WILAC S2 P6

This job cannot be done with one Maintenance worker
Joe needs a JC
"Why did the cow jump over the moon?"
"My mom is very poor, and..." (Actually from last week)
"Everyone has a gorilla
Joe is not a DJ
Jitterbuging cannot be made-up
Broken soda canisters explode
There are too many people at meals
"Burn the rope to drop the box"
"I'm one-cheeking it here"
Compy did it
Only Joe's cabin can keep quiet in the night game
"My name's Tony Petreli; I can fix yer car."
"Thankful for the rain and the rainbows"

*Don't always ask why

So this week was Junior High Week One, also known as the best-kept secret of the summer. I was the only mantenance worker on staff (besides my boss), but the kitchen crew and male life guards were very helpful this week. Well, everyone was helpful this week in one way or another, from pitching in to clean the bathrooms to making sure their tables were actually cleaned off. In addition to my daily maintenance rountine, I also helped out with the Reader's Theater production, which carved out two hours of my day to trying to keep Junior Highers quiet. Nothing bad happened, and everything was completed as it should. The fires were fine, bathrooms were clean, games were played, and tables were moved.

I learned two major things this week: 1) I can't do it all by myself, and 2) You don't always need to ask why. The first one is pretty straightforward. although you could go all existential about it and extrapolate it into a huge, universe-encompassing moral lesson. The second one was taught to me in two different ways. First, we had a volunteer who would always ask, "why?" even when the answer was obvious or the question didn't need to be asked. It ended up becoming so ridiculous that it just became tiring after the first day. Second, I saw certain staffers second-guessing both their actions and the events that were happening to them. It drove them (and, as the one who has constantly hearing about it, me) nuts. Without going into too much depth, all I can say is that sometimes, it pays to not worry and let everything cause bumps along the way. Sometimes, it's okay to let it roll over you and just relax. Trust me, I've worried about enough nonsense over the years to be able to say that worrying too much is hazardous to one's health.

So, next week is Junior High 2, the Best Week of the Summer, and I actually go back to camp in a little more than an hour. This is the last week for the counseling staff, apart from a few who will stay on for the Family Weeks, and it is the week with the most campers of any week. It also has some of the most fun activities of any week, but it will still be a challenge to everyone.

WILAC, S2, P5

JR. Week 2

"Make your own baby"
Hannah can't eat tortilla chips
Making a shower with a built-in coffee maker is an awesome idea
Bruised ribs hurt
Everyone needs a note every now and then
River mud sounds weird
Everyone can do the penguin dive
Lindsey can get competitive
"Narwhals, Narwhals, swimming in the ocean..."
Seth went 300 on that raccoon
"The pool sunk"
"Gag me with a blowtorch"
Joe and Lauren are now married
Steel-toed boots prevent broken feet.
If you can beat the heat, stay inside
Tony needs to stay out of the sun
Always wear sunscreen, even when you don't think you need it

So, I know this week's list of quotes is shorter than most, but by the time I sat down on my bed to type out all the funny stuff from that day, I was toast. Even now, as I sit here typing this, my brain still refuses to de-fry itself and recall all the precious memories from this past week. This past week concluded the reign of Juniors on the campground without much trouble. Given that the temps were in the triple digits for the last two days, it could have been a lot worse. Thankfully, no campers became victims of the heat; unfortunately, one staffer did and is now out for the next week recovering.

Next week is the "Best Kept Secret of the Summer," a secret so well-kept that we only have 82 campers at the moment....yeah. Anyhow, it's the first of two weeks of junior-high campers and the only pair of weeks that are radically different, but more on that after next week. This week should be a relaxing week...except that instead of 3 maintenance workers, there's only one: me. As said before, one is out recovering, the other is out trapped in the Adirondacks. This'll be interesting...

Oh right, the lesson I learned this week


...


Ummm


...


Oh, right! Don't let your squabbles with one person affect your relationships with others, because it can, nay, will come back to bit you, hard. It's not exactly something I learned this week, since it's sort of a common sense idea, but I was thoroughly reminded of it Wednesday night.

