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.