Gleetastic!

Inspired by this post, I wanted to post my top ten favorite performances on Glee during this first half of the first season.  The list actually features a dozen numbers, but I'm okay with that.

Honorable Mention. "Single Ladies" from "Preggers"




The cast doesn't actually sing this song, so I don't want to include it in my top ten, but it definitely deserves a shout out because it is just plain fabulous.  Kurt rocks that dance better than any YouTuber and Tina and Brittany make for some fabulous backup girls.  Plus, this dance leads to Kurt "auditioning" for the football team and the delicious scene where the jocks do the dance out on the field in the middle of a game.

10. "Jump" from Mattress



Come on, don't you wish you and your 11 best friends got to wear comfy pajamas, jump around on giant mattresses, sing a fun song, and be on tv?  Because I most certainly do.  This one makes the list just because it's probably the most awesome thing to happen in those kids' lives!

9. "Endless Love" from "Ballad


If only because Mr. Schuster's facial expressions are totally priceless, this duet needs to be on the list.

8. "Push It" from Showmance



Hot damn!  That is one scandalous number!  The Glee kids performed this at a school assembly in an attempt to get some new members.  Definitely a better option than Mr. Schuster's choice of "Le Freak."  To be honest, that's probably a little more raunchy than I would have been comfortable with performing, but kudos to the club for doing what they thought needed to be done for the survival of their group.

7. "Bust Your Windows" from Acafellas




I would venture to say that this is Glee's most get it number.  Mercedes totally rocks it with her belting, her moves, and an overall sense of fierceness.

6. "Keep Holding On" from Throwdown




I think this was the first tear-jerker of the season.  In fact, I teared up watching this number as a preview on Hulu before the episode even aired.  It was an incredibly emotional hour: Finn struggles with his waffling feelings for Quinn and Rachel, the drama increases between Will and Terry at their fake OB/GYN appointment, and Quinn's pregnancy is revealed to the entire school.  The culmination of the episode with this number was very intense.  Even the choreography lends itself to displaying the Quinn-Finn-Rachel love triangle.  Quinn's tearful sigh, closing out not only the song but the episode, leaves you thrilled to see how the story unfolds.  

5. "Ride With Me" from Throwdown



I picked this one for the nostalgia factor.  Some of my favorite memories from high school are of just hanging out with my friends around the piano and belting out some good tunes.  This number really displays the true essence of Glee Club: it's fun!
 
4. "Lean on Me" from Ballad



The "aww" factor in this number just can't be ignored.  It's incredible the way this group of a dozen misfits bands together to take care of each other.

3. "Proud Mary" from Wheels


This one is just all around amazing.  The lyrics are meaningful, especiallly for this group that's just trying to keep it all together.  The vocals are incredible, and it's awesome that Artie, Mercedes, and Tina get to take the lead on this one.  And,  best of all, they are all in wheel chairs!  The choreography in this number is probably ten times better than anything they've ever done on their feet. 

2. "Halo/Walking on Sunshine" and "It's My Life/Confessions Pt II" from Vitamin D






I couldn't decide between these two, so they are tied for second.  Vitamin D was probably my favorite episode because everyone was acting so nutty, and the resulting numbers were absolutely incredible.  I don't even like "Halo" but the girls' rendition is stellar, especially in combination with the cheeriness of "Walking on Sunshine."  Plus I love the adorable yellow dresses!

The boys' number is kickass!  While Finn does look like a crazed maniac because he's hopped up on Pseudoephedrine, it's totally made up for by banging moves of Other Asian (Did you know his name is Mike Chang?) and Artie's smooth stylings.

1. "Dancing With Myself" from Wheels



It's no secret that Artie is my favorite character.  I definitely think that his brand of awkward is the most endearing.  On top of that his voice is awesome, and his looks are not too shabby either.  I absolutely loved this Artie-centric episode which offered hilarity in the form of juicy discoveries in addition to a lesson about maintaining a sense of community duty.  Artie's solo is really touching, pushing a formerly background character into the spotlight, and giving us cause to root for him instead of just cringing when he gets shoved in a porta potty. Plus this is the first glimpse we get at one of my favorite ships, Artie and Tina. Super special bonus: This was the first time I noticed that Artie's wheels light up, à la L.A. Lights, when he rolls around.

Renewal

One of the sad realities of Habitat for Humanity is that sometimes families are unable to stay in their homes.  Sometimes life circumstances get the best of them and they can no longer afford the mortgage.  Sometimes they choose to stop making payments.  At our affiliate, these former Habitat homes are typically cleaned up and rehabbed a little bit before being sold, but recently the decision was made to rehab one for a new Habitat family.

It was our first time doing that, and from a Family Services standpoint, we weren't quite sure how to go about it.  At our affiliate the wallraising and the key ceremony are the two most important days for our family.  But since this house already had walls, we needed to think of a new way to make it special.

I came up with the name: Renewal. It's only one word, but it carries so much in its meaning and connotation.  It definitely set the stage for a good event.

At wallraisings, volunteers typically write their sentiments on the studs.  We didn't have exposed studs, but we still wanted to give people the opportunity to leave special messages for the family.  We decided to roll with the season, and brought a small fir tree with ornaments that people could write on.  It looked cute, was perfect for December, and will certainly be special when the family gets to plant it in their yard.

But the best part of this Renewal was most definitely the family.  They are the most gracious couple I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  Both husband and wife come from very humble backgrounds and could not be more thankful that they are receiving the opportunity to be homeowners.

From the moment she stepped onto the site Antonia was squealing with joy, hugging everyone in sight and exclaiming about how perfect everything was going to be.  Robert stood in more quiet contemplation, soaking it all in.  When we started, Robert offered the opening prayer, repeatedly voicing his gratefulness that the people of Habitat exist and work hard daily to make home ownership a reality for low income families. 

It's so interesting to me to see how different homesteaders react emotionally to the Habitat process.

There are tears, there are smiles.  Some are talkative, some can't find the right words.  The common thread is that they are all thankful, but the pure joy displayed by Antonia and Robert was definitely my favorite Habitat aura thus far.  Their presence at their Renewal certainly helped to renew my dedication to my service this year.

Stick it to Stupak

As a young American, the health care bill is really important to me.  As someone who is currently dealing with no longer being covered by my parents' insurance policies and trying to figure out my own, the health care bill is really important to me.  As a woman who cares about having control over my own body , the health care bill is really important to me.

There are so many issues at hand with this health care bill.  Our lives are literally on the line, so it is no wonder that people are scared and worried.  It's especially scary because it's just not feasible for the average citizen to wrap his or her mind around the entirety of this bill, no way to read every page and provision, no way to understand every proposed amendment.