Not really sure what else to post this week. I think I need to get back into the habit of writing in order to effectively write these things. meh

WILAC S2, P2

Jr. Week 1

-"One, two, three, eyes on me"
-Lakewater ice-cubes are an interesting prank
-Joe will be a Bible bicycle cop
-"Bind us together Lord / Bind us togeth--CAR!!"
-Danielle isn't evil
-"Bumblebee, bumblebee, give what you've got to me"
-Compy makes a beautiful flower
-We all know where Cory's looking
-Wet and Wild Water Wars > Splash Games
-"Sin covers all love"
-"You just dropped a ball"
-When pranks go out of control, we clean up"
-"Yeah, but 'The mystery of the vanishing poop' sounds better than 'The mystery of the vanishing toilet paper'."
-Tony'll flirt with anything that moves
-Ish can't car-jack
-"What? Were you going out to your mailbox naked and a guy was jogging by who also happened to be naked and you bumped into each other and accidentally had sex?"
-Charlie the skunk is back
-Cory's a soprano
-"Oh, so that's where Black people came from."
-Reily can't handle hot sauce.
-"That's not a donut; that's flour."
-Hannah hit her eye 11 times in one week.
-Girl drama sucks

So, this past week was a lot more...well, everything good than last week. We got more work done, there was no catastrophic failure in any of the municipal aspects, the kids were easier to manage (there were also less of them), the weather was less harsh, albeit a lot dryer, and everything seemed to resolve itself.

As for a larger thing I learned at camp, I guess it would be that everything will work out in the end. Easy to say, hard to believe in. Without going into too many details that aren't mine to share, this week I saw a lot of prayers get answered, problems work out in time, and well, the quote " I'm okay because I have God and he's all the love I need. He'll help us through" pretty much sums it up. Not everything can be solved purely by waiting and praying. Sometimes, action is necessary, but even that action can be as simple as lending an ear to listen. So then, how do we know when to wait something out and when to do something about it? I think if someone had the answer to that, then the world's problems would be all but fixed (Oh, wait...I forgot about human nature...right...never mind). I'm always an advocate for approaching a trial head on if it's smaller, especially interpersonal problems, and waiting on the bigger ones until they've been thought through thoroughly.

Not sure what else to put on this week's post other than I also received an offer for this upcoming year that totally rocks my socks and I got to reconnect with someone I was a fool to not stay in touch with.

Next week is Junior Week 2, which should be just about as awesome as this week was.

WILAC S2 P3

Ty wears his sunglasses at night

Never offer to make out with someone to prove you're straight

Lauren shouldn't huff sugar

$5

You'll find work if you look for it, and if you don't

"QUIET!!!"

Tony doesn't drive on diesel

Seniors like to shower

"Do it on the weekend"

Camp is bad when the water's out

Seth can shoot 4 clay pigeons with one BB

"Ow...you shot me in the chin"

Tom was the skunk

Danielle M. is evil

Chelsea is a marks(wo)man

Stephen is a pyromaniac

It's always good to have someone to talk to

Well, this week I didn't really have any big revelations or major changes to my life. I'm really tired this weekend, so much so that I'm misspelling about every third word as I type. I did learn, however, that being the "nice guy" can simultaneously be wonderful and horrible at the same time.

Anyhow, I'm really sorry to my readers (all 4 of you as far as I know), but I'm really tired and our of energy for the day since I had an awesome day hanging out with one of the best people in the world. I may update this one later in the week, but it seems unlikely.

Next weeks starts the beginning of three easier week, Junior Weeks 1&2, and Junior High 1 (the best-kept secret of the summer.). Remember, there's still space available to anyone who wants to join.

Goodnight New York~!

WILAC, S.2, P.2

What I learned during Precious Jewels Week:

(N.B. As I was typing, I realized some of these sound rude, but were originally said in innocent context, which I have included at the end of the quote)

"Anyone need a hoe?"

"Drive it like it's stolen"

'Barzelfarf"

"If you wanna get wet then go roll in a puddle"

"That's how we do it BaYouCa style: freeze 'em and beat 'em" (referring to chicken)

"Lemme put my pants on" (referring to my pants that zip off into shorts)

"I will hip check you into next week"

"We don't slap, we grab" (referring to being the first to grab a ball away from the opponent to win a round of Electricity)

When it rains, it pours

My car is for sale for a dollar

I'm a hetero version of a gay best friend

A pawpaw is a small tree/shrub with sweet berries

Hypocrisy

The benches on the left side of the dinning hall are lower than the right

• Don't ever judge a book by it's cover.

That last one is what I want to focus on this week as I was on both the receiving and giving side of this cliché. Surprisingly, this has nothing to do with the actual Precious Jewels, who are, for hose of you who don't know, mentally handicapped campers that the camp hosts for a single week. This year, I did not have any campers in my cabin (which is good since my counselor was having health problems), instead I had a cabin full of volunteers from a youth group in Michigan. It could have gone better...

