Day 3: May 28, 2016

Emma had a sleepover with Olivia and I again last night, and we woke up early so that we could lead a bird walk at Yates Mill Pond from 8:00-10:00 am.  We were leading it for our fellow Young Naturalists, which is a group associated with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences whose purpose is to engage youth in the outdoors.  There were about eight people there, and we heard and saw dozens of bird species.  All of the kids there were already interested in birds, and it was gratifying to be able to help them find birds and see their passion for nature.

Once I got home, I went to see the neighborhood goats again before they left later that afternoon.  I then went to the gym with Olivia, where we danced for about 45 minutes for cardio and then did eight sets of bench for arm strength.  Even though I sometimes don't feel like it, I honestly really enjoy working out.  I think that I like it so much because--other than the obvious fact that it makes me physically stronger--I relish the idea of going against societal gender norms by doing exercise when lifting weights is still an activity dominated by men.  Okay, I'm done with my short feminist speel

The rest of the day it was party time.  Mama, Olivia, and I went to our neighbor Tom's house for his annual pool party.  There was great food like vegetarian seven layer dip, guacamole, potato salad, ziti with tomato sauce and beef meatballs (I just ate the pasta part), and, of course, burgers and hot dogs (neither of which I ate).  I loved chatting with my neighbors; all kinds of conversation topics arose -- births, traveling, chickens, books, and more.  I even had a conversation with one of my neighbors, Joel, about Albert Camus.  He told me about a book by Camus called The Plague, giving a short synopsis before we began to discuss The Stranger, which I read in English class this past year.  We talked about how, even though the book has come to exemplify existentialist texts, Camus in an interview said that he did not write it as an existentialist book.  Joel mentioned how Meursault's trial is hardly even based on the murder, but more on his mother's funeral and his personality.  He found that one of the main questions in the book was whether Meursault was acting in self-defense or whether he simply murdered the Arab.  We talked about this point for a bit before being sucked into other conversations the neighborhood group was having.  Overall, I had a great time at the party, and was pleasantly surprised to have an intelligent conversation about The Stranger.

More goat pictures :)

The above cream-colored goat really

liked having his/her ears scratched!