Saturday, June 30, 2007

To The Zoo

For our day off Kristin and I went to Columbia and stayed at her mother's apartment. It was a very relaxing 24 hours. Thursday morning we went to the Columbia Zoo. I hadn't been there for probably 10 years. When I was a kid the McNitts used to take us every summer.

These guys are pretty fun. One crawled all the way up my arm.

My first time milking a "cow"

This guy liked to give big wet kisses through the glass.
Jaclyn, remember these? This used to be the favorite attraction when I was a kid. Now there's only 4 of them and they don't do much or make as much noise. Nothing is ever as good as when I was a kid...
Upon seeing this guy a little girl exclaimed, "Look daddy! A Geico!" Apparently those commercials have done more damage then we thought...

Getting bored while waiting for the tram.


They've added gardens since I was there last. Not bad really.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

So much to do, so little sleep

Sorry I'm a little late but as promised here's the pictures of the practical joke we pulled on Glenn. If you know him at all he has a favorite pair of flip flops that he absolutely loves. They broke the first week of camp so he ordered another pair. Unfortunately they aren't the fastest shipping company and for weeks we got bombarded in the office with inquiries about his flip flops arrival. When they finally came I was just about to radio him with the good news when John said, "no don't tell him! Let's switch them out for some girlie ones." So Rick bought some, Teresa added some flowers and I opened the box and replaced them leaving the warranty inside to make it look real. Not to brag, but you honestly couldn't tell at all that it had been tampered with in the least... well except for a small amount of my blood... Sharp objects and I don't always mix, but i was happy to take one for the team.


The next morning I took them with me when I went to get the mail and delivered them with the rest of the day's mail. He was extremely excited until he opened them... His first words were "Is this a joke?" However it didn't take long for us to bring him to the realization that the company had made a mistake and sent the wrong ones. Rick had to come up with a reason for him not to call the company. While Glenn was dealing with a camper situation we brought out the real ones. Rick put them on and sat waiting. When Glenn returned, it took him a minute but he saw them. Explosion would be a good describing word.

I just can't explain how much I laughed that morning.


Adventurer campers are here. I'd forgotten how tiring they are. Some of my favorite memories from the first day.

~ During sword drills at camp council one camper exclaimed when he wasn't able to get the verse fast enough, "But I have another verse! Doesn't that count?"

~ At the human spelling rotation for the ice breakers one girl exclaimed "I don't know what we are doing but I am horrified!!"

~ One dramatic camper was standing at the wall during dodge ball, when a ball hit four feet above her head she began to scream "OOOOOOUUUUUUUUCH!!!! OOOOOOOOOOUUUUUCH!!!

Meeting at Indian camp for "The Quest"

The Minstrel tells the story of Young William and his quest for knowledge.


William prepares to fight the tea drinking English people

The Woman Wise (aka Rick Faber) skips off after telling Young William the secret of the sword.


William fights off Lord Law now that he knows the secret.

Camp council song service

The hunchback of Nosoca visits for a sword drill.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Monday, June 18, 2007

Camp Chronicles

Due to rain and well... a few other minute details programming has gotten of to a little more of a rough start then I would have liked but what can you do.

My banquet was Tuesday night. After hours of set up wind blew it the outside part of it down, took out the power, which meant the water, and completely threw off everything.

Trying to read menus and then what the kids had ordered was probably the worst of it.




Renaissance decorations are sparse but we made do. Luckily the candles were already being used for decorations so we had SOME light. But then we bring in Tanya for the rest.

In the end, other then ending an hour earlier then needed because the rain had cut out a large portion of our program, it didn't go so bad. that being said it is being entire redone this week and I'm actually quite excited about it.

Rain kept us in doors for programs that really didn't work very well inside but we pulled them off.

The other big program was Friday night pageant... That actually went very well until we got to the crucifixion. Jesus lost is clothing when he got on the cross. But luckily he had shorts on, but wait, we still had a very blatant XYZ issue. When I ran back to give him his ascension robe, I got slammed in the head by a falling light, which was very exciting.

