Vacation!

I've been in Casper since last Sunday. Just a vacation, not the permanent move. I won't relocate here until September--end of, that is. In the meantime, it has been nice to get caught back up with family.
Kaelan is adorable! He's grown so much in the 2 months since I last saw him. He is using sentences now! We have a good time. He has been my little shadow since I got here, even sleeping in the same bed as me the first night. That's ok. We have a lot of lost time to make up for.
We went hiking at Independence Rock and that was fun. Kaelan and Grandma and Grandpa and I climbed all over it. We had to find a new way down, but we blazed a trail. Grandpa wasn't sure about getting Kaelan down, but I talked him into it. We had to go down and then lift him after us and kind of pass him along like an assembly line. At the very top of the rock were these pools of rainwater and they were full of freshwater shrimp! Amazing. And the water wasn't even that warm. It wasn't super cold, but it definitely was cool to the touch.
We went to Alcova today and swam. I tried to snorkel--you can't see anything in that water, so that was a bust. Kaelan went in the water too, which was surprising. We built some pretty cool sandcastles.
Other than that, not much but relaxation and fun.

Questions

I have been lazy this past week and a half, and I couldn't be happier! It is so nice to just rest. I never realize just how tired I am until I get to stop moving. That being said, I already miss Bryn Mawr!
We are going to Wyoming on Sunday to stay for a week. I am so excited to see my baby! It is going to be absolutely fantastic to play with him all week and to catch up with the Casper crowd. I have missed it too, much as I never thought I would feel that way.
Tomorrow we are driving to Helena to see Brandt's new apartment. I'm excited to see him too. We have been talking on the phone quite a bit and it is pretty great to be around my little brother again. He's always been my favorite person in the world and now he's my hero too. I admire the career he's chosen, all the ways he helps people now. It kind of calls into question what I am going to end up doing someday. Brandt always was one of the most unselfish people I know, and he isn't hesitating to put his safety on the line for complete strangers. It makes me wonder if I could do the same.

Decisions

I think I have decided to go back to Casper until next summer. I was going to move to Portland, however, in the long process of praying and thinking about it nonstop, I eventually realized it doesn't feel right for me now. I think it would be a lot of expense for a very short time. I think it would be a great experience and it is definitely on my list, but I need to be working on something else right now. I want to help Kurt and Kat out some more with the babies--yes, in January it will be plural!--and I missed them all very much. Casper is not my favorite city, but I was happy there. I can be with Kaelan again and keep him preoccupied when the new little one gets here. I'm job searching for something other than retail right now.
Also, I am learning the ropes with the new business. As soon as I get it, I can start going to work in Casper. Who knows would could happen?
I feel this is a good decision, and Kurt and Kat said come on back. Kaelan was happy that the soccer ball would be home again, and the tunes.
In the meantime, I'm enjoying some relaxation time with my parents.

Home at Last

I made it! I survived my summer trip once again, and once again, it feels as though it flew by! I can't believe another Bryn Mawr summer is over. Looking at it in hindsight, it feels like parts are in fast-forward.
My travels home went well. I was tired, having arisen at 5. I also had to buy a bigger suitcase to get all my stuff home and then had to pay 25 dollars because the suitcase exceeded the weight limit. It was worth a curse, but definitely my own fault.
I made it through security without any extra searches, which is a miracle! I had all my ceramics in my carry-on and they commented on the amount I had, but I was waved through, unlike the elderly couple in front of me who had to open up every piece of carry-on they brought. They looked extremely unhappy, to use an understatement.
My flights were good. I got a window every time, which makes me happy. I sat in Minneapolis for 3 hours, but I read and people-watched, so it didn't feel too long.
And then, finally, I was home! It is so brown over here--dry and smoky, from the all the fires going on. Definitely a switch from where I've been all summer. Over in New York and PA it is green and humid, always. Still, I am happy to be with my family.
Brandt came home after he got off shift and he's been here ever since. I think he's due to roll out of here later today. It was so great to see him! I miss Brandt. He's always doing something work-related these days and I never get to talk to him much. We took a trip to Choteau in his truck--my second time riding in it. I like that I have to jump to get up in the cab.
Thank you for keeping up with my summer adventures! I am going to continue this thing year-round until the next Bryn Mawr summer and I hope you'll join me!

Horses

Here are the pictures of the three of us at the horse farm. The one behind me was Queenie, and huge, I might add. As we all know, I ended up on tiny Izzy, but it was probably better, considering as how I really don't know how to ride a horse.

