Faire de camping.

To Camp. The family is going camping tomorrow. We are going to spend Memorial weekend out camping in the woods! I am really looking forward to it. I love camping. We are taking two tents, and a ton of other supplies. It should be a wonderful weekend...even Socrates (my Bassett Hound for those of you that don't know that) is going. Our only concern is the possibility of thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon. The weather for the rest of the weekend looks great. I pray that we have a safe and fun weekend and that we all get along well. I pray that you have a safe and fun Memorial weekend too! I'll be sure and write all about it when we return on Monday afternoon.

J'ai mal de tête.

I have a headache! And probably will have it for a while. Last night at the softball game, while playing second base in a stupid game that wasn't even official since we didn't have enough players and therefore had to forfeit, I got hit on the head by the softball. I was attempting to catch an infield fly when it deflected off my glove and landed heavily on the top of my forehead...right at the hairline. I have a handsome knot and bruise to show for it, and if you look close you can even see the outline of the stitching off the ball on my scalp. I've pretty much had a headache since. I did not have any other problems though..no confusion or dizzyness or eye problems so I did not go to the hospital. My sister, a student nurse did wake me up periodically throughout the night and ask me questions to make sure I was okay. Today I am feeling a little better, the aspirin helps to dull the headache. If I don't touch it, or raise my eyebrows (something I didn't realize I did so much) it's not too bad! Now I get to go to work and sell peaches! The fun never stops!

Rob...I'm sorry I haven't called you lately, and the rest of this week is really busy for me, but I'll make a point to call you sometime next week! That's great that you got a job, congratulations! Thank you for mentioning that a spot is now open at Kennolyn, but I really am at peace about my decision not to go this Summer. The only thing that I hated was not getting to spend the time with you and feeling I'd let you down. Your decision not to go only acts as a confirmation that I chose the right path for this Summer. Again, good luck with the job, and I'll talk to you soon!

Enfin et Finale (Deux)

Finally and Finale (Two). Finale. I don't know how many of my readers are Will & Grace fans, or for that matter I don't even know how many readers I have, but I am a huge fan of the show and watched the Finale tonight. As you probably know this was the last season, so this was the last show.

**I should warn anyone that follows the show, but missed the finale that I intend to talk about it and will probably spoil it for you so you may not want to read further if you care about that.**



I was really surprised at the way they ended the show. I thought they might end it with Grace marrying Leo again and going off to Rome and Will getting back together with Vince, with Karen and Jack up to their usual hijinks. I expected several tearful goodbyes and promises to visit and so forth. Or as many shows end up, not saying goodbye to each other so the viewers are left with the feeling the characters are going about their lives, perpetually the same as you last saw them. I did not expect them to show you the future of the characters and to get into a discussion of changing lives, moving on and destiny. It floored me.

The subject eerily resonated with a great deal of my thoughts of late, and with those written about on my friend's page (The Zed in my links). It's the idea that life operates much like a television show in that you have similar dramatic moments, cliff-hangers and even cast changes. Often very important and even essential characters are killed off or move away, and the plot keeps moving along with new important and essential people. That idea is shown perfectly with Will and Grace in the final show. After Grace gets back with Leo, they don't talk for two years, and then after a brief encounter drift apart for twenty years before their kids get together and eventually reunite their friendship in the end. I think the last part is a bit of a stretch, but most of that seems very likely.

The idea of two people that connected; the kind of people that finish each others thoughts and know what the other one's thinking, and are that comfortable and invested in a rut, even if the relationship is far from conventional, suddenly end up worlds apart is a strange one to me. It's a struggle I really identified with while watching the show. I have a relationship that in many ways is similar to the one shared by Will & Grace, and it is just as deep, and confusing and wonderful and aweful as is theirs. The primary difference being that Will & Grace are actually actors that memorize a script handed to them by very witty and talented writters, while I am forced to work without a script. I often sit and wonder what twists, turns, and changes are in store for my "show". I wonder what the ideal future and ending might be. Although I have never really spent much time dwelling on the scenario played out on tonight's finale...partly because it is in many ways a sad and scary ending, I now find it to be a very compelling possibility. I'm sure if they fleshed out the years they skipped over in the show tonight, it wouldn't be easy, funny, or totally without regret...but in the end, the characters ended up in very happy and healthy places, and even preserved their tried and true friendship in the end.

I'm not sure what I'm saying in this post, or if I'm saying anything at all. I just know that the Will & Grace finale really hit close to home tonight. The show both saddened me and gave me hope. It made me think of future cast changes, and those that have already happened, and a few I fear are happening now. I tend to avoid change like the plague, but circumstances, distance and the ever-steady drumming of time demand it anyway. I sit here tonight, and wish I could read the next season's script.

Feel free to weigh in with your own thoughts...if you can follow any of my convoluted ramblings, or at least feel free to discuss what you thought of the finale if you watched it.

