Starting something new is sometimes terrifying, is it not? I believe it's only terrifying if you make it that way. This blog is taking a turn. I am going to push it in a different direction. No longer will it be completely about me writing every second of my life down so that I can actually remember things that my memory won't allow. I want something more out of this. If people are taking the time to read this, then why wouldn't I want them to get something out of it other than me rambling about nonsense?
So here goes nothing...
Inspiration doesn't simply happen though, it can't be forced. Therefore, until I have something to actually write about, I will leave you with your thoughts...
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Cripes
Well hey there October! I am listening to Christmas music right now. It's Michael Buble's fault...not mine. You see, his new cd came out the other day and I started listening to previews on iTunes (long story to follow). Those clips of music led to me listening to every Christmas song I had in my possession. Cripes. So, story time. Every time a Michael Buble cd comes out, it's tradition for me and my friend John to go to Walmart at midnight and get it. So after my junior recital, I was studying for a methods test (blech) and we decided to go just before midnight because that was when it was coming out. To give you some background, last time we did this, the guy who helped us back in electronics thought we were nuts and didn't know what we were talking about. We were like, "The MICAHEL BUBLE cd came out at midnight (like right now) and we wanted it?!" He was probably thinking we were crazy for going out at midnight for a cd, let alone Michael Buble, but I didn't care. He had to specially go in the back to get it because they hadn't put them on the floor yet. And we went there thinking people would be waiting in line....we were silly freshman at the time. So this year, we went at 11:30ish, walked back to electronics, and found a nice young man to help us. He informed us that they apparently don't do midnight releases. I was like, "Uh uh...no way. We've done this before." So him, being a nice person, went back to check for us. He came back empty handed. I was sad. He said the truck would be there the next day. How rude! So John and I had a good laugh and simply went home. John went back the next day....still not there!! So now we have both ordered them on Amazon, though he has already gotten his since I just ordered mine today. Sad.
Drinking some apple cider. I have dance club in just over a half hour. We are clogging tonight! Clogging is like tap and is quite hard. I'm not that great. I need to exercise. Cripes, I am such a pile lately. I think it's the weather changing, it is so un-motivating....if that's even a word. What else is new....
It's just been an interesting few weeks I suppose. Full of percussion + drum major drama. Haha. Good stuff.
Well, pep band auditions tomorrow. I haven't practiced because my junior recital really took it out of me. Which, speaking of that, went really well! Considering how bad my performance anxiety used to be (and still is), I was really proud of myself! Erica did just fabulous as well. Off to clog....time to turn off the Christmas music and head out into the cold...and it's not even COLD yet :/
Meeeeeeeee!
-Me
Drinking some apple cider. I have dance club in just over a half hour. We are clogging tonight! Clogging is like tap and is quite hard. I'm not that great. I need to exercise. Cripes, I am such a pile lately. I think it's the weather changing, it is so un-motivating....if that's even a word. What else is new....
It's just been an interesting few weeks I suppose. Full of percussion + drum major drama. Haha. Good stuff.
Well, pep band auditions tomorrow. I haven't practiced because my junior recital really took it out of me. Which, speaking of that, went really well! Considering how bad my performance anxiety used to be (and still is), I was really proud of myself! Erica did just fabulous as well. Off to clog....time to turn off the Christmas music and head out into the cold...and it's not even COLD yet :/
Meeeeeeeee!
-Me
Monday, October 17, 2011
Eeeek!
Things I like:
Getting chosen over somebody else because I put an effort into introducing myself and making myself known.
Peanut butter. And a lot of it.
Contacts. Glasses just get in the way.
House Hunters International. You know, just preparing for my trip around the world.
Music. It's my energy, my relaxation, and my strength. It's what gets me through life.
Blogging. It's like a diary....but not.
Facial expressions. They get me through my day. And people might think I'm weird. Awesome!
Silly sounds. You may hear me say, "Meeeee!" or "Eeek!"
Hugs. Please hug me. I give really good hugs.
Toothbrush. I like brushing my teeth. I used to eat the toothpaste when I was little. Oops.
Michael Buble. Something about his voice and his style. Oh, and he's kinda sexy.
Marimba. I want to learn to play this instrument. Or be a percussionist (at times).
For some reason, a list was in order for this blog post. I am excited and nervous for this week. My grandparents from Florida are coming up to SD on Wednesday, but I probably won't see them until Saturday at the football game. Then, my junior recital is on Sunday...eeek!! I am excited, but terribly nervous. Okay, there is more I want to say, but I am tired. Need sleep :) Trumpet lesson in the morn!! Buenas noches!
Getting chosen over somebody else because I put an effort into introducing myself and making myself known.
Peanut butter. And a lot of it.
Contacts. Glasses just get in the way.
House Hunters International. You know, just preparing for my trip around the world.
Music. It's my energy, my relaxation, and my strength. It's what gets me through life.
Blogging. It's like a diary....but not.
Facial expressions. They get me through my day. And people might think I'm weird. Awesome!
Silly sounds. You may hear me say, "Meeeee!" or "Eeek!"
Hugs. Please hug me. I give really good hugs.
Toothbrush. I like brushing my teeth. I used to eat the toothpaste when I was little. Oops.
Michael Buble. Something about his voice and his style. Oh, and he's kinda sexy.
Marimba. I want to learn to play this instrument. Or be a percussionist (at times).
For some reason, a list was in order for this blog post. I am excited and nervous for this week. My grandparents from Florida are coming up to SD on Wednesday, but I probably won't see them until Saturday at the football game. Then, my junior recital is on Sunday...eeek!! I am excited, but terribly nervous. Okay, there is more I want to say, but I am tired. Need sleep :) Trumpet lesson in the morn!! Buenas noches!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Well Hey There
Well hey there world! I've apparently been MIA for awhile...
I can honestly say that I have never been so busy in my entire life. This semester is definitely here to challenge me. I recently quit my job at the coffee shop. It was necessary. I don't have enough time to sleep, do homework, practice my trumpet, and definitely not time to work. My junior recital is in exactly seven days. I am playing with an amazing piano player and premiering a trumpet piece in SD! Well I have to go to a football game now and am mildly distracted by the movie Cam and I are watching. Sorry for the lame blog post after a month of being away. Hopefully more will follow soon :) Maybe going to see Footloose tonight!!
I can honestly say that I have never been so busy in my entire life. This semester is definitely here to challenge me. I recently quit my job at the coffee shop. It was necessary. I don't have enough time to sleep, do homework, practice my trumpet, and definitely not time to work. My junior recital is in exactly seven days. I am playing with an amazing piano player and premiering a trumpet piece in SD! Well I have to go to a football game now and am mildly distracted by the movie Cam and I are watching. Sorry for the lame blog post after a month of being away. Hopefully more will follow soon :) Maybe going to see Footloose tonight!!
Friday, September 16, 2011
Foooooooooood
Gosh. So hungry. I'm so hungry. I feel like I have eaten everything and more in this apartment. I need to stop. Just had some peanut butter on french bread...good stuff. I have been watching weddings shows all night and attempting to do homework. But, alas, the wedding shows trump educational psychology homework. I have actually really never used that word "trump" so I hope I used it correctly. And if I didn't, I don't wanna hear about it. :)
So, big news, I am seeing Jersey Boys tomorrow in Omaha!! You won't believe this, but for $30 we get the trip down there and back and the show! I will have to tell you how it is, though amazing will be a word I use I am sure.
I am overwhelmed at the moment. I have so much homework all the time. Trying to find time to spend with friends is difficult, but I love the life I live! At dance club on Wednesday, I taught Jar of Hearts for contemporary night. It was my first song I have ever choreographed all by myself, for myself and I did it at our show IMPACT last spring. It was so emotional watching the 40 or so people in the studio put everything into each move. I made the girls take their hair out and told them how much more emotion gets across just being able to move with it and use it as a 'prop' almost. They understood the meaning behind the song and I felt like a proud mama watching them dance it for me at the end! I had tears in my eyes. So moving. So emotional. I love dance. My friend Chris posted something on my status that got me to thinking... So I have always been 'worried' or 'unsure' (I guess those words work) what I will feel like when I see my children someday living a life of their own. I was worried that I might be jealous of the things they will get to experience or the success they will have. Seeing those individuals dance my choreography on Wednesday proved the point that I won't be worried or jealous, I will be proud and grinning from ear to ear with tears streaming down my face. I never thought I would know what it felt like until I actually had children, though this small event made me realize so much. I know it isn't completely comparable, but I know it touched me in some way. It told me that I will be so proud and happy when my children succeed someday, I won't be upset. This made me so happy :) This thought may have never occured to you, but it haunted me for awhile. Now I am much more at ease. So thank you dance club, and thank you Chris for making me see this and get a glimpse of my future.
So, I finished the Hunger Games series (super duper good by the way...in my top 3!!) and I decided I needed a new 'fun' book. I didn't know what to get and I am sick of reading books because somebody else told me to read them. I went on Amazon and decided to simply look in the women's fiction section. I picked out a random book and bought it. I read a bit about it and it seemed interesting enough. It had the love story, so I deemed it okay. I received it in the mail yesterday....low and behold, it is 700 pages! I totally wasn't expecting it to be that long! Bah!! I have read chapter one and so far, so good.
I am conducting the drum/flag feature for the next game and the song is "Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga and I am so pumped! Coull even complimented me today and said I am finally loosening up when I conduct, which was nice to hear that from him finally. I just like to look professional, okay?! But I do some cool fist pumps, so he liked that.
Well, I am seeing one two many computer screens right now, so I am going to go get ready for bed and polish off another chapter in my book. Hope you kept warm in the cold weather that snuck in the past couple of days. How rude!! It will warm up soon :)
Love love love.
So, big news, I am seeing Jersey Boys tomorrow in Omaha!! You won't believe this, but for $30 we get the trip down there and back and the show! I will have to tell you how it is, though amazing will be a word I use I am sure.
I am overwhelmed at the moment. I have so much homework all the time. Trying to find time to spend with friends is difficult, but I love the life I live! At dance club on Wednesday, I taught Jar of Hearts for contemporary night. It was my first song I have ever choreographed all by myself, for myself and I did it at our show IMPACT last spring. It was so emotional watching the 40 or so people in the studio put everything into each move. I made the girls take their hair out and told them how much more emotion gets across just being able to move with it and use it as a 'prop' almost. They understood the meaning behind the song and I felt like a proud mama watching them dance it for me at the end! I had tears in my eyes. So moving. So emotional. I love dance. My friend Chris posted something on my status that got me to thinking... So I have always been 'worried' or 'unsure' (I guess those words work) what I will feel like when I see my children someday living a life of their own. I was worried that I might be jealous of the things they will get to experience or the success they will have. Seeing those individuals dance my choreography on Wednesday proved the point that I won't be worried or jealous, I will be proud and grinning from ear to ear with tears streaming down my face. I never thought I would know what it felt like until I actually had children, though this small event made me realize so much. I know it isn't completely comparable, but I know it touched me in some way. It told me that I will be so proud and happy when my children succeed someday, I won't be upset. This made me so happy :) This thought may have never occured to you, but it haunted me for awhile. Now I am much more at ease. So thank you dance club, and thank you Chris for making me see this and get a glimpse of my future.
So, I finished the Hunger Games series (super duper good by the way...in my top 3!!) and I decided I needed a new 'fun' book. I didn't know what to get and I am sick of reading books because somebody else told me to read them. I went on Amazon and decided to simply look in the women's fiction section. I picked out a random book and bought it. I read a bit about it and it seemed interesting enough. It had the love story, so I deemed it okay. I received it in the mail yesterday....low and behold, it is 700 pages! I totally wasn't expecting it to be that long! Bah!! I have read chapter one and so far, so good.
I am conducting the drum/flag feature for the next game and the song is "Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga and I am so pumped! Coull even complimented me today and said I am finally loosening up when I conduct, which was nice to hear that from him finally. I just like to look professional, okay?! But I do some cool fist pumps, so he liked that.
Well, I am seeing one two many computer screens right now, so I am going to go get ready for bed and polish off another chapter in my book. Hope you kept warm in the cold weather that snuck in the past couple of days. How rude!! It will warm up soon :)
Love love love.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Live
I just learned You and I on guitar. Legit right? No, not the Ingrid Michaelson song, but that one is quite swell as well and reminds me of my lovely friend Katie. This is the phenomenal Lady Gaga's song. When I first heard it, I didn't even know it was her! Definitely give it a listen and look out for a future youtube video by your one and only :)
So, my life. My life is hectic, busy, crazy, and I love every minute of it. I am taking 18 credits, which in the music world is suicide. My junior recital is on October 23rd if anybody is interested. I JUST picked out my repertoire, which is scary business. That means I have exactly 6 and a half weeks to learn it. Crap. I am also working 7 hours a week at Java City as a barista. I have actually missed making coffee. But seriously SDSU students, stop ordering Javalanches. And learn how to pronounce them. And, if you're wondering, it's like a frappuccino. They are just a pain in the butt to make. And they are going to make me fat if I keep drinking the extra from the blender. So save yourself calories and save me calories. You don't want that freshman 15, believe me, I had the freshman 20. You didn't think that was possible? Oh, it is.
That's my ramble on Javalanches....moving on.
