Quickie

Today was my first full day back at my parent's place in my own room. I haven't lived in here for a long time now and it feels nice to be back. From now on I'll be driving 2 hours to school every morning and then driving back after track practice. I know I'll get sick of it eventually but for the present, I'll enjoy every bit of it.

I miss Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard but Pennsylvania has her charms as well. There's a symphony of crickets outside right now and that's kind of priceless.

So yep......

I got my kitty back yesterday but she absolutely hates me now. And who could blame her? She bit me so hard that my finger bled... My mom hates her too and wants me to get rid of her. And honestly, after 20 years of arguing with her, I don't even feel like talking about this to her anymore so she's happily finding new prospective owners for kitty.

You can guess how I feel about that.

I'm going to bed now. Bed is calling my name in capital letters.

La la la aaaaaaaaaa...

So that's the end of the Cape sunsets for me. I'm on Martha's Vineyard now and time is creeping by as slowly as a turtle crawling uphill. I'll be leaving for New Jersey either this Saturday or Sunday and picking up my car then. I can't believe I'll be driving again after two months of not being able to. I'm really excited but scared at the same time. Will I have forgotten how to drive? I don't think so but I guess we'll see.

Also, during these two and a half months, I've almost forgotten completely how to be a girl. I just realised that I haven't worn makeup, brushed my hair or put on a dress at all during the summer. I haven't worn HEELS even once and I certainly haven't hung out with any girls my age. Pick any day of the week now and you'll most certainly catch me wearing an oversized T-shirt and shorts or oversized sweats. Oh and I haven't worn perfume or jewellery (except my cross necklace) all this time either.

Speaking of jewellery, my body finally rejected the belly ring that I had forced upon it this January. I took it out of its misery yesterday and all that's left of my piercing is an ugly scar. I guess this'll teach me a good lesson in piercing myself on impulse!

I guess I'm excited to go back to being a girl again. Can't wait to walk in heels again...

Besides that, nothing's new with me really. I didn't finish reading all the books that I set out to read this summer but I gained several new ones. I've also gathered valuable knowledge on various aspects of life such as child-rearing, house management, socialising and just American culture in general- so I'd say that I got a pretty sweet deal.

Another summer has gone by and I've become yet a different person again... I guess it's time to say goodbye to the teenage me and hello to the new creature that I've become.

The other day I read this quote that said "from the very day we were born, we all take steps towards death everyday".

How depressing and how motivational at the same time!

Makes me want to put on a baby pink skirt and go play tennis or something...

Weird.

Last Weekend On The Cape

This has been a great weekend so far. Yesterday morning, we packed all the kids into the car and went to a huge church fair. There were so many people there that I could hardly breathe in the crowd. There were all sorts of antique furniture and pottery selling at ridiculous prices. If I had an old house to furnish, I would've gone into a buying frenzy. I saw plates from the 18th century selling for 8 bucks each and old tables selling for 5 dollars!

I didn't really want to spend any money but I got myself two books at the end. Four bucks isn't a bad deal for limited edition classics.


After that, I had the rest of the day off so I went to the beach and fell asleep out on the sand bar there since it was lowtide. When I woke up, the tide had come in and was almost at my feet so I jumped into the cold water and went for a really long swim/float excursion to the jetty and back. The day was beautifully spent but my feelings were mixed because I realised that it was probably the last day that I had to relax on the beach before leaving for Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday.


Today I've been left in charge of the kids until tomorrow. Just to keep them occupied, we set up a lemonade stand in the afternoon and they made forty-six dollars! It was the perfect hot afternoon to catch all the dehydrated beach-goers returning from their day out.

So my time on Cape Cod is finally drawing to an end and even though I am dying to get out of here, I know I am going to miss this life badly. Therefore, I am determined to keep living each day as if it were my last.

:)

When school reopens I'll rehash these memories to chase the winter blues away...

P.S.

I ran 7 miles yesterday and except for a little red dot, there are no traces of my stepping on a nail.

Nail Day

It was a queer sensation, looking under my left foot and seeing a rusty nail sticking out from it today. I didn't know whether it was really painful, or that I was just imagining the pain. Nor did I know whether I should've let it stay in there longer because you know, it's not everyday that you get a nail through your foot and I just wanted to observe it a little longer.

But eventually I pulled it out. By the time I got to the beach two hours later, I'd completely disregarded the injury and was prancing around in the sand like a pony. I figured that the saltwater was probably beneficial to the healing process so what the heck.

