I've been going back and forth on this point lately.
I just finished my fourth volunteer 'project'. I've done two in which the activity involved direct contact with elderly/terminally ill people and two that were more behind the scenes. I have to admit that I enjoy the behind the scenes activities infinitely more.
It's not that I don't want to work with the elderly or the sick. I have simply found that I have a severe gap in communication with certain people. In some instances I physically can't understand what they are saying. This makes me feel more than slightly embarrassed as a polite smile and nod only works about 90% of the time. The rest of the time they stare blankly at me, waiting for my answer to their perfectly sensible question.
Behind the scenes I can organize donations or sort clothing with a group of volunteers who I can at least converse with without having to strain to follow the conversation. For a while I felt really terrible about this. Then I spoke with a Jennifer, a volunteer from Connecticut who confessed she too had the same feelings. We decided this didn't necessarily make us selfish or bad people.
I would however like to stretch my comfort level a bit and get 'into the thick of it' more. The Meals On Wheels volunteer work seems to strike a better balance. The elderly shut-ins are grateful and speak very good English. They also don't really want you in their homes so they usually just open the door wide enough for you to hand the food through.
I guess Meals on Wheels will be my baby step toward feeling more comfortable working with the tired, the poor, the huddled masses.
And baby steps are better than no steps at all I suppose.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Volun-tears of Joy
Ok. So as most anyone who knows me knows, it doesn't take all that much to make me tear up. The commercial where the little boy learns some sign language so he can talk to this kid on the bus. The last scene in 'Brighton Beach Memoirs'. Pretty much the end of every movie, including Madagascar 2 - Escape From Africa.
On Monday night I saw another film clip that got the ole' water works going. I was at my orientation for New York Cares. It's an organization that is like a middle man for volunteer needs. They were showing a video highlighting some of the projects they are involved with and of course I didn't make it past the first 30 seconds before discreetly weeping opening and loudly.
Anyway, the bottom line is I would like to encourage all of my new york friends to join New York Cares. It's very easy and very rewarding.. I will outline the steps below.
1. Cut a hole in the box. Just Kidding.
1. Go to nycares.org.
2. Click on the 'NOT YET A VOLUNTEER?' button. This will help you sign up for a volunteer orientation. (The orientation took less than an hour and they have locations scattered around NYC. The orientations may be booked for a few weeks out so mark it in your calendar.)
3. Once you've been oriented you can go to the website and search for opportunities to volunteer in NYC. The best thing is that the program is set up for busy people. You can volunteer as much or as little as you want. Some of the programs look for a commitment of months but most are just a few hours one day.
4. Three of the things I'm signed up for are (to give you an idea of the projects) craft time with Seniors at a retirement home, reading and socializing with people living with AIDS at a long-term care home, and delivering meals (on foot) for Meals on Wheels.
Each of these is only one day and then I can decide if I want to sign up for more days or other projects. Again, I would like to encourage anyone who's interested to take a look at nycares.org. It would be fun to sign up for some of these projects with friends.
New York Cares makes it very easy to go from saying "I wish I had more time to volunteer' to actually being able to find the time to volunteer.
Let me know if you need any more info. Also, they have sister/brother organizations in other major cities so if you're not in NYC check them out as well.
Peace out, cub scouts.
On Monday night I saw another film clip that got the ole' water works going. I was at my orientation for New York Cares. It's an organization that is like a middle man for volunteer needs. They were showing a video highlighting some of the projects they are involved with and of course I didn't make it past the first 30 seconds before discreetly weeping opening and loudly.
Anyway, the bottom line is I would like to encourage all of my new york friends to join New York Cares. It's very easy and very rewarding.. I will outline the steps below.
1. Cut a hole in the box. Just Kidding.
1. Go to nycares.org.
2. Click on the 'NOT YET A VOLUNTEER?' button. This will help you sign up for a volunteer orientation. (The orientation took less than an hour and they have locations scattered around NYC. The orientations may be booked for a few weeks out so mark it in your calendar.)
3. Once you've been oriented you can go to the website and search for opportunities to volunteer in NYC. The best thing is that the program is set up for busy people. You can volunteer as much or as little as you want. Some of the programs look for a commitment of months but most are just a few hours one day.
4. Three of the things I'm signed up for are (to give you an idea of the projects) craft time with Seniors at a retirement home, reading and socializing with people living with AIDS at a long-term care home, and delivering meals (on foot) for Meals on Wheels.
Each of these is only one day and then I can decide if I want to sign up for more days or other projects. Again, I would like to encourage anyone who's interested to take a look at nycares.org. It would be fun to sign up for some of these projects with friends.
