Stickers, Half-Blood Princes, and Road trips

Wow! What a week. I am so exhausted from this week, but it was definitely a good one.

On Monday evening, Amy came over and we wrote letters and put together care packages for Karen and Megan at camp. That sounds innocent enough, right? Well, let's just say we went a litttttle bit overboard. And by a little, I mean A LOT. I brought out all the stickers I've had since fifth grade (Lisa Frank, those round stickers you got in machines at the grocery store that say like "Princess" and other stupid sayings, scratch and sniff, Britney Spears, and other random things) and we printed out pictures to put all over the boxes, insides and out. It was so much fun. We wrote letters to them and Leila and also Harry Potter valentines to Joel hahahaha. That ended up being a success! Good times.

Aaron came to Hampton on Tuesday evening on his night off! That is always such a great time. We ate dinner with the fam and then headed out to get a red box movie and we ended up at Ross Park Mall. I came up with this shopping game and we played it: We set a price limit and a time limit (well the mall kind of decided that, as it closed at nine) and went off in our own directions in search of an outfit for each other! It was a ton of fun and actually a lot more difficult than you can imagine. I probably had it easier than Aaron though, considering guy's clothes are so much easier to put together (They only have like a handful of different styles of things to choose from hahaa...). Anyway, I ended up getting him a bright blue polo and plaid shorts and then just because I got him a button up shirt. He got me a really pretty flowery top with a blue cami underneath and then this jean skirt, but that part didn't fit me. So we will have an excuse to go shopping again...yesss haha. But if you're ever bored at the mall, it's a fun game to play. We spent the rest of the evening watching the movie and hanging out.

Wednesday was a tiring day, but it was Harry Potter 6 day! After work, I got ready as fast as I could and Amy and I ventured out to the Mills to see Half- Blood Prince. I really liked it! They did change some things and I do think some of it was a little questionable (Burrow scene?), but I actually didn't mind for once. Normally, I raise all hell about changes in the movie, but it was well done. AND they finally got the humor from the books to come across! I laughed so much. I was really pleased and entertained all throughout. Afterwards, I realized I left the lights on my car (Grrrrrrrr.) sooo I had to have my dad come and jump my car. Annoying. But I finally got home and to bed.

On Thursday, Beth and I decided to trade shifts and see how it went. I worked from 8:30-4:30 and it was great. I enjoyed that much more than mine. It's amazing the difference one hour makes. I don't know if that will be a permanent change or anything, but it was good. Work is always fun, albeit exhausting. I really enjoy it though. There has been some drama this past week with staff, but that's to be expected. This Thursday, past staff members (that ended on a bad note with playcamp) came to the pool and caused a few problems. Mind you, these people are in their 20's and they are all there to get a rise out of everyone? The kids were all flipping out, excited to see them and not listening to our instructions. It was just like Wow, really? I just wonder why some people can't just grow up and let go of the past and not act like five year olds. Ohhh well. Anyway, I recently posted my American Girl Doll items on Craigslist and I had a guy come look at some things Thursday evening. He bought three things for $52! I was excited. I think Craigslist is a really good idea and a great alternative to eBay. Sure, it's a little annoying having to meet with the people, but you avoid fees and it's less of a hassle in my opinion. So hopefully the rest of the items will sell too! Mom and I also ventured out to TJ Maxx and Marshall's, but to no avail.

Anddd that brings me to yesterday. Amy and I took the day off for a road trip to Erie, PA for the Camp Lambec Music Camp concert. We started off a little after ten and headed up to Westminster for our first stop. Because it was the day before NWMC (http://nwmcmission.org/content/2009NWMC.aspx), delegates were already arriving. Low and behold, we saw Nolan and also Ginny Dawson. It was so great to catch up with Nolan. We also went in the TUB and I was so surprised to see that the "TV room" was changed into a new little coffee/cafe type room! That should be cool. Amy and I also tried to find the tower in Old Main haha, but that was an epic fail. Hahaha. Anyway, it was really great to be back and I felt really ready to be there all the time, on my own again. ONE MONTH till I go back! We left WC and headed to the outlets where we visited Derek at the Fudgery! It was so nice to see him and we witnessed a little bit of the Fudge jingles that he has to sing. After a little bit of shopping, we left for the Meadville Crackerbarrel (Lambec tradition). Due to construction, we got a little messed up and had to back track (hahaha) but we made it eventually! It was like 3pm and we hadn't eaten lunch yet so we were starving! It was a prime time to go and we were there for literally twenty minutes or so. Awesome. And then we were on our way to Erie! The plan was to go to the beach at Presque Isle. We did make it there, but it was pouring and cold. Figures. Hahaha but as luck would have it, Renee was one beach down from us and we met up! Ahhhh sooo great to see her! We went to her house and talked a bunch and went in her hot tub in the rain. It was so much fun. I miss that girl...wow. Then we were off for our last little leg of the trip to Camp Lambec! Due to the weather, the concert was moved to Springfield Elementary, so we weren't able to see the actual camp :( That was sad. But we arrived and managed to get really good seats.