Banquet Pics

Here are some pictures from Banquet night. My counselors and myself--minus the ever-amusing Alexis, of course. And then my friend Eric, who was the ceramics PD from Portland and is one of the coolest people I know.

Riding a Horse

I went trail riding with Heather and her brother Nathaniel yesterday. It was so much fun. The place was in Tioga County, down in PA, so we drove about an hour and a half to get there. It was a very mom-and-popish establishment, but this being the first time I have sat a horse in years, that was ok with me. The horses were so trail-trained that you couldn't get them to go the wrong way even if you tried, which I have to admit, I did. I wanted a big horse--they had some huge ones--and I didn't want to get stuck in the back. Guess who got the smallest horse and was very firmly in the rear?
But my horse--Izzy was her name--and I got along very well together in the back, and we kept it interesting. I loved it! It was an hour long ride, but my butt wasn't sore at all. In fact, riding a horse improves your posture! The only thing that hurt was my knee joints, probably because my stirrups were too short and my legs were cocked at an angle. And Izzy didn't even bang my legs into too many trees, for which I was greatly appreciative. I let her eat a lot more on the way for that alone.
Heather rode a white horse named Sugar and she was slower than molasses. Nathaniel was on a horse named Shotgun who would only allow men to ride him. We had fun in the back, mostly teasing Heather to get her horse to hurry it up. But we got to trot a bit--the horses were so close together the trotting wasn't very long.
I enjoyed it. I want to ride more when I get home. How ironic that the first time I ride a horse in years would be in PA, when I live in MT and spent the last 7 months in WY!
This morning Heather and I picked blueberries with her grandma. It was quite relaxing. I have never picked blueberries before, probably because to my knowledge, we don't have them in MT. Huckleberries, yes. Blueberries are much sweeter when picked directly from the tree.
Two more days!

Big Finish

Another Bryn Mawr summer is over. And I can definitely say that I am going to miss it. I'm glad to be going home, of course. However, I had an amazing time. It was even better than last summer, minus never getting to see Heather. I missed her company this summer. We did find time to sneak in hang out time, and those were some of my favorite days.
Banquet was nice. None of my girls did the hysterical crying that completely ruins the beauty of the night, so that was great. I made my wish and sent my candle floating out onto the lake with a very bright outlook for future summers at camp.
It rained on departure day, so that made it really fun to say goodbye to everyone. I will miss my girls. They were awesome. Once we had waved the buses goodbye, we cleaned the cabins and then packed everything up.
For some reason I have accumulated so much stuff that packing it all back into 2 bags is a real worry for me right now. I think I can do it, but I haven't tried yet. I'm at Heather's right now and we have been laying low and enjoying downtime. Tomorrow we are going for a trail ride on horses, which I am excited about.
I talked to my parents today and Kaelan is there! He's enjoying some grandma and grandpa time. He very excitedly told me that he was playing with my soccer ball and that he had slept in my bed. What a cutie!
I am due to fly out on Wednesday morning.

Smiles

Today I had some amazing things happen that made it all go by quickly and very enjoyably.
I got an email that made me smile.
Eric gave me this teapot that is just incredible and my favorite ceramic item he created.
I found a katydid--the coolest bug I have ever seen thus far in my life.
Marjori went on the zipline!

Almost...

Packing day has arrived. Yesterday we cleaned and it was miserable. It was so hot and humid. I think I lost about 5 pounds from all the sweat. Gross.
Last night was the final shindig at Dan and Jane's. It was fun. They fed us way too much, per usual. I walked back early with Charlotte because everyone else was off and drinking and we don't drink--we were on duty, as well, even if we didn't have to go back to cabin row. It was still nice, though, to look around the room and see all the leadership staff that I have worked with so closely this summer. They are all amazing people and I will miss the comradeship we built.
Today I am not looking forward to packing. I think it will go quick once it starts...or so I am hoping. There is a lovely cool breeze at present, so if only the humidity will hold off!!! It is supposed to be 84 degrees--which is 29 in Celsius, thank you to all those Canadians for teaching me the Celsius scale--so that is hot, but if it isn't humid, I can handle it.
Tomorrow we leave! I will be out of here by noon and then Heather and I have a date with our camp 'mom'. Charlotte drives back to Illinois, so we are going to have lunch and put off the crying as much as possible. It will be sad. I'm going to miss everyone.
I have been asked back for next summer--and I have been told that I'm going to be a lower junior GL for as long as I want to be back, which I like. I enjoy my job very much. So I won't be sad for long because I know that my adventures at Bryn Mawr are not finished. There will be many more.
3-year water bottle, here I come!

