'making a list, checking it twice!'

I am so happy to have cable again, and tonight was the season premiere of two shows I love!  One thanks to Jamie, (Grey's Anatomy) and the other a guilty pleasure (Jersey Shore).  I was out tonight and missed them both,  but lucky for me, there is a rerun of tonight's JS at 1am.  Looks like I will be killing time blogging!

Okay, for anyone who knows me, they know I live for my lists.  They provide comfort to me, even though I hardly follow them!  Don't get me wrong, I use it as a base, but not to a tee. With that said, this entry is dedicated to the list I have been provided with by Americorps as well as my list of things I need/need to do before I leave.

Let's start with what I will be provided with by NCCC:

• pair of black BDU pants
• 2 pair of tan BDU pants
• 2 pair of khaki shorts
• long sleeve polo
• short sleeve polo
• black fleece vest
• 2 short sleeve gray t-shirts with emblem
• 2 long sleeved gray t-shirts with emblem
• hoodie
• winter parka
• steel toed work boots (sexy, I know)
• black belt
• coveralls (oh my...)
• rain suit
• black wool scull cap
• tan fisherman's cap
• baseball cap
• cold weather coat
• green short sleeve performance tee
• red backpack

These items are what I will be wearing 90% of the time.  Not my first pick, but I will defiantly be channeling my dad and grandpa! Maybe I will borrow one of his flannel shirts and be just like him!

my dad and my grandpa! you can't see the steel toed boots, but believe me they are there!

Now for the rest of my cloths packing list, Americorps gave a template of things we would need but I got a little more specific (crossed out items I have, others, I need):

• 3 pair of jeans
• 3 pair of shorts
• 4 solid colored tanks
• 2 fitted tee's
• dress sweater
• sports bras (would like to purchase 2 more)
• 3 regular bra's (you have no idea how hard this will be for me to only chose 3!)
• underwear (Americorps suggests to also bring along a few pair of thermal underwear, and seeing as I do not know what those are I need those as well!)
• my northface
• 2 fleece jacket's
• 2 pair of winter gloves
• ear covers
• 5 pair of workout shorts (need 3 more pair)
• 5 pair of workout pants (need 3 more)
• 2 pair of black leggings
• 5 sweat absorbing workout tanks (need them all!)
• 2 lightweight workout jackets (need one more!)
• 8 t-shirts (eek! which ones do I chose...)
• my tennis shoes
• black flats
• brown flats
• flip flops (for the shower)
• rain shoes (Below)

 

love these :)

• 6 pair of below ankle socks (need)
• 5 pair of knee high socks for boots
• 3 pair of thick wool socks (need)
• 5 pair thick socks (need)
• 2 pair dress socks (black and brown- need)
• one pair black tights
• 3 towels
• 3 long sleeved t-shirts for under uniform (thermal in black, white, gray- need)
• black dress
• white pencil skirt
• 3 nice shirts
• leather work gloves (requirement, and need!)
• twin sized comforter
• twin size sheets
• pillow

On to the non-clothing item needs:

• Midol
• aspirin
• tampons
• panty liners
• pads
• deodorant
• shampoo
• conditioner
• body wash
• razors
• toothbrush
• toothpaste
• blow dryer
• straightner
• make up
• contact solution
• contacts
• eye glasses
• sunglasses
• hangers
• collapsible clothes hamper
• chap-stick
• water bottle
• laptop and charger
• camera and charger
• cell phone and charger
• earphones
• sun block
• bug spray
• lotion
• eczema cream
• aloe (because where there is sun, I will get burnt!)
• gum
• juice plus

Odds and ends:

• driver's license copy
• copy of driving record over last 3 years
• copy of SS card
• checks
• copy of birth certificate
• immunization record
• TB gold blood test result copy
• high school transcript
• college transcript
• book or two
• planner

And to think all this needs to fit in one carry on and one check on bag! Haha.  I read on an alums blog to use the air tight space saver bags.  Already got them, just hope they work! Needless to say, once my bills are paid, I will be using any remaining money to finish getting what I need! And hopefully a fantastic Sam's run sponsored by my dad, but he does't know that yet!

no clue who these people are, but you get an idea of what my sexy uniform will look like...

