Friday, November 21, 2008

Callouts

Yesterday was by far one of my favorite days of work in a looong while. I am so not the sit behind a desk and stare at a computer type, but parts of my job require that. The past 2 weeks we have has Camp Counselor(orientation leaders) selections so I sat in over 150 interviews and then we had a 10 hour selection meeting on Wednesday that went til 2am (but it was fun for the most part and well worth it). Last night was "call outs" aka when we announce who was hired as a Camp Counselor. Call outs is a big production where last year's CCs each get to announce a new person on the back steps of an historic building on campus. It's high spirited and exciting, I loved every second. It was great to have the 36 newbies in the same room as the 36 has beens haha. After call outs we meet for a few hours - which mostly consists of the old CCs being rowdy and out of control, while the new people are a mix of scared and excited. I'm so happy we have our Camp 2009 staff - it feels real again. The office is not a fun when there aren't as many crazy students everywhere. We have some Camp 08 and 09 Christmas parties in December and then we start training the day before school starts and meet every week for the whole semester! I can't wait to get to know each of them :)

Today is my last day in the office before Thanksgiving - I'm taking off Monday and Tuesday! Tomorrow I fly out (with Freddie of course) to Baltimore to see my Sara. I get to spend a few days with her in Baltimore before we road trip up to NY/NJ to our varies parents houses. Sara and I always have great times - and I'm sure you can recall the list I made of crazy times we had the last time I saw here when she was down here.

Not sure when I'll get a chance to post next, I'm not bringing my laptop home with me and lord knows how well the dinosaur of a computer at my mom's is working.

Gobble Gobble

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Love you Daddy 4.25.49-11.18.07

Yesterday marked 1 year since my dad passed away. It was a hard day, but I think the night before was harder because it was the last time I could be like..."1 year ago my dad was alive." I had a busy day at work so I was able to keep my mind from only thinking about him. Plus when I got home from work my David Cook CD was waiting for me in the mail - so that was a nice release. Thanks for those who shared kind words with me yesterday or send along thoughts and prayers.

Oh and my sister got a little memorial tattoo yesterday - which is awesome since I have one, but I was surprised she got a tattoo. I thought if she didn't pierce or tattoo is college she wasn't gonna, but she proved me wrong. Her tat is sweet and part of an inside joke between me, her and my dad. I can't wait to see it in person.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Farewell TRL

Today is a day for the history books, TRL's grand finale episode. I was a HUGE Carson Daly fan back in the day and I remember vividly his shows MTV Live (which was awesome and I miss terribly) and Total Request - which then were combined into Total Request Live. TRL premiered in September of my sophomore year of high school, aka I was their target audience and I largely reaped the benefits of it. I watched the show everyday for Carson - I thought he was so cute and funny. I got into the TRL battles for top spot - although I don't think I ever voted.

I actually had the pleasure of being on TRL twice. I was on nearly 7 years ago to the day...I believe it was November 12 of 2001 - my freshman year of college. I went as part of a trip since NYC was only about 1.5 hours away. I got to see my hottie Carson in the flesh - he was MUCH MUCH cuter in person. I got a nice amount of camera time and even got to be one of the screaming teens "requesting the video" in the little pop up box while the video was playing - for the record it was POD's Alive. The guests that day were Martin Lawrence and Daniel Radcliffe - it was right before the first Harry Potter came out and Daniel was so NERVOUS...it was precious.

The second time I was on the show was when Maroon5 made their TRL debut and since I was a hardcore Maroon5 fan from back in the day I was invited to the show. This was January 2003. I can't remember now if Carson was the host at the time or not, I'll have to look at the tape, yes the VHS tape I have with both episodes on it. It was cool because I has been to enough Maroon5 shows from when they were still playing smokey bars that I "knew" them. I remember I was near Adam Levine's bro in the audience and one of the guys girlfriends. Adam has just cut his hair and I remember telling him I liked it. This taping of TRL was different because Maroon5 played 2 songs so between commercials we'd have to move around from our seats to standing for the concert.

