ride of my life

So it's been an interesting couple of weeks. Since I last blogged I've had my roommate come back from England, crashed my bike and mostly healed from it, watched the Kentucky Derby, played in an end of the year recital, finished two term papers, been rejected from two possible jobs, turned in two other job applications, recieved an award on stage, and got a ride on a motorcycle for the first time in my life.

That last one might be a little surprising, since I crashed my own little bike not quite two weeks ago and still have the marks and a couple of sore spots. But I've always wanted to ride on a motorcycle. Not drive on, mind you, just ride one with an experienced driver at the controls. So when Jim was giving rides to whoever wanted, I jumped at the chance. Yes, mother, I wore a helmet--one of those fully enclosed ones with a visor that makes it look like you could be on your way to Mars. And it was so much fun! A little unnerving at first, but then I got used to the idea of leaning into the curves even though my brain was screaming at me to lean the other way lest the machine tip over (even though it's the other way around). When we rode past Canaries stadium there were fireworks going off. I guess it was their first game of the season or something special like that. I counted seven other motorcycles on the road that night, and that was only on the route we took. Now I know why they're always so exited to get they're bikes out when the weather gets warmer--the speed is intoxicating. I still don't think I want to ever drive a bike myself, but I definitely want to ride one again. Jim took his home this weekend, so I guess I won't get another ride for a long time. It's funny, I never would have pegged him as a motorcycle guy, he's just so quiet. But then, quiet people tend to be full of surprises. I know there will be plenty of people surprised I even went on this ride.

I wonder what I'll learn about my friends and classmates two weeks from now in the Boundary Waters? I've never been there or on any real wilderness experience before, and I'm absolutely stoked to do it. I've been looking over the list of supplies, and it looks like I need to pick up a few things before we head out, which means I really ought to be getting them this weekend. For the longest time it's felt like the trip far off and rather nebulous, but now it's in just a matter of days. Weird. I hope I'm ready for it by the time we leave.

Anyway, finals are next week. At the moment I'm finding it hard to concentrate on preparing for my essay tests. I'm far too distracted by the fact that I still don't have a summer job lined up, hence the blogging rather than studying. I suppose though, that I ought to wrap this up and work on my portfolio or something and prove that I deserve the English award I got the other night. Or I could practice the music I'll be playing at my brother's wedding. I think that's a good compromise.

-Kim