AZ can be cold?

This week I felt governed by the weather. The welcome center is partially outside, with courtyards throughout the space where we do intake and welcoming of guests. However, when it was raining on Monday we had to adapt. The morning was spent running through the the courtyard guiding guests indoors, and then when the rain subsided mid morning we had to rearrange everything back outside and sweep the water out of the building.

I find a lot of joy in rainy days. Some of my most blissfully joyful moments in my life have taken place in the pouring rain. There is something about just surrendering to the moment, allowing myself to get absolutely soaked while dancing, running and laughing through the storm that is hard to replicate. So when Michaela and I were waiting for the bus together on Monday morning, I couldn't help but giggle and dance around like a child.

And removing water with brooms, dustpans and whatever else we could find was comical.

The rest of the week was just cold. Having highs of 55F in December may sound warm to my people in NY, but my body was exhausted at the end of each day after working so hard to stay warm. This week I averaged 9,755 steps per day (about 2,000 more than an average day at Casa Alitas), simply because I did not want to sit down at the risk of getting cold.

Also this week was Paris' last week of work. Paris is someone who has been really important for me to feel valued and included in this organization, she has taught me so much in a short few months and has become a good friend outside of work as well. It is very hard to see her leave, but selfishly I am grateful she will not be leaving Tucson quite yet.

Andrea and I have joined an all women's Ultimate Frisbee league that meets on Wednesday evenings. Ultimate is something that I have been missing since my injury and coming to Tucson, so it has been really fun to be slowly picking it back up again and meet cool people too!

I am anticipating a number of challenges in this coming week. Below is a list of things that are on my mind. Keep me in your thoughts, I will need the support.

1. I will be working straight through from Monday through Christmas. It will be a long 7 days.

2. Tuesday Title 42 will be lifted and with that many changes are likely to take place in the functioning of Casa Alitas.

3. With the holidays, we are likely to have less staff and volunteers to keep things running smoothly.

4. By Wednesday night all of my housemates will be gone, which allows for elements of both peaceful rest and loneliness.

Bonus Content: I have an obsession with collecting pottery and plants. Usually the two balance each other out, but currently I have a plant deficit I need to fill.