"It is better to help people than garden gnomes."

I have to remind myself why I'm here... because sometimes it's hard. Sometimes I don't feel like I'm needed anymore, that I really don't need to be here. Sometimes I don't want to be here. I don't want to stay here. I feel trapped.

I forget to look at the bigger picture and I instead adopt a selfish mindset. I am here for the sake of my relatives, and not only my aunt and uncle, but my whole family in a way. They constantly tell me they're glad I'm here, and how great it is that I am able to do this for them. And I know I'm doing a good thing. I'm beginning to think I came here for another reason than to help my relatives, more reasons, a bigger reason yet to be determined maybe.

Last night I didn't work because the coffeehouse flooded. A part of Hurricane Fay finally hit us and it poured raining for hours... I think the gauge had about 6 inches in it. When I drove in to work, it was chaos; there was almost 2 inches of water on the whole floor. I put all the chairs up on the tables while some locals brought in their shop vacs to suck up as much water as possible. One of my co-workers sprints past me out the door franticly screaming "Our lake house is flooding!" and told me to watch my boss's 14 month old son while everyone else tried to clean up. It was still raining.

"A lot of pulp, but no fiction."

Sunday's seem to be my only days off anymore (since MMC isn't open) so it was about time I did some "sight-seeing". There are waterfalls all around northern Georgia because of the steep mountains, so I hiked to some of them today. To get to the hike trails you have to hope your brakes are functioning properly because you have to drive on curvey, narrow, dirt roads carved out of the side of the mountain that of course have no baricades to the sudden dropoffs on the otherside. Then rounding the corner you come to a random clearing to park and a sign that points to a dark pathway shadowed by enormous trees that disappears over the edge of the road, directing you towards the "sight". Let the adventure begin...

The falls themselves weren't particularly impressive, but it was fun. I also found my way to the used book store; it's actually in North Carolina, which is only about 2 miles away. It's an old house converted into an intricate maze of books that are literally piled high to the ceiling. I thought I walked through the pearly gates of heaven, except it was a screen door of chipping lead paint onto a musty, stained carpet instead of golden streets.

If you thought my coffee obsession was extreme, set me loose into a whole building filled with cheap old books and you will never see me again. And this place was particularly amazing, I wanted to move right in. The narrow aisles with loosely labeled sections between the tall, endless shelves grew more narrow as the books spilled out onto the floor in haphazard stacks. And you had to move heaps of books around to view all them (even on the shelves); they weren't neatly organized with every spine facing outwards to easily skim the titles.

You would think this would bother someone as obsessive compulsive as me, but I was amused. Now you know where all my tip money will be invested in...

"Friends don't let friends drink bad coffee."

So I've been working at the coffeehouse for what... a week now, and they already have me closing by myself. I'm the only closer they have now so all of my shifts will most likely follow suit. Last night was my first closing shift all by my lonesomes and it went very well. I'm already getting the hang of things, although it really is an easy job, atleast for a well-educated woman like myself. But I have yet to master the ice cream mixer machine. Whatever doesn't end up (overflowing) in the cup is running down the sides, splattered on the counter, dripping on the floor, and smeared all over myself. I hate that machine.

I have been trying to resist the temptation in satisfying my coffee drinking habit, but it's difficult when you have it all at your fingertips, not to mention that it's free. And especially when you are taking care of a spoiled rotten dog that keeps you on a strict schedule... 6:30 am sharp she must go out, so I never miss a sunrise (which is the saddest thing in the world to me since I've watched them consecutively for the past 4 years) I can usually get back to sleep after that until she wakes me up again around 9 to feed her. But yesturday she refused to let me sleep at all and decided to whine and howl for a few hours. **scowl**

My neighbors brought over another bag full of tomatoes from their garden. GA has 2 growing seasons so you can get fresh tomatoes practically year 'round. They are de-lish, but it's becoming an equivalent to the Bubba-Gump Shrimp co... tomato sandwich, tomato salad, tomato biscotti, tomato on a stick... I'm desparately looking for new recipes that require tomatoes, and if not, I'll have a side of tomatoes. Tomato Tom-ah-to...

