The Aftermath
Wow - I originally wrote an entry the week after camp, and the page was down and it got wiped. I couldn't get inspired to write the same thing all over again. So here I go now.
Camp was pretty much a success. Needless to say we were all completely emotionally and physically exhausted. The day after I felt completely hung over - and I never had a drink. I hate it when that happens. We had some really hard core kids, I sent 6 home in the first week, and 4 in the second. Some people thought that was pretty harsh, but I can't have 1 affecting 80. And I firmly believe that if you are going to set boundaries, you have to enforce them. Otherwise you are just all talk.
We had some amazing behaviours - I have never seen anything like it. We had an 8 year old threatening suicide, a 10 year old plotting to kill his mother, two children made some disclosures about sexual abuse...the list goes on and on. Just when you think it couldn't get any worse - it does. It's a huge reality check. I think back to the days of Michigania and people complaining about not getting a queen size bed...or not getting their blue m...and what a big deal it was to them. God I miss those kinds of problems!
Last week I worked Big Day Out - which sucked a lot. For those of you who don't know, its a huge concert that goes for like 14 hours, playing all types of music...but mostly stuff that I hate. Anyway I swore I would never do it again because I used to hate it so much, but they were paying $45 an hours. I get thinking about the weeks of agistment that would pay for and decided I needed to do it. Greg had the day off and he came to get me (couldn't move by that point - I was so sore) and he planted me a herb garden...which my dog promptly went and layed on. God love him. I think it will be ok.
Speaking of the dog - we took him out for ice cream the other night, and we always have a muzzle on him - purely because of other dogs (and the time he was attacked before the wedding). Anyway right outside the ice cream store this little girl walked right up to him and petted him before I could even speak. You could see the look of horror on her parents face, I told them it was fine - the muzzle is for other dogs, but I also told her she should always ask, just in case. He then sat down and let people adore him for the next 20 mins. He was so great. He's a much different dog than the one who used to chase my horses, tackle random visitors to Michigania and knock down my fences. We were so proud!
Hmm what else? The horses are doing really well. Indiana has turned into a total mommas boy and is now very possessive of me. But it's kind of cute. Major (still haven't thought of a better name!) is just cruising along. He's just perfect at everything. I put together this photo summary of Indi the other day - how he looked when he arrived and all he's been through. He really is amazing. I'm so proud of the way he's turned out, given he should hate people with a blinding passion. Speaking of horses hating people...classic Hayden quote that just sprung to mind - on why he's afraid horses "I'm afraid they're going to make me the embodiment of all their hatred for their years of enslavery at the hands of the human rance and trample me to death with their hooves". I'll tell the hay wagon story some other time!
Ok - I think that's it. Phew. I need to go an pick up orse poop now. Yay - superfun.
Take care ya-all and write soon!
Beej
xx
PS: Brecky, I am such a slackass. Thank you for the awesome book and ornament. I love them! It was a total shock! Love you muchly!
Camp was pretty much a success. Needless to say we were all completely emotionally and physically exhausted. The day after I felt completely hung over - and I never had a drink. I hate it when that happens. We had some really hard core kids, I sent 6 home in the first week, and 4 in the second. Some people thought that was pretty harsh, but I can't have 1 affecting 80. And I firmly believe that if you are going to set boundaries, you have to enforce them. Otherwise you are just all talk.
We had some amazing behaviours - I have never seen anything like it. We had an 8 year old threatening suicide, a 10 year old plotting to kill his mother, two children made some disclosures about sexual abuse...the list goes on and on. Just when you think it couldn't get any worse - it does. It's a huge reality check. I think back to the days of Michigania and people complaining about not getting a queen size bed...or not getting their blue m...and what a big deal it was to them. God I miss those kinds of problems!
Last week I worked Big Day Out - which sucked a lot. For those of you who don't know, its a huge concert that goes for like 14 hours, playing all types of music...but mostly stuff that I hate. Anyway I swore I would never do it again because I used to hate it so much, but they were paying $45 an hours. I get thinking about the weeks of agistment that would pay for and decided I needed to do it. Greg had the day off and he came to get me (couldn't move by that point - I was so sore) and he planted me a herb garden...which my dog promptly went and layed on. God love him. I think it will be ok.
Speaking of the dog - we took him out for ice cream the other night, and we always have a muzzle on him - purely because of other dogs (and the time he was attacked before the wedding). Anyway right outside the ice cream store this little girl walked right up to him and petted him before I could even speak. You could see the look of horror on her parents face, I told them it was fine - the muzzle is for other dogs, but I also told her she should always ask, just in case. He then sat down and let people adore him for the next 20 mins. He was so great. He's a much different dog than the one who used to chase my horses, tackle random visitors to Michigania and knock down my fences. We were so proud!
Hmm what else? The horses are doing really well. Indiana has turned into a total mommas boy and is now very possessive of me. But it's kind of cute. Major (still haven't thought of a better name!) is just cruising along. He's just perfect at everything. I put together this photo summary of Indi the other day - how he looked when he arrived and all he's been through. He really is amazing. I'm so proud of the way he's turned out, given he should hate people with a blinding passion. Speaking of horses hating people...classic Hayden quote that just sprung to mind - on why he's afraid horses "I'm afraid they're going to make me the embodiment of all their hatred for their years of enslavery at the hands of the human rance and trample me to death with their hooves". I'll tell the hay wagon story some other time!
Ok - I think that's it. Phew. I need to go an pick up orse poop now. Yay - superfun.
Take care ya-all and write soon!
Beej
xx
PS: Brecky, I am such a slackass. Thank you for the awesome book and ornament. I love them! It was a total shock! Love you muchly!