Well yesterday was the last day of camp. I was a bit sad that it was over since we were really starting to get to know the campers individually and not by the group that they were parts of. In the morning we had a 3 on 3 basketball tournament and I manned the craft table where several campers were coloring bandanas. We had talked about making a counselor team and I learned that this was still the plan when the championship game was about to take place. I had to be on the team. I had informed my fellow counselors that I had never played basketball before and it would be wise not to throw me the ball.
Who knew basketball could be so much fun? I think I provided more comic relief to the onlookers. I screamed when the ball came my way or when people were running towards me and I generally ran around to stay out of the way. After a few minutes I started getting the hang of it. I dribbled the ball and even caught it when it was passed to me. After half time Mark called out to me that he was throwing me the ball and I was going to shoot it. I didn't have time to think. He threw it to me. I shot. I scored. The crowd went wild and Brady picked me up in celebration. This will never happen again in my life. The counselors won the game and I was named MVP! I can finally lay claim to those initials that tempted me to drop my maiden name.
7.25.2009
Let Me See Your Grill
During camp I ended up spending many hours in the craft room. This was exciting while friendship bracelets were being made or I was teaching knitting and crocheting. However, ironing fuse beads was pretty boring and not to mention hot. The last couple weeks consisted of fuse beading and watching the Disney channel. Last week a boy walked up to me and said "um, I lost my tooth." So I replied, "well, was it loose?" Yes, it was loose. Luckily another counselor was in the room to deal with it since it gave me the heeby-jeebies.
Thursday I was in the craft room ironing together cats and hearts when a girl said "my tooth just fell out." I knew that her tooth with the metal cap had been loose and I told the other campers in the room to hold on to their teeth since I attract teeth falling out while I am in the room. I took her down to the supply closet, made a makeshift container for her tooth, and gave her a tootsie roll. Isn't that what you do when someone loses a tooth?
When we got back into the craft room another camper noticed the metal cap and said "man, the tooth fairy's gonna have a grill."
Thursday I was in the craft room ironing together cats and hearts when a girl said "my tooth just fell out." I knew that her tooth with the metal cap had been loose and I told the other campers in the room to hold on to their teeth since I attract teeth falling out while I am in the room. I took her down to the supply closet, made a makeshift container for her tooth, and gave her a tootsie roll. Isn't that what you do when someone loses a tooth?
When we got back into the craft room another camper noticed the metal cap and said "man, the tooth fairy's gonna have a grill."
7.20.2009
1. Check the scene 2. Assess the situation 3. Call for help
I thought I told you about this photo, but I didn't. I only just received it this afternoon. At the end of training week we were trained in CPR and First Aid. In the Carver Recreation center (where they roller skated and danced last Friday) the walls are bubblegum pink. They lined up the CPR dummies and I couldn't help thinking of neopolitan ice cream and that it was a pretty rad photo op. Of course I didn't have my camera so I asked people I had just met if I could please borrow their camera. A nice young lass obliged. I gave her my e-mail address and I have been hoping to run into her all summer which I finally did last week when we took the campers to the opera. While I felt a bit like a stalker I just had to have my photos! What do you think? Leave me a comment by clicking on the comment link under the post.
7.18.2009
Summertime and the Livin' is Easy
Well the field trip last Friday to FunQuest was... AWESOME. I managed to roller skate the whole time. I did help tie laces and pick up fallen kids. I even helped a couple kids skate around the rink a few times. Mostly I was enjoying that sweet nostalgic feeling.
Saturday we supped at Bizou on the downtown mall. We ate outside on the mall and it was a most enjoyable dinner complete with a guy singing and playing his guitar for money.
The cake from Whole Foods was a bit of a disappointment since they didn't half the fillings inside the cake as we had decided. So there was a coconut layer on the entire cake and the icing tasted more like butter than sugar. No big deal. I guess the actual quest for the cake was the fun part since I got to eat lots of yummy cake and cupcakes.
