Friday, January 27, 2012

Discussions on Development: The Right of Indigenous Communities to Hit the Airwaves

I read this article today, and it really upset me. So I wanted to share it.

What upsets me, is that there are people trying to make things better in Guatemala, people and organizations that go to great lengths to write and promote legislation that would create equality and fairness, and I'm not just talking about this specific issue--this is just one example.

These bills get introduced, and the Guatemalan congress completely fucks it up. Pardon the language.

Why do they have to be so damn corrupt? Why can't they help Guatemala change, for the better? Why can't they promote safety and equality? Why can't they care about anyone but themselves and the interestes that are lining their pockets?

What would be so terrible about indigenous communities having community radio stations where they can empower women, promote education and awareness? Ok, that's a dumb question: if you educated indigenous communities, you wouldn't be able to keep them down. I get it.

This is the exact reason why Carlos Castresana resigned from the CICIG in 2010: the government's inability to act and cooperate with proposed laws that would strengthen the rule of law and help combat the corruption and impunity that reign in Guatemala (for a country with one of the highest murder rates per capita, it has a 2% prosecution rate--prosecution, not conviction). The government's response to his resignation? "Sometimes were are limited, legally, or in respect of governance or financing in how we can respond to their requests." Bullshit.

Related articles (to the CICIG and Carlos Castresana):

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

More Updates...

....is this getting boring for you, dear Reader? I've been posting these "updates" more frequently, because...well, honestly, they're way easier to write than the other blogs I've been wanting to write. Those require multiple drafts, and research, and actual thought.

These...I just tell you what I did or didn't do!

I should be able to crank out some more thoughtful blog posts next month, when things aren't so crazy, but until then....let me tell you what I've been up to!

I had an asylum hearing for a pro bono client on Monday; gearing up for it was pretty hectic, and I'll be honest: I'm glad it's over. Un/fortunately, the judge didn't render her decision after the hearing, so I'm not sure whether we were successful or not (decision will either be mailed, or given at a hearing in April). I definitely learned a lot from this case, and although I'm sure I'll take another case from KIND sometime in the future, I'm happy to not have that looming over my head anymore. It's also pretty emotional stuff....I think I've really been compartmentalizing this case a lot so it doesn't affect me, because I hate to think what's going to happen to my client if he isn't granted asylum and has to return to his country of origin. He's such a great kid, it just makes me really sad.

Anyhow. Compartmentalizing.

I went to bikram yoga yesterday AND today. I wanted to see if I could handle back to back sessions. My back was a little sore from yesterday's work out, and although today's session didn't necessarily help that, I'm feeling a lot better now. I haven't been eating enough before going, in fear that I'll eat too much and get sick, but I think what has been happening is that I don't eat enough, so I end up getting dizzy about 15 minutes into an 80 minute workout. Today was the first time that I didn't have to sit out any major portions of the routine, which I'm really excited about.

This week has been the week of meetings and basically not being home for dinner. Monday was tutoring (we worked on a science project, which was AWESOME!), Tuesday night I had a meeting for the Annual Meeting and Fundraiser for Corazon that I've helped put together (it's on Saturday, let me know if you're interested in attending), tonight was my first meeting as a director for the OC Hispanic Bar Association (I got to say things like "yay" and "nay" in a non-sarcastic, totally-serious manner), tomorrow I'm meeting a potential client for The Merry Ministers at 7:30 p.m., and Friday I'm heading to the Oceanside area to help out with a church retreat for confirmation students, oh and Saturday is the Corazon event.

Let's just say, I'm really excited for Sunday :)

Today I met with a client, went to Goodwill and Salvation Army to look for a filing cabinet (I've outgrown my little file drawer on my desk!), and got to enjoy lunch with Jeff...we sat out in the backyard and were able to enjoy some of today's amazing weather. I absolutely LOVE being able to see Jeff in the middle of my day.

I also deposited money into my business account, as well as my client trust account. That felt pretty cool. Due to the former deposit, I was also able to write out a check for my State Bar annual dues (um, no biggie, just FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS). Last year I had to ask my family to help me cover the expense because I couldn't come up with the money. It's nice to see that I'm moving in the right direction, and being able to pay this money from my business account rather than our personal account was HUGE.

