Thursday, April 8, 2010

Cause when you're up, you're up

When I was in high school, my friends and I worked at a summer camp in Philadelphia that was free for inner city kids from low-income families called Camp Overbrook. We worked as camp counselors and life guards, and we loved every second of it. Every day, Camp O. would gather for afternoon announcements, and in order to get an entire camp of rowdy kids to shut up and pay attention for chrissake, we had everyone raise their right hand and sing a song. And it worked like a charm.

ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOOUUUUUCEMENTS. 'CAUSE WHEN YOU'RE UP, YOU'RE UP. AND WHEN YOU'RE DOWN YOU'RE DOWN. AND WHEN YOU'RE ONLY HALF WAY UP, YOU'RE NEITHER UP NOR DOWN. ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOOUUUUUCEMENTS.

Years went by, and my friends and I would still sing this aloud every time we heard the word "announcement" much to the disdain of our new college friends, who I might add did NOT respond well to The Announcement Song, which often ended with thrown beer cans and crumpled pieces of paper and sentences that ended with "... up your ass."

Anyway, what I would like to say is: ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOOUUUUUCEMENTS. 'CAUSE WHEN YOU'RE UP, YOU'RE UP. AND WHEN YOU'RE DOWN YOU'RE DOWN. AND WHEN YOU'RE ONLY HALF WAY UP, YOU'RE NEITHER UP NOR DOWN. ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOOUUUUUCEMENTS.

Because I want to make sure you're paying attention when I tell you I GOT A JOB. And boy am I relieved because helloooo Mr. Paycheck, my bar tab missed you so. And also because after yesterday's post, as my friend Lora was all an announcement of an announcement?

Better mean one of the following:
1) you got a job
2) you are moving back
2a) this time to South Philly, in the house for rent two doors down from me
3) you got a baby up in your guts


I chose door number one! A JOB (and once again I feel the need to swear to you all that I am not, in fact, pregnant)! But not just any job. This is a job for an organization that I care deeply about. I believe wholeheartedly in their mission, and I've spent countless hours volunteering my time for them back in Philly. And now I get to do it every day! This is a job that will not only give me a sense a personal fulfillment (can you IMAGINE?!) but we'll be working towards a greater good (oh my gah I can barely stand it). I could not be more excited.

But wait! There's more! Right this very minute, B and I are about to walk out the door to hand over a check of our life's savings (ohmyfeckinggahI'mgoingtovomit) and sign some papers to BUY A HOUSE. A house! With doors! And a backyard! Right by the beach! And most importantly, the bars!

I'm now accepting applications for weekend visitors. Bring soft pretzels. The good kind. You know what I'm talking about, Lora.

Aaaand we're off. Pictures of our new love shack to follow. For a while it seemed like B and I were living by the rules of Murphy's Law (homeless, jobless, everythingless). And now things are turning around rather quickly. In a single week, actually. You know what they say: CAUSE WHEN YOU'RE UP, YOU'RE UP, BABY!

19 comments:

Lora said...

awesome! having a job is ALWAYS a good prerequisite to getting knocked up! and I was going to put buying a house on the list, but I didn't know if you guys already bought a house, and I didn't want to seem like I wasn't paying attention ovah heah.

I'll bring a box of GOOD pretzels to the house warming!

So amazing, lady!
And double points for getting a job with a cause!

Ann Marie Gorden said...

Congrats!!

Shelley Senai said...

I totes thought you were pregnant. ;)

Lora said...

also? I know that song. And my brother and I sing it when we're drunk together. And when we're together? We drink. A lot.

So that song? Gets sung. A lot.

And the drunker we are? The more alternative lyrics we substitute

Jaime said...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

PS – Our app party the other night wasn’t the same without you getting drunk, Billy yelling from outside the window and Rooney stealing sandwiches...

Sole Matters said...

Congrats on the job and looking at houses!!! That’s awesome!

Bellacantare said...

That's all sorts of fantastic. Congrats!

Sarah W. said...

We always say a different version of that song:

Announcements, Announcements, Announceeeeements.
A terrible death to die, A terrible death to die, A terrible death to talk to death, A terrible death to die.

I can only imagine that when my (potential) children sing this song after learning at camp, I'll want to hurt them. Or, have a sing off.

Becky Mochaface said...

Congratulations!!! On both counts! Get pictures posted STAT!

BillFoxeveryone said...

GIVE EM 10! I WANT THEM TO HAVE NICE FURNIRTURE!

yellaphant said...

Lora and Sarah, I can't believe you guys know that song! Oh gah I love it.

And Jaime, I knew it would never be the same. I hope you all got as drunk as I used to.

Deidre said...

Congratulations!! this is so exciting! Yay employment and housing :)

rory said...

You're UP baby! Waaaay UP!
I'm pretty sure I can speak for myself when I say I was wishin' the best for ya.

Julia Rocchi said...

Rock on, sister! Congrats to you for finding meaningful employment, and congrats to you and B for finding shelter! And when sperm meets egg, I'll congratulate you on that too, but not yet. Because you swear you're not pregnant.

Delora said...

That song is like a mash-up of two other songs I know. The Announcements song that Sarah W quoted (what a terrible death, to be talked to death, what a terrible death to die), and a cheer my swim team coach used to sing

Hey hey barba reeba (coach)
Hey hey barba reeba (echo by kids)
x 3

When you're up, you're up. When you're down, you're down. When you're "name of pool" you're upside down.

Repeat the barba reeba part.

Kate said...

Fab news! Both parts, I mean. Congrats. x

RuthWells said...

Yayyyy! Up, indeed!

Kay | Online Poster Printing said...

Congratulations ! I think that you are really lucky to have a job that you are passionate about :) It is like you are hitting two birds in one stone. I'm sure you are going to do very well! Good Luck!

Hippo Brigade said...

Yay! You got a job, and a house! That's a fantastic ANNOUNCMENT. And I can't believe I wasn't following you before. I'm lame. But don't worry, I rectified that. You're welcome.
Beer and soft pretzles for everyone!

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