Long story short, their youth leader, when respectfully approached on the matter of a miscommunication that left us without beds, completely shut us down because we were younger than him. (yes, this will be a bit of a rant. I'm trying to get over it, but I need to spew for a bit) Have I mentioned yet that he was probably only five years older than me? I'm not over-exaggerating either; he literally said we were too young to talk to adults about this stuff. Us, who are entrusted with the safety and leadership of preteens, teens, and mentally handicapped adults. and this man, who was in charge (barely) of a group of adolescents encouraged his group to break rules and made more inappropriate jokes than the entire group combined.

I'm trying to follow 1 timothy 4:12, "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity" (NIV), especially the last part, but I am having trouble. On of the things that really gets on my nerves (among being interrupted and when people ask me for advice and then completely ignore it) is being criticized for my age, especially since I'm young for my grade level (Sophomore at college and only 18). Deep breath...they're gone. I just have to forget about them.

I know that's kind of off-topic for cover-judging, but it fits well-enough. I'll also admit (without giving away too many details) that I judged someone unfairly this past week, and I was dramatically proven wrong. It wasn't so much an age thing, but not knowing someone's background fully, which is next to impossible to know upon meeting someone (Hi, my name's ___ and my life story begins when...). So, it just proves once again that I'm not even close to being a good role model yet, but I think I managed to save the situation.

Well, I think that's the gist of it for this week. Next week is Precious Jewels Two--I mean, Senior High Week, which is the end of the "hard" weeks. Keep all of us in prayer.

What I Learned At Camp, season 2, pt 1

"You don't like pancakes? What are you, the devil?"

"Remember guys: professionalism-" "Pants on the ground!"

PD

"Freedom!"

Christian can't lead in the dark

"Whuh?"

"Or you'll die"

A weatherman-preacher can solve all problems

Someone stole the bat video

"Can I sit on your roof?"

"If you're with me, clap your hands! / Slap your knees! / Stomp your feet!"

We must always wait for the bell

I am a lionotter

Longer the hair, the closer the shave

I can't get along with someone of the opposite sex without starting rumors that we're in a relationship

So, if you're new to my little blog here, after every week I post a list of amusing quotes and facts from camp, along with a deeper evaluation of the week as a whole. This past week was the beginning of my second summer working at BaYouCa (Baptist Youth Camp): staff training week. If you were following me last year, you might remember the struggles I had adjusting to the working. for those of you who weren't following me, the week last year challenged me so much that I almost quit, which is not something I ever do.

This year, however, staff training went, well, swimmingly except for two injuries and an asthma attack. The weather wasn't the best (I poured Wed-Friday), but we still got everything done that needed to be done since Boss sent us home Friday night instead of Saturday noon. (Well, there are still some logs that need to be cut but still). I don't actually have much to report this time around.

It was really great to see some old friends from last year and making new ones since most of the staff was new to me. I really think this year is going to be great given the people we have on staff. (But man, employing all these 16-year-olds who are still in high school makes me feel old.) Everyone seems to work really well together, and there are so many unique personalities that nothing will ever get old. I know everyone's nervous about how the summer will turn out, especially the first-time staff and counselors, but I'm sure that by the grace of God, everything will be fine.

Untitled

My heart weighs heavy;
I know not what to think.
My worst fears alive,
Pushing (me) towards the brink
of mindless self-loathing, and
sociological despair.
I feel so alone, surrounded by so many.
All I have is me and my own, but
that is the light in the darkness-
I know I won't be left behind.
It's time for me to make my move;
Time for me to shine.

WILAC VIII

WILAC, Family Week One
-"We wanna see neon brown"
-"Doesn't that make her a pole hugger?"
-That's making the list
-Ghost peppers are hot
-Falling off ATVs hurts...
-Jumpercables can spread
-Matches burn twice
-"What shape is that?" "Banana!"
-I curled my hair and brushed my teeth
-Tires are sharp
-Hot hot coffee
-I'm a friend of casteration (intentionally misspelled)
-The name Kendra is growing
-It's probably toy-oxic
-"Wait...is this stuff corrosive?" "Yes" "..."
-Charlie, the dancing snake
-I didn't throw it at him; I threw it and his head got in the way.
-The Craft Store ramp is slippery when wet (Mariah)
-"That's my jugular!"
-There was a hand, who met a foot...
-"Once upon a time there were some maintenance boys. We're still wondering what happened..."
-Mops make a "wamp" sound
-"Chicken breast-random"
-I want to go to Stainless, China
-Ty and butter knives don't mix
-We're all doo-med
-"You move around in your sleep so much, when you wake up, you're in China"