My classes are all jumbled in my head. Between Methods and Materials, Elementary Methods, Middle School Philosophy and Applications, Foundations of American Education, and Educational Psychology, don't they all sound the same?? I have a bunch of other classes too, I might just cry if I list them all out, so I will spare you (and myself). I am also going to start teaching high school/middle school students private trumpet lessons in a different town every Tuesday night for 3 hours. That means a great teaching experience, extra cash, and possibly PS2 credit!! Hooray!! I also have bible study, dance club, TBS meetings, and praise team rehearsals. If you feel like I don't stay in contact with you very well, it's because I have so much running through my brain. I really am your friend and wish I had more than 24 hours in a day, but it's just so hard. I feel awful. Love you all.
I absolutely love my elementary methods class. Every Wednesday, I get to hang out with two kindergarten children, Taylor and Chasen. They are adorable. I am their 'teacher' as the rest of my classmates (the teachers) and kindergarten children sit in a circle together. I get to assess them and observe them throughout the semester and truly get to see a child grow.
This past weekend was our first football game! The theme for early morning practice was 'beach party' because we thought it was going to be a nice day, but it was slightly chilly.
Yes, I know the picture is sideways, but I don't know how to change it. We are the three drum majors! Just tilt your head and you will get a good view. There ya go! After band rehearsal, Cam and I went to eat at Perkins (reminded me of my last night at FH). The game was super fun and we won 29-28. It was such a close game at the end. The other team got a touchdown right at the end, 6 seconds left to go. They obviously were going to go for 2 points because otherwise they would tie us and go into overtime. The guy MISSED the pass in the endzone and we WON!! Yay! The football team came and stood over by the band as we played the school songs. It was so emotional and so uplifting to see them support us like we supported them. We made them a huge card to say good luck at their away games and the whole band signed it. John and I took it over together after practice today. I felt like we were crossing into a whole new world walking up to the football players. It was scary. We were trying not to attract attention to ourselves and handed the card to what looked to be the athletic trainer. Don't want to disrupt practice ;)
Had our first dance club tonight and taught the SYTYCD salsa routine! Actually, Megan taught it and did a very nice job. We had some fun freestyling at the end of the night, as usual. I am teaching next week and doing contemporary. My fav!!! I need to figure out what I am teaching now...ugh. No time to choreograph something new, so I have to bring something back then! I think I might do my high school dance team lyrical routine. It is pretty and to an acoustic James Blunt song. Or maybe I should do my own choreographed work to Jar of Hearts? Hmmm decisions...
I am also on the third book of the Hunger Games series, called Mockingjay. So good. Love this series. Though, the books are getting less good as they go. But, nonetheless, they are still wonderful. I shall get ready for bed now, snuggle up with a good page-turner (thanks Matt for these words), and hit the hay.
There is something about this life that I can't explain. I have learned in my educational psychology class that when we learn, we change. I feel like I change a thousand times a day. I am not who I was a year ago, a week ago, or even yesterday. It is hard to comprehend our own emotions and the ways we have changed. Every time we meet a new person, they have affected our lives in some way, to some extent. It amazes me that of all the paths I could have chosen in life, I am where I am today because of the wonderful people around me. Bask in this beauty we call life. Live.
Love love.
So, my life. My life is hectic, busy, crazy, and I love every minute of it. I am taking 18 credits, which in the music world is suicide. My junior recital is on October 23rd if anybody is interested. I JUST picked out my repertoire, which is scary business. That means I have exactly 6 and a half weeks to learn it. Crap. I am also working 7 hours a week at Java City as a barista. I have actually missed making coffee. But seriously SDSU students, stop ordering Javalanches. And learn how to pronounce them. And, if you're wondering, it's like a frappuccino. They are just a pain in the butt to make. And they are going to make me fat if I keep drinking the extra from the blender. So save yourself calories and save me calories. You don't want that freshman 15, believe me, I had the freshman 20. You didn't think that was possible? Oh, it is.
That's my ramble on Javalanches....moving on.
My classes are all jumbled in my head. Between Methods and Materials, Elementary Methods, Middle School Philosophy and Applications, Foundations of American Education, and Educational Psychology, don't they all sound the same?? I have a bunch of other classes too, I might just cry if I list them all out, so I will spare you (and myself). I am also going to start teaching high school/middle school students private trumpet lessons in a different town every Tuesday night for 3 hours. That means a great teaching experience, extra cash, and possibly PS2 credit!! Hooray!! I also have bible study, dance club, TBS meetings, and praise team rehearsals. If you feel like I don't stay in contact with you very well, it's because I have so much running through my brain. I really am your friend and wish I had more than 24 hours in a day, but it's just so hard. I feel awful. Love you all.
I absolutely love my elementary methods class. Every Wednesday, I get to hang out with two kindergarten children, Taylor and Chasen. They are adorable. I am their 'teacher' as the rest of my classmates (the teachers) and kindergarten children sit in a circle together. I get to assess them and observe them throughout the semester and truly get to see a child grow.
This past weekend was our first football game! The theme for early morning practice was 'beach party' because we thought it was going to be a nice day, but it was slightly chilly.
Had our first dance club tonight and taught the SYTYCD salsa routine! Actually, Megan taught it and did a very nice job. We had some fun freestyling at the end of the night, as usual. I am teaching next week and doing contemporary. My fav!!! I need to figure out what I am teaching now...ugh. No time to choreograph something new, so I have to bring something back then! I think I might do my high school dance team lyrical routine. It is pretty and to an acoustic James Blunt song. Or maybe I should do my own choreographed work to Jar of Hearts? Hmmm decisions...
I am also on the third book of the Hunger Games series, called Mockingjay. So good. Love this series. Though, the books are getting less good as they go. But, nonetheless, they are still wonderful. I shall get ready for bed now, snuggle up with a good page-turner (thanks Matt for these words), and hit the hay.
There is something about this life that I can't explain. I have learned in my educational psychology class that when we learn, we change. I feel like I change a thousand times a day. I am not who I was a year ago, a week ago, or even yesterday. It is hard to comprehend our own emotions and the ways we have changed. Every time we meet a new person, they have affected our lives in some way, to some extent. It amazes me that of all the paths I could have chosen in life, I am where I am today because of the wonderful people around me. Bask in this beauty we call life. Live.
Love love.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
You and I
It's been a long time since I came around.
Been a long time but I'm back in town.
This time I'm not leaving without you.
I love Lady Gaga and this song just makes me happy. And makes me want to sing. No way right? I'm listening to it right now while I snack on some grapes. Just finished our first official dance club night and practiced trumpet for awhile. I think this song (or this part of the lyrics anyway...) speaks to me in my situation right now. Okay, if you know the song, forget the rest of the lyrics because they have absolutely NOTHING to do with me in my life. I spoke too soon earlier. I have no Nebraska guy, don't wear high heels, and I'm not a New York woman. Now that we have that settled, I am going to easily explain why my mind thinks these three lines relate to my life. It's been awhile since I have been back at school and I am back in town...wow, that was tricky. The third line isn't speaking about a guy in my case. It's speaking about how I am going to run my life this year. I am not going to let things out of my grasp this year. I am going to be organized, work hard, and reach every goal I set out to do. I am not leaving college after this year disappointed because I didn't do something I wish I had. No way.
My classes are tough this semester since I am starting education courses. They will be exciting, but a lot of work. On top of school, I am VP for our Dance Club that I started on campus, Secretary for TBS (my music sorority), I play with my church's praise team, bible study, and work. I feel like I barely have time to breathe, but it's the only way I know how to live my life. I have been busy and involved for so long now that I couldn't tell you the last time I was truly bored out of my mind. I can't imagine not taking this much on. Except this semester might be an exception. I'll let you know in about a month when my junior recital is just around the corner on top of all of the other stressors. Okay, that was kinda the downer part of this blog post. Moving on...
Arrived back up at school last Friday (so 5 days ago). I can't really remember everything that has happened in the last five days, but it consists of a lot of, "Oh my goodness!! How was your summer?! I've missed you so much!!". And lots of hugs of course too! We had 'band camp' this weekend and we learned the pre-game. When we were given the lead sheets to the pre-game opener tune, I didn't really look at it, but then the band started playing and the songs were as follows....America the Beautiful, God Bless America, and....wait for it....You're a Grand Old Flag. Now, if you weren't at FH this summer, this won't make a whole lot of sense. Or if your name isn't Matt it probably doesn't make sense either. But before every Hoot, we would sit backstage and sing along with the sing-along...oh great play on words. I would always tell Matt that I loved when he sang You're a Grand Old Flag because his voice is so deep and I would miss hearing him sing that. AND THEN, crazy part is, I get to hear it EVERY DAY at 4pm band rehearsal. Isn't that crazy?! And I am head drum major this week, so I get to conduct it. I love weird stuff like that. Of course I had to text Matt during band to let him know because I was so excited.
Vivi got home today. I am really curious as to how the surprise played out to her boyfriend and family. I hope that I get to skype with her soon because I really miss her. I even started teaching my roommates some Hungarian words because I don't want to forget them. I've talked to Katie on the phone too and she told me some crazy stories about the big wedding this past weekend and how everybody is gone so she is washing windows and such. Her last day was today...sad. Gosh, what else to say. My brain is going a hundred miles a minute. Oh! I finished The Hunger Games yesterday I think? Kelsey luckily has the series, so I am onto book two now and already a hundred and some pages through. I just can't put it down!! I need to finish it before hardcore schoolwork hits. Had jazz band auditions yesterday and think they went pretty well. Now just waiting for results. Symphonic band auditions are next week....hoorah....btw that was super sarcastic. Also, have an interview at Chocolatte tomorrow morning at 10am! I can't stand this anymore....I am going to get ready for bed and read some Catching Fire, I can't resist anymore. And then I need to sleep. I am going to try to be in bed before midnight every night. Hopefully I can do it :)
Hope this post finds you well and not overwhelmed with the start of a new school year.
Love forever.
Been a long time but I'm back in town.
This time I'm not leaving without you.
I love Lady Gaga and this song just makes me happy. And makes me want to sing. No way right? I'm listening to it right now while I snack on some grapes. Just finished our first official dance club night and practiced trumpet for awhile. I think this song (or this part of the lyrics anyway...) speaks to me in my situation right now. Okay, if you know the song, forget the rest of the lyrics because they have absolutely NOTHING to do with me in my life. I spoke too soon earlier. I have no Nebraska guy, don't wear high heels, and I'm not a New York woman. Now that we have that settled, I am going to easily explain why my mind thinks these three lines relate to my life. It's been awhile since I have been back at school and I am back in town...wow, that was tricky. The third line isn't speaking about a guy in my case. It's speaking about how I am going to run my life this year. I am not going to let things out of my grasp this year. I am going to be organized, work hard, and reach every goal I set out to do. I am not leaving college after this year disappointed because I didn't do something I wish I had. No way.
My classes are tough this semester since I am starting education courses. They will be exciting, but a lot of work. On top of school, I am VP for our Dance Club that I started on campus, Secretary for TBS (my music sorority), I play with my church's praise team, bible study, and work. I feel like I barely have time to breathe, but it's the only way I know how to live my life. I have been busy and involved for so long now that I couldn't tell you the last time I was truly bored out of my mind. I can't imagine not taking this much on. Except this semester might be an exception. I'll let you know in about a month when my junior recital is just around the corner on top of all of the other stressors. Okay, that was kinda the downer part of this blog post. Moving on...
Arrived back up at school last Friday (so 5 days ago). I can't really remember everything that has happened in the last five days, but it consists of a lot of, "Oh my goodness!! How was your summer?! I've missed you so much!!". And lots of hugs of course too! We had 'band camp' this weekend and we learned the pre-game. When we were given the lead sheets to the pre-game opener tune, I didn't really look at it, but then the band started playing and the songs were as follows....America the Beautiful, God Bless America, and....wait for it....You're a Grand Old Flag. Now, if you weren't at FH this summer, this won't make a whole lot of sense. Or if your name isn't Matt it probably doesn't make sense either. But before every Hoot, we would sit backstage and sing along with the sing-along...oh great play on words. I would always tell Matt that I loved when he sang You're a Grand Old Flag because his voice is so deep and I would miss hearing him sing that. AND THEN, crazy part is, I get to hear it EVERY DAY at 4pm band rehearsal. Isn't that crazy?! And I am head drum major this week, so I get to conduct it. I love weird stuff like that. Of course I had to text Matt during band to let him know because I was so excited.
Vivi got home today. I am really curious as to how the surprise played out to her boyfriend and family. I hope that I get to skype with her soon because I really miss her. I even started teaching my roommates some Hungarian words because I don't want to forget them. I've talked to Katie on the phone too and she told me some crazy stories about the big wedding this past weekend and how everybody is gone so she is washing windows and such. Her last day was today...sad. Gosh, what else to say. My brain is going a hundred miles a minute. Oh! I finished The Hunger Games yesterday I think? Kelsey luckily has the series, so I am onto book two now and already a hundred and some pages through. I just can't put it down!! I need to finish it before hardcore schoolwork hits. Had jazz band auditions yesterday and think they went pretty well. Now just waiting for results. Symphonic band auditions are next week....hoorah....btw that was super sarcastic. Also, have an interview at Chocolatte tomorrow morning at 10am! I can't stand this anymore....I am going to get ready for bed and read some Catching Fire, I can't resist anymore. And then I need to sleep. I am going to try to be in bed before midnight every night. Hopefully I can do it :)
Hope this post finds you well and not overwhelmed with the start of a new school year.
Love forever.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Hardest Day
I'm home! Home. I'm not really sure what happened today but I know that I cried. A lot.
