As the year comes to an end, I am going to reflect on my favorite, and not so favorite, moments in different categories. This hopefully will fascinate you as much as it has me this year. We can call this the Deb Awards.
Historical Moments:
-When gas was $4.69 a gallon here, I wanted to die.
-Gas got down to $1.55 here in SoCal.
-Heath Ledger died.
-Barack Obama was elected the first African American president of the United States.
-Proposition 8 passed in California. Gay marriage was made illegal again.
-The crazy wild fires that surronded us in Southern California this semester.
-Talking on your cell phone while driving is no more.
-Clay Aiken came out. I was devastated hahaha.
-My man Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals at the Olympics, while Shawn Johnson and Nastia did serious damage in women's gymnastics.
Female Singers:
-Rihanna (I think 'Disturbia' was definitely one of the songs of the year)
-Britney Spears (OK I am sorry, but she made a great comeback and I can't stop listening)
-Adele (great voice)
-P!nk (hated her song 'Dear Mr. President' last year, but love the new album)
-Taylor Swift (love, love, LOVE)
-Beyonce
*honarable mention-Carrie Underwood (as much as I hate to admit it, her singles were good).
Also many debuted like Katy Perry, Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles, and Lady Gaga.
Male Singers:
-OneRepublic (quickly became one of my most listened to albums of the year)
-Kanye West (No matter how arrogant he is, he is a great musician and performer.)
-David Cook (I wasn't that into him during American Idol, but now he is like a male Kelly!)
-Jason Mraz (long time fan, not so fond of the radio's constant overplay of 'I'm Yours')
-Rascal Flatts (always puts out songs I love)
-Phil Wickham (also couldn't stop listening to his cd)
*honorable mention-Jon McLaughlin (even though he didn't really have a new single, his performance in 'Enchanted' was enough for me)
Songs to Remember (cause they won't be leaving your head soon):
-Low (Flo Rida featuring T Pain)
-I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry)
-Love Song (Sara Bareilles)
-No One (Alicia Keys)
-Say What You Need To Say (John Mayer) I have A LOT of things to say about this song.
-Disturbia (Rihanna)
-Live Your Life (TI feat. Rihanna)
-Whatever You Like (TI)
-Love In This Club (Usher)
-If I Were A Boy (Beyonce)
-Apologize (One Republic)
-I'm Yours (Jason Mraz)
-Womanizer (Britney Spears)
-Last Name (Carrie Underwood)
-All Summer Long (Kid Rock)
-7 Things (Miley Cyrus)
-Love Story (Taylor Swift)
TV Shows
-The Office
-Gossip Girl (I read the series so it's a little less embarrassing I guess)
-Psych
-So You Think You Can Dance?
-30 Rock
-Reaper (so underrated but so funny)
-Kath and Kim (I know ratings are low so I can't get too attached, but I laugh so much)
-SNL (solid this year, mostly cause of an overdose of politics, but I adore that Kristin Wiig)
Movies
-'I Am Legend' (I screamed, I cried, I laughed, I now own it.)
-'Wall-E' (awesome)
-Iron Man (didn't think I would like it, but it was as good as everyone said)
-Get Smart (because I loved it, and Steve Carrell)
-Hancock (pretty good and action-y haha)
-Be Kind Rewind (this one was so overlooked. it was hilarious.)
-Baby Mama (2 of my favorite SNL ladies together)
-Kung Fu Panda (funny)
-What Happens in Vegas (This one was way better than I ever expected)
-Definitely Maybe (sooo cute)
-The Happening (I KNOW I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT LIKED IT. I am dumb. Typical Deb.)
-Eagle Eye (anything with Shia is especially good, but this one was sooooooo goooooood)
-Marley and Me (I bawled like a baby but I love anything Jennifer Aniston is in)
-Seven Pounds (I thought it was brilliant. It got bad reviews because of it's 'lack of logic' but I prefer more intelligent movies where you have to think for yourself. It was amazing)
-Four Christmases (Reese Witherspoon? Love. Vince Vaughn? Love. The result was HILARITY)
*honorable mention-The Dark Knight (I can't place this with the rest of the movies because I am the LAST PERSON ON EARTH THAT HASN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE. Everyone I knew saw it so when I came around, no one could go with me. Thanks guys).
ALSO. I need to state movies now that I am almost positive will make my list once I get around to seeing them:
*Benjamin Button (even though I hate Brad Pitt)
*Doubt (read the play freshman year, I'm so excited)
*Madagascar 2
ALSO. Movies that I will probably never see but heard great things about:
*Sex and the City
*Twilight
*Pineapple Express
*Tropic Thunder
*Wanted (I hate Angelina Jolie)
*High School Musical 3
ALSO. Movies you should avoid!
*Jumper
ALSO. Movies that I saw that I am ashamed to say I saw and ended up liking:
*House Bunny
*Step Up 2
*Stepbrothers (filthy but funny)
*My Best Friend's Girl (also filthy)
mmmk. done.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
My blog
is pretty dead. I apologize. I hardly write anything that really happens in my life. So I'll write a few random details to get you up to date!
-2 new baby cousins were born in my family over Thanksgiving break. One Monday night the 24th, and the other Saturday morning at 5am. I have learned way too much about pregnancy that it is officially the best birth control available. There are WAY too many details I didn't know that I do not like. Bleh. But anyways, I love little ones and am ecstatic that Kaitlyn Marie and William Jace are here :) Kaitlyn is having some problems in the ICU but she should be better. I also got to meet my 21 month old cousin Kaelyn Grace (the sister of William Jace) and hang out with Kellene Rae (the older sister of Kaitlyn). Good times.
-I just finished a 2 week set of antibiodics for my last illness. I went off them YESTERDAY and right now as I'm sitting here, I feel sinus pressure, and swollen lymph glands with a sore throat. I am terrified. I can't fathom this. I don't understand why doctor's say it's just 'college'. I should be able to fight off things. I get lots of sleep for a college student and try to manage my stress.
-I started watching Dancing With The Stars. I know. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I just started to watch because I was bored and then BAM I was hooked. I love that Julianne Hough though. Too bad she is leaving. Also the season is over so I am not ashamed anymore.