So this week was Family Camp One, which is much different than the normal kids' camp. For starters, us male support staffers are rooming in the basement underneath the new dining hall, dubbed the Program Room. Yup, they put 5 teenage guys in a room full of balls, toys, powertools, and various projectiles. We got along fine at least, three maintenance, one kitchen worker, and one lifeguard. This entails a very long walk up-hill to the showers in the morning :(
Anyhow, we had a little over 110 campers total, and half of them seemed to be kids of all ages. Our schedule was much more relaxed than normal camp, yet we seemed to have so much more work to do (still trying to figure that out). At least we weren't stuck in the Snack Shack for 2 hours in the afternoon averaging about 3 customers (poor errand girls). Instead, we were doing things like staking huge piles of wood, setting up for a garage sale, setting up for a dinner theater, bbq-ing chicken, and all other hard labor you can imagine. My best relaxing time of this week was paintball refereeing on Friday. All I have to do is stand there, make sure they follow the rules (easy with adults), and laugh at their shenanigans (Don't believe I spelled that right on the first try). In one game of capture the flag, I was posted by one of the bases and I see this one man come rushing out of the woods and leap into the air for the flag. One, two, shots in mid -air and he was down. They all looked at me and I was speechless. Basically I said, "I wish I could give it to you but you're out."
So yeah, it was a good week, but tiring. I slept like a log every single night, and Saturday night, I slept for 12 hours straight! Well, that may have been because my mind was trying to forget "Scott Pilgrim VS The World," essentially a waste of $6. It sounded good, but in reality, the movie was just way over-done.
This next week finishes off the summer camp season with Family Camp Two. it hasn't really sunk in with me yet, but I know it will be both sad and relaxing at the same time. Then I have 6 days off (sort of) and then I go off to college.
So yeah, that's it for now

WILAC VII

WILAC-Jr. High Wk 2 (Best week of the summer)
-Soda is good for the soul
-The children burned down
-"Then I was a sign in front of me, and it said 'No smoking seatbelt.' I couldn't get the darn thing to light!"
-The kitchen floor will smell like chocolate pudding forevermore
-Burnt breadstick+whipped cream=awesome
-I can't drive and high-five at the same time (ask Mariah)
-Ty set himself on fire
-I've yet to have a good Tuesday there
-I had the best seat in the dinning hall
-I have a secret admirer
-It is possible to argue over spilled milk
-Candy boxes don't contain candy
-I can now do pull-ups
-"Bass"
-Some people can't dump water coolers
-It's in the refreezerator
-Splinters hurt, especially when under a fingernail
-I can still juggle (unless I have bandaged hands)
-"That sure wasn't diesel!"
-I'm the only one who can do the one-legged cross sit
-I started a matchstick trend
-"Rainbows in the front, let me hear you grunt (huu)
Rainbows in the middle, let me hear you sizzle (szz)
Rainbows in the rear, let me hear you cheer (Woo)
Rockin' Rainbows, Rockin' Rainbows, Rockin' Rainbows (Woo!)"

So this past week was the second JH week, the Best Week of The Summer, and the final week of regular campers and counselors. We had 206? campers this week, which is pretty much maximum capacity. It was pretty crazy Monday morning trying to park that many cars (4 rows!) while chatting with friends and directing people who can't read simple signs. Any-way, it was a pretty long, tiring, but overall satisfying week. There was some drama (as always), laughs, tears, and pain (burnt kitchen worker, a bruised and a torn counselor, pudding-fearing kitchen workers, and a split family).
So yeah, I didn't get to see much of the chapels this week. In fact, I don't think I saw any of them the entire way through. I was too busy with various things. Thankfully this week, one of our volunteers, Ty, was assigned to maintenance for the entire week. He was really a giant help, I don't think we could have pulled off all the stuff we did this week if it wasn't for him-especially Thursday. Every Best week (except for one year) there's a game of Toiletbowl-Ball, which is basically ultimate Frisbee with a beanbag as the disc and toilets as the goals. It was really fun for every one, even the people placed in cheer-leading, security, and homecoming. During the halftime show, all us maintenance, errand girls, and executive staff did a "Hi, my name is... my testimony is... and a funny story is... " and I got Kanye'd by Katie B for my funny story! Oh well, it was entertaining.
This next week starts family camp, which means that most of the counselors have gone bye-bye. I'm sad to see them go but glad for the memories I have with them. I think I'm going to have to come back next year just to make more. I have no idea what to expect this coming week, but it should be interesting.
Text me when you're bored, pray for me when you have time.

