Christmas in July

I'm alive, I swear.  A bigger update to come soon.  Crosses heart*

Elisabeth, Jean and I went to the Botanical gardens at Duke Univ on our day off.

Mr. In-between

Kenny and Jordan: totally unrelated to this post, but totally called for

Week 7 is almost halfway done (I can't believe it)!  It is definitely a change in pace from last week (high functioning adults), and my energy levels have reached an official, all-time low. But I absolutely love and adore my camper in spite of this.  In many ways, his imagination and love for the pool remind me of my little one from week 3.  However, my camper this week is smaller, younger and a little more stubborn/grouchy.  

I'm just beginning to understand him, though.  I expect that by the end of the next 12 plus hour day, I'll know him as well as I know some of my friend's cell phone numbers (i.e. almost by heart).  And, hey, I've already begun to assemble an impressive repertoire of counter-behavior strategies.  For example, tickling and pretending to be any of a variety of species from the genus of "big cat" have consistently demonstrated themselves as surefire ways to turn his frown upside down*.

*knocks on wood

Blueberry fields forever

Yesterday night, Jean's bff, Amy, had to dogsit/housewatch in Pittsboro (right near camp!).  Amy decided to make a sleepover out of it.  Lyell from Wilmington was also there and the four of us enjoyed an evening playing with the giant dogs, eating pasta and Amy's salsa, learning/teaching Purple Haze on the guitar, youtubing and playing with each other's hair, below:

The best part about my stay with Jean's friends, however, was the blueberry picking.  They were so naturally sweet and, therefore, divinely delicious.  There's just something so perfect about going out into a garden and gathering fresh fruit for yourself.

Blueberries that are a no no to eat

High functioning adults week

Plebe Makeover

Before and After shots:

Can I just exclaim here how awful the glasses that they make them wear during boot camp are? Okay, yes.  Those boot camp glasses are just awful!

Erm, it's pretty late (considering I woke up at five this morning) and I need to get ready for bed.  Agenda for tomorrow is breakfast with the grandparents in the morning and then college park for the remainder of the day and night (slumber party with Rachael) and then I'm heading back to camp on Friday.  I promise to write an actual entry about "I Day" as they call it (short for Induction Day, duh) at a later date.  Woo class of 2013!  I am suddenly surging with Naval Academy (soon to be Navy) pride.

Love,

Monica

P.S.  Today a USNA mom turned to me and said, "Do you have a son or a daughter here today?"  I said, plainly, "I have a brother."  The whole thing made me laugh out loud but, honestly now, do I really look like I could pass for a parent?  I mean, the other day I got carded when buying sparklers.  How can I look both too old and too young for myself, people?!

Middle School, anyone?

I would just like to let any readers with whom I grew up know that I got to watch the Thriller music video in my family room with Mr. Lillard (yes, everyone's favorite 7th grade science teacher).  And, yes, his level of cool has officially been raised to an even higher level of cool on my cool-o-meter (if it could get any higher than it already is).

He came by to visit my brother, Nicholas, because they are good buddies and because tomorrow Nick goes off to the United States Naval Academy for good (I won't get to see him until Thanksgiving).  Here's a fierce picture below of him running, which he will be doing a lot of at the academy once the season starts:

 

Now it's off to the post office and coffee shop/bakery with my mom.  Maybe later she'll take me to feed those lovely LaMancha goats I have dreams about.  Until next time...

T&S spell it out: Moog

A funny video I found of my favorite canadian twins:

Moog or what? from Tegan and Sara on Vimeo.