December 20th, 2009
The Terminal: Day 2
7:30 pm
O'Hare Airport. Hour: 23
Total hours logged at an airport (consecutively): 33 1/2
Nerd Confession: I've been playing Pokemon Platinum. I've logged nearly 17 hours. I feel deep shame.
When I discovered my Chicago-Hartford flight was canceled, and I would have to wait about 2 days for another flight I bought a nintendo dsi. And Pokemon Platinum. Honestly the only reason I chose the Pokemon game is because it was almost 20 dollars cheaper than Final Fantasy. And I was embarrassed. No regrets, but I'm 22 years old and still play Pokemon. SUCH A NERD!
So last night I was on the phone with Ryan, and he recommended that I purchase a gaming system. I confessed that I already did. "What game are you playing?" He inquired. "I'd rather not say." I demurred. A Brief Pause. "It's Pokemon, isn't it?" He conjectured. "Nooooo..." I lied. But he knew. I don't know how he knew. But he did.
And throughout the course of that past day and a half, while I've been stuck first at the Denver airport, then at O'Hare, Benn has been camped out at the Denver airport. Guess what he's been doing.
Playing Pokemon.
And answering my questions. I still have mad skills. Really nerdy skills I am deeply ashamed of.
Things I have eaten today:
- A whole wheat bagel & a cup of coffee
- a frozen yogurt milkshake that was trying to pass itself off as a strawberry/raspberry smoothie
- dried fruit & peanut "trail mix"
- a peppermint mocha
Molly thinks I'm going to have diarrhea. Actually I'm starting to think she might be right. GROSS
13 Hours until I can get on a plane. (13 Hours of fun)
My Airport to do list:
1. Stand up
2. Try to get the feeling back into my butt
3. Finish reading "The Two Towers"
4. Brush my teeth. Sans toothpaste :(
5. Ponder the meaning of life.
6. Lie down on the airport benches
7. Toss and turn on the airport benches
8. Put on a few more shirts to stave off the chill of the airport benches
9. Roll up a few t-shirts to create a pillow for my airport benches.
10. Give up on the airport benches
So flying near the holidays = ridiculous idea. What was I thinking?? (I should have hitchhiked). But I'm not the only one. I wasn't the only person "sleeping" on the benches. Every flight has a standby list. Planes are full. And the airport is crowded. Don't I love crowds of people?
Did I mention my butt has gone numb? Every once in a while I think it would be a good idea to stand up and take a stroll. I usually don't even complete a loop around this section of the terminal before I remember why that's a terrible idea. Not only is there no room to walk, I am burdened with these carry-ons, which I dare not leave because every ten minutes the loud speaker blares not to "leave your junk unattended or the airport cops will seize and destroy it." I may be paraphrasing.
I'm thinking about using the moving sidewalk as a treadmill. I suppose the best time would be at about 3am when this place is mostly devoid of human life. The only thing stopping me is the thought that security might want to throw me out. Which would be catastrophic after spending the last 24 hours in this interminable terminal of intermittent interests.
(I aspire to excellence at assonance and anticipate admirers of my antecedent alliterations approve of the application above, not abhor my attempts).
Monday, December 21, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, day before travel
Saturday we did demolition. We knocked down walls, sheetrock, woodenslats, and ceilings with sledgehammers!!!!!!! It was amazing. I could feel my man status going through the roof! No lie...I'm at least 20% more manly after ripping a house apart! It was freaking awesome!!
Sunday a few of us served as dossets for the Holiday Homes Tour. We stood in rich mansions as people toured the homes and checked out the lifestyles of the rich and moderately well known. The house I was at was pretty cool, they had a mardi gras themes room with a mardi gras Christmas tree becuase the gentleman of the house was the 2009 Rex (King of Carnival). The whole house was super clean and well decorated, which makes me wonder what the house looks like when it is being actively lived in, and not seen by the local population.