Enfin et Finale (Un)

Finally and Finale (One). Finally, I am back online. The internet still is not working perfectly, but is much better. The Cable Guy is coming out Sunday to work on our "borderline" high-speed internet connection. Yesterday I posted a comment on my last entry (as I was able to post a comment but not a new entry) that gave an update. I doubt many people read it so here it is again:

I've decided not to go to California...they were only able to offer the possibility of an office job so I declined the second interview. The inside job coupled with the change from a road trip to a flight just made the whole thing seem much less adventurous than what I initially envisioned. I'd be flying out to CA and then spending most of my time indoors, so I didn't see why that was better then working outside here, making more money, and going on several vacations I've got lined up. The only thing that I will truly miss will be the time spent with you, Rob. I was looking forward to the fun times, but I'm sure there will be future opportunities to hang out, at least I hope there will be.

I'm working full-time at the Orchard this Summer.

I finally joined the church choir and had my first practice with them on Wednesday...It was amazing. They were very welcoming and instantly made me feel like part of the group. I should have joined sooner! Tuesday we also started going to a new Women's Bible Study, the first meeting had a bunch of introduction stuff, but I think once it settles in, it will really be a great study.

Z and his Mom visited last weekend. It was a great visit. It was really nice for my family to be able to get to know his Mom better. The only problem with the visit was that it was too short!

I was hit on at work the other day. This guy with a really thick accent (maybe Russian?) asked if I was married or had a boyfriend and then asked me out to a lunch or something. He was actually kinda cute, but the fact that he was somekind of foriegner (not that I'm against them or anything, but the desparation seemed enough to raise Green-Card suspicions) and the fact that he came on to a co-worker last week, led me to politely decline the offer. It was still nice to be asked. I seem to have an affinity for weird random desperate people...

Today my boss sent me to the bank to get some change. I gave the teller $100 in 20s and asked for 4 10s and the rest in 5s. She then gave me $600 in 5s and was giving me another $400 in 10s when I informed her that I'd only given her $100. She gasped at her error and thanked me repeatedly for my honesty. I had nearly $1000 in my hand for a minute there though...man, wish I could have kept it...

Un Film Drôle

A Funny Film. I had a busy and fun day. It didn't start off terribly spectacular..I woke up around 10 and got ready for work. Talked with Mom and J and we sang some of our favorite songs, ending with the ever-funny, If I Had $1000000 by The Barenaked Ladies. I then went off to work for my 1:30-6:30 shift. Even work was more interesting today, because I got to work with someone. Most days of the week aren't that busy so my boss only has one person working, but on Fridays when most people get paid and many go to the store, it can really get hopping, so she has two of us work. I worked with Morene, she is really nice and a hard worker, we had alot of good laughs and shared some crackers and pineapple twizzlers. It did storm though which really slowed business down, so it got pretty boring just watching people drive by too fast in the pouring rain.

I impressed several people today at work. A few people asked what the date was, and I told them it was Cinco de Mayo. They were impressed, and one lady said she'd never heard of it, I thought that was odd. And this man came in and told us his $20 bill was counterfeit. He said that he was telling the truth, then quoted George Orwell saying that "to tell the truth will be revolutionary". He then asked me if I knew who George Orwell was and I said I did. He didn't believe me and challenged me to name his two famous books. He was amazed when I replied 1984 and Animal Farm. Thank you Mrs. Spencer! I then told him I'd read the latter. We spent several minutes discussing Orwell along with Brave New World, a book I've read and that he owns but hasn't read. Oh, and he also explained why his money (which did not turn black when marked with the special "counterfeit detector pen") was indeed counterfeit. He said that if we didn't believe him, we should take the bill down to the bank and ask for the equivalent amount in gold and see just how "real" it is. It was a very interesting and stimulating conversation, if for no other reason that it didn't involve me answering one of the many stupid questions that I am asked daily...like how much is a gallon of these strawberries? (the ones all around the sign with the strawberry prices).

After closing things up at the shed, I headed home. I was especially excited to come home because my Dad was supposed to be back. He has been working in Dover, New Jersey for the last week and a half. His flight got in around 6. Shortly after I got home, J and him drove up. I was very glad to see him, we'd all missed him and since all sorts of things mysteriously break anytime he's gone, we really needed him home too. Welcome back Dad! He brought us T-shirts from Jersey too, thanks!

After dinner, J and I decided to go see a movie. Niether of us were really feeling the newly released and greatly hyped MI:III; we were in the mood for a comedy. So we decided to see RV with Robin Williams. I hadn't really heard much about it, and it had mediocre reviews, but decided to give it a chance. I'm really glad I did, because it was really funny. Will it go down in history as a classic? Probably not, but it was a very fun movie to see. The kind of movie that makes everyone in the theatre laugh at one point or another. A movie that just makes you forget about anything serious as you sit back and laugh out loud. I highly recommend it, if you want to see a good screwball comedy (my favorites).

