Blog Bloopers!!!

All bloopers are anonymous, so you will have to pick and choose who said what!!

Enjoy :)

• What's a Mega Jug?
• Snow Blob
• That's not blood it's just juice!
• Are you driving?!
• Is that the real google? (for the GOGGLE works)
• (Text convo) "Where r u"...."cuming"
• Is this lotion edible?
• Do we look like we buy pocket books from off the ground?!
• If i weren't so nice i'd do really mean things!
• Don't eat it if it's yellow!
• VT World
• Someone on sugar
• Mrs. Catlin, if i die, don't tell my mom it was your fault!
• This is nothing like Grand Theft Auto!
• I bet I can find a good nail place here!
• I'm going to pass out (Darth Vadar voice)/go stripper!

Finally back in FL!

After a longgggg car ride home, we finally made it back to Florida! I definitely miss the snow though. Not so much the rude people, but the environment and the historical sights were amazing!! I wanna move up there after i finish college!

We all had an amazing experience while we were up there. We saw things that you wouldn't normally see in the small county of Franklin. We saw pilgrims in Pennsylvania!!! We also noticed very quickly that they don't have sweet tea in the northern states! So we were all in sweet tea withdrawl the whole time we were there. They also do not serve grits for breakfast!! Bummer!!

I think the thing that we enjoyed the most was New York City!! I would definitely go back in a heart beat. Everything was just as I imagined it....even better....because i was actually there in person! No more looking through a television screen to see NY! Time Square was so beautiful at night! Very very bright and tourists everywhere, so we fit in! Sponge Bob tried to charge me a dollar just to take a picture with him!! So i took a pic of him quickly and moved along so i wouldn't get mugged! LOL! Going on a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island was fun! WE got to see the city from the water, which was a great view. Even though we didn't get to go inside the actual statue, we still got close up pictures of it! The museum on Ellis Island was boring, but the gift shop was full of cool things! I bought this really cool Mardi Gras mask for my friend! We got to ride down 5th Avenue, which was really cool too! We got to see the place where they have all of the world famous parades too!! We got to see the ice skaters at Rockefeller Center. We saw Ground Zero, but it was surrounded by tall mesh fence all around it, so we really didn't get to see it good. It was also a great experience for me because my mom grew up in NY, and to see the environment that she grew up in was cool!

Washington D.C was also a great experience. Even though we missed our capital tour, it was still cool to see it from the outside! The National Air and Space Museum was cool too. Although Jami and I only had time to go on this stupid waste of money simulator ride, it was still fun! We got to touch a piece of real moon rock, so we can now say that we have touched the moon! The National African Art Museum was beautiful too. Phillip's was an amazing all you can eat buffet that had everything you could dream of! From crab legs to corn dogs to cheesecake, it was there! The waiters were also very cute so it made our experience even better. :)

Pennsylvania was where we spent the majority of our time at. That place is amazing! The art museum that we helped Dr. Lois give out awards at was such a neat place. The gift shop was really cool too. They had all sorts of things in it. Purses, jewelry, kitchen accessories, tools, glass sculptures, and much more! It was a good experience to help with the awards. It was nice to see all of the kids faces as their names were called to get their award. We also got to recruit some future 2010 RYLPers! Philadelphia was full of tons amazing things! The thing I loved the most was China Town! It's nice to know that it's not what everyone says it is! I actually got out of the car and didn't get mugged! Chinese people are harmless! Seeing Will Smith's high school was pretty awesome too. We saw the same sidewalk that he walked on!! How cool is that?!?! We also noticed that Antoine (RYLPer from 09) actually lives right across the street from his school!! Upenn was a good experience. Since I attend a community college it was nice to see how it is on a University campus. It's cool to see all the college students walking around campus....and realizing that I'm a college student too!! The campus was cool, it had really cool statues everywhere. They also had a grocery store on their campus, and tons of restaurants all within walking distance. Sean's acappella show was awesome!! Hearing him sing his solo actually gave me chills! If you have never heard him sing you have to put it on your to do list! AMAZING! Seeing the Upenn game was cool too, even though the other team didn't show up until 5 hours later, we still got to see them play. The Liberty Bell was so cool in person! It's actually an all around boring thing to me, but seeing the ACTUAL Liberty Bell was cool. Chimas was a really cool place too. I've never experienced anything quite like it. I've been to places where i didn't know what the food was that they were serving, but this place was very fancy. I only understood like 3 things on the salad bar.....the lettuce, the rolls, and the red beans and pork!! The fresh mozzarella balls tasted like nothing! They gave us these weird appetizers too. We had little brown balls that were deep fried, and on the inside it was like meat.....tasted like cat food!! The real meat that they served on the skewers was really good too!! All kinds of meat that you could choose from, pork/beef ribs, top sirloin steak, lamb, blackened salmon, sword fish, pork roast, chicken wrapped in bacon, and more! Dessert was delicious too!