Jeff and I resorted to our mantra on Saturday, and reminded ourselves that we had to keep putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations to experience new things. We were both pretty wiped out--I had attended a 6-hour MCLE, and Jeff had helped his dad with some kitchen remodeling duties--and we were really tempted to cancel both of our social commitments for the night. But we stuck with them, and were really excited we did. Jeff got to meet the people I've been meeting with throughout the last year in organizing stuff for Corazon, and then we had a genuinely good time at a karaoke lounge in Irvine. The latter event was definitely out of our comfort zone, and given that we weren't getting there until after 10 p.m., it was way past our bedtime. BUT, we sang out little hearts out, and had a great time. So, keep in mind: the mantra works!

We haven't done so good on the eating healthy part lately...

Jeff has been incredibly productive over the last few days. He's been working really hard on editing all the pictures he's taken in the last couple months, including pictures from our trip to Big Bear. He has so much talent it's insane. Here are some of my favorite (mostly) scenic pictures:


In closing, I want to encourage all of you to start getting into the Valentine's Day spirit, and buy some hand made valentines cards made by yours truly. I have to say, they're pretty darn cute! And all of it goes to help Haiti Scholarships. So, get back into the spirit of being in second grade, and send your mom and best friends some Valentine love :)



Jeff took these pictures also :) If you're interested in purchasing them, you can get more info here.

If you made it this far into my random cathartic writing, thank you for reading, and good night!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Resolution Updates

This week I was trying to figure out something different to make for lunch that wasn't sandwich's or microwaveable pizzas. I was at a loss walking around the grocery store, when I saw tortilla wraps...ta-da! So I ran to the other side of the store and added sprouts and hummus to the cart. Not too shabby, eh?


I also started my yoga classes yesterday, which made me incredibly, but beautifully, sore today.

I wasn't as productive on the law firm front, but I did attend a meeting for South Orange County church youth ministers, caught up with quite a few great friends, had a brief meeting with a client, did some contract work, and attended a webinar for silent auction fundraisers. Oh and I started tutoring with my family again! It was so great to see them again, and catch up on all that both families have been up to.

Oh and had a meeting with some potential clients for The Merry Ministers, and set up another appointment with potential clients for Sunday.

I've been procrastinating a little on some stuff, so next week it's time to step it up.

2012 Mix!

This is what I came home to on Monday:



And I'm not gonna lie, it's pretty sweet. So I thought I'd share.

Track 1: Lana Del Rey--Blue Jeans



Track 2: Lana Del Rey--Video Games




Track 3: Jonsi--Go Do (should sound very familiar, like Sigur Ros familiar)

Track 4: Sigur Ros--Gobbledigook



Track 5: Arcade Fire--Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) (there's also an interactive video for this song)





Track 8: Alexander--Truth



Track 9: Gold Panda--Quitter's Raga




Track 11: Purity Ring--Ungirthed



Track 12: Empire of the Sun--Walking on a Dream



Track 13: Modest Mouse--Gravity Rides Everything





Track 16: Aloe Blacc--You Make Me Smile



Forgotten Track: Dead Man's Bones (not the official video, but pretty cool)


He's pretty awesome, right? Oh, my husband, not Ryan Gosling...just clarifying :)

Charity of the Month: Aimee Cornell & Uplift Internationale


I'm sure you've seen the commercials...children with cleft palates and other facial deformities. As with similar commercials that tug at the heartstrings, sometimes it's easier to change the channel than to sit through and watch it. But, the reality of it is still there. Aimee Cornell realizes this and is joining an organization that is taking action to help children with facial deformities. She's going with Uplift Internationale, on their annual Operation Taghoy in the Philippines. Appropriately enough, "Taghoy" is a Philippine word for "whistle"!

