All my bags are packed; I'm ready to go
I'm stuck in Byron, buried in snow
I wish that we could go and play outside
'Cause there's no jake-braking this early morn,
No traffic out there, no blowing horns
If only I could find some way to drive
So, kiss me in a major freeze
Dig me out, let's make memories
It's cold here, so outside we will go
'Cause it's sleeting on the Great Plains
Don't know when sun will shine again
Oh, babe,
I love the snow
Still for all this time, it's coming down
So little time to cover town
I tell you I'm so happy I could sing
Every hill we find, we'll slide right through
No one I'd rather play with than you
Though we might end up in the IC-wing
So, kiss me in a major freeze
Let's go make new memories
It's cold here, and so outside we will go
'Cause it's sleeting on the Great Plains!
Don't know when sun will shine again
Oh, babe,
I love the snow!
This was not entirely my idea. The first two lines came from somebody else in this household. I just ran with it. :)
I think there've been some ten inches fallen at this point, and we're still expecting more. I spent a decent chunk of this morning shoveling, and of course, there is still more to do. :) But I'm looking forward to playing in it!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Cool Off-Season Things About Working At Camp
First off, there are fall retreats, where you can help out and be at Camp, soaking up a different side of Camp life while still eating awesome food, hanging out with awesome friends, and having someplace to sleep - and yet not have the intense responsibility of being a counselor. While I love being a counselor, it's not something I'd care to mix in with all the other chaos of things I'm responsible for during the school year.
Also, if you are a ropes course instructor, you get to help out with groups that are learning cool team-building stuff. Most of these are from Rochester. You meet some pretty cool people. A very unexpected and unpredictable method of networking, but you're also watching adults go through the same challenges that you've had campers go through all summer, and you learn new ways of loooking at problems.
(I am unfortunately something of a snob here. I consider the ropes course to be the most worthwhile "activity" at Camp, because I don't have any decent application for mountain-boarding or paintballing outside of the sports themselves, but they're REALLY about trust/ team-building/ leadership/ problem-solving stuff on the low ropes.)
The support. People pray for you and interact with you (we completely abuse Facebook for this) through the whole year. You've got awesome friends, and they don't just stay at Camp. Shortly before Finals week, you get a package from Spud and his wife (former camper/counselor, they've been involved with Camp since the 50s, I think.) of brain-helping goodies (or, y'know, fudge and trail mix and various other chocolatey things). I just got mine the other day. Every staff member has someone on the board of directors praying for and kind of looking out for them - this is separate from the head counselors and leadership team, who are there for you all summer.
Knowing what you're going to do next summer. I originally started, planning to only work one summer, I think. For three years, I've been saying, "This is going to be my last summer," because it really takes a lot out of you. But then, over the next five months or so, you realize how much it gives back, too. Thanks to moving plans, I know that this is going to be my last summer for awhile, and by the time I'm back in MN I might be too old to be a cabin counselor, but I've given up predicting when I'm going to be done.
Getting to be in a Rocket Summer video. Okay, that's unrelated. But Leaf, who's an awesome counselor, is indeed in their latest video, rockin' out on the drums (which he plays at Camp) from about 2:16 to 2:20.
Suddenly having your family be five times larger.
These guys were the first ones (outside of the four I live with) to learn that I was going to be moving. I should say that the girls were, and it trickled through to the guys, and then it came out in a staff meeting one morning, so everyone knew. But it made sense, because everyone does sort of become family. Rockstar's like my little brother (which explains why I was freaked so badly when he fell off the deck this summer). Three of the girls are as close as my own sisters are to me. Even a couple of the guys whose counseling methods I disagree with - yeah, they drive me crazy, but in an obnoxious cousin kind of way. I still love them. And cooler than that, they love me. They know me on a level that nobody from school ever will, and possibly my immediate family hasn't even seen, they know all the ways I come up short, and there's no doubt that they love me.
They're family.
And, coming up, one rocking Staff Reunion (usually the first weekend in January - it's going to be sweet, and likely at least three people will get injured between broomball, snow tubing, and other randomness), and not one, but this year, two camper retreats (we actually get to be counselors again for these). One of them's even before I move, so I'm doing that instead of any kind of farewell party.
