keepin sane

2 days until I am officially moving and starting this new adventure. The mandatory haircut during every life change has been completed yesterday. Since this is such a big life change, there may be more drastic changes needing to happen. TBA.
My food in the house is dwindling and my anticipation is growing. I am looking forward to spending some time with family and friends in Virgina and being able to show Molly my east coast life for a bit before we leave and she shows me her west coast life for a bit. I am grateful things have really been working out for the most part. As of now, the farming opportunity for the month of August doesn't look to promising... so it may be back to the drawing board. Perhaps once we're in the area, things will fall into place.
Last topic that's blog worthy (or slightly blog worthy) is that I am thinking about getting a dog. Since I cannot name my child Jezebel due to.... well, pretty obvious negative connotations to some people... I will name my dog Jezebal.

Mock Pack

We packed the car yesterday. (Then unpacked it for our last week here)
Everything fit with a little room to spare.
Mission is on track.
Over and out.

2 weeks

Today marks exactly two more weeks till I will be permanently moving from my college town. Thus, I have started being extra intentional about observing, appreciating, and doing the things here that make me smile. It sure is nice to be able to just ride a bike to campus and be able to get free internet!
This weekend Molly and I are going camping, which I'm very much looking forward to just being out in nature for a while. This coming week we will also be doing a mock pack of the cars to see what fits and what we still need to give to Goodwill. I'm quite nervous that even though I have already gotten rid of half my belongings, I will still need to give away another half. We'll see. It's amazing how much we have when there is always just a corner or a closet to throw stuff into. It's quite a change of perspective to take that luxury away.
Within these last two weeks, we are also planning on going to our favvvorite Irish Pub in the neighboring city to hear some bluegrass and maybe taking a trip to Chicago... money is quite tight though, so maybe not.
Love the sunshine, love the toes on your feet, take nothing for granted.

Summertime

I decided my personal happiness and time for relationships is more important then having money. Therefore I am not working at the restaurant anymore. I am working mon-thurs for a few hours for my old boss doing more social work related stuff, so I'm much happier.
Molly and my epic summer moving trip is officially planned out now. I am sooo excited. In three weeks we will head to Virginia to be with my family and old friends and from there we will start the trip to Oregon. The day (or maybe two) days after we get to the Oregon coast we are going to one of my favorite bands concerts (Avett Brothers!) It will be a great ending to an epic trip and a great beginning to my new life in Oregon.

Right now I am busy donating/selling my belongings in order for them all to fit into my little Jetta to move. It's quite a challenge but I believe I will be better for it.

I said my goodbyes to many friends and it's finally starting to feel real. College is over. This chapter of my life has ended and a new one is unfolding.

I am finally able to get back into pleasure reading, cooking (made Ceviche today), and daily exercise.

Keepin' it real.

Tidal Waves & Mail Trucks

Most, if not all, the people that know of this blog probably already know this but I'll do a quick review of my current happenings since my last post.

Since leaving my practicum, I moved back to the little town where my college is located. I completed my May Term class of Abnormal Psychology to complete my Social Work (BSW) degree and claim myself as a professional. Ha.
So, now as a professional degree-holding social worker, I have officially accepted and signed my contract into Americorps where I will be doing Social work/case management/policy writing for a homeless shelter/organization in Oregon. I am beyond excited!! My orientation starts September 1st but I plan on moving out there before then to get settled into an apartment and all that stuff.
Currently, I am waitressing in a busy restaurant. It's good money but very different than what I have been doing for the past 4 years with social work related things. I am trying to make the best of it and trying to incorporate my love of working with people. Last night towards the end of my shift, I was cleaning tables out in the 'margarita gardens'(outside), and after dropping a cup of sour cream on my shoe and getting a high-five from a drunken frat boy, I caught eyes with an older gentleman sitting alone at the table beside them. I smiled at him and went over to ask how he was doing while I cleaned off my shoe. We got talking and he told me about his passions before his retirement and I told him about my passion for social work. It was the first time I really felt like I was more than just a cute waitress at a restaurant to a customer. It was nice to connect with someone. We exchanged names and he confessed his confusion as to why I worked at a restaurant with such a different passion. He was great. My other tables seemed much more manageable after that.
I can't see myself lasting all summer at the restaurant (or more like just in this town) but I am making the best of it.
I emailed my past boss at the social work job I had during college here in desperation after a unfulfilling shift at work and to my surprise my boss just emailed me back yesterday that he would love for me to come in and do some work for them. He also offered me a fulltime (high paying, might I add) position doing social work there. Although I had to email him back that I am leaving in a few months, I am going in to talk with him about options. I am sooo glad to be able to get back involved into the work I love.
The planning on when/how I will be traveling out to Oregon seems to be a ever-evolving process. All I know is that I want to see the Avett Brothers somehow either on the east coast or west coast. :)

AND I'm going to Cedar Point soooooon!

Much to smile about, despite the rough spots..

To be continued...

Next Adventure...

So we've been packing and cleaning the house all day. It's crazy how fast time flies. Leaving work was really hard.. I will miss my clients, but mostly my co-workers. Yesterday (my last day) was quite a roller coaster. I was showered with a pizza party, gifts and email/phone# information. They are great. My final evaluation went well with my supervisor and all my 446 hours are signed off for and official.
It was slightly bad timing, but I had my final Americorps/Bend Volunteer Corps interview at 3:40pm yesterday too. So, I was at work on my last day pacing in a conference call with people in Oregon, in the back staff room. I learned a lot about the program and some things that I was not expecting.. I will hear back on Tuesday if I get the position or not! So soon! I really hope it works out but it will just be nice to hear either way so I can continue to look into other options, if needed.
So, on this glorious sunny saturday, I am waiting for my Goshen friends to arrive in Chicago to spend my last weekend with me! The house is half cleaned/packed and my housemates and I are having a big gathering here this evening with all our friends to say our goodbyes and have our last whooo-rawww for Social Work in Chicago.
I will be officially moving back to Goshen early Tuesday morning!
I will write again when I am back in Goshen and hear back from Americorps!

Ready to face my next adventure~

Last week...

I can't believe next week is the last week at my agency! Time as flown by!
Tomorrow I am heading to Goshen to visit friends and hopefully apply/interview for summer jobs! On saturday I'm meeting up with Mom! and we're heading back to Chicago for saturday and sunday (easter) morning! I'm excited to be able to show her around saturday! Hopefully it will be as beautiful as it was today, yet...weather.com says rain for saturday. boo. Then sunday we are going to Obama's church for the easter morning service, which should be quite an event. Then we're driving back to Goshen for a family meal with my great auntie and family. I will then head back to Chi-town sunday night. It will be a traveling, action-packed weekend! I'm excited.
I better get to bed since I am leaving straight from work to the train to Goshen!

Also, my final social work paper is completed! It has been sent off to my editor(since freshman year!) for suggestions and edits but it feels soooo good to be basically done.

The weather finally feels like spring and life is so good.