Some background on why Uplift Internationale chose the Philippine's as the location for one of the missions:
  • 1 of every 350 live births is estimated to be at risk of having a facial deformity, more than twice the incidence noted in developed countries
  • Children born with a deformity do not always receive timely care and are at greater risk of frequent upper respiratory infections, hearing deficits, speech impediments, as well as misaligned teeth and jaws
  • These facial deformities rob children of many things we take for granted, like the charm of a smile or the pleasure of a whistle
  • Municipal hospitals, institutions mandated to provide care to the impoverished, are typically ill-funded, poorly equipped and understaffed so as to prioritize care to emergent before elective problems
  • Less than 1/2 of the total hospital beds are located in rural communities where nearly 70% of the population resides
To address these needs, Uplift Internationale started an annual medical mission, named Operation Taghoy. This is a two-week medical mission to provide reparative surgical care to indigent children in the rural Philippines born with facial deformities, primarily clefts of the lip and palate. These medical services are provided by professionals and personnel who volunteer their time to fly to the Philippines and perform these surgeries. That's pretty awesome stuff.

The care is provided without cost to the children or their families, and with minimal burden to the host hospitals. If you want to see the impact this has on children who have these surgeries, check out this little girl's reaction when she sees herself for the first time, post-op.

So, this is what Amy will be helping with when she leaves to the Philippines in 2-3 weeks. Amy will be on the outreach team, which means she's responsible for helping coordinate patients pre- and post-surgery, and also to document the trip so that Uplift Internationale can spread the word about the work they are doing in the Philippines.

Thanks to some great friends that have helped her along the way, Amy has already reached her fundraising goal of $1,500.00, but for a small organization like this, donations are always welcome to help prepare for future operations. Without donors, they wouldn't be able to provide these medical services at no-cost to the recipient. I encourage you all the check out the organization, and check out Amy's blog to see how her adventure goes!

I also want to share some of Amy's words on why she got involved, and encourage all of you to do the same, with whatever organization or mission is nearest and dearest to you:

"I decided to get involved because I can! I'm lucky - I'm a happy and healthy 28 year old, and I am satisfied enough with my life that I can devote a little part of it to someone else. I can give up a few weeks of my year to be a part of something bigger, and I have friends and family who can help me do that, and in turn, participate themselves. For me, life is all about being involved. If you don't get off your butt and participate, how can you expect to shape the world they way you envision it to be? It's not so much a question of why you should get involved, it's a question of why you shouldn't."

Amen.



Monday, January 16, 2012

Discussion on Development: Violence, Impunity & Women

I've written and translated before regarding the case of Cristina Siekavizza. Today I came across another piece that I felt compelled to translate and share with everyone. I'd like this to be a companion piece to a future blog entry on violence against women in Latin American countries.

As an FYI, this past Saturday there was a walk held in honor of Cristina, and so many women like here. Hence, the title and subject, "Yo Camino."

I Walk, by Mauricio Labbe

I walk for all the Cristinas, so they know they are not alone. I walk because I am a man and I believe in love and respect.

I walk for all the Jose Robertos and Maria Mercedes, so they know they are loved, they are looked for, and they are not forgotten.

I walk for my children, so they learn that love is shown with caresses and not blows. It is shown with sweetness and not shouting. It is shown with respect and not insolence.

I walk for my daughters, so they know that the man who proclaims to love them, doesn't humiliate them, doesn't hurt them, doesn't insult them. The man that loves them, appreciates them, values them, and admires them.

I walk because I am a man. Because I believe that our duty and obligation is to care for and protect our life companions, our mothers, our daughters, all the women that surround us.

I walk because the men that are real men, manly men, protect and care for our home. Because the real man, protects, he doesn't harm; consoles, doesn't scream; caresses, doesn't hurt; loves, doesn't humiliate.

I walk because I don't want to see bruises covered with makeup. I don't want to hear laughter hiding tears of pain. I don't want to see smiles covering up grimaces of worry.

I walk because I don't want to find women at home waiting for the next blow. I want to see them in the streets, happy, with their head held high.

I walk because I want the children to play at home, happy, and not hidden and scared of the fights. I want the example that they see in their homes to be of love and not contempt.