Also, come spring, pre-camp work. I can't explain why I get excited about this - nobody can. It's hard, and usually filthy, and tough, and you don't get any outside recognition for it (though the gratitude of the permanent staff is evident), but I love going out and doing it. It's the stuff like clearing trails, and repairing fences, making sure that things are livable and in order - all the invisible stuff that people assume just happens, and usually nobody in the summer will know that you did it, but it feels so good to be able to do it. Take a friend or two, take a random Saturday that you have free, and do it as many times as you can before May.
And then, in May, there's official pre-camp work, which I might (hopefully) end up doing again when I move back. That's where there's four to eight of you, you're living on camp property, which gets you kind of getting used to the community there again, and working regular 8 or 10 hour days, but it's outside work, in the sun and the trees and the mud (working in mud is frustrating yet oddly satisfying), or building new stuff, and you're getting paid about what you do for counseling. And it's great! You get SO much done, and you can really take pride in it because you can see how what you're doing is worthwhile, and then in just a few weeks all the rest of staff are there for training!
Actually, all of this was just because I got my Finals Week package (it takes a lot of work to send out forty of these!), and I saw the new Rocket Summer video. :) But now I'm excited for Camp again!
...not that that ever takes much.
Also, if you are a ropes course instructor, you get to help out with groups that are learning cool team-building stuff. Most of these are from Rochester. You meet some pretty cool people. A very unexpected and unpredictable method of networking, but you're also watching adults go through the same challenges that you've had campers go through all summer, and you learn new ways of loooking at problems.
(I am unfortunately something of a snob here. I consider the ropes course to be the most worthwhile "activity" at Camp, because I don't have any decent application for mountain-boarding or paintballing outside of the sports themselves, but they're REALLY about trust/ team-building/ leadership/ problem-solving stuff on the low ropes.)
The support. People pray for you and interact with you (we completely abuse Facebook for this) through the whole year. You've got awesome friends, and they don't just stay at Camp. Shortly before Finals week, you get a package from Spud and his wife (former camper/counselor, they've been involved with Camp since the 50s, I think.) of brain-helping goodies (or, y'know, fudge and trail mix and various other chocolatey things). I just got mine the other day. Every staff member has someone on the board of directors praying for and kind of looking out for them - this is separate from the head counselors and leadership team, who are there for you all summer.
Knowing what you're going to do next summer. I originally started, planning to only work one summer, I think. For three years, I've been saying, "This is going to be my last summer," because it really takes a lot out of you. But then, over the next five months or so, you realize how much it gives back, too. Thanks to moving plans, I know that this is going to be my last summer for awhile, and by the time I'm back in MN I might be too old to be a cabin counselor, but I've given up predicting when I'm going to be done.
Getting to be in a Rocket Summer video. Okay, that's unrelated. But Leaf, who's an awesome counselor, is indeed in their latest video, rockin' out on the drums (which he plays at Camp) from about 2:16 to 2:20.
Suddenly having your family be five times larger.
These guys were the first ones (outside of the four I live with) to learn that I was going to be moving. I should say that the girls were, and it trickled through to the guys, and then it came out in a staff meeting one morning, so everyone knew. But it made sense, because everyone does sort of become family. Rockstar's like my little brother (which explains why I was freaked so badly when he fell off the deck this summer). Three of the girls are as close as my own sisters are to me. Even a couple of the guys whose counseling methods I disagree with - yeah, they drive me crazy, but in an obnoxious cousin kind of way. I still love them. And cooler than that, they love me. They know me on a level that nobody from school ever will, and possibly my immediate family hasn't even seen, they know all the ways I come up short, and there's no doubt that they love me.
They're family.
And, coming up, one rocking Staff Reunion (usually the first weekend in January - it's going to be sweet, and likely at least three people will get injured between broomball, snow tubing, and other randomness), and not one, but this year, two camper retreats (we actually get to be counselors again for these). One of them's even before I move, so I'm doing that instead of any kind of farewell party.
Also, come spring, pre-camp work. I can't explain why I get excited about this - nobody can. It's hard, and usually filthy, and tough, and you don't get any outside recognition for it (though the gratitude of the permanent staff is evident), but I love going out and doing it. It's the stuff like clearing trails, and repairing fences, making sure that things are livable and in order - all the invisible stuff that people assume just happens, and usually nobody in the summer will know that you did it, but it feels so good to be able to do it. Take a friend or two, take a random Saturday that you have free, and do it as many times as you can before May.
