Daniel's Summer Blog

Week 9: Family camp went on as it always does. My shmirot proved to be very easy and good company. The first night, Warwoman and I hung out then were dismissed early, and the second I watched the Reno 911 movie with SBB, both times only babysitting for one family. Shabbat was peaceful, even with the looming threat of packing and leaving. I spent a fun afternoon at the Menks' babysitting, playing set and hanging out. Motzash I packed everything up so it would be ready to load into the car the next morning, when I was due out of the room at 9 AM. Naturally, I woke up with the Oss at 7:30 to load up and then drive down (no point in going back up to an empty room). I watched the US storm back into a soccer game, only to have it tied in the 92nd minute, before putting in my last two hours of work. Unfortunately, I left camp in something of a hurry to beat the bus, and as a result, I missed saying goodbye to a few people who deserved better (sorry!). The drive home with Max was uneventful, minus watching him tip a huge pixie stick into his mouth every five minutes and stopping at Denny's for grub.
The first thing I noticed when I got home was how dim the stars seemed in comparison to camp's sky. This began my process of truly realizing the depression of thinking that I might never return to camp.
Over Shabbat I saw a very old friend of mine from Seminar who was in with her fiance for a local simcha. It was quite a throwback to think about the last time I was a camper for Ramah, and how things have changed in eight years.
Moving was an adventure. First I though I could bring everything in the vans. Wrong. Then I decided to rent an U-haul cargo van. After all, I was just moving two heavy couches plus some boxes. Wrong. First I changed the date, then I upgraded from the van to the 14-foot truck. While this was volume overkill and goes against everything I have ever taught or learned about packing, I needed the three-seater to get my helpers home and the 10-footer only seats two. In the end I also took a desk, a hutch, a full bed and assorted things from friends. I could have easily fit two of everything into the truck, but it was simpler not to layer. Originally, I had feared that we would have to carry everything down one flight of stairs, and then up three. Thankfully, the building I had in mind was not my own, and we parked such that the truck's ramp could be wedged straight across into the hill, skipping over a small flight of stairs. From there it was just one mercifully wide stairway to the apartment.
The apartment itself was as expected, though not quite complete. The kitchen is completely new (score! for less kashering) but was missing some covers between appliances and counters, as well as drywall on the arch into the kitchen. Some more small flaws that I recorded for my new friend Tad, but nothing serious. The outlets work, the windows work, who could ask for anything more. Well, there are no outlets in the bathroom, so I am not sure how I am going to dry my hair. Also grilling is forbidden on the porch, which is standard, but a shame. The door sticks. I have a decent view off the porch, mostly parking lot, but a big old tree that blocks out the other rows of the complex and a treeline off to the left. I believe I face southwest, which will be nice for incoming weather. Time to continue with apartment setup.