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Thursday, January 28, 2016

Home is Where the Heart is?

Hello everyone!

There's something that's been weighing on my mind lately, and I want to hear some thoughts on it!

So, the past four and a half months I have been in a long distance relationship with Connor while he's up at Fort Gordon.  While its not the first time I've been in a long distance relationship, or been away from Connor for an extended period of time, it definitely has not been the easiest.  Before Connor, I was in a long distance relationship that transitioned out of one when I transferred schools.  So, I went from being in a long distance relationship to being in the same town as my significant other.
Now, I'm going from being in the same place as my significant other to being in a long distance relationship.

It's got me thinking: which do you think is harder? Going from a long distance relationship first, to being in the same place as your significant other? Or going from being in the same place as your significant other first, and then being in a long distance relationship?

For me, I really can't decide which one I find harder. I do know that I am very ready to be back in the same place as Connor! Shoot, even just being in the same state would be nice! I can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts on this.



Until next time,
Brandt

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

It's Going to be OK

Last week, I shared what I will miss the most about Florida.  This week, I've decided to share what I'm most excited about in Oklahoma!  Gotta keep the positive vibes out there, ya know?  After a ton of research and Googling, here's what I cant wait to see in The Sooner State!
  1. Oklahoma City, OK
    Honestly, just everything about OKC.  I've heard that it's truly a good time, and I am all about that. Obviously, there are already some sporting events I want to check out.  UF's former basketball coach, Billy Donovan, is now the head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder.  So, of course I want to see a game.  There is also a minor league baseball team there, the Oklahoma City Dodgers.  My heart is so full knowing I'm close to minor league baseball. Other than that, I'm just ready to see what the city has to offer. Not to mention, their tagline is "OKC-ing is Believing" so I might already be obsessed. On their website, there are monthly festivals listed. I can't wait to check those out! We all know I love a good monthly festival (see this post, #1)! If I had to narrow it down though, I will be checking out three particular things first.  The Boathouse District, Stockyards City, and the Bricktown Entertainment District. A trip to the Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Gardens will shortly follow. (Side note: everyone should check out their website, because it is phenomenal AND filled with OKC puns.)
  2. Oklahoma Sooners Athletics
    Since we'll be closer to Norman (roughly an hour), I think I've decided to go the University of Oklahoma route as opposed to Oklahoma State University.  Stillwater is almost three hours away, so I might only visit once.  I'm all about a school with rich tradition, especially when it comes to athletics. Oklahoma definitely has some in their program.  I can't wait to yell "Boomer, Sooner" in Memorial Stadium with 82,000 other Sooner fans. Oklahoma also has a men's gymnastics team, which is something I've never seen live. So that's on the list of things to check out as well. I know it's going to be hard for me to get used to being this far from Gainesville, but I'm willing to give it a shot.
  3. Outdoor Activities
    Connor and I love to be outside!  We like going exploring and enjoying what Mother Nature has to offer.  I think Oklahoma will be so good for this. There are definitely different landscapes for us to tackle. There are two places that have caught my eye that are directly in Lawton.  The first is a placed called The Holy City. It appears that this is a re-creation of what Israel looked like during Biblical times.  During Easter, they perform a play called "The Prince of Peace."  Looks like a pretty unique place, and definitely seems to deserve a look. The next is Comanche Nation Waterpark.  I haven't been to a water park in about three or four years.  However, Oklahoma is SO hot during the summer.  This seems like it could be a fun way to beat the heat, and I love a good lazy river.  I'll keep you posted on whether or not Connor actually agrees to this one. Another area I'm very excited to check out is very close to Fort Sill! Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area or LETRA, is an outdoor recreation area where you can camp, fish, bike, and hike! During the summer, they offer a swimming area, a water slide, paddle boats, kayaks, and canoes. This sounds awesome, and I can't wait to check it out as soon as it warms up in Oklahoma! Overall, I'm just excited for the mountains and the brand new terrain to see! I'll let you know in a few months how I feel about the snow. 
  4. Native American Culture
    So, I've been to Fort Sill once before and I remember hearing Native American radio stations.  How neat is that?!  Due to our heritage, my mom is obsessed with the Native American culture.  I even remember going to Pow Wows growing up.  Personally, I don't know that much about the Native Americans.  I think this will be a really cool experience to learn more about it, and maybe teach my mom a thing or two!
  5. STARTING A LIFE WITH CONNOR!!!!
    Alright, alright. I know this isn't a location or anything unique to Oklahoma. It is probably what I'm most excited about when it comes to Oklahoma though. I can't wait for us to have our own space. We always talk about how we're going to decorate our new apartment and what we want to have in there. It's so exciting and fun to think about. Plus, we can get a dog!!! I can't wait for us to finally be in the same state again.  Most importantly, I absolutely cannot wait to not have to say goodbye. There is no one else I'd rather go on this adventure with, or do it for. I'll never forget the moment I (accidentally) saw Connor's orders and read Fort Sill. My heart sank. It was not one of the posts on his list, and not what I had in mind.  Over time, we have learned to get excited about it.  I'd be lying if I wasn't secretly hoping for somewhere a little cooler for our next post though! Either way, I can't wait to take on Oklahoma with my partner in crime. 
There you have it, some things I'm excited about in Oklahoma! I would also like to add that I'm not too upset about our proximity to Texas either.  I wouldn't make taking some time to explore our neighboring state as well.  Other than that, I'm planning to take this adventure head on! If you have tips on any places or events I shouldn't miss while I'm there, send them to me!

