Going to the Chapel of Love

Yes. . . wedding bells are ringing. . . mock bells that is!  It is the weekend of the JVC Mock Wedding hosted by Casa Jane Addams (the other JV house in Sacramento) and I'm super pumped!  The weekend will be full of JVs, wedding party plans, and all around good times!!

But that is this weekend. . . Let's talk about my SUPER FANTASTIC HIGHLIGHT of my LIFE!!!


John!

1. As part of our going away party next weekend, Loaves & Fishes asked us to take pictures of our favorite guests.  I had the camera with me the first few days, and on Tuesday, I worked up the courage to ask John to take a photo with me.

*Back story: John hates women.  He was once a history professor whose wife was killed about 15 years ago, suffered a mental breakdown, and has been living on the streets since. He stands somewhere in the park, and just lectures. He believes we are all part of the CIA, and will not talk to any woman in authority. A few weeks ago, as Krystal and I were walking to work, John said Krystal and I weren't his enemies and wished us a good day! Since then, he has asked me a little about where I'm from and my background. He even called me "demure and well-behaved."

Not only did he take a picture with me, but he leaned his head in!

2. On Wednesday, the 4th of July, we had to work.  John was there, but refuses to eat in the dining room. We gave away survival kits with the lunch tickets, so John didn't get one. When asked if he wanted one, he said he wanted a radio instead.  I searched for a radio, gave it to him, and he was so grateful, HE GAVE ME A HUG!!

Later we found out, he hasn't hugged someone in 5 years.

WOW!!

3. Yesterday (Thursday) John invited me to have lunch with him, and his mentor/friend Mark. He joked with me, saying that I would have to roll a cigarette first! Today (Friday), I ate lunch with him and Mark (fish and chips) while they smoked cigars and talked history.

It was the greatest week ever!!

John has been known to have mood swings (one day he'll like someone, next day he won't) and I don't expect his niceness to me to last, but it is great right now! 

Now for a fantastic weekend! Yeah!

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!!

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.

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!

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!!!

There She Goes. . . There She Goes Again. . .

I have limited time today, but a blog post was promised, so here it is!! 

Since I posted on Tuesday, there hasn't been too much to comment on, but I'll do my best.

Tuesday was Anne's birthday! We had a talent show at the park where all but one of the acts was appropriate.  I told really corny jokes in between acts! 

Later on Anne's birthday we had salads from a takeout restaurant, gluten free cake balls, had a Glee recap from Anne, and then watched the season finale! Great times!

After work on Wednesday, I went out with Nick, Bridget and Andy. Fun, fun, fun!

Thursday was agenda meeting and community dinner of sandwiches and a corn/bean salad.

And now it's Friday! I'm off to a beer shop in Davis with two of my friends, and tonight is up in the air.  Saturday, I'm having a picnic with my casa.  No other plans except those.  I will work on Monday.

Oops! I did it again! (Forgot to write!!)

Hello readers! sorry for the long delay. . . I've been in Chicago for the past 2 Fridays!! 

It's not Friday today, but I think I owed you an explanation and update.

So let's start from the very beginning, it's a very good place to start.  Sunday, May 6th, til Wednesday, May 9th, I was gone on silent retreat.  IT WAS WONDERFUL!! I cannot emphasize enough how helpful, calming, and just plain awesome it was to be silent! (Though I will admit, I broke my silence [accidentally] when I said, "Excuse me.")  Though I didn't get much direction as to where I'll go next, I definitely got a direction. 

The next day, was off to work again and regular community life.

Then, after half a day of work on Friday, I was off on a plane to Chicago!!  I got in late that night, and the next morning was off to Holy Name Cathedral to see my BFF, Matt, get ordained a Chicago Archdiocesan priest! 

The next day (Sunday) was Mother's day. I got to wear a new dress my mommy bought me, see my mother, both grandmas, and my sisters, along with a plethora of other family members!!  Great day!

Monday and Tuesday were both lazy days, but I got to have lunch with FATHER Matt and dinner with my cousin Stephanie.

Wednesday was a day full of Grandmas, which was absolutely perfect!!

Thursday night I hung out with my college buddies, Brittany and Stephanie!  It was great to see them and get the triumvirate together again!

Friday (May 18th), I had a relaxing lunch with my godmother, Aunt Judy, and spent a little time with my Grandma B, and then had homemade ravioli at my Aunt Mary and Uncle Caz's, with my parents, Aunt Cissy, Aunt Joanne, and the other matriarch, Grandma A!  Homemade ravioli? Perfection!!

Saturday was my nieces' (Charlotte and Amelia's) birthday party! Fun was had by all! It was fantastic to see all my beautiful nieces!!

Sunday was Matt's first mass and reception!  It was so fun to see everyone and be there to share in Matt's happiness and vocation!! It really is humbling (and cool!) to see such a young man on fire for Lord!

That brings me to today, Monday, May 21st.  I boarded a plane this morning and am back in Sac before dinner!  (Modern technology is great!)

I've been so blessed (and am so grateful) to have such wonderful family and friends, and I got to see them all!!  It's been a blast!

Tomorrow is Anne's birthday and a talent show at Friendship Park! (Work, I've been told, was hectic this past week, because myself, Krystal, and the Americorps were all gone!)  It will be good to go back!

Alright, I promise to get back on schedule now, but I wanted to write all that down first!