Pick up lines

Apparently blue eye like mine are not as common here in Albany as they are in the Dutch lands of West Michigan. I have been asked more than once if I am wearing colored contacts. Nope these baby blues are 100% the real deal.

Something I miss from good old Michigan is Meijer. I'd heard from others who have left the area, that Meijer is hard to replace. It's true, those great one-stop-shop stores have no equal here. I miss shopping for food, goldfish, and furniture all at once. Not that I often shopped for items other than food often, but the option was there.

Also the squirrels here are different. In the park we live by there are many smaller grey squirrels. In our backyard and in the park across from the museum in Mich there were fat brown ones.

A couple weeks ago I had the best kid encounter. It overtook many cute expereince at the children's museum. We were resting for a minute in Target on their display chairs, when I glanced over at a young boy pushed in a cart by his father. They boy looked right at me and said loudly, "Hey Beautiful!" Wow, quite a compliment from one so young.

Hilarious. I wonder where he learned that one. It remeinded me of a boy at the museum who walked up to the desk peaked over and asked, "Do you come here often?"
Ummm I work here? How old are you?

The Hill

Well tomorrow marks my three week anniversary living in New York. So far so good I guess. I was really really bored and a little down for the first week. After unpacking I found myself with nothing to do and no internet. Worrying about money didn't help. Those days were the first since 9th grade that I have not had a job. So I got one. I am now a cashier at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Working there is loads different than working at the Museum. But I think all my experience from the Museum helps me to adjust quickley to this new job. I don't know if I will love it there, but it's a job and they don't pay too badly either.

We went apple picking today, something I havn't done since maybe middle school. A very enjoyable time. So now we have tons of apples and delicious apple cider.

Pleasant Peninuslas

Today is my last day in Michigan

My little focus will be seriously packed to the gills when I leave tomorrow morning for New York. As I was putting all my boxes and things into a pile I found myself wondering if it could all actually fit. Dear God I hope it does. I don't want to choose what clothes to bring and which to leave.

I have my last day at the museum today. I'm expecting some people to cry (there are three of us going at once, all old-timers) but I don't plan on crying. I'm pretty glad I will never have to facilitate there ever again.

The hardest part will be saying goodbye to my parents. As glad as I am to be moving out, I know I will miss them from time to time.

Keep cool

Packing/moving is taking up most of my thoughts lately. I've packed away most of my clothes in the last couple days. I've always hung up all my clothes, so it was strange to see all the space they took up when folded together in boxes. I may have to downsize my wardrobe even further. In the past its been difficult for me to get ride of clothes (I never outgrown them, they always fit) but in the last year or so I put things in the give-away pile without much remorse.

I've been saying a lot of goodbyes. There is a general feeling in all of them that I am falling off the face of the earth. I guess I kind of am. A 11+ hour drive between place is nothing to scoff at, and Michigan and New York have Canada in between. Its had to say I'll visit when I don't know when. But I will visit eventually.

Our new place will not have cable. Heartbreaking really, I've become pretty addicted to the television this summer. Living in my parent's house hasn't proved very stimulating. I turn to the TV for company most of the time. Luckily my summer favorite Big Brother is on CBS so I can still watch it. I'm sure I'll miss MTV and VH1 the most. I love that crap a little too much.

So Soon

So I'm moving very soon.

I feel some mixed feelings about the change. But mostly I am very excited and hopeful for the future. Myuneasiness comes from the fact that I don't know how I'm making any money once I get there. That's a big deal but I'm trying to be calm about it. I'm sure something/anything will come my way.

I am very sad to be leaving my friends at work. Buuuttttt I am pretty glad to be leaving work otherwise. Yesterday (while I was working) I came up with a new game - "Things I won't miss!".

Things I won't miss!
-Facilitators not picking up crap
-Facilitators messing up on desk
-LeAnne
-Todd
-Teaching people the same thing over and over again
-Small office politics
-Overflowing toilets
-Cleaning puke
-Cleaning
-Cleaning days
-Exhibit load in days
-Exhibit load out days
-The people in charge of loading days
-Stupid volunteers that come to loading days
-Giving volunteers tours
-Doing busy work at my internship
-Doing nothing at my internship (I'm doing that right now)
-Dusting
-Broken exhibits
-Cloud Soaring
-Come on Over! songs
-Guests complaining
-Guests yelling
-Kids screaming
-Witnessing spanking
-Birthday parities
-Birthday party moms
-Spoiled children
-Snotty noses
-Field trip intros
-Field trips coats
-Peed pants
-Wearing clothes that you can't care about (Old Navy)

I know I will miss (most of) the staff, but I am very ready to move on. Five years on the floor of the Children's Museum is enough for me.


On a different note I was a counselor for AAA week at Fowler a couple weeks ago. It was a wonderful experience. I had a great cabin of girls who had a lot of fun together. Being a counselor was really different than being a staff member. I enjoyed it very much and will try to volunteer in the future. I was also able to see that not returning for another year as staff was the right decision. All those people in Pine, I would have gone crazy :) But mostly it was great to see old friends and be at camp again.

Almost there

Saying bye to a great old friend is hard. But not so hard when you will be a couple hours away in a months time. Considering you both are moving far away from home. It will be a comfort and a blessing to have Anna and Rachel within visiting distance when I move.

Anna and I saw No Reservations. It was pretty good.

For anyone who doesn't know (and if you know me you probably do) I am moving to NY labor day weekend. I was looking forward to change and it looks like I'll be getting it soon.

The Birthday Bash was great. We had over 1,500 people show up just for the evening event. It was 97 degrees that day and I was grouchy in the heat, but through the humidity it was really cool to see the party go so well. We had free food, dancing (I kinda went into Aunt Sandy mode with hand motions), parachute play, obstacle courses, face and banner painting, drawings, etc. I feel really proud to work at the museum some days, and this was one of them.

I have to pack everything tonight to drive out tomorrow morning. Nothing like a 11+ hour drive ahead of you.

Oh boy!

Should be a very busy night. There is nothing West Michigan dutch people like more than something free. I will be taking pictures in the 90 degree heat the whole time. At the moment the tent guys are setting up the tents and all the women in the office are watching out the window.