WILAC VI

-Not everyone knows what Converse are
-Mouthwash can make even trash smell good
-When I say "eyeballs," you say "click"
-"Elbow it!"
-It's Christmas in July
-Rolling mean constant contact with the table!
-Ish is too strong for shovels
-I'm laughing at the situation
-Wicked jams in the kitchen are awesome
-As the gas goes down, the fish goes up
-Grocery stores don't sell nails
-Hand-squeezed juice
-All of Ish's troubles could have been avoided with two blue slushies
-Mowers can go up 45 degree hills without tipping
-Sodium hyopchlorate > bleach
-"It's like I'm taking a bath in a cough drop"
-"Jesus be tripping"
-Can I-Maaaaay I?
-"I'm still all sudsy!"
-"ROY *clapclap, clapclap* G *clapclap, clapclap* BIV *clapclap, clapclap* ROYGBIV, Noah built the ark so the animals could live"
-"It's like spiders went crazy and had a war in your hair"
-And somewhere in the distance, a cow moo'd
-Boating in the shower
-"That's a creepy hole"

So, this week was the first of the Junior High weeks, with a total of 88 campers (50-50 guy-girl), which is good because the low numbers were easier to deal with. next week...*gulp* has 221 campers signed up (220 is about the camp limit) and we accept walk-ins. Soooo Monday will be an interesting day seeing as how we're going to have to park all those cars, find beds for all the campers, and set up almost 300 chairs along with all our other tasks....oi...
So yes, prayer will be greatly appreciated
Anyways, I don't really have any super-special, dramatic epiphany or anything this week. The week was long, hard, fun, crazy, and all-around awesome, but nothing spectacular (although that means that nothing catastrophic happened either). Oh, we had a reader's/dinner theater, which for those of you who don't know is just like a normal dinner theater, except the cast is always reading from a script, even when on stage. It went off really well, and I can't wait to see it again this week.
This Sunday we're in for a treat. The board is giving us a special dinner (steak) tonight, and we have some other special things going on.
...which reminds me, I have to go pack;
Caio!

WILAC V

-If there's enough, you can sweep water
-Cabin 19 has had a leaky roof
-A frayed knot
-1, 2, 3, eyes on me
-Nursey can rock it on the guitar
-I need a belt
-"Flood" is spelled with an "i"
-1, 2, eyes on you! (yes, sometimes it takes just that long)
-Glow sticks can explode
-So can pipes
-Every week is unique (+5 rhyming points)
-Puddle jumping is fun
-Skirts can be used to hide water balloons
-I know where something hidden is
-Mud sliding is dirty
-Tar is hard to get off your hands
-If I ever do have kids, I hope they're girls
-The song game is fun
-Shaylem and Emily are deathly afraid (knot) of snakes
-Something bad was supposed to happen on Friday
-I love drama
-Next best thing to candles: bubbles
-When it rains, it pours

So, this week was junior week two, same ages as last week but with over 140 kids this time (max capacity is a little over 200). It rained most of the week with showers hitting all days except Thursday, which allowed for splash games to still take place. Wednesday evening was the worst of the storm, with the water coming down in sheets with wind gusts of up to 40 miles per hour (and me, Doug, Adam, Christian, and Emily D were all standing in the gazebo taking it head-on (someone was too scared to come out of her cabin)). The other days, it just kind of drizzled for most of the day. Personally, I love the rain, the sight, the sound, the thunder and lightning, the smell afterwords, pretty much anything to do with rain. The management staff did a great job working around/through the weather though, and the counselors must have loved it since they got to spend more time with their campers (hopefully it was love). The only really bad parts about the rain were the fact that the basement of the Tab flooded, and the fires for s'mores wouldn't light right. So, yeah, that's the first part of the "rains/pours" I have.
The second part is centered around the fact that this was the second hardest week of my life, the first being fishing camp, which I'm sure a few of you have heard about. Anyhow, given the intense weather, drama which both involved me directly and not, and a few complications I don't want to share publicly until I deal with it privately (isn't there a verse in Matthew that says to deal with the person responsible first?). Nevertheless, this was a long, hard, tiring week, not only for me but for all of the staff. What set this week apart from all the other lousy weeks in my life was the fact that it was worth the struggle. I grew closer to my friends at camp, and even those who I don't normally talk to. I lost another 3 pounds (making the summer total 21-blackjack!) even though I was eating more this week than normal (care package from my aunt). I also learned how to replace sinks.
Today, or it might have been yesterday... I was reading another staffer's weekly update (she has so much more detail than I do) and in it was the phrase "Life's not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain." That phrase really called out to me this week (not just because of the literal rain and all the fun we had in it) and it encouraged me. I'm a sort-of opportunist; if I see a time to do something and have the ability, I will do it (sort of like kleptomania). However, this phrase takes it to a bigger picture aspect. I realized I need to take it a little bit more relaxed and just enjoy the moments as they come, no worrying about college, romance, stories, or anything like that untill after camp, and even then I'll still take it slow. Thank you Mariah (and as a thanks, I spelled your name right)
So yeah, next week is Jr. High Week I, with a total of 85 campers so far. This week will definitely be easier. Can't wait to give you guys an update. Oh-and I'm now past the half-way point for the camp season! Only four more weeks to go...four weeks? oi...