And then, in May, there's official pre-camp work, which I might (hopefully) end up doing again when I move back. That's where there's four to eight of you, you're living on camp property, which gets you kind of getting used to the community there again, and working regular 8 or 10 hour days, but it's outside work, in the sun and the trees and the mud (working in mud is frustrating yet oddly satisfying), or building new stuff, and you're getting paid about what you do for counseling. And it's great! You get SO much done, and you can really take pride in it because you can see how what you're doing is worthwhile, and then in just a few weeks all the rest of staff are there for training!
Actually, all of this was just because I got my Finals Week package (it takes a lot of work to send out forty of these!), and I saw the new Rocket Summer video. :) But now I'm excited for Camp again!
...not that that ever takes much.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Productions
Saturday night, Denise came down from Duluth, and the two of us went to RTC's production of The Wizard of Oz.
Elizabeth has loved the Wicked Witch of the West since we were kids, and was overjoyed to land the role. Opening night, she was actually in terrible pain and ended up going to the hospital and skipping the afterparty, but she still went through with it. I described her to Ross as an alloy of steel, iron, and determination. When Elizabeth decides that she's going to do something, she is GOING to do it, no matter what tries to stop her.
And, as usual, she is absolutely smashing onstage. A splendid Wicked Witch indeed.
Early on in the days of rehearsals, we were discussing the possibilities of adding some slight alterations to the characters. Since this was a performance celebrating the anniversary, this seemed unlikely - we figured that the director would rather recreate than put new spins on it. But, we started speculating about accents.
"Zeh Vicked Vitch of Zeh Vest!"
"Vehrrrrrrrr uff to zee zeh vizzard! Zeh vunderful vizzard ov Oz! 'e really iz a viz of a viz, if ever a viz zehr vahz!"
You get the idea.
"If ever o' ever a viz zehr vahz, zeh vizzard is vahn becahz becahz..."
The rest of the household may have gotten tired of us at this point.
"Becahz becahz becahz becahz beCAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHZ!" *beat. beat.* "BECAHZ OF ZEH VUNDERFUL SZINGS 'E DOES!"
During intermission, Denise taught me the basic step for the tango. Not that this has anything to do with the show, or even being at a show - this is just another standard part of being in my family. :) We went across the way to practice a couple of swing steps, to the entertainment of a mom and her two kids.
Sunday morning was Mom's show. There's really no word for this other than "Christmas Production." It goes beyond a concert. It gets bigger every year. She was referring to it online as something like "My Big Fat Greek Christmas Lollapalooza." I didn't detect any Greek references in it (y'know, aside from that business of having substantial portions of the New Testament being originally written in Greek), but it was pretty cool.
A friend once expressed cheerful annoyance with me for bringing him to one of these, because that one was more interactive and he'd said I'd tricked him into going to church. This one, not so much - but a LOT of talent onstage.
One that stuck out was their rendition of "Joseph's Song" - the original is by Michael Card, and I hadn't heard it in probably ten years. For several of the characters, they introduced more of a storyline, and got them comforting actors in the audience who were struggling with their own life situations. In their story, Joseph and Mary had grown up together, and had always planned on getting married, and not only did he feel completely betrayed by the person he thought was his best friend, but suddenly everything he'd planned for his life was called into question. Then, later, he's confronted by the huge responsibility of being a father, and he can't even think about how much bigger a responsibility it is to be a father to God.
Mary, in turn, was comforting a mother who'd lost her firstborn to SIDS.
The thief who died next to Jesus talked with a man who couldn't forgive his father, or accept his father's forgiveness.
Every year, there's one person in the Christmas story that I grab onto, mentally, and end up seeing a lot of the Christmas story through their eyes. Last year, it was the kings from the east. Just delved into it, seriously exploring who they were, what the stars meant to them, why they came if they weren't familiar with Jewish prophecy (or if they were, did they believe it, and how did they get their hands on it), you get the idea. Before that, it was Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist. This year, I guess it's going to be Joseph. I don't really pick this, I just end up hearing the story, and one piece grabs me in a different way. The different people each got about equal time in the show, but Joseph's story maybe relates a little more to things that I'm dealing with, or need to understand.
And, to cap off the production list, Denise is Stage Managing (borderline unheard-of for a freshman, apparently) at UMD that opens in January, and I have the concert this week!
Elizabeth has loved the Wicked Witch of the West since we were kids, and was overjoyed to land the role. Opening night, she was actually in terrible pain and ended up going to the hospital and skipping the afterparty, but she still went through with it. I described her to Ross as an alloy of steel, iron, and determination. When Elizabeth decides that she's going to do something, she is GOING to do it, no matter what tries to stop her.