Still, several issues have managed to make their way to the forefront because of their partisan and controversial nature.  I am not registered with an political party because I am unable to align myself enough with any one to justify doing that, but I am very sure of my thoughts on many of the issues being currently discussed by our Senators today.

When the bill went through Congress, Congressmen Stupak (D-MI) introduced an amendment that was subsequently accepted by Congress.  To overgeneralize, this amendment bans any coverage of abortion in the public option and also stops those who receive a federal subsidy from getting an insurance plan that covers abortion.  What it comes down to is a huge, likely impossible, hurdle for many women to get an abortion in America.  Is that fair?  Me thinks no.

So I decided to do something about it.  I, like many people, am often angered by the actions of our politicians.  I talk about what I wish Congresswoman Soandso had done or how I wish Senator Fillintheblank had voted.  But I, like most people, never told my Congressperson or Senator that.  I came to realize today that this was silly and Senators Gillibrand and Schumer should know exactly what I thought about Stupak and his ideas.

I was super nervous at first, but I called the general operator that can connect you with any Congressional office.  She told me that the line at Senator Gillibrand's office was busy but offered me the direct number so I could call myself, and then proceeded to also give me the number for Senator Schumer.  This woman was totally awesome and, without actually saying it, totally encouraged me to continue on my mission.

I called Gillibrand first because I knew that she is very set on preventing Stupak-esque language from entering this health care bill.  I was put on hold and after a few minutes a young sounding aide answered and listened to me talk about how this health care bill is really important to me as a young American woman and he assured me that the Senator is working hard to make sure my voice and opinion is heard, at which point I asked him to thank her and wished him a great day.  Not only was it easy, it was super exciting!  When I put down the phone I had such a rush!

Unfortunately, Senator Schumer's office had a busy signal that I could not get past even though I called repeatedly throughout the day.  Still, I am happy that I did something rather than sitting idly by, hoping Congress does not take away my reproductive rights.

Aid and AIDS

Today is World AIDS Day.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1st. The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988. World AIDS Day provides governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations, and individuals with an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic."

Why should we care though?  What makes AIDS so important that it needs a day where the whole world should contemplate, learn, and take action?

Well, contemplate this: over one million Americans are living with HIV. One Million.  That's a huge amount of people.  Contrary to popular belief that it's a problem from decades ago, or that you only have to worry about it if you're gay, HIV and AIDS are prevalent in this country.  It's a very significant problem in America, effecting every race, gender, age group, and social class.

I really like the suggestion made my Samhita at Feministing.  In her post she says "As someone who has friends that have suffered with and without support, through shame and a world that discriminates, and has worked to overcome my own fears, I strongly recommend reading some stories, educating yourself and breaking out of the cycle of shame by talking."  So take a look at the stories from the AIDS Memorial Quilt, or people currently living with HIV.  Read about Ryan White, and his struggle with discrimination and perception.

But don't stop there.  Learn about the global problem.  Throughout the day I've come across these facts: 

• Africa is home to ony 10% of the world's population, yet that's where 67% of all HIV cases are.
• 2 Million children under the age of 15 live with HIV.
• 2008 saw over 2 million AIDS related deaths.
  

I know that Africa is suffering from the widespread damage of HIV.  I know that globally lots of children have the disease.  I know that many people die each year from AIDS related causes.  But seeing the numbers written out like that makes my heart stop.  They are cold hard facts that many of us already know, but don't these number scare you?

So we contemplated.  We learned.  What do we do now?

There's actually a lot to do, and if you've read this far, you're already equipped to do it.  Advocacy may seem like a small thing, but it can make a huge difference.  Awareness about HIV/AIDS is very much needed.  People need to know how HIV can and cannot be contracted and what it is doing to our global community.  You don't have to become a professional AIDS educator and make those presentations that many of us snoozed through in grade school.  You can tweet a link to the World AIDS Campaign, or post a Facebook note about travel restrictions placed on people who are HIV positive.  You can wear a red ribbon to show your support for the cause.  Show it off.  Tell people about it.  Encourage people you know to wear one too.

And as cheesy as it sounds, you can by something from (Product)RED.  Sure, it might be better to send $50 directly to HIV/AIDS research, but let's be honest...are you actually going to do that?  I know that I haven't.  But I also know that I would have bought that cute Inspi(red) tee shirt from Gap even if the proceeds weren't going to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.  At least this way 50% of my money was donated.  I get to wear a cool new shirt, feel good about shopping with a conscientious company, know where my money went, spread the word, and show people I care without even trying.

I leave you with a grammar lesson.  "HIV virus" is redundant, as HIV stands for Human immunodeficiency virus.

Now go off and advocate!

Popcorn, Santa, and That Scary Place Called Tomorrow

I'm in a weird place in life, trapped somewhere between being a child and an adult.  I'm just beginning to break out on my own, taking care of myself and my necessities, and it's making me miss my childhood.

This weird nostalgia started on this very day, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, last year

Hicksville is kind of an odd town.  It's pretty big so people don't know each other and there are no town issues or meetings.  Not really a big sense of community.  But they still have a few standing tradition, one of which, in my mind, stands out amongst all others.

Every year on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, firefighters get on their firetrucks with one guy dressed as Santa, and they ride through the streets with their sirens blaring, and they throw popcorn balls to all of the people who come and stand out on their lawns.

It's kind of silly really, and not all that thrilling when you think about it.  I don't remember being very excited about it when I was a kid.  But last year I was overjoyed.  In years past I had already been back in Syracuse by Sunday afternoon, so I had missed the tradition for a while.  Plus I was approaching the end of my college career and worrying about what I was going to do after graduation.  I think I was just so desperate to grasp on to some sense of stability and protection, and this little piece of my childhood was exactly that.

I was out there dancing on the lawn, cheering, and waving...basically making a fool out of myself to guys I probably went to high school with.  But I didn't care.  At that moment I was in bliss.

A year has gone by, and in that time I've graduated, interviewed, worked, and become an AmeriCorps.  And now I'm kind of feeling like I was this time last year: terrified because I have no idea what's next.  Grad school is hard to apply for when you aren't 100% sure about your direction.  The job market is "eh" at best.  There is so much I want to do and I don't know how to go about it.

But things like Popcorn Ball Sunday remind me that it's okay.  It's all going to work out.  It's the little things like that one day a year when Santa hurls a sweet treat at year that really matter.

I'm Bound To Thank You For It

I love Thanksgiving!  In theory, it's my favorite holiday.  Everyone you love all together in one room with lots of food and thankful spirit...what could be better?

