how can i ever save the world on cup-a-soup and student loans?

yesterday after work i was driving home, and i passed a hitchhiker carrying a hockey bag on his back. i turned to see who it was, and it was that tyler boy. i slowed down and picked him up. he told me he was having a pretty rough day, and that he had been kicked out of treatment. he was trying to get into high prairie so he could bus back home (to the blood reserve, i think). i told him i'd take him to the other side of the bridge near my house. then it looked a little cloudy, so i told him i'd drive him to highway 2. but as we neared the highway, it started to rain, so i decided to drive him all the way into town. he was really appreciative. he kept saying things like, "you're one of a kind. not many people would pick up a native person." that made me feel really yucky inside, partly because it's true (i've never picked anyone up before), and partly because i can't imagine feeling that way myself. i mean, like, sub-human or something. it's total bullshit that there are people in our country who have to feel that way about themselves. anyway, inevitably the conversation turned to, "so, do you have a boyfriend?" (i say inevitably because it seems like this conversation never happens with nice, middle-class, educated, sensitive, financially secure boys who i might actually have something in common with, but always happens with boys i hardly know and would have a really difficult time connecting with. not because i am a super hot babe and boys ask me out all the time. because they don't.). faaaack. no, tyler, i do not have a boyfriend, but don't let that give you any ideas. i took him to the bus stop, but it was closed and the next bus wasn't coming until about an hour later, so i dropped him off at the library so he could use the internet. i wanted to be encouraging so i gave him an illegal copy of sean da paul that i'd bought in georgetown, and i wrote, "take good care of yourself" or something. he said, "oh, i have something for you too." he gave me a beaded bracelet he had made with his name on it, and he put a big silver ring with a fake diamond on my finger. o-kayyyyyy. i gave him a hug and said, "i can't promise you anything, but if you need anything tonight if you don't get on the bus, you can give me a call and i'll see what i can do." bad idea, caylie. so, he called at about 11:30 last night, waking both lee and me. i said, "uh, sorry man, but i can't really do much for you tonight." he said, "it's okay. i didn't think i'd be able to stay with you because of the way i feel for you." arg! okay! well, see ya! good luck! part of me feels really really bad for him and i wish i could do more to help. and part of me is so mad that i can't ever just be friends with boys.

anyway. today we are setting up the tipis and tents. we saw a bunch of pelicans flying over the bay, and a cross fox hanging out near our site. i smell like campfire. it was cold in the morning, but the sun has come out. i like setting up the tipis. the ground is really soft from the rain, so the pegs are easy to put in.

here's my museum fact for the day. it's not really a museum fact, but it's about the pelicans who live around here. this is how they fish: a group of them forms a circle on the water, and then all at once, they scoop their beaks down to catch all the fish. kind of like how killer whales hunt. at least, that's what i've heard/seen. maybe it's not true. you might just have to wikipedia it for yourself.

i can't decide if i am going to go to soccer tonight. i've already been to high prairie every day this week, and my leg still hurts. but... it's really sunny and nice out, and i don't know if it's fair to deprive myself of the good weather.