Never too Old for Santa

One thing I have strongly believed for a long time is that you are never too old to believe in Santa. If given the choice, why would you choose to not believe? I mean, no I don't believe that Santa flies around the world bringing gifts to every boy and girl by dropping in through everyone's chimney. I do believe in what Santa represents though. I like to think that there is always goodness in the world, and I especially like to think that it is present at the holidays. I have seen what the real world can do to people at the holidays. People become stressed out, some loose their family members around the holidays, others have to deal with the economic stress when they can't really afford presents for their loved ones. Holidays aren't always negative though. They are a time for joy and cheer. Friends and families come together. People truly step up to the plate and help out. I've always known that it is a good thing to do good for others, regardless of the time of year. But I have been fortunate enough to be on the receiving end of some of this charity at the holidays.

To me, Santa represents all the hope and love and caring and joy and all the good at the holidays. Santa stands on the corner ringing a bell collecting money for the poor. Santa puts a smile on almost everyone's face. Santa is the one person people will wait on line for hours to pay to see. Santa allows kids to believe in magic. Santa gives people hope. Santa motivates kids to be good. Santa embodies what is good in our world.

I don't even remember when I stopped believing in Santa as a little kid. I have a younger sister, so when I came to the realization Santa wasn't coming down the chimney every Christmas Eve, I kept it to myself as I didn't want to take anything away from her. Eventually we were both old enough that we knew mom and dad were the ones leaving our gifts under the tree but I didn't want to stop believing. Until 2007, I always needed to pretend at least that I believed for the sake of cousins but before the last one stopped believing, I was a believer again. When I was younger, there was a Christmas where my dad was out of work and we weren't supposed to get much that year. Even knowing that, my sister and I had lots of presents that year because someone else stepped in and provided them for us. This year, my father is again unemployed and we all know that money is tight. That said, we were able to have a splendid holiday because of our family and friends. Some of my mom's friends (some known and some anonymous) truly stepped it up and provided my family with things we otherwise would not have had. It's people like them that embody Santa and it's people like them who allow me to still believe. Virginia has always believed in Santa. And I'll always have Virginia's back.

That's all for now.
Peace out cub scout.

do a survey, help your parish

Hey everyone! 

If you are a parishioner of St. Mary's in Ridgefield, CT, please read this and complete the survey which can be found at the bottom.

As you may or may not know, St. Mary's is currently formulating the next strategic plan and has asked for input from all parishioners -- and that includes you! One thing that has been addressed by the committee is that there is a need for a ministry geared to young adults in the parish who don't really have a ministry they fall into. I've been asked by a member of the committee to pass along this survey (the link is below) to everyone I can think of to please fill it out -- it is 5 questions long and won't take you that long to do it. 

Thank you in advance for your input. 
(And please feel free to pass this along to others.)

for the survey, click here  
for more information about the strategic plan you can read the newsletter here

That's all for now.
Peace out cub scout.

thanks for your support!

Dear friends and family,

Thank you for supporting me in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer -- New York. Not only did your contribution help me beat my own personal goal, but it really does make a difference; it will go toward funding access to care and finding a cure for Breast Cancer. Just two weeks ago my friend Kate and I walked across the finish line next to the USS Intrepid with 4,000 other people who walked for such a great cause. Walkers consisted of mothers, daughters, fathers, brothers, friends, family and most importantly many survivors that have all known someone who has been struck by this disease. With your help, we were able to collectively raise more than $9.5 million dollars and raise awareness about this disease worldwide.

While I spent 5 months training for the walk, I also spent 5 months learning more about this disease and how it affects people in our country. The first statistic I learned about breast cancer during my training was that every three minutes another woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer. This fact seemed to stick with me throughout both my training and the walk. What really struck me was that from the time I began walking and the minute I crossed the finish line, over 600 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. It was this statistic along with others that helped keep me and so many others going through our training. I’d gladly walk any distance to help these women and bring an end to breast cancer.