Until next time,
Brandt

Saturday, January 23, 2016

DIY: Clothespin Photo Frame



As a crafty person, I decided I'd try to make as much stuff for the wedding as I could.  The wedding basics (venue, photography, food, etc..) are expensive enough, so I put my skills to the test.  When looking for a way to do table assignments, I stumbled across a ton of ideas on Pinterest that used old picture frames and clothespins. Easy and inexpensive?  Sure, I'll give it a try.

Step 1: Acquire materials.
Honestly, I only used 4 items to make this happen. If you play your cards right, this project will only cost about $25-30. Here's a breakdown of what you'll need:
  • Frame. My intention was to find a huge frame at a local thrift shop or garage sale, but no such luck. If you can manage this, props to you!  In my case, I found one at Hobby Lobby.  These alone can usually run $30, but Hobby Lobby is notorious for 50% off sales.  In fact, it looks like they're on sale right now. Mine looked pretty similar, if not exactly, like this one: 
Barnwood Open Frame - 2" Wide
Pretty sure I went with the 12" by 16" frame, but that's really up to you on how big you want to go.
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue
Mini Clothespins 25/Pkg-Natural

  • Jute. You'll need this to line the inside of the frame.  I happened to have a ton already from other wedding crafts, but I did purchase it at WalMart for a low price of $1.97. You could also use twine or some other fun form of string. My goal was to get a rustic feel for the wedding. 
  • Glue. I had some from another project I did awhile ago. It's called Tacky Glue and you can pick it up at most craft stores for roughly $1.29. A trusty glue gun would also do a fabulous job here.
  • Clothespins.  I went with mini ones that were a couple of dollars at WalMart and came in a pack of 20 or so.  Most craft stores have the mini ones.  You could use larger ones if you have a bigger frame, or plan to hang only a few items inside. 

Step 2: Put it all together!
From here, you'll just need to cut the jute and glue it to the back edges of the frame. I did 4 rows because of how much I wanted to hang inside the frame. Depending on how much you're looking to hang in there, you could use more or less. Tip: Measure out one strand first and make it almost the whole width of the actual frame, not just the open space. Then cut about 3 (or however many rows you'd like) more. Once the jute is glued down (and secure), go ahead and hang the clothespins! 
Here's my finished frame!
You're done! For around $20 (or $30 if your frame maybe wasn't on sale), you can have this adorable and very useful piece! I would keep an eye out for craft store coupons if you'll need to buy anything for this project.  I'm most excited to keep this and use it in our house after the wedding.  I'm thinking I can put cards and photos in it.  Are you looking to make one of these? Be sure to share your photos with me!

Until next time,
Brandt

Friday, January 22, 2016

A Sunshine State of Mind

I had a revelation today.  This is my last full month in Florida.  Having lived here since 1995, this is kind of a big deal.  In case you haven't heard, Connor has been assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  This means as soon as we're married, that's where we'll be headed together.  With the wedding and the big move being next month, I can't believe my time in Florida is winding down.  It's been 21 years since I've lived anywhere other than the Sunshine State.  In fact, I barely remember living in Pennsylvania. So, it's really got me thinking of everything I'll miss about this little slice of heaven.  I made a list, and narrowed it down (you're welcome) to the five things I'll miss the most.  (Obviously, I'll miss my family and friends and other various people the most.  I just figured that goes without saying.)