Sing and a Showdown

Green won Color War for the second summer running. I have some pictures of the action--the showdown in the Widman gym, that is. I also have some pictures of Sing, just so you can picture it. Fairly intense event. It was also so hot and humid in there it was hard to breathe. Pretty miserable. Charlotte fell asleep beside me and started to snore and Katie Johnson elbowed her to wake her up. That was funny.

Sing is an event where all the campers and counselors learn the different team songs and then they all quietly file into the fieldhouse and sit in these 3x3 grid squares on the ground. They move the same, stand the same, sit down the same, sing the same--all to the directions of a Bunk 1 girl up front. Very intense. The front is a backdrop with Bunk 1 girls sitting there frozen, to create a tableau. It is cool, just kinda cult-like for the first viewing.

The showdown is when we all find out who won Color War. The winner of the 'fight'--see the characters involved?--hold up one of those kids in the picture to let everyone know in the end. Green won. It was a sweet fight yet again. Spiderman leaped into the window sill with the help of a mini-tramp and there was lots of throwing things around.

Next 2 days are just cleaning and packing.

3 More Days!

Color War ends tonight with Sing and then the shootout in the Widman gym. I am excited for it to be over. It has been hot and humid, so the games with the girls haven't been as much fun. I get tired of hearing arguments over everything and I am especially tired of repeating myself 900 times. I was taking points away right and left yesterday during kickball.
Last night was my very last night off. I watched Roman Holiday and then went to Walmart with Emily for some last minute things. I was in bed by 10. Very relaxing.
Today is Sing practice all day long. I warned my counselors that they were going to hate it, but to just suck it up because it would all be over soon. Yes, being bossed around by high-strung 15-yr olds sucks and having to sit like a robot in a teeny 3 by 3 square sucks, but you know, it is one day. It will be over soon.
I am looking forward to hanging with Heather finally! I haven't seen her at all for about a week. Today has been the first day I have even seen her, let alone talked to her. I hope it will be a relaxing couple of days for her once we get back. She deserves it! She's worked her tail off doing the Color War planning.
I am also looking forward to going home! A little over a week left for me, and I'll be flying homeward!
I have to write 40-some bus notes at some point. Not looking forward to that.

Emotional

I don't recall becoming sad about camp being over until maybe the night before camp and definitely the morning we were all waiting to board buses in the dining hall on the day itself. I remember feeling impatient for the time to go by and thinking of the mountain of stuff we had to do and thinking we'd never get it finished. I even remember feeling tired and stressed about everything leading up to the last day of camp.
Today we had a meeting in the g'zab with all the GLs and Jane and Nancy. It started out by being just last minute packing stuff, what to do and what not, etc. Then we went around and said one thing we all felt that we'd done this summer that made us feel fulfilled as a GL and something about the summer that made it great for us. Oh man. It started off well--but by the end, we were all bawling. There wasn't a dry eye in the circle, except Jane. It was amazing to hear the emotion in everyone's voices. That is one thing I love about Bryn Mawr and this job--you can't help but be affected by it, in some way.
I looked around the circle, at all these girls I have come to respect and love, and it was overwhelming. That is why I come back to Bryn Mawr, and why I am coming back next summer and as many summers after until I feel as though I need to move on. This is where I need to be right now, in my life. I am learning so much, whether it be about working with children or just communication and relationship skills with my own peers.
Anyway, Charlotte called me her camp daughter and made me cry even more, because she was crying when she said it. We all knew we had each other's backs this summer, and that created a bond so powerful. It was a beautiful moment, realizing that our summers were amazing and that we were all responsible for making them so wonderful for each other.
It definitely made my day. Afterwards I felt kind of drained, like all I wanted to do was sleep. I guess because of such an intense outburst of emotion. It started early for us all this summer! I am just going to work hard at making this last 5 days fun and as relaxing as I can. It is the time to let things go and to end on a good note, to push through and really finish as strong as I started. And hopefully many of the people I worked with this summer will be back for the next one.

