about kindness and patience...

Follow this link.

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7FbFiQ/www.zenmoments.org/the-cab-ride-ill-never-forget/

Love.

about good, age-old lessons...

Charles Schultz Philosophy 



The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz , the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world .

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners. 




How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. They are not second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners. 



Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school...

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. 



Easier?
I love this! 

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are NOT the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care. 

 
Share this with those who have made a difference in your life.
I just did!

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. 

It's already tomorrow in Australia ..." 

Charles Schultz

(thanks, http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/7EC8K6/www.binscorner.com/pages/f/fw-the-charles-schultz-philosophy.html)

As I was "Stumbling" (which is my new favorite thing to do...), I came across this little gem from Charles Schultz. I can't remember which class in either middle school or high school it was in which the first part of this "quiz" was handed out as homework one evening. The only sources we could enlist for help were human, parents/friends/etc. Number 5, needless to say, was a piece of cake for me, but all the others? Not so much. I remember showing up with my 30% complete homework the next day in class feeling pretty crappy. I was a perfectionist, you see, so turning in less than "A" work, God FORBID incomplete work was just something I didn't do. After we turned in part one, we were handed part two.

I looked it over.

Smiled. 

Sighed an "Oh!! It was just a LIFE LESSON!" sigh of relief and set straight to work. I was done pretty quickly. If anything took extra time, it was the writing of ALL of the names that fit each category. 

What a beautiful lesson from one of the world's greatest artists. 

Since it's that time of year where we tend to take more note of the "important things" in life, always vowing to be more observant of them in the "off-season," I thought I'd take a moment to do part two again. I encourage you, whoever you are, to do the same.

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school... 

Where to begin? From elementary and up, I suppose:

Marge Von Bon

Lynn Albright

Denis Hildreth

Doug Wheeler

Timm Pilcher

Aaron Albin

Rebecca Gruber

Denise Myers

Dr. Money

Lori Bales

Laura Ledford

Ann Borders

Sean Morrissey

Barry Pearson

Alex Miller

Dr. Keagle
And all of LAMDA. 

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time. 

Andrea, Kate, Fitz

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile. 

All of the above, plus my parents and brothers

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special. 

All of the above plus Matt, Christina, Sarah S, Laura, Kevin, Chase, Ella, Bob, Billy, Jason, Vince, Sarah D, Toni, Sara...I could be here all day - all of my friends, you know exactly who you are, and I love you and hope you know how important you are to me.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with. 

ALL.OF.THE.ABOVE

How lucky am I to know all of these fantastic people?

about Harry Friggin' Potter

I went to my first midnight showing last night. There's something so comforting and communal about being one of a few hundred crazy, weird, totally nerdy Harry Potter fans all waiting for what will hopefully be a stellar adaptation of one of the final installments of our favorite wizard and friends' tale. I'll be the first to admit that the last couple of movies, while capturing the right feel, failed to do justice to the books. They added unnecessary plot points while leaving out some absolutely needed ones and leave me entertained, but unsatisfied. Not so with this one. It was a gift to true fans: 2 1/2 hours, ample time to adequately and effectively get through a significant portion of the book, while getting through enough of it to assure us that the final moments will get their dues in the final installment. With a quick wrap-up of some of said left out necessaries, we were off on a terrifying, funny, and all around thrilling adventure. Clearly, everyone in the theatre knew exactly what was coming (as they should....books should never be cast aside for movie adaptations) so the collective gasps all came as we entered the scene, knowing what would lie in store, all the while hoping, praying it didn't- wanting to warn our brave bespectacled hero of the wrong turns and shrieking with fear when the inevitable occurred. In short, I loved it. If you aren't a Harry fan (A of all, GET WITH IT!), you'll be confused, but it's still a quality movie. No, I take it back. Just sit down and start from square one. You're depriving yourself of a beautiful story of friendship, good vs. evil, and the absolute triumph of love.

