Puppy Post!

I’ve been in Athens since Thursday. Leigh, Lexie and I went to Pain and Wonder for a consultation about the tattoos we’re getting. I’m pretty darn excited about getting another tattoo. We’re actually leaving in about 10 minutes to go to Athens and have them done!!

Here is Ashley’s new puppy, Dylan, looking adorable! This is at the Terrapin Brewery. We went there Thursday night and took some of the dogs. You buy a glass for the taste testing and then you hang out in a great field where the dogs get to run around. Oh, and there is always a band playing. Koda and Falkor are definitely enjoying hanging out with the old pack. Here is proof how much Koda has taken a liking to Dylan. They were so adorable sharing the bed.

I also got to see one of Koda’s puppies, Clover! She’s the one who looks the most like Koda, check it out!! She looks exactly like her momma bear.

So after lots of awesome puppy time, Brooke, Ashley and I went out Saturday night to check out AthFest. I noticed there is a distinct feeling when being out in downtown Athens and I love it. So nostalgic. I got to see Katy Roe and hear about her amazing trip to the Pacific Northwest. I’m definitely jealous. We ended the night perfectly with some sushi and Girl Scout Cookie Martinis.

Hot 'Lana

Just observe the beautiful Gelato. Leigh and I had a great day together that started at Whole Foods with some delicious Sushi (observe below), Kombucha and Gelato. It was so delicious! It’s kinda our tradition to go buy Sushi and usually a pint Ben & Jerry’s (this time Gelato) and eat out in the beautiful Georgia weather.

This Sushi was amazing! A California Roll with Soba noodles instead of rice. I highly recommend you try it.

Salmon Avocado Roll. A good one for sure. And of course you can see my Superfruit Kombucha in the background. If you haven’t tried Kombucha, it’s definitely an experience.

Here is evidence of the wonderful Georgia weather that graced our presence. This bright umbrella was surrounding us in yellow warmth during our lunch.

After lunch we went to 1,000 Villages, which you know is my favorite store. I just had to share these beautiful chopsticks. Leigh and I went back to Lexie’s and watched He’s Just Not That Into You. Then we went to Freedom Park. It’s right near Lexie’s house and there is a beautiful view of the Atlanta skyline from the park. Koda and Falkor went crazy over some squirrels. Then Leigh and I went up to Olive Garden to visit with Lexie and Philip. All and all a wonderful day! Tomorrow we’re going to go to the Vortex and then head up to ATHENS!!!! Yay vacation.

Aroma of home

The smell of Georgia. I wouldn’t have believed it either. But on Saturday I drove back into Georgia after being gone for 6 months (the longest I’ve ever been away) and the smell hit me. I speculated that it must be all the pine, the fresh scent of rain or the fireflies. I think the changing seasons much have something to do with the smell. Summer is warm enough or fireflies, but spring and fall are not. Spring is perfect for pine pollination and so yellow snow coats everything. And let’s not forget the rain. Oh Lordy Lordy, have I missed the rain. I was welcomed home with the low rumble of thunder and the misty smell of fresh summer rain in the air.

I have a list of activities and places to fill my time while I’m back in Georgia. I’ve had a couple days to adjust and get over my sadness about my first City Year coming to a close and the miserable car ride home that followed. So now I’m ready and raring to go! My goal is to post at least one picture for each day I’m here. I’m a little behind… So I’m starting today J PS Emeril is making fried Oreos on his show!

So an overview of my first two days in Georgia. Sunday, Father’s Day, we made our way up to Bulldaddy’s house in the north Georgia mountains. I got to see my cousin’s new babies, Shyler and Landon. I also got to play with their older sister, Brinly. What an adorable family! I’m going to go up to Abby’s one weekend so I can hang out with them again. Then we came home and I shaved my puppy dogs. Poor Falkor, I shaved his belly a little short, but I was a pro by the time I got to Koda. I spent some time hanging out with my mom and then went down to Lexie’s to spend the night. Monday morning I slept in until about 12:30, it was wonderful. The rest of my day was filled with necessary errands. Getting a battery for my car, going to the pet store, washing the pups and making dinner with my mom. Then it was back to Lexie’s a hang out and spend the night and that’s where I am now, watching Food Network. I’m going to tromp around Atlanta today. Hopefully Leigh will come down to join me. I’m so excited to see Layton!! AHHH!!!