WILAC IV

What I learned at camp: Junior Week I

-Emily S. is a trashcan-ninja
-I am the lobsterman
-Shaylem is a cat
-The fire will put out the rain
-Razor blades are sharp (triple cream and a bandaid!)
-I can single-handedly harm myself more in one day than the entire previous two weeks
-I got a 5 on the AP English exam
-Danielle and Shaylem should never have caffeine or sugar
-There's never ever ever ever ever been a show like Veggie Tales
-I know a song that gets on everybody's nerves...
-Mike can't Kayak
-The lifeguards are all non-swimmers
-What happens when we over-load the trailer
-Clotheslines are valuable property
-My name is JC
-Friends change

So, this week was the first week of the Junior duo, ages 8-10. it was a lot easier than the two previous weeks, especially last week (if you don't remember, I went home sick from the heat). Maintenance-wise, we had no real problems or drama, a couple toilets clogged the last day, but other than that it was fine. The kids were great-I keep getting the cabin full of angels, apparently. The weather was fine too, a little rain at the beginning and end of the week that helped keep it cool. The activities went off without a hitch, well, except for me getting soaked during the water games...thank you Emily. The speaker for the main assemblies was good, he kept the services active. In one, he had all of us line up on the lower field to mark out the demensions of the ark (Man that thing was long). The one who did the nature trails and out staff devos spoke from II Peter about being content in all situations, and how prosperity can actually become more negative than hardship. All-in-all, it was an enjoyable, active-yet-easy week, and i can't wait for Junior II.
So, onto the major topic (which if you've noticed, is the last line of the list): friends. I like how I handle my friends; I have a core group whom I can do any and everything with, another, larger, group who I can go around and talk to naturally about stuff and hang out with them (I call them my peripherites), and then there is the last group, those who are more acquaintances than friends. Personally, I love this because I love being able to slide between groups and hear the different reactions, ideas, opinions, and everything else (I love knowing things), but I also love having those few who as soon as something's up, we all know.
So anyhow, this past year, I noticed how much my friends were shifting. The people who I thought would be my closest friends ended up not, and a few people surprised me by how close we became. Even this past week at camp I noticed this trend. The people who, at first, I thought I would spend the most time with, I have barely talked to since staff training, and those who I am spending the most time with, I never would have thought. I mean, don't get me wrong; they're awesome and I wouldn't trade them for anyone else. Although, I laugh as I think them over. There's a bearded redneck who (we decided) is dangerously immature, a (what was the word?) petite blonde who is only a little evil on the inside (I blame her nekomimi (look it up) traits), a pouty brunette who loves annoying me, and a skirt-wearing errand girl who was mistaken for a trashcan (yeah...).
Well, hopefully I'll find another insane group like this at college (already found one) and that those who I have now will stay close to me. To all of you who read this, thank you for being such great friends to me, and I hope I've been good to you too.

WILAC III

What I Learned At Camp, mark III (although some of them are just quotes)

-Muscles are measured in bananas
-The pastor shoots like a drug addicted watermelon
-Pears>grapes in a food flinging contest (was actually last week)
-Welcome to Red Lobster, home of the Red Lobster. Can I take your order?
-"Do you have some of those...what are they called? polytheistic rings?"
-I am apparently immune to paintballs
-There's a four-sting version of Relient K, and they sound awesome
-150 Lumens is enough
-Nursey can be bribed (as can I)
-Montana is a lie
-Cardboard is heavy when wet
-I should have brought my swim trunks
-Leia is now blind in her right eye, wait, what? now she also has a "broken" foot?
-It is entirely possible to drop a pen in a fan
-Having "Sunny With a High of 75" on a day where the temperatures reach 116 F isn't nice.
-Said high temperatures plus a head cold equals not-niceness
-Senior highers are the real precious jewels.