Here's to the boy who lived.

about remembering why.... (warning: cheesy and somewhat dramatic)

I went to see The Music Man at The Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre last night. As the lights dimmed, and that train began to chug with the classic "Whaddya talk whaddya talk whaddya talk, etc." it suddenly hit me how important this show is to me. I vaguely remember it as the first show I ever saw at the age of 4 at Roosevelt High School with my mom. (I know she took me to see Kathy Rigby in Peter Pan at the Civic Center a year earlier, but I honestly don't remember it, I was so little). I had been watching movie musicals and singing along for a while, and I remember sitting there, watching these kids perform and thinking "I want to do THAT!" So it was entirely fitting that it was the show in which I made my theatrical debut at the age of 8 at the Des Moines Community Playhouse. I'll never forget sitting at those auditions with my mom, clutching my 32 bars of "Tomorrow" from Annie (ty-pi-cal), terrified, but so excited to get to sing on a real stage. Ever the theatrical mother, she encouraged me with a whispered "Sing out, Louise!" as I got up to do my thang. I got cast as Gracie Shinn and spoke my first line ever, "I know who did it, Tommy Djilas did it, Tommy Djilas!!" in that summer of '94. Thus began my love affair (complete with alllllllll sorts of ups and downs) with theatre.

I laughed. I cried. I wanted to sing along with them. And most importantly, I remembered why, in spite of all of the difficulty and rejection and waiting that goes along with this career, I want to do it. The sharing of yourself with an ensemble and an audience is a rush that can't be adequately described or ever replaced. So when I get down on myself and want to quit when I think nothing can possibly come of this routine, I will buck up, remind myself that in the grand scheme of things, I'm pretty friggin' green. Then I will get tickets to a show, watch some amazing talent, and commit to pounding the pavement another day. Because I love it so much. And because, despite what people say about the divas and the dramatics, there's nothing better than a community full of love and trust and sharing.

about human responsibility...

I finished reading the book Ishmael, by Daniel Quinn yesterday. In short, it's about a philosophizing gorilla, (yes, gorilla) who teaches his conclusions about the earth and the human species to a willing and eager student. To be perfectly honest, none of the theories or ideas in the book came as a great shock or revelation, but it still had an impact on me.

We as humans, I should say Westernly Civilized humans, have this completely arrogant idea that the world and all it's fauna and flora "belong" to us. We pat ourselves on the backs for being advanced enough to discover that we are a link in a billion-year evolutionary chain, yet we ignorantly live as though the chain was supposed to end with us. The world's resources are depleting and wars are waged in all parts of the globe. People carry a small amount of worry for an "apocalypse," but disregard the idea that we may be the cause of our own destruction.

Bigger Better Faster Stronger Fatter Smarter etc etc etc

We have progressed at a staggering rate in the last 50 years compared to the last couple of centuries of progress. VCRs were sufficient for a couple of decades before DVD players, but Blue-Ray was a mere three years on DVD's tail. But there are people in the world who live happily and comfortably without any of the conveniences we so take for granted.

God(de)(s) gave us this incredible gift, and we, in turn, took it for our own. Played with fire. Played God. And we are suffering the consequences. I sit here, at my computer, with my Starbucks, in my Banana Republic, thinking about my next meal (which, no matter how poor I think I am, is ALWAYS available), knowing full well that I have the ability to make a small difference. It's not about giving up all of our modern conveniences and living like the Bushmen of Africa. Small changes can make a world of difference. A mere consideration about how my choices affect everything around me will make a difference. Will I change? I talk a helluva game, but do I have the ability to live a simpler, more giving, loving life? Have I become so accustomed to all of these things I think I need that there's no way I can change the way I live so drastically? Like the vast majority of people, will I stand idly by, knowing the damage, feeling badly about it, worrying about the end of days, yet DOING absolutely nothing?

I hope I don't.

I want to be an agent of change.

about having regrets

No, not huge ones. I work really hard to not have those. I'm talking about those little things that seem so silly, so inconsequential, it's almost an additional regret that you spent any time regretting them. Here are a few of mine:

#1: Not buying this really beautiful (but completely expensive) sweater vesty thing at Banana Republic a couple of weeks ago. It was this luxurious cashmere, subtle peach colored, long vest thingy with a flower detail on the left shoulder. I loved it. I wanted it. Bad. But it was $88. Yeesh. (On the flip-side, because of this self-control, I don't have a regret of spending an obscene amount of money on one clothing item... high five, Anna)

#2 (the regret that inspired this post): Never practicing (and eventually quitting) piano. I really hated it at the time, but I wish I had stuck with it. I absolutely adore Sara Bareilles (who is currently playing on my itunes, thus inspiring said regret), and I would like to think that, had I continued on, I would have developed a nuanced and beautiful composing style to rival hers. And I'd also be a poet. Yeah. That's exactly how my life would be if I hadn't quit.

