Painted Canvas, Painted Sky

During camp's off season, I am a day off champion. No one knows more about working less than yours truly. But during the summer I am less proficient in this area. When Tuesday evening rolls around and I'm not quite finished with the order, I think: "I'll just finish it tomorrow morning. It'll only take an hour." Then I am sucked in somehow, and my day off turns into something less relaxing than it should be. So this year I have resolved to skip town every Wednesday (save for last week when we had our health inspection, but you can't blame me for that one). This week I headed down to the desert.







As I was strolling along the wall in the photography wing, I was vaguely aware of these folks resting on a bench. I was a little freaked out by how intently they were looking at one of the photos, until I finally realized that they were sans pulse.








I dined under the misters at Chipotle. I had never been there before- that burrito was the size of my head.


I did a ton of shopping, got a pedicure, then sat and read by one of the desert's many fountains, Starbucks in hand. The scenery on the ride home was alright, I guess.

Then Job And Jamin Arrived!

It was a very long week at camp, so imagine how wonderful it was when reinforcements arrived (especially reinforcements who totally dominate on Norman)! Here are all of my pictures from their visit to slave labor camp:


We walked into town on Wednesday for some shaved ice, but I didn't think to take any pictures until we were on our way back to camp. I suppose the tanning salon is as good a backdrop as any.

The Fogles came over to visit . I really do love staff reunions- camp people are my favorite people.


Practice makes blameless.


Showing off their best John McCain waves.



The Fogles keep raising the child ante, but the Tates have been able to keep up with an identical boy, girl, boy, boy lineup. Take that Fogles.


Paul and Cyndi came up on Friday night to hang out. I'm still a little miffed that they stole our Vermonters. Ahh, '95 and '96. We haven't changed a bit, right?

No More Zucchini Without Gloves

I had a green thumb during USC Intervarsity, but not the good kind. I only cut twelve zucchinis, but my fingers went crazy. They turned silvery green, puffed and crackled. It felt like I had a layer of super glue on my skin. I washed my hands several times, and when that didn't help, I promptly called my mother to tell her that I'm allergic to zucchini and that she should never have forced me to eat it for all of those years. I found some Benadryl cream in the office that had only been expired since 2005 (not bad), and wore a glove for the rest of dinner prep. It had cleared up by the time I went bed, but now I have an excuse for not liking it.

It All Started With Lemon Chicken And Chocolate Garbanzo Cake.

The next twenty nine meals are kind of a blur.

Frank Costanza Wears Sneakers In The Pool...

so I decided to do the same. I don't think that I've been in an empty pool since I was a little kid at our rental house which we called "Hatio". I took my coffee and camera and hung out in the deep end for a bit.








The only shade was under the diving board.

We All Wore Hats At The Beach,

but Lucy beat us in the sassy pose contest.

For Sandra

Our old apartment has been overhauled! Across the street there is a strip mall which has a Vons equipped with harbor parking, a Coffee Bean, Jersey Mike's, nail shop, smoothie place, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. They even turned Champs into a (sort of) fancy establishment. The times, they are a changin.

Sarah's birthday means Beach House Time. Ahhhh, the 'nard.

Gina

A trip to Oxnard to celebrate Sarah's birthday afforded a quick visit with my friend Gina. Our time together was far too short, but we did take in some hilarious karaoke at The Golden China- mild-mannered restaurant by day, disco- flashin hot spot by night.

Never Again Will Amber Turn The Mixer On Without First Checking Its Speed Setting. Guaranteed.

Sandy Jack

Slide Time

These pictures of Lucy were commissioned. "Take another one!"

New Converts/Victims (Depending on The Reader's Perspective)

Jim, Jen and the kids came up to camp for a visit. We forced them into playing Catan! and they bit. They didn't stand a chance. The day after teaching them to play, Jim all but memorized the instruction book. I foresee our family's future packed with wheat and sheep.



I thought that these were hilarious. Who knew a chip bag could be ESL? Two dollars only!!!

Three Empty Weekends

Having produce in the camp refrigerator with an empty calendar can make you do strange things. Cantaloupe sorbet anyone? It wasn't my favorite thing ever, but the people in my Bible study liked it.

