Day 1

I'm here. After 10 hours, one of which was spent driving around Kansas City just trying to make it out of town in spite of the road closures from the Hospital Hill run, we arrived in Detroit Lakes, MN my home for the next month. I got "the big room". With two large closets this is literally a foreign experience compared to all my other stays at camp where I am typically living out of my suitcase because the cubbies in our bunk are all taken. Sometimes for our week long trips to camp I have even slept on a mattress on the floor. Needless to say my queen bed feels ginormous. I am giving one of my closets to my neighbor Kate whose accommodations are more quaint than mine.

There are 10 kids all under the age of 5 here. The cutest kid contest has begun and I am measuring baby Nick's gorgeous eyes against Logan's sweetness and Raef's dragon-slaying skills. It is full on baby-palooza with some fierce competition in the cute race.

Campers won't arrive until Tuesday which seems like days and days away. It won't feel real until the camp is full of swimsuit laden teenagers walking up from the beach and frisbees flying at my head as I accidentally interrupt rounds of frisbee golf. In the meantime all the staff is getting to know one another. The group of younger girls ended up congregating on my bed chatting and giggling before bed, so we're started off exactly how I'd hoped. One of my favorite parts of working at camp is the late night giggle fests (like the night 4 years ago when Jeff and Daniel tried to catch the gigantic raccoon by luring him with an orange). I'm already anticipating the memories I will return home with from this month. I can't wait to see what's in store. And best of all Daniel will be making an appearance after all. Thankfully some scheduling issues were worked out and he'll visit me for a few days at some point. I can't wait!

Krystal in Wonderland

Here are the pictures from the Krystal in Wonderland Baby Shower.

Family

Tomorrow is my last day in town before I leave for camp for 5 weeks. In addition to missing Daniel I will miss these yahoos and their little faces at the back door begging to be let back inside.


When away from home I often find myself forgetting that the pups aren't there with me. For example sometimes I'm eating a meal and if something drops to the floor I assume they'll be there to eat it/clean it up. What will it be like to have a bed to myself without the tugging, pulling, and fighting for covers? Lonely that's what. And where will I be without receiving a walk-by-lick while working at the computer? Sad that's where.

PS- Penny is very difficult to photograph. She often appears as a white blur like a little furry ghost. Par exemple:

Would you have a drink with yourself?

This commercial may appear a little random as I am not a Hefner fan nor a vodka fan, but the concept is intriguing. Would I want to have a drink with myself? It's like a take on the age old question, "If you could have dinner with anyone dead or alive who would it be?" If I could choose to do the same with myself would I want to? On one hand I immediately think yes, of course I would. We would understand each other in a way no one else could. But on the other hand I wonder if I am interesting enough, fun enough. Would I have chemistry with myself? If I doubt my appeal to myself, this makes me question my appeal to others. Am I someone I would want to hang out with? Very interesting.

Quote of the Day

While at the mall today we were approached by a saleswoman posted at one of the kiosks. As we briskly walked past her staring in the other direction trying to avoid her pitch she interjected, "How much do you pay for oil changes?" Daniel quietly replied, "We don't have cars" and never broke stride. We both giggled for the remainder of our walk through the mall. He still makes me laugh.

Is It Bad?

Is it bad that there are so many bugs in my house that it feels like I'm camping indoors?

During the party last night I propped up small speakers in our windows to project the music outside. One of those windows doesn't have a screen. Over the course of the night every bug that wasn't already busy biting us in the yard was making its way into the house. I swatted repeatedly today against walls, chairs, legs. The clapping together of hands as I attempted to kill one creature at a time kept startling the dogs all day long. And now the itching. My mosquito bites have turned to welts and I'm reminded as I am every summer how hard it is to fall asleep when you're itchy. I might as well pitch a tent and roast some marshmallows. If I already have the biggest negative of camping occurring in my own living room, why not at least enjoy the good parts.

Krystal in Wonderland

Tonight was the baby shower I threw for my sweet friend Krystal. Daniel had the pleasure of being the officiant of their wedding this past October, so I was excited to get to host her baby shower. Baby Ignatius will arrive in August to a great couple. I'll post pictures from the shower later, but below is the invitation. Since Tim Burton released his remake of Alice in Wonderland, I've been waiting to throw an Alice themed party. The color palette, scenes from the story, and overall theme were so fun to play with.