On Sunday we took Theo for a walk. We had lunch at Whole Foods and I started coloring in my Little Mermaid storybook/ coloring book. Michael's gift to me for our anniversary was tickets to The Marriage of Figaro. I gave him two sets of paintings done by Patsy Walsh who sells her work at the weekly City Market. One is five small squares of scenes of the City Market and the other has scenes from the Downtown Mall.
This week went well. I learned how to play Capture the Flag and my team dominated. It is addictive and super fun. The kids really enjoy it. I made a pink decoupage candle holder complete with silver glitter and a picture of three baby chicks from a magazine. This coming week we will be tie dying shirts to wear to Kings Dominion on Wednesday. Speaking of Wednesday, we took a small group of campers to Kidsfest with the Ash Lawn Opera. It's a neat program to teach the kids about theater and earn some extra paper. We go swimming every week and this week was especially nice since we were the only camp there and it was a super hot day. Yesterday was Fun Day at McIntire Park. There were field day type games. Unfortunately we got rained out after 30 minutes so we attemped to play Heads Up 7 Up under the shelter while we waited for the hot dogs to be cooked. That didn't go over well but finally it was time to go to Carver Rec Center for more fun. There were three camps there and the campers could roller skate, play in the arcade or play basketball. There was a dance for about 45 minutes which was highly amusing.
Last night we went to the opera. We dined at Bang! which is a martini bar and an asian inspired tapas restaurant. Dinner was fun and tastey (is that the correct spelling? I think it's how Fergie spells it in her Fergilicious song). My favorite part of dinner was when Michael asked for the check by telling the waitress that we had an opera to catch. The second best part of dinner was when I managed to use both ends of my chopsticks making my hand a sticky mess. The opera was fantastic even though I had just seen it with the kids on Wednesday. It was funny and the singers were outstanding. My favorite was the Countess. I think I could really like opera.
Now I am trying to figure out what to do with my day. I really want to start re-learning how to sew. I need to contact a lady about calligraphy lessons and I need to start working on Myriam and Dan's needle felted wedding cake topper. Michael's working today. I should also clean. Hmmm... I also promised you some pictures, didn't I? I'm going to get to work. Enjoy your Saturday.
Saturday we supped at Bizou on the downtown mall. We ate outside on the mall and it was a most enjoyable dinner complete with a guy singing and playing his guitar for money.
On Sunday we took Theo for a walk. We had lunch at Whole Foods and I started coloring in my Little Mermaid storybook/ coloring book. Michael's gift to me for our anniversary was tickets to The Marriage of Figaro. I gave him two sets of paintings done by Patsy Walsh who sells her work at the weekly City Market. One is five small squares of scenes of the City Market and the other has scenes from the Downtown Mall.
This week went well. I learned how to play Capture the Flag and my team dominated. It is addictive and super fun. The kids really enjoy it. I made a pink decoupage candle holder complete with silver glitter and a picture of three baby chicks from a magazine. This coming week we will be tie dying shirts to wear to Kings Dominion on Wednesday. Speaking of Wednesday, we took a small group of campers to Kidsfest with the Ash Lawn Opera. It's a neat program to teach the kids about theater and earn some extra paper. We go swimming every week and this week was especially nice since we were the only camp there and it was a super hot day. Yesterday was Fun Day at McIntire Park. There were field day type games. Unfortunately we got rained out after 30 minutes so we attemped to play Heads Up 7 Up under the shelter while we waited for the hot dogs to be cooked. That didn't go over well but finally it was time to go to Carver Rec Center for more fun. There were three camps there and the campers could roller skate, play in the arcade or play basketball. There was a dance for about 45 minutes which was highly amusing.
Last night we went to the opera. We dined at Bang! which is a martini bar and an asian inspired tapas restaurant. Dinner was fun and tastey (is that the correct spelling? I think it's how Fergie spells it in her Fergilicious song). My favorite part of dinner was when Michael asked for the check by telling the waitress that we had an opera to catch. The second best part of dinner was when I managed to use both ends of my chopsticks making my hand a sticky mess. The opera was fantastic even though I had just seen it with the kids on Wednesday. It was funny and the singers were outstanding. My favorite was the Countess. I think I could really like opera.
