correction...

Okay, so I'm an idiot...it's Rose Therese Reddig and not whatever I put earlier...sorry Rose (and thanks Robert for correcting me)!! I think there might be accents on the Therese as well...hmmm.

Some pictures here: with Dominic (in Dayton) and with Mary Ann and Rose (in Madison)

~mitzi

still here...

Yeah, yeah...I know it has been quite a long time since my last post...but lots of things have been going on. Both of my sisters gave birth to their children...Dominic Joseph Buschelman on October 11th and Rose Terese Reddig on October 28th. It really is amazing seeing these little ones. It makes me realize what is truly important in my life and no job can take me away from my family.

I'm not going to lie...the job has been a little rough this past month. I've been pulling some pretty long hours, but all I can say is that I hope everything comes through for my team on Sunday...our next deadline. We really worked hard this month and I just want something to show for all of the hours we have put in...we'll see.

I'll post again soon. I just wanted you to know that I'm still here....just a little busy with new babies and work...

~mitzi

parking lot...

Do you ever look at pictures of yourself from when you were little and wonder how you ended up where you are today? I guess I keep thinking...what happened? I use to be this kid w/ a tri-cycle trying to keep up with my older siblings as we made our way to the "parking lot" about 2 blocks away from our house. To me, the "parking lot" was freedom and independence...as we would just around in circles on our bikes. Yeah, circles...that was it. Sometimes there was a gigantic puddle that made it a little more interesting as we splashed through it. I can't believe how many hours we would spend there...going around in circles.

And now that freedom/independence is real and not just a trip to the parking lot. Sure, I still owe my parents big time in the financial sense...but for the most part, I'm making my own decisions...when did I grow up?

Anyhow, to "update: Work is going well...the hours are still long...but there's nothing I can really do about it. Hindsight is 20/20 and if I had known that working these long hours would be a part of the deal, I know I would have made some different decisions. However, I made a commitment and I don't quit. I didn't take this job, for the job...but for the experience in a new city away from everything that I have basically ever known my entire life. I'm certainly experiencing something new...it just that my experience is really only my job. Every once and a while there's something else, but mainly it's the job. Oh well. It is not the best situation...but I'm trying to make the best out of the situation I'm in. If that makes sense. I guess the thing that bothers me is that I am usually involved with so many different things as I was in college...but now it's just the job. I don't really have time for much else...but I guess this year will help me figure out more about what I want "to do" in my life and trying to figure out who I become. I'm starting to get the "what are you doing next year" question more and more...so it is probably time to actually start something in that area...I just don't know right now and I'm trying to get through each day...but "next year" will show up soon.

In other thoughts: is anyone else perplexed by the fact that the new show "Friday Night Lights" is going to air on Tuesdays? Yeah, I am.

~mitzi

an update...

Yeah, yeah...I know it has been a long time. I was just realizing that since my last post, I've been to Dayton for Liesel's baby shower and to Madison twice for Fritz's visit and the tradition Labor Day Weekend w/ the Reddigs. It looks like I'm in for a few weeks of non-family time...but I guess this is the time where I need to figure out if I can actually live by myself on the weekends.

Since I've moved here to Evanston my weekends have been as such: In NYC for training (two weekends), parents in town, conference in Chicago, to Madison w/ Fritz, to Dayton, to Madison...and now I'm here. I wish I could lie and say I'm not lonely, but I am...maybe not during the week, but definitely each time someone comes and visits...and then leaves. I get so used to someone being in the apartment with me, even if it is just for one night...oh well. Something to deal with.

Anyhow, work is going pretty well. My schedule has changed since the last post...I now work at least 12 hours a day. Those 12 hours are in the office, but then I do about an hour of work or so when I get home depending on which campus my Recruitment Director is on or has coming up. I've got a schedule now for what I need to get done for each of his visits, so that makes my life a little more organized, but then there's the extra projects on the side that end up taking more time than I have...but what can you do.

People keep asking me what I'm doing next year and I just want to say that I really haven't had time to think about it. I could be offered a second year in the position that I have now, but I think it would be hard to do especially if I'm paired w/ a different Recruitment Director. People have also asked me if I'm going to apply for Teach For America's teaching corps...honestly, I don't know. It really is quite an amazing program, but I don't know if it is the best thing for me. I'm also looking at the ACE (Alliance for Catholic Education) program through Notre Dame...basically it looks like the "Catholic" version of Teach For America...which I think could be more my area.

