Peeling Potatoes

Potato peeling has to be one of the most menial, tedious tasks in the kitchen.  Why is it that when I’m doing it for my own family, it’s such a chore, but today it was an absolute joy?  The fact that I felt completely out of my element (being in the kitchen is not my thing) was unsettling and humbling.

The whole reason I chose this shelter to volunteer is that it would be an immersion type of experience.  This is a place for homeless families (especially single parents), to transition back into society after receiving training and a safe place to be able to get back on their feet.  They can stay for up to two years, and have access to many community avenues of support.  They can even get jobs or internships in the various areas on campus, kitchen, laundry, offices, etc.

I talked to several ladies today, all of whom are in different places in their life.  One woman is retired and has been volunteering for a couple of months.  She used to be a flight attendant, but this job is fulfilling to her, where she can do something that matters.  One is married and enjoys the finer things, yet something draws her to the little kids who are there to fill their trays each day.  One is a resident who works in the kitchen, who was allowed to use the kitchen to prepare food for her daughter’s birthday party.

 

The one woman with whom I connected immediately had been widowed 4 years ago, and that’s when her life fell apart.  She found herself homeless, and now is living with her oldest son. Her youngest is eight years old.  She is an intern in the kitchen, and her time is up soon.  She’s nervous about it, but has a lead on a job as soon as her time is up.  This reminded me of how life can change in an instant, and that none of us can really say ‘it will never happen to me.’  I know my family and I have been close a few times.  It’s a scary place to be.

Can I make a difference here?  Maybe.  The kitchen is not where I originally wanted to be, but only because my skill set is not exactly suited.  I’ve had lots of different jobs, but they’ve always been in my comfort zone.  Maybe this is as much for me to shake things up a little bit for myself as it is to give a couple of hours a week to help those who are going through a rough season in their lives.  Whatever happens, today’s muscle aches are completely eclipsed by the satisfaction in the fact that tomorrow morning, there will be hashbrowns for breakfast for the families at the shelter.

 

I survived JTerm!

And now we’re 2 weeks into the Spring semester. WHEW!  That was pretty rough.

Got a letter a couple of weeks ago that says I made the Dean’s List last semester.  It wasn’t a goal I had even thought of working toward, but now that I know I can, I will.  Classes will probably keep me so busy from now until the end of May (not to mention all the costuming stuff for the ballet school…), that I will have little time to update, but I’ll try…I really will.  Probably once a week is all I can give you for now.  But do follow my 365 project.  I’ve been able to update that fairly well, since it only takes a couple of minutes….but even so, no more than a couple times a week.

So here’s what the new term has in store for me:

MWF -

New Testament (WHY did I choose to do this first thing in the morning???)  This class…well, let’s just say the instructor is not my favorite person

Advanced Statistics and Research – in essence, this class will walk me through a ‘mini senior capstone’ project.  Major research project, using human participants and manipulations.  30+ page paper (including diagrams and charts).  Oh, and I get to work with a partner, so that’ll help, time wise.

T/Th

Personality Theories – Just what it sounds like.  I get to learn about all the different types of personality tests and the theorists who came up with the different definitions of personality traits, etc.  It’s complex….but fun!

Community Psychology – I think this will be my absolute favorite class this year, it’s taught by the same prof as Personality Theories.  You know I want to go into the Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s program when I’m done with the Bachelor’s, and THIS class is the one that will get me ready for the way they do things there.  We’ll be learning new ideas about helping others, in a holistic way, instead of singling people out and blaming them (or others) for their problems.  It’s more about being involved and networked in the community to provide people the help they need.  So very excited about this!  One of the things the prof is having us do is to get involved in some sort of service project.  I chose to work with the Tacoma Rescue Mission, because it’s where I want to do my internship this summer.  My heart is pulled toward homeless women and children, especially those who have been abused and thrown away.  These women are working hard to get their lives back, and the Mission is a safe place for them to be able to do that.

So…that’s a snapshot of my school workload.  16 credits….many hours.  It’s definitely overwhelming, but I will get through it, and I will succeed.  Hope you don’t mind if I share some of what I learn along the way.

Project on the Chinook Indians

While working on my project tonight, I came to realize that the Chinook have been cheated not once, but twice out of their traditional lands. Please consider signing this petition to have their rightful home restored.

 

http://www.petition2congress.com/5702/support-federal-restoration-chinook-indian-nation/?m=4019446

JTerm

This is the most condensed class I’ve ever taken. Lewis and Clark from alternative perspectives. I’m under the gun right now, less than two weeks to finish two major projects.  I’ll be able to do more with posting updates after that…but in the meanwhile, enjoy my 365 project.

 

Hello to 2013

Still sick here, but grateful.  Grateful for the fact that we’re all here, safe, and in one piece.  Also for the fact that this past year, I feel like I’ve been given my life back, even amidst all the struggling.  Grateful for the host of friends and family who are there, loving and supporting me, and praying for me every moment.  You are priceless.

As for the blog for the coming year…I have a couple of things I plan on doing.

1. More stories and poetry and recruiting of guest bloggers.

2. More photos.  I’ve joined http://www.365project.org and will be taking photos every day.  I’ll add a link to the right side so you can follow my progress there.

3. Continuing my fight to get healthy and sharing that journey with you.  That means more healthy eating, tweaking my meds, finding a thyroid friendly doctor, and continuing to move my body more.

4. Learning how to balance school, work and family during one of the busiest semesters I will likely have. If I can figure that out, it’ll mean more and better blog posts as well as just better quality of life all the way around.

