Just some pics.

Water Wars

Hello from beautiful and sunny Arizona!
A couple things that you have missed out on these past couple of weeks:
1. I got my team! We quickly adopted the motto "The struggle is real, Fire 7 knows the deal" and I'll tell you why in convenient bullet points!
2. Upon arriving to our first state park we were informed that we were a day early. So we had to camp on the park grounds for one night and setting up the tents in the wind was, of course, a struggle. Little did we know that it was just the beginning.
3. Upon arriving to our second state park we were informed that the sprinklers we were by had not been working since the summer, so there was no need to worry about them. But of course, they come on at 3 AM, I literally couldn't handle it. It was an hour of just pure chaos trying to get everything under control.
3. Naturally, Fire 7 was not done with water, because the first weekend in our second park it rained pretty much all weekend and we had tent leakage. Not only tent leakage, but a collapsed tent as well. Our FEMA trailer was definitely cramped for a couple of days.
Needless to say Fire 7 is officially over water, and luckily we've had wonderful weather since then. But we are never quite comfortable, because the struggle continues on each and everyday. And we love it.
love,
ktv
ps - Oh, and this also happened.

Disney Dudes.

Hello!
So I stumbled across this tonight as I was stalking Todrick Hall, because what else would I be doing with my Friday night?

It has Todrick Hall, a boy band, and Disney songs. So basically it is perfection.
Enjoy your weekend!
love,
ktv

ZOMBIE CRAWL!

So, this happened a couple of weekends ago.

And with that image, enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
love,
ktv
ps - In other more important news Corps Members have finally come! Let the adventure continue : )

My last 24.

Hey!
So I know that you are all dying to know what I did with my last weekend being 24. Well, wait no longer because I am about to tell you!
*Friday: I had a wonderful pizza dinner at our Region Director's house. I almost didn't leave because their basement has carpet and my feet have never felt so much magic.
Then me and some comrades went to Historian's Ale House and had several drinks and were classy. Then we decided to try our luck at another bar. I knew that it was going to be great inside because the bouncer waived the five dollar cover for us. It was at a bar that is almost exactly like Bonnie's for those of you who know what that is (I'm looking at you Shantel and Maya) And stepped back in time to the 1940's because there was a trio of gentlemen playing songs from that era. It was awesome! I got twirled around the dance floor, like a delicate flower, by an older gentlemen. Thank you random bar, thank you.
*Saturday: I awakened and went to my eye appointment, which doesn't sound to exciting, but right after it I purchased Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Experience Part Two, and needless to say (but I will) that was very exciting! And it is everything that I hoped it would be!
Later that evening, I decided to try a pizza place (because you can never have enough pizza! Thanks for that Chicago) called Mellow Mushroom and it was delicious! Way too expensive considering I am not receiving a paycheck at this moment of my life (thanks government shutdown!) but it was my birthday weekend so I was like, yolo!
We then proceeded to Hayters (not a misspelling) which is the worst place in the best possible way. We watched music videos for literally an hour before getting up to dance, because they kept getting progressively weirder. They at one point played "What The Fox Say" so I need not say more. I enjoyed myself more than I should have, even though I felt I had to fight on the dance floor. I turned it into some pretty legit dance moves though.
*Sunday: I certainly turned up today! And by that I mean I went to brunch with Erin and Lani, we enjoyed a stroll through Wash Park, and ended up at a coffee shop. I'm getting old.
I loved my birthday weekend! 24 I've enjoyed you, but I can't wait to wake up tomorrow with a fully developed brain! Here's looking at you 25.
love,
ktv
PS - I also wore this outfit on Saturday. Go Bulls!

Adam Levine wore plaid.