And, as usual, she is absolutely smashing onstage. A splendid Wicked Witch indeed.
Early on in the days of rehearsals, we were discussing the possibilities of adding some slight alterations to the characters. Since this was a performance celebrating the anniversary, this seemed unlikely - we figured that the director would rather recreate than put new spins on it. But, we started speculating about accents.
"Zeh Vicked Vitch of Zeh Vest!"
"Vehrrrrrrrr uff to zee zeh vizzard! Zeh vunderful vizzard ov Oz! 'e really iz a viz of a viz, if ever a viz zehr vahz!"
You get the idea.
"If ever o' ever a viz zehr vahz, zeh vizzard is vahn becahz becahz..."
The rest of the household may have gotten tired of us at this point.
"Becahz becahz becahz becahz beCAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHZ!" *beat. beat.* "BECAHZ OF ZEH VUNDERFUL SZINGS 'E DOES!"
During intermission, Denise taught me the basic step for the tango. Not that this has anything to do with the show, or even being at a show - this is just another standard part of being in my family. :) We went across the way to practice a couple of swing steps, to the entertainment of a mom and her two kids.
Sunday morning was Mom's show. There's really no word for this other than "Christmas Production." It goes beyond a concert. It gets bigger every year. She was referring to it online as something like "My Big Fat Greek Christmas Lollapalooza." I didn't detect any Greek references in it (y'know, aside from that business of having substantial portions of the New Testament being originally written in Greek), but it was pretty cool.
A friend once expressed cheerful annoyance with me for bringing him to one of these, because that one was more interactive and he'd said I'd tricked him into going to church. This one, not so much - but a LOT of talent onstage.
One that stuck out was their rendition of "Joseph's Song" - the original is by Michael Card, and I hadn't heard it in probably ten years. For several of the characters, they introduced more of a storyline, and got them comforting actors in the audience who were struggling with their own life situations. In their story, Joseph and Mary had grown up together, and had always planned on getting married, and not only did he feel completely betrayed by the person he thought was his best friend, but suddenly everything he'd planned for his life was called into question. Then, later, he's confronted by the huge responsibility of being a father, and he can't even think about how much bigger a responsibility it is to be a father to God.
Mary, in turn, was comforting a mother who'd lost her firstborn to SIDS.
The thief who died next to Jesus talked with a man who couldn't forgive his father, or accept his father's forgiveness.
Every year, there's one person in the Christmas story that I grab onto, mentally, and end up seeing a lot of the Christmas story through their eyes. Last year, it was the kings from the east. Just delved into it, seriously exploring who they were, what the stars meant to them, why they came if they weren't familiar with Jewish prophecy (or if they were, did they believe it, and how did they get their hands on it), you get the idea. Before that, it was Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist. This year, I guess it's going to be Joseph. I don't really pick this, I just end up hearing the story, and one piece grabs me in a different way. The different people each got about equal time in the show, but Joseph's story maybe relates a little more to things that I'm dealing with, or need to understand.
And, to cap off the production list, Denise is Stage Managing (borderline unheard-of for a freshman, apparently) at UMD that opens in January, and I have the concert this week!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Christmas Music Surprise
So, this semester, I looked over my schedule, and regretfully said, "I won't have time for more than one music ensemble. I'll go with Jazz Band."
The logic here was that I actually learn something in Jazz Band. Not from Chuck - Chuck doesn't really teach music, he just encourages it and gets all of us to play together well. I learn quite a bit about Jazz from Dan, though. Dan is the rockin' first alto who sometimes carries the entire sax section, if not the band itself. Dan has lots of music experience. Dan graduated at least five years ago, and Chuck might not even let Dan leave Jazz Band if he dies.
Of course, then it became apparent that, sometime between the last concert and this fall, the second alto part had gone missing. Hmmm. This is not good. There are about 80 charts in said folder. A substantial percentage of them are now out-of-print, so we can't even order replacements.
Astonishingly, it soon became blindingly obvious that there is absolutely no need for three first alto saxes when there is no second part. Admittedly, in a band that has four percussionists and five guys on guitar, "surplus" does seem to be the name of the game, but this is taking things just a hair too far. We really only need one first alto, but sense can be seen in supposedly training in someone under Dan. This is of course suggesting that we will someday not have Dan and will need a replacement, which is plainly untrue, but we sort of gloss over that notion.
