LaLa Lori

Here’s a list of various websites taking relief donations to Haiti in the aftermath of yesterday’s 7.0 earthquake. Every dollar helps. Please re-blog.

American Red Cross International Response Fund

UNICEF Haiti Earthquake Fund

Yele Hati - Text “Yele” to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the organization

Operation USA

What If? Foundation

AmeriCares

Doctors Without Borders

Haiti Arise

Haiti Emergency Relief Fund

Mercy Corps

Partners In Health

I tend to enjoy nearly all of my days, but for some reason unfavorable events seem to occur on Wednesdays. That’s true at least in Team 3.14 anyway.

However, I’ve been having an absolutely wonderful Wednesday thus far. I woke up with my adorable black lab laying at my feet. I got out of the house on time. There wasn’t a lot of traffic. I got to Case just fine and didn’t even turn the wrong way once.

I met up with Lana at the Coffee House and discovered my new favorite tea, Apple Cinnamon! So good. I always enjoy hanging out with Lana when I have trainings at the Mandel Center. We always have really good conversations. They seem to go by very quickly because I always have to rush to take my fake walk of shame down the frat house driveway and run into the training so I’ll be on time. :)

I had an awesome MyCom session today. I’m developing a plan for next year where we’ll host four life skills retreats which will touch on interpersonal communication, self empowerment, academic commitment, and value exploration. I’m really excited about it and I’ve gotten a ton of help from the other youth professionals that are also in the training. It’s such a good way to network with other people and find new resources for the teens!

Whenever I go there I leave feeling really great about the work that I do. Someone mentioned that non-profit workers realize the good in the work that they do, but have trouble painting a picture for others when they talk about it.

I think it is difficult to describe how I feel when I’m at work or elaborate on what an impact youth programs have on the lives of teens in the community. I try to make everything I do meaningful for my teens and keep in mind that everything they do during these years will affect them as they grow up. I feel really privileged that I’m able to be a part of that. I also feel fortunate that I enjoy it as much as I do.

One of my favorite facilitators, Honey, gave everyone a little gift to end our training. They are these little hand massage tools that are shaped almost like starfish or something. She said we should use them and keep them as a reminder that we need to take care of ourselves in order to take care of others.

:) I like that. I’m going to miss going to these, but I’m sure there will be something else hosted at the Mandel center soon. I have really learned a lot from them and feel like they have already changed my view on the work I do, how I do it, and most importantly why I do it.

Also! It was pretty sunny out today for a little bit. We worked by the fireplace area and all the walls are like windows, so the sun kept shining into the room. I felt like I was getting sunburn on my arms like I do when I drive. It also got in my face a lot and I didn’t have sunglasses, but it was a welcome change to the dreary overcast skies we always have in the winter. I know how much my road dog likes the sun, so hopefully she got to see it as well! <3

The rest of the day should go smoothly. I’m on my lunch break now drinking some tea. It’s creative writing tutoring day and I’m hanging out with Brett tonight. The forecast is looking good!

Jason and Amos <3

J looks great in the Mario Pajama pants we got him for Christmas! :)

I think I’m crazy, baby, let you off the hook too easy
If you were a telephone, you’d still be off the hook
This is my last leg
Been awake for days
In a minute I’ll die of starvation
I’ll come back a ghost if I can haunt you
and float around your room.

What do I do when you get close?
If I kissed your neck, would you slit my throat?
Are you thinking of me when you’re putting on your makeup,
darling, and dying your hair like you do
Well you’re wasting time if you’re trying to impress me
I waste all my time just thinking of you

And I’m not imagining how you give me the shivers,
standing up to your waste in your river
You’re the sweetest boat-builder I think I’ve ever seen
Dream in Japanese, dream in Japanese,
some language I don’t even know how to speak
You’re still pretty and I am still choked up,
it’s probably just the same
The more I hang around you,
the more hang-ups I get (more hang-ups I get)

Are you thinking of me when you’re putting on your makeup, darling,
and dying your hair like
you do? (dying your hair like you do)
Well you’re wasting time if you’re trying to impress me
I waste all my time just thinking of you

I know that you’re an angel,
though you could never stay true (you could never stay true)
Hey angel, I think your halo has a screw loose,
‘cause you dropped me like a brick off the rooftop of your high school
Could I watch the next time you’re applying your eyeliner?
I waste all my time just thinking of you

I talk about my nieces quite often, since I love them a great deal. I am especially close with my nine year old niece, Alvin, since she grew up in Ohio and I spent a lot of time with her. We are official BFFs and have the necklaces to prove it. The day I met her and held her for the first time is when our fascinating friendship began.

Last night it came to my attention that some people, even my close personal friends, think Alvin is my niece’s real name. It is not. Her real name is Allison, more commonly known as Ally.

However, I have been calling her Alvin since she was an infant. The name has stuck over the past 9 years. Even her mother calls her that sometimes.

It’s a step up from her former nick name, Buzz Aldrin. (“Second person on the moon. I’m new here!”) I like to call her anything that starts with AL including, but not limited to:

Alvin
Albert
Alfred
Alan
Alfonzo

…..really anything. Alvin is just my favorite nick name choice, and the most commonly used. I think it’s very fitting of her.

I’ve already nicknamed Lily (2 years old) with the name Lenny and Cory (six months old) with the name Carlton. I don’t think these names will stick, they’re just for now.

I usually call Lily, Lil-bear and Cory, Coralita or Cor-bin (Pam calls her Cory Bean and I am not a fan.

This was in an email from my HR Capstone Professor.

“Now for the big but, this class is intense!!! If you are looking for an easy class drop it now.  If you are working full time and taking one or more classes watch out.  The students that have trouble with this class are the ones who are overwhelmed.  I know you only have a couple classes left and you want to finish your degree.  But take my word for it don’t.  I don’t want you to let your team down. Your team will have the power to kick you off if you do not pull your load.  If they kick you off I guarantee you will fail.  Consider your situation carefully.  It going to be a fun fall, but it is going to be a lot of work.  Make sure you’re fully committed.”

I understand that this class is going to take a lot of effort and time on my part. It’s a capstone for a reason and I love HR so hopefully most things will come naturally to me.

I’ve worked full time my whole college career, so I’m used to being ridiculously busy, but this class obviously isn’t going to be a cake walk. I can already tell I’m not going to be sleeping much since I’m taking two other difficult classes this semester, Leadership & Management: A Continuum, and the very DREADED…Finance. :(

I just need to push through my last semester then graduate and I’ll be living it up come May.