How is it the end of June already?

Hey, everyone. It's June 28th. What? Also? It's 2013. I have no idea how either of those things came to be. It's crazy how time flies.

We got a very sweet thing in the mail at the beginning of the month. A 3rd grade class in Ohio made us a sweet poster to show us their support for Boston after the bombings. Sweet children. I have yet to take it down.

Shawna took her vacation this month so I house sat...which included sitting for 2 dogs (an older dog and a puppy) plus their 10+ lizards (or whatever they are...shiver). That was an interesting experience as we got a heat wave that week and they hadn't gotten their a/c unit out yet. I have central heat and air at my place but that's rare up here. Anyway, Malden is nice but I prefer Roxbury/Jamaica Plain (ish). I didn't kill anything so that's good. I was really worried about that.

I got to go to Florida at the beginning of this month to attend Tyler & Rachel's High School Graduation Party. I had a great time. It was a super fast 2.5 day trip down and back. I didn't get to fit in as many visits as I'd have liked but the ones I did fit in were lovely. 

Friday afternoon I got to spend with Wendy, Rachael and Baby Brooklynn. GiGi loves that happy girl. 

Always the happy face.

Friday night I got to have dinner with mom and dad at Kokopeli's. What a great time eating the awesome food and drinking Randy's yummy margaritas. Dad ordered a Bananas Foster that looked so good. I love watching them make it!

Fun and Yummy

 

Saturday was the Graduation Party. It was nice seeing everyone and getting to spend time with Tyler, Rachael, Mr & Mrs. Sutton, Kevin, etc... It was a great turnout with good food and better company.

 

Tyler and Rachael at the Party

Sunday I got to spend the day with the McClelland/Killeen side of the family. Aunt Leigh outdid herself (as always) and  cooked cornish hens for dinner. It was so great. Then I got to go see Brittany's condo. She did a wonderful job picking out all the flooring and cabinets and things. I'm very excited for  her. I think she's planning a trip up here soon. That will be fun.

At work, I was tasked with heading up the Volunteer Appreciation Event Committee. So basically: I got to plan the party. We did this all last minute on a less than shoe string budget. We had it at a place called Lombardo's. It's a lovely event center in Randolph. The big attraction is their spiral staircase with the huge chandelier. It's lovely.

Picturesque - nice for posing!

The committee did a great job and I think everyone from the CEO to all the volunteers were happy with the results. Heavy appetizers, cash bar, lots of great raffle items (including 2 sets of 4 box seats to 2 different Red Sox Games next week). Awards were handed out by each department head to their Volunteer of the Year and then I got to pick raffle winners. We all know how much I love public speaking (not). It did turn out nicely, though.

Free goodie bag, program and candy. Simple but nice.

It is looking more and more like there won't be a position available for me here at The Red Cross. I've started looking outside ARC and there are some interesting possibilities. Stay tuned! I'm keeping positive about it all. I'm sure there's something great out there for me.

The week of the Volunteer Appreciation Event was crazy as we had a couple other things going on here, too. It's the end of the fiscal year so our annual meeting was held next door at The British Consulate. Leighton, our Director of Disaster Services, is British so he has contacts there. They have a lovely meeting space that is open and full of windows looking out the 7th floor onto Main Street here in Cambridge. We had volunteers give the yearly update and tell their, "how I came to volunteer at ARC" stories. It was quite nice as opposed to having the executives do it. 

British Consulate in Cambridge

After the Annual Meeting, we had a Service to Armed Forces/International Services mixer back at Chapter to celebrate International Refugee Day. Lynn Levine is the head of those two programs and it was a nice party. Daniel got to come to it as it was our weekly date night. We stayed a few minutes and he got to meet people and put faces to names he's always hearing. After, we went to Champions at the Marriott and had margaritas and fattening appetizers. LOL.

Rare but nice pic of us!

The weather has gotten quite warm up here. It's been sunny and lovely so we all spend as much time outside as possible. Last Friday we had our Volunteer Programs bi-weekly staff meeting out on the 5th floor balcony. Between the view and the weather, it was a great way to get things accomplished!

