t w e n t y e v e r y t h i n g

Garlic and carnival rides: An inside look at my lunch today

Holy hell, there was far too much garlic ingested at lunch today at Generous George's Positive Pizza and Pasta Place!

And yes, that really is the name of the pizza place that we we went to as part of our celebratory deparmental lunch. It's an odd establishment - complete with bicycles hanging on chains from the ceiling, bright pink walls with turqoise trim and video games in the basement. And pizza with about five cloves of garlic per slice. Pizza that has left myself and each of my fellow six co-workers disgusted as we currently sit taken hostage by the wafts of garlic that are seeping from our pores.

As if transitioning back to "normal life" after camp wasn't hard enough on its own, I had to develop a cold. A pretty nasty one that resulted in me getting sent home early from work two days in a row. I'm happy to say that it seems to have run its course, and I am feeling much better today, hence the garlic fest at lunchtime.

I miss camp. More than I ever have before. And no one here can really understand it because they have never experienced it. And that makes me feel sad. And kind of alone.

So here I am, back from what easily was among the best weeks of my life, sitting at my desk, wishing I was 400 miles away in the foothills of the Berkshires. I've abandoned my sneakers and flipflops, stored my t-shirts and jeans, put the bug spray back on the shelf and unsuccessfully tried to return to my "normal" everyday life.

It's been the same scenario for the past six years. And while I have grown used to it, it seems to get harder and harder each year.

The week was incredible. The kids were absolutely amazing. I am exhausted and suffering from my usual post-camp depression and cold. And I would give anything to still be at camp.

When camp week is over, people always ask me how it was - inquire as to the health of the campers - remark about how sad it must be - tragic, really - to spend a week surrounded by kids who have or currently are fighting cancer. My first few years at camp I was right there with these folks. Being in the presence of so many innocent kids who have already faced their own mortality can be overpowering and saddening. But, as I have come to learn over the years, it can also be the most incredibly inspiring experience.

Don't get me wrong - there were plenty of tears. But they were far, far outnumbered by the laughs and the smiles. And the hugs.

This is a place of hope.

Of acceptance.

Of laughter

and unconditional love.

One where smooth heads signify a common journey

and scars mark one's true strength.

It's a place unlike any other.

One, where for many, things don't ever seem fair.

But you won't hear anyone complaining

because they are too busy laughing.

 

It might just be the happiest place on earth.

off to camp

I will be here for the next week. Have a good week everyone!

No words, just pictures

The nephew: a photo montage

happy almost first birthday Lincoln Xavier! Love, Auntie Liz

So excited!

So there is a UMD Habitat reunion party at Colin's place on September 15, and if I was any more excited, I might have to go home and change my pants. But do not fear, it has not gotten to that point. Yet.

Seeing that Habitat was such a large and meaningful part of my life during my college years, providing me with amazing opportunities such as dancing with Elvis impersonators, sleeping on particle board on a construction site, making out with a McDonald's manager, chugging an entire pitcher of beer, singing karaoke (poorly), going rollerskating and many other things that I cannot remember due to the aforementioned beer (of course, this is all aside from the obvious - building homes for hardworking families and helping college students realize their potential to make a difference), you would be pretty happy too if you were me.

The Dubs is even coming back in town. It's going to be insane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A picture is worth 1000 words

Here are some pictures of the new dog Roman.

That is pretty much how you will find him, oh about 23 hours a day.

The other one hour he's spent doing this:

He's fascinated with looking out our door. Unfortunately for him, it's the decorative form of glass and everything is distorted.

Thought bubble: "God, these damn girls. They pick me up like a baby, they sing songs about me. They mess with my ears, shove cameras in my face. They constantly poke and prod me, transferring their own hypochondria to me. I'm fine, ok?! I just smell. That's it. I think I will go back to sleep."

Last night we did an impromptu power quarter hour. Mainly because our attention spans sucked and we kept getting distracted and if we tried to do an hour, it would have taken at least an hour and a half.