I guess I need to figure out if I really feel like I could teach. I mean, I decided awhile back that I didn't want to teach and switched my major...and I really like the "planning/coordinating" aspect of my job. So either I decide to go w/ this teaching thing or try to find something else. 'Course, I could always go back to school and become a nurse...I know Robert is still holding out for that one.

I'll try to keep this more up to date, but you'll just have to be patient.

-mitzi

a month later...

Can you believe it was only a month ago that I move here to Evanston? Me neither. Some days I feel like I've been here forever and then other days not so much... It's crazy to think that things are getting started back up at KU now. Move-In Day, the first hall meeting, temp-shift sign-up, Traditions Night, Hawk Week, the Opening Mass at St. L's...and of course the first day of classes.

As much stress as the first week is...I miss it so much. I miss Lawrence and more importantly the people in it. Besides work, I don't really know anyone. I haven't been "out"...but then again, who would I go out with? And frankly, when do I have time to go out? My schedule during the week goes about like this:
4:45am-Alarm get up and get breakfast, make lunch for the day
5:00am-Shower, dress, get ready for work
5:51am/6:03am-Catch Bus to nearest 'L' stop
5:56am/6:12am-Take the 'L' to my office
7:00am-5:30pm-Work
6:45pm-Get back home, eat dinner, catch up on e-mail and snail mail (aka bills).
9:30pm-Go to bed.
Yeah, so my life is a little anti-social for the most part during the week, but the weekends are what drive me to get through Monday-Friday. However, I won't be in-town for a weekend until probably after Labor Day...which is fine. I'm so excited to see my siblings, niece, and nephew this weekend...and then head to Dayton the next weekend. But I still feel like I haven't made any friends here.

I miss my friends at Douthart, the 'Garc, and St. L's...they were always there and would be there w/ a hug no matter what. The thing about living alone is that there is no one there to ask how your day was...I miss that the most. Strangely, I miss the 47 other women that I lived with who would always greet me as I walked in the door...even if it was a just a note on my tag saying that the 2nd floor bathroom needed to be fixed (again). I miss seeing Amy at her desk working on her honor's thesis. I miss walking into church and seeing all my friends praying in the front pews. I miss it all...

...but yet, I know I'm suppose to be here. I don't know why...but I am. I am happy w/ my job and where I live...I just wish there was someone here to share it with...

~mitzi

long hours...

My parents just left after a little visit w/ me here in Evanston. We were able to go up in the Sears Tower and ride the CTA system for probably about 4 hours total...but it was nice...and the Sears Tower is pretty tall...no lie.

Work is going really well. My RD is really great to work with and my work is what I'm good at...so that helps things. I work long hours, but I think here at the beginning that's expected. I hope that maybe once we get past the first application deadline things will be a little less crazy. Although, I feel on top of things. I think it comes from the fact that I have 10 hours a day to get things done. Shoot, back during the March and Veritas planning...I was trying to find one hour to get things done for both of them, plus I had work and school to deal with as well.

I feel like my RD and I are pretty efficient...and it seems like were ahead of many of the other teams.

The thing that sucks about the long hours is that I don't have that much time during the week to "do things"...but I certainly have to make use of my weekends!

~mitzi

P.S. Don't even get me started on le Tour...what the heck is going on, Floyd?? I really don't know who to believe...Greg LeMond (3-time Tour champion) has come out saying that Floyd just needs to own up for the good of the sport...and for the good of American athletes who compete on foriegn soil. Interesting fact: Floyd is the second former Lance teammate to be suspended ...Tyler Hamilton has also failed a drug test...crazy times.

long time, no post...

Yeah, yeah, it has been a while since my last post...but seeing as how I was without internet service for about a week...it really hasn't been that long. So to update y'all...

I'm in Evanston, IL now...it was pretty stressful getting everything ready to go and then driving up here for the move, but thankfully I had the help of my mom and siblings in the moving process. The apartment is set up and if I had a digital camera, I would post pictures...but you'll just have to come and visit me if you want to see it all! After the Buschelmans and Reddigs headed back to their homes, it was just me and my mom here for about four days. We got everything unpacked and purchased a couple of new things to make my apartment a little more home-y. I'm looking forward to coming home from the office and having a nice place to relax.

After my mom left, I started in on the pages and pages of reading for my pre-conference work for Teach For America...pretty intense. I left a week ago for NYC and just got back today. The training conference was intense (can't think of another word...sorry). They created a simulation for the entire week so that we learned everything we would need to get started in our recruitment at the universities that we are in charge of.