-Black Friday should be a holiday itself. I live for it. That is the ONLY time of year I will happily jump out of bed at 4am to stand in line and buy great things. I love people watching too. This year my big purchase was an mp3 player so I can have all my music in my car finally. It took awhile because I had a 6 cd changer and was sad that it wouldn't get any use. But it will because I have to run the mp3 player through the FM radio which causes static if there is a station there. Not fun. But no other way to do it. Unless you know a way then you should help me. I was looking for a GPS but my freaking sister insisted we go to wal mart first so she could get her camera, and the gps I wanted was at Target. They were sold out when we got there.
-I'm glad Britney is back. Ya, I said it.
-I really want to see Marley and Me (I love Jennifer Aniston!) and Four Christmases (Reese!). I also am really excited for Doubt with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. We read the play my freshman year here at Biola. I actually read something that was assigned and liked it. Good stuff.
-I am trying to get tickets for the last ever showing of Wicked in Los Angeles. I am ridiculous. This is the 5th time I will see it. And the last. I think it will be so amazing to see the last curtain call and everything. I am too obsessed.
-My knee is still giving me trouble. When I fractured my foot, it affected my whole leg and I still have trouble getting up and bending my knee. My foot is totally fine. Weird, I know. I am still hoping it heels on it's own. I don't need physical therapy. I also still need to learn how to do the back handspring in my gymnastics class.
-For Christmas I am hoping for donations for an electric violin. For those who don't know, violin was my life since 5th grade. The only thing I have ever really been good at. I stopped playing after one year in the Biola orchestra. It was just too time consuming. I did keep playing on praise teams at local churches though, until my electric violin broke. I have not played in probably a year now and it kills me. I hope I still can. Anyways, bottom line is I need a new one and it costs a LOT and I really want one ok?
-My work hired a 2nd secretary. She is my mom's age. I started training her today. It is weird to explain things to people when you have been doing it for almost a year and a half on your own. She literally wrote everything I said down. Hilarious. There is so much to know though.
Well, I'm out.
-2 new baby cousins were born in my family over Thanksgiving break. One Monday night the 24th, and the other Saturday morning at 5am. I have learned way too much about pregnancy that it is officially the best birth control available. There are WAY too many details I didn't know that I do not like. Bleh. But anyways, I love little ones and am ecstatic that Kaitlyn Marie and William Jace are here :) Kaitlyn is having some problems in the ICU but she should be better. I also got to meet my 21 month old cousin Kaelyn Grace (the sister of William Jace) and hang out with Kellene Rae (the older sister of Kaitlyn). Good times.
-I just finished a 2 week set of antibiodics for my last illness. I went off them YESTERDAY and right now as I'm sitting here, I feel sinus pressure, and swollen lymph glands with a sore throat. I am terrified. I can't fathom this. I don't understand why doctor's say it's just 'college'. I should be able to fight off things. I get lots of sleep for a college student and try to manage my stress.
-I started watching Dancing With The Stars. I know. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME. I just started to watch because I was bored and then BAM I was hooked. I love that Julianne Hough though. Too bad she is leaving. Also the season is over so I am not ashamed anymore.
-Black Friday should be a holiday itself. I live for it. That is the ONLY time of year I will happily jump out of bed at 4am to stand in line and buy great things. I love people watching too. This year my big purchase was an mp3 player so I can have all my music in my car finally. It took awhile because I had a 6 cd changer and was sad that it wouldn't get any use. But it will because I have to run the mp3 player through the FM radio which causes static if there is a station there. Not fun. But no other way to do it. Unless you know a way then you should help me. I was looking for a GPS but my freaking sister insisted we go to wal mart first so she could get her camera, and the gps I wanted was at Target. They were sold out when we got there.
-I'm glad Britney is back. Ya, I said it.
-I really want to see Marley and Me (I love Jennifer Aniston!) and Four Christmases (Reese!). I also am really excited for Doubt with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. We read the play my freshman year here at Biola. I actually read something that was assigned and liked it. Good stuff.
-I am trying to get tickets for the last ever showing of Wicked in Los Angeles. I am ridiculous. This is the 5th time I will see it. And the last. I think it will be so amazing to see the last curtain call and everything. I am too obsessed.
-My knee is still giving me trouble. When I fractured my foot, it affected my whole leg and I still have trouble getting up and bending my knee. My foot is totally fine. Weird, I know. I am still hoping it heels on it's own. I don't need physical therapy. I also still need to learn how to do the back handspring in my gymnastics class.
-For Christmas I am hoping for donations for an electric violin. For those who don't know, violin was my life since 5th grade. The only thing I have ever really been good at. I stopped playing after one year in the Biola orchestra. It was just too time consuming. I did keep playing on praise teams at local churches though, until my electric violin broke. I have not played in probably a year now and it kills me. I hope I still can. Anyways, bottom line is I need a new one and it costs a LOT and I really want one ok?
-My work hired a 2nd secretary. She is my mom's age. I started training her today. It is weird to explain things to people when you have been doing it for almost a year and a half on your own. She literally wrote everything I said down. Hilarious. There is so much to know though.
Well, I'm out.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Deb's Life.
My life is ridiculous. But I can only laugh at it. Because I still have it good.
This is my summer and fall semester thus far though:
June-youth retreat in palm springs-stomach flu.
July-junior high camp-severe head cold.
August-Oregon-strep.
September-3rd week of school-strep...again.
October 13th-awful cold.
October 30th-fractured my foot and messed up my knee.
November 15th-flu/possible sinus infection.
The nurse yesterday at the health center asked me 'why don't you ever get a flu shot?'
WHEN AM I EVER WELL ENOUGH TO GET A FLU SHOT?!
This is my summer and fall semester thus far though:
June-youth retreat in palm springs-stomach flu.
July-junior high camp-severe head cold.
August-Oregon-strep.
September-3rd week of school-strep...again.
October 13th-awful cold.
October 30th-fractured my foot and messed up my knee.
November 15th-flu/possible sinus infection.
The nurse yesterday at the health center asked me 'why don't you ever get a flu shot?'
