Made it

Hello to all!

(01) I am extremely sorry for the long delay of posts and a less-than-sufficient play-by-play of the mother-daughter road trip (more pictures and the red shoes will be shown soon).

(02) Momma Schwartz has made it back to San Diego safely, and I have finished my first official full day of work (yay).

Our trip might have been the best send off in the world of send offs. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and especially Kansas, treated both of us very well, and we were able to venture into crevices of the country we never thought we would ever see.

In Arizona, Native American cliff dwellings tucked away in the hillsides were a definite highlight (along with seeing my beautiful cousin, Alyse in Flagstaff). In New Mexico, we walked the streets of Santa Fe, and we learned to understand why Georgia O'Keeffe left New York to be surrounded by the unique New Mexico terrain. Aqua skies and brick red hills were landscapes I hadn't, we hadn't, seen before. In our last day of the long drive, we passed through 4 states, all of which have a strong part in our American history, and it was great to have shared it all with such a great mom.

But now...I'M HERE...and I'm very excited! I'm even official and made it on the website, which is pretty fun for me to see and share: http://www.greensburggreentown.org/staff/

I am geared up and ready to contribute everything I have to this great organization and amazing town. To walk the streets and see everything they have already accomplished in the short 6 years since the tornado is simply inspiring. I have already met so many kind-hearted people who are willing to relive their May 4th experiences and still smile and say that that disaster was an opportunity in disguise. That optimism and strength is something I really hope to take away from my time here.  

GreenTown supports Greensburg but also the idea of supporting other disaster relief towns and the Green Initiative.  One project I am working on is the 2013 Sustainable Disaster Recovery Conference (SDRC) that will take place in St. Louis the 14th-15th of November. I am a verrrrrry small small small  part of the conference, but involvement has already helped me better understand the process of city rejuvenation and how important it is to have the support and resources to rebuild stronger, faster, and greener. 

In not-so-distant news, the Walt Disney Creative Director/Imagineer, Debbie Petersen, will be coming to Greensburg and working with GreenTown and the community this weekend. She was inspired by Greensburg's story, and is coming to have public discussions about sustainability and help Greensburg 'Imagineer' the next steps in their own sustainable development. I made a flyer for the event, but I am excited to hear her creative thoughts and perspective.

It's nice to have projects and keep busy. I am far from home, and it's hard to be away from the those you love and the comforts of being a Californian...especially when dinner conversation includes talking about how your tears freeze in the winter and become tearsicles. So many things to look forward to. But in all seriousness, there is a lot to look forward to...and I promise to do a better job of sharing those moments. 

For now, I bid you adu. I wish you all good health, moments of laughter, and avoidance of tearsicles. 

Don't forget the red glittery shoes

Shoes, shoes, shoes...the final step of packing; a bit extreme, but equally humorous and appropriate (see below)

T-32 hours until the trip to Oz (I'm sure Kansians hate that) with Mamasita. A trip filled with cave dwellings, craft breweries, and lots of Wizard of Oz references. 

"What road do I turn onto?"
"The one with yellow bricks."

"Did I forget something?"
"Do you have toto?"

"Is that a plane?...or a flying monkey?"

...hilarious

I would also like to take this time to say 'thank you' to my Aunt Wendi (Auntie Wen?) for providing me with the most perfect pair of Kansas footwear. These glamorous shoes will be making many guest appearances on this well-photographed road trip...so come on back to check it out!