Jane's Walk 2010

It’s been a long time my dear Pimpirilinos!
Let’s see…What I have been up to….
Since moving to UT, I’ve been crazy busy with school. I have loved every minute of it! Lots of camping, hiking and lots of school work! I decided to not only major in Architecture, but Urban Planning as well. I have fallen in-love with it and I’m very excited to learn more about it! I’m doing an internship with the cAP (College of Architecture and Planning)( http://www.arch.utah.edu/) and the Center for the Center for the Living City (http://janeswalkusa.wordpress.com/about-us/center-for-the-living-city/). I’m working with a project called “Jane’s Walk”. I am a coordinator for the States and Spanish outreach. We’re also working with Chile and Argentina to get some walks there as well. Well you may be asking yourself…what is this Pam?

Jane's Walk is a coordinated series of free neighborhood walking tours given by locals who care passionately about where they live, work and play. Jane's Walk is about raising urban literacy by offering a pedestrian focused event that combines insights into urban history, planning, design and civic engagement with the simple act of walking and observing.
It's about getting out and walking, observing your city, meeting your neighbors, discovering new areas, and learning about civic institutions and agencies that shape our urban existence. Jane's Walk helps knit people together into a strong and resourceful community, instilling belonging and encouraging civic leadership.

Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was an urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. She had no formal training as a planner, and yet her 1961 treatise, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, introduced ground-breaking ideas about how cities function, evolve and fail that now seem like common sense to generations of architects, planners, politicians and activists. A firm believer in the importance of local residents having input on how their neighborhoods develop, Jacobs encouraged people to familiarize themselves with the places where they live, work and play with words like these:
"No one can find what will work for our cities by looking at suburban garden cities, manipulating scale models, or inventing dream cities. You've got to get out and walk." - Downtown is for People, 1957.

Well my dear friends in this case, if any of you are interested in hosting a walk, or know of some one that might (anywhere in the country) or the world as a matter of fact! Let me know. You can go to http://janeswalkusa.wordpress.com/ to check it our and/or register.

Funny little story… When I first moved to my building, I was throwing boxes outside, and I see by the garbage a pile of books, and since I think it should be a sin to throw away books, I look through them to see if there was anything worth having. One of the two books I picked was “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”, it’s name caught my name. Not knowing …first day I show up to my honors Arch/Planning class it is one of the assigned books to read! Coincidence? I don't know...I was delighted! I started reading it, as it was assigned and during Xmas break I finished it! The class is still going, since it is a year long class. But when it comes to this book and I…well we’re great friends! Later on while talking to a friend (The National Director for Jane’s Walk) we realize that I could be a great asset to the team. I went thinking that I would help host walks in Chile, and it has now moved into something much bigger and I LOVE IT! I couldn’t be happier! This is a great opportunity to do what I love and feel passionate about!
I love reading about your lives and adventures, I miss you all terribly! And hope to see you soon! I now should go get ready to go to physics class (not my favorite at this time)
Alright my Pimpirilinos…be good, take care and live strong!

Now in SLC

My dear Pimpirilinos,

Things are well here, even though I'm missing all of you terribly. I've met great people and I'm getting used to the swing of things. I heard sister Callacy say several times that Fairfax ward was "Newly-wed, or Almost Dead"...well she had no idea what she was saying! lol My ward now (Salt Lake 13th ward) is just that. There are people well past retirement. Two retirement communities and an Assisted Living place in the 3x5 block radious that makes our ward. Since I live right in the city, all of the Apartment buildings are only one bedroom ...so....our Primary is 4 great children that sing very loud! Our YW and YM, well let's just say we are waiting for our Primary children to grow up in order for us to have YW and YM! lol! I don't think I'll get a calling here. I've told the Bishop I'm willing and interested, but there just isn't much to do. I joined the ward and Stake choir! They can't kick people out of there right?! I even got to sing in the Assembly Hall in Temple SQ for Stake Conference! (very cool)
I miss my friends and all of your beautiful children as well as GNO, interest groups and Enrichment night. I miss my dear friends so very much! It is very hard to be all alone here! Even though I love it, and the experience is great.

At school I'm taking Physics, Trig, Honors Architecture (Urban Planning) and a Dance in Culture class, which is lots of fun! I've become great friends with Caitlin and Anders. We have physics together, and therefore we struggle like crazy every week as a team! Lots of lunches and study groups have brought us closer together. We've done fun stuff, like boating, where I tried wake boarding (it's like water ski, only it's supposed to be easier). We've gone to the Greek Festival and the Chilean Festival, which were both great fun! Other than that I'm constantly studying, studying, studying...Physics is kicking my butt! I've taken two exams already. I'll justy say, I've NEVER done so poorly in my whole College career! Yikes! I'm looking into private tutors right now!

