2011 > 2012 > ??

I hope everyone’s enjoying the very last month of 2011! Hopefully the Mayans are wrong and the world will NOT end next year. In case it does I just wanted to try and wrap a nice literary bow-tie around my thoughts of 2011. I’ll try to hit on some big topics:

LOVE

2011 was filled with one longer relationship, a couple of month-long ones and lots of one-time dates. I’ve learned a ton about myself, what kind of person fits me the best and what makes me truly happy. I’m not sure what 2012 holds but for my mom’s sake I hope it’s good so she can stop nagging me. (Actually I just say that b/c it sounds normal for someone my age to say but my mom really doesn’t nag me about this – damn you pressures of social norms!)

CAREER

2011 was the beginning of my 3rd year at City Year Seattle. I’ve had a blast thus far and I still love the quest of interviewing and admitting bright, idealistic, passionate young people to do 10 months of service in local public schools! I joined the board of 826 Seattle in January and just joined board of Seattle Works this month.

It’s crazy to think that seven or eight years ago I was fearful of switching careers to non-profit and here I am pretty much completely devoted to them in every way.

FAMILY

2011 marked the first time I talked to my brother in 3 years and the passing of my maternal grandfather. I have plans (very very early stages) to visit my dad in Korea sometime in 2012. It’s weird being so far from family members but it’s something I’ve (for good or bad) become accustomed to. I also want to make sure to see my favorite cousin in 2012 some more!

TRAVEL

My biggest trip of 2011 was my first venture to the gorgeous city of New Orleans! I had a great time and I want to do something more next year (like go to Korea… and maybe Indonesia… and maybe India)!  I’ll be visiting Boston in January for work and have scheduled a brief stopover in NYC to visit family and friends. Can’t wait!

SPORT

2011 was a big year for me in terms of coaching and the work being done here in the southend of Seattle in terms of ultimate. We’ve had coverage about our kids/programs on KUOW and the Seattle PI. My kids have traveled to Oregon and Minnesota to compete in regional and national tournaments! I won Coach of the Year! Good times indeed but it’s sad to know that my two co-captains Henry and Tugade will be moving on to greener pastures after this year.

#OCCUPY

All I will say is that 2012 will be very, very, very interesting. I think things are coming to a head and people are fed up and the 1% are adamantly holding their position on the benefits of trickle-down economics. It’s not nearly that simple but hey, it’s my blog. Whatever.

IOWA

Iowa is my current favorite state for these two amazing people. I wonder if they’d want to do City Year? Hmmm…

Iowan #1 – Zach Wahls

His video went viral and it’s one of the most impassioned, well-reasoned, well-spoken pleas I’ve seen or read in defense of gay marriage.

He even has his own website now! – http://www.zachwahls.com/

Iowan #2 – Jane Schmidt

Jane challenged Michele Bachmann about her beliefs on gay marriage at a town hall in Iowa. Damn!

Enjoy your December everyone and see you in 2012 (if not sooner)!

West Seattle Sunsets

Check out this video I took yesterday from Alki Beach in West Seattle!

Also check out some photos from Instragram!

My Thoughts on the Occupy Movement

I’ll start with this great Calvin and Hobbes comic strip:

I recently watched this video on TED by Richard Wilkinson – “How economic inequality harms societies”. Please take a look when you get a moment.

Some highlights:

In terms of how much richer the top 20% of a country is compared to the bottom 20% – Japan is the lowest with 3.4 times difference. In the middle is Netherlands and Greece with 5.3 and 6.2 times difference respectively. Second highest difference is the US with 8.5 times difference – we’re topped only by Singapore who has a difference of 9.7 times.

Richard and his colleagues create a graph comparing income inequality with an index that covers health and social problems (life expectancy, child mortality, math & literacy, homicide rates, imprisonment, teenage births, etc) and the US had the worst index by far.

He jokingly states that, “if Americans want to live the American dream, they should move to Denmark.”

Today there’s a lot of strong feelings about the Occupy Wall Street movement. Some are in favor of the movement while critics complain about the lack of focus and decry the assumed laziness of people.

