December update!

So I guess its time for an update. I'm sitting in the starbucks at the mall enjoying a dirty chai in the hour before I start working at Safeway. Work is good. November I worked my butt off...nearly 60 hours a week all month...which was hectic but I was able to actually put money into my savings account. I was working on a second project at work. For about ten hours a week I would call old people who subscribed to a magazine from the vascular disease foundation and tried to convince them to take a survey. Mostly I called old people and got hung up on :( I'm pretty glad to see the end of that project! With all that work I've had little time for myself, havent been reading as much as I like, and haven't been exercising at all. But now I've got some time, I've joined a gym and I've decided to read most evenings instead of firing up my laptop. I'm currently read Tamora Pierce's "Mastiff" and Paolini's "Inheritance." And of course listening to audiobooks as I bike to work.

The bike commuting has reached that unpleasant stage of winter in which the ground is either icy, snowy, or slushy. Every week David (coworker at Safeway) offers me a ride. In the name of self sufficiency I refuse. If I cant make the commute on my own than not having a car shouldnt be the choice I make. But its been fine so far. I've got double layers of underarmour going on! And of course I've heard that David has a crush on me, so I'm going to avoid crushing his soul.

Last week we celebrated Noel's 25th Birthday. Yesterday she found pictures on her phone she didnt know she took. We got to hang out with our friends , including some current Americorps TLs we hadnt seen in a while. Before that we celebrated Thanksgiving with Liz. I made a banging turkey and some sweet pecan pie! Next holiday: Christmas! Now that Christmas is getting closer I'm getting sad that I'm not going home. If Safeway plays "I'll be home for Christmas" one more time I may just bust into tear all over the cheese! After this year I dont intend to miss a Christmas with the family again.

Looking to the future I've got some pretty sweet goals going on. Now that I've joined a gym I'm working on some concrete goals, including: "Run the Colfax Marathon in May," and "look more awesome than Molly" in July. Today I got my run on with the treadmill. This weekend I want to try the yoga class the gym offers. Back in October I was up to being able to run 10miles! I'm hoping to at least get back to that by January!

Also our cat is a terror. He only behaves when we have company. He has the most annoying cry, bites, and runs around like a maniac. He wakes me up at 7am on my days off and eats so much he makes himself sick. But yesterday when we had no heat he snuggled into bed and was sooo cute! Yup, I'm turning into a cat lady!

Per mama's request

Well Life is super! My mama has requested I blog about life so here it is. I work (tons) last week was about a 60 hour work week, keeping busy, but still getting out, being social. Last week I also went to a grad school fair (turns out they ask you what you want to study, and if you dont know, there's not really too much they can help you with). I also ran my first 5K, the Scream Scram to benefit the Boys and Girls Club, accomplishing the 3.1 miles in 29.0 minutes. The next day I enjoyed a longer run, hitting 10.4 miles in 1hour, 54 minutes. Today I registered for the Colfax Marathon. Its in May. I was planning on only running a 1/2 marathon, but after the 10 miles this past weekend, I believe by May I'll be able to do a full 26.2 miles! I also registered for the American Humanics Conference, in January to get my certification in nonprofit management, so the first week of January I will be taking an exotic vacation back to Kansas City, Missouri! I'm also working on enrolling in Louisiana University of Shreveport to take the nonprofit management classes, but the enrollment office doesn't seem to have the most efficient Admissions process. This morning (and about once a week) we went down to the Denver Rescue Mission (a local shelter) to serve breakfast. 5:00 am comes awfully early, so its hard to go as often as I'd like.
Liz has arrived in Denver, and is staying here with us...we also got a cat named Jaws. He bites and has herpes in his eye.
We had our first snow the other night...the night it started was pretty awful because it was more of a freezing rain/sleet mixture and I was biking home in it, and I ended up soaked and cold :( But now its fine, chilly, but not uncomfortable with enough layers on.
Two weeks until I go home!! I'm super excited to see the family! But for now I gotta get ready for work. We're having a mini Halloween party at our weekly meeting...I made Halloween oreo balls! (Pictured above)

Recipe of the week: Veggie stuffed peppers!

