Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Oprah Must Be Reading My Blog
Ok, so maybe she's not reading it, but she IS having the filmmakers of Invisible Children on her show on Wednesday, April 26, so if you're home or if it's not too late to set your TIVO/VCR, then don't miss it.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
California Addendum
Since writing California Dreamin', I've discovered that I actually know 2 more people living in California. My good friend Lady Lucia (hey, Lucia!) now lives in LA. She's a singer. She's really good. Check her out. And one of my high school friends, Amber lives in San Diego. She's a rich doctor. Ok. She's not rich. That might come in about 20 years or so... maybe... depending on the direction American healthcare takes in the next few years. Anyway, she is a doctor. (Hey, Amber!). I just wanted to post this in a spirit of inclusion.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
To Do
Hey, y'all. I'm wearing my bossy activist hat again today. Here is your to do list:
1. Check out this video. (You'll laugh.)
2. Then check out the invisible children website.
3. Get your hands on the invisible children dvd and watch it if you haven't already. (You'll cry.)
4. Join with others in your community to give voice to otherwise voiceless children by attending a Global Night Commute in your area on April 29.
1. Check out this video. (You'll laugh.)
2. Then check out the invisible children website.
3. Get your hands on the invisible children dvd and watch it if you haven't already. (You'll cry.)
4. Join with others in your community to give voice to otherwise voiceless children by attending a Global Night Commute in your area on April 29.
Sunday, April 16, 2006
California Dreamin'
So on to the next destination in my journey to discovering my journey: California. I've decided recently that I need to live in California for a little while before I die. Why California? I'm not sure. I don't think it is because of that song by Baz Luhrmann that was popular back in 1999, although I'm sure it carries some influence. And while the mild temperatures are a big time plus, I don't think that's enough to really draw me, either. No, I think the real reason is because there was a time in my life when I said, "I will never move to California. One day California is going to break off and fall into the ocean!" And whenever I say "never" you can pretty much bet that I'm gonna end up doing exactly what I was nevering about.
So I can hear you asking, "Yeah, but what is there for you to do in California? Do you know people there? Do you have a job?" If you can hear yourself asking those questions, then you are not like me. You need a plan. You need security. You need to make well-thought-out, smart, safe decisions. I don't need that. I need to get there. I need to see what all my options are and try several of them out. I need to learn new things about myself. I need to get stuck doing a job I would have never dreamed of, and then know whether I love it or hate it. I need change and challenge. But since you asked...
Possible options for me in California are: working at Boys Hope, going to grad school, working at a surf shop. I know nothing about surfing, so for now we'll set that one aside. One of the graduate schools that I've been considering is in Oakland. It's called Mills College, which is actually a women's university. Hey, Tom Hanks got his start at a women's university, why can't I? Actually, they allow men into their graduate programs so I won't have to get a wig or special order any size 12 heels. The program is to learn to be a Child Life Specialist, which I think will be a great job for me, but I'm not quite sure yet and so I'm not really ready to commit the time or money. However, that is on the back burner.
My other likely option is to work for Boys Hope, a non-profit that I previously worked for while I was living in NY. They have homes in San Francisco and Orange County, and while I came dangerously close to burning bridges with BH when I left, I think there is still a tightrope I could walk should I decide to go that route. I DID love the program and mission of BH. And the boys I worked with while I was there are AMAZING and to this day I value the relationships I was able to build with them, most of whom are now in college. So I could do that again.
And since you asked, I do know a few people in Cali. Some of whom I actually met while working at BH (hey, Sarah and Kelli), one I met while working at Camp AmeriKids (hey, Jenny) and a guy that I graduated high school with and whom I cyber-stalk because he is a budding filmmaker and actor and I think that is awesome (hey, Bill. Just kidding about the cyber-stalking...sort of). Anyway, three people (and two of them native Texans) spread out all over the state of California seems like a support system to me. And besides if I get into any trouble, Arnold will save me.
So, the way I see it with a very minimal amount of work and planning, California is quite a feasible option for me. And who knows I may love it... or I may hate it, but then I'll know. But either way, Baz, I'll be sure to wear my sunscreen.
So I can hear you asking, "Yeah, but what is there for you to do in California? Do you know people there? Do you have a job?" If you can hear yourself asking those questions, then you are not like me. You need a plan. You need security. You need to make well-thought-out, smart, safe decisions. I don't need that. I need to get there. I need to see what all my options are and try several of them out. I need to learn new things about myself. I need to get stuck doing a job I would have never dreamed of, and then know whether I love it or hate it. I need change and challenge. But since you asked...
