10 Happy Things During a Bad Week

Despite the bad things in my life right now, I'm going to post a blog of the top ten happiest things this week:

1. Today was our "Reader's Theatre" performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was adorable. Absolutely adorable. I know they are seniors in high school and don't want to be called "adorable," but I was so proud of them. Personally, I think that is the hardest Shakespeare I've read. There are three sets of characters and a play within a play, and that's on top of the language and lack of stage directions that is typical of Shakespeare. And they nailed it. Absolutely nailed it.

2. I am entirely done with all of my papers for this semester. After I print them tomorrow, all I have to do is take the Instructional Techniques exam which is all opinion so no real need to prepare.

3. On Friday, I decided I wanted to see that show "Glee." I downloaded it and watched all 15 episodes this weekend. The characters are excellent. I adore that Kristen Chenoweth is in it. Sue Slyvester is amazing, and everytime she speaks, she reminds me of Becky in a crazy way. " I empower my Cheerios to live in fear by creating an environment of irrational, random terror." Not that Becky is terrifying, but you know.

4. Speaking of Becky, I found this on my facebook wall today. There are really no words neccessary to explain why this is happy:

5. Last night, I was kind of having a rough time, Tia stayed up and texted me. Even though it was 1 A.M. and she probably wanted to sleep, she stayed up anyway. That is what a real friend is like.

6. Speaking of Tia, today I learned she comes with a dowry. Yes, indeed, if any of you are looking for a fine lady, I've got one who comes with a fire safe. She is also looking for a fine Amish man, if you know, any of them are willing to leave the church and teach her Pennslyvania Dutch.

7. Yesterday I accomplished a college goal of visiting the Starz Market. It was every bit as shady as I imagined.

8. There are 42 more days until camp. 42 and camp are both the answer to the question of life, the universe, and everything.

9. I finally found a pretty smelling lotion that doesn't make me itch. It's Victoria's Secret Pink, therefore, it's incredibly expensive, but I got a travel size. It's fun to smell like sweet berry and grapefruit ("fun and flirty") without getting a rash.

10. Last, but not least:





PS. How do we feel about the green? I wouldn't typically pick green. I mean, I like green and all, it's just not pink.

I'm 22 for a moment

Sometimes, I think about the people I met my first summer at camp. I am good terms with all of them, it's not like I burned any bridges or anything, but you know, things change and people drift apart. With the exception of a handful who I am still good friends with, I see the rest about once a year. I know I'm only 22, so to say "I was only 18!" is ridiculous, but I'm going to say it. I was only 18! Occasionally, I think about that first summer and wonder what people thought of me. I had just graduated from high school and was angsty, not to mention I had lost my best friend only a year before and was still pretty depressed.

When you think about the differences between a 1 year old and a 4 year old, the differences are astronomical. Same with a 4 year old and an 8 year old, and even as old as a 12 year old and a 16 year old. But once you hit 18, people think you stay the same for a while. I don't think that's the case.

I'm about to finish my last week of undergraduate classes. Of course, there are the two "classes" you take when you student teach, but I'm not counting those because it's not the same. This is the end of studying, mundane paper writing, homework assignments. My last tutor meeting is Friday, and I declared myself done with Circle K last Tuesday. Certainly the end of a lot of things that have been important to me in college.

I'd like to say I'm getting emotional, but honestly I can only think about summer. And I can only think about camp. I know some people classified their college careers in semesters or years, but I classify myself in summers. There were changes every year.

'06 I was timid. I was shy and anxious all the time. I was young, and intimidated by older staff members. I was naive. I was shocked by the jokes, the language. Being so clean cut became like a disability. '07 I was bitter and complained like a champ, and my head was about the size of the camp. I did my job well, and I knew it. I got beyond excellent reviews. I thought I had changed and left that angsty person from '06 behind. Then once, one of my supervisors asked me to do something that I didn't necessarily want to do, something menial and stupid like cleaning a bathroom, and I did it because I didn't care. I was a good employee, I was at my job, and I was fully capable of completing the task, and not at all busy when I was asked. I was told later that when I stood up to do it, the friend I was sitting with at the time called me a pushover. I knew I had changed, but why didn't anyone else notice?'08 I took a chance and went to a new camp and I was terrified that I would revert back. I was scared that '07 was a waste and I'd be shy and timid again. But it wasn't. I was confident and I realized I had a lot to learn, but I also had a lot to offer. It was the first time I felt good in my own skin. and then there was '09 which has been the best summer so far. I met my best friend last summer, and problems didn't phase me. Sure there were problems but I handled them in a healthy way.

And in a little over a month I'll be back at camp. Summer '10. Number five. Five summers is a lot, and I am certainly nothing like '06 Potter was. I expect it to be a good summer. But what about when I come home? That's what I'm worried about. I'll come home and then I'll student teach and graduate, and in January it will be time for me to look for a real job and move into a proper apartment and make a paycheck and pay bills. Where does camp fit into that?

Camp has been everything the past five years. Everything. It made me who I am. It saved my life. It's made me better and better every year I've returned, so if I stop going after graduation, does that mean I've hindered myself from getting better, or just that I finally grew up?

Easter and Happy

Things sure have been up and down lately, but they seem to be getting better (which, I am entirely sure has everything to do with the weather). Plus, it's Easter soon! Easter is my favorite holiday by a longshot, and people always ask me why. I think it's pretty obvious why: warm weather, pretty flowers, good food, and family. Plus, it always seems like a fresh start. And why is it weird to be my favorite holiday? In my beliefs, it is absolute most important day of the year. The day that Jesus, who was sent to earth by God to die for us, rose from the grave. How awesome is that?

And if you don't believe in what I do, I hope you have a good weekend anyway, and enjoy buying jelly beans 50 percent off starting on Monday :)

The warm weather has been splendid, but me attempting to wear summer shoes has not. I have huge blisters all over my feet from flip flops, and I've only worn them for 2 days.

Speaking of warm weather and Easter: I'm so excited to eat ice cream again!


I also want to let you all know, Andrew is going to attempt to have a Lady Gaga fast for the 40 days after Easter. Sort of like Lent, but really just to prove he can. I intend on making this a 40 day long game of incorporating Lady Gaga even more into our lives than it is now.





I have to get ready to go to church with my friend tonight, but I am going to leave you with this quote Eagle heard on Akeela and the Bee and decided to make our mantra:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."




I promise a real update soon!