I thought perhaps I should provide a longer update on my life as of late, since yesterday's skim-over was really that. First, though, I would like to send a special shout-out (pretend this is the radio) to my Grandma Herr, who is celebrating her birthday today. Happy Birthday Grandma, and many more!
I have been working on many projects as of late. The main one has been trying to get a proposal complete for my professional project for IYFD (similar to a thesis, except...different...). I have decided to build the project off of a non-profit that I "created" last semester in my non-profit administration class. I am continuing to develop the non-profit this semester through strategic planning, fundraising development proposals, and grantwriting. Taking off from this, I am planning on developing curriculum pieces for peer education trainings, peer education events, support groups, and parent outreach. The population for the non-profit will be teenagers in the Manitowoc County high schools and junior high schools. The mission statement for TEACHA is as follows:
TEACHA (Teens Educating About Creating Healthy Avenues) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to creating safe and healthy environments for teenagers to form their identities within the Manitowoc County, WI, community. TEACHA utilizes peer education programs, support groups, after-school activities, and parent outreach programming to address real-life sexual behaviors, risks of drugs and alcohol use, social-emotional health issues, and personal identity development.
Needless to say, I am excited to get this project rolling and find my committee members. I have one down, and I just need a confirmation from another that she'll serve on my committee.
I am also busy trying to plan for the Graduate Student/Faculty Research Conference that will be held in early April. Proposals are due soon, so I am busy trying to work on my abstract. A presentation is a requirement for one of our classes, whether it is presented at the conference or in class, and I figure that it will be good experience to present at a conference. I will be presenting a paper that I began last semester and will continue this semester: "Crisis in the Western Hemisphere: Maternal Healthcare in Haiti". The statistics are fascinating.
Along with this, we are also trying to finish up our grant for the YWCA Transitional Housing program, which is a proposal for $12,000 to build a playground in the backyard of six of the program's units. We have a product together, and it just needs finalizing from here on out. Hopefully submission is around the corner.
Some classmates and I have also decided to work together on a group project for our Social Work in a Global Context course that will focus on child prostitution and trafficking in three different areas of the world. While we haven't identified which geographical areas yet, this will allow us to each do a significant amount of research for the project, with the final piece being a culmination of each of our pieces. If you have never read about the amount of child and human trafficking that goes on in our world, I would suggest that you do - it's fascinating and heartbreaking, devastating and affecting real people's lives. I will keep you updated on what we find.
Next weekend will be our trip to Phoenix for Brewers' Spring Training, which I am so excited about. I am crossing my fingers that the games do not get hailed out, like the game I attended last year. Al and I were in the process of booking our hotel, and we had decided that since we were only spending two nights in a hotel, we could splurge a little and get a nice one. So, we were excited to stay at the Radisson City Center in downtown Phoenix..until they slapped an extra $50 in fees onto the price. At that point, we were like, "hmmm, how much was that Travelodge? the Super 8?" So, we are staying very luxuriously in the Super 8. Don't worry - it has a pool. Hopefully it is a semi-clean pool. Temperatures are supposed to be high-70s, so I of course am looking forward to it.
Much love. Peace.
28 February 2008
27 February 2008
Spring isn't spring without Spring Training
Back to reality...I woke up on Sunday and there was snow! Boo....I wanted to cry. Fortunately, it has warmed up since then and it is all gone now. Schwoo. As you can tell, I do not like winter very much at all.
Friday night we were able to celebrate Lindsay's 26th birthday in style! Her boyfriend flew in from Chicago and surprised her - it was amazing. I knew about the surprise for over a month and was the lucky one to pick him up from the airport. Since Lindsay does not like birthdays or surprises, he was hoping she would make an exception. I think she did! We went out dancing and it was a great exercise and just plain ol' fun.
Yesterday, I bought a ticket to head to Brewers' Spring Training! Wahooooooo! This much-needed break will be occuring next weekend with Alison - a short weekend to check out our favorite team. Perhaps the scouts will listen to us? I am not sure...but I can't wait! I have a lot of work to do until then and will also not be spending any money until then....YES, gotta love it. Vacations that are worth sacrifices.
