Life Is What Happens When You're Making Plans

As you may or may not know, I've picked up and moved to MA. I had been planning to move to Boston after Tyler's HS Graduation June 2013 or so. Life decided to laugh at me and throw me a nice little curve ball. 

My friend, Shawna had moved up here last year with the AmeriCorps Vista Program to work with The American Red Cross of Eastern Mass (ARC/EM). At the end of her year-long contract, ARC/EM offered her a permanent position (her boss', actually). She texted me about the available AmeriCorps position, I applied, interviewed twice and got it. 10 days later...here I am...happy as a clam in Boston:

 

I love it here so far. I'm temporarily renting a room out in Lynn...about 1.5 hours commute by 1 bus, 3 trains to Cambridge (ARC/EM offices). It's far! Easier than driving and paying for parking, though. It's near a Bayshore type area called Lynn Shore Drive:

Shawna and I at Harpoon Brewery. They have $5 tours then you get to sample (4oz at a time) the beers they have on tap:

Work is great. I love my job as Youth Outreach Coordinator. I get to go to schools (elementary and high school and university) to teach disaster preparedness. I also get to mentor the kids when they start ARC clubs in their schools. This means I'm not sitting at a desk every day all day. LOVE it. Shawna is awesome to work with and I love our team. Bob is her boss and Kelley is Bob's assistant. ARC is a great atmosphere. I love the culture of it all. Our CEO is Jarrett Barrios. Google him. I'd spend my entire blog gushing over how cool he is if I had to explain. 

Moi at Fenway above. Yes, I got to spend my 09/11 working a booth at Fenway for ARC's Blood Drive. It did not suck. I also got to meet the CEO of National ARC and shake her hand. Our picture is in the lobby of ARC/EM. 

Friday nights are pretty much spent having beers at Cambridge Brewing Company. Stephen Bedell is manager there. It's a great little place to hang out. There is a courtyard that's dog friendly. I got to bring Prince when Daniel was here last weekend. LOVE!

Anyway, It's all busy busy up here. I'm moving to a 4/1 apartment in Jamaica Plain this week. Natalie found it for me. It's temporary but it gets me closer to work and in a cool as hell neighborhood. 

Tonight I'm going to the Opening Gala for the Boston Urban Ballet (Natalie is the director) and Tuesday I'm going to a Leadership Breakfast hosted by The Kennedy Women. Yeah. See? Love it up here.

I'll post more later in the week. Much love!  - Jini