i have a real job.....

I have a real job.....can you believe it? I just got hired to work for the American Diabetes Association specializing in Youth Markets. I call this a real job because I have huge responsibilities. Not saying that my other jobs in the past weren't real jobs or I didn't have responsibilities, this one is just different. The pay is different, the work enviroment is different, the people are different, everything is different. This is a job that is perfect for my degree which is Health Promotion. I had an internship this past fall with the ADA specializing in Youth Markets and I absolutely fell in love with my internship. Let me give you a little overview of what I did during my internship. When I started at the ADA I learned the ropes of PR....I went around to schools and school districts giving them our information about our School Walk Program and wanting to see if they wanted to sign on with our program. If you don't know what the School Walk Program is, it is similar to Jump Rope for Heart BUT we are raising money and educating kids about diabetes. (Sidenote- The American Heart Association is our biggest competition). I was driving all around Houston and going to schools to tell them about our program, to check in with schools that were already signed on with us, or dropping materials off to the schools. Shortly after "blitzing" ( which is what we call what I just explained above) I started to shadow my 2 supervisors while they went to schools around the Houston area and spoke about Diabetes. I would help out here and there with the "kickoffs" ( which is what we call the education/speaking/fundraising portion of the School Walk Program). I usually helped with the games, I wasn't confident enough to actually speak about diabetes. Well, with months of preperation, studying, and freaking out....I was finally put out there to do my own Kickoff ( which meant speaking to a BUNCH of students about diabetes, by myself....alone....no one with me) Quite scary if you ask me. I had NEVER spoken publically infront of a big growd ( other than being interviewed by TV stations for softball while I was in highschool - but they can always edit) This was a no-editing session...improv....on the spot speaking. My first ever school I spoke at was in La Porte, it was an elementary school. I was scared to death. I had another intern with me but she was only helping with the games, the education portion of the kickoff was up to me. (Sidenote- before this internship I did not know much about diabetes.....I had to completely educate myself on diabetes, what it is, how you get it, how to prevent, statististics, etc). So Needless to say, my kickoff went great and from there they continued to go great. I love doing kickoffs to elementary kids. I love them! I am partial to that age because I have worked with that age group before. Highschool and middleschool kids just don't seem to care too much about what I have to say, etc. Other than educating them about diabetes I would explain to them how to raise money for the ADA and how they can earn certain gifts/prizes. The school gets about 2 weeks for their students to raise the money and then they have

what we call the "School Walk"event which is where the kids walk around the track, playground, gym, school etc, and its a time for them to get exercise and walk for diabetes. So that was my internship in a nutshell. I don't know if I explained it very well... I lose my concentration a lot while I'm writing and a lot of times things I write really don't make sense ( I'm also substituting right now , too). My new job is exactly the same as my internship except I am getting paid and I now will be working in the office some. I am so excited about this job because I really do enjoy speaking to students and teachers about diabetes. I am a diabetes know-it-all...haha!

So I am now a working woman and Brandon loves it :)

for val, danni, and JD

Ok girls....here is the survey. I vowed that I would never do one of these things on my blog but I couldn't help but read each of ya'lls surveys and see that when you put my name down ...with a question mark. Hmmmmmmmm..... so I'm proving you puta's ( just kidding ) wrong! :)

Two names you go by:
1. Kellianne
2. KA or K'anne

Two things you are wearing right now
1. ACU softball sweat pants
2. pink furry socks

Two of your favorite things to do
1 . Spending time with Brandon ( even though he says I never do)
2. snowboarding

Two things you want very badly at the moment
1. To eat chunky money icecream
2. To graduate college

Two favorite pets you have/had
1. Nakona
2. Rocky, Ming, Jet

Two people who will fill this out
1. Kellianne? - hahaha
2.

Two things you ate today.
1. Diet Sunkist Soda
2. Greek Salad

Two people you last talked to
1. Brandon
2. My Mom

Two things you're doing tomorrow
1. Trying to plan my wedding - guest list time.... eeeeeek!
2. watching Brandon play on his PS3 I bought him

Two longest car rides
1. Wisconsin
2. Florida

Two favorite holidays
1. July 4th
2. Celebrating birthdays, mine and my friends and family

Two favorite beverages
1. Diet Dr Pepper, Diet Pepsi
2. Diet Cranberry Juice

Two favorite TV shows
1. almost all reality TV shows
2. ugly betty

1st Annual Zack Grafe Alumni Softball Game

The alumni and current players!

My daddy was the alumni team coach...just like the good ole days!

Class of '03!

Alumni girls

I know what you are thinking....."you've already made a post today". Well, yes that is true, but I realized that I am going to be super busy this week, classes start tomorrow for me so I'm sure I will be slightly overwhelmed. Plus, this post is something that I wanted to share with y'all for the past week or so but haven't found the time to actually sit down and write. If you notice what the title of my post says, it pretty much explains what I am going to write about. For those of you who don't know who Zack Grafe is I will explain to you who he is. For those of you who do know him, then I'm sure you know what I am about to talk about. So here goes....

