Thursday, June 30, 2011

What is wrong with us?

I just saw a May 2011 rerun of Kirstie Alley on Jay Leno and realized for the first time how unrealistic our expectation for women is thanks to the media representation of women. 

She's talking about how she's now wearing a size 6, but compared to everyone else who sits in the chair next to Jay she looks huge.  Don't get me wrong, she's gorgeous, size 6 is something I aspire to, and this is not a Kristie bashing session, but it pointed out to me my own prejudice.  Ironic?  Very.

The other thing is that she decided that at 5'8" 124 lbs was too fat so she lost 14lbs on some ridiculous diet.  A 5'8" 110lb woman would look sickly yet somehow we have it in our head that that's desirable.  WTF World? W.T.F.

So that's just my random thought for the night.  It could get deeper, but I'm way too tired.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

I Invented Blueberry S'mores -- I'm a farmer!

Last night after the concert was over the kids jammed and we prepared the evening activity.  S'mores.  That's right, get them hopped up on sugar and then send them to bed and tell them to sleep soundly.  Right...  But it was a lot of fun and they really seemed to enjoy it.  They're a pretty fun group of kids.

So a part of jazz camp is hanging out after the campers go to bed.  We usually play games and laugh at ourselves -- we think we're smarter and funnier than we really are. 

Last night was no exception to this rule.  After the campers went to bed we sat out on the porch (the weather has been so beautiful) and played cards and ate until 2am.  What happened at 2am?  We went to bed?  Oh no.  At 2am the night security guard came over to join us and spent the next 2+ hours pontificating about politics.  Now, I'm not overly political, but I love a good arguement.  And more than that I love poking holes in an arguement someone else believes to be sound.  It was an interesting time.  I wish I could remember most of it, because as I recall it was pretty hilarious. 

As a result, we didn't sleep.  The security guard left around 5 and we stayed up to watch the sunrise until 6.  After that I didn't see much of a point in going to bed for an hour only to wake up at 7 to get the kids up.   I slept from 7-9 and from 9:30-10:30.  Combined with the three hours I slept yesterday...things are pretty funny.  I saw faces in the tile specks this morning.  Oye.

Today has been pretty uneventful, which is a good thing.  We've got a concert tonight for combos and a big band dress rehearsal of sorts.  Tomorrow is the big band concert and then the kids go home and I fly to CA.  Woohoo!

Okay, off to...do something...

Sunday, June 19, 2011

To Jazz or not to Jazz...

That is the question.  However, here at Jazz Camp the jazz is mandatory.

So today started the official week of jazz camp.  Campers moved in, we took their money, tested them, sorted them like cattle, and then threw water balloons at them.  It's been a blast thus far.

Seriously though, it's great.  I look forward to it every summer.  People at work think I'm strange for taking a week of vacation to go RA at a camp, but it's a week of paid room and board doing something I love with people I love.  What better way to use your vacation time?  It's things like this that really make me miss school, but I realize that the rosy glow of college memories is something I have to get over, and this is part of the reason I'm fairly certain this is my last jazz camp.  It makes the week all the sweeter.

The kids seem to be hilarious and unique -- my favorite combo.  We only have one repeat from the previous year in the dorm and she's always been fun, in a quiet, stealthy sort of way.  It's fun to see everybody's personalities emerge throughout the week.

Anyway, I'm already sleep deprived (having slept in a recliner most of the night).  And starving (but I think someone's bringing me a sandwich...or maybe a taco).  And...tomorrow is another day.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

I'm a terrible gift giver...

...I never know what to give people.  So when I have something that I think is great I can't keep it to myself for very long.  Sometimes even when I do have a good idea it comes out wrong (example: for Christmas I gave Dad badarse leather dog collars with 'Ellie' and 'Effie' stamped into them for his dogs...named Lucy and Effie...well stank...).

I made this for Em's birthday, which is nowhere near now.
It's pretty sweet.  You gotta give me props.  Yo.  But don't worry, I gave it to her yesterday.

Em and I went for a walk this morning and I've been doing some exercise ball exercises.  My short term goal is to be able to touch my toes without being in agony.  I can do it, but me thinks my hamstrings doth protest too much.

In unrelated news, I seriously need a massage.

Tan and toe tomorrow!  Be there or be rectangularly shaped.