Here are a couple more conversations that I heard or (unfortunately) participated in at Disaster Relief last week:
Wilson, the 85 year old, comes up to me on the first day and looks at my hoop earrings.
Wilson: Where are your studs?
Jenna: I decided to wear the hoops today.
Wilson (who has been a nurse for forever, which I didn't know yet): I couldn't believe the things that girls had pierced when they came into the hospital... the nose, the tongue, even the (enter 5 letter word for a private part that begins with "L").
Jenna:... oh (I didn't know what to say, I was so grossed out by this man saying that word by sentence 2 after having met him).
Next, we were on a work site with the people from Americorps who range in age from 18-24. Dee, who volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, is probably in her mid-40's to early-50's. She's built pretty strong, like a softball player, and was wearing a shirt with the sleeves cut off one day. One of the Americorps guys, Danny, age 24, and most likely an Eagle Scout at some point in time was talking to her. This is what I witnessed:
Danny (while looking at her arms): You better get to the vet.
Dee: Why?
Danny: Because those puppies are sick.
Ick.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Old man conversation
This was a conversation that I overheard between Wilson (age 85) and John (age 72) right before a meeting for Disaster Relief last week:
Wilson: Can you tell me when they say something important?
John: I can barely hear them, either.
Wilson and John to Louis (age 28): Will you tell us both when they say something important?
Louis: Sure, but I'm kind of tired and not paying much attention right now.
Wilson: Can you tell me when they say something important?
John: I can barely hear them, either.
Wilson and John to Louis (age 28): Will you tell us both when they say something important?
Louis: Sure, but I'm kind of tired and not paying much attention right now.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Disappointed at the Krispy Kreme
Last Saturday night, I was craving hot chocolate and a donut from Krispy Kreme after day 1 of Disaster Relief. I told Turtle that I was thinking of going and asked if she wanted to come with me, which she did. I ended up asking the other 10 or so volunteers who were there if they wanted us to bring some back for them and everyone put in their orders. This ended up being a bad idea and here's how it all went wrong...
We got there and it seemed like a kind of sketchy neighborhood, so I decided to go through the drive-thru instead of going into the store. I started to read the order and this was the conversation that ensued between the Krispy Kreme Lady and me:
JB: I'd like 1 plain, 5 glazed, 1 strawberry filled...
KKL: We don't have strawberry filled ones.
JB: Ok... (taking a look at the menu)... I'll take a raspberry filled one (it was for Louis, he'll eat anything anyway), then 1 custard filled, 1 eclair...
KKL: What's an eclair?
JB: (thinking, "How can you work at a donut shop and not know what an eclair is?!")... uhh... how about a cream-filled one instead?
KKL: Can you pull up to the window?
JB: Ok...
As we're pulling up, Turtle and I are laughing about how placing a Krispy Kreme order was so complicated that I got called to the front window. I got up there and started reading the list to the lady. I apparently messed up again because she asked me to just hand her the list. We waited, they asked a few more questions about the order, finished getting everything together, and we were on our merry way... or so we thought.
We got back to the church, opened up the box that held 1 dozen donuts and found that 1 glazed and 5 plain ones were included in the order. WHAT?! How was it that they had a list written down in front of them and still got the wrong order?! Then, Dee (who hadn't placed an order and was supposed to be included in the 1 of 5 glazed group) took the 1 custard one that was for Turtle and took a huge bite from it right in front of her. After that, we went inside and became very melodramatic while telling everyone else in our group about our disastrous donut experience. The end.
p.s. This blog probably would have been better if I had written it immediately after it happened, but we didn't have much internet last week.
We got there and it seemed like a kind of sketchy neighborhood, so I decided to go through the drive-thru instead of going into the store. I started to read the order and this was the conversation that ensued between the Krispy Kreme Lady and me:
JB: I'd like 1 plain, 5 glazed, 1 strawberry filled...
KKL: We don't have strawberry filled ones.
JB: Ok... (taking a look at the menu)... I'll take a raspberry filled one (it was for Louis, he'll eat anything anyway), then 1 custard filled, 1 eclair...
KKL: What's an eclair?
JB: (thinking, "How can you work at a donut shop and not know what an eclair is?!")... uhh... how about a cream-filled one instead?
KKL: Can you pull up to the window?
