Friday, June 29, 2012

Woah-o-o-oh. . .For the Longest Time

Time for our regularly scheduled update!  It's about time, right?

This week has been pretty great! (You could probably already tell that by my witty banter.) 

Saturday I flew back to Sac, and the week started out as pretty lonely.  On Sunday, I had a me day.  I kept to myself and didn't feel like socializing.

Monday I went back to work, and was greeted with open arms!  I'm so thankful to be in such a kind environment- it has definetly made a huge impact on this year!

Tuesday, I met with my spiritual director, Sister Claire, and we discussed grief and mourning.  My Irish half really influences my emotions, and I don't handle any emotion well, particularly grief.  I distract myself with other things (relationships, movies, sleep) so as to not deal with the real issue: losing my grandma.  I took Sister Claire's advice and tried to mourn for the day and next.

Thursday, Krystal (community member and co-worker) left for a job interview!! The company she is interviewing with paid for her travel and hotel accomodations, and she'll be back on Saturday.

Though this is great for her, this is terrible for the park.  Molly (co-worker that handles a bunch of stuff at the park) is also off this week and next, and now with Krystal gone, it was particularly hard wiuthout them.

Today, not only was Molly and Krystal gone, but another co-worker, Mark, took the day off.  So we were down 6 members of staff!!  (Jim, the co-director left in May; Anne left at the end of May; Boyd ((street monitor and all around great guy)) has been in the hospital for three weeks with a serious infection; and now Molly, Krystal, and Mark.)

Let me set the scene at 7:00am today:  It's the last day (the most crowded day at the park), there are about 700 (if not more) people in the park and the only staff are Tim, Rod, Richard, Garren, and I.

Oi vey!

Thankfully, Jackie (staff) and Cameron (summer volunteer) showed up about 10 minutes into the day, but there was a moment of panic!

Because government checks are distributed during the day, not many people stick around after lunch, so we all got to breathe.  It was a very tough day, but we made it through without many incidents: only one fight and one arrest.

Now, I'm thinking about napping and then dancing with friends tonight!  A slight hike in Tahoe tomorrow, and lazy Sunday are all that's on the agenda. 

Only 5 more posts left!!

Friday, June 22, 2012

Gentle Woman. . . Teach Us Wisdom, Teach Us Love

So I did not have a blog post last Friday.  I was buying a plane ticket home, and I flew to Chicago the following morning.

Saturday night I was with my dying grandmother, Peggy.

She passed a little after midnight. . . Father's Day.

This week has been filled with funeral/family activities, and hasn't been much fun.

This morning, June 22nd, was her funeral.

A luncheon/party followed.  It was filled with fun, laughter, memories, family and friends.

I've never been much of an emotional person. . . Well that's not true.  I am an emotional person, but I'm just not good at showing it. Or writing about it.  Give me a couple more days.

Thank you to everyone who has been kind, sent prayers and condolences, and has comforted me and the other members of my family this  past week.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Don't Worry 'Bout, Don't Speak of Doubt. . .

What to say about this week?

Last Friday was the Cubs game. . . Super exciting, but Cubs lost. Other JVs from the southwest region were in the seats directly in front of us!!!  It was a JVC miracle!  So fun to get to see them!

Saturday and Sunday was a whole lot of nothing. I've been worried about my casamates, the future, my present. . . which has resulted in being uber anxious/restless all week, and it started then.

But I found ways to keep myself busy, with the pinnacle being dinner last night!  On Sunday I made homemade pasta, and yesterday I made homemade sauce, caprese (actually all the slicing was Kathleen), and angel food cake with real whipped cream and strawberries.

Other activities this week have included meditation, gardening, reading, cleaning. . . you know, the usual JVC activities.

Work has been really relaxed (thank goodness) but still busy this week.  We have been short staffed, but the new crop of summer volunteers will be coming in soon, so I won't be so busy at work.

Laura's triathlon (Escape from Alcatraz) is Sunday.  So other than cheering her on, no other plans have been made.

Keep your thoughts and prayers with my family, namely my dad (it is Carnival time at my church and he's in charge!) and my Grandma B.

Toodles!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Feelings/Enough is Enough!

This year has been about growth, and I'm going to continue the trend. I don't like sharing my feelings (especially those of the not-so-happy kind) but I'm going to try for you.  See, growth.

Everything was going fine.  I was suppressing my anxiety.  Instead of job applying, I was just casually looking.  I updated my resume and was looking at job sites.  Nothing really excited me.

But it was all going to work out.

This week was Anne's last week.  She is starting a teaching fellowship in NYC.  She knows what she is doing.

Me? Not so much.

But it's fine.  It will all work out.  I will find something.

Tuesday, the community went to a Giants v. Diamondbacks game.  It was our last community outing.

Thursday was Anne's last full day.  We ate chili, played rummy 500, and listened to our casa's awesome playlist, complete with Fleetwood Mac.  *Le sigh.

Today.

I was supremely sad today.  It was a mixture of Anne's leaving, anxiety for the future, and bad sinuses. (I went to urgent care on Wednesday because I was blowing out bloody mucus. They did nothing.) 

Around 10 am, I decided to stop.  Stop feeling bad.  I have two months left.  I have some wonderful plans ahead, including a mock wedding!  Yes, I don't know what will happen in the future, nor do I have immediate plans after JVC, but I trust.

In about February, I was having a miniature future-freak out as well. My spiritual director, Sister Claire, gave me a plaque of her wall that says:
"I do not know the master plan, but it is comforting to know the Master has planned it and I am included."

I have two months left! Instead of dwelling on how fast it will go and the things I will be missing out on now or in the future (such as this job and my community), I will enjoy every second of it!

Enough is Enough (is Enough is Enough)!!

I pledge to you, loyal readers, I will stop worrying so much and LIVE IT UP!

In that spirit, I'm off to a Giants v. Cubs game in San Francisco!  Go Cubbies!!!