My favorite person here besides you

Today I found beauty in discourse.

The sensation of validation through sharing ideas with others is a keystone in my love of Buck's Rock.

I felt alive this morning. I felt excited. No longer restricted through fears or barriers. Like somehow my very being was projecting and inviting people to engage in conversation.

The older campers or CITs arrived on site this morning and brought with them a new felt enthusiasm for the summer.

Despite the one Achilles heel of the Publication shop balancing on the edge of a butchers cleaver at the crucial moment of deadline.

Our printer refused to heat set our printing plates. As it is every year and so will be forever more. Camp director Mickey set about to solve our problem by replacing the equipment, while I used my knowledge of plating to rectify what little time we had left to create our first publication of the summer. Later, he asked if I could personally research a solution to this. I am considering weather or not this would constitute as being a yes man.

Bob and Ian threw themselves into production as the plates refused to behave themselves, leaving ugly streaks running through every page.

Our eventual product was a fabulous result and a celebration of our skill base. Streaks were reduced with further alterations and such and the orientation guide was complete and was the first collation of the summer.

This evening I got a group together, rehearsing a contemporary Australian composition for Staff on Stage this Saturday. Aside from the obscenely difficult harmonies, the response was beautifully supportive. I feel that some in the group may feel obligated to continue, but it is their passion for passionate projects that keeps their enthusiasm alive for the piece.

Later, I found Set Designer Drew to be experiencing feelings similar to my first year at Buck's Rock. The excitement of sharing ideas in a collective of people who have the ability to not only understand you, but appreciate and love your contributions. true discourse followed. We were eventually the last to exit the dining hall after the meatiest conversation held since the beginning of camp.

Fruit of the Moment: Chicken as Eggplant

I believe that would be 12 servings of Fried Dumplings so far

The morning after staff party 2010.

No one was awake. So nice I thought once again to have the shower room to myself as I made my way down to late breakfast. There were, of course many peeps with the sunglasses. Including Royce.

Today we find out Royce's giant green goggles he never takes off are actually prescription lenses doubling as safety goggles for metal working. Cool.

Pub was all in Orientation Book attack mode. Carson and Kenny readied the text and I dusted off the template from last year and working some plating magic with Rebecca, we managed to pull off our first cover of 2010.

Emma, our supreme overlord of awesomeness decreed it to be so that lunch would be served off campus. Thus, our first trip to Windmill Diner was arranged. Where I managed to end up with a meal I didn't order and a very sick Rebecca on my hands. She was feeling a little under the weather post last night's festivities.

In the afternoon, Ian sends word of a Starbuck's run he's about to attempt. I ready myself for a Venti Coffee Frappachino. Five hours later, the messenger calls to ask if we still want the coffee. Seeing as though the dinner bell had sounded, I declined and waited to claim his blood for my lack of coffee/correct meal orders today.

In brighter news resident camp couple Mimi and Cameron got engaged last night on their one year anniversary after meeting at 2009's staff party. So, word was buzzing with their engagement at breakfast. I having sat with both of them for breakfast figured I'd know about it. However I was made to wait until 3pm when Emma told me casually to which I ran straight down to the summer theatre to celebrate.

This evening after dinner, I was approached by a mate who WAS on my yet-to-be-confirmed-straight list. He was being a little awkward and started to talk about how he had missed out on an opportunity because of being shy last night. The conversation was a little turtle until he clarified that he was after advice for the GIRL he liked. Fancy that? Straight men asking us gays about ways to snag a woman in a hilarious double entendre situation which I originally thought the opposite. Pfft! Needless to say, he is now checked off the list. Two men to go until official word.

I must admit, there have been allot of men asking me about which of the girls are single this year. Conversely, most of the new women have been asking me which men to avoid. Made my job incredibly easy really.

Fruit of the Moment: Strawberry Icing Aftermath

Peter Rabbit? Cameron Nadler.

Sleep is a very important thing. I decided that I needed sleep more than I needed exercise this morning. Turned out to be a good call as the day was filled with much physical straining on my behalf.

The famed annual team building workshop was today at Buck's Rock. We were split up into teams and told to do things like form a shortest to tallest line blindfolded, and fall backwards off tables. It was great. I got to COMPRESS THE ZIPPER once more.

This year however, instead of the rope swing, I tried to climb the diamond shaped ladder with very little success. I found considerably more success with the triangular tightrope course. There were 2 tightropes starting at the same tree, each heading outwards to a new tree forming about a 45 degree angle. You had to work with a partner by leaning on them as you both made your way across the tightrope. The distance between the two of you would increase with every step.

I managed to score Royce for my partner; the tallest man at camp. We got the furthest. Booyeah!

Worked a little on computer names and set up for the orientation booklet in Pub today. We got cracking on paper orders and such. What I like about Pub this year is having established relationships with Bob, Ian and Emma. All three work so incredibly differently to one another that its great to step back and appreciate it.

Not much accomplished but I was gearing up for Cutthroat Island.

Each year, the staff play a game which can only be described as an extremely violent version of Simon Says with a nautical theme (to celebrate all the team building we have accomplished). Last year I was the first person out. This year, I savagely clawed my way to fourth place. It was ruthless. I ended up trying to maul the guy who beat me to third. It was awesome.

Then came the staff party. The way staff parties work here are simple:

a) Get the bus

b) Get shit-faced

c) Dance

d) Get the bus home

e) Shag everyone in sight

The order of the above steps depend on which staff party you go to. For instance, steps e and d are reversed for the final staff night out. Or course, the drinks assist everyone in achieving all checkpoints. And some peeps are better than others at achieving all objectives but there you have it.

I managed to bounce for a solid hour on the dance floor, by which time my skin held an extra stratosphere of sweat. It was not pretty.