Last night was our last Tuesday night Hoot and my last night at Fair Hills. I just started bawling after the Hoot was over. It reminded me of high school when it was the last performance for our spring musical and the curtain closed. That's when we knew it was over. Everything we had worked for, friendships we had made, and time we had spent together was done with. I feel as if that exactly relates to my situation with the last Hoot. Vivi could barely look at me without completely losing it. We cried forever. Damla, Ozgen, Orhan, Ismail, and Vivi said that it is my last night so they would do anything I wanted to do and go anywhere I wanted to go because it was my night. How wonderful is that? They are all so amazing. We decided not to go to Pinky because I wanted to have actual conversations with these people on my last night. I didn't want to sit around a fire while everyone drinks. We decided to take a FH suburban and go to Perkins. It was around 11pm when we left and it was me and 8 foreigners. Vivi, Ismail, Damla, Ozgen, Hazal, Erman, Elman, and Orhan all went with me. I let Vivi drive because she misses it so much from home. I was sleepy anyway, so it worked out. Perkins was so much fun and Hazal was taking pictures of everything. It was hilarious. After we got back, I visited with Hannah, Katie, and Iliya quick and then headed to bed.
This morning I was toast girl, which was quite exciting actually. It was a bit more stressful than I thought, but I did well. I couldn't believe it was my last 'shift' and I kept thinking about how much packing I still had to do. I was making myself toast before my shift and I told Suzie how much I loved the cinnamon raisin bread. She went back and packaged up a loaf of it for me to take home :) How sweet!! I will miss her very much. So glad that Matt and I went to visit her that one morning at 3am. Good choice.
After breakfast, I headed up to my cabin and started the seemingly never ending process of packing. I was most of the way done when Vivi came up after she was off. She gave me the look of "I can't believe that you are packing up...I can't watch this". We decided to go down to the lobby to see if her pillow pets were here. My mom sent her a sheep for her and a pink bunny for her sister Brigi. When we went down to the lobby, they weren't there, so I went shopping for my last FH gear. Bought 2 tshirts and a blanket. When we were still standing there, the mailman came in and Viv freaked out! She ripped open the box like it was a Christmas present. It was adorable. She hugged that sheep forever. On our walk back to our cabin she told me that she was naming it Kaitlyn. That way, everytime she misses me, she can hug the sheep. When we got back up to the cabin, she helped me load my stuff in my car. Katie came over as well to return my workout shorts and we forgot we still had to write on each other's bracelets. On mine she wrote lyrics to one of the songs she wrote called "It Is What It Is". I wrote something inspirational on hers. We went down to staff lunch after that and it hit me. I was leaving in a half hour. Nothing looked appetizing for lunch (not unusual), so I just had a dessert and some lemonade. I went out to the dining hall and stood there while Damla, Ozgen, Helen, Vivi, and Katie ate. Everyone else was roaming around the dining hall or eating at other tables. I forget who I hugged first, but I knew I had to start saying goodbye or it would never get done. I started tearing up, then crying, then bawling. Vivi left the table and went into the kitchen because she just couldn't handle it. My heart literally broke right then. Everyone was taking turns hugging me and I was crying so hard that I squatted on the ground and buried my head in my hands. Damla, Ozgen, and Derek were all around me just trying to make me feel better. Every time I hugged a different person though, I cried harder. Saying goodbye to Lez was so hard. She hugged me forever and told me that I have such great faith and to just follow the Lord with all of my heart and soul. She has been a wonderful role model and I am so blessed to have met her. Katie was crying too, which is a big deal for her. I have only seen her cry once all summer. When it came time to say goodbye to Viv, we just stood and looked at each other, crying. We couldn't hug because we knew it was over. So, there we stood, in the dining hall, standing 3 feet apart and bawling. I finally hugged her and I never wanted to let go because I knew how long it would be before I was her again. She told me that I was one of the best friends she has ever had. I can't recall everything else that was said because I was crying so hard. She told me I had to come back when I was going to drive away so she could watch me leave. I didn't want to have to come back to the kitchen, but I knew I had to do it for her. Leaving the kitchen was a very odd and awful feeling. I have spent so many hours in this place and I didn't want to walk out. I could barely contain myself walking back up to my cabin because I knew I was walking away from everything. I gathered the rest of my stuff and put a note on Vivi's bed. I went back down to the kitchen to get Viv and she came out to my car with me. We hugged and cried again (no way right?). I told her (like I always do) that it isn't goodbye, but simply 'see you soon'. I told her that I loved her very much (in Hungarian of course) and then I got into my car. I rolled down the window as I was driving away and said "Ígérem hogy jönnek", which I hope I spelled right. That means "I promise that I will come." She always had me say that so I swear I will come to Hungary next summer. I couldn't look back after that. I got onto Highway 20 and decided for some stupid reason that it was a good idea to read the card that Katie gave me before I left. I open the card and see the tree on the front and she knows how much I love trees. The card was just perfect. I literally haven't ever had a more perfect card given to me in my life. What she wrote in there as well was amazing. I didn't get more than the front of the card read before I had to pull over on the side of the road. I couldn't drive anymore because I was crying too hard. After I sat there for at least 5 minutes, I started driving and just let the tears fall for about a half hour. I can't describe how I felt more than my amount of tears can describe.
The drive home was long. I was tired from lack of sleep as well as from crying. I talked to my mom, my sister, Matt, and Caitlin on my way home to keep me awake. I was on the phone for probably half of my drive. The other half consisted of me singing really loudly to the radio.
Now I am home. Had a wonderful home cooked meal. Sitting on the couch next to my sister watching tv...which I haven't watched in 10 weeks. Weird. Painted my nails with crackle...makes me miss my Katie. Skyping with Vivi soon. I couldn't have asked for more from Fair Hills this summer. Honestly the best summer of my life. The people I met there have changed me forever. I can't explain how much my heart aches being away from everybody. I will see them soon...
Love forever,
Kait
Last night was our last Tuesday night Hoot and my last night at Fair Hills. I just started bawling after the Hoot was over. It reminded me of high school when it was the last performance for our spring musical and the curtain closed. That's when we knew it was over. Everything we had worked for, friendships we had made, and time we had spent together was done with. I feel as if that exactly relates to my situation with the last Hoot. Vivi could barely look at me without completely losing it. We cried forever. Damla, Ozgen, Orhan, Ismail, and Vivi said that it is my last night so they would do anything I wanted to do and go anywhere I wanted to go because it was my night. How wonderful is that? They are all so amazing. We decided not to go to Pinky because I wanted to have actual conversations with these people on my last night. I didn't want to sit around a fire while everyone drinks. We decided to take a FH suburban and go to Perkins. It was around 11pm when we left and it was me and 8 foreigners. Vivi, Ismail, Damla, Ozgen, Hazal, Erman, Elman, and Orhan all went with me. I let Vivi drive because she misses it so much from home. I was sleepy anyway, so it worked out. Perkins was so much fun and Hazal was taking pictures of everything. It was hilarious. After we got back, I visited with Hannah, Katie, and Iliya quick and then headed to bed.
This morning I was toast girl, which was quite exciting actually. It was a bit more stressful than I thought, but I did well. I couldn't believe it was my last 'shift' and I kept thinking about how much packing I still had to do. I was making myself toast before my shift and I told Suzie how much I loved the cinnamon raisin bread. She went back and packaged up a loaf of it for me to take home :) How sweet!! I will miss her very much. So glad that Matt and I went to visit her that one morning at 3am. Good choice.
After breakfast, I headed up to my cabin and started the seemingly never ending process of packing. I was most of the way done when Vivi came up after she was off. She gave me the look of "I can't believe that you are packing up...I can't watch this". We decided to go down to the lobby to see if her pillow pets were here. My mom sent her a sheep for her and a pink bunny for her sister Brigi. When we went down to the lobby, they weren't there, so I went shopping for my last FH gear. Bought 2 tshirts and a blanket. When we were still standing there, the mailman came in and Viv freaked out! She ripped open the box like it was a Christmas present. It was adorable. She hugged that sheep forever. On our walk back to our cabin she told me that she was naming it Kaitlyn. That way, everytime she misses me, she can hug the sheep. When we got back up to the cabin, she helped me load my stuff in my car. Katie came over as well to return my workout shorts and we forgot we still had to write on each other's bracelets. On mine she wrote lyrics to one of the songs she wrote called "It Is What It Is". I wrote something inspirational on hers. We went down to staff lunch after that and it hit me. I was leaving in a half hour. Nothing looked appetizing for lunch (not unusual), so I just had a dessert and some lemonade. I went out to the dining hall and stood there while Damla, Ozgen, Helen, Vivi, and Katie ate. Everyone else was roaming around the dining hall or eating at other tables. I forget who I hugged first, but I knew I had to start saying goodbye or it would never get done. I started tearing up, then crying, then bawling. Vivi left the table and went into the kitchen because she just couldn't handle it. My heart literally broke right then. Everyone was taking turns hugging me and I was crying so hard that I squatted on the ground and buried my head in my hands. Damla, Ozgen, and Derek were all around me just trying to make me feel better. Every time I hugged a different person though, I cried harder. Saying goodbye to Lez was so hard. She hugged me forever and told me that I have such great faith and to just follow the Lord with all of my heart and soul. She has been a wonderful role model and I am so blessed to have met her. Katie was crying too, which is a big deal for her. I have only seen her cry once all summer. When it came time to say goodbye to Viv, we just stood and looked at each other, crying. We couldn't hug because we knew it was over. So, there we stood, in the dining hall, standing 3 feet apart and bawling. I finally hugged her and I never wanted to let go because I knew how long it would be before I was her again. She told me that I was one of the best friends she has ever had. I can't recall everything else that was said because I was crying so hard. She told me I had to come back when I was going to drive away so she could watch me leave. I didn't want to have to come back to the kitchen, but I knew I had to do it for her. Leaving the kitchen was a very odd and awful feeling. I have spent so many hours in this place and I didn't want to walk out. I could barely contain myself walking back up to my cabin because I knew I was walking away from everything. I gathered the rest of my stuff and put a note on Vivi's bed. I went back down to the kitchen to get Viv and she came out to my car with me. We hugged and cried again (no way right?). I told her (like I always do) that it isn't goodbye, but simply 'see you soon'. I told her that I loved her very much (in Hungarian of course) and then I got into my car. I rolled down the window as I was driving away and said "Ígérem hogy jönnek", which I hope I spelled right. That means "I promise that I will come." She always had me say that so I swear I will come to Hungary next summer. I couldn't look back after that. I got onto Highway 20 and decided for some stupid reason that it was a good idea to read the card that Katie gave me before I left. I open the card and see the tree on the front and she knows how much I love trees. The card was just perfect. I literally haven't ever had a more perfect card given to me in my life. What she wrote in there as well was amazing. I didn't get more than the front of the card read before I had to pull over on the side of the road. I couldn't drive anymore because I was crying too hard. After I sat there for at least 5 minutes, I started driving and just let the tears fall for about a half hour. I can't describe how I felt more than my amount of tears can describe.
The drive home was long. I was tired from lack of sleep as well as from crying. I talked to my mom, my sister, Matt, and Caitlin on my way home to keep me awake. I was on the phone for probably half of my drive. The other half consisted of me singing really loudly to the radio.
Now I am home. Had a wonderful home cooked meal. Sitting on the couch next to my sister watching tv...which I haven't watched in 10 weeks. Weird. Painted my nails with crackle...makes me miss my Katie. Skyping with Vivi soon. I couldn't have asked for more from Fair Hills this summer. Honestly the best summer of my life. The people I met there have changed me forever. I can't explain how much my heart aches being away from everybody. I will see them soon...
Love forever,
Kait
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Am I Moping?
Sitting in the lobby and typing on the lobby computer because my laptop thinks that it is okay to not turn on at the moment. Awesome. It better fix itself.
Yesterday was definitely a tough day. Ben, Nick, and Matt left in the morning. I haven't been close to Ben at all, but Nick and Matt were really hard to watch leave. The night before was a really late night thanks to Pinky town, star gazing, and visiting Suzie in the kitchen at 3am...so I woke up literally right before 7:30 when breakfast started the next morning. I was like half asleep when Matt left at 7:45 and it didn't feel real at all. I felt like I was just going to see him again when lunch time rolled around. So, untrue to normal circumstances, I didn't cry....right away. It hit me and Katie at lunch and KJ told me that I was moping in the kitchen. I was so sad and then my family decides to ask how my morning was...so I told them that one of my best friends on staff left this morning. Since the situation was brought up, I started crying. There were the tears! Once somebody notices I am upset, they hug me and then it is a chain reaction of hugs and tears for quite awhile. It was just an off day. I worked literally all day yesterday because I helped Vivien make food for international night. We made this dessert called Birdmilk (literally translated) and it took a couple hours. We had to make the food for like 70 people so we ended up cracking 56 eggs and poured 12 liters of milk and so on. It was nice to spend time with her and the other internationals in the kitchen. We cooked and jammed to music super loud :) International night was fun. It was nice to learn so much about the different countries and their culture. It makes me want to travel the world (nothing new in my life though). It also made me sad for a reason that I was unsure about at first. But then I realized that I was sad because I know I won't see all of these beautiful places before my time is up on this earth. There is so much to explore and how many times have I been to Disney World? How many times have I spent my money when I could have saved up to go on a trip? Why am I so scared to be spontaneous? All these questions can be easily answered but not as easily acted upon. Someday. I WILL be in Hungary next summer, I promise you. Also, when the 'show' was done, Ozgen was cleaning up and I went over to hug her. I just love her and Damla. Ozgen was saying how much she will miss me when I leave, compared to everyone else here that she will miss me most. She said I just can't go and started crying. She cried and then I cried and we hugged it out for awhile. Both of them are so adorable (I called them that the other day and now they know what that means).