Beautiful View

That's about it. Next week is 4th of July and I hate crowds so I think we're going to see if we're allowed to go to the balcony here and watch the fireworks from across the river. Fingers crossed. 

Everyone be safe.

Love, Jini

 

Long Overdue Update

I hope everyone is doing well. I know you're all going through end of school years and weird weather and all of that. 

Tyler Clark Bedell - ZHS C/O 2013

I'll be in Dade City the 2nd weekend of June for Tyler's High School graduation party at his grandparents' house. I'm very excited and proud that he and Rachel both stuck with school over the past year and a half and are finishing. That's not an easy thing to do with a baby on the way and then here. Again: VERY PROUD. His announcement is on my cube...with some of my other kids' as well as Mark William Stern's.

Downtown Crossing Area

The weather has been gorgeous up here. An actual spring?! What in the world is that?!!! LOL. We all eat on the 5th floor deck as much as possible and of course, eat al fresco at local restaurants. Although, the weather is fickle. For example, today was sunny and upper 60s at 2pm. When I left the office at 4:30, it was overcast and upper 50s.

Holocaust Memorial

Shawna and I walk around as much as possible. There are really so many great things to see in Boston without paying or spending any time actually.

The Khaleesi, Daenerys Targaryn - 
The Mother o Dragons

Is anyone else watching Game of Thrones? I really need to read the books. Seriously. Anyway, it's a great show and I'm addicted. I'm not sure there is any actor/actress on the show that isn't top of their game. Hell, even that bastage (hee) Joffrey. The Gleason kid nails the psychopath pretty well. My favorites are still Arya Stark and Tyrian Lannister, though. I don't think there is one story line that I dislike. Also? Is there anything that Natalie Dormer can't do?
I was at Newberry Comics a couple weeks ago and "wasted" $11 on this for my cube at work:


Shawna graduated from Montana State University with her BA in Public Relations. Yay! I bought a cake to share at work so we could celebrate her. The we, OF COURSE, all got together for after work frosty beverages at Kika. We do so love our after work bonding!

Alex and Myself

Shawna & Paul...and the flowers he brought her

Nothing much else is going on except I've started my job search for when AmeriCorps is over. Stay tuned for announcements about that!

Everyone have a great week and hopefully I'll see some of you soon. Planes fly North, too, ya know?!!!

Much love, Jini

I'm Bored. Are you bored?! LOL

What's up, everyone? Anything interesting going on in your world? It's been pretty normal and uneventful here in Beantown!  I'm fully rested, getting 8+ hours sleep a night and ...

KIDDING. I gotta laugh. Take away my fun and you take away my sanity.

Before I get started, here's a breath of fresh air to make me smile and give me the feels...as well as a couple non-disaster news items! 

Brooklynn telling MiMi she's tired of the Paparazzi

Prince providing some much needed cuddle time

Last weekend was the end of the first week of Daniel's new job. We both love it already. More time together being the best perk but all the other stuff is great, too. I don't want to be too crass and talk about money but... more money. Which, given the current stress of life, helps a lot.

Somewhere in the last week, Sean McClelland got all dressed up and attended his Junior Prom with a really cute girl who wore a dress I'm jealous she can make look that good. Va Va Voom! Keeping a promise they made years ago, Leigh and Courtney let Sean drive the convertible BMW Z that night. I have pics she sent me and man, I feel old...but proud and happy.

Okay, I'm ready now. Here's the low-down on what happened, what I was and am doing, etc... And please know I haven't really processed this yet. I haven't had time. I have support from Daniel and work and and friends and local family...and yes, I have a good therapist up here. He's going to have fun with me next Monday.

And... here we go ...

Monday, April 15th, 2013: Boston Marathon

(and tax day but hey, way to bury the lead, Uncle Sam)

[this is lengthy but cathartic]

I was asked if I wanted to do PA for ARC Communications with Shawna by going to a station (at mile markers) to tweet and take pictures of some of the 40 Team Red Cross Marathon runners. I declined because 1. I had a doctor's appointment & didn't want to brave the foot traffic to get there late and 2. I just wasn't "feeling it." I can't tell you why. I don't know why. I wasn't going to be at the finish or anything but yes, this being my first Marathon in Boston, I probably would have tried to be down there at some point just for my own satisfaction.

