July 5th, etc.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve last updated/written. I’m not sure how well this is going to go. I’m going to start out with the bullet point method and see how far I can get. It’s about 9:30am CST and so I have about an hour until brunch/breakfast. I have clothes in the laundry, and I hope that everything gets done by the time I’m back “on duty” at 11:30am. Poopy.

Thursday afternoon:

* Don’t remember

Friday:

* Morning was nice, super late wif Ellie b/c had Neb and then wanted to smoke out back on the back porch
* Had Danishes, cinnamon flat thingies, scones, and other such pastries as well as baked egg (didn’t eat) and sausage
o I shared whatever pastry I was eating wif Eleanor
o Took our time at breakfast and then walked back up with Eleanor and Deanne
* Sat outside wif Eleanor after breakfast and Krystel asked me to help her set up the “carnival” that was to start at 10:30am.
o I set up the “knock all of ‘em down” cups
o I helped set up the obstacle course
o Campers seemed to have fun
o Eleanor slept through it all until Kristina (person in charge/village leader of the camp) came and woke her up to make her participate
+ Angry at Kristina b/c doesn’t know the campers at all -has she not been watching Eleanor all week?! Eleanor has very, very little range of motion in her arms! She told Eleanor to pick up/take and throw the ball at the cups to knock them over. She said, “Come on. I know you can do it. Here’s the ball. Open up your hand. Come on. You can do it. I know you can.” I said, “Her hands don’t open and her arms don’t move.” She responded, “Oh.” And just through the ball for Ellie. WHAT THE FUCK?!
+ Ellie was the only female total assist – wouldn’t someone have noticed that?!
+ Very frustrating. So now I def know that no one noticed that I did a ton of work with Ellie and with everyone else – no one noticed that things got done because I did them.
* After carnival went inside and someone gave Ellie her meds. Finished cleaning up, etc. and packing. I can’t remember exactly what we did.
* Campers left after talent show
* Cried about Barb and Eleanor leaving
* Eleanor’s caregiver/pick up person was very rough with her in the wheelchair when getting her into the vehicle
* When cleaning the cabin, I started bleach spraying and wiping down the mattresses, and I got bleach on my khaki capris. Very peeved. And then Sam Miller told me they had already been done, so I ruined my pants for nothing. Poopy.
* Quick notes:
o Wii
o Shelley picked up by Lauren who only had one place in her car
o Courtney and Uneeka will maybe come and get Kylee, Sarah, and myself.
o Watched The Proposal – Hello, Ryan Reynolds with no shirt!
o Richard Simmons workouts
o Didn’t get back to Camp Friendship until about 1:40am
o Wandered around trying to find a cabin list.
+ Found a camper: Victoria
+ Counselor asleep and probably told her just to go to the HC by herself – bad counselor!!!!
+ Finally found one from special diets person
+ I’m in Whippoorwill and Sarah is in Cardinal
+ Took stuff to Whippoorwill but stayed in Cardinal wif Sarah so she wouldn’t be by herself
+ Took shower, not draining, bathroom still flooded, oopsies
+ In bed by 3am
* General notes:
o Ma said she will miss me
o Kristen went around collecting everyone’s addresses so she could write them
o Ann did that, too
o When packing her things on Thursday we were joking around and she said something and I responded, “But I love you!” and she responded “I love you, too” – and it made me tear up
o Who is this happy little boy named Caleb?!
+ Dancing with chocolate cake (Wednesday or Thursday)
+ Spitting
+ Participating
+ Canoeing – loved it!
+ Walking around on own without stroller

Saturday:

* Woke up at 8am but went back to sleep until 8:30am
* Got call from Rachel – going to Annandale for parade and carnival – leaving at 8:45am
* Rushed to get ready, Sarah declined to go b/c wanted sleep and wanted to go to Target
* Ran and changed and met them: Barb, George, Rachel, Emily
* Parade was okay, lots of flags, lots of families wearing matching t-shirts or other paraphernalia
* Lots of advertising and a heinous amount of “queens” and “princesses”
* Had ice cream at like 10am
* Ran out of candy by the time they got to us – we were at end of parade route by the Camp Friendship Respite group who had come out
* Used church for restrooms and a/c
* Cloudy and a couple of drops early on, but then super sunny and hot – got sun burn, but hopefully it’s not bad.
* When left, George went back with the Respite group and so it was just us four girls
* Carnival!
o Walked there from our parking spot – not that much walking
o Bought water, hotdog, and chocolate cookies – tasty – only $3 total
o Fried cheese curds – so amazing! – super expensive @ $5
o Wanted chips or fries by resisted
o Found deep fried snickers bars, but didn’t get one – thought of Steven Duvoison, though! Need to call him …
o Was with Rachel S., Emily T., and Barb
o Sat in shade on grass behind concession stands and ate our food and just talked – I took a short space-out nap (not an actual nap, just where you stop paying attention and just look up at the trees or whatever)
o Walked back to the car
* Back at camp about 2:00pm
* We all split up and rushed to get our things ready b/c wanted to join the staff trip down to Minneapolis for the “Red, White, and Boom” events
o We made it on the trip, Sarah, too! We left at 3:05pm.
o There were 7 of us squished into the mini van (I say squished b/c George takes up an astonishing amount of space) – Uneeka drove the minivan, Courtney drove the high-top van with a bunch of other people
o Our van: Emily T., two of the Polish or Russian or something support staff, George, Sarah, Me, Barb, Uneeka
o Sarah and I had a dance party all the way there – only ones dancing – there was lots of Richard Simmons
o Stopped at a Wendy’s for snacks and directions b/c exit signs were confusing
* Red White and Boom
o Got there kinda super early – dead – no one there except a band playing country music and lots of people eating at the restaurant across the way
o Walked around with Sarah, Uneeka, Courtney, Kylee, and Sharon (I think that’s her name …) – walked towards down town – no one around – super creepy
o Sarah and I eventually split off from the group and just goofed off taking pictures
* I had to pee so went into a Macy’s and wandered around looking for a bathroom – super confusing, no one around, really quiet and creepy
o They have a food court inside Macy’s!!!! A big food court!
o Found the bathroom
o Sarah waited and spelled things to herself (found out later she was actually doing sign language letters)
o There was another woman in the bathroom, so after I was done, I just waited for the woman to leave and Sarah would see her – it was really funny when she realized we weren’t the only two in the bathroom
o Lots of bed-lying-in in the bedding department – so super comfy compared to camp beds! Def could have slept for a while in them.
o Wandered around and then went back to the Starbucks in the food court.
o My Debit card isn’t working and it’s pissing me off. I’m going to have to call the bank. It’s so weird and irritating.
o Macy’s closed at 7pm and so we had to leave – super confusing trying to get out of that place, and they had us exit through the Associate’s door and we lost our sense of direction trying to find it – but eventually went in the right direction
* Kept walking and found Target
o Found Uneeka, Kylee, Courtney, and Sharon in there
o Spent 2 hours looking around
o Wanted to find a camera battery charger but they didn’t have one – very sad.
o Found lots of movies that I want:
+ Lars and the Real Girl
+ Waltz with Bashir
+ The film about the girl and her dog who are trying to get up to Alaska – heard about it on NPR
+ Charlie Wilson’s War
+ Four Weddings and a Funeral
+ Gonzo
+ I still want WallE
o Talked to Brenda
o Bought food for dinner – making roastbeef and cheese sandwiches – also got my favorite chips and more chickadees – also more Raisinettes b/c they are my life
* Walked around some more, went back via Hennepin – tons of bars and gay clubs and bars – really wished for Michael, Leigh Ann, Aparna, Jackie, Mummy, etc.
* Walked by the library – skate boarders – filming and taking pictures – eventually got shooed away by a security guard – warning from watch people across the street: “5-0, 5-0, coming out of the building – 5-0.”
* Fireworks
o Wanted to stand on bridge to watch the fireworks, but went to sit with Uneeka, Courtney, Kylee, Sharon on the grass – better place – made sandwiches and ate lots
o 10pm: beautiful fireworks! Even had some hearts and a smiley face!
o Talked to Dad during the fireworks
o Reverberations were amazing – I think one of the best parts of the whole thing – def set off some car alarms
* 10:15pm: at end went back to car, but people didn’t show up until after 11:30pm – so much for common sense
* Tried to stay awake on way back – played the “if” game wif Sarah, Emily (slightly tipsy – vodka lemonades), and Uneeka – had more dance parties
* Matty called at around 12:45pm CST – SUPER DRUNK – at Myrtle Beach wif friends from school and home – very affectionate and made me miss him a lot – “Just so you know, I love you so much. I mean, you’re my fucking sister.” And also “I will probably never ever be so excited to talk to you. But I love you.”
* Got back, took incredible shower in Whippoorwill and slept very, very well in Cardinal

Sunday:

* Up at 8:45am
* Laundry – need to go check on it – oops
* Matt’s back
* Lots of talking
* It’s about 10:20am and I need to go
* I miss furbrain!!!!!!

