So yeah, Operation Do or Die is not going over so well. But I am determined to get it going. In other news, I have just finished one of the busiest and most rewarding weeks of my life. Here is a run-down.
Monday – Today I turn in my very last assignment for my Bachelors of Science in Accounting. It has taken me a long time to get to this point. I started school in 2008, after I received my Associates degree I jumped right into the Bachelors program. It’s been a struggle at times but now that I am on the other side of it, I am both relieved and incredibly proud that I have finished it. I get to enjoy two weeks off now and then it is time to start my Masters in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. I am so excited to start my marketing degree!
Tuesday – This evening I attended the Shawnee County Historical Society Board of Trustees meeting. We discussed many interesting things going on with the society right now and some plans for the future. The board agreed to give me admin status on their facebook page and let me bring a large stack of bulletins home to give away online. Since I have started this campaign I am happy to report our facebook page has shown a drastic jump in activity.
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| The glorious activity jump |
Wednesday – This evening after work I picked up my Aunt Sondra and took her grocery shopping. We had a very nice time shopping around and just talking. I am so grateful to have her and my Aunt Susie in my life. They are the absolute embodiment of family. They have taken me in as one of their own children; they give me so much love and support. I do not know what I would do without them.
Thursday – This evening my friend Kay Emslie and I taught our very first couponing class for our group Budget Butterfly. The folks at the Topeka Hy-Vee were very kind and allowed us to use their meeting room for the class. We had about 10 people show up; some came from as far as Burlington, Kansas. Kay and I had a great time sharing what we know about couponing with the class attendants. Kay approached me about a year ago wanting to start a couponing group. She and I are old friends and we both love couponing so we started Budget Butterfly. We never thought it would grow into what it has today. We are hoping to continue with the classes and organize coupon swaps as well.
Friday – Today I hosted a tour of Topeka High School for the Topeka History Geeks. Of all the tours we have done for the Topeka History Geeks, this one was the one I have looked forward to the most. Topeka High School is very near to my heart and I had not been inside the school since 1997. It is breath taking how absolutely beautiful the school is. See some of my favorite pictures from the tour below.
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| This is the Polk St. entrance to Topeka High School |
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| Every student remembers rushing up and down these to class |
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| The beautiful Topeka High School Auditorium |
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| A beautiful little spot often missed when reminiscing about Topeka High School, this is located in the area behind the auditorium seating. |
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| Topeka High Schools glorious Gothic style library |
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| A closer view of the fireplace in the THS library |
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| How lucky was I to eat lunch in this cafeteria everyday?! |
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| Above the fireplace in the cafeteria |
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| One of the many amazing views of the Topeka High School Bell Tower |
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| And last but absolutely in no way least is Boyce. Boyce was a janitor at Topeka High when I was a kid. He was always friendly, helpful and ultimately endearing to all of us students. I was thrilled to see him still looking after our beloved school. Topeka High could not be in better hands. Massive amounts of respect are owed to this man. |
Saturday – Silverback Kansas invited its members to come out to the Jayhawk Theatre today and help clean it up. The theater has been left neglected since it’s closing in 1976 and is in very bad shape. A group of people are working to restore the theater to its original grandeur but it is going to take a massive amount of work. What we did Saturday is pull out carpeting that we estimated to be around 85 years old, remove garbage, sweep and vacuum the years of dust. We started at 8:30 and finished around 2:00 in the afternoon. Our hopes are that now that the theater is cleaner, it may attract investors who would like to see it restored. See pictures below.
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| She was once very beautiful, she'll be again in time. |
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| Sarah Peterson Herr and Brendan Jensen paused for a photo |
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| The theater is getting closer to clean |
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| Adina Mayhew scraping away at some nasty carpet glue |
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| Truck loads of trash and old carpet were removed Saturday |
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| Piles of trash lined Jackson St. while we worked. It all was taken to local recycling centers. Well almost all of it, that awesome sink made it's way into someones basement. |
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| One of my favorite people in the world, Jennifer Goetz, posed with me. We are so dirty yet so rockin' in our do-rags. |
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| Talk about peas in a pod, I made a new friend in Adina Mayhew, we had a blast getting to know each other! |
Sunday – Today I have been able to reflect on a week that has been incredibly busy but also immensely rewarding. I was invited to breakfast with Phil and Fran Breedlove who are my former in-laws and my son’s grandparents. We visited, caught up on what is going on in each other’s lives and made plans for future endeavors. I also visited my Aunts for a short while this afternoon. My family is not conventional by any means but that sort of thing never really mattered much to me. I feel loved by family and friends, I feel that I am contributing to my town, and I feel that I am growing as a person. I may have failed at the diet this week but I feel that I have won in every other area.