(I would understand having four percussionists in Concert Band. In Jazz, you have the set, and maybe somebody else on traps. You shouldn't need anyone else. Actually, we need decent percussionists in Concert Band, because there are three new guys back there who could use some direction, and possibly confidence to go with it.)
So, after it also became obvious that the only tenor available in my house (we have two, but one of them is simply not shared. It's pretty much a question of honor - it'd be like asking your Dad if you could borrow his Jaguar to go deer hunting. "I'm sorry, what?!" Like that.) was a beast that I would need four months to tame (it's a mite stubborn), I had a chat with Chuck and said I'd be back whenever he got the second part replaced. Because, really, they don't need three first altos.
I am perfectly aware that Chuck will be getting nothing done about this until at least summer, at the earliest. Possibly summer of 2015. It's Chuck.
So then what happens? Well, somehow, they need another second alto for the Concert Band. I would ordinarily disagree with this, but I've played with them - he's right. So, somehow, I get to be part of the Christmas Concert. Okay, this'll be fun, the Christmas concert always is. I know I'm going to miss being in Jazz Band, and especially Aires, but Christmas is great!
Interestingly, Chuck knew that one of the four nights that he wanted me for would be the night that I was already committed elsewhere. By curious coincidence, this is the exact night that first sold out. Astonishing.
On Wednesday - Wednesday - the week before the concert, two of the girls from choir grabbed me and said, "We need another alto." Right. Uh huh. I've not been in choir for the entire semester. I will be making two daily rehearsals before this concert. And I'm sight-reading all this. Faaaaantastic.
And then I sang with them. And, yes, they either need to get another alto, or clear out a third of each of the other sections. So, very well, I commit to this one as well (with the exception of sold-out night).
Well, this actually isn't so bad. More than half of the choir music is repeated every year, and by another fascinating coincidence, one of the more rhythmically challenging pieces is one that my other show choir did last year. General Delivery drilled music in a way that the Aires never do. I'll have this one solid until I'm thirty, at least. So, okay, there are two pieces that I'm a little unsure about, but I should be able to make them work.
And then what happens? Today, Chuck mentions something about the second part, and the agreement I'd made - and it was pointed out that if he gets it together in time for the concert, even if I haven't been in rehearsal, he gets me back in Jazz Band for the Christmas Concert.
At this point, I just have to laugh. Yes, I'd do it, and I have a blast playing with the Jazz Band, and since a lot of the Christmas music for Jazz is big on enthusiasm and small on challenge, we'd be okay - but, man. I thought I was getting out of music this semester!
The logic here was that I actually learn something in Jazz Band. Not from Chuck - Chuck doesn't really teach music, he just encourages it and gets all of us to play together well. I learn quite a bit about Jazz from Dan, though. Dan is the rockin' first alto who sometimes carries the entire sax section, if not the band itself. Dan has lots of music experience. Dan graduated at least five years ago, and Chuck might not even let Dan leave Jazz Band if he dies.
Of course, then it became apparent that, sometime between the last concert and this fall, the second alto part had gone missing. Hmmm. This is not good. There are about 80 charts in said folder. A substantial percentage of them are now out-of-print, so we can't even order replacements.
Astonishingly, it soon became blindingly obvious that there is absolutely no need for three first alto saxes when there is no second part. Admittedly, in a band that has four percussionists and five guys on guitar, "surplus" does seem to be the name of the game, but this is taking things just a hair too far. We really only need one first alto, but sense can be seen in supposedly training in someone under Dan. This is of course suggesting that we will someday not have Dan and will need a replacement, which is plainly untrue, but we sort of gloss over that notion.
(I would understand having four percussionists in Concert Band. In Jazz, you have the set, and maybe somebody else on traps. You shouldn't need anyone else. Actually, we need decent percussionists in Concert Band, because there are three new guys back there who could use some direction, and possibly confidence to go with it.)
So, after it also became obvious that the only tenor available in my house (we have two, but one of them is simply not shared. It's pretty much a question of honor - it'd be like asking your Dad if you could borrow his Jaguar to go deer hunting. "I'm sorry, what?!" Like that.) was a beast that I would need four months to tame (it's a mite stubborn), I had a chat with Chuck and said I'd be back whenever he got the second part replaced. Because, really, they don't need three first altos.