5. Stretching myself in the creativity department as I take on more responsibilities in the ballet company, making new costumes and learning new skills. But also taking time to play. I’d also like to share more fun ideas and maybe even a tutorial or two.

6. Explore my faith more. The past couple of years have been difficult…a real test to my faith and faithfulness.  I want to get better at that.

Not resolutions, but goals.  Something to shoot for, because if I don’t have them, I’ll wander aimlessly. Walk alongside me…dream with me…

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.” – Thoreau

What would you like to see in 2013?

Saying Goodbye to 2012

It’s been a month since I’ve been here.  My apologies if you have felt abandoned.  But with school projects coming due, finals, and work with Nutcracker, not to mention all of the stress and insanity because of our insurance settlement STILL not being here, I needed to pare down my activities.  And I’ll still likely only be posting 3-4 times a week now.

After this post, I’m going to work up a survey, to find out what kinds of things you’d like to see in my blog.  I want to take this in a new direction…posting crafty things, healthy things, more photography, philosophical (or not) discussion and discovery, product reviews and other things.  Feel free to leave suggestions, too.

My main reason for posting tonight (other than explaining why I’ve been MIA), is that it’s the eve of New Year’s Eve…and it always brings me to reflecting on the year we are closing.  Have I met the goals I set for myself?  If so, it’s time to celebrate them.  If not, it’s time to figure out where I got off track, or if they were reasonable goals to begin with.

This past year, my main goal was to somehow get healthier…to start taking natural thyroid, to lose some weight, get moving more, eat better and sleep on a more regular schedule. Also, I wanted to go back to school and get my home organized.  Two out of three isn’t bad.  Getting the house organized is a bigger task than originally thought…mainly because there are two other people living here that aren’t always on the same page as I am, but also because I struggled for so long with lack of energy (therefore, lack of time) to accomplish my goals in that area.

What have we learned from this?  Break tasks down into even smaller parts than originally thought necessary.  If I can only get one part done, that’s ok!  If I can get two parts done, that’s great.  If I can get multiple parts done, do a happy dance.  The point is to continue to make progress…and not get disappointed if we can’t cross everything off the list every day.  It all evens out in the end, as long as we keep plugging away at it.

As we say goodbye to 2012, what were goals you have achieved this year?  What dreams did you work to become reality?  Share your success stories.  Do save next year’s goals for a couple of days….there will be another post!

So busy, I barely have time to…

….you name it.  With Nutcracker preparations well underway (nearly finished!), final exams in two weeks, and trying to keep on top of everything else…it’s been a little crazy.  I haven’t been sleeping or eating the way I should be, and have been depressed a bit by our current financial setbacks (if you want to know, message me privately).  Trying to concentrate on the things I CAN do, and just get through each day.

It’s Nutcracker Time again!

Ten years ago, my husband, my daughter and I walked into the quaint theater in downtown Tacoma, the one with cozy, old world charm, climbed the stairs to the balcony, and sank into the red velvet seats. I wanted to share the Nutcracker with my then 4 year old daughter, as my mother had shared with me when we went to see my high school friend dance as a Pochinelle. We read the story beforehand, so she would know what was coming. I was afraid she would be fearful of the Mouse King and the big Nutcracker doll.

The music started, and the curtain lifted. She giggled as she saw all the boys and girls and their parents making their way toward the stage from the audience. She gasped in surprise, and was hooked immediately. We never dreamed we would be able to see a reproduction of the original Russian Nutcracker!

Here it is, ten years later, and my not so little girl will be dancing in this year’s production in the Fairy Corps, and as a Snowflake in the Waltz Finale. She has had to overcome so many challenges to get here, learning how to be committed and work hard at her craft, and the fact that she will never be tall. At 5 feet tall, she will have to learn to have a bigger than life personality to really do well, and for a little girl who was so painfully shy, that is a lot to overcome. But I have no doubt she will. She wants to teach and inspire young girls and boys to dance, so she starts on the stage. It’s the dancer’s job to grab their hearts and pull them in.

There are going to be little boys and girls in the audience who are going to watch the dance, and think how magical it all is, who will want to someday dance where the dancers are now. That is the perspective Aleesha had nearly 10 years ago. I watched her as she sat perfectly still, eyes wide, completely entranced. Who knew that one day she would have the opportunity (with all the rest of the company) to evoke the same reaction?

 

Tacoma City Ballet’s

The Nutcracker

Throughout the world, The Nutcracker has become a special Christmas event for generations. Tacoma City Ballet, in concert with The Northwest Sinfonietta, presents the story of Clara and The Nutcracker. This timeless family classic is performed in the tradition of the St. Petersburg Russian original first presented over 100 years ago. From choreography to scenery and costume design, this glorious production transports you to a land filled with music, magic and wonder.

Saturday, December 8th at 3:00 PM
Sunday, December 9th at 3:00 PM
Saturday, December 15th at 3:00 PM
Sunday, December 16th at 3:00 PM
Saturday, December 22nd at 3:00 PM
Sunday, December 23rd at 3:00 PM

Pantages Theatre | 901 Broadway in Downtown Tacoma

Tickets $19.00 – $60.00 On Sale Now

Video Games Live

Our first concert of the season was a collaboration with the company that produces Video Games Live, which is, according to their website, “An immersive event created by the game industry featuring the best game music performed by top orchestras and choirs combined with synchronized lighting, video, live action and audience interactivity.  The first and most successful video game concert tour in the world.”

WOW.  To be part of this was such an honor, and a TOTAL BLAST!

Here’s a few videos from the concert.  Maybe next year when they come to town again (or even if they come to YOUR town), you can go hang out with a bunch of gamers and have a completely fun night of music, games and geekery.