To explain my position a little better...I work as a Recruitment Associate (RA) for my Recruitment Director (RD) making up the Great Plains Recruitment Team (GPRT). My RD travels to the six universities that our team has and, to put it simply, recruits. He'll talk to potential applicants and help them learn more about the opportunities that the TFA experience has to offer. I plan all of his appointments and travel, while helping drive the campaign strategy that he has laid out for the different universities. I will also maintain the data for the GPRT concerning the e-mail correspondence, university events, and the success of these things...etc...

The thing about Teach For America is that it runs with a definite corporate mind-set...however, the objective or end goal is not money, but putting exceptional leaders in the classrooms that need it the most. So while the conference felt like a corporate business conference...there was always the constant reminder that TFA is non-profit and simply wanting to provide all children that chance to have an excellent education.

I'm really excited about my job...it will be challenging, but my RD seems like a really great person...as do all the people that will be in the Chicago office with me.

Get this, TFA originally wanted my RD to have his headquarters in Lawrence, KS...since KU is one of our schools...if only... :)

I keep telling myself that this (Chicago/Evanston) is where I'm suppose to be...it is going to be hard as I continue to adjust to living alone and paying bills, but I think I can do it...I just have to stay open to whatever comes my way.

~mitzi

P.S. Yeah, I can't comment that much on le Tour because I didn't have cable/internet until the last day...I'm happy for Floyd, even though he wasn't my favorite to win...I just hope this drug thing isn't true...

packing...

I'm headed to Chicago/Evanston in two days...48 hours from now, I should be in Iowa driving along w/ my mom in a Penske truck behind me...I can't believe it.

Last Friday, my friends gave me a surprise send-off---complete w/ the traditional St. Lawrence skit. It wasn't exactly a surprise because my mom is not as sneaky...but it was pretty great and I'm so blessed to have such wonderful friends. Since then, I've been doing some examining of my past years here in Kansas...well, mainly this past year. I'm not really sleeping anymore at night because of anxiety and nervousness...so I generally just start to think about my existence.


I know I'm suppose to go to Chicago. I read through my prayer journal last night and from reading the entries that a wrote during finals week two months ago...I know that I made the right decision. I just wish I could let go and let whatever is suppose to happen to me in Chicago happen (my mom is convinced now that I'll be on the El when it catches fire again). Maybe this examination is coming from the fact that I'm going to be alone. I'm not moving there with anybody...I'll have to make new friends. And as silly as that sounds...it is so hard...especially when I have friends already...maybe that sounds bad.

I guess I'm just ready for something new, I need to be tested (as Liesel said). Chicago is my test. Hopefully, I'll survive somehow...and maybe find a couple of study-buddies along the way. All I know is that the people that I'm leaving have mean so much to me that I don't even know how to thank them. I've tried to with some, but I know it still not enough.

Back to packing...

~mitzi

P.S. in other news...what the heck is up w/ the Tour?? Would somebody please show some guts and make a move?? At least we're finally in the mountains now. But what was w/ that time trial last Saturday?...ugh.

setting in...

So it is finally coming down to the wire as far as my moving is concerned and I'm starting to realized that while I have so many things to get done...I keep thinking to myself...I'm leaving...for real. I don't know if Chicago will be my home for the next several years. The position that I have is only 12 months...but I could find a job in Chicago if I didn't want to continue for another round with Teach For America. I guess I'm just nervous and therefore not sleeping very much. It is so weird because I know that I'm suppose to be going to Chicago. I struggle with so many things about my future these past 6 months. At the beginning of the year, I seriously thought that I would be staying in Lawrence...then in March, I wanted to go to D.C....and then it was Kansas City for awhile, back to Lawrence...then maybe NYC...and now finally Chicago. For the first time, I had to do something for myself and not because I thought that what somebody wanted me to do. Ask and you shall receive. I certainly believe in this now. I know God answers prayers in three ways: Yes, Not Right Now, and I Have Something Better For You. As far as my job search is concerned...I went through all three of these answers. So to my friends looking for jobs or looking for anything...patience always wins. I just wish I could remember this all the time. :) On a friend's blog she had this activity...so since, I'm no where near sleeping time...I thought this could be a good reflection for me.