WHEN AM I EVER WELL ENOUGH TO GET A FLU SHOT?!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Yesterday...
in gymnastics, I did a flip on the trampoline and landed wrong. It hurt really bad and I heard a crack but refused to go to a doctor.
8 hours went by while I was in class and work and I finally decided to go to the emergency room because the pain never went away.
I ended up fracturing my foot up by my toe and get to wear this legit space boot now.
Story of my life.
8 hours went by while I was in class and work and I finally decided to go to the emergency room because the pain never went away.
I ended up fracturing my foot up by my toe and get to wear this legit space boot now.
Story of my life.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A lot of change
has happened since my last blog. Which is why I have strayed from posting for a month and a half. Also, the Kelly/Carrie post is not done yet because I am back in school and never have time for it. So be patient, even though most of you could care less haha.
Pretty much the biggest change is that Maddie isn't back at school with me and is never coming back either. But this isn't bad or sad because it is going to be so much better for her in life. It just sucks because a few posts down, you can see how excited I was. But it just reminds you that God is in charge and will surprise you like that. Nothing is certain.
So I am working at getting more involved so I can make more friends. This is not easy because I work more than anyone I know. 20 hours a week with 16 units. I feel like I am never in the dorm. I am however, finally trying out for the dance troupe here that I have been wanting to be a part of for like a year. But let's not get too excited because there are hundreds of people and only 40 spots. And as I look around during rehearsal, everyone is pretty much dancing the same. So unless there is something special about me, which there usually isn't, I am not getting too excited here haha.
I am also dealing with having 8:00am class five days a week. Why would you do this to yourself, you may ask. Let me tell you. It was either that or cut my work hours in half almost. Because if I don't go to class that early, I don't get to work in the afternoons. And because I support myself and a car, I have to be making a certain amount of money. I am not like all the other Biola students who don't have to get jobs because mommy and daddy pay their tuition and give them spending money every month.
Back to the making friends thing though, I am not sure how one accomplishes this. Maybe I am just not very good at it. But last year I would talk to the girls on my floor but we would just have nice brief conversations. I don't know how to get to that point where it's like 'hey come with us to dinner' or whatever. I am really hoping this year is different but I am already pretty sure it's the same because I am just not here enough. They all have their friends already.
I've pretty much given up on the males because of the same reason. I don't even know one at Biola and I've been here 3 years. I went on one gyrad and my date hardly talked to me. Also, going to gyrad means my roommate and I have to find me a date and if we don't know any boys, then it makes our job pretty difficult.
Anyways, my trip to Oregon was great, many good times with Maddie. I had strep the whole first week I was there though. Sometimes I wonder why those things always happen to me. This is how my summer went:
June-youth group retreat in Palm Springs-STOMACH FLU.
July-Hume Lake Jr. High camp-the worst head cold I have ever had.
August-Oregon-STREP.
Seriously. It makes me think that there is something seriously wrong with me. Well if you know my medical history, then I'm pretty sure there is something wrong with me, we just can't find it ha. We didn't get to do so much in Oregon because of my lameness. So now I'm back at Biola and went to the health center because of a small sore on my throat, and guess what I have...STREP. AGAIN. Even though I feel fine. So I have been ordered to not go to class or work. Fine with me.
So I am just trying to keep my head above water, with my 20 hour work week, 16 unit load, lack of friends, strep throat, and financial issues with Biola (I'll be lucky if I get out of here with only $80,000 in loans). Oh did I mention I have to APPLY to the school of education and I need 3 references in less than a month. So that was dumped on me yesterday. Also I declared my concentration in Math so I am in Calculus again and already feel like the biggest idiot ever. It's the most frustrating feeling in the world to not be able to do something that is so concrete. So since this is the first class in my Math concentration, I don't know how I am going to do fine in it and then proceed to the HIGHER classes. But I'm not good at anything else. Which is why I am a teaching major, but let's not talk about that right now.
Anyways, my mom really really really wants me to move home. Bridgette is at Point Loma now so I think it's weird for her to be alone. But she says she is just really worried about my health, and now that Maddie isn't here she's even more worried for my emotional state. She is always persuading me because I could transfer home and finish my degree for only $17000 which is a third of the cost it would take me to finish here. I don't understand why she wants me to move home. I think it's because her health is falling apart and she doesn't have anyone there. But she doesn't realize that all those years of her telling me what a burden I was have taken a toll. The last thing I want to do is move home. I hate that house, even though that's where I grew up. I have built myself so much here, it kills me to leave behind my job, BIOLA (I do love it most the time), my awesome youth group friends, and my Biola friends. Although I would have my Visalia friends back, I don't think it would be enough. I think it would be a step backwards.
Pretty much the biggest change is that Maddie isn't back at school with me and is never coming back either. But this isn't bad or sad because it is going to be so much better for her in life. It just sucks because a few posts down, you can see how excited I was. But it just reminds you that God is in charge and will surprise you like that. Nothing is certain.
So I am working at getting more involved so I can make more friends. This is not easy because I work more than anyone I know. 20 hours a week with 16 units. I feel like I am never in the dorm. I am however, finally trying out for the dance troupe here that I have been wanting to be a part of for like a year. But let's not get too excited because there are hundreds of people and only 40 spots. And as I look around during rehearsal, everyone is pretty much dancing the same. So unless there is something special about me, which there usually isn't, I am not getting too excited here haha.
I am also dealing with having 8:00am class five days a week. Why would you do this to yourself, you may ask. Let me tell you. It was either that or cut my work hours in half almost. Because if I don't go to class that early, I don't get to work in the afternoons. And because I support myself and a car, I have to be making a certain amount of money. I am not like all the other Biola students who don't have to get jobs because mommy and daddy pay their tuition and give them spending money every month.
Back to the making friends thing though, I am not sure how one accomplishes this. Maybe I am just not very good at it. But last year I would talk to the girls on my floor but we would just have nice brief conversations. I don't know how to get to that point where it's like 'hey come with us to dinner' or whatever. I am really hoping this year is different but I am already pretty sure it's the same because I am just not here enough. They all have their friends already.
I've pretty much given up on the males because of the same reason. I don't even know one at Biola and I've been here 3 years. I went on one gyrad and my date hardly talked to me. Also, going to gyrad means my roommate and I have to find me a date and if we don't know any boys, then it makes our job pretty difficult.
