“Commencement is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate and commence. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference.”
Commencement. This one word has been lingering in my mind ever since the schools Graduation almost three months ago. In typical fashion, I’ve come to find that I never actually realized what that word meant. Leaving, moving on, changing, I always thought to commence was to end, Lo and behold, my mind was blown and I found it means to begin, which is an odd thought as I am sitting here on a Sunday afternoon, my mind filled with thought, experiences and memories of the past two year. It’s been a little less then three weeks since I left Phoenix, and it some aspects it is the end of my physical JV experience. However much it may feel like the end, just like every other “end” I have experienced in my life to date, it will never be over. You don’t have an experience and then boom, it’s over and you never think about again. You don’t pretend like it didn’t affect you or change you in some way: small or large. It’s not easy to embrace it, but you do and you deal.
“When you don’t know where you are going, Any road will get you there”
But in some ways this is a true beginning. The first time in my life I am certain of where I am going or what I am doing. The first time I’m not sure of anything actually. I always knew what I was doing next, a planner to the nth degree. Now I find myself here, with the ability to do anything I want, to take my life in any direction, I may want to go from here It’s thrilling and yet completely frightening at the same time.
“Don’t cry because it’s over, Smile because it happened”
Believe me I shed more then my fair share of tears over the past two years, night when I freaked out from the shear overload of the experience, had shouting matches in the middle of the street, was passive aggressive. But I also laughed, I smiled, I had moments I was so overwhelmed with gratitude for the people currently in my life. I lived and learned, but above and beyond all else I loved. I was given the opportunity to open my heart up to the complete strangers: the people I lived with, other JVs, my co-workers, my clients, my students. Because I opened up heart and loved, these strangers turned into friends and memories, ultimately changing me for good.
“What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.”
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Down in the Holler, Holler Back....
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go to the Appalachian (pronounced App-a-latch-in) region of West Virginia. Well first of all, hello to the excitement for me being back east and the plane landing in one of my favorite states: PA. I was super excited to be close to home for a week (sorta) well at least on the same time zone (which tripped me out cause I was so used to the three hour difference). Secondly, I am totally a country girl at heart, so the idea of being in the hollers (a small, rural community in the valley between two mountains, also resulting in me having the song “holler back” stuck in my head for the second part of the week) of West Virginia was definitely romanticized in my brain, just a tad.
So on Saturday night, after being sick all day, (Graduation was NOT a pleasant experience for me) sleeping, and feeling semi-better at night, I decided that my body could not handle copious amounts of cheap beer and a 5am wake-up call, so I went to bed early, missing out on Eddie Cullen’s pretty epic (from what I hear) going away party. A few hours later, I was up and out on Phoenix’s finest mode of transportation: The Metro Light Rail. I had just started the first leg of the 15 hour journey from our little JV House to Lantz Farm in Jacksonburg, WV.
For the first 12 hours of the trip I had exactly one song stuck in my head, The Ballad of Billy the Kid by Billy Joel. It starts: In a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia. Why, did I not have this song on my Ipod? Common, you knew this was gonna happen…… Well, we finally arrived at Wheeling Jesuit University, which reminded me so much of MU. We had mass and picked up Gil, A Jesuit Novice would be our tour guide/fountain of awesomeness for the beginning the week.
Going to Appalachia I had prepared myself and all the boys for the immense poverty, devastation and injustices that we would see, but no one could have prepared me for the beauty, hospitality and simple nature we would find as well.
Each morning we would wake up and travel between 30-60 minutes to get to our worksites. The first morning I went with 4 of the boys to a Methodist church literally in the middle of nowhere. I took over an hour to get there. Driving through the countryside, no cell phone service, music playing, the sky threating to rain down on us, I felt completely at peace. A peace that didn’t last for long; for the next five hours I was crouched under a deck attaching plastic wrap to wood beams. Hammering nails up while crouching is not the easiest task. While I felt a sense of accomplishment being able to see the finished deck, I left the work site with a strange sense of emptiness. I hadn’t really developed any relationships with the West Virginians as I spent most of the day under a deck.
We did that afternoon however learn how West Virginians give directions. We were trying to get from our work site to Wal-Mart, A place that became a second home to our boys. I believe we visited one once if not twice per day. And what do teenage boys find so interesting at Wal-Mart? Candy.
Our Directions (please read in a southern accent): Go out the road and make a left, then when you hit the bridge go right. Drive a little ways an make a left at the school buses. Drive a ways, then you gonna pass a field and there’s gonna be a house with a pink door, make a left. Etc….you get the picture.
The next day I went to a place called Open Door Ministry. It is a food service organization that serves 700-900 people from your average size house kitchen. My experience there was almost the opposite; we mostly just sat around and talked. Sitting there, waiting to make boxes of food for the home visits, watching the women drink sweet tea and show pictures of grandchildren and tell stories to each other, and us as well, it helped me to feel connected to the community. The I drove around with the Mayor of New Martinsville, The MAYOR!, delivering food and visiting homes. It was the first case of real poverty that I witnessed in Appalachia as well. We went to one house that was plywood covered in construction wrap and had about 13 people living in it. It just about broke my heart when I saw the three little kids (where talking 3 or 4) playing outside. After delivering food we got a tour of the city, the city council building, and dinner at an awesome southern style buffet restaurant. The night ended with an attempted bonfire, a couple of games of mafia and a trip to the graveyard at midnight.
Over the next couple of days I made a nature trail in the woods, went on a tour of a haunted prison, went through a bunch boxes, painted a white picket fence, and admired everything that West Virginia had to offer. Friday afternoon we headed out of New Martinsville to Charleston, WV.
There we began the part of our trip based on mountain top removal. To prepare we watched a documentary about mountain top removal which is basically when coal companies come in and cut off the top of a mountain to get the coal that is underneath. The one of the biggest problems with this is that all the coal dust falls onto the hollers destroying their communities. In these areas the water is virtually unusable for anything, many people are getting sick and dying from cancer or black lung, the natural ecosystem of the area is being destroyed and no one will help them. The government is of course on the side of big coal so they are not putting any efforts into helping these communities or making amends. The government says there is nothing wrong and they can’t prove it’s actually from coal, which to the people who live there, is of course complete bull.
