Kayla Villnow » 2012 » January

January 2012


It’s Thursday, January 12th — which is significant for a couple of reasons.

The first being that today marks the two-year anniversary of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that destroyed much of Haiti, and has left nearly 2 million people still living in tents.    Though not front-page news anymore, the situation in Haiti is still dire.  I am proud to be a part of an effort and organization that recognizes that, and that has not forgotten that the people there still need our help, prayers and support.

Life in Texas is chugging along, though this week was a particular eventful one!  My sweet mom flew in on Monday to help me move.  Not a big move, granted, but still a move.   When first looking for a place to live last May of 2011, most people told me to start in Uptown.  Uptown, Uptown, Uptown is what I heard — so that’s where I looked.  After being here for almost 6 months now though, I realized that Uptown, as fun and glamorous as it was, wasn’t quite the right fit for me.  So that, and a 20% increase in rent prompted a move to the Knox/Henderson area (where my beloved, and pain-in-the-ass MBA roomate, Andy Bruce, used to live).

The move of all physical items officially wrapped up yesterday, but now we are moving into the setting up phase.  Tedious work!  However, this new place feels like home.  It’s cozier, the people are friendly, and I’ve already got a few things hung on the wall!  Mom’s great taste and style will help me pull it all together a bit more, and then I should be ready to roll!

Wrapping up this blog though — I’ll bring it full circle and address my title.  Allergies in Winter? Oh yeah.  I haven’t had allergies this bad for over two years, and though usually they come on in Spring, leave it to the big D to start them big, and start them early!  Bummer!

Maybe the early bloom of cedar tree pollen means it will abate quicker as well? I sure hope so….

Okay, so my buddy Drew has been on me since — well since forever — to be a regular blogger.  I am renewing my intent to blog this year.  I am going to accept that I will not be an every two-days blogger and shoot more for once a week! I think I can probably manage that!

Since my last blog quite a lot has happened.  I had an amazing, AMAZING two years in graduate school.  I learned a lot, made some life long friends, and had some very tremendous life experiences.  Since I graduated last June of 2011, I rejoined the wonderful and amazing family of Esperanza International, and am now living in Dallas, Texas!  I am doing my best to learn the ropes of development work, as well as communications and marketing — all under the umbrella of a shoestring budget nonprofit.  I have to say its been a challenging couple of months in Dallas, but things are starting to make some sense and we are gaining momentum.

I’ll end this post by saying that although its not home yet, Dallas is a wonderful city.  The people are friendly, the weather is nice (minus the month and a half of 105+ weather I had upon moving here!), I love my job — and I’m thankful I’ve made some really nice friends here so far.  Not a day goes by where I don’t miss my family and friends from other life chapters –but life doesn’t ever stand still, so I’m doing my best to embrace this new phase of my life.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, Holiday Season and New Year celebration!  Lots of love, and hopefully I’ll be back soon!