I know, I know.

I disappeared.  You can blame me.  But you try making a baking blog.  I try to bake something every week so I have a new post, but it gets to be overwhelming... and a little fattening.  Even with my sharing of all the sweets.  My metabolism needed a break.

I also had my last EVER semester of finals since I graduated school! Whoo hoo! Craziness.

Now on to my next step and "real life" as people like to call it.
My next step...  AmeriCorps NCCC.

For people who don't know (you must have not been around me since I'm been talking nonstop about it for a while now.  And I talk a LOT. A LOT.) I got accepted into the winter start of the NCCC branch of AmeriCorps.

Here is an excerpt from the AmeriCorps page briefly explaining what I'm doing:

"AmeriCorps NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps) is a full-time, team-based residential program for men and women age 18–24. Members are assigned to one of five campuses, located in Denver, Colorado; Sacramento, California; Perry Point, Maryland; Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Vinton, Iowa.

The mission of AmeriCorps NCCC is to strengthen communities and develop leaders through direct, team-based national and community service. In partnership with non-profits—secular and faith based, local municipalities, state governments, federal government, national or state parks, Indian Tribes and schools members complete service projects throughout the region they are assigned.

Drawn from the successful models of the Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930s and the U.S. military, AmeriCorps NCCC is built on the belief that civic responsibility is an inherent duty of all citizens and that national service programs work effectively with local communities to address pressing needs.

How AmeriCorps NCCC Works

AmeriCorps NCCC requires an intensive, 10-month commitment. Members serve in teams of eight to twelve and are assigned to projects throughout the region served by their campus. They are trained in CPR, first aid, public safety, and other skills before beginning their first service project."
I'm going to Maryland!

Here is the official NCCC blog.

I'm leaving on Tuesday... yes you heard that right. TUESDAY.  I'm ecstatic.  The day is so close, I can finally count on one hand.  I have no idea who my team mates will be yet, or what projects I will be doing, but I will find out soon.  That kind of information is what I'll find out after I arrive in Maryland.

The entire first month on "campus" is all training.  I have to do paperwork, and get certified (disaster relief, cpr, first aid, heavy machinery, chainsaw, fire fighting... I don't even know all of them).  Not to mention all the history of AmeriCorps and what it means to be a Corps member etc. lessons that I will soon be sitting through.

I am going to be so busy that this past month of no school is going to have seemed like a cake walk.

To keep everyone updated on what I'm doing, and eventually on where I go for projects I will try my hardest to post here on what is going on.  As far as I can tell I am going to be kept as busy as possible until I come back in November.

Starting now I'm hijacking my own blog so I can update people on my AmeriCorps shenanigans, then I will return to baking.
Think of baking requests now so I have more reasons to bake and more people to eat the desserts... hint hint!

Plus I will bake more since I got a brand spanken new professional sized 5 quart standing kitchen aid mixer!! So exciting!

And somehow this past month and a half even though I wasn't working or in school, I kept myself busy enough that I didn't go too crazy...

 I started being very crafty (if I do say so myself), for my future apartment.

I also put together a book of all the races I have ever done with pictures and bib numbers.  That way when I look back years in the future (hopefully after I complete my iron man-my goal) I can see how young I looked, and how slow I was!


I of course did a few races... I can't stay away.  I am too competitive.  This is my way of getting faster for the running leg of triathlons.

Christmas Day Joyful 5K

Polar Dash
(New Years Day) 10K

Winter Carnival Half Marathon

Not to mention clean. And clean. And clean.  I cleaned the entire attic for my mom, which she has never done since she has moved into the duplex... it was scary.  I have no pictures to prove it...  you just have to believe me.  I had to wear a mask.  There were also rubber gloves involved.  And a bird.  And lots of empty cardboard boxes.  Those of you at Whittier will know what I mean.
I also celebrated my 23rd?! birthday and went to the dog park a bunch.  I love the dog park!  If you ever can't find me, look there.

*Disclaimer I did not make this. This was just my birthday cake
And yes I did just pick it up and take a bite out of it.

 

P.s.  This is what I get to look forward to for the 1st month of training...

Training

Also know that I had to tell my AmeriCorps media representative about local papers.  So keep an eye out for a mention of me or NCCC stories in the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, or the City Pages!

To be continued