Last night, after the international night, Katie, Hannah, and I were going to watch a sappy movie, but Hannah went to have a sleepover at Joey and Elise's. Viv, Steph, Katie, Hazal, and I had a good girl talk for like an hour or so in my room. We talked about everything and eventually got to the topic about what we are NOT going to miss doing when we leave. I really am not going to miss re-setting tables, it is actually getting annoying this week. I will not miss putting toothpicks in the sliced lemons and picking parsly. Those are just a few things I won't miss, but imagine all of the things I will miss. Not only will I miss all of my friends here, but I will miss the lake, laying out in the sun, being in a swim suit, the hootenanny, monday night trips to dl, pinkytown, karaoke nights at Zorbaz, casino trips, star gazing on the roof, speaking Turkish and Hungarian, and eating all of the wonderful desserts, of course. We were all really tired, so I went to bed sometime after midnight.
I woke up tired and cold this morning. Jonathan is a guest this week at Michael's table next to mine. He is 16 and has a sort of mental disability. He has such a big heart and I absolutely love talking to him. He invited me to play shuffleboard at 10:30 today, so I met him and Michael down here. Ang was supposed to meet us too but she was busy. Instead of shuffleboard, Jonathan wanted to do the scavenger hunt, so we helped him and this other girl Annika find everything on their sheet. I felt like the mom walking around with them because I was older and carrying a cup of tea around the resort...haha. It is after lunch now and I am in the lobby listening to Hazal speak to her mom on skype. I said hello to her mom and talked to her in Turkish for just a second. I am exhausted now. So tired.
So many things I want to say...but can't at the moment.
I am dancing my Jar of Hearts dance tonight, but my wish of having somebody sing and play piano for me is finally coming true. Katie is going to play and sing for me tonight! We have to work on it here soon, so maybe I will get up and go see where she is.
Leaving you with these words:
If you are questioning something in your life, just go for it because it wouldn't be on your heart if there wasn't a part of you longing for it. Love love, Kait.
Yesterday was definitely a tough day. Ben, Nick, and Matt left in the morning. I haven't been close to Ben at all, but Nick and Matt were really hard to watch leave. The night before was a really late night thanks to Pinky town, star gazing, and visiting Suzie in the kitchen at 3am...so I woke up literally right before 7:30 when breakfast started the next morning. I was like half asleep when Matt left at 7:45 and it didn't feel real at all. I felt like I was just going to see him again when lunch time rolled around. So, untrue to normal circumstances, I didn't cry....right away. It hit me and Katie at lunch and KJ told me that I was moping in the kitchen. I was so sad and then my family decides to ask how my morning was...so I told them that one of my best friends on staff left this morning. Since the situation was brought up, I started crying. There were the tears! Once somebody notices I am upset, they hug me and then it is a chain reaction of hugs and tears for quite awhile. It was just an off day. I worked literally all day yesterday because I helped Vivien make food for international night. We made this dessert called Birdmilk (literally translated) and it took a couple hours. We had to make the food for like 70 people so we ended up cracking 56 eggs and poured 12 liters of milk and so on. It was nice to spend time with her and the other internationals in the kitchen. We cooked and jammed to music super loud :) International night was fun. It was nice to learn so much about the different countries and their culture. It makes me want to travel the world (nothing new in my life though). It also made me sad for a reason that I was unsure about at first. But then I realized that I was sad because I know I won't see all of these beautiful places before my time is up on this earth. There is so much to explore and how many times have I been to Disney World? How many times have I spent my money when I could have saved up to go on a trip? Why am I so scared to be spontaneous? All these questions can be easily answered but not as easily acted upon. Someday. I WILL be in Hungary next summer, I promise you. Also, when the 'show' was done, Ozgen was cleaning up and I went over to hug her. I just love her and Damla. Ozgen was saying how much she will miss me when I leave, compared to everyone else here that she will miss me most. She said I just can't go and started crying. She cried and then I cried and we hugged it out for awhile. Both of them are so adorable (I called them that the other day and now they know what that means).
Last night, after the international night, Katie, Hannah, and I were going to watch a sappy movie, but Hannah went to have a sleepover at Joey and Elise's. Viv, Steph, Katie, Hazal, and I had a good girl talk for like an hour or so in my room. We talked about everything and eventually got to the topic about what we are NOT going to miss doing when we leave. I really am not going to miss re-setting tables, it is actually getting annoying this week. I will not miss putting toothpicks in the sliced lemons and picking parsly. Those are just a few things I won't miss, but imagine all of the things I will miss. Not only will I miss all of my friends here, but I will miss the lake, laying out in the sun, being in a swim suit, the hootenanny, monday night trips to dl, pinkytown, karaoke nights at Zorbaz, casino trips, star gazing on the roof, speaking Turkish and Hungarian, and eating all of the wonderful desserts, of course. We were all really tired, so I went to bed sometime after midnight.
I woke up tired and cold this morning. Jonathan is a guest this week at Michael's table next to mine. He is 16 and has a sort of mental disability. He has such a big heart and I absolutely love talking to him. He invited me to play shuffleboard at 10:30 today, so I met him and Michael down here. Ang was supposed to meet us too but she was busy. Instead of shuffleboard, Jonathan wanted to do the scavenger hunt, so we helped him and this other girl Annika find everything on their sheet. I felt like the mom walking around with them because I was older and carrying a cup of tea around the resort...haha. It is after lunch now and I am in the lobby listening to Hazal speak to her mom on skype. I said hello to her mom and talked to her in Turkish for just a second. I am exhausted now. So tired.
So many things I want to say...but can't at the moment.
I am dancing my Jar of Hearts dance tonight, but my wish of having somebody sing and play piano for me is finally coming true. Katie is going to play and sing for me tonight! We have to work on it here soon, so maybe I will get up and go see where she is.
Leaving you with these words:
If you are questioning something in your life, just go for it because it wouldn't be on your heart if there wasn't a part of you longing for it. Love love, Kait.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Great Day :)
Listening to some great Christian music that is reminding me of Oasis and BWC. I am so completely excited to get back to my school, band, friends, and church. Like, you have no idea how much I have missed all of those things. The hard thing is watching people leave this place and knowing that I am following close behind. RJ left 2 days ago I think? Michael Paul left today. Nick, Ben, and Matt I know for sure are leaving tomorrow. This just feels so awful. I have spent the past 63 days here, in this cabin, on this lake, with these friends. 63 days. I become attached to each family I serve after a week. Imagine how hard watching these people leaving will be. And who knows when or if I will see most of them again. It just kills me inside.
Yesterday was simply amazing. I worked breakfast and then Matt and I headed over to Lake Five to go fishing. Lake Five is perfect. It is gorgeous. It was an overcast day (great for fishing I have learned) and barely anybody is ever on this lake. There were maybe 2 other boats out. We loaded up the little fishing boat and headed out. Okay, don’t make fun of me if I can’t speak the fishing language, but we were ‘trolling’ (gosh I hope I spelled that right) and Matt caught the first fish, a pike. I caught the next one, a little bass. I think Matt caught another and then he told me to try casting. So, he shows me how to do it and on my first cast, before I really had a chance to start reeling in, something bites! It took like 50 years to reel in and it keep getting stuck in the weeds under the boat. Turns out to be this HUGE bass and Matt like freaks out. Apparently he hasn’t really seen one that big caught ever. And I caught it!!! Yay J I was shaking pretty hard, but I was so excited. Matt held it for me to take a picture because I was a little freaked out. I took pictures with the other fish I caught though, no worries. It started raining and we decided to slowly head back. On the way back, Matt caught the biggest pike he has probably ever caught! So happy for him. He was shaking this time though…haha. We stopped for ice cream on the way home (my kind of lunch for those of you who know me well) and I had to go teach 2 hours of swimming lessons. I worked supper and then I drove the internationals into DL to go to the liquor store and Walmart, same as ever other Monday night lately. Great day J
I work lunch today and then have the afternoon off until hoot practice. I also asked for the smorg off because I have never had it off…hooray!! I might actually look decent for a hootenanny!
I’ll write again soon hopefully. After the many tears I will shed tomorrow morning after some friends leave for home…
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Viv Wants a Coffee
Sitting in the library next to my favorite Hungarian Viv at the moment. Just showed her a video of Phantom Regiment and it made me realize how much I really love drum corps. I really wish I could have done it last summer. For those of you who don't know, I made it into the Phantom Regiment trumpet line, which is a HUGE deal. People come from all over the world to audition and I was offered a spot. I had to quit before the actual season started because of financial and family reasons. So sad. If you need a good pick-me-up, watch their 2008 show, Spartacus. It is one of my favs.
Everybody is going to start leaving this place and it is terrifying. RJ leaves tomorrow. Ugh. This past Thursday we had 'Prom Night' and we dressed up like we were from the 80s or something and it was great! We worked a wedding tonight and it was long and stressful as usual. Not much else to say at the moment apparently because my mind is drawing a blank.
Okay, Viv wants a coffee. Adios. Love love.
Everybody is going to start leaving this place and it is terrifying. RJ leaves tomorrow. Ugh. This past Thursday we had 'Prom Night' and we dressed up like we were from the 80s or something and it was great! We worked a wedding tonight and it was long and stressful as usual. Not much else to say at the moment apparently because my mind is drawing a blank.
Okay, Viv wants a coffee. Adios. Love love.
Monday, August 8, 2011
A Day Late
I actually wrote this last night, but my internet wasn't working in my cabin. Surprise, surprise.
The past few days have been just wonderful. Tiring, but definitely worth it. My family (dad, Julie, Tori, and Ethan) arrived around 7pm on Friday and came right to the dining hall. I cried when they walked in. Yes, once again, Kaitlyn cried. Tori dyed her hair and she looked absolutely gorgeous, as usual. That night was the dance and staff concert. Instead of working the dance like I usually do, I showed the fam around Fair Hills. Then I performed ‘Get it Right’ on piano and ‘The Only Exception’ on guitar. I bombed the first one because I had never sang with a mic at the piano before. It was just disastrous, but my family still loves me. That night, I went over to their campsite and had a campfire and talked. It was great to catch up with them. The next morning I had to get up early to work brunch and my fam came to brunch around 8:15. It was nice because Katie and I got our break to eat right around the time my family was eating, so I got to eat with them! Good food and good family time. After brunch, my family came back to the resort and we decided to go golfing for our first activity of the day. We played on the Fair Hills course and it started to rain on the 5th hole, so we quit after 4.5 holes. I wasn’t playing the greatest, so it was okay with me. When we came up to my room, Sydney was sleeping so we had to find somewhere else to hang out. I grabbed a few sack lunches and we headed to the lobby and went downstairs to eat and play some Apples to Apples and ping pong. Once the rain cleared, we went back up to my cabin to change into our suits and went out on the lake for awhile. Ethan absolutely loved the water bikes. Nick had a friend Michael here from Colorado so they rented the bayliner to take out for the afternoon. Sad I couldn’t go out with them, but I got to go out today, so no worries J. We played in the pool for awhile and then headed back up to change and go to town. I was going to take them to DL Fusion, but it was closed. So instead of eating really healthy like we were going to, we went to DQ. Good choice huh? I was then supposed to take a shower for work, but I was so tired that I curled up in my bed for a half hour instead. Yeah, who takes showers these days anyway? New families arrived today and I met them at supper. I love them already. Levi (the four month old baby) spit up on me the first time I held him. Awesome. His mom felt bad, but I really didn’t mind. The kids have beautiful names: Emily, Lennon (a girl after John Lennon), and Levi. The other kids are Cayden and Nadia. How pretty are some of the names?! I am giving Lennon a swimming lesson tomorrow. After supper, I hung out with Vivi for awhile. We went on a walk and had some really deep conversations. I love this girl and can’t wait to spend time with her in Hungary next summer!! Shortly after, I headed to the campsite to spend the night with my family. We hung around the campfire and then Tori suggested that we do star tripping (or tipping, whatever it’s called). It is hilarious!!! I fell over so fast it was crazy. We went inside to play angry birds on the tv (yeah, what has this world come to…haha) and also golf (the card game). I actually went to bed a bit before midnight which is a miracle and slept until 9! It was glorious!! We got up in the morning and went fishing around 10. My dad had already fished for 2.5 hours off of the Zorbaz dock before any of us were awake. He caught a Northern. I tried fishing today, but I didn’t catch anything. None of us did, sadly. I really want to go out and catch something before I leave. Matt said he would take me out, so I am holding him to that offer! We headed to Zorbaz for lunch after that. They tried the Lowden pizza (peanut butter, sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and jalapenos). So spicy but so good! I was so stuffed after all of the nachos and pizza. When I got back, we went out on the bayliner that Nick rented for him and his Colorado friend. Katie, Nick, Michael (friend), Ben, Hannah, Syd, and I all went out and tubed, went to the dam, and to the sand bars. Michael and I bonded while we rode from the dam to one of the sand bars on the tube while they pulled us slowly. Good chats with strangers. Love it J We went to work supper right after that and then it was volleyball and ice cream social night! Yum! I didn’t play volleyball for very long because Brandon annoys the crap out of me. He met my fam on the dock two nights ago and told them that he doesn’t think I like him very much, which is true. The two words Julie used to describe him were arrogant and uneducated. Ugh. That’s enough about him because he doesn’t matter in this blog. After vball tonight, Matt, Katie, Viv, and I hung out in my room and looked at pictures of our summer so far. It is amazing to think back to June when we got here. It is hard to believe how fast time has gone. Most of the staff is leaving in a week too. How awful is that? Can you even imagine the bawl fest that I will have? It will be epic crying I tell ya. Now I am sitting on my bed, blogging of course, while Viv watches How I Met Your Mother. Steph is still gone and Hazal is not in our room tonight, nothing unusual. I am so tired that I might actually head to be soon. Like actually be in bed by 11:30. It would be a miracle! Oh, I also got hardcore hit on the tube today. We hit a huge wave and I came down on Syd’s arm and my chin has a big bump on it. I look like I have a butt chin…bah!! As much as I would love to bore you with more of my life on the lake, I am seeing two computer screens right now and must brush my teeth. Hopefully we will chat again soon. Love and more love, Kait.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Road Trip
Sitting outside on our porch after teaching some swimming lessons. I only had two today :) So it was glorious! Vivi is talking to Brigi (her sister) on skype and I successfully said hello, thank you, and i love you very much in Hungarian. I need to start learning Hungarian if I am to visit Vivi next summer! Yes, mom and dad, do not act surprised at news such as this. So, magically, yesterday, Vivi, Katie, and I all got the day off. We planned a trip to go to Valleyfair and the Mall of America. We left at around 7am (almost left without Katie...hahaha) and we didn't arrive home until 1:00am. It was so much fun! We jammed out to music the whole way down and when we arrived, Vivi was taking pictures of everything. We rode the Steel Venom first and I sat by Vivi while Katie sat behind us. Vivi screamed the ENTIRE time. It was so hilarious. I could barely catch my breath because I was laughing so hard during the ride. It wasn't a normal girly scream, but loud and low and freakin hilarious. We proceeded to ride the Wild Thing and every other ride in sight. Hung out at the wave pool for awhile and took some great pictures. Katie and I had been looking at these leather looking bracelets that you can engrave earlier, so we went back to get them. We wanted them to say something that would make sense if the bracelets were together, but not if they were apart. Then, people would ask us what the bracelets meant and we could talk about our best friend at camp this summer :) Cute huh? So, we decided to get 'Light Up The World'. I took The World while she took Light Up. They are so adorable together. Well, HOURS later, when we were leaving the MOA, we realized that hers says 'LIGHT UP', get it? How awful is that to figure out?! Bahhhh! That sounds so bad, but hopefully people will ask about it so that she can explain. Oh, so funny. I still love them, and her. We shopped at MOA and Vivi was amazed, and it was actually only Katie's second time there. I only spent money at Forever 21 and For Love 21....if you know me, that's nothing new. Ate some good Qdoba and headed out. I stayed awake the whole way home thanks to ice cream, pop, and Katie. We had some really good chats on the way back. I love long car rides. Vivi and I both went right to bed when we got home.