#3: Not playing enough sports as a child. I'm a total girly-girl, so it makes sense that I quit soccer and basketball after one dramatically tearful attempt each, only to retire to my room with my Barbies and showtunes and 20-piece Chicken McNugget Value Meals. I took dance lessons.... that's a sport, right? All the same, had I continued with real sports, I may have put the McNuggets down and avoided the "Pretty Plus" section for "heftier girls" at Sears for the majority of the already painful adolescent years.

#4: Killing that fish my Freshman year roommate and I had for a couple of months. Regrettably (again), I don't even remember his name....I wonder if Colleen does... (note to self: Facebook her and find out... which leads me to....)

#5: All the hours of my life wasted on Facebook. It's so bad, I will get on the internet with a specific search in mind, but my fingers are trained to go to Facebook, and soon enough, I'm stalking away, forgetting my original internet intent. Inevitably, I will be posting this blog post on Facebook, which is likely where you, one of 7 readers, found it.

I'm going to stop at 5 regrets because it's a nice number, and I have some time I need to waste on facebook while pining over Sara Bareilles' mad skill.

about taking steps back.

I think it's stupid. And infuriating. And ridiculous. Mostly? I think it's sad. I am all for checks and balances, don't get me wrong. That's what makes democracy and America great. You know what else makes America great? Freedom. Not the kind that Sarah Palin talks about, that kind of hateful, suppressing intolerance that's ripping a burning hole in the country right now. I mean real, honest-to-GOD, Founding-Father-INTENDED freedom. The freedom to pursue a dream. The freedom to be truly who you are without fear. The freedom to practice the religion you choose. The freedom to marry whomever you choose. We can flaunt our rights as long as they do not impede on someone else's. So, NO, Iowa and the majority of the country. You do NOT get to say it's your "right" to get rid of a judge for upholding someone else's rights. That is IMPEDING on someone else's right to be a FREE AMERICAN.

Yesterday, the ignorant people of Iowa voted "no" to retaining three judges who upheld the constitution. They were fired for what? DOING THEIR JOBS. The common sense people of the state were, sadly, the minority. Apparently, ignorance is rampant in the United States. Case in point: last night's election results. Country-wide.

I'm trying not to cry at work. But I'm crying for a loss of intelligence and tolerance across the country. And I'm crying for Iowa. And I'm praying for hope and deliverance from evil disguised as "common sense conservativism." And I'm trying really hard to be positive, but it's really fucking hard right now.

about helpful law councils...

http://www.chicagocouncil.org/ballot_order_for_ccl_final.pdf

Hallelujah!! The Chicago Council of Law put out a helpful guide which lists all of the judges up for review and their educated opinion on who should and should not be retained. I'm not just blindly copying, don't worry. But I am going to take their surely sage advice on all of the "yes" votes. I just spent 10 minutes looking up the judges they voted "no" on, and I can happily report that I agree with all but one of them. Democracy in action, people.

In other political news, I'm totally bummed to be missing the "Rally to Restore Sanity" festivities taking place today. The Daily Show and The Colbert Report have long been my favorite sources for all news, and I would so love to partake in their brilliant political action today. I'm there in spirit, Jon. I promise. He knows I exist, right? He knows about my undying devotion to him, right?

*sigh*

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

about being less informed than I care to admit...

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm in the process of doing some Illinois-candidate-research for the upcoming election. And now my head hurts. I'm feeling pretty solid on my choices for Senate, Governor, US Rep, and Attorney General. Then things get sticky. I try really hard to be politically-informed, and I pride myself on my educated voting practices. But why are there 66, SIXTY-SIX judges up for review in the circuit court? I suppose I could be lazy and just vote "Yes" to all of them, but what if there are a few whose issues don't jibe with my own? What if I unwittingly vote the pro-life, anti-gay, eye-for-an-eye court justice into office for another term? Now, I realize that in Chicago, my vote probably doesn't count that much, but did you see that Kevin Costner movie, Swing Vote?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027862/

The fear of that situation knocking on my door could make me lose sleep at night, and I am NOT ok with that.

So here I sit. Diligently looking up information on each and every one of the 66, while googling what the hell "comptroller" means (beyond that episode of Sex and the City with the politician who wants Carrie to pee on him...), and blogging about it along the way, because if I look at another aging white dude with the same platform, my head will explode.

I will be an educated voter, I will be an educated voter, I will be an educated voter, I will be an educated voter, and so on and so forth.