1. Choose 15 people from your friends at random.
2. Write something about/to each of them.
3. Don't tell anyone whom the statements are about. Good or bad. No matter how they beg!

1. I know that the reason you annoy me so much is because I am just like you.
   
2. You know "me" the best of anyone I've known
   
3. Whenever I see your smiling face, I have to smile myself...
   
4. You have a gentle soul.
   
5. For some reason you are always on my side...I don't know why...but you are...
   
6. You give the best advice
   
7. I really miss you
   
8. You are the most considerate and courageous person I know
9. You were the first person to tell me I could make things happen
   
10. I will never be able to thank you enough for what you have done for me
    
11. I love how you worry about me
    
12. See you on Oprah!
13. How I miss our high-fives and morning gossip...I hope you are well!
    
14. I miss our friendship
    
15. You are the reason I am where I am...thank you.
    

some general thoughts for the day...

1. Hincapie is in yellow for the first time ever. Pretty sweet. Although, the winner from yesterday got cut up pretty badly during the final sprint by a specator waving a cardboard hand. Yeah, just try riding 45 mph and then getting sliced by a piece of promotional cardboard...at least it hit his arm and not his neck. Ouch. And the blood loss? Just think about it...you've been riding for a long time, you're in the middle of a full-out sprint, adrenaline is going to win the race, etc...pretty scary. And what the heck was w/ Floyd Landis yesterday showing up 8 seconds late for his start time...whoa...Lance would never have done that.

2. Today at Mass, my priest talked about the fear of death and he totally used Jerry Seinfeld's routine from "I'm Telling You for the Last Time." You know the part where he says that death is the second greatest fear and public speaking is the first...so you would rather be in the casket than speaking in front of the casket. I don't know if Seinfeld was the first to say this...but my priest would totally be plagarizing if this were true...oh well.

3. The past couple of times I've been at the restaurant, First Watch, it has been hit or miss...but this morning I had their fresh fruit crepes and they were the best I had since sometime ago.

4. Yesterday, my roommate brought me Dunkin' Donuts and a coffee coolatta to watch the Tour...However, I had gone earlier to get my tradition Dunkin' Donuts before settling in for the 3 hour prologue. No problem. Why? Tour + 2(coolatta) = fan-flippin-tastic.

5. Google now has a thingy for your computer so that you can get World Cup updates automatically...now if they had this for the Tour...my life just may be [ ] much better :)

6. Go George.

7. Go Germany.

~mitzi

13 days...

Well, 13 days until I move...but in other news: Le Tour!

Whoa, scandal...scandal...scandal. And I have know idea what is going on. Apparently there was this doping investigation in Spain and the reports were just released yesterday including the names of 2006 Tour front-runners, Basso and Ullrich. All the team managers at the Tour came together and decided not to let anyone race who was associated w/ the reports. So there ya go.

Innocent/Guilty? Well, I've never been a fan of Ullrich because he was Lance's nemesis...but I still know that he was/is quite a rider. He won the Tour back in 1997 when he was just 23...whoa. That's saying a lot since the Tour that takes so much maturity in riding/emotions/mental focus. But I just don't know. I want to believe that they are all innocent, but I'm surprise that the teams didn't back these guys up who are saying that they are innocent. It seems fishy. But there is a lesson: you gotta be smart who you associate with especially when the stakes are as high as they are for the Tour in the world of cycling.

I think if one of the riders on Team Discovery had been on the list, the team would have backed him up...they always did for Lance (the most tested athlete...ever).

Oh well. This just what happens with the Tour...the unexpected, the tragedy, the lost dreams...

and the dreams----MADE!!!

Who would have expected the "1st lieutenant" of Lance for the past 7 years to place 2nd in today's prologue. Nice. And how cool was it that he rode last...to replace Lance's spot from the past 6 years. Very fitting.

Well, it is on to the somewhat boring flat stages...but just wait for that TTT (team time trial) and the 1st day in the mountains.

~mitzi

2006 tour de france preview...

I can't believe that it has been a year since the beginning of Lance Armstrong's final ride in the Tour...but here we are and the who is ready for a historical race? I am.

With the last "news" of Lance being revolving around his break-up from rockstar singer, Sheryl Crow...there is no chance that 7-time champion will return for another trip around France. :(

And now for the preview:

'Course, I'll most likely be rooting for Team Discovery due to my allegiance from previous years...but as for a podium finish...it could be tricky.

