Mid-September

One day, cloudy, wet, rainy. My stomach grumbles at the raspberry slathered toast I made before I left the house, and I wonder if it will be too muddy to work in the field today. Its the kind of day I want to curl up in a window seat with a book and hot cocoa, crank on the oven and make something toasty hot, fattening and delicious. like carrot cake, cookies, soup, or hot fudge brownies. It has snowed in Wyoming and yet the Indian summer keeps peeking back at us from between the curtains, rewarming us just when our fingers have become frosted and our thoughts dim.

Rawlins is sort of a tricky place because of the oil and gas. Its a boom and bust town with vacant shops littering half of the downtown area. At one point in its history Rawlins had a population around 15 thousand and now lingers somewhere around 8. Housing here is priced like a ski town, only without any of the ski town attractions, like good food, shopping, and beautiful slopes covered with snow. Back in the boom, I hear that downtown Rawlins had double the bars it has now, including a brothel for the railroad workers. The Rifleman bar, probably one of the oldest standing bars, still keeps its 6am-2am hours for the workers, although it doesn't seem as busy. With workers coming and going, its a wonder that any business can keep its doors open in this town.

Archery season is in full bore and locals gather around the back of pickup trucks like kids at the ice cream wagon to hear the tales and see the racks. Rawlins for whatever reason has a disproportionate ratio of males to females. The saying is that its "a town where fat girls can be picky." I heard a dead-on insight the other day. "Rawlins doesn't have enough shopping to attract women." True.
As a person with posters I was frustrated out of my mind when I couldn't find a simple item like poster putty. Women, undoubtedly like shopping. Malls are great places to hang out and talk, splurge on something cute. Males, however, can take heart in the plentiful presence of bars, big game, and taxidermy shops (those that hunt anyway). Cowgirls and Hunting women, welcome to Rawlins.

Looking up, out, and around

Sometimes I forget which key opens the door. I find myself holding the car key as I approach the apartment door. Or vice versa, readying my house key for the car ignition. That somehow reminds me of how I can never seem to have an up-to-date stamp on hand. I have a pile of 39 cent-ers alongside a pile of returned letters.

I finally bought some yoga pants. Now I’m not a yoga guru or daily practitioner by any means, but for me, doing yoga is like being a doggy on a joyride. Ohhh yeah. Wind in the ears...wind in the ears.

My current status: looking up. I feel at ease in the 70 degree overcast weather in Wyoming, smelling the freshness of the autumn rain after the land has been baked in the hot summer sun.

Its funny how being short on cash and up to your elbows in bills can make you feel really down. And then its funny, when you are that low on dough, you can have a night out that results in a $1.89 Icee from the Mini-mart rather than an $18 steak at the chop house.

I’m getting older and all my friends are having babies like its going out of style. Wait up guys! We’re still babies ourselves! Personally, kids seem really expensive, expecially in times like these.

Job: Range Technician, Season II. I’m like a seasoned NBA player, I know my way around the court now. I feel pretty comfortable working for the Range department in the BLM because it makes me feel like I actually get to use my degree for something. Yes! With the winter around the corner, I am waiting to find out if I will get funding through the winter to stay in Rawlins, or if I will again seek out the scent of newly-waxed skis, fresh powder, and creaky chairlifts. Wherever I fly, let me tell you, being able to pay your bills is awesome!

In times like these, just remember, when you hit rock bottom, like a rock star having withdrawals, the only way to look is up :)

These boots are made for walkin’….
Megan