What Gives??

A few months ago I found out that
my toaster refused to toast.
Well, to be fair, it is a Toast-R-Oven
but if you look closely, the word
TOAST is there.
It will heat stuff and occasionally
catch on fire but it refuses to toast.
You can leave a slice of bread in there
for hours and it will come out feeling
a bit warm and slightly old but
NOT TOASTED.
My million dollar Krups coffee maker
sits on my counter next to the
Non-Toast-R-Oven and I guess they
got to talking because all of a sudden
Mr. Krups decided to go on strike.
The sucker doesn't work and we've had it
for less than a year. And the worst part -
the WORST PART is that it decided not to
work at 5am on a work day.
Not Cool.
So for the past two weeks, Paul and I have
been making our own drip coffee by boiling
water in a pot and pouring
it into the Kraps filter while holding it over the pot
and being sure to push down because we HAD to get
the one that stops dripping if you pull the pot out.
NOW, right NOW, about 4 minutes ago
my microwave died.
I had 3 sweet potatoes in there and the thing
just stopped. Dead. -
Maybe I could make a deal with the
Non-Toast-R-Oven to take over the
potato cooking for this evening.
What gives??
Why do all these things have to happen at once??
UGH!

My Father

This is how my father wears a baseball cap.

I'm a clencher.

Temporomandibular joint disorder -
is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the
temporomandibular joint, which connects the mandible to the skull.
The disorder can result in
significant pain and impairment.

Yup.
I agree.
So I've had this for a long time.
Never bothered me.
I'm a clencher.
I think I've always clenched my teeth.
I try not to but when you're trying not
to say something to the obnoxious
woman in the middle of the
aisle at the grocery store - you
tend to clench your teeth.

Well, anyway, this TMJ thing decided
to rear it's ugly head while I was away.
My jaw just went out of whack.
That's the only way to describe it.
It went sideways instead of up and down.
I was all, "Whoa, where do you think you're going???"
And it was all, "Just shut your mouth, oh wait,
you can't!!! HA HA HA!!"
Well, now it HURTS!
Last night I woke up and I think
it was a little dislocated.
KERRY - HOW CAN YOUR JAW BE JUST A LITTLE
DISLOCATED.
I don't know but I couldn't close my mouth.
I know, for those of you who know me,
that doesn't seem out of character.
It hurts man.
So treatment calls for:
Tylenol
warm compresses
soft food
no clenching
Believe it or not - the hardest part is the clenching.
Love to clench.

A Fun Trip

I made it.
I made it and I
DID NOT GET SICK!!!!!
Woo hoo!!!!
It was a fun trip.
Aside from the 2
puking kids on the bus, it
was a fun trip.
Yeah, besides the horrible hike
which made me realize I use less than
one percent of my lung capacity, and the
pukers, it was a fun trip.
And the food was gross. It consisted
of salt an starch. So aside from the salty
starchy food, the horrible hike and the pukers
it was a fun trip.
The cabins. Did I mention the cabins?
FREEZING.
I slept in sweats, a fleece sweatshirt OVER my
sweats, socks and in a sleeping bag because
I was not going to sleep on their sheets, no way,
I still couldn't get warm.
So aside from the freezing cabin, the salty starchy food,
the horrible hike and the 2 pukers, it was a fun trip.
Hey, at least I didn't get sick.
And yes, I'd do it again.
Well, as long as no one pukes.

Hello!

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I said I was back and then I disappeared.
I started a new job, same place, new
position and it's taken me awhile to get
back into the swing of things.
But it will happen.
How's November??
Kidding!
I kid.

This morning I leave for Club Getaway.
Sounds delightful, right?
You'd think I"m off to some spa with
mud baths and massages.
Well, you're half right.
There will be mud.
Yeah.....think camping.
I'm chaperoning a trip for the upper school.
Dylan will be there and he will ignore me,
which is fine. I don't want to rain on his parade.
I'm going with the 5th and 6th grades.
I'd be more excited if I felt better.
I
WILL
NOT
GET
SICK
!
Do I sound convincing??
Think of me and I'll report back on Friday!
Bye!!!!

Hey - I'm Back!

Hi!
I'm back.
How have you been?
I've missed you!

Yes, camp is over and I've just about recuperated.
We finished last Friday and I slept on and off all
through Saturday and Sunday. Now I'M on vacation.
And being on vacation I've been doing things that
I want to do, like ruining my skin. (I like a tan).

Today I did something that some people would
consider child abuse........
I went outlet shopping and dragged my 13 year
old son with me. As you can see, he wasn't all that trilled.