The walk itself was amazing. We had great weather and I was able to see New York City in a new light. All the people I walked with were high-spirited and such a great group of people who kept motivating others to keep going strong. There were also groups of wonderfully spirited people at cheering stations along the way to keep our spirits high along with pit-stops and breaks to keep us fully energized, rested and hydrated. After Saturday’s portion of the walk, we ended on Randall’s Island for showers, a great dinner and some Yoga before camping out to tackle day 2. While waking up on Sunday was a bit rough and took plenty of energy, it didn’t take long for everyone to acknowledge that blisters, cramped muscles and sore feet are nothing compared to that which people with breast cancer have to deal with on a daily basis.

While I could write a short story about my experiences through the walk; I experienced something that no amount of words could do it any justice. I heard inspiring stories from survivors and their friends and families. I saw men and women push themselves past their physical abilities.

Thank you again for your support. You rock!

If you'd like to see some pictures taken during the walk, you can check them out here on Facebook.

That's all for now.
Peace out cub scout.

my way or the highway

One of my pet peeves lately in society is all the hypocritical "rules" that people create -- they are societal norms in the making, or at least something that some people want to make a societal norm. Actually, I really guess I'm not sure what exactly they are. I don't know what the societal norm actually is in most of these cases, and truth be told, I'm convinced society doesn't know what the norm is.

Today's questionable societal norm is: talking whilst on public transportation.

While I understand that you are not supposed yell and be really obnoxious when you are talking to someone while riding public transportation, since when are you not allowed to carry on a conversation with someone you are sitting with? I'm not talking about having a conversation across a few seats or across a crowded subway; I just want to know who decided that I am not allowed to talk to the people that I am sitting on the train with?

Now yesterday on the train there was an Asian lady on her cell phone. She was speaking rather loudly in a foreign language and another woman in the train car got up and yelled at her multiple times for talking so loudly. In addition, a man stood up about 4 rows away and was extremely agitated about the lady on the phone. While I agree that it is impolite to talk loudly on your cell phone while in public, I also think it is wrong to yell at a complete stranger off for just talking on her cell phone -- there is a much politer way that that could have been handled. But back to my original point, if you are on a train and sitting with others, is it wrong to carry on a conversation?

I always thought that it was absolutely fine to talk to the people you are with on the train, or any other form of public transportation but lately I have noticed that many people are against this. Not only are they against it, but many of them are hypocrites who carry on their own conversations at times but then give other people the stink eye for doing the same exact thing. Take for example two of my fellow bus riders nearly every morning. Every morning that I have been on the bus along with the two of them, they are always chatting away. They are not being loud, and even though it is 6:30AM and most of us are half asleep, no one complains or says anything to them. Then take the random morning when one of them is missing and insert my high school classmate on the bus. The two of us have a simple chat about nothing special, and here comes the evil glance from the man who talks almost daily on the bus. So apparently it is OK for him to chat on the bus, but if he wants it to be quiet, then apparently no-one else is supposed to talk on the bus either.

Then today I was sitting on the train with two friends and while one of them chose to sleep for the majority of the ride home, the other two of us chatted pretty much the whole ride home. We weren't being loud, it wasn't a conversation about anything inappropriate, but still the people reading their papers across the isle from us still continued to glare over their papers looking at us in a disapproving fashion. Now I don't know if these people have ever carried on a conversation while riding public transportation, but I would like to know since when it became wrong for me to talk to the person sitting directly across me that I got on the train with?

So what's your take? What are the societal norms for talking on public transportation?

That's all for now.

Peace out cub scout.

I'm walking 39.3 miles in 12 days!

As some of you know, I like to do crazy and adventurous things in life -- simple doesn't usually explain my way of doing many things. As you may know by now, my next large task is coming up in less than two weeks. I have spent the last four months training for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. It's taking place October 10-11 in New York City and I'll be walking a marathon and a half over these two days with my friend Kate and hundreds of other women.