But, if I thought hearing about the situation on a documentary was bad, nothing could prepare me for the next day.
We got up early in the morning and headed again through the backwoods of West Virginia, up a mountain, to a little pavilion. Once we got there, we met a man named Larry. Larry was a big advocate against mountain top removal. He is one of the only people in West Virginia who own the mineral rights to his property. (In WV they have a big problem where people own theirs houses and technically the land, but not the minerals underneath the land, which is why the coal and gas companies can just come in without asking) He first explained the process, and then told us a little bit about him and his story. Because Larry owns the mineral rights to his property, he was able to save this particular mountain from mountain top removal. The coal companies offered him over a million dollars for the rights, but he still wouldn’t budge, knowing that he did not want to contribute to destroying his home. Well apparently the big coal companies and the government do not take too kindly to people who speak out against mountain top removal and try their best to intimidate him. He told us he has over 100 death threats, there is a price on his life, and he has been shot at numerous times. Over the course of the trip we found out that it is not just him, people who speak out against Mountain top removal in West Virginia are being killed or silenced in some other way. I’m just gonna come out and say, that’s kinda not right.
Standing their up on that mountain top looking down at all the other mountains that had been cut down, seeing the communities that we being affected, crying, hearing Larry’s story, was one of the most spiritual and life changing moments of my life. This man is standing up for something he believes in more than anything else is this world and withstanding so many obstacles and opposition. He believes in what he is doing so much that he is willing to die for it, here, in the United States. We hear so much about people in South America, the Middle East, Africa, all over the world, people are being silenced for standing up for what they believe in, for what they think is right. Is happening right here as well, not in the major cities, but in the little hollers in the backwoods. It’s not in the news, chances are you may not have even ever heard of mountain top removal before, it’s covered up, you can’t see evidence of mountain removal from the major highways and interstates, you have to drive back in the woods and see the devastation and meet the people who have to live with poor health and the knowledge that people don’t seem to care about what is happening to them.
That night during our group’s final reflection in West Virginia, we talked a lot about Larry and the problems with mountain top removal. At times, I could understand why I was taking it so hard, so personally, and then I realized it. I was one state and 6 hours away from my house. I have seen firsthand what mining can do. In two months I was going to go back there. I know the boys were struck too, but I think the prospect over living a 5 hour plane ride instead of a 5 hours car ride made the situation seem a little bit distant to them. This was my backyard; this was a situation that would undoubtedly affect me and my family. It was semi-overwhelming. At the end of our reflection, I posed one final thought.
I said: “I hope each and every one of us finds a passion, something to fight for, something that drives us not matter what the cost, something that makes us exhibit courage like Larry does every day and when we find it, to never let it go.”
So on Saturday night, after being sick all day, (Graduation was NOT a pleasant experience for me) sleeping, and feeling semi-better at night, I decided that my body could not handle copious amounts of cheap beer and a 5am wake-up call, so I went to bed early, missing out on Eddie Cullen’s pretty epic (from what I hear) going away party. A few hours later, I was up and out on Phoenix’s finest mode of transportation: The Metro Light Rail. I had just started the first leg of the 15 hour journey from our little JV House to Lantz Farm in Jacksonburg, WV.
For the first 12 hours of the trip I had exactly one song stuck in my head, The Ballad of Billy the Kid by Billy Joel. It starts: In a town known as Wheeling, West Virginia. Why, did I not have this song on my Ipod? Common, you knew this was gonna happen…… Well, we finally arrived at Wheeling Jesuit University, which reminded me so much of MU. We had mass and picked up Gil, A Jesuit Novice would be our tour guide/fountain of awesomeness for the beginning the week.
Going to Appalachia I had prepared myself and all the boys for the immense poverty, devastation and injustices that we would see, but no one could have prepared me for the beauty, hospitality and simple nature we would find as well.
Each morning we would wake up and travel between 30-60 minutes to get to our worksites. The first morning I went with 4 of the boys to a Methodist church literally in the middle of nowhere. I took over an hour to get there. Driving through the countryside, no cell phone service, music playing, the sky threating to rain down on us, I felt completely at peace. A peace that didn’t last for long; for the next five hours I was crouched under a deck attaching plastic wrap to wood beams. Hammering nails up while crouching is not the easiest task. While I felt a sense of accomplishment being able to see the finished deck, I left the work site with a strange sense of emptiness. I hadn’t really developed any relationships with the West Virginians as I spent most of the day under a deck.
We did that afternoon however learn how West Virginians give directions. We were trying to get from our work site to Wal-Mart, A place that became a second home to our boys. I believe we visited one once if not twice per day. And what do teenage boys find so interesting at Wal-Mart? Candy.
Our Directions (please read in a southern accent): Go out the road and make a left, then when you hit the bridge go right. Drive a little ways an make a left at the school buses. Drive a ways, then you gonna pass a field and there’s gonna be a house with a pink door, make a left. Etc….you get the picture.
The next day I went to a place called Open Door Ministry. It is a food service organization that serves 700-900 people from your average size house kitchen. My experience there was almost the opposite; we mostly just sat around and talked. Sitting there, waiting to make boxes of food for the home visits, watching the women drink sweet tea and show pictures of grandchildren and tell stories to each other, and us as well, it helped me to feel connected to the community. The I drove around with the Mayor of New Martinsville, The MAYOR!, delivering food and visiting homes. It was the first case of real poverty that I witnessed in Appalachia as well. We went to one house that was plywood covered in construction wrap and had about 13 people living in it. It just about broke my heart when I saw the three little kids (where talking 3 or 4) playing outside. After delivering food we got a tour of the city, the city council building, and dinner at an awesome southern style buffet restaurant. The night ended with an attempted bonfire, a couple of games of mafia and a trip to the graveyard at midnight.
Over the next couple of days I made a nature trail in the woods, went on a tour of a haunted prison, went through a bunch boxes, painted a white picket fence, and admired everything that West Virginia had to offer. Friday afternoon we headed out of New Martinsville to Charleston, WV.
