The Half and Half Day

I call today the half and half day because it is half Supreme Assembly and half fun trip. The Supreme Assembly portion had one more set of Jurisdictional Skits, and then it was closing, Supreme closing is soooo different and there were parts of it that really bothered me. Then they sang a state specific song that I have never ever heard before. Also, I forgot to mention that during this time was the Acting Supreme Worthy Advisor Sammie's remarks, they were beautiful (of course) and I feel like if I can be even a third of the Grand Worthy Advisor she is it will be a major accomplishment. Then there was a break before Supreme Installation and finally finally finally Team Oregon got to sit together. Then came Supreme Installation which basically was like a normal Open Installation of Officers except that it was a lot shorter, which was really nice. No one believed me that it would be short but I had faith and I was able to do the I told you so dance.

After Installation we went to the Tavern in the Hilton (not a real Tavern, that is just in the name) for lunch, there they have a special waaayyyy less expensive menu just for the Rainbow Girls. Last time we ate there I had the fancy-ed up Mac and Cheese which was delicious and this time I had the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup. The tomato soup was fancy and delicious and it may re-appear later in this blog,so pretty please pay attention or don't, not like it matters. Post delicious lunch we changed and it was tie for the first of many adventures over the next few days.

This adventure was Old Market, we walked around so like previous entries, I'm just going to hit you with the highlights:
-We got the most delicious ice cream ever from Maggie Moos, mine was Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream which I may or may not be addicted to now
-We found the perfect gift for Alena
-We bought henna stuff :D
- We took a 10 minute ride on the "Princess-mobile" which was this carriage looking thing which was awesome
and we did the princess wave and saw almost everyone
-the adults missed the bus, that was exciting

Lastly we had dinner at the Old Mattress Factory with possibly the coolest waiter ever, seriously, it was ridiculous, he was funny and sarcastic, and responsive and helpful and pretty much awesome. I wrote him a letter, I will not be posting that picture online, ever, I ran away when he started reading it even though it was silly and stupid and I signed it from all the Rainbow girls.

Taylor and I then had some quality pool time which was really nice and a good way to relax and unwind.

Finally we actually used the henna, that was a real adventure

Thats today, see you tomorrow

Space Cadet Addition to the Big Day

I totally forgot CAVALCADE OF FLAGS! That tells you how tired I am. Oh well, it deserves a blog post all on its own, it was amazing, I took over 400 pictures, Kenzie and I are going to attempt to make a flip book out of them.

I think thats really it.

Supreme: The Big Day

I call this the big day because we had 3 supreme session today. So the day starts off with a little shuttle bus because that seems to be how we're rollin' these days although honestly I'd rather be rollin' a segway because they seem pretty awesome plus I have the parody "White & Nerdy" by Weird Al stuck in my head. Off to session one. This was formal opening and then initiation, then SKITS! But not just any skit, it was time for Oregon to be in almost the middle of that group of jurisdictional skit representatives. I'm proud of myself because I was actually able to say it from memory without having to consult my cheat sheet and this was a minimal amount of whole body shaking. The one major downside is that I'm pretty sure my voice sounded funny because I have a deep voice to begin with and I'm some what losing my voice, although my "losing my voice" never gets worse than raspy, I swear, its like impossible for me to lose my voice and I talk...A LOT! Anywho my voice sounded funny over the microphone but part of that may have been the echo which weirded me out a little bit. Then it was off to the girls luncheon, I love all girls events because I didn't realize how addicted I was to swaps until I actually got into it but oh my goodness it is a lot of fun. Also, we had a salad for lunch which in the mind of teenage girls (except me because I have seem my mothers lunches) does not actually count as a full lunch. Then there was an entertaining skit about a caterpillar's mock initiation into becoming a butterfly featuring the grand jurisdictions of Texas and California. Oh, must not forget when I mention this lunch that I have to mention the bubbles, I took lots of pictures of the girls blowing bubbles, apparently its the best meal give away ever, something to keep in mind I suppose.

Now comes the sad part, WE MISSED ALENA'S PRELUDE stupid buses, there weren't enough of them and everything was running late and it was terrible. I feel really bad because that was a big honor for both Alena and Oregon Rainbow, I am anxious to hear the recording that Mrs. Weidrich made, to re-live (kind of) Alena's piece. Then was afternoon session which was a very nice, very relaxed session, that in a nutshell went SKITS, Supreme Choir Selection, SKITS. It was quick though which was good because we were able to head to dinner.

We went to something called the "Union Bar" and we all got half price appetizers which I'm pretty sure are the best things ever. Seriously. No joke. best thing ever. Also, we were able to watch drama unfold on a GIGANTIC projector screen, I had no idea what was going on, that football guy, Brett Far-v (if your Kenzie)or Fav-ray (if your Alena) was doing something or other and people cared. Nadine just says he is old and not hot like some other football player, Olivia and I talked about her installation instead.

