(no subject)
Zoidberg: "Things were bad, but now things are good! Forever!"
Things are good. I'm really glad I'm not graduating this term, actually. I want another year here. This has been the trimester in which things are really coming together.
I think yesterday was one of the best days I've had in Corvallis yet. Why's that? Everywhere I went, everything I did, I saw a friendly face and was able to stop and chat with a friend for a few minutes. I felt appreciated, welcomed, and liked. In all my time in Corvallis, I have never had a day like that. I have never felt like part of any community here. Yesterday felt like a real turning point.
Splitting with Aleyna was painful, but likely a very good thing for us both. It has impelled me to seek friendship and engagement in a way I hadn't before. Frisbee league was kind of a bust, I didn't meet anyone through that (damn pre-dental kids), but running for office in the horticulture club was a fantastic idea. It's a great group of kids, and now I actually have friends in my hort classes. Their interests all run quite parallel to mine, and it's a fucking shame I let my fucked up inhibitions keep me from making friends for so long.
Just the other day I got the word that I'm OK for 40 hours a week of paid work at the Oak Creek Site for Urban Horticulture this summer. I'm really very excited about it. I've got an acre or two I'm planting with newly-released annual varieties from several big producers. It's bordered by the organic garden plots, and the horse ranch. It's a beautiful, peaceful place to work--just trees blowing in the breeze, bees buzzing by, and horses neighing. I'm working mostly solo, my employer trusts me to get out there and get shit done, which is the only way I can work. Plus I get a truck. On top of that I'll be doing 10-15 hours per week at the greenhouses. Due to tight budgets I may have to volunteer any overtime I work, but that's OK. Somehow I seem to fall into these amazing gigs--the super cheap job/house, and this internship I've got. I don't know--am I lucky, or have I worked hard to get these positions? I'm just glad I'm not like, a psychology or business major.
I have been spending some serious time in the garden. Pics to come soon. My wildflower garden (planted to attract pollinators and beneficial insects) is doing well and just about in full bloom. I have planted peas, lettuce, bok choy, strawberries, cantaloupe, hops, tomatoes, peppers, and corn so far. The blueberries will be ripe in another week or two. I have about 1500 extra annuals that I've been growing in the greenhouse, and I've absolutely saturated my yard with as many as I could fit. The fish are happy and active once again, and the smoke tree is in full bloom. I have installed drip irrigation throughout the entire yard, which really makes things easy.
With all these things comes an upturn in my self-confidence. I've started working out again after a month or two off, and I think I might start shaving a little more frequently than once every three weeks. Why, just today, I met a pretty girl working in one of the greenhouses. I invited her to a cookout I'm having Saturday, and to my surprise, she obliged! This is something that simply would not have happened to a prior version of myself.
Hmmm. I guess my point is that springtime is the season of rebirth. Goodnight.
Things are good. I'm really glad I'm not graduating this term, actually. I want another year here. This has been the trimester in which things are really coming together.
I think yesterday was one of the best days I've had in Corvallis yet. Why's that? Everywhere I went, everything I did, I saw a friendly face and was able to stop and chat with a friend for a few minutes. I felt appreciated, welcomed, and liked. In all my time in Corvallis, I have never had a day like that. I have never felt like part of any community here. Yesterday felt like a real turning point.
Splitting with Aleyna was painful, but likely a very good thing for us both. It has impelled me to seek friendship and engagement in a way I hadn't before. Frisbee league was kind of a bust, I didn't meet anyone through that (damn pre-dental kids), but running for office in the horticulture club was a fantastic idea. It's a great group of kids, and now I actually have friends in my hort classes. Their interests all run quite parallel to mine, and it's a fucking shame I let my fucked up inhibitions keep me from making friends for so long.
Just the other day I got the word that I'm OK for 40 hours a week of paid work at the Oak Creek Site for Urban Horticulture this summer. I'm really very excited about it. I've got an acre or two I'm planting with newly-released annual varieties from several big producers. It's bordered by the organic garden plots, and the horse ranch. It's a beautiful, peaceful place to work--just trees blowing in the breeze, bees buzzing by, and horses neighing. I'm working mostly solo, my employer trusts me to get out there and get shit done, which is the only way I can work. Plus I get a truck. On top of that I'll be doing 10-15 hours per week at the greenhouses. Due to tight budgets I may have to volunteer any overtime I work, but that's OK. Somehow I seem to fall into these amazing gigs--the super cheap job/house, and this internship I've got. I don't know--am I lucky, or have I worked hard to get these positions? I'm just glad I'm not like, a psychology or business major.
I have been spending some serious time in the garden. Pics to come soon. My wildflower garden (planted to attract pollinators and beneficial insects) is doing well and just about in full bloom. I have planted peas, lettuce, bok choy, strawberries, cantaloupe, hops, tomatoes, peppers, and corn so far. The blueberries will be ripe in another week or two. I have about 1500 extra annuals that I've been growing in the greenhouse, and I've absolutely saturated my yard with as many as I could fit. The fish are happy and active once again, and the smoke tree is in full bloom. I have installed drip irrigation throughout the entire yard, which really makes things easy.
With all these things comes an upturn in my self-confidence. I've started working out again after a month or two off, and I think I might start shaving a little more frequently than once every three weeks. Why, just today, I met a pretty girl working in one of the greenhouses. I invited her to a cookout I'm having Saturday, and to my surprise, she obliged! This is something that simply would not have happened to a prior version of myself.
Hmmm. I guess my point is that springtime is the season of rebirth. Goodnight.