I am perfectly aware that Chuck will be getting nothing done about this until at least summer, at the earliest. Possibly summer of 2015. It's Chuck.
So then what happens? Well, somehow, they need another second alto for the Concert Band. I would ordinarily disagree with this, but I've played with them - he's right. So, somehow, I get to be part of the Christmas Concert. Okay, this'll be fun, the Christmas concert always is. I know I'm going to miss being in Jazz Band, and especially Aires, but Christmas is great!
Interestingly, Chuck knew that one of the four nights that he wanted me for would be the night that I was already committed elsewhere. By curious coincidence, this is the exact night that first sold out. Astonishing.
On Wednesday - Wednesday - the week before the concert, two of the girls from choir grabbed me and said, "We need another alto." Right. Uh huh. I've not been in choir for the entire semester. I will be making two daily rehearsals before this concert. And I'm sight-reading all this. Faaaaantastic.
And then I sang with them. And, yes, they either need to get another alto, or clear out a third of each of the other sections. So, very well, I commit to this one as well (with the exception of sold-out night).
Well, this actually isn't so bad. More than half of the choir music is repeated every year, and by another fascinating coincidence, one of the more rhythmically challenging pieces is one that my other show choir did last year. General Delivery drilled music in a way that the Aires never do. I'll have this one solid until I'm thirty, at least. So, okay, there are two pieces that I'm a little unsure about, but I should be able to make them work.
And then what happens? Today, Chuck mentions something about the second part, and the agreement I'd made - and it was pointed out that if he gets it together in time for the concert, even if I haven't been in rehearsal, he gets me back in Jazz Band for the Christmas Concert.
At this point, I just have to laugh. Yes, I'd do it, and I have a blast playing with the Jazz Band, and since a lot of the Christmas music for Jazz is big on enthusiasm and small on challenge, we'd be okay - but, man. I thought I was getting out of music this semester!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
"Christianity is a faith that was meant to be spread - but not through coercion. God's love was intended to be demonstrated, not dictated. Our job is not to manipulate or induce others to agree with us or to leave their religion and embrace Christianity. Our charge is to both proclaim and embody the gospel so that others can see, hear, and feel God's love in tangible ways."
-Richard Stearns
On a more serious note than usual, events over the last year have got me really thinking about what I mean when I say I'm a Christian, what people think when they hear it, and what I want to live for. Where do I want to be in a decade, where do I think I'll be in a decade, and if me being a Christian hasn't helped ANYBODY'S life in that time, then why on earth am I one?
Not that I think that this is the case. I just think that there's a lot more I can do.
Typical early twenties "where is my life going," stuff, I know. But when you're IN your early twenties, it seems like a big deal.
-Richard Stearns
On a more serious note than usual, events over the last year have got me really thinking about what I mean when I say I'm a Christian, what people think when they hear it, and what I want to live for. Where do I want to be in a decade, where do I think I'll be in a decade, and if me being a Christian hasn't helped ANYBODY'S life in that time, then why on earth am I one?
Not that I think that this is the case. I just think that there's a lot more I can do.
Typical early twenties "where is my life going," stuff, I know. But when you're IN your early twenties, it seems like a big deal.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Doubly Hair-Raising
Traditionally, the day/weekend after Thanksgiving is the day that Dad and the girls climb around on the roof and put up Christmas lights.
I'm a fan of this. I'm a little leery about the ladder, especially switching from the ladder to the roof, but once I'm up there, I love it. You're working on a project, the air is crisp, and when you have time for a break (usually, there's someone inside working on untangling lines and replacing bulbs, and two of us on the roof, so sometimes you're waiting for the next string), you can look out over the roofs and see for a good mile, easy.
The alternative was Friday night. I am not so much a fan of this, although it was very exciting. Since the cafe is in a place of retail, had work all morning, and for a good chunk of the afternoon, and didn't get home until six. Similar stories with my two sisters. Dark, of course, happens around five now. Well, we've had it happen before where putting up lights ran long and we were finishing up a string after dark, no problem. We can do this.
Forgot about the ice. That part, not so fun. Usually, we're not walking around on a sloped roof with ice on it. Admittedly, this is the safer side of the house. With the exception of the north side (refused to go anywhere near it), most of the east side says that even if you really slipped, you'd manage to roll to a five foot drop. Not really a big deal. Worst case scenario, you end up going off the front of the house. I've seen my Dad make that jump before. No big. But enough to keep you tense, and your hair on end, and every time you slip, you freak a little. Also, you're working with someone in your family (it was me and Dad up there), so you're more worried about them slipping than you would if it was just another work buddy.
