Reasons Why I Love Superman

10. The new movie was so amazing! And  it made me remember the days when all I knew about superheroes came from the episodes of Smallville I managed to watch on TV. Good times. I've grown so much!
9. Henry Cavill's face.
8. Superman has a pretty amazing moral compass. And he always tries to do what is right.
7. Superman is a journalist, which is cool because I've thought about being a journalist and can therefore relate to his more mundane problems.
6. The glasses.
5. Henry Cavill's smile.
4. He can fly. Which is totally cool because my dream of soaring through the air, singing "A Whole New World" could totally come true if I was Lois Lane.
3. Clark Kent is a country boy who loves America. And that's just cool.
2. Abs of steel. (See what I did there?!)
And the Number One reason why I love Superman?!
1. He saved me from the clutches of a ruthless villain!! 

OK, that's a little bit more dramatic than what really happened, but seriously, Superman saved me. It all began with an event at my Comic Book store which involved a Superman Cosplay guy who was so in character that no one knows his real name. Even the guys who work at the store don't know his real name. Anyway, because I was excited about the upcoming movie I took a picture on my phone with Superman. It was all very exciting.  Flash forward to this morning, when I awoke to a buzzing phone that alerted me to a new friend request on Facebook. It was a guy I knew in high school. Since I remembered not hating him in any way, I thought why not. And I added him. Immediately after adding him he sent me a message asking me how I was. Which I thought was a little odd but whatever. (The old me would have assumed the worst of his motives simply because he was a man but I've turned over a new leaf and therefore sent a message back.) Maybe he just wanted to catch up. After all, it's been like four years since high school and sometimes it is nice to see what's going on with other people.

For the next ten or fifteen minutes we talked on Facebook, idle chit-chat about what we'd been up to the last few years, but something still felt a little weird. Still, I was trying to think the best in people. And men. But then he asked for my number. Which was weirder. But hey, he said he never gets on Facebook and so far our conversation had been fine. Then he immediately started texting me. And then it was only about five more texts before he asked for a picture. Which just proves that you never trust a man. I've learned this before but usually try to give them a chance to screw up. It just makes me feel good to know I'm right and can be justifiably angry at people. Anyway, even though I was angry I sent him a picture. But not of awkwardness. Of me, standing next to Superman in all his glorious, caped awesomeness. Needless to say, that was not what this guy was expecting. Anyway, he never texted back and then he proceeded to unfriend me. Which really only means that I won. But this brings me back to my point about Superman. I believe that it was his amazing goodness that saved me today. Also, Clark Kent would totally never text Lois Lane and be like, "What up? Send me a pic." And if Clark won't do it, neither should any other man. He would totally court her and impress her with his glasses and amazing smile and then when they were totally in love (admittedly this wouldn't take long because have you seen his smile?!) he would make his move. In a totally respectful way that Lois wouldn't feel was demeaning in any way possible. She would actually think - probably - that he took too long to make his move simply because he's just such a good guy that he doesn't want to take any kind of advantage of her.

So, from now on, whenever some random dude wants a picture, he'll get one of me with Superman by my side. And if Superman's majestic all over wholesomeness doesn't shame him into leaving me alone, I'll send him a picture of my foot. And hopefully he's seen enough That 70's Show to know exactly what I'm implying. Anyway, I've learned a few things. Like my life was a whole lot easier when I just assumed the worst in men and let the few good ones surprise me with their respect. Actually, I'm pretty sure I'm just going to go back to that. Also, I've learned that Superman is probably the best superhero on the planet. His mere presence saves people. And last, I've learned that what I want in a man. He must have Clark Kent's glasses, Henry Cavill's smile, Superman's amazing moral compass and his ability to fly. It's a pretty tall order. And I might have to take that last one off the list. But I'll never be able to settle for an ordinary human man now.

Anyway, that's my life. Everyone should really watch Man of Steel. It was fantastic!!

This is me with Superman. Pretty epic.Also, notice my amazing Han Solo shirt and the beautiful array of comic books.

