Employed!

After much searching, Nicole landed a job a couple weeks ago! She beat out 370 applicants (!) in a 3-month selection process for a job with the American Bar Association's Rule of Law Initiative.

And people, the ABA is an association of lawyers, OK? Not drunks.

So what does she do? Um.... lawyering, duh. Really, I have no idea. She can't do lawyering because she's not a lawyer, so I think she just... um... oh, just go check out the website.

Me, I'm still working my fanny off for Experience Corps and Civic Ventures. One of the most recent projects was whipping up some text for the website encore.org. Encore is the new book by Marc Freedman, the founder of Civic Ventures. It's about how some baby boomers aren't retiring during their "retirement" years. Instead they're switching to less lucrative, but infinitely cooler and more fruitful work as teachers, nurses, etc.

Still, I've got my eye on the calendar. My contract ends Aug. 31, and so I've ramped up my job search. The US Soccer Federation (or whatever they're called) is looking for a development person. Hmmm..... interesting. Comp tickets anyone?

Fatima Water Project Update

Thanks to all of you who celebrated my birthday (like 5 months ago) by donating to the Fatima water project. You'll be glad to know that I just got an update from them, and the water is now flowing! It's clean, it's crisp, and it comes right up to the spigots in their yards.

My host family in Fatima

They still need about $1,000 to reach their $8,000 goal, so there's still time to give if you'd like. But, even the $7,000 they've already collected goes a looooooong way to reducing the huge loan they might never have been able to repay.

You guys are the best birthday present givers ever. Thanks!

What's next on the horizon? The community is working towards electricity. Read more here.

If you'd like to read the full update on the water project, click here.
If you'd like to see my photos of the people in Fatima, click here, and then go to any photo set with the words Mountain School in the title.

Not Dead!

To all those wondering if I've perished, I haven't. Promise.

So, why the heck haven't I written in two months?

I'll form my defense around 2 points. First, I've been busy. That's straightforward enough, what with the whole new cityapartmentjobrelationship thing and all. Second, I'm now working all day in front of the computer. The last thing I want to do once I'm home is spend MORE time in front of the computer.

I'm sure there are other excuses too. I'll let you know once I think of them.

Anyway, I've got various bits of news to share, so expect a wave of posts...