New York Cares makes it very easy to go from saying "I wish I had more time to volunteer' to actually being able to find the time to volunteer.
Let me know if you need any more info. Also, they have sister/brother organizations in other major cities so if you're not in NYC check them out as well.
Peace out, cub scouts.
Monday, November 17, 2008
CNN meets BET
On January 20th the first President with African American ancestry will be sworn in at what is sure to be the most watch inauguration in U.S. History. The television ratings will be astronomical.
Though no one has specifically asked me to, I have taken the liberty of brainstorming several reality shows that could capitalize on these ratings.
The most obvious choice would be WHITE HOUSE - BLACK FAMILY. It would highlight the historic significance of the Obamas' journey to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And how amusing would it be for us to watch the 1st family mix up their fat maid Sue Smith with the painfully thin chef Linda Jones? It's hysterically true how much white people all look alike! I can smell the ratings bonanza already.
At this moment John McCain is meeting with Barack Obama. The Obama camp says the meeting is simply to discuss the future of our country and will not result in any job offers. Not to get anyone too excited but a little birdie has told me that a possible position in the white house might in fact be in the cards for McCain. MASTER OF THE HOUSE. Picture it. McCain is hired to serve as 1st Butler to the Obama family. Astute political advice slipped to the commander in chief whilst massaging his feet fire-side. A muttering old man makes snide asides to the camera. The straight talk express parked on the lawn -- an extension cord running from the oval office to run the space heater and hot plate. Mark your calendars for this mid-season replacement.
1st PUPPY - It's a sort of WEST WING meets SCOOBY DOO. The Obama's new dog stars in an animated saturday morning cartoon that both teaches children about the political machinations of Washington as well as the how-to's of solving crimes. The mystery machine is replaced with a presidential motorcade, complete with doggie safety seat. And for May sweeps the Obama mutt (the dog, not President-elect -- hey! He said it, not me!) calls on former 1st dogs and cats for a heartwarming, all paws on deck solution to a major international crisis. This would be huge with the children and the stoner set.
Please feel free to leave suggestions for other Obama related programming. If the television people ever call me back I'll pass them along. We're gearing up for an incredible presidency. Let's demand the television programs to go with it.
Though no one has specifically asked me to, I have taken the liberty of brainstorming several reality shows that could capitalize on these ratings.
The most obvious choice would be WHITE HOUSE - BLACK FAMILY. It would highlight the historic significance of the Obamas' journey to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And how amusing would it be for us to watch the 1st family mix up their fat maid Sue Smith with the painfully thin chef Linda Jones? It's hysterically true how much white people all look alike! I can smell the ratings bonanza already.
At this moment John McCain is meeting with Barack Obama. The Obama camp says the meeting is simply to discuss the future of our country and will not result in any job offers. Not to get anyone too excited but a little birdie has told me that a possible position in the white house might in fact be in the cards for McCain. MASTER OF THE HOUSE. Picture it. McCain is hired to serve as 1st Butler to the Obama family. Astute political advice slipped to the commander in chief whilst massaging his feet fire-side. A muttering old man makes snide asides to the camera. The straight talk express parked on the lawn -- an extension cord running from the oval office to run the space heater and hot plate. Mark your calendars for this mid-season replacement.
1st PUPPY - It's a sort of WEST WING meets SCOOBY DOO. The Obama's new dog stars in an animated saturday morning cartoon that both teaches children about the political machinations of Washington as well as the how-to's of solving crimes. The mystery machine is replaced with a presidential motorcade, complete with doggie safety seat. And for May sweeps the Obama mutt (the dog, not President-elect -- hey! He said it, not me!) calls on former 1st dogs and cats for a heartwarming, all paws on deck solution to a major international crisis. This would be huge with the children and the stoner set.
Please feel free to leave suggestions for other Obama related programming. If the television people ever call me back I'll pass them along. We're gearing up for an incredible presidency. Let's demand the television programs to go with it.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Supplies demand
I'm drowning in office supplies.
The tide of writing paraphernalia has ebbed without flow consistently for about a year. This coincides, not uncoincidentally, with the advent of my writing ambitions.
In 2005 I toured with two cast members, who I often thought would make a fantastic animated duo. Thus, in a Sarasota hotel room at 4 AM Olly and Ody were born. It wasn't until my Christmas break in 2007 (If you're unemployed can you still call it a break?) that I sat down to actually start writing a first draft of a script based on these two characters.