  1. Publix
    If you've ever had the pleasure of eating anything from a Publix deli, you understand where I am coming from.  There is nothing a Publix sub cannot fix.  A staple to any summer beach trip, a true comfort food, and a college kids dream.  Sure, there are other great places nationwide to get subs, but nothing will ever take the place of a good Publix sub.  Not to mention their fried chicken, and other deli treats, are so good!  And then there's a cake from Publix.  Their buttercream icing is perfect.  Ugh, and the sweet tea.  Publix is just a supplier of some great comforts, and they do not exist too far out of the South.  I also had the honor of living in Lakeland (where Publix was founded), where you can't go more than a few miles without one.  This place is so much more to me than a supermarket.  The brand and company itself has worked it's way into my heart.  I will miss Publix the moment we get to Oklahoma. 
  2. The Beach
    This one probably goes without saying.  You get so spoiled living in Florida.  I've never been more than 2 hours from a beach.  Shoot, I even went to college pretty much on the beach for 3 years.  There is something magical about sun and saltwater.  I truly believe it can heal anything. My biggest regret is that over the past year, I haven't had enough time by the water.  And now it'll be awhile before I'm around it again.  Now I know there are lakes and rivers.  But lets be real, those are not the beach.  I don't know if I could pick a favorite beach, but I am a huge fan of the Gulf Coast.  I hope that I can return to it very soon.  Ideally, Key West.  Here's to hoping I make it back to the salty seas sooner than later once the trek begins. 
  3. Florida Strawberry Festival
    Okay, I might be partial to Plant City, but the Strawberry Festival is a must every spring.  There is always great food and entertainment, and it goes on for weeks. Last year, it was like a 20 minute drive from my apartment and I wish I would've gone more than once.  Connor and I saw Craig Morgan, and even though we watched from the free bleachers, it was still awesome!  I have a picture of the rides all lit up from where we were sitting just after the sun went down and its one that I will cherish when we're gone.  I love that the festival celebrates agriculture and the local farmers.  Overall, it is a really fun time! There are a ton of rides to play on.  The food is so good and you can get anything you'd imagine in a fried form (even a Recce's cup!). We're just barely missing it this year, but hopefully someday we'll make it back while it's going on!
  4. SEC Football
    Go ahead and roll your eyes, I get that a lot.  In my defense, it's been a huge part of my life for the past 20 years (especially this year).  Growing up in The Gator Nation was seriously one of the funnest parts of my childhood.  I remember going to countless football, basketball, and baseball games when I was younger.  Honestly, my love of sports probably stemmed from this.  I love the feel of a college campus on a Saturday.  I say SEC football specifically, because it's all I've ever known.  There's just something about it being 95 degrees out and watching some mid afternoon football.  Not to mention when it's a conference like the SEC whether loved or hated, it's always making waves.  Now, it's time for me to learn a thing or two about Big 12 football. Boomer, sooner!
  5. Spring Training
    Alright, I'm sorry for the fact that  two of these five are sports related.  It's what I do, remember?  This is something that is so incredibly unique to Florida though (okay, and Arizona)!  Every February, 15 teams make the trip down to various parts of warm, sunny Florida and essentially begin their seasons.  Even though I didn't really love baseball until last year, Spring Training has always been fun for me. My aunt and uncle would come down in March every year to watch the Phillies in Clearwater, and usually take me to a game or two.  Then, I got to be on the other side and work during Spring Training for the Tigers. The energy you feel at a Spring Training game is so refreshing.  Most "snow birds" will plan whole vacations around a Spring Training schedule.  These fans have traveled far and the players are finally back on the field.  It may be really hot, but it's nothing an ice cold lemonade and hot dog can't fix! My heart breaks that I won't be around to experience this in 2016. 
Now don't get me wrong, I am definitely excited for this new Oklahoma adventure. I've been scoping out some things I'm already excited for over there.  However, my heart will always be here.  My heart will be eating a Publix sub, on the beach, planning my trips to the Strawberry festival and sporting events.  While Florida has a ton of awesome adventures to offer, these are my favorites.  Want to hear about more of them?  Have some favorites of your own? Know anything I absolutely must to do when I get to Oklahoma? Let me hear 'em!
Until next time,
Brandt
(for only 30 more days, but we'll get to that later)

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

A 'Cup'le of Gift Ideas



[I’m not even going to try to apologize for not posting in a while. Unfortunately, the blog has taken to the back burner.  I would love to promise I’ll be at it more, but I don’t want to get your hopes up. However, here is a little something I whipped up for you all.]