The team is definitely in top shape with several returners from last year including stage winners, George Hincapie and Yaroslav "Popo" Popovych. "Popo" was also last year's white jersey winner for the best young rider. There is also Jose "Ace" Azevedo who was seen drafting Lance up the mountains the past two years. Paolo Salvodelli looks to also contribute, but he had a hard effort in the Giro d'Italia...so probably won't look for a podium spot this year. A couple of newcomers are on board, but I have not seen that much from them. The old stand-bys, Benjamin Noval and "Eki" will be back for another Tour.

In my opinion after reading the team report from the director, Johan Bruyneel, it seems that this year's team is much like the USPS team of '99 (Lance's first win)...so it is just a matter of who shows up to ride on July 1st.

Including...

Jan Ullrich, the German who since 1998 has yet to claim a second title at the Tour...although some of those finishes have been close! Who could forget the 61 second time difference between Ullrich and Armstrong at entry into Paris? He'll be ready, don't worry.

Ivan Basso...one of my favorites. He's the Italian that ended up in third last year...he's quite a time-trialer...but suffers in the mountains. Remember Lance passing him along L'alp d'Huez? Anyhow, last year he did have a great run and I fully expected him to come to this year's Tour rested and ready...but his win at the Giro d'Italia...could have cost him the top spot.

and then some Others:

Floyd Landis, Levi Leipheimer, and Alexandre Vinokourov

Basically...

Here's the deal. As we learned the past 7 years of watching one man win the Tour over and over...it comes down to the team. Who's team will fight for the title? Who's team is loyal enough to draft their leader up a mountain allowing themselves to spend all their energy and ultimately fall in the general classification? Who's team has a leader that can do their job in the time-trials so that the efforts of his teammates isn't lost? Team USPS and Discovery have crafted the perfect model...can they do it again or is time for a new team to emerge as the Tour de France champion? As the poster shows...the Malliot Jaune is up for grabs...

Details:

Watch on OLN beginning live on Saturday, July 1st at 7:30am CST.

~mitzi

fiddle dee-dee...

I believe since the beginning of electronic e-mail there has been the "chain e-mail" to compensate for the breakdown of "chain-mail". For whatever reason, we fill out these questionnaires and then forward them onto all of the addresses in our Contacts and then sit and wait for one of our friends to be just as bored as we are to fill it out and send it back. So instead of clogging your inbox...here it is in my blog with some nice sacarastic rhetoric to go along.

1. FIRST NAME? Mitzi (legally, Christa)
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes...Christ and Mary...beat that ;)
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST LAUGH? in church this morning when my friend surprised me and I figure out the whole surprise plan that she and my roommate put together to guilt me into going to church...
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham, hands down.
6. KIDS? Is this question suppose to ask if I like kids? then yes. Do have kids? no. Do I want kids? in the future.
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? What kind of question is this? I'm not going to answer it.
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? I guess you could consider this blog my journal...but I also have a spiritual journal that took the place of my "secular" journal.
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? No, of course not...who uses sarcasm anymore...seriously, that was so last season.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes.
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Only if it were into a very deep body of water...oh wait, I've already gone face first into a body of water...that hurt. Nevermind, not bungee for me.
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Golden Grahams or Frosted Flakes
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Not usually
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? I think that I think I'm strong and usually give off that sort of characteristic...but I have a lot of weak parts as well.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Brand? Murray's in Westport. Flavor? Chocolate chip
16. WHAT IS YOR SHOE SIZE? 7.5-8
17. RED OR PINK? Red
18. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? I'm constently looking for approval.
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my family and friends who have moved away...
20. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? No, I just thought I would waste their time in reading this...no need to waste more time. Are you kidding me?
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES Are YOU WEARING? Jeans ...no shoes.
22. LAST THING YOU ATE? A maraschino cherry in a homemade Sherry Temple...so refreshing!!
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? A window fan and in the background the news.
24. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I always like red-violet
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Baby lotion and lilacs...but not together.
26.WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Amy
27. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS? a dog.
28. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Do they need this question?
29. FAVORITE DRINK? right now? SunTea
30. FAVORITE SPORT? Cycling
31. HAIR COLOR? dark brown
32. EYE COLOR? see #31
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? unfortunately, yes
34. FAVORITE FOOD? spaghetti w/ my mom's homemade sauce
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? sad...oh wait, I mean happy endings? Again, who picks scary over happy?
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? A Mighty Wind
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Gray
38 . HUGS OR KISSES? Never been kissed...so hugs, I guess.
39. FAVORITE DESSERT? During the summer: Mississippi Mud
40. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Robert...you'll leave a comment. I know...
41. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Liesel because she always checks my blog...but has yet to leave a comment.
42. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? One Day All Children... by Wendy Kopp
43. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Army ROTCH logo
44. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? My Life on the D-List
45. FAVORITE SOUNDS? singing...
46. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
47. THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Der Vaterland
48. DO YOU HAVE ANY TALENT? singing...and I lead people. :)
49. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? January 30, 1984 in Lawrence, KS


