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

Lawrence Welks SNL Skit

No need to explain, Betty White was great on SNL and this one is probably one of my favorite ones right now.  Throw it on the ground is another good one too.  Gotta love SNL.

"Colorado Sunrise"

Boulder, CO

Me and Lindz

At the Rockies Game

Coors Field

Where I stayed at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp

Edelweiss

A view from the Top, didn't hike it but others did. Photo Credit Lindsey Reinford

My Buddies (Lindz, Ben, and I)

Not quite sure what we're doing

So I may or may not have had a lot of fun with some friends.  Thanks for a great week guys!  You're the greatest.

Safely in BMore

"Let the Wild Rumpus Start" --Where The Wild Things Are

well I guess I'm a little late.  But this weekend was the start of my Away from Baltimore month:

April 30-May 1--Baltimore unit retreat, The Poconos
May 4-5--DC for the evening to hang with friends
May 7-8--Flower Mart in Mt. Vernon, come out and join us!
May 14-22--Colorado for Miss Lindsey and National Retreat
May 28-31--Seattle with Miss Courtney

Let the good times roll!  Can't wait!

Love from BMore or where ever I may be

(Pray for safe travels, Thanks!)

BOB

I don't usually ever write this much on one night but I'm feeling inspired.

The best part of Baltimore and many places may have it but here in Baltimore it's a big deal....the Best of Baltimore is everywhere.  Every place ever suggested to us is a Best of Baltimore something.  I listed one earlier tonight.  And now even the running joke among us VSers is that where ever we are going, even if it's Baskin Robin's, hopefully it's the Best in Baltimore for something here in BMore....I love it.  The link is located on my website pages on the right or right here.

Oh Balitmore, you are wonderful in your own special way!!
Lovin' from BMore

A Lost for Words...Sometimes

What to write about....

The ice cream trucks are out and about with their Christmas songs and "Hello!  Woof Woof."  The sirens and buses are as loud as ever now that my windows are open 24/7 now.  It's annoying but nice!  I'm always tired.  I don't really know why.  I go to bed at a decent time, I think.  Who knows, I probably don't!!  I'm in love with the 80's.  Pandora has the best radio station in the world, Best of the 80s Reloaded!

Beth bought a frisbee, last night we played.  It was fun.  It has a blue light so in the darkness, it was a bit trippy, but totally fun!!  We even started making up rules for frisbeeing.  Rule #1 You must always be prepared and ready for the frisbee to return to you.  Rule #2 When the frisbee is heading toward your face, you must use two hands.  Of course for safety precautions.  These rules are being recorded in hopes of more frisbeeing action to come.  Thank you BA!

Also exciting news, we got our bikes.  I got my bike.  Did I mention we were getting free bikes from a guy from church?  How awesome is that?  I got a a free bike.  It's nice too!!  I'm stoked!!  Super excited about it all.  It's black and has a super comfy cushioned seat.  LOVE IT!!  And the best part about it all, we get to keep our bikes too!!  How great is that?  Once again....LOVE IT!!!!

A lot of the time all I can think about are the things I want to do while I'm still here in Baltimore.  So what do I want to do.....
1. I want to be better friends with one person in particular and get to know her more (Mrs. Brenna Beck).
2. I want to hang out with the LVCer's more or as much as possible.
3. Baseball games will be great this summer.  Can't wait!!
4. Keep my head in the game.  I shouldn't get too far ahead of myself.  I'm still in Baltimore, I need to remember that!  I need to focus on my community here.
These are just a few maybe i'll have more to add later, I'll keep you posted.

Well I'm very tired.  Maybe I should head to bed.  Today at work, I didn't do much but this evening my friend, Melissa Sikes, who went with me to China came up from Harrisonburg to visit me for the evening before I drop her off at the airport to go pick up her Baby!  Well I'm exhausted and must get some sleep. Peace for now.

Love from BMore

10 Things About Home

10 things to look forward to going home:

1. Hanging out with Kara and getting to know Erica better.
2. Babysitting Miss Sophia Marie Leaman.  Can't wait!
3. Getting more involved in Emma Mennonite Church
4. Maybe finding me a small group to chill with.
5. Steak and Shake Open Late!
6. Hacienda and ladies night
7. Feeling ok with not doing anything on a weekend or my day off.
8. visiting friends where ever they may be (Montana, Harrisonburg, Baltimore, or Prague
9. Close to Family again
10. I get to drive my own car again!!!!!

I needed another pick me up.  :D

Happy List

I was reading someone's blog, and they had tons of lists from friends and other people who had lists upon lists of things that make them happy.  I need that.

10 things that make Kristin terribly happy:

1. Movies at the movie theater
2. Cherry Coke, it can always cure the pain.
3. old pictures
4. antiques that you know where it came from and has lots of meaning
5. sunshine
6. Volkswagen Beetles, one day I still hope to own one.
7. music because it can describe any mood or feeling
8. Driving around in the country with the windows down and blaring music
9. visiting friends in far distant places
10. flirting with little children, making them laugh, and feeling so young.

Just sharing

As I'm sitting around watching basketball and trying to figure out what to blog about, I came across this.  Since I've been here in Baltimore, I've heard of this company called Toms Shoes and I've seen them and tried someone's on and I really liked them.  So as I was on their site trying to figure out if I wanted some, I came across a campaign they are doing.  It's called One Day Without Shoes.  People are committing to a day or a few hours, or even a few minutes to not wearing shoes.  How cool is that?

TOMS are really cool.  You buy a pair of shoes and the company gives a pair of shoes to a child who doesn't have any.  So you're buying their shoes.  How awesome?  Anyways, I think TOMS are pretty cool and I wanted to share with others in case you've never heard of them.  Check them out!

Zebra Print, Thong Leotards are priceless!

Michael Jackson vs. Madonna vs. Prince Dance Party at the Ottobar in Baltimore, MD is ranked Best Dance Your Ass Off Party according to The City Paper.  And I would have to agree and I'm pretty sure my fellow sidekicks would have to agree (Melissa, Beth, Kirsten, and Will).

Melissa's outfit was by far the best and EVERYONE loved it.  She was so lucky and found a beautiful zebra print, thong leotard.  Yes, she wore that inside the club.  Way to go Mel, you definitely got brownie points for that.  We had a great time overall though.

Before the Dance Off party, we all met up for another party before hand at the LVC, Casa house.  Alison and Angela (Lutheran Volunteers) had a birthday party.  It was great to hang out with the LVCer's again.  When you don't see them on a regular basis, you know a good time will be had by all, which there was.  

Also this weekend, I watched more of the Olympics.  Too bad for the Men's US Hockey team but it was still a good game to watch.  As for the rest of my day today, I slept, went grocery shopping, cleaned out our refrigerator, and the list goes on and on.  Now I'm trying to blog and write emails and fun things like that.  

I have several things to look forward to already.  Tuesday is the first time I'm going to small group with our church.  I'm excited because I know a few of these people but on different levels so I hope that this will be a really good thing for me.  And this weekend I'm heading down to Harrisonburg and it's going to be a wonderful time.  I can't wait to just do nothing and to relax and do nothing!!  Well I need to go.  I'm exhausted.  My bed is calling my name.

(currently listening to Kate Nash's album Made of Bricks)