It's late and I'm tired. But I will tell you of my day...
The Gig Harbor Campaigners came in last night and, therefore, the Sassy was open twice today. Which means that I didn't have to go in until noon. Which was sweet. So I set my alarm for 9:00, thinking I would get up and get some of my paperwork and such done. There's a lot of stuff that we have to have in by the 15th, but we're leaving right after work on Sunday for our retreat, so I need to get it done quickly. But, of course, I slept in until like 10:30 and then took my sweet time getting ready and stuff. So, I didn't get anything done.
It's nice on the weekends because the house is empty when I wake up and people kind of filter in and out throughout the morning. We all have different schedules depending on where we're working and stuff. So, the house was quiet when I woke up this morning and it was very peaceful.
The Sassy was a lot of fun this afternoon. We were scheduled to be there for almost 2 hours before we were supposed to open though, so we spent a lot of time doing random stuff like cleaning out the refrigerators. But it was good to have time to do that. And we stayed pretty busy throughout the afternoon which was nice.
We did come up with our Billy Sundae song which we decided would be to the tune of MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This." It's pretty awesome and includes some sweet rapping. And we had 2 orders for Billy Sundaes today so that was fun.
It was also really fun working with Dusty and Becca. Dusty is a riot, very sarcastic and funny. He kept me laughing all afternoon with his commentary about the high school kids who were dumb enough to be in the pool in the freezing cold. The Sassy's great because it's right in the middle of camp, so we can see a lot of what's going on. Becca's really funny too, very random and just ditsy enough to be endearing.
After we closed for the afternoon, we went to dinner and then Kristen, Becca and I helped Sara bake pumpkin cookies that were delicious. Then we had to head back into the Sassy at 9:30 and were open until 11:30. The night shift was really slow, but a bunch of people came to visit us, so it was still fun.
One funny thing that happened today: We have all these squirt bottles with different topppings like chocolate syrup and caramel and stuff. We set them on top of the espresso machine so that they'll warm up a little and pour easier and use them as toppings in espressos and on sundaes. There's this white one that we all thought was mayo but Angela told us it was White Chocolate. So Dusty was making a White Chocolate Mocha and went to drizzle white chocolate on top of the whipped cream and realized that it smelled weird. So, he tasted it and realized that it was in fact mayo... that had been baking on top of the espresso machine all day. And, what I didn't find out until later was, Dusty just scraped off the whipped cream and redid it but gave the girl the same drink. So some poor girl out there was walking around drinking a mayo flavored mocha. It was really gross.
Anyway, we closed up the Sassy and then I came home, paid some bills, worried about the fact that I'm really broke, and then got excited about the prospect of a real paycheck very soon. It's going to be really nice to be employed. Also, I filled out my 401(k) paperwork. I will be participating in the 4% matching program provided by YL and investing in the Fidelity Freedom Fund 2040. I think it's going to yield well for me. (I'm just pretending with the lingo; I have no idea what I'm talking about. I really just did what Rich said was best.)
Now it's very late and I'm still tired, so I'm going to go to bed. I love you all!
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
If You're Still Reading These, I'm Impressed
Seriously, these are really long and I write them every day. I love you all for loving me enough to want to know what I do all day everyday.
Today was the first day that I felt in the groove and like we really knew what was going on. We were all talking earlier about how it already feels like we've been here for a long time, even though it has only been a little over a week. It's nice to be settling in and be done with training and stuff.
Thursdays are meeting days because they are the day before camps usually come in. So we started the day off with the weekly staff meeting in the upstairs meeting room of the office. It was fun to have the whole staff sitting in one room and I'm finally starting to sort out who is who and who does what.
Basically, it's your normal staff meeting, although we went around and introduced ourselves again. We also gave backstories to the fun facts they had printed about us in last week's Canyon Connection, which is our weekly newletter. My fun fact was sneaking into Game 5 last year, so I got to tell that story once again. However, people don't really seem to care that much about baseball out here. It's pretty much Oregon Duck fans all the way.
We also are taking turns, one intern every week, telling our 5-minute life story at the staff meetings so that the staff can get to know us. We're going in alphabetical order, so I won't be for a while. Dan started us off today.
After the staff meeting, we were in housekeeping. We split up into 2 teams and went to clean the perif buildings which are things such as the club room, the dining hall, the leader lounge, etc. I was with Kristen and Lacey and we had a lot of fun chatting while we cleaned.