This has probably been the best vacation I've ever went on, and i wanna go back again!! The snow was so beautiful!! Playing in it was fun too, but really really cold!!

We all have Dr. Lois to thank for this amazing experience! We have life long memories, and tons of pictures to remind us! We love her so much! She does so much for us, from college advising, teaching us real life responsibilities that are used in the "real world", gives us advice about anything and everything, and takes us on extraordinary trips!! She is such a remarkable woman, and we are all extremely thankful for her. THANK YOU DR. LOIS!! WE LOVE YOU!

Our last day in Pennsylvania

We got up early this morning, later then usual because of our late nights. Breakfast was at IHOP. Good food, horrible experience, peppery glasses, grungy and annoying waitress. She always came to our table dripping wet. Wiping the table with her hand, and lecturing us about the menu everytime she saw us.

After IHOP, Chelsea wanted to go to the Verizon store to get her precious beloved phone back, which she did not get. She is still in severe cellphone withdrawl. We got to tour the King of Prussia, one little hall, but we spent about an hour walking in and out of the stores. There were all kinds of really neat statues in the mall of really off the wall things.

Then we went to Philly to pick up Jami at Sean's dorm. We had to wait 15 minutes for her to simply take the elevator down to the first floor and walk outside to meet us. After she got in the car we headed to the Liberty Bell. We parked our car and went up to the Constitution Hall. We then went to the Libery Bell building where we once again had to get security checked, but it wasn't like the Statue of Liberty security check. It was very simple and fast. We walked through the building, seeing all kinds of historic things. Then at the end of the exhibits was the marvelous Liberty Bell. We all gathered around and had snap shots around it. After we left the Liberty Bell we headed to the gift shop, and of course spent more money.

After leaving the gift shop we met with Sean and ate at a cheese steak place called Jim's steak. We all had a Philly Cheese Steak, and they weren't that great. Kiarra said that New York's were better then Philly's. They didn't season the steak at all, so we had to season yourself. We had to walk up these really steep stairs, got staired at by creepy men, just to sit down and enjoy our meal. When we sat down we had a blast. Laughing histerically at our blooper moments that we were sharing with Sean and Jami. "If i wasn't nice, i would do really mean things." See what i mean?

We left Jim's and went back to the hot chocolate store that was by University of Penn. Mrs. Catlin drove us through the hood to get to Haverford College. We drove around the campus and took pictures. Then we drove to the college that Mrs. Catlin use to work at, Bryn Mawr College. We drove around again and looked at the campus, which is huge. It is an all girls college, so we didn't see many guys with cute butts.

After Bryn Mawr we went back to the King of Prussia for more shopping. Mrs. Catlin sat in the car and took a nap so she wouldn't kill us on the way home, while we went inside and shopped. Adreenah out shopped us by a long shot.

