I never thought I'd miss housekeeping. Okay, to be honest I don't really miss the work, but I do miss that summer. I know I tend to dwell way too much on the past, but today just brought back a flood of REALLY good memories. I can't believe how much can change in just a few years, but in many ways that summer feels like a lifetime ago. Heck, in many ways last year feels like a lifetime ago.

That summer started off pretty rocky. I remember that when everyone in housekeeping met each other, not one of us liked each other. Well, I take that back. Two of us seemed to hit it off really well...a little too well actually, and I remember thinking to myself oh great, it's going to be a LONG summer. By the end of the summer though, we were best friends. And we had SO much fun. Those people changed my life. It was like we had known each other our whole lives...even though it was only 3 months.

Some of the things I remember most:

-"Hips Don't Lie" playing every five minutes

-"Housekeeping loves Bob"
-Soysauce

-Red grafitti

-"Well what are you going to do in there?"

-"Hmm...you seem a lot less cranky than you were this morning."

-"Hisssssssssstory!"

-Watching Rescuers Down Under on the way to Sam's Club

-Chloe and Vern

-Cleaning trailers

-Pick-up lines

-Glow in the dark fabric paint

-The next step

-Bathsheba and David

-So many conversations

I've had some good summers since then, but I think it will always be the summer of 2006 that sticks out most in my mind. It was fun and carefree. And I know I have to move on and see it as what it is--just a really great memory. But part of me will always want to go back to that summer. 17 years old, cleaning bathrooms with some of the weirdest people, thinking of ways to pass the time, and laughing more than I thought was humanly possible.

So thanks, SBC Housekeeping staff of 2006. It was fun. Even if we were cleaning bathrooms :)

two ways of thinking...

So...
I haven't posted in a really long time.
My room looks like World War 3 hit, and my room lost.
I'd be really embarrased if someone were to use my bathroom.
My mom's been doing my laundry for the last few weeks.
I have four quizes to take and an essay to write before 5PM Friday.
There's a stack of messages on my desk awaiting my reply.
My desk is more than a little scary.
I'm babysitting on Saturday...after work.
On a scale of 1 to 10 of my Family Camp preparedness (10 being the most prepared), I'm at about a .35.
My bangs are really uneven.
I'm too tired to exercise.
I have doctor appoitments next week.
I went to bed before it even got all the way dark last night because I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.
I have at least six reservation agreements I need to finish and mail out.
The calendar on my desk says June 20/21.

I got to listen to 51 k-6th graders sing about God this morning.
I'll have an actual degree (even it is only an associate's) after this next year.
Someday my room will look pretty again :)
For every complaint I've received in the last few weeks, I've probably received twenty compliments or encouragements.
I spent almost 24 hours with my sister this past weekend.
My boss went on vacation and brought fudge back to the office staff...on his birthday.
I played catch while looking up a reservation.

I have everything and nothing to complain about :)

over-tired, over-thinking, and over-reacting

I'm crying right now over an assignment for one of my classes - something I don't ever remember doing. It's not even June yet and I'm already completely overwhelmed. What made me think that I could fit in a couple of classes and work full time? I'm pretty sure I also have bronchitis. Gosh, I sound so pathetic.

Lord, I need you. Please help.

my almost perfect monday

Ugh. I was having such a good day until I got off the phone with someone a couple minutes ago. First off, he called me "young lady." I hate that. I'll probably appreciate it when I'm 50 or so...actually, you know what...I'm pretty sure I'll hate it then too. But I can deal with that...I mean, it's such a gorgeous day. But then, he asked for our monthly rates, and I told him what they were (to preface, they're really not that high). Then the following words were exchanged:

KIND SIR: "Whoa!" (As if I should be shocked that I just said that number.) "That's a lot! Now what all does that include, water, electric, and sewer?"

ME: "No, actually it's just electric."

KIND SIR: "Now that's way too much."

LONG PAUSE: (me wondering exactly what he was waiting for me to say)

KIND SIR: "Well, good luck with that!" (said in a very sarcastic/rude manner that was meant to convey he believes nobody will ever camp with us, which they do--and often comment on how low our rates are)

ME: "Thank you." (said with a giant smile on my face that I'm sure he could hear in my voice)

KIND SIR: "Bye." (said with every ounce of finality he could muster)

ME: "Goodbye." (in a most pleasant "Have a nice day" kind of voice)

Okay, I'm over it. But I promise it was very traumatic about five minutes ago.

On a lovelier note, it's beautiful out, most of the trees have flowers on them (including the apple tree right outside my window), our prime time seniors' work retreat started today (so there are about 35 seniors around, eager to make the camp even more beautiful), and there's food service all week. So all in all (even despite "KIND SIR") I think it's going to be a very lovely week.

The Word became flesh...

"In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and Word was God. He
was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made: without him
nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the
light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not
understood it . . . The true light that gives light to every man was coming into
the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the
world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did
not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural
descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word
became flesh and made his dwelling among us. - John 1:1-5, 9-14a

I was thinking about that last line today: "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (KJV) My mind wandered to a ridiculous thought, but I loved it nonetheless. I thought of a fictional character in a book suddenly materializing and living in this world...the real one (for all intents and purposes). I thought of Jane Eyre and myself sitting at Bigbby talking about childhood with Mrs. Reed and then at the school, working for Rochester, running away, life with the Rivers, and her--current, for heroines never actually die, or course...they just live happily for always--life with Rochester. And as awesome as that would be for me, how much better is what John 1:14 says?!? For years and years, the writers of the Bible told stories of this Messiah character, of Immanuel; and then one day, he was real. And what's more, he had always been real. And he was a son and a brother and a friend. And he performed miracles. And he endured ridicule. And he died. And he resurrected. And he ascended. But then the story about Jesus continued, and God had more men tell the story. Stories about Jesus coming again, and this time I'll be able to see him. How absolutely incredible is that. Someday, I'll dwell with Jesus.

