i write through watery eyes...

No, I am not sad, not at all.

I am allergic. Allergic to ragweed (amongst other things). I therefore despise it. I hate its little yellow weedy self and the way it makes me sneeze... and as it creates amazing amounts of tears to flow from my itchy puffy eyes. Ragweed is doing its pollinating thang, and I can feel it!

Did you know that ragweed pollen can travel for hundreds of miles on the wind alone? I am probably suffering from ragweed that is growing in West Virginia!

eck.

This runny nose needs to go work. Do you know what awaits me at work? Inside the closed up building ragweed cannot attack! But instead, as I clean I come across dust & mold. Mold is another culprit in my life. And do you know what I found as I was cleaning, over at camp, just the other day?

Mushrooms... growing... indoors.

Now, let me clarify, this had everything to do with a crack in the flooring, and is not because the building is disgusting. Just another one of those anomalies of camp.

Please know, this is not a complaint, as I have been 'allergic' for 22 years now-- but I write for any fellow sufferers. I understand. I understand what its like to have to hold your breath if someone sprays an aerosol air freshener. Or why you can't sit in grass too long because your legs will get all itchy. Or when you dust your home every other day so as not to have sneezing fits in the night. Or why your husband can't buy you lillies, because that bright orange pollen is just too dangerous.

...Or, is that just me??

On why not to dye your hair black.

I would say that I am a person who enjoys change and new & exciting opportunities. I like to be spontaneous every once in a while.

These qualities shine through mostly when I make decisions about my hair. I have had a lot of different hair cuts (and I blame this mostly on my aunt). My first real hair cut (other than a trim) was when I was 8 years old. So now I think because of those 8 years trapped behind a big brown mane, I am consequently addicted to hair cuts. I can't change it often enough. I have even had what some know as a "pixie cut"- so short in fact, that I was labeled as a boy in one of my high school yearbook snapshots.

Anyway, this is really about dying my hair. I was never told "no" about hair dye... so I started young (age 13 to be exact). I am actually not even sure what my natural color is--some brown color, kinda light brown in the summer, darker in the winter, I am not sure.
I mean, my hair has been lots 'o colors. Pink as my first experiment (and I mean a whole head of hot pink hair), it's been different shades of red, darker brown & lighter brown. I just really like to dye my hair. It's like a change that is easy to do and is (kind of) impermanent...because they always just fade away.

Last March I thought it would be fun to try black. Black, like the night sky, bats, witches hair, all things dark- you know. Well $5 box dye in black doesn't fade. No sir. I have tried home remedies as well as gone to a salon to get it "lightened" and nothing is working. I could bleach it, but from past experience, I am sure that would just make my hair break like straw. So I think with a little help from the nice lady at Bubbles, my hair is a bit lighter of a black... but still black. black.black.black. It's been this way for a while, but I just now am feeling the need to vent to you my lovely readers- because I am over the black.

And unless your beautiful ethnic heritage has given you black hair... stay away, I beg you, stay away.

i love a good concert

Sweet and generous friends of ours had extra tickets to a Counting Crows & Maroon 5 concert and gave those extra's to us! How fun. I love concerts. I remember going to my first concert when I was a middle schooler... and it was fabulous. I will go to almost any concert- I just really love watching musicians live and I love that you can feel how loud the music is. So I was delighted to accept this gift and go last weekend to see Maroon 5 & Counting Crows. We were both excited.I didn't know quite what to expect because I am not a huge Maroon 5 fan (I don't dislike them, just haven't paid a lot of attention to them). But, I learned two things. They are a really fun band to watch live and they have a lot of radio hits- I knew almost all of the songs they played. We really enjoyed them. Moreover I enjoyed the crowd that Maroon 5 draws. I do not think I realized the affect (or effect, whatever) that the lead singer has on women. I wanted to watch the stage and the band but I could not help but just stare at the women in front of us. These 40 somethings were just dying the entire time. I mean, screaming with their hands in the air...

"This one's my favorite!"

"AHHH he's so beautiful"

"Oh my gosh I love them"

"I love them"

"He's so hot"

"AHHH!"

I kid you not.

And then next to us a twenty-something danced by herself to every single song.