The holidays are approaching!!! Usually, Christmas isn’t that exciting for me. It’s almost like any other day. I do really love Christmas lights and cookies and (most importantly) Christmas Eve candlelight service at my church. With the holidays comes a huge rush to buy gifts for others (and yourself, of course). So I thought I’d do another product review!!!!!

If you know me, or ever went into a cabinet in my kitchen, you’d see that I have a serious cup problem.  I love a good cup. I buy tons of good cups. On top of that Connor also loves a good cup, especially souvenir cups…..

For the most part, I love a classic Tervis tumbler. I have them in all shapes and sizes. I have lids to go with them, handles for when I’m on the go, and even a few straws. They keep your drinks hot, or cold, and are fun and customizable. You can wash them in the dishwasher, which is always a plus. I think they make an awesome gift, and will always accept a new one when it comes my way. Throughout college, Tervis tumblers were my best friend. Taking coffee to class? Tervis. Late night in the library? Tervis. Working out? Tervis water bottle. Going to a party? Tervis. You get it. You can put your name on them, your favorite sports team probably has a line, or there’s even one with a bunch of puppies on it. Seriously, they rock. If I haven’t already sold you on one, they also come with a lifetime guarantee. These cups will last you a lifetime. They’re pretty close to being indestructible. I’ve driven away with one on the roof of my car, and when it hit the ground it didn’t even break. (Pro tip: don’t touch them with sunscreen hands, they are not safe from that.) Overall, 10/10. I never thought I’d add another type of cup to my collection.

Recently, a cup has come along that has really challenged my love for my ole Terivs tumblers. The Yeti Rambler. They come in 10oz. (low ball), 20oz., and 30oz. sizes.  I have the 20oz (because I’m used to the 24oz. Tervis) and Connor has the 30oz.  Yeti is a company that primarily makes coolers that are great for serious outdoor activity such as fishing, camping, and hunting. Their stuff is meant to be used hard and put under some serious conditions. The coolers they make will keep stuff cold for days, and can be put through some tough stuff. Am I serious enough for one of those? No. Not at all. Do I love this cup? Yes. Very much. This cup is the best thing ever when it comes to tailgating or bonfires. It will keep ice cold for hours and hours on end. Much longer than my Tervis. It will keep your drink hot for that long too. I’m a huge fan of the 20oz. only because 30oz. of anything is too much for me. No matter the size, it will keep all of the liquid hot or cold for a solid 12 hours (that’s my own rough estimate, no promises on that). This cup has really changed the game. Heads up if you’re trying to get your hands on one of these bad boys, good luck. Because of how awesome they are, it seems like everywhere (at least in Florida) seems to have them backordered. So keep your eyes and ears peeled for places that have them.

Tervis vs. Yeti

When it comes to customization and design, the Tervis wins out here. With yeti, they aren’t yet very customizable unless you get an awesome sticker or decal to put on it. So if you're going for more of a design, go for the Tervis.
 The Tervis also wins when you look at the price. For anywhere from $10 to $25, you can have a Tervis and possibly even a lid. A Yeti will run you at least $30, depending on the size.
 Accessories are still few and far between for the Yeti, as well. A Tervis can have a lid, a straw, a handle, and many different shapes and sizes. Yetis still only come with one standard lid and cup.
 When it comes to keeping a liquid hot or cold for long hours, the Yeti definitely takes the prize. Yetis hold ice or warmth hours after a Tervis. My Yeti goes pretty much everywhere with me because of this reason-work, football games, anywhere. When I bought it, I wasn't sure I really was that into it. After about a week or so, I was in love and did not regret spending $35 on it at all.

At the end of the day, I use both on the regular. Usually, my Yeti goes to work with me, my Tervis waterbottle goes to the gym with me, and then I drink out of a Tervis again when I get home. They both have their pros and cons. Tervis are more appealing for the home and everyday wear. The Yeti is more for traveling or for when you're on the go. They both would make stellar holiday gifts for a girl or a guy, and I definitely recommend giving a few this year. Have any cups that you’re wild about? Let me hear all about them!