Today we are cleaning up our house, and getting ready for travel. I'm excited to get home for Christmas. I'm excited to sleep in my own bed. I'm excited to sleep in a room without 5 other people in it. I can't wait to bake Christmas cookies, and see my family and friends. So thats it. The end of Round 1.
Sunday a few of us served as dossets for the Holiday Homes Tour. We stood in rich mansions as people toured the homes and checked out the lifestyles of the rich and moderately well known. The house I was at was pretty cool, they had a mardi gras themes room with a mardi gras Christmas tree becuase the gentleman of the house was the 2009 Rex (King of Carnival). The whole house was super clean and well decorated, which makes me wonder what the house looks like when it is being actively lived in, and not seen by the local population.
Today we are cleaning up our house, and getting ready for travel. I'm excited to get home for Christmas. I'm excited to sleep in my own bed. I'm excited to sleep in a room without 5 other people in it. I can't wait to bake Christmas cookies, and see my family and friends. So thats it. The end of Round 1.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Capping
The following is the blog I also posted on the team site. It bears repeating for anyone who only reads my blog. However if you would like to follow the teams' blog the site is: www.http://ncccwoodlandwarriors.blogspot.com
Yesterday Marshall and Clay took me capping (recruiting) with them. On the way to Cabrini High School I mentioned that it might be a Catholic school, because Cabrini is a Saint's name. I also mentioned that I went to a Catholic High School (al girls). So needless to say my male companions were interested in my tales of an girls only school, and the supposed shenanigans we were up to. We got to Cabrini, and discovered it was in fact a Catholic School. And that only girls attend. So we set up our table, put out the Americorps NCCC pamphlets, were looking sharp in our black and whites, and ready to tell people about the amazing job that we have. And don't get me wrong I warned Clay and Marshall. When we discovered it was all girls I said, "Now, because you are male, the entire school population knew the moment you walked on campus. That sort of news spreads like wildfire." Of course they didn't believe me. I tried to convice them. At one point Clay turned to me and said "Do you mean to tell me that 100 girls are checking me out right now?" THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS SAYING! He still didn't believe me. Then a girl walked over. We were all excited...its time to spread the word about Americorps! And she asked "Will you go over and hug my friend and tell her 'Merry Christmas?' And we look over the her table where a gaggle of girls were giggling like school girls.
I told you so.
Capping was a good experience. We did talk to several girls at lunchtime, handed out information, and answered questions. After lunch we had a private dialogue with one girl who already applied, and was waiting for her phone interview. We talked to her for a while, answering her questions and telling her about life in Americorps.
However seeing Clay asked to hug a girl was probably the highlight of my day. Maybe the highlight of me week. And being at Cabrini was like being back at SHA.
I enjoyed it.
Yesterday Marshall and Clay took me capping (recruiting) with them. On the way to Cabrini High School I mentioned that it might be a Catholic school, because Cabrini is a Saint's name. I also mentioned that I went to a Catholic High School (al girls). So needless to say my male companions were interested in my tales of an girls only school, and the supposed shenanigans we were up to. We got to Cabrini, and discovered it was in fact a Catholic School. And that only girls attend. So we set up our table, put out the Americorps NCCC pamphlets, were looking sharp in our black and whites, and ready to tell people about the amazing job that we have. And don't get me wrong I warned Clay and Marshall. When we discovered it was all girls I said, "Now, because you are male, the entire school population knew the moment you walked on campus. That sort of news spreads like wildfire." Of course they didn't believe me. I tried to convice them. At one point Clay turned to me and said "Do you mean to tell me that 100 girls are checking me out right now?" THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I WAS SAYING! He still didn't believe me. Then a girl walked over. We were all excited...its time to spread the word about Americorps! And she asked "Will you go over and hug my friend and tell her 'Merry Christmas?' And we look over the her table where a gaggle of girls were giggling like school girls.
I told you so.
Capping was a good experience. We did talk to several girls at lunchtime, handed out information, and answered questions. After lunch we had a private dialogue with one girl who already applied, and was waiting for her phone interview. We talked to her for a while, answering her questions and telling her about life in Americorps.