The concert was really great. The band portion was how it always is...both blah and amazing at the same time. When you really consider the multitude of fourth graders playing in the same band as counselors that have been playing forever...it's truly incredible. I am really proud of Kristen and the work that she has done taking over for Ted. The styles of music they played were great choices too. But as always, band takes the back seat at music camp. The real fun begins with the choir. The music this year was really fantastic, even if it wasn't as musically challenging. Seeing Karen and Megan and the counselors up there...wow. It was really really hard. I started to get tears in my eyes during every song and it took everything not to cry. I was so surprised. I didn't realize how much I missed it until then. I didn't think it would affect me that much. It's so hard not having that in my life anymore. I realized how much I missed God's presence in my life so strongly, how much I've distanced myself from Him. I also realized how badly I want to be in a choir like that again. Hearing the harmonies and seeing the faces of all the kids really into what they were singing...I just wanted to stand up there with them. I knew the words to two of the songs and sang them in my seat...and I just felt like I needed to be up there on stage. It was definitely tough and it took me by surprise. But I was so happy to see Karen and Megan performing for the last time. After the concert, we were able to catch up with our favorite campers and counselors, which was awesome. It felt different this time, in a very good way. I felt like I could actually TALK to them. In the past, I've felt maybe intimidated or just not as close to them as I'd like to be to strike up a lot of conversation, but it was really nice this time. Amy, Karen, Leila, and I definitely got our creeper picture with Joel, of course! I am so proud of Karen for teaching the little cabin 6 girls about 1,2,3- Stare at Joel! It was just kind of a glimpse at how much I've grown and yet how much I loved about who I was even before college started because I had this camp. I just hope that other people have the same experience I did with music camp. I will never forget it. After the concert, Amy and I took the journey home, beat from the whole week!

And now I am just relaxing today. I woke up and my back is absolutely killing me. I have no idea how or when, but I must have pulled a muscle because it really hurts. Oh well. I will live. I don't know what the rest of the weekend will bring, but I am looking forward to just hanging around. Whew, what a week.

Westminster Nostalgia

It is starting to hit me that there are quite a few things that will be different once I return to Westminster next month: Alyssa, Milt, Megan, Kristen, Renee, Rose, some of my KD ladies and other friends will be in LONDON studying abroad and therefore, unless they come to visit, I won't see them until spring :( :( :( And I don't know how to do this whole college thing without my favorite seniors, especially Darnelle. I just can't do it. Sorry, but you have to return your diplomas and come back. This is non-negotiable.

Anyway, as I've mentioned previously, I have been thinking about Westminster a lot and missing school tons. I am incredibly excited for this coming year. I am so anxious for school to start, but I also keep telling myself that I don't want to wish away these college years...so I suppose that includes summers too. Regardless, I can't help but start calculating how many days until I go back (37 days, in case you were wondering). I am so ready for band camp and knowing everyone and meeting freshmen and clarinet awesomeness and mandatory fun...soooo fantastic. And I am just ready to start fresh. I want to be a good friend, really fun and happy and just open to meeting new people and spending more time with different people. I also want to work really hard academically. I think I need to challenge myself more and maybe take on some new things. I'm just really looking forward to it all. Ahhh, SO MUCH FUN. I don't care if there is nothing to do in New Wilmington. It's so much better being bored on a college campus than being bored in Hampton. I am also pumped to take road trips to different friends' colleges. That will be lots of fun :)

Anyway, I am up too late hahaha even if tomorrow is Saturday. Good night!

So

Is it sad that I watch the Bachelorette and that I look forward to it every Monday night? And that it is probably the most exciting thing I do for most of this week? So pathetic hahahahaha.

Wow

I can't believe I've had this blog for over a year now and I have been doing such a poor job at keeping it up! I am happy to say that I haven't given up on this website, as I have with xanga and all of those other silly sites...but I wish I would write more. Alas, that is my thoughts every time I sit down and start blogging, so I'll just move on.

This has been a really interesting summer.