******Handwritten on the actual date, but typed in on July 23, 2009.*******

July 5, 2009

It’s ~ 10:50pm. In a cabin (Whip) with Sarah Barrett, Melissa S., and PS Sunny and Relief Staff Kayla. We have some amazing campers this week, with only one 1:1 (Amanda Robinson, first time away from home, super strong, pretty overweight, has learned and displays intimidation tactics from mother – getting really close/up in face/repeats over and over again/raises voice when you don’t respond immediately). Four of our campers from the same group home (Nicole 26 yo, Molly 34 yo, April 29 yo, Janine 24 yo), and they are the most amazing campers ever! I love them! We sat on Nicole and April’s room and had girl chat (except for Kristin Beske and Leah who were asleep). Kristin is amazing as well – super sweet and so patient when Amanda throws her things on her puzzle on the floor. She said her cousin does it, too. And I think this is Leah’s 3rd week @ camp b/c she’s def been here when I worked Brown Thrasher and for Respite. She loves saying “So I’m stuck with you, huh?” and then giggles. Amanda’s definitely going to be the most challenging, and I’m almost 100% positive that I’ll come out of this week with @ leaset bruises and probably scratches as well. Whoever is with her has tocarry her wrist bands in pocket b/c she chewed/bit them off within 15 minutes of having them on this afternoon when she got here. She was our first camper to arrive, and instead of unpacking her and being able to stay @ the cabin, I was told by her mom every little thing (for which I am eternally thankful) while we followed A andtried to keep her out of places she’s notsupposed to be and refusing to buy her pop. Obssessive about pop? My-ass check yes. While her parents were checking her in in the gym, A and I wandered around (me trying to keep her from bothering the check in staff, or caregivers – sticks hand or whatever she’s holding into her victim’s face and gives orders, with volume escalating the longer you take to respond or the more you refuse to perform the task(, and we spent a good chunck of time in a seat pulled up right to the glass of the vending machine, watching it like a television, repeating “chippies” and reading/listing all the snacks she wanted. She is also absolutely fixated upon pop. It’s gonna be a long week with her, but I hope it’s a pleasant surprise & she’s not horrible. That sounds horrible but whatevs. I’m falling asleep as I write this. Melissa went out to her car to get her stuff and charge her crack-berry. There are some things I want to elaborate upon later: how to have Amanda “go to potty” (go in as if you are going into stall & she’ll come), Campfire Extravaganza (Molly participated, I volunteered my bracelet, I got soaked b/c was in “Great Big Bonfire” skit – but so much fun – I gave wet hugs to people!), Sunny going for my bag of chips instead of being hyper-aware and jumping up to see if the noises we heard were from Amanda getting up – she didn’t even ask), Nicole to the HC for headache (walked by water, hammock swing). So tired. I know I’m forgetting some things. Maybe one is that I really really miss my puffy. I miss her so much – so much fur and so much cuteness! Oh, today is Shelley’s birthday! I wanted to nominate her for the good humor award for letting all the sitting, tickling, and Michelle-ing going on. She said she wanted to nominate me for the all-star award for having to “work with complete twats.” I laughed so hard. Courtney today was really friendly, and it was really cool – she ate brunch with us and then put cool whip on all of us. It was really funny. Tonight @ dinner Amanda refused to eat the food (dry, super dry, Z-approved chicken, baked potato, green peas), and so I made her a turkey and cheese sandwich with ruffle chips and a brownie and a cookie. Sarah eventually had to take her outside to eat. I don’t know if she actually ate or not. I’ll ask tomorrow am. I really miss Reddy. Mom is going to the UK until next Sunday (week from today) – I don’t know what I’m going to do since I can’t do early am phone calls to her! Billy – you’re up! Hopefully I’ll get a morning walk in tomorrow. People are still shooting off fireworks! Wish I could have set some off this year! But it was a really great 4th of July this year. So hard to believe it’s already July! Okay handwriting is seriously going downhill – bedtime f’shizzle. Night!