Meet my new friend - Marlin. His best friend - Crush - is looking on, wishing Marlin could escape his captivity and go on an adventure with him, as they did in Finding Nemo. Marlin's fishbowl is an island with a palm tree in the center of an island of bright colored rocks. Unlike Sasha, Marlin has a very low maintenance cost and requires very little care. He also behaves much better than Sasha. Crush just sits and stares at Marlin all day. Marlin oversees most of my day's activities, as his home is sitting atop my desk. Sasha is a true snob....she just totally ignores him and prefers to watch the birds and squirrels in the backyard.
Today is commencement day at many colleges including Colorado State University here in Fort Collins. Front Range Community College had their commencement exercises last week. There are over 30 colleges here in Colorado, so I suspect many towns/cities around the state have an expanded population this month.
This city is overrun with out-of-state license plates and people who look like they are out of their element. Most big colleges have two-day ceremonies, as does CSU. It's a time for good and bad as far as the community is concerned. Many landlords will lose tenants as graduates move away to persue a career. Some 4-year friendships will split up as everybody goes their seperate ways while other relationships may result in marriage as it did for Pam and Rob. On the plus side, it is always a time of jubilation for graduates, parents, grand parents, and friends. Restaurants, hotels, gas stations, etc enjoy a booming business at this time of year because of the influx of visitors to college communities. U.S.News predicts over 75% of this years college graduates will probably not find a job in their field for over 2 years due to today's economy. That is so sad when you think of the time and money most students....and their parents, have put into their education.
Besides college commencements, the TV also reminds us that it is May. Most of the regular dramas, reality shows, etc. are having their final episodes this week. That leaves most of us with summer re-runs or experimental programming which usually lasts about 2 weeks. This year I will be too busy with homework to worry about my TV programs. However, since I upgraded my TV this spring, I have more choices of "junk" TV then I have had in the past. I have found a channel now where I can watch "Murder She Wrote" and "Golden Girls" every night now that my favorite evening shows are over for the summer.
Now that skiing season is over, I suspect many Coloradians will be mountain climbing, camping, or mountain biking. Colorado weather allows some form of outside activity year-round. My outside activity consisted of planting 6 pots of geraniums into my big patio pots for the summer.
Sasha is glad warmer weather is here as she gets to go out on the patio....with me. There are 3 dogs across from me and three dogs diagonally across from me, so Sasha feels quite proud when she prances out across our patio and looks at them all.
Vacation time is also upon us. My sister is travelling from Alabama to Arizona to work at the Grand Canyon this summer; Breanna and her boyfriend will be travelling from U.P. of Michigan to Wyoming where he has a job waiting for him (they both just graduated from college in the U.P.); Brenda and her husband and youngest son will be traveling from the U.P to Colorado to visit Pam and her family...and me. Many families in my church are planning their annual vacation trips to visit family and/or friends. How do you travel in this economy? Gas prices are rising rapidly again as they did last summer. Airlines are now charging astronomical prices just to take your luggage on board plus the cost of an airline fare. Buses and trains are safer and more scenic way of traveling, but are time-consuming. I guess I'll take my son's advice....just stay home. He does this quite well!!
Well, I guess I've rambled on long enough. Hope you all have a great summer....whatever you choose to do.
Soon I hope to be part of the college commencement scene. I am registered for 3 classes at FRCC for this summer and 3 classes for the fall semester. If I complete these courses with a "C" or above....I will FINALLY get my Associates degree in Liberal Arts in 2010!!! Can't wait to don that cap and gown after all these years of school. I'm already looking ahead to getting a bachelor's degree at CSU after I graduate from FRCC.....positive attitude,huh? We'll see...right now I'm CONCENTRATING ( a Rob word) on completeing this degree. Classes start on June 1st and I get to ride the "school bus" again! It's actually public transportation...but it picks me up out here in front of my apartment and goes right onto the campus of FRCC. Everytime I think about my 1st day of school here in Ft.Collins, I see a picture of Barbara in her new dress with her school bag and holding her brand new lunch box, getting on the schoolbus in front of our home - headed for her very first day of kindergarten - on the Old Bath Road in Brunswick,Maine. Funny how memories are kindled by one simple thought.
3 comments:
I want an invitation when you "walk!"
It is funny that you should mention that picture of me. It is my profile picture on Twitter. It is also funny that you would mention ALL the out of state plates. We have those and they will be here until way after Christmas. We only get our streets to ourselves in Feb/Mar. Enjoy your summer with Sasha, Marlin and Crush. Good luck with your schooling, study hard and get good grades. ENJOY!!!
Good luck with your fishy. Don't be too confident that Sasha will completely ignore him though. After all, she is a cat and he is a fish!:) And from what you've told me, she can be very clever in going places where she shouldn't be. I love the "Golden Girls" too. That show is one of the true classics - always makes me laugh, even though I've seen most of the episodes dozens of times. With the passing of Bea Arthur, there are only two of the "girls" left now.
Good luck with your classes, but who wants to go to school during the summer?! School is supposed to be out for the summer (that's how the song goes I think).
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