All morning I was tracking the runners' progress. The Boston Athletic Association (they are the ones who put on the Marathon) has a great website where you can see where the runners stand at each 5K point. I was particularly interested in our team, and Jarrett...and there was a Dade City woman in there, too (Vera something or other). I was re-tweeting our PA people with status reports and very excited as each runner hit the 1/2 way point and then the finish line. 

Allistair had the live coverage on the projector tv in our boardroom so some of us took breaks and went in there to watch the "elite" runners finish. The men and women didn't break any records but man, it was exciting. I think I could do a 5K but 26.2 miles? No way! I went back to my desk and was continuing my "stuff." Shawna and Bob and Kelly all were back in the office after doing all their PA stuff and we were all just having an "easy" day following everyone. 

I was so excited tracking Jarret. He had gotten past the 40K point and his miles/minute were under 14.4. Vera finished. Ben Barr finished (I think that's him...Andrea Madill was particularly interested in him so I was posting for her). A lot of Team Red Crossers finished. It was pretty cool. I was loving it.

Then: One of my co-workers said there were reports of an explosion at the finish line. We all ran to the boardroom to watch on tv. By that time the second explosion (at that time we didn't know to say, "bomb") happened. I immediately called Mom to let her know I was okay and to spread the word. 

Welcome to DR 178-13

(Disaster Response Number)

I went back to my desk to refresh the results so I could see where Jarrett was. Bob came around the corner and said the DOC (Disaster Operations Center) was opened and it was, "All Hands on Deck." From that point in the day, it was a blur. I was helping staffing and answering the "fire line." That's the line where we get calls of people who need our help and when the fire departments call us to let us know there is an indecent and we're needed. 

Things got real at about 7pm when Lily and Leighton and Bob pulled me aside and asked how comfortable I'd be as a liaison to ARC and The City of Boston's call center. They needed someone there to give info on our, "Safe and Well" program/site. I said I'd get comfy with it quickly. Please understand that this was only 4 hours into this so I wasn't even thinking about safety or anything that YOU might have been at that point. I was very excited that I was given this task and that Senior Leadership trusted me with it. I'm not staff. I'm a volunteer with AmeriCorps assigned to an 11 month contract working with Youth Programs. I was honored that this was asked of me.

There were some logistical issues and waiting so I was in the DOC hanging out observing. Jarrett showed up. Let me take a minute to say some things here about what that means (to me and what it SHOULD mean to everyone else):

This man, who you all know I admire and respect, ran TWENTY FIVE POINT SEVEN ( maybe point eight?) miles of a 26.2 mile marathon. Think about that and where he was to the finish line and the explosion. Then think about how close he was to finishing a grueling task he'd never attempted before. Then go ahead and think about how his two sons were somewhere at the finish with his assistant, Jeanne and how frantic he must have been worrying about the three of them. Now...look at this picture I took some time before 8pm the night of the Marathon.

Jarrett Barrios, CEO of ARCEM...In the DOC

Yes, he was in the doc, in his running clothes, doing his job. This is why it's not difficult to get up in the morning and go in to do this "job" every day when you're tired. If he can do it after all of that, so can I. This is why he inspires respect and loyalty.

To continue:

I got a ride to City Hall from one of our volunteers and I did what I was asked to do. I was a representative of ARC with the City for about an hour before they opened up the castle (point place for assistance). I took this pic b/c I wasn't thinking of danger or what was going on. I was happy I had a purpose and that I was helping my team. Please don't think it was uncaring or anything. I was just wrapped up in what I was asked to do and happy I could make them proud they asked me to do it. 

When I got to City Hall, it was a scene straight out of an action movie. There were police everywhere. One of them offered to escort me inside and help me get where I needed to be. They were very nice. I think it helped they saw my ARC credentials and jacket. I was searched and everything. Strange. I found my contact person and did what I needed to do. 