Hello!
In recent news I went on disaster again, this time only for a day. I helped out in a town that got hit by the flood in Colorado. I very strongly suggest that you go and volunteer if you have the opportunity. Here are some expectations for when you go:
1. Expect to work hard. Depending on where you volunteer at, you may be expected to shovel. Scratch that, you will be expected to shovel if you are in good physical condition. Shoveling sand/mud is very, very hard. Don't get me started on shoveling wet sand/mud. I won't expose you to that.
2. Expect to cry. Seeing people that have lost everything, and are still so grateful is why I love humans. Just bring tissues.
I feel that this is needless to say, but just expect to come away a changed person.

In less recent news, I got to go see Kelly Clarkson and Maroon 5 in concert! It was amazing! I screamed, danced, and sang my way through the night. Adam Levine wore plaid and that is all I need to say about that.

love,
ktv

What just happened?!

I'm not quite sure how, but my job let me handle a chainsaw last week. So, I guess I'm chainsaw certified now! No seriously, here are the pictures to prove it.

And we also did a telethon for the flood victims in Colorado which raised over a million dollars. I would say that we are off to a great start, wouldn't you?

You can't see what the board says, but trust me, we raised over a million dollars! Thanks to everyone who contributed : )

That's all I've got for now. Until next time,

love,

ktv

 



Weekend Update.

Hello!
It's that time again for another weekend update! So this weekend I attended a going away party for one of Liz's friends. It was great mainly because the margaritas were five dollars and I got a free one. Plus, the bartender was extra cute!
Of course this place we were at was super sketchy, due to the fact that it was conjoined with a Beggers Pizza and everyone in there were around my aunts and uncles ages. And they all looked like less successful verisons of my aunts and uncles. But, despite these facts I believe a good time by all was had.
Saturday I finally got a chance to see some people that I haven't yet. I got a chance to hang out with Aquillia, we hung out in her apartment, which is fantastic by the by, and then we made our way over to Tracey's birthday party.
Aquillia unfortunately forgot her i.d. so I had to brave the bar all by my lonesome. Little known fact about me since leaving Americorps, I don't enjoy doing things by myself. When you have lived for ten months with people around you constantly it's hard to adjust to being by yourself. But, despite a minute or two of awkwardly searching I found Tracey and company and had myself a wonderful time! L.C. was here from New York and that was a really wonderful surprise. I got to chat with her a little and catch up. She is thinking about moving here after her time is up in New York, so I'm going to hold her to that!
And now we have reached Sunday where I once again failed to go to church, since the trains decided to take all day, but I did get to go to Market Days, which is apparently the biggest festival in the Midwest, with Lezlee and I got to met up with Case! He's been in Korea for the past year so it was beyond amazing to see him and hang out for a little while.
Then it was on to family dinner at the house of a church friend of the family's and that was super nice. I felt like a grown up as I sipped on my Sangria and sampled various cheeses. I ate entirely too much, as is the Americorps way.
After family dinner was done I left my phone on the table and was watching football with my sisters for a couple of hours. When I got up to retrieve my phone I had seven messages to look at and that is when I found out that EM.FRIEND AND GARY ARE GETTING MARRIED! That has such a nice ring to it doesn't it? So, after I had congratulated her for twenty minutes I naturally called Shan, and now we are planning a wedding! Ok, I may be exaggerating, but I did say that if she needed help with anything don't hesitate to let me know. I can't wait to update you this upcoming year on everything, all the way to the festivities!
I think it's safe to say that this is the best weekend of summer 2013, because nothing will top it. I got a chance to see people I haven't in years and of course the engagement announcement! Can't wait to see what next weekend brings.
love,
ktv
Sorry that this is such a long post with no pictures. Naturally I didn't bring my camera anywhere this weekend.

Weekend Update.

