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 into Nashville, TN two weeks after the worst flood in over a century. I spent some time doing disaster relief. Oh… and I helped clean up after the catastrophic flood too… Once... [Read more]

They asked for it. I wrote it. They were warned. Ladies and gentlemen – a 12 page play about a cat who might or might not be killing the residents of a small town nursing home. It’s all about perspectives and dying wishes and it’s supposed to be amusing. Click here to read The Reaper to premier at Lake Arrowhead Reps Short Play Festival this fall. Share and Enjoy:  Read More →

I absolutely did not want to do this. Nope. Not at all. Of course I’m American so I had recommended other people do it, but never intended to do it myself. (I felt all recommend-y after I saw this video of Seun Adebiyi). The reason for the avoidance was pure primal fear. Real fear. The fear of huge needles going through my bones. Marrow donation. Pain on a stick. Or pain on the end of a very long needle to be more accurate. I mean…didn’t that kid die in A Separate Peace because his bone marrow... [Read more]

Do not confuse the title as I have when telling people about this adventure. It’s not trash for teachers or teaching trash or trashy teachers. I’m pretty sure that last one is a movie of sorts. No. Trash for Teaching or T4T is a non-profit, which collects clean and safe cast off materials from the manufacturing process and then repurposes them as art supplies and teaching tools. As their slogan says, “Minimizing Waste. Maximizing education.” I thought the idea of using unwanted manufacturing... [Read more]

This Earth Day I thought I would give you something to do so you can avoid watching another tree planting ceremony (it’s just as painful live as on TV – don’t kid yourself). Get out and actually make a difference instead of watching other people do it. 1) Computer Recycling  – Help bridge the digital divide by donating your computer to a reuse group like: Computer Recycling Center  or Per Scholas  . They will restore the machine and then give it to a non-profit, group or individual... [Read more]

Doubting Toms – I have proven you wrong yet again! KIVA.org – Volunteer Journal #38 for those of you who need to read up – worked. Totally worked and was easy. I kid you not. Nothing to be scared of dear ones. No, I’m not on their payroll. Thing is… you should always give credit where credit is due and this organization is genius so they are going to get some mad props from me right now… KIVA.org combines microfinance with the internet to enable people to lend small amounts (or... [Read more]

“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... [Read more]