Did you know that every three minutes, another woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer? I didn't, and I was shocked to learn how prevalent this horrible disease has become in this country.

I am eager for my walk and in addition to having a strong finish to my training to make sure I'm prepared for the walk, I want to finish out my fundraising with a bang and I need your support! I have pledged to raise money for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer as part of my participation in the walk. Your contribution will help to support medical research into the possible causes of and cure for breast cancer, education and early detection programs, and clinical care and support services for women with breast cancer in communities across the country, especially those here in the New York area. There is a special focus on helping medically under-served women, the poor, minorities, the elderly, or those with inadequate health insurance.

It is faster and easier than ever to support this great cause - you can make a donation online by simply clicking on this link to visit my personal page. While I understand that times are hard right now, whatever you can give will help! I truly appreciate your support and thank you in advance. Plus, in addition to your financial support, I could use all your prayers for myself and the other women as we come into the final stretch of preparation before we partake on this wonderful journey.

Thank you for your support; you really do make a difference. You rock!

Thats all for now.

Peace out cub scouts.

the best birthday gift

My birthday has just past and the best birthday gift I received was not a present (though I do like all those that I received). The best gift I was given was a suggestion from a friend. For my birthday, I went out to dinner at Carmine's, a family-style, Italian restaurant on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with my friends Kristen and Mary. After randomly discussing people going out to dinner and intentionally buying more than they could eat in order to have food left over to take home, we quickly realized that we had too much food for the three of us. Even though all we had ordered was a bottle of wine, a salad and a plate of penne alla vodka, the wine was the only thing the three of us were able to finish. The salad and pasta could have easily fed 4-5 people instead of just the 3 of us that were there.

We knew that we would not be able to take the leftovers with us since we didn't live nearby and we were heading from dinner to Joshua Tree in Murray Hill and no-one wants to head to the bar with a doggie-bag in hand. Mary came up with a wonderful idea during dinner -- at the end of the meal, we should ask for a doggie-bag and give our leftovers to a homeless person on the street. At once I knew that I loved this idea and I wanted to do it. So once we could eat no more, we asked the waiter to please wrap up the remaining salad and pasta for us to take with us. After dinner, we left Carmine's and headed for the subway to Grand Central Terminal. Since I take the train into GCT everyday, I knew that we'd be able to find someone in need of dinner right outside, and that's what we did. When we were walking down 42nd street right in-front of the station, we passed a girl and guy, not much older than ourselves, looking rather glum and disheveled sitting on the sidewalk with their dog and a sign saying they would work for anything. You could tell they had been on the streets for a bit of time, but that they were sit somewhat new to being out there -- or at least, that was my take on them. Once we passed them, I turned around and asked them if they would like our leftovers from dinner. They both looked up with relief across their faces. The girl's face lit up and she responded very simply, "yes, please".

Her very simple and polite response nearly made me cry. I am fortunate enough to not only have a roof over my head and food on my plate, but I also know that I will never need to think about they day I could end up on the street. I am blessed to know that there are enough people in my life that would take care of me if a reason ever arose in which I found myself homeless and/or hungry. As soon as she said yes, I placed the bag on the ground in front of them and their belongings and turned to continue walking. I was not looking for a thank you. Nor did I want to make it into a production and draw any unnecessary attention to these people who were just trying to survive.

Not only did this make me feel good because I know I did a good deed, but I have been trying to discern lately what I'm called to do and earlier this week I decided that I am called to serve others. The last three things listed on my bucket list are to make a difference in someone's life, inspire someone and to be a good person. I have these all marked off as a "continual work in progress"as even if I do make a difference or inspire someone, I hope I can continue to do it and make an impact on someone else's life. And doing a good deed doesn't make you a good person, being a good person involves a sum of good deeds and actions done by someone over the entirety of their life...