This morning, I was actually really pumped to go to work and see everyone. I was in such a great mood. After work, I sat in the dining hall and played piano. I am performing 'Get it Right' on Friday and my dad, Julie, Tori, and Ethan will be there!!! Yay!! I had a good talk with Rachel in the dining hall about foreign staff and going to visit them. She is going to give me a book on Hungarian soon. Sydney is on her way over to stay for a couple of nights because her family has a lot of people coming to stay at her house for We Fest this week. So since she is pretty much kicked out, she is going to chill with me :) Maybe we will head out on the lake for a bit before I have to shower and work again. I am really excited for my family to be up here tomorrow! It will be weird having them here, especially because I am so used to this place and it feels like home away from home. I don't know what I am trying to say, but just believe me ;) I need to get my room cleaned up...and do laundry. Blech. Karaoke night tonight at Zorbaz! I might go, I might not. Time will tell. I am so tired right now that I barely know what I am typing. I apologize. Sydney just arrived! Hooray!! I am going to go entertain her and be a good host. Mmmhmm. Adios! Mucho amor.
This morning, I was actually really pumped to go to work and see everyone. I was in such a great mood. After work, I sat in the dining hall and played piano. I am performing 'Get it Right' on Friday and my dad, Julie, Tori, and Ethan will be there!!! Yay!! I had a good talk with Rachel in the dining hall about foreign staff and going to visit them. She is going to give me a book on Hungarian soon. Sydney is on her way over to stay for a couple of nights because her family has a lot of people coming to stay at her house for We Fest this week. So since she is pretty much kicked out, she is going to chill with me :) Maybe we will head out on the lake for a bit before I have to shower and work again. I am really excited for my family to be up here tomorrow! It will be weird having them here, especially because I am so used to this place and it feels like home away from home. I don't know what I am trying to say, but just believe me ;) I need to get my room cleaned up...and do laundry. Blech. Karaoke night tonight at Zorbaz! I might go, I might not. Time will tell. I am so tired right now that I barely know what I am typing. I apologize. Sydney just arrived! Hooray!! I am going to go entertain her and be a good host. Mmmhmm. Adios! Mucho amor.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Scattered
My mind is everywhere at the moment. I barely have a spare minute to breathe, let alone sleep it seems. I worked breakfast and lunch today, taught 2 hours of swimming lessons, and taught a dance class. I have to be ready for supper in 20 minutes and serve after that. Wow. Dilek (one of the newer Turkish girls) was called home by her family, for reasons I didn't ask to know, and I cried. I didn't get to know her that well, but her, Damla, and Ozgen have taught me so much Turkish! It is wonderful. If I cried over Dilek, imagine when I leave Katie and Vivi and everyone else. I am going to go crazy and bawl for days. I needed to start this post yesterday because I had important things to say about Sunday....but now I can't remember what we did on Sunday or Monday or Tuesday really. Well, last night we had a Toga party...yeah floral bedsheets from the cliff house!! It was fun and I am quite tired today. I never get on facebook, practice my trumpet, or respond to people's letters and messages. I am just so stinkin busy all of the time. I finally called my grandma today because I hadn't contacted her all summer since I arrived here. I feel awful, but at the same time, I am glad I am 'cut off' in a way from the world. I love the feeling of being free from my everyday life and experiencing new things. That is exactly why I want to travel the world so badly. This post has no specific topic or point, hence the name scattered. These are all simply things on my mind that I needed to get written down. Oh! At the Hoot last night, we jumped into the lake while it was storming outside. It wasn't really raining too bad, but as we were running down the dock, I was holding Abbie's hand and she said, "I don't think my mommy would approve of this!" And I said, "Mine either!!" This reminded me of when it would rain outside when I was little and my mama wouldn't let me play in the rain. This was slightly worse with the crashing waves, lightning, and thunder. Oops. But it was fun, so that's the point right? Okay, I am off to supper and off to having a relaxing night for once hopefully. Love.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Pelican Lake!
How has a week come and gone since I last blogged? Seriously. My time here keeps speeding up and I want it to slow down. Here is a 'short' version of my last week or so...
I left Fair Hills on Friday morning and drove to Watertown for Mark and Jenna's rehearsal dinner for their wedding. It felt very odd leaving this place and made real the fact that I will be leaving for good in just over a month. The drive was about 3 hours and I was very much ready to be out of the car when I got there. It was great seeing college friends! Mark and Jenna of course, Aaron, Kelli, Paul, Vu, Andy, and a few others. I also made a few friends there which was really great! After the beautiful rehearsal dinner at the Goss Opera House, I made my way to my mom's house in Brandon to surprise her and my sister. I called my sister and told her to look outside when I got there and she didn't know what was going on. She freaked out and woke up my mom and it felt great to surprise them. Especially when they hadn't planned on seeing me for another 5 weeks! It felt good to sleep in my own bed and see my kitty too :) The next morning I surprised my dad and Julie and bought a wedding gift quick before heading back up to Watertown. Since it was deathly hot outside, I drove to my apartment in Brookings quick and showered there. I got to visit with my friend Jared that lives downstairs while I wrapped the wedding gift, which was so nice! The wedding was beautiful and it was amazing being able to play while Jenna walked down the aisle. I played the Trumpet Voluntary on piccolo trumpet by Henry Purcell while her friend Megan played piano. I really hope I get to play for many weddings in the future! The wedding dance was fun and I loved being able to hang out with Kelli. I have missed her and Aaron so much! A family opened up their house for us to stay at that night. Kelli, Aaron, Maggie, Andy, Paul, and Mark (not the groom) stayed at this gorgeous house on....wait for this....PELICAN LAKE! I can't get away from Pelican Lake that easy! Isn't that ironic that I have been on Pelican Lake all summer at my camp and I go away for two days and stay on freaking Pelican Lake....that is so crazy! I left late morning the next day and was so excited to get back. I went down to the dining hall first because lunch was finishing up. I hugged everybody and when I saw Vivien, she was sooo happy and hugged me for so long. She told me not to leave again. Love her so much and am definitely going to visit her in Hungary next summer. Hannah said it felt like I had been gone for a week. It is so true though, when somebody even has a meal off, I feel like I haven't seen them in days. I honestly don't remember what happened on Sunday night. Every day mooshes together here. I think on Monday night Katie, Matt, Pat, Kat, and I went into DL and went to McDonald's and Walmart. We called it our adventure :) Kat is a vegetarian and was craving a burger, so that was the initial reason for our run. Shhhh don't tell anybody that she ate one! Matt and Pat took us to their cousin Caitlin's house to show us her 'cow' and I was expecting a real cow. It was definitely just a decoration wooden thing in front of her house. It was cute though!
Tuesday is Hoot day, so it is the best day of the week! We had room checks on Monday and our cabin won a pizza party for a clean room! Hooray! I feel like a kid. Haha. Hoot was so much fun and it was so deathly hot in there that the lake jump felt so good. Claire and I went on the mat because the raft always sinks with everyone on it. We rocked it out. After the Hoot we all hung out, as usual. Wednesday consisted of me working every meal and having a Hoot recording session with about 10 of us to record songs that we sing in the hoot for a slideshow. I also practiced with Aaron because we are singing (and I am playing guitar) to Lucky for the staff talent show on Friday! I am so excited, but nervous, because it is my first time singing and playing guitar in front of an audience! Ahhh so exciting! I also taught dance yesterday and we are going to perform in the talent show tonight. I taught four girls Lesli, Meghan, and my dance from our first IMPACT. Also, 23 of us went to a casino last night about 50 miles north of here. I rode with Matt, Pat, Katie, and Mollie. It was fun and I really only lost a $1 and $5 to a drink I bought. It was fun.
....
Well that was a bit of a break. Sorry, I had to work lunch and then I had 2 hours of swimming lessons. I was quite sad because they were doing staff torpedo rides starting at 2pm, the same time that I had to start swimming lessons. So I am giving my first lesson and all of a sudden I hear a lot of choking, but there is a mom there, so I let her help her kid.
Sitting with RJ at the moment and talking to my wonderful bestest friend Caitlin. I miss her terribly. It's funny because I want to go home to see her, but I don't want to leave my friends here. It's so conflicting. Especially since I know that I won't see these people ever again most likely...ugh.
Okay, back to my story. (It is actually the next day now....and I just got done with 2 hours of swimming lessons. Oy vey. I can't finish this post!) All of a sudden, I see this kid puking on the side of the pool and I watch it get into the water. Uhm, gross. His mom comes over and was like, "Who do I notify if my kid just puked in the pool?" I was like, "Uhm, let me go find someone." So I go inside and Landon and Cathy both nosed-goes doing anything about it, so they called the lady that cleans the pool. I had to make everyone get out of the pool and Landon locked it up so that nobody could use it. This was literally a blessing in disguise because at 2pm yesterday, it was the only time that the staff could have torpedo rides. It is like a big banana tube that is pulled behind the boat. So I was able to go on, which was really exciting!! So I ran out to the dock and told everyone the gross story. The torpedo was sort of terrifying. You ride until you fall off and the fall is not graceful. Katie fell on my head the first time. My leg and foot bruised, and somebody's head or something went in between my legs...ouch. Last night, I was just not in a very good mood and I had to dance twice at the talent show. I taught four younger girls my Free Fallin' dance (a minute of it) and did my Jar of Hearts once again. The girls did so amazing, I felt like a proud mama! Today, so many people commented on how phenomenal my dance was and how the emotion I put into it was perfect. I have never had so many compliments!! So nice. I did hit my fouette turns pretty perfect though ;) After the show, I skyped with Caitlin for awhile and sat with RJ (as you heard earlier). Then later, Matt, Pat, Katie, and I went star gazing on the roof of the lobby. Shhh don't tell anybody. Nobody is supposed to know about it. It was gorgeous though because you slant towards the lake and the stars are so bright. I am so tired today though, I really need to learn how to go to bed before midnight. Today was a decent day, or has been so far! I am playing guitar and singing together in front of an audience for the first time tonight. I am singing Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Calliat with Aaron. We sound decent, but I am nervous because my guitar skills are nothing to brag about. I hope it goes well :) I am thankful for wonderful friends (love my roommate Vivien!!!), beautiful weather, ice cream that I steal after work, a body to dance with, a voice to sing with, hands to play the guitar, fans to keep me cool, children, and life. Think about what you are thankful for today. There are so many wonderful things about this life that we don't thank God enough for everyday. So take a minute to sit still and look at all of the wonderful things around you. Love.
