Day 15 part 2: These are a Few of my Favorite Things

Right now I am watching a youth group playing a very funny game! I just got done with the 3rd church visit and I have to say it was pretty good. At first it was weird because I walked into the church and had to find people I never met. But I found them! I talked for 15 minutes and it went really well. Two students signed cards before I started and more are filling out cards now.

A whole week of school visits. Idaho was
still is a little awkward for me but it went better. I have met with a couple of students who really want to go to Corban. Those students are the most encouraging during this long week. None of them want to do individual visits... No ice skating... Sad.

Yesterday I spent the day trying to clean out my refrigerator. I want to finish up all the food so I don't waste it. It was so nice having my own kitchen and I am going to miss it. Only two more nights in my favorite hotel. Then it's back to fast food.

This next week is going to be crazy. I have fairs for four days in a row. And these fairs are all day. I like fairs because they go by fast but I am a little afraid I am going to run out of material. I practically packed two suitcases and I am surprised I am running this low. Hopefully I have enough to make it!

Fun things that have happened this last week:

1. Ate the best tacos for lunch
2. Learned different swimming techniques
3. Met one of the funniest students
4. Bought a dress between school visits
5. Talked to my mom
6. Met a British guy in a hot tub. Seriously...
7. Read ghost stories then couldn't sleep at night
8. Finished 3 seasons of TV shows :)
9. Talked with a high school counselor for an hour
10. Made the worst pasta in the world!

What are ten fun things that happened to you this week?
C Baker

Day 8: Part 2: Finally!/Oh Idaho...

Sorry about not blogging for a while. Here's what happened. My iPad cord finally died. Thanks Beau for giving me the cord that was ripped to shreds. :) I didn't have time till the weekend to buy a new one and my iPad died so I couldn't post. Sorry. But all is well and right with the world. Well sort of... So Idaho is an hour ahead right? Well when I crossed the border my electronics changed, as they should, but it completely ruined my calendar! For some reason all of the times I had for my schools visit moved! Talk about frustrating. I don't know what happened. Unless someone over in Oregon is messing with me!... Katie... Ha ha just kidding. Luckily I packed paper copies so I know the original times I am supposed to meet the schools. And it's also a good thing I caught on early. I was wondering why my first visit in Idaho was during an assembly... That just makes my trip a little more interesting.

Lets see what happened here...

Idaho, not as much fun as I thought it would be. Yeah... Actually it's is kind of a let down. The students here aren't as excited about Corban as the ones in California. And I can't figure out why that is! I actually miss Cali. Who would have thought?

Plus, now I get what all the other counselors are saying when they talk about disrespectful students. Goodness! They steal my candy, they ask questions they know I can't answer, and they disrupt my Presentation! Idaho is hard. Oh! And when i try and pull the "hot guys are at Corban" thing they don't respond... They don't think it's funny. What the heck?

Oh well, I just have to keep a positive attitude.

I love my hotel room though! Some
Of you may have seen the videos or pictures I sent, this room is great! Actually, it's being clean right now as I type. Thank you room service! My room has a kitchen and I bought groceries and it is so wonderful to cook for myself. No fast food! I haven't eaten out for four days!

Side note: What is up with Idaho and no coffee! Seriously! No Starbucks or nothing! I went to target to buy Starbucks coffee in a bag so I can make it every morning. Oh Idaho...

So yeah, the hotel room is great and I enjoy having home base. At the most I drive an hour away and hit all the schools in that town.

I Think that is all for now... Just as the maid finished vacuuming i shall finish this blog. I hope Idaho goes a little smoother. Thanks for reading! Happy travels.

C Baker

XYZ

Always eXamine Your Zipper. I just spent the whole last lunch visit with my zipper down... Good one Courtney!

Day 4 Part 2: Boise Idaho

I love to sing! I really do! I am so hoping there isn't a secret camera in the van because you would see some serious belting of broadway songs. But my favorite part is watching all the drivers around me. Some laugh, some stare, but today I sung a duet! Not exactly sure who it was but they were also rockin out to some tunes! We smiled and danced in our automobiles. It was awesome. Although now that I think about it maybe you shouldn't let the crazy lady have the car that promotes Corban on the van...

