What's in your trunk?

The other night my roommate, Ruth, and I were coming home and were stopped by a (perhaps bored) police officer. Just a little background - the neighborhood we live in is about 95% African American, maybe more. It is rare to see white people around, especially late at night. Most often, the only reason white people come into the neighborhood is to buy drugs. That being said - here's what happened.

Police: Could I see your license, sweetie? (sweetie? that's harassment already...)

Ruth (she was driving): sure, here it is.

Police: And your insurance.

Ruth (hands it to him): Can I ask why you pulled me over?

Police: We'll get to that in a minute. (Touche!)

(takes his sweet time looking at her lisence and insurance)
Police: Why are you in this neighborhood?

Ruth: We recently moved in down the street a few blocks (and gives him our address)

Police: Uh, did you check out the neighborhood before you moved in?

Ruth: Actually we did. Our church is planting a new church in this neighborhood and we wanted to be in the community.

Police: Well, you sure know how to pick 'em. This is one of the worst few blocks in our district. (leans over and looks at me) What about you? What are you doing in the neighborhood?

Erin: I'm her roommate, we live in the same apartment and are just going home.

Police: Well, do you ladies have anything in the car I should know about? Weapons - knives, guns? Any illegal substances? Open containers? Any dead hookers in the trunk?

Ruth: No, we don't have any of those things.

Police: Well, uh, good luck to you. (and he walks away)

Wait a minute - did he really ask us if we had dead hookers in the trunk? Yup, he sure did.

Oh, and he said the reason he pulled Ruth over in the first place was because she didn't use her turn signal when she turned the corner. However, my TYPE A roommate ALWAYS turns on her turn signal - even when pulling into a parking spot.

The hookers in the trunk weren't dead - just gagged and tied up.

...and the explanation...

The new name was chosen because it explains what we do as an after-school program. Once a student is enrolled in our program, we take them by the hand and walk them through life - we tutor, mentor, and love them - until they are responsible, well-adjusted adults.

We generally shorten it to "By The Hand" or "The Club". I am fond of using the initials - BTH - especially in e-mails and such.


The mystery is solved.

Name Change

The after-school program I work at just changed it's name - mostly to be able to distinguish it from other after-school programs. "Kids' Club" is too common, can't trademark it, etc.

I've gotten mixed reviews about the new name and I want to know what you think. I don't want to sway your opinion by telling you the reason behind the new name, but I will post again in a week or so, just in case you're curious.

So, the new name is: By The Hand Club For Kids

Initial reaction? First thing you think when you see it?

I love to laugh. Usually, I'm laughing longer than everyone else and often laughing when nobody else finds the situation humorous. This, however, I hope you find as amusing as I did...

So, there I was....at Dominick's (a grocery store for you non-Chicago folk) with a couple ladies I work with picking up some stuff for a pizza party for the kids. As we were checking out, I took the cart and went over to the ice cooler to put the four 22-pound bags of ice in the cart. As I was heaving the final bag into the cart; an older, very sweet looking black woman walked up to me and asked, "Where'd ya hide the body?"

"The body?" I whispered, "there are two."

She laughed so hard I thought she was going to fall over. She went and checked out and was still laughing as she was loading her groceries into her car.

HA.

My mom and I decided that we needed a vacation...



We drove up to the U.P. and stayed in this cute little cabin....

Saw a beautiful sunrise...

I even made a fire...without paper or lighter fluid (Mom didn't think I could...)

And then on our way back we stopped at Castle Rock - a remnant of my childhood...

Nice vacation, Mom!!

I was where?

So there I was....

I had just gotten to my seat; I had a ball park frank in my hand (why is it that hot dogs taste so good at baseball games?) and was settling in for the Tigers vs. Brewers baseball game.

As I took a bite of my juicy frank, a glob of mustard squirted out from the other end. I grabbed an extra napkin ready to attack the stain on my pants, when I realized the mustard had landed on the napkin and NOT MY PANTS!! Right then and there, I knew it was going to be a great game.

Notice the date on the ticket....June 12th. That's right - the night of Justin Verlander's NO HITTER!!! If you are a baseball fan, I know you'll either be extremely excited for me, or just jealous. If you're a Tiger's fan, you'll know this hasn't happened at a home game for the Tigers in about 25 years....

I was excited....GO TIGERS!

The End

This post is dedicated to Jessi Ralston:

The only one who reads my blog :)

This past Tuesday was the last day for the students here at CRPS. Some of them will attend the new contract school that is moving into our building this fall; but most of them are going their separate ways. It's really sad to think that I've hugged some of them for the last time!

Here are some pictures of the balloon release we did at our End-of-the-Year BBQ. God blessed us by keeping the rain away - and by some AMAZING BBQ chicken and rib-tips!

Up....Up...

And away they go...

Le-Le and Michelle

I TOLD Anna I'd get a picture of her before the day was over!!

oooh-wee!

Craziness....that's what's going on at Circle Rock right now. With only 5 weeks left of school (WOW!), lots of the normal end-of-the-year stuff is expected to happen. The weather is nice, so kids check out, behavior problems increase, classes go on field trips every other day....you know, end-of-the-year stuff. I think it's going on 10-fold at Circle! With the school closing its doors after the first week in June, and re-opening as a new school in the fall, craziness is definitely ensuing.

Amidst the chaos, I have been job hunting. I really wanted to stay in Chicago and I really wanted to still be working with Urban Ministries, preferably on the west side since I've become so invested here. Enter God. Yesterday, after a couple interviews and much prayer, I got an official start date of my new job! Enter Kids Club. You should check out their website. KC is an after-school program started in the projects of Cabrini Green, in downtown Chicago. 2 years ago, it expanded to having two sites, the new one on the far south side. This fall, a 3rd site will be opening on the west side in Austin, only a few blocks from the school I work at now. The ministry is growing in leaps and bounds - and because they depend so much on volunteers, they wanted to hire someone to help recruit and place volunteers. Enter me. I'm so excited to be working with churches and local colleges to network lay-people and students in a way that will not only enrich the lives of the students in KC, but also their own.

So, if you ever want to tutor, teach an elective class, or serve dinner; as the new Volunteer Coordinator, I can help you out! :)

OH, beyond all that - I get two weeks off in June! Everyone sing with me - "God's been good to me, oh God's always been good!!"