Possible options for me in California are: working at Boys Hope, going to grad school, working at a surf shop. I know nothing about surfing, so for now we'll set that one aside. One of the graduate schools that I've been considering is in Oakland. It's called Mills College, which is actually a women's university. Hey, Tom Hanks got his start at a women's university, why can't I? Actually, they allow men into their graduate programs so I won't have to get a wig or special order any size 12 heels. The program is to learn to be a Child Life Specialist, which I think will be a great job for me, but I'm not quite sure yet and so I'm not really ready to commit the time or money. However, that is on the back burner.
My other likely option is to work for Boys Hope, a non-profit that I previously worked for while I was living in NY. They have homes in San Francisco and Orange County, and while I came dangerously close to burning bridges with BH when I left, I think there is still a tightrope I could walk should I decide to go that route. I DID love the program and mission of BH. And the boys I worked with while I was there are AMAZING and to this day I value the relationships I was able to build with them, most of whom are now in college. So I could do that again.
And since you asked, I do know a few people in Cali. Some of whom I actually met while working at BH (hey, Sarah and Kelli), one I met while working at Camp AmeriKids (hey, Jenny) and a guy that I graduated high school with and whom I cyber-stalk because he is a budding filmmaker and actor and I think that is awesome (hey, Bill. Just kidding about the cyber-stalking...sort of). Anyway, three people (and two of them native Texans) spread out all over the state of California seems like a support system to me. And besides if I get into any trouble, Arnold will save me.
So, the way I see it with a very minimal amount of work and planning, California is quite a feasible option for me. And who knows I may love it... or I may hate it, but then I'll know. But either way, Baz, I'll be sure to wear my sunscreen.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
I'm Gonna Be An Uncle...Again
Well, Jonathan and Kristin (my brother and sister-in-law, for those non-related readers) found out this past weekend that they are gonna have a kid. It will most likely be named after me. Lots of people name their kids after me. So that is cool. I say "Again" in the title because I'm actually already an uncle thanks to my sister's step-son (hey, Drew) and that counts, so if anyone says it doesn't I'll block you from my blog. But this is the first time I'll get to be an uncle during the pregnancy and birth of the little niece or nephew (I'm betting on nephew), so that's exciting.
Jonathan and Kristin's other new addition is the new blog that they coincidentally started up right before they found out they were pregnant. I'm sure there will be all kinds of boring pregnancy stories over the next nine months followed by all kinds of awesome pictures of the baby (including some of the baby being held by me) which will make it worth hanging on for the next nine months to get to the good stuff. Anyway, you can check it out by going here. You can also click the link over in the links section to the right. So far Bethany hasn't started her own blog, but when she does, I'll let you know.
Jonathan and Kristin's other new addition is the new blog that they coincidentally started up right before they found out they were pregnant. I'm sure there will be all kinds of boring pregnancy stories over the next nine months followed by all kinds of awesome pictures of the baby (including some of the baby being held by me) which will make it worth hanging on for the next nine months to get to the good stuff. Anyway, you can check it out by going here. You can also click the link over in the links section to the right. So far Bethany hasn't started her own blog, but when she does, I'll let you know.
Friday, April 07, 2006
My Advanced Global Personality
Hey, y'all. I took this Advanced Global Personality Test (I LOVE these kinds of tests) and here were my results. What do you think? Diana, I'm only 43% anti-authority. How do you like that? My favorite one is Self-Absorbed: 36%... I must have misunderstood a few of the questions or something.
Just for a little analysis, my top seven categories were: Religious, Physical Security, Stability, Artistic, Narcissisim, Adventurousness and Individuality. My bottom 8 categories were: Hedonism, Romantic, Change Averse, Dependency, Histrionic, Materialism, Wealth and Hypersensitivity. I'll take that.
Advanced Global Personality Test Results
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personality tests by similarminds.com
Monday, April 03, 2006
Public Service Announcement
For all of the local readers of my blog, I want to make you aware of a very special event that will take place April 9 (Palm Sunday) at the Palestine Civic Center at 6:30 PM. The Anderson 
County Community Choir, in conjunction with the Anderson County Children's Choir and the Anderson County Civic Orchestra (I think I got all those names right) will be presenting a musical contata entitled "The Rose of Calvary". I'm singing bass and Mom is singing alto. Although the adult choir has been singing together for a few years, now, this will be the first appearance of the Anderson County Children's Choir. I heard them practice tonight and they are really pretty good. So if you are in the area or have unlimited time and resources and can fly out from wherever you are, I hope to see you there. Oh, and did I mention its FREE!
