5 Things to Learn Before Going Camping with Friends

1. How to make a camp fire from scratch.
One of the best parts of camping is roasting marshmallows and telling stories around a campfire, not to mention the wonderful campfire smell lingering afterwards.  This camp fire has to come from somewhere.  For steps go here.

2. How to extinguish a fire properly.
Only you can prevent forest fires.  Proper fire care is important.  You can wait till it burns out, watching to make sure every ember is out, you can pour water on it until it stops hissing, or your can smother it.

For more info. go here.

3. How to cook in a Dutch Oven.

Whether it is stew or peach cobbler, it makes for a great dinner and awesome bragging rights if you're a successful cook.  

For steps go here.

4. How to set up your tent.

You have to sleep somewhere, and if you don't want to wake up wet in the morning, you will need protection from dew and possibly rain.  It will also reduce bug exposure. There are many different kinds of tents.  They are significantly easier to set up than they were even a decade ago.  Many of them require no effort.  

For more information go here.

5. Basic First Aid

Before girls camp or scout camp, the campers are usually given lessons in first aid in case something goes wrong.  First thing you do is assign someone specifically to call for help.  Then diagnose the problem.  A broken bone can be splinted or put in a sling.  A shirt can make a nice sling. The principle is to immobilize the injury.  Other important things to know are the Heimlich, chest compressions, treating someone for shock, burns, lacerations and abrasions, poisoning, and concussions.

For a comprehensive guide go here.

Or you can register for CPR training.

Selling Ourselves

The past two weeks I have been looking for employment and trying to figure out what kind of career I want to get into.  In this process, I actually stumbled onto something rather surprising.

Sales plays a bigger and better role in our lives than we realize.  Each of us has to "sell ourselves" as a product on a regular basis.  We sell a projected image of ourselves to potential employers, to potential dates, to clients, to a future mother-in-law, to teachers as the great student or the terrible student and so many others.

From my interviews, especially with Verizon and my Media Sales class I have learned that salesmanship is often the difference between getting a job and being unemployed.

It is important to care about the people and make them feel important.  "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." -John C. Maxwell

Know about what you are talking about.  In this case, know about yourself.  What have you accomplished what are your strengths and weaknesses? Get to know about and believe in the product.

Finally, don't go overboard.  People don't like to feel like they're being pushed off an edge.  Sometimes all you need to do is talk, just tell people you know what you are up to and what your dreams are.  Often you will find someone else who is interested as well.

10 Ways to Stay Close When You’re Far Away

1.            Communicate

   Some ideas for communicating long distance would be text, phone, video chat, Snap Chat, letters, email, and Facebook.  Find what works for you.

   2.      Use your imagination

   Describe what you’re doing, what you would do, flirt some, hugs kisses, trace your “fingers” along their hand, describe what you’re wearing, paint a picture with your words.

   3.      Play games

   Tag works over text. (Try different kind of tags like flying ninja kick tag, or penguin tag.) You can also play Yatzee, Uno, Pictionary, and charades, over Skype.

   4.      Send a hug

   Two paper hands tied to a string. It’s a long distance hug.  These cheesy ideas are fun and usually get at least a giggle.

   5.      Write a story together

   A story has an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution.  (Person 1: Once upon a time there was a hippo, his name was bill… Person 2: …bill loved to play outside…)

   6.      Give sincere compliments

   I’m really proud of you.  I believe in you.  You are awesome because ____. You are so attractive.  The more specific it is the better. This applies whether you’re far away or close together.

   7.      Do the things that you did before. 

   It might have to be modified and done differently to work long distance, but if you used to go bike ride, each go for a bike ride and tell the other person about it, or get a video camera for your helmet and video the experience.  If you liked to snuggle up and watch a movie, put in your favorite movie and Skype while cuddling a pillow.

   8.      Take pictures

   If you miss someone pictures help you stay connected.  You can see what they’re up to, and if there have been any drastic changes.  It can also supplement describing things, sometimes it’s best to leave it to the imagination, but every once in a while, shoot them a picture of you doing what you’re describing.

   9.      Be there for them

   If they’re having a crisis, be the cyber shoulder to lean on.  If they’re making a huge decision give them some encouragement and reassurance.  If they’re sad talk it through.  If they have nightmares, send them a teddy bear and sing them a lullaby.  (You know how to be there for your friend)

   10.  Send gifts

   Getting snail mail is fun, especially when it is something unexpected.  It doesn’t have to be extravagant, it could be something you made, or a little trinket that meant something.  Look up the area, sometimes flower shops will do delivery.