FYI the TRL studio is TINY...it seems bigger on TV, but it really is like someone's living room. The view of Times Square from there is pretty sweet. It's been a long while since I've sat down to watch TRL... as I was reading about tonight TRL finale one report wrote that perhaps TRL is going off the air because "Internet killed the Video Star." I thought that was clever and true. I must admit that I STILL don't have cable in my apartment and I really don't miss it all that much. I see about 90% of what I want to see on-line anyway. God bless youtube - although I have watched a lot on youtube even before I didn't have cable. So the 15 year old girl inside me is sad to not watch the TRL finale tonight, but I also know that I will be able to watch parts of it online tomorrow.

Carson Daly much love to you and the original "Dog and Pony Show"


P.S. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that today is Freddie's first birthday!!!!!!!! For those of you out of the loop Freddie is my cute little Pomeranian.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

My Strongest Suit

Today is a hard day...today marks 1 year since the last time I saw my dad. He came up for a visit on Sunday November 11, 2007 - exactly a week before he died. I was glad to see him because even though I had seen him 2 weeks prior when I was in Dallas for a conference I wanted some quality time with my dad, especially before he was to have surgery - I had a bad feeling about the surgery and I really wanted to see him. I remember him calling me saying he was outside...I was still sleeping then, so I greeted him in my PJs, just when he was about to knock on the door next to mine thinking it was my apartment - he always forgot. He put my dining room chair together that I had trouble with - I couldn't get the seats on the frame of the chair - I remember he referred to them as potty chairs...typical silly daddy humor. We had lunch at McAllisters, went to Bed, Bath and Beyond and then up to a casino in Oklahoma to play Mr. Moneybags slots. It was a BEAUTIFUL day and we were singing out hearts out to the Aida soundtrack - a tradition we had - and we must have been so into singing our favorite song "My Strongest Suit" that I wasn't paying attention to my speed. I ended up getting pulled over less than a mile from the exit I was going to take. I was so upset about my ticket and I knew my dad felt bad about it too. We ended up going to the casino and didn't really win, but we always had fun playing. I loved when we would push the button together on the slot machines. We always had so much fun together despite me being upset from the ticket. I remember I drove back and we stopped at Sonic and I got us a snack before heading back to my apartment. I didn't want him to leave. I remember we cuddled on the couch as he tried to console me as I talked about a bunch of the drama that was going on in my life - he was so good at knowing what to say to make me feel better. I remember not wanting him to leave, I even asked him to stay the night, but he couldn't. I walked him down to his car because I needed to put my car in my spot which he was parked in. We hugged and kissed goodbye our by our cars. I remember watching him walk to the car get in and than wave at me as he drove passed me. I watched his car turn to leave the lot. I soaked every moment of that in...as much as I didn't want that to be the last time I saw him I had a strange feeling it might just be.

Enjoy some Aida - Love you dad and miss you more!

Sunday, November 9, 2008

No I didn't fall off the face of the earth

Wow it's almost been 2 weeks since I posted...shame on me

Since I anticipate this being a long blog may I start you off with some background reading music...a preview of David Cook's debut cd that comes out it 2 weeks...it has 30 second clips of each of his songs and I must say they are all good, but I have some favs already I think. So enjoy some "Cookie" while you read




Shockingly I had a easy travel day to Boston and even saw Hildi from Trading Spaces in the airport...random I know. It was fab to be in Boston, I love cities. I only sorta know Boston, but it's funny how certain things you will remember even years later. I tried to go to sleep early, but I was SO into the book I was reading on the plane, it about a murder of a baby in am Amish community, it's called Plain Truth and it's by Jodi Piccoult...really good book.

I went to Boston for a national Orientation conference and a pre-conference for new professionals. I love conferences - it's nice to meet new people, exchange ideas, learn and be inspired. I met some really awesome people at the pre-conference and I can't wait to continue to expand my "network." Whenever I meet new people I am always wary of people who "remember me" from prior conferences. I'm like do they remember me because I'm loud? annoying? hot? funny? all 4? There were a fee people who remembered me and then people during the conference who would talk to my coworkers and say they met me. Whatever I guess I make an impression wherever I go!