We were in the section right behind the "orchestra pit" or basically the really expensive seats right up near the stage, so we watched as various women tried to convince the security guys to let them down there "just for a second" (they were unsuccessful each time).

And there were the men- middle aged men that knew every word to every song.

Fun.

Then Counting Crows were up- now I was excited about them because right after Ace of Base, I think Counting Crows was my first CD... you remember "Mr. Jones & me..." So they come out and prove to be talented musicians. But let me tell you, the lead singer, Adam, is a crazy individual when let loose before thousands of fans. Honestly the only crazier stage performance I have seen was from Fiona Apple (who is totally off her rocker). This guy wasn't the kind of crazy like smashing guitars and lighting drum sets on fire (not like Greenday crazy...if you know what I mean) Just, totally in his own world and kind of doing interpretive dance for some of the songs he performed. He also jumped up on things a lot. At one point he was singing the familiar tune of 'Round Here, but the lyrics were something totally different than the norm and mostly mumbles rather than words. It was bizarre. I guess when you've been a band for like 18 years, you can do whatever you want.

Don't get me wrong, it was a really great concert.

remember that time that I blogged?

'Tis true. I am back. Literally- I was away and now I am back. I have neglected the blogging world for too long, and now that I have caught up on reading all my favorite blogs, I will update you on my life in the last week... in case anyone is still reading this abandoned blog.

Well, camp ended (sadly) and I told you I was going to a wedding. It was a lovely Denver wedding and the bride and groom were very joyful. Also, my husband thinks we should someday live in Colorado. Too cold, I say.

Anyway, here I am with the blushing bride::

From CO we flew to Orlando to meet up with my in-laws and get on a big ship. We got to go on a cruise to the Bahamas. It was delightful. I was really nervous at first, however. If you don't already know, let me tell you that I have cruised once before and due to a storm it was quite chilly and the boat's rocking back and forth (and back and forth...) made me really woozy for the first day.
Not to mention, I don't think I really like the water. I may or may not be kind of afraid of water. I am just recently discovering this, as many of my quirks point to an odd dislike of large amounts of water. I have never liked traveling through tunnels that go underwater (oh the terrible thoughts that fill my head) and I am only slightly embarrassed to admit to you that I am kind of afraid of Aquariums too. Also, I like to sit by the pool but rarely enjoy getting in (now I am a lifeguard, but in my opinion maybe this fear of water makes me really aware and attentive to patron safety!)

I just kind of prefer land. But, this trip was much smoother overall and I am very thankful for the vacation. Here we are together on the ship. I am the one who is not blonde::When we arrived to the island the rest of the family went snorkeling. I have done this before, and it was fine... but I decided it's not really the activity for me (maybe it's the whole fear of water thing again or whatever). So this was my view for most of the time. Loved it:: One afternoon it did storm for about an hour (because that is what happens when I travel to tropical locations) but I made the best of it with this delicious slushie beverage which I drank from a pineapple!And here's me and the hubby in front of the gigantic floating vessel::

So that's the latest. A lovely week away, and now I'm going to go clean something- cuz that's my job!

six things...

1. I am sitting in the middle of the last week of camp. I am very sad about this. (even though there are dark circles under my eyes and my voice is scratchy, I am not ready for it to be over) I am sad that it will be quiet throughout the days, no children running around laughing and screaming.

2. I have been a terrible blogger lately. To be fair, I have not blogged in a while but I have not really been up to speed with my blog-stalking either.

3. In the time that I have spend reading blogs I have found a new blog love. This friend inspired me to read about this family's journey. I don't know them, but I am so inspired by his faith in God as he chronicles his wife's healing from brain cancer.

4. I saw Mamma Mia last night with friends. It was ridiculously entertaining. I laughed most of the movie- because it was so so very cheesy. Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep will never come back from that.

5. The Olympics start this week and I LOVE the Olympics. Our camp theme this week is even, the Olympics. What a unifying display for our world (except when China has to stage riots and demonstrations to train officials and plant snipers throughout the city. but a peacemaker like me can dream, right?)

6. I won't be able to park myself on the couch and watch said Olympics... but for good reason, a friend gets married this weekend and then we go on vacation. A vacation that I am starting to get excited about a little.