From 9 to 6

I started out with 9 counselors in my 3 bunks--3 for each. I have 6 original counselors left. I guess losing 3 isn't that bad of a number, but sheesh...it's the most that I've ever lost in one summer. One of them was moved from the bunk into another cabin in the same age group, one was moved from the bunk into a different age group, and now one has quit/been fired. I'm not sure what you would call it--perhaps a bit of both? Remember the counselor I was so afraid to have that talk with, the one I was sure didn't like me? She had some unfortunate pictures in the bunk and the girls saw them. Coupled with some personal problems, it was enough for her to no longer be with us. Bunk 15 will be getting a new counselor starting Sunday, a former camper who is super-excited to be doing this for the last 2 weeks of camp. I feel...torn about the situation. On the one hand, the counselor in question and I had achieved a really good working relationship. We were getting along just great and I think it was a battle hard-fought and won for me. So it is sad to see her go now, after everything we've gone through. And yet, I also am glad that one source of drama has been removed from my summer. I no longer have to hold her hand constantly.

On an up note, today is my day off and when I went into lunch I was absolutely BOMBARDED with girls, both mine and Tina's, who were so excited to see me and had missed me all morning. We sat together and had a great lunch, laughing and joking. I really do love my girls this summer. I don't even want to think about leaving them all in 2 weeks.

I Said LOOK!!

Superhero Posse in action, with two of our Super Villains--Erica, Tina, Meredith, Yari, me, Rachel, Heather, Jess and Danielle in the front. Or our Superhero names: Flash, The Tidalwave, The Cannonballer, The Dancer, The Balancer, The Charming Enigma, and The Morpher. I don't remember the two Super Villain's names.

Random 4th of July photo--I think it was during Olympics--Erica, me, Tina, and Jess

MC, Hike, JCSD, Movie Night

Superhero Final Fight pose!

So much has been going on the past couple days and I haven't even gotten a chance to write it all down! I also have pictures.

On Sunday night I hosted the Junior Camp Trash Bag Fashion show--which I renamed the Trashion show, and Drew liked, so I think it has officially been renamed. Anyway, it was fun. The girls had a good time. That one never gets old. They always make something new, and some of the outfits they come up with really look cute. My Bunk 14 made the best little formal dress ever.

After hosting the Trashion Show, my co-host Jess and I with the judges.

Then Drew told me I would get to do morning announcements for Tuesday, because he was on a trip and it was going to be JCSD. So I was super-excited about that and I some time putting together a superhero script. Drew helped me pick music and then showed me how to do the morning announcements--there are a lot of steps involved.

On Monday the entire Upper Juniors went on a hike to the Promised Lands, which is a small area in the Delaware National Forest. We didn't leave PA, but it was about 40 minutes from camp. It was fun, not very long at all--not really a hike, more of a nature walk. But for these girls I guess it was a hike. They sure complained enough. Then after the hike we took them to a park on the lake and grilled for lunch. The problem with that was that the adventure and trek boys are used to grilling for 20, not 50...we started at 12 and I didn't get to eat until 2:30. And even then we ran out of most condiments and buns and all the potatoes. We wrapped veggies and either hamburgers or hotdogs in tinfoil packets and put them on the grill that way. It was very good, just extremely long. The girls did pretty well with the wait, considering they are used to being fed on time and they aren't used to waiting for other people whatsoever. Gil set up the slackline while we were there and we got to do that for a bit--of course the girls all wanted to try, so we spent most of our time walking them across. I didn't get back from that until snack time and then immediately had a bunk meeting, so I was pretty much tired afterwards.

On Monday night we broke JCSD. The theme this summer was Camp Superhero--which basically means that we were all superheroes and since the Super Villians were attacking Bryn Mawr, we had to train the Junior Campers to defend. The video that Matt put together for the break was amazing! I will have a way for you to watch that later. I was the Cannonballer, able to reach the speed of both light and sound if properly propelled from my cannon. It was a good break and it led to an even better Junior Camp Special Day. I did the announcements and that went really well. It was freaking hot that day, and the morning started out badly by Danielle and I having a disagreement over something stupid--basically, we were both in the wrong but she overreacted very badly and when I tried to make it right she didn't want to have anything to do with me. So I walked away and she found me at breakfast and apologized for taking out her bad day on me. Yikes. After that things went much smoother and we had an awesome final fight in the gym against the Super Villains.