Right now I am sitting in a room by myself because the high school counselor that I drove 3 hours to see forgot I was coming. It's fine. At least I get to stretch my legs for a bit. When I was driving to this town I didn't expect to see much. But you know who you can always count on!? McDonalds!! They are everywhere! Good thing, I was getting hungry!

Okay right now the van smells sooooooo gross! I am trying to air it out! The pizza I bought last night for the youth group is still hanging around. Old cheese... Luckily I brought febreez so I have been spraying the van and driving with the windows down. Go away smell!

This school was a bust! I am going to hit the road! Goodbye Oregon hello Idaho!

I will write more later! Oh, remind me to tell you about the sweet/kinda creepy old man at the gas station!

The creepy man yet kind of sweet man at the gas station: he was wearing an old fashion gas station uniform and he looked about 50. He read my name on the credit card it was funny though because he kept calling me Corban. Every time he asked me a question he would stick his head in the car. It was weird. He also gave me a sucker for "being a good girl." Creepy...

I LOVE MY HOTEL! It is so nice. I have a kitchen and it feels like a small little apartment. I could live here! Wait...

Last night I went grocery shopping and that was an adventure. First, I don't really like grocery shopping by myself. I am not good at it, and trust me you can be bad a grocery shopping. Second I was trying to beat the sunrise. I also failed at that. As I was taking in the groceries I was rink about the first story in The Gift of Fear book that we read. Yikes! But I am fine. Third, I locked myself out of my room and there was another rude man in the lobby. Maybe it was the same guy from Starbucks!

C Baker

Day 3 Part 2: another day in Bend

I am sorry guys I wish my days were more eventful. I feel like the blogs I post are really boring. And I bet your thinking "then why still post them...?" Well... I don't have an answer for that.

My day today was a little strange. Not because if anything that happened to me but because I felt like I was a little off today. The school visits were fine and the students were great but it felt off. Has anyone else felt like that? None of the normal jokes were working or I kept stumbling over my words. It was weird.

Tomorrow is my last day in bend and I am kind of sad about that. I got a church visit though! That should be fun. Then I am headed to Idaho!

And now I am watching the social network. I have never seen it before and it's pretty good. Jordan what's your take on this movie? Post it on your blog! Okay I am tired and I want to brush my teeth. Hope all is going well for you! Miss you all!

C Baker
P.S. I think Clint Eastwood is staying in the same hotel as me...

Big Red & Preparations

On behalf of electronically challenged Heidi (her words not mine, don't worry).

 

October 13th; 8:24pm:

 Prepping for a trip can be a tedious process.  You wouldn't think so.  Grab a suitcase, toss in some dress clothes and toiletries, BAM- done.  This is not how the process works for our heroine.  

Let's start with the suitcase itself.  Big Red (named in honor of the Big Red suitcase that bit the dust on my first travel season when I attempted to lug approximately 2000lbs of Corban materials with me in my trusty ginormous red suitcase- I used to be much much stronger than I am present day) is in the garage, behind a step ladder and a 5 foot tall roll of couch plastic and card board that I keep forgetting to break down and throw away/recycle.  No matter, I climb up and over the step ladder to reach over said waiting waste products to claim BR.  Next comes the spider check.  This is the process wherein I kick and slap the large traveling case to "scare" away  any eight-legged creatures  brought to us courtesy of the fall of man.  After a careful inspection for movement, BR is cleared for house entry.  

Now we've moved on to the easy portion of the packing process, right?  Wrong.  Carrying in BR reminds me that I really need to take out my recyclables sitting in my garage.  So why not clean out under the sink for any and all plastic and glass that has been placed there when I'm too timid to tackle the corner of the garage knows to house enormous spiders that cause me to shriek like an eight year old child.  Now seems like a good a time as any, after all, I braved a different corner of the garage.  So like a good Oregonian I gather materials like a squirrel gathering nuts or the winter.  While I'm under the sink, maybe I ought to rearrange the cleaning products stored under there.  I make quick time cataloging what I'm running low on then I move on to smelling all of the different hand soaps I have from bath and body and determine that the fresh summer pear is my current favorite.  I spot my duster and you know, while I'm thinking of it, I really should dust off all surfaces in the house-  I'll be gone for 15 days after all, let's make sure I'm coming back to only 15 days of dust not 22 because that will make such a difference in my life I'll be so thankful.   