I say "in theory" because life really isn't in my hands, and that includes Thanksgiving day being somewhat out of my control.  This year my mom is in India for Thanksgiving.  My twin cousin (we're just a few months apart) and her parents are in Chicago visiting her brother.  All of my friends are scattered across the country.  My aunt who is hosting Thanksgiving is doing all of the cooking.  So today, I won't exactly be with everyone I love, and I have no idea what's on the menu for dinner, and I have zero control over people's thankfulness.

But it really doesn't matter.  I can always dream of the day when all of my family and friends are gathered around an enormous feast talking about all of the great things in our lives.  None of that changes the fact that I have so much to be thankful for in my life right now.

I am thankful for my college degree.  For my brother and my parents.  For all of my friends, near and far.  For my job as an AmeriCorps with Habitat for Humanity.  For my faith and spirituality.  For all of the luxury I have in my life.  For scrapbooking, and books, and podcasts, and Hulu. 

There is just so much that we all have in our lives that we take for granted.  And it's hard to put it all into perspective and humbly be grateful for it all.  But I'm glad that we have a day designated for it.  Thanksgiving seems to be dwindling a little in our culture, becoming more about the Macy's parade, or the turkey, or football, or the sales that are just a few hours away... but I'm trying my best to make thankfulness the central conviction of my day.

The Youth is Starting to Change

When I was on the board of the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity at Syracuse someone was trying to start a Youth United group.  At the time it was way over my head, and I had no understanding of what it was.  There was discussion of building bird houses with middle school students, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how that was connected to Habitat.

When I started at HFH Suffolk, I learned that Youth United is in fact a program from Habitat for Humanity International that is run by youth for youth, bringing together young people from all walks of life to play active roles in transforming their communities.  Essentially, YU brings together people between the ages of 5 and 25 to sponsor and build a house in their community while also increasing advocacy.  What it comes down to, in my opinion, is that Youth United is pretty freaking awesome!  It's education, it's service, it's leadership, and best of all, it's fun!

In September I added Youth United to my action plan for the year.  I made it my goal to learn more about the program and to see if I could help implement it here at HFH Suffolk.  I attempted to tackle it later that month by checking out the website.  I thought it was a little vague and found myself going in circles around the site, so I quickly gave up.

Fastforward to the National Service Leadership Conference a few weeks ago.  At a Baptist retreat center in Talladega, Alabama, approximately 700 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps came together to train, learn, and share.  That was where I met one of my new favorite people, Larry.  Larry is an AmeriCorps member working in Americus, Georgia for Habitat for Humanity International as a Youth United specialist.  Get it!  I made a mental note that Larry would be my key to success in forming a Youth United here.

Fastforward again to the end of the conference, and press skip through scenes of two dedications, a week without a boss, and various other displays of chaos.  As I checked my emails and phone messages, I got a phone call from none other than the fabulous Larry from Youth United!  He was calling to let me know that in his work he found out that someone from Habitat Suffolk had actually submitted a YU letter of intent in 2003, meaning that, technically, we already have a Youth United group.  According to Larry, we already have some great things in place.  Our annual Student Build involves hundreds of students from dozens of schools who are already involved with fundraising and building, and many of them practice advocacy as well.  We also work with Girl Scout troops to do other types of service work, including serving meals to volunteers and putting together gifts for Habitat families.  If we can pull it all together with a youth-run governing body, we will have all the pieces we need for a legitimate Youth United group.

Needless to say, I'm really excited about this.  I found our last Student Build to be pretty anticlimactic because none of the students seemed to have a personal connection to Habitat for Humanity, but I feel really optimistic about the fact that Youth United can be the factor that ties it all together.  With help from Larry I am excited to see the young people of this community come together to advocate, fundraise, and build.

Be Kind. Rewind.

Today is World Kindness Day.  In that spirit, I bring you the Charter for Compassion, and invite you to sign it and make it a part of your life.

A call to bring the world together…

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensible to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.

Visit charterforcompassion.org

Excuses, Excuses

Yeah, I'll admit it.  This blog has gone kind of neglected for the past couple of weeks.  And while I am sad that I left you without any new content, I think the reason why is a good excuse, and a great opportunity for future fodder.

In the past two weeks, I attended three different conferences all around the country, frequently leaving me without internet access, and thus without my blog.  I spent a day in Cortland, New York at Habitat for Humanity New York State Support Organization's fall conference, and then flew directly to Chicago for the InterFaith Youth Core's Leadership in a Religiously Diverse World conference.  I came home for a few days and then departed for a week in Talladega, Alabama for the National Service Leadership Conference for Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps. 

Now that I'm home and have a had a few days to unwind, I have a lot to share!  Expect many updates on new thoughts, ideas, and opportunities.  I'm very energized about my goals and mission for this year and the future.

I promise that the rest of November will be chock full of Crafting, Food, and Service!

Gay (gey) n: Homosexual

A few weeks ago, I woke up to this gem of a Facebook status on my news feed:

Gay Schoooool. Prob hanging out afterr. Freeeeeeeeeeeezingggggggggg outside.

Little did this person know, misuse of the word "gay" used to be somewhat of a crusade of mine.  In 8th grade I made the decision that too many people in my school were calling things "gay" and that it wasn't okay with me.  So everytime I heard it, I would say something.  I would tell people to stop.  Tell people that it wasn't okay.  Tell them being homosexual is not the same as being stupid, or weird, or terrible.  This continued through high school, but the people in my classes caught on and my interjections became less and less neccessary.  And in college, I exclusively surrounded myself with people who didn't say that anyway.

So it had been a while since I found myself needing to take some action on this, but not to worry, I was well armed and not in the least bit rusty.

I quickly responded with links to these three videos:

These ads are really great, and totally get the point across.  The tagline, "When you say "that's so gay" do you realize what you say? Knock it off." says exactly what I think people who use the phrase need to hear and does so in a funny, insightful way.

My young friend responded to the videos by saying "hahahaahaaa that was funnyyy," to which I told them that, yeah, it is funny.  But it's also serious.  Really serious.

I assume that most of the people who read my blog don't say things like "That's so gay!" but if you do, please take some time to think about what you're saying and what it means and how it impacts the people who hear you say it.  And if you hear someone say it, be proactive and say something.

An Ode to my Baby Brother

Who is that dashing young man who looks like he belongs in a JC Penney ad? That, ladies and gentlemen, is my fabulous little brother.

He may or may not need a little cheering up today, and I want him to know how much I love him, so I feel that public humiliation via blog post is the appropriate course of action.