I walk for you Cristina, for Jose Roberto, for Maria Mercedes, for all the women that are injured and abused. For all the unhappy children affected by the violence. I walk because I want my steps and those of other men that are against violence against women, to grow little by little and that they be heard more strongly, that they may become a roar that helps us reflect and think of the example that we give our sons and daughters. I walk for the Ofelias and the Robertos, so they know that we will not rest until we find the truth, so they know it is not vengeance, it's a thirst for justice.

I walk because I am a man, I walk because I am a manly man.

Related posts:

Friday, January 13, 2012

What I've Been Reading...in the Last Year

Wow, I can't believe it's been a year since I wrote a comprehensive summary (is it grammatically incorrect to put those two words next to each other? ) of the books I've read. I've mainly been avoiding this because I wanted to do a grandiose post on what I thought of each book, with quotes, summaries, deep thoughts, etc. I'm realizing that might never happen, so something is better than nothing.

Of the three books I was reading when I last wrote something on this topic, I've finished two of the three. I still haven't finished reading the White Man's Burden...I don't think I've even touched it since my last post about it. Oh well, I guess that one will stay on the shelf another year or so.

So, without further ado, here we go.


I absolutely loved this book. "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." This is the main motto, which sounds a lot simpler than it really is. For example, a lot of the "food" that you eat isn't really food, it's highly processed stuff. So when he say's "eat food," there's a much more significant meaning to what he's saying than you might think ("But I contend that most of what we're consuming today is no longer, strictly speaking, food at all, and how we're consuming it--in the car, in front of the TV, and, increasingly, along--is not really eating, at least not in the sense that civilization has long understood the term."). I think this is a great introductory book to changing eating habits, and how you see the food industry in general. There are some crazy statistics that really make you think about what you're eating, and why you're eating it (think: congressional lobbies). I've been wanting to read some more books on this topic since I finished this book, but just haven't gotten around to it. One of the cleverest suggestions from this book: shop in the periphery of the grocery store: it contains the freshest and least processed stuff (produce, veggies, etc., versus boxed meals). Some of my favorite quotes:
  • "Thirty years of nutritional advice have left us fatter, sicker, and more poorly nourished."
  • "...the processing of foods typically robs them of nutrients, vitamins especially."
  • "By breaking the links among local soils, local foods, and local peoples, the industrial food system disrupted the circular flow of nutrients through the food chain."
  • "Foods that lie to our senses are one of the most challenging features of the Western diet."
  • "...and Americans are consuming a diet that is at least half sugars in one form or another--calories providing virtually nothing but energy."
  • "It's hard to believe that we're getting everything we need from a diet consisting largely of processed corn, soybeans, rice, and wheat."
  • MY FAVORITE: "[y]ou now have to eat three apples to get the same amount of iron as you would have gotten from a single 1940 apple, and you'd have to eat several more slices of bread to get your recommended daily allowance of zinc than you would have a century ago." INSANE (emphasis added).

Jim (co-founder of Haiti Scholarships) sent me this book out of the blue. I actually was a little concerned about who had sent the book to me, since I had no idea where it came from, and someone clearly had my address, and new of my interest in Haiti, haha. But all was well, and no one was stalking me.

This is a really short and quick read, but very inspiring story--which, I'm sure, is why Jim sent it to me. It tells the real st
ory of one woman's journey to Haiti, and how she started an organization to help feed children in Haiti. It was great reading about someone going through a similar struggle with getting an organization started and off the ground, and seeing it succeed. I hope Haiti Scholarships grows to have the same success that her organization has. Some of my favorite quotes:

  • "It took Haiti 125 years to pay off the debt to France (estimated at a value of $21 billion today with interest and inflation calculated in), and the effects on the society were devastating."
  • "Iwas relieved to be back in the States, where the comforts and convenience and abundance overflowed. But at the same time, I felt nauseated." A feeling that's easily relatable for those who have traveled to similar places, I'm sure.
  • "Normally, I planned out every detail of a business trip, complete with a typed agenda neatly placed in a folder." I was just relieved to see that someone else does this.
  • A topic Reuben and I have frequently discussed is religion, and how religion seems to be more abundant in poorer areas: "'God is the first and last resource here. We feel God's presence more and more, because there is nobody else some days who can sustain us to allow us to survive. It's only God sometimes...Because the neighbor doesn't have enough, the friend's don't have anything, so we're praising God. God makes miracles. So we live by miracles, and as we live by miracles, we need faith. Our faith sustains us.'"
  • "This led to the importing of heavily subsidized U.S. rice, which was cheaper than Haitian rice. After a few years, Haiti's peasant farmers could not compete and most went out of business."
  • "Haiti is thethird-largest importer of rice from the U.S.--240,000 metric tons per year. Until the 1980s, Haiti was self-sufficient in rice production." Crazystatistic.
  • "Or maybe because I was discovering more and more how unfair the world is, how cruel it can be. The disparity between my life and the lives of everybody I met in Tiplas Kazo weighed on me all the time."

This book was given to me by Reuben, and it's
another inspiring story about a nonprofit who grew quickly to address some pressing issues around the world (and curiously enough, the nonprofit that a good friend of mine went to work for in Haiti shortly after I finished reading this book!).

The title itself gives you a synopsis about what the book is about. BRAC is similar to Acumen Fund, which I mentioned on my summary of The Blue Sweater, both organizations focus on microcredit a
s a way to relieve poverty. I think one of the things I liked best about this book is that it was honest about what worked and what didn't work for the organization when it was first starting. It's great to know that organizations don't always get things right, but the difference is in manning up to that, and making it better. I'm gonna post some of my favorite parts, but this book is chalk full of great follow up resources, from other books, to articles, to organizations, etc. (I still have to follow up on all of these highlights, of course).
  • "[D]eveloping countries are littered with failed income-generation projects that have generated little more than loss and disappointment. While there has never been a lack of bright ideas and good intentions among aid agencies, there has too often been a surfeit of amateurism that, combined with money, can be deadly."
  • "It is a sad commentary on countries in Europe and North America that provide foreign aid with one hand--dispensed with lashings of advice about how poor countries must liberalize their economies and eschew subsidies--while simultaneously undercutting the world price of grain, dairy products,and other goods through generous subsidies to their own producers."
  • "Generally, increasing the average amount of education in the labor force by one year raises GDP by 9 percent, a statistic that holds for the first three years of education."
  • "'The role of education in reducing absolute poverty is decisive. Many research studies...[have] concluded that rising levels of education in a society were often accompanied by a sharp decline in absolute poverty. When poverty levels were correlated with such variables as mean years of schooling, adult literacy, and gross enrollment rates, it was clearly established that absolute poverty declines as education increases.'"

I read this book on the plan to and from Haiti. It's a hugely successful book, with a movie in the works, as well as an organization of the same name that exists to combat all the ills against women that this book talks about.

The stories in this book, from real women around the world, are sad, and compelling. It's crazy to think that in our day and age, this things are still happening to women...to people.

Similar to Freedom from Want, this book is full of great resources that I have yet to follow up on.
  • "'More weight is still given to the crime of stealing a thing than to the crime of stealing a person.'"
  • "...21% of Ghanian woman reported...that their sexual initiation was by rape; 17% of Nigerian women said that they had endured rape or attempted rape by the age of nineteen; and 21% of South African women reported that they had been raped by the age of fifteen."
  • "The United Nations Population Fund has estimated that there are 5,000 honor killings a year..."
  • "'It has probably become more dangerous to be a woman than a soldier in an armed conflict.'"
  • "In just the Congolese province of South Kivu, the UN estimates that there were twenty-seven thousand (27,000) sexual assaults in 2006."
  • "One of the great failings of the American education system, in our view, is that young people can graduate from university without any understanding of poverty at home or abroad."
  • "The equivalent of five jumbo jets' worth of women die in labor each day, but the issue is almost never covered...Some 99 percent of those deaths occur in poor countries."
  • "The World Bank estimated that for every one thousand girls who get one additional year of education, two fewer women will die in childbirth."
  • "'Women are not dying because of untreatable diseases. They are dying because societies have yet to make the decision that their lives are worth saving.'"
  • "Another study suggested that it would cost an additional $9 billion a year to provide all effective interventions for maternal and newborn health to 95% of the world's population...Suppose that the estimate of $9 billion per year is correct. It pales beside the $40 billion that the world spends annually on pet food..."
  • "To deny women is to deprive a country of labor and talent, but--even worse-- to undermine the drive to achievement of boys and men."
  • "If we believe firmly in certain values, such as the equality of all human beings regardless of color or gender, then we should not be afraid to stand up for them; it would be feckless to defer to slavery, torture, foot-binding, honor killings, or genital cutting just because we believe in respecting other faiths or cultures."

