Summer storms

I have just been biking in the rain in some very large puddles that could easily be mistaken for small lakes. It was awesome. I might go out again and do it more, since the thunder has inhibited my ability to go swimming instead. I love this kind of weather, so exciting, refreshing and fun. Never mind that it's supposed to be summer, storms kick ass.

We did, however, have some true summer weather earlier this week and over last weekend. We had our hottest days of the season starting the day after the last kids left camp. No matter, all that hot sweaty humidity could be saved for plenty of swimming, camper-free. The other day I thoroughly enjoyed some good swimming and relaxing at Willard Pond with Ellery (who I re-met two Fridays ago) and was introduced to Gleason's Fall, a truly satisfying river jumping experience. The only thing missing from this summer so far is the ocean, and I think, due to the absence of excessive salt covering the body, I can let that one slide.

In just over two weeks I am flying out of Boston to discover and experience Europe. Maybe from a touristic point of view but let's be real, I'M GOING TO EUROPE! I have a few days in London where I'll meet up with Lauren before joining our Topdeck tour - 9 countries in 22 days - followed by another three weeks of visiting friends and doing a little exploring on our own.

Then, back to New Zealand to realize that I still have no idea what I'm doing with my life. Sounds familiar.

You know it's Friday when...

When you get the keys to the Ranger so you can drive it somewhere, open the door, climb in, and find yourself in the passenger seat. And not only that, you realise too late that you re not only driving the truck but the trailer, too.

That was yesterday, and other than my driver's seat mis-location and inability to check the rear-view (I promise I am usually a better driver, although I must admit to some sub-par parking with the van today) it was a beautifully sunny but uneventful day. It was also the last day of the first session of camp. It rained a LOT. It has rained a lot over the last month. And now, almost mid-July there seems to be some sign of summer actually being here.

Lots has been going on. Nothing in particular stands out at the moment. I have been a regular "Polar Bear" swimmer (and often the only one, not surprising at 7am and in this unseasonably cool weather). I've joined Couch Surfing. I went to the Hillsborough Hot Air Balloon Festival last night. Last weekend was filled with 4th of July fireworks celebrations. Some people I haven't seen in a long time arrived to visit yesterday. There were some French kids at camp last session and I tried to practise on them.

This morning was beautiful and sunny and warm but now it has clouded over and cooled off a bit. Still planning on doing some kayaking on the pond, will be nice to be out on the water even with the wind.

Summer, here we come

Things are about to get very busy very soon. This weekend I am in the middle of taking a WFA (Wilderness First Aid) class which is always a good time. The other day my work day involved building fires, testing the zip line on the ropes course, canoeing, swimming and being backboarded. Okay so maybe the swimming part wasn't legitimate work but everything else was. And everyone needs a break. But then I, of course, had to go back to the office and do officey stuff which, while interesting enough, does not sound as exciting. To make things even better, the weather has been wonderfully sunny and warm. Thumbs up. The really busy stuff starts on Monday when we begin specialized training for Adventure Camp.

And that's that. Here we go!

Jeremiah was a bullfrog

It is great to be back, despite being sick for the second time since arriving and certain other crappy stuff going on in my head. Spring is so green and refreshing, and I love how quintessentially New England my surroundings are. New Hampshire is beautiful. Which makes me want to quote Hutch who, the other day, said "New Hampshire is beautiful, but New Zealand is epic." True story.

I've climbed Mt. Monadnock. I saw a porcupine. I've played with an adorable small child. I've worked some ropes courses. I've soaked up some sunshine on a couple of wonderfully warm days, bathing in eighty degrees of goodness. I have yet to go swimming as I feel that it wouldn't be great for my cold. I discovered the neti pot. I have been reunited with chocolate covered pretzels from Maggie's. I've spent way too much money at EMS.

And I saw a lot of bullfrogs today. Cool.

It doesn't really feel like much time has passed since I've arrived, but I've been here almost three weeks. Time's a funny thing I suppose. And being here has reminded me of how much I love New Hampshire, Peterborough, the people here and all the things that make this place a home to me.

My second home

I'm back in New Hampshire. And aside from the weather being disappointingly like how it was at home (cold and rainy), it is awesome. It's almost as if I had never left. It's just so normal to be around camp, working in the office, seeing everyone again. I'm really looking forward to the summer and seeing a lot more people who I haven't seen in a while.

The flights and airport loitering was long but uneventful, over thirty hours from leaving my house to arriving at camp. I seem to have adjusted quickly to the time difference, feeling a bit groggy when I wake up but not too bad during the day. It's always much harder going back, I've found.

Not much to report, just been settling in, catching up with people, getting started on a bit of work. Summer will be here before I know it and be the one big crazy whirlwind I know it will be.

In no particular order

I'm home.

I've been on an awesome road trip. To Melbourne. From Tea Gardens. I saw Wicked. We went to the Great Ocean Road. We listened to Gives You Hell by The All American Rejects many, many times.

I met a guy.

I started Trading Up. With Emma. Supposedly one day we are going to write a book together based upon our trading adventure.

James Nash is a legend.

I'm leaving again in about twelve days.

I've let my greenness slip a little while I've been away. Shame on me.

I'm currently listening to the Barenaked Ladies.

I briefly visited the grounds of my intermediate and primary schools the other day. So weird.

Lauren is joining me in Europe!

Had my US visa interview today. I think they purposely employ the most intimidating interviewers possible to instill fear in the applicants.

The other night I went to Hamilton for dinner. I ate the richest cheesecake in the world.

I'm in an odd mood and I don't like it.

Same old same old

Nothing new, just the same old things going on. Loving the rain we are having. I think I like it especially since I live in a perpetual summer. But I really do love some serious rain. Puddles are awesome. High water on the dam is cool, even when it overflows onto the walkway. Listening to the rain makes me happy. I want to run and dance around in it. If only my shoes weren't soaking. Well it's not so much my shoes I care about, it's my soggy feet.

Scrapped the Contiki tour in favour of a Top Deck tour, goes to all the same places pretty much, except I'll be camping out instead of staying in hostels and whatnot. That's cool with me. Besides we will apparently have air mattresses. Sweet.

That's pretty much it.