Baby Bro is one talented fellow. He plays the viola with a passion that you can see, hear, and feel. You know those people who become part of the instrument when they play? The people who exude a sound that says more than written words? Yeah, he's one of them. Plus he dabbles in violin, piano, oboe, and guitar, and every once in a while tries his hand at arrangement. He’s also president of his chapter of Modern Music Masters, an honor society for musicians.

But don’t confuse him with a dork who only knows what the music teacher hands him. Homeboy took my love for “Jude Love and a Semester Abroad” and ran with, developing into something of a music junkie. He collects records (yeah, real records) new and old, goes to concerts more often than I can count, and knows the perfect song or artist for any mood.

The kid is also a fantastic writer, wielding both the pen and the keyboard to craft words into art. Like any good angsty teen, he writes emo poetry deeper than his chocolate brown eyes, but he can also make an essay about the Teapot Dome Scandal more exciting that Mission: Impossible III.

So he’s good at the artsy subjects, right? Of course. He excels at English and rocks the socks off of Social Studies. He writes for the school paper and he’s currently obsessing over Model UN. Cool, for sure. A boy after my own heart.

And that’s where it ends, right? Artsy people don’t excel at math and science, right? WRONG. He kicks butt in every class. Calculus? No problem. Double duty with AP Chem and AP Physics? Didn’t even break a sweat. Okay, so he knows how to study. He can memorize and apply all of those rules that have always eluded me. I guess if you try hard enough, most people can.

But why stop there? Why only be a science geek in the classroom when you can do it in competition too? So he’s been on the Science Olympiad team for years, making things bubble and fly and multiply for the judges. It’s actually kind of exciting, if you’re into that. You know what else is exciting? Taking summer classes at the Dolan DNA Center (Watson and Crick, anyone?) just for fun. Or then hopping across Cold Spring Harbor and spending a summer doing research trying to find the genetic roots of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. And then compiling your data and presenting it. And then competing at the International Science and Engineering Fair.

So anything academic he touches turns to gold. Fine. Some people are like that. But those people have no friends because they are socially awkward and tape their glasses and wear pocket protectors. Alas, my brother is as charismatic as they come. If he’s not out playing manhunt, he’s having a movie night, or he’s cooking with his absolutely adorable girlfriend.

So he must be conceited. With all of that going on in his life, he must be too busy thinking about how awesome he is to care about anything else. And yet, somehow he finds a way. Yes, he does act like a 17 year old boy, usually every morning between the hours of 6 and 7 am, as can be confirmed by our mother. But when he’s not doing that, he’s politically active, sticking his nose in the business of practically every cause. He’s environmentally conscious, gathering up the waste paper that his school doesn’t recycle and doing it for them. And he knows more about global goings on than your average Political Science student.

And, as evidenced by the above photo, he’s not ugly.

Is there anything this kid doesn’t do? Yeah, he’s not so hot when it comes to gym class. Le sigh, I guess you can’t have everything.

The moral of the story is that I absolutely love my brother. He never ceases to amaze me. People always tell me that he looks up to me. What I don’t think he realizes is that I often look up to him. It’s hard being related to someone so perfect, and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone alerted the authorities if they heard us fighting. But I don’t think I would change it for anything. My brother is my role model, my best friend, and my partner in crime. And I just want him to know.

Love Your Body, Ladies!

Today is the National Organization for Women's 12th Annual Love Your Body Day!  According to NOW's website, "Print ads and television commercials reduce us to body parts -- lips, legs, breasts -- airbrushed and touched up to meet impossible standards. TV shows tell women and teenage girls that cosmetic surgery is good for self-esteem. Is it any wonder that 80% of U.S. women are dissatisfied with their appearance?"

I usually hate my body.  I hate my nose; I think it's too bulbous.  My shoulders are too wide.  My arms are too flabby.  My boobs are too big.   My tummy sticks out too much.  I have love handles.  I have stretch marks.  My thighs more than touch.  I'm too hairy.  I hate my body.  Why?  Because someone told me that big noses, wide shoulders, flabby arms, shirts that don't fit, paunches, spare tires, uneven skin tone, thick thighs, and body hair aren't pretty.

But today, I love my body.  Today I choose to believe the random strangers, the ex boyfriends, and my best friend's sister-in-law's best friend: the people who told me that I am beautiful.  Because when it comes down to it, I am.  I love me and it doesn't matter that Ralph Lauren doesn't.

I admit that I'm about to go put on pants that make me look thinner, a black shirt that hides my bulge, tall red heels, and a fair amount of makeup.  But I understand why, and I know that with or without all of that I love me, I am proud of me, and I love my body!

So, ladies, take some time to love your body today.  And gentlemen, tell a girl in your life that you think she's beautiful.  It makes all the difference.

Don't Invite Any Zombies to a Celebration of Diwali

It's Diwali! For those of you who aren't familiar with that, Diwali is a festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists around the world. Of course, what Diwali actually celebrates differs depending on who you ask, but here's my shot at a quick and dirty Hindu Diwali story:

Once upon a time there was a king, and he had three queens. When he was ready to retire, he wanted to give the throne to his son Ram, but one of the queens really wanted her son to become king, so she redeemed a boon that the king owed her and forced him to banish Ram for 14 years. Her son wasn't too happy about that and wanted Ram to be king, but Ram wanted to obey his father. So Ram, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshman set off into the woods. While they were there, the evil Ravan came and kidnapped Sita and took her to his kingdom in Lanka. Ram and Lakshman went and saved her, and by that time their banishment was over and they made their way back to their kingdom. The people were overjoyed and, because it was a new moon, they lit a rows of lamps to guide them home through the darkness.

So, what does this festival of lights mean? Well, we still light lamps representative of the ones that led the way to Ram's coronation, but to me it's more about symbolic light, best represented in my favorite Sanskrit mantra:


Om asato ma sad gamaya, tamso ma jyotir gamaya, mrityorma mritam gamaya.
Lead us from falsehood to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality.

Diwali is a time to think about the past year and the next one, and to be with family, and eat good food. For me, it's always been a relatively quite holiday, one we've always celebrated at home without a great deal of hooplah. But the decorations and singing of songs and exchange of sweets always has a special place in my heart.

Diwali is also a time when I stop to think about what it means to me to be of Indian descent. Being devoted to interfaith plurality, my own interpretation of Hinduism is always on my mind, developing and changing with my own spiritual needs. But being Indian isn't something I think about a lot. Sometimes I forget that I'm not one of the Caucasian majority. But Diwali's rich culture makes me appreciate it, even if it's not something I actively advertise.