Mainly, I'm distracted by figuring out how I'm going to de-sluttify the "naughty cop" Halloween costume I had to settle for when the Lucy Ricardos were out of stock.

*Sigh* Back to the google....

about Education Reform in this country

So I've been doing some last-minute political research for the upcoming election. This is the first time I will be voting in the state of Illinois, and I realized that I know very little about the candidates/policies/issues in this state. I love exercising my right to vote and would hate to be a stupid voter, so I printed off the "sample ballot" for my district and set to work googling each and every candidate (even the write-ins). Being from an educational family (lots and lots of teachers), it's one of the issues I ALWAYS click on in the candidate websites, along with women's issues, environment, civil rights, and all those other "bleeding-heart liberal" issues that actually matter to me. (I understand your point, fiscal Republicans, but money is the root of all evil, and kindness is going to save the world; peace and love; make love not war; etc etc etc.)

Anyway! As I was perusing all of the more conservative websites, I found a disturbing trend in educational platforms. "Parents should be able to choose where to send their kids to school, no matter how much money they make," "The wealthy shouldn't be the only ones with a choice for better education" "Competition breeds smarter kids" blahblahblah. It all sounds ok, on the surface. Why shouldn't all children be entitled to the best schools? However, as a proud graduate of the public schools, I can't help but point out that all of these candidates are working really hard to fix the symptom instead of working to cure the disease. Teachers work incredibly hard. Those in the public schools, especially the struggling ones, work even harder. They have a limited budget and, let's face it, not the most academically-driven students and parents to handle on a daily basis. No offence, private/wealthy school teachers and administrators, but you probably couldn't last a week in one of these schools.

Why, oh why are we even considering taking more money away from these schools so that poorer families can "choose a better school" for their kiddos? Those families likely have bigger fish to fry and chances are, their first priorities do not lie with their kids' educations. Sad, but true. They need to trust that when they are working to put food on the table, their students are spending time in quality schools with quality teachers who aren't limited by time, over-crowding, limited budgets, and a basic lack of support from a government whose politicians wouldn't be anywhere without an education. Even the crappy ones. The best choice for these struggling kids is not a "move-away-from-the-problem" quick-fix. Schools are a student's home-away-from-home. How on earth can they nurture developing students when they are being sucked dry of their own nourishment?

Let's face it, most of the candidates supporting this pillage and abandonment of the public school system are also pro-lifers with a mild but noticeable anti-gay sentiment, so they didn't stand a chance with my vote anyway. But it's scary to me how easily this country could turn its back on one of its most important family members: The Public Schools. Yet again I urge: Get it together, America.

about making a little more love in the world...

Seriously, America. This has got to stop. The country is going to hell in a hand-basket, and it isn't because of a "breakdown of morals" or a "turning away from Jesus." Actually, I take that back. There is a serious shun of Jesus' teachings going on, and it's coming from a group as harmless-sounding as a "tea party." Here's my theory. Were Jesus around today, he'd be a healthcare-giving, gay-loving, anti-war SOCIALIST. But Anna! How can you say that!? Because HE WAS A HEALTHCARE-GIVING, GAY-LOVING, ANTI-WAR SOCIALIST WHEN HE WAS AROUND 2000 YEARS AGO. He kissed lepers and made them well. Not because he was a miracle-worker. Because he looked at people who were different, outcast, hated even, and said, "You are a human being who deserves to be loved and respected for who you are. You are not an abomination. You are a child of God."

We are burning through our natural resources, people are starving (not Americans, of course), we are chin-deep in unnecessary, un"win"able wars, and where are our priorities? Treating gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender individuals like a second class of people? Driving questioning teens to feel they have no option but death? Fighting (STILL) about whether a woman can make a decision about what to do with HER body? Keeping people from receiving proper healthcare? Shouldn't all of these things be no-brainers?

I'll go back to Jesus: LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR. Love them so hard it hurts. Love them a way you didn't know you could love. Love them BECAUSE they are different from you and you know they need it more. And while you're in the process, hug a tree.

2012? I doubt the world will end in a giant tidal wave. But if we aren't careful, it's going to end in fiery pit of hateful behavior. Get it together.

about re-reading my London journal

It just makes me ache and pine for that home I had there, where a piece of my heart still lives and calls for me to come claim it once again. Here's a snippet:

Sunday, September 23, 2007 (3 years ago....shit)

"I ventured out alone for the first time since I've been here. Granted, it was only for a ten minute walk from the South Kensington tube station to my residence hall on Manresa Rd. All the same, it liberated me. For the first time, I felt like London was home, or at least that little corner of Chelsea was home. My turf. My neighborhood. My....people. I had a pleasant skip in my step as I walked, tea in hand, by the white, pillared homes. Past couples holding hands, jolly older Englishmen with their bags of groceries from Waitrose, women walking their King Charles spaniels (I swear, it's the only breed in these parts), and bicyclest after bicyclest. There must have been something going on today with bicycles because everyone was on one.

