New Blog

P.S.  Life has changed for me, and so has my blog.  Check it out.
http://kjyinshipshe.blogspot.com/

...sun sets and end credits role...

Jamming to some dance tunes.  Sweating my butt off as I finish packing and I'm pretty sure if my mother saw my pack job, she'd be very disappointed in me.  HAHA  But really, with in the last five years, this is the worst packing job I've ever done.  

Anyways moving on, my time here in Baltimore has come to an end.  It's hard to believe.  I reflect and think about my time here and I almost don't want to leave, but yet I must.  I must move on and find something new to challenge myself with.  Yup....I MUST!!!

Today was a wonderful, beautiful day, except for this morning when I was rudely awaken by thunder and lightening and rain shower then I was wringing with sweat because I became soooo hot.  After I gave up on the sleeping thing, I decided to just start packing.  So I packed for an hour then I had to make gifts and around noon I went and picked up Melissa at work and we headed out to Wal-mart and Chick-Fil-A.  Yum yum.  Then I had a wonderful afternoon with my good friend and co-worker Chris.

After dropping off Chris at the Metro, it hit me, I've finally said all my goodbyes, except for my housemates but that's it, I'm done!  It's hard to think about.  It's hard to think about the fact that I gave up the job that I know so well to someone else.  It's hard to not keep going back to say goodbye to people at Project PLASE.  As my housemate said it a few nights ago, "sometimes you just have to pull the band-aid off."  I want those feel good feelings to stay forever and never leave these people but yet I must move on.

Tonight was good closure.  The four of us went out to dinner and hung out with the few (just two) remaining LVCer's.  It felt like good closure as of right now and I've received the best gifts ever.  A journal and a book about MVS Baltimore.  Both necessary in life!!  

Well the band-aid is gone.  Time to move on and find a new adventure.  Who knows, maybe someday I'll return!!

Love from Baltimore (the final time)

Final Countdown (2 days = done at work, 4 days = leavin')

It hasn't sunk in yet.  I'm almost done here, then what?  Well, home of course.  I have no money to get by.  I've got a whole lot of nothing!  Check!

Tonight was one of the several farewell parties we've had and it began to sink in, I'm saying my goodbyes, and with some it's goodbyes for good and who knows when I"ll ever see them again.  Ugh....I got scared and then I could feel the tears begin to well up but not flow out.  (I was thankful for that, though I'm never ashamed of crying, usually)

It's just so hard to say goodbye to these people who had to become my family in such a short amount of time.  I've done the every two year thing and then I move on but one year is rough, actually really difficult, which sucks and very unexpected for me.

Who knew that the gypsy would find it difficult to move on after a year.  I should have just done another year, stuck around.  Now I play the "Well I could do this..." game.  No one wants to play that, I've made a good, healthy decision.  It was a good choice.  Very needed!

Well here's to my fellow volunteers and new Baltimore friends:
I've had the most wonderful year of meeting great new people, may not have spent enough time with them but now I know how to plan a better year.  I'll miss the co-workers who have shared with me about soooo much (life and social work).  I'll miss my new friends who went through this experience with me and may have experienced similar things, feelings, and thoughts.  And I appreciate the people who were there to listen to me and process life with me in this new year of growth as a true adult no in the college bubble anymore.  Thanks to all of you who loved and cared and laughed when I needed it the most.  You are all a true blessing!

Love

After my arrival to the Hoosier State....

I hope to:

1. Become an excellent line dancer.
2. Make a few new friends.
3. Get to know a few old friends as well.
4. Visit as many of my friends as possible.
5. Find a job that applies to Social Work.
6. Discover many things that I've never known about Northern Indiana.
7. Find a favorite spot.
8. Find lots of free things to do.
9. Feel comfortable with my choices.
10. Be open to new possibilities.
11. Still find spontaneity in life.
12. Keep challenging myself and find others to keep me on track as well.
13. Visit Harrisonburg every 2 months (hopefully, and no worries it would only be a quick weekend trip).
14. Babysit some cuties like cousin's and friend's children aka Sophia
15. Get a magazine subscription.
16. Find happiness in a church.

Thanks Ben M. for the inspiration.  Today at work, I was thinking about what he randomly told me before he left for a meeting, I know what I'm looking forward to but what do I want to DO and accomplish when I get back to Indiana?  This coming from a person (aka me) who's dreading the idea of going back home and of all places, Indiana.  It sounds so dreadful and awful...but of course it will be a good move for right now.  Hey, maybe my perspective on life will change once I return to the land of corn and beans.  Who knows...I'd like to keep my options open for sure.  And hopefully more will be added to the list, these are just a few things as of right now.


peace from baltimore

summer is in the air

As of late, life has been pretty busy.  Summer is officially here and now all I can think about is what's the next adventure of the month.  For about a month, I get to house sit for my host family who will be out on the west coast for a while.  I along with my housemates will hang out with 2 cats that shed like none other and a dog that sheds just as much but MORE and looks like a big, fuzzy bear that you just want to cuddle forever.

Like I said, life has been busy.  DC, Honfest, a wedding in middle of nowhere Ohio, NYC, and a fun jam session in the living room of RHHP.  July 4th weekend consists of relaxation and doing a whole lot of nothing except sleeping in and loving life!  And of course cookouts and Fireworks please!!  

My time here is quickly approaching it's end and I'm scared of not having the next step figured out.  It's a little nerve raking but of course it's my fault for slacking in that department, but life has been stressful as a volunteer as well (not just because of not being around, but also when I have the time I'm just pooped from other activities that I just want to kick back, relax, and do something mindless and nothing of importance).  That's the life of a volunteer:  hanging out, blogging, photos, and finding something free to do next.  

Highlights of NYC:  

Seeing The Empire State and Chrysler buildings (not sure why but I love looking at NYC's skyline because of them), walking the Brooklyn Bridge at night, walking around NYC at anytime in the evening because everything is still open, Chinatown and Little Italy, Rockefeller Center, and Central Park.

Next time, I'm in NYC:

Hang out in Central Park for much longer, (depending on when I go) go ice skating, go up the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock, check out Ellis Island, and hang in Coney Island.  Yeah we'll start there.

Welp gotta go get ready for the fireworks.  

Happy 4th!

Love from Baltimore

Antoinese Watkins

Ms. Toni Watkins
Man, she's another one of the most greatest woman I have met while working at Project PLASE.  She makes me feel like a grown up, I mean most of them do, but Toni truly makes me feel like an adult while we discuss politics of our small non-profit and complain about our feelings and how frustrated we are with different things in life.  I absolutely love this woman with all my heart and appreciate everything she has done for me.

Once again like many of the people I work with, they don't have much to offer and that's ok.  All I can ask for is a helping hand whenever I'm in need, and Toni is exactly that.  On many occasions I have gone to her for questions about what I'm suppose to do or not do,  what should they expect of me and what they shouldn't expect, and for a constant reminder like many give me, "You're just a volunteer."  (Yup, I get that a lot and I use it a lot also.  Bah ha ha)

Toni has been such a wonderful influence.  She's a strong woman going through her own struggles but yet knows how to serve others.  She knows how to be a friend.  She's my friend and I'm so proud of calling her that.

My favorite moments seem so little but just getting a hug from her makes my day.  It's always sincere and I know she really does care about me, she's happy to see me, or sad to see I'm leaving for the weekend.  She truly does express her feelings towards me and I love her to death!

Defining Moments