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