We also had our second operations lunch today. The Guest Services kids were all excited because this is the first weekend that they get to actually do their real jobs since they were all in AE training all last weekend. We got our schedules and there's no morning coffee shop, so I get to sleep in late again!
After lunch, we went to get started on the sports center. We had to do it today because the camp was actually coming in tonight instead of tomorrow. So we have a whole extra day. Which also means the Sassy will be open twice tomorrow and twice Saturday, which will make for a fun weekend for me.
We busted out the Sports Center in record time and then I headed to the Sassy to train the other interns who will be with me in the Sass for the next couple of months. That is Dan, Becca, Dusty and sometimes Sara depending on the Store schedule. It was fun, even though I still have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to making espresso, so that was kind of the blind leading the blind. But it's going to be fun working with other interns. And we've been coming up with some great ideas for our Billy Sundae song, so all is well.
After work, I headed home, watched some 90210 (we've gotten really hooked) and ate some dinner. Then we had our first Staff Worship. We'll have worship every Thursday night, alternating between just the interns and all staff. Since we can't get to church on Sundays, this is our own little church service.
I was really stoked for worship, but it made me miss home the most of anything since I've been here. I just had this really clear memory of singing a capella worship in that weird TV room at Ben's house and I really missed it. We're so lucky to have the community we have at Mizzou, to be surrounded by people who are so passionate and expressive. I think it's just different being with people of such varied ages too. I'm going to need some more extreme worship if I'm going to make it through the year.
But worship was still really good and refreshing. And Tim, the kitchen boss, gave the message. He spoke on community and things that can be a stumbling block to it. It was a good talk and I'm excited to hear from more people as the year goes on.
The group that's here this weekend is a YL area from Gig Harbor, WA. They have an intense weekend planned including 5 clubs (the first one tonight). And, Ryan Long is their special music for the weekend. So I'm definitely going to try to get to club this weekend, either tonight or in the morning. It's nice because we're always closed while club is going on so I can always go if I want. I'm excited to see different people throughout the year. It's also a pretty small group comparitively, so that's nice.
One thing to be praying about that was brought up in the staff meeting: Next week there are a bunch of YL bigwigs coming in to look over the plans for a new camp on our property. Basically, there's so few camps in this area that we have been filled to capacity and have had to turn kids away during the summer because we've been doing both middle school and high school at one camp. We have the land and the permits to build another camp on this property that could be used for middle school, Capernaum, YoungLives, etc.
They already have the plans drawn up and the place is crazy. It's water park themed, so there would be like 4 slides and a wave pool and all this crazy stuff. The sweet thing is that there is a successful businessman in the area who has already committed to putting up the first $5 million for the project. The problem is it will cost around $40 million. So, the decision is whether or not we have the means to do it. We all have faith that if God wants it to happen it will, but please be praying for the people that have to make this decision.
Exciting things are happening at Wildhorse, this weekend and in the future. It's so great being here, even though I truly do miss you all like crazy. Please call, send me an email, write me a letter, something so that I know what is going on back home and can be praying for you all. I want to know everything! I love you, I love you, I looooove you! (Buddy the Elf voice.) Peace out, girl scouts (& weblo scouts- Bryce).
Today was the first day that I felt in the groove and like we really knew what was going on. We were all talking earlier about how it already feels like we've been here for a long time, even though it has only been a little over a week. It's nice to be settling in and be done with training and stuff.
Thursdays are meeting days because they are the day before camps usually come in. So we started the day off with the weekly staff meeting in the upstairs meeting room of the office. It was fun to have the whole staff sitting in one room and I'm finally starting to sort out who is who and who does what.
Basically, it's your normal staff meeting, although we went around and introduced ourselves again. We also gave backstories to the fun facts they had printed about us in last week's Canyon Connection, which is our weekly newletter. My fun fact was sneaking into Game 5 last year, so I got to tell that story once again. However, people don't really seem to care that much about baseball out here. It's pretty much Oregon Duck fans all the way.
We also are taking turns, one intern every week, telling our 5-minute life story at the staff meetings so that the staff can get to know us. We're going in alphabetical order, so I won't be for a while. Dan started us off today.