There we began the part of our trip based on mountain top removal. To prepare we watched a documentary about mountain top removal which is basically when coal companies come in and cut off the top of a mountain to get the coal that is underneath. The one of the biggest problems with this is that all the coal dust falls onto the hollers destroying their communities. In these areas the water is virtually unusable for anything, many people are getting sick and dying from cancer or black lung, the natural ecosystem of the area is being destroyed and no one will help them. The government is of course on the side of big coal so they are not putting any efforts into helping these communities or making amends. The government says there is nothing wrong and they can’t prove it’s actually from coal, which to the people who live there, is of course complete bull.
But, if I thought hearing about the situation on a documentary was bad, nothing could prepare me for the next day.
We got up early in the morning and headed again through the backwoods of West Virginia, up a mountain, to a little pavilion. Once we got there, we met a man named Larry. Larry was a big advocate against mountain top removal. He is one of the only people in West Virginia who own the mineral rights to his property. (In WV they have a big problem where people own theirs houses and technically the land, but not the minerals underneath the land, which is why the coal and gas companies can just come in without asking) He first explained the process, and then told us a little bit about him and his story. Because Larry owns the mineral rights to his property, he was able to save this particular mountain from mountain top removal. The coal companies offered him over a million dollars for the rights, but he still wouldn’t budge, knowing that he did not want to contribute to destroying his home. Well apparently the big coal companies and the government do not take too kindly to people who speak out against mountain top removal and try their best to intimidate him. He told us he has over 100 death threats, there is a price on his life, and he has been shot at numerous times. Over the course of the trip we found out that it is not just him, people who speak out against Mountain top removal in West Virginia are being killed or silenced in some other way. I’m just gonna come out and say, that’s kinda not right.
Standing their up on that mountain top looking down at all the other mountains that had been cut down, seeing the communities that we being affected, crying, hearing Larry’s story, was one of the most spiritual and life changing moments of my life. This man is standing up for something he believes in more than anything else is this world and withstanding so many obstacles and opposition. He believes in what he is doing so much that he is willing to die for it, here, in the United States. We hear so much about people in South America, the Middle East, Africa, all over the world, people are being silenced for standing up for what they believe in, for what they think is right. Is happening right here as well, not in the major cities, but in the little hollers in the backwoods. It’s not in the news, chances are you may not have even ever heard of mountain top removal before, it’s covered up, you can’t see evidence of mountain removal from the major highways and interstates, you have to drive back in the woods and see the devastation and meet the people who have to live with poor health and the knowledge that people don’t seem to care about what is happening to them.
That night during our group’s final reflection in West Virginia, we talked a lot about Larry and the problems with mountain top removal. At times, I could understand why I was taking it so hard, so personally, and then I realized it. I was one state and 6 hours away from my house. I have seen firsthand what mining can do. In two months I was going to go back there. I know the boys were struck too, but I think the prospect over living a 5 hour plane ride instead of a 5 hours car ride made the situation seem a little bit distant to them. This was my backyard; this was a situation that would undoubtedly affect me and my family. It was semi-overwhelming. At the end of our reflection, I posed one final thought.
I said: “I hope each and every one of us finds a passion, something to fight for, something that drives us not matter what the cost, something that makes us exhibit courage like Larry does every day and when we find it, to never let it go.”
Friday, May 13, 2011
"Graduation Day" Part I
Graduation is Contagious…
Now we all know that I have just shy of three months left in the JVC but why does it feel like it’s already over. Today was my last day of class, Graduation and the end of school are approaching and I must admit I caught the fever. I may be here through August but in just one a week; all the students that roam this campus will be gone.
I may still have my trip to Appalachia and Summer LP and JJP with the new sophomore and juniors to work on but it feels odd to know that a campus that was so filled with laughter and shenanigans will soon be somber and silent. The seniors are graduating and I will be off heading into the great wide open with nothing but butterflies in my stomach at the prospect of not knowing, and all this, this place & the students whom I have grown to love and appreciate will be nothing but a distant memory.
What about these seniors; over the past couple of days I have been feeling particularly drawn to them. I, in away, know exactly what they are going through. I am also nearing my own “graduation.” I am coming to my terms with my own uncertain future. I don’t know what in store, I don’t know what life is gonna be like, but I know I’m leaving an uncomfortable familiarity, one that I had gotten so accustomed too and I am left asking myself “What now?” Can I take it, can I find a job, live without a “community”, balance myself and exist in this cut-through world? Will my own naivety of a world based on service and love bring me down or will I be able to change and adapt? (Disclaimer: Chicago South, please forgive for my comments and jokes about your plight entering the real world, for I knew not what May 2011 would bring.) I may have 2.5 months but the presence of graduation has thrown me into a blind panic of fear and uncertainty.
Yet, as the school year comes to an end I feel an odd mix of relief, gratitude, appreciation and love. Now let’s get this straight sometimes being a 24 year old female at an all-boys high school is not always walk in the park. Some days I left frustrated and furious and the questions, comments, and sheer immaturity that went on. Other days I was certain that my students knew everything, taught me a thing or two about life and growing up. Other days I just wanted to cry at the brokenness of the students and the things they have all overcome to get where they are. Some days were met with hugs, fist bumps and hour long conversations about complete randomness, while others consisted of quiet, comforting solitude. Some days I just can’t wait to go home, while other days I can’t ever imagine leaving, especially the underclassmen. And today: all of the above. I watched in utter awe of the pandemonium of the seniors celebrating the end of classes, we are had end of year OFJ parties and students are showing appreciation. Attacked by hugs, gratitude, messages of we will miss you, you my favorite, we love you’s and please don’t leave us. It makes me feel pretty darn good to know that I had an impact and made a difference to these kids, and I feel the same.
It scares me heading into the unknown just probably always will. Not knowing what is going to happen, leaving places that have taught me so much that have become so familiar; Places that I have grown to love and felt loved in return; places that showed me what it meant to live in the world, and not simply just exist in it; places that have become so essential to my life that I now don’t know how to say good-bye to. Even though I know that I must. These places have done their job. They have prepared me for the next phase. I don’t know where I am going to end up, but I know I have been changed for the better because of the experiences that I have had. It will be hard to let it go; hard to say good-bye.