Hello!
I'm now about to bring you a new segment I like to call Weekend Update. I don't know about you, but I steal about 45% of my ideas from SNL, I do hope they don't mind.
So, Friday evening I enjoyed a lovely evening in with my parents and we watched Major Crimes. The first episode was about a girl who was actually born a boy and... oh, you don't want to hear about this? Well, fine! Moving on to Saturday then.
On Saturday I got to enjoy an amazing concert at Lincoln Hall with Shantel and one of her friends. It was Lolla weekend so there was a lot of bandanna's and drunks and it was awesome! The opening act was St. Lucia, and they were pretty good. The main act was H.A.I.M and they were amazing! Here is a little video for your viewing pleasure:

Once, again Shantel has introduced me to my new favorite band! Seriously, they are so good live. I just don't understand how my family has four girls and not a one of us can sing. Really it's unfair. Lets move on to Sunday shall we?
Sunday I went to two churches, because I love Jesus and I literally haven't been to church in months, so I guess I'm trying to make up for lost services. Don't judge me. And then I spent a rousing Sunday Funday in Boystown with Lezlee and all her amazing friends. Apparently it is a thing, and a very big thing. Bars were open and liquor was a flowing, at 6 p.m., on a Sunday. It was a weird but obviously wonderful experience. They believe fully in Sunday Funday. We also got to hit up Wrigleyville Fest and I had an amazing pulled pork sandwich and of course I didn't write down the restuarant so now I'm on a mission to find them.
Monday (since I'm not working I guess this whole month is just one long weekend) I went to Broadway in Chicago with my parents, aunt and uncle, and Monique. It was great! We got to hear selections from Wicked (which is coming back this December!), Ghost, Elf, Flashdance, Million Dollar Quartet, Motown (which is going to be amazing), Once (which I would love to see), and more!
Needless to say my weekend was the best and it's going to continue all month long! Or until I run out of money which very well may be by tomorrow.
love,
ktv

Oh, hey! Part two.

Oh, hey again!
Now where did I leave off? Ah, yes disaster relief, so that brings us into third round.

All I have to say is don't be fooled by the beautiful view from Pike's Peak. What happened on Pike's Peak/Bear Creek is staying on Pike's Peak/Bear Creek.On to fourth round shall we?

 

I could have given you the beautiful view we had from our cabin in St. Crispin's, but no. I wanted you to see how I was greeted one morning while going to do trail work, with a dead snake. But honestly this project was amazing! We did trail work, but we also worked with kids whose parents are incarcerated. Tulsa has the highest incarceration rate for women and is third in the country for men. I can't describe to you the impact those youth had on me. Once again, this is a project I will remember forever.

 

And finally , we have come to the end.



I ended how I began, hanging out with my best friends.

The past 10 months have been utterly amazing. I've never been through anything more challenging, but I wouldn't trade a second of it (well maybe some, those cold nights in Bear Creek for starters. I still can't talk about it). I am truly blessed and I can't wait to see what the next 11 months of Americorps will bring! But for now I'm going to relax and bring you some of my summer adventures soon.
love,
ktv

Oh, hey!

Oh, hey!
I guess I'm a little bit behind in updating this. So, I have been serving in Americorps for the past 10 months and I thought the quickest way to update you on everything is to give you my 7 favorite pictures from this year!
First up is my favorite picture from C.T.I (Corps training institute, or something along those lines. I don't remember the acronym that was all the way in October)

Here I am with the three best girls in the world! I met Lani, Erin, and Alicia during our training and we all become fast friends. Well, not that fast, we're awkward.

My first round I worked at a Boys and Girls club, which I absolutely loved! I was really bummed though, because I couldn't go home for Thanksgiving, but it turned out really great. We ate dinner with all of the local teams and this is a family picture of my first round team (most of them). We all really loved each other, as you can see.

Second round we were working with Houston Parks and Rec, and let's just say planting trees was not my forte. This is a picture of two of my team-mates working in the conservatory, which I actually enjoyed. We were in Houston for about three weeks and then...

We were sent on Hurricane Sandy disaster relief! Recognize that coaster? It was the one that was all over the news. I guess we technically were not supposed to be on the beach, because some cops came after I took this picture and promptly chased us off the shore. I had never been to Jersey or served on a disaster and it was truly a life changing experience. I recommend that everyone does it at least once.
Ok, this post is getting long so stayed tuned for part two!
love,
ktv