The Month of January (in a nutshell)

Hello! It's been a while since I posted anything about my own life, so here goes:

I got my nose pierced! (I'll post a picture of that eventually)

I went to Baltimore for the alumni + seniors Bull and Oyster roast and fell in love with that city all over again; my heart felt at rest. It was an incredible weekend--by the end of just Friday my cheeks hurt because I had been smiling so much--that completely turned on its head my plans for staying in Tucson next year.

[Ginny and I before B&O]

My housemate Jen and I began doing the exercise dvd series p90x... feel free to laugh, we sure do :)

I went to California for re-orientation and really appreciated the opportunity to reflect on the year, think about the future, stare at the ocean, listen to incredible speakers [including Fr. Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries in LA!], sit in the grass, and enjoy the company of other JV's. [nb. ocean and grass are a rarity in the desert, hence my renewed love]

One "highlight" from the weekend: after Fr. Greg's talk, I went with my housemate Jeff to ask him about the line between being naive and between being jaded. His response was this (or rather my less eloquent notes on his response): People cannot take advantage of you if you give them the advantage. When people are jaded, their assumption is that people are bad. The assumption that people are good does not make you naive.

[Yes, that is Kelly on her Casa blanket with Mark's philosophy reader in her lap... January 2011... not 2009]

I decided to and did apply for a second year of JVC, hoping to be in the Baltimore/DC area (for the second round, so I won't know anything for a good bit)

I laid outside in the January sun and read many books.

I got on the waiting list for a work/trade program at a local yoga studio, so that for cleaning the studio 1 hr/week I will get 3 free classes... I'm really loving yoga :)

I layered up for Tucson's cold wave-- record breaking temperatures (as low as 8 one night!) that caused pipes to burst all over the city. Let me tell you, living in a place that is designed to keep you cool in the summer does not lend itself easily to keeping warm in the winter.

I go to El Salvador tomorrow, and... to say the least, I cannot wait!

On Wednesday, after going to Casa Mariposa for dinner and a documentary, I wrote this in my journal:

Being in such a beautiful community, the company of such incredible people, speaking with a man just released from a detention center, driving through the streets that feel like my own, thinking of the men I know sleeping in them, I was tangibly aware that my heart will be broken when I leave this place and these people. How am I so lucky to feel so much love? How am I so lucky to be given renewed hope everyday?

[Photo from my morning bike ride to work]