Poverty & President's day

February 16, 1999 

I'm getting $650 for the machine.  My mom's call was to inform me that, despite our efforts to comprehend the complexities of financial aid and tuition statements, I owe a lot more than I previously thought.  It turns out I am am now burdened with $700 in debt which must be paid before March first.  I guess I know where the money for my computer's going.... straight to the University.  It seems like I just get more poor every day.

My weekend was fun.  President's day gave me a three day break, so I headed in the general direction of my house.  Saturday morning I was home in Bottineau.  Vaughn (my stepbrother) and I hit the trails on our Arctic Cats.  It was a perfect morning for snowmobiling and the trails weren't too crowded.  It got a bit warm later on, but it was a great time all the same.

Saturday night I visited Ronnie Marmon, a friend from high school who still lives in Mohall (where my high school is located).  It was kind of strange to be back in Mohall, as I hadn't been there in probably a year.  Ron tells me that it's not much fun living up there now.  All of our classmates have left the small farming town for school and work elsewhere.  I can understand why.  Unless you're taking over the farm, you've got to leave to find work.  Unless, of course, you enjoy telemarketing as a career.

Sunday was great.  It was Valentine's day, and a very nice one at that.  Most of my day was spent with Melanie.  We ate dinner at the Homesteader's restaurant in Minot.  The restaurant appeared to be *very* family/senior citizen oriented, at least around five or six o'clock that is.  But the food is good and it's a nice place.  After our meal, we headed to the theater to watch Patch Adams.  Midway through the film, the projector malfunctioned and devoured the film.  About forty minutes later, the showing resumed.  We weren't too bothered, as they gave us free passes to a show and an intermission so we could stroll down the mall and view the puppies through the front window of the pet store.

Patch Adams is a very good film, and I reccomend you see it if you haven't.  I'm always impressed by Robin Williams's ability to be very humorous and dramatic in the same role.

Without a doubt, the most enjoyable Valentine's day of my life.  I have never enjoyed the company of a woman as much as I do that of Melanie.  She's intelligent, patient, attractive, and she has a great personality.  What else can a man ask for?  She makes me so happy.  : - )