Greetings from NYC

I am now vegging in my sister's apartment in Queen's. Enjoying my freedom between orientation (which was a blast) and camp (which is in two days). Tomorrow I am going in to Manhattan to hang out with my friend who lives on the lower east side,then I am sleeping over by her and the two of us are going to make the journey the next morning to the bus so that I can go up to camp with my campers. She is actually a friend of mine from camp but is now married so she is just coming to see her old campers and their parents. It is nice though to have a partner on the subway so I don't have to stare at the black windows for the forty five minute trip in to Brooklyn.

So shabbos in camp with out the campers was interesting to say the least. I mean this orientation over shabbos thing has been going on for the past few summers, but every year I forget how strange it is. The new counselors are young and the returning counselors are few and far between but all in all it seems like a cute bunch. I tell you 1985 was a good year cause these rookies are stunning. Not only the girls (thought they are better looking then the boys) but we have so really cute guys also (I can say this since I am old enough to be their mothers-ok older sisters). It is a rather good looking bunch I must say, can't wait till they learn they can't wear the pencil thin heels (the girls) and the good pants (the guys). I can almost picture half of them saying (on a regular basis), I can't do that it is too messy. Well children, camp HASC is all about getting messy so they are in for a big surprise.

My co's are awesome, I can't wait to start working with them and although I have mostly new campers I feel almost prepared to jump right in to camp with them. I am missing my fav and only returning camper, she is why I am coming back to camp and I miss her like crazy. I can't wait for another full summer of drool, hair pulling and being dragged through boys campus (ok that part isn't so bad, jk). It looks like it is going to be an amazing 49 (don't worry someone else counted not me) days and hopefully next summer I will be too busy to go back, so I am going to make this summer count. Hope you all have a wonderful summer and check out once and a while for cute stories about my darling girls.

Off to the Holy Land

Ok, so HASC really isn't the Holy Land but don't tell that to my mom. Tom. morning (actually in about six hours) I will be heading to NY then Friday morning I am off to HASC. I am really excited and really nervous and in a lot of ways scared out of my mind. I mean this summer has so many new challenges I don't know if I am up for it. I am sure when I get in to the swing of it though I will end up having another wonderful summer.
In prep for my journey in to the mountains I went to get my eyebrows done today. I am laying on the eyebrow waxing chair cringing in necessary pain when the manicurists/waxer says to me in broken English "why aren't you married?". I said and I quote "what?" "Your sister" she says "Is twin and she is married a long time, why you not married?" Nothing shocks me these days but this floored me (ok not quite but if I wasn't lying down at the time I would have prob. ended up on the floor.
So, in my haste to pack and get myself together I have no clue what I am bring to camp. I know I will end up up there with out a toothbrush or shower shoes (no I remember packing those). Either that or ten pairs of shoes I will never wear. Though I did manage to fill two duffles and a suitcase with something (not to mention the small bag holding my blanket and my purse which might as well be carry on luggage (ok it is not that big). And I have to figure out how to get my suitcase and my small bag up to the heights (my mother likes to refer to it as X) on the subway. If I manage this I think I will deserve a drink (of diet Pepsi).
This could be my last post for a while because although there is usually online hook up in camp it is really hard to actually get online (unless you are up at some crazy hour which I might be). Leave messages anyway I will be back to check and maybe tell y'all what is going in my crazy life.

Have a great summer y'all. Enjoy the beautiful weather even if you aren't on vacation.

I Hope You Dance

This morning I was cleaning my room to the music of Blue Fringe, when a small hand appeared on my door. Soon a small body found its way in to my room. My nephew had wandered in to my room and was making his way across the room to my stereo. He stopped right in front of it and began dancing (well bobbing but it was close). It was the cutest thing you have ever seen, he is just a year and the cutest little thing (despite looking just like my twin- just joking). It was so adorable I swept him in to my arms and twirled him around the room. We danced for a few minutes before his Ema came in to see where he had wandered. I told her to take him out so that I could finish cleaning up, but every time she took him in to the den on the other side of the basement he wandered back to my door. He kept coming in and standing in front of the stereo and if I did not run over to him he would stand with his arms straight out ahhing until I picked him up and brought him closer to the music. It made my day, nephews have a way of making the world a better place.
Today B"H I finished my shopping for camp now I just have to figure out how I am getting all the places I have to go in the next two weeks, but I can't think of that any more tonight or my brain might just turn to mush. Right now I just want to think about my nephew and dancing around my room holding him tight. Boy am I going to miss the kid.