Last night I happened to be on, so I got to accompany my girls to the movies. We watched G-Force, which for those of you who don't know is about a trio of Guinea Pigs who are trained to be FBI agents. Yeah. You heard me correctly. However, what made it even better was that it was in 3-D! Yes, we wore the glasses and had things leap out at us. My favorite part, actually? Going up into the projection booth with Bill and the owner of the theater while he showed us how the 3-D part was done. It was pretty trippy up there.

I was really tired after all of that, and then I had to sit OD until after 11. Consequently, this morning I am dragging.

Tubing and Awesomeness

I went tubing yesterday with my girls in 14. We had an Explorer and although she wasn't too sure she wanted to try tubing, she eventually decided that if I was her partner and we went really slow, she was game. It was a good time. Gary Brown made sure we didn't almost fall out and the Explorer enjoyed herself. And then of course we had to dock jump. I do love the dock jump.

Last night on OD I had this surge of complete and utter happiness. I have been struggling with something all summer and last night I felt it snap back into place--of course I had to do some joyous airkicks! I probably looked pretty special on cabin row doing some utterly ungraceful hops up and down, but whatever. I was feeling it at the moment. And THEN Charlotte brought us cookies and Puchi gave us soda and then I saw a huge FROG in the middle of the road that made me smile.

And today was late sleep!!!! I am at the point of my summer where I am starting to get extremely tired. All I do on any time off now is sleep or sit around. There is no more fun trips planned at this point, just what can I do to ensure I'm in bed early on my time off...And once I do get home, I think I sleep and do nothing for at least a week. But I am not ready to think about coming home yet! Camp has flown by and I am having too much fun with my girls.

Last night I had so much fun walking around with them and laughing about anything and everything. We have really bonded this summer and I enjoy all of them.

Times

I went to Philly to pick up Explorers yesterday--there were 4 of them, not that hard a job. The drive up was long and I didn't really enjoy it. You know how sometimes you can have a good conversation with people you've just met, and sometimes you know there won't be much of one at all? Yeah, that was pretty much the drive up. I knew within the first 3 seconds that the driver and I were not going to be conversing well. We still could have, I guess, but it definitely would have been a stilted, limping conversation that would take more effort than it was worth. So as soon as she got on her phone, I plugged in my Ipod. And enjoyed every second I got to listen to my music. Picking up the girls was good. The parents were very pleasant and very interested to hear what was going to happen with their girls this weekend. The drive back was extremely short--the girls fell asleep, I fell asleep, and we all woke up near Honesdale.

JCSD is fast approaching. I am excited for it and a little bit anxious as to how the day is going to go down. We are still working out some logistical things right now.

My lip is feeling better--still blistered and gross, but the swelling has gone down and it doesn't hurt as bad. I will be doing a happy dance when it eventually is gone completely! I think a dock jump is in order!

I played in the lake on the surfboards with 14 yesterday. We have an Explorer in our bunk and they were pulling out the stops to show her a good time. We had some fun times. I stood on my surfboard 3 times and then had to abandon further attempts because my girls like to try to dunk me too much.

Everything else is going well--I won't even say how many days left we have, because I will cry.

Sunburn

My lips are sunburned! Ok, just the bottom one...remember I said I had a sunburn from Visiting Day? Well, that included my lips and they are now blistered. Gross, huh? And it hurts sooooo bad! The first day the blisters made their oh-so-welcome appearance, it hurt so bad to talk that I tried not to all day long. And today they are feeling a teeny bit better, but they still look very gross. I am extremely unhappy with this situation. :( :( :(

More Pics and A List

Gold Rush!

I really like this poster

List time!

1. Gold Rush happened, as you can see from the above photos. Last summer it got cancelled due to weather and I was completely ok with that. This summer, I enjoyed myself. I was in the final Shoot-Out, and although I only lasted until about 30 seconds in, Jacque and I had a great duel and killed each other. Then I got to just lie on the grass for another 5 minutes until the Shoot-Out was over. It was a good spot to watch from, provided I didn't get stepped on.

2. I am picking up Explorers on Friday in Philly! I am so excited! More on that when it happens.

3. Today is Hershey, which means I am on my day off. I had to wake up with the girls and make sure they made it on the bus, but after that I went straight back to bed at 8:30 and slept until almost 11, when I put my laundry in.

4. I talked to my family last night, including my two very favorite boys in the whole world and they completely made my day! Kameron talked and laughed into the phone and Kaelan told me all about his bike and said I needed to come home and see him ride it. It made me homesick for them.