Here's Tara with her beer shot.

I'm off to CT tonight to go see Jimmy Buffett again tomorrow with Lissa and the crew from last year at Great Woods in Mansfield, MA. I'm sure pictures and a full recount of the craziness will be coming on Monday.

This song seriously makes me cry sometimes:

It's Getting Better All The Time
Brooks & Dunn

I don't stop breathing everytime the phone rings,
My heart don't race when someone's at my door,
I've almost given up thinking you're ever gonna call,
I don't believe in magic anymore,
I just don't lie awake at night,
Asking God to get you off my mind.

It's getting better all the time,
it's getting better all the time.

Yeah I got to work on time again this morning,
This old job is all that I got left,
And no one even noticed I'd been crying,
At least I don't have whiskey on my breath,
Yeah I think I'm gonna make it,
'Cause god won't make a mountain I can't climb.

It's gettine better all the time,
It's getting better all the time.

God I hope you're happy,
Girl I wish you well,
I just might get over you
But you can't ever tell

I always thought I'd do something crazy,
If I ever saw you out with someone else,
But when the moment came last night,
I couldn't say a word,
I stood there in the dark all by myself,
Yeah I could have said a million things,
But all I did was keep it locked inside.

It's getting better all the time,
It's getting better all the time,
It's getting better all...the time.

I subscribe to the following magazines:
-Glamour
-Cosmo
-Lucky
-InStyle
-Marie Claire
-Self
-Shape
-GQ
-Yankee
-Time

Insane, isn't it? Especially seeing that I just had to go and change my address for each and every one of them. You might think that I spent a small fortune on all of these subscriptions, but you would be wrong. Most cost me between $3-$5 on eBay. Yes, you heard me right. You can buy subscriptions on eBay for barely the newsstand price of one issue. It's the best thing ever (and thanks to Caroline for telling me about it).

It's ironic because I get a discount on subscriptions to a lot of publications (some of which are on the above list) because my newspaper is owned by a big whopping conglomerate. However, I let my employee subscriptions lapsed in favor of the eBay obtained ones because they are so much cheaper. You can also use it for gift subscriptions, and the recipient will never know that your thoughtful gift only cost you a few dollars.

In other news, I am bored.

"I mean, I'm so poor that while I can probably afford to get his nails clipped, I probably couldn't afford an anal glands release." --Roommate Allie

Summer, gone before you know it...

I head off to Camp Rising Sun in a mere week and a half ... where did summer go? Seriously? It's almost mid-August already...

This will be my sixth summer heading up to the wilderness of Northwestern Connecticut for a week at summer camp as a counselor. It's seriously the best week of my year. So why am I dreading it this year? Well, because it means that summer is over. And I don't think I am ready to face that yet.

Light commutes, lazy weekends spent at the pool, cookouts, crab feasts. The summer is my chance to take a deep breath, let it out and be still for a moment. Phones aren't ringing off the hook, I'm not being pulled in a million directions. It's the chance to rest and recoup before we head into fall. And while I really do love the fall - the cooler weather, changing foliage, the promise of winter, snow and the holidays right around the corner, I need the slow-paced lifestyle that the summer brings. And thus, I am so sad to see it leave.

I think in a way I'm also hesitant to see the fall come because of the memories. The passage of time. Where I was (both geographically and emotionally) a year ago, the question of whether I am any better off a year later. I know I'm different than I was, but better? I really don't want to go down this road. I had great hope at this time a year ago... I don't want to be jaded. But I think I am...

How's that for a contemplative and reflective Wednesday morning?

And because I told them I would, my three roommates are smart, funny, charming, sophisticated, gorgeous creatures who you all should really want to meet. And perhaps date. But they are not desperate at all. I swear. I mean, Sarah occasionally googles herself but who doesn't?

Btw, I am knee-deep in grad school applications. How fun for me!