Camille's Maximum Reward

Make it all better

2009-01-12T14:15:00.002-06:00

My oldest daughter went back to college yesterday after the holiday break. Today she called crying; she wants to come home. A month ago she seemed to be loving college life. I don't get it. She wanted me to tell her to come home and everything will be okay. I didn't. I really think she needs to stick it out and at least finish the year, doesn't she?! Am I the meanest mother in the world (something I've been accused of more than once?) I would love to have her home and go to school locally, but I can't let her just give up. Never mind the big bucks my husband and I have forked out for tutition, room and board, books, sorority initiation, etc! Help! Am I doing the right thing??!!
Camille

Back in the Saddle

2009-01-08T14:47:00.003-06:00

So....I've been at my new job for a little over two months now. I am training to be the clerk of Rice Lake Township. It has been an interesting two months; I've learned lots of new things and I am appreciative of that. Sometimes I wonder if this is the job for me, but in this economy I try to remind myself that I am lucky to have found any job. This is a good position with good benefits and flexibility, which really means alot.

Whitney has been home from college for the holidays. It has been so nice to have her home. She has been volunteering in Greta's classroom while she's been here and that has been great for the two of them.

Claudia was quoted in today's Duluth News Tribune: "It's crazy!" was her quote (in response to the reporter's question about the size of this weekend's girls hockey tournament.) She really has a way with words, doesn't she?!
Peace, Camille

a day in the life.....

2008-09-09T11:46:00.002-05:00

It's been a long time since I've blogged - shame on me. Summer is over and the kids are back to school (thank God - I'm not used to being with my kids 24/7!!!) Whitney has settled in at UND after a rough first week. She seems to be in the groove of college life now and has even joined a sorority: Pi Beta Phi. Now I just have to figure out how to pay for it :) We will manage somehow. Claudia is loving 8th grade at HORO. The 8th graders are the top dogs at her school and she thinks that is pretty cool. Greta is a big 1st grader and has her first spelling test on Friday. She is very proud to be a big kid and studying for a test (she'll get over that in a quick hurry, I'm sure!) I'm still not working although I'm searching constantly. I must admit I'm getting really worried. Peace out, Camille

After the holiday

2008-07-07T08:42:00.002-05:00

Here I am back home after a beautiful 4th of July weekend. The weather was really nice, especially yesterday. We all spent lots of time in the lake and on the pontoon boat. The kids, especially, had a blast.

Last week my oldest had her freshman orientation at UND (University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.) It was very exciting to go and visit the campus and get her all registered for her fall classes. I don't think it has sunk in to me yet that she will be off to college in a little over a month. I am very happy for her but at the same time very sad. I suppose that is normal for most parents.

Have a wonderful week!
Cammy

Soccer mom

2008-06-12T10:22:00.002-05:00

I never thought I would be a soccer mom, but here I am. Today (for the second time this season) I get to haul a load of boisterous 13 year old girls to the Twin Cities area for a game. Last time I did this the weather was terrible. The game was delayed for 30 minutes because of lightening and it poured the entire game. I sat in the comfort of my warm, dry vehicle peeking between the steering wheel and the fenceposts on the field to watch the game. I never said I was a GOOD soccer mom. You would think that the girls would have been cold and tired and have slept all the way home, but NOOOOO! I listened to literal shrieking for two and half hours, not to mention the absolute stench of five pairs of smelly, wet soccer shoes, pads and socks. Ugh. I'm bringing some Bounce dryer sheets with me today to at least mask the stench slightly.

Here's to hoping the girls conk out on the way home tonight!
Camille

Weekend adventures

2008-06-08T19:52:00.002-05:00

What a weekend! Friday night the little one had her dressed rehearsal for Saturday's recital. Ugh - like three hours worth. Saturday during the day I planted the rest of my flowers, finally! And it was a beautiful day so it was so nice to be outside and enjoying some sun. I even noticed that Greta got a little bit of sunburn on her shoulders. Saturday night was the recital which was darling, but again a late night. After the recital we celebrated by going to Cold Stone for ice cream. Yummmmm is all I can say to that. I haven't had Cold Stone for so long. I had to kind of perform an Intervention on myself in the Cold Stone department awhile back. The summer before last I was going there on my lunch hour for my daily fix of the Founder's Favorite. Let me tell you this: the Founder's Favorite is BAD for the hips! I had to break myself of the habit before I looked like a blimp!

