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.
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?
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."
"She said she didn't like Lady Gaga. That was the last nail on the coffin of her youth."
If you haven't watched it yet, take 9 minutes out of your life (yes, 9 minutes. That's not a typo) and watch the Telephone video. It's worth every second.
Andrew thinks my new thing is going to be sunglasses, and that I should have a pair of sunglasses for every outfit. I only bought one pair today, but he attempted to peer pressure me into several pairs. We did, however, find an Andrew Real World-esque pair, which I will surely buy as soon as I get my tax check. Surprisingly, we found a purple pair at Claires, and a more authentic blue pair at Pac Sun. Worth 15 dollars? If anyone gets the reference when I wear them, then yes.
Today, Chick Fil A was giving away free milkshakes. What a happy, happy surprise.
It's spring break, so if you're off, call me, maybe we'll hang out.
Please keep my friends in your prayers this week. I imagine it's going to be a tough week for a lot of them.
Because of recent discussions of the Baby-sitter's club, I have been inspired to watch the movie, and I forgot just how excellent this movie is. Oh my.
This entire blog is going to be dedicated to my thoughts while watching this movie. Be prepared for excellent-ness.
Kristy: Founding member of the Baby-sitter's club. But really, how could we forget? Doesn't mean to brag or anything, but she has a lot of great ideas. Stacey- Club treasurer. She's good with money, but she likes spending it (financially irresponsible?) She grew up in New York, and sometimes she thinks she still lives there. MaryAnne-Kristy's best friend who is "kind of quiet, kind of serious." Kristy follows up with the statement "why are we friends?" (too long pause) "they say that opposites attract." Mary Anne is wearing the shortest skirt ever with man tube socks. Is that supposed to be cute? Dawn-MaryAnne's step-sister who wishes she was born on Earth day. First scene of Dawn-she's picking up litter, dressed in her "California casual" style. Same girl who plays Alex Mack. Claudia- "do you know anyone who can take a fork and a hammer and create that?" Mallory- I hate Mallory so much I'm not wasting the words to describe her. Jessi- "Jessi's motto is, why walk when you can dance?" Clearly Jessi's only flaw is that she's friends with Mallory.
"We're more than just a club. We're friends. We're best friends."
Conflict of the movie introduced: Claudia failed science and has to go to summer school. If she doesn't pass, she has to drop out of the Baby-Sitter's club. OH NO WHATEVER SHALL THEY DO? Claudia is the only one with her own phone line; they are using her for the meeting space. They all assure her she'll pass, and then she gives this super authentic "But what if I don't?!?"
Stacy arrives at Rosie Wilder's house with the KID KIT. Then she meet's Rosie's dreamy Swiss cousin, Luca. Good thing she has that Kid Kit, that's hot. Then he totally hits on her. Then, oh. my. god. Luca helps her baby-sit. He even carries the kid kit and takes them out for ice cream. BUT WHY IS STACY EATING ICE CREAM. In every book there's like, 25 pages about how she is diabetic. Then totally asks Stacy on a date, and she happens to work in that she grew up in New York City. "It's the best." "Just like you."
Kristy has another GREAT IDEA. Not just any idea. THE MOST BRILLIANT IDEA YET. They're going to open a day camp! She makes a start up budget and everything. What? These kids are 11 and 13. They're going to open a day camp? Where are the unit leaders? Where are the over 21s? Where is the ACA? Can middle schoolers get background checks? KRISTY THIS ISN'T LEGAL!
Introduce nemesis: neighbor lady who is not going to be happy with child run day camp in the neighbor's yard. Introduce other nemesis: Cookie Mason, who's life goal is to put the BSC out of business and steal MaryAnne's boyfriend Logan. Same actress as Gia in full house, who is also a jerk.
Speaking of Logan, what a good looking man. He's from Kentucky or something. Plaid shirt, tucked in with belt. Long, dreamy blonde hair, with an equally as dreamy hick accent.
The BSC is hanging out at a hamburger place where Dawn is eating seeds. Can you even order seeds at a restaurant? Then Jessi looks at her and says, "hey Dawn, have you watered yourself lately?" LOLZ.
Now, all of a sudden, the camp is set up and running. To sort the kids into groups, they pin a pot holder to each kids shirt. A pot holder? Really? What about a hat? Or a bandana? Or a sticker? Really Kristy-a pot holder. Not your best idea. Kristy also wears a hat that says "the boss" in this scene. It's silly.
Introduce another nemesis: Alan Gray, poor boy who has a crush on Dawn and wears suspenders. Introduce another nemesis: Kristy's real father shows up in a yellow Eurovan. He tells Kristy to keep it a secret that he's there, and she agrees. Oh Kristy, that's a bad idea. Didn't your mother ever teach you anything? Then Mary Anne and Kristy visit her dad in his shady Eurovan camping thingie, and he makes them "mouse pancakes." They don't look like mice at all. They sort of look like tadpoles. The he gives her a dress. Oh, Kristy. You're a moron. This guy's a creeper.
Cut to a scene of Mary Anne and Kristy playing clue together. That's boring. Can you even play clue with 2 people?
OHHHH NO. Just as Kristy leaves Day Camp to be with her dad in secret, mean neighbor lady comes over and threatens to call the city to revoke their permit. This is why 13 year olds shouldn't run camps. They forgot to get a permit! "Did we even have a country back then?" "Well, no, but we had a lot of diphtheria." MALLORY NO ONE LIKES YOU. Cut to a lunchtime scene. Where did that dining hall come from?
