Toxic Mold and Story Telling: Staff Training 101

So camp has finally begun...

I no longer sit in an office alone, I am no longer a solitary force that moves from registration to registration. People are everywhere and I have begun to find my place in the crowd of staff.

I have started to notice a few things. The first day of camp my table was the last to fill up. I sat and a good friend of mine joined me but the highschoolers went together on their owe adventures. But as I sat and recalled tales of old with my dear friend, halirity would ensue. He would laugh. I would laugh. It was great.

The next day a few other people began joining us. Laughing along and waiting for me to share a story that makes people laugh. Finally today I noticed that not only was my seat saved as my own. But people were flocking to the table just to take part in these stories. (Ironic thing is I am running out but don't tell anyone) I just find it funny that people move to where the action is.

Anyways last night I achieved some staple camp moments. We had our first campfire, we moved a giant pile of brush and I fell out of my chair at dinner. But I had an entirely different experience in the evening. TOXIC MOLD. Joy upon joy. Its as black as night and twice as thick. Its grimmy, gross and gruesome. It was attached to bored and boy did it smell bad. But it was a new experience. That my friends is camp life... so far.

Patman the Pat Esq.

The Magic Blog: Its like white on rice

There was a blog that was little
that's color made it invisible
So if you highlight this text
You no longer be vexed
By this blog's intriguing riddle

So if you've solved the riddle of the blog be happy, proud but tell no one or else.

Peer Pressure: Everybody Reads

Well I have been overlooking a blog or two these last couple days and I have noticed that everybody puts quotes from books in their blog. And so, I, being a 'blogger' (the closest thing I'll ever be to a jogger) must include a post with a quote to make my blog complete and relevant. And so from Donald Miller's "Through Painted Deserts" I give you this scene. They have reached the grand canyon and wish to climb down it. They search for a map. :

Paul bypasses the brochures and the rock exhibit, making his way to the counter where a young girl in a brown uniform stands with a fake smile.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes. We were needing a trail map for the cayon."

"Are you going down?" She asks.

"Yes," one of us says.

"Do you have a permit yet?"

"Well, I didn't know for sure if we needed one," Paul remarks.

"You do," she says.

"We do," I say, lifting my eyebrows. I pull out my Blockbuster video card and set it on the counter. She looks at it confused, then back to Paul.

And there you have it. Deal with it. Learn from it. But most of all laugh... cause I tell you to.

Summer Reruns: Live from New York

Funny experience today. I was flipping through the channels and I saw Saturday Night Live. It was a wonderful scene, Christmas in fact, and I was shocked to find out that "Live from New York it was Saturday night." Now although it was saturday night I just couldn't figure out why they were celebrating Christmas in June. I racked my brain, did some research on the net and found out that this episode was not in fact 'live.' I felt like a fool. All this time I thought it was a clever little play on our holiday traditions but no, it was a hoax.

But I like reruns. Otherwise I would download a lot of tv or spend alot more on DVDs.

Anways Merry Christmas.
Patman the Pat

Summer Reruns: "Live from New York"

Funny experience today. I was flipping through the channels and I saw Saturday Night Live. It was a wonderful scene, Christmas in fact, and I was shocked to find out that "Live from New York it was Saturday night." Now although it was saturday night I just couldn't figure out why they were celebrating Christmas in June. I racked my brain, did some research on the net and found out that this episode was not in fact 'live.' I felt like a fool. All this time I thought it was a clever little play on our holiday traditions but no, it was a hoax.

But I like reruns. Otherwise I would download a lot of tv or spend alot more on DVDs.

Anways Merry Christmas.
Patman the Pat

"I don't think the bearded lady is running around throwing eggs at people"

1980- I wasn't around. I don't really understand that world. And franky I've never understood Duran Duran. But I think high school has always been the same.

1999- I was around. I didn't really understand that world. And I hadn't figured out Duran Duran but I discovered the 80's classic the 'Rubik's Cube' And high school was just around the corner for me.

2006- I'm still around. I don't really understand the world (but I pretend I do). Duran Duran is aparently working as alook a like group for Dan Young, Nathan Colquhoun and 'Al Housel' (I never saw it). (See Below)

But what does this have to do with the bearded lady and eggs. Well about two months ago I had visited Jon Nip (My smallville and DVD supplier) to borrow a new show on DVD and he gave me his most prized collection "Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series." 6 DVDs with 18 episodes, one never aired. This little known TV show from 2000 was set in the 80s and was about a boy, Sam, and a girl, Lindsay, in high school. The boy was a Geek and the girl was a Freak. They were brother and sister and they were trying to grow up in the complex world of high school.

The show tackled issues like divorce, tough home lives, step-parents, rebellion and rocking out. It made a pretty good show on that premise alone. But not only that, mixed with the realism in the show was comedy. It was tackling issues and tickling our funny bones. It could go from sadness to laughter in a matter of seconds.

The show had great characters such as a hippie guidance councellor that wants to be 'cool,' a wise geek that offers advice to the younger geeks, and parents that will make you wonder why some people procreate.

My favorite character was Bill he was a geek and pretty much was born to play a geek (as far as I can tell)


My Favorite episode was "Tricks or Treats" where the line in the title comes from.

This was a well written show but only lasted for one season. Watch it if you can.

Pat, Man! the Pat

One Small Step for Man...

Well, amidst the paper work, fan dusting, carpet cleaning, the entire Lord of the Rings series this week I have been reinspired to an old favorite of mine.

I think we can all remember the first time we saw Windows 95. The fresh computer came out of the box, the trackball on wheels called a mouse was clicking for the first time, and we were met with that Logo we would all love and hate for the rest of our lives (see Above). And as all of us do we turned right to the free games that came with the computer.

1.Mine Sweeper- We had been there and done that with the exciting graphics of Win 3.1

2.Free Cell- with a million different senarios who would ever tire of that game. Well I always made it to number 15 and grow weary. But still a good game.

3.Solitaire- The name alone signifies the dynamic qualities of the game but we all play it and we all love it.

4.Hearts- Enter the name of three friends or enemies to play against you. But always remember that eventually without human contact you will continue to try to "shoot to the moon" just to see if you can trick the impervious logic of the computer (which you can and you will).

But all of this is just a preamble to the real topic at hand today. I have three words for you: Space Cadet 3D Pinball. The happy man in the space ship greets you with a wave. You smile and think the computer loves you. The sound effects of the machine warming up fill you with joy and a sence of great adventure. You locate the letter 'Z' key as the left paddle and the '? or /' key as your right paddle. You press spacebar and the ball jumps into action. As the ball plummels toward the right paddle you get anxious and press the '>' key and send the machine into TILT and lose your first ball. It was a successful trial run that nobody could take away from you.

At this point, if you are anything like me, you hit the "F2" key and hope your family wasn't watching (you have a reputation to keep up). After hours and hours of play you eventually realize that there is a bit of a step by step action to the game involving the launch ramp, various mission and that strange circle of lights in the middle of table. Then finally after a couple more hours of play you realize you are wasting your life playing pinball on your computer and go do your homework or take a walk. But you always return to your 48th love: Space Cadet Pinball.

Its a good game, lots of fun and everyone has it so I suggest a challenge to all of us. Lets post our high scores and compare them. My highest right now is 6,372,000. But I'm shooting for the moon. Secondly what level can you get to in the game. I've only ever advanced to the second level of yellow dots in the middle.Remember honesty is a pretty good policy ( some say 'the best') Anyways get out there and become master Pinballers.

So become intense players, don't work, don't eat and don't sleep... Like this guy:

(Although I'm confident this guy works and eats)

Patmane Le Pate

"Fest" We Forget

Well its time for another "Pat was watching TV and saw something that only his friends can really understand" moment.
It was a night or two ago and I was watching an episode of Futurama. They had embarked on an adventure to go fishing (that's right quality television). Anyways Bender, the beloved glutton who don't listen to nuttin, accepting the challenge to catch the biggest fish takes a parasol and makes a hook, uses diamond filament line and snags Hermes sandwhich. Hermes yells "Hey that's my Manwhich." For those of you who don't know of the Legendary Manwhich then you don't talk to Brad Longard or Dan Young enough and you should probably start. Then again you should have heard it from me too.

The Adventures in Manwhiches have led us to not one but TWO Manwhich-Fests (Where-in Dr. Penner came to one), The discover of a song that starts "I don't want her you can have her...." And many more good times.

I propose a toast to those who discovered and celebrated the Manwhich over the year. Dan... Brad... this one's for you.

Patman the Pat

A Job?

This one is for the males out there.

I have a job that I can offer to one male here at Camp Norland. You need to have been in university for atleast one year and need to have been accepted for a second year. Its to be a cabin leader in a cabin and you will also be working for a church in the area. (For those of you who know what I did last summer its the same position) It pays well enough for two months (between 2500 and 3000 I believe. And you get room and board for the two months) anyways let me know at rubic_@hotmail.com.

P-at M-an t-he P-at

(Tell everyone and anyone we need the staff)

The Legend of Beggar Vance: Adversity 101

I was home this very evening enjoying a movie in the late of the night: "The Legend of Bagger Vance." At one point in the movie, during the first round of golf (It's a golf movie), the main character Randolf Juna is no where near winning the round and is frustrated. His caddy Bagger Vance comes to him at the last tee and says "Do you wanna quit Mr. Juna? No body would mind, you walk of the course today and make everyone elses day easier." Juna looks at him and says "You know I can't do that." Bagger says "I know I just wanted to make sure you know."

I wonder if sometimes God does that to us. Struggles build upon struggles and we need to learn through the adversity of life. These eventually come to a place where we feel as if God is almost asking us to give up. It is at these points that having learned our lessons that we need to turn and say "You know I can't do that." And God seems to say "I know but I just wanted you to know."

Its interesting.

A side note to all this...

I saw this movie in high school with a friend of mind. We used to golf together. I was thinking about that old friend who I don't talk to anymore or even know where he is. Things change I guess. Too bad.

The Pat.

The Secret.... No.... Office Life of Patman the Pat

I live at camp

I sit at a desk.



I answer the phone.



I watch CSI at night with a man who is angry at everything.



I watch DVDs.

I play video games.


(That one's for you Dano)

But most of all I sit at a desk.
(Not at a desk in attached picture)

PmtP