Before Brangelina

Before Brangelina there was Becky who had dolls of all nationalities and pretended it was an orphanage, sometimes her little sister was allowed to help and sometimes not. Her favorite ride has always been "It's a Small World" at Disney World, Space Mountain her least favorite as a child. Now the little girl is an adult and still wants to feel that she's doing good in the world. She's not in a mentality to have children, wants to feel she's making a difference for someone. Someone faraway she can think of and know her influence hasn't stayed so close. Since Brangelina appears to have stolen her macrocosm ideal of a family, she will settle for sponsoring a child.


And that's just what I did last week! Something I've wanted to do for quite some time and haven't really found the right organizational fit. My second day in SF (Man Fran is so out, and abbreviations are back in), I met a guy who came all the way from South Africa to work for Children International. I must have looked more approachable than the man next to me with Teret's because he asked me if I'd heard of the organization and if I wanted to sponsor a child.

I know the arguments about helping children in America and I do my part to give money locally and globally. Consistently I go back to even the poorest of the poor in America has a completely different experience of the poorest of the poor in Africa and it's important to note those differences. Not that one is less important, but that there are varying levels of need.


I realize this isn't a new concept (unlike the Madonna and Brangelina phenomena), but it hadn't caught on with anyone I knew. A lot of groups seemed missionary-based and I didn't want there to be a religious context for my giving. My child is 10-year old Mousumi in India. She likes drawing, playing with friends, and learning about languages. Did I mention her family makes $47 per month? My sponsorship is only $22!!??

Before there was Brangelina saving children around the world, there was Becky. Before Becky there was Children International.

Shrinky Dink ding dongs!

It was brought to my attention recently that Shrinky Dinks are quite possible the most dangerous toy, ever. Don't let me forget to mention this past holiday season I made a few at my parents house and almost cut my finger off with the large scissors required to go through thick plastic.

Who in the 1980s had the idea to let kids not only play with large scissors, but also hot ovens. Not a good idea for adults who don't cook - let alone children. Let's not forget about the burning plastic toxins emitted from said ovens once the cooking begins. Oh yes and be sure to get the Shrinky Dinks out in time so mom can put dinner in there AFTER the plastic fumes innundate the oven. Well, I have answered my own question. Who had the idea to let kids do this? Shrinky Dink ding dongs apparently!

Today I'm grateful for sleeping in, Elizabeth Gilbert's new book, and dining room chairs from Goodwill.

Enter stage right...macarons

It's no secret how much I like cupcakes - I would shout it from my rooftop if I could get up there. They are, after all the perfect baked good. Cupcakes have had their time in the spotlight as a trend the past few years and it seems to be ending. Where cupcakes once stood there appears to be a new focus on macarons (not to be confused with macaroons with coconut). I don't like it one bit, and can't even begin to describe how much this disappoints me. My relationship to cupcakes isn't based on a fad, it arises deep in my soul as a desire for as much frosting and cake in one forkless treat.

Yes, similarities do exist between macarons and cupcakes (colorful, mostly sugar, light and fluffy, food of the goddesses). They are distant cousins and one simply cannot be a substitute for the other. I'm not quite sure who to blame on this, San Francisco or New York are certainly the starting points for many new ideas and the new macaroon bakery down my street in SF isn't helping at all. I'm resisting macarons as much as I can until I'm forced to move on, or get a sugar craving without a cupcake place nearby.

Today I'm grateful for remaining cupcake shops throughout U.S., new dining room table, and rearranging my apartment.

Insane in the membrane

Saw this article about how blogging can save your sanity. I knew there had to be a reason my OCD has significantly improved since having a blog!? Sure cures my loneliness in SF to pretend my blog is a person. Gulp, guess my sanity hasn't been saved..

www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/2010/01/19/5-ways-blogging-can-save-your-insanity

Today I'm grateful for juicers, leftovers, and spandex.

Rain, rain go away...or stay!

For the past week it has been raining, almost non-stop except for an hour when I was Environmental Ethics. At first I felt offended. How dare San Francisco welcome me with this kinda of weather!? I have been reminded this is the rainiest month of the year and it was my choice to move now instead of waiting until spring. Nonetheless, it could be a scare tactic...

San Francisco, I understand things have been moving quickly since I arrived and you may be scared. I am too, but I'm not going anywhere. The rains came a few days too late...I have already fallen in love with your delicious food, delightful people, and good recycling habits. If this rain is your attempt to make me leave, it won't work...I'm in the for long haul. So the rain can go away, or stay.

Today I'm grateful for my new desk chair, kitchen cart, and nightstand from Goodwill and Craigslist!

Hayes Valley haze

I'm not so much in the polluted, smoggy haze as in the moving, overwhelm type. Hard to believe I've been in San Fran (been told not to call it that, but I can't resist) for almost a week! What have I been doing?? Well, mostly distracting myself from feeling lonely by scouring Craigslist and reorganizing constantly. School starts this week and hopefully make things a bit easier for a distraction. I'm already finding it difficult to go from a large, comfortable community to one that consists of just me. In the meantime I will enjoy the lovely weather and exploring this marvelous city!

My neighborhood (Hayes Valley in case the blog title didn't give it away) has a wonderful array of shopping, bakeries, and yoga studios. Hopefully the haze will "move" on through and I'll be left with the sweet, bakery sort!

Today I'm grateful for my cell phone, maps, and Craigslist.

Menver to Man Francisco

This week I'm perfecting my Menver to Man Francisco move...have felt really distant and sad about the idea of goodbye to so many people I adore.

There is conviction and finality with goodbye, it fools us into thinking we are in full control of the whom we will see when. We aren't able to know when we will see someone again, we can plan to get together, ultimately it can happen at any time. Goodbye is dramatic, something our thinking mind loves. We are all connected energetically and sharing a planet, we are close (relatively speaking to say being on Mars) in proximity. We can mourn the physical closeness and at the same time appreciate the idea of still be connected infinitely.

I have been watching my DVDs to decide which ones to keep and which ones to get rid of. Parting with most of my small collection has been easy, except for Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. This series of films reminds me of the uncertainty of life and that there is also something to be said about intentional seeing someone v. accidental. What do you say to someone you aren't sure you'll see again? I'm gonna stick with so long, farewell for now - it's Sound of Music sing songyness (strange adjective I know).

Today I'm grateful for my apartment cleansing, banana bread French toast, and World Nomads writing competition.

Missed lists

I had a few unofficial resolutions in 2009 and one was reducing my list-making. I have mentioned this tendency before; 2009 saw a huge improvement in this habit and I'm proud to say the longest list I made this year was on 43Things.com. If you haven't explored this site, it's a must. It takes the "Bucket List" to the next level. After you complete something you tell others how you did it, helping them accomplish their dreams as well. My favorite part is that it isn't considered a "bucket list," instead a "Life List." I plan on completing my 43 Things before my 100 years are up and making a new list consistently.

Here's my site: www.43things.com/person/FarrarRebecca

 

My other list-saving habit is the book "Lists for Life" by Rory Tahari. All of the important ones are in the book...moving, traveling, planning a wedding, and hundreds more. Saves me Post-its and ADD attacks.

 

Today I'm grateful for resolutions, my Life List on 43Things.com, and Lists for Life.