~mitzi

P.S. next blog: Tour de France preview!!! Get ready only 11 days until it begins!!!!

back "home"...

I'm back "home" for a little while. I'll move July 14th...which is pretty soon. There are so many things to think about and change...I just hope that everything goes somewhat smoothly. This past weekend, I drove up to Chicago to find an apartment. The 10 hour drive turned into 12.5 hours because of road constrution and an accident ... and then the destination hotel ended up being just a little more than a shack w/ a bed and toilet---but I really shouldn't complain. I did find an apartment that will hopefully work in my budget once the paychecks start coming on a regular basis.

The apartment is the upstairs of a house in Evanston (a northern suburb of Chicago) and it has a small screen-in porch along the back w/ a back yard. It's pretty cute and I'm excited to have my own space after being in a hall w/ 48 other women the past 4 years.

Anyhow, after finding the apartment, I head downtown to find my new office. It was pretty cool because they are moving offices so everything will be brand new. I'll even get my own desk by the window!! NO CUBICLES!!! It looks really nice too...and so close to my El stop!!

After that, I headed up to Madison for trip #3 in the past month so that my mom could see the Reddigs' new house. It's looking good and the air mattress was certainly a friend of mine compared to my nemesis at the Travelodge. Also, the Dr. and the Mrs. provided me w/ the long-awaited croissant that I had requested during a breakfast run by the Buschelmans back during trip #2 to Madison...oh well. I guess the Reddigs won that small "favorite sibling" contest :)!

Other than that...I'm just going through everything I need to get done. I reserved a moving truck today which was pretty exciting because I saved about $100 by wanting to drop off my truck in Illinois. So if you are ever moving, ask the company if they have deals depending on where you are dropping off your truck...it just might save you a bit of cash!

Also, I wanted to clear up that I do not hate my sisters because of their "movie" from the last post. It is not their fault that I wanted to be just like them...that's my own fault. I'm just glad that I've figured out that I have to be me...because that's all I can be. I just wish my mom would figure this out.

~mitzi

p.s. shout out to Robert finding me a bank!!!

new song...

There are a bunch of things going on right now in my life as I try to figure how exactly I'm going to survive in Chi-town...I have a new car now...pretty nice and next week I'm going to go look for an apartment...I still can't believe this is all happening to me. For those of you who know me pretty well, I have always compared myself with my sisters so much so that I tried to do everything they do. Somethings have turned out really well and some were just not me. Anyhow, when doing things that they had done previously...for me to do them was like being in a movie that had already been made. Weird.

Anyhow, this whole moving to Chicago is completely my own "movie" so to speak. I have no idea how it ends and that is pretty scary and exciting.

On another note, I have a new favorite song. "Always on Your Side" by Sheryl Crow...the version w/ Sting is also good...here are the lyrics, enjoy!

My yesterdays are all boxed up and neatly put away
But every now and then you come to mind
Cause you were always waiting to be picked to play the game
But when your name was called, you found a place to hide
When you knew that I was always on your side

Well everything was easy then, so sweet and innocent
But your demons and your angels reappeared
Leavin' all the traces of the man you thought you'd be
Leavin' me with no place left to go from here
Leavin' me so many questions all these years

But is there someplace far away, someplace where all is clear
Easy to start over with the ones you hold so dear
Or are you left to wonder, all alone, eternally
This isn't how it's really meant to be
No it isn't how it's really meant to be

Well they say that love is in the air, but never is it clear,
How to pull it close and make it stay
Butterflies are free to fly, and so they fly away
And I'm left to carry on and wonder why
Even through it all, I'm always on your side

But is there someplace far away, someplace where all is clear
Easy to start over with the ones you hold so dear
Or are we left to wonder, all alone, eternally
But is this how it's really meant to be
No is it how it's really meant to be

Well if they say that love is in the air, never is it clear
How to pull it close and make it stay
If butterflies are free to fly, why do they fly away
Leavin' me to carry on and wonder why
Was it you that kept me wondering through this life
When you know that I was always on your side

moving fast...

