Seven things I think could make for a great day

1. Laughing so hard that I snort several times
2. A good weather day -- and being outside for it
3. Eating something really comforting or wonderful
4. Time escapes you in the good way, where you never really pay attention to the clock
5. Learning something new, even if it is something simple, like a factoid to store away for trivial pursuit
6. Wearing something I like. Might not be the height of fashion, but something I like to move around in
7. The radio or the ipod on shuffle hits the right songs at least twice in a row
   

Seven business ventures I would love to have gobs of money for

1. Craft studio to hold classes in for people that might not be able to afford to buy all the supplies -- and have a coffee shop attached
   
2. Bookstore (including a good comic and indie magazine section) with a great reading and quiet writing space when its not a reading space - with a coffee shop attached
3. Rent a living room: Ever been hanging out with friends but you just would rather be in a space just for you, but you can't necessarily go back to someone's because of location, parents, roommates, small apt of your own? This strikes me the most when I am at home visiting rents around the holidays and seeing college friends. Would include board games to borrow, simple snacks and of course, a coffee shop.
4. Center for Maine Youth Leadership: this may not technically be a business, but it would be wonderful. It could be a center for workshops and collecting and assigning volunteer events. It would have some offices for student interns, a good conference room, a living room type lounge, a small studio for audio and visual, and a gallery. And would some how include coffee.
5. Personal music shopper: Tell me what you like and I will research it for you. Give me an event and I will collect music for it. Will give it to you with a cup of coffee.
   
6. Game inventor -- Make random games for whenever you need one. For example, one of my greatest inventions was Truth darts. Land on a multiple of three and you get to ask a question of anyone. Land on 8 and you have to tell us a guilty pleasure. And so on. Photo Scavenger hunt would also be one! Coffee shops also need some type of game too.
   
7. Invent triangle shaped ketchup packets. Makes sense, eh?
   

Interviews about feminism, subtitle: I think I would want to meet Anthony

On so many levels this video makes me want to vomit. Maybe on some of their doorsteps.

I get teary... go figure

Honestly, this really was just beautifully pure and simple and struck me. "Somewhere over the rainbow" really gets to me when it's done right.

Seven things about campfires

1. Old dried up Christmas trees are the most wonderful things to see thrown onto a campfire. I would say it rivals... or may be better than fireworks.
2. Smores are only to be eaten near a fire and prepared at it. Preferably with a stick you just found in the dark and you no longer care about dirt or worms. Just melted chocolately goodness. (Sidebar: Usually I do not find the need to go all foodnetwork on my smores -- the plain ol hershey will do just fine -- but I admit the extra wow factor for me happens when I used the special darks in the Hersheys assorted minatures)
3. Conversations are just better near a fire. I think silences are more comfortable too. People stare into the fire and not talk - and its really ok.
4. I love the symbolism of burning old letters or notebooks in the fire -- but have never brought myself to do it.
5. A gathering is automatically assured to be more memorable and wonderful if it includes one.
6. I kinda love the smell of the campfire on my clothes after I leave it. If I could, most times I would sit there until it burned down to its embers all orange and wicked in the dark. Taking a sense of it with me reminds me that someday I probably will.
   
7. I like how campfires are a common experience for most people: fascinating, calming, inspiring, and brings you back to an almost primitive place you forget you have inside you. It makes you feel a little less alone, or at least it does for me.
   

Seven things I would make you for dinner because I make these things really well

1. Spinach and artichoke dip
2. Twice baked garlic potatoes
3. Butternut squash apple soup
   
4. Chicken Peprikash -tomato/sour cream chicken goodness over rice
   
5. Butter Chicken - Indian food
   
6. Assorted milkshakes involving oreos, peanut butter and espresso fudge sauce
   
7. Pumpkin Whoopie Pies
   

Maine Youth Leadership

Slide show from the 2007 seminar



I don't think that I really have ever gotten over the pains of high school until they showed me how. High school has always kind of haunted me, but those specters are fading with every cheer, riotous laugh, words of compassion and looking at them want to not give up on this world. I think its kind of weird that at 30 years old I have finally accepted the 15 year old in me -- or at least put a hand out to her and said its okay. Because it really is.

Plus, how much fun does this look:

He's grrrrrrrrrrreat!

Story about Quinn, one of the MYL students that rocks my socks. Literally, they are jamming little socks.