And isn’t that why I signed up for this stint in the first place. Wasn’t it all about falling in love with something, something that drives all of your being, something that wakes you up and makes your day worth living? Wasn’t it about getting your heartbroken when you knew there was nothing you could do to help the pain but be a presence? Wasn’t is about laughing so hard your sides hurt and crying because your just didn’t know what else to do? Wasn’t it about seeing the world and the people in it for what it truly was? Wasn’t it about becoming so changed by the places and faces that it resulted being so changed that your life was turned upside down? Wasn’t all just about making a difference and becoming “ruined?”
So, maybe as much as it hurts, I’m done here, I meet the people I was supposed to meet, did what I was supposed to do and now it’s time to move on. My student’s, my Casa Mates, my co-workers, my fellow JVs all an essential part of the process…
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend….
--“For Good” Wicked Soundtrack
In a few short months I will finally gain that elusive “F” status that grants me access to this group of people that share my “experience” of being “ruined for life.” No, I’m not prepared, and no I don’t feel ready, but I’m going to dive in head first anyway. Attack my FJV status with just as much fever as I attacked the JV one. Maybe then I’ll continue to take chances, find love, get heartbroken, make mistakes, try something different, and live outside my comfort zone. I’ll leave something behind, and take something new with me. I’ll meet new people who will leave wholes in my heart.
So “JVC Phoenix Graduation”, Bring it….
Now we all know that I have just shy of three months left in the JVC but why does it feel like it’s already over. Today was my last day of class, Graduation and the end of school are approaching and I must admit I caught the fever. I may be here through August but in just one a week; all the students that roam this campus will be gone.
I may still have my trip to Appalachia and Summer LP and JJP with the new sophomore and juniors to work on but it feels odd to know that a campus that was so filled with laughter and shenanigans will soon be somber and silent. The seniors are graduating and I will be off heading into the great wide open with nothing but butterflies in my stomach at the prospect of not knowing, and all this, this place & the students whom I have grown to love and appreciate will be nothing but a distant memory.
What about these seniors; over the past couple of days I have been feeling particularly drawn to them. I, in away, know exactly what they are going through. I am also nearing my own “graduation.” I am coming to my terms with my own uncertain future. I don’t know what in store, I don’t know what life is gonna be like, but I know I’m leaving an uncomfortable familiarity, one that I had gotten so accustomed too and I am left asking myself “What now?” Can I take it, can I find a job, live without a “community”, balance myself and exist in this cut-through world? Will my own naivety of a world based on service and love bring me down or will I be able to change and adapt? (Disclaimer: Chicago South, please forgive for my comments and jokes about your plight entering the real world, for I knew not what May 2011 would bring.) I may have 2.5 months but the presence of graduation has thrown me into a blind panic of fear and uncertainty.
Yet, as the school year comes to an end I feel an odd mix of relief, gratitude, appreciation and love. Now let’s get this straight sometimes being a 24 year old female at an all-boys high school is not always walk in the park. Some days I left frustrated and furious and the questions, comments, and sheer immaturity that went on. Other days I was certain that my students knew everything, taught me a thing or two about life and growing up. Other days I just wanted to cry at the brokenness of the students and the things they have all overcome to get where they are. Some days were met with hugs, fist bumps and hour long conversations about complete randomness, while others consisted of quiet, comforting solitude. Some days I just can’t wait to go home, while other days I can’t ever imagine leaving, especially the underclassmen. And today: all of the above. I watched in utter awe of the pandemonium of the seniors celebrating the end of classes, we are had end of year OFJ parties and students are showing appreciation. Attacked by hugs, gratitude, messages of we will miss you, you my favorite, we love you’s and please don’t leave us. It makes me feel pretty darn good to know that I had an impact and made a difference to these kids, and I feel the same.
It scares me heading into the unknown just probably always will. Not knowing what is going to happen, leaving places that have taught me so much that have become so familiar; Places that I have grown to love and felt loved in return; places that showed me what it meant to live in the world, and not simply just exist in it; places that have become so essential to my life that I now don’t know how to say good-bye to. Even though I know that I must. These places have done their job. They have prepared me for the next phase. I don’t know where I am going to end up, but I know I have been changed for the better because of the experiences that I have had. It will be hard to let it go; hard to say good-bye.
And isn’t that why I signed up for this stint in the first place. Wasn’t it all about falling in love with something, something that drives all of your being, something that wakes you up and makes your day worth living? Wasn’t it about getting your heartbroken when you knew there was nothing you could do to help the pain but be a presence? Wasn’t is about laughing so hard your sides hurt and crying because your just didn’t know what else to do? Wasn’t it about seeing the world and the people in it for what it truly was? Wasn’t it about becoming so changed by the places and faces that it resulted being so changed that your life was turned upside down? Wasn’t all just about making a difference and becoming “ruined?”
So, maybe as much as it hurts, I’m done here, I meet the people I was supposed to meet, did what I was supposed to do and now it’s time to move on. My student’s, my Casa Mates, my co-workers, my fellow JVs all an essential part of the process…
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you...
Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good
It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have re-written mine
By being my friend….
--“For Good” Wicked Soundtrack
In a few short months I will finally gain that elusive “F” status that grants me access to this group of people that share my “experience” of being “ruined for life.” No, I’m not prepared, and no I don’t feel ready, but I’m going to dive in head first anyway. Attack my FJV status with just as much fever as I attacked the JV one. Maybe then I’ll continue to take chances, find love, get heartbroken, make mistakes, try something different, and live outside my comfort zone. I’ll leave something behind, and take something new with me. I’ll meet new people who will leave wholes in my heart.
So “JVC Phoenix Graduation”, Bring it….
Friday, March 18, 2011
Love for a City in the Desert?
So things at work are going pretty good right now, we just finished up with our Summit on Human Dignity which was about food. We learned about the production, exploitation of labor and what is considered good food for us. We explored such questions about how food insecurity is a direct correlation to heath problems since people who are suffering in poverty are forced to eat cheaper pre-packaged foods high in fat, carbs, and sodium instead of the more expensive, fresher, healthier choices. We talked about the over-use of corn in our diets and how if there was ever to be a strain of disease or drought that affected corn it would be comparable to what happened with the Irish Potato Famine.
I am beginning to plan my summer immersion trip to Appalachia, week-long trip to the lovely state of West Virginia, possibly by way of a layover in Chi-town and landing in one of my favorite states: PA! I got to chaperone another lovely trip to Nogales and enjoyed my time spent in a hotel with cable television and no it was not productive. I stayed up until like 3am watching the Jersey Shore and Real World: Las Vegas. NOT PRODUCTIVE.
