Something Funny…

Ok… so a while back I wrote about how I feel about social networking sites, but this made me very happy… Someone sent this to me…

Facebook does Hamlet… (It’s a picture.)

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w285/Turtlesprojects/Hamlet.png

Hope you enjoy.

Till later, Turtle

Ummm… Ok… I’m back… yep…

Yep. I’m back. And I have to admit that it was a great summer. I really wish that by the time I came back on Saturday that I wasn’t so tired and I could post just a little bit more. Nonetheless, I just wanted to pop in and say hello!

One thing that I learned during my time in the middle of the woods is that like any organization/company, even camping can be riddled with politics. Seriously. Take the corporate ladder and put it on a smaller scale. There you have it. Camp. Don’t misunderstand me. I loved it, just not the politics associated with it. You see, just like any other company, the camping industry also has their own chain of command. Its ugly. And everyone is going for a more powerful, influential position.

I know. Right? This is just camp. This isn’t real life people. How can you be so competitive? I give to you ladies and gentlemen insanity. The thing about staff and camp is that because there isn’t anything else to distract you, the only that that one has to focus on is either a, the job or b, how much power can I get? Yep. Its true. We all need to get hobbies. Not camping. Obviously we all can’t handle that.

Since I’m bitching, I might as well make it complete and include another thing that has been bothering me. Do you realize how many conversations that I’ve had that followed this course:

• Someone else: Oh what school do you go to?
• Me: Oh, I go to <insert local university.>
• Someone else: Hmmm… Oh…
• Me: What?
• Someone else: Well, you’re not exactly getting the real college experience.
• Me: Yes I am. I go to a university. It just happens to be close by. (In the same city.)
• Someone else: Yeah ok…

What? What?! What?!?! Just because my home is close by means I’m not really getting a college experience? I don’t get it. Last time I checked I’m working hard to keep up a scholarship while still going into debt at the same time, working a job, making new friends, and complaining about my professors. Just because I chose not to continue my higher education in the middle of Montana does not mean that my school of choice isn’t as valuable. Last time I checked it costs much less to go to school in one’s home state anyway. Rwar. Whatever. I know I’m right.

I’m not saying that going far away for college is a terrible choice, I’m just saying that it isn’t necessarily better than learning right where you are.

Ok. I’m done. Sorry. I’m happy to be back.

Till later, Turtle

Camp Photoblog: Four… The sign…

The sign above the are where I teach… I think it’s a bit inspiring… yes? I really like how the sign includes the word: “herein.” That actually makes me smile.

Till later, Turtle

Camp Photoblog: Two…

Ok, so this is the rabbit that I take care of during the summer. Her name is Sally. I actually quite enjoy the rabbit. Quite nice and friendly.

Till later, Turtle

Camp PhotoBlog: One

Hehe… ok, so I thought I would start of this little mini blog series, if you will, with a picture of what I can see when I first wake up. The river behind it actually sounds quite nice in the early morning.

I’ll be sure to take a picture of where I work next week.

I know that its Thursday, but from now on I’ll be stopping by each Saturday.

Till later, Turtle

Groan if you like work…

Ok. Yes. So. There. Yup. I know. Now. I’m beginning my summer job soon working up at a camp. I’m thinking that this very well may be my final summer doing this. If memory serves right, it is at this age that staffers usually finish up with working there. Wow. I suppose I’m ready for this though. I have to accept it. I kind of want to. But in reality there are a lot of things that I’ll have to take care of with college and such that will need all of my attention. I can’t believe I’m working toward a career. *panic* I had this revelation a month ago as I was walking up the stairs to my next class when I realized that it was a very small amount of time before I go out into the world.

Oh gosh. I need to stop thinking about that. So far I have nothing to worry about. I’ve always tried to make the best decisions I could. I’m happy with who I am and where I’m going. There. I feel better. But now is not the time to be having life altering revelations… I must inform you of what I’m doing right now. Yep.

Ok. I’m going to work at a camp for the summer. As I had just said. However, I want to keep up with this blog. Of course I quite enjoy this, and I want to keep the creative juices flowing throughout the summer. Yes creative juices… and they must flow. Anyway, I thought I would take a picture each week and when Saturday comes around (the day when I come home for the week) I’ll post it up here and write a little caption to go along with it. I really think that this may be a good idea. Yes?

I will keep you all updated.

Till later, Turtle

 

I’m looking for a word that begins with “N” and ends in “o.”

Ok. So yeah. Let me confess something to you. I have trouble saying no. Really. Well… I can say the word. No. See… that wasn’t hard. But the real trouble comes when I actually have to apply it to real life situations. The only people that I can say no to would have to be my family and very close friends… and usually I won’t say no to their requests because even though the situation may not be ideal… I WANT to be there for them. However, my family and close friends also know when I don’t want to do something. As my dear sister had informed me once:

• “When I ask you to go somewhere with me and you get a blank stare across your face… I know you’re not interested. But if you say yes… that’s what it means.”

