I've been trying to figure out what this blog should be about --now that my adventure in Honduras is over. At times I feel like my life in San Diego is too boring to write about. It's not, but how do I communicate something about my current life in a way that interests and challenges or inspires you?
I'm not sure yet.
Today at work I decided to begin a list of my favorite things. Number one on the list today is Cocorosie. Check out their song"By Your Side". It makes me want to live a life worth writing about.
Congrats to my best friend Meghan on being engaged! I can't wait to be there dressed in whatever color you decide!
Traveling Stories: Fueling children's minds with stories.
"Every man who knows how to read has it in his power to magnify himself, to multiply the ways in which he exists, to make his life full, significant and interesting." ~Aldous Huxley
Huxley is right. Being able to read really does empower us to make our lives more full, significant and interesting. In a recent interview with Parade magazine Oprah shared similar sentiments. She said, "I wasn't a dreamer as much as I was a reader. That allowed me to see ... that there was a world beyond my backyard."
Oprah is right, too. But what about people who can read but have no access to books? This is why I am starting Traveling Stories, a non profit organization dedicated to putting books into the hands of kids who have none.
The idea for Traveling Stories began when I was teaching high school students in Honduras. My students hated reading but had little to no access to books, something I could hardly fathom having grown up in a country with bookstores and libraries in every neighborhood. During my trip home for Christmas I purchased 40 books from used book stores. I took them back to my students in January and made them read for an hour a day. Eventually they fell in love with reading! I saw their behavior and attitude toward learning English improve incredibly! I decided to try and provide that opportunity to more kids. Thus, Traveling Stories.
Currently I'm raising money to pay for the legal fees of becoming an official 501c3 organization. It's going to cost roughly $1,000 ($250 to get incorporated and $750 for the 501c3). Here's what I'm looking for:
200 people willing to give $5 each
50 people willing to give $20 each, or
20 people willing to give $50 each.
This is an exciting time for Traveling Stories! A lot of great things are happening. If you want to learn more leave me a comment! If you want to donate please click on the "DONATE" button at the right of this screen!!
The first books will be donated to an orphanage and preschool in San Salvador, El Salvador.
I was thinking/looking over some of my recent posts and I'm grossed out by how ugly of a person I can be sometimes. Life can be so beautiful, but why do I make a mess of it sometimes -- and why, when I'm met with ugly situations, do I sometimes choose to make them even uglier? I think part of our purpose in life is to bring beauty to situations -- to expose it, to create it, to highlight it. We're meant to redeem the ugly things -- as we ourselves are being redeemed.
It's only 9:04 but already a few crappy things have happened.
1) got into a big fight in the bathroom with my sister. We both picked on each others' weak point. I made her cry. For some reason I laughed, even though I felt like crying too. She called me crazy.
2) at the coffee shop by work i got my butt half grabbed by a guy we'll call S. He came in for half-hug that turned into a butt graze. gross.
All this before I even stepped into work. What else will happen today!?
Today it took more than an hour to get to work --and it was almost all traffic. (Normally it takes 25 minutes) About 15 minutes into the traffic a sign said "Expect Delays, Accident at 94 and 5 North.
About 35 minutes later I was merging onto the 5 North from the 94, expecting to see a huge accident. There was none. Instead I saw a woman standing on top of a bridge. Is it ironic that I was also listening to Third Eye Blind's "Jumper" about this time? But unlike the song, I was not urging this woman to step back from the ledge.
The bridge ...if you look real close you can see the woman standing on top, to the right of the palm tree.
If I remember correctly I said something a little more like "F@#$, Jump, B#$%^!"
Wow! Mean, right?!!!! I'm not proud of my road rage, but I think most of you would have similar responses.
It turns out that this woman has been threatening to jump since 1:30 this morning! WHAT?! So I wonder, why is she still there!?!? Why are 6-8 lanes of traffic still blocked for her?!?!! Can't they just tranquilize her and pull her off the bridge?
That's all ---just a little drive-to-work story. Hope your morning drive was less hateful. :)
This advertisement makes me want to throw up.
Was a little surprised to see this. But or a second was also tempted to add one to my window.
In case you can't read it -- "RIPPIE: Rich hippie". ha
