I was tagged by sallycandance , so here we go!!! Also, I think I am going to post my happy things about the previous day, since I will definitely forget to post at the end of the day after all the good things have happened. Today's post is a little long because I haven't updated in a while...</lj>

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The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day. Tag 8 people to do the same.

DAY ONE (yesterday, December 11, 2008):

1.) I thought my beloved dwarf pufferfish McNugget was going to die. I've been putting McNugget's heater on for a few hours while I am monitoring him and in the room with him, to regulate the temperature. However, because the tank is small (only 5 gallons), it could easily overheat. Well, yesterday morning before going in to teach, I saw that I had accidentally left McNugget's heater on ALL NIGHT and had completely overheated the aquarium. McNugget was looking very lifeless. I immediately took him out of the tank, put him in cooler water, and tried to revive him. I could see his gills were moving, and his tail was sometimes moving, but that was all. I was SO UPSET. I did a 50% water change and added cool water to even out the temperature, and then put McNugget back in the tank. Then I had to go to school to teach. I worried about McNugget all day. He really looked dead (except for his gills moving). On Thursdays, I usually go straight from teaching to my new temp job at the Museum, but I decided to go home first to check on McNugget. Lo and behold, he had swam up to his plant and was chilling there. I shook the plant and he began to swim agound. I think he is going to make it! I was so happy, I was almost crying! I am hoping he will make a full recovery. He seems to be a little exhausted and less self-motivated to swim around (he does a lot of hanging out in his plant since it happened). But, that was a pretty traumatic experience, so I hope he will come around soon.

2.) Linda, my professor, came to observe me teaching in my classroom. The lesson went really well, and Linda had great things to say about my teaching. She said I was very intuitive, and had great instincts to go over to the students that needed help the most. She thought that some of the explanations I made to the kids were really good (demonstrating on the fly what is meant by a 3/4 profile, for example; not assuming the students know what that is). She said I am going to be a "wonderful art teacher," and when my mentor teacher Desiree was there, she added how I am going to build an amazing program wherever I go! It was awesome to get all of those great and supportive compliments! ALSO exciting is the fact that Linda has a school in mind for me that needs a really strong art teacher. It's an elementary school near Brooklyn College. Something to think about!! Linda comments, "They will hire whoever I send them." Linda is one of my best advocates at finding a job, so I am extremely excited that she is already thinking of places that would be a good fit for me. She has a lot of contacts and is such a great resource, and it is awesome how supportive she is of me!

3.) I got a manicure and pedicure which was long overdue and I think I just needed to do something relaxing and pampering for myself (especially after the stress of worrying over McNugget)! I got a festive purple color!

4.) I went to see Marty play at a Toys for Tots benefit in Bayonne last night! It was really fun, despite the nasty weather! I brought four toys I'd gotten at Target -- a Barbie, a baby doll, a Transformer (Robots in Disguise!), and a Mr. Potato Head! So, while I am sad I will not be able to afford Operation Santa Claus this year, I definitely feel better that I was able to contribute some toys to needy children! Marty did a great job and it was fun seeing him play solo since he hasn't really done that in a while! We got a little drenched, but it was cool. It made me feel very festive, and I am looking forward to Marty's BIG holiday event, Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza. Marty will be playing with Spiraling, and also in the house band!

OK, I am tagging....
zama60  cleodee  v_mina_harker  igraine120  un_sedentary  lea724 whitetigergeek and pgwfolc 
...but, don't feel obligated, and also: if I didn't tag you, feel free to participate!

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Exciting news, everyone! My "adopted" soldier, M, is GOING HOME!!!!!!!!

Fortunately, I was NOT currently in the middle of preparing a package for him. I was, however, going to make him a postcard project... I have collected postcards with messages to M from all 50 states! I am going to hurry and RUSH to mail the envelope of postcards to M in hopes that it will get to him on time (or will be forwarded to him).

I have been supporting M since the end of March with letters and care packages, and although he was a "strong yet silent type," I will miss him!! 

I am currently trying to decide whether to adopt another hero. Currently I am leaning towards WAITING to adopt until after graduation, but to continue my support of Soldiers' Angels through the "TLC" listings (one-time-only letters or packages). I am just thinking I can be a better adopter AFTER I am done with grad school! Plus, I love doing the TLCs and I can still continue to do them with as much frequency as my schedule and wallet will allow.

Anyway, I am SO HAPPY that M is coming home!!!!