I came home on the early bus, which is uncommon for myself. But I did enjoy having the bathroom to myself for a calming shower before bed time.

Fruit of the Moment: McFimi

That would be really unfair on the horse

Bob took us yard sale hopping this morning in beautiful downtown New Milford. I got the comics above for $11.

Ian, more importantly took us to Starbucks afterwards. Rebecca and I were forever thankful and I bought a travel mug from the 1950's.

PubShop today needed the setting up of the computers and the installation of the softwares and the protection of the admin passwords and the solving of the wireless peripherals battery life issue.

Meanwhile I caved in and ate like a 14 year old all day. I was also anxious to discover I fell victim to either poison ivy or loads of bed bug bites centralized in the foot area. Time and itching shall tell.

This evening was Coffee House. Its an annual Buck's Rock informal talent show in which Marie always refuses to sing and then ends up singing two songs. Quilty played one song and I read my favorite children's book; Where the Wild Things Are to the staff. When I had them all participate in the wild rumpus, I screamed STOP at the top of my vocal chords while jumping on top of a chair. The noise went from deafening to a hall of complete silence. Nice.

Post Coffee House, I played a few confusing games of Mancala with Set builder Noah followed by an amazingly epic 3 hour game of 6 player Chinese checkers that lasted until 2am.

Fruit of the Moment: Good Times Noodle Salad

Ian is fixing the door with Bob

Ah, the day of cleaning. Here at Buck's Rock everyone gets to clean their shop on the first official working day. I was surrounded by go getters and it was quite serendipitous.

Last night, I managed to both visit the local drinking haunt Barringtons with Cameron McFee and his cohort AND stay up until 3:3oam with the gang at the Four Seasons to commemorate the opening of Buck's Rock 2010. There was much talking of the shit and attempted push ups.

Today, I managed to somehow survive on 2 hours sleep. I tried the run around camp, running much further than I had ever ran last year, but falling about 100m short of the camp entrance upon return.

I also discovered the cookies here. I had around 12 I'd guess. But then again, I probably haven't been eating enough. I will need to adjust this so I'm not starving come 3pm again.

This afternoon we named our Pub shop computers. They are all after villains. Mine Computer's name is Olaf.

This evening was a famed trip to WALLMART. I got me a trolley full of crap I don't need. Huzah for crap I don't need; Huzah!

I wan bed so bad right now I cant even think straight. Barnaby and my computer equipment has finally been transferred down to Pub where they belong.

Tomorrow shall bring saturday morning Connecticut yard sales :)

Fruit of the Moment: The Return of the Vanilla Yogurt Coated Pretzels

Are you SERIOUS? This is a PUBLIC ROAD!

The happy dance of happiness once again dances its awesome dance of joy.

A day of pure happiness. Joy, laughter, tears, surprise, amazement and other awesome emotions were at every turn and I kept on turning the corner.

Today, I entered Buck's Rock.

Today, I returned home.

Yael and Marion drove us to camp and I was on the verge of spontaneously combusting upon arrival. Mickey the camp director had to emerge from his office to see what all the jumping and screaming was about. He understood the commotion the second he saw me running towards him like a steam train that runs at it's boss.

I have a new room mate from England. His name is Michael. He is yet to replace Roomie Rob as the most awesome room mate that ever room mated with moi. But he's a high school teacher in textiles and cooking. He's like the first male Batik counsellor in like, forever. Thus, a Boytik.

Marion and I are committed to the anti late night snack community of dieters. We figure eating lucky charms at 11pm is a little over kill. So when we go to 11pm snack, instead of joining in with the sugar we will drink only tea. Tomorrow I'm buying supplies from WALL MART for a sticker chart. We will get a sticker on the chart every day we commit to the goal.

Mickey lead a whole staff meeting tonight, where he opened the microphone for people who wanted to describe what Buck's Rock was. I of course made a big fool of myself with a whole bundle of sentimental sentiments strung together. To be fair, when last year I found this creative utopia, I was forever transformed.

It was amazing to see everyone I loved from last year along with awesome new people to get to know, all condensed into the space of 2 hours.

And, there's quite a few new nice looking men walking around camp this year. And the shallow part of my brain got excited.

And as nice as Man Candy is, It 'aint really a top priority on this trip of mine. I doubt any bat for my team anyway.

I am unpacked. I am signed in. And Life is fabulous.

Fruit of the Moment: Veggy Tofu Jambalaya

Which idiot stapled your passport?

You will need to forgive my lack of muli timezone juggling skills.

I understand it has been more than 24 hours since my last post, but its like 8am here in LA atm. So technically I've got no clue whats going on.

Leila and I drove our way into Sydney from Wollongong after getting up at an hour that caused my balance to wobble. The car ride was cork free. I felt however there needed to be more cork. Oh well, there shall be much cork on my return, hopefully.

Check in lasted for ever. I was behind two teens who had brought a surfboard with them. Not your average garden variety sized board, but one massive mother fucker. Anyway it took ages. So I had time for the most delicious cookie I've ever had with a coffee before boarding the 14 hour flight to LA.

OH! The surfers just walked passed me. Inconsiderate teens. And our flight is now delayed, so no broadway for me tonight.

The flight went super fast. Perhaps it was the personal television screen with remote control access to like a gagillion different films/tv shows/games. I caught up on so many movies and shows the time flew past like it was 13 hours. I think the highlight was Robin William's impression of Christopher Walken in a porn film. Had me in stitches.

What wasn't very funny was the guy two rows up from me who nearly died from some kind of heart malfunction. Turns out, there were three doctors onboard. One was sitting directly behind him.

Now, Im reduced to more waiting around in flip flops until the flight takes off for New York.

Fruit of the Moment: Mrs Fields