Anyways, my trip to Oregon was great, many good times with Maddie. I had strep the whole first week I was there though. Sometimes I wonder why those things always happen to me. This is how my summer went:
June-youth group retreat in Palm Springs-STOMACH FLU.
July-Hume Lake Jr. High camp-the worst head cold I have ever had.
August-Oregon-STREP.
Seriously. It makes me think that there is something seriously wrong with me. Well if you know my medical history, then I'm pretty sure there is something wrong with me, we just can't find it ha. We didn't get to do so much in Oregon because of my lameness. So now I'm back at Biola and went to the health center because of a small sore on my throat, and guess what I have...STREP. AGAIN. Even though I feel fine. So I have been ordered to not go to class or work. Fine with me.
So I am just trying to keep my head above water, with my 20 hour work week, 16 unit load, lack of friends, strep throat, and financial issues with Biola (I'll be lucky if I get out of here with only $80,000 in loans). Oh did I mention I have to APPLY to the school of education and I need 3 references in less than a month. So that was dumped on me yesterday. Also I declared my concentration in Math so I am in Calculus again and already feel like the biggest idiot ever. It's the most frustrating feeling in the world to not be able to do something that is so concrete. So since this is the first class in my Math concentration, I don't know how I am going to do fine in it and then proceed to the HIGHER classes. But I'm not good at anything else. Which is why I am a teaching major, but let's not talk about that right now.
Anyways, my mom really really really wants me to move home. Bridgette is at Point Loma now so I think it's weird for her to be alone. But she says she is just really worried about my health, and now that Maddie isn't here she's even more worried for my emotional state. She is always persuading me because I could transfer home and finish my degree for only $17000 which is a third of the cost it would take me to finish here. I don't understand why she wants me to move home. I think it's because her health is falling apart and she doesn't have anyone there. But she doesn't realize that all those years of her telling me what a burden I was have taken a toll. The last thing I want to do is move home. I hate that house, even though that's where I grew up. I have built myself so much here, it kills me to leave behind my job, BIOLA (I do love it most the time), my awesome youth group friends, and my Biola friends. Although I would have my Visalia friends back, I don't think it would be enough. I think it would be a step backwards.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Oregon
I am leaving in the morning to go see Maddie in Oregon. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S FINALLY HERE. Maybe I will update when I'm there, Maybe I won't. But pretty much I am telling you that the promised Kelly/Carrie blog is postponed, but I already have been working on it, it is safely saved in my drafts haha. So peace out California.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Summer Camp
This year was pretty sweet. I'll be honest, I kinda didn't want to go to camp once the date actually came upon me, because I had been really sick and had just got back from the OC the day before camp. But as soon as I got there I remembered last year and I was pumped and had a lot of fun. And my girls were cool and a few of them rededicated their lives to Christ so that was an awesome feeling. So to recap, I am going to make a list of likes and dislikes of camps that the other female counseler and I talked about throughout the week haha.
Things I Like About Camp:
My girls. I love seeing where they end up at the end of the week, especially when I didn't even know them before. Also listening to them goofing off reminds me of the good ol' days. Also they actually seemed to really genuinely like me this year and that's a good feeling. They wanted me to go on the high adventure ropes course with them and they also begged to see me get blobbed.
The staff. They are always hilarious and run this camp like a machine. Plus half of them go to Biola hahahaha
Hanging Out Whether it's with the kids or the other counselors from our church, I'm pretty sure the joking around is my favorite part.
The band. I love camp worship, it's always amazing. And it was better than last year I think.
The music. Everytime we walk into chapel, they have amazing songs playing like the Mai A Hi (by the Moldovian pop band, O-Zone. I had to look that up on my favorite website Wikipedia haha and by doing so I found out the song is actually called Dragostea Din Tei. I learn so much from that website).
The Vitamin Water vending machine! Seriously. I have never seen on of these anywhere else. I WANT ONE IN MY DORM, I would provide all the business!
The theme. Robots? How cool is that?
Recreation. Seems like something I would not like. So I don't know why I do. How much fun is it to throw DYE at a bunch of kids and get all wet? Except the 'wash out' dye definitely did not wash out of my shirt yet. And one of my girls threw a cup of dye into my left ear, which I now think is infected so THANKS FOR THAT. Also, one night, the counselors got to run around and hit the kids with socks filled with bean bags or something. Like full on smack them. Too bad I had a headache during that game but that was fun to watch. I also loved the night game where the counselors had to hide throughout camp. I was one of the few that was never found so that was fun. I also ended up participating in the bellyflop competition because the guy from our team never showed up. Leave it to me to have to do it not once, but TWICE in front of hundreds of people. By the second flop, the only pain I felt was the embarrassment from it all haha. Oh, and the boys on our rec team were really good this year so we were in 2nd place at one point. So it felt good to be competitive this year, because I think we came in last place last year haha.
The Staff vs Counselor Kickball Game. Loved it last year, love it this year. We won.
Sleep In Day. Enough said.
The Fashion. This sounds weird but I love camp because you can wear anything you want and get away with it. Within dress code obviously. My friends know how I looove dress codes. But at camp, it's nice to go carefree and wear weird stuff, like bandanas, backpacks, and boardshorts.
Thing I Do Not Like About Camp.
Drama. Why do girls fight so much? "I can't sleep in that cabin because of her" and "Those girls said I was fat" and "So and So was being mean" and "This girl stole my money". SERIOUSLY. I can't count how many times a day one of these problems arose. Everytime I returned to our cabin, a different girl was crying. A joke the other female counselor and I had was 'uh oh, I can't find my shirt, I bet somebody STOLE it" because these girls just decide that if they can't find something, it was stolen, even though everything turned up at the end of the week. I do NOT remember fighting with my friends like that when I was in junior high. So much attitude! I can't handle it. Also, I had a few girls just DISSAPEAR throughout the week and I had to go search for them. Not ok. It was hard keeping them where they were supposed to be.
The Food. I understand cooking for hundreds is difficult. Really, I do. But I think they could do better. I lost 5 pounds just because of my lack of interest in the food. WHICH IS RARE, for me.