Though there are a million and one words that could describe this break, I can definitely agree on the word "interesting." It's been boring, very boring in fact, fun, sad, exciting, eventful, non-eventful, monotonous, enlightening, confusing, scary, wonderful, amazing, blah, pretty much everything under the sun. I guess I'm not used to this kind of summer. At least I was prepared for it and this time, I don't consider my summer a disappointment. Instead I just think of it as that's how it is. The first summer after starting college isn't the same fun and games as the past summers have been. No more mission trips, no more Lambec (so sad...). All of the constants of summer are taken away and replaced by one goal: making as much money as possible. And then making fun during the few breaks/weekends available. I'm not going on vacation this summer and I don't have a random work schedule. Now I have a steady 40 hour work week Monday through Friday and not much else planned. Am I making the most of my summer? Not really. I guess I appear like I'm not doing anything else and that's not true. I've gone to three grad parties, seen Legally Blonde the Musical, gone to a Pirate game, and I see Aaron pretty much every weekend if possible. But I am kind of in this weird funk where I don't really mind that I spend a lot of time relaxing at home and I don't really feel like seeing people. Is that weird? I loveeee talking to people all the time, that won't ever change. But I don't know...I guess combining tiredness with not wanting to spend money and there being nothing exciting to do in Hampton doesn't leave me with much enthusiasm to do anything. Luckily I finally got paid so I can do more things, but what exactly? I feel like I probably should stop wasting my life by sitting around, but at the same time, I think it's nice to have a break.

As for my job, I lucked out this summer. The last time I wrote, I was worried because my job wouldn't start for an entire month, leaving me with an empty wallet and a LOT of time. Fortunately, I was told about Hampton's need for a substitute paraprofessional so I applied and soon found myself called into work. I worked for four hours at Poff one day and then had a steady two week job at Central. I was mostly a clerical aid, making copies and signs and doing projects for teachers, but I also did the bus room in the morning and watched the kids at recess. It was definitely a valuable learning experience. I got to see things from the paraprofessional point of view at a school and how teachers interact with them and with each other. I am pretty sure I was the youngest person they've ever hired for that kind of thing, so I'm proud and I hope that I was able to bring more credibility to people my age. I think I worked really hard and I received some positive feedback. I think it's really important to put your name out there and establish yourself as a good person and worker, especially in schools where it's really competitive to get a job. I would love to work at Hampton some day or schools like it, so I hope this will help me in some fashion.

Once school ended, my official job for the summer began. I work at Summer Playcamp in the community. I used to go there as a kid, actually. It's for children whose parents work during the summer. The kids come to the community center for organized games in the gym, crafts, free time, snack, and lunch, and then we take them to the pool for the afternoon and end at the pavilion and playground. I absolutely love the job. I have always enjoyed working with kids, but this has been a very wonderful experience. Almost all of the kids are a joy to work with and I really love spending time with them. I won't lie and say it has been all fun and games though! It has certainly been exhausting and stressful. I get very frustrated at some children or situations, as to be expected. But over all, I really really like it. I think all of my working experiences have been really helpful and valuable, especially this one. I am also happy with the staff. We get along fairly well and we even have a Biggest Loser competition going on, which is fun. I definitely won't win that, but it's a good idea.

What an awesome fourth of July! I can't believe that a year ago I started this blog while I was at the beach in Cape May and I wrote about my disappointment over the rainy fourth and somewhat missing the celebrations at home. This year, Hampton decided to hold its activities only on July 3rd to cut costs. I did not have to work on Friday (!!) so I had a really great day off, shopping and relaxing. In in act of sheer boredom, Amy and I decided we would attend the fireworks at the park. I arrived early and walked around by myself and then with Megan and her friends for awhile, realizing how out of place I felt. Amy arrived and we both walked around, trying to avoid people we didn't want to see, and thinking how lame the whole thing was. The fireworks were nothing exciting. It was just like wow, how different this was a few years ago when going to the park for the 4th was a big deal. Not that I'm complaining that things are different now because I'm glad, but it was just weird. And spending a long time in traffic afterwards (even after leaving early) just emphasized that it wasn't really worth it. Luckily I had Amy with me! The fourth, however, was a blastttttttttttt. I drove up to Camp Bucoco to see Aaron and we spent the whole day together. We went to Westminster for a picnic. That was really strange. I have been really nostalgic recently about school, so being on the empty campus was a crazy feeling. I had a blast and I can't wait to go back. Then we went to the outlets for a bit, back to camp for an extremely short swim, out to dinner at The Brewery in Slippery Rock and then to Harrisville for a fair/fireworks. I had so much fun. It was definitely the best day of the summer and one of my favorite days of all time.

I have barely taken any pictures this summer and that makes me sad :( I want to change that. Things to look forward to for the rest of month:

Harry Potter 6 comes out July 15th

Hopefully getting July 17th off to go to the Lambec concert

Birthdays! Amy's and Mine :) (which I haven't even like thought about at all...)

Okay that's a short list. I need to fill it up more! Gahhhhhhh. I need a life.