However seeing Clay asked to hug a girl was probably the highlight of my day. Maybe the highlight of me week. And being at Cabrini was like being back at SHA.
I enjoyed it.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Yay for the Internet!
I finally made it back to the green house to check the internet. (Good thing too, becuase my library books are due today!).
Today was an awsome day. Clay, Liz, Benn, Bart, Alex and I were at a new house today installing hardwood floors. I got to use many many power tools YAY! (Nail gun, table saw, chop saw...you know all things awesome!) We may possibly go back tomorrow. The History Channel is definetly going to be there...but even if my team doesnt go there, everyone should watch for that house on the History Channel.
Yesterday Marshall told me I was the manliest girl he ever met (except for a lesbian who had man parts). It was the nicest thing he ever said to me...Marshall if you ever read this...thanks.
Thanksgiving was alot of fun. We had Water1 and Water4 over for dinner, and everyone brought amazing food. Like vegan green bean cassarole, and sweet potato pie. I made a turkey, and Benn helped me to create 7 apple pies that were our teams contribution.
The morning of Thanksgiving we did as ISP at the Turkey Trot, a race to benefit Spinal Bifida. After wards the woman in charge gave us a box of leftover bananas. AWESOME!! So for a while our kitchen looked like a place Donkey Kong would consider home. After it became clear that we would never be able to consume enough bananas before they went bad I started making banana bread. Three the first night, another huge one last night. When Clay asked what was in them I told him love. Jeremy promptly responded, "Where did you get that...we know you dont have any." Secretly I've been siphoning off everyone elses love, and storing it in the cold empty pit that used to house my soul. At least, thats what I told Jeremy. Hilarious.
This weekend we did more ISPs with Hands on New Orleans. We were working on building a walkway for a community garden. It was two awesome days of digging in the dirt, and hauling bricks around. I'm glad to say I', now halfway done with the 80 required ISP hours!
This weekend I also took advantage of the opportunity to explore the New Orleans nightlife, including Burbon Street, and Frenchmen Street. Walking around is an awesome sight to see. The streets are packed, and with the plethora of NCCCs in the NO area we ran into several of our friends we haven't seen since CTI.
Today was an awsome day. Clay, Liz, Benn, Bart, Alex and I were at a new house today installing hardwood floors. I got to use many many power tools YAY! (Nail gun, table saw, chop saw...you know all things awesome!) We may possibly go back tomorrow. The History Channel is definetly going to be there...but even if my team doesnt go there, everyone should watch for that house on the History Channel.
Yesterday Marshall told me I was the manliest girl he ever met (except for a lesbian who had man parts). It was the nicest thing he ever said to me...Marshall if you ever read this...thanks.
Thanksgiving was alot of fun. We had Water1 and Water4 over for dinner, and everyone brought amazing food. Like vegan green bean cassarole, and sweet potato pie. I made a turkey, and Benn helped me to create 7 apple pies that were our teams contribution.
The morning of Thanksgiving we did as ISP at the Turkey Trot, a race to benefit Spinal Bifida. After wards the woman in charge gave us a box of leftover bananas. AWESOME!! So for a while our kitchen looked like a place Donkey Kong would consider home. After it became clear that we would never be able to consume enough bananas before they went bad I started making banana bread. Three the first night, another huge one last night. When Clay asked what was in them I told him love. Jeremy promptly responded, "Where did you get that...we know you dont have any." Secretly I've been siphoning off everyone elses love, and storing it in the cold empty pit that used to house my soul. At least, thats what I told Jeremy. Hilarious.
This weekend we did more ISPs with Hands on New Orleans. We were working on building a walkway for a community garden. It was two awesome days of digging in the dirt, and hauling bricks around. I'm glad to say I', now halfway done with the 80 required ISP hours!
This weekend I also took advantage of the opportunity to explore the New Orleans nightlife, including Burbon Street, and Frenchmen Street. Walking around is an awesome sight to see. The streets are packed, and with the plethora of NCCCs in the NO area we ran into several of our friends we haven't seen since CTI.
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