Green peppers, and sweet potatoes were on sale this week, so I've been eating this nearly every day! Delish!
Veggie stuffed Peppers
1. Bake a sweet potato until soft and delicious.
2. Combine ½ sweet potato, ½ cup peas, ¼ cup pasta sauce, ½ cup sautéed onions, whatever other vegetables you have lying around and want to throw in.
3. Cut the top off a pepper and scoop out the seeds.
4. Put the veggie mixture in, and add 1oz sharp cheddar cheese (optional).
5. Put in a baking dish and bake at 400 degrees until the outside of the pepper starts to sear and you get too hungry to wait any longer.

And

And...after two years I've learned how to put pictures on the blog!

Since my last post

Since my last post:
I've read three books: "Bloody Jack" by L.A. Meyer, "Book of Time" by Guillaume Prevost, and "The Child Thief" by Brom.
I've had 5 (only 5...feels like more) job interviews.
Gotten hired to work in the deli at the grocery store (had my super duper training today, and I was ready to gouge my eyes out...I stopped paying attention and eventually just used my plethora of experience and deep foundation of knowledge to pass the tests).
I ran 5.25 miles in 1hour, 2minutes, and 52 seconds.
Went to the Tour de Fat, which was awesome...Noel and I made pirate costumes, and we met up with Brandon, who was wearing his rootsuit from last Halloween. It was a ridiculous time. We biked the six mile slow-as-hell bike and beer parade.

Ok. I've had some really super interviews this past week. (not counting grocery store and tea store at the mall) Three adult job interviews. In which I wore my suit to two, and my pajamas to one (phone interview). The phone interview was for a library assistant job in a law library. Decent job. I could do it. The other interview I had that same day was for a financial education nonprofit that teaches 5th and 6th graders about finances, financial responsibility, capitalism, banking etc. I rocked that interview. It was really interesting, and it would be fun to work there. For a while. But the other interview I had was at an social science research company. So I had this interview set up for Wednesday afternoon. I was at the grocery store earlier the day to fill out paperwork, and the guy who hired me was running late. No big because the paperwork was only supposed to take 20 minutes. It didnt. Anyway when I finished there I had to bike home to change into my super stylish interview suit. And it had started POURING! Probably the only day its rained in Denver since we moved here! (Also my road bike had a flat tire so I was riding my mountain bike, with its big fabric seat that retains moisture.) So I zipped home speedy quick, changed, and zipped back out, because I was in danger of being LATE. Which I hate. So I get to the interview and chain my bike outside, and put my suit jacket on in the elevator, and fix my helmet hair with a tiny comb, and I check in with the receptionist. And I sat down to wait for my interview (I managed to make it there a few minutes early). And when I'm called in I notice that I leave a puddle-y butt print on the chair I've been sitting on...ugh. So I go into the interview, and it went well. I have great AmeriCorps experiences that lend themselves well to answering interview questions, and highlighting my passion for working with non-profits and helping people. So it went well. And after answering questions, I was offered a tour, so I got up to have a tour of the facility, and I left ANOTHER WET BUTT PUDDLE! I thought for sure they would have pegged me as a pants pee-er. But Friday they called and offered me the job!

The job would be working in a call center as a care coordinator, surveying people in substance abuse recovery programs, conducting surveys and gathering information to improve programs. Before I was offered the job, I was considering turning it down, mostly because I was afraid of having a big responsibility filled adult job. But taking a weekend to think about it, and reflect, my mind is in a different place. I would get to work with a non-profit, which ultimately is where I want my future to be headed. So career-wise it would be a step toward the future. I would learn alot of valuable skills: research, databases, working with a population I don't have much experience with, and in general be an interesting experience I could learn alot from. So tomorrow I'm going to accept the job.