Now, I don't know where you guys were on 9/11/01 but unless you experienced that in a "city," you may not understand this part. At this point, we didn't know who, what or why. Police of all levels were EVERYWHERE. The T was running and it was guarded; as in AK47 military/police guarded. Downtown Crossing (where a lot of the lines intersect and you change trains) was reopened by 10 when I left. I had a police escort inside but then I had to take it by myself ... that was not a fun experience emotionally.  Natalie was going to come get me but by the time she braved the traffic, it would have been over an hour of me waiting. I jumped the T and rode it to my stop. She picked me up there and drove me home so I didn't have to wait for a bus outside then walk the 1/2 mile from the bus stop. I was grateful. Very.

Tuesday through Thursday, I did staffing. I checked in local and nationally deployed volunteers, issued them staff credit cards and out processed them. 8am-6pm those days it was DR 178-13 all day, every day. Most of our disaster response is providing disaster mental health workers...and the support that comes with that: case workers and drivers and people to provide water and snacks to responders. It's very detailed and interesting stuff.

Thursday, Daniel was here and we went to dinner. I woke up at 3am on Friday b/c my cell phone was vibrating non-stop with CNN, Twitter and WCVB Boston updates. This is obviously when all the stuff with the bombers went down. They did their thing and shut down the entire city. Literally the entire city. Long story short, after the T was shut down and taxi service was suspended, Alex came to get me in an ARC car so I could get to Cambridge and work. Eerie doesn't begin to describe driving down Mass Ave and seeing 4 police officers on every corner and MBTA Police at the entrances to each T Stop. *shudder*

Anyway, the rest is a blur of working and making sure things got done. When you are deployed or are assigned to a DR, you have to have at least a day off every 7 days. I took Sunday and did laundry. Exciting, I know. LOL. 

There have been moments when I am just amazed at people's resilience and generosity. ARC has some great supporters because companies have been donating food to the volunteers most days (we got Olive Garden two days in a row...and Panera and Dunkin Donuts have been steady in their support of us). We got Red Sox tickets and massages in the office..and ice cream and cupcakes and cookies. It's insane the level of support that exists in this city.

Anyway, that's where we are now. We are trying to ramp it down but there are still vigils and memorials and funerals where we are needed for the support we provide. This is tiring and exhausting but extremely rewarding work. I don't know if I could go out and do what our volunteers do. I know my strengths and they lie in office work and organization and support. I feel appreciated and needed so that's good. Stress is high but I am working with some great people. Our regular team is together and we work well with each other. We are friendly and comfortable with each other and humor is key in our relationships.  That helps a lot.

As a side note: our Disaster Mental Health volunteers are constantly checking on us, too. They talk to us in the elevator and come to our work stations and get a feel for how we're doing. They make sure we're eating and hydrated and taking breaks to get away from the stress. It's very comforting.

You know what else helps a lot? The support from family and friends I received. I got phone calls and emails and messages from tons of people. Hell, I got a message from someone I hadn't really spoken to in 10 years. It means a lot. So thank YOU!

I know this was long but I have to tell you, it felt good getting it out. Thanks for indulging me. 

Everyone be safe and well. I'm going to bed. I have to be at work by 7am.

Much Love, Jini

PS: If you're not watching The Khaleesi kick ass on Game of Thrones, you are missing out!

 

'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

Time, it is a movin' along!

I've now officially been in Boston a tad over 6 months...5 more months on this AmeriCorps contract. I've already started looking outside ARC to see what's going on the the job market for August. It's interesting. Better than the Tampa market but it's not stellar, either. I'm applying for part time bartending/catering stuff now so hopefully I can slide into full time if I need it later. 

Baby Brooklynn - Looks like her Daddy

Baby B loves her Daddy

Melissa is officially moving out before April 1st. She got a job doing leather working (is that what it's called, Ava?). She's an artsy type and has found something fun she can do. She was up in NYC last week and found an apartment. I hope she's happier there than here. Sweet girl. Unhappy here in Boston.

