If you have been wondering why there seems to be a lack of adventures on the blog this last week, well that is because I was at summer camp. Yes, you heard it right....summer camp. I have been a counselor at a children's camp now for 4 years (contrary to the image I display, I do have a big heart when it comes to kids) and this year I was able to convince Tootsie that she should go with me.
We left on Thursday AM at the crack of dawn. Of course, I opted to go out Wednesday night instead of packing and was left to do all the dirty work at 5:30 the next morning. BIG mistake on my part. When you leave packing for that time period, you focus on unessential items like too many T-shirts and too many socks and forget the essential items like cookies and other snacks to munch on (one forgets how disgusting camp food can be) and music (one forgets how to function in life without an iPod and CD players readily available). Thank goodness my campers remembered the essentials.
The camp was just as I had remembered it from last year when I also imparted my wisdom and fun onto these impressionable young campers. The two things I forgot were:
1) how old I truly feel when I spend 4 days with young kids and
2) how bloody hot summers are in Texas!
As for the 1st item, I like to think I am young, hip and up-to-date on all the latest trends, music, etc. It takes about 1 hour at camp when the realization that I am closer to 30 than 20 comes to me! For example, I had no idea what "Hollaback Girl" by Gwen Stefani was about until I was educated by my 16 yo camper. I like to think I am up on what The Beat 97.9 (it is programmed in my car opposite the classical station) is playing as far as rap music, but there were quite a few songs I had never heard that every camper knew the words too!
The camp was again an adventure as it always has been. I was able to catch no fish at the lake (despite everyone in my group catching about 10 each!). I don't know how that was possible other than I suppose my bad karma extends to fishing as well as dating! I managed to get numerous mosquito bites despite the use of insect repellent. Though horses have never bothered me, I learned that they kind of creep me out in my old age. I did manage to make quite a lot of jewelry, a talent I had no idea I possessed. If you see me sporting some new beads in the upcoming weeks, they will probably be my own design. I also managed to put a fake pink pig tattoo on my ankle which I decided to keep for as long as possible. One can only imagine the questions I will get about opting for a pink pig on my ankle! We did have a lot of fun though - I learned the card game Spoons as well as the goofy game called 10 Fingers (I guess you can call this the Generation Y version of our Truth or Dare). As soon as Tootsie sends me some pics, I'll post some of us complete with no make-up and all decked out in camp attire!
It appeared that Tootsie had a good time as well (we'll see for sure if she volunteers for next year!). Her maternal instincts were evident throughout, which amazed me and I think shocked the hell out of her! Her last comment to me on the ride home was, "I think I can be a good mother and so it is time to start looking for a husband." This was in sharp contrast to the comment she made at lunch that very day when she said, "I am not ready to be in a relationship and I think I am just going to focus on me now." Tootsie is obviously confused about men and relationships and so I am glad she is spending more time around me to help figure that out (you know my karma when it comes to relationships!).
We returned in one piece - probably a few pounds heavier though! It's hard to pass up macaroni and cheese and grilled cheese sandwiches, even if the texture of the cheese is questionable and the time at which they were cooked is a little suspect. Our first stop when we arrived back in Dallas....Arriba's for a little enchilada action and definitely a frozen margarita. I felt both were quite deserved after our adventure at summer camp.
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