Dusting near the TV reminds me that I need to put my DVD's sitting out away, can't leave those out.  Oh look- Modern Family.  I love that show, so funny.  I'll just watch one episode.  Then two.  Oh man,  really need to pack.  I jump up, wash my hands (need to smell the fresh summer pear again) and rush to my room with Big Red.  

Ok, pack... Thus begins the process where I cover my entire bed with outfit possibilities that all compliment my black boots (because I wore them today so they're out and working as my inspiration).  Outfit after outfit lays on the bed displayed as though an actual human was inside warming them.   Sounds simple, but I have to strategically lay them out because the reds laying next to the pink/rose colors causes me to wrinkle my nose in distaste so I move them around so they don't offend me.  Much better.  While arranging clothes I pull out skirts that bring out the great debate- nylons or tights?  So I pull out every pair of tights I own to see all the possibilities.  You know what these gray tights would look good with?  My BROWN boots.  Now I have made a commitment to myself during AK travel season which requires warmer (i.e. literally heavier) clothing- black OR brown, not both.  Packing is lighter this way and I don't get stuck near the end of the trip with a shirt that looks bad with my pants because I forgot which color scheme I was going for... etc.  But MAYBE just this once... so now I pull out the myriad of brown themed clothing options for AK- it is after all, fall.  Why jump straight to my winter clothes?  So more piles on the bed.  I stand back and assess the work and decide I'm too distracted to make actual decisions because I know I need to run a load of laundry before I can feel like I've completed all of my weekly "to-do's." Besides, why come home to another load of laundry.  This seems like a good break time.

Now the laundry is running and I take this opportunity to clean out the dryer filter.  You know... with these front loaders I feel like you can't get ALL the lint and I try to squeeze my fingers into the tiny space carved out for the actual filter to get the bit of lint I can see trapped in the space.  Fingers too fat, too fat... I spot a clothes pin- perfect!  That should give me the extra two inches I need to reach the lint I am spotting.  So I just pinch the lint when my fat sausage fingers fail me and drop the clothes pin into said tiny (but deep) space.  Dang it.  Ok.  Plan B, ignore the lint, get that clothespin out.  After a failed attempt with a flyswatter, I get the salad tongs- too short.  I try to fight once again with the reality that my hand really won't fit in this small space, but clearly not from the lack of sheer will power to try and smash one's hand through the tight space.  Man I really need to pack, It's getting late and I'm getting tired.  I gave up on the clothespin and headed back into my new walk-in closet formerly known as my bedroom.  

The amount of clothes piled up in various mannequin-like positions on my bed was ridiculous.  I wasn't MOVING to Alaska, I'm spending two weeks there.  Ok, I shoulder the courage to remove all traces of brown from the bed.  this helps.  Next I spot three tops I never wear but apparently thought would be so nice for Alaska.  My closet already has to bear the burden of their persistent presence, why should my suitcase join the party?   Ok, This is it.  I'm really packing.  I just start counting for each day of work obligations and college fairs (it's nice to change in-between those  day and evening sessions, you know?).  I hit the magic number and everything else left was banished back to the closet no matter how much I loved them.  Please.  We all know I would rather wear yoga clothes 24/7 if it was appropriate.  I think I'll do without a few favorite dresses.  Plus remember the tights vs. nylons debate?  No time, let's be practical.  Ok.  Suitcase packed.  

Next stop toiletries.  Oh wait... I never did put my latest Group Ride CD onto my iPod (plus isn't it time to back up my new phone?), let's take a break and do that.  Oh hey, I wonder what my Alaskan friends all up to?  I should remind them I'm coming.  So naturally, a quick Facebook check-in.  An hour later after "liking" the status of people I may or may not have gone to high school with in the 90's (no really... that part isn't intended to be funny or hyperbole, I went to HS in the 90's.), I checked my CD.  Oh great, ready to go.  Now how do I get these songs onto my specific song lists again... hmmm.  Where is that button... EVERY TIME.  Ok, back on FB to ask these people (they obviously have time on their hands to help me...).  Three suggestions later I was ready to eject my iPod so happy and updated.  Ok... where was I?   Toiletries.  Oh that's right.