Once I turned to keep walking, I noticed that almost everyone within 20-feet of me on the sidewalk had stopped to look at me. I wish I could say I don't know why they looked shocked, but I know why. We don't often enough see others doing kind actions to others. People in Manhattan don't tend to take their leftovers with them to hand them out to a stranger. I want to change this. It's not that hard. From now on, whenever I'm out in the city for dinner, I am going to ask to take any leftovers that I may have and give them to someone who most likely won't have dinner otherwise. Maybe if you and I all start doing it, by the time I have kids they can learn to do this as well. And hopefully by the time that happens, they won't have to turn around and have a sidewalk full of people staring at them with judgmental looks. Hopefully our generation can reinstitute chivalry and manners into society. Maybe if we can do that, we truly can make the world a better place...

That's all for now.

Peace out cub scout.

Bucket List

I'm sure many of you have seen Jack Nicholson & Morgan Freeman's movie, The Bucket List. For anyone who hasn't, let me explain to you what a "bucket list" is. It is merely a list of things you want/wish/hope/plan to do before you 'kick the bucket'. I have thought of many things that I would like to do and accomplish before I croak; mine is a constant work in progress. Not only am I checking things off the list and adding to it and sometimes I choose to take things off of it, and there's at least one thing I know won't be able to be crossed off the list until the day I die. I have decided to put my list out there and hear what people have to see about it. I will keep it updated and every time I update it, I will change my post date to the most recent time. If I choose to remove something, I will need to set it on hold for four months before I may remove it. Some of my goals do not need to be accomplished at once, but in this case, I must break out the sub-parts. Also, I am going to document where/when/how to the best I can from here on out.

my list

- visit all 50 states

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California[June 2009], Colorado[July 2004], Connecticut[live there], Delaware, Florida[1st grade], Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine[5th grade?], Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York[born there], North Carolina[August 2007], North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming (yes, I know them all in alphabetical order)

- graduate college [Bentley College 2008]

- visit all professional baseball stadiums

Fenway[Patriots Day 2005], Yankee Stadium (the old one), Yankee Stadium (the new one), Shay Stadium, Citi Field, Wrigley Park, Camden Yards, AT&T Park[July 2009] (I will actually list them all outwhen I have more time)

- drive cross country

- drive on Route 66 (I'd prefer that the CT roadies were with me for this)

- get a tattoo

- fall in love

- get married

- have kids (I think I want 5)

- go bungee jumping

- skydive

- learn to surf

- finish a marathon

- run a marathon

- buy a car [2007 Jeep Patriot]

- pay off my student loans

- live abroad [Ireland - September to December 2006]

- buy a house

- invent something

- write a book

- make a difference in someone's life [continual work in progress]

- inspire someone [continual work in progress]

- be a good person [continual work in progress]

That's all for now.

Peace out cub scout.

original:

6/17/09

updated:

8/2/09

9/27/09

CafeGive

Wow. its been a month. I've been thinking about the fact that I need to update this, but I haven''t been hit with an inspiration to write anything lately. That is until today. And today I shall tell you about CafeGive. I've got a friend who works for them and it's a great company, so I figure I should spread the good news to all of you.

About two months ago, my friend started working for them and I'm pretty impressed with everything that I now know about the company. CafeGive is a company that partners with non-profits to get them more support and helps them build a grassroots foundation. How do they do this you ask? By allowing these non-profits to put a fundraising widget on their social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, WordPress, iGoogle and more. The best part is, you don't even need to be a non-profit to join CafeGive. Regular merchants are welcome to create widgets as well and part of the cost to buy their product will be donated to a cause of the merchant's choice. You may be asking why a merchant would want to do this, but why not? They are being socially responsible while conducting their business. Not only does it help their brand name but their consumers are able to feel better about the purchases that they are making.

Whether or not my quick little blurb here about CafeGive has convinced you that they are a great company, I recommend checking them out some more on their website, their blog, Facebook & Twitter (and don't forget to follow @CafeGive while you are there) to learn more. Who knows, maybe you'll do something that you will be able to partner up with them later in life...

That's all for now.

Peace out cub scout.