JB: Ok...
As we're pulling up, Turtle and I are laughing about how placing a Krispy Kreme order was so complicated that I got called to the front window. I got up there and started reading the list to the lady. I apparently messed up again because she asked me to just hand her the list. We waited, they asked a few more questions about the order, finished getting everything together, and we were on our merry way... or so we thought.
We got back to the church, opened up the box that held 1 dozen donuts and found that 1 glazed and 5 plain ones were included in the order. WHAT?! How was it that they had a list written down in front of them and still got the wrong order?! Then, Dee (who hadn't placed an order and was supposed to be included in the 1 of 5 glazed group) took the 1 custard one that was for Turtle and took a huge bite from it right in front of her. After that, we went inside and became very melodramatic while telling everyone else in our group about our disastrous donut experience. The end.
p.s. This blog probably would have been better if I had written it immediately after it happened, but we didn't have much internet last week.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
New school year=new kid stories
The new school year began last Monday and with that came a few new stories from the kids... they also made sure to bring their germs with them and caused at least 4 of us to get sick :( (it's cool, I'm fine with sounding like an 80 year old man for probably the 12th time in a year). Anyway, here are a couple of my favorite stories so far:
On the bus ride home, Dakota (who's basically Russell from "Up" with light brown hair) asks, "Did you guys get the plug-in for Lindsey's breathing machine?" Lindsey is his little sister and she has a lot of asthma/allergy problems. She has a nebulizer that goes back and forth from home to school in case she has an asthma attack while she's in our care. If she does happen to have an asthma attack on the bus, we have to plug the nebulizer into a cigarette lighter and that will make it work. The bus didn't originally have a cigarette lighter, so they had to have one installed and that was what Dakota was asking about. He's just being protective of his little sister and making sure that she's taken care of in case something happens to her... he's one of the sweetest kids I've ever met :).
On Wednesday, Kameryn (still the winner of the best Kentucky twang) asks, "Can we go outside on the playground and have a picnic like we used to?" I thought that was cute because it's been at least 3 months since we've had a picnic on the playground, which may as well be 3 years to a 4 year old. I felt honored that she remembered our little tradition.
On the bus ride home on Thursday, Harley tells me that Carson is her boyfriend. I say, "Oooohhh, Harley you have a boyfriend now," just to tease her a little bit and she giggles. Then, Savanna, who's sitting next to her says, "I don't have a boyfriend because boys aren't nothin' but trouble!" It turns out she had heard that from an aunt or something, but it was still pretty hilarious coming out of a 4 year old's mouth.
I'm glad to know that they're still entertaining and can't wait to hear what other things they'll come up with!
On the bus ride home, Dakota (who's basically Russell from "Up" with light brown hair) asks, "Did you guys get the plug-in for Lindsey's breathing machine?" Lindsey is his little sister and she has a lot of asthma/allergy problems. She has a nebulizer that goes back and forth from home to school in case she has an asthma attack while she's in our care. If she does happen to have an asthma attack on the bus, we have to plug the nebulizer into a cigarette lighter and that will make it work. The bus didn't originally have a cigarette lighter, so they had to have one installed and that was what Dakota was asking about. He's just being protective of his little sister and making sure that she's taken care of in case something happens to her... he's one of the sweetest kids I've ever met :).
On Wednesday, Kameryn (still the winner of the best Kentucky twang) asks, "Can we go outside on the playground and have a picnic like we used to?" I thought that was cute because it's been at least 3 months since we've had a picnic on the playground, which may as well be 3 years to a 4 year old. I felt honored that she remembered our little tradition.
On the bus ride home on Thursday, Harley tells me that Carson is her boyfriend. I say, "Oooohhh, Harley you have a boyfriend now," just to tease her a little bit and she giggles. Then, Savanna, who's sitting next to her says, "I don't have a boyfriend because boys aren't nothin' but trouble!" It turns out she had heard that from an aunt or something, but it was still pretty hilarious coming out of a 4 year old's mouth.
I'm glad to know that they're still entertaining and can't wait to hear what other things they'll come up with!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Cute Kid Story from the East Side
Last week, I was at a going away party for Shannon at the Johnson House. Most of the volunteers from the east side were there, but Shannon had also put in a special request to Harold (their volunteer manager) and asked him to bring his 2 daughters, Lena and Makenzie.