It took a long time for us to get home, but we still managed to get back before midnight, and decided to make a snowman instead of packing and going straight to bed. We spent an hour and a half building a snow blob with a skeleton head and two branches for arms. I know you guys are soooo jealous! We also did snow angels, and Tiffani got snow blisters from having her butt in the snow. We all got covered in snow, soaking wet and had to go inside and warm up.

Now we have to go pack and take showers so we can leave in the morning! We love ya'll and hope you could feel our experience by reading our wonderful blog!

P.S. Today is Adreenah's SWEET SIXTEEN b-day!! The big 16!!!!! Woot Woot! HAPPY BIRTHDAY DREENAH! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Goodnight my peeps! See you all tomorrow!

The BIG Surprise

Ms. Catlin put us in the car and did not tell us where we were going. We badgered her with a million questions but she would not break and tell us where we were going. We are so trusting we just went with her. We noticed the New York signs but thought nothing of it. When we got onto the Goethals Bridge (in new Jersey) she told us that we were now in new York. Screaming screaming and tears everywhere. We were sooooo surprised and happy. Kiarra could not stop screaming beause she was so happy.

Kiara said is that the Staute of Liberty way over there. Ms. Catlin didn't notice and said she never noticed because she grew up in New York and New Yorkers never notice. Still clueless of our destination, we parked our car with some strangers in a parking garage where they took our keys and parked the car for us. We walked out of the gargage and crossed the street and got onto this LONGGGGGGG line. We waited until Ms. C. left to go buy the tickets, then we asked the people in front of us what we were in line for...not to mention that the Staute of Liberty was in our eyesight...and they said "To go on a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty". We tried not to make too much commotion and tried to act mature and held in our loudest screams. We were soooo excited...the statue was not on tv anymore...it was in front of us. After an hour and 25 minutes in the cold on line, we finally got to the security checkpoint and was scanned and scanned and had to undress and was scanned again then got onto the ferry. After a short ferry ride we got to the island and saw the Staute of Liberty up close and personl. Then we decided to go into the statue and waited on line for 45 more minutes and got scanned and scanned again and then puffed with air in the scanner machine to just go into the base of the statue. While on line a worker man told us there was no elevator service today...that there were 196 steps...and if we wanted we could climb them to the observation deck.... then he said "Good Luck with That" laughed and walked away. New Yorkers are sooooo rude. They don't seem to have time for niceness. There was a power hungry rude security guard lady. She yelled at everyone for everything. She yelled at the people in front of us because they told her there was two in their group. She yelled " WAIT UNTIL I ASK YOU"!! She was so rude.

After the 45 minute wait, we got into the staute, when somebody told us that she had to go see her ancestors arrival on Ellis Island soooooo, we had to IMMEDIATELY run out to catch the last ferry to Ellis Island. We were puffed with air for nothing. Then we ran to the ferry...Adreenah and Chelsea.. went to the bathroom and almost had to swim to Elllis Island. the man had closed the gate and they had not come yet. We were frantic and then we finally got them on the phone and told them to RUN now the ferry was leaving. Sooooo, they ran, Adreenah lost a glove and left her mark on Liberty Island.

We then took the ferry to Ellis Island. Tiffani cried thoughout the entire place. she took pictures and more pictures and more pictures and then almost got stuck in the elevator with Adreenah. We had so many packages that Ms. Catlin had to sit in the lobby with the bags and our coats and our hats and our gloves and our scarves and everything else. Chelsea only went for the gift shop!

After this wonderful experience, we went to Times Square!! YAY!!! We got to walk around with all the bright lights. We took tons of pictures. We were in Times Square. We then drove to Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center (we saw the ice skaters), NBC Studios, The Emmpire State Building, Broadway Show Theater, NYPD on horses (Ms. Catlin said they are called mounted police), the police are everywhere and we felt very safe.

Finally we go to eat. We went to Junior's Restaurant where they have world famous Cheesecake. We gorged ourselves and did not have room for dessert but we got it to go!! Tiffani snuck two candy bars and drove Chelsea and Ms. Catlin crazy on the ride home. She finally fell asleep while Ms. Catlin ran upstairs to the hospital to say hello to her aunt.