Creepy Snakes, Catching Horses and a Late Hay Delivery

It has been a really long time since I've written anything and today I just felt the need to change that. For some strange reason I believed in my heart that this summer would be a calm time in which to relax and do stupid things with my friends like stay up until two in the morning on a regular basis. It was a silly dream. And it didn't work out that way. I now have to wake up earlier than I usually do for school  but it's totally worth it. I have been working at what passes for a Ranch in this city for a few months now and since the guys who usually run the place are busy running a summer camp for children, guess who gets to show up early and make some of the hard decisions? That's right. It's me. At first I was a little nervous but I figured it wouldn't be that much different than what I had been doing. I was completely wrong.

So far, I've had to do such things as catch horses and administer medicines to them, clean out their hooves (a horse pedicure as my coworker calls it), play vet for a horse with wounds on his knee, pick up feed supplements and make sure all the time sheets for our clients make it to the main office in time. It's been crazy. And hot. Very hot. Did I mention we also have to sift, shovel and move manure compost in this Arizona heat? Yeah, that part's not very fun. Well, on Monday we had a horse die. She was old and had a tumor so she really was ready to go but that didn't make it any easier for some of the clients. Also, all of the bosses were out that day. And some of the people who give funding to the summer camp. It was not the best time for Freckles to die. Also, I was alone that day with the three clients. As we waited for the man to come take Freckles' body away (inside because Ethan - one of the guys in charge - didn't think the clients needed to see them take her away) it became very clear that we wouldn't be able to do afternoon chores. But it wasn't until I went out to check on the situation that I found any real problem.

That problem was a huge black snake that shot through my direct path getting back to the house. And then it did something that I was pretending snakes couldn't do: it slithered UP into the raised garden beds. Now, as most of you know I am terrified of snakes. Absolutely terrified. The less I know of their skills the better. And that is something you cannot unsee. Even after they took Freckles' body away (45 minutes late!) I could really only focus on the fact that there was a snake on the loose with the ability to go up things. Like walls. And raised garden beds.

Then, right after two of the clients had left and I was only waiting for one other client's ride to show up, the very late hay delivery guy showed up instead. And let me tell you, he was angry. And swearing like a sailor. Mostly about how much he hates women. While I was standing right there. Luckily for me, the client whose ride hadn't yet showed up helped me get all the bales of hay in their correct spot. OK, he did most of the work. I basically let him lift the 105 pound bales and I pushed them to the right spot. I'm not that strong, people. Anyway, the whole while this hay delivery guy is throwing bales all crazy off the truck and swearing up a storm and saying some very degrading things about the women he works with. At least he had the (sort of) decency to throw in a hasty, "But not you," after the first round of sexist comments. But then he said something that ruined whatever good graces he'd managed to receive from me when he said that I should just take a whip to my clients to get them working and then took it back because, "They might like it too much, I know I would!" Yeah. He's not the greatest of guys. Luckily he's moving to Tennessee in like a month. I should never have to see him again.Well, it turns out I'm not the only one that found him less than savory. Then next day when we told Ethan about the late delivery he made a show for the clients that people have their good and bad days and then caught my attention as he left the house to go to the summer camp. He mouthed the words "He's an  - "and then mouthed a word that I won't repeat and shouldn't have made me laugh but it did. It just proves that some people's mother actually teach them respect.

Anyway, I'm learning a lot. Like the fact that I can totally catch a horse and force her to take her meds and even like it. Which will totally be helpful when I'm a mom, I'm sure, because what are children to gigantic, rowdy horses who don't want to do as their told? Just kidding. For that I'm probably going to have a child that never does what she's told. Also, I have learned that even though I'm still very afraid of snakes in all their forms, I can hold back a scream so as not to alarm clients when I see one. Great skill, that one. Most importantly, I've learned that with hard work and a willingness to do the hard jobs that others don't want I can accomplish whatever I want. Because guess what?! Thanks to all my hard work and willingness to work, I'm getting a raise. And it feels good. Because I've earned it. I'm so grateful for my family for teaching me the value of work and I can't wait to see what else this summer holds!