Writing, as I'm sure do many passtimes/vocations, teaches you a great deal about yourself. It teaches you to brainstorm without limitations. It teaches you to trust your ideas while constantly striving for better ones. Writing can teach you about your voice and what's important to you.
These lessons are invaluable. But there is one lesson I've learned that will be the thorn in my creative side for the foreseeable future. And beyond that I'm sure but of course I can't see that far. That lesson is this:
NO AMOUNT OF OFFICE SUPPLIES CAN REPLACE DISCIPLINE, DILIGENCE AND DEDICATION.
My apartment looks like the supply closet at the Casa de Papel down the street. Stacks of unopened note cards. Cartons of pens. Rubber Bands. Tag Board. Each printable label earmarked for a storyboarding project that never got off the ground. A pile of unopened notebooks that once held the dreams of ideas coming too fast and furious to bother starting up my computer.
Why? Why am I living like the office pilferer? I've come to realize recently, perhaps even as recently as I'm typing this, that I've been using these trips to Staples as a crutch. Like a junkie to his dealer in need of escape, I've been traipsing across Manhattan whenever the need for creative productivity overwhelms me. Tomorrow I say. I'll get the supplies today and do the writing tomorrow.
It seems tomorrow comes so rarely.
A third draft of the film sits on my left, in desperate need of attention. On my right (and let's face it; on my left, behind me, in front of me, under the bed, in the closet and hidden in my underwear drawer) lie what holds me back. Post-its. White out. Scissors that make a scalloped edge. Is there no end to my self-destruction?!?!?
Tonight there is. I would love to give these errant office supplies the sendoff they deserve, but not knowing the bonfire laws in new york city nor the environmental effects of burning ink and plastic I think I will simply put them in the trash. Make that throw, heave and chuck them into the trash.
I would like to think I am one step closer to becoming the person I want to be. An hour of writing a day. That's my goal. I think I will save the tag board to make a calendar. Maybe I'll even save a red pen to make large X's through the days as I work toward my goal. Sure, it may be a little trite, a little '80's inspirational movie' but so be it.
And please, if you see in your neighborhood OfficeMax, do not hesitate to say: "Don't you think you've had enough? We're cutting you off Mr." Friends don't let friends put off writing.
The tide of writing paraphernalia has ebbed without flow consistently for about a year. This coincides, not uncoincidentally, with the advent of my writing ambitions.
In 2005 I toured with two cast members, who I often thought would make a fantastic animated duo. Thus, in a Sarasota hotel room at 4 AM Olly and Ody were born. It wasn't until my Christmas break in 2007 (If you're unemployed can you still call it a break?) that I sat down to actually start writing a first draft of a script based on these two characters.
Writing, as I'm sure do many passtimes/vocations, teaches you a great deal about yourself. It teaches you to brainstorm without limitations. It teaches you to trust your ideas while constantly striving for better ones. Writing can teach you about your voice and what's important to you.
These lessons are invaluable. But there is one lesson I've learned that will be the thorn in my creative side for the foreseeable future. And beyond that I'm sure but of course I can't see that far. That lesson is this:
NO AMOUNT OF OFFICE SUPPLIES CAN REPLACE DISCIPLINE, DILIGENCE AND DEDICATION.
My apartment looks like the supply closet at the Casa de Papel down the street. Stacks of unopened note cards. Cartons of pens. Rubber Bands. Tag Board. Each printable label earmarked for a storyboarding project that never got off the ground. A pile of unopened notebooks that once held the dreams of ideas coming too fast and furious to bother starting up my computer.
Why? Why am I living like the office pilferer? I've come to realize recently, perhaps even as recently as I'm typing this, that I've been using these trips to Staples as a crutch. Like a junkie to his dealer in need of escape, I've been traipsing across Manhattan whenever the need for creative productivity overwhelms me. Tomorrow I say. I'll get the supplies today and do the writing tomorrow.
It seems tomorrow comes so rarely.
A third draft of the film sits on my left, in desperate need of attention. On my right (and let's face it; on my left, behind me, in front of me, under the bed, in the closet and hidden in my underwear drawer) lie what holds me back. Post-its. White out. Scissors that make a scalloped edge. Is there no end to my self-destruction?!?!?
Tonight there is. I would love to give these errant office supplies the sendoff they deserve, but not knowing the bonfire laws in new york city nor the environmental effects of burning ink and plastic I think I will simply put them in the trash. Make that throw, heave and chuck them into the trash.
I would like to think I am one step closer to becoming the person I want to be. An hour of writing a day. That's my goal. I think I will save the tag board to make a calendar. Maybe I'll even save a red pen to make large X's through the days as I work toward my goal. Sure, it may be a little trite, a little '80's inspirational movie' but so be it.