Then evening session, Oregon was (somewhat) suprised with another honor, Olivia was invited to sing during the Supreme Officers March in drill, which is pretty much crazy cool. She did amazing. Then some other stuff happened, we didn't win ritual awards but we are still very proud. I very much enjoyed listening to Mrs. Little's address although secretly I'm a little disappointed that she doesn't sound more Canadian. I hope someday I can hear an Australian Supreme Worthy Advisor speak.

Next comes the girls mixer, not a lot to go into here, I'm getting tired so I'm just going to shoot you with the cliff notes:
-Justin Bieber sings like a girl
- I rocked out to Love Shack with the Acting Supreme Worthy Advisor (crazy cool)
-We left early
-There was definitely a thunderstorm and possibly a monsoon type thing and 50 miles from us there was a tornado warning
-The light rain when we were finally let outside was warm and unpleasant

Last events of the day were my impromptu role as Town Crier and Cupcake Fairy and a wonderful but all to short phone call with Kyle.

Its WAAAAAAYYYY past my bedtime, see you tomorrow.

Supreme Day 2 and 3

Yesterday started with a devotional service which was actually pretty cool, they had these rainbow flags that they used as part of the floor work which was pretty neat. Then the Supreme Officers (with some minor changes) performed the memorial service which is different than ours but still has some of the same components. Then we had the Grand Cross Service and Brunch. The food at the brunch was interesting, I've never had a quiche with a sweet pie crust which I thought was just kinda weird. The one major upside to Grand Cross Brunch was that we made a connection with the delegation from Aruba and now are planning a trip their for July 2011 which I am absolutely stoked for because I will be the GWA then. So when I get home the research begins on getting a passport because I haven't had a new one since I was like 6 months old. After the Grand Cross Brunch we went shopping in the vendors room which was pretty cool I got one of the new blue rituals and saw a GIGANTIC rainbow crown, I don't know if I could balance the thing on my head, the good news is I don't think Mrs. Noah is even considering it. After our little shopping break we had mixers with our different groups which turned out to be a little bit of a production but it all worked out. After the mixer we had ritual practice and then we went to the Supreme Banquet which was cool there was a talent section and then a performance by this amazing acapella group and in case I haven't mentioned it, I absolutely love acapella music, we have an all male and an all female group at Willamette and they are both absolutely amazing. Then after the banquet we had another ritual practice, at this practice I got it word perfect which made me really really happy because I worked hard because this is really important to me. Then it took 12 years for us to get back to the hotel because there has been all sort of frustration and miscommunication and annoyance with the bus/shuttle/transportation system. It was late when we got back but we stayed up late enough to say happy birthday to Taylor on Omaha time.

Then we woke up RIDICULOUSLY early to go to an Oregon only breakfast to celebrate Taylor's birthday and Mrs. Wilson's almost two years as Acting Supreme Recorder. This breakfast was good except honestly I don't remember a lot of it because I was soooo dang tired. Then we had one more team ritual practice. Then the other girls got to go back and sleep but I had a jurisdictional skit practice which went by really fast, but I got some cool swaps and got to talk to the girls which is always really fun. I'm sitting between Ohio and Vermont and they are both really nice. Then finally it was my turn to go back and take a nap which was pretty glorious I must say. Then we had a quick lunch and got ready to leave again. We finally performed our team ritual work for real and we actually did a really good job. Then I ironed my dress and waited around for what felt like forever before I was able to do my individual ritual competition. My individual did not go very well but I am choosing to be proud of myself because I made the effort and I tried. After that I celebrated with some raspberry sorbet because the other girls were having supreme choir practice. Then we had dinner, which in my case was a very delicious fancy-ed up version of mac and cheese. It was awesome. Then we were off to the civic center for informal opening. Overall the introductions seemed to go by fairly fast and I thought it was a good session. I took lots of pictures but they aren't the best because the setting that has the best lighting for that room does not have the best zoom capabilities so you win some you lose some. We got back to the hotel earlier than I expected to which was pretty nice and we got to just relax and do what we wanted for a couple hours, which is how I was finally able to update this blog that no one reads.

All for now, except that I need to steal Taylor's Supreme Officers dress because it is gorgeous.