This particular story is about Makenzie and Nick (another volunteer), so I need to describe them a little bit. Makenzie's 6 years old and she has cerebral palsy. I've only met her a few times, but I've seen that she has a deep love for other people and a strength that most don't possess during their entire lives, much less by the time they're six. I first met her at Camp Caleb a couple of months ago when I was over at her table and catching up with Harold. Makenzie asked, "Do you want to go outside and play tag with me on the porch?" I, of course, told her that I would because she's absolutely adorable, then we went outside and played for about an hour or so.
Nick is 24, probably 6'5" or so, and he's built like a football player. He has pretty blue eyes and a beard that he probably hasn't shaved in 2 months. He looks like a mountain man when you first meet him, but then you talk to him and realize he's more of the gentle giant type.
I think that's enough back story, so here's the conversation that occurred between Gina (another volunteer) and Makenzie when she arrived for Shannon's party.
Makenzie: Do you know where that guy from the other day is?
Gina: Which guy? Do you remember what he looked like?
Makenzie: A prince.
Apparently, Makenzie has a crush now... it starts so young :).
This particular story is about Makenzie and Nick (another volunteer), so I need to describe them a little bit. Makenzie's 6 years old and she has cerebral palsy. I've only met her a few times, but I've seen that she has a deep love for other people and a strength that most don't possess during their entire lives, much less by the time they're six. I first met her at Camp Caleb a couple of months ago when I was over at her table and catching up with Harold. Makenzie asked, "Do you want to go outside and play tag with me on the porch?" I, of course, told her that I would because she's absolutely adorable, then we went outside and played for about an hour or so.
Nick is 24, probably 6'5" or so, and he's built like a football player. He has pretty blue eyes and a beard that he probably hasn't shaved in 2 months. He looks like a mountain man when you first meet him, but then you talk to him and realize he's more of the gentle giant type.
I think that's enough back story, so here's the conversation that occurred between Gina (another volunteer) and Makenzie when she arrived for Shannon's party.
Makenzie: Do you know where that guy from the other day is?
Gina: Which guy? Do you remember what he looked like?
Makenzie: A prince.
Apparently, Makenzie has a crush now... it starts so young :).
What is my life right now?
During the past 2 weeks, I've been living about 2 hours away from the Rockcastle House on the very eastern side of Kentucky. Week 1 was spent at Camp Shawnee as a counselor for "teen girls' week" (our group had 17 girls ranging in age from 8-11). Week 2 was spent volunteering in housing at the Floyd House because Bridget asked on Sunday, "Do you want to do housing this week instead of day camp?" and I said, "Sure," then moved into their house about 8 hours later. Here are some of the things that made me step back and say to myself, "What is my life right now?" and "Where AM I?"
1) I got lost 2 weeks ago when I drove to Camp Shawnee. I had gotten directions from mapquest, but it turned out that they must be to the place where they receive mail in Prestonsburg because it was definitely not where camp was. I called up to camp and they gave me directions for the rest of the way. I decided to go back a couple of miles to McDonald's to go to the bathroom (in case I got lost on my way to camp) and also ask for directions there because I thought they might be able to draw me a map or something. Brian at camp and the nice McDonald's lady told me to go to 1428 and turn left at 194, then keep going straight, which would be a long way, until I saw the sign for Camp Shawnee. Well, I really paid attention to both of them saying that it would be a long way and ended up passing the camp by about 40 miles :(.
Long story short, I ended up completely lost for about an hour, without cell phone reception, and not a car or house in sight. Finally, once I had been hyperventilating for a few minutes, I saw a car coming from the opposite direction. I waved at her to stop, then asked, "Do you (gasp) know where (gulp) Camp Shawnee (gasp again) is?" She said, "Is that with the Christian Appalachian Project?" I said that it was and she told me, "Don't worry, people are really nice around here." I explained that I knew that people were nice, but that I had gotten completely lost and hadn't seen anyone for awhile. Anyway, she ended up being kind enough to lead me all the way to camp and she pointed out where it was. Camp was about 10 miles from where I had flagged her down on the road, which means that she went about 30 minutes out of her way to show me where it was... I don't think that would happen anywhere else except for here. My favorite part was when I thanked her again for showing me how to get to camp and she said, "I think it was meant to be that I came along."