Today we went to a graduation party, then to Target (Greta starts tennis lessons tomorrow so we needed to get a racket.) Here's how the Target trip goes: I, of course, first hit the dollar section ( I LOVE THE DOLLAR SECTION) - I only found a pair of flip flops for CJ; how disappointing. Then the usual: laundry detergent, kleenex, etc. Then on to the purpose of the trip: the tennis racket. Husband is in charge of the sports stuff, so I step back and watch the show. The choices are this: Dora or Sponge Bob. Isn't it obvious that Dora wins - the Dora racket is pink, after all. But no, it cannot be that easy. All of a sudden, Greta doesn't like Dora anymore (since when????!!!) After a few minutes of drama, it's decided that the Dora racket is to be purchased. So, we check out, get to the gas hog and CJ (middle daughter) says, "Mom, this racket says for age 4 and under." Well, little one will be six next month, so that obviously doesn't work. So much for husband being in charge. Back into Target we go. Return racket, search for next size racket, no dice. On to Dunhams. Thankfully, they have a Barbie racket in her size (Barbie is MUCH better than Dora and gee, only $15.00 MORE! ridiculous!!!!! Then, on to the grocery store for more fun and games. I love the weekend, but I'm glad this one is over!
Peace out,
Camille

Graduation Day

2008-06-04T14:56:00.003-05:00

So, here she is -my oldest daughter on her last day of high school. The first photo is of all three girls and the second photo is the graduate, fresh out of the shower and looking soooo happy! Isn't she gorgeous? Tonight is her commencement ceremony and the all-night grad party. I'm so glad they do that supervised party now. I think back to the night of my own commencement and I wince at the thought of the things we did! I remember that my dad bought me a six pack of Michelob and I thought I was so cool! Now I wouldn't DREAM of buying alcohol for my daughter - funny how the times have changed! I'm so lucky that she is such a good kid!!!

Home Sweet Home

2008-06-03T09:54:00.004-05:00

So, I've been back home for over a week now. In many ways it seems as though I was never gone. From day one I have resumed my normal activities of cleaning house, chasing and hauling kids, looking for a job and helping my husband with his business. Funny how that works, isn't it?

I must say I do miss my construction friends. Although it was a short time that we worked together, because it was 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week it seems like it was much more than just a few weeks. If you're reading, partner - let's try to get together for margaritas or something! I miss you!!

I have returned home a different person. I realize that I have put too much emphasis on what I "have" - that is material things for sure, but also status. It really doesn't matter what you do or what you have - what matters is that you are making a difference in this world. Don't get me wrong - I like nice things- but when you're five year old tells you to stop buying her clothes because her closet is full, you realize that you don't NEED all that stuff (when I was gone my mom counted said five year old's shoes: over 40 pair!!!) I don't NEED to spend hundreds of dollars for an outfit, or hundreds of dollars on vitamins and "health foods" or Arbonne makeup or Longaberger baskets or whatever. I don't need to. Hmmm - it kind of sounds like I'm trying to convince myself, doesn't it? That is true, I suppose. For a long time I have pretty much been the ultimate consumer so now it will take some getting used to to change my ways. Any ideas out there? Any recovering spendthrifts with some advice for me? I may be your biggest challenge yet!

Peace out,
Camille

Almost Home

2008-05-23T22:23:00.006-05:00

Thanks for the comments! I'm really having fun with my blog! I look forward to making new friends and exploring other blogs.

So, I am almost done with my job here in I Falls....tonight and tomorrow night and then I should be able to hit the road and get home. We will only work an eight hour shift (hopefully) tomorrow night - that means I'll be off at 3 a.m. and will go back to the HI and sleep for awhile and plan on being on the road by noon.

The night superintendent asked me what I thought of going from bank VP to a construction trailer. I told him I think everyone should do it. He said the boilermakers say, "It's not just a job, it's an adventure" and that is the truth. This has certainly been the biggest adventure of my life. I have never stepped so far outside of my comfort zone, nor could I have imagined how much fun it would be and how many really interesting people I would meet! I swear, I have a new story to tell every day and I usually laugh to myself all the way home each day. What a crew!

