Its gonna be a good life..

Hi blog. So since we last spoke, things have changed.. quite the hostess job, got another job at a doggie daycare, worked at a cat rescue, and babysat. 3 jobs= nervous breakdown. I was literally seeing my life/sanity fall apart, and I didn't know where to turn. Things are really REALLY bad at home, no money, we have to move out, I gotta find a place to live... Just a nightmare. I keep trying to tell myself that this is a test of my strength, I keep thinking of ways I can get myself out of this, but my mom keeps pulling me back. I don't make much money, and the money I do make I need to save for my future, but, alas, my mother is broke too, meaning she needs me. This is the age old dilemma: am I selfish if I don't give the money to her? Or am I stupid for giving up everything I have worked for? AmeriCorps has been on my mind so much lately, I miss it so much. I've applied for several VISTA and State and National jobs, but those are so competitive, I have no idea whats to come of it.

I'm supposed to be living for school in September- but what to do until then is the problem. I've figured it out though: give my 2 week notice at work (just when i'm starting to like it, of course) then take a train to Oregon where I will work on a farm for the month of June. As for July and August, I'll leave that to when the time comes.

This sounds like a good plan to me, I need to worry about myself, but thats hard for me to do. And the CATS what are we going to do about those bitches??? UGGHHHH THIS IS A TEST! I CAN DO ANYTHING! Ok, this was a rant of sorts, but its kinda like a suspense novel, isn't it?

For the First time

Hi blog. It's been a very, very long time since we last rendezvoused, and I apologize immensely. A lot has happened since I was last on: graduated AmeriCorps, took a cross country road trip with 7 sometimes 8 people; and applied for jobs; lots, and LOTS of jobs. I was extremely sad when the month long sabbatical ended with me taking a lonesome solo flight back home, complete with tears as Cat dropped me off at the SF airport. The first 2 weeks were really tough: moping around, having every little thing remind me of my AmeriFriends and teammates, of wishing I could remember things, and wishing I could forget others- I would literally cry when I heard such ridiculous songs as: "Bad Romance" and "Bottoms Up" because they remind me of my beloved memories that seem almost like dreams now.

Well, now that I've set a somber mood for everyone... I am looking for a job; well, technically I just got one- but I don't think it will be fulfilling, but its good for right now, because good LORD do I need money. Things are pretty rough out there, I had the fortune of being in AmeriCorps for the past year, and having a job before that, so I didn't know quite the severity of our current financial situation; more like catastrophe. I was looking/applying to every job I could think of for a solid month after I got home- and when I got an interview, there were at least 10 other people (at the time) vying for the same mediocre job. It's very disheartening, and it made me very, well for lack of a fancy word, sad. Just plain sad. But thank the gods, I was offered a hostess position at Gyu- Kaku, a new Japanese restaurant in Tustin. Funny story: they had me do a sudoku at the interview!

Ok, well since I haven't written in a while, I thought I would make this blog a transition from AmeriCorps life, to my life after AmeriCorps, or LAA. I had my mind set on moving to Sacramento for LAA, but those plans were shot down after I was needed at home to pay for shit, remember, times are tough folks... So that makes me bitter, but I figured if I have my eye on a certain monetary goal, I will work my hardest to achieve that goal, for, if you don't know me, I am a very goal driven person. So, yes, thats whats going on now, and I will try to keep up with this blog, seeing as how I'm not going to school, and will need to keep my IQ up, or at least at the average percentage it is now.