Accomplishments for the week:
Applied for 13 jobs.
Read: "Bloodsucking Fiends" By Christopher Moore
"Bite me" By Christopher Moore
and "Curse of the Blue Tattoo: Being an Account of the Misadventures of Jack Faber, Midshipman and Fine Lady" By L.A.Meyer
Acquired another couch and come sweet chairs.
Went running in Washington Park twice...perhaps my willpower will make it over three times this next week?
Biked to the Englewood Library twice.
Gave up sugar for the week...cheated twice...a cookie and a delicious Venetian Cream coffee from Solid Grounds!

Job Hunt: WeekTwo

Accomplishments for the week:
Applied for 18 jobs.
Read: "Shakespeare's Counselor." by Charlaine Harris
"Guardians of the Balance" by Irene Bradford
"A Dirty Job" By Christopher Moore
"Two to the Fifth" by Piers Anthony
"Tortall and Other Lands" by Tamora Pierce
"Shakespeare's Christmas" by Charlaine Harris
Acquired a couch and two chairs.
Did a volunteer event with Noel, where we removed graffiti in the neighborhood.
Received my last AmeriCorps paycheck :(

Accomplishments

Well I've been in real life for a full week now.
Here are my accomplishments:
Applied for 23 jobs.
Finished Reading "A Dance with Dragons."
Recycled my old computer.
Biked alot.
Put in my request to use my Education Award on my loans.
And requested interest accrual be paid too.

(almost) the end of week one!

Yesterday was an amazing day. I know because every muscle in my body aches. Yesterday I was a runner in the field. For the most part I drive the truck to the squads in the field and drop off water and ice and tools for the volunteers. After everyone has everything they need (and its needed) I suit up for chainsawing!! Yesterday I got to use a 441, which was amazing! Toward the end of the day I pick up tools and coolers. Yesterday afternoon I did some old fashioned muscle work. The volunteers are moving debris from around the houses to the road, so that the army corps can pick up the piles. Building materials, bricks, trash, tree branches, etc all have their own piles. Personal effects are put back on the foundation of the house for the homeowner to reclaim. I got to work alongside some. Cool volunteers hauling material closer to the sidewalk for a while. Two days ago I was working with an older man and chatting. He likes chainsaws, is moving to Boulder, and ten years ago biked across the country. We talked about that. He was impressed that I rode west. And the day before that I impressed some volunteers with their tiny chainsaws when I showed up to help them with a large tree. I was later referred to as that tiny girl with the chainsaw. :)

Joplin day 2

Joplin: day 2
Yesterday we arrived in Joplin. Today was our first big day of work. I'm exhausted because theres so many people around, but I'll try to post regular updates.
Today I was about two minutes from being handed a chainsaw and pointed in the right direction. Almost the best day ever. But just moments before all my dreams came true the girl in charge of everythig requested that I use my cargo van to move the office out of MSSU and into the new office building, about ten minutes away. So I spent the day driving around and moving stuff. It was a easy but tiring day. There's 9 NCCC teams here now, plus a couple conservation corps, and the Americorps Saint Louis team. And today there were 177 volunteers helping out (which I'm told is a big drop off). Any way my dreams of chainsawing live on in the hopes that they will be fulfilled on the morrow.

Going to Joplin

Well, our time in Independence is over. Yesterday I got the call that we are going to Joplin for disaster relief. We're headed there Sunday and we'll be there for the rest of the round. I'm excited to be part of such a huge effort to help people! I'm a little bummed to be leaving our project without finishing the house we're working on. Today we blue boarded almost the whole house, and started tyveking it. We also got all the windows and doors installed. I'm glad that in Joplin we'll be working 12 hour days, 6 days a week. I love my job. I especially love the service part of my job. The part where I am actually working and getting dirty, and getting things done! And I'm sad to say goodbye to Independence and the life we've built here. Libraries, and bike shops, morning runs and coffee shops. Ah well. Americorps will be over in 42 quickly moving days and then I can build my life in Denver :) Short story: I'm excited for Joplin!!!