Anyway...what that means for Miss. Jini - Poo... The Landlord (Nury) is happy to have me stay and put Daniel on the lease. It's all good in the hood. I like my apartment and I like my neighborhood and I like my walk to the bus and ride into the train, etc... I especially like the price and the fact I don't have to have a ton of money to put down on another place. So, I'll be living with Daniel..who is never here but 2 days a week (if that). So I'll essentially have my own place. 

In a month or so he'll be headed to FL to bring up our stuff so YAY to that. 

We were supposed to get about 2-6" of snow this past weekend. HA HA HA HA HA! These meteorologists are HORRIBLE up here. We got at least a foot at my place. I officially dug out Melissa's SUV all on my own. I needed a power nap after that one.

That wasn't even the end of it.

Remember how I told you about the middle school club we have on The Cape and how they do this Destination Imagination competition thing...and they partnered with us here at ARC to help them in their project? Well, Sunday Shawna, Daniel & I drove down to watch their regional competition. THEY WON!!! Plus, they received a special Award for extra creativity. We are SO proud of them.

Cape Cod Lighthouse Charter School Team Flaming Furies (it was about fire safety)

One of the parents was a judge in another competition. That's her thinking cap.

 So yeah, that's about it. Nothing crazy. Just work.

Everyone have a great week.

Love, Jini

 

Celebs & Future Olympians & Fun Times, Oh My!

Happy End of February, everyone! It's almost spring; which  means: temps will rise to beautifulness, Mom & Dad will visit and I'll be continuing to stay busy educating the youth of Mass Bay!

We like to have fun in our bullpen!

We are ready for St. Patrick's Day

Cube Decor.

 

Margarita's is a cool TexMex place in Everett that we patronize. They hosted a fundraiser night for us last week. So, OF COURSE we had to go support our own program! DUH!

A few of our kids submitted applications for the Prudential Award...with Presidential Recognition. Of course, our very own YAB Co-Chairs, Amanda and Thomas were winners. She even got an extra recognition thing from POTUS. Very cool. Love our YABbers!

Amanda Lee

Thomas Vu

Hilarious...and typical of up here.

Snow piles in the mall parking lot

Waylon is very artistic...with chalk...all over his mom & dad's apartment walls...and doors. LOL. It comes off so they let him, I guess. He's so funny about it. He concentrates really really hard. You can tell he has a vision and really "sees" what he's trying to put up there.

 

So, as some of you may have  heard, I'm now officially ONE degree from Kevin Bacon. 

Background: 

Kat Powers is our Rock Star Communications Director. A Community College in Lowell was hosting a panel on the relief efforts in Haiti (ongoing) and wanted Jarrett to say a few words and participate. In exchange for this, Kat negotiated Youth Programs having a table to show off our activities and a photo op with the other people on the panel. A professor there is the son of one of the major players in the US MIlitary effort, Lt. General Keen. He asked his good friend whom he met down there to also join the panel:

 

Yes, that is two time Academy Award Winner, Sean Penn. He was gracious for his allotted picture time at the post-panel reception. Very cool to add to my life experience as well as the ARC/New England experience.

Shawna looking fab in the car

Me cheesin' in the car

Our info table...Shawna

Moi

Mr. Penn, Jarrett, Lt. Gen Keen

The panel in action

That was super fun. Again, ONE degree from Kevin Bacon, yo! Sweet! We're trying to get Kat to arrange other cool things like this.

One of our YAB Members is kinda a big deal...

Yasmin Siraj is an American Figure Skater. Today she is in Milan for the World Junior Figure Skating Championships! She's a sweet girl who is very active in her community as well as being academically excellent. Shining star, for sure.

 

Nothing else much is going on except randomness:

Melissa is moving to NYC soon...in the next few months. I'll have the apartment to myself if the landlord is okay with that. I don't see why not. I pay the rent on time and am not a problem tenant. Daniel will be bringing our stuff up in a month or so. Can NOT wait to have couches and bookshelves and my BOOKS and CDs and DVDs. It's like living in a dorm room right now.

The YAB Talent Show is at the end of March. It's going to be pretty good. 

That's all, folks!

Love you much,

Jini