Last night I also went to the high school musical of Hairspray. It was really good and just made me all happy a reminiscent of my high school drama experience. I remember opening nights and all the crazy conversations backstage. Not to mention months of afterschool rehearsals hopped up on Coffee and Sugar. Oh High School theater, some of the best memories ever!! Thresher, my dear boy, dancing backstage, hiding oranges to avoid smashing, running around outside, costume-changes---Just to name a few!!!
In other news, we finally got a new house. This has also come with a whole new share of plumbing problems i.e. we have really crappy pipes. But the house it self is nice, it’s seems to have been newly remodeled so we have cool carpets, and a pretty big kitchen and have been getting some furniture off and on from random peeps. So it’s coming together. YeY!
So lately I have come to realize that Phoenix is one of the least sustainable cities, maybe ever. It is in the middle of the desert. Why is there a city in the middle of the desert? Where there is no water. Who had this brilliant idea? Water is not rationed, it’s just really expensive. Wealthier people can afford to have winter lawns, while low-income people can barely afford their water bills. It's built out, not up. So this city in the desert has the advantage of being able to spread far and wide. The city limits keep spreading farther and wider. The city of Phoenix itself probably takes over an hour to navigate, not because of traffic, but because the city is huge. The Valley area starts over at like 335th avenue or something like that which is almost an hour and half on the freeway.
Despite all this, and despite that fact that when I first moved here, I hated Phoenix, It was annoying, there was no city center, it was a 120 degree dry heat, there was no culture, and I thought there was no way that I could ever love Phoenix. But Lo and Behold, here we are in the middle of March and I love Phoenix. Somewhere along the way, it happened. I just can’t put my finger on it. It might have been the “winter” months. 60s and 70s everyday with no clouds ever, I was just in a good mood all the time!
So here we are with just over four months left, I love my job, and we all have our little quirks but absolutely love the members of my community, and now I love Phoenix too. This has another great experience and right now, I can’t even imagine trying to leave this all over again. The Phoenix shaped hole is my heart is starting to appear in addition the NY, Marywood, Camden and Chicago ones that already exist.
Damn You JVC and your ruined for life business
I am beginning to plan my summer immersion trip to Appalachia, week-long trip to the lovely state of West Virginia, possibly by way of a layover in Chi-town and landing in one of my favorite states: PA! I got to chaperone another lovely trip to Nogales and enjoyed my time spent in a hotel with cable television and no it was not productive. I stayed up until like 3am watching the Jersey Shore and Real World: Las Vegas. NOT PRODUCTIVE.
Last night I also went to the high school musical of Hairspray. It was really good and just made me all happy a reminiscent of my high school drama experience. I remember opening nights and all the crazy conversations backstage. Not to mention months of afterschool rehearsals hopped up on Coffee and Sugar. Oh High School theater, some of the best memories ever!! Thresher, my dear boy, dancing backstage, hiding oranges to avoid smashing, running around outside, costume-changes---Just to name a few!!!
In other news, we finally got a new house. This has also come with a whole new share of plumbing problems i.e. we have really crappy pipes. But the house it self is nice, it’s seems to have been newly remodeled so we have cool carpets, and a pretty big kitchen and have been getting some furniture off and on from random peeps. So it’s coming together. YeY!
So lately I have come to realize that Phoenix is one of the least sustainable cities, maybe ever. It is in the middle of the desert. Why is there a city in the middle of the desert? Where there is no water. Who had this brilliant idea? Water is not rationed, it’s just really expensive. Wealthier people can afford to have winter lawns, while low-income people can barely afford their water bills. It's built out, not up. So this city in the desert has the advantage of being able to spread far and wide. The city limits keep spreading farther and wider. The city of Phoenix itself probably takes over an hour to navigate, not because of traffic, but because the city is huge. The Valley area starts over at like 335th avenue or something like that which is almost an hour and half on the freeway.
Despite all this, and despite that fact that when I first moved here, I hated Phoenix, It was annoying, there was no city center, it was a 120 degree dry heat, there was no culture, and I thought there was no way that I could ever love Phoenix. But Lo and Behold, here we are in the middle of March and I love Phoenix. Somewhere along the way, it happened. I just can’t put my finger on it. It might have been the “winter” months. 60s and 70s everyday with no clouds ever, I was just in a good mood all the time!
So here we are with just over four months left, I love my job, and we all have our little quirks but absolutely love the members of my community, and now I love Phoenix too. This has another great experience and right now, I can’t even imagine trying to leave this all over again. The Phoenix shaped hole is my heart is starting to appear in addition the NY, Marywood, Camden and Chicago ones that already exist.
Damn You JVC and your ruined for life business
Thursday, February 10, 2011
New Year's.....only a month late
WoW! Blogging is alot harder than I though, especially since I can't seem to write more then one update every three months lately.
Well Christmas was amazing! I went home to see the friends and family. Christmas with the fam, Aunt Jackie's B-day the day after, The Nutcracker with some of the bestest, an east coast blizzard, and of course the epic New Year's Eve party, created two of the best weeks ever. Then it was back to the airport at 4am to fly back to sunny AZ.
I hoped out the plane at PHX, the taxi-man turned on the radio and a brittany song was on. I rolled up to my house gave him seven or eight, I looked at my back yard it was covered in water.
I opened the back door only to find the house covered in about three-inches of water and it raining from the ceiling. (Again JVC, really)
After a very stressful three hours, I was finally warm and dry at my suport person's house.
To make a VERY, VERY, VERY long story short a pipe bursted due to the deep freeze in Phoenix over New Year's weekend, our house was destroyed, we got kicked out, couch surfed for a few days, and were finally temporarly settled into apartments owned by on of our agencies. Kim is working with us to help find the JVs a new house, so we will see how that goes.
In the Midst of all this crazy house stuff, I was able to leave on a 4 day retreat called Kairos with a bunch of the seniors (around 40). It was definately a heart-warming and in some ways life changing expeirence. Watching the transformation of the boys that week and seeing them face their pasts and futures, inspired me, and gave me hope for my own life. They are all truly amazing individuals that I am glad I was able to get to know. Also if you ever have the chance to watch about 20 teenage boys play mafia at 2am you definatly should, becuase it may have been one of the most entertaining things ever.
