Sorry for the disappearing act. Last week was Finals Week and I had to “Get ‘R Done!” as we say in Wyoming. Seriously, we say that in Wyoming A LOT. There are signs that say it and if a local company is doing a commercial or ad, they’ll throw that in just to prove they are local. Another big one is “Powder River, let ‘r buck”.  I’m not sure what that means.

But Finals are over. School is done until the Fall.  Right now it just feels good to have some down time.

why people talk about something they know NOTHING about?

and now back to studying for finals and completing my portfolio.

Anyone else see Tom Cruise on Oprah? He was talking to her about a lot of the craziness that has been going on over the past couple years of his life. From his jumping on Oprah’s couch, publicly reprimanding Brooke Shields over her use of anti-depressants, to that video that went around on YouTube of him laughing like a psycho about Scientology.

Maybe I’m just a sucka, but I can’t help loving Tom Cruise. The man is gorgeous and has great hair. He may be a little crazy at times, but you can tell he’s not some completely dumb Hollywood actor. Look at a lot of the celebrities that became famous around his age. They are messed up and while he has his own problems, he has taken somewhat of a higher road.

Some of the things he talked about really touched me. He talked about when he & Katie Holmes first found out they were pregnant. They went to get it confirmed at the doctor’s really late at night in hopes the paparazzi wouldn’t find out. But someone at the doctor’s leaked it to the press and 12 hours later it was announced on websites that they were pregnant.

He then talked about the sonogram incident. Do you all remember that? Every magazine and gossip blog posted about how crazy Tom Cruise bought a sonogram and learned how to use it so he could look at his baby whenever he wanted. He explained how he bought the sonogram so their doctor could come to them to check up on the baby because they didn’t want to deal with people in the doctor’s offices leaking stuff to the press.

Maybe it’s just the “maternal feeling” I get from being a female, but that broke my heart. I couldn’t imagine what that would be like.

So I’ve been inspired by Tom Cruise. I’ve decided to give up gossip sites. It’s going to be hard. I’m a celeb-gossip junkie. As pathetic as it makes me seem, everyday when I log online I check my email and then I’m headed straight over for from gossipy goodness. But no more. I don’t want to be that kind of person.

Also in honor of Tom Cruise, tonight I will be watching Jerry McGuire. SHOW ME THE MONEY!

A story Becca wrote reminded me of similar incidents I’ve had.  She was buying a lotto ticket and the person said she looked 14, when really she is 25.  This has happened to me all my life.  If I go out to any restaurant with my parents, I’m always given the kids menu.  Even a few days ago, I was talking to a co-worker that I’ve worked with for a year and he was like, “You can buy beer?  I thought you were only 17!”

The worst time though was when I was on a date and the hostess said, “Aw.  It’s so sweet you are taking your little sister out to dinner!”  Yeah, mood killer.

Something odd happened about a week ago.  Something so strange and unusual for me that I’ve been going around telling EVERYONE about it.

A co-worker that I’m friendly with was working beside me.  We were chatting on and off about stuff.  This lady is a little off kilter.  I know she’s older, smokes like a chimney, and likes to “have a good time”.  I’m not sure how it is in the rest of the world but “have a good time” in Wyoming-speak is used by people way beyond their bar-hopping years that still like to go out and get hammered at bars on the weekend.  Usually to the dismay of the younger crowd that is also frequenting the bar.  There’s also rumors that her and some other people I work with go off and get high during their lunch breaks.

So, we’re standing there talking and she’s all, “Yeah, man!  I loved the 60s.  The dancing, the clubs, (in a hushed voice) the drugs.  What about you?”

Me:  What about me?

Her:  Didn’t you LOVE the sixties?

Me:  (puzzled) Well, my parents weren’t even born until ‘59, so they didn’t even love the sixties.

Her:  (staring at me for a long time)  How old are you then?

Me:  24

Her:  Oh, someone told me you were older than you look.  I guess you couldn’t have enjoyed the 60s!

Me:  (touching my face to see if I have some wrinkle that has appeared since I last looked in the mirror) I usually get 18.  I’ve never been told I look like I’m in my fifties!

Today I pulled up to the gas station to fill ‘er up.  It’s a routine I’m familiar with.  My round trip to and from school is a little over 100 miles.  My 12-gallon car gets roughly 20 miles to the gallon, leaving me to gas up twice a week (usually on Mondays and Thursdays) at the Loaf N Jug.

The rising gas prices are causing me to cringe.  It use to cost $30 to fill up my car.  Then it was $35, $40, and now it’s $45.  Nearly $300 a month.

I’ve been doing things to save money.  That “save $3 on our hands free car wash” coupon that I use to take advantage almost weekly hasn’t been used in months.  I’ve washed my car once this winter.  Invitations to hang out on weekends with my friends have been declined.  I’ve even skipped classes on days where I knew I wouldn’t miss much and attendance wouldn’t be mandatory.

While people are scrapping together extra money to pay for gas, the oil companies are having record profits.

Shell $9.08 billion, 25% profit increase
BP $7.6 billion, 63% profit increase
ConocoPhillips $4.14 billion, 16% profit increase

I hope the oil people choke on all their money.  Or get severe paper cuts that make them bleed to death.