the rodeo

I just had one of the best weekends I've had since moving to Wyoming. It was the jubilee days in Laramie--two weeks of all sorts of fun events: street dances, a carnival (well, actually, i hate carnivals), a great farmer's market, a parade and--the best yet, a rodeo!

so, my weekend started out with a surprise phone call from an old wheaton friend, luisa gallagher, who just happened to be driving through wyoming and thought she had heard somewhere that i lived there. lo and behold, she was coming right through my town! so, we had lunch and walked through the market--it's really refreshing to see old friends, especially ones you haven't seen in a long time. luisa's really fun and honest and was one of my favorite people in grad school, but we haven't really kept up, so it was such a great surprise to have her here.

then, my old friend from camp forest springs (who lives in laramie--but didn't know i lived in wyoming for a long time) invited me to a rodeo! it was my first rodeo experience and it was thrilling. i know some people don't like the idea of cattle being roped, but i guess i don't mind it--it was usually only for a couple of seconds before they were unroped. anyway, there were cowboys everywhere, including a really polite one sitting in front of me who kept leaning back and telling me what was going on (clearly i look like i'm not from wyoming--though i wore my most rodeo-like clothes.) we got to see barrel races (see photo), bucking broncos, cattle roping and all sorts of other great things. and the crowd was so enthusiastic and into it--cheering for every cowboy (and the few cowgirls.) everyone told me that i would love wyoming in the summer--and they're right. this is why.

finally, a friend from college, amy leicht decker, came up and we spent the day yesterday at a state park here.

it's the first weekend i've had off all summer, i think--my thesis is with my committee right now, so until i get their edits tomorrow, i have had about a four day break. it's been great.

and the other photo is of my backyard here. i've been working hard to keep the lawn green and the plants alive. unfortunately, there are few brown patches in the yard--but the garden's gotten huge. i'm running the sprinklers on and off all day today, trying to get the yard a little greener before the people whose house i'm at come home.