Leadership Summit

Washington DC.

Monday: Get up super early (didn’t get enough sleep the night before) and head to the airport (THANKS JILL) There I met up with John, Paul, and Patricia Cornales (Exec in SAISD) I was fortunately able to sleep on the plane. Arrived at the hotel. John and I went to the Air and Space Museum. Met up with Colleen and Nick from City Year Columbus and walked around with them, a lot; then walked back to the hotel. Then walked with Paul to dinner; ate a delicious dinner at The Ebbot Grill. Walked back to the hotel and met with all the other corps members with Charlie Rose. Met my roommate for the trip; Caitlin Kelly from City Year Detroit. We had a lot of good talks at night, especially about the state of Detroit. Sleep.

Tuesday: Went to have coffee with Senator Cornyn and talked to a CUTE intern there. Then met with Michelle Chin from his office to convince them City Year is awesome and so the Serve America Act needs to be funded. Then we met up with the rest of City Year at Georgetown to have lunch and hear lots of speakers. Among them were Arne Duncan (Secretary of State), Michelle Rhee (Chancellor of DC Schools and an amazing woman), Joel Klein (Chancellor of NYC Schools), Michael Brown, The Feltonville Diplomas Now! Team and a few more. Then we went to Union Station (beautiful) and mingled with appetizers. Heard from Mrs. Colin Powell and saw 5 amazing City Year alumni awarded the Comcast Awards. Also saw an amazing corps member from LA win the Building Bridges (basically corps member of the year) Award. He reminded me of Jonathan Fletcher. The DC Senior Corps took all the CY CMs to Ben’s Chili Bowl. I got a chocolate milkshake. Talked to interesting people. Then they took us on a tour of the Washington Memorial, WWII Memorial and Lincoln Memorial, which are all beautiful at night. Then sleep.

Wednesday: Got up super early to have Breakfast with Congressman Gonzalez. Next we had a meeting with Moe Vela, Administrator for Biden. He was such a dynamic guy; very very nich. He talked to us for 2 hours!! Then a luncheon. Then a meeting with 2 more representatives. Airport, delayed plane. Talked to Allison; she works in development with World Wildlife Fund. That was an amazing conversation. I learned a lot about the organization. But we missed our flight in Chicago. Took forever getting out of the airport. Drove around Chicago (now I want to live there more than ever!) and finally, sleep.

Thursday: Woke up early, got on plane, tried to sleep… got to San Antonio. Sleep.

That was the outline for my amazing trip to Washington DC. But what I really got from the trip was a bigger better version of the awe I experienced when Charlie Rose came to City Year San Antonio for our ATA. It is amazing to see the impact of City Year on a national level and all the amazing people who support our efforts (see speaker list above). It shows me I have a lot to learn from City Year… maybe more than just my two corps years.

Getting back

The year is winding down. All that meant to me before was a trip home and then the craziness of next year will start. All of which I’m totally ready for. But today we went to McAuliffe to say good-bye to our kids. It is the last day of school for them. I definitely wasn’t ready for that. I’m so lucky I’ll get to see a lot of the kids again next year, but some I won’t. Especially my three 8th graders I’ve been tutoring/mentoring two days a week for pretty much the whole year. I made a promise to myself to go see them at the 9th grade academy. They all play sports too so I’m going to go watch their games. Not to mention our kiddos in after school and lunch clubs. I remember missing them over winter break and I don’t know why that didn’t clue me in that I’d miss them even more now. These kids have been our focus for the past 10 months. Everything we’ve planned from lunch clubs, after school, family nights, a legacy project and so much more…. has all been for them. That’s amazing, but it makes leaving them so hard. It’s not hard because of how much we’re helping them and all we want to do is keep it up. This is the part when we realize just how much they inspire, teach and share so much of themselves with us. This is the part when all I want to do is give my all next year. Not because I want to change the world, but because these kids are some of the most amazing people I know and they deserve nothing less than everything I’m possibly capable of giving. I want to get to know these kids; their struggles, joys and laughter. I don’t care how much harder it’ll make leaving them after another 10 months. I was so touched by the assemblies for the 8th graders today; recognizing their accomplishments and letting them have fun with dancing and a slideshow. Christa McAuliffe Jr. High School will forever have a very special spot in my heart and I’m a far better person because of it.