And please, if you see in your neighborhood OfficeMax, do not hesitate to say: "Don't you think you've had enough? We're cutting you off Mr." Friends don't let friends put off writing.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Thoughts on Prop H8
Picture it. California. Angry marriage rights rallies. Civil rights in limbo.
1967? Hardly. Though it's not hard to imagine what it must have felt like in heyday of the Civil Rights movement. Harder to imagine is that it's not over. Doesn't it seem like it is? Or at least that it should be?
After November 4th it's clear. For those living in caves, or further than 200 feet from any homosexual, three states passed laws barring gay Americans from sharing in the rights and legal protection of marriage. Arkansas went one step further by banning adoptions to 'unmarried' couples, a not-very thinly veiled attack on prospective gay parents.
The ACLU has already filed with the courts. The basic tenant of these lawsuits is that the fate of a minority should never be put into the hands of the majority. In 1967 the supreme court ruled in the case of Loving v. Virginia (On a separate note I think I watched a film by the same title at a video booth in Times Square?) to overturn the earlier decision of Pace v. Alabama and strike down all race-based discrimination in marriage.
One year later a gallup poll was conducted. In that poll, 44% of the African American participants were in favor of interracial marriage. 17% of the whites polled were in favor of it. Given the ethnic makeup of the country in that time period, it works out to roughly 21.4% of the general population that supported extending marriage rights to interracial couples.
NOT A MAJORITY. Yet still it was the right thing to do.
One can hope that the courts will see things in the same light this time around. This is not about freedom of religion or even freedom from religion. It is about a basic right that affects a group of people. A group of Americans.
No matter how anyone wants to spin it, this does not affect straight couples. (Except those that would like to go their gay friends' weddings. And, really, with the food, flowers and music who wouldn't?) No one would be required to marry a member of the same sex. Straight marriage will not be any less special or any more precarious than it is now.
The inevitable (and yes, it is inevitable - you can't stop the beat) legalization of gay marriage will accomplish one thing. It will bring America one step closer to the 'Liberty and Justice For All' that we love to chuck around as though we really mean it. Someday, maybe in my children's lifetime, that claim will be less of an ideal and more of a reality. A boy can dream can't he?
(I said 'Children' even though Ian has made it perfectly clear that we will only be having 1 child. I just thought the word 'Children' fit the phrasing better. Ian, please excuse the editorial license.)
1967? Hardly. Though it's not hard to imagine what it must have felt like in heyday of the Civil Rights movement. Harder to imagine is that it's not over. Doesn't it seem like it is? Or at least that it should be?
After November 4th it's clear. For those living in caves, or further than 200 feet from any homosexual, three states passed laws barring gay Americans from sharing in the rights and legal protection of marriage. Arkansas went one step further by banning adoptions to 'unmarried' couples, a not-very thinly veiled attack on prospective gay parents.
The ACLU has already filed with the courts. The basic tenant of these lawsuits is that the fate of a minority should never be put into the hands of the majority. In 1967 the supreme court ruled in the case of Loving v. Virginia (On a separate note I think I watched a film by the same title at a video booth in Times Square?) to overturn the earlier decision of Pace v. Alabama and strike down all race-based discrimination in marriage.
One year later a gallup poll was conducted. In that poll, 44% of the African American participants were in favor of interracial marriage. 17% of the whites polled were in favor of it. Given the ethnic makeup of the country in that time period, it works out to roughly 21.4% of the general population that supported extending marriage rights to interracial couples.
NOT A MAJORITY. Yet still it was the right thing to do.
One can hope that the courts will see things in the same light this time around. This is not about freedom of religion or even freedom from religion. It is about a basic right that affects a group of people. A group of Americans.
No matter how anyone wants to spin it, this does not affect straight couples. (Except those that would like to go their gay friends' weddings. And, really, with the food, flowers and music who wouldn't?) No one would be required to marry a member of the same sex. Straight marriage will not be any less special or any more precarious than it is now.
The inevitable (and yes, it is inevitable - you can't stop the beat) legalization of gay marriage will accomplish one thing. It will bring America one step closer to the 'Liberty and Justice For All' that we love to chuck around as though we really mean it. Someday, maybe in my children's lifetime, that claim will be less of an ideal and more of a reality. A boy can dream can't he?
(I said 'Children' even though Ian has made it perfectly clear that we will only be having 1 child. I just thought the word 'Children' fit the phrasing better. Ian, please excuse the editorial license.)
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