The Sound of Silence

It occurred to me the other day that silence had finally come to Baltimore. Ok, so it isn't exactly silent but the noise level has been brought down a whole lot thanks to the timely death of the cicadas. Yes I did not miss a day of the buggers, ok not true I missed out on one weekend but since they are gone we must not think on them any longer. Actually, before I banish them from my thoughts completely, I must say that they were not nearly as terrible as I had been told that they would be. B"H they are gone just in time for me to leave which is what I will be doing this Thursday. Of course when I go to NY it can't be simple. I am actually going in to Manhattan Thursday only to leave for the mountains on Friday morning. Then I will be returning to Manhattan on Sunday only to leave for Baltimore on Monday morning. Then back to Manhattan on Monday night or Tuesday morning only to go to Brooklyn Wednesday morning then off the mountains once again. B"H at that point I should be staying in the mountains for a good six, seven weeks (except for days off of course at which time I have no clue where I will be). Got to keep things lively it keeps my mind busy as well as my feet, always important.

This shabbos was quite interesting we had the newly weds (of almost two years, wow how time flies), the old married couple (of 30 years, Mazel Tov Ema and Abba on your anniversary) and well, the older married couple (50+ years). I hope that good marriages run in the family...and of course my nephew comes with the young married couple (I wouldn't have it any other way). He is just adorable, he is walking all over the place and watching him eat a cupcake is enough entertainment for anyone. Of course when he was covered in icing my sister brought him over to give his tanta a huge hug and kiss. I still have frosting in my hair (at least it was pink). Sasson, I blaming that one on you for as you know he is all your fault.
Ok, my brain is done for the night...stay tuned for more excitement tomorrow.....

If Only Barnes & Noble Sold Flip Flops

On Sunday (my last day at Gesher LaTorah- a special ed. Sunday school)one of the parents gave me a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble. I was so excited because I really need books to take to camp with me and since I usually go through about seven a week and I will be spending seven weeks in camp with out a library any books I can bring with me are great. So I went online and started looking through some sale books by my fav. authors. After checking out two books, I realized that with shipping and handling two books were all I could afford with a $15 gift card. Right before I clicked on proceed to check out a free shipping offer on the top of the screen caught my eye. It said Free Shipping with Purchase of $25 or more. Almost dismissing it my brain began to work frantically (so if I purchase another $10 worth of books I can get five books instead of two with the money I save on shipping...) Then I realized that I had an old B&N gift card in my wallet that I think still had money on it. I was so excited I pulled it out and check the balance online. 10 bucks left, amazing, I could now get $25 worth of books with out worrying about shipping. So I go shopping and pull up 5 great books (at least I hope) I go to check out and just my luck, the total was 24.09 (I do not jest).

B&N sells nothing for a dollar so I knew that if I did not get another book I would be paying the same price for shipping and handling so why not grab another book and get the free s & h. A half an hour later I had my sixth book picked out which brought my total to $29 and change. Ok, I could handle five bucks for six books. I finally get to proceed with check out and I am ecstatic. That is until I see the little note at the bottom of the page.

The note reads: (ok this is somewhat like what it reads)
Your gift card has be used for this your order, remember only one gift card can be used at a time.
So children, I was back to square one and besides that the gift card they have down to use is the $10 one and there does not seem to be a way to switch the two cards so that at least I can use the 15 dollar one. Oy!

Tonight I get to call my campers' parents, I can't wait. Then I guess I will hit B & N again and see if I can figure out how I want to proceed. I mean I would go to the store but the real sales are online. sheesh.

Oh yeah and I really need flip-flops, well actually I need a lot more then that before I leave for camp next week. Got to go shopping and then start packing but I am just not in the mood. Maybe tomorrow.

Work in Progress

Ok, due to popular demand (not peer pressure, just some good advice), I am working on some changes for this site. So if things are a little stranger then usual just do what you always do and read anyway. Have a great day y'all.

Change is Good

You asked for it and you got it. I changed my template to make reading this wonderful blog so much easier. Now since I made your life easier you can do me a favor and spread the word. Oh and visit often cause my hits are going way down (sorry Aishel, but I am starting to doubt your magical powers). So darling readers of mine let others know about my superior writing ability and witty yet wonderful wisdom (wow, now I can get my BA in English Comp.).
And children since you thought it couldn't be done, this post will be short just to prove it can be.

The count down begins

Yes, two weeks from tomorrow morning I will be on my way up to camp. This is my sixth summer in camp and my fourth as a counselor. Yet this summer is going to be an adventure. I am going to have three new campers (after having the same three + a few extras for the past three summers), and three new co counselor who are straight out of sem.