Yesterday, I got my first piece of "Free Mail!" Soldiers who are abroad can send mail for free (no postage). Since joining Soldiers' Angels, I have hoped to someday get a piece of Free Mail! I support my adopted soldier, M, regularly with weekly letters and 1x-2x monthly packages. But I also pick up TLC's (one-time only packages or letters). And, I have supported one person, Chaplain K, on the Chaplain's Support Team. I keep hoping someday to receive a piece of mail! Yesterday was my day! I came home at around 10:45, all tired post-Printmaking. And there in my mailbox was a giant padded envelope that said "FREE MAIL" in magic marker where the stamp would have been!

I was very excited of course! Inside the envelope was this beautiful certificate of appreciation. It was from a group in Iraq, and I was thanked for my support! At the bottom in VERY VERY NEAT handwriting, someone added, "The snack cakes were great."

This was for I think about three boxes of Little Debbie Snack Cakes I mailed to Chaplain K. I sent a bunch of them just responding to a request for Little Debbie... Chaplain K runs a "coffeehouse" for the soldiers. She has thanked me personally via email each time I sent a box. Later on, she asked me for "Spirit of America" Little Debbies (a limited edition style I sent featuring stars and stripes). Chaplain K wanted to give the soldiers "Spirit of America" cakes on 4th of July.

Well... wouldn't you know I went to every store I know that has Little Debbies, and as soon as she made that request, the stores were beginning to run out of them!!! I was beginning to think it was a request I wouldn't be able to fill, since the 4th of July was creeping up, and the Debbies were no where to be found! It takes a while -- I don't even know how long exactly -- for a package to get to Iraq. Anyway, I settled on sending a box of the few "Spirit of America" cakes I could find, and I filled the rest of the box with other snack cakes.

THEN, a week later, randomly I went to a different store and there were 8 more boxes of "Spirit of America" cakes! I bought them all and quickly made up another package. This one I was worried about -- I thought it might not make it to Chaplain K in time for the 4th. Even then, I knew the cakes would be enjoyed -- I just really wanted them to get there for the 4th!

WELL, I mailed them. Then the 4th arrived. And what was in my email?? A message from Chaplain K! She said the snack cakes arrived today and are being enjoyed by everybody! It was a 4th of July MIRACLE! I was SOOO happy!

Anyway, it is an honor to get such a nice certificate from Chaplain K and her team! I am smiling!!! I might have to put it in a picture frame!

I have really been enjoying being active with Soldiers' Angels! Aside from sending letters and packages to my adoptee, one of the things I have been doing is participating in "postcard projects" -- what that is, is collecting postcards from every state bearing messages to a person's adopted soldier. Believe it or not, I have just finished collecting all 50 states for my soldier, M! If anyone on my friends' list wants to send me a postcard for M, leave me a comment below!

Anyway, in addition to making my own "postcard project" (I will now be making it into a scrapbook for M), I like to participate by helping other people with theirs! I have been keeping lots of NYC postcards and postcard-stamps (27 cents) on hand so that I can always send a card out.

Yesterday I saw someone was doing a postcard project asking for HANDMADE cards!! Of COURSE I was all over that!! Below is my NYC handmade postcard!!! The gray-looking part below the card is not part of it; I just wanted to show that the yellow ribbon sticks out a bit!! I think it turned out pretty cute, and since this person was asking for homemade or funny cards, I think it fits the bill! :)



Anyway, for those of you who requested handmade postcards, they are COMING SOON! I finished the watercolor on all of them, and I went to do the sewing last night, but my sewing machine was wigging out. So -- once I get that sorted out, they will be done soon! (You can see that for this card, I had to use staples, not sewing. That may have to be my solution...)

Anyway, I thought you would like to see! If you'd like to send a postcard (non-handmade OR handmade) to my adopted soldier, let me know!

Comment on this post and I will choose seven interests from your profile and ask you to explain what they mean and why you are interested in them. Post this along with your answers in your own journal so that others can play along.
The things vertical_chaosgave me...

beans: Hm. I forgot I had "beans" as an interest! I mean, beans are all very yummy, but I believe the true meaning of me putting them down as an interest is because I use "bean" as a term of endearment for susanbean (susanBEAN) and for a while it was used for some others, but now it's almost exclusively Susan. "Beans" refer to "human beans" and also to a fabricated/shared sisterhood Susan and I made up years ago. So many people used to see us together and think that we were sisters or twins. For a while it amused us and we'd sometimes opt to lie and tell them we were indeed sisters. In the fabricated story, Susan was nicknamed "Bean" one Easter when I gave her all the gross black jellybeans to eat so I could have the good ones, and Susan became ill from TooMuchBlackJellybeans. We never actually told anyone this, but I remember making it up, and the name stuck!

