the simple life...

Last night, I caught a tree frog. And I was happy. I wanted to keep him, but I don't have an aquarium. So I let him go. And I was sad. But then on the way home, there were thousands of fireflies in the trees and I felt like I was in a fairy tale, so I was happy again. Isn't it great when stuff like that happens? I love how simple the summer can be...

Apparently, the people I work with never got the memo about summer being laid back and fun. Its been the typical soap opera/drama that it usually is, but magnified about 100%. I just wish everyone would get along, do their job, and stop finding fault with everything. I don't think they realize that they just make everything worse for everyone. We all got told off at training last night and had some privaleges taken away from us because people were abusing them. I tend to have a hard time of it b/c I'm friends with both sides of the warring factions. Being caught in the middle is definately not cool. But I'm sure it could be much worse. It's funny, because during our "lecture" I was feeling incredibly guilty and racking my brain trying to think of anything I could have done wrong, and I know Cami was doing the same. Then yesterday, our head guard stopped by to tell me that none of the talk had been aimed at either of us. However, those it was directed to didn't seem to be bothered in the least, and they kept doing the stuff we were yelled at for...how can they not feel worried/chastised? On a much happier note, this past week was the fiscal year, so we got paid for all our hours, rain or shine. On Thursday I got paid almost 11 dollars an hour to go shopping and out to lunch with Cami because the lake was closed due to overflow. It was a great day. A new Panera opened about 20 minutes from our house, so we ate there for lunch.

I started my riding lessons this week as well. I'm insanely sore, but it was totally worth it. My trainer is so nice and laid back, which I really need, and I got to ride a great (at least in my eyes) horse. Quite ironically, he's a Polish Arabian, which is the same bloodline that Fawny was. Charmer, however, is completely different from Fawn. He packed me around the ring and did (almost) everything I asked him to. He even did all the jumping ground work I asked him to do (which he's never done before) after a few tries. He's the type of horse I would buy for myself. Nothing super fancy, just solid and reliable. The people at the barn must've thought I was crazy cause I was so happy to be back on a horse that I was hugging Charmer about every 2 seconds. He seemed to like it though...lol. I think I'm scheduling another lesson for Friday. Jumping seems completely natural at this point, which is really exciting. Now I just have to work on convincing Dad that I'm not going to die when I jump.

I just saw on the news that Tel Aviv had a HUGE water gun fight in the center of the city. They mentioned that race/religion didn't seem to matter, that everyone was just having a great time cooling off. Maybe that will solve Israel's problems: just replace all their guns with water pistols and all their bombs with water cannons. If only it were that easy. I also saw a brief blurb on an Israeli news anchor that has left his station to do his own documentary on the atrocities the Israelis were inflicting on the Gaza Strip and the incredible arrogance of the Israeli settlers (one mentioned that the Palestinians needed to be transported...the same word used to describe how the Jews were moved to concentration camps during WWII). The announcer wrapped up his documentary by saying that the only admirable thing to do was give the Palestinians their own country. I really respected this Israeli for taking such a controversial stance to defend what he truly believes and to show what many choose to ignore.

On that note, I think its time to get off my soap box and get ready for work :-)