Lack of Sleep. First night is always the worst. Last year they woke up at 3am, this year they woke up at random intervals to whisper and hang out. This makes it very hard to force myself to be enthusiastic throughout the day, when usually I am not feeling that way haha.
Dirt. Everywhere. I hate breathing it. I would shower and never feel clean because it's impossible to walk back to your cabin without getting your feet dirty in sandals.
Bugs. Everywhere. I had one girl find a bug on her bed and then she started sobbing and refused to sleep in her bed. She had to sleep in another bed. And I thought I was bad.
Sunscreen. Being out in the sun all day means SUNSCREEN is crucial. But I hate it because my allergies make my eyes itch constantly so I always end up rubbing it in my eye which is THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING EVER. Can't even keep my eyes open and tears are streaming down my face haha. I had to close my eyes for thirty minutes to get rid of the stinging. So I stopped wearing sunscreen on the 2nd day and for some weird reason, didn't even get tan.
My Watch.Long story short. I needed a watch at the last minute so I went to Wal Mart ten minutes before I needed to be at the church. My choices in the $5 watch bin were butterflies, frogs, monkeys, or Barbie. I almost got Barbie but it was digital and I don't like setting those. So I picked butterflies and decided I would look like a 6 year old all week. But this watch was crazy with a capital C. It was either super fast or super slow so I never knew what the REAL time was.
Being Mean. The time comes every year where I have to be mean and I hate it haha. It's usually the first night when they won't sleep. But this year went better and I told them I don't like being mean so by the end of the week, I had THEM saying "you guys, Debbie doesn't like being mean so let's go to sleep". Haha. Oh yeah, this is how they ended up calling me Debbie:
Camper-"What should we call you?"
Me-"Well most my friends call me Deb, or Deborah is fine."
Camper-"What about Debbie?"
Me-"Umm well no one really calls me that actually."
Camper-"Ok Debbie!"
The Busride.I am never one to get bus sick. But when the driver drives super fast up the winding road to the mountain, I feel icky the rest of the day. Also, it's unavoidable that kids will throw up on the way back. Last year there were tons, but this year there were only 2. Bleh.
Being Sick. I don't know HOW I got so sick the last day because I am the QUEEN of Germ-x, especially while at camp. But I caught a horrible head cold and by the last night, I was moaning in bed, trying to get the girls to pack so we could go to sleep, and I had to be really mean to show them I did not feel well haha. As soon as I got home, I went straight to Longs and loaded up on tons of cold medicine because there was enough pressure in my head to power the Good Year blimp. The worst part was because of my congestion, my left ear never popped on the way down the mountain so I was deaf ALL FREAKING DAY. Worst feeling ever.
Other Counselors. Most are great, but there are always the few I can't stand. For example, day one: We were in line to sign our girls up for the high ropes course that they really wanted to do. This other girl cut in front of us to sign her girls up because other staff from her church were in line ahead of us. This is not ok because she got to sleep in and just join the line while we were standing in the cold, looking horrible because of our early morning. I made a joke that they would probably run out of spots as soon as they got to us BECAUSE of that girl cutting. That is exactly what happened. I got to the table and there was one spot left. Telling my girls that they couldn't do the ropes course was definitely one of the worst parts of my week. Also, I can't stand the super competitive that will stop at nothing to win. That is not what camp is about.
Walking. So much walking. I was sore from walking so much. I need to exercise more.
Did I Say Food? Can't emphasize this anymore haha.
The Speaker. Halfway through the week we had to have a new speaker take over because ours was speaking for over an HOUR every night. Not ok for junior highers, not even ok for me haha. He also was going in about 12 different directions and was impossible to follow. He also showed a scene from The Passion Of The Christ without any warning, that was way too intense for them. I had 3 of my girls come to me crying after seeing it. My whole cabin was upset that night that they had had to see that when their parents wouldn't allow them to at home. I feel so bad for him because he had too much going on to be a good speaker at the time. But we did have the amazing speaker from last year take over and everything worked out.
Ok so it looks like there is a lot of bad, but I am planning on going again next year so what does that tell you? It tells you that you're missing out because it's tons of fun.
Things I Like About Camp:
My girls. I love seeing where they end up at the end of the week, especially when I didn't even know them before. Also listening to them goofing off reminds me of the good ol' days. Also they actually seemed to really genuinely like me this year and that's a good feeling. They wanted me to go on the high adventure ropes course with them and they also begged to see me get blobbed.
The staff. They are always hilarious and run this camp like a machine. Plus half of them go to Biola hahahaha
Hanging Out Whether it's with the kids or the other counselors from our church, I'm pretty sure the joking around is my favorite part.
The band. I love camp worship, it's always amazing. And it was better than last year I think.
The music. Everytime we walk into chapel, they have amazing songs playing like the Mai A Hi (by the Moldovian pop band, O-Zone. I had to look that up on my favorite website Wikipedia haha and by doing so I found out the song is actually called Dragostea Din Tei. I learn so much from that website).
The Vitamin Water vending machine! Seriously. I have never seen on of these anywhere else. I WANT ONE IN MY DORM, I would provide all the business!
The theme. Robots? How cool is that?
Recreation. Seems like something I would not like. So I don't know why I do. How much fun is it to throw DYE at a bunch of kids and get all wet? Except the 'wash out' dye definitely did not wash out of my shirt yet. And one of my girls threw a cup of dye into my left ear, which I now think is infected so THANKS FOR THAT. Also, one night, the counselors got to run around and hit the kids with socks filled with bean bags or something. Like full on smack them. Too bad I had a headache during that game but that was fun to watch. I also loved the night game where the counselors had to hide throughout camp. I was one of the few that was never found so that was fun. I also ended up participating in the bellyflop competition because the guy from our team never showed up. Leave it to me to have to do it not once, but TWICE in front of hundreds of people. By the second flop, the only pain I felt was the embarrassment from it all haha. Oh, and the boys on our rec team were really good this year so we were in 2nd place at one point. So it felt good to be competitive this year, because I think we came in last place last year haha.
The Staff vs Counselor Kickball Game. Loved it last year, love it this year. We won.
Sleep In Day. Enough said.