I think this was the first book we read for our book club. Not as difficult for me to follow as The White Man's Burden, but it's up there. This book tackles many difficulties in getting people out of the "poverty trap," including global health, education, economics, etc. My favorite parts of this book were the parts that made me look at situations through a different lens. Why don't poor people save? Why don't they get medical insurance for when they get really sick? Why don't they go to a doctor instead of a local? Why do they have so many kids? Why don't they realize the value of an education?

I'm not gonna lie, I'm pooped. So if you're interested, I'll have to owe you my favorite quotes from this book.

Resolution Updates

Today, I got up early to stand in line at the DMV by 7:30 a.m. No matter how early you think is early enough for this mission, it never is. There was already a line of about 12 people in front of me. It's ok though, I made it out by 8:30 a.m., license renewed, eye exam and photo taken. Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous about that eye exam...but they have really low standards, so I was fine (not sure how safe that makes me feel though).

Next up was the car dealership where I had to take my little car in to get an oil change (don't worry kids, I don't usually take it to the dealership, but I had a coupon...and it included a free car wash, which my car desperately needed). I was out of there by 9:30 a.m.

I got back home, and couldn't believe it wasn't even 10:00 a.m. yet. Dealt with some client issues, talked to opposing counsel and gave him a two week extension on his discovery, did final number crunching for Haiti Scholarships and sent out a check.

For lunch I ate the rest of the salad I had prepared the day before for--I hadn't put dressing on it, so it was still good. I added an avocado to it. Avocado makes everything better. Met up with Karin for lunch, got caught up and agreed to plan the Cinco de Mayo event for the HBA.

Which brings me to...my first resolution failure.

I didn't write this one down, but I did mention it to Jeff, so it's as good as if it was in writing: I told myself, and Jeff, that I would stop committing myself to new events for a while. But I got an email from Diana asking me to co-chair the HBA Program Committee...and I was honestly a little giddy about getting to help people plan their events (LAME, yes), that I said yes without even thinking about it. Oops.

I'm sure Jeff isn't surprised.

Anywho...

I snacked on milk and cherries--no cookies.

Took a bunch of stuff to storage that was crowding our room, and then I went to a local credit union to open up my business banking and IOLTA account. I think I've been putting this off for a while because it really makes things official...I now have checks and a card that say "Law Office of [insert my full name here--it makes for a very long firm name]" Crazy. But, it's done. So it must be really happening.

Jeff and I got home at about the same time, so I sent a couple emails real quick, and then we headed out for our walk/run. We jogged about a quarter of our mile, and walked the rest of it. We figure we'll slowly work this up to where we're running 3 miles. Jeff has been keeping track of our last 3 walks on an app he got for his iPhone, and it was pretty cool to see that we completed each of our walks about one minute faster each time. Not bad!

We had home-made chili for dinner last night. Maybe not the healthiest thing, but holy cow can Jeff's mom make delicious chili!

I was comatose after eating seconds, so the rest of my evening was spent on the couch...

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

"I have a complaint to file..."

First of all, it's not what you think. I'm not suing anybody.

Second of all...you gotta understand...this household is big on coffee. No one really functions without it. Addiction? Most definitely.

And we've got our schedule all worked out. Dad leaves the keurig machine on the night before (I agree, these machines are insanely wasteful, and I feel guilty every time I use it) so he doesn't have to wait for it to "start up" in the morning when he's running out the door at 5am to make it to his carpool on time. And he leaves the coffee machine on for me.