But hey, the lights are up now!
I'm a fan of this. I'm a little leery about the ladder, especially switching from the ladder to the roof, but once I'm up there, I love it. You're working on a project, the air is crisp, and when you have time for a break (usually, there's someone inside working on untangling lines and replacing bulbs, and two of us on the roof, so sometimes you're waiting for the next string), you can look out over the roofs and see for a good mile, easy.
The alternative was Friday night. I am not so much a fan of this, although it was very exciting. Since the cafe is in a place of retail, had work all morning, and for a good chunk of the afternoon, and didn't get home until six. Similar stories with my two sisters. Dark, of course, happens around five now. Well, we've had it happen before where putting up lights ran long and we were finishing up a string after dark, no problem. We can do this.
Forgot about the ice. That part, not so fun. Usually, we're not walking around on a sloped roof with ice on it. Admittedly, this is the safer side of the house. With the exception of the north side (refused to go anywhere near it), most of the east side says that even if you really slipped, you'd manage to roll to a five foot drop. Not really a big deal. Worst case scenario, you end up going off the front of the house. I've seen my Dad make that jump before. No big. But enough to keep you tense, and your hair on end, and every time you slip, you freak a little. Also, you're working with someone in your family (it was me and Dad up there), so you're more worried about them slipping than you would if it was just another work buddy.
But hey, the lights are up now!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
I don't know if this is precisely a downside of working in a bookstore. I tend to enjoy it, actually.
Most of the time, when I'm working, it's a closing shift. People are gone by ten, we spend the next half hour cleaning up and shutting down, and then we all leave. But, on the days when I'm neither closing nor dashing off to class (or some other event), this happens.
I will punch out. I will head downstairs, towards the breakroom. Oh, but on my way down the escalator, something over in music catches my eye. Gotta check that out. Well, it wasn't what I was expecting, but it still had a cool idea or two. Hey, what's around the backside of this shelf again? Oh yeah! That stuff! Hey, I remember looking at this - it'd be great for my sister. Settle down in a chair, flip through it. Twenty minutes later, I remember that I was supposed to put something on the staff recommendation shelf. Shelve the book, head back up. Make it around the corner before I get distracted by a Bloom County anthology I hadn't seen before. Forty minutes later, I glance at my watch and realize that I need to get home if I'm going to get the house clean tonight. Tuck the comic book back in its spot, but just before I make it out of the aisle, I notice an author that I hadn't realized did books. Seven minutes on that, okay, I really gotta go. Dart down the escalator, but just as I punch the code for the breakroom I realize - I didn't make it to the staff shelf.
It's not that it's bad, exactly. There are certainly worse vices to have. It's just that there's so much out there to read.
One of the managers frequently makes fun of me for this. I got off work over an hour ago, and I still won't be heading home for another hour. Too many books!
Most of the time, when I'm working, it's a closing shift. People are gone by ten, we spend the next half hour cleaning up and shutting down, and then we all leave. But, on the days when I'm neither closing nor dashing off to class (or some other event), this happens.
I will punch out. I will head downstairs, towards the breakroom. Oh, but on my way down the escalator, something over in music catches my eye. Gotta check that out. Well, it wasn't what I was expecting, but it still had a cool idea or two. Hey, what's around the backside of this shelf again? Oh yeah! That stuff! Hey, I remember looking at this - it'd be great for my sister. Settle down in a chair, flip through it. Twenty minutes later, I remember that I was supposed to put something on the staff recommendation shelf. Shelve the book, head back up. Make it around the corner before I get distracted by a Bloom County anthology I hadn't seen before. Forty minutes later, I glance at my watch and realize that I need to get home if I'm going to get the house clean tonight. Tuck the comic book back in its spot, but just before I make it out of the aisle, I notice an author that I hadn't realized did books. Seven minutes on that, okay, I really gotta go. Dart down the escalator, but just as I punch the code for the breakroom I realize - I didn't make it to the staff shelf.
It's not that it's bad, exactly. There are certainly worse vices to have. It's just that there's so much out there to read.
One of the managers frequently makes fun of me for this. I got off work over an hour ago, and I still won't be heading home for another hour. Too many books!
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