As an American of Indian descent and a Hindu, I must say that I really appreciated President Obama's recognition of Diwali this year. It is true that Diwali was celebrated in the White House under our last president, but he never attended the ceremony. This year, Obama actually lit a lamp himself under the watchful eye of a Hindu priest, and also released an official Diwali greeting, asking Americans to "join together across denominations, religions, and cultures to make habit of empathy and reach out to those most in need, to share the blessings we enjoy, and advance the cause of peace in all corners of our world," a true Diwali-esque sentiment if I've ever heard one.

Home Grown

We've really been trying to get out and pick some fresh fruits, and we finally got around to it! Unfortunately, Richard couldn't get away from the office, but last week Katie, Aaron and I ventured out East in the search of some YUMMY.

We actually intended to go apple picking, and while the apple season does extend into October, it seems that we missed the boat on that one. We wound up a place that had all kind of different fruit trees. Their deal was that you pay a ten dollar deposit to go into the orchard with a bag, and then pick to your heart's content. Fruit is one dollar per pound. If you pick less than ten pounds, you're SOL; if you pick more, you pay the difference.

We had an amazing time going up and down the rows, exploring the trees. It was mostly peaches, although we did encounter a few other fruits. It was so much fun climbing and picking and skipping around. We retrieved nine or so pounds of peaches, plus a few apples and nectarines, and the lady threw in a few more to round us out at just over ten pounds, which seems like an incredible deal to me.

We left there on the search for a farm that advertised garlic. We found it, and soon realized that the garlic was actually a one weekend festival, but we were still able to take this lovely picture:

We were on the lookout for goat cheese. Katie insisted that there was a roadside stand that boasted great goat cheese, but we never found it. Instead, we fell upon Pindar wineries. I expected it to be on the pricey side, but their tasting was actually very reasonable. For $4 you are able to select up to five wines, and for $5 you get a package of Carr Table Water Crackers and cheese. Since we couldn't find the cheese stand, Katie asked for a sun-dried tomato basil goat cheese to accompany our wine, and it was a very excellent choice.  The cheese and crackers were delicious, and trying all of the different wines was a lot of wine.  We even got coupons for a free tasting at Duck Walk, another vineyard in the area.

It really was an incredible day.  I tend to forget that I live in such an amazing place, and it's good to be reminded that I need to appreciate it and take advantage of it.

Yuppie in Training

With a sore throat and a bag full of freshly picked peaches, I had two missions Tuesday night: make a soup and a peach crumble.

I fully succeeded in both, all while making myself and my roomies the happiest little AmeriCorps!

I, logically, started off with the soup. I recipe called for more veggie stock than I had, so I improvised and split the difference with water and champagne. With the combination of the bubbly and the wine that the recipe called for, it came out tasty pretty wine-y, which Richard and I both liked, but putting in the right amount of stock and switching out the Riesling I used for a red or a dryer white are both experiments I plan to try.

I found that the pepper I used season it kind of sank to the bottom, so some spoonfuls for really popping while others weren’t. I don’t know what to do about that, but if you have some pepper secrets, please share!

I would’ve liked to have broiled the bread and cheese right on the soup, but we don’t have good bowls, so I toasted up some baguette with a blend of mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan.

The recipe said that the soup keeps really well, and  the bowl I had for lunch yesterday certainly was delicious.

After dinner, I got started with out peaches. I didn’t want to do a traditional peach cobbler because I wanted a crumble more than a crust. I’m pretty certain I made the right decision because I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews thus far.

I was really afraid that our wonky oven was totally going to ruin it by burning some parts and leaving others uncooked, but it came out as close to perfect as I could hope for.  The edges are all crispy and caramelized, the crumble is light and well-spiced, and the peaches are juicy and delicious!

While I am very proud of my two wonderful creations, I am fairly certain that my favorite part of the night is that I did it all in a little dress with a cocktail in hand.  I was one happy domestic goddess!

Cloudy With a Chance of Fresh Produce

This morning Christine, the Director of Family Services, called me to let me know that she had brought in a bag of fruits and veggies that were free for the taking, and of course I immediately ran down the stairs to battle it out with Beth and Richard over who would get the parsnips and apples. The selection was really beautiful, made even more so, I'm sure, by the simple fact that it was all locally grown, and I'm crazy about that right now.

I settled for this gorgeous pair of pears:

I call them Lucy and Fred.

Just a few hours later, Christine called again to let me know that the soup kitchen by us had a large abundance of veggies that they wanted us to help take off of their hands. So Aaron and I went over and ended up with a big basket of yellow and green zucchinis, and a bag of tomatoes and eggplants.

They don’t have names, but I am so super excited for zucchini fries and eggplant parm!

Side note, it is also raining walnuts at the office, but I don’t know if they are really edible. They just make crazy thunking noises when they fall to the ground every time the wind blows, which, right now, is just about always.

It's like a violent game of dodge ball out there!

Hello, Sunshine!

I was feeling just a smidge under the weather this morning, but I have a lot of goals for today, and I knew I needed to be energized.

So I made myself a cup of Traditional Medicinals Organic Lemon Echinacea Throat Coat Herbal Tea, turned "Say Hey (I Love You)" by Michael Franti on repeat, and sat down to browse my Google Reader.

I took half an hour to just set myself up for the day, and it definitely did the trick. I'm ready to tackle that pile of sticky notes!

World Habitat Day!

It's World Habitat Day!

Advocacy isn't really something this affiliate focuses strongly on (which is something I hope to change) so we don't have a special event planned for today, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't take a moment to think about it.

Habitat for Humanity is an amazing organization that has built more than 300,000 houses world-wide in its 33 years. It's an organization that I love and hope to support throughout my life.

One of my goals for this year is to learn as much as I can about HFH, and I thought today was a perfect opportunity to do some research on international affiliates. I've discovered that while we at Suffolk tend to focus on our income cap, many international affiliates are focused on their income minimum. Dan, our executive director, was telling me that when he went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic the affiliate didn't have an income cap. With practically everyone living in substandard housing the affiliate was essentially looking for anyone who had land to build on and could afford the mortgage, including their board president.

I also found that HFH is becoming more and more involved with the concept of microfinancing, an idea that I am very much in love with. Habitat works with microfinance institutions (MFIs) in a few different ways, including outsourcing credit service so that partner families' loans are managed by these institutions, thereby helping both the family and the MFI. They also have a program called Building in Stages, where homes are built one stage at a time with a small loan that needs to be paid off each time in order to start the next stage.