Little Things

Yesterday was hot again. I was all sweaty and tired through most of it, but after lunch I was able to take a period off and relax. I was tired because we'd had phone calls and Jenny Caine had a tour which meant I took all her bunks again. I have all 5 more often than not lately, and while I don't mind, it does really wipe me out. It is nice to get time off to just be in where it's cool and where I don't have to run a game or watch 57 10-yr olds. So the period off was delightful and completely recharged my batteries.
At dinner Drew told me I was one of his favorite GLs and that made my day. Drew is awesome.
It was Rope Burn and Kettle Boil last night, not my favorite color war activity, for the simple fact that it takes so blasted long. You just sit and watch. Of course there is cheering, but holy buckets. Waiting for a kettle to boil and then for the fire to burn through 3 ropes is not the most stimulating experience.
I had fun last night, in spite of all that. I hung out with Jenny Caine and then my counselors afterwards, and it was just nice. It really brought it home to me that I am excited to leave, but there is so much about Bryn Mawr I am going to miss. The bonds you form here are truly amazing.
I guess it is the little things that make my day, really, all those things that don't seem very exciting at the time but when I look back on the day during my prayers I realize just how happy I really am. Just how blessed I really am.

Heat Wave

It is so hot here! But not just that, the humidity is fierce. Color war is in full swing, but the heat makes it not so much fun. We've been trying to be in the pool as much as possible, but that sometimes doesn't work with the schedules.
We had the longest talent show ever last night, and even though it was silent taps, I was tired. I do love silent taps and silent dinner, though. It is the quietest that the camp ever gets. What a relief, not to have a meal punctuated with cheering time and standing on chairs to shake your booty. I think Kaelan would love it here. He likes dancing and singing. He could shake it and wiggle it all he wanted.
Less than a week! And in less than 2 I'll be home!

Weary

I am ready for camp to be done. We are in the last week--by this time next Friday, all the girls will have boarded the buses and I will be cleaning and packing. I am so ready. I feel tired, but it's more than just need a nap tired. I feel tired like all I want to do is sit somewhere and not move for a few days. Home is sounding sooooo good right now. I miss my nephew and my brothers and my sister-in-law and I miss my parents. I also feel a little whiny. Oh well. I guess we're all entitled to a good whine now and then.

Sketchy Dunk Tank

Color War Break Pictures

We Want Color War!!!

The break was tonight.
It was frankly amazing.
It was down on Wembley, and the first thing you saw when you came around the corner was a 36-ft long castle that was 12 feet high. It looked so good. Nancy and I were the peasants patrolling the top, which was a tad sketchy and wobbly. I was afraid they were going to bang on it or knock into it and then down we would go with a wooden castle atop. Anyway, peasants from the gold team stormed our castle--we were green, obviously--and they killed the peasants out front. Two retreated inside the castle and shut the drawbridge, and then the other peasants battered it down with a huge tree ram. It was so scary when they slammed the drawbridge! I just held my breath and clung to the top. Nothing happened, fortunately. Then some knights came dashing in and our green knights came out to defend. Nancy and I threw 'rocks' and I have no idea what all down on the attacking knights and then we just ducked below and watched the rest. They shot flaming arrows and everything. After quite a lengthy battle, they retreated and the king and queen rode out on horses to announce color war!
We had a fireworks show that was incredible. I have never seen some of the fireworks we had. They were very Harry Potter-esque, some of them. Amazing!
It was a chilly evening, but my peasant garb kept me quite warm and toasty. It also provided a good knee cushion for me to kneel on. Climbing back down the scaffolding was interesting...I got my foot stuck once, but I didn't fall and break anything.
Tomorrow is my very last day off. That is so strange. We have one week left. I can't believe it.
Color war is always relaxing, so I'm looking forward to everything. It sort of smooths over any rough patches the girls have been having.

Business

One of my counselors was moved today. She is no longer a counselor, just a buddy counselor in senior camp now, which means they didn't want to fire her but had no other place to put her. She had to be moved out of the bunk. It is a horrid situation.
The girls were screwing around during the alma mater and the counselor separated them, which caused the girl to trip on the bleacher. The counselor kept her from falling, but the girl wrote home and parents got involved. I know that she didn't mean anything by it--but she touched a kid. She touched a kid, the parents got involved, and she had to be terminated. We fought for her, which is why she isn't going home right now. Not cool, though. She's so upset. I hate that business has to take preference.
In my heart, I'm not so sure it was the right decision. In my head, I have to admit that yes, she did touch a kid and it was rough, and the business says that no child will be touched that way. Dan doesn't know any of my counselors. He made the call solely on the guidelines of how he runs his camp. It was Marjori and Jane who told him that she is a good counselor and that she didn't mean anything by it, which is why she is still here today.
On a happy note, color war breaks tonight. I'm off but coming back so that I can take my place atop the castle. I'm very excited.