Why can’t everyone pick up on that?

For instance:

• Sister: Do you want to see Gone with the Wind with me…
• Me: *blank stare*
• Sister: Ok…

Anyway… my issue with saying no comes in the form of trivial things… as you could tell from that brilliant example. There are just some activities that I will never fully enjoy. And when I tell people these things, some just refuse to believe it. For instance, I have a very vocal friend… I’ll call him Tom.

• Me: I don’t like football…
• Tom: What? Yes you do.
• Me: What do you mean, “Yes I do?” I don’t like football.
• Tom: Nope. We’re going to a football game this Saturday.
• Me: But…
• Tom: I’ll call you later…
• Me: Arg!

I realize this has to do with standing up for myself but still… Tom is a nice person… and only means well. Oh dear. Do you see my dilemma?

Don’t misunderstand me… I will say no… If I truly think someone is taking advantage of me or I think that I really need to stop (i.e.: like when I have to pay to do something I don’t want to do.) But with things like football… it seems silly to complain. He paid for the tickets and everything… but I still find it bothersome that some people just won’t listen.

Does that make me a good friend that I will do things with my friends that I don’t want to do just because they are my friends or should I put my foot down? I feel like I have a pretty good balance… with no… but when it comes to little things like football…I get suckered in… I just don’t know.

Ah well… this post was a little introspective… but it felt great to write it out! Thanks for reading!

Till later,

Turtle

PS: I have no problem with Gone with the Wind except I’ve read it twice… once for a literature class… another time for history… and I saw the movie three times in between… I think I’ve had enough of Scarlett O’Hara for a lifetime…

 

A new reason to watch the 5 O’ clock news…

Ok. So. As you all I’m sure can tell… I’m not quite normal. Not… in what I like to think of as a bad way… just different. However, let me just say that this is completely hereditary. I’m serious. My abnormalities run throughout my family. As you could have guessed I’m going to give you an example…

Many people often form celebrity crushes. Right? That one… two… three… or more people that you would go out of your way to meet. Someone who you can look to admiringly. Normally these crushes are thrust upon movie stars, musicians, authors, dancers, and the like. However, my family is different. We don’t look toward the big screen or MTV for our infatuations. Nope. We just turn on our local news and are suddenly huge fans. I know. It’s so strange. So while most people are going out to see movies with Johnny Depp, and Halle Barry, we like our news anchors and meteologists.

This isn’t to say that we don’t have a favorite actors, actresses, and musicians. In fact, the complete opposite would be the matter-of-fact. As I know in my immediate family alone, there are a few actors’ names that sometimes float around when I’m home. However, when it comes to the news, we take it seriously. Especially when we choose someone. After the choice, it’s all over, we’ll argue about who the best is. Especially if the people are from two different stations…

For instance… let’s use an example using my sister and me…

 

 This is Maria. She is a meteorologist. And she is my pick from our local news folk.

 This is John. He is a traffic reporter. He is my sister’s pick from our local news folk.

Now that I have introduced our picks let me show you an example of a typical debate…

• Me: Hey look, it’s quite nice out… Maria said it would be…
• Sister: Yes… but look at the entire clear road before us… John said this place would be pretty clear.
• Me: Uh… huh.. well… if the weather was poor then the trip would have been ruined… so I guess Maria helped out the most on this one…
• Sister: What are you going on about!?!? Firstly, that girl just predicts the weather… she doesn’t control it… and secondly John suggested this road… that takes skill.
• Me: What… well… I never said Maria controlled the weather. However, she did predict the weather correctly. Without the ACCURATE prediction we might not have picked such a nice day for a ride… that takes much more skill than looking at some computer that say there are cars on the street… big deal.
• Sister: WHAT!?!? He has to have extensive knowledge of the roads and is able to conjure up new detours and such on a moment’s notice… I have to say a bit more exciting than Maria.
• Me: Please.
• Sister: Hmmm…

I know it’s petty. But under it all we get a strange bit of joy out of it. I suggest getting a news person of your own if you watch. It makes the news a bit more enjoyable…

Till later, Turtle

Who I am… was… and want to be…

Ok. So yeah. This post was inspired by Huckdoll. The idea of the post is to compare the jobs that you have had and have to the jobs that you wish you had. So here I go. But first I have to admit that the occupations that I’ve had will be underwhelming and somewhat few. However, I will do my best to piece everything together… it doesn’t really matter though; the occupations that I wished for are much more interesting. So here I go…

Things that I am doing… or have done…

1. Baby… haha. I’m kidding.

Seriously,

1. Babysitter: Yep. I know. Very cliché, but hey. I was young. I still do it. But now I must do this out of the kindness of my heart… darn. So it’s not a job anymore. But I do like children… regardless of how many times I will make the claim that this isn’t true.

