So last Wednesday my friend Jordan invited me to "bike night." The only information he gave me was to be at his house at 7:15, wear jeans, and bring a sweatshirt (I also deduced all on my own that bike night would indeed also involve his motorcycle...).

Still not really knowing what I was invovled in, I hopped on the back of his bike (with the brand new helmet he bought me for his bike strapped to my head. I might also throw in that it was an extremely complicated helmet and took us about twenty minutes to figure out how to fasten and another twenty to figure out how to get it back off...) and we sped off with a group of his friends.

We got about half way to where we were going (I still didn't know at this point...) when Jordan's friend alerted us to the fact that our plates had fallen off the back of our bike. Not wanting to risk getting pulled over or something like that, Jordan decided to turn around and drive all the way back to his house, take the tags off his old bike, and fasten them on to his new bike we were riding.

We then took off, speeding into the setting sun....only to run out of gas and have to refuel his three gallon tank. And then get back on the road.

We finally got to a restaurant that was absolutely packed with about every make of bike out there. We found his friends, ordered some food, hung out for a bit, and then got right back on the bikes. I'm pretty sure it took about double the time to get there than we actually spent hanging out there.

Jordan's super excited about his bike (I can tell based on the fact that his other two cars have been sitting in his driveway in the same spots for the entire summer...) and, although I still worry for him and his speed racer mentality (I think we hit close to 150 mph on the ride home), I've gotta admit it's a lot of fun and I can't help but be excited myself for the next bike night.

Posted by blonde_gardner at 10:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Work has been stressful lately. Not only is the heat intense and the work load increasing with the fast-approaching Fall Sale around the corner, but certain people at work have been spreading rumors (more so than usual), making the work environment just down right frustrating.

Is it not possible for someone to succeed based solely on hard work? According to some of my coworkers, it's not. For me, any praise I've received or success I've had comes not as a result of my efforts, but of the fact that someone "thinks I'm pretty" or one of those other petty excuses.

Personally, I feel as if I've earned everything I've gained.

Some women at work have also been complaining about the dress code, as I've mentioned before. My boss had to have another talk with the company today as a result of gossip the other day--gossip which me and my shorts happened to be the topic of. Apparently a four inch inseam is not long enough. I'm now digging through my brother's closet to find "appropriate" shorts to wear while I'm by myself in the middle of a field. Wouldn't want to offend the trees or anything...

Posted by blonde_gardner at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

For those who don't know, I work outside. Such a job is a wonderful way to get your daily dose of vitamin D from the sun and a wonderful tan (and some not-so-wonderful tanlines...). Working hard outside in 90+ degree heat (not to mention the recent smog alerts), however, has left some of my coworkers lying in the dust, literally.

The Big People working in the management office (the air conditioned management office), however, have been complaining about the way the workers dress on a daily basis.

Apparantly it is necessary to wear shorts that reach at least to two inches above the knee. (Which leaves me shopping in the boy's department and saying hello to some new weird tanlines...)

They have also voiced the opinion that all shirts should have capped sleeves in order to prevent the womens' bra straps from accidentally becoming visible. Because heaven help us if someone sees a strap. How scandalous.

These shirts should also come up to the wearer's neckline.

I can honestly say that some days it's so hot and the work is so demanding that nothing sounds better than stripping everything off and jumping in the lake. While I know that this would be in no way appropriate (or healthy, seeing how many chemicals and fertilizers are injected into the lake...), I do not see a problem with girls wearing a sleeveless shirt or shorts actually made for a female. I don't think The Big People realize how much more hot that extra foot of cloth makes it, and how much more uncomfortable and dangerous it is for some workers.

They didn't mention anything about not wearing swimsuits to work, though. Maybe Monday I'll show up in a two-piece....

Posted by blonde_gardner at 10:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today most of my day was spent 1) in grief at my new hair cut (which is about two inches shorter than I wanted it to be and makes me look like a cross between a baby doll and a lampshade...) and 2) attempting to negotiate my way through the wonderous world of real estate.

As I'm looking at graduation in a few months with a good job already lined up, I've also been looking for places to live when my life in the "real world" begins.

My mom suggested I look for a house instead of renting an apartment, her logic being that I can spend around the same amount on a mortgage as monthly rent and in the end still have a house to sell and (hopefully) get some of my money back. Sounds like a plan to me.

One of the houses I looked at today was a bit of a disappointment, though. It's really cute from the road, but when you get a closer look, it needs a lot of work. They're also asking $150,000 for a two bedroom, one bath, single level house. I may be somewhat new to this real estate world, but it seems like a lot to me.

So tomorrow the journey continues...

Posted by blonde_gardner at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm freezing. Unusual statement for 90 degree days in summer, I know, but I'm sitting in a room with the air conditioning full blast wishing I had a sweatshirt.

And I want to wish everyone a happy fourth of July! I know I'm a little late....like more than a week late....but people are still setting off fireworks near my house, so I figure the holiday mood hasn't expired quite yet.

My family drove to Lancaster Pennsylvania for the weekend of a fourth to visit with our big Italian family out there. Every fourth, my mother's cousins host a huge party, and every fourth we drive the nine hours or so in order to attend.

Food is a big part of these parties. It seems like we never actually sit down for a meal, but just are constantly eating all day and night long. And I'm not complaining one bit...although I'm pretty sure I'd gain quite a few pounds if I stayed out there for longer than a weekend...

During our trip we also visited Longwood Gardens, aka a horticulturalist's dream garden. I did take lots of pictures with my mom's camera (due to my lack of one. Mine now rests at the bottom of a lake in Oregon...), and will attempt to upload some pending the finding of the cord needed to download them...

Posted by blonde_gardner at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)