After the staff meeting, we were in housekeeping. We split up into 2 teams and went to clean the perif buildings which are things such as the club room, the dining hall, the leader lounge, etc. I was with Kristen and Lacey and we had a lot of fun chatting while we cleaned.
We also had our second operations lunch today. The Guest Services kids were all excited because this is the first weekend that they get to actually do their real jobs since they were all in AE training all last weekend. We got our schedules and there's no morning coffee shop, so I get to sleep in late again!
After lunch, we went to get started on the sports center. We had to do it today because the camp was actually coming in tonight instead of tomorrow. So we have a whole extra day. Which also means the Sassy will be open twice tomorrow and twice Saturday, which will make for a fun weekend for me.
We busted out the Sports Center in record time and then I headed to the Sassy to train the other interns who will be with me in the Sass for the next couple of months. That is Dan, Becca, Dusty and sometimes Sara depending on the Store schedule. It was fun, even though I still have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to making espresso, so that was kind of the blind leading the blind. But it's going to be fun working with other interns. And we've been coming up with some great ideas for our Billy Sundae song, so all is well.
After work, I headed home, watched some 90210 (we've gotten really hooked) and ate some dinner. Then we had our first Staff Worship. We'll have worship every Thursday night, alternating between just the interns and all staff. Since we can't get to church on Sundays, this is our own little church service.
I was really stoked for worship, but it made me miss home the most of anything since I've been here. I just had this really clear memory of singing a capella worship in that weird TV room at Ben's house and I really missed it. We're so lucky to have the community we have at Mizzou, to be surrounded by people who are so passionate and expressive. I think it's just different being with people of such varied ages too. I'm going to need some more extreme worship if I'm going to make it through the year.
But worship was still really good and refreshing. And Tim, the kitchen boss, gave the message. He spoke on community and things that can be a stumbling block to it. It was a good talk and I'm excited to hear from more people as the year goes on.
The group that's here this weekend is a YL area from Gig Harbor, WA. They have an intense weekend planned including 5 clubs (the first one tonight). And, Ryan Long is their special music for the weekend. So I'm definitely going to try to get to club this weekend, either tonight or in the morning. It's nice because we're always closed while club is going on so I can always go if I want. I'm excited to see different people throughout the year. It's also a pretty small group comparitively, so that's nice.
One thing to be praying about that was brought up in the staff meeting: Next week there are a bunch of YL bigwigs coming in to look over the plans for a new camp on our property. Basically, there's so few camps in this area that we have been filled to capacity and have had to turn kids away during the summer because we've been doing both middle school and high school at one camp. We have the land and the permits to build another camp on this property that could be used for middle school, Capernaum, YoungLives, etc.
They already have the plans drawn up and the place is crazy. It's water park themed, so there would be like 4 slides and a wave pool and all this crazy stuff. The sweet thing is that there is a successful businessman in the area who has already committed to putting up the first $5 million for the project. The problem is it will cost around $40 million. So, the decision is whether or not we have the means to do it. We all have faith that if God wants it to happen it will, but please be praying for the people that have to make this decision.
Exciting things are happening at Wildhorse, this weekend and in the future. It's so great being here, even though I truly do miss you all like crazy. Please call, send me an email, write me a letter, something so that I know what is going on back home and can be praying for you all. I want to know everything! I love you, I love you, I looooove you! (Buddy the Elf voice.) Peace out, girl scouts (& weblo scouts- Bryce).
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Chillaxin'
One thing about me has not changed: I love a relaxing day off.
I woke up this morning to the sound of Shea singing Candy Mountain very loudly. The vent from the living room goes directly up into my room. So, Shea decided to get as close to it as he could and sing to me in order to wake me up. It was a rather unusual way to awaken.
But I headed downstairs and everyone was hanging out in their PJs. We had decided to cook breakfast, so the guys made pancakes, we made eggs and the marrieds brought some OJ and such. It was really fun to all sit around in our pajamas and eat a meal together. Everyone is really excited to create community. It's really cool to see and I think I'm going to learn a lot from it.
After breakfast, everyone dispersed. People headed out of the house and I started some laundry and took some time to read my Bible and journal. I just started Velvet Elvis, so I read a couple chapters from it as well and then showered and took my time getting ready while everybody else watched Elizabethtown downstairs. I've come to realize how important it is to me to get some time to myself often. It was so refreshing to just sit in my room and read and stuff.