Zack Grafe was an assistant softball coach and head basketball coach at my high school for 7-8 years. My junior year of high school he was diagnosed with Leukemia - the worst kind.. We all found this out right before our playoff game for softball. It was devastating. He since then had been diagnosed with leukemia 3 more times. A total of 4 times. He had 13 rounds of chemotherapy and seemed to rise above the occasion every time to "beat" cancer 3 times. He never complained about being in pain or being sick. Coach Grafe has 3 beautiful little children. Riley-5, Reagan-3, and Little Zack - 2 months. I could go on and on about this man because he is one of those guys that you want to be your friends, coach, or teacher. He didn't have to say anything at all during a conversation because you already knew what he was thinking. He truly was an amazing coach and teacher. Coach Grafe passed away Dec. 27th to his 4th round of Leukemia. He couldn't fight it anymore even though he tried. He left behind, like I said, 3 little precious children, and of course his wife Jill - whom is an amazing woman. When Coach Grafe passed away I was in New York on my vacation. But before then, when I had found out he was sick for the 4th time, I decided to put together a fund raiser to raise money for him and his family. I thought about putting together an alumni softball game and all the proceeds would go directly to his family. Being an alumni of Clements High School, I thought alumni softball players could play the current team ( I coached the current team in the Fall). Mind you, I had about 2-3 weeks to put this event together. I wasn't expecting it to be huge b/c it was going to be thrown together real fast, but every bit helps right? So while in New York, finding out Coach Grafe passed away, the word of the alumni game spread all over Sugar Land. People were helping out left and right. While I was organizing the t-shirts being made to be sold and worn by the softball players, from putting together a silent auction in a matter of 3-5 days, to organizing food sales, admission, donations, etc.....you can say I was a little busy. I honestly thought that this event would raise maybe $5,000. Like I said, the word spread.....and spread.....and spread. I think one of the most amazing things about this fund raiser I organized is.... not one person had to spend any money to organize this. Everything was donated, from food to drinks to t-shirts made to be sold......everything was donated! It was amazing! On Jan. 9th, 2008....we raised ....are you ready to hear this ( or read it).....$20,000. ONE NIGHT WE RAISED THAT!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!!!?!?!??! I was shocked, stunned....I couldn't believe it. I mean I wasn't underestimating anyone but when I put this together in a span of 2-3 weeks by no means did I think we would raise that much money. Truly amazing. A total of $50,000 was given to Jill Grafe and her kids for immediate fincial needs and it was also to start up the kids college fund. This event is going to be an every year thing and all the money will continue to go to Jill and the kids. That night was truly amazing, although the alumni lost to the current girls in the last inning, I couldn't help but not care that we lost ( which is never like me because i play to win..he he) but I couldn't help but fix my eyes and hears on how many people came to this event, how much money was raised/donated, and just having Jill and the kids there. God is so good and I truly have to thank him. He provides. So I probably missed some details here or there but I think all of you got the gist of the story. It was an amazing night and I wish all of you could of been there just to experience the love that everyone had out there. We truly weren't out there to kick another teams butt, we all were out there for the love of the Grafe family.... I can't stop saying it, but it truly was amazing.

That night will definitely go down in my history book as one of the best times and nights of my life.

pictures galore!

Here are some more pictures from my fabulous vacation to New York!! They are out of order...sorry! Enjoy!

B and me sad that it was our last train ride and last night in NY.

This picture pretty much explains itself.

B and me in front of the christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.

The Brooklyn Bridge...it was awesome!

Sitting on the Brooklyn Bridge with the city in the background while cars were driving underneath us.

The Brooklyn Bridge behind us.

Sitting in the Yankees dugout....pretty cool.

Yankee Stadium, we went on a tour.

The most INSANE subway ride of our lives! It was so cramped, packed, stinky, sweaty, gross, and funny all at the same time!

Posing on a little stone stairway in Central Park.

Posing on a bridge in Central Park.

The view from the Staten Island Ferry....pretty amazing.

Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry.

slowly but surely

ok so i've definitely been slacking lately. i have been so busy this christmas break. I can't believe that I am already going back to school on Tuesday. I have a lot of stuff to update all of you on but for now, I'm just not in the mood. I have found myself lately not in the mood to do a lot of things. I still haven't put pictures on myspace of facebook from my trip. Besides my trip to NY, I have been in crazy busy mode ( which hasn't made Brandon too happy, haha). I will fill you in more later about what my life has been like. I'll throw some pictures in there too. I still have 24225252352 pictures from NY I haven't even posted. Anyway, so this was kinda a pointless post but I felt the need to let all of you know that I'm still here, alive and well, just realllllllllly busy!

more juicy stuff soon!

a couple videos

This is a video of Brandon and Stephen having a snowball fight in Cooperstown, NY. It was Brandon's first time ever in snow and to see a snow fall! ( PS- don't mind me talking in the background).