etsy: One of my FAVORITE WEBSITES. I check Etsy daily, just to browse. It's a website for crafters and artisans of ALL SORTS to buy and sell their own homemade goodies. I adore the entire principal of it! I only have one item in my shop, Beangarden, right now. I hope to get it up and running one day, after I graduate perhaps! Right now there is just too much on my plate! Still, I love BUYING on Etsy even more than I love selling!! My favorite shop, as you all know, is Cleo Dee's (home of All Things Squid-Related).

leonia: Leonia, NJ is my hometown. I am actually in Leonia RIGHT NOW! Located in Bergen County, which is in northern NJ, Leonia is only one-square-mile in size. Despite being exceedingly small, Leonia has three public schools, and it is a very nice suburban town. It's not difficult to commute to NYC from Leonia, so a lot of people are commuters. I am a 3rd-generation Leonian, with two of my great-grandfathers being mayors of the town at one time or another!

some like it hot: My FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME. Some Like it Hot has everything I like in a movie, including (but not limited to): Marilyn Monroe, men dressing in drag, musical numbers, 1920s costumes and settings, a ukulele, a bull fiddle, gangsters, a chase scene, romance, action, and cases of confused identity. It is the perfect comedy, blending low-brown humor with subtle spoken humor, physical humor, slapstick, situation comedy... you name it! It's a timeless film.

v day: V-Day is an organization close to my heart. Committed to preventing violence against women everywhere, V-Day can take many forms. It can be a month-long festival, or a week, or even a single day. Usually it happens in February, close to Valentine's Day. The V-Day I participated in was the first-ever "V-Day Syracuse" at Syracuse University. Our first V-Day was a week long, with lots of events and activities. The main event of V-Day is a production of the Vagina Monologues by Even Ensler. I was in the first production of the Vagina Monologues at S.U. It was an awesome experience! I am proud to say V-Day is still going strong up at Syracuse, raising money and awareness!

ultra lounge music: Ultra Lounge is a series of CDs that I have been collecting. Featuring "lounge" music of the 50s and surrounding decades, these compilation albums have fantastic artwork and swingin' tracks! I love playing these tunes during dinner parties (they are smooth, suave-sounding tunes). I've got a bunch of these, but my favorites are their "sampler" CDs which have special novelty covers (one features a working Roulette Wheel!) and they contain highlights from the other CDs. I recommend these CDs left and right -- they are really a lot of fun! Organized by theme, some are "tropical," one is "bossa nova," one is for "bachelor pads," some have to do with "TV themes," there are some great Christmas ones... Hooray for Ultra Lounge!

circus peanuts: Ah, yes, circus peanuts. My peers (*cough*zama60*cough*) are constantly making fun of me for (allegedly) being the Only Human Being Alive who enjoys these delectable treats!! Are you familiar with them? They look like this:

They are not REAL peanuts, but rather, they are spongy, sugary, dense-yet-marshmallow-like, banana-flavored, peanut-shaped treats! Their signature color is orange. Oh, how I love them! I think they are the kind of candy that could outlast a nuclear holocost. I'm not sure if they contain any natural substances (excepting sugar). They have a bit of a reputation being an "old person's candy." I think I like them because my Grams used to eat them with me! :)

** You can comment and I'll ask about 7 of your interests, or you can just ask me about any of my interests if you want!**

Some of you may know I stitch for Love Quilts, an organization that makes cross-stitch quits for sick children. The first child I ever stitched for was Rachel W., a little girl with leukemia. "Horses" was the theme of the quilt, because horses are Rachel's favorite animal.

I just checked the Love Quilts site and there is now a picture of the finished quilt I contributed to!!! I am excited. It looks SO nice!

You can see it here: http://lqpreviouschildren.homestead.com/RachelWFinished2007.html

My square is the very top right corner! Here is a detail of it: http://public.fotki.com/LOVEQUILTS/2007-lq-kids/rachel-/allisonnewyork.html

Since making Rachel's square, I have made another "horse" square for a different child, and I am currently on my third square... this time of a celestial theme!

Anyway, I really like the Love Quilts organization, and I am excited I got to see the finished quilt!

You might remember that I adopted a soldier through Soldiers' Angels a few weeks ago. I have been doing a good job being a Soldier's Angel, I think! I've diligently been writing to M at least weekly, if not more. Today I mailed M his first care package, which was FILLED with the things he requested (I did my best!). It also had some "surprises" in there, including stationery and pens and a Sudoku puzzle book (and pencils). I hope he likes his stuff!

I feel more confident about how I should fill out a customs form to adhere to the packages I send. I went to the Post Office near Brooklyn College (instead of the HORRIBLE Post Office by my house). A woman there was SO friendly and helpful. She walked me through the whole entire process. It was awesome!