Until then,

Lily

Just call me Hurricane LILY

Hello yet again!
Well, we left Lake Charles August 5th for Pensacola, Fl for what they like to call, "Disaster Relief". We were all a bit sad to leave such an AWESOME project, but we were excited for the challenges that awaited us Florida. We were also extremely jubilant to know that we would be working nearby Phoenix 2, aka The Baywatch Knights, aka Team Seepage: Pump and Rub, aka BRADLEY's TEAM!!!! WEEEEEEEEEE
Well, we set off 2 days later, bid farewell to Louisiana, and looked ahead to Flo-Rida. All I knew about our project is that we would be setting up some sort of database for volunteers.. something.. somethingggggg. We were baffled to say the least. I am, to this day a bit confounded about our task. We did gain 3 additional members from different teams: Meghan, Wolf 6, Lesley, Raven 7, and Katrina, Badger 5. Having those ladies added to our teams was really great to help break up the recent bout of insanity I have been experiencing; the people on my team are great people, but being around the same people day after day, after day, after DAY can make a person a wee bit nutty.
Luckily, we have been spending our off time at the really cool beaches nearby, and we've been hanging out with Team Seepage a lot too, which is great! Unfortunately, we will be missing transition, so I won't be able to see any of my friends, which is very disheartening, but as I told a certain Jeremy Goldmeier, I didnt join, "IwannaseemyfriendsCorps" I joined AmeriCorps, so I have to learn to make sacrifices.
I plan on going home in about 3 weeks, and taking all my days of leave to spend a good chunk of time with my friends and family to get much needed R&R. I'm excited! I was reading over another blog I have, and its from right before I left for AmeriCorps. I was so excited, so idealistic, so giddy with naivety. I thought the AmeriWorld would somehow transcend my real life; dont get me wrong, this has been a blessing. I have met amazing people, I have gained amazing experiences I will never forget, but being away from the people you know and love, and being away from the place you have grown up, and all the things you know, and the memories you have built, and just LEAVING them, its been really tough for me. Alas, this is the when I learn to deal with other people, this is when I grow.

more later..
Lily

Back to LA! (Louisiana that is)

Hello again,

Yes, it has been quite a while since we last rendezvoused, I really can't explain except sheer tiredness, and the lack of internet didn't help much either...

Well yes, as the title of this post suggests, Badger 4 is back in Louisiana- this time in Lake Charles, working for... drum roll please.... HABITAT FOR HUMANITY!!!!!!!!! The reason for such excitement is because I applied to work for Habitat a while back, but they declined me! So I joined good 'ole AmeriCorps instead; maybe the Gods of fate had something to do with it? Well, it is only the first week of our project so far, and I am loving it! Don't get me wrong, its hot. And when I say hot, I mean HOTT. So far we have completely painted the inside of 2 houses that were erected by previous teams- and tomorrow, we put in wood flooring! As well as leading a few volunteers that will spend the day working with us.

I was going through a little bit of the homesickness blues, but I think I have worked it all out that I will visit in September! It's a hard thing to be separated from the ones you love, and the places that are familiar to you; I think I overestimated my will with that one.. But don't get me wrong, AmeriCorps was the right decision, I just don't think I was ready to completely disconnect myself from my world back home.

We are going to try to visit NOLA at some point, there are a bunch of teams down there, and I would love to hang out with them in one of my favorite cities on the PLANET.

Just thought I would write something really quickly, we are still missing Bradley, and now Matt, who is a fire fighter this round.. Boys Boys Boys, can't live with 'em, can't.. well you know.

Till then!

Lily

En Pointe, Perry Point that is.

Well we left NOLA on May 5th- just in time if you ask me. It was starting to get humid, and dont get me wrong, I loved what I was doing down there, but the beauty of this program is that we get to travel all around the country, doing DIFFERENT projects. We started doing some research on our next project, you know, the one in NEW YORK, and it sounds FANTASTIC! Pretty much the project I had been dreaming about. And the sponsors seem really organized, and they have a lot of support from the government, which will be nice; it's amazing how much funding and support can change the whole attitude of a program...

We are back in Perry Point, MD. What a change from when we left! Its beautiful out here! Green, green, GREEN! And lucky us we have the glittering lake right outside our front door! OHHH what a life I lead! I wouldn't change a thing- well maybe a few things... But it's great to see my friends again, we've been insuperable since we got back. We are just waiting for Marlee and Kelly to get back so then our friend circle will be complete!