After all of that, it was already around 5:00, so I headed downstairs, ate some dinner, and hung out with the girls. I'm coming to really enjoy all the girls in my house, which is so wonderful. We just hung out in the kitchen and each cooked our own dinner and talked.
After dinner, we put in an episode of 90210 and Shea decided to watch with us. It was hilarious to see the early 90s mullets and Blossom hats and we had a lot of fun getting into the ultimate teenage drama. We had to stop in the middle of an episode to head to the ice cream social they were having for us to meet all the staff.
We headed to the Sassy and, because we've had to get into the habit of being 5 minutes early to everything, we were the first one there. It was really fun to meet everyone that we hadn't met yet. There are a ton of people on staff here and with their families, there are a lot of people on property. We got to meet some of the Moms who don't work on property but are here with their kids and meet some of the other people that work up in the Maintenance and Woodshops and stuff, so that was great. Although it was already weird to be in the Sassy and not be behind the counter.
After we left the ice cream social, the girls and I had a sweet dance party back in Condo 55. It was a blast and made me feel like I was back at 203. They've put us in the condos that are kind of away from the rest of the condos which was probably a good idea for moments like tonight. We eventually got shushed by Dan, who informed us that some of the hunters that are on property right now were staying in the condo next to them. So, we stopped the dance party and settled into more 90210.
We have our first staff meeting in the morning and in the afternoon I get to train the interns who will be with me the next couple of months in the Sassy. I'm excited to get have some other interns with me. We have to make up a song for the Billy Sundae, which is our ultimate huge sundae. Each staff has to create a new song to sing everytime it gets ordered and they're always to the tune of popular songs. It's going to be fun.
That's the day. Love you all.
I woke up this morning to the sound of Shea singing Candy Mountain very loudly. The vent from the living room goes directly up into my room. So, Shea decided to get as close to it as he could and sing to me in order to wake me up. It was a rather unusual way to awaken.
But I headed downstairs and everyone was hanging out in their PJs. We had decided to cook breakfast, so the guys made pancakes, we made eggs and the marrieds brought some OJ and such. It was really fun to all sit around in our pajamas and eat a meal together. Everyone is really excited to create community. It's really cool to see and I think I'm going to learn a lot from it.
After breakfast, everyone dispersed. People headed out of the house and I started some laundry and took some time to read my Bible and journal. I just started Velvet Elvis, so I read a couple chapters from it as well and then showered and took my time getting ready while everybody else watched Elizabethtown downstairs. I've come to realize how important it is to me to get some time to myself often. It was so refreshing to just sit in my room and read and stuff.
After all of that, it was already around 5:00, so I headed downstairs, ate some dinner, and hung out with the girls. I'm coming to really enjoy all the girls in my house, which is so wonderful. We just hung out in the kitchen and each cooked our own dinner and talked.
After dinner, we put in an episode of 90210 and Shea decided to watch with us. It was hilarious to see the early 90s mullets and Blossom hats and we had a lot of fun getting into the ultimate teenage drama. We had to stop in the middle of an episode to head to the ice cream social they were having for us to meet all the staff.
We headed to the Sassy and, because we've had to get into the habit of being 5 minutes early to everything, we were the first one there. It was really fun to meet everyone that we hadn't met yet. There are a ton of people on staff here and with their families, there are a lot of people on property. We got to meet some of the Moms who don't work on property but are here with their kids and meet some of the other people that work up in the Maintenance and Woodshops and stuff, so that was great. Although it was already weird to be in the Sassy and not be behind the counter.
After we left the ice cream social, the girls and I had a sweet dance party back in Condo 55. It was a blast and made me feel like I was back at 203. They've put us in the condos that are kind of away from the rest of the condos which was probably a good idea for moments like tonight. We eventually got shushed by Dan, who informed us that some of the hunters that are on property right now were staying in the condo next to them. So, we stopped the dance party and settled into more 90210.
We have our first staff meeting in the morning and in the afternoon I get to train the interns who will be with me the next couple of months in the Sassy. I'm excited to get have some other interns with me. We have to make up a song for the Billy Sundae, which is our ultimate huge sundae. Each staff has to create a new song to sing everytime it gets ordered and they're always to the tune of popular songs. It's going to be fun.
That's the day. Love you all.
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