We all snored on the ride home. Ms. Catlin said the snoring kept her awake. Thank goodness!!

Our Trip continues...Day of Fun...Night at chimas

Well we actually got to eat breakfast today...pancakes, eggs, hot chocolate, strawberry pancakes, egg omelet, bacon cheeseburger with swiss, more hot chocolate, chicken steak...yum yum yum./

After the yummy breakfast, we went to the Goggleworks (not Google). This is an art building for everyone. So there are artists with studios and galleries with exhibits and art classes, and an awesome awsome gift shop and oh yes, the Schmidt Gallery!! we left tiffani there.

We were there to assiste Ms. Catlin on giving out art awards to the students in the Reading school district. They got certificates and money (woohoo) and if you weren't there you didn't get your money. The artwork was beautiful. The best one was the Michael Jackson collage. These kids are talented. We need to bring an art competition to Franklin County!! Ms. Catlin said she's all for that. There were three big awards and then there were many little awards for Best of School and Best of Grade. Even the first graders got awards. The place was packed and they got drinks and snacks. They ate all the food and ran out! of course after taking their gift cards!

Then we drove around West Philadelphia and got to see Will Smith's high school..in west philadelphia born and raised on the playground is where I spent most of my days...we saw a street trolley (runs on eletricity and rails in the ground). We then dropped Daisey and Antoine off at home and then went to China town. Chelsea says it's nothing like Grand Theft Auto. you don't get mugged on the streets and they don't drag you out of your car and take it. it was really cool...EVERYTHING was in Chinese. We saw this really HUGE but cool Chinese Gate that went from one corner to the other and covered the entire street intersection. Tiffani screamed as we saw the Hard Rock Cafe sign.

Finally, she fed us again. We went to Chima's ($55 per person for food....!!!!!!!!!) a Brazilian steakhouse for our most expensive meal ever. BUT it was wonderful, delicious, five star gourmet restaurant where all the sexy male waiters (in gauchos) walked around your table carving nice well done steaks on your plate. There was also smoked salmon and chicken wrapped in bacon and sausages. Kiarra really liked the garlic top sirloin...she said it was da bomb. We did not understand anything on the salad bar it was filled with tons of stuff and was so new and confusing. oh yeah it was all you can eat. Adreenah ate so much, she could not get her apple struedel for dessert. Everyone but Tiffani had really strong Brazilian soda. They don't sell these in the US and they have a health warning for high caffeine content. Thank GOD Tiffani did not drink any!!! Ricardo joined us for dinner...after waiting for a cab...he goes to Drexel University which is not far from the restaurant. Sean and Ricardo ate a flock of lamb...their plates were just filled with lamb bones. We were there from 7:30 until 11:30 pm. Ms. Catlin was so exhausted she fell asleep while eating. Ricardo took a picture of her sleeping at the table.
After Chima we dropped of Ricardo, Sean, and Jami and we went home and immediataly went to sleep. We didn't get home until 1:30 am. ANOTHER late night.

Late Nights, Early Mornings, BUSY Days

LONGGGGG ride to PA, so excited, and just can't hide it!!!! Finallly out of the car!! LAND!!
Snow to our knees and some spots to our waists! The minute we got out of the car we ran to a mound of snow and started playing with it. We realized real fast that we weren't supposed to touch snow with our bare hands......It was REALLY cold! And don't eat it or if you eat it take it from the middle (not the top) and it will taste like a snow come. Hint: don't eat it if it is yellow!!

toured the University of Pennsylvania and watched a boring basketball scrimmage game where the other team arrived two hours late, while eating a PA style pizza....it was the best pizza ever. The opposing team looked like St. joe's team and we had on the same colors as they did.

We walked to a college dormitory room...Sean's room...and it was really nice. we then went to an authentic Chinese restaurant. The food was real/AWESOME, not like the fake food in Apalach.

