prettyemmy

Lately

Holy shit I’m busy. Learning about OER and the world of Open. Meeting amazing people. Trying to come up with multiple strategic plans. Trying to move an organization from a start up to an institution. It’s an awesome job but wow! there’s a lot of shit on my plate now. And I thought gradschool was crazy!

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Today was my first day at my new job. They got me a new laptop. Like mine. To take home and stuff. It’s a macbook pro with snow leopard. I am never going back. I am also kind of scared out of my mind that I’m not going to be good at this job (brand new computer, my own desk space, insurance, paid time off, working in a cutting edge industry fostering openness and access to information, teamwork with some awesome people, how did I get so lucky?) but I know it’s right for me. I just have to go for it.

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Sending good thoughts to those on here going through a rough time.

In other news, it looks like we’ll be staying up in the Far North (aka Ann Arbor, aka the Mecca of the Midwest, aka the Harvard of the Midwest, aka Snobtown, aka the Deuce) for a bit longer because I got a job! Just in the nick of time, too.

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I’ve been having the "community" conversation with a lot of people lately. I surprise myself by realizing that I’m no longer a townie but a transplant. Considering staying in Ann Arbor for the next few years makes me consider this even more. We’ve had lots of conversations about how to dig into this place a little bit more. It’s hard. Ann Arbor is such a weird place. Strangely enough (shh don’t tell GDR) I’ve always thought of Kansas City as a potential "close-to-home" place, just like you, Marty. Maybe it’s because I’ve been there so often with my family and with friends that it also feels familiar like Fayetteville.

I’m realizing that even though I chose a mobile career, it still ultimately comes down to the job or the place in most cases.

When we went back for the reception earlier this month, my dad drove me past the place where the last apartment I lived at in Fayetteville used to be (my apartment on Church, I loved that place!). It’s just a blank space now with our old parking area still being used. THAT was really weird.

Lots of apartments here have electric stoves. What’s up with that?

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I spoke too soon. George’s grandmother is dying. His parents probably won’t make it to our reception.

Happy birthday, Jen! You’re one of the most genuinely kind people I have the pleasure of knowing!

Heading to Arkansas tomorrow for our wedding reception. I’m really excited. I get to see a lot of family members and even a few friends I haven’t seen in a long time. I can’t believe I’ve come to this stage in my life. I always wondered what my wedding and my reception would look like but I wasn’t ever one of those wedding planning girls so it was mostly just a blank page. I have to say, though, I feel like I got away with something huge because we had our wedding EXACTLY the way we wanted it and I think we’re about to have the reception ~~EXACTLY the way we (maybe mostly I?) want it.~~ It feels great. Living up in Michigan has been really hard at times but I have to say that I’ve never felt more loved and supported than I have in these recent years. Maybe it’s that deep feeling of belonging and stability that comes with finally finding someone you want to share the rest of your life with.

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Not impressed with the phone interview I had today. Less impressed with my lack of options.

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Lindsey,

I was literally just looking up community gardening and educational programs earlier today! In SE Michigan there’s a lot of awesome shit going on. Here are a bunch of links, probably more information than you wanted to know…

And yeah, I second Meredith–you can definitely have community development activities that are positive but there needs to be strong, sustainable leadership and a clear vision. That can be very hard to do.

Anyway, check out these orgs:

National:

http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/

http://www.communitygarden.org/

http://www.kidsgardening.com/

http://thefoodproject.org/

http://www.greenthumbnyc.org/

http://www.foodsecurity.org/

(SE) Michigan

http://www.growinghope.net/gh_center

http://agrarian.dreamhosters.com/agrarianadventure/

http://projectgrowgardens.org/