The Fashion. This sounds weird but I love camp because you can wear anything you want and get away with it. Within dress code obviously. My friends know how I looove dress codes. But at camp, it's nice to go carefree and wear weird stuff, like bandanas, backpacks, and boardshorts.
Thing I Do Not Like About Camp.
Drama. Why do girls fight so much? "I can't sleep in that cabin because of her" and "Those girls said I was fat" and "So and So was being mean" and "This girl stole my money". SERIOUSLY. I can't count how many times a day one of these problems arose. Everytime I returned to our cabin, a different girl was crying. A joke the other female counselor and I had was 'uh oh, I can't find my shirt, I bet somebody STOLE it" because these girls just decide that if they can't find something, it was stolen, even though everything turned up at the end of the week. I do NOT remember fighting with my friends like that when I was in junior high. So much attitude! I can't handle it. Also, I had a few girls just DISSAPEAR throughout the week and I had to go search for them. Not ok. It was hard keeping them where they were supposed to be.
The Food. I understand cooking for hundreds is difficult. Really, I do. But I think they could do better. I lost 5 pounds just because of my lack of interest in the food. WHICH IS RARE, for me.
Lack of Sleep. First night is always the worst. Last year they woke up at 3am, this year they woke up at random intervals to whisper and hang out. This makes it very hard to force myself to be enthusiastic throughout the day, when usually I am not feeling that way haha.
Dirt. Everywhere. I hate breathing it. I would shower and never feel clean because it's impossible to walk back to your cabin without getting your feet dirty in sandals.
Bugs. Everywhere. I had one girl find a bug on her bed and then she started sobbing and refused to sleep in her bed. She had to sleep in another bed. And I thought I was bad.
Sunscreen. Being out in the sun all day means SUNSCREEN is crucial. But I hate it because my allergies make my eyes itch constantly so I always end up rubbing it in my eye which is THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING EVER. Can't even keep my eyes open and tears are streaming down my face haha. I had to close my eyes for thirty minutes to get rid of the stinging. So I stopped wearing sunscreen on the 2nd day and for some weird reason, didn't even get tan.
My Watch.Long story short. I needed a watch at the last minute so I went to Wal Mart ten minutes before I needed to be at the church. My choices in the $5 watch bin were butterflies, frogs, monkeys, or Barbie. I almost got Barbie but it was digital and I don't like setting those. So I picked butterflies and decided I would look like a 6 year old all week. But this watch was crazy with a capital C. It was either super fast or super slow so I never knew what the REAL time was.
Being Mean. The time comes every year where I have to be mean and I hate it haha. It's usually the first night when they won't sleep. But this year went better and I told them I don't like being mean so by the end of the week, I had THEM saying "you guys, Debbie doesn't like being mean so let's go to sleep". Haha. Oh yeah, this is how they ended up calling me Debbie:
Camper-"What should we call you?"
Me-"Well most my friends call me Deb, or Deborah is fine."
Camper-"What about Debbie?"
Me-"Umm well no one really calls me that actually."
Camper-"Ok Debbie!"
The Busride.I am never one to get bus sick. But when the driver drives super fast up the winding road to the mountain, I feel icky the rest of the day. Also, it's unavoidable that kids will throw up on the way back. Last year there were tons, but this year there were only 2. Bleh.
Being Sick. I don't know HOW I got so sick the last day because I am the QUEEN of Germ-x, especially while at camp. But I caught a horrible head cold and by the last night, I was moaning in bed, trying to get the girls to pack so we could go to sleep, and I had to be really mean to show them I did not feel well haha. As soon as I got home, I went straight to Longs and loaded up on tons of cold medicine because there was enough pressure in my head to power the Good Year blimp. The worst part was because of my congestion, my left ear never popped on the way down the mountain so I was deaf ALL FREAKING DAY. Worst feeling ever.
Other Counselors. Most are great, but there are always the few I can't stand. For example, day one: We were in line to sign our girls up for the high ropes course that they really wanted to do. This other girl cut in front of us to sign her girls up because other staff from her church were in line ahead of us. This is not ok because she got to sleep in and just join the line while we were standing in the cold, looking horrible because of our early morning. I made a joke that they would probably run out of spots as soon as they got to us BECAUSE of that girl cutting. That is exactly what happened. I got to the table and there was one spot left. Telling my girls that they couldn't do the ropes course was definitely one of the worst parts of my week. Also, I can't stand the super competitive that will stop at nothing to win. That is not what camp is about.
Walking. So much walking. I was sore from walking so much. I need to exercise more.
Did I Say Food? Can't emphasize this anymore haha.
The Speaker. Halfway through the week we had to have a new speaker take over because ours was speaking for over an HOUR every night. Not ok for junior highers, not even ok for me haha. He also was going in about 12 different directions and was impossible to follow. He also showed a scene from The Passion Of The Christ without any warning, that was way too intense for them. I had 3 of my girls come to me crying after seeing it. My whole cabin was upset that night that they had had to see that when their parents wouldn't allow them to at home. I feel so bad for him because he had too much going on to be a good speaker at the time. But we did have the amazing speaker from last year take over and everything worked out.
Ok so it looks like there is a lot of bad, but I am planning on going again next year so what does that tell you? It tells you that you're missing out because it's tons of fun.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Hume Lake
here I come for a week at Meadow Ranch Junior High summer camp. This is my 2nd year as a counseler so I'm excited for the returning kids, as well as the new ones. Last year was a lot of fun, except during rec time when none of my girls would play so that meant I had to get in the pool on water day. That was no fun. It was cold and cloudy, I remember. Another thing that was no fun was that my cabin woke up at 3am the first night. Nope, not went to bed at 3am, but WOKE UP at 3am, even though we went to bed at midnight. They just hung out and chatted it up and I wanted to kill myself haha. But then I had to lay down the law and be mean and the rest of the week went a little better as far as sleeping. Those are the only two bad memories I have of camp, there are way more good ones than bad ones so I am excited for this year. Even though I am still getting over a horrible stomach flu that sucked the life out of me. I barely have an appetite yet and I am going to eat camp food for a week, WOO. Yey-uh let's do this.