I left Fair Hills on Friday morning and drove to Watertown for Mark and Jenna's rehearsal dinner for their wedding. It felt very odd leaving this place and made real the fact that I will be leaving for good in just over a month. The drive was about 3 hours and I was very much ready to be out of the car when I got there. It was great seeing college friends! Mark and Jenna of course, Aaron, Kelli, Paul, Vu, Andy, and a few others. I also made a few friends there which was really great! After the beautiful rehearsal dinner at the Goss Opera House, I made my way to my mom's house in Brandon to surprise her and my sister. I called my sister and told her to look outside when I got there and she didn't know what was going on. She freaked out and woke up my mom and it felt great to surprise them. Especially when they hadn't planned on seeing me for another 5 weeks! It felt good to sleep in my own bed and see my kitty too :) The next morning I surprised my dad and Julie and bought a wedding gift quick before heading back up to Watertown. Since it was deathly hot outside, I drove to my apartment in Brookings quick and showered there. I got to visit with my friend Jared that lives downstairs while I wrapped the wedding gift, which was so nice! The wedding was beautiful and it was amazing being able to play while Jenna walked down the aisle. I played the Trumpet Voluntary on piccolo trumpet by Henry Purcell while her friend Megan played piano. I really hope I get to play for many weddings in the future! The wedding dance was fun and I loved being able to hang out with Kelli. I have missed her and Aaron so much! A family opened up their house for us to stay at that night. Kelli, Aaron, Maggie, Andy, Paul, and Mark (not the groom) stayed at this gorgeous house on....wait for this....PELICAN LAKE! I can't get away from Pelican Lake that easy! Isn't that ironic that I have been on Pelican Lake all summer at my camp and I go away for two days and stay on freaking Pelican Lake....that is so crazy! I left late morning the next day and was so excited to get back. I went down to the dining hall first because lunch was finishing up. I hugged everybody and when I saw Vivien, she was sooo happy and hugged me for so long. She told me not to leave again. Love her so much and am definitely going to visit her in Hungary next summer. Hannah said it felt like I had been gone for a week. It is so true though, when somebody even has a meal off, I feel like I haven't seen them in days. I honestly don't remember what happened on Sunday night. Every day mooshes together here. I think on Monday night Katie, Matt, Pat, Kat, and I went into DL and went to McDonald's and Walmart. We called it our adventure :) Kat is a vegetarian and was craving a burger, so that was the initial reason for our run. Shhhh don't tell anybody that she ate one! Matt and Pat took us to their cousin Caitlin's house to show us her 'cow' and I was expecting a real cow. It was definitely just a decoration wooden thing in front of her house. It was cute though!
Tuesday is Hoot day, so it is the best day of the week! We had room checks on Monday and our cabin won a pizza party for a clean room! Hooray! I feel like a kid. Haha. Hoot was so much fun and it was so deathly hot in there that the lake jump felt so good. Claire and I went on the mat because the raft always sinks with everyone on it. We rocked it out. After the Hoot we all hung out, as usual. Wednesday consisted of me working every meal and having a Hoot recording session with about 10 of us to record songs that we sing in the hoot for a slideshow. I also practiced with Aaron because we are singing (and I am playing guitar) to Lucky for the staff talent show on Friday! I am so excited, but nervous, because it is my first time singing and playing guitar in front of an audience! Ahhh so exciting! I also taught dance yesterday and we are going to perform in the talent show tonight. I taught four girls Lesli, Meghan, and my dance from our first IMPACT. Also, 23 of us went to a casino last night about 50 miles north of here. I rode with Matt, Pat, Katie, and Mollie. It was fun and I really only lost a $1 and $5 to a drink I bought. It was fun.
....
Well that was a bit of a break. Sorry, I had to work lunch and then I had 2 hours of swimming lessons. I was quite sad because they were doing staff torpedo rides starting at 2pm, the same time that I had to start swimming lessons. So I am giving my first lesson and all of a sudden I hear a lot of choking, but there is a mom there, so I let her help her kid.
Sitting with RJ at the moment and talking to my wonderful bestest friend Caitlin. I miss her terribly. It's funny because I want to go home to see her, but I don't want to leave my friends here. It's so conflicting. Especially since I know that I won't see these people ever again most likely...ugh.
Okay, back to my story. (It is actually the next day now....and I just got done with 2 hours of swimming lessons. Oy vey. I can't finish this post!) All of a sudden, I see this kid puking on the side of the pool and I watch it get into the water. Uhm, gross. His mom comes over and was like, "Who do I notify if my kid just puked in the pool?" I was like, "Uhm, let me go find someone." So I go inside and Landon and Cathy both nosed-goes doing anything about it, so they called the lady that cleans the pool. I had to make everyone get out of the pool and Landon locked it up so that nobody could use it. This was literally a blessing in disguise because at 2pm yesterday, it was the only time that the staff could have torpedo rides. It is like a big banana tube that is pulled behind the boat. So I was able to go on, which was really exciting!! So I ran out to the dock and told everyone the gross story. The torpedo was sort of terrifying. You ride until you fall off and the fall is not graceful. Katie fell on my head the first time. My leg and foot bruised, and somebody's head or something went in between my legs...ouch. Last night, I was just not in a very good mood and I had to dance twice at the talent show. I taught four younger girls my Free Fallin' dance (a minute of it) and did my Jar of Hearts once again. The girls did so amazing, I felt like a proud mama! Today, so many people commented on how phenomenal my dance was and how the emotion I put into it was perfect. I have never had so many compliments!! So nice. I did hit my fouette turns pretty perfect though ;) After the show, I skyped with Caitlin for awhile and sat with RJ (as you heard earlier). Then later, Matt, Pat, Katie, and I went star gazing on the roof of the lobby. Shhh don't tell anybody. Nobody is supposed to know about it. It was gorgeous though because you slant towards the lake and the stars are so bright. I am so tired today though, I really need to learn how to go to bed before midnight. Today was a decent day, or has been so far! I am playing guitar and singing together in front of an audience for the first time tonight. I am singing Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Calliat with Aaron. We sound decent, but I am nervous because my guitar skills are nothing to brag about. I hope it goes well :) I am thankful for wonderful friends (love my roommate Vivien!!!), beautiful weather, ice cream that I steal after work, a body to dance with, a voice to sing with, hands to play the guitar, fans to keep me cool, children, and life. Think about what you are thankful for today. There are so many wonderful things about this life that we don't thank God enough for everyday. So take a minute to sit still and look at all of the wonderful things around you. Love.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Golf
A quiet Wednesday night. Last night after the Hoot, we had an 80s party and it was so great! Katie and I got ready together and looked pretty legit. My camera is still lost, so I took the liberty of borrowing her camera throughout the night. I am so worried and frustrated that it is lost. Ugh. Today was nice. Worked all three meals and taught swimming lessons. The pool was chilly and the wind was really blowing, so I pretty much froze. After lessons, I ran up and changed and went into town with Aaron and Katie. We went to DL Fusion and I can't remember if I have told you about that. But I had an aloe shot, arnold palmer, and a cake batter smoothie. So good. And once again, I felt so healthy afterwards!! After supper, I went to try my luck at the closest to the pin competition. I was the last one to go and I connected well with both of my shots, but they went too far right. I heard a few screams and hit a cabin on my second shot :/ Oops!! I then played four holes (finishing my round from like 3 weeks ago...) and a man joined up with me. His name was Eric and he was very nice! Talked about how he hadn't golfed in awhile and he asked me about my golf game and education and life. It was nice to golf with someone randomly! I ended up shooting 11 over. Bah. Not horrible for my first round this season I guess. Oh and that was only 9 holes...ugh. Now I am sitting in my bed and Vivien just arrived back from visiting the Tomlinson's. They are the people that got her to work here and Austen can speak fluent Hungarian!! So great for her :) Off to Katie's cabin for a bit. Playing guitar now. Can't wait to play and sing for everyone when I get home!!!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Kayak
At the moment, I am sitting in my quite cool cabin after working lunch. I am sharing a family with Katie this week and have a family of four to myself as well. My family of four has a grandmother, mother, and her two kids (Kate and Will). My table of 10 consists of all of the kids to Katie's table of parents. Awesome. I have all of the teeny boppers that think they are cooler than everyone and everything around. Oh well, it's going smoothly so far :) Yesterday was pretty great. Worked breakfast, went to zumba (which is taught by my lovely roommate from Hungary, Vivien), played in the marching band, worked the picnic, taught swimming lessons, laid out, swam in the lake, worked supper, and then finished off the night kayaking. At the picnic on the deck, the guy that 'runs' our marching band is a trumpet player and a band director in the area and he plays for the guests while they eat. I asked him if next week I could play some duets with him!!! I'm so excited to perform. Every opportunity will definitely help me be able to perform in front of people with more ease. I laid out and swam with Cathy while a lot of others were out on RJ's boat. Kayaking was amazing. It was my first time, but it wasn't too difficult or anything. I went with Derek and Katie (Vivien was supposed to come but she didn't make it out in time). The lake was very calm and the sun was setting. On the way back, I kinda paddled off ahead while they talked behind me. It was nice having a moment out in the middle of a lake to just paddle and think. Especially while the sun was setting. How cool is that? It was just gorgeous....and I was inspired to write a song, so we'll see if that gets finished ever :/
Today I was tired when I woke up. I worked breakfast and then decided that I needed to get out of Fair Hills for a bit before lunch. I drove to DL (Detroit Lakes) and went shopping for a bit. I didn't buy anything, don't worry. Picked up Subway on the way back. It felt good to just drive around with my music blaring. I even got to talk to my sister on the way home :) Good luck on your quizzes sissy!!! Love you.
Now I am waiting until 230, when the waterslide starts!!! They set up this HUGE sheet of plastic on one of the holes on the golf course and then put the sprinklers on and a hose at the top and you slide down incredibly fast! You get really muddy and dirty, but it looks like so much fun!! Can't wait to try it!
Aaron wants to sing in the talent show together sometime. That means I need to find a duet...and a possibly easy one to play with guitar :) So pumped!!! Should be fun.
Okay, off to play guitar for awhile maybe and find a good song. Pray that I find my camera....it's been missing for a week and I am so depressed about it. I just got it for Christmas :(
Kait.
Today I was tired when I woke up. I worked breakfast and then decided that I needed to get out of Fair Hills for a bit before lunch. I drove to DL (Detroit Lakes) and went shopping for a bit. I didn't buy anything, don't worry. Picked up Subway on the way back. It felt good to just drive around with my music blaring. I even got to talk to my sister on the way home :) Good luck on your quizzes sissy!!! Love you.
Now I am waiting until 230, when the waterslide starts!!! They set up this HUGE sheet of plastic on one of the holes on the golf course and then put the sprinklers on and a hose at the top and you slide down incredibly fast! You get really muddy and dirty, but it looks like so much fun!! Can't wait to try it!
Aaron wants to sing in the talent show together sometime. That means I need to find a duet...and a possibly easy one to play with guitar :) So pumped!!! Should be fun.
Okay, off to play guitar for awhile maybe and find a good song. Pray that I find my camera....it's been missing for a week and I am so depressed about it. I just got it for Christmas :(
Kait.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Bless Her Heart
Having a cough attack at the moment, which is no fun if your throat is already sore. So I missed breakfast, lunch, and swimming lessons today due to my sickness. I decided to go in for supper though because it was the last supper of the week for the families. And good thing I did because my family of 5 was leaving early the next morning and would not be at brunch! As I was saying goodbye, the mother had Easton (about 4 I would say) hand me a note that had money inside. He had drawn a picture inside and the parents put in $50 :) How nice!!! I, of course, cried. Then, Caitlin came over and told me a little girl at her table wanted to say goodbye to me. She was a girl that had come to my dance classes with me this week and performed in the talent show to the National Dance Day Dance from this past year that I had taught them. Her mom told wanted to thank me for teaching her daughter her first hip-hop routine. The daughter was a dancer and I told her to never give up and that she will be amazing someday. My voice was pretty much shot, so I did the best I could talking to her. Gave her a big hug. Cried again. Then, went back over to my table of 8, who was thankfully going to be at brunch the next morning to say goodbye, so I wouldn't have to cry more tonight. But I walk over there and Kim (the mother) has tears in her eyes!!! Ahhhhh, so I started to bawl as she hugged me for such an amazing week. Little Jessa was in her arms and gave me such a big hug. Kim said she started to cry when we sang "Pelican Lake" tonight. We always sing in the dining hall at 6:40pm on Fridays, but I watched today because I couldn't sing. But when we did Pelican Lake, I ran around and did the actions :) I will be doing this dance CONSTANTLY in my apartment this year roommates, so look out :) I will teach it to you!! I am going to miss this place horribly and don't want to think about leaving.
So, this morning, woke up and told Vivien to tell Lez that I wasn't coming in because I didn't feel well. When Vivien came back after the breakfast shift, she had a big plate of food and drinks and I wasn't understanding what her intentions were at first, not assuming they were for me. But, bless her heart, she brought me back a pancake, a piece of french toast, orange juice, and tea. She said I had to eat and drink it all. I normally don't like tea, but she brought up a bunch of different kinds. I picked one out and she put honey and sugar in it and brought a fresh lemon to squeeze into it!!! What an amazing act of kindness, seriously. I was so shocked and felt so blessed. She is such a wonderful friend and I hope I get to visit her someday in Hungary. Anyway, I am exhausted and it's only 9:30. I am going to bed. Apparently some severe storms are on their way...hopefully I can sleep :) Hope this post finds you all in better health than I am at the moment....love!
