Heros

Hey guys

Here is an exerpt from my former camp directors blog,

The Journey

September 22nd, 2006 at 3:18 pm (Heroes, The Hero's Journey)

The Hero’s Journey ends with a return home. Consider Frodo returning to the Shire after travelling the world. This return is always as a slightly different person, with a slightly different perspective.

T.S. Eliot wrote,

“We shall not cease from our exploration
And at the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time”

As I begin my new journey, I expect to return to this place with a new appreciation. Currently my opinion is tarnished by those most regularly surrounding me. There are moments where I see the results of this journey I am ending; a phone call from a long-time camper, first-time counselor telling me how much I have meant to him; or an email from a counselor thanking me for a great summer. My hope is that when I close the doors on this one, it will be with a happy heart.

To which i commented ;

1. Jamie the Great said,

   September 24, 2006 at 9:04 pm

   If there was ever a more perfect version of the heroe’s journey, its the one you’re finishing right now. You showed that to me in that slideshow you played in staff training. You arrived in this country with nothing, just like I have. You worked hard and well, Completeing your trials if you will, and you have emerged as the master of both worlds. You have moved from the hero into the role of advisor, the person that helps or trains the hero. You are the obi wan of the camp world. From apprentice to master.

   What i’m trying to say, is that you’ve helped so many people over the years, even the ones that havent said it because they’re too shy or too proud or whatever the case may be. You havent just completed your journey, you’ve helped create so many others.

   I remember that it’s your fault I was pulled down this rabbit hole… You hired me in London!

   Keep it safe…

   Jamie

And then we found this a few days later:

The Mentor

September 25th, 2006 at 10:26 am (Heroes, The Hero's Journey)

The hero rarely completes a journey without a mentor. Thank you Jamie for your comment. I have only recognized myself as an advisor or mentor in the last couple of years. Just as one must accept the role of hero to fully experience the journey, one must be proud to actively fill the role as mentor. A mentor cannot properly fulfill their role in a hero’s journey unless they choose to. Often the mentor is the spark that begins a hero’s journey - thus being the most important person in the journey.

Back on the old blog I had a post on mentors. There was a quote from Pamela Slim: “The reason a great mentor is so effective is that you can learn from someone who has already walked down your path and therefore has tested, practical advice.”

Imagine Harry Potter’s journey if Hagrid hadn’t bothered to help. Imagine the life of Luke Skywalker if Obi-wan Kenobi had chosen to keep his heritage a secret. I’m proud to have been that person sitting at a table in London seeing the hero in the skateboard carrying man from Essex.

I think that what this is showing me is that not only am i gonna miss Matt a lot, because he has been my personal Hagrid for the last year or so, but also that there are a lot of similarities between what he's done and what i'm doing. Really Matt has a gift for seeing the good in people. wether its good with kids, or simply just a good heart, Matt is THE best man for the job he is in right now. Thats why it's such a shame he's leaving.

I can see so many similarities between us, it makes me wonder what lies ahed. But, as always, the butterflies will create the hurricanes that shape our future.

If you dont know what that means, check out my first post on here ever,

Keep it safe kids

Jamie
Veg
Banana

Yeah... this is my rant.

Hey y'all,

Thats american for "Hello Everybody".

So, I noticed the Yank posted a sneaky picture of me at the michigan game. Now, i'm not one to argue with a woman (you'll almost never win...), Especially one that you're dating (you'll NEVER win), But I think the obvious reason the game was rained off for the first time in 70 years was that the central Michigan players, in a desperate attempt to postpone the horrendous loss, hired a "Native american" (Indian), To perform a raindance of noah like proportions...

That seems logical right?

A N Y ways, I'm writing this with a vile taste in my mouth. No, I didn't eat the camp chicken, this was caused by something much worse...

Have any of you seen trailers for the film "The Covenant"?

If so, wash your eyes with some hydrogen peroxide and repress that memory as soon as you can. Go on, squish it further down than that memory of you wetting yourself in year 8. (the bathrooms were out of order...)

Now, this film wasnt just bad... It was so damned awful that there was never more of a reason to boo. Its so hard to describe whats wrong with this film that i dont even know where to begin... Forced acting, cliches, wires showing...

Ok, ok, i'm gonna compose myself... I got a little wound up then. The point the film was ruined for me was right at the start, which is never nice...

The first scene... the very first scene... the lead guy opens his mouth and says something... and I can tell you, i felt a whole new feeling. It was like someone far away sent you a package, and when you open it, it's full of rocks. Ugly brown rocks. This film had so much potential, but then they go and hire the worst actors ever, and i've seen jet li movies.