Remind me to write about my crazy adventures in Azusa canyon at one in the morning haha. I am so glad to be alive.
PS. Fourth of July is my favorite. It is absolutely everything I love: heat, swimming, crazy friends, the most food EVER, and beautiful explosions in the sky haha. The true essence of summer. I absolutely love it and I wish I had that feeling all year long.
Remind me to write about my crazy adventures in Azusa canyon at one in the morning haha. I am so glad to be alive.
PS. Fourth of July is my favorite. It is absolutely everything I love: heat, swimming, crazy friends, the most food EVER, and beautiful explosions in the sky haha. The true essence of summer. I absolutely love it and I wish I had that feeling all year long.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Ok I knew the air in my hometown (Visalia, California) was bad. But this shocked me! The cities in BOLD are very very close to Visalia. so keep that in mind. Woo go Central Valley!
U.S.City Air Quality Ratings
Every year, the American Lung Association uses air-quality-index data from the EPA to rank the air in U.S. cities from most to least hazardous.
Bad Air-Highest in ozone (ranked in descending order):
Bakersfield, California
Los Angeles, California
Visalia, California
Fresno, California
Merced, California
Houston, Texas
Sacramento, California
Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas
New York City
Philadelphia
Highest in particulate matter (ranked in descending order):
Los Angeles, California
Bakersfield, California
Pittsburgh
Visalia, California
Fresno, California
Detroit, Michigan
Hanford, California
Cleveland
Birmingham, Alabama
Atlanta
Good Air-Lowest in ozone*:
Colorado Springs
Daytona Beach, Florida
Des Moines, Iowa
Honolulu
Lakeland, Florida
Palm Bay, Florida
Port St.Lucie, Florida
Salem, Oregon
Salinas, California
Spokane
Lowest in particulate matter (ranked in descending order):
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Honolulu
Great Falls, Montana
Tucson
Anchorage
Farmington, New Mexico
Bismarck, North Dakota
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Rapid City, South Dakota
*A sampling of the most populous cities on the EPA’s list, unranked.
You know what? I still love this city. I wouldn't have wanted to be raised anywhere else.
U.S.City Air Quality Ratings
Every year, the American Lung Association uses air-quality-index data from the EPA to rank the air in U.S. cities from most to least hazardous.
Bad Air-Highest in ozone (ranked in descending order):
Bakersfield, California
Los Angeles, California
Visalia, California
Fresno, California
Merced, California
Houston, Texas
Sacramento, California
Dallas–Fort Worth, Texas
New York City
Philadelphia
Highest in particulate matter (ranked in descending order):
Los Angeles, California
Bakersfield, California
Pittsburgh
Visalia, California
Fresno, California
Detroit, Michigan
Hanford, California
Cleveland
Birmingham, Alabama
Atlanta
Good Air-Lowest in ozone*:
Colorado Springs
Daytona Beach, Florida
Des Moines, Iowa
Honolulu
Lakeland, Florida
Palm Bay, Florida
Port St.Lucie, Florida
Salem, Oregon
Salinas, California
Spokane
Lowest in particulate matter (ranked in descending order):
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Honolulu
Great Falls, Montana
Tucson
Anchorage
Farmington, New Mexico
Bismarck, North Dakota
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Rapid City, South Dakota
*A sampling of the most populous cities on the EPA’s list, unranked.
You know what? I still love this city. I wouldn't have wanted to be raised anywhere else.
Friday, June 27, 2008
HOT HOT HOT
I'm going to PALM SPRINGS this weekend. My uncle used to have a condo there so I've been there a couple times when I was 8 or so. I went again in January for Youth Retreat at church. And now I'm going again for Senior trip at church. Except they already left and guess who had to stay here and close at work. ME. So as soon as I get off here in twenty minutes, me and a couple guys who couldn't make it earlier are driving all the way to Palm Springs. It's going to be like 120 degrees there and I'm going to LOOOOVE IT. Good times to come. We were supposed to go to Disneyland today but that didn't work out and I'm pissed cause I can't go again until August but oh well I guess. Leaving for the heat beats staying at my cousin's house BORED OUT OF MY FREAKING MIND. No computer, nothing to do except watch Veggie Tales with the baby. This my friends, is a whole other post for next time. Peace Out.
Friday, June 20, 2008
The work blog.
I am starting this new blog now even though I have been blogging on Xanga since the ripe age of 13. You can check that out if you want, it's like my whole life on file. It's probably really embarrassing actually if you keep going farther and farther back into my teenage years. www.xanga.com/this_light_shines. Just seems like all my friends are going with this blog now and I like to comment! And no one reads my xanga anymore. Sad day, yes. I know. I'll still keep it updated though, do not worry.
This is basically going to be something for me to do at work because it will keep me busy. I am excited to start fresh on this blog. Xanga can be my TEEN blog and now I am in my twenties (ugggggh i hate saying that) so this is way cooler. (I've matured so much, can you tell?) Right now, all I am doing in life is working full time and living at my cousin's house in Buena Park, across the street from Knott's Berry Farm. I hear screaming tourists non-stop. Not because they are being attacked, but because they are riding the rides hahahaha.
Let me talk about work some more so people can know my life. I know you care. I work at an Insurance office in La Palma. I'll never know how I got this job because my resume was pathetic. I worked for 2 days at Aeropostale, I had been hired to sell knives but quit once I found out THAT's what I would be doing, and worked for a month at a boutique in downtown Visalia with my friend. OH and can't forget working on campus at the beloved Eagle's Nest restaurant at Biola. I hated that job with a passion, but now I can say I have served my duty in the food service industry. So somehow I got this job because they were looking for a girl from Biola (they wanted a Christian girl obviously). So I've been here since August 2007. Almost a year. I started out hating it because I thought it was boring. But then realized that I was getting paid to sit in an AC office and work a computer. The phone rings in random intervals and not frequently. So when I discovered that since I have my own office here, I could go online and do whatever I wanted, life was great. Now I know tons about insurance and am learning everything there is to know about running this office. My resume has gained so much haha. My daily ordeals include but are not limited to:
-Answering the phone and consoling angry customers. (also trying not to lose my cool when they yell at me. also trying not to laugh when they yell at me hahaha).