2. Altar Boy: Yep… I was an altar boy. I can’t deny it. And while you may think that this isn’t a job, you haven’t done this with the church I had. It seriously felt like a part time job. We also were sometimes paid to do weddings and funerals.

3. Camp counselor: I still do this. Every summer since I was 14. I went up to camp to work. Granted now, the job had become harder. I now have to teach about six classes a day on environmental issues. Although I have to admit that I love it.

4. Office assistant: That job title is a little too fancy for what I actually do, but hey, why not? Strangely, I love this job. Maybe not the work… but the people I get to know. Unfortunately, I’m done now… I’ll be back when I go back to school.

That’s it. I know. Not very exciting. But what can I say?

Now for the jobs that I had wanted since I was a little one:

1. Forest Ranger: Why not? I was really into the idea of the hats…

2. News Anchor: Yes. I wanted to be on television. I wanted the special bond and playful banter these people had. I didn’t want to be a star… just locally known.

3. Marriage Counselor: I really was dead set on this occupation. I watched way too much primetime television. At one point I really thought the whole idea of being a marriage counselor was to, and I quote myself when I was younger; “listen to these people’s problems and tell them to get divorced.” Oh gosh. I’m glad that I’ve been able know better.

4. Sports-Clothing Designer: Could I have gotten any more specific on this occupation? I mean really. I’m not even going to get into it.

Ok… now let me just cue you in on my child hood… please finish the sentence and apply it with one of the four above…

• “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
• “I want to be a ____________.”

Yep.

5. Writer: I picked this up in sixth grade and didn’t let go of it until about freshman year of high school.

6. Teacher: Yep. This is what I’m going to university for, and I’m really happy about it. Hopefully I’ll be able to put this up with my first list…

Feel free to steal the blog post idea.

Till later, Turtle

 

The Textbook Cycle

1) Begin you semester by picking out all of your books a few days before it begins. However, be sure to go after everyone else has gone. This way you won’t be tricked into purchasing a cheaper, used edition. If all of the copies are gone, even better, you can guarantee that your books are new by backordering them. Nothing like waiting a few weeks into the semester without books to guarantee yourself quality.

2) Look around the store aimlessly with your arms and roster outstretched until a person; anybody really, feels an awkward obligation to help you on your search for your books.

3) Fumble with a stack of heavy textbooks in your hands up to the counter, spilling them all over the counter. Yes, there may have been a line, and people may be looking at you angrily, but you now have the counter woman’s attention. I mean after all, what does everyone want but for you to leave, and for the awkward moment to pass.

4) Have your debit/credit card ready for purchase. What!?!? You thought you would be paying cash. Ha! I highly doubt that wallets are made large enough…

5) On your way out, lie to yourself. Keep going over in your head how all of your textbooks are worth the cost, that you will be using the books to their full potential. Watch out world, you’re ready to learn.

6) Throw away all of the extra cards, CD’s, and pamphlets… who uses them anyway?

7) Attend first days of classes and realize that most of the professors had assigned the incorrect books, and head to the store to exchange them.

8 ) Repeat step number 7 for the second day of classes.

9) During the semester, try not to make marks on the books, in order to be able to resell them after finals.

10) Arrive at the realization that you won’t have to worry about number 9 for half of your classes as the professors rarely teach out of the text.

11) Try to convince yourself that it was worth the money. Lie if you must.

12) Wait eagerly for finals week to come. You need the money when you sell the books back.

13) The day you want to sell your books back, wake up extra early and head to the store in order to get ahead of the “selling back frenzy.”

14) Get to the store only to be met by a line a mile long.

15) Make you acquaintance with the person in front of you, and eventually, in back of you.

16) The girl in front of you is named Jenny, and the gentleman behind you is George. How nice.

17) Bond with Jenny and George by making random and mocking comments on the length of the line.

18 ) Nod your head and hum in agreement to Jenny and George’s remarks about the line.

19) While waiting, and making comments, mentally ward off people from cutting in line. Let’s just hope they won’t have to feel your wrath.

20) Finally get to your turn to sell back the book only to realize that the book isn’t worth as much as it would have been with the extra cards, CD’s, and pamphlets.

21) Regret following step 6.

22) Give in and sell back your books at less than half the price.

23) Check out how much the book that you sold back is being sold for and notice that it was $30 more than what the store gave you for your book.

24) On your way out threaten to take your business online next time you want to buy your textbooks for the semester in a romantic fantasy of being a vigilante: fighting the major conglomerate that is the bookstore.

25) Have the line still waiting nod and cheer in approval as you reflect upon all the money you will save.

26) Never follow through: Repeat process.

Till later, Turtle