Until next time,
Brandt

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Are my dreams big enough?

Disclaimer: Usually, I put a lot of planning and work into a post.  Today, I realized there was something on my mind that I needed to share.  So, this post may end up sloppy, but I promise its 100% full of passion straight from my heart.

I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard or read "If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough."  I'd have enough money to make at least one of my post-grad loan payments.  I saw this phrase a ton throughout college, but it never really resonated with me the way it should have since I was in college to purse my dreams.  [In case you haven't caught on by now, my dream has been to pursue a career in the sports industry.]  Then again, in college I was never really sure how exactly my dreams were going to come true, I just knew what I wanted.  However, in 2015 I have finally realized what the heck this phrase truly means.

During my last two months in college, I was desperately trying to find my way into sports.  I was even willing to do unpaid internships while working another job on the side to pay bills.  Anything that could get me into sports would do.  Then I landed probably the most incredible internship of my life (see the post before this to hear more about that) with the Detroit Tigers.  As excited as I was for what was to come, I found myself pretty terrified too.  Sure, I had a college degree, but also like next to no experience in sports or sales.  Most days I would wake up so scared of what was to come, especially if we were going to be doing something new.  The ticket office freaked me out.  Taking phone orders? No way.  Fulfilling Spring Training season tickets? Someone else please.  Those first few months I finally realized working towards your goals can be so scary.  By the end of the internship, I was not afraid of some of the things I was scared of in January.  Am I still scared of some tasks I did at Tiger Town? Oh yes, but I am more comfortable doing said things.

Fast forward.  It's October (say what?) and I'm now working in two positions with the University Athletic Association (UAA) at the University of Florida.  Basically, I work in accounting (full time) and the student ticket office (part time) for Gator Athletics.  Pretty cool, right? I think so. Here's the thing though: I still get scared. I have way more experience than I did when I graduated last December.  These jobs are something totally new to me though.  I worked in the ticket office for the Tigers, but never as much as I am at UF.  Accounting? I would've never imagined working in an accounting department. So yeah, I still get scared.  Scared to make mistakes and scared that I will fail in these positions.  I get so scared because I also love the heck out of doing this stuff.  Working in athletics has just stolen my heart. I can't imagine going a day where I'm not surrounded by one, or twenty, sports. I don't want there to come a day where I'm not doing it. That's why I finally understand that if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough.

They scare me, but they've also built me.  I know I said I was scared with the Tigers and I'm still scared at UF.  What I didn't say is that on the other end of that, I'm also so much more confident in myself than that first month at with the Tigers.  With my new position in accounting, I have to learn so much and it's mostly stuff I've never done before. Its okay though, because I know I can learn it and do it.  I learned and did things that I had never done before at my internship, and I can do it now.  I get scared, but I don't let it stop me.  That has probably been the most important lesson I have learned in 2015.  My dreams are big, and they scare me almost every day.  But I love what I do, and this is what I've got to do to reach those dreams.  Push myself out of my comfort zone if I have to, and learn how to do the things to make my dreams come true.

I know this might not seem that big, or I probably seem late to the game.  But it's been huge for me this past week (and this past year) to finally understand how scary dreams can be.  I've had to work hard to keep the dream alive.  Shoot, until the full time position in accounting was offered to me, I had made a whopping $33 working in the ticket office.  Even though I'm living at home, that is not enough.  I held on though, and once again I'll be doing what I want to do.
So seriously, if you know what your dream is keep working at it.  Sometimes you won't know what you're doing or how you're going to get there, but if you keep with it you'll get there and it'll be the coolest thing ever.  It won't always be easy or fun, but it'll be so stinkin' rewarding that you'll be glad you never stopped.

Until next time,
Brandt

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Baseball and camp. Two American classics.

Instead of doing a predictable recap of my internship, I thought I would show you guys how being a camp counselor really prepared me to work for a baseball team (particularly a minor league one).
Let's back up for a second though, shall we? So, I've been pretty low key about my internship and what exactly it entailed. However, it is now over and I am prepared to share some of the details. In January, I started a full time internship with the Detroit Tigers for their Lakeland Operations. What this means is I worked for the Tigers during their Spring Training and then for their Advanced A team, the Lakeland Flying Tigers. I specifically worked in group sales, but got to do a little bit of everything. January through March were a blast! We got to see the excitement, and craziness, that is Spring Training. Starting in April, we began the minor league season where I feel a lot of the learning took place. Now that we're kind of up to speed, here's how working in baseball was kind of like being a camp counselor.