Okay, so this past week was the one and only Senior high week with possibly record-high temperatures (I have a picture on my phone of the thermometer reading 106 F at 10am). I had only been a camper during Sr. High week once, and I don't really remember most of it (too many mangas I guess). So it was...an experience. Unfortunately, I missed the end of it due to being majorly sick and going home Friday night, so I missed the bonfire and a few other things. I still feel a little iffy so please pray for me this coming week that I might fully recover quickly.
So, ignoring the heat and the sickness, my reactions to this past week? I now realize why so many of the "older" generations look down on my age group so much. True, I have gone to a private Christian school for all of my high school career, so I may have seen the better side of people, but some of the people I met, I was almost ashamed to have shook (shook or shaken?) hands with them. Now, I did not actually meet a lot of the campers, but I must have encountered most of the guys in the course of bathroom cleaning. Some of them have no respect at all. At one point, a kid who had alread been warned against disrespectful behavior was making a mess in the sink while we were cleaning, Christian (the other maintenance worker who knows way more than I do) told him he was going to have to wipe the shaving cream of the counter. So what does the kid do? He looks Christian straight in the eye and dumps shaving cream on the floor. Now, I did meet several people who were kind, courteous, and fun, although strangely not one of them was male...
Anyways, I was talking about it on the ride home with my mom (and I was strangely lucid due to a dose of NyQuil) and she said that one of the reasons is because her generation never fully instilled manners into the current generation. Now, that could be part of it, but I've been thinking about it over the past couple of days and I've come up with a blanket, albeit grim, assessment: The world is just plain evil. Now, I'm not talking full-scale Hitler-evil in every one, but doesn't the Bible say we're all inherently evil? Now, here we run into a controversy in whether a person can be "good" without being saved. Without going into any length, I say yes. So is it just a flawed spirit that makes people jerks? I don't know, I know many Christians that are meaner than atheists I've met. Meh, i guess all we can do is be a good example and not let them get to us.
So, next week is a jump to the first Junior week, which is ages...8-12, IIRC? It's the next age group down from Jr. High. It should be a relief, since I get along better with that age group, and the only bathroom issue will be the rush during Shower Day. So yeah, drop me a line if you have time, I feel like the only one I've talked to from home this summer's Heather.

What I learned at camp II

What I learned at camp, this week:
-Never sand towards yourself
-Anything can be fixed with bailing twine, bleach, or ducttape
-What we have here is a failure to communicate
-If it ain't dirty, don't fix it
-Three ingredients to a BYC BBQ: Gas, a match, and lots of running distance
-Apparently, tornadoes can happen in central NY
-Every kitchen member freezes momentarily under a code blue (safety inspector)
-Tuesday is apparently random singing day
-Maria shouldn't drive the EZGo (just kidding)
-I shouldn't be allowed on failblog because I just wasted a half hour when I was supposed to be writing this...
-Mentally handicapped people are no different than the rest of us

So another week has gone by, and another lesson has been learned (I think). Well, I'm not sure; this week didn't leave me with as great an impression as last week. Anyway, this week was Precious Jewels week, the mentally handicapped week at camp (actually, it was the 40th anniversary of when the PJ program started) and it went off without any major hitches. Well, there was a tornado Monday (no damage done), and our assistant cook, who majorly runs the kitchen, has his dominant arm in a sling and isn't supposed to be in the kitchen anymore. My cabin's campers were fine. We had no problems with missing or belligerent campers, no bed wetting (sorry cabin 3!), and there was only one mess in the lav, and even that wasn't really bad. All in all, it was a fairly mellow week, just draining (we moved a lot of tables and chairs).
Every camper there seemed to be pretty coherent. When I was sitting through the training, i was picturing people who could barely function, but they seemed fine, just limited. A few of them couldn't talk well, others had motor skill problems, but only a handful (if that) seemed actually "disabled." I guess that's how it is in the real world.
Why are people so ignorant?
Anyhow, next week is the single Senior High week, dubbed "Precious Jewels Week II" by most of the staff, and I'm only semi-looking forward to it. Apparently, the campers don't respect the facilities, and I'm not crazy about reffing paintball as a guy... Well, it should be an experience nonetheless. Drop me a line if you need, no promises on a response though.

First Poem

Hey yo, I realized I never actually put this up here. For those of you who don't know, I wrote this poem for the National League of American Pen Women's 55th annual poetry contest. With it, I won first place in my category (High school), which garnered me publication in the Post Standard, a bookmark, a certificate, and a $50 savings bond (currently worth $25). I wrote it near the end of the year while I was cleaning my room. (Some of you have actually seen said blanket)
Enjoy!


Packing Childhood

I knew not until I left, how difficult it would be
To live apart, out on my own.
The only thing that remains is (memories)
A tousled, musty orange, forlorn
Blanket hung upon my bedpost and fallen to the floor.
It shivered slightly in the breeze from the open door,
Waving, beckoning me back to childhood (wear it as a cape,
Build a fort, forget your chores, create a magic trick).
I take it and, folding, clutch it tight.
(The receiving Christmas, the first tear, stitch, and mend)
Still feeling her warm embrace, the scent of jasmine and sage,
(The smile upon her face during the summer dates)
With these, I am not alone.
I inhale, and am home.

