Well I'm spending a lazy Sunday in the kitchen and while I wait for Stephens banana bread to bake I have time to Blog! This week I was run ragged by 25 5th and 6th graders but it felt awesome to be w kids and in am educational atmosphere! Sly park is great program for schools and I really hopped on board. students have a blast and seem to get something out of it. We did three hikes, rock climbing, visited and animal room, panning for gold, songs, skits, a carnival etc. Some people on my team were really not looking forward to it and while they were unhappy about their 24 crazy kids they did a great job. Of course imy bleeding heart had me in love with several kids. If only I could do more.

The team talked about going to San Fran this weekend but as it got closer we decided not to go. We've spend the weekend together still. This is one reason other teams think were crazy...even when we don't have to we ALL hang out together. This is also on my top five concerns for next year.

We have Monday off for memorial day and head back to camp on Tuesday. Enjoy your long weekend!
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Sly Park!

After merely 22 hours at McClellan, where I spent 12 hours doing laundry, Gold 1 has gone to camp! When we got here we learned that more mommas had shown up than anticipated and nine of us had Cabins. :( The boys however do! Its been endearing to watch. Sly park is so awesome. Fifth and Sixth graders from four schools come for four nights to hike, learn and play. The kids are a hot mess. I'm constantly shocked by the content of their conversations and their adult attitudes!
I'm part of hiking group eight which I think will be so much fun! Tonight we were supposed to make laynards but no one knew how to do it so we just milled around. Ill see if I remember ANY named tomorrow!

This brings back fond memories of Camp Hantesha in sixth grade. I cannot grasp that this was ten years ago....time flies so fast.

This year is almost over...I can't believe it or even began to imagine my life without Gold 1.

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Starry Night.

...and I'm back. as I type (shout out to blackberry) I'm perched on a rock wall next to a dam. Both I climbed. Its 11 here and very dark...except its a half moon and very starry. After collecting my moxy and a small (ok maybe large) need to prove I'm not a sissy, I climbed across the dam down the other side and found myself on my back staring at the stars over the cascade of the dam. There were tree silhouettes which looked exactly like dinosaurs and critters scrambling in the tall grass. It was absolutely serene. The air was cool, small breeze Stirred from the pouring water and I was drinking it in. The Santa Monicas will always hold a special place for me.

Work has been so good this week. Ill admit mulching, weeding and carrying hundreds of gallons of water isn't my favorite. Although I do know at least ten Native and ten invasive species as well as why restoration and trees are such a huge piece to wildfire prevention nd water conservation. This week though we did some other fun stuff. Tuesday I went with JJB to Malibu high school and talked to three classes of Eng Srs (boy do I miss that) then we we went to the office. TreePeople is such a wonderful office; we worked in their "community garden" nd helped w a staff scavanger hunt (for ice cream)! Thursday we worked with the Park to weed whack and plant some Nucella. Then we went out to Topanga. Its my favorite site but it needs so much work. Today was the best! We went out to Toms screenhouse and potted plants all day! This meant lots of playing in the dirt. Everyone was covered; Sara smeared mud all over her arms, legs and face; Sophie got. Great beard stache; Iman had a rocking fumanchu. We sprayed eachother w hoses and threw soil and sang and danced nd played.

No matter what emotional/personal undercurrents threaten to drown Gold 1 at times times like today restore my faith in us and remind me how well we fit together.

So many things have happened in the last eight months that I never would have done w/o my team or this program. I climb rocks (including the rock peninsulas at the Grand Canyon), I lived iin Nola, learned to navigate public transportation, camped six weeks, learned bout Mold in a post Katrina world, was in six states in one week and so much more.

I LOVE MY JOB!!!!
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I have not died...

Well hello dear readers, can you believe its been over six months since we met last? I know I pledged faithfullness but in the NCCC Lifestyle of you have the free time you're exploring not writing blogs! Of course, as per all my other failed attempts at journal loyalty, I regret my absence. There have been so many stories, adventures and things to share. Now I skim.

I was in New Orleans til April. It is an amazing place full of so many ppl. Green Light New Orleans afforded me the ability to go into 6Ish homes a day nd talk to the NOLA lifers. Plus we lived a mile from Canal+Bourbon and a block from the street car. Our second job moved us to Chalmette, LA which is in the St Bernard Parish, to work for the Saint Bernard Project. SB Parish was 100%devasted by Katrina and after living and working there I would say is not even 50% rebuilt. I was a mold specialist which meant lots of mold re mediation! Again I heard so many great stories...I could talk forever about the ppl.we also lived in a duplex w another team downstairs. I gained even more priceless relationships from them.

In April we drove back to Sacramento stopping at the Grand Canyon, the alamo (my aunt Debbies) Roswell and had a great time. The spring sent us to another amazing organization called TreePeople which is based in Los Angeles; however, we worked and lived outside Malibu in Malibu Creek state Park. We have been caring for tree and restoring the Santa Monica Mnts. our six week camping adventure comes to a close Sun. I will miss driving into the scenic view and thinking "home," the coyotes' lullabies, campfires every single night and the extreme zeal that treepeople and the mountains restoration trust have.

Next we are headed to Sly Park to be camp counselors for two days and then...Seattle!!! Were going to be living in the International District and working s the Danny Woo community garden. So excited for Seattle.

A lot of things have changed in six months. My family dynamic has grown and changed has we hve opened our arms to two babies, my plans have changed, my feelings have changed and I definitely have changes. Next year I'm doing it again! Woah I know! Instead of being part of a team, Ill be leading one. I'm scared of what my team will be like. As I lay in my little dome tent with Iman reader the New Yorker next to me, Yasha tending the fire and stephen, Eric, sara, JFB, and Denise curled up in their tents (Sophie in. Hotel w papa putka) I can only be thankful for them. We really are the perfect fit, the perfect team for me. We've joked about "family reunions" in the future and while I shouldn't hold my breath, I want to. Americorps has blessed me tenfold w people and experiences.

Ill try to upload some pictures off my phone of the last months and really will try to post more...although I said that to my journal iin my last entry...two weeks ago :/.

Sleep Sweet.
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