It was such a beautiful day to just be walking, too. I couldn't wipe the smile from my face. I found myself wanting to smile at everyone I passed. The mother carefully lifting the stroller that held her sleeping child was happy to exchange a grin, as was the older woman out for a stroll. She seemed pleasantly surprised that I even made eye-contact, quite like the older gentleman back from shopping. His jovial ear-to-ear almost made me audibly giggle. And I found something else to love about this city: random acts of smiling. In parts of America, people don't bother to even make eye-contact, let alone smile. Maybe it's that old world charm that still exists in England, maybe it's my sheer joy at being in this fantastical land of Shakespeare and Elizabeth I and Hugh Grant, but I've found, especially on serene and beautiful Sunday afternoons, the people here are more than happy to share in your silent elation."

I want to go. I want to go now. I love it. Love, love, love, a feeling I've truly felt and put more and more stock in recently in my life, finally feeling it for another person. I feel quite certain I'm meant to head across the pond again, and not in some distant time, far-far-away, but in some time very soon indeed.

Reading the old journal entries put a lump in my throat and a fire in my belly. Time to fan the flames.

about impending birthdays

My 22nd year was a pretty momentous one: Graduated from college, worked 2 pretty amazing theatre jobs, met a whole lot of wonderful people, met one extra special wonderful person who, for whatever reason, is flying halfway across the country to spend 6 days with me, and moved to my favorite city in the world, Chicago. Half of me is staring 23 in the face saying, "Bring it, 23! I'm ready for whatever awesome things you have to throw me!" And the other half is fearing that 23 could bring me a whole lot of nothing: no jobs, no drive, no money.....eeeek. And then I stop. And I think. Even if 23 would suck, I'm a lucky, lucky girl. I have a group of stunning, beautiful, talented, hilarious friends who keep me smiling and laughing all day every day. I have an incredible family who will be there in good times and in bad, supported every decision I make. I live in a city that I adore with or without money to spend. There's a man in my life who makes me smile with every text message, skype date, and phone call we long-distancely share (and may I repeat, he's spending 6 days with me this week?!) So, ipso facto, even if times are bad, they're pretty fucking good. I am happy and grateful for life, happiness, family, friends, wine, food, Chicago, and above all the love I have for all of these treasures. Happy Valentine's Day.

about moving and settling in Chicago

It's really exciting!!!! But maybe I should go back a bit, considering I haven't blogged in, oh, AGES.

Tour was fantastic. Sure, it had its lows, but what experience doesn't? I met/reconnected with some really fantastic people who I know will be in my life from now on. I had a tourmance that was supposed to be easy, breezy and simple, and then we went and cared a lot about each other so it's complicated now. But complicated in a good way, I think. :) I smile a lot. Not that I didn't smile a lot before; anyone who knows me knows that I'm a generally happy, smiley person. But it's a different kind of smile, and I like it. A lot. Arg. Stupid New Jersey. But that's its own blog.

I had a quick and wonderful Christmas in Des Moines, then I packed up all (and I mean ALL) of my shit in boxes and bags and containers, shoved it onto a 10ft Uhaul, and headed to Chi-town with my parents. After a great dinner and a tearful (and I mean TEARFUL) goodbye with my parents, I finished unpacking my life into my new life's apartment, and went out for some celebratory drinks with friends. And I've been here ever since! I spent my first week applying and applying and applying, and my second week doing some interviews, and I now have a job (albeit TEMPORARY) through my temp agency that starts on Monday. I'm starting to really settle into life here, and I like it. I joined a gym so I can get my life back in order in that department, and I'm really excited to see where life takes me. I kind of can't wait and am petrified to start auditioning again, but that's really why I'm here.

And that brings me to now. Still thrilled. Still happy. Still full to the brim with anticipation of future events, jobs, and surprises. Still thinking about a certain someone who piqued my fancy. Still loving my friends like my second family. Still loving my family, distance and all. Still dreaming. Still driving. Still here.

And away we go.