Well, i thought fall was here in Fresno a couple weeks ago. The weather was cool in the 50's and 60's, windy and cloudy. That didn't last. This week it has been in the high 80's all week! The weather is beautiful, just not fall weather. Well, a lot has happened since my last blog. Sorry it has been so long! I am in the office all week by myself as Clare Ann is in Atlanta at the ATSA (Association for Treatment of Sexual Abusers.) conference and presenting on COSA. There are suppose to be a couple thousand people there from all sorts of organizations dealing with sex offenders. This should give us some good media and word of mouth coverage. The COSA's in Canada are doing a whole day workshop so that is good too. I continue to learn new things everyday whether it be in the circles or just in the office. I did a power point presentation on COSA for a victim healing and trauma class on Monday. It went well. Clare Ann seems to put a lot of trust in me which is cool but also nerve wracking. I don't want to screw anything up.
So I have my plane tickets to get me home and back to Fresno for Christmas...(thanks John and Joy and Mom and Dad!) Mom is counting the days for me. i think im down to 56 days? :) i am getting very excited to come home and see everyone! i am going through family withdrawal. I am going to Las Vegas to visit Danielle, Mark and a friend for Thanksgiving. I will stay with Danielle and Mark. That should be much fun! Danielle won $27,000 at a casino so she is paying my way to get there and back by Greyhound bus. it is a 11 hour drive!! yikes! i will have to bring a couple books...
Something that has been taking more of my time is the church i am attending, Mennonite Community. I am currently on the Worship Committee, Gathering Music committee, I have worked on their Habitat or Humanity house, played my violin during the service, read scripture, and i am teaching the youth Sunday School class (high school) this Sunday. Also, this morning i volunteered 2 hours at the church for their CARE program. Every 3rd and 4th Wed. of the month, they have a food pickup for low income families/folks. The church is VERY involved in helping the community, especially the low income demographic. They have a 1/2 time position for that program. Clare Ann let me take a couple hours in the morning today off to do that.
Hopefully this weekend, the roomies and i are heading to the Sequoia National Park on Saturday. We have finally put together a set of chores that each person does and each person cook one day during the week. It is nice to know you can count on a hot meal after work that you dont have to cook 3 days a week. I am usually the one who has to initiate the meetings because no one else wants to "bother" anyone. the way i look at it, if there's a problem, face it so it doesn't blow up into something unnecessary. But the house is feeling more like my home in Fresno. I am out of the house a lot more than the others are because I have made several friends in the city. This weekend was a blast! I hung out with Michelle and Ruben (2 good friends i met a while ago.), and their friend who just moved out of Fresno the month i got here.
We spent hours at Tea and saw a movie at the dollar movie theatre. I can be myself around them because they are just as loud and outgoing as i am. Our friend Andrea couldn't be there as she went into the emergency room this Sunday and had to have an emergency appendectomy. (sp?) Michelle and i went to the hospital (one of 4!) yesterday to visit her. Hmmm...what else? I will post some pictures of the roomies. Some from Kelsey's birthday, some from when she and I went to a Giants game in SF and some from camp Keola. i love hearing from you all and love getting the mail you send! it is SO MUCH APPRECIATED!!
Much Love,
Jor