Au Téléphone

On the Telephone. I had my interview with Camp Kennolyn last night over the phone. It went really well. The woman that does the interviewing is really nice and easy to talk to, and the questions were pretty generic. I tried to just be honest and be myself. They are looking at offering me a job in the camp store. It sounds really easy, I don't even eally deal with money...the kids all have accounts that the items are deducted from, I would just have to enter their names and the items they bought into a computer. I also would sort the mail as it came in for the kids. I think that part will be really neat since you know the kids will really anticipate their mail from home. The position, like the counselor positions, is a resident one, so I'll still live and eat at the camp. She said it may even pay a little more. I'll still get days off like everyone else too.

Another job that I might get is The Naturalist, since I'm a Microbiologist. When I have my second interview with the Camp Director he is supposed to talk to me more about that. I really hope that works out because it would actually give me some experiece that is more related to my job field, and would allow me to be outdoors more. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed for that one.

As you may have already deduced...I've decided to take the CA job if it's offered to me. As Rob noted yesterday on my blog...since niether job is related to my career, I should pick the cooler one. If California doesn't work out, I will be content staying here and running the peach shed, but if I didn't take the opportunity in Cali and stayed here to work, I think I would always be haunted by what might have been. Who knows what opportunities and future friends might be awaiting in CA? And at the very least, I will definitely see some amazing sights!

**Rob, they told me the date that they wanted me to be there, and I thought I should make sure they're the same as yours since we plan to road trip out. They are June 12-September 4. Are those the dates you are planning on? I definitely want to travel together, I think that will make the experience so much more fun! Let me know...either leave a note or call me**

Confus...encore

Confused...again. Have you ever just decided what you wanted to do and had everything figured out when you were thrown a cuvre ball? No, I'm not talking about softball again...I'm talking about my Summer plans. They have taken an interesting and confusing turn. So, originally I was just planning to stay here, in SC and work at the Peach Stand. Admittedly a simple and almost mundane job, but easy and kinda fun with good produce discounts. Then my friend told me about the Summer camp job in California. Definitely more interesting. The chance to travel to CA, with a detour at the Grand Canyon, living at a camp in a Redwood Forest for two months, spending time on the Pacific Beach, seeing San Francisco, and did I mention spending a Summer with a great friend? The Peach business was looking duller with every second. And even better was that they were going to pay me more than I'd make at the Orchard, so it was completely justifiable. Then my friend talked to the camp people and they already had alot of their positions filled and the chances seemed bleak for me unless I could teach Horseback Riding, Ropes, or Ceramics all of which I've had little to no experience in. (Back to the Peach Shed I go) but they said I should apply anyway since you never know. So, I got the extensive application packet together, complete with essay and three references, and faxed it off to CA.

California then called and checked up on my references, something I considered to be a good sign. In the meantime, the owner of the Orchard called to ask if I could start work...she called a few people in early to sell strawberries. Since I have virtually nothing going on, and don't know for sure about Cali, and could use the money I said sure. I've now been working since Friday. I didn't tell her anything about the CA opportunity in case it doesn't work out, and didn't use her as a reference since that would be a conflict of interest. Friday after getting home from work I had an email from Camp making sure I knew what the money would be and to make sure I had no qualms about the dress and moral code. I didn't and sent them a reply saying so.

Now, things get a bit trickier...yesterday whilst I vended strawberries, my boss stopped by the shed to check on things. She told me she'd spent the morning looking at a piece of property that she is planning to lease and put up another stand on. I'm thinking, wow, that's great, I'm glad the business is doing well and that sounds like a prime location. Then she says that she had me in mind to run it. Ever since she first thought of adding the location, she'd been planning to have me run it. Uh oh. She explained that it would be involve a whole lot more hours, and considerably more money. I figured it up later and it is over 40 hours and over $100/week more than I'd be making at the camp. I told her that it sounded great to me and that I definitely want as many hours and as much money as possible. I did tell her, however, that there was a slight chance I'd be taking a job in CA over the Summer, but that it didn't look very promising and I hadn't heard from them in a while.

I came home, I told my family, and they were excited about the possible promotion even if it is just in peaches. My Dad, a supporter of me staying here to better continue my career job search, was especially excited. With the more money here, Cali is less justifiable. I was content though, thinking that CA might not work anyway and maybe this was God's way of telling me that there are opportunities here. Before bed last night, I was going to write an entry all about that, and about how I was most likely staying here, and that it must be God's will since I haven't heard from the camp. Before logging onto Blogger though, I decided to check my email, and lo and behold, I"ve got mail. An excited Greetings from Kennolyn (the camp) appears in the subject line. They wanted to set up a phone interview for Wednesday or Thursday. I gave them some times that I would be available.

So now we arrive at the present, in this roller-coaster that is my life. I am waiting for the phone to ring to have an interview with Kennolyn. I have the day off at the Orchard. I have been making mental "pro" and "con" lists since sometime yesterday afternoon, and they keep running neck and neck. Maybe I'll list them here later today after I've talked with the camp.

I am really having a tough time deciding what I should do. One of the choices is more responsible, the other more exciting. Niether is really in the direction of my eventual career. So, I ask you, my devoted readers to let me know what you think...I could use the advice! I'll keep you posted.

*Sorry for another lengthy post...it was just too much to express in a paragraph.*