Its a low kind of day

Ive never been around so much negativity in my life! These people just have bad attitudes about everything. Its really making me depressed. I used to be so optomistic. Or at least filled with positivity. Now even my private thought are full of negative instead of thinking "I like..." my thoughts tend toward "I hate" unstead of lists of highlights my thoughts are a countdown till the end. I'm just tired of constantly hearing "I dont like this" or "I wish I could change that." I dont understand why the CM's dont have a more positive attitude about work. Thus was most of their first choice project, the work is awesome (we've been demolishing a house) the area is beautiful, (warm and sunny nearly all the time) and the sponsor is great (they gave us 9,000 donuts for crying out loud!) Getting every one to actually do work is like pulling teeth. And Seeing everyone stand around with their negative attitudes is just stressing me out and making me wish this year was over. Wiah makes me incredible sad. I love this experience. Everyday is an adventure and interesting and I dont understand that everyone doesnt appreciate for such the gift that it is. It honestly makes me want to just get away. Im trying to take my vacation days to go to Denver and see Noel, but I honestly dont know if this team could handle being left alone for that long. I cant last 8 more weeks without a break from them though.

Missouri: week 2

This past week my team and I were working at the National VOAD (volunteer organizations active in disaster) conference. We helped people to register, answered questions, managed volunteers at the service project (a habitat build) and documented the conference with photo and video. I even got to proctor a session by announcing speakers talking about different disaster services. The hot topic of discussion was of course Joplin. Being around so many people ready to help in disaster really made me excited for the possibility that my team might get to respond to a disaster. As of right now we haven't been selected to respond. Other NCCC teams have already been deployed to Joplin, including Noel's team. So my team's chances of going to Joplin are slim, but as the round progresses other areas may be requesting assistance as flood waters recede. 
I'm excited to get back to our project. Last time we were on our Habitat site we got to do some decon, which was awesome, but theres still alot to do! This long weekend is killing me. I'm ready to get back to work! 
Triumphs of the weekend: ran 5.3 miles today
Applied for a job
Rode my bike
Finished two books
Found a $5 china buffet

Missouri: week 1

Missouri is beautiful. Our first week in Indepenence has been glorious. The project is just fantastic. We have enough work to keep everyone busy, a supervisor to guide us, and a cute little house to live in. Independence is a small little town. Its light out early in the mornings so I can go running as soon as i wake up. My calves hurt from running so much this week, after an extended hiatus in dark and rainy arkansas. 
Our first week on the project we had an orientation, met our supervisors, did odd jobs around a couple build sites, and then we started on our house. Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity has set aside one project that we will have ownership of. Its an old house that we are going to rehab. Friday we started by removing the appliances left there, taking down some beautiful old trim, then demolishing the crap out of the house! Basically everything except the outer walls is coming down! And then we'll rebuild it plus add on two rooms (for which the foundation has already been poured).
This week the team is going to support the VOAD conference in Kansas City. We are going to be running the registration table, helping with a service project, organizing the exhibitors and documenting the event. Its in the Hyatt Regency Hotel and my team has never felt so out of place as we did upon entering that classy establishment in our grungy uniforms. Should be an interesting week.

My highlights for week one:
Morning runs in my amazing new shoes (these are the most comfortable shoes I've ever owned).
Independence libraries that are open until 9.
Seeing my friend Ben from last year in Americorps.
Being back with my permenant team.
Seeing a tornado.
Demolishing a house.

...

I laughed today. I dont remember laughing anytime in the last month.

