Help Support These Girls! November 24, 2009

Girls Incorporated of Holyoke NEEDS your help.

Last year I made a fund raising film for them. They are fantastic girls and this is a fantastic organization.

They need YOUR help. They have an opportunity to receive $25,000, which they desperately need. All they need to do is be voted to be one of the Chase Community Giving award winners. In order for this to happen, they need votes.

If you have a Facebook account, all you need to do is become a fan of this App (below) and then VOTE for Girls Inc. of Holyoke.

http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/658209?src=wallpost&ref=mf

It requires nothing more than a few moments of your time.

The girls and the organization NEED this money.

THANK YOU!

 

Africa, Here I Come November 23, 2009

It just occurred to me that I have not posted this news!

I am traveling to Gambia, Africa in less than two months! I will be leaving January 3 and returning January 18.

I’m going to make a documentary about The Sajuka Elementary School as part of a non-profit effort to raise awareness and funds for the school.

I’m sure you’ll hear all about it when I’m back!

 

What the world is coming to November 18, 2009

Read this article : http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/15/BUNI1AB1G2.DTL

 

If you’re one of my regular readers, you know how absolutely insane it makes me when people type (or bring it one step further by actually SPEAKING) in acronyms. Text Speak as I like to call it.

The article posted above addresses the issue of society developing shorter attention spans. To what do we owe such a reverse in evolution? The ever expanding world of technology of course.

I began using Twitter about 6 months ago to see what all the fuss was about. I didn’t see how 140 characters could be so addictive and enticing to people. Admittedly, I got sucked in for a while, but I haven’t used Twitter in several months now. Why? Because it’s POINTLESS. It’s another Social Networking Site that is ruining the world.

And please, don’t get me wrong. I love having a presence on the internet. I love my readers. But here’s the difference between my blogging and people using Twitter. I write complete thoughts. I spell my words out. I don’t use acronyms several times throughout a sentence because I’m too lazy to spell the words out.

And that’s another thing! This text speak and short attention span-itis…. is causing people to use TERRIBLE grammar.

I will admit that in my spare time I often go on Facebook. Sometimes I take the quizzes that are available. And I do believe that I have yet to stumble across a single quiz sans spelling errors and grammatically butchered sentences.

WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?

 

Read that article and tell me your thoughts. I’d love to hear them.

 

Also, thank you to Motormouth for bringing the article to my attention.

Why Everyone Should See 2012 (The Movie) November 18, 2009

I saw the new film, 2012, last Saturday. It arrived in theaters the day before that. My friend and I waited in line for several minutes, only to find out that our showing had already been sold out.

We bought tickets in advance for the next showing (10pm). When we got in the theater, about 20 minutes before the PREVIEWS were about to begin, it was already packed. I can only assume that showing was sold out as well.

Regardless of whether or not you think the world is going to end in 2012, you should see this movie. EVERYONE should see this movie.

And no, not because the special effects are cool (even though they are).

You should see this movie because it truly makes you think. I won’t give away the story line (other than that the world ends and all), but it really makes you re-think any outstanding grudges you may have with people. It makes you realize that we have, as a whole, stopped being human beings and started acting like animals. We don’t care who we go to war with and who we kill, who we give special treatment to and who we leave to die.

It really made me think. It made me evaluate all my relationships and any fights I had recently. It made me think that I don’t want to wait until it’s too late… to tell someone I care, or that I’m sorry, or that I forgive them.

WATCH this movie. You’ll see what I mean.

It’s hard to write about it without giving it away. WATCH this movie and post your thoughts in the comments section. I’d love to read them.

Two previews for this movie are below! The first one is a longer one… the second one illustrates some of the points I made above.  And about 50 more previews for this film can be found on YouTube

Frustrations November 12, 2009

I have been to countless doctors and had countless tests to get a diagnosis for my seizures… with NO luck.