Oh, also - I got pushed through the Teach For America process straight onto the in-person interview. Yay! That means that I'll find out soon where and when I'll have to be there.
Sorry this is short, folks, but I have to head to GUTS! - we are making masks today and identifying our inner and outer strengths and values...should be a great time.
Love you all!
Friday night we were able to celebrate Lindsay's 26th birthday in style! Her boyfriend flew in from Chicago and surprised her - it was amazing. I knew about the surprise for over a month and was the lucky one to pick him up from the airport. Since Lindsay does not like birthdays or surprises, he was hoping she would make an exception. I think she did! We went out dancing and it was a great exercise and just plain ol' fun.
Yesterday, I bought a ticket to head to Brewers' Spring Training! Wahooooooo! This much-needed break will be occuring next weekend with Alison - a short weekend to check out our favorite team. Perhaps the scouts will listen to us? I am not sure...but I can't wait! I have a lot of work to do until then and will also not be spending any money until then....YES, gotta love it. Vacations that are worth sacrifices.
Oh, also - I got pushed through the Teach For America process straight onto the in-person interview. Yay! That means that I'll find out soon where and when I'll have to be there.
Sorry this is short, folks, but I have to head to GUTS! - we are making masks today and identifying our inner and outer strengths and values...should be a great time.
Love you all!
21 February 2008
Spring, Spring, Spring...Knock on wood
Well, I should be doing some reading right now, but the thought just popped into my mind that I have not blogged in a long time. I am so bad at keeping up at this! Perhaps it should be my March resolution? Hmm...eh, no. I want to thank everyone for their wonderful Valentine's cards and candies and gifts that I received - how amazing it is to feel so loved from so far away! I have been meaning to work on my response cards and letters, but yes, haven't gotten to it yet. Expect them soon!
As you can tell by the name of this entry, yes it's been springlike. The weather has actually resembled spring for at least two weeks now. I absolutely love the feeling of walking out into a crisp spring morning where the smell of the air makes you think of the Easter mornings in your childhood where there was a nip in the air but yet you knew it would be warm enough later in the day to play in the park without a jacket. Or perhaps share a friendly game of basketball with the cousins, saying, "It's sooooo warm...I wish I would've worn shorts." In reality, it was probably about 45 degrees but it felt like summer. That's how it's been feeling lately. The first week of this weather, it was mid to high forties. Although the mornings are a little colder now (it's 22 degrees), the days have warmed up significantly (high of 47 today). I love it. I have thought many times that spring is here, and then I remember that it is only February and that I need to be careful of what I say. The first day I had my bike out was so empowering. I cannot even explain the feeling of being able to use my own power to get somewhere, with the wind blowing on my face. It felt so good. And so my bike has been getting its exercise since then as well.
Besides the spring weather, I have been sick for about a week. It revolved from scratchy throat to flu-like lung symptoms to cold-like phlegm to sinus-infection-like headaches to flu-like aches to almost-healthy and back to cold-like phlegm. I am so glad I got to share that with you! I have gone through a half of a box of Kleenex (mostly in the course of 3 days, but am still working on it) and all of my Emergen-C, which I need to go purchase more of.
Today I will find out whether or not I am granted a phone interview with Teach for America - cross your fingers! Hopefully we will also find out about Ethiopia soon as well...either way, I sense mucho work coming my way.
Also, my mom will be here in less than a month! Wahoo! Perhaps she will buy us both tickets to the Caribbean rather than to Whitefish, Montana, but both are probably equally as fun...and less equally as warm. Can't wait though!
Have a great day ya'll - miss you mucho.