Stacy freaking out about a DATE WITH LUCA. He tells her she looks smashing. He looks smashing as well. Jacket tied around his waist, funny hat. Oh, my, they're going hiking. Stacy's getting woozy. That's because she didn't eat. Then she passes out. Because she didn't eat. You know, because she's diabetic. And she has failed to learn every diabetes related lesson ever, you know, Sabrina the Teenage Witch style. But no worries, there's this cute scene of Luca with his arm on her shoulder, as she confesses her big big big secret. She has diabetes. "I don't think you're weird, I think you're beautiful." Oh man. Oh man. Is he gonna kiss her? yea....yea....there he goes....and he just touches her face.
Kristy is a bad friend in this movie. Oh man. She blows off her friends for her dad all the time.
Oh man, I forgot about Alan Gray and his magic tricks.
Dawn: "What's up with you and Kristy?" MaryAnne: "Do you think I should get my ears pierced?" MaryAnne is almost as smooth at topic changes as I am.
Everyone in this movie has two names. David Michael. Emily Michelle. Even that kid's imaginary friend's name is Jimmy Tony.
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG This is about my be my favorite part. The BSC emergency method to make Claudia pass science. "The brain the brain the center of the chain." Random thought: if Claudia is summer camping all day, when does she go to summer school?
"Look at Nanny's tomatoes! They're huge! This year she's singing them show tunes. They're a lot bigger than the year she was singing them church songs." --Kristy's mom.
"I can't tell you." "But you can tell MaryAnne." "But she's my best friend." YOU JERK KRISTY. YOU JERK.
Happy surprise: Claudia got a B-! she passed! Thanks to that crappy song. So she gets to go to NYC with Stacy and Luca, where Luca finds out she's only 13. 13! He just shouts it a lot! 13! Stacy returns home with dark sunglasses, and an sad song plays.
"I planted those just for the hummingbirds" -mean neighbor lady "I think hummingbirds are magical" -Dawn Dawn's such a hippy. I love her. And she always looks so California Casual.
KRISTY WHY ARE YOU AT AN AMUSEMENT PARK ALONE. THAT JUST SCREAMS KIDNAPPING. Yeah, Kristy. Your dad stood you up. I didn't see that coming or anything.
LOLZ. Cookie Roberts and friends get stuck in wet cement. LOLZ.
The most heartwarming part of this movie is when Kristy let Claudia wear her "boss" hat.
They only made 160 dollars from the day camp. That's it. But it's ok, because Jackie Rodowsky hit his first homerun with a shovel and a kickball, and he knocked Cookie Mason off a tree into a dumpster. Way to be Jackie Rodowsky. Aww, and Alan finally asks Dawn out for real. And she says yes. He probably likes her because she's so California Casual.
awww and the Happy ending is that they give the greenhouse (which I basically didn't talk about in this entire blog) to mean neighbor lady.
And now, a treat:
That's from the original series put out by Scholastic
And here you go, you've been wondering it the entire blog. What the heck is California casual? Oh, Dawn.
Two posts in one day, lucky lucky you! I stole this from Andrew's blog. Enjoy!
1. Pick 20 of your favorite movies. 2. Go to IMDB and find a quote from each movie. 3. Post them in a note for everyone to guess. 4. Strike it out when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed and the movie. 5. NO GOOGLING/using IMDB search functions. That's cheating and it ruins the
1. morally, ethically! spiritually, physically! positively, absolutely, undeniably and reliably dead. 2. If Brooke Shields married Groucho Marx their child would have your eyebrows! 3. That's cool. I'm a human, raised by humans. 4. Take a look at what I'm wearing, people. You think anybody wants a roundhouse kick to the face while I'm wearing these bad boys? 5. And, as I always say, "if it's not Baroque, don't fix it!" 6. Yeah, she disciplines me real good. Sometimes five times a day, with bricks. uh huh, in a pillowcase. 7. We're a Vietnamese restaurant. We just don't have bread. 8. Maybe it's about stringing together all the little things like wearing these pants or getting to a new level of Dragon's Lair - making those count for more than the bad stuff. Maybe we just get through it... and that's all we can ask for. 9. We're dead. I don't think we have much to worry about anymore. 10. If the good Lord had intended us to walk, he wouldn't have invented roller skates 11.My idea of a perfect school is one in which there are no children... at all. 12. I just don't know if I believe in everything that you believe in. But I believe in you. 13. Okay, I may be an outfit repeater, but you're an outfit rememberer, which is just as pathetic! 14. So my point is, if you play basketball, you'll end up on the cereal box. If you sing in musicals, you'll end up in my mom's refrigerator. 15. No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world. 16. You know how Sister Berthe always makes me kiss the floor after we've had a disagreement? Well, lately I've taken to kissing the floor whenever I see her coming, just to save time. 17. "You can't put wine in hobo stew!" "Why not? What goes better with hobos than wine?" 18. If I teach you sex, I have to give you sex for homework. 19. All my life, when I'm quite grown-up I will always remember my grandfather and how he smelled of tobacco and peppermint. 20. My favorite is Chocolate Cherry Garcia... except technically I think it's a frozen yogurt.
The United States according to Ohio. Yea, it's pretty accurate :)
So, today is Akron Presidents' Day (as opposed to the incorrect "President's Day," which a flier on the door of the writing lab ironically says). Yay for happy days off! I'm wearing my snuggie, sitting in Andrew's comfy chair, and google searching pictures of cute animals. The only thing that could be better is if I had some cotton candy ice cream and gummy bears. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, which begins the long, long, 40 days without ice cream.
There is nothing much to report, EXCEPT my soul sista RITZY POO is going to be joining me at camp this summer. Potter and Ritz reunited for the summer-:)