What I learned at camp so far

What I learned this week at Camp Bayouca:
Always drink your juice
Leia will marry someone named Lando Vader
I'm almost a dead-center personality type (technically a combination of a Golden Retriever/Otter)
Diesel engines are much different than gas
Swamp walks are disgusting, yet team-building
Kitchens are hot
Weed whacking is difficult
Always drink your juice
Bonfires are hot (especially when you're standing on the hot edge of it)
When rowing back to the dock, it helps to lift the anchor
Every one is horrid at trashcan free-throws except Ish
There are a lot of random words that trigger songs in my head
it was Jessica Jenne's birthday Thursday many times over
The diving board's only rated to 200lbs.
Croyish is an amazing team (apparently unlike the U.S. soccer team...go Slovakia)
Always drink your juice
I was there for the entirely wrong reasons
So, at first I was going to camp just because it was a job at a place I liked to pay for my text books. I also thought that if I lost a little weight and gained a little muscle, it wouldn't be a bad thing. When I arrived, however, I realized all that was wrong. Now even though I don't necessarily agree completely with some of their doctrine (nothing that will cause a problem), I do see the amazing potential for God's movement in that camp. Thursday, I had a complete melt-down over the stress and tiredness and, mostly thanks to the other maintenance worker, Christian, I realized my error and have begun to remedy it. Well, it wasn't just Christian, it was also Kattie and Lindsy's never-fading smiles, John and Danielle's drive to always work, late-night theological discussions with James, and everyone else.
Anyhow, I'm better now. committed to working for God and for the campers and not myself. I know it'll be hard (oh, I'm sweeping, mopping, running around, cleaning bathrooms and doing any other sort of fix or manual labor) but I'm committed. Next week is Precious Jewels Week, the mentally handicapped week, and I'm a little scared. I've never really worked with MH people before, and I'm scared I'll do something wrong. After that it's Senior high week, which shouldn't be too bad. then it gets really easy with two weeks of Junior camp. Then a round of Junior high and finish with two weeks of Family camp. All in all, a busy, yet rewarding summer.
Oh, if you need to contact me, I won't have my computer, but I'll have my phone. Unfortunately, I don't have much time of good signal, or much time. So I'll check it on breaks and respond, but a full conversation would be rare. if you don't have a cell, you can email me at 3154067562@vtext.com and it'll appear as a text on my phone (limit 140 characters)
I'll have a new update next Saturday!

Last thoughts

So, yeah, I've just finished cleaning out my room today (well, it's been week-long project) and I kept getting the strangest feeling when I was done. I didn't feel like my room anymore; it felt more like a hotel room that happened to have my stuff in it. I felt almost like I didn't belong. Is this what leaving for college feels like? I want to just skip all this transitioning. I want to jump to my own apartment, my own job, and (if at all possible) my own friends and girlfriend. This whole college thing? Why's it have to be so weird?
Anyhow, I'm done here for the week. Tomorrow I leave to be at Le Moyne for two days for orientation (Still bummed I miss Michelle's Graduation party). No clue what's actually going to happen, so it might be interesting. Then, I pack Sunday night to leave at the crack of dawn Monday morning to work for nine weeks. I'll be home from about noon Saturday to supper Sunday night, just enough to to update and get updated. This'll be my main outlet and I'll be posting the links on FaceBook. Not much more to say right now, I'll just leave with a song that'd been playing in my head since I finished cleaning/packing away. just wish I could come to terms with this thinking.

Upon graduation

thoughts that occurred to me, on this, the final day of finals.

Wow, haven't updated my status in a while.
School's over, but my mind's in denial.
It feels so anti-climatic,
Yet not without being melodramatic.
I'm done, finished, finito,
Time to eat my last Frito.

Annoyance

Oh, alarm clock at my side,
How you doth annoy my mind to no end.
You wake me from from my dreams,
And steal away my joyous respite.
Thy alarum drives me insane,
And bores deeply into my brain.
Without you, it is true
That my life would be more chaos then good,
But some day, I may just defenestrate you

Reflections

So, as you can tell I re-formatted my page so that it looks more like my style; let me know if it is too hard to read.
I'm just lying here, on my bed, listening to the wind in the leaves outside and I can"t help but think I'm supposed to be saying something profound...
(Five minutes later)
I can't think of anything, that's sad.
I ordered me a little, 7" USB monitor for my comp today with my graduation money. I've been waning one for a while.
I really feel like I should be saying something important.
Maybe it'll come to me after some more caffeine.