"Be still, God is in control."

I have been thinking about what to write about, because I am not wanting to go too long without posting.  It came to me when I took another look at my blog design.  Why not explain why I chose that picture to be in my header?

Okay, so first thing first.  The girl in the picture with me is Jamie Litteken.  Jamie and I met freshman year at SEMO.  The summer prior to going off to my first year of college, I was anxiously awaiting to get my roommate assignment. When I finally got the packet in the mail, I was so surprised to find two names listed as my roommate, not one.  It turned out I was one of the lucky ones placed in a three person suite.  I immediately started to facebook creep on who these two girls were. I soon discovered that they went to high school together and were friends.  This made me so nervous!  The day I moved into the dorm, my uneasyness was put at ease.  These girls were(are) amazing.

Jamie, myself, Janelle (freshman year)

me, Jamie, Janelle (freshman year)

me, Janelle, Jamie (senior year)

me, Janelle, Jamie- (senior year)

I could go on about these girls for days, I love them both so much and they are definitely the type of friends I will have in my wedding(well, I have to find a guy first!)  Back to Jamie.  When I very first started at SEMO, I was a psychology major and social work minor.  Jamie, was a social work major.  Thanks to her, within the first week I dropped my major and made my minor my major.  Jamie also added a second major of Spanish (smartie).  Jamie and I did not live together our sophomore or junior year, yet we were still basically in all the same classes.  She kept me sane in many of the classes, served as a saving grace in others, and lit a healthy competitive spark in me for all.  Jamie and I realized our junior year that we would both be graduating a semester early.  That is when we began discussing our senior year and what would come next.  We soon came to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to live together our senior semester in a month to month apartment.  Once that was settled we began talking about what we wanted to do after graduation.  We both wanted to take some time off before getting our masters.  Jamie first introduced me to Americorps.  She and I found out we were both accepted and in the same region.  I feel nothing but blessed to be going to the same location as her.  It will be so nice to have that home base when needed.  I do hope that once we are split into the smaller teams, that Jamie and I will not be on the same one.  This is because for so long we have done everything together, and I would like for each of us to have our own experience and also not have the opportunity to use the other as a crutch (something I would probably do more than her!)

Jamie and I freshman year

Jamie and I sophomore year

Jamie and I junior year

Jamie and I senior year

All honestly, Jamie has been a Godsend to me.  First, she convinced me to go social work.  Secondly, she told me about Americorps.  She is so inspiring to me.  This girl is so dedicated to her faith, and that is something I have always been envious of.  She goes to church, retreats, classes, reads books and so on.  She has her belief system and sticks to them.  I am not sure what to say about that aspect of her, but it is so awesome to have a friend like that, she keeps me grounded!  Jamie is also one of the only other person I have met who values her alone time as much as I do!  I mean, sometimes you just need to get away from all people and just be with your thoughts, and she never thought I was being a bitch when I just wanted to be alone in my room!  Last thing I am going to say to brag about Jamie.  She is truly one of the only females I have met that there is no bit of anger or jealously.  What I mean by this is so often a girl will get upset if they were to tell you about something (like Americorps) and then you also want to do it.  Jamie (I don't think) has even been upset by me being so similar in my endeavors.  Rather, she has also been so selfless and helped me accomplish what I wanted to do. Oh, and she understands the whole fellow social worker language and values thingy.

I am rambling but hopefully you get the picture.

Picture, that reminds me.  I was talking about the picture!  I first explained who is in that picture with me.  Now let me explain where that picture is taken.  This past summer, Jamie again informed me of an opportunity that I had been wanting to do.  Helping in Joplin, MO after the devastating spring 2011 tornadoes.  We went there with her church and helped with relief efforts.  By the time we went, we still did not know if we had been accepted into Americorps NCCC, yet the experience made me yearn to be accepted into the program even more.  

Joplin, MO August 2011

Joplin High School August 2011

Found this on a wall in Joplin

Thanks for all you have done for me, Jamie!