Unlucky Day At Skinners

Today was a day off for all the GLs because the girls were at Dorney Park. It started off well enough. We got up early and waved the buses out of camp and then went to b'fast at the Trackside Grill. Then we picked up some lunches and headed out to Skinners Falls for some relaxation and swimming. It was a beastly hot day today, but we all had plenty of fluids and sunscreen.
We had just arrived and were in the process of walking across some rocks to find a spot to sit down. I heard something fall so I turned around and saw Tanya sprawled face-down on the rocks. She totally twisted her ankle--but it wasn't really her ankle, it was the top of her foot and it immediately started to swell like a balloon. I have never seen something swell up that fast--so the thought was that it was broken. We had just gotten Tanya settled on the ground with her foot in the cold water when I heard a commotion from behind me.
There were about 10 of us at Skinners at this point, but another group was just arriving. I couldn't see too well, just enough to assume someone else had fallen down. Then Danielle started yelling for someone to call 911. I ran over and saw Heather Rutledge had passed out and hit her head on a rock. This was literally like 4 minutes after Tanya fell.
Luckily, some guy walking past was a paramedic, so he came over and checked them both out for us and recommended that we get them out of the sun and to the ER. We had a time convincing Heather that she should go, but Tanya was perfectly ok with checking out her foot. It was massive and the paramedic said he thought it might be broken. So we loaded them up and Danielle, Jess Resnick, and myself took the two injured to the Wayne County Hospital, where we sat for almost 4 hours.
Tanya lucked out and does not have a broken foot. It is severly sprained and she needs to be on crutches for about 3 to 5 days. Heathe is ok as well. She was checked out by the camp doctor, as she still refused to see the doctors at the ER.
I am feeling extremely drained right now. I need to go to sleep.
When we got back, Jane told us that no one was allowed to go to Skinners anymore. I think I concur.

A Nibble?

I got an email from my agent yesterday, telling me that they found a potential publishing house for my book. I had to fill out a form for this publishing house that was basically just telling them about myself and a brief synopsis of my book. I guess they were told that I was one of the writers who's work is ready to sell now and is a 'cut above'--their words, not mine--the rest of their submissions. This publishing house has purchased 3 books from clients of my agency, and they have funds for more.
I filled out their form and they said they will get back to me in a week or less.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Today is my day off

One Of Those Days

Or actually the past couple days...
I think I'm tired. Luckily I get tomorrow off!
I lost an earring and then was given a birthday present by Mindy, the lady who works in the office here--of earrings! That was pretty awesome, until I looked at the earrings and realized they were genuine mother of pearl and also that they were expensive. I don't know if I can wear them for everyday. I'm afraid I would lose them here.
Some of my girls are driving me crazy, which is to be expected.
Last night for the all-camp campfire I got to do the Wee skit again with Jenny Magiet, Ashlee, Adam, and Matt Johnson. We do good work with that thing. That was exciting!
Bill has been telling all the gymnastic counselors that I am his favorite GL, so all of them now know me and keep coming up to me to say that they have been hearing all these good stories. That makes me smile.
I guess there are some great things mixed in to my past couple days. I'm just feeling like I'm a 79 Pinto with a gas leak right now. Tomorrow will go a long way to recharging my batteries. Except that we have to get up at the crack of dawn to get the girls on the buses to Dorney Park. After that we can sleep in.
Did I mention I won breakfast for 2 at the Trackside Grill during staff week?
I got to go into the pool for free swim with my girls yesterday and I waternoodled it up. It was exciting. And then after they all left for snack, I hung out in the pool with Puchy, who is the Pool PD. It was good to get to talk and just bob around in the water and not have to watch 60 little girls.
Today is Erica's birthday and we are going to jump off the dock for her, too. I think Drew is coming with us. More pictures to come of that!
Once I actually write everything down, the good more than outweighs the bad. I have almost been here a month, with one more to go!

Pirates Who Get Stung By Bees

I woke up this morning and went outside to sit on my favorite adirondack chair--only to discover I lost an earring!! I retraced my steps but could not find it, which probably means it fell down the drain in the shower. Bummer. Which also means that I am currently looking like a pirate, with only one earring. I have gotten some interesting comments on it already. I guess I could take the other one out....
I called Mom and she is going to send me the other ones I have at home.
I was also at the pool with my girls today, judging their Olympics events, and I felt something on my wrist. So I looked down and this bee was going to town, just stinging away. We're talking repeatedly jabbing his little stinger in there with a viciousness that was truly awe-inspiring. I am positive that had I been able to understand bee, he would have been swearing at me too. I don't know what I did wrong--maybe I was just in his way when he was having a particularly bad day. Anyway, it swelled up and I got a bag of ice to put on it because it stung like whoa. It is currently feeling better and the swelling has gone down remarkably.
Tonight is my night off!!! I am incredibly excited to call home. Last night was the first night I have been homesick since I have been here. I had to really concentrate on not thinking about home and try to enjoy our fireworks. I talked to Kaelan before dinner and he told me that if I were home, we could all watch fireworks together. Kurt and Kat had their little ones at Mom and Dad's house, and Brandt drove home too. I really wished I could be there!

Sad News

One of the things I do a lot of the first week of camp is deal with the homesick campers. I only had 3 this year, compared to the 10 last summer, which is definitely one advantage of my girls being one year older. Also, on a side-note, I have finally found the group of girls that I would like to move up with into Senior Camp. I doubt I will be allowed to, but I would totally dig it. I love this group of girls!
Anyway, back on topic.
I have been really dealing with one girl in particular who has been struggling with homesickness. We are talking crying 85% of the day, everyday. She's very intelligent, very articulate, and can be reasoned with--and has become attached to me. Still, it has been very time and energy consuming for me and for Jane and Nancy.
Last night she went home.
It was sad, but for the best, I think. She was trying to cope with her parents' divorce and her head was not here, no matter what we tried to do. I doubt her crying would have ever stopped.
I feel...a bit lighter, without that occupying my time now, but very sad. She was a sweet kid and I liked her.

Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday to Me!!!!

My birthday was yesterday.

I worked, but it was ok. The day started out with me feeling a bit blah and under the weather--literally, as it rained half of the day. I wasn't feeling too good for some reason, not related to my ever-present, lingering cold.

However, I have never had a birthday where I have heard happy birthday about a million times throughout the day--by the same people! And I received birthday hugs all day long too, which made me smile. It was nice to see how much I am cared about.

Heather wasn't here for the birthday jump off the dock this year, so Drew and Erica went with me. It was great.

I was also on skunk traffic control duty yesterday twice, which is new for me. This baby skunk was wandering camp in the daytime. I directed girls around it and called maintenance the first time, and then when Drew and I went down to jump off the dock, we ran into it again, heading into Adventure with the Manor House girls--who are our littlest girls on camp. Not a good thing.

My parents sent me a shoe filled with a bouquet of candy!

All in all, my birthday was amazing!!! If I couldn't spend it with my real family, I'm glad I got to spend it with my camp family.

Stand Corrected

Ok, so according to my brother, you can get pulmonary edema just walking around. Good to know.
I took the LIT's out tonight for the Ice Cream Cottage and then Wal-Mart. The LIT's are a group of counselors-in-training who were Bunk 1ers my first summer here. They are basically good kids--about 17 now, I'd say. Anyway, they had the night off but can't leave camp unless someone the Division Heads or Jane trusts. I was asked to take them and since my stellar evening plans included doing my laundry, I said sure. We went and had a good time.
It's my day off tomorrow! I am so excited to sleep in, you have no idea!
Also, I feel a bit better. The cold has progressed into my chest, however, and I cough up some very nasty stuff.