I don't know what eternity will be like with Jesus. I doubt we'll sit at Biggby and chat over caramel mochas someday. It's hard to think we'll have time to talk at all with all of the millions scrambling for his attention. But that's the glorious part, we won't be bound by time. It's a thought that as a transient human, I'll never be able to fully wrap my head around (which, by the way, is a very strange expression). But, even without the caramel mochas, I'm pretty sure it's going to be even more incredible than I could ever imagine.

Hip-hop, marmalade, spick-and-span, met you one summer and it all began...

First off, I am absolutely adoring this weather :)

And to celebrate today's high of 70°, the radio station I was listening to this morning played LFO's 1999 song Summer Girls...you know the song I'm talking about. Okay, maybe you don't. I think I was in 5th grade when it came out and I remember listening to it over and over again on my cousin's cd player on long trips to the place we went camping. I don't really remember all the words, but I can usually guess the end of each line, so I kind of mumbled through the rest of the song and then "sang" the last word really loud on my way to work this morning. You should check the video out. It'll make you smile. And remember when...

Here are the lyrics if you'd like to sing along :)

Yeah, I like it when the girls stop by in the summer
Do you remember, do you remember
When we met that summer?

New Kids On The Block had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick
And I think it's fly when girls stop by
For the summer, for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch
I'd take her if I had one wish
But she's been gone since that summer, since that summer

Hip hop, marmalade, spick-and-span
Met you one summer and it all began
You're the best girl that I ever did see
The great Larry Bird, Jersey 33
When you take a sip, you buzz like a hornet
Billy Shakespeare wrote a whole bunch of sonnets
Call me Willy Whistle 'cause I can't speak, baby
Somethin' in your eyes really drove me crazy
Now I can't forget you and it makes me mad
Left one day and never came back
Stayed all summer, then went back home
McCullay Culkin was in Home Alone
Fell deep in love, but now we ain't speakin'
Michal J. Fox was Alex P. Keaton
When I met you, I said my name is Rich
You look like a girl from Abercrombie & Fitch

New Kids On The Block had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick
And I think it's fly when girls stop by
For the summer, for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch
I'd take her if I had one wish
But she's been gone since that summer, since that summer

Cherry Pez, Coke Crush, Rock Stud, Boogie
Used to hate school, so I had to play hookie
Always been hip to the B Ball style
Known to act wild and make a girl smile
Love New Edition and the Candy Girl
Reminds me of you 'cause you rock my world
You come from Georgia, where the peaches grow
They drink lemonade and speak real slow
You love hip hop and rock and roll
Dad took off when you were four years old
There was a good man named Paul Revere
I feel much better, baby, when you're near
You love Fun Dip and Cherry Coke
I like the way you laugh when I tell a joke
When I met you, I said my name was Rich
You looked like a girl from Abercrombie & Fitch

New Kids On The Block had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick
And I think it's fly when girls stop by
For the summer, for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch
I'd take her if I had one wish
But she's been gone since that summer, since that summer
In the summertime, girls got it goin' on

Shake and wiggle to a hip hop song
Summertime girls are the kind I like
I'll steal your honey, like I stole your bike
Boogaloo shrimp and pogo sticks
My mind takes me back there oh so quick
Let you off the hook, like my man Mr. Limpet
Think about that summer and I bug 'cause I miss it
I like the Color Purple, macaroni and cheese
Ruby red slippers and a bunch of trees
I'd call you up, but what's the use?
I like Kevin Bacon, but I hate Foot Loose
I came in the door, I said it before
I think I'm over you, but I'm really not sure
When I met you, I said my name was Rich
You looked like a girl From Abercrombie & Fitch

New Kids On The Block had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick
And I think it's fly when girls stop by
For the summer, for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch
I'd take her if I had one wish
But she's been gone since that summer, since that summer

Summer girls come and summer girls go
Some are worthwhile, and some are so so
Summer girls come and summer girls go
Some are worthwhile, and some are so so
Summertime girls got it goin' on
Shake and wiggle to a hip hop song
Summertime girls are the kind I like
I'll steal your honey, like I stole your bike

New Kids On The Block had a bunch of hits
Chinese food makes me sick
And I think it's fly when girls stop by
For the summer, for the summer
I like girls that wear Abercrombie and Fitch
I'd take her if I had one wish
But she's been gone since that summer, since that summer

Summer...*sigh*

I know it's a little early to be thinking about summer, but I keep thinking about different things I want to do, and I'm getting excited. Just about everything on my list would seem lame if you're not me, but I don't care. I'll have my job at camp, and that'll be in full force. I'm planning on taking an online class that'll go through July. I have a billion and three books I want to read. I'm going to spend as much time outside as possible. I'm going to do random things and go on random adventures with Kelsey. And I'm sure I'll come up with a whole lot more before May. I know it sounds ridiculously boring to "normal" people, but I think it sounds perfect.

Only 49 more days...