5. JCSD is in full-throttle planning mode. I think it is going to be amazing this summer. I'm excited.

6. Visiting Day went by in a blur of sun and wayyyy too many cookies from the cookie tent. Ok, I only ate 5 this summer, but the fact that I ate pretty continuously up to that point makes it more serious. And yes, I once again got sunburned...see the picture of Drew and I if you really want to see the evidence. But all my girls were good and no one cried too hard and I didn't get ambushed by any parents.

7. Male Beauty was fun. No pictures this summer yet again--except of us GLs dressed like the guys. We decided that it would be fun to dress up like the male staff that was our Male Beauty. Mine was Drew--I wore a button to campaign for him with my girls, and we won!--and I just basically borrowed everything he had, including his socks, shoes, and watch. I also wore his crazy wig to make it a little bit more clear who I was supposed to be. I think I more looked like Ronald McDonald in the wig, but oh well.

8. In the land of my job, I have been handling more and more friendship issues. They haven't been too overwhelming for me--or maybe I'm actually getting better at this?? Perhaps. But I never used to know what to say to these kids, and now I feel as though it is getting so much easier and working better. Bob Ditter is amazing. It could also be that I have been here for 4 summers and have learned a thing or two along the way.

Picture Catch-Up!

Bill and Anita--Anita was Bill for Male Beauty judging Drew and myself--I was Drew for Male Beauty Judging, but this was afterwards when I was cold. (And yes, he is still wearing makeup. Lovely, Drew!)

All the GLs in our judging attire

Dressed like superheros for filming the JCSD break

Aquarama!!

Frustration

I was so upset with myself today. I had zero patience, right out of the box. It wasn't like it evolved to this point...I just woke up without a shred of patience in my body. My entire body, if you can imagine. I knew early on that I was going to have to change my attitude or I was going to have a rough day. And the rough day part lasted pretty much all morning, but then Heather D and I played a sweet game of lawn tennis and my mood improved. I still needed to be more patient with my girls, though. And I did not snap at any one of them--but I could feel that the potential was there. I definitely didn't d0 much playing and joking around with them today. I hated being like that. Was it a sleep issue? I don't know. I do know that the Visiting Day clean-up got to me and my counselors came through like champions. At least tonight I get to go to bed early.

Books and Cubby Cleaning

I came to camp with the usual amount of books--6 that I hadn't started yet. And normally by this point I am buying more because I have already finished them. At least in past summers that has been the case. Currently, I am still working on book number 2. What does that mean?? Either I'm really not into the Tom Robbins book I am reading--Fierce Invalids Home From Hot Climates--or I don't have as much time to read as I normally do. That could be because on OD at night I am generally with the kids or dealing with an issue and then too tired, and in the mornings I haven't been getting my consistant adirondack chair time. Bummer.

We are cleaning for Visiting Day--which is on Saturday, can you believe it?? Not me. I'm feeling way too relaxed for it already to be Visiting Day. Anyway, I spent all morning in 15 helping with cubbies because they only had one counselor, only to walk into 14 and be blown away by the fact that even though they have 2 counselors, nothing was done. I have to do all the cubbies in the back still. 12 looks amazing, I won't even worry. But why do I always have one bunk every summer that stress me out about cleaning? Riddle me that...

I saw the new Harry Potter last night. I will give it a thumb to the side--which means neither up nor down. I liked it...I think. There were awkward parts, like with Ginny Weasely, and the ending sucked big time. That is all I will say. I need to reread the books when I get home. Brush up on my Potter and reestablish my liking for the series.