Whoa!! Now that graduation is over and trip #1 to Madison is past...I can't believe that June is TOMORROW!!! Anyhow, today I'm going to go look at new cars...crazy. I can't believe I'm going to buy a car (and then have car payments...yuck). Oh well. At least it will get me to Chicago and back.

Then I need to find a place to live in Chicago...or a suburb of Chicago...except I know very little about Chicago...How many times can I say Chicago.

Anyhow, Saturday will begin the #2 trip to Madison for the BIG move w/ the Reddigs...good times. Plus, the Buschelmans are coming in as well for a "little move-move"...or more like a lot of move-move. I can only hope that I can mow the Reddigs lawn twice in four days again!! *sarcasm*...

So life is moving pretty fast...but I guess that's how it rolls.

~mitzi

JOB!!!

I accepted the Teach for America position in Chicago. I'll be moving there in July!!

More to come later...I'm trying to move, check-out, and graduate w/ in 48 hours...yikes!!!

~mitzi

too comfortable...

Well, I didn't get a second interview with Zillner...not enough experience for them. And the Archdiocese is still taking its time. They don't even have a time line for filling the position I applied for and seeing as how I applied for it back in March...things don't too promising.

So I'm leaning towards TFA. I was sitting in church today praying and in my conversation with God, I came to the conclusion that I'm too comfortable where I'm at right now. In this past year, I have done many things that are "who I am"...Proctoring, March for Life, Veritas, etc... And staying here in Lawrence (or in the KC area) would definitely keep my comfortability level at a nice confident level. So I feel, at this particular moment, that maybe it is time for me to shake things up a bit. Maybe the fact that both Zillner and the Archdiocese aren't giving me anything to go with is a sign from God to get out of here..."spread my wings"...or whatever.

I just don't know and I have T-4 days to figure out how I'm going to respond to TFA. Money is always an issue...and moving is definitely not cheap, especially if you've been in student housing for the past four years. At least I've got a loveseat...

~mitzi

decisions to make...

Teach for America has offered me a position on their Recruitment Team for the coming year...and I just don't know what to do. 80% of the Recruitment Team is in New York City and the other 20% is between Atlanta and Chicago. Obviously, I would want the Chicago position because it is still in the mid-west, it is close to where the Reddigs will be, and cheap flights between here and there!!

But there's no guarantee that I would get Chicago if I were to accept. I can accept on the condition that I get Chicago...but then if I didn't I'm out a job.

I'm trying to think up the pros and cons of this position:

Pros:
Chance to be apart of something way bigger than myself
Chance to move away and see if I can make it on my own
Job security for 12 months
All insurance taken care of
Chicago? How cool would that be

Cons:
Leaving the only place I've ever known
Leaving my parents
Leaving my friends
Living alone


I'm sure there are others...but that's what is going through my head right now. I just finally got to a point where I'm comfortable and happy...but if I don't take this "chance" what else is there. I'm looking for a sign from God...I need something from HIM to let me know this is where I should be going.

I have to make a decision by next Friday, the 19th...should be fun finals week!

~mitzi

cure for senioritis...found!

So my brother, Robert, is graduating from KU Medical School in 11 days, just like I'm graduating from KU...so having been through the undergraduate senioritis, Dr. Robert has given me these prescriptions for final semester papers and finals:

For papers:

no matter what the required length is...make it 6 pages, only spend 10 minutes per page (including research, typing, editing), you're done in a hour.

For finals:
[direct quote]

"Uh...final? Hello! This is your last year, if you aren't ready for this final yet, don't worry about it! You can stay up all night partying and still be ok for the test. Here's the rule for finals in your last semester: for every credit hour the class is, that's how many half hours TOTAL you should study for it. So, if it's a 3 hour class, just 1.5 hours studying. and, that includes any time you spend in a review class if they offer it. A corolary to that rule is if you want to raise your grade 1 letter grade, go up to 1 hour studying per hour of class. If you afford to lower your grade 1 letter grade, you can reduce studying to 10 minutes per class hour. Of course, you have to run the math to see how you have to do on the test to raise/lower/keep the same grade. So, this isn't a hard and fast rule like the paper rule is, but it's a good rule of thumb."

Thanks, Dr. Robert...you're the best.

~mitzi