Lift Where You Stand

A few days ago, I was asked to write my testimony of the California YSA conference and its theme, Lift Where You Stand. While I've had sufficient time to assemble thoughts on the conference, and it was not a complicated assignment, I have had a very difficult time assembling my thoughts and writing them down. Those who were around me in the months leading up to the conference can attest that I had very strong feelings about the whole thing. And not the warm fuzzy kind.

I was called to be a co-chair for the Los Angeles area 25-35 year-olds. If you were to ask me how the conference went, I wouldn't really be able to tell you. I can say there was plenty of food and only one plumbing issue.  However, I have no firsthand experience to tell you how the conference was received or if anyone had fun. My experience with the conference was limited to setting up, taking down, and transcribing. Perhaps I should explain.

In between the chaos of the weeks leading up to the conference, I was notified that Mark would like to attend, and as he is deaf, he would need an ASL translator. Unable to find anyone available even after weeks of looking, I was asked if at least the closing fireside would be subtitled. My co-chair and I both felt this was really the least we could do since we had totally failed to get an ASL translator. On Friday night, after setting up for our first activity of the conference, I grabbed my laptop, and the closing DVD and began transcribing.

Thankfully I had a very capable co-chair who was able to keep all the balls in the air while I typed away. I also had a few breaks, as was necessary. The overflowing bathroom was certainly an exciting event. However, it was difficult and a little frustrating. I would have like to participate in the activities and workshops that I had worked so hard to plan. Instead, I spent most of the conference behind my laptop listening to Elder Ballard’s talk 4 seconds at a time.

It could have been a disheartening and an extremely unpleasant experience; however Saturday morning I was blessed to meet Mark. It was only for a few minutes as we loaded food into the kitchen and communication was limited (although I did learn the sign for “sour”), but it put a face to a name. Just that simple connection gave me the push I needed to keep transcribing. 

After two very long days and late nights, and with less than 5 minutes to spare, I finished a DVD with subtitles. It definitely wasn’t perfect, the timing was way off, but it was enough. 

The California YSA conference ended up being a surprise for me. In a very unanticipated way, I learned what “lift where you stand” can mean. It wasn’t about dances or workshops (or in my case, lack thereof). It was about helping someone. Doing what I can with what I am given. I'm an extremely imperfect person who can only do so much. However, when I lift with the Lord, it is enough.

One

For the past year, I have always had at least one unread email in my inbox. The same message and attachment. Haunting me like yesterday's jam. I left it unread so I would remember to post it. One. Year. Today is the day I finally post the story of they ikea loft bed project.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I bought a loft bed on craigslist. I put it together (with the help of my family) in the small shared room. Luckily my new roommate wasn't there because the bed was too high, the ceiling too low, and the walls too close together to fit my new loft bed and my roomates loft bed in the same room. So the next day I bought a new, smaller, normal bed and took apart the loft bed.

For a year the loft bed remained in pieces in a corner of the room, while I tried to sell it on craigslist. I then got a new roommate. Lo and behold! She didn't have a bed! Well, good thing I had TWO. So with the help of a friend I chopped the legs down from the loft. Now I could fit on top, and there was room under for the other bed. Bunk bed magic!

So that is the story. It has taken me a year to finally write this down and post this image. Here it is. The one.

POWER TOOLS! Yay!

Sadly, there is no way a year of waiting could make this picture cooler or more interesting. But at least I can have a clean inbox.

I tell ya what...

So I have this...thing...that I do every day. Not quite a compulsion, but it might be getting there. Every day I check the blog Hyperbole and a Half, you know, just to see if it has been updated (almost never. Break my heart, why dontcha), and then I check a few design job boards.

Here's the problem. I have a job. In fact, I have two and they both pay well and I really like them. Oh and he job boards themselves are for international/highly experienced designers. If I was checking them out to see what skills I will need when I graduate, or to learn about te job market, that would be one thing. However, I looks at the jobs and think "ohh! London! I want to go to there." or " hmm, Memphis. I like bluegrass today. Maybe I'll move there." and then the real trouble starts. I start looking at housing in different cities and try to see how much it would cost to move. which would be a very bad idea.

I just got out of think I really might move. I had looked at design programs all over the US and England. I had tried to figure out if I could afford to move. But the truth is, I am stuck here in LA with my awesome jobs, and beautiful weather, cool roomates, and good program. And a travel bug that won't let me BE!

I was never a patient person. Having to wait is just about killing me. But I tell you what, as soon as I graduate I am applying to every ridiculous job I can. I just might get to live abroad after all.

Time to see if hyperbole and a half has added a new story...........curse you!