I like to immerse myself in my films. When I go to the cinema, I like to forget everything, and just enjoy the film. I know it's not real, but it's nice to not have to do anything except watch and relax. This film reminded me that it was a film every time somone spoke... The "Actors" were so bad at delivering the poor lines, it was like having someone poke you in the ears... constantly.

The dialogue did nothing for them, the screenplay must have been written by a monkey using his own crap as a pencil. Here is an example of the kind of this we had to endure;

Female romantic interest : "I'm scared..."
Lead "actor" : "Don't be..."

-Awkward silence...-

-Actors hug-

Let me put this in context. This man is about to go fight the man who is supposed to be killing him later. The best he can come up with is dont be? I bet the actor himself wrote that line... He seemed about as deep as a splashed puddle...

I mentioned cliches... well the worst one of all was the characters themselves. The lead five boys. (Yes, there was 5 of them. I know one didnt have any lines and stayed in the back, like the shy kids at the nativitys)

There was the all American hero, good in school and loved by all the girls, The pretty boy rebel who makes girls melt when he looks at them (He also had trendy long hair, like them young 'uns today), There was the bad guy, notoriously evil and willing to do anything to get what he wants. There was the bad-good guy, Such an outcast in the group, *sigh* he's so misunderstood... He wears fingerless gloves and resents the fact he's not the strongest one... poor thing... and lastly, the quiet guy. Thats all i can say about him, he had the personality of beige wallpaper (which is slightly more than the rest of them) and blended into the backround just as well.

Then we have the soundtrack...

The exectutive director or whatever useless title he gave himself must have sat there and thought "Well, we're aiming this film at those goth kids... the ones that think they're misunderstood poets who practise wicca and wear those long jackets... well, they listen to that "Heavy metal" stuff dont they... Lets make every song on this track slamming drums, wailing guitars and no words... that'll please them..."

Then, just to make everyone else happy, he puts in some sappy music for the love interest. I SWEAR right after having a slipknot-esque sound track during the fight, he goes and puts something like Britney spears (the young version) on right after. Its like they couldnt decide who to aim the film at. They tried to please everyone, but all they did was make a film that, if i hadent been sitting in the middle of a row of seven of us, i would have left from. I've only ever done that once before. Those of you who know me know that i LOVE movies, and for me to not watch something is a big deal...

Also, when there is a male shower scene, complete with full back nakedness (butts) and towel whipping ('cause thats what guys do y'know, whip towels at each other... like men...) You know something is wrong with the film...

Aside from all that (read - everything!) the story itself was a good one. Classic good versus bad, but i liked the story, if you can look past the cliches and bad acting. Go see it if you're a 10 - 13 year old goth, who secretly likes pop music...

Yeah... thats a lot of people...

Keep it safe kids...

Jamie
Veg
Banana

I have a new pet!

Well, two really!

This is one of them... His name is blue! I have decided that living in the staff apartments on my own will be kinda dull and boring... so I got me some low-maintenence pets!

They live in this small cage, which they like to climb the walls of. The hermit crabs are great pets because they need so little looking after! All they ask from me is a squirt from the spray bottle (it makes them come out their shells! They don't need it, they just really like it!) and some popcorn every now and then (through careful experimentation, me and the Yank have found that they enjoy popcorn most of all!).

They may be ugly to some, and scary to me... but they're soo cute as well! When i'm in the apartments on my own, nothing to do, i'll try and whip out some pictures of the little guys together!



Today we were packing up all katies stuff into the cars so we can move her into school tomorrow! It's my job to build the futon (for non yanks like me, thats a sofabed ;) ) and I think it'll be the best damned futon in the world!

Also, i had an eye exam and aparantly in America, it's standard to have your pupils dialated, and then examined for... i think Glocoma... or something like that.

A N Y ways, I had it done (picture goodness as soon as I can) and so for about 4 hours todayI was walking around looking like some stoned hippy with huggge pupils... seriously, there was only a small ring of my sexy, ravishing green eyes left. Normal daylight hurt 'cause there was no filtering!

And they said it was the best thing for me... yeah...

But hey! It was free, so i'm not complaining! There's not a lot i wouldnt take for free, although i have no doubt that you guys can find something...

And, as promised (Cap'n B) A picture of me actually standing while waterskiing!



Keep it safe kiddies!

Jamie
Veg
Banana

"Shut up, shut up, shut up, don't wanna hear it,
Get out, get out, get out of my way,
Step up, step up, step up, You'll never stop me,
Nothing you say today is gonna bring me down!" - Simple plan - Shutup.

Good lyrics... Might even have to buy one of their albums...