My most recent story comes from my fellow night shift female:
She told me about the time she and her ex-husband had gone out for a night on the town. When they got home he apparently fell asleep (read: passed out) on the sofa. She was in the bedroom yelling for him to come to bed and he wouldn't get up. Soooooo, she took the .357 Magnum from the bedside table (spoken as if we all sleep with a loaded .357 next to the bed) and blew a whole (which she later patched with a cigarette butt) right through the trailer wall to get his attention. She proceeded to relay how she accidentally broke his nose that night, too (that was the first of four times she broke his nose, and the only time it was accidental.) I forget where the broken nose part of the story came in.....I guess I was laughing so hard about the gun shot through the trailer wall that I wasn't paying close attention! How can you not help but have fun here?! Too funny.

Oh - here's another funny thing: Remember the 60 year old guy I wrote about who mooned people on the road last summer? Well, he came in to the office yesterday morning and sat down to chat. I looked at his jeans and saw that he had cut them off at the hems. Apparently he decided they were too long, so he took a scissor, cut them off and put them on. That must have put him a little out of his routine because he forgot to put his belt on. He left and came back a few minutes later with a big yellow rope, complete with duct tape on the ends to prevent fraying, tied around his waist Jethro style. When I asked him what that was all about, he said he has no ass to keep his pants up - not like the rest of these "fat fxxxs around here." Those are his words - not mine! What a character this man is. He really has a heart of gold, though. He makes sure that he gives me a ride to the front gate every morning and calls me "young lady." I had Cheryl take a picture of us the other day so I can show everyone at home who this guy is that I'll be telling stories about for the rest of my life (truly!) I think I kind of embarrassed him by wanting a picture, he seemed a little weird about that. I suppose he thought I was hitting on him! Heehee. Today when he came in he looked at me and said I had a rash above my eye. I said, "No, Billy - that's just a big zit." I don't think he knew what a zit was so I explained: pimple. See what I mean about the stories? They just keep on a-comin'!

Thanks again for the comments and the welcome to the blog world!

Camille

Some things about me.....

2008-05-22T00:21:00.004-05:00

My sister sent me this awhile back. I thought it would be a fun thing to post. What are your answers?

WELCOME TO THE 2008 EDITION OF GETTING TO KNOW YOUR FRIENDS.

1. WHAT TIME DID YOU GET UP THIS MORNING? These days I don't get up in the morning - I get up at 3:30 p.m. to work the night shift.
2. DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? Pearls (my birthstone!)

3. WHAT IS THE LAST FILM THAT YOU SAW AT THE CINEMA? I don't even remember - how bad is that! I truly don't even know!!!!
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? Intervention - what a bunch of crazies - did you see the one with the stripper girl??!!
5. WHAT DO YOU USUALLY HAVE FOR BREAKFAST? Herbalife shake
6. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME? Sue
7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE COLOR? Black - wierd, I know.
8. WHAT CHARACTERISTICS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU? honesty and sincerity
9. WHAT KIND OF CAR DO YOU DRIVE? 2004 Suburban - I wish it was a Kia or Prius or something with the price of gas now.
10 FAVORITE SANDWICH? I'm not much for sandwiches, but the one I remember most is a cream cheese cucumber sandwich I had at a little bar in Stillwater once.
11. WHAT CHARACTERISTIC DO YOU DESPISE? self-centeredness (is that a word??)
12. FAVORITE ITEM OF CLOTHING? my Express jeans (hand-me-downs from my mom, even!)
13 IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD ON VACATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? Venice and Paris
14. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHROOM? Starkly beige. I need my sister and my mom to get up here and decorate!
15. FAVORITE BRAND OF CLOTHING? CAbi (lately)
16. WHERE WOULD YOU RETIRE TO? Florida, I think.
17.. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE BIRTHDAY? my 30th -whew, what fun!
18 .FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH? Basketball (when Whitney played)
22. FAVORITE SAYING? It's hotter than the halls of Hell!
23. WHEN IS YOUR BIRTHDAY? June 10, 1968 (40 right around the corner ugh!)
24. ARE YOU A MORNING OR NIGHT PERSON? most definitely morning
25. WHAT IS YOUR SHOE SIZE? 6 1/2
26. PETS? Three: black lab, Max; gordon setter Keena (funny sidenote: there is a man named Gordon Setter who works here! hee hee,) and pug, Lily
27. ANY NEW AND EXCITING NEWS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I'm working a temporary job on a shut-down at the Boise-Cascade paper mill in International Falls.
28. WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE? a nurse
29. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? I'm kind of lonesome for my family and I want to be home!
30. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CANDY? Lindt truffles. Mmmmmm
31. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER? In the garden: petunias. In a vase: roses
32. WHAT IS A DAY ON THE CALENDAR YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO? The day that this outage is done - Saturday????
33. IF YOU COULD CHANGE CAREERS, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I've been thinking about this a lot lately; hospital administration, I think.
34. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Two way radios buzzing back and forth.
35. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? a peanut butter rice krispie bar with chocolate frosting.
36. DO YOU WISH ON STARS? Sometimes
37. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Black
38. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? Not too bad for the middle of the night- 50ish I would say
39. FAVORITE SOFT DRINK? Crystal Light
40. FAVORITE Restaurant? The Pickwick
41. SIBLINGS? Older brother, Clark; younger sister, Colleen
42. FAVORITE Day? Sunday
43. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? I used to love the lemon skip thing....what was that called???
44. SUMMER OR WINTER? SUMMER

45. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
46. COFFEE OR TEA? Coffee first, tea later
47. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Vanilla
49. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last month when I left Florida and said goodbye to Colleen and her family
50. WHAT IS UNDER YOUR BED? My purse collection and probably lots of dust bunnies
51. WHO IS THE FRIEND THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE LONGEST. My sister
52. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT? Worked, of course.
53. FAVORITE SMELL? baking bread
54. WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? SPIDERS!
55. SALTY OR SWEET? Salty...then sweet
56. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR RING? One, my Suburban
57. HOW MANY YEARS AT YOUR CURRENT JOB? Ummmmmm, less than a month
59. DO YOU MAKE FRIENDS EASILY? no, not so much

Have a wonderful day!
Cammy

Excited to do Laundry!

2008-05-21T01:33:00.004-05:00

How bad is that? I was sooooo excited to do laundry at 4:00 a.m. yesterday. I got to leave work early and I hightailed it to the HI and headed straight for the guest laundry. I had a huge smile on my face the whole time - sick, huh? I only have one thing to say: If you had been wearing dirty clothes for a week straight, you'd be smiling while standing at the washing machine, too! - Even if it is four o'clock in the morning.

Today I had to stop by the Kmart again on my way to work. It wasnt' nearly as fun as the last trip - I needed tampons. I looked in my bag when I got back out to the gas hog and saw what I had bought (besides the tampons): Pop tarts, Crunch 'n Munch and a six pack of Reese's candy bars. Yep, I have my period!

CJ called today to tell me that the 7th graders all had to run a mile today. She ran the fastest (7:13) mile in the whole class! Isn't that cool?! She was getting her retainer fitted today. I can't wait to see those pearly whites!

Miss G apparently got a red card today at school. She went to the bathroom with Justine, which is a no no for them. The two of them tend to egg each other on so Mrs. Weber keeps them seperated. Of course G said she didn't know that Justine was in there. Yeah, right. So her punishment from Daddy was no Subway before dance class. Shawn said she cried all the way from school to dance. Gee, sorry I missed that.

It's another cold night in I-Falls. My butt cheeks freeze on the seat of the portapotty. It's the end of May for God's sake - I'm soooooo sick of wearing my down jacket (and freezing my butt cheeks for that matter.) Actually, at this point I would make a deal that I would wear my down jacket for the next month if only I could pee in my nice, warm bathroom. I promise I won't even bitch about the pee on the seat, honey.

Love ya,
Camille

Another day, another dollar

2008-05-19T21:45:00.004-05:00

Made up with the hubby today. He apologized for being crabby - say's he's just stressed out. I did have to get a few things off my chest, though. I told him that I'm up here working my ass off and peeing in a portapotty and he gets mad because he has to fax a piece of paper to the accountant! Knock it off!!!!! There, I'm fine now. I know it is hard on him to manage the house and kids on his own. I think maybe Grandma better come back up to help.

I talked to Daughter #3 (kindergartner) on her way home from school. I asked her how her day was and she said, "Fine, except Daddy........nevermind." Turns out Daddy forgot to put her tennies in her backpack and Monday is a gym day. Isn't it funny that she wants to protect her Daddy? I wonder how their little minds start to figure that kind of stuff out so early.

Last night on my shift I got to actually go inside of the boiler. I crawled through a little hole and went right on in. It is huge and it's really pretty amazing to think that that whole thing is filled with fire when it's up and running. I was leery about going in, but I doubt that I will ever have the opportunity again - so I did it.

