of a natural park/walking trail kind of feel.

It's not a park like in Ohio, it actually made me miss the rich greens and dark browns and hills of the mid-west. But it's beauty in it's own way, and I really enjoy it. I also have a theory that part of the reason people are nicer here is to make up for the harshness of the climate. It's not harsh like the cold, like Alaska style, it's just sharp and prickly... okay that doesn't make any sense at all, but it made sense in my head.

Actually, about 30 seconds after I thought it made me miss Ohio, I realized what I really missed was horseback riding through the hill country. THAT is what I miss most in San Antonio.

Growing up and such

In twelve days I will begin the journey into adulthood.

Sort of.

I'm setting out for an (approx.) 20 hour drive to work as a camp counselor. I'm getting rid of nearly everything and essentially "starting over." My bed, desk, over half of my clothing, any candles, picture frames, my printer, all of it. Gone. Adios.

I'll spend two months working with horses and children. One of which I have a lot of experience doing, and the other I do not.

I've never been to Texas before (unless you count the four hours spent in the Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, then I've been there once), but it's something I am incredibly excited about. I've always wanted to go to Texas, but I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the heat and the horses and the beautiful pictures I drool over, but I feel like there is something there for me.

Last night I was spending some time with friends, listening to all their stories of how they envision Texas. This "Texas" most people envision involves extensive cowboy boots, spurs, fake animals heads, cowboy hats, and stuffed animals stapled haphazardly on the walls, and anywhere they will fit.

I never pictured it that way. I just get a mental image of large, old gnarly trees along a river bank. I also feel like the people are going to be more cordial. But that is about it.

I'm more excited to reinvent myself. I did it went to Evansville for my first year of college. I became more outgoing and personable and created a social aspect of my life I had never really had before.

Whatever happens, it will be good, and a much needed change.

I have grown to really appreciate the city I live in and the people here, but it's the weather I am most looking forward to escaping. I need more sunshine in my life than I get in the Midwest. And warmth.

I will absolutely miss Mae, and my friends, and family. I feel incredibly guilty leaving when my dad is so sick, but I'm not leaving forever, and if necessary I can try and find a job in the area come August. I can always come back, but this job opportunity is not going to come around again.

Selfish, I know, but I never claimed to be perfect.