Now I am trying to figure out what to do with my day. I really want to start re-learning how to sew. I need to contact a lady about calligraphy lessons and I need to start working on Myriam and Dan's needle felted wedding cake topper. Michael's working today. I should also clean. Hmmm... I also promised you some pictures, didn't I? I'm going to get to work. Enjoy your Saturday.
7.09.2009
Beignet-ing the Neighbors
...is a fun story I thought I'd share here on the blog. Before the streets in the neighborhood I grew up in were paved they were gravel. So if you drove faster than- I don't know- 10 mph? you would kick up clouds of white dust. In other words, beignet-ing the neighbors. *giggle* It's always been a funny image in my head. We went to Wild Wings on Tuesday. They have a gravel parking lot and I thought of this story. So it's not completely out of the blue.
*update* I thought you might enjoy this e-mail response to that story:
I too remember when the streets in the subdivision were limestone or shell and after a long dry spell would become layered with a fine talcum-like powder that rose up in great clouds if you drove too fast.
When each of our kids started driving and started going faster and faster as they left out of the subdivision for school, date, b& e, or other activity, and we noticed it looked like they were attempting a land speed record, we would say "Don't beignet the neighbors".
After I said it I could always see Mr. and Mrs. N standing there with white powder on all the ledges of their heads and shoulders and looking disappointed.
Dad
As you have noticed, our internet problem has been resolved- 7 calls to Comcast and 2 technicians later. The splitter was on the fritz.
Also, the Cake Saga is now over and what a happy ending. I ordered the cake yesterday from Whole Foods. The lady who took the order was extremely nice and actually cared about how important this cake is. She shared that her year old wedding cake was not so good after thawing. She is also going to decorate it exactly like our cake was decorated! I was so happy I almost cried at the bakery counter.
Tomorrow Theo is going to doggie day care. I am going on a field trip to FunQuest where I am hoping to enjoy some laser tag, roller skating, and arcade gaming.
I will confidently sign off by saying that I will talk to you soon.
*update* I thought you might enjoy this e-mail response to that story:
I too remember when the streets in the subdivision were limestone or shell and after a long dry spell would become layered with a fine talcum-like powder that rose up in great clouds if you drove too fast.
When each of our kids started driving and started going faster and faster as they left out of the subdivision for school, date, b& e, or other activity, and we noticed it looked like they were attempting a land speed record, we would say "Don't beignet the neighbors".
After I said it I could always see Mr. and Mrs. N standing there with white powder on all the ledges of their heads and shoulders and looking disappointed.
Dad
As you have noticed, our internet problem has been resolved- 7 calls to Comcast and 2 technicians later. The splitter was on the fritz.
Also, the Cake Saga is now over and what a happy ending. I ordered the cake yesterday from Whole Foods. The lady who took the order was extremely nice and actually cared about how important this cake is. She shared that her year old wedding cake was not so good after thawing. She is also going to decorate it exactly like our cake was decorated! I was so happy I almost cried at the bakery counter.
Tomorrow Theo is going to doggie day care. I am going on a field trip to FunQuest where I am hoping to enjoy some laser tag, roller skating, and arcade gaming.
I will confidently sign off by saying that I will talk to you soon.
7.05.2009
Blasted Comcast!
Sorry that I have been MIA. Our internet connection has been in and out since Tuesday (well, more out than in). Now I will attempt to catch you up before the connection fails.
Last week I started teaching about 10 - 15 campers how to knit and a few of them how to crochet. Needless to say I am completely uninterested in working on any projects at home involving yarn. However, I am working with the well behaved campers for a few hours a day, and I am certainly not complaining. Although it is nice to get out of the room and play games with the kids.
I can't remember what we did last weekend. Hmm... oh yes. We walked all the way to the downtown mall and back with Theo early Saturday morning. Maybe I cleaned the house... Sunday we walked Theo and I cooked a yummy roast.