This video is of Brandon and I sledding on a hill in Cooperstown, NY. It was a lot of fun!



More videos and pictures to come!!!!

pictures pictures GALORE!

Ok- so here are just a FEW pictures from my trip. I will post another blog with more pictures from the Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium, and other places we went. I wanted to add more from the same place but that would of just taken forever!

Brandon and I our first day in Cooperstown right outside our hotel in the snow.

Cooperstown Diner that only holds 15 people...its so cute!

Sitting on the rug in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

The whole family outside the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Don't be fooled, Brandon didn' make this, it had fallen apart and Brandon put it back together- somone else made it!

Just one of the beautiful landscapes we saw in Cooperstown.

It's snowing!!!! DoubleDay field is in the background where the first ever baseball game was played!

I had to do it! Fresh Fallen snow... it couldn't of been better! :)

A really huge tree in the back of the NBHOF.

I had to.... I was a catcher too ya know!

Brandon and I's future home in Cooperstown :) It is a little house where kids can go visit Santa and drop off their letters to Santa in the red mail box...too cute!

Sledding!!!

I'm pretty sure that I put my camera on the tree stump and put the auto timer on and this picture came out great! One of my fav. pictures of the trip!

Time Square our first day there!

Gotta get a picture with the Naked Cowboy!

Radio City Music Hall

Ground Zero.....they are still working to get everything out.

St. Paul's church across the street from WTC where a lot of memorials are set up for people who lost their lives on 9/11. This was a safe place and a place of rest that the volunteers could stay.

Brandon with a firefighters suite on the actual bench where they all came to sleep, eat, and rest.

Time Square at night. One of my most favorite parts of that city!

one word.....UH-MAZING!

I'm back! To be quite honest, I have been putting off posting pictures on the 3 websites I belong to- Facebook, Myspace, and Blogspot. Why? Because I have over 600 pictures that I took while in New York and it would require lots of patience and time to pick out the perfect pictures and captions to show you all my trip. Well, I've had lots of requests to see some pictures so I am going to post a lot of pictures , probably in multiple posts.

So my week long trip was absolutely amazing! Besides having one bad day ( for myself personally-i had a little girl moment, we all have those) my trip was just awesome! Here is a little synopsis of my trip. We left Houston Christmas Day @ 7:40am and arrived to Dallas an hour later. One thing I will admit right now is that I will NEVER fly American Airlines again. The flights were horrible, the service was horrible, everything was horrible. The flight from H-town to D-town I had a 3 year old little boy kick the back of my chair the WHOLE WAY.....all 45mins of the flight. His idiot parents never told him to stop or anything. We then arrived to New York @ 2:30pm where we met my brothers girlfriend ( now fiance). She went on the trip with us. From the airport we went and got our rental car and headed off to Cooperstown, NY, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Cooperstown was 4 hours away from NYC. We had 6 people, 11 bags of luggage scrunched into a dodge mini van.....it was rough, I'm not gonna lie. I got really car sick on the way to Cooperstown. With 3 stops in the mix, we finally landed in Cooperstown when it was dark. We were all hungry, but NO restaurant was open on Christmas Day, not even gas stations. Sidenote- Cooperstown is a very SMALL town, much like fredericksburg if anyone has been there, but even smaller. So we had a GPS system that got us everywhere and we ended up calling a Mobile Station that was open and the worker there threw on some hotdogs for us and we ended up eating our Christmas dinner at a Mobile Gas Station! Believe it or not, we were so excited to see that gas station because it had food in it. hahahahah

Now on to Cooperstown. That town is the most amazing little town ever! During the summer, it gets 96 baseball teams PER WEEK to play baseball games there. Cooperstown was where baseball was invited and where the first baseball game was ever played, at DoubleDay Field. We went to the baseball hall of fame and it was great! I was sick that day so I had a hard time enjoying everything. We also went shopping- thetheme of the town is baseball. ( my family and I are sports fanatics, especially baseball, so this town was perfect for us!) We also went to a resturant that could only hold 15 people, Cooperstown Diner. It snowed while we were there, Brandon had never been in or seen snow , so he was a little kid in the candy store! The snow was amazing, it was coming down hard. We went sledding in the snow, made some snowmen, we did it all! Cooperstown was truly an amazing start to a great Vacation! We were all sad when we had to leave this little place, it truly made you feel like home, everyone was so nice!

Now on to the Big Apple! New York City is the most exciting, fast paced, unreal city in the world. We were all excited when we got to the City. It was a totally different feeling there, than Cooperstown. Where do I even begin explaining everything? I probably should just show pictures and put captions. I guess that is what I will do. I will put the pictures in another post starting with Cooperstown pictures.

ENJOY!