I Saved A Shark!
As I approached my grandparents condo in Florida, after yet another bracing walk of 10,000 steps for WaterAid, I noticed a crowd surrounding the local Beach Rat. I call him "Beach Rat" with affection – B.R. runs the rentals in front of the condo. He rents out chairs and jet skis, tells crazy stories and amuses the tourists by sticking live sand fleas in his mouth. He doesn't eat them - that's the best place to keep them alive till he can use them as fish bait. As Beach Rat eloquently said himself with a crawling critter in his ...
Naughty Non-Profits: 7 Eco-Sins
I am about to do something slightly ungrateful, definitely heinous, very uncomfortable, but in the end completely necessary: I'm going to blow the environmental whistle (or horn) on many of the non-profits I've been helping this year. Let me explain why - I've been trying to complete 50 different volunteer activities before 2010 , which means I have volunteered with a lot of different non-profits in the last few months and unfortunately I have seen disappointing environmental practices at many of them. Don't misunderstand me, charities do amazing work and help the world in a myriad of ways, but they are under funded, ...
Diatribe Against A Leather Couch
Attention Bachelors: Stop Buying Leather Couches! Actually check that. I’m talking to anyone who purchases leather furniture. Put your VHS tape of “Coming to America” away, and let’s talk about why leather couches are the most unpleasant piece of furniture that can be purchased. 1. Is your furniture cold or is it just you? One feature of leather that isn’t discussed often on the sales room floor is it’s uncanny ability to absorb and magnify the temperature of the surrounding room. This temperature issue is particularly grating as any man with an air conditioning unit in his apartment or house will jack ...
My Open Breakup Letter to Panama City Beach
Dear Panama City Beach, Florida- We have a problem. Our relationship has suffered because of your neglectful attitude and your refusal to better yourself. I am threatening to end this affair here and now if you don’t clean yourself up, pay attention to what really matters, and have some self-respect. I have been a faithful lover and have repeatedly stood up for you when people called you “Redneck Riviera.” When the nationally syndicated TV show “Squidbillies” used you...Read More
Why Do Fish Have Good PR?
“How long have you been like that?”, “You don’t look like a vegetarian.”, “Don’t you get hungry?” As a vegetarian it’s almost guaranteed that you will hear the above phrases at least one thousand times during your lifespan. An entire article could be written about how to answer these questions and why vegetarians are forced to endure them, but right now I want to focus on the most frequently asked question; the question that refuses to go away:“But you eat fish right?” “No. I don’t eat fish, thank you, just veggies.” That’s my typical response, but what I’m thinking is: “Why would ...
My Volunteer Journal: Episode 52 – CHILL The Boys Are Just Snowboarding
“He’s going to kill himself and I’m going to be held responsible.” That was my thought at least a dozen times while volunteering for Burton’s CHILL program at Mountain High Ski Resort. The CHILL program takes underprivileged teens to local mountains for snowboarding lessons one day a week for six weeks. Equipment and lift tickets come care of Burton. Some of the kids have never seen the mountains before, though many live within an hour drive of a range. Because my life had been a rollercoaster in recent months I was only able to be a volunteer chaperone on the ...
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My Volunteer Journal: Episode 57 – Cleaning Snake Cages and Being Cat Called by a Bird. Seriously. Thanks Star Eco Station.