Arkansas week 3: highs and lows

Highs and lows, Arkansas: week 3

Things that make me happy:
Base trail is right behind our house. Margo goes trail running with me.
I bought a bicycle. Its green.
Burritos for dinner.
Arkansas is suprisingly awesome. After being in Denver for 3 months, then Houston for 2 I remembered how much i love trees and mountains. 
Getting internet at Starbucks, and nonfat chai lattes.
My shuffle round team is pretty awesome. Everyone takes alot of initiatve and never just sits around and does nothing.
Campfires.
Taekwondo class.
When Micah tried to teach everyone how to clean poop out of the trailers.
Biking 55 miles!



Things that make me sad:
My trailer is tiny: no room for yoga, or crunches or standing side by side width wise with people.
My trailer has no heat. I have to wear two layers of sweats to bed.
The trailer also does not have hot water.
I havent showered in 5 days. Nor do i intend to take a cold shower.
It rained this weekend. I can hear every droplet on the tin roof of my trailer.

Life

I really like the quote "life is not about finding yourself its about creating yourself." And i do believe its true. The past few years I've set goals to "become the person I want to be." I think the hardest part about this year in Americorps was that i was starting to lose things thay are an integral part of who I am. I don't ride my bike, I don't do any taekwondo training, last round I only ate a burrito once! And I was living in a city with no trees or mountains (the geographical landscapes that I've decided are important to my life.) And by the end of the 8 weeks in Houston I was tired of it, and I couldn't wait to leave and just get away from my team and that whole round. Not because I didn't like them or the project (because i cherish my teammates, and the project was really interesting) but because I lost myself along the way. My identity came 2nd to the team identity. I was the team leader, and that was the sum of my existence. This round, in Arkansas, I'm recreating myself to be the person I want to be. This past weekend i had two goals: buy a bike, and eat a burrito. Mission Accomplished! Today I found a taekwondo school. Chad, the sign language interpreter we had for today over heard me mention that I did taekwondo, and told me about the school he teaches at. And so I went. And reclaimed a part of myself. It felt really great. I was helping a kid with his pattern that he's trying to learn, and by the end of it a bunch of the other kids had crowded around and we whispering that they thought I was pretty awesome. The instructors invited me back for the remaining month I'm in Arkansas. Yay! 

My project is also Amazing! Today we moved rocks to improve the West Summit trail at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Theres a great view, the work is hard, but makes me feel strong, and the day moves quickly. I've started trailrunning in the evenings, and Hopefully when the weather improves I'll be able to do some yoga outside (not enough space in the trailer to do anything more intense than bending over...and even thats tough).

Project Start

Yesterday my team and I moved into our camping trailers at Pinnacle State Park. Or, as Patrick likes to say "Pickle State Park." The project start was delayed two weeks, so we have been working at Ferncliff Camp with Fire 9. The camp is an amazing facility, and we've been able to bike, and kayak, and hike, and use their recreational resources. At the site we've been doing a ton of maintenance projects, building gutters out of scrap metal, installing them on the cabins, building step up a slop, learning to weld to create laundry posts, installing a Kincade-esque rock path, and various landscaping tasks to make the camp look great.

Monday we'll start our work at Pinnacle with an orientation to the park, and then get working restoring the trails here.

A blog written on my phone while traveling in a van with my new team.

For a while we were in Oklahoma. It brouht back memories of last rounds' spiketravel when we ended up in oklaoma for no reason. I think we are supposed to be here this time. We are traveling to little rock, Arkansas where we will be trailbuilding at pinnacle state park. Unfortunately our housing isn't ready so for the first week we will be working with jourdan's team at ferncliff camp. Which should be pretty cool. My new team is awesome! Everyone is really enthusiastic about learning sign language and have picked up so much already! Right now as we travel they are learning and practicing! Last night was probably the most boric night of my life! Left alone in my hotel room I watched "how i metyour mother" until 1am, and drank terrible hotel coffee until I drifted off. I can't wait until my team gets used to me and actually wants to hang out with me. I think they're just not used to a team leader that wants to hang with their team  more often than not. I feel weird getting so attached to my new team but I'm habit a great time! While I hope all my permanent team mates are having a great time I don't want them to like their new teams more! When we reunite for 4th round I want them all to have missed each other (and me, obviously).