This Little Girl Has Turned One!

Yeah, over a month ago, but...I haven't felt very bloggy lately. There were presents,





Checker- playing during nap time,







art projects,







and adventures in cake!

New "Common Ground" Translation

We played Kijabe Can Can and broom hockey at youth group Sunday night. The guys had taped down huge sheets of plastic in the sanctuary so that we'd slip and slide in our socks. Emily showed up sockless in her kicks, but wanted to play, so I gave her mine. This prompted a great quote from Mariah: "Greater love has no one than this, that a leader lay down her socks for a kid." It cracked me up- way to go Mariah!

March Retreat

We hosted the AC teen retreat last weekend and found ourselves at a mini summer staff reunion. We tried to figure out how many summers of service were represented by these twenty past staffers, but soon realized that we weren't quite sure what qualified as an official summer. A week? A month? Enough time to receive mail in box CC? What we do know is how much the experience has changed who we are and that God who is faithful has used this place and these people in mighty ways.

Sarah sent Bowden down for some milk. He found this stick very useful in its transport.

My Hands Smell Awesome.

Forest Home

Last week we attended a "super sectional" conference at Forest Home in Forest Falls. Camp staff from both the Pacific- Southwest and the Sierra Pacific regions were in attendance for seminars, good fellowship, way too much food, and Albert Tate (of the unrelated Mississippi Tates) our fantastic speaker. It is really fun to be camper and never think about what is in the oven when, or who will do bathroom checks.

There is zero cell reception at Forest Home. It had been so long since I had used a payphone, that I felt the need to take a picture after I made my call. The guy in the booth next to me was distracted from his conversation as he could not help but laugh at the subject of my photography.


At every conference that I attend, I end up wishing that I had brought a backpack, so I finally remembered to take mine this year. What I didn't realize until the second day of toting around my infrequently used pack was that it held a disgusting piece of moldy cheese in one of its pockets from when I loaned it to Teen Campers for their day hike last summer. Ugh.


On Wednesday Sarah purchased "The Blob"- a giant doughnut filled with ice cream billed as "perfect for four, terrifying for one".



We gave it our best shot, but were one man short and could not finish it.



The tunnel under the highway

I Hate Food Shows

I know that I should love them like everyone else, but they're crowded and I always feel like each booth is trying to sell me a used car or something. As we amble through the aisles, we patrons seem to develop a mob mentality when it comes to acquiring free goods, be it food, pens, utensils- whatever- we just cram it all in our bags until we can't hold anymore. Then we get home to find that we are the proud owners of a bunch of junk that we have no use for. I was able to get out of this last show with just the four items pictured above.

Just Because

Miranda Ruth

I Live In Fear Of Careening Icebergs.

New To Camp

It is sometimes disheartening to spend several hours on a meal, then serve it on a plastic, compartmentalized, mint-green plate. Some things do not look appetizing on a mint-green plate. We decided to upgrade.





We ordered nine dozen ceramic plates- nothing fancy- but gleaming and full of won't-clash-with-the-food possibilities. We have used them for three weekends, and surprisingly, none have broken yet. But fear not you old school Maranatha types- the green ones aren't going anywhere; they will be in heavy circulation during the summer.

200 Valentine's Day Cookies- Baked, Frosted, And Ignored By Our Healthy, Asian Campers. Oh Well.

*Photo By Lucas Dunn

You're Welcome Honeydew Melon People!

For Jen's birthday this year we went to Mojito's for some Cuban fare. I would call Jen my brother's lovely wife, but she's so much more than that. She is my sister, confidant, audience and dear friend. Happy birthday again Jen! Sorry I was a punk and got sick- the make-up weekend will be soon if it ever stops snowing here. My pictures are orange and blurry, but I hate bothering people with constant flashing. The restaurant was packed with cool palm trees and fountains and the food was incredible.

I rarely spend time wondering why I haven't gotten around to getting married...until it's time to shovel. It's then that I realize that a husband and a slew of kids would come in really handy.









At least for the second half of the walkway.