Golf of July!

 

We spent our 4th on the  The Bluffs Golf Course, Vermillion's public golf course-which is actually quite lovely. With flyfishing on the back burner, Dalen has a new hobby: golf. He loves it! And I have to say, it was a pretty cool way to spend the afternoon, and to understand firsthand why Dalen enjoys himself so much.

 

Westin had a blast watching Dada hit balls and running around on the green, and trying to drive the cart......and shortly after this picture was taken: the gnat-apocalypse happened.

 

I got bitten twice; my left ear and eye started to swell almost immediately. We quickly got me some benedryl (which I took liberally) and managed to avoid the ER (unlike last time). The rest of the evening was, well, dampened. I thought I could hang-but the bites took me out. I felt sick. Dalen made this beautiful meal-Firecracker rolls served on hoagie rolls (a decidedly American spin on a sushi classic)-and I ate it, but couldn't ooh and ahh like I normally would have. We skipped out on fireworks (I know, ridiculous!). I had to take a day off of work to recover (I know, ridiculous!). And, frankly, have been in a funk ever since. I am getting a hat with bug netting, and am coming to terms with the fact that I can't venture outside without bug spray (at a minimum). We are not adjusting to the heat and humidity that is a South Dakotan summer. Yes, Dalen and I remember that we grew up in the South-oh and I lived in Charleston for 7 and a half years...so what happened to us? We lived in Montana. That's right. Unless you can live in Montana for the rest of your life-don't move there. Everywhere you live afterward will never be good enough. Vermillion is not a  horrible place--but it will never be Hamilton. But don't worry, we will persevere and find happiness and things to do outside! After all, that's the Midwestern-way. Besides, how can you really hate a place where you can get 9-holes of golf and a cart for $26??