I was back at school for three days only to be wisked off on another trip this time to NorCal for a JVC retreat. I headed up to San Jose at 20,000 ft on a southwest flight and while most of the phoenix contingent headed up to SanFran for the night I remained in San Jose to spend the night with E Mawbs (i.e. one of the Chicago South Housies). It was great to see her. We talked for hours making rice and pot stickers (with salad of course)
I woke up the next morning, watched three episodes of the Jeresy Shore (Oh the joys of cable and life after JVC) and headed up to Aptos, CA to be RE-Re-Oriented by JVC. Thus marking 3/4 done with my JV expiernce. While there we did the whole speakers, mass, sharing thing. The casamates and I were able to get a break from work and remember why we wanted to do this in the first place. I also got really obsessed with euchre, and played for like seven hours in a row (undefeated too) the last night.
I returned only to be greated by another day out of the office, taking 13 boys to participate in the annual diocesean Catholic Schools Week mass, rally, and this year we also did a service project. I was able to play chauffer in a mini-bus and share some laughs. We were also able to see some famous speakers, like the Govener of AZ and the current Speaker of the House. I also became quote worthy. I said "Duh! What's the point of even having a car if you can't trick it out." I am told this is going to be appearing in the next edition of the school newspaper. Great lol.
The last big event was going home for SEARCH weekend, this past weekend. It was great seeing all the usual people and the parents. I feel good and ready for the next six months of JVC and whatever else comes my way from then on. Next weekend I'm going with a group of students to skid row in LA so that should be cool.
Well thats the basics of what happened. Hope to post something deeper soon lol.
Well Christmas was amazing! I went home to see the friends and family. Christmas with the fam, Aunt Jackie's B-day the day after, The Nutcracker with some of the bestest, an east coast blizzard, and of course the epic New Year's Eve party, created two of the best weeks ever. Then it was back to the airport at 4am to fly back to sunny AZ.
I hoped out the plane at PHX, the taxi-man turned on the radio and a brittany song was on. I rolled up to my house gave him seven or eight, I looked at my back yard it was covered in water.
I opened the back door only to find the house covered in about three-inches of water and it raining from the ceiling. (Again JVC, really)
After a very stressful three hours, I was finally warm and dry at my suport person's house.
To make a VERY, VERY, VERY long story short a pipe bursted due to the deep freeze in Phoenix over New Year's weekend, our house was destroyed, we got kicked out, couch surfed for a few days, and were finally temporarly settled into apartments owned by on of our agencies. Kim is working with us to help find the JVs a new house, so we will see how that goes.
In the Midst of all this crazy house stuff, I was able to leave on a 4 day retreat called Kairos with a bunch of the seniors (around 40). It was definately a heart-warming and in some ways life changing expeirence. Watching the transformation of the boys that week and seeing them face their pasts and futures, inspired me, and gave me hope for my own life. They are all truly amazing individuals that I am glad I was able to get to know. Also if you ever have the chance to watch about 20 teenage boys play mafia at 2am you definatly should, becuase it may have been one of the most entertaining things ever.
I was back at school for three days only to be wisked off on another trip this time to NorCal for a JVC retreat. I headed up to San Jose at 20,000 ft on a southwest flight and while most of the phoenix contingent headed up to SanFran for the night I remained in San Jose to spend the night with E Mawbs (i.e. one of the Chicago South Housies). It was great to see her. We talked for hours making rice and pot stickers (with salad of course)
I woke up the next morning, watched three episodes of the Jeresy Shore (Oh the joys of cable and life after JVC) and headed up to Aptos, CA to be RE-Re-Oriented by JVC. Thus marking 3/4 done with my JV expiernce. While there we did the whole speakers, mass, sharing thing. The casamates and I were able to get a break from work and remember why we wanted to do this in the first place. I also got really obsessed with euchre, and played for like seven hours in a row (undefeated too) the last night.
I returned only to be greated by another day out of the office, taking 13 boys to participate in the annual diocesean Catholic Schools Week mass, rally, and this year we also did a service project. I was able to play chauffer in a mini-bus and share some laughs. We were also able to see some famous speakers, like the Govener of AZ and the current Speaker of the House. I also became quote worthy. I said "Duh! What's the point of even having a car if you can't trick it out." I am told this is going to be appearing in the next edition of the school newspaper. Great lol.
The last big event was going home for SEARCH weekend, this past weekend. It was great seeing all the usual people and the parents. I feel good and ready for the next six months of JVC and whatever else comes my way from then on. Next weekend I'm going with a group of students to skid row in LA so that should be cool.
Well thats the basics of what happened. Hope to post something deeper soon lol.
Friday, December 10, 2010
It's not about me....
Now that you know the physical whats that have been occuring since we last met each other on these pages, its time to get deeper.
This past Weekend I had the opportunity to go on my second year retreat. It was in the embassy suites, right next to the beautiful LAX. Not exactly the most serene place for a retreat, but you do with what you can. Five of us from the Southwest and three from the Midwest.
I could not have been more thankful for this weekend that came when it did.
The time of year when all the simple living, soul serching, service, community living was just plain starting to burn me out. Here we are month 16 of living too many miles away from home to count, having to plan phone dates with people at home, and just plain wondering how much more JVC can I take. I had totally lost site of what I wanted to accomplish, and why I was doing this. I was struggling in Phoenix, with my spirituality, my community, to see the difference I was making with the students at work, why not eating meat was important, and it was driving me insane.
This weekend gave me a chance to process with others who knew what that feeling was like. We not only engaged in organized reflection activities, but also just had fun, enjoyed each others company, shared stories, and gave advice. We went to In-n-Out, lounged in the hot tub, made arts and crafts posters, and had a three hour convo that helped me gain persepective on this year, last year, and where I want to go from here.
I realize that I left a piece of myself in Chicago, with my former community, and the residents and staff of ABAM. I couldn't accept that before, and I felt guilty for it. Anytime I though about chicago, or the memories I made/good times I had I felt that I wasn't giving my all to community or I was living in the past. I've come to accept that this is okay. I was an experience that has shaped me, and my life, and I've also taken pieces of all of them on my journey now to Phoenix that I am now sharing with others.