So, this morning, woke up and told Vivien to tell Lez that I wasn't coming in because I didn't feel well. When Vivien came back after the breakfast shift, she had a big plate of food and drinks and I wasn't understanding what her intentions were at first, not assuming they were for me. But, bless her heart, she brought me back a pancake, a piece of french toast, orange juice, and tea. She said I had to eat and drink it all. I normally don't like tea, but she brought up a bunch of different kinds. I picked one out and she put honey and sugar in it and brought a fresh lemon to squeeze into it!!! What an amazing act of kindness, seriously. I was so shocked and felt so blessed. She is such a wonderful friend and I hope I get to visit her someday in Hungary. Anyway, I am exhausted and it's only 9:30. I am going to bed. Apparently some severe storms are on their way...hopefully I can sleep :) Hope this post finds you all in better health than I am at the moment....love!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Sickness
So, turns out I woke up not being able to breathe very well this morning. My throat was scratchy yesterday, but I didn't think it would turn into something. Well, I was definitely wrong. My throat is so clogged up and my nose is icky. Had to cancel my swimming lessons today because there was no way that I was going to be able to breathe in the pool. Went into town with Katie and Vivien because I needed cough drops and dayquil and we decided to stop at this place called DL Fusion. It is like a heathly smoothie shop thing, but different. You pay $6 and get a shot of aloe (which cleanses your digestive system), a tea (hot or cold in different flavors), and a smoothie (I got an Elvis which is peanut butter and bananas). Caitlin, I totally thought of you when I got something with banana in it :) It was all so yummy and Katie and I kept saying how 'heathly' we felt. I just hate having a cold and feeling like crap. This never happens to me in the summer!! What the heck!! Ow, it hurts to sneeze :(
The fourth here was great!! We went out on the boat for a bit and had some fun tubing. Everybody had been talking about the fireworks show here for days, so I was so excited to see it. The best spot is apparently on the 7th green and they go right over your head. So, we got a big blanket and sat out to watch. They were taking forever to start and we finally saw why. A big storm was heading our way and they couldn't start the show until they knew we would be safe. They eventually started and it was so cool because lightning was going crazy during the whole thing and made the sky just light up with the fireworks!! So cool. It was an amazing fireworks display, no doubt about that.
Love my families this week. One family of 8 (yeah, they have 6 kids) is from Spokane, Washington. Jack and Kim are the parents and then we have Emma, Iris, Gracie, Jessa, Drew, and Joseph. The mom is American Indian, so the kids are just beautiful!! My other family is a family of 5 (and one on the way!!). I really can't tell you the parents names :/ But their kids are Jack, Easton, and something else....shoot I can't remember! Jack is adorable and brings me things to the meals everyday. I have gotten pinecones, flowers, seashells, and a seed. He is about 5 I would say and so cute!! There is another little girl named Eliza that has gotten attached to me. I babysat her one day and her mom asked me today if I would be interested in nannying for her next summer in Minneapolis! Woah! Such a nice family :)
Well, I am so exhausted and have to work in the morning. Hopefully I can get to sleep and feel better soon.
Love love.
The fourth here was great!! We went out on the boat for a bit and had some fun tubing. Everybody had been talking about the fireworks show here for days, so I was so excited to see it. The best spot is apparently on the 7th green and they go right over your head. So, we got a big blanket and sat out to watch. They were taking forever to start and we finally saw why. A big storm was heading our way and they couldn't start the show until they knew we would be safe. They eventually started and it was so cool because lightning was going crazy during the whole thing and made the sky just light up with the fireworks!! So cool. It was an amazing fireworks display, no doubt about that.
Love my families this week. One family of 8 (yeah, they have 6 kids) is from Spokane, Washington. Jack and Kim are the parents and then we have Emma, Iris, Gracie, Jessa, Drew, and Joseph. The mom is American Indian, so the kids are just beautiful!! My other family is a family of 5 (and one on the way!!). I really can't tell you the parents names :/ But their kids are Jack, Easton, and something else....shoot I can't remember! Jack is adorable and brings me things to the meals everyday. I have gotten pinecones, flowers, seashells, and a seed. He is about 5 I would say and so cute!! There is another little girl named Eliza that has gotten attached to me. I babysat her one day and her mom asked me today if I would be interested in nannying for her next summer in Minneapolis! Woah! Such a nice family :)
Well, I am so exhausted and have to work in the morning. Hopefully I can get to sleep and feel better soon.
Love love.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Work Work Work
Yesterday was quite long. I worked a 3 hour brunch shift in the morning. Then, the housekeepers needed help making beds and cleaning over at Lake Five Resort (about a half hour drive), so Katie, Vivien, Aaron, and I went over there from 12-4. After we got back to Fair Hills, we were all so hungry and tired. Suzie in the kitchen (she is sooo nice) gave me and Katie some ice cream and chips and then we headed down to the lake to jump in. It felt SO nice. We layed out for a bit and then I went to shower and get ready for our new families at supper! I have a family of 8 (6 children) and a family of 5 (3 children). So many kids this week. That means a lot of cute faces but a lot of messes! I have already fallen in love with them!! It is one of the little girls' (Jessa's) birthday today, so we will sing to her tonight and the boys will give her kisses on the cheek! After supper last night, Vivien, Katie, and Helen (from Belarus) went into Detroit Lakes to go to Walmart and get a few things. A few things turned into $60 worth for me, but it was necessary. A new bathing suit, work shorts, pop, chips, a movie, m&ms, hairspray, you know...the essentials! By the time we got back it was 11pm and we decided it was too late to watch a movie. Instead we all came up to my cabin (Steph was back at her house for the night) and Kat came over too and we just talked until 130am....well shoot, we could have watched a movie! I love talking and getting to know people though, so it was completely worth it. We talked about everything, even religion. It was cool seeing their perspective on things and I put in a few comments here and there because Kat is not sure what to believe. It was hard listening to her not knowing what she has for her future if she had faith. Hopefully my subtle comments and my non-forceful personality gave her a push start :) Prayers for everybody here at Fair Hills, whether they are Christians or not, that I may teach them something or push them in the right direction before I leave here. Prayers for me too...it is hard to stay in the Word while I have so much going on...and want to just lay out in the sun. Much appreciated :)
Today I worked breakfast and then went on a quick run down Pelican Point Drive, which is apparently the place to run around here. It was nice, but had a huge hill in it! I ran back to the lobby to get a drink of water and decided to check the mail. There was a big box with my name on it from my dad's house and I totally wasn't expecting it!! I opened it up right there (because I couldn't wait until I went back to my cabin of course) and found some of my favorite things from Julie. Diet mountain dew, almonds, sunscreen, a sundress, and some cookies. It was so thoughtful and so unexpected that it completely made my day!! Thanks so much Julie! Now lunch is done and I am going to go lay out with Katie :) I hope you get a chance to relax in the sun today wherever you are!!! And don't forget to apply sunscreen :)
Today I worked breakfast and then went on a quick run down Pelican Point Drive, which is apparently the place to run around here. It was nice, but had a huge hill in it! I ran back to the lobby to get a drink of water and decided to check the mail. There was a big box with my name on it from my dad's house and I totally wasn't expecting it!! I opened it up right there (because I couldn't wait until I went back to my cabin of course) and found some of my favorite things from Julie. Diet mountain dew, almonds, sunscreen, a sundress, and some cookies. It was so thoughtful and so unexpected that it completely made my day!! Thanks so much Julie! Now lunch is done and I am going to go lay out with Katie :) I hope you get a chance to relax in the sun today wherever you are!!! And don't forget to apply sunscreen :)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
So Tired...
How have I already been here for 2 weeks? That is just completely insane to me. I feel like I have been here forever but at the same time, not that long, ya know? Today was long. I need to stop staying up so late. I worked breakfast and supper tonight, along with teaching 7 private 20 minutes swimming lessons. Bah. Layed out for a bit with Katie after my lessons and got a nice little sunburn. Right now I am sitting up in the library with Vivien and Matt is across the room. There is like this prodigy kid on the piano downstairs playing all of this top 40 music. I went down there to check it out and he is amazing! He doesn't know how to read music, but does everything by ear which is great. My online class finishes in two days and I need to get motivated if I want to get everything done. I will hopefully get a lot done tomorrow, well I have to get a lot done tomorrow. Yuck. Hopefully I will still have time to go out on the lake tomorrow. We were going to go out with RJ and Tanner today but the wind was so incredibly strong...lots of white caps on the lake. Even the pool had big waves in it while I was teaching today.
My family I had been serving since Saturday night left this morning after breakfast. I, once again, cried. I especially was going to miss my little Jack and his parents. What great role models they were for me. They gave me their email address to keep in touch and said if I ever needed a place to stay in Minneapolis, their house is open. I learned so many wonderful things about them like how they taught school in Thailand for 2 years! They gave me $60 for a tip for the 4 days and the rest of the family (12 others) gave me a $40 tip. So exciting to finally have tip money!!! I'm still not sure how I didn't get any from my family last week. Oh well. Now to start paying things off.....blech. Well, my computer is dying and I am dead exhausted. I finally have breakfast off tomorrow morning, so hopefully I can sleep a bit. Goodnight!!
My family I had been serving since Saturday night left this morning after breakfast. I, once again, cried. I especially was going to miss my little Jack and his parents. What great role models they were for me. They gave me their email address to keep in touch and said if I ever needed a place to stay in Minneapolis, their house is open. I learned so many wonderful things about them like how they taught school in Thailand for 2 years! They gave me $60 for a tip for the 4 days and the rest of the family (12 others) gave me a $40 tip. So exciting to finally have tip money!!! I'm still not sure how I didn't get any from my family last week. Oh well. Now to start paying things off.....blech. Well, my computer is dying and I am dead exhausted. I finally have breakfast off tomorrow morning, so hopefully I can sleep a bit. Goodnight!!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
What Day Is It?
All of the days here at Fair Hills seem to moosh together. I work everyday and hang out with the same people everyday, so only a few things stick out in my mind. Yesterday morning our families that we had for the week left and I cried like a baby. I went over to say goodbye to them and couldn't handle it. And yet again, once I start crying, I don't stop. And of course, I was the only waitron bawling over her family. I miss them already. Allison, Sydney, Joey, Ryan, Athena, Rebecca, Olivia, and all of my adorable other children in that family :) I even learned some Afrikaans from Athena's dad. I learned how to say, "Give me a hug" and "thank you". Athena was my little cuddler. I had almost all of those children in my swimming lessons as well. When I was talking to Athena's mom to say goodbye, she had tears in her eyes when she was telling me how much I taught her. Gosh, makes me tear up now.
On a side note, I just had to step outside onto our porch to finish this blog post because my Turkish roommate thinks that practically making out with her bf in the bed next to mine while I am there is okay. Well, it isn't. I really have no desire to hear or see that thank you very much. He is in there ALL the time. They take naps together like 5 times a day and do nothing else. She is hopefully moving downstairs on Tuesday after the skunk problem is officially solved.
Back to yesterday....so Katie and I ate lunch and then decided it would be a great day on the lake. We texted our friend RJ up here and he took us out for a couple hours on his boat. Katie and I tubed for awhile and she fell off a lot, but it was great. I was done after we crashed pretty hard and she ended up kicking me in the head on the fall. We both attempted wakeboarding too. I was terrified at first and I almost got up, but wasn't leaning far enough back and I was trying too hard to pull myself up instead of letting the waves take me. My arms are SO incredibly sore today. I can barely wash my hair. Last night we just hung out with some friends and that's about it. Great thunderstorm last night :)
Off to lunch now. Working all three meals today. Woooooo....
Adios. Hope summer is treating you all wonderfully.
Love.
On a side note, I just had to step outside onto our porch to finish this blog post because my Turkish roommate thinks that practically making out with her bf in the bed next to mine while I am there is okay. Well, it isn't. I really have no desire to hear or see that thank you very much. He is in there ALL the time. They take naps together like 5 times a day and do nothing else. She is hopefully moving downstairs on Tuesday after the skunk problem is officially solved.
Back to yesterday....so Katie and I ate lunch and then decided it would be a great day on the lake. We texted our friend RJ up here and he took us out for a couple hours on his boat. Katie and I tubed for awhile and she fell off a lot, but it was great. I was done after we crashed pretty hard and she ended up kicking me in the head on the fall. We both attempted wakeboarding too. I was terrified at first and I almost got up, but wasn't leaning far enough back and I was trying too hard to pull myself up instead of letting the waves take me. My arms are SO incredibly sore today. I can barely wash my hair. Last night we just hung out with some friends and that's about it. Great thunderstorm last night :)
Off to lunch now. Working all three meals today. Woooooo....
Adios. Hope summer is treating you all wonderfully.
Love.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Stupid Class
Today was an extremely long day. I worked breakfast, lunch, and supper along with having a singing rehearsal in the afternoon. I thought that having a summer class this year was going to be easy being at a camp, but it is quite the opposite. I barely have time to think about reading my books or doing my work, and when I do have time, I don't want to do it. I want to build relationships with the people that I am meeting here instead. Stupid class :( We are all trying to figure out something to do tonight. I really just want to sit around and chill and play games in our cabin. We might be inviting some people over for that.
I got a new roommate yesterday from Hungary and her name is Vivien. Her English is so amazing, which is a huge comfort since there is really no language barrier. She is also a waitress with me, so that is really nice that she gets to hang out with me at work! Being here on the first day is emotional for anybody, but being halfway around the world be terrifying. She started crying and I felt awful. I just hugged her for awhile and tried to make her feel better. In order to try to keep her mind off of things, I got my guitar out (I am not that good) and played random chords and freestyled a song for her. She seems a bit better today but she misses her family and boyfriend very much. I told her that I am always here for her and I am having such a good time getting to know her. She is supposed to move downstairs with the other Turkish girls but she is staying up here and I am very happy because she is so sweet. Now we are sitting on my bed (me and Vivien) and she is showing me the songs she uses for Zumba that she teaches. She is going to start teaching classes here at Fair Hills :) I can't wait to join!! Still loving it here and can't wait for it to warm up so that we can spend more time on the lake and simply outside. Got a letter from my friend Abbie today and it definitely made the day a bit brighter. My brain is going a thousand miles a minute right now so I best stop typing before it becomes really confusing. I need to find something to do for the talent show tomorrow night....bahhhh. What should I do?!!!