Of course, I love my experiences with Habitat Suffolk and I am so thankful for the opportunity to be serving the community that I have called my home for virtually my entire life, but learning about the larger vision of Habitat International always makes me energized.

You don't have to love Habitat as much as I do, but I hope you'll take the time to consider supporting the HFH mission.

It's Not a Fight. It's a Good Old War.

Back in May, my brother and I went with some friends to a Straylight Run concert. Sadly, Straylight Run minus Michelle was pretty underwhelming, but, in my opinion, one of the opening bands, Good Old War, completely stole the show.

I can't find a good description of their style anywhere online, but if you ask me, I'd say Good Old War sounds like your favorite book and a tall glass of lemonade on the porch with just the right amount of sunshine and a faint breeze. Their guitar, keys, and drums, plus the occasional accordion and synth, are the perfect complement to their lush three part harmonies. The folky rock sound was made to be sung along to, and gives me exactly what I'm looking for during a long drive, when I'm getting ready for a night out, or when I'm breaking out the frying pan.

Since seeing them in May, I'd been looking forward to the concert they were playing tonight on Long Island. Due to a series of events, some more unfortunate than others, I ended up not going. But I did spend a good portion of my day rocking out to their album, Only Way to Be Alone, and I'd like to share the love:

"Just Another Day" by Good Old War

From a Mess to the Masses

I have declared today a Good Music Day.  I mean, every day should, of course, be a good music day, but today I will actively ensure that it is indeed.

With an early start, a few planned expeditions, a dinner adventure with the roomies, our first Executive Board Meeting, and then the drive home to pack for my rainy weekend in Syracuse for Homecoming... I need it!

So, here is my gift to you: Phoenix, a fabulous French band.  They've been around for a while but have only just made their way to my ears, which is lamentable because they are just so good!

Lisztomania/Think less but see it grow/Like a riot, like a riot, Oh !/
I'm not easily offended/It's not hard to let it go/From a mess to the masses

"Lisztomania" always has me rocking out, be it in my car, in the living room, or at my desk at the office.  It hasn't failed as a pick-me-up.

Phoenix is on their way up.  They performed on SNL, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Letterman, and Conan.  Their song "1901" is in the new commercial for the 2010 Cadillac SRX and in the trailer for New York, I Love You, the Americanish version of Paris, je t'aime.

Plus, the album name, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is just plain kickass.

Enjoy!

Yummm

As you may or may not know, I am secretly a very domestic person, and my inner hostess with the mostest has been itching to come out.  Our kitchen may be tiny and our oven may have been designed for Thumbelina, but they do the trick.  We're always cooking up something yummy, and my new goal is to always have fresh baked goods in the house.

Currently we have pumpkin pie...

And it is super delicious!

How did we end up with pumpkin pie?  Well yesterday I pulled up to the house just as Richard was leaving.  He told me he was going to the duck pond down the road and invited me to go with him.  The weather was nice, so I agreed.  And as we sat by the water, looking at the mallards and the beautiful red leaves, he suddenly announced that he wanted pumpkin pie.  He meant that we should buy a pie from one of the many roadside stands out here, but I thought he wanted to bake one, and I promptly agreed.  It took some convincing, but we drove to the grocery store and picked up all of the ingredients.  The process got a little hairy because our oven is pretty hoopty, but in the end it was quite delicious.  And it certainly put us all in a wonderful autumn mood.

If you have any good recipes for baked goods, particularly ones involving apples or pumpkin, let me know!

The Gift of Gifts

My first house dedication with this affiliate was right before I started working with them.  In fact, it's where I said yes.  While I already knew that I was going to do it, being there for the event definitely pushed me into wanting it even more.

I watched as all of these people gathered in and around the house, looking at all of the rooms, admiring the new flowers.  A table in the living room was covered with gift baskets for the family.  One woman had brought a twelve pack of tissue boxes, complete with giant bow, with the top corner unwrapped and tissues already sticking out for the tears that were sure to come.  The corporate house sponsors were there to present the homeowner with gifts and warm words.  Volunteers who had worked on the house were there, proud of their handiwork, and excited to have made a difference in the lives of Yolanda and her children.  I cried even though I didn't know anyone there.

My second dedication was completely different.  It was the Student Build house, worked on by hundreds of students from three dozen schools all across the Island.  But not a single student came.  There were no gifts, apart from a card I made and a repaired lawnmower donated by a board member's church.  There were a few staff members, a handful of Family Support Committee members, and some close friends of the Fuentes family.  And that was it.  The priest never even showed up to do the blessing.

Last week I went to my third dedication.  This house was sponsored by a local high school.  They brought busloads of kids who had volunteered, including the entire cheerleading squad and a jazz band.  They set out a table full of baked good and more gift baskets than we knew what to do with.  A week or so earlier, we had been contacted by a group of mothers who wanted to contribute.  They promised three baskets and ended up bringing seven.  We held the dedication in the backyard because everyone couldn't fit in Tina's new house.  The local news channel came and filmed the entire event.  The store owner from across the street came to present Tina with a gift certificate.  At the end of the day, we put all of the gifts away, and they all barely fit in the pantry.  The home was busting with food, appliances, bedding, gardening tools, games, and all kinds of other stuff.

I was amazed by the outpouring of consideration manifested in  material.  I became a little annoyed that the previous family had received so little in comparison.  But then I stopped to think...they did get a home.  Why didn't I feel like that enough? 

I've decided that it is a pretty wonderful gift in and of itself.  But it wasn't the lack of presents at the Fuentes dedication that bothered me.  It was the lack of emotion.  There weren't enough people there to feel the positive energy pulsating in the air, the Habitat love that I feed off of.  It felt like we were all just going through the motions. 

This week, we've gotten calls from all kinds of other donators.  An interior design group will be completely outfitting the next home.  The entire network of public libraries in Suffolk County will be donating approximately 30 gift baskets to our next dedication in Bellport.  Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn will be partnering to do up the kitchen in the Westhampton house.  I know that we can't control when we get these calls and we have no power over who will donate what and when.  But I do wish that the love continues to be spread.  That every dedication can be full of community spirit and warmth.

And that is one of my goals for the year.  I want to do everything in my power to make sure that every volunteer has the opportunity to feel the cause.  I can't make anyone do anything, but I want people to feel connected to the homes they work on, to the families they build for.  I want every dedication to be bursting at the seams with warm and fuzzy.

Thanks a Million!

I turned the tv on to watch some Regis & Kelly while ironing my dress for today.  It happens to be Relly Award week, where they give out silly superlatives.  When they gave Emma Hendrickson her trophy for Sensational Senior, she said she wanted to thank all of her family and friends and all of the fans who voted for her.