Richard Wilkinson delineates hard data that shows the awful social and health problems that increase significantly in societies with the highest income inequality. This reminds me of the video of Alan Grayson where he blows up PJ O’Rourke and describes the Occupy Wall Street movement:

New Orleans and Beyond

In four days I will be boarding a plane for my first ever trip to the wonderful city of New Orleans! I’ll be meeting two of my City Year friends (one from Columbia, SC and the other from New Orleans, LA) and better yet, it’ll be during the weekend of the Blues & BBQ Festival!

Traveling is one of those things that I really enjoy but haven’t had a chance to do very often. I’ve never been outside of the US except for Canada and South Korea. I was really close to Mexico once (San Diego) but never crossed the border.

I may actually travel to South Korea again this spring to see my dad and to (hopefully) visit my grandfather who has cancer. My mom just got back from a trip this past week and says he’s not doing well. I never really knew him very well but I feel sad for my mom since she’s the oldest daughter and the only child from his first marriage (his wife, my mom’s birth mother was killed during the Korean War).

During my potential trip to Korea I may try to also visit my friends in Indonesia and India. They’re both on my Forty x 40 list. In the past all my vacation funds were spend on going back home to NYC or to small jaunts to Los Angeles, San Fran, San Diego and Hawaii. I hope to save some serious coin this fall/winter to make my international spring trip a reality.

If you can travel someplace you’ve never been – where would that be? And why there?

Giving Back This Fall

An Executive Director of a non-profit that I admire greatly recently asked me to meet for coffee/drinks. We met and shared good food, tasty drinks and enjoyable conversation. Towards the end I was asked if I’d consider joining their Board of Directors.

I haven’t accepted but do plan to visit their next board meeting to see the group in action and to see if I’d be able to contribute. I also wanted some time to think about how joining a second non-profit board (while working F/T at another non-profit and coaching/volunteering at Franklin HS and volunteering at Treehouse once a month) would affect my ability to really help out in an effective way.

It feels good to be asked but I want to make sure it’s a commitment I can keep.

Well if you’re looking for ways to give back or get involved this Fall – here are a few suggestions:

DiscNW’s Youth Development FunDinner Auction
10/8/11 – 5pm – Montlake Community Center

The Youth Development Fund supports and promotes youth participation in Ultimate Frisbee activities throughout the greater Seattle area. It encourages populations traditionally deterred from participation in not just Ultimate, but from sports in general, by barriers such as finanical need and gender inequality. Many local young athletes who participate in YDF suppported activities benefit from the unique attributes of Ultimate as a sport. In addition to physical fitness, participants gain important life skills, such as improved dispute resolution, since Ultimate is a self-officiated sport.  

 

* My housemate and I are cooking dinner for 4 people in our beautiful West Seattle home. Most likely a combination of Korean and Japanese cuisine. Drinks/cocktails/wine provided. My housemate Doug used to work at Canlis and now is at Seastar and has a great wine collection!

 

Seattle Works Hot Project with Lettuce Link at Marra Farms
10/8/11 – 10am to 2pm – Marra Farms

Lettuce Link (an innovative food and gardening program growing and giving since 1988) creates access to fresh, nutritious and organic produce, seeds, and gardening information for families with lower incomes in Seattle. They work on creating food justice and teach about sustainable food production. Lettuce Link is a program of Solid Ground. Solid Ground is committed to building a community free from poverty, prejudice, and neglect where all members stand confident with the skills needed to achieve their dreams. Volunteers will tend and maintain Lettuce Link’s Giving Garden. Work outdoors in the fresh air weeding, mixing compost, creating paths, fixing fences, hauling wood chips, doing minor repairs, or harvesting vegetables.

 

826 Seattle’s After School Tutoring
Mon-Thu from 3pm to 6pm – Greenwood

 

Thank you for your interest in helping 826 Seattle! Since most of our programs occur during weekday mornings and afternoons, we are looking for volunteers available during those times. We do have occasional openings for weekends and evenings, and we contact potential volunteers as those opportunities arise.

 

Treehouse Donation Drives
All Year Long

Foster parents receive up to $300 from the state each year to clothe a growing child. It’s just not enough. Thanks to the generosity of individuals and businesses in our community, Treehouse distributes clothing, school supplies, and much more to local foster kids through our Wearhouse, a unique store where kids and caregivers shop for free – allowing foster parents to stretch the family budget just a little bit further.