2) We put new shingles on a woman's house and it turns out that she has a puppet ministry. During one of the times that I wasn't on the roof, I went inside the house and she was doing a puppet show for some of the teenagers in the group that we were working with. It was kind of creepy because she had her mouth closed as if she was a ventriloquist, but it was definitely a male voice coming from the puppet. It turns out that she has a tape that she plays while she does these puppet shows and the puppet is moving its mouth to that while playing a keyboard. It's a detective puppet that sings about the Peace Patrol and I had to listen to the show twice, which was 2 more times than I actually wanted to.
3) Our group was also interviewed by the Paintsville Herald at this woman's house. I found out on Friday that the article made the front page, so I was kind of excited about that. There goes my 15 minutes of fame.
4) At the end of the week, there was a picnic for the groups who had done housing. One of the groups had a couple who does music ministry in it, so they did a little concert in the park for us. It was kind of strange when I realized that I was sitting in a park in Kentucky listening to a couple from Pennsylvania as they sang in Italian (they were singing "The Prayer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli).
5) Yesterday, we went to Robyn's (Jenny's boss') farm to take pictures with bales of hay... we needed new facebook pictures and thought that it would be very Kentucky-like to take them with hay. We got the tour from Robyn, her 13 year old son, Isaac, and her 7 year old niece, Libby. After we had taken the pictures, Libby drove us in the Mule (basically a golf cart) back to the house. I just couldn't believe that we were being driven around by a 7 year old and all of us were fine with it! This wasn't that she was steering and someone else was using the brake or accelerating... all of it was her driving. She did an excellent job, too, and no one was hurt.
Those were the only ones that I could think of for the moment, even though I'm sure that there were plenty more.
1) I got lost 2 weeks ago when I drove to Camp Shawnee. I had gotten directions from mapquest, but it turned out that they must be to the place where they receive mail in Prestonsburg because it was definitely not where camp was. I called up to camp and they gave me directions for the rest of the way. I decided to go back a couple of miles to McDonald's to go to the bathroom (in case I got lost on my way to camp) and also ask for directions there because I thought they might be able to draw me a map or something. Brian at camp and the nice McDonald's lady told me to go to 1428 and turn left at 194, then keep going straight, which would be a long way, until I saw the sign for Camp Shawnee. Well, I really paid attention to both of them saying that it would be a long way and ended up passing the camp by about 40 miles :(.
Long story short, I ended up completely lost for about an hour, without cell phone reception, and not a car or house in sight. Finally, once I had been hyperventilating for a few minutes, I saw a car coming from the opposite direction. I waved at her to stop, then asked, "Do you (gasp) know where (gulp) Camp Shawnee (gasp again) is?" She said, "Is that with the Christian Appalachian Project?" I said that it was and she told me, "Don't worry, people are really nice around here." I explained that I knew that people were nice, but that I had gotten completely lost and hadn't seen anyone for awhile. Anyway, she ended up being kind enough to lead me all the way to camp and she pointed out where it was. Camp was about 10 miles from where I had flagged her down on the road, which means that she went about 30 minutes out of her way to show me where it was... I don't think that would happen anywhere else except for here. My favorite part was when I thanked her again for showing me how to get to camp and she said, "I think it was meant to be that I came along."
2) We put new shingles on a woman's house and it turns out that she has a puppet ministry. During one of the times that I wasn't on the roof, I went inside the house and she was doing a puppet show for some of the teenagers in the group that we were working with. It was kind of creepy because she had her mouth closed as if she was a ventriloquist, but it was definitely a male voice coming from the puppet. It turns out that she has a tape that she plays while she does these puppet shows and the puppet is moving its mouth to that while playing a keyboard. It's a detective puppet that sings about the Peace Patrol and I had to listen to the show twice, which was 2 more times than I actually wanted to.
3) Our group was also interviewed by the Paintsville Herald at this woman's house. I found out on Friday that the article made the front page, so I was kind of excited about that. There goes my 15 minutes of fame.
4) At the end of the week, there was a picnic for the groups who had done housing. One of the groups had a couple who does music ministry in it, so they did a little concert in the park for us. It was kind of strange when I realized that I was sitting in a park in Kentucky listening to a couple from Pennsylvania as they sang in Italian (they were singing "The Prayer" by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli).