Looking back I relize that my last year wasn't this glorified picture that I have painted it out to be. There were real struggles and it to, was hard everyday. There were fights at home, akward moments where I couldn't be myself, aggravating and tired moments at work that I was completely unqualified to handle, moments that I questioned what the heck am I doing this for, what am I actually accomplishing (i.e. rice week). But despite all the struggles it was an experience that I would never trade and have nothing but love for, much like this one. I am confident that come month 24 I will look upon this year with the same gratitude and love for the people of phoenix, my community, and my job.
With a little over a 1/4 of my JVC experience left to go I still have miles to go before I can say that I got that former status and have fullfilled all the goals that I had coming into JVC both 16 months and 4 months ago. I don't know if I will in the next 8 months either. But I will never know unless I start.
If we gotta start somewhere why not here
If we gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From Cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
"Toby Mac"
The hardest part of this JVC business is to accept the fact that it's not about me. It's about everyone else. The people I live with, the friends I've made, the people I serve. It's about them. My committment to love and to serve and not to count the cost. It is only when I remeber that and apply it to life that my eyes will be opened and I will be "ruined for life"
This past Weekend I had the opportunity to go on my second year retreat. It was in the embassy suites, right next to the beautiful LAX. Not exactly the most serene place for a retreat, but you do with what you can. Five of us from the Southwest and three from the Midwest.
I could not have been more thankful for this weekend that came when it did.
The time of year when all the simple living, soul serching, service, community living was just plain starting to burn me out. Here we are month 16 of living too many miles away from home to count, having to plan phone dates with people at home, and just plain wondering how much more JVC can I take. I had totally lost site of what I wanted to accomplish, and why I was doing this. I was struggling in Phoenix, with my spirituality, my community, to see the difference I was making with the students at work, why not eating meat was important, and it was driving me insane.
This weekend gave me a chance to process with others who knew what that feeling was like. We not only engaged in organized reflection activities, but also just had fun, enjoyed each others company, shared stories, and gave advice. We went to In-n-Out, lounged in the hot tub, made arts and crafts posters, and had a three hour convo that helped me gain persepective on this year, last year, and where I want to go from here.
I realize that I left a piece of myself in Chicago, with my former community, and the residents and staff of ABAM. I couldn't accept that before, and I felt guilty for it. Anytime I though about chicago, or the memories I made/good times I had I felt that I wasn't giving my all to community or I was living in the past. I've come to accept that this is okay. I was an experience that has shaped me, and my life, and I've also taken pieces of all of them on my journey now to Phoenix that I am now sharing with others.
Looking back I relize that my last year wasn't this glorified picture that I have painted it out to be. There were real struggles and it to, was hard everyday. There were fights at home, akward moments where I couldn't be myself, aggravating and tired moments at work that I was completely unqualified to handle, moments that I questioned what the heck am I doing this for, what am I actually accomplishing (i.e. rice week). But despite all the struggles it was an experience that I would never trade and have nothing but love for, much like this one. I am confident that come month 24 I will look upon this year with the same gratitude and love for the people of phoenix, my community, and my job.
With a little over a 1/4 of my JVC experience left to go I still have miles to go before I can say that I got that former status and have fullfilled all the goals that I had coming into JVC both 16 months and 4 months ago. I don't know if I will in the next 8 months either. But I will never know unless I start.
If we gotta start somewhere why not here
If we gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From Cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
"Toby Mac"
The hardest part of this JVC business is to accept the fact that it's not about me. It's about everyone else. The people I live with, the friends I've made, the people I serve. It's about them. My committment to love and to serve and not to count the cost. It is only when I remeber that and apply it to life that my eyes will be opened and I will be "ruined for life"
Thursday, December 9, 2010
1,000 Words or Less
Hello Friends,
So I am aware that I have fallen off the face of the blogging universe for about 2 months, but thats what no internet at home, an extremely busy work day, and lack of motivation will do to you. Well I am happy to say that I have found motivation again in the Holidays!
I honestly feel like I dont know where to pick up.
I guess I'll just hit the big ones.
Holloween:I had the pleasure of riding with my casamates to the wonderful land of San Diego to hang out with a bunch of JVs from the Southern Southwest Region. LA, San Diego, and the Phoenican Contingent were all there in full force. While here I learned of the new obsession young people have with a drink called Four Loco's. It is basically alcohol and caffine, and now banned in several states becuase people are having heart attacks upon consumption. Scary, and yet JV's will still keep drinking it because we have no money and it's cheap. Me, I had a sip and spit it back out. It tasted like purple diamatap, even tho the liquid was yellow. Despite this Four Loco's Craze it was great seeing some of the JV's that we haven't seen in a while. After the awkwardness of what's your name again's and where do live, It was nice to chat with people and make new friends. Later came a costume party where charlie brown and his pals, the ninga turtles, a JVC Program Coordinator and the cast of the Jesery Shore were all in full attendance.
Washington D.C. Trip:
So I got to be back on the East Coast for about 5 days and it was WONDERFUL! I spent five days staying in a hotel in a queen size bed all to myself and learning about the DC area and its connection to civil rights, learning about immigration, and the El Salavdorian Martyers, along with doing some site-seeing and seeing some awesome people! The best part: Dinner with my Mama, Aunt Debbie, UC, Vicki and Steve. Second Best Part: Lunch with Mateo and MaiMai! It was so good to be sorta home, seeing people that I love. I was so tired after the trip, but I came back rejuvinated in some awesome way!
While there We also had a private meeting with Senetor McCain about the issue of immigration. It didnt go as well as I had hoped but it was awesome to be in a private meeting with a US senetor and former presidential canidate.
Thanksgiving:Casa's BArt and Truth welcomed their homes to 40Jvs's from all around the southwest region. It was quiet an experience. The first community arrived at about 1am on Thanksgiving morning which communiies following suit until about 3am. I gave up and went to bed. Why? Well let's back track to how I chaporoned at trip to Mexico again that morning. We left school at like 4:30 am and returned at 11pm. I got back just in time to want to pass out but instead was greated by JVs who came for a weekend of food, drink, and friendship.