There are lots of opportunities on Soldiers' Angels to do more if you choose to (totally not mandatory). One thing people like to do is send their soldiers a "postcard book" as a gift. They collect postcards from all 50 states with messages to the soldier. The Soldier's Angel then creates a book (kind of like a scrapbook) of the postcards he/she has received. So, quite often on the Soldiers' Angels forum, there are requests for postcards from different states. I've taken to sending lots and lots of New York postcards! I've gone through almost 20 of them so far!! I am also beginning a postcard book for M, and it is fun seeing the postcards trickle in for him from all over the country!!

Another thing I did for fun was to respond to a "TLC" request. TLC requests are basically soldiers who need extra support or encouragement. Sometimes it's a person who someone has discovered never receives mail. Sometimes it is someone who has had a death in the family, or another similar tough time. Any Angel can sign on and respond to TLC requests. So, I'm going to write a couple extra letters when I feel like responding to TLCs. This week, I made a very small TLC package for a 19 year old female soldier. I filled it with some "girly" things (lip balm, cute socks, nail polish/file/remover, stationery, pens, tampons, etc.), since I've heard many of the women soldiers like to feel girly once in a while! (And also: some don't have access to tampons. THE HORRORS!)

Anyway, I am really enjoying being a Soldier's Angel!! I have not heard back from my soldier yet, and I may never hear from him. Still, I hope he is enjoying my efforts! After all, I sent him his fave cereal!! I am sure he was missing having it!

I just adopted a soldier over at the website Soldiers' Angels:

http://www.soldiersangels.org/

After thinking about how much fun I was having making a marvelousmail package for a stranger, I decided to "adopt" a soldier that's serving overseas. As my soldier's "Angel," I will be sending him cards and letters and care packages. I thought it was a really cool thing to do, and it is something that I enjoy doing anyhow.

It is a commitment, but it is something that I'll truly enjoy doing. I know it will be very gratifying to help someone (much like when I was doing Operation Santa Claus).

My mom knows that I often sing "The Highlight Of My Day" (one of my original songs) when the mail arrives, but I think for those overseas, the mail really IS the highlight of their day!

The soldier I've been assigned is in the Navy. I only know a few things about him (including the fact that he loves Reeses Peanut Butter Puffs cereal and Kool Aid), so I will be sending him some of that. I have also printed out a survey that I can mail to him to see what other things he might need or like.

I am sending him his first letter today, and will start collecting things for his first package soon. Anyway, I'm very excited to have adopted a soldier!

http://race.komenindy.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=1050&px=1484924

The link above is to my friend Justin's mother's "Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure" page. Justin's mom recently battled breast cancer around the same time as my mom did. With grad school and other commitments, I am not doing any walkathons for a while. (Maybe after I graduate!) I donated to Justin's mom's page because it's a cause I feel really strongly about for the obvious reasons. Walks like this help fund the research and support that helped my mom and Justin's mom become survivors!

I thought I'd share the link. If you feel like it, make a donation!

Today Megan and I had the cutest little luncheon of all! We walked to my apartment for lunch, and we had Quiche Lorraine that I'd made over the weekend. Megan brought chips and brownies for dessert, and we made up some Mimosas! ;) I put the lights on the tree, and put on Christmas music!

We swapped presents, it was very fun!! I gave Megan Cooking Mama 2 for her DS! Megan got me.... A PLUSH GIANT SQUID!!!!!!! It is SO CUTE. She also gave me a ticket to the Long Island Railroad, so I can come visit her!! So sweet! :)

Before we left, she helped me put my Operation Santa Claus gifts into a box and tape them up. I will ship them all out tonight! Hopefully they'll get there in time!!

Today I had brunch with the lovely miss Beth (vertical_caos)! We swapped Christmas presents and caught up! It was super nice. The place we went to for brunch, Bone Lick Park, is amazing. The brunch price is so reasonable and the drinks are unlimited!! I will definitely be Yelping it up.

Just before meeting up with Beth, I went to the big post office on 34th Street... to do Operation Santa Claus. Incidentally I first heard of this program through Yelp. Anyone can go to the post office and look through letters and choose to be a "Santa" for disadvantaged kids. The letter I chose was written by a mom who is struggling, and she asked Santa for gifts for her two daughters -- one in 3rd grade and one in kindergarten. She says they need gloves, boots, pajamas, and toys. The oldest likes to read and both like painting and drawing. If anyone knows what other toys kindergarteners and 3rd graders (girls) like, let me know! I figured I couldn't go wrong with stuffed animals! I will go shopping for this family after the semester ends!!

It was really heartwarming to read the letters, but it was hard to choose