I had this past Friday off and oh goodness how could I have forgotten about my quest to find the best bakery in Charlottesville?!?! (I should really be making notes during the week!) As you know, when we moved we didn't take the top layer of our wedding cake with us, thinking that it would surely make it up here before our anniversary. Gustav had other plans which left us cake-less. The lady who made our cake offered to make another cake but shipping that up here wouldn't be practical. So the quest began as I realized our anniversary was creeping up on us. My coworkers suggested Chandler's bakery. On Tuesday I hurried there after work. The girl who helped me was completely uninterested in my plight. They don't split fillings in the cake. Their cake was ok and the icing had a weird almost salty taste. I was a bit disheartened as it seemed that this was the place to get cake in Cville. I knew of several other bakeries and I decided that I would go to them and buy a cupcake from each to get an idea of their cake skills.
On Friday I went to Hot Cakes, Whole Foods (per Melanie's advice), The Baker's Palette, and Capellini's Crazy Cakes. The person I spoke with at Hot Cakes was not helpful and their vanilla cupcakes had chocolate icing. This would not do, and last time I had their buttercream icing it tasted only like butter. Later I went to Whole Foods and I was in luck. They had mini cupcakes! The cashier tried without success to scan them and told me to just take them and have a nice day. Bonus! It turns out that their cake skills are excellent. I headed to The Baker's Palette only to find that they didn't have cupcakes. A shame really because they make dynamite cinnamon rolls. Oh well. Last I went to Capellini's Crazy Cakes on the downtown mall. I figured that if worse comes to worse we could get a small assortment of yummy cupcakes and forego the cake. Michael was impressed with his free mini cupcake and we decided that we will order our cake from Whole Foods.
Friday afternoon I cooked my second jambalaya for a get together with my coworkers. Michael came with me and we had a few drinks and some laughs. One of my coworkers definitely agreed that going with Whole Foods for the cake is the right move since they gave us free mini cupcakes.
Yesterday we took Theo to the dog park where he was immediately ganged up on by some big dogs. Poor thing had his tail between his legs and ran for the gate to get out. We took him out for a walk around the area and decided that if we stayed away from the big dogs and got Theo to play with Bean (a 7 month old solid white Jack Russell) then maybe it would be ok. Nope. As soon as those dogs saw Theo they came over to us. We can't understand why because Theo is so good when it comes to playing nice with other dogs. Thankfully the owners of the other dogs decided they should leave. As soon as the main mean dog left Theo's tail perked up and he was ready to have some fun. We stayed for a few hours. The dogs are so entertaining.
Since it was the 4th I needed to have my yearly hot dog. I also decided that baking a pie would be a very all american thing to do. We went to the store and then decided to go on an adventure to scope out the set-up for fireworks watching later in the evening. My second attempt at Lucy's Chocolate Pie was a success. I halved the recipe and was able to use the double boiler (this ensured that it would not turn out like pie soup again).
Laura came over for dinner and brought corn on the cob. Yum yum. Michael and I headed for McIntire Park to watch fireworks. It was an impressive display of fireworks. There was a large crowd and it was neat that the crowd was pretty quiet during the display.
I apologize for a lack of photos, but I am on Michael's computer since something is wrong with my computer when I try to use the internet. Maybe it will work long enough for me to add photos later.
Last week I started teaching about 10 - 15 campers how to knit and a few of them how to crochet. Needless to say I am completely uninterested in working on any projects at home involving yarn. However, I am working with the well behaved campers for a few hours a day, and I am certainly not complaining. Although it is nice to get out of the room and play games with the kids.
I can't remember what we did last weekend. Hmm... oh yes. We walked all the way to the downtown mall and back with Theo early Saturday morning. Maybe I cleaned the house... Sunday we walked Theo and I cooked a yummy roast.