First week of February

A list to summarize my week:
Farmers market set up
Houston sees ice for first time ever; no one knows what to do and the highways are shut down.
The Monster stump is finally removed from Olivewood
I feel a little sick
Souperbowl for caring at Kroger where we helped load food for the Houston food bank into a truck
Vomit in the van
A cold snap. I haven't run and I'm going crazy.
I got to see Noel. We spooned in my cot. Let's be honest the cots aren't really big enough for one person.
I have a gray hair. When asked if I was going to live I said "no I'm goigto dye"
I'm going for a run now

My life at a glance

Most of our project takes place at Olivewood Cemetery. This past week we cleared out alot of stumps and brush to make room for a new fence and to improve the road near the new entrance. After several days of landscaping we got a dumpster and took a half day filling it with the organic material (branches mostly) to be removed. We still have several piles to be removed and hopefully will be able to this week. We also have removed nearly 20 bags of trash from the site. The cemetery has more land overgrown and unable to be seen than it does area cleared. There is a big ravine created by runoff from the nearby warehouses which has created a hole that is opening graves. We were told to be careful and watch out for bodies that have become unearthed. I love being outside everyday and the work really makes me feel good. The very first day I think I impressed my team at how much of a beast I am. I would go off on my own and return every once in a while carrying a huge pile of trees that I cut down. No chainsaws either, just handsaws and loppers. Very physical. The hardest part for me is being the responsible adult in charge all the time. I'm always dealing with some kind of housing issue (cold showers, fridge not working, oven not working, etc) as well as being the worksite supervisor. It's been really draining. I love it though.


Sent from my iPhone

The first two weeks in Houston were amazing! I love my team. Everyone is so enthusiastic about the project it's such a positive experience. The team is also really benefitting from living together, it's been so good for us and I wish we could have been on spike for our first round. Anyway we spend everyday outside in warm Houston sunshine and do physically demanding tasks that fill us with a sense of triumph, like pulling up stumps using shovels and cutting trees using hand saws. The progress we've made in just a week has been really rewarding! Well I'm going to go watch "H I Met Your Mother" with the team. It's raining and I'm ready for a relaxing day off!

On my way to Houston

R1: Done
Round 2: Begun
Today was our second day of spike travel. We drove from Amarillo, Texas to Dallas, Texas. A trip that ought to have taken place entirely in Texas. So you can imagine my surprise when we stopped at our first gas station and I was informed that we were in Oklahoma. It went a little something like this:
Me: Hmm...I think I'll pick up a Texas postcard to send to my grandma. Yeah! That'll be nice, I bet she'll like that! ::Walks over to post card rack:: Hmmm...I wonder why all these postcards are for Oklahoma...Why would a Texas gas station sell Oklahoma post cards?
Gas Station guy: Uhh...you're in Oklahoma ("you idiot" he was thinking loudly).
Me: WHAT!?!? HOW DID WE GET TO OKLAHOMA!?!? ::Purchases post card and walks out to truck:: Uhh...we're in Oklahoma...
Jen: Haha, yea Katie, okay.

So today's trip was about 2 hours longer than needed.
Today during the trip I said: "I want to go bowling"
Then my phone rang. It was Noel. She said: "Guess what!?! Our hotel is right next to a bowling alley!! BTW, where are you?
Me: Oklahoma
Noel: Yea right, where are you really?
Me: ...
Needless to say I schooled my teammates in a quick round of bowling (181)

Tomorrow we are arriving in Houston where we will begin a two month project working for the Houston Volunteer Initiative restoring the Olivewood Cemetery. Not only will we be doing landscaping and beautifying but we will also be working with archeologists once or twice a week.