Bo and I have been separated for almost six months now (which by VA law, we can file for divorce as well). I'll start doing the paper work soon. I miss him, too. I miss who he was and the good times that we had. I know that he is no longer who I married and that it'll never be the same. That only makes it harder, because I am still in-love with the person he was in the beginning. I wish we could still be together, but he doesn't seem to want to work on himself. I saw how six years of therapy couldn't help if he wasn't willing to move forward. I do wish him the best...I'll just say ....listening to some songs, still bring tears to my eyes. Not because I lost my husband. I already mourned the loss of my husband when I saw him becoming who he is now. I watched the train wreck slowly before my eyes, not being able to do much. I hurt, because I miss my friend. I miss the support he was able and willing to give when he could. I miss our silly games and songs. I understand that all of that is gone, and that I tried to hold on with all the strength that I had and even more strength that I didn't know I had. I had promised my Father in Heaven that I would be with this man FOR EVER! And before I married him, I prayed to know if it was the right thing to do, and it was! Our growth was stunted and we were bringing the worst out of each other. I know I did ALL I could! I am still a strong believer in the sanctity of marriage and I am against divorce at almost all cost (of course there are exceptions). I don't think men are skum! They are wonderful beings, only this one was not good for me. I would have left much earlier, but I am stubborn and I wanted to make sure there was NOTHING left I could do! It was the best I could do.

I'm so pleased with my self. I'm proud on how I dealt with the whole thing and how I've handled it since we separated. It IS hard, but I've been close to my Savior the whole time, and I can see how I am at a crossroads....and the future is uncertain (if I don't do what I'm supposed to)...I'd rather stay close to my Father in Heaven and know and feel of his perfect love that he has for me. I love my Father in Heaven, and I could not have done all of this without the constant companionship of The Spirit and the comfort I feel when I pray about all of this!

I am well, happy and have peace in my heart. I am hopeful for a great future and am concentrating on my studies and the opportunities I have before me. I can't wait for what is in store for me!

Oh! As many of you have suggested...I'm working on the illustrations for my first children's book! It's about a hairless cat and a hound dog! I'll post pictures another time! I'm so excited! If it wasn't for all of your insisting, I don't think I would have had the backbone to do it! Thanks! I'm really enjoying it!

Well my Pimpirilinos, I love you and miss you! Sorry if I gave out TMI, but this is what I'm going through right now, and I know who reads this blog! If we were face to face or over the phone, I would tell you all of this things!

Hope all is well, and remember! "Life Is Good" (my new favorite brand ever)

Hope to write again soon!

I'm Back blogging dear Pimpirilinos!

Hello My DEAREST Pimpirilinos!
Well as you can see, I'm flying solo now....I'll write more about that soon. I am still the SAME as always, only with more life experiences now. I still live, laugh, love and stand for what I believe in! I am STILL your friend! And continually love all of you VERY MUCH!
It has been hard keeping up with people and updates while not having a blog. And since some of you readers don't have facebook...it is just easier to update/keep in-touch through a blog...So here I am!
The name of the Blog "DengunAyuwn" means: (Dengun: language, tone, voice, sound) and (Ayuwn: happiness, joy) It is in "Mapudungun" the language of the "Mapuche" people (They are the indiginas of Chile) And if you know a bit of their history....You'll understand my personality ;) They are an amazing people! *I'm not saying that I am amazing...although I think I am ;)" lol!!! But understanding what these people have gone through, you can see some of them in me! I have yet to trace any ties to them, but I feel as if they were my own. They are almost non-excistant now...They no longer live in tribes, the few that are still left, live normal lives like regular people, and get together every once and a while to keep their traditions alive. Well, because I am from Chile, and I love the Mapuche culture...here I am with my "Dengun Ayuwn".
Quick update: Bo and I have separated since the beginning of May. I am now moving to SLC UT where I will attend UofU (Architecture). I started working selling pest control for the Summer with Doug's company (for those of you who know Doug) I've loved every minute of it! Health wise, my head is well....although I did receive a hit from a crazy girl at work (really crazy girl) and gave me a concussion, internal bleeding and swelling in the left side of the brain. I was pretty bad for a while..but I'm getting better (still dizzy, but recovering). Also I had ovarian surgery (to remove some calcifications that were found inside my ovaries)....Recovering from that too...while packing to move, finding an apt in UT, working and dealing with the divorce uff! it's been a little crazy! But isn't always crazy around me?! lol! Life happens, and I am just the main character of my own story! I'm living my story, learning on the way, and loving every minute of it.
Well Pimpirilinos, this is it for now...Looking forward to the e-mails I get from my posts!
I love all of you!
Yours Truly looly!