County Community Choir, in conjunction with the Anderson County Children's Choir and the Anderson County Civic Orchestra (I think I got all those names right) will be presenting a musical contata entitled "The Rose of Calvary". I'm singing bass and Mom is singing alto. Although the adult choir has been singing together for a few years, now, this will be the first appearance of the Anderson County Children's Choir. I heard them practice tonight and they are really pretty good. So if you are in the area or have unlimited time and resources and can fly out from wherever you are, I hope to see you there. Oh, and did I mention its FREE!
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Exhibit B: New York City
As promised- and I know you are all on pins and needles waiting for this entry- I will now continue to explore the possible options for what's next. If you are new to my blog (and let me tell you, new readers are rolling in by the hundreds) I would suggest scrolling down to the entries entitled "Green Day" and "Blogger Envy and the Case for Africa" and doing a little background reading before finishing this post.
So. New York. What can I say about NY. For anyone who doesn't know, I made NYC my home from January 2002 until May 2005. I managed to live in three of the five boroughs, worked five different jobs, met some of the most amazing people in the world, and tried out for three popular competitive TV shows (Star Search, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, American Idol) . But all that instability is very draining. It drains you emotionally and it drains you financially! So in May, due to some health issues and to the fact that I was facing another apartment/roommate/job change I decided it was time to walk away from the city that I love so much.
But I need you to know that I still love NYC and I have every intention of moving back there someday, once I figure out how to raise my earning potential. Currently, with the job market the way it is, my Bachelor of General Studies (with an emphasis in Biology) degree just doesn't bring home the type of paycheck necessary to live in NYC. Unless, of course, you are willing to work 70 hours a week and live in the spare bedroom of a strange married couple or rent a room the size of a closet from someone who smokes a joint or two a day and eat a steady diet of egg-drop soup and Whopper Jr's from Burger King. To some of you this may seem quite worth it. While I was doing it, it was definitely worth it. But after a while, when that Broadway show you wanted to see comes and goes and you had to miss it because not once during the entire run of the show did you have enough money for a ticket, or despite the 70 hours you worked at your two separate jobs you still had to call home to borrow some money to pay the rent, or you spend another gorgeous spring day inside your apartment, because even though you have enough money to get to Central Park, you don't have enough to get back... After a while, you start to wonder why you're really there.
Don't get me wrong. I loved it. I would unequivicably do it again in a heartbeat. After all, for every thing I had to miss out on due to low funds, I had 10 amazing experiences that I wasn't looking for. And being totally honest, if I hadn't had the aforementioned health complications (or if I had just had health insurance), I would probably still be there now.
But I'm not. I'm here. Waiting patiently. And planning. Plotting my eventual and triumphant return to New York City!
So. New York. What can I say about NY. For anyone who doesn't know, I made NYC my home from January 2002 until May 2005. I managed to live in three of the five boroughs, worked five different jobs, met some of the most amazing people in the world, and tried out for three popular competitive TV shows (Star Search, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire, American Idol) . But all that instability is very draining. It drains you emotionally and it drains you financially! So in May, due to some health issues and to the fact that I was facing another apartment/roommate/job change I decided it was time to walk away from the city that I love so much.
But I need you to know that I still love NYC and I have every intention of moving back there someday, once I figure out how to raise my earning potential. Currently, with the job market the way it is, my Bachelor of General Studies (with an emphasis in Biology) degree just doesn't bring home the type of paycheck necessary to live in NYC. Unless, of course, you are willing to work 70 hours a week and live in the spare bedroom of a strange married couple or rent a room the size of a closet from someone who smokes a joint or two a day and eat a steady diet of egg-drop soup and Whopper Jr's from Burger King. To some of you this may seem quite worth it. While I was doing it, it was definitely worth it. But after a while, when that Broadway show you wanted to see comes and goes and you had to miss it because not once during the entire run of the show did you have enough money for a ticket, or despite the 70 hours you worked at your two separate jobs you still had to call home to borrow some money to pay the rent, or you spend another gorgeous spring day inside your apartment, because even though you have enough money to get to Central Park, you don't have enough to get back... After a while, you start to wonder why you're really there.
Don't get me wrong. I loved it. I would unequivicably do it again in a heartbeat. After all, for every thing I had to miss out on due to low funds, I had 10 amazing experiences that I wasn't looking for. And being totally honest, if I hadn't had the aforementioned health complications (or if I had just had health insurance), I would probably still be there now.
But I'm not. I'm here. Waiting patiently. And planning. Plotting my eventual and triumphant return to New York City!
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