5) Yesterday, we went to Robyn's (Jenny's boss') farm to take pictures with bales of hay... we needed new facebook pictures and thought that it would be very Kentucky-like to take them with hay. We got the tour from Robyn, her 13 year old son, Isaac, and her 7 year old niece, Libby. After we had taken the pictures, Libby drove us in the Mule (basically a golf cart) back to the house. I just couldn't believe that we were being driven around by a 7 year old and all of us were fine with it! This wasn't that she was steering and someone else was using the brake or accelerating... all of it was her driving. She did an excellent job, too, and no one was hurt.
Those were the only ones that I could think of for the moment, even though I'm sure that there were plenty more.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Birthday/Father's Day to Daddy Boyd!
It's Father's Day for all of the dads in the world, but my dad gets to double the fun by also having his birthday today. In honor of this momentous occasion, I wanted to write the 10 things that I love about my dad because I can't imagine having a father who's better than him. Plus, I wrote one about my mom on Mother's Day and I don't want him to get gypped out of his own top 10 list :).
1) He loves Jesus more than anything and goes to Him in prayer for guidance in his decisions.
2) He takes amazing care of my mom and has proven over and over that he takes the "in sickness and health" vows seriously (i.e. she's had a ton of surgeries and he's known how to help her every time).
3) He's so proud of his girls and doesn't have any problem telling us that.
4) When I was in graduate school, I got to go to his class and observe him with his students. He's so patient and consistent with the kids, so that made them respect and admire him as their teacher.
5) He's very active and adventurous... surfing (in Indonesia and CA), playing tennis, riding his motorcycle or biking up and down the coast with my mom, going to the gym on a regular basis, etc.
6) Doing acts of service out of love... there have been times when I'd go to visit my parents and I would come outside to find that my car had been washed, he has helped me move spontaneously(more than once), and has helped me put things together in half the time that it would take me to do them by myself.
7) Showing Emmy and me how important it is to keep the spark alive in a marriage. My parents had their weekly date nights while we were growing up, they still hold hands, and it's obvious that he's still as smitten with my mom now as when they were in high school.
8) Keeping our annual father/daughter fancy birthday dinner tradition going. We've gotten to eat some amazing food at some great restaurants (Duke's! Ruth's Chris! The one next to "The Pirates of the Caribbean"!) and I think we've been doing that since my 13th birthday.
9) He gave me a love of Led Zeppelin and great worship music.
10) Pulling Emmy and me out of school when we were kids (and occasionally work as adults) to do something fun like going to Disneyland because he realized the importance of quality time.
I know that I'm a very lucky girl because of the dad that I have!
1) He loves Jesus more than anything and goes to Him in prayer for guidance in his decisions.
2) He takes amazing care of my mom and has proven over and over that he takes the "in sickness and health" vows seriously (i.e. she's had a ton of surgeries and he's known how to help her every time).
3) He's so proud of his girls and doesn't have any problem telling us that.
4) When I was in graduate school, I got to go to his class and observe him with his students. He's so patient and consistent with the kids, so that made them respect and admire him as their teacher.
5) He's very active and adventurous... surfing (in Indonesia and CA), playing tennis, riding his motorcycle or biking up and down the coast with my mom, going to the gym on a regular basis, etc.
6) Doing acts of service out of love... there have been times when I'd go to visit my parents and I would come outside to find that my car had been washed, he has helped me move spontaneously(more than once), and has helped me put things together in half the time that it would take me to do them by myself.
7) Showing Emmy and me how important it is to keep the spark alive in a marriage. My parents had their weekly date nights while we were growing up, they still hold hands, and it's obvious that he's still as smitten with my mom now as when they were in high school.
8) Keeping our annual father/daughter fancy birthday dinner tradition going. We've gotten to eat some amazing food at some great restaurants (Duke's! Ruth's Chris! The one next to "The Pirates of the Caribbean"!) and I think we've been doing that since my 13th birthday.
9) He gave me a love of Led Zeppelin and great worship music.
10) Pulling Emmy and me out of school when we were kids (and occasionally work as adults) to do something fun like going to Disneyland because he realized the importance of quality time.
I know that I'm a very lucky girl because of the dad that I have!
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