into the woods

I'm off to the woods. I'm excited about going camping. I'm nervous about going camping with 20 middle school students. Have you ever been camping with middle school students? I don't think I have since I was actually in middle school. I think I would be more excited if I was feeling better, but I'm still a bit sick (sore throat now), and the prospect of non-stop pre-teen action for three days . . . well it's not for everyone. Wish me luck. Pictures in three days.

Kickball update: score of today's game- Tag Team- 17, Science- 2. Even though that looks like a blowout, it was actually a really fun game and we played really well. It is the first time ever that we have lost to TT by less than 20 and we actually scored, so we avoided shutout. Go us.

#23 likes #101

The weekend was a smorgasbord of parties and events. The mid-summer party hop began on Friday with Iyabo's birthday and continued all day Saturday.

My first event was a baby shower for Deegan and Brandi. Deegan is my mom's best friend's son. The baby shower was lovely- garden party brunch, kids playing in the pool out back, adults chatting in the shade. The only strange thing about it is that Deegan and Brandi weren't actually there. . . because they live here. We passed around phones and spoke to the parents to be. All of the gifts will be packed in suitcases and sent down when friends and family make the trip down to Costa Rica over the next few months. The best thing about this baby shower. . . no games. :)

After that (and a nap) I went to the opening of my friend Jaime's design show. Kagen had a puzzle box in the show and there was lots of fun, funky furniture and other functional pieces. Design can be fun but it can also be a bit strange. I love to look at all of this stuff, but I think I would probably have a hard time buying things. I have the same problem with a lot of art. I love it, I really do, I just often have a hard time imagining that I could spend several hundred (or thousand) dollars on a painting. This is my dream: someday, I will have enough money to buy art.

After the design show I party hopped over to birthday parties for Aaron and then Emily. I finished the night up with a stop at Hermans for the Flobots. If I were a Flobot, I would be #23. #23 likes #101. He might just be my new secret crush.

Today: Science for the People vs. Tag Team. TT is undeafeated and currently in first place. Since we have very little chance of winning, our plan for the day is to BBQ and try to get really drunk. This may be my last kickball game depending on my camp schedule for the rest of the summer. I'm going to make it a good one. BDK baby.

The return of. . .

Cooking Club-

after a month off, cooking club returned with a vengence. . . and video games. We cooked up fun themed like our favorite pastimes- I made Mario Mushroom Tarts. We played Mrs. Pac Man and Space Invaders and gorged ourselves on food that looked like qbert and pac man as well as other mushroom treats. We also played on Goodrich's Wii. I think I love the Wii. In addition to cool games and realistic sports and random good times, you can make your own little video game person, a Mii. Honestly, we had as much fun making Miis for everyone in Cooking Club as we did actually playing the games.


and Twin Peaks (also with fun food!)

Thanks to Rick and Margi for making log lady cake.

Yummier than actual logs! Pitch gum (actually star burst) included.

under the weather

Even though it is nearly 100 degrees and my face feels hot, I have chills. I can't breathe through my nose and breathing through my mouth makes it dry and sore. Every time I stand up I feel dizzy and probably look a bit drunk. The pounding in my head just won't stop. That's right, I have it. . . the summer cold.

It came upon me last night while flickin it up at the art museum. By the time I got home, my nose was sufficiently stuffed and I didn't get any sleep. I feel like it is always worse to be sick in the summer. In the winter, at least, I don't feel so bad about bundling up with a hot cup of tea and a good book or some bad TV. But right now, in the middle of the fun season, all I want to do is sleep all day and all night and not leave the house. "There is so much to do!" my brain tells me, as I contemplate missing my meeting tonight and skipping the outdoor movie fun. "You'll feel better if you rest," my body tells me, forcing me to collapse on the couch. I went home early from work today (camp planning) hoping to be feeling better as soon as tomorrow. If I don't feel better tomorrow, it will really suck since we are taking the kids river rafting. Not too fun when you feel like shit. Because of that, I think I will just stay in tonight. I'm almost done watching the first season of Heroes and that sounds pretty good to my body and my brain right now.

It feels like Sunday, but with fireworks!

My fourth was great, I spent it with Mica's family- her aunt lives a few blocks away from the stadium that has the big explosions. Ohhhh, pretty lights. We walked over to the park to get a better view. The park was full of amateur blowing things up and lighting things on fire. While I really do enjoy fireworks, living in the hot and dry part of the country that I live in (yes, Denver is a desert!), people playing with fire always scares me a bit. . . Anyway, good solid 4th- bbq, crazy family (even if it wasn't my own) and fire. Fun.

feel the burn

Different kinds of burn I am currently feeling:

a. sunburn
b. emotional burnout
c. fried brain
d. overall hotness (temperature wise)
e. all of the above

I'm feeling burned out and burned. It is hot. I am tired. I'm tired of the complaining. I have never met kids that complain so much. No matter what activity we choose they have something to say about it. They never give us suggestions for what we should do, but whatever we are doing is the wrong thing. This holiday came at just the right time. Two days off. Then two more weeks. Just two more weeks. Only two more weeks. I just need to make it through two more weeks.

Ok, so now you can stop asking

My application is in. For the past two years, I have been "working" on my application to the Peace Corps. PC is something that I have always wanted to do, literally since I was four years old. My parents are RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) and have been involved in the PC association in Denver since before I was born. When I was a kid, we would go to meetings and my name tag would say "Rebecca, Future Volunteer: Location unknown 2004-2006" 2004 being the year I should have graduated from college (if I hadn't continued to get my MA). So I'm a few years late, but I'm finally following through. This is the right time for me to go. My job ends in August and although I could have extended my position another year, I don't think that this is exactly what I want to be doing. I'm not married, don't have a boyfriend to keep me here. I have been living with my parents for a year and have saved a significant amount of money. There is no reason not to go. I'm ready. I hope that they are ready for me.