I had this past Friday off and oh goodness how could I have forgotten about my quest to find the best bakery in Charlottesville?!?! (I should really be making notes during the week!) As you know, when we moved we didn't take the top layer of our wedding cake with us, thinking that it would surely make it up here before our anniversary. Gustav had other plans which left us cake-less. The lady who made our cake offered to make another cake but shipping that up here wouldn't be practical. So the quest began as I realized our anniversary was creeping up on us. My coworkers suggested Chandler's bakery. On Tuesday I hurried there after work. The girl who helped me was completely uninterested in my plight. They don't split fillings in the cake. Their cake was ok and the icing had a weird almost salty taste. I was a bit disheartened as it seemed that this was the place to get cake in Cville. I knew of several other bakeries and I decided that I would go to them and buy a cupcake from each to get an idea of their cake skills.
On Friday I went to Hot Cakes, Whole Foods (per Melanie's advice), The Baker's Palette, and Capellini's Crazy Cakes. The person I spoke with at Hot Cakes was not helpful and their vanilla cupcakes had chocolate icing. This would not do, and last time I had their buttercream icing it tasted only like butter. Later I went to Whole Foods and I was in luck. They had mini cupcakes! The cashier tried without success to scan them and told me to just take them and have a nice day. Bonus! It turns out that their cake skills are excellent. I headed to The Baker's Palette only to find that they didn't have cupcakes. A shame really because they make dynamite cinnamon rolls. Oh well. Last I went to Capellini's Crazy Cakes on the downtown mall. I figured that if worse comes to worse we could get a small assortment of yummy cupcakes and forego the cake. Michael was impressed with his free mini cupcake and we decided that we will order our cake from Whole Foods.
Friday afternoon I cooked my second jambalaya for a get together with my coworkers. Michael came with me and we had a few drinks and some laughs. One of my coworkers definitely agreed that going with Whole Foods for the cake is the right move since they gave us free mini cupcakes.
Yesterday we took Theo to the dog park where he was immediately ganged up on by some big dogs. Poor thing had his tail between his legs and ran for the gate to get out. We took him out for a walk around the area and decided that if we stayed away from the big dogs and got Theo to play with Bean (a 7 month old solid white Jack Russell) then maybe it would be ok. Nope. As soon as those dogs saw Theo they came over to us. We can't understand why because Theo is so good when it comes to playing nice with other dogs. Thankfully the owners of the other dogs decided they should leave. As soon as the main mean dog left Theo's tail perked up and he was ready to have some fun. We stayed for a few hours. The dogs are so entertaining.
Since it was the 4th I needed to have my yearly hot dog. I also decided that baking a pie would be a very all american thing to do. We went to the store and then decided to go on an adventure to scope out the set-up for fireworks watching later in the evening. My second attempt at Lucy's Chocolate Pie was a success. I halved the recipe and was able to use the double boiler (this ensured that it would not turn out like pie soup again).
Laura came over for dinner and brought corn on the cob. Yum yum. Michael and I headed for McIntire Park to watch fireworks. It was an impressive display of fireworks. There was a large crowd and it was neat that the crowd was pretty quiet during the display.
I apologize for a lack of photos, but I am on Michael's computer since something is wrong with my computer when I try to use the internet. Maybe it will work long enough for me to add photos later.
6.21.2009
On Father's Day
Despite the fact that you are in Houston and not in Charlottesville I thought I'd share some happy memories of you in celebration of the dad that you are.- Waiting my turn to dance with you when you'd play your records at night
- Coming home from church to that music - even though I always thought it was too loud, I missed it when you stopped playing it
- Picking us up from school
- Tapping out syllables on your back
- Rolling down the windows in your old white truck
- Carrying me into the house when I faked sleeping in the car
- Taking us to have beignets in the French Quarter
- People watching
- Coming into Michael's with me to get scrapbooking supplies
- Going out to dinner
- Performing squirrel therapy
- Surprising me with an impromptu birthday trip to Disney World
- Splitting Snickers while waiting for Myriam to get home from school
- Riding in the Triumph
- Letting me travel
- Encouraging me
- Showing me what it means to be a person of integrity
P.s. Click on the picture
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