As you can tell by the name of this entry, yes it's been springlike. The weather has actually resembled spring for at least two weeks now. I absolutely love the feeling of walking out into a crisp spring morning where the smell of the air makes you think of the Easter mornings in your childhood where there was a nip in the air but yet you knew it would be warm enough later in the day to play in the park without a jacket. Or perhaps share a friendly game of basketball with the cousins, saying, "It's sooooo warm...I wish I would've worn shorts." In reality, it was probably about 45 degrees but it felt like summer. That's how it's been feeling lately. The first week of this weather, it was mid to high forties. Although the mornings are a little colder now (it's 22 degrees), the days have warmed up significantly (high of 47 today). I love it. I have thought many times that spring is here, and then I remember that it is only February and that I need to be careful of what I say. The first day I had my bike out was so empowering. I cannot even explain the feeling of being able to use my own power to get somewhere, with the wind blowing on my face. It felt so good. And so my bike has been getting its exercise since then as well.
Besides the spring weather, I have been sick for about a week. It revolved from scratchy throat to flu-like lung symptoms to cold-like phlegm to sinus-infection-like headaches to flu-like aches to almost-healthy and back to cold-like phlegm. I am so glad I got to share that with you! I have gone through a half of a box of Kleenex (mostly in the course of 3 days, but am still working on it) and all of my Emergen-C, which I need to go purchase more of.
Today I will find out whether or not I am granted a phone interview with Teach for America - cross your fingers! Hopefully we will also find out about Ethiopia soon as well...either way, I sense mucho work coming my way.
Also, my mom will be here in less than a month! Wahoo! Perhaps she will buy us both tickets to the Caribbean rather than to Whitefish, Montana, but both are probably equally as fun...and less equally as warm. Can't wait though!
Have a great day ya'll - miss you mucho.
10 February 2008
Pictures
Also, here are some pictures from my hike up the M at sunset. Check out the last picture. This is a guy that we met the other night when we were out. Read his hat - it clearly spells M-A-N-I-T-O-W-O-C. Amazing! He wasn't sure where he got it...clearly a hand-me-down.
A Buffet of Information
It'll be brief - apologies, apologies...
I just came from the theater after seeing Atonement. It was amazing - I would recommend it to anyone. It was a very well-done film.
We found out that we'll be finding out about Ethiopia at the soonest 2-3 weeks, and at the latest by spring break. Keep your fingers crossed!
After having a lovely conversation with Patricia (oh, I miss her)...I am submitting an application to Teach for America this week. We'll see how it works, but I figure it can't be an option if I don't apply. Check it out at www.teachforamerica.org.
The cohort had a potluck on Friday night at Lynne & Otto's house (our professors). I made Grandma Debilzen's famous Wisconsin Macaroni & Cheese, and it was a hit! I hardly had any leftovers. I also got requests to make Kit-Kat bars again, so that will have to be at the next potluck.
I went to church today at Christ the King with some friends - it's the Newman Center here at the University of Montana. It is my Lenten promise to myself and to God - to start going to church again! It was a nice church and nice priest, so I'll be heading back there next week (hopefully the music will speed up a little...).
Gotta run - I have to write out my Valentine's. I'm a busy girl, ya know.
Miss you and love you all. Goodnight!
I just came from the theater after seeing Atonement. It was amazing - I would recommend it to anyone. It was a very well-done film.
We found out that we'll be finding out about Ethiopia at the soonest 2-3 weeks, and at the latest by spring break. Keep your fingers crossed!
After having a lovely conversation with Patricia (oh, I miss her)...I am submitting an application to Teach for America this week. We'll see how it works, but I figure it can't be an option if I don't apply. Check it out at www.teachforamerica.org.
The cohort had a potluck on Friday night at Lynne & Otto's house (our professors). I made Grandma Debilzen's famous Wisconsin Macaroni & Cheese, and it was a hit! I hardly had any leftovers. I also got requests to make Kit-Kat bars again, so that will have to be at the next potluck.
I went to church today at Christ the King with some friends - it's the Newman Center here at the University of Montana. It is my Lenten promise to myself and to God - to start going to church again! It was a nice church and nice priest, so I'll be heading back there next week (hopefully the music will speed up a little...).
Gotta run - I have to write out my Valentine's. I'm a busy girl, ya know.
Miss you and love you all. Goodnight!
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