Israel, recounted...

I had a great time in Israel! I completed most of my goals, except for going to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at night. So I went to the Mount of Olives, YMCA, Church of the Redeemer, etc. :) It was a great time! I went to Jerusalem 6 times; 4 times in the day, 2 times at night. I also went to Tel Aviv with the Modern Israel field trip (thank you, Randy!). I also went on the Temple Mount. As I sent my bag through the scanner, the security guards asked me if I had a knife. I told him no, what was he asking about. Is this your bag? Yes! You don't know what's in it? I put stuff in this morning, I don't remember everything. Oh, you have a knife, but it's okay. No, I don't! No you have a knife, but it's okay! No, I don't! We finally figured out it was my carabiner. It's kind of scary to think about what other things people have up there. All in all, it was a very fun week! I will have to write more later.

Yea, I'm in Israel!

I'm not sure how this car got down here...

Masada at Masada! I almost threw up on the way to the top.

Zaatar in the Muslim Quarter.

A beautiful flower in the New City, near Mea Shearim.

Back in time

If I could go back in time, I would want to meet this guy.

Richard Halliburton, world traveler

Ahhhh...

I am sitting in Nevada City in a little cafe/bistro, using free wireless internet on my new computer! Yes, after 3 months of hassles, many miles of driving back and forth, and many phone calls, I finally got a new computer. I had to pay a little bit for it, but I am very happy with my Compaq.
Any way, I am in a cafe in the liberal little hippy-town of Nevada City. Folk music is playing, there are white half-melted candles on the window sill, and the open window is letting in the breeze (we won't talk about the flies that are buzzing around, even with the screens on the windows). I can see cars driving by and think to myself "tourists!" There is a crepe myrtle outside, and the patio is surrounded by a white picket fence. There are metal tables and chairs with green umbrellas. Across the street is a tall pine tree and the Ghidotti Building. Half the buildings in downtown are brick and half are Victorian style. I think this will be my new favorite place to study when I am home. I love Nevada City. :)

Sad...and Happy!!

It is sad that it has been 2 weeks since I last posted...
But it is happy that Israel is only 2 weeks away!!!!!

"Make you banana pancakes..."

So I had a Jack Johnson morning...Yep, I made banana pancakes. They were good, too (not counting the burnt ones; oops.)

Counting down...

God willing, this is where I will be in just 32 days!

"Home" for 1 week. :) :) :) :) :)

The Muristan, with Church of the Redeemer in the background.

Sigh, I have to go to class... :)

It's the weekend...

Yea for the weekend! Time to take naps and do homework...maybe. :)
More summer pictures...

Me at the Arch Dam at Bowman...I was trying to see if it would work to take a picture...It did...I am at the bottom of the dam... :)

Kids and Mark...I'm pretty sure that the majority of the younger campers (JA) were scared of him...

Buddies! This is my freshman buddy, Abby. We went to high school together (she was a freshman, I was a senior). It was really fun to work with her!

This is a rattlesnake that Chris or Andy found and that Kevin blew away with a shotgun. Matt and Andy are in the picture...They later skinned the snake.


This is from my last week of camp. I was counselor/DA. I had a cabin, but I got to do a lot of cool stuff that only the male DAs got to do, like work on the rock and drive the boat...It all came from having a really laid-back director, an extreme dearth of male staff that week, and a now-or-never attitude that was encouraged by another counselor (cough, Ricky). :) :) :)

"Welcome to the good side!"

My camp experience was great once I joined High Adventure! I ended camp on a Friday, had Garret's grad party on Saturday, and left for SoCal on Sunday. I was going to bed in my new apartment on Sunday night, and I found myself wishing I could sleep outside under the stars. Ahhh, summer....

My feet in socks and Tevas...I actually have a farmer's tan, a sock tan, and a Teva tan...Talented, I know...

Kenny/Rodeo kills one of the many rattlesnakes of the summer...
HA staff! Minus lifeguards and Eric/Moose...Near Weaver Falls

One of the many times that the trucks broke down...

A little rock sculpure I made near the waterfalls...

"I was just about to..."

So I was just about to leave my office when I remembered that I was going to post some pics of my summer! While I am waiting for them to download/upload, how about some quotes? Sounds good!
"Is that a new rock?!"
-Slick
"I don't like using bleach; it gets bleach...on things."
-Me
"The only way I keep myself sane is knowing I wasn't sane in the first place!"
-Irene

Bowman Lake - It's better at Bowman! HA 2007

Mark and I - Friends from high school...yea!

Brett, me, Nate - HA director, JA/HA staff member, JA director (aka, my buds)

Ricky (3rd from left) and campers - Brushing teeth at Bowman: Nalgenes, toothbrush, tooth paste

Weaver Falls - Staff training at Bowman

Lindsay - Belaying "Crack" or "All Quiet on the Western Front" at the rock at Bowman

I'm here!

Yea, I am back at school! I have seen a lot of people I know, so it has been really fun!!!!! My office wasn't too bad, either.
I had a good last week at camp. I miss my fellow counselors and directors and wonder what they are doing now with all that free time! Crazy...I felt very loved as I left the pizza place on Friday night. We went out as a staff to dinner after all the campers left. It was great.
Any way, I am here, and tomorrow I will put up a gazillion pictures of my summer!

Snacktivity

Well, I have one more week of camp. We had our staff banquet last night, which was really long and really fun. I am going to miss my fellow counselors and directors. It was kind of funny to see everyone dressed up. When I get my computer fixed and/or get a new one, I will put up pictures from the summer.
The snacktivity comes from the packages of "David" sunflower seeds that are consumed every week by the male counselors at Bowman, because eating sunflower seeds is not only a snack but also an activity. Welcome to snacktivity. The most common flavors seen at Bowman are dill pickle, ranch, barbecue, and nacho cheese. Mmmmm [gag]........

Life races on...

Back to school in 2 weeks for my other job.
Lexi Jenks married Ryan Correll yesterday. It was a beautiful wedding.
No trip to WA. Too expensive, plus my partner-in-crime is not able to come.
I think I need to buy a new computer.
I turned 21 on Monday (July 30th). Yesterday I was asked if I were over 18.
Off to take a shower before camping for 3 days. How many people do you know that get paid to canoe, rock climb, camp out, cliff jump, and hang out with teenagers?

--Quote--
Jon/Pacha: When I was bad, I had to muck out the horse stall.
Me/Masada: You have a horse?!
Jon/Pacha: Actually, she just died.
Mark/Woody: Way to bring it up!
-Jon/Pacha pretends to cry-

*Hehe, I finally love my job.