To tell you the truth I am a little nervous bec. Although I had to get to know one or two new campers each summer, I have never felt more like a rookie then I will this summer (ok besides my first summer when everything was new). Not only that but very few of my friends are going back. Heck, I am the only one I know (besides head staff) who have been in camp for more then the past three summers (and there are only about three of those). And even most of my most recent friends aren't going back. I love camp, I love the challenges and the campers. I love the head staff (well most of them) and the camp as a whole. But camp barely resembles the place I fell in love with six summers ago. For one thing, the camp has gotten a whole lot lower functioning (I don't know if any of my kids are really verbal this summer). For another thing, the staff has been getting increasingly younger every year. My first summer there were a whole bunch of fifth year counselor in their mid twenties. This summer there are about four fourth year counselor (with me being the oldest) and possibly one fourth year counselor. I would say 70% are first years and maybe another 20% are second year that is pretty scary. Cause it is really the vets that get the ruach going, they are the ones who are ready to let loose and really get in to things with there kids.

I can remember my first day at camp six summers ago. I came in to camp in the middle of the summer and my friend was going to show me around (I knew nothing about the place and she was leaving the next day). As we walked up the front gate she turned to me and said "I just want to warn you sometimes the counselor really get in to it with their campers, like getting on to the ground with them or running in circles or playing with bubbles or whatever and it takes some getting used to." Well as I walked in to what was then the central hang out of the camp (the front lawn) I saw exactly what she was talking about and you know what it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I fell in love with Camp HASC right then and there. But you know what camp isn't like that anymore. Ok that is not totally true, some people still get in to it but most people are too scared if they get messed up they won't get the shidduch they came to camp to get (you do know what HASC stands for don't you) and you know what that is so sad cause that is not what camp is about.

Ok, I will stop ranting and lamenting now, because even though some people come to camp for the wrong reason they are still doing a great mitzvah so I really should not complain. I just hope that this summer is as wonderful as the past five have been. Because I really hope that this is my last summer as a counselor (I have been saying that for two years now, I don't think any one believes me anymore-too bad).

So I guess for now I will go back to counting and packing and leave the worrying for when I get there and get to see my Chani. For, I know at that point all I will have to do is look in to her mischievous eyes and remember why I keep coming back.

Though I never will forget my Rochella (who is moving on to Sternberg) and my Esti (who is spending her summer abroad with her mother). I love my Rebitzen and the Dutchess. Who is going to tell me not to talk to the boys (nist Tznius) and then introduce me to all her boy friends (not for Zaidy to know about) and who is going to wake me up on my days off and tell me sing off key to MBD...Time to create new memories and at least my Chanala will keep me on my toes (although I have less hair for her to pull).

Blog, blog, blog

Ok children I just had the sudden urge to blog, so give me a moment to figure out what the heck I am going to blog about.....hmm...ok...no never mind.....hmmm.....ok that could work but y'all really don't want to hear about my dating life (or lack there of)or my summer plans or how strange it is that people all over the globe play a Jewish Geography....Ok, school it is. So I am planning on graduating in the fall (as was mentioned before) but my whole schedule conflict kind of brought all the other things I need to do before I graduate to the front of my consciousness. So last night at one or two when I should have been sleeping or at least prepping for work today, I was sitting at my computer and figuring out what had to be done when and what had to be paid to whom. Tons of fun I tell you. Then there is graduate school to look into and the whole to go or not to go issue arose. Which is always coupled with the to move or not to move question. Ok with a raise of hands tell me should I move to NY or not. Ok thank you hands down now. Anyway, I am sitting on my bed trying to make decisions at some crazy hour and I realized that none of these decisions can be made at the moment and camp is only two weeks away and if I don't start planning I am not going to end up there. Oy.
On a totally different note, I went to visit my mother today in the hospital (B"H she is doing great and should be coming home tom.) and learned a new truism (sorry to bring up dating and camp after I said I wouldn't) a mother of daughter in the parsha is first and foremost just that. I told her that I did not know if I could come home between orientation and camp for my friends wedding bec. the traveling back and forth is crazy, expensive and going to be cutting it close timewise. Thinking that she would say ok well then I guess it just can't be or well that would be sad cause she is a good friend of yours, I was extremely surprised when she said "but you said she was going to introduce you to a boy at the wedding you have to go". Whoa I must say I was totally floored, I mean there was a time in my life when my mother was scared that I would get married (like the entire year after my two sisters got married 10 months apart) then there was the time period when it just didn't matter if I dated or not cause well they had grandchildren and what's another son-in-law anyway. Now, though, it is like dating is a necessity, I have to be looking in to someone or I am wasting time. I mean when did I get so old and moldy and desperate (Chas V'Shalom). I mean don't get me wrong I want to be married and it would be nice to at least be dating but gosh just cause boys two and three years younger then me are getting engaged does not mean that I am going to end up an old maid. Hey the fad is to date younger anyway so maybe I am just looking in the wrong age range (anyone know any 19 year olds).Hey maybe I am still single cause my bashert is still in high school (shudder).
So basically I am sitting in my bed at 12:02 am trying to plot out the next 12 months of my life and solve my dating problems all before tomorrow. Oh wait it is 2 minutes two late for that.
Children, does it ever get any easier? I doubt it, the rest of our lives is spent dealing with the little things and making those tough decisions that no one can make for us. Gosh I wish I could say that even with all this buzzing around in my head I was able to stop and enjoy the sunshine today. But you know what I didn't. I don't think I even really was all there for the two hours I spent with my nephew (who by the way is the most adorable thing ever-well one of the most at least). So sad a wasted day, I have to many of those.....