In addition to seeing my Kelly Duncan who asked for a room 2 doors down for me, I got to see people at the conference I knew from grad school or just from meeting them at prior conferences or when you have mutual friends and can connect that way. However since the conference was in Boston I also got to see a TON of friends who live in the area. Whatever downtime I had I tried to fill with seeing college friends. I'm so thrilled that I got to see everyone I hoped to see and had soo much fun with them. Some nights it was almost too much fun, I forgot how expensive alcohol could be up north...but regardless good times were had.

The location of the hotel was great...I did a lot of walking in Boston, but it was so crisp and beautiful there the whole time and I got to eat some really yummy stuff! Oh and I forgot to mention I presented at conference as well with 2 peeps from grad school which went well. I was really happy with the amount of people that not only came to our session, but stayed after to talk to us. I also drank my body weight in Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee while I was there...I just took Dunkin Donuts for granted for some many years...now it's such a rare treat.

As energized as I was by the conference I was also WORN out. I was away from 7 days, 6 nights and I came back soooo tired. I also was away from my doggie Freddie who was at the kennel in the vet for a week. I woke up super early on Tuesday to get him because I didn't want to be away from him for a second longer than I had too. Despite some vet techs that adore him, Freddie was happy to be home. We cuddled for a bit before I had to head to work. I like walk in the office and my boss tells me to go and vote...okkkkaaay. I was actually glad he told me to go then because I was worried about going at lunch or after work. So I get to the polling place and get a spot and see the line isn't outside which is great. So I walk in and go to the A-L line and end up standing behind a cute guy. I had my voter registration card out and my work ID and my license out (yes I still have a NY license...I need to get on that) which I see him take note of. Then he says he didn't bring his registration card do I think he needs it so one thing leads to another and we have ourself a nice 5 minute chat before he has to split into more lines...so he goes off to the A-B line while I go to the J-K-L line. I couldn't complain though, talking to a cute boys is never a bad way to start the day. I was disappointed that the polling place had paper ballots, when I voted in college for president and for another local election we had the voting machines! I always get misty eyed when I vote, I guess because it's so great that we get a say in who out leader is and despite electoral votes our voice is heard. I did indeed vote for Obama incase you were wondering, but I'm not gonna get all political in the blog. I wore my "I voted" sticker proudly all day.

When I got back to the office and we had a meeting to talk about the stuff we had missed and talk about the conference my boss says towards the end of the meeting "Not that I'm complaining, but Jenn who have been really quiet today." haha it was true because normally I am a talker, but I told him that I was all talked out, I think I hit my word quota for the year. While I was at the conference I talked so much, which was awesome, but I really had nothing else to say!

After work that night I went to a election results viewing party at the Lee County Democrats Headquarters. I was invited by this girl I met who is trying to start up a Lee County Young Democrats group. It was really interesting too see these people get so excited a electoral votes rolled in and then when all of a sudden at 10pm central time the special report broke and we saw a logo that Obama was elected the 44th president. CRAZY. I can't believe it, the coolest things are how many red states went blue this year. I thought McCain gave a really classy speech, but I loved Obama gave a really great speech as well. It was great to watch history be made that night and to be a apart of it.

So clearly I didn't go to bed at a decent hour after election night craziness plus the fact that I had SO much work and e-mail to catch up on it was crazy. We had a transfer orientation on Friday and I had so much last minute stuff to do for it. I was waaaaaaay stressed out, not good. Wednesday and Thursday were really a blur, except for the fact that I went to the gym on Wednesday after a hiatus from being away and my training kicked my ass. I did however get to see my 2 "gym boyfriends" at the same time as well as this 3rd hottie that just came on my radar.

Friday I was up at like 5:30am and was on the go til 5pm. Orientation went well, there were some kinks, but we were in a new building, it was raining, I had a head OL on crutches, but it went smoother than I thought. I spent this weekend being a couch potato as well as sleep as much as humanly possible. I caught up on a bunch of shows online - How I Met Your Mother, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Grey's (Denny and that new doctor Own Hunt...yum) as well as caught up on my David Cook. He was on SNL last week and debuted his band as well as a new song off his cd. I watched most of David's idol performances yesterday and I'm not gonna lie I enjoyed every freakin second of it, I was a giddy as a school girl! I plan to watch some more performances tonight...God Bless You Tube.