I got a new roommate yesterday from Hungary and her name is Vivien. Her English is so amazing, which is a huge comfort since there is really no language barrier. She is also a waitress with me, so that is really nice that she gets to hang out with me at work! Being here on the first day is emotional for anybody, but being halfway around the world be terrifying. She started crying and I felt awful. I just hugged her for awhile and tried to make her feel better. In order to try to keep her mind off of things, I got my guitar out (I am not that good) and played random chords and freestyled a song for her. She seems a bit better today but she misses her family and boyfriend very much. I told her that I am always here for her and I am having such a good time getting to know her. She is supposed to move downstairs with the other Turkish girls but she is staying up here and I am very happy because she is so sweet. Now we are sitting on my bed (me and Vivien) and she is showing me the songs she uses for Zumba that she teaches. She is going to start teaching classes here at Fair Hills :) I can't wait to join!! Still loving it here and can't wait for it to warm up so that we can spend more time on the lake and simply outside. Got a letter from my friend Abbie today and it definitely made the day a bit brighter. My brain is going a thousand miles a minute right now so I best stop typing before it becomes really confusing. I need to find something to do for the talent show tomorrow night....bahhhh. What should I do?!!!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Jump Kaitlyn!
Today was long. I am beat. My arms hurt, my legs hurt, and I am tired. Okay, I am done complaining now because all in all, it has been wonderful throughout the pain. Worked breakfast this morning in the dining hall and then went to WalMart with Katie for a few things afterwards (this included a diet mountain dew because I have been craving one and they don't have pop here for us). By the time we got back, we had about one minute to get our instruments from our cabins and head to the dining hall area to start the parade. We marched down to the front lobby/pavilion with the kids (who got to dress up in many different costumes) while playing Oh When the Saints and the Mickey Mouse song but with words about Fair Hills. Then we put on a mini concert up in front of the pavilion for the guests. After the parade, we ate lunch and then I headed right up to change into my swim suit. I am teaching swimming lessons this summer at Fair Hills (don't worry, I have taught before) and they are private lessons I found out today. That means, I had 7 kids today, each for 20 minutes. I was in the pool for 2.5 hours with no sun, a light breeze, and a semi-warm pool. I was quite cold. The lessons went decently well and I had some familiar faces from my family I am serving this week in the dining hall. My little Allison came for a lesson and she is very allergic to peanuts, so I have to be very careful when serving her food :) After lessons, I ran into the hot tub to warm up and while I was in there, a bunch of guys came running in looking frozen. They had been in the lake for 45 minutes setting up 'the tower', which is a big wooden structure with a ladder that kids can jump off of. It is about 8 feet high out of the water! It was definitely a task trying to get that thing up and the water was only about 65 degrees! After we had sat in the hot tub and warmed up a bit, I decided I wanted to go jump off the tower. Two other guys came with me and we headed into the freezing water. It burned my skin as I went in because it was so cold! We climbed up to the top and I looked down and had to just stand there for a minute to get the courage to jump off. The guys jumped a couple times and then I heard a few shouts from a sailboat. This little girl I had met the other day and her family were yelling, "Jump Kaitlyn!!" I told the young girl to count 1,2,3 for me to jump in and she did :) Holy cold. So much fun though! We swam around for about two seconds and then I headed back to my cabin to shower and get ready to serve supper. Supper was great. I love my family I get to serve and there are a bunch of them, so they change around tables in my section and I get somebody new out of the family every day. I had an older part of the family tonight and they were so wonderful. I talked to them for about 10 minutes while they waited for the rest of the family to arrive. They asked a bunch of questions about me and I really got to know them. I just love people. So great. A lady that I had met in the pool earlier before lessons came up and talked to me. Before she left she came up and said goodbye and how nice I was. How sweet :) Well, I am going to work on some homework for my lame online native american class. Ugh. I'm sorry I haven't been communicating much with everyone, I am so busy here and rarely on my computer or in my cabin. Love to you all :)
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Lake Jump!!
It is my fifth day at Fair Hills and I love it here! I feel like I have lived here for weeks actually. I waited on my first table all by myself last night (with very little training I might add) and it went great!! I love being around families and getting to know them. I have met a wonderful friend named Katie out here. We are practically the same person and we have been spending all of our time here together (with other friends too of course)! Yesterday we spent most of the afternoon out on the lake because we worked breakfast and supper. We went out on our friend Tanner's pontoon out to the dam and swam around there and he fished for awhile. The water is only about 66 degrees, so quite chilly! Then we headed back because he had to work and jumped on our friend RJ's boat and watched as a group of friends wakeboarded and surfed for awhile. Today we served an amazing father's day brunch, so happy father's day to all of you amazing dads out there!!! I made $12 in tips but we have to pool them together because it was brunch and not everyone got tables to serve. Hopefully I still come out with some good cash :) At 3:00 today, we had a mini-hootenanny performance for the guests. The Hootenanny is like our broadway musical that we put on every Tuesday night. Today was interesting because we only had practiced like twice before so I really didn't know the songs very well. Oh well, hopefully I didn't look too silly! It is a tradition that after every Hootenanny, when the last song is over everybody yells, "LAKE JUMP!!!". The staff all runs out to the dock and jumps off. Then we swim to the raft platform and sing and dance to the pelican song one more time. The guests usually watch from the deck and have a good time watching us get soaked and act like kids. The water was cold today but it was really fun!! Now, I am sitting in my cabin (still looking right at the dang pole...) waiting until I have to leave for supper. After supper, there is a sand volleyball tournament and ice cream social. Right up my alley :) Hope your summer's have been going well!!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Help Me
Arrived at Fair Hills Resort today around 3:15 pm after a little over a 4 hour drive. Another girl led me to my cabin and it looked cute from the outside, but inside was nothing of what I expected. I walked into big open space with four twin beds and four dressers. The place smelled horribly of skunk and had no air conditioning. Now, I am no prima donna by any means, but this place was not what I was expecting. I was expecting my own room, ac, and something not crawling with bugs and smelling of roadkill. I have one other girl living with me. She is a farm girl and is in ROTC, but lately took up pole dancing to be more girly....we have a pole in our cabin, I REPEAT, A POLE IN OUR CABIN. She paid $400 for this gold piece of nast and put it in OUR cabin. I thought it was built into the room until she told me it was hers. She is a sweet girl, don't get me wrong, but I am staring at it right now...bah. I had an emotional breakdown after I got all of my stuff up in the cabin (we are on the second floor). I haven't had a good cry in awhile, and if you are a girl, you understand what I am saying when I say that this could lead to bad things. Since I hadn't cried in awhile, my emotions were already topsy turvy, so that on top of all of this change made me burst. I cried. Cried because I just wanted to go home. I'm over it now, the crying anyway. Now just to get used to this new adventure. But that's why it's called an adventure right?
Met some nice girls that work in the snack shop and had supper with them after they showed me around. Not really sure what to expect still. Went to supper with my roommate even though I had already eaten with the other girls. I chose the wrong place to sit at supper apparently. Sat by these two guys and two girls. After sitting down, realized that English wasn't their primary language. They were Bulgarian (first thing that came to mind was Viktor Krum all you HP nerds out there). One guy was all snooty to me and I couldn't really tell if he understood me and I couldn't understand his mumbling. Oh well, I am not embarrassed, just trying to make new friends. Now, I am sitting back in my cabin, but will probably head down to the Pavilion (main lobby thing) soon. Hootenanny practice tonight at 7 and it can apparently go for 3 hours. At least I am getting paid and it's like a Broadway musical! Hopefully I get used to this soon, this is nothing like what I expected. So, here's to God for throwing me a curveball in life. He must have something up his sleeve....something He definitely wants me to learn this summer.
Met some nice girls that work in the snack shop and had supper with them after they showed me around. Not really sure what to expect still. Went to supper with my roommate even though I had already eaten with the other girls. I chose the wrong place to sit at supper apparently. Sat by these two guys and two girls. After sitting down, realized that English wasn't their primary language. They were Bulgarian (first thing that came to mind was Viktor Krum all you HP nerds out there). One guy was all snooty to me and I couldn't really tell if he understood me and I couldn't understand his mumbling. Oh well, I am not embarrassed, just trying to make new friends. Now, I am sitting back in my cabin, but will probably head down to the Pavilion (main lobby thing) soon. Hootenanny practice tonight at 7 and it can apparently go for 3 hours. At least I am getting paid and it's like a Broadway musical! Hopefully I get used to this soon, this is nothing like what I expected. So, here's to God for throwing me a curveball in life. He must have something up his sleeve....something He definitely wants me to learn this summer.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Give Me a Chance
Now that I am able to count down the hours until I leave for camp, it is kinda freaking me out. I know that I go to school and am away from home for a long time, but I know people there. I may not always know what to expect, but I have a pretty good idea. In approximately 34 hours, I will be going somewhere I have never been, know nobody, and have no idea what to expect. I am even starting to have nightmares. I will miss my family. I already feel it. I keep getting older and that means pulling away from my home. Obviously I will always have my family, but it just won't be the same since I spend less and less time there.
Alas, God created stationary, cell phones, and a computer to put to good use. If anyone wants to be my pen-pal, I have 80 sheets of paper to use. Just text or fb me for the address :) I would love to hear from you!
I won't tell you too much about music camp. It consisted of not very much sleep, a mediocre 21st birthday, and a lot of children. My birthday was in the heart of the week and a few of the counselors and me went downtown at midnight. I ended up being the person driving home on my 21st, that's how crazy I get. I had to play in the band with the kids because there weren't enough campers this year and it is always good for them to try to mimic my sound. It was great for me too because I hadn't played for that many hours a day since school got out. I also was blessed to be able to play a trumpet duet with my high school band director! I have looked up to him my whole life and we played a duet from a book that was just finished this spring and had never been played in SD! How cool is that? We rocked it.
So, being 21 now, I feel like I should start living my dreams. Why can't I be one of those nobody's that gets noticed and ends up on the big screen? That is my only huge dream in life. I'm about to pack up and figure out how to work this out. When I saw Wicked on broadway this year, I knew I could do what those extras were doing on stage. I don't have nearly enough talent to have any solos or be a big name, but I know that I can dance like those girls were on stage. If I was somehow given the chance. I want to see my name in the credits of a movie or in a playbill. How much is that to ask? :(
Went to Oasis last night and was on a cloud of happiness. The joy that being at BWC brings me is unreal and I can't wait to be back this fall. I miss the church community I have there and being around people that help build me up. Bless the church and community and those who aren't able to be there this summer.
Going to finish watching 27 Dresses. Oh wedding shows and movies...how you always creep back into my life.
Alas, God created stationary, cell phones, and a computer to put to good use. If anyone wants to be my pen-pal, I have 80 sheets of paper to use. Just text or fb me for the address :) I would love to hear from you!
I won't tell you too much about music camp. It consisted of not very much sleep, a mediocre 21st birthday, and a lot of children. My birthday was in the heart of the week and a few of the counselors and me went downtown at midnight. I ended up being the person driving home on my 21st, that's how crazy I get. I had to play in the band with the kids because there weren't enough campers this year and it is always good for them to try to mimic my sound. It was great for me too because I hadn't played for that many hours a day since school got out. I also was blessed to be able to play a trumpet duet with my high school band director! I have looked up to him my whole life and we played a duet from a book that was just finished this spring and had never been played in SD! How cool is that? We rocked it.
So, being 21 now, I feel like I should start living my dreams. Why can't I be one of those nobody's that gets noticed and ends up on the big screen? That is my only huge dream in life. I'm about to pack up and figure out how to work this out. When I saw Wicked on broadway this year, I knew I could do what those extras were doing on stage. I don't have nearly enough talent to have any solos or be a big name, but I know that I can dance like those girls were on stage. If I was somehow given the chance. I want to see my name in the credits of a movie or in a playbill. How much is that to ask? :(
Went to Oasis last night and was on a cloud of happiness. The joy that being at BWC brings me is unreal and I can't wait to be back this fall. I miss the church community I have there and being around people that help build me up. Bless the church and community and those who aren't able to be there this summer.
Going to finish watching 27 Dresses. Oh wedding shows and movies...how you always creep back into my life.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
50% Chance
This post will be very short considering I have to get to supper within the next few minutes. I am at SDSU, counseling All-State Music Camp and tomorrow is our last day. It has definitely been a challenging week between not getting much sleep and working with kids all day. Has it been worth it? I think so :) This is giving me a wonderful opportunity to learn how to teach music. I may not end up teaching someday, but between a school and a hospital (being music therapy), it's a 50% chance. My favorite part of the week was teaching a jazz sectional for the trumpets. It was so fulfilling to watch them grow and learn in the 30 minutes I had with them. Making them sing out their parts so that they could actually put the rhythms to work before sticking a horn to their face is always fun. I always hated singing out the music in jazz, but I have come to love it in college. It truly does help work it out!! Okay, I really have to go to supper (hopefully it's something good...dorm food...) but I will let you know how the week went soon! Adios.
P.S. It's cold outside. I am not a happy camper.
P.S. It's cold outside. I am not a happy camper.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)