-Talking on the phone. Mostly to the insurance headquarters and finance companies. I verify coverage on certain clients and make sure their policies are up to date. Things get very complicated.
-Taking lots and lots of messages. DETAILED messages. I learned this the hard way.
-Answering many questions about money, coverage, billing, and finance companies.
-Faxing. Lots and lots of faxing. I am a pro faxer. Mostly to finance/mortgage companies.
-Scanning. Lots and lots of scanning documents. Also a pro.
-Handling money. Making receipts. Applying payments to certain policies. This is one of the hardest things because it is VERY easy to miss one of the policy numbers or the credit card number and I have gotten in major trouble a couple times. But I think I do great for a rookie secretary.
-Printings lots and lots of documents to send out to customers.
-Typing letters to customers. (and forging my bosses signatures haha. If I asked them to sign something everytime, I would never sit down.)
-Making birthday cards every Friday. (this takes HOURS to address every freaking envelope).
-Sending out handwritten reminders about late payments and expired policies.
-Putting stamps and labels on EVERYTHING.
-And making sure I keep track of the stamps. Seriously. Each boss has their own stamps. If I don't keep track of who's is who's, then chaos ensues. We go through tons.
That sounds like a lot but it's only about an hour's total worth of work a day. So that leave the rest of my hours free to pretend I'm busy and do what I want until the phone rings again and I get another task. My bosses are teaching me how to give quotes for Auto, Home, and all the other insurance policies. It's scary, I don't want to do that but I guess I should know. I love my bosses, they make me crack up. They went to Master's college so they like to make fun of me since I go to Biola.
Anyways, I am talking about work so much because it's my whole life right now. I went home for the summer for a couple weeks thinking I had lost this great job due to the fact I didn't have a place to live. But I was praying to get called back here because I was miserable at home. With allergies and my family not wanting me around. I was also out of money big time. And my car registration is due next month. I also knew that if they called me back, that means they didn't hire someone else so that means I HAVE THIS JOB AGAIN ONCE FALL COMES. It is great because it is flexible. It's when I can come in everyday and get the work done. I feel ok asking for days off and leaving early. It's perfect for college. No working nights or weekends either.
So see, it made me very happy at the time. but now I am bored out of my mind because after work everyday, I go back to my cousin's house and do nothing. I need to start making those kids from my youth group here hang out with me.
This is basically going to be something for me to do at work because it will keep me busy. I am excited to start fresh on this blog. Xanga can be my TEEN blog and now I am in my twenties (ugggggh i hate saying that) so this is way cooler. (I've matured so much, can you tell?) Right now, all I am doing in life is working full time and living at my cousin's house in Buena Park, across the street from Knott's Berry Farm. I hear screaming tourists non-stop. Not because they are being attacked, but because they are riding the rides hahahaha.
Let me talk about work some more so people can know my life. I know you care. I work at an Insurance office in La Palma. I'll never know how I got this job because my resume was pathetic. I worked for 2 days at Aeropostale, I had been hired to sell knives but quit once I found out THAT's what I would be doing, and worked for a month at a boutique in downtown Visalia with my friend. OH and can't forget working on campus at the beloved Eagle's Nest restaurant at Biola. I hated that job with a passion, but now I can say I have served my duty in the food service industry. So somehow I got this job because they were looking for a girl from Biola (they wanted a Christian girl obviously). So I've been here since August 2007. Almost a year. I started out hating it because I thought it was boring. But then realized that I was getting paid to sit in an AC office and work a computer. The phone rings in random intervals and not frequently. So when I discovered that since I have my own office here, I could go online and do whatever I wanted, life was great. Now I know tons about insurance and am learning everything there is to know about running this office. My resume has gained so much haha. My daily ordeals include but are not limited to:
-Answering the phone and consoling angry customers. (also trying not to lose my cool when they yell at me. also trying not to laugh when they yell at me hahaha).
-Talking on the phone. Mostly to the insurance headquarters and finance companies. I verify coverage on certain clients and make sure their policies are up to date. Things get very complicated.
-Taking lots and lots of messages. DETAILED messages. I learned this the hard way.
-Answering many questions about money, coverage, billing, and finance companies.
-Faxing. Lots and lots of faxing. I am a pro faxer. Mostly to finance/mortgage companies.
-Scanning. Lots and lots of scanning documents. Also a pro.
-Handling money. Making receipts. Applying payments to certain policies. This is one of the hardest things because it is VERY easy to miss one of the policy numbers or the credit card number and I have gotten in major trouble a couple times. But I think I do great for a rookie secretary.
-Printings lots and lots of documents to send out to customers.
-Typing letters to customers. (and forging my bosses signatures haha. If I asked them to sign something everytime, I would never sit down.)
-Making birthday cards every Friday. (this takes HOURS to address every freaking envelope).
-Sending out handwritten reminders about late payments and expired policies.
-Putting stamps and labels on EVERYTHING.
-And making sure I keep track of the stamps. Seriously. Each boss has their own stamps. If I don't keep track of who's is who's, then chaos ensues. We go through tons.
That sounds like a lot but it's only about an hour's total worth of work a day. So that leave the rest of my hours free to pretend I'm busy and do what I want until the phone rings again and I get another task. My bosses are teaching me how to give quotes for Auto, Home, and all the other insurance policies. It's scary, I don't want to do that but I guess I should know. I love my bosses, they make me crack up. They went to Master's college so they like to make fun of me since I go to Biola.
Anyways, I am talking about work so much because it's my whole life right now. I went home for the summer for a couple weeks thinking I had lost this great job due to the fact I didn't have a place to live. But I was praying to get called back here because I was miserable at home. With allergies and my family not wanting me around. I was also out of money big time. And my car registration is due next month. I also knew that if they called me back, that means they didn't hire someone else so that means I HAVE THIS JOB AGAIN ONCE FALL COMES. It is great because it is flexible. It's when I can come in everyday and get the work done. I feel ok asking for days off and leaving early. It's perfect for college. No working nights or weekends either.
So see, it made me very happy at the time. but now I am bored out of my mind because after work everyday, I go back to my cousin's house and do nothing. I need to start making those kids from my youth group here hang out with me.
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