'Sup?

What's up, everyone? Sorry I haven't blogged in awhile. Life is happening and well, no excuses. Sorry. 

Let's see...work is good. 

Lots of changes happening. Some of these are just now happening from the new Senior Team (Q1 2012). They've eliminated a senior level position and are creating a lower level one to "replace" it.  Budget for FY 14 is in the "let's get ready to do this" stage. FY14 starts July 1st. It's all "run around and figure this out" time here. 

Quarterly All Staff Meeting - Jarrett

 There is technically a hiring freeze still in effect. I think an exception is being made for the above position in light of the trade off in salary level. The Corporate Event Planner quit last week with no notice so Financial Development is in a bind ... big time. They can't replace her.

I've been doing a lot of CDE (education) and outreach (health & safety fairs) lately. This is what I was supposed to be doing exclusively (according to AmeriCorps). However, I am full-of-awesome so I've been helping with other stuff like event planning (yay!) and club management. None of what I just said was a complaint. I like it to be mixed up.

 

Beechwood Knoll Health & Safety Fair

I've been helping Bob with some event planning stuff in our department. We have zero budget but have to plan the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet for June. Right up my alley. It's been fun..and interesting. Stay tuned.

Our Middle School Club on The Cape won their State Destination Imagination competition. Alex and I traveled over to Worcester to support them. They were so awesome. We are so proud of them. They get to go to Knoxville for the World Competition in May. They are heavy duty fundraising right now. We're putting feelers out for corporate sponsors. National Red Cross was impressed and are promoting us.

Me with the CCLCS Destination Imagination Team at the State Competition in Worcester

We had our annual Youth Talent Show last month. Such fun! We had 7 performers/teams. The winners were a dance group called, "Lil Phunk." Very exciting and talented. Lots of hard work happened to put on the show. Everyone had a great time. 

Lil Phunk and our Judges

One of the acts wrote and performed a song she wrote especially for our YAB Co-Chair, Thomas...asking him to Prom. He said, "yes." It was cute. 

Serenade Leading to Prom Date

We also had a big "March is Red Cross Month" Event at The State House. I got to help out Lily with setting that up. All our team leaders gave presentations to Congressional Aides and a lot of our volunteers got a tour by one of the Senators. It was a productive and fun day.

Shawna, myself & Leighton (Dir of Disaster Services)

 

The Boston Marathon is next Monday. We have medical stations throughout the route. There isn't really anything for me to do with that. You have to be a medical person to volunteer. We don't do water stations so... I'll be at work doing my normal thing.

Daniel starts a new job on Friday. We are both very excited. His route is MA - NC and back every week. It's a shorter route and he's home 2 nights a week. Very excited doesn't begin to cover it.

So...together more, Yay!

Our stuff is still in Florida. We haven't had the time or room in the budget to grab it all yet. I think probably some time in the summer. Or after August when I get a permanent position. I'll be in FL for the McClelland Annual Gimper Weekend at the end of July (the week before my service is up). I really need to think about the logistics of flying down then renting a U-Haul and driving our stuff up and unloading it. Hmm...things to ponder.

Melissa moved to NYC at the end of March. Some of her stuff is still here but I'm about to move it into our storage room. She got in a car accident on the way here Monday evening. She's okay (neck brace and tail bone hurt), thankfully. So, the moral of the story is this:

I'll be cleaning and organizing and moving rooms! That shouldn't take too long since there really isn't any furniture to move! LOL. It'll be nice to get my kitchen all set up the way I want it. I've been looking online for storage and countertop solutions since I don't really have any. Seriously, I have this HUGE kitchen and practically zero cabinets or counter space. Guess who is going to make her Mommy and Daddy (lol) give her ideas when they visit later in the spring? THIS GIRL RIGHT HERE.

That's all the counter space I have!

Still loving it up here and the weather is about to finally get beautiful again. The kayaks are in The Charles and The Hubway has the rental bike stations out and CBC has opened their patio back up. These are CLEAR signs that Spring is coming. I need to get a bike and see if I can handle the stress of biking on Mass Ave and through Cambridge. It would probably be equivalent to taking The T as far as time goes. Stephen said he'd go with me to try it out. He bikes to and from work every day.   

Kayaks!

Okay, I've just gone on and on and on about...well, nothing in particular, I guess. I don't ever feel like I have a lot going on but I guess I really do. Everyone have a great week!

Much love,

Jini