I'd never been to these outlets, they're new and very nice.

They're very clean and look like they belong in Florida. The only things
missing are palm trees and loads of old people.
While I shopped, Dylan sat on the HUGE benches.
They look like they're made for giants.

He did humor me by trying on school shoes.

He ended up liking them so we got them and a ring I tried
on and couldn't get off my finger, but I really like it.
I did very well at Old Navy, which I usually don't care for.
A couple of short cord skirts to wear with tights and sweaters.


And I LOVE these pants. Great colors!


Dylan spent some time with the Old Navy people:

I also let him get those sunglasses so he was happy.
We stopped at Johnny Rockets for lunch. They had outside
seating and since today was 75 degrees with low humidity
it was perfect!

Dylan and I both decided we had a terrific day together.
Will I manage to convince him to go with me again?
Probably not, and that's fine, but today was wonderful.

I Just Love Him

Very Cool

Have you seen this?

SO GREAT!

KRAZY BUSY

I haven't blogged in a looooooong time.
I have been KRAZY busy with camp.
I get there at 7:30 am and get home around
6:30 pm and I'm usually asleep before
it gets dark!

Ok, here is a story about my latest
favorite little guy.
He's 6.
He cries a lot.
He cries when he's lost something (which happens a lot).
He cries when he's nervous.
He cries when he's having a tough day.
He's just a sensitive little guy and everyone loves him.
He has a heart of gold.
So sweet!
So, we were having a huge initiating
ceremony for kids who have been at
camp for 5 years.
We make them ice cream sundaes.
No, not to eat.
We make THEM ice cream sundaes.
We cover them with chocolate sauce, sprinkles
whipped cream and then everyone throws
water at them.
Kids love this.
Well, all this craziness is going on
and I feel a little person wrap their
arms around my leg and hug me
VERY tight.
It's my little sensitive guy.
I crouch down and ask if he's ok.
He says"
"Kerry, this is the BEST day of my life!!!!"

Love him!

Drama

Drama.
I'm talking REAL drama, not life drama.
Musical theater drama!
I run the drama workshop at camp and
I have to say that the kids I have this year
are fantastic!
I teach them a number and they actually
REMEMBER it!
In the past we would rehearse a number
4987 times. Then the next day I'd ask them
to run through it and they'd look at me like
I was speaking another language and we'd
have to learn it all over again.
This group absolutely astounded me this
morning. I had planned to allot 1/2 of our
time re-learing our last number.
They got up, did it - perfectly - and I
sat there thinking....."now what"?
Love them!!!

Happy 4th!

We FINALLY have some nice weather here in NY.
It has rained for the past 397 days.
Ok, maybe not that many days but close.
Today is beautiful.
I sat out and damaged my skin, lovin' it.
We're off to a friend's house for a BBQ.
I'm wearing:

with white pants and THESE shoes:

Love them.
These sell for $56 on Zappos:

My green pair were $17 at Target!
I love them.
I'm getting them in every color.
(You do know, don't you, that since I wrote that,
the universe is working against me and just magically
sold out of all colors in my size. It just happened, just now.
Trust me.)
Dammit!

38 Days Left

First day of camp - done.
It was....um.......a little hectic, but
it always is on the first day.

One of our busses had a problem
this morning. We lease our busses,
and drivers (none of us drive busses,
they're all professionals).
A driver had a STROKE while driving
the kids to camp this morning!
She passed out at the wheel,
and the bus started hitting
cars. It is my understanding that
they were not going fast. They
were in local traffic. The 16 year old
bus counselor
had the presence of mind to
pull the emergency brake and stop
the bus. Thank God, no one was hurt,
well, except for the driver.
The kids were all fine, all other drivers
were fine. Everyone went to the hospital to
get checked out.
Unfortunately, the driver is not doing well.
How about that counselor, huh?
He's a Life Scout (right before Eagle Scout)
So proud of him!
Yeah, so there you go - first day of camp.
38 more to go and I reeaaaallllllly hope
they are much less eventful.

Oh wait I have a question:
Do I let my 13 year old son go on a
trip with camp to the beach for the day.
To the ocean.
With hundreds of other people.
Do I let him go when I won't be there
keeping my eyes on him every second
he's in the water?
He's a great swimmer, but, you know,
it's the ocean.
Weigh in people.
Paul says let him go.
Here are the facts:
About 30 kids going ranging in
age from 13-15.
5 adult counselors.
Life guards.
Ocean.
No mommy.
What would you do?