Decided to get away this weekend and boy was I glad for it. Two hours North is a State park called Palo Duro Canyon, which is supposedly the second largest next to the Grand Canyon (where I have been as well). To be honest, I preferred Palo Duro but that could be because my time at the Grand Canyon was short lived and the 10,000ft elevation sickness I felt was needless to say an unpleasant sensation. You may think camping alone to be...well, lonely. Personally, I prefer a quiet, reflective hike as opposed to socialization. I focus on my breathing, my movement, the surroundings...there's too much stimulus without adding an additional need to hold a conversation. In light of this thought, let me allow you to peruse this weekend's photos as I bid a fond adieu.

Mangia!

I've mentioned that lately cooking has been my self-prescribed therapy for loneliness. And let me say, it has been incredibly effective; plus, there's a delicious meal at the end! I mainly depend on recipes except when it comes to tomato sauce, then I just go all out. So far I've made things like gnocchi with peas in a mushroom cream sauce, strawberry balsamic grilled chicken and brown rice, a tofu stir-fry with peanut sauce, and last night was homemade whole wheat pumpkin ravioli and roasted asparagus in a wild mushroom broth (the tastiness in the picture). This one was really fun to make and seeing as I put so much work into it, I shared it with my roommates. I've decided to take pictures from now on because even if I'm eating alone, I still fuss over the presentation. Might as well capture the display via camera.

Street tubing: it's the next big thing!

My return to scholastic living is well underway. But thus far, there is still time for diversion. I took a weekend to join the Texas Herpetological Society and become familiar with the herp life of a Texas shortgrass prairie. Met a fellow from Lockport, IL of all places! He too was familiar with Lockport and Romeoville Prairies, which is about as close as you can get to a natural oasis in the concrete jungles of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge similarly was a breath of fresh air compared to the surrounding areas. Here is what this lovely area provided for us: (I apologize to those whose eyes might start to glaze over, but be thankful I'm not using scientific names) North American porcupine, yellow mud turtles, prairie rattlesnakes, corn snakes, a coachwhip, checkered garter snakes, a larval tiger salamander, lined snakes, Texas horned lizards, an exensive prairie dog town, woodhouse's toads and there's probably a few others I've forgotten.

Other than that weekend, it has been business as usual. Classes are fine, I finally have keys to my office and my roommates are amazing. Kickboxing twice a week is ridiculously fun: a great tension reliever and I've found cooking healthy, semi-involved meals to be therapeutic as well. All useful remedies for keeping my mind off missing Taylor. I give props to those who deal with long-distance relationships (Sheri, my heart goes out to you especially). My situation is frustrating at times, but not completely unbearable.

The only other update I have is in regards to the very unusual weather. Hurricanes have been causing intense rain in Lubbock which unfortunately has the worst draining system I've ever seen (or maybe I should say 'not seen'). I watched in fascination yesterday as our street progressively turned into a rushing river. Had we a tube, there most definitely would have been some street tubing occurring. Class was canceled due these extraordinary circumstances, so I should probably utilize this time and get some necessary reading done. adios