My GP thinks I’m nuts… My first neurologist was willing to try medication but he moved away and left me in the hands of another neurologist. THIS neurologist suggested I go to therapy. I beg your pardon, sir, but I’ve already got my shit together, thanks. I don’t need to pay someone to tell me how I’m feeling and why. I think I’ve got that under control far more than many of the other people in this world. Do you get some kind of a commission for referring people to therapists? jeeze.

My current neuro not only thought I should try therapy, but also that I should continue “dancing” (as I told him I like to dance for fun [ like to footloose!]).

I don’t have a problem with dancing, not at all, in fact, I was doing it today. And guess what… I had a SEIZURE.

Everyone who thinks it is caused by my excessive caffeine consumption… I haven’t had ANY caffeine in OVER two weeks, so…. I don’t think that’s it.

Today is the second day in a row during which I’ve had a seizure. I had one yesterday, too. And the past few times I’ve had them, it’s only been once per day rather than 5-7 times a day.

I guess that’s good, but god effing damned if I’m not frustrated as all hell.

I’m going to the hospital for 5 days in mid December for a Video EEG. I will be confined to my hospital room… hooray.

I’m just SO frustrated that it has been almost a YEAR since these things started and STILL no one can give me any answers.

And no, I can’t avoid the activites I’m doing when they happen… If I did that I would have to stop: Dancing, Showering, Looking at Calendars, Attending Class, Running Errands, Getting Juice, Entering my Kitchen and/or Bathroom.

Just not practical I tell you!

 

ughhhh….. sorry, needed to vent.

 

This Is It November 9, 2009

I went to see Michael Jackson’s This is It tonight. It was very well done given the circumstances under which it was created. Since it was never intended for public viewing, I’d say they did a fantastic job of putting it together FOR the public. It would have been a great tour.

I know there are a lot of mixed feelings about Michael Jackson and things he may or may not have done, but all those things aside, the man had a great message that a lot of people overlook. Man in the Mirror has ALWAYS been one of my favorite songs because it’s got a great message that most people forget about, and that’s sad.

I’m not sure how much longer the film is going to be in theaters, but I highly recommend you see it, regardless of how you feel about Michael Jackson. It’s an experience and if you take the time to pay attention to the message, you just might walk away a better person.

 

Autumn November 4, 2009

The Colors of Autumn

(Even when there is beauty around us, sometimes we just want to curl up and die)

(There are volumes in the forest no one reads out loud)

The Orange Juice Extravaganza November 3, 2009

You’ve seen BadBadGrandma… now it’s time to get the back story. I present to you: The Orange Juice Extravaganza.

My Disclaimer is this: I only filmed the FIRST part of this short movie. It was a three person project and we each filmed a different section. If the editing is shaky in the other 2 sections, it’s because the footage wasn’t adequate, but I did the best I could. Keep in mind people, this is from my FRESHMAN year of college. First Video Production class EVER. So don’t be too harsh.

Aj Scrapbook Essentials Logo November 3, 2009

Here are a few of the Headers/Logos that I created for AJ Scrapbook Essentials.

 

^^Original Design ^^

^^The Greens they liked better^^

^^Logo for their participation in *The Reindeer Roundup^^

 

The top image was the original header I created. They chose to go with darker shades of green, though.

*You can learn all about the Reindeer Roundup by visiting their BLOG listed below.

 

AJ Scrapbook Essentials DOT Com

AJ Scrapbook Essentials BLOG

Halloween, a poem October 31, 2009

I wrote this last year just as a fun project with Heidi. We picked a bunch of “halloween” words and then wrote poems… this is mine

Halloween

There is a night called All Hallows Eve
A night where all things make-believe
Come alive to haunt the community
Driven by their sacred unity
The Ghosts take over trashy homes
While each Zombie aimlessly roams
The streets searching for flesh
And the Vampires do their best
To avoid the light and hunt for blood
While Witches stir up their magic mud
And Ghouls chase the little ones searching for sweets
But they only find tricks and never treats
The Werewolves howl at the moon
And the night will end too soon
For these monsters who only live one night
Their night to cause endless fright
But when the sun begins to rise
They must return to their disguise
Just imaginary creatures existing in tales
And the good 364 prevails.

K.M.
10-18-08