I've actually been doing quite a bit other then programming. I'm assistant girl's director once a week which is always fun. Programming doesn't really get to interact with the campers much but girls director does quite a bit, that is if they still love you after you do cabin check.

I also have landed a job in the office which mainly consists of getting the mail everyday. This means driving big camp vehicles. Today it was the big diesel dually truck that sounds like a 757 when it takes off. The wheel wells are so fat I felt like I was constantly driving out of my lane. I have also become a pro at driving and backing a fifteen passenger van into small spaces. But my favorite would have to be the Yukon XL. Dad, I want one for Christmas, and the Lord HAS shown me this, and I'm sure he'll show you soon. :)

I am everyday reminded that I am living in a southern small town. Trucks and camo are necessities. Signs on the road ask that we vote for guns in schools and a good juicy burger is just around the corner. Say tofu and you might get stoned.

The jokes seem to abound this year. The one coming tomorrow being currently the best but I'll explain that when I get pictures.

Ad staff always get some type of drinking utensil so we have something to drink the special brew from and Glenn rigged it so he ended up with this one. One particular ad staff seemed to think it would work better as a fish bowl. I mean he could fit his head in the thing... So much for a special brew cup. And if you too are appalled by the ping pong ball, don't worry, Glenn put it there so his fish had something to play with. To this moment I don't believe that he's touched it but we're still holding out. Oh and to keep tradition with last year's Glenn's puppy naming, we're taking surveys for this year's fish naming.






Unfortunately camp isn't as young as it used to be and technology is lacking, especially in the area of a copy machine. One day while copying 40 scripts and sorting them by hand because that button doesn't work... stopping every other script to fix a jam, oh and did I mention having to do 39 because the 4 button doesn't work... I exclaimed in exasperation that when I got rich the first thing I'd do would be to buy a copy machine. A few days later this sign appeared. You can't totally see it in the picture but it says "the future site of the Stephanie Ford copy center" Of course the best picture of me ever was also put on display.



So anyway, that's some of what's going on down in the boonies of South Carolina. We've got 120 campers this week to compare with last weeks 60. We are quite excited. However the weather man is calling for rain again this week and next week in their entirety. If I go insane you'll know why. I'm off to console my many bug bites and head to bed before another 5:45 morning. (why did our director have to be a morning person?)

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Sumca Hill: Night of Torture!

Thursday night of staff week brings the Sumca Hill camp out. Always a bonding experience.

On goes the face paint.












Lookin good.


After beating the girls doors down we herded them down to camp council for a short talk.
The leaders of the council.
And then came the not-so-torturous challenges...
Apparently diesel really makes fires burn quite well...too well. Have no fear the ladies of Sumca Hill are trained fire fighters.













Everybody gets face paint.


We all paired off and made signs for each other. Rachel was named Attatakalota by a rigamortacatta.. If you don't understand, just think Biology. Mine was Slams a lotta Birdies. That would be badminton. Someone mentioned we were a bit nerdy... Guess it's true.

Queen Roxa Rector leads out in the initiation with Torita Bordita to sprinkle on the initiation water.
The initiation dance

Ok so the only think torturous really was probably sleeping with the mosquitoes... No I don't have chicken pocks, I just taste good.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

The beginnings...

In case you wondered why I've suddenly dropped off the face of the earth it's because I have. I'm back at camp working hard. Sorry this blog brings no pictures. I've been behind the camps camera taking staff photos so I'm not feeling much like bringing mine out. Tomorrow I get to do more, plus shopping and painting a castle. How exciting huh?

Actually it is. I am in no way being sarcastic. I don't know how people could not want to work at camp. I don't think there's a better job.

Programming is starting to come together slowly. Curses on the banquet but Friday night... wow its going to be an amazing full scale production. We're using over 3/4 of the staff with lighting and screens and we're building extra staging for it. Glenn and I spent a good 4 or more hours on it today, even went through lunch. (such hard workers we are lol) Tomorrow starts practice. I'm excited.

I can't believe it's only 9 o'clock. When you are getting up at 5:30 the day seems to continue for forever, but you sure do get a lot done. It's time to get out of the office...so I think I'll stop here.