Learning

I have the day off today, and I was sitting here waiting for everyone else to get ready so we can go out for b'fast at the Trackside and I started to think about the past couple days and what has been happening. I also realized I haven't been updating this thing as often as I should, but I am going to try harder. Anyway, yesterday I woke up early and because we didn't have morning meeting I was able to sit in the adirondack chairs and read so much of my book. It was absolutely amazing. One of my very favorite places on camp! And then the day began...it was Aquarama, which is almost one of my very favorite days. It's chill and I love to run around and go on the water rides with my girls. Except today was not going to be that kind of day at all. One of my counselors was moved from the bunk and for a while there it was looking like she would go home. I was very upset because she could be a great camp person if she was in the right place here--a healthy, safe place for her, which Bunk 15 was not. I won't go into reasons on here, but suffice it to say that I was upset and Marjori told me I could go hide out for the morning. So I rode around on the golf cart with Drew and then hung out in his office until lunch. After lunch I was feeling a little bit better and I was able to play with some of my girls before jumping back into the fray with the counselor again. I felt like I was standing underneath the other shoe about to drop on my head all afternoon--and then she said she was staying! That put me in a great mood and my Bunk 14 girls made it even better. I have decided that they are the ones that cheer me up when I'm feeling like I don't know why I come back to do this job. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing and unique and worth it and all those colorful adjectives, but it is also extremely HARD sometimes. I realized yesterday that I had lost sight of what they tell us in Leadership week--when you feel like you can't do it anymore, go play with the girls that you love, who don't have drama going on all the time, and who love you back and are excited to have you around. I got to do that yesterday with Bunk 14 and it made my entire week. They made me a bracelet, they wrote the best campaign song to get Drew for Male Beauty, and we had fun. After that I was sufficiently ready to go back into 15 and be their counselor for the evening. I sat in there and we read a chapter of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and they went to bed. I was there until almost 11:20, when their other counselors got back.

Looking back on yesterday, I think I learned--or relearned, I guess, which I think I am constantly doing in my life--that I need to ask for help and not be bothered that I can't do everything, that I need to focus on the girls who don't need something every second just as much as the high-maintenance ones, and that I really and truly love Bryn Mawr! Ok, the last one I didn't really need to relearn, but it is definitely in my thoughts.

I wish my entire family could come here and see just how special this place is. It is hard for those looking in to understand--you need to experience it, to meet everyone here. I was interviewed for the Poplar Post by one of my former campers from the past 2 summers the other day, and she asked if I was going to stay until I got my Angel. That will be next summer, summer number 5 for me. And I said of course I would, but after yesterday, I know there is no way I couldn't come back. My time at Bryn Mawr is far from over, and that also makes me happy.

A Meh Day

Meh as in, 'How's your day?' 'Meh', with a shoulder shrug.

I felt very...tired today. Tired and not very mentally or physically present, which is tough because to be successful here you need to be both very much mentally and physically present. And yet, I feel that everyone here gets this way once in a while. The trick is not to have it happen more often than it doesn't. And I can say that this is the only time I have felt like this. I have had hard days, oh my yes, but wanting to cry and not have a conversation or having a tough time with my girls is not the same as just not really feeling it. And I was not really feeling it today. I took a nap and then felt almost sick, so that wasn't the answer.

I went to archery with some of my kids today and really enjoyed that activity. I was actually pretty good at it! I could hit a bull's-eye from 30 feet back and I was pretty consistant with hitting the target in the same spot. I even hit 3 arrows in one spot at one point. I felt very Robin Hood-esque.

Tonight is my night off, and I am making the most of it by watching a good movie and relaxing. Early bed is also on the agenda.

Plastic Bubble

So my trick knee has been giving me fits for the past couple days. Nothing too bad--just swelling at odd moments and some pain that makes me stop walking and make funny pain faces. I have been icing it like whoa and trying not to aggravate it too much. Last night, it hurt so bad and I couldn't figure out why, until we had a mother of a thunderstorm and I knew why: pressure! My knee gives me fits when it gets cold out or we have a huge change in pressure and last night was a doozy. People's ears were popping and getting sore, and my knee hurt. So Charlotte gave me something for the pain, something Canadian and something that I found out contains Codeine. And we all know what that does to a person...I was almost loopy sitting on OD last night and when I finally went to bed at 11 I pretty much passed out and don't remember waking up until this morning. At least it was late sleep. And the important thing was that my knee didn't hurt! Then this morning I rammed my knee on the breakfast table and that about sent me through the roof. I held my breathe and writhed in my seat for a few seconds. And THEN at lunch I hit my shin on the bench at our lunch table and now have a large raised bump on my shin bone. What does that signify? Drew and Heather both told me I need to be in a plastic bubble. Like I haven't heard that before.

Conversations

I feel as though yesterday was the day to have conversations with people--good or bad.

I had a counselor that I really needed to talk to because I was positive she just didn't like me. And who wants to ask someone why they don't like you and then have to hear the answer? I was a nervous wreck yesterday morning. I couldn't put it off anymore, because Marjori told me it needed to happen and I agree with her. But I would rather go on Possessed 5 times in a row, than have that particular conversation. Finally I wrote down some points I wanted to hit and then Drew and I went over them together in his office. I cried and felt like a big wuss, but it was nice to get that out in the open and I feel very comfortable with Drew. Then the conversation happened and it was all a huge misunderstanding and went soooo well and now things are good! Or we are working to make them good and they are going to get there eventually but at least the weight has been lifted.