#36 Be a Vegitarian for a Month

This ended up being a little bigger than planned. For the whole event check out this: http://theveganexperiment2011.blogspot.com/

The Stages of Rom-Com

So, whist enjoying some personal time last night, I decided to watch a movie. I still hadn't seen "When in Rome" and to be honest, I usually go for the romantic comedy. I figure, if I can't have a date tonight, I can watch someone who does! How adorable, some girl gets hit up side the head (figuratively, and some times literally) with romance. It's funny, it's dramatic, it's sugary sweet story that ultimately will leave a bad aftertaste in my mouth. The evening quickly unravels until I am curled in a fetus position telling myself it's not real, it's not real, it's not real. I like to call this process The Five Stages of Rom-Com.

Stage One: Excitement.
It's been a long week, I just need to relax. A movie! Yes, that is the perfect solution, because I can wear sweats and eat chocolate. And I always wanted to see this movie. It will probably stand the test of time! This will be an excellent evening.

Stage Two: Warm Fuzziness
There is no thinking that happens in this stage. As I watch the film, the world is a magical place and this must be how life really is. Lots of awwws.

Stage Three: Dissatisfaction
By the end of the credits, I am aware that there is not a single aspect of that movie to which I can relate. I haven't ever lived/visited NewYork/Rome/Paris. I don't own a dog, meet guys at weddings, or have quirky friends who drag me to secret parties. I don't work for the top _______ company or have a crazy ex/stalker. What am I DOING with my life?

Stage Four: Self Pity
I now know why my life is not like the movie. I am a broken human. Yep, there is something wrong with me. I am incapable of love. I am just a boring person with no life. And I probably don't deserve differently. Wo is me. I am so lame.

Stage Five: Melt down
I now realize there is no point. I might as well finish the 10 lbs box of chocolate at my feet, because that is the only joy I will have in this life. This stage culminates with me crawling in a blanket cave and trying to will myself into unconsciousness.

These stages are not set in stone. Sometimes a stage is skipped over completely. If there are other women present, all stages are amplified. If there is a boyfriend/date present, Stage Three is usually the last.

To be clear, I don't enjoy the last few stages. As soon as the warm fuzzies wear off, I vow never to watch another romantic comedy again, but alas, it is a promise I cannot keep. Last night, however, I made a discovery, I can avoid the last three stages completely if I follow the first movie with the right second movie. I discovered "Mr. Wrong." This mid-nineties movie about "A single and lonely woman finds the seemingly perfect man to date, but soon regrets it when his deranged and possessive other personality emerges and worst still, she cannot convince anyone else of his Jekyll/Hyde true nature." While it's not the best movie ever made, it stopped the viscous Rom-Com cycle. I realized, wow, I don't have a crazy psycho boyfriend who makes my life miserable! Life is great! I love school, and my job, and my normal friend, and I don't have to clean up after a dog. Oh you silly romantic comedies, all I have to say to YOU is whatever. You don't own me. Until next week. I still haven't seen Leap Year.

Movember 2010

Movember (the month formally known as November) is a charity event held during November each year.

At the start of Movember guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants known as Mo Bros then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their Mo (slang for moustache) and along the way raise awareness and funds for men's health issues - specifically prostate and testicular cancer.

Movember culminates at the end of the month at the Gala Partés. These glamorous and groomed events will see Tom Selleck, Hulk Hogan and Borat look-a-likes battle it out for their chance to take home the prestigious Man of Movember title.

While growing a Mo (moustache) is left to the guys, Mo Sistas (ladies who support their guys or love Mo's!) form an important part of Movember by recruiting Mo Bros, helping to raise funds and attending the highly anticipated Gala Partés.

But it's not all fun and games, so why the extreme behavior?

Which ever way we look at it, men are far less healthy than women. The average life expectancy for men is five years less than females.

The obvious question is why?

The answer is because men lack awareness about the very real health issue they face, have an attitude that they have to be tough - "a real man" and are reluctant to see a doctor about an illness or to go for regular medical checks.

The aim of Movember is to change these attitudes, make male health fun by putting the Mo (moustache) back on the face of fashion and in the process raise some serious funds for men's health issues.

Mo Madness 2009

Shades of Grey

I live in a world of brilliant shades of grey,
Every moment I spend organizing, catagorizing, judging,
Its whiteness or blackness,
Is this one darker than another,
Or am I simply casting my own shadow on it by looking so closely?
These living shades of grey flow into one another effortlessly,
Mocking my straining eyes as I try to separate one from the other.
I hold and compare.
Desparetly searching,
For the minute flecks of white.