I'm so excited for our next project, but Bradley, our firefighter will have to stay behind on the composite team. He says he wont miss us, but he loves us- mainly me, so theres no way thats true.. I try to rub it in his face as much as possible that we are going to one of the most amazing cities in the world while he has to stay behind and pull ticks out of his silly beard.. TAKE THAT!

Other than that, there is not too much to report, just lots of lingering around the Point in anticipation for whats to come, and using other peoples cell phones to conduct important business; like asking Clinton what to do about blisters on feet..

TEAM iCLINTON FOR THE WIN!!

talk to you soon,

Lily

Start spreading the news...

NEW YORK!

We just found out that out next spike will be in NEW YORK CITY!!!!!!!!!!! Well, more like Yonkers, but its only 20 minutes away, so its more like a New York minute. Anyway, here is the link for our project sponsor: http://www.groundworkhv.org/

This coming week is our last week in the wonderful NOLA. It is pretty bittersweet; I love this city, but I am SO excited to move on, and finding out we are going to amazing New York couldn't have been better news. (well Puerto Rico wouldn't have been too bad...) This past weekend we volunteered at the Jazz Fest. It wasn't as great as I had hoped- MUD MUD MUD, and I didnt get to leave my volunteer post to see Simon and Garfunkel. I did however get to see Drake as we were leaving- not terribly exciting for me, but I guess it was cool...

On Friday we went on a volunteer guided tour of the 9th ward- and all the other parts of New Orleans that are hidden from the tourist eye; Treme, Mid City, and like I said, the 9th ward. Its amazing all the horror stories that Katrina caused- who would have thought something like that would happen, you loose everything, and when you try to get back on your feet, there are so many obstacles in the way to break your spirit that you don't even want to try anymore. My heart and soul goes out to these people, and I want to do anything and everything I can to help them. I dont know how, and I dont know when, but I will come back here..

Ok, well things are going as expected, learning a lot, having adventures, and optimistically looking forward to my future and the future of my teammates. Ok, well I have to go, I hope your lives are going well, good luck, and much love.

Lily

Fun times winding down.

Hello,

So we have about 2 weeks left in this lil' ole town of NOLA. It rained REALLY hard last night; complete with thunderous thunder and striking lightning. We got yet another batch of volunteers- YAY teenagers! Not really, this should be interesting...

Tomorrow we start a new project, and I am supposed to be leading it. We are going to this place where people with mental illnesses live, and we are painting 4 housing units. I just hope we can do this in a timely order, but something tells me it might take a while.

We are volunteering at the Jazz Festival this weekend, hopefully I can sneak away from my shift to catch Simon and Garfunkel, I love them!! I hope we get free food and swag; one good thing about being a volunteer is that people like to give you treats along with lots of praise, its lovely. I found out I gained 5 pounds, some people guess its in muscle, but my guess is jambalaya and desserts.. Oh well.. This past weekend we volunteered at the Iron Man race, I gave the athletes their packets and swim caps. It was nice, they gave us sandwiches and drinks! (see, that 5 pounds just snuck up on me!)

We are just watching movies after work, but I think the anticipation of leaving soon is looming in the air, so I have a feeling I will spend as much time as possible outside and spending as much money as sanely possible, which is about as much as a non AmeriCorps person would spend on a lunch.. but anyway... Yes, yesterday some of the girls and I just laid in Audubon Park for a few hours, it was lovely. I cant complain about too much, except we have to wake up at 5:30am 2 times a week to do stupid physical training.. ARGGHHHHHH you do NOT want to mess with me this early in the morning as I have learned from my team mates. RIDICULOUS!!! I will NEVER let anyone forget how much I hate working out that early, I must prove my point!!!

Ok, I will try to write soon!

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Love,

Lily