Then last night at evening activity I had to have more conversations--one with a kid who had her feelings hurt and then two more with the two bunks that caused those hurt feelings. That one was rough. I didn't even want to go in there after that. I was mad, disappointed, hurt, and upset. I think sometimes girls can be mean.

Tonight at long last is Transformers!!!

Yellow Hats

Yesterday was Dorney Park--and if you remember, I mentioned hoping I would get to be a Yellow Hat. The morning of the trip, I got my yellow hat and walkie talkie! I really enjoyed being able to float from group to group. Heather D. and I walked around together and helped out kids and counselors who needed it, and we also went on a couple rides.

I went on the most intense ride I have ever been on. It is called Possessed, and I have included pictures. I rode it with Drew and Gil, but Drew and I were sitting together because Gil was too cool and collected for me. I was comfortable being a wuss in front of Drew. My heart was pounding so hard before we got on this thing. It was way more intense than skydiving! The ride itself was awesome after the first two drops, but those first two drops almost hurt--it was just a very intense stomach-drop. After that, my adrenaline-seeking was pretty much satisfied. I stuck to a nice safe Ferris Wheel ride with Heather.

Here is a shot of the entire ride--not very big, I apologize.

And here is the front--see how it twists at the top?
And the back of it.

We bought shirts for Charlotte and ourselves with our Bryn Mawr guys on them: Blaine for Heather, Jack for me, and Rico for Charlotte. I'll include pictures of us wearing those in the near future. I had a headache by the end of the trip and was very tired, but it was a good one. We didn't have any problems with missing campers and all the girls were safe. Tired, but safe. I hope I get to be a Yellow Hat for Hershey.

Life At Camp

Two of my favorite people at camp, Drew (in the 4th gear) and Bill

Here is what's been going on since I last wrote.

1. 4th of July and an incredibly awesome fireworks display. AND, if that wasn't good enough, Shooter Jenning's 4th of July song was playing in the background! Drew makes the best playlists. Ok, so I kind of helped him with that one, but he was thinking the same thing I was.
2. I went to the Sunshine Spa yesterday during rest hour--in Bunk 16. I got a massage while they were giving me a mani. I will include a picture of my nails so you can appreciate them.

3. We go to Dorney Park tomorrow and I am a wee bit nervous. As of right this minute I am scheduled as Emergency, which means that if a counselor for some reason does not go on the trip in the morning I will take her place with her girls. If that doesn't happen, I will be a Yellow Hat and get to float around the park. My vote? The Yellow Hat. In a perfect world that will happen. In the other case, I'll be with a random group of girls that I don't know. Oh joy. Probably the Manor House who don't get to go on roller coasters.

Birthday Shots

My Happy Birthday shirt and posing with Charlotte, my camp "Mom"

Getting my birthday cake--Marjori is beside me, singing Happy Birthday.

Today Is Somebody's Birthday

And that someone would be me!
We did the extra special dock jump today and here are some pictures!
In the lake afterwards, Drew, Rachel, Heather D. and me! (clockwise)Jumping off. Yeah Rachel with the Spiderman leap! Also, I got a shirt and a Rub A Dub marker and everybody signed it. It was pretty spectacular.

Tonight is the cake!

And my brother called me and by complete and utter happiness because it is my birthday and the universe loves me, I happened to be in my room putting on my swim suit at the time so I got to talk to him! It was fabulous.

I am loving my summer family. That being said, I miss my actual family :(

Birthday Dinner

Last night was Jess and I's joint birthday celebration dinner. There were about 18 of us and we went to Scranton to eat at TGI Friday's. It was a good time. Heather D. did an amazing job arranging it. We got sung to in an embarrassing way that only restaurants and camp seem able to do, and then we just hung out and talked. Because there were so many people at the table, I had to take individual section shots.
Shu, me, and Erica
Heather R, Jess R, and Angela


Erica, Danielle, Tanya, Meredith, Liz, and Andrea (from clockwise)
Anita, Rachel, Lacee, Charlotte, Jess the other birthday girl, Joe, and Heather D (also clockwise)
The entire table.