Little Girls
by
Chantelle
- 11:37 PM
Working full time is awesome, because it means money. Apparently you need that to live in a house... and eat...
1:00 PM- Get ready for the big activity. Annnnd discover we're one girl short.
Working full time is not so awesome, because it makes you really, REALLY tired. This year, along with another girl, I'm working with seven different girls, of various ages, disabilities, and mental levels, and who all come on different days at different times. My brain hasn't even really had a chance to get summer-mushy yet because of the mental stamina it requires to keep track of all of them. We constantly count heads to make sure we've got everyone. I feel like a mom.
Actually, if I'm really being honest, I feel like this:
Here's a snapshot of a typical day at work:
7:30 AM- The last alarm goes off.
8:30 AM- Roll into work
9:30 AM- Death march Walk until we hit a playground. Play Grounders until the kids get tired or until the boss calls wondering where we are. Whichever comes first.
11:00 AM- March back to the church. Followed by, "Let's go to the field for group games!"
12:00 PM- Lunch. The only time of day when the kids are contained in one room, usually out of trouble, and quiet-ish. The staff eat as slowly as possible and regain their strength.
12:30 PM- "Can I go outside?" "Can we go downstairs?" "Can we go to the park?" "Can I hang out with him instead?" ALL AT THE SAME TIME.
3:00 PM- End of the day movie. Or as I like to refer to it, "The Summer Program Staff have all reached the end-of-the-day slump".
3:30 PM- "Can we go to the art room and make a craft?" Um, YES.
4:30 PM- Home time!
Also, I love Miss Hannigan. In case you haven't figured that out yet.
Inspired by Moorea Seal's 52 Lists project, and my own inherited compulsive list-making tendencies (thanks Dad), I thought it would be fun to create some fun lists. One per week. Feel free to suggest topics.
Weekend Music: Sunburn Recovery
by
Chantelle
- 5:30 PM
Earlier this week, we had a day that, with humidity factored in, was a whopping 42 degrees celcius. (That's about 108 degrees Fahrenheit for you Yanks out there.)
42. degrees.
42.
The only thing that made this more dreadful was the fact that I was outside most of the day working with children. Despite slathering my body in SPF 70 sunscreen, my inherited ginger burn reared it's ugly head and turned my skin a delightful shade of coral.
Needless to say, I've spent a great deal of time since then bathing in aloe vera and after burn lotion, wearing immodest outfits about the house, and trying not to make sudden movements. On a brighter note, avoiding the sun like a vampire did give me time to discover some rad new tunes!
Acapella- Karmin
Suddenly- Jeremy Passion
Latch- Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
Cuckoo!- Choirs of Downside School, Purley, Viola Tunnard
No Worries- Simon Webbe
Momma Froc's Birthday Bonanza
by
Chantelle
- 8:01 PM
Guess who had a birthday while I was at home visiting?! Momma Froc! We decided to throw her a little birthday party and invite a few family friends.
(Yep. I made her wear that ribbon. Boom.)
All I wanted was a picture of the birthday sign. All I got was a couple of cheeseballs in the background.
Mum wanted chicken souvlaki for birthday dinner. We compromised and had shishkebabs, boursin and crackers, chocolate cupcakes, and a mocktail bar. :)
Shout out to the Robbs and Hills who came to eat food and get smokey with us.
(not impressed.)
Happy Birthday Momma! We love you so darn much!
On May 16, I turned 21.
Not a HUGE deal, I mean, what am I gonna do? Road trip to Vegas and... not gamble? Go to the bar and order... water?
It was still sort of a big deal though.
Just a month ago, I honestly didn't know if I'd even be alive to see 21.
But God's not done with me yet. I have a feeling He's got a few things up His heavenly sleeve.
(P.S. How do you celebrate your birthday? I do birthday wishes on balloons!)
The Emerald Isle
by
Chantelle
- 11:41 AM
As a member of the University of Lethbridge Singers, I had the opportunity to go on tour to Ireland this year! We participated in the Cork International Choral Festival in Cork, and also visited Kilkenny, Dublin, and Dun Laoghaire. I can't even begin to tell you how much the adventure was needed. I got to do some pretty amazing stuff!
*pauses to allow reader to prepare for epic list*
-participated in an international choral festival
-rode in a taxi for the first, second, and third time
-ordered room service for the first time
-toured a castle
-saw and toured more cathedrals than I can remember
-crossed a few things off my bucket list
-sang with people from around the world
-listened to the National Chamber Choir of Ireland
-heard the Swedish a cappella group, The Real Group, in concert
-sang in an art gallery
-kissed the Blarney Stone
-went to the National Art Gallery of Ireland
-saw actual Picasso and Van Gogh paintings up close
I wasn't on the ball enough to blog while there, and there's no way I'll ever possibly find the time to recount every single thing, so I will share some of the highlights of the trip through pictures.
