Why Give?

There is a topic that I rarely talk about, but it’s one that I care deeply about and that is giving. It’s not that I don’t want to spread the word, or that I don’t want to make people aware, it’s just that I feel that giving – how much and to whom – should be something between myself and the person/organization I am giving to. However, there is something I feel I need to share, because it was a public endeavor, and it really brought me joy when I read the email at the beginning of the month and I hope that inspires you somehow.

In 2009, I decided to do a campaign for charity:water called Charity for Christmas, instead of presents I asked friends and family to donate to the organization to raise money to help build a well. I felt that the organization was very transparent and I always felt satisfied when I interacted with them, so, since I liked them I thought it would be a fun thing to do. 

Two years later (the campaign ended in January of 2010) I received an email that the money raised was used towards a well in Kota Village, Ethiopia. To see the picture above of people using the actual well that the money went towards building brings me great joy. I am truly thankful for all the people who were a part of this campaign with me. We might not have financed the entire thing, we might not have dug the well, but the little you did helped bring water to a community that needs it.

2012 Check-In and Adjustment

I figured, if I want to keep up with my list of things to do in 2012, I need to check in and adjust my expectations accordingly. So, one month from my list, I’m checking in and adjusting.

Learning another language:
+ Enough to read a French storybook
+ Enough to learn a French song

I’ve bought Le Petite Prince, it’s all French and it’s a children’s book so it will hopefully have simpler grammar and words than if I bought, The Elegance of the Hedgehog for example. I also have three French songs that I love to listen to from time to time. I’ve also been using the Living Language French App, which has been super useful!

Lose some weight!
+ running, or some sort of exercise (2 to 3 times a week)
+ walk more
+ drink less espresso drinks
+ eat more veggies and fruits

Surprisingly, I’m keeping up with all of this! I definitely walk more, I have been drinking less Starbucks drinks and more teas and have been eating more fruits than I usually do. I hope this keeps up. *cross fingers*

Memorize more (poems or psalm):
+ I have several poetry books that I’ve never finished, read at least one poem a week
+ learn one sonnet a month (or a psalm)

Ok, I haven’t had time for this, so I am changing it to learning 6 poems/psalms by heart by the end of the year. It’s hard memorizing things, especially when you have a bad memory like I do!

Read 70 books this year:
+ read more non-fantasy fiction
+ read 6 (or 12) non-fiction theology books
+ read 6 non-fiction marketing books

I read Generous Justice in January, I’m reading Let Justice Roll Down right now. I think I’m going to cut my non-fiction marketing books down to 3. To date I’ve read 15 books, 3 are kiddies books, so I’ll just say I’ve read 12 books.

Blog more!
+ On my personal blog

+ On my book blog
+ On my writing blog … that is currently hidden.

I have been blogging more! I’m not blogging on my writing blog though … Need to get that done.

Journal more
+ In cursive

I did this once. Definitely need to catch up 🙂

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, in a far away land lived an Evil Queen who wanted revenge on Snow White for ruining her life. So, as evil queens do, she cast a powerful spell that trapped all the fairy tale characters in a small town in present time and made them forget who they were. Thus begins the new ABC series Once Upon A Time.

If you follow my book blog you will know that I am a fan of fantasy and fairytales, so when Once was slotted to premier in the fall, I knew I had to see what it was all about. (I know Grimm also started at this time, but this is a post about Once… Grimm is for another day).

One of the things I like about Once is that it could read like a book, and it would be an intriguing story. There is a lot of mystery with enough answers to keep you satisfied. A good amount of action, strong characters and of course, a dash of romance. Sometimes the story is so good that I am almost afraid to view the next episode because I’m expecting it to be disappointing.

I am pleased with the way the story flashes back and forth between storybook land and Storybrooke, it’s pretty seamless and always seem to tie to each other, revealing a little bit more about each character as their story arc progresses. I was a bit concerned about crazy, unrelated flashbacks, but so far it’s been good.

What I really hope for this series is that there will be a definite conclusion. I’m a fan of short series, something that has a strong plot and carries it through to the end. It gets a bit frustrating when the writers just write shows by the seat of their pants and then the series has to come to an end and there’s a slap dash finale that leaves you with more questions and a feeling like you wasted a lot of viewing hours and got no closure. Then you find yourself making up excuses for them and singing their brilliance because you don’t want to admit that you just spent months of your life watching something that really had no direction… but I digress.

I’m not really sure why I’m rambling about Once … I don’t have a conclusion … so I’m just going to leave it off here. Oh, look an awesome candy house from the Hansel and Gretel episode!

The Price of Apples

It costed me a dollar, when I bought two.

I was in a hurry, and saw them there,
Red and round, kissed by the morning-time dew.
Making my purchase I thread down the stairs
To the sound of your voice as you declared
“Some coffee or tea or food for me please”.
All rushing by, no one yourself engaged.

At the bottom of the stairs I stood still
A frown, looking down, then turning around
“How about an apple?” our eyes connect
“Oh, yes, that is fine” then onward I went.
To me just a dollar, what about you?