On the phone Tuesday night: “I got to go to bed. I’m cleaning snake cages early tomorrow morning.” “Why!?” “Because they sh*! in them Mom.” “This is another one of those volunteer things isn’t it?” “No, this is for fun.” “Really!?” “Mom…” “Okay. Just be careful. Don’t get bitten.” “I’ll... [Read more]
Philippe Cousteau gets Feisty about Fossil Fuels at Artists and Athletes Alliance Event
The same day BP finally threw a cap over their spewing oil well in the Gulf of Mexico (which is expected to be as effective as celebrity rehab) the non-profitArtists & Athletes Alliance held a private discussion with Philippe Cousteau about the epic Gulf disaster. Event attendees, like Jorga Fox , Alyssa Milano ,Stephen... [Read more]
My Gulf – Remembering PCB and the Gulf of Mexico Before the BP Oil Spill
Let me tell you about the Gulf before the oil spill. For decades Panama City Beach, Florida was my sanctuary. To this day I can sit in my room in Los Angeles, CA and remember what the air smelled like; salt, seaweed, and sulfur – and if my mom was around – Ban de Sole coconut oil. Some might think these are unpleasant... [Read more]
Kidsave wins The Reader’s Digest 1,500 and Breaks My Site!
After 15 grueling days of voting you’ve chosen Kidsave to receive the Reader’s Digest $1500. Kidsave supporters voted from around the world and one fan pledged to double the Reader’s Digest award so Kidsave will be receiving $4500 which is amazing and I’m beyond happy for them. I would like to thank all the groups that... [Read more]
Who Should Get $1,500 From Reader’s Digest? Charity Details Here!
Reader’s Digest called last week to inform me that because I was featured in the “Make it Matter” section of the June/July issue I get a $1500 grant for either my non-profit or a non-profit of my choice. I don’t have a non-profit. I just help them. So I’m going to give the money to a non-profit. Problem is I can’t... [Read more]
My Volunteer Journal: Episode 56 – 1 Hot Mess Runs a 5k for the Amazon Foundation
I went to a costume party the night before my first 5k run ever. Not the smartest move. I know. As a nondrinker/smoker/recreational drug user I figured I’d be fine. I don’t want to tell you this next piece because I’m sure I will get emails about being insensitive, trashy, heartless etc. but here ya go… I decided... [Read more]
Diatribe Against A Leather Couch
Attention Bachelors: Stop Buying Leather Couches! Actually check that. I’m talking to anyone who purchases leather furniture. Put your VHS tape of “Coming to America” away, and let’s talk about why leather couches are the most unpleasant piece of furniture that can be purchased. 1. Is your furniture cold or is it just... [Read more]
Promoting the Veg Lifestyle
“Environmentally, meat amazingly causes more emissions than all of transportation combined. Cars, trains, planes, buses, boats – all of them.” –Graham Hill Founder of Treehugger.com No doubt that being a vegetarian or vegan is one of the best environmental moves you can make, but it’s a choice not always glamorized... [Read more]
Reader’s Digest Publishes an Article about TheGoodMuse and the Response is…WOW
On May 12th the June/July issue of Reader’s Digest hit the newsstands featuring a story about TheGoodMuse (page 51 – damn right memorized). Since that day I have been inundated by the most humbling, unbelievable response and I just wanted to take a moment to say, “Thank you.” The purpose of TheGoodMuse and all these... [Read more]
Sophie Uliano Launches ‘Do It Gorgeously’ with a Hollywood Tea Party
Anyone reading my posts the last two years knows that I’m rather attached to Los Angeles base writer Sophie Uliano. Her first book “Gorgeously Green” was a New York Times Bestseller. She followed up that success with “The Gorgeously Green Diet” and now “Do it Gorgeously ” in stores and on Amazon June 1st. ... [Read more]
Producer/Director Gene Rosow Talks “Dirt”
One of the perks to living in Los Angeles is the regular invites to screenings ‘n such. Recently, I was invited to TreePeople‘s headquarters to see a screening of the award-winning documentary “Dirt! The Movie” . “Dirt” profiles our most underappreciated and squandered natural resource – you guessed it dirt... [Read more]
My Volunteer Journal: Episode 55 – Nashville Flood Relief
I never go back home. Not just because of the expensive plane tickets. My family can be… difficult. My grandfather was one of the only consistent people in my life, thus the tribute when he departed. But I wanted to attend my brother’s law school graduation, which would put me in the path of my extended family. So I flew... [Read more]
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