Back to the bathroom in my reclaimed bedroom.   Thankfully I keep a pre-packed toiletry bag.  I'm not being sarcastic here.  If someone says, "free trip to Paris for a whole new wardrobe if you can leave this house in 15 seconds" I can literally open my hall closet to grab my coat, purse, toiletry and bonus- fully packed spare bag of make-up- and head out the door to claim my new clothes.  BUT... why not check it to make sure the contact solution hasn't spilled or to see how close I am to running out of floss?  So the adventure continues.  No big deal really, I just now am obsessed with pairing down things I don't think I'll need (mouse- nope, that's for humid weather- not snow...) and swapping my lightweight SPF moisturizers for the thicker "Alaska proof" creams.  Why not open the make up bag and see if I want anything special for this trip.  Really Stowman?  Does anyone really care if you're wearing the purple eyeliner as opposed to the brown?  News flash- NO ONE WILL KNOW OR CARE.  I finally give up and toss it in for good measure (I care).  Ok.  I'm done.  

Packing really isn't a skill of mine.  But at least I always have dental floss and enough work-out clothes to last me 8 different sessions if I can't do any laundry.  Oh wait... what if I want to go for a run outside?  Just kidding

Day 2 Part 2: I don't know what to call this blog

Busy day! Four school visits and all of them were great! I love this area and all of the schools were so nice. It was at Bend High School that I made the most connections. Three students were really interested and so I asked if they were doing anything after school and they said they weren't. So all four of us drove to Sisters to go get coffee. They had never been there and it was fun introducing them to the coffee house. We had a lot of fun hanging out. I think all three of them are going to come to Corban Experience and that makes me excited. It's fun building relationships! They said they had friends who were also interested in Corban and they want me to meet them! So we might go bowling tomorrow if it works out with their schedule.

Last night I didn't get a lot of sleep, I was just stressing out for some reason. So I am relaxing a lot right now. And no sugar before bed! I got done with coffee at 5:30 so I picked up dinner and locked myself in the hotel and now I am watching movies. I can feel the exhaustion! Once I hit the bed my eyes started getting heavy. So tired...

I hope all things are going well in the office! How are you all doing?

C Baker

Day 1 Part 2: Here We Go Again!

Off to Bend I go! And it's already an adventure.

This morning I packed and started the drive. It was beautiful! There were many moments along the way that I thanked God for the amazing creation that He has made. We are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful area.

I arrived in bend at my hotel around 5. I booked my four nights at the Red Lion. Once I arrived I was so disappointed and frustrated. The Red Lion was not a hotel, it was a motel. It looked sketchy and it was an outside entrance which surprised me. I didn't think Red lions did outside entrances. So I pulled up Priceline to see if I could still get a good rate at a better hotel. I found another hotel that is much better and safer. It was in the budget and because of the room I picked at the Red Lion they aren't charging the whole night stay which is also wonderful!

I like this area I wish I could spend a weekend here. Sarah! I want to float down the river with you again! Maybe this time we won't end up in the pond... I am going to go to Sisters Coffee tomorrow and see if some students want to join.

This time I brought audio books to make the drive fun. I love it! Right now I am reading/listening to The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and it is sooooo good. If you like historic fiction and books during the time of the Third Reich then I would suggest this book. I am only two discs in but the writing is stunning. If you want to know more about it please ask me! I would love to talk about it!

Okay that is all for tonight. Enjoy your Monday morning. I miss you all. It's weird to be back in the travel mode.

C Baker

Road Riddler

A riddle for you:

A renter and a chef took a temperament sorter and dedicated gifts while flowering. Where did they go?

Guesses will be taken and a
reward may
even be given to an
adventurer who is brave enough to
trouble with the meaning of this elusive
But entertaining
riddle I have provided.
Incidentally, I may
traverse the way myself
and happen upon a myriad of
items which would no doubt be delightful
native collections made exotic for said sleuth.