Thursday was awesome. Becky and I rode around Phoenix for hours doing last minute things for our big feast. The NoCal contingent arrived at about 8:30am awaking the house and allowing us all to prepare for the awesomeness that was to come. We all got dressed in our Thanksgiving best, decorated the table, open the wine, tapped the keg and induldgeed in as much food as we could hold. Then bought out the pie's and ate some more. Finally a trip to the dive bar of four Kings made the night complete. (Although, I spent a good hour that night trying to get lost people back to my house)
Black Friday was no complete without a treck to the local Christown Mall. Were I bought sweet sweatpants for just $5.00. After which we headed back to casa truth to take part in the Phoenix Thanksgiving tradition of Beer Olympics. Casa Truth became East and West Germany with the Berlin Wall to seperate them. We got through two events before the Keg was empty and the games were over, only to be replaced with a nightclub in our backyard. I didn't count but i believe we danced for like 6 hours. AWESOME!!!!
Saturday consisted of most people sitting in my living room, watching football, and getting polluted, but their was a different option. Harry Potter! On the Saturday of thanksgiving, I went to see HP7 for the 2nd time, a descsion I do not regret! getting their was quiet the experience. Before the movie I was hanging at Casa bart where we met a nice women named Michelle** (name has been changed). Michelle was a little intoxicated and decided she would join our football frisbee game, and then run away,and run back, run away, use the bathroom behind a low wall, then come back. When we all got in the van to head to the theater. She decided to sit on their front porch and wait for us to return. This resulted in me driving in circles, waiting for Matt and Scott to be ready to join us for the movie.
After the movie we proceeded to have a three hour conversation about the Potterverse! Time Well Spent! Another Trip to Four Kings, ended the Thanksgiving Shananagins.
On Sunday the guests left and we were left with a destroyed house to clean up. We finished a went to Taco Bell, then I read book 7 of Harry Potter. Again. Time.Well.Spent.
So that's all for now. I'll try to update again real soon!
So I am aware that I have fallen off the face of the blogging universe for about 2 months, but thats what no internet at home, an extremely busy work day, and lack of motivation will do to you. Well I am happy to say that I have found motivation again in the Holidays!
I honestly feel like I dont know where to pick up.
I guess I'll just hit the big ones.
Holloween:I had the pleasure of riding with my casamates to the wonderful land of San Diego to hang out with a bunch of JVs from the Southern Southwest Region. LA, San Diego, and the Phoenican Contingent were all there in full force. While here I learned of the new obsession young people have with a drink called Four Loco's. It is basically alcohol and caffine, and now banned in several states becuase people are having heart attacks upon consumption. Scary, and yet JV's will still keep drinking it because we have no money and it's cheap. Me, I had a sip and spit it back out. It tasted like purple diamatap, even tho the liquid was yellow. Despite this Four Loco's Craze it was great seeing some of the JV's that we haven't seen in a while. After the awkwardness of what's your name again's and where do live, It was nice to chat with people and make new friends. Later came a costume party where charlie brown and his pals, the ninga turtles, a JVC Program Coordinator and the cast of the Jesery Shore were all in full attendance.
Washington D.C. Trip:
So I got to be back on the East Coast for about 5 days and it was WONDERFUL! I spent five days staying in a hotel in a queen size bed all to myself and learning about the DC area and its connection to civil rights, learning about immigration, and the El Salavdorian Martyers, along with doing some site-seeing and seeing some awesome people! The best part: Dinner with my Mama, Aunt Debbie, UC, Vicki and Steve. Second Best Part: Lunch with Mateo and MaiMai! It was so good to be sorta home, seeing people that I love. I was so tired after the trip, but I came back rejuvinated in some awesome way!
While there We also had a private meeting with Senetor McCain about the issue of immigration. It didnt go as well as I had hoped but it was awesome to be in a private meeting with a US senetor and former presidential canidate.
Thanksgiving:Casa's BArt and Truth welcomed their homes to 40Jvs's from all around the southwest region. It was quiet an experience. The first community arrived at about 1am on Thanksgiving morning which communiies following suit until about 3am. I gave up and went to bed. Why? Well let's back track to how I chaporoned at trip to Mexico again that morning. We left school at like 4:30 am and returned at 11pm. I got back just in time to want to pass out but instead was greated by JVs who came for a weekend of food, drink, and friendship.
Thursday was awesome. Becky and I rode around Phoenix for hours doing last minute things for our big feast. The NoCal contingent arrived at about 8:30am awaking the house and allowing us all to prepare for the awesomeness that was to come. We all got dressed in our Thanksgiving best, decorated the table, open the wine, tapped the keg and induldgeed in as much food as we could hold. Then bought out the pie's and ate some more. Finally a trip to the dive bar of four Kings made the night complete. (Although, I spent a good hour that night trying to get lost people back to my house)
Black Friday was no complete without a treck to the local Christown Mall. Were I bought sweet sweatpants for just $5.00. After which we headed back to casa truth to take part in the Phoenix Thanksgiving tradition of Beer Olympics. Casa Truth became East and West Germany with the Berlin Wall to seperate them. We got through two events before the Keg was empty and the games were over, only to be replaced with a nightclub in our backyard. I didn't count but i believe we danced for like 6 hours. AWESOME!!!!
Saturday consisted of most people sitting in my living room, watching football, and getting polluted, but their was a different option. Harry Potter! On the Saturday of thanksgiving, I went to see HP7 for the 2nd time, a descsion I do not regret! getting their was quiet the experience. Before the movie I was hanging at Casa bart where we met a nice women named Michelle** (name has been changed). Michelle was a little intoxicated and decided she would join our football frisbee game, and then run away,and run back, run away, use the bathroom behind a low wall, then come back. When we all got in the van to head to the theater. She decided to sit on their front porch and wait for us to return. This resulted in me driving in circles, waiting for Matt and Scott to be ready to join us for the movie.
After the movie we proceeded to have a three hour conversation about the Potterverse! Time Well Spent! Another Trip to Four Kings, ended the Thanksgiving Shananagins.
On Sunday the guests left and we were left with a destroyed house to clean up. We finished a went to Taco Bell, then I read book 7 of Harry Potter. Again. Time.Well.Spent.
So that's all for now. I'll try to update again real soon!
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