And then she went on to say that if she hasn't thanked you yet, remember that it's never too late to say "Thank you!"

I just thought that was so significant.  I completely agree.  It's never to late to thank someone.  Recognition is such a powerful thing, and we don't do it enough.

So thank someone today!

{Thank you for reading my blog and following my journey!}

Working That Net

I've been going to several events as part of the Community Outreach aspect of my job, and I really enjoy it.  While trying to convince random people to volunteer with or donate to Habitat isn't very easy, I've found that talking to the people at the other tables is.  In the past couple of weeks I've met a lot of fabulous individuals from some really excellent organizations.

I guess that you could say that I'm networking, making connections and adding names to my proverbial Rolodex.  The concept of networking is a funny one in my mind.  There's the idea of meeting the people whom it would be advantageous to have a connection with.  And then there's the idea of exchanging business cards with everyone in the room.  I feel as though the latter is pretty prevalent, but it seems pointless to me.  What am I going to do with the card from a person I don't have any connection with and barely remember?

Well, I'd throw it away, but I guess that's not true for everyone.  After all, the concept of Six Degrees of Separation isn't completely made up.  The idea is that we're all just five personal connections away from each other.  And it's not because there are so few people in the world.  It's because of those business card collectors that just seem to know everyone.

I'm not the card collector type.  In fact, it's taking me quite a bit of effort to try to force myself do it a little bit more.  It's not that I don't like talking to people.  We know that's not my issue.  My problem is that I'm looking for more than a phone number and an email address.  I'm looking for a reason to remember you.

Recently I've found a lot of really good reasons.  During these community events I get to hear about all kinds of really great local, national, and international organizations that have amazing missions.  But even better than being introduced to the groups is getting to meet the people who represent them.  Because they are people who are working towards a goal, serving their community with a guided purpose.  People who care.  People like me.

And that's pretty exciting.  I understand that working in service isn't for everyone, and I don't expect it to be.  But it is very disheartening to be told that you're making the wrong decision by going into this field, that you're hurting yourself by trying to help others.  Meeting the people at these events lifts me up.  It shows me that I have made the right choice.  That there are other people just like me who love the thrill of helping another human.  And that I should keep at it.

So that's how I network.  I exchange cards with the people that I want to talk to, the ones who are on my path, that have accomplished a piece of what I'm looking for.  That might come back to bite me if my yard develops a bamboo overgrowth problem, since I threw away the card from that guy who would not stop talking about the building potential of bamboo.  But for now I'm content with my collection of cards from cool folks doing their part to be the change.

I am an Interfaith Ninja!

Last night I got some very wonderful news: my proposal to present at the InterFaith Youth Core's 6th Conference on Interfaith Youth Work was officially accepted!

The theme of the conference is "Leadership in a Religiously Diverse World," which, of course, is a very pertinant issue right now.  My friend Nikole and I decided that we really wanted to put in a proprosal, even if we weren't actually going to present.  We sat on the idea for a little while, and Nikole asked if I'd be interested in working around the topic of exclusive truth.  The concept is pretty self explanitory, that a faith tradition may include a claim that it in some way is true where others are not.  That can sound pretty scary, and in the realm of Interfaith Plurality, where we're trying to bridge the divides between faiths, it seems a daunting topic to approach.

But Nikole and I decided that it isn't.  In fact, it is absolutely imperative that, if we plan to conquer the faith divide, we learn how to work with exclusive truth claims.  So we decided to create a session to explore how those with an exclusive truth claim and those apprehensive of individuals with such beliefs can participate in interfaith plurality.  We really wanted to show that exclusive truth claims and work in interfaith plurality do not have to be mutually exclusive, and that those with an exclusive truth claim can hold true to their beliefs while cooperating with others in common action towards the common good.  The new generation of interfaith leaders need to know how to engage those whose religious beliefs include an exclusive truth claim, as well as those who may be apprehensive to work with someone with such a belief.

And I guess the InterFaith Youth Core agreed!  With over twice the number of proposals as there are session spots, ours was chosen for the conference!  So sometime between October 25 and 27, a room full of people at The Center for Civic Engagement at Northwestern University will partake in a discussion about what it means to be fundamentalist and how that connects to the idea of an exclusive truth claim, followed by an interactive exercise in which participants will be assigned exclusive truths and must find ways to all work cooperatively with the group, and then a talk-back in which the participants can unpack the experience and garner insight into working with exclusive truths in their interfaith undertakings.

HAPPY DANCE!  And, special congratulations to Nikole because she will be presenting not once, but twice at the conference!  In addition to The Truth about Truth: How to Engage Exclusive Truth Claims in Interfaith Work, Nikole's proposal with her fellow interfaith coordinators from the Chautauqua Institution about their Sacred Song Service was also accepted.

ETA: Happy Dance Again!  One of my favorite people in the world, Anthony, is the recipient of a scholarship covering registration costs, so he'll be at the conference too!

Gooooooooooal!

As part of my AmeriCorps year, I had to put together a Member Development Plan, which is really just my goals and such for the year.

Service Goals
Volunteer Recognition
I know that positive reinforcement is a very strong tool and I would like to utilize that in volunteer services. I would like to regularly update the website with photos and blurbs from each Sponsor for a Day, in order to help them feel good about their accomplishment and to show Habitat’s appreciation for their hard work and support. I would also like to do occasional volunteer spotlights that feature inspiring stories about why people volunteer for HFH.

Volunteer Communication
I would like to better utilize Facebook.com as a tool for communicating with out volunteers. After taking pictures at the worksites, I want to post them promptly so that people can tag themselves and show them to their friends. It is also a great way to share volunteering opportunities and a venue to cross post our monthly newsletter.

Increase Interfaith Service
Habitat for Humanity was built upon the idea of the “theology of the hammer” bringing people of different faith traditions together in common action for a common good. I would like to explore this ideal and increase its presence within the affiliate. My first goal is to read Millard Fuller’s The Theology of the Hammer to get a full understanding of the concept and to better share it with others. I would then like to reach out to various faith groups in the community. HFHS currently has many groups that volunteer from Christian churches, particularly of the Methodist and Lutheran denominations. I would like to expand that to other Christian denominations as well as groups from other faith traditions, including but not limited to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Baha’i. Ultimately, I would like for these groups to build a home together in cooperation. I would also like to place special focus on encouraging the involvement of youth groups from various faiths.