"The complete lack of evidence is the surest sign that the conspiracy is working."

Have you heard? Bigfoot was discovered in northern Georgia, which is precisely where I am. Check it out: www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/14/bigfoot.body/index.html

My uncle has been obsessed about this and jokingly schemes ways we could charge fees to tourists. He told me I should run down the street in a gorilla suit... I forget if he meant that as to spot more "sightings" or as live bait. It's been a hilarious couple days anyway.

And after an entire month of waiting... my landlady finally called me back. I moved out of my apartment 3 weeks ago, and notified her of my plans nearly 3 weeks before that, or so I thought. I've called and left messages that I am "moving out" and even wrote her a very detailed letter that I was "moving out", spending $5.00 to send it registered mail so I can prove she recieved it.

But I never heard from her until now: "Are you moving out?" Um... yes. wtf!?

"In case of an attack: Act large and fight back."

...or run screaming.

So I look out the window and there's a bear in the yard. It had discovered the bird feeders and decided to go to town on 'em. Little did I know these containers I keep refilling are actually bear feeders. What else have my relatives failed to tell me? Now the idea of going outside is met with a series of cautionary tactics... and comic releif. He looked awfully gangly when he ran off into the woods after I opened door to get a closer look. I'll just sick Snoopy on him next time I see him... haha, that'd be interesting considering the dog pretty much doesn't move all day.

I scored that job at the coffeehouse btw. I already started a few days ago, and actually have to leave soon for my shift. I think Jenny, the owner, is desperate to get the newbies trained before most of her staff leaves for school next week (man, I'm so old...). This is one of the first jobs I've had that doesn't require elastic pants, or an oversized t-shirt bearing the co. logo, or an obnoxious name tag that weighs more than you, or any other unflattering uniform-type. You can wear whatever you want, because by the time you leave, you will have some sort of coffee-related residue on your clothes, garanteed.

And everyone, and I mean every one, is soo nice here. I'm not used to that. People not only talk to you, but will have full-fledged conversations, which with an outsider like me will more than likely end up on a subject about good ole PA.

But I get all the free coffee I want whilst working... **shudders with uncontrolable giddy-ness**

"Whoever coined the phrase 'a man's got to play the hand that was dealt him' was most certainly one piss-poor bluffer."

Favre!? Jets!!???

Finally this saga comes to an end, but I can assure you a lot of cheeseheads are growing some mold. With coffee in hand and Sportscenter on tv, I never thought I'd see the day of Brett Favre's trade. It seems crazy, but I think I would have preferred him as retired. Why couldn't you just make up your mind Brett? Now you're headed to New York... fantastic.


In other news, I got a call from the Mystic Mountain Coffeehouse and they want to talk to me today about a potential job. I had gone job-hunting the other day around the area, which didn't take too long because let's face it... I'm pretty much in the middle of nowhere here too.

I even opened a new checking account at the local bank. And because of that they gave me a free gift - a stadium seat (slash) tote bag! ...... don't lie to me, I know you're jealous. Because who wouldn't want a seat bag / windbreaker / floatation devise / bear attack proof vest....

"...everything in life is writable if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise..."

As per friends' requests, Rachel's blog is now in session. I'll keep you posted on my journey into the after-life, that is post-college. And particularly with this sudden turn of events that has presently turned my life upside down and inside out.

For those who are unawares... my uncle has recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and to make this more complicated he is paraplegic. My aunt called and asked me to house-sit for them and take care of their 116 year old dog while they are away for his treatments, which brings me to Georgia for "x" months.

I've been here since Saturday, but this is my first day on my own with the decrepit dog who can't hear, or swallow, or walk... god help me.