Then we proceeded to Sean's Acapella group's performance (The Inspiration). We met up with Mr. Ian and Ms. Leah our favorite house parents. We also saw Ricardo, Sean's mini-me. The show was very DEEP and Inspirational and it inspired us to be safe. They were very passionate about their work and the voices were amazing. We heard some Spoken Word artists who were great speakers absolutely awesome. We got to snap our fingers and tap our feet to the parts we liked. We got to yell and encourage them.

After the show we went to a Gelati House and had the best gelati and hot chocolates. We didn't get home until 3:30 in the morning. Finally sleep! And all of this on the first day!!

DAY TWO
Of course our early rise was later than early. Britney, Antoine, and Daisey spent the day with us. On the road for 3 hours. TRAFFIC was crazy and hectic. We missed our Capitol appointment so we only saw it from the outside. We went to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. Some of us rode the simulator and it was a waste of time. The adult ride cost $9 so we went on the kiddie ride and it was a waste of funds. The museum has airplanes and other aircraft hanging from the cieling! really cool.

then we had an awesome snowball fight for several blocks. Then snow divided us and some people's feeling and their faces were hurt LOL. They were covered in snow. Mrs. C. started it with one little snowball and then it was a full out war.

Then we split up, because it was late in the day, and some of us went to the Smithsonian Castle and then others went to the African Art Museum. Kiarra thought the African Art Museum was sad. Adreenah thought it was beautiful. Chelsea thought the bathrooms were beautiful and filled with artwork. Tiffani thought the castle was old and ancient with random pieces of art.

Then we ate for the first time of the day!!! it was about 8 pm!! She's starving us!! We ate at this awesome seafood buffet called Phillips. Sean and Antoine are crab legs bottomless pits. They ate an entire ocean of crabs. We made the waiters (especially the cute ones..Pablo) sing happy birthday to Adreenah with the big 16! After 2 hours of stuffing our faces, we ventured back out into the freezing cold where Kiarra saw the most beautiful thing in the world.....Adreenah says it was her...but it was really the Lincoln Memorial lit up at night. It was like being on TV.
TV does not lie about everything. It was better than it is on TV, it was like unreal knowing we were standing in the same spot that Martin Luther King stood and where Barak Obama got inaugurated. We act5ually got to see the real soldier statues and the Vietnam Memorial. It started off small with names and then the wall grew and got taller and taller until it was over our heads. That was so sad that all those people died. We saw the Washington monument better nkown as the pencil.

Ok finally, we get back in the car and head to the house, another late night and early morning.

OK that's it for now. Will blog about yesterday and today later tonight. TTYL. Ms. Catlin & The Girls.

Floridians Journey to the Blizzard!

For the past 2 weeks, Renovatio Youth Leadership Program, Inc. has been engaged in several fundraising events around the city of Apalachicola, Eastpoint, and St. George Island in Florida. Their goal: a trip to Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania to experience a part of the country they have never visited. For many, this will be their first trip north of Georgia, and what a time to go, right into the biggest blizzard in 90 years!! They wanted to see snow and tons of it they will experience.

This trip is part of fulfilling their enrollment requirements for the Congressional Award Program. They set an exploration goal of visiting some of our country's monuments (Lincoln Monument, Viet Nam Memorial, Washington Monument, Liberty Bell), museums (Smithsonian, Philadelphia Museum of Art), several college campuses (University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, Bryn Mawr College) and experiencing vastly different cultures (urban v rural, north v south, BIG BUSY city v laid back small town) and just overall experiences than theirs. They will reunite with their fellow leadership program participants (from the summer retreat on St. George Island in Florida) who live in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We will all tour and share fellowship and perspectives.

They have reached their fundraising goal and the trip is a reality and this is our reality show blog. I am so proud of them for planning and executing successful fundraising events and organizing this trip from beginning to end. As their guide, I have been thrilled with their maturity, foresight, perseverence, and ability to learn from mistakes.

Way to go girls!! I look forward to our ride.