Now it's sounding like I will be working through Saturday night. I'm so ready to go home, but I need the money so I will not complain. I think we may get out of here at 3:00 a.m. today instead of 7:00---yea, a few extra hours so maybe I can get a load of jeans washed at the motel!! Woo hoo!

Sweet Dreams, Camille

My very first blog

2008-05-18T02:15:00.001-05:00

So, here I am.....my very first blog entry. I've never done this before and I'm looking forward to having a creative outlet for my thoughts.

Here I am in International Falls, MN working the night shift in a construction trailer. It's hard for me to imagine that just a few short months ago I was in my comfy, snobby life as a banker. I lost my job, my severance pay ran out, this opportunity arose and I took it. I've been here since April 29th living at the Holiday Inn. I get to work at 5:30 p.m. and get back "home" to the HI at 7:30 a.m. I wear a hardhat and safety goggles to work. I used to wear $700 Carlisle suits to work...how's that for a switch!! I must say that I don't miss the pantyhose, though! Here's a list of my new experiences:

1. Previously mentioned hardhat and safety glasses
2. Learned to use a two way radio (10-4, come in, over, etc....)
3. Drove a golf cart
4. Learned what a "sootblower" is
5. Ate canned venison (it was actually pretty good!)
6. Bought a Boilermakers local #169 t-shirt
7. Have been dubbed "the bucket lady" because of my twice per shift duty of collecting the workers' locks at the end of their shift (and putting them in my bucket, of course)
8. Learned what "brassing" in and out is (see #7 above)
9. Toured a ten story boiler - now I can relate to my dad's boiler stories that I grew up with
10. Told a boilermaker not to get pissy with me (that was a little scary)
11. Learned that boilermakers want to be pipefitters in their next life
12. Have gone 14 hours without washing my hands (thank goodness, at least for Purell)
13. Mailed home a paycheck from a motel
14. Missed daughter #1's senior prom
15. Missed daughter #2 getting her braces off
16. Have worn each of my four pairs of jeans twice without washing them (I'm going on round three tomorrow)
17. Bought panties and socks at Kmart (see #16 above - no time to wash clothes) and here's the really sick part - I actually enjoyed my retail therapy at the KMart today.
18. Met a nearly 60 year old boilermaker who told me a story about he and his friend getting drunk at the cabin and mooning people on the road....when I asked how old he was when he did that he said it was LAST SUMMER!!!! (This is the same guy who brought me the canned venison)
19. Have used a portapotty more in the last three weeks as I have in my entire lifetime. Yuck.
20. Have met a lot of really, really genuinely nice people

That's it for now.
Peace out,
Camille

5.

Sunday? who cares!

2008-05-18T00:16:00.000-05:00

It's Sunday. Usually my Sunday goes something like this: Wake up at 6:00 a.m. or so, make coffee, wake husband to take the dogs for a walk and grab the newspaper out of the mailbox, read paper, work crossword puzzle, veg out, maybe bake something, take a nap, get the calendar posted for the week so everyone knows where to go each day, change the sheets, watch America's Funniest Videos and Extreme Home Makeover with my five year old and go to bed - early! This Sunday, though, is the same as the last fourteen days of my life. None of my usual Sunday stuff here! It's go to work, go to bed, go to work.

It's sounding as though this temporary job is nearing an end.....Tuesday, maybe?? I am ready to go home, but I know that the longer I'm here, the more money goes in the bank. I'm happy to have had the chance to make a few extra bucks.

Husband is getting cranky, though. I spoke with him tonight to give him a to-do list for the week. You know - what bills need to be paid, what report needs to be filed for the business, what the kids have going on this week, etc. Cranky, cranky, cranky. I really tried to do everything I could before I left and I think I did pretty damn good. Oh well, one of the good things about my hubby - he recovers quickly.

I spoke with my brother when I woke up this afternoon. He is feeling pretty good. Only one week left of chemo/radiation therapy. I'm praying that what he's had so far will have killed the cancer and he won't need any further treatment. He's been through hell with this yucky stuff.

Oh- saw a beaver outside of our "office" (trailer) last night. How cool. I'd never seen one live before. Also, on my way up here a few weeks back I saw a mama bear with two little cubs. I'm definitely in God's country.

Peace out,
Cammy