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

I have one semester left of college (God Willing) and as long as I get my APs to them and my Hebrew transcript (yes I know I should have done this three years ago but whatever) I will be on my way to NY for graduate school come January. Before this momentous event that they call graduation I have to get through four classes. One English (with the best teacher ever), Two Psycs and a Anything. I actually only need three classes but inorder to keep my scholarship I need a fourth. Ok so here is the issue, UMBC (U Made a Bad Choice) is impossible and does not let you take anything fun. Meaning most of the Artsy classes are off limits. So for a while I thought I was stuck with a third Psyc class just so I would have a fourth class. Then I realized I can take Costume Design if I want (and since I made an A in Intro to Costuming why not) The only thing is the Psyc during that time slot is easy and this costuming class is pretty much an unknown (could be easy or really, really hard). Now I am graduating and don't want to be bogged down with work when I am dreaming of walking down the aisle (not towards a chuppah this time but instead a platform decorated with the UMBC logo) and away from this darn school. On the other hand, I really don't want to be bored out of my mind. So do I choose the risky yet interesting or the easy yet boring (sorry psyc of women is really not my idea of excitement). Ok children, I need your help, leave a comment and tell me what you think. I can't make this decisions on my own, so please help me out and give me some advice.
BTW- My mother's surgery went very well and B"H she is recovering and should be home in a few days, please still keep her in your prayers and thanks for those who have done so already.

Welcome One and All

If you are new (since I have been assured new viewers) welcome to my crazy ramblings. I can not promise they will be insightful or fun but I can assure you they will be a little strange. Well tis not my fault I work with the tools Hashem gave to me. Ok on with my ramblings:

Special Note: If you are reading this on Monday June 7, 2004 please say tehillim for my mother: Shoshanna bas Faiga who is going to be undergoing surgery today.

Not so special note: There are now horrible (and no I never exaggerate) pictures of me online. No, I will not link to them do you think I am that dumb, I said I looked horrible therefore they will not be shared. Those of you who already know where they are and have viewed them do not share your findings with anyone else ok. Now thanks to the world wide web (which by the way used to be my friend) I have no control over the awful pictures that the entire world can now view. B"H most of the world will not figure out but this does not matter cause a handful can.

Another Note (once again not so special): Tom. I start as a First grade Morah. Scary huh? No actually I am looking forward to it. I will be taking my mother's place as she recovers from surgery which means I will be teaching straight up till the end of school (a whole one and a half weeks). Then I get to start packing for camp. Yay!

For all those, new and old (or is that young and old) leave me a message, I love to pretend that people actually read what I write. Don't know why but I get a kick out of knowing I am writing to a handful of strangers (or not so much strangers who may just happen to be strange).

For those of you who know much more about blogging then me, just realize I know nothing so if this site is a pathetic excuse for a blog please for give it cause it surely ain't my fault. Happy reading y'all.

Speed dating

Ok, I have been put in strange situations in my life. No really I have. But last night beats them all (sorry guys I am telling the story you can laugh at it when you get back home). Yeah well besides having to wave across the room at some random guy I actually went on my first in wedding 'date' if you can call a ten minute conversation with a member of the opposite gender a date. Well I decided you can, so I will.

Ok, I won't go in to details cause you will fall asleep but basically picture this, you know the first ten minutes of the first date. You know what I am talking about. Those moments when you are just trying to get a conversation flowing and you both are so nervous it is amazing if words actually pass through your lips, yeah this was that conversation. But it gets worse, it was as if straight after that awkward stage you skipped to the end awkward stage in which you have to break off the conversation and leave. And then of course you can't leave out the so..nu.. converstation with the shaddchan five minutes later. Don't worry Mr. and Mrs. M (yes I finally know your last name) I am not complaining I am just laughing at the situation. I mean how can I complain he fit my one requirement. He did have a pulse ( and no I did not check personally). As a friend of mine put it it is amazing the things we can get away with now that we would never have been allowed to do in high school.
New experiences everyday children, it keeps us young. So what am I doing today, cleaning my room, talk about new experiences. Keep the comments coming, I know you are reading, you can't help yourself I understand.