Anyway, finally after 20 years of wearing shoes and not wearing shoes, I've finally stepped on a nail!

Where Does The Sky End And I Begin...

Nowadays, there are a multitude of Western medications for all kinds of syndromes, illnesses and diseases. Unfortunately, it is hard to find one without any side effects.

I found, however, that the best American medication available here for aching bones, stress, headaches, insomnia and other mild aches is not only free from side effects, it is also cost-free.

The best of the best remedies- a stroll by the beach at sunset should do the trick.

I'll be leaving Massachusetts in approximately 10 days and even though I'm dying to get back in my Honda again, I know I'll miss this place terribly- just as I miss Washington State. I'll never get to run past the same sun-bleached cottages in the mornings or take a dip in the Bay in the evenings then... I'll miss the chicken fingers at the yacht club and the hydrangea-lined front lawns. And by the time winter swings around, my body will be screaming for the summer heat.

The last 10 days are always the most confusing, frustrating, bitter and sweet days...

Summer sure did fly by.

I Feel Free

Sunset Love

I haven't seen my camera in about three days now. I wonder where it is...

I really wished that I had it with me today as I sat on the jetty watching the sunset. For some reason, it has been really chilly all day today, with temperatures feeling almost like autumn weather. Yet despite the cold, the beach was swarming with families and couples who had turned up to witness the sun slipping under the horizon.

And this is when a picture would be a great help to describe the kind of euphoria I felt as the sky turned from light blue to light pink, to bright orange, burnt yellow, pink, blue then purple... As I sat on the rocks with the waves at my feet and my hands tucked snugly into my sweatshirt pocket, I couldn't help but remember again, that the best things in life really are for free.

The sunset was short and sweet and I was sorry to leave. I had never before seen such an intense contrast of colours over the ocean. Against an intense orange sky was the black outline of the jetty and people strolling along the dark blue water's edge. In the distance you could see little boats coming back into the harbour. Houses along the shore twinkled as people turned on the lights. The low tide meant that pools of water in the exposed stretch of sand caught and reflected the rainbow of colours in the sky. It was altogether calming and breathtaking at the same time. Having good music in my ear totalled the effect.

I hope I dream about the clear water tonight...

Two More Weeks

In the past few months, I've turned into a yes-woman who is always up for anything, who never gets tired or bored, who is excited about everything, who is interested in everybody's conversation, who never stops moving. who doesn't get mad at anything.

It's a good thing but I wonder how long this will last? These magic spells in my habits tend to have a rather short lifespan...

Well anyway I am very ready to return to civillisation soon. I'd like to hang out with my friends again. If I still have any...

My dear computer presented me with a BSOD yesterday and it really freaked me out. I thought I was going to lose all my precious pictures and music, but luckily everything came back with a simple reboot. I guess this is a warning sign that I should put all my stuff on a memory stick before the lappie really crashes for good.

What nonsense is this anyway? This machine isn't even three years old...

I haven't been able to go to the beach at night since I got back to the Cape because I've been working nights too. My lady boss has been galivanting about town with her hubby so I have to stay home and listen for the baby crying. It stinks because now I really have absolutely zero time to myself. All I can do during my "free" moments is get on the computer, watch tv, read a book or draw.. But I want to see the Bay in moonlight, not do all these things that I can do at home in Pennsylvania or New Jersey...

I suppose there really is no such thing as working and vacationing at the same time.

*

Yes I've been quiet... But only because I'm usually pooped by the end of the day so that I don't really have anything to write about besides "I'm tired" or "it's been a long day". Besides, all my small experiences are slowly melting into one general long summer experience so that anything I've learnt in the day is starting to feel insignificant compared to the philosophy that I'm slowly building on life.

Well anyway, it's been a long day and I didn't do much besides clean the house, do laundry, carry the baby around, watch "Back To The Future" and other work-related activities.

I learnt a bit more about baseball today and had two very meaningful conversations.

Yay.

Goodbye Vineyard, Hello Cape

I'm back on the Cape and the weather is banging. Now that there aren't four families living on the same estate, this whole house feels a little large and quiet. Once again, I'm in this bubble of only work-related human interactions. I don't get to hang out with other humans besides the ones I work with and it's getting to be a little weird.

Anyway, I hope tonight will bring continuous good weather so that I can revisit my ol' lifeguard chair and soak up some salt air and moonlight before summer runs out.

I know that everything I hate today will be a cherished memory by this time next year...