At the particular camp I worked at we all arrived and spent about a week together before campers arrived. We called it orientation week, or O week. After that, we had 8 weeks of campers ahead of us. This internship was 8 months long and January was kind of like O week. We spent most of it preparing for the day that coaches and players would arrive from Detroit. After that, some of them would remain here until the season was over.
At camp, each Monday a new group of campers arrived. This was their only week with us, and everything was new and exciting. For us, sometimes things were not new and losing excitement. If it was your third week on middle school in a row, you might not be as hyped on things.  However, it was important to be excited for the kids because this was their one shot to enjoy it. No matter how many times you had sang a song or painted nails or eaten hot dogs; you had to remember this was the one chance you got to experience it with this group of kids. Now let's think about Spring Training. At Joker Marchant Stadium, we hosted 18 home Spring Training games. For the most part, people were coming to one game out of those 18 and that was it. They had planned their whole vacation around this, maybe even their whole year. They lived for this. Because of this, we run every Spring game pretty similarly-same promotions each game, same order, and same routines. I don't think the excitement of Spring Training never truly went away. However, it was easy for some of the days to become really repetitive. It was important to remember that for the fans, we had to treat every day like Opening Day. This was their only day at the park. It always reminded me of a new week at camp.

My particular position dealt a lot with kids, and I loved it!  I was in charge of birthday parties and a program we have called Baseball Buddies. Baseball Buddies allows little league baseball or softball leagues to stand on the field with our team during the National Anthem. Not only did I organize them, I was also responsible for them on game days. Thank God for all of my experience with kids of all ages.  Sometimes I would need to walk the kids around the stadium or line them up or just simply have fun with them. Thankfully, I remembered all those silly games I'd play with my campers while we were waiting for something to start or while we were walking from one place to the next. Not to mention I knew how to just talk to the kids! Once you graduate college, it can sometimes be hard to talk to children (the youths, if you will).  Baseball camps and clinics were always super fun for me because I loved being with the kids because it was easy for me.

A huge lesson I learned at camp was how to be intentional and selfless, and that has been a huge part of working in this industry. Being intentional has been a huge part of our relationship with the fans here. We are so intentional. From visiting fans in suites to making birthday party memorable, we really work hard to make sure fans have the best experience possible.  We are so sure to keep them updated on things, as well as included in things. We take the time to talk to season ticket holders.  We announce birthdays over the PA. Not sure where your seat is? We walk you to it. It reminds me of when I was a lifeguard at camp. Our instructor always pushed being intentional and how important it was. I was reminded of that over and over again at the stadium. There's also a million ways (or close) I could think of how selfless we are.  We eat when we can, we go out of our way to help a fan, and we don't stop until the game is over (even if that means pulling tarp twice and not finishing until midnight). There were plenty of times I didn't think I could climb the stairs again but my birthday party needed ketchup. Honestly, these are things that should be expected but sadly are not found at every ballpark. We work so hard to make each game more than just the baseball happening on the field, but an entertaining night to everyone in attendance. We work unusual and long hours, but it's so rewarding in the end. That's how it was at camp.  Each week we had new campers, and we always treated it like it was week one.

Never would I ever have thought that working at a summer camp would have set me up for a minor league baseball gig.  Sure, camp was work experience and a great leadership position.  In hindsight, it was so much more than that.  When you stop working at camp, it's so typical to say you've gotta get back to the "real world" and get a "real job" (even though what we do there is very much real and very much a job).  I used to say that all of the time because I was a business major and no where close to thinking working with kids all summer would help me work towards my goals. It was just a rewarding and fun way to spend my summers.  Now, I see how completely wrong I was by thinking that.  So, I guess what my main point was here is this: I never thought being a camp counselor could help me achieve my dreams of working in sports.  Truth is that I think camp taught me the (second) most amount of skills for working in sports (school being the first). So here's to two really awesome life changing events that turned out to work hand in hand with each other! Have any questions about working my internship in baseball? Were you ever a camp counselor? Do you have any funny stories about baseball or summer camp? Let me hear them!

Until next time,
Brandt