Then I wake up to make Jeff's coffee before he has to go to work, then I make my coffee and go to the room to catch up on emails, facebook, twitter, and any other social network that exists, and then mom makes her coffee a little later. We're all pretty good about leaving things set and ready for the next person (this includes leaving the machine on, and refilling water if it's running low).

We switched keurig machines over the weekend, though...and Monday we all felt the effects.

I woke up earlier than usual because I had to observe an asylum merits hearing in downtown LA at 8:30 a.m., so I was a little sad when I got to the kitchen and saw that the coffee machine was off. I had to wait a whole TWO MINUTES for it to warm up before I could brew my cup of coffee and inject my body with some caffeine (is it my fault or our society that I'm used to instant gratification and can't wait two minutes for something? I'm disappointed in myself about this).

I thought it was weird that Dad didn't leave the coffee machine on....so later that evening I told Jeff that I had to file a formal complaint with Dad. I went in to the garage (the man cave) to file my complaint, only to find out that Dad had to file a similar complaint with Mom for turning it off the night before...only to find out that Jeff had to file a similar complaint with me for not leaving it on after I left...only to find out that Mom had to file a complaint with Jeff for not leaving it on.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a gloriously overlooked feature of our new keurig machine: auto shut off.

All complaints have been revoked.

Resolution Updates

In the famous words of a local All Hands Volunteer, "today was a good day."

I was productive on my legal cases--called opposing counsel to follow up on some outstanding discovery, followed up with three different clients, fixed an order that was kicked back from the court, sent out an updated bill to a client, sent a letter of representation and answer to opposing counsel on another case, and made an appointment with my asylum client so I can start prepping him for his hearing.

I crunched numbers for Haiti Scholarships and our applicants, updated donor and student databases, transferred Paypal money to our bank account, and sent a couple follow up emails.

Sent out a couple more letters requesting silent auction donations for Corazon's Annual Meeting and Silent Auction fundraiser (join us!), followed up with some that I had already sent out, reviewed our silent auction google doc and agenda, and attended our planning committee meeting.

Sent out emails to the O'Neill park ranger and the Adopt-a-Park coordinator for our International Service Day event, followed up with two individuals who are helping us promote the event, contacted Ally and begged her to help us create a poster for the event (she said yes!!), typed up the minutes for yesterday's planning committee meeting and sent it out to the planning committee members.

Had lunch and caught up with Jen, which was fabulous.

Made a delicious and healthy salad for Jeff and I for lunch. I was on the verge of just going to buy something so I wouldn't have to spend time chopping everything, but I sucked it up and spent the 7 minutes or so that it took me to chop up all the goodies (cucumber, carrot, lettuce, bell pepper, and tossed some tomatoes and feta cheese).

AND, for the third time in less than a week, Jeff and I went on a little walk before dinner. We've walked about a mile each time, which isn't insane, but it's way better than not doing anything...right? We realized that there are some stairs at the park down the street, and we are going to start doing some stair duty...just going up and down the stairs. Our goal is to be able to run a 5k in April (interested?). We've both also been making a point of having healthier snacks. So, instead of my usual cookies and milk for my evening snack (um, yeah, I'm still 5 years old), I have a banana. I was on the verge of breaking today (I told Jeff I've been really good lately, so I deserved a cookie...he wasn't buying it), but Jeff pealed me an orange instead. I also bought grapes, strawberries and cherries. The strawberries looked beautiful, but tasted like...nothing. I should've known: they looked too perfect to have any real flavor. Oh well.

Oh, and completely unrelated to my resolutions, but entirely awesome, I got a shout-out on Kisa's blog!

Anyhow, if I can keep this momentum going, 2012 should be....one hectic and awesome year.


Friday, January 6, 2012

Harnessing the Full Potential of our Brain (not just that 10%)*

Remember my post about googling your brain? Oh, you don't? No worries, here you go.

I had a similar thought the other night.

Here's what I do at night, when I first get in to bed. I close my eyes, and visualize all the emails I forgot to send or follow up on. "I need to email so-and-so back to confirm our lunch." "Shit, I forgot to email that lady back about whatever-it-is." So, in my head, I reply to these emails. What I mean is, I visualize what I will write them back tomorrow. Like, I literally "write" out what I have to email back. Crazy? Probably.