Student Involvement
HFH Suffolk has a Student Build that brings in students from all across Long Island to support our mission and build a home. I would like to expand this program. Student involvement in the past build did not seem to go beyond each chapter’s individual build days. I would like to encourage students on the future build to meet and reach out to the homesteading family, to attend the dedication, and for the relationship to not cease at the end of the workday. I would also like to involve younger students. At schools that already participate, volunteering is limited to older students as per Habitat regulations, but younger students should be encouraged to volunteer in other ways, like serving meals to working volunteers, raising awareness, or bringing gift baskets to the house dedication. Using Connetquot’s school district as a test, I would like to see their Habitat program expanded to include students in younger grades, with presentations about the mission of Habitat for Humanity, and encouraging children to be creative in their support of HFH’s mission.

Educational Goals
Habitat for Humanity
My goal is to learn as much as I can about the operations and workings of Habitat for Humanity, specifically the Suffolk affiliate. I would like to understand how all of the different departments work separately and together to achieve their goals.

Faith and Volunteering
I would like to better understand Millard Fuller’s concept of “The Theology of the Hammer” and its continued influence on Habitat for Humanity. I would also like to learn about the motivations of the individual faith groups that come to volunteer with HFHS. In the future, I plan to study the influence an individual’s past and present faith tradition has upon their thoughts and actions towards society, and I would like to take this opportunity to talk to people about how their faith brought them to participate in service.

Similar Organizations
I would like to have a better understanding of other organizations that do similar work to HFH. I would like to learn more about Section 8 housing, the Long Island Housing Partnership, and the Community Development Corporation, as well as any other organization that Habitat works closely with. I would also like to learn about other organizations that our affiliate does not specifically work with but whose efforts may be similar to ours, such as Rebuilding Together, and the Long Island Land Trust.

Professional Goals
Planning
I would like to improve my planning skills this year. In the past I have often procrastinated or not fully thought out all of the steps it might take to achieve a long-term goal. I would like to work harder at making and keeping long and short term goals to gain the most out my service here.

Squee for Glee!

Last night I was watching Glee when my roommate Katie asked me if I had done anything like that when I was in high school.  I wish!  While our chorus program did occasionally utilize chairs and props and awkward dance moves, it was by no means a show choir.  Still, we did have a very active theatre program that occupied the lives of my circle of friends.

Glee provides just a touch of nostalgia for those hours upon hours of rehearsals.  Devoting all of our time, against our parents' better judgement, to entertaining the masses and, more importantly, feeding our passion for the art.

I look at the character of Rachel Berry, a nutty young woman with a burning desire to become a star, and I think we're all a little bit like her, wanting a touch of spotlight, to be recognized for our talents.

And I see Finn Hudson, quarterback fo the football team, struggling to balance his talent and love for performing with survivng high school.  We're all like him too, trying to make it work without completely losing touch of what we want to be. 

And that's why Glee is such an attractive show.  It doesn't feature characters that we want to be, but rather characters that we already are.

Plus, they do a lot of really kickass stuff. 

I disapprove of Kanye's big head as much as the next girl, but the show's rendition of "Gold Digger" was nothing short of fabulous.  And Rachel's outburst at the Chastity Club about girls wanting sex just as much as boys was a definitive "Get it!" moment.

I'm excited for the season ahead, for the opportunity to live vicariously through the group's struggles and successes, to rock out to their numbers, and to squee at the screen when Finn finally realizes that Rachel really is a lot cooler than his cheerleader girlfriend.

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY!

In my head, I've always really liked Autumn. It's cool and crisp, and there are apples and pumpkins everywhere, and people wear cute scarves and sweaters and boots. But when it comes down to it, I'm not actually all that much a fan of September through Novemeber. And today I figured out why. Because, while I love the golden rust of an idealized New York Autumn, when you look outside my window, this is actually what you see:

A lovely shade of gray that can really only be described as MEH

So, I decided to do the only happy thing I could think of and make a yummy autumn lunch.

Aaron and I made some grilled cheese with cheddar, mozzerella, and smoked turkey.  We ran out of hummus, so I added a little bit of peanut butter to some Trader Joe's Asian Style Spicy Peanut Vinagrette, just to thicken it up, to make a zippy dip for our pita chips.  Topped it off with some Cambell's creamy tomato soup.

It's still pretty gross out, but I feel like I can get through all of this boring data input with all of that yummy in my tummy.

Stand Beside Her, and Guide Her

I don’t want this to be another cliché piece about where I was when I heard about the planes hitting the towers.  It doesn’t matter.  It doesn’t matter if you were in Manhattan or Minnesota.  No matter where we were, we were all in the same place.  A place of shock and fear.  A terrible place where our innate sense of security was absolutely trampled.

What matters is where we are now.  President Obama declared today a National Day of Service, and I think he expressed my own feelings when he said

"On a day when others sought to sap our confidence, let us renew our common purpose, let us remember how we came together as one nation, as one people, as Americans united. Such sense of purpose need not be a fleeting moment.”

And he’s right. In the months following, everyone was flying a flag on their front porch, sporting a patriotic bumper sticker, wearing that requisite lapel pin. Everyone was talking about patriotism, and freedom, and what it means to be an American.

I can honestly say that I have never felt so American in my life as I do now, as an AmeriCorps volunteer. This is what being an American means to me.  I truly believe at the core of this country is the underlying sense of responsibility to do right by each other.  To take care of our ourselves by taking care of each other. 

I know that means something different to everyone.  What I want it to mean is that you do something for someone today.  Take that sense of purpose you felt on September 12, 2001 and renew it.  Follow through on it, eight years later.  That might mean installing sheetrock for a single mother stuggling to give her son a safe home.  Or maybe it means donating a few bucks to the Red Cross.  It could mean helping someone pick up the change they dropped. 

No matter what you choose to do, it means that you remember, today and everyday, what it means to be an American, and to cherish it.

Ears on the Beatles

Today, the world has dedicated itself to The Beatles.  With the release of the remastered albums and The Beatles: Rock Band, today is a day to party.  To celebrate, my favorite radio station, WFUV, is playing Beatles songs and solo projects, original and covers all day. Stream it! http://www.wfuv.org/audio/stream.html

I personally have a deep love for The Beatles.  1 was the first cd I bought for myself, and also my first favorite.  And I kind of forced my RA staff to make our building Beatles themed last year.  The complex (comprised of Brewster, Boland, and Brockway, also known as BBB) had "Let it B B B" painted across the front windows, our lounge was called Strawberry Fields, and we had a giant orange (it is Syracuse, after all) submarine.  It was pretty fabulous.

I thought I'd share a few of my favorite Beatles tunes...

(À la Dominic Monaghan, I think the lyrics "Living is easy with eyes closed" make for a great tattoo.)