And So I Live to Blog Again...

Where in the world of small town USA have I been?  I have been asking myself that same question for months!

For months I have fallen behind in my blogging.  Something just ain't right when I stop blogging?  So, I begin again.  The question is, where do I begin?

Summertime is almost over and I review the many wonderful things that have happened in just a few short months.  Let me begin by rewinding as far back as April.  We all know that summer in this part of the country starts fairly early.

About 14 years ago a certain movie came out, called Titanic.  My girlfriends and I happened to be "big shot seniors" in high school.  We were young and in love (maybe just me) with the actor Leonardo Dicaprio.  To see a movie about the historic Titanic intertwined with a tragic love story made us girls delight in joy.  We would brave the crowds and go see this movie.  We went, we saw, we cried (a lot), and we talked about it for days (and possibly longer).  So it was, 14 years later they re-released this classic tale in what they call 3D.  My girls and I reunited for the re-release, and were just slightly disappointed to see that the ending was still the same - Jack let go, and died again!  Buggers.

Did you know the world just witnessed a rare solar eclipse in a very small town known as Kanarraville?  The small town of Kanarraville happened to be the one and only spot in all the world that the ring of fire could be witnessed in all it's glory - people were referring to the town of Kanarraville as the "Sweet Spot."  Fortunately this town is where my family roots lie.  I was able to witness this exciting phenomena because my brother owns a home there.  A massive party was thrown in his back yard, and friends and family came from all over.  I have never seen this small town so crowded with people, and the traffic to leave town was out of control!  My favorite part of the evening was the moment the sun and moon aligned to allow for the perfect ring of fire.  The cheering in the town sent chills up my body.

The 4th of July is always a wonderful time of year in my family.  This grand holiday is almost more celebrated then Christmas in the Williams household.  My family loves to come together and celebrate our freedom in small little Kanarraville.  The town has some wonderful traditions that have continued to live on for years and years.  My favorite part of the day is when we do our "cook out" (that's what my family calls a BBQ).  Back in the day we would gather at my Papa and Granny's house - now that they are gone and my brother lives in Kanarraville we congregated there.  This year the food was spectacular.  Always is.  However, I tried my hand at a new cake recipe and think I hit success!  The chocolate cake was so rich and sweet that my cousins wife who is pregnant and is on the brink of gestational diabetes saved up her sugar intake just so she could eat my dessert!

It's inevitable.  Each year I have a birthday, and I just keep getting older!  This year I turned 32.  32!  Can you believe I'm in my early 30's.  Some people would say I act a lot younger, and then there are some who would say I am close to death.  Whatever age I may be I just can't seem to win.  At any rate, my birthday was another success.  More than just "another day."  I ended up having to work for my first time ever in all my birthday having years.  After work a few of my close friends kidnapped me (not really) and took me to Mesquite (against my own will - kind of) and paid to have me gamble.  I played BINGO for the first time ever and even got lucky enough to win 18 dollars.  Score!

To top off my summer I just recently returned from a trip to Yellowstone for my first time ever!  I know right, it took me long enough to get there.  The week long trip was with family and extended family.  We rented a big o'l cabin in Driggs, ID, and felt like kings and queens living it up.  The week was filled with lot's of driving (it had to happen), eating so much/well that I probably just gained 10lbs in one week, visiting National Parks, seeing an array of wild life, and having some great reunions with family and friends I haven't seen in ages.  Vacations are always much needed, and this vacation hit the spot on my summer.

Lastly, a great time was had by all when I got to attend my first ever performance of the much loved play, Wicked.  Now I have a little bit of culture...it still is going to take eons to catch up to my sister, but I'm working on it.  The play Wicked was absolutely amazingly awesome!  I cried like three times, yes three times.  I have to say it was the best weekend ever!  (Stay tuned for that blog post...it's quite a funny story.)

The summer months are coming to an end.  School is about to begin and this will be my final semester of being a college student.  I thought I would never get to this point.  And believe me, it has taken FOREVER to get to this point.  I begin my student teaching August 27th and have sadly already counted down the days until I finish.  (If you were in my shoes you probably would too!)  Along with student teaching I am down to just one job - working on Grounds Crew just until student teaching starts, and then it is back to the Testing Center for one last semester.  What is going to happen at the end of the semester....nobody knows, I don't even know!  Let's just focus on the time at hand cause it's scaring me to death to think of my future!  Until then, thanks for reading about my wonderful summer time fun!