Anyhow. I was thinking, how cool would it be if I could hit "send"?! Like, from my brain. Then I wouldn't have to freak out in the morning and try to remember all those emails I wrote the night before.

I would love this idea, if it weren't for the fact that it would require some sort of chip implant in my brain (you know, because aside from that, it's totally possible). And I just can't handle that. Chip implants and robots are kind of my biggest nightmare. Honestly. Jeff knows that if he really wants to freak me out, he can mention the latest updates on robot technology. THEY'RE GONNA TAKE OVER THE HUMAN RACE ONE OF THESE DAYS. Mark my words.

So. I'll just keep being productive and writing emails in my brain. And then forget to actually write them in the morning.

Monday, January 2, 2012

2012: I'm mentally exhausted from planning you out already.

One great thing about this blog is that I can look back at what I've written in the past: reading about resolutions I've made before, my little faith in them, and how I haven't followed through with them.

Regardless (irregardless, for some), it's still nice to set some goals for myself...I mean, even if I accomplish part of them, there's some success in that.

On our way home yesterday from celebrating the incoming New Year with my family, Jeff asked me what my resolutions where--and I'm just realizing now I never asked him what his were, #wifefail--and I had a difficult time putting what I feel my resolutions are, into words. I kind of want to work on everything this year, the whole mind, body, spirit thing.

I want to go back to my April-2011 resolution and focus on eating better, and being more active. We were good for a little bit, but we've really let it slide. It's so easy to let other things take priority in your life. I did get an online deal for yoga, so that should help me for the first month or so on the "active" part. As for eating, Jeff and I cook a lot less now that we live with his parents, so there's only so much control we have over that--but there's always room for improvement.

I also need to figure out where Jeff and I are going, career-wise and financially. Some pieces of the puzzle are starting to fall into place (like finally getting health insurance later this month!), and I really feel that this is the year we'll get things together. It's funny reading my post from January 2010, where I had the same concerns--and a little disheartening that I'm still trying to figure out the same things...2 years later. But I really do feel that I can accomplish a lot with my career this year.

One phrase that Jeff and I started saying like a mantra in early 2011 was that we had to "put ourselves in uncomfortable situations to experience new things." I feel I've done this a lot with my career, although altered a little bit: "putting myself in uncomfortable situations to get experience." Haha, it's been working though. I have said "yes" to things I would have been too afraid to say yes to before, and I think the outcome has been surprisingly reassuring. I've made appearances for immigration court in Los Angeles, I've taken on my own clients in an area of law that, at the time, I was largely unfamiliar with, I've learned how to retain clients, I started officiating weddings and make some money off of something I never thought of doing. Jeff has also done the same: he put his art in several venues this past year, and he started making money off of his photography skills, something that I know he was really uncomfortable with, but that he's truly great at. I know it took a lot of courage for him to do that, and I appreciate the hell out of him for putting himself out there.

All of these little steps have made us a little more comfortable, and just slightly more secure in our ability to pursue self-employment. Which leads us to.....

EUROPE!!

We've been wanting to go for a while. Jeff's brother and his brother's family recently moved back to Germany, so it's a great time to go, visit, and travel. Jeff and I also want to start thinking about expanding our own little family, but we think it's important to experience something like traveling through Europe before we do that. Neither one of us has ever been there, and it's been a while since we traveled together. Have I mentioned that we travel great together? I'm starting to get extremely excited about this, mainly because I think that for the first time since we've been together, it's actually financially feasible for us to do it. It'll take some intense savings for the next five months, but I think we can manage.

So, 2012, by the time you are gone, I'm hoping to:
  • Formalize and develop my firm
  • Develop Haiti Scholarships (this includes major fundraising efforts, and increasing our relationship with our students)
  • Work with Jeff to develop and market his art and photography
  • Keep working on promoting The Merry Ministers
  • Check everything off my "Epic To Do List"
  • Go to Europe
  • Get preggers!!
So yeah...2012 should be easy peasy!