My Stupid Sickness and some more exciting events

I've been rambling on about going to Omaha long enough I might as well give an update once we get there. The flights were relatively good, I slept through the 2nd one (Denver to Omaha) which was exactly what I needed at the time because it gave me enough energy once I got to Omaha to get my hair up and to get to lunch and to rush at lunch and to get to practice. I wasn't one of the first ones to Jurisdictional Skit Practice but I wasn't the last either, so that made me happy because I'm such a freak about time and everything, I just want to be early and to know what is going on. I just really want to be in control of everything. I can't help it. I think thats why I act so motherly over all the girls because its a way I can have control but still show them that I care and if I am saying something in that sort of mom tone I do it because I want something to be better for them. Honestly, I really like being the mom, its not like I force it or like I try it just sort of comes out and thats the way I act and if they are okay with it and don't think I'm being overly controlling or too overbearing then maybe it is just a system that works. Maybe for this year I can just be the "Mama Turtle". I stole this from Nevada, their GWAA is their "Mama and then whatever the mascot is" so this year Jennifer is their "Mama Bug" Its just such a nice idea because I totally understand that sometimes the GWA just has too much stuff going on or too many things to do and so if I can be there for the girls whenever they need me I really love that and it makes me happy that I am able to do that for them.

Anyway, the rest of the Omaha trip, past Jurisdictional Skit Practice, was pretty much one big stomach and head ache, they just hurt and it was not okay. I spent a lot of time laying in bed from then on just resting because I really had no energy to move and when I did bother to move my stomach ache just got worse. The adults (Mrs. Trushiem and Mrs. Dole, I don't know if the other ones knew or cared) were pretty nice about it and let me skip dinner and brought me back some chicken noodle soup, which was really salty but absolutely delicious.

The only thing I have left before sleep is that I really want to wait until Kyle gets off work because I haven't really been able to talk to him and I just have this feeling that he is having a bad day at work, the only problem with that is the stupid time difference. It will be midnight here by the time he gets off work and then he still has to drive home before we can really even talk and so it'll probably end up being 1 before I go to bed which is a really really really stupid idea considering the sleeping schedule that I have been on recently so I'm going to try and prevent it, but I care about him so really, what can I do?

Omaha and other ramblings

In creating this title I realized my 3 titles so far have started with O's, how weird is that. I'm supposed to be asleep right now, I told Kyle I was going to sleep but I can't until I at least get this out. Hopefully it won't take long and I always attempt to stay awake until he responds anyway.

So Omaha this year is the location of Supreme Assembly, and I have so many feelings on this mystical event, and I keep wishing I would have gone to Chicago, but at that point in my Rainbow career I really just wasn't ready and you know, I know that and I'm okay with that, but the problem now is that I have to face Omaha as my first Supreme Assembly. I'm freaked out, okay, I admit it. I am completely and totally freaked out about going. I'm scared that I'll be too shy to meet anyone, or that the people I do meet won't like me. I'm scared that I'll get lost or get left or just I don't know not enjoy the whole experience. Then at the same time I'm getting really amped up that I get to be a part of this amazing International event, its pretty much crazy. I'm going to be a Jurisdictional Skit Representative which means I have to get up in front of everyone and talk about Oregon Rainbow which also scares me especially since I am supposed to have that thing memorized and I don't because I have been working so darn hard on memorizing all of my ritual work for supreme. Its just all one big jumbled mess in my mind and I'm not sure what to do. I guess the best thing I can do is go to bed, pack when I feel ready and get on that plane to Omaha and see what happens.

Oi!

As one may have noticed, (or not noticed since I don't tell anyone about this blog, and its just kind of a place for me to splatter my thoughts everywhere) I don't update this blog very much. Its not to say I don't want to, I actually think of things that I want to say all the time, but then I get distracted or don't feel like I have enough to say or can't finish my thoughts, or I don't know if my thoughts are publishable. Therefore it ends up with one post a month (if I'm lucky). I'm going to try to start doing better in preparation for my Grand Worthy Advisor's blog, because I hope that I can update that one on an event to event basis. As in go to an event then write a blog, that way the website stays completely up to date with my travels.

Its so weird to say that. Pretty much any time I talk about myself like that, about next year about me being GWA it weirds me out a little bit. I'm an only child (I accidentally typed chile first, I'm an only chile teehee) so I like the spotlight to a certain extent, but most of the time I'm not very good at being the center of attention, I'm not good at letting people make a fuss over me. I feel like I'm not worth it I guess. So I think it is going to be hard for me to balance and know when its appropriate for me to just let people recognize me for my accomplishments. I'm going to make an attempt to keep my self grounded, especially this year when I'm making all of my plans and getting things all set up, to not let myself get too high and mighty. It will especially be important next year. I'm going to try and be really nice to my page and make sure that she knows that she is amazing and I appreciate all of the work that she does.

With that being said, I'm getting really excited. It was really important to me to have everything set for my presentation at Grandie Retreat before I left for Supreme. Now its all set and Mrs. Smith has approved it all and I'm really happy with my first choice and my second choice plans. I love love love my mascot, he is soooo cute, that is why I am hiding him even from myself. (He is in a bag under my desk) That way I can focus on doing everything I can to make this year with Dreamer (my turtle) a great year.

I'm getting hungry so its food time, I'm going to attempt to write more often, so you who stumble on this blog don't be strangers, okay?