I just got back from Cedar Point with my boyfriend, Craig. We left by 6:30am (which is absolutely ridiculous considering I had to work the night before), and arrived a little before the rides opened at 10am. The day was wonderful but unlike any other day I have spent there.

The first ride we hit was the Top Thrill Dragster. It was as wonderful as always. The next one we rode has been my absolute favorite since it opened: The Maverick. Despite the adrenaline rush of those two rides, we managed to return to our mellow states after a few minutes off the rides. We casually rode a few more rides but mostly walked around the park and just sat. This is incredibly unlike us. We have both been to Cedar Point enough times to know how to pack every ride we want into the day but this time was much more relaxed. We still enjoyed the rides, but also enjoyed just sitting or walking around the park. I'm sure a lot of it was due to how incredibly tired we were. We ended up coming home a few hours earlier than we had originally planned but we were satisfied with our day.

It was a strange but good trip and I can't wait to go again!

Posted by Kim Yoder at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I just completed my first week back at work in Elkhart. It was really nice to walk in and have so many familiar faces remember my name and be happy to see me return (along with my friends). So many vivid memories came back and I remembered how to do most of what was set in front of me. Jamie, a friend and co-worker, came back a day before me and I am so happy she was there with me! The other people that have been working with us this past week are relatively new to our department so it feels like we are teaching them sometimes. I sort of forgot how much they enjoyed having us last summer but I was quickly reminded because our supervisor would move Jamie and I around to whatever jobs needed to be done the fastest or most accurately. It's a good feeling. I will be spending my summer working second shift Carpenter Co.. Here's a little bit about it...

Carpenter makes foam products. The factory workers mix chemicals, then pour them into huge trough-like areas, let it dry and "set," then cut it into smaller chunks which turn into buns with specific dimensions depending on what it will be used for. The foam is used to make all kinds of things including mattresses, mattress toppers, pillows, and even pet beds. Most departments do not use every single bit of foam that comes through because of holes and rips in the foam, or simply because the foam needed trimmed. This extra foam gets put in a baler which crushes the foam into tight bundles which are then taken to grinding. The foam is then grinded into small pieces and is transported to other departments where it will be melted and molded down again, or made into carpet padding. I think I covered most of it.

I work in Cut Foam. We make mattress topper and occasionally work with some of the pillows and help out other lines near us. There are quite a few jobs to do when we run our line, so we switch after each break to keep things interesting. I know that a lot of people cringe when they think about working in a factory but it's really not that bad; I personally wouldn't want to do it my entire life but it is more than reasonable as a summer job for me. It keeps me pretty busy and working second shift certainly limits my socializing over the summer but I am lucky enough to work with some of my friends...we have fun.

Well, I will do my best to keep you updated on my summer adventures. I hope yours is going well so far!

Posted by Kim Yoder at 12:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Finals seemed scary to me last year. This year, I was more stressed after finals because I wasn't so sure I did my best. I've always been one to study and try to stay ahead of the game, but this year, especially this semester, I've had other things on my mind. In the last 30 days, I feel like I have crossed some major thresholds in my life.

1. I'm half-way through college. I am really moving out of entry-level courses and will be learning more in-depth subjects. Not only that, but I will now be working with a client every semester and actually treating him/her instead of just assessing. This is a cool thing :).

2. Like I mentioned earlier, my roommate and I are moving out of student housing, into another apartment. This past week, I've set up things like electricity and internet in my own name. I didn't realize it before, but it's a pretty big deal to actually have real bills with my personal name on them. Weird.

3. I have a new understanding and appreciation for having a job. I just found out I will be working in the same place that I did last year...in Elkhart. Like my dad said, I'm luckier than about 18% of the adults in the county. I can't begin to express how humbled and ecstatic I am. I thought I was lucky last year because the job situation worked out so well, but I didn't realize how horrible it is to not know for sure how I would afford rent and food without taking out more student loans.

4. My eyes. I suppose this is more of a change than a threshold. I may go into more depth later, but my eyes have taken a turn for the worst this year. A simple explanation is that my corneas are weak so when I blink, part of the cornea gets ripped off (occasionally). It's pretty painful. Because of this, I have been unable to wear contacts for about 5 months (they don't cause the pain, they just make it worse). The doctor has tried a few things which have worked for a little, but the pain is back again. I have an appointment on Friday to see what comes next. A few appointments ago, he said he may need to put plugs in my tear ducts to keep the moisture from draining. We'll see.

Despite the eye issue, this year has been wonderful! I've been pretty busy and worked pretty hard but I feel like it's really paid off. It's an exciting feeling to know that I am taking more responsibility for my life and not relying so much on my parents. I'm growing up!

Posted by Kim Yoder at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Finals were finished last week and my life became crazy for a while. My roommate and I moved into our new apartment and spent the weekend painting and unpacking. We were going to have people help us but it didn't work out the way we had planned. We ended up doing 99% of the physical labor ourselves and then our families finished up the second coats of paint on the walls. My roommate and I had a ton of fun moving and making the space our own, but it was quite exhausting. Thankfully, we had time to relax and I feel much better :).

On Wednesday, I played at commencement with the wind ensemble. We had rehearsal at 1:00pm, had a little break, and then set up in the Coliseum. The entire day was really long, but we got to leave during the time that the names are called which broke up the evening quite nicely. After that, I made the drive home to Elkhart.

It is a little weird being home this time. Most of my stuff is in Fort Wayne in my new apartment so it feels more like I'm visiting for a few months instead of moving home. I start work on Friday and am anxious to see who I will be working with and what the summer will hold for me. I am hoping we do not need to work almost every Saturday like we did last summer. We will see I guess.

Oh yes, I am content with where my grades fell this year. Though I could have done better (as is the case for most college students for at least a few semesters), I cannot complain. I had a tough semester: 18 credit hours/11 classes, plus two Upper Divisionals. I have always worked hard in school and it has really paid off in college. I have never been good with tests or memorizing facts but I've learned how to study and keep myself disciplined. Not to brag, but I've made the Dean's list all four semesters so far. I have to say it wasn't easy but I'm so happy those extra hours of studying paid off. Next semester will be just about as rough...20 credit hours/11 classes (I think). Gotta love being a music major (yes, there is some sarcasm in that)!

Well, I hope you all enjoy your summers!

Posted by Kim Yoder at 9:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)