So I write this post a bit tired, as my sleep was interrupted last night by a campers battle with homesickness. In fact, an epidemic of homesickness is going around camp right now. The cabin of a friend of mine had 7 of 9 campers homesick last night. It is sort of awful. It feels like every time you turn around another camper is in tears because they miss home. If right now you are thinking "seriously? they're gonna be home in 4 days!" you are thinking like me. To me it is a bit ridiculous, but thats how it is. I've been able to deal with it fairly alright, and have been lucky enough not to have anyone too hysterical. Knock on wood.
In other news, I had my first day off last saturday. It was pretty sweet, I went on a bike ride, tubing, and then camping overnight across the lake. Bike riding was interesting. We biked uphill about three miles (3 miles in distance, not altitude) and I was a bit behind the group, but thats ok. We preceded to go down the dirt "jump" tracks, on which I took a tumble and got quite the scrapes on my shoulder and knees. I safely made it to the bottom without any major injury, but that was only because of some severe pumping of the brakes. Camping was also a blast. About 15 of us were there, and we cooked and had some "adult beverages." Suffice it to say that children arriving Sunday at 1:00 was far too early. I also feel like this week is going to crawl because I am looking forward to my next day off on saturday. (I would also like to use this space to say hello to Katie Merritt, who spent a good 15 minutes saturday night critiquing my blog, thanks for reading).
I have also started in a new cabin this session, as one of our counselors left after last session. They wanted the new guy to go with Alan, so they moved me into the cabin behind me. Its fine with me because this cabin has even more space, and I like my co-counselor, Perry, who is an Aussie. My kids this session are pretty good, except for one kid who annoys the crap out of me, and another is homesick and a little quiet, but hopefully we can get over that.
Also, I am safely away from fire. If you haven't heard, there is a big fire in Tahoe. We can see the smoke from some spots here, but it is not likely to get to us. I'll keep you posted. Thats about all I have for now, thanks for reading, get at me.
-Andy
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Rockin' the Suburbs
Its four days into the first session of camp, and it already feels like 10. Not really that its bad at all, it just feels like a long time. My cabin is starting to get along, which is nice, because at first I had a few suburban kids that took a good time out of making fun of the "wierdos from Berkley." It has gotten better though, although I would like to go on record as saying that my children will never grow up as suburban kids, and a big thanks to my parents for somehow making me not turn out to be mean spirited with a sense of entitlement through my teenage years (I think).
Right now I've been able to get on the computer for the better part of 30 minutes, which has been extremely enjoyable, and hasnt been something I have been able to do yet. I still feel so out of the loop with stuff, but thats alright. After lunch today I get to take kids out on the pontoon boat for a 3 hour "fishing trip." (Read; take three fishing poles, go to the cliff jumping spot, let kids run amok while I get a tan). I'm pretty excited about it. Usually I only get an hour for "fishing" with the kids but since it is "Free Choice Day" we get to do special activities like this.
In other news, I have become somewhat of a superstar of the songs and skits at campfire each night, so that has been fun. (By superstar, i really just mean that i'll pretty much wear/do anything on stage, which leaves me with little to no dignity) Although, it does turn out that being the goofy guy doesn't bode quite as well when it comes time for discipline, but my co-counselor, Alan, is pretty good at that, so thats ok. I'm pretty glad I got paired with him, as this is his 3rd or 4th year at camp so he knows very well what he is doing, and it has been good for me to learn some of the stuff that I didn't know. Alan is from England, he is a Manchester United fan, and he just finished (before camp) running a marathon DOWN Mt. Everest. He is a pretty interesting guy and very good at this job, so I have been lucky.
As I mentioned before, I get to drive the pontoon boat. This is pretty cool as I am one of only 4 people that they trust with the $40,000 boat. It is pretty easy to drive, although yesterday I drove off with the ladder still attached and it came off. Luckily it floats, otherwise I would have been out about $75, not to mention unable to drive the boat the rest of the summer.
Last night was my "night off" (from 9:30-11) so about 7 of us went to a place about a mile down the road where there are rocks and stuff right by the lake and just hung out for a little bit. It was nice to be able to get away from camp and have "adult time" for a while. It has been a little tough to go from using adult language and such when it was just the counselors here to having to watch ourselves when the kids are here, but I have done alright with it.
I am still having a blast here and am still very glad I am doing this (even though as I check espn.com and the 'book I feel a bit out of the loop!) As always, get at me on here, e-mail, facebook, or by phone. Talk to you all soon.
Wattaliacha,
Andy
Right now I've been able to get on the computer for the better part of 30 minutes, which has been extremely enjoyable, and hasnt been something I have been able to do yet. I still feel so out of the loop with stuff, but thats alright. After lunch today I get to take kids out on the pontoon boat for a 3 hour "fishing trip." (Read; take three fishing poles, go to the cliff jumping spot, let kids run amok while I get a tan). I'm pretty excited about it. Usually I only get an hour for "fishing" with the kids but since it is "Free Choice Day" we get to do special activities like this.
In other news, I have become somewhat of a superstar of the songs and skits at campfire each night, so that has been fun. (By superstar, i really just mean that i'll pretty much wear/do anything on stage, which leaves me with little to no dignity) Although, it does turn out that being the goofy guy doesn't bode quite as well when it comes time for discipline, but my co-counselor, Alan, is pretty good at that, so thats ok. I'm pretty glad I got paired with him, as this is his 3rd or 4th year at camp so he knows very well what he is doing, and it has been good for me to learn some of the stuff that I didn't know. Alan is from England, he is a Manchester United fan, and he just finished (before camp) running a marathon DOWN Mt. Everest. He is a pretty interesting guy and very good at this job, so I have been lucky.
As I mentioned before, I get to drive the pontoon boat. This is pretty cool as I am one of only 4 people that they trust with the $40,000 boat. It is pretty easy to drive, although yesterday I drove off with the ladder still attached and it came off. Luckily it floats, otherwise I would have been out about $75, not to mention unable to drive the boat the rest of the summer.
Last night was my "night off" (from 9:30-11) so about 7 of us went to a place about a mile down the road where there are rocks and stuff right by the lake and just hung out for a little bit. It was nice to be able to get away from camp and have "adult time" for a while. It has been a little tough to go from using adult language and such when it was just the counselors here to having to watch ourselves when the kids are here, but I have done alright with it.
I am still having a blast here and am still very glad I am doing this (even though as I check espn.com and the 'book I feel a bit out of the loop!) As always, get at me on here, e-mail, facebook, or by phone. Talk to you all soon.
Wattaliacha,
Andy
Saturday, June 16, 2007
6 days...
Well, its been 6 days since I've been on a computer. Literally. Surprisingly, if you don't think about all the stuff you're missing, you dont really miss it. Granted, the world could have blown up, The Rolling Stones could have finally called it quits, and Kevin Slowey could have thrown a no-hitter all in the past 6 days and I wouldn't know about it (let me know if any of these happened.)
Anyways, this place totally kicks ass. I've spent the past 6 days hanging out with some of the coolest, most unique people I've ever met, and I couldn't be more excited for the rest of the summer. Of course I miss people and things at home, but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. All of the people here sheare so many of the same tastes in so many things that I do, its been so much fun to get to know people and hang out.
The past three days I have been able to go out sailing, and I am learning it, little by little. Its an extremely enjoyable thing to do. Also extremely relaxing. Last night we went for a night kayak, which was totally sweet, except for the fact that I got soaking wet. Suffice it to say that plenty of shrinkage is involved any time one submerges themselves in the water (extremely coooooold).
Tomorrow the kids come, and I am a bit excited. My co-counselor is a Mountain Camp veteran named Alan, who is from England and just partook in a marathon down Mt. Everest. He has been here for three years, so having the experience with me will be nice.
I wish I could tell more, as there is so much more to tell. Hopefully once kids get here and I'll start having some time off I'll be able to be on here and update more often. You all should for sure get at me; comment on here, send me an email, or gimme a call (515-710-1877), I always love to hear from you.
--Andy
(Aaron, if you read this, please give the address of my blog to Kirk, thanks.)
Anyways, this place totally kicks ass. I've spent the past 6 days hanging out with some of the coolest, most unique people I've ever met, and I couldn't be more excited for the rest of the summer. Of course I miss people and things at home, but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. All of the people here sheare so many of the same tastes in so many things that I do, its been so much fun to get to know people and hang out.
The past three days I have been able to go out sailing, and I am learning it, little by little. Its an extremely enjoyable thing to do. Also extremely relaxing. Last night we went for a night kayak, which was totally sweet, except for the fact that I got soaking wet. Suffice it to say that plenty of shrinkage is involved any time one submerges themselves in the water (extremely coooooold).
Tomorrow the kids come, and I am a bit excited. My co-counselor is a Mountain Camp veteran named Alan, who is from England and just partook in a marathon down Mt. Everest. He has been here for three years, so having the experience with me will be nice.
I wish I could tell more, as there is so much more to tell. Hopefully once kids get here and I'll start having some time off I'll be able to be on here and update more often. You all should for sure get at me; comment on here, send me an email, or gimme a call (515-710-1877), I always love to hear from you.
--Andy
(Aaron, if you read this, please give the address of my blog to Kirk, thanks.)
Monday, June 11, 2007
Finally
I'm here. Wi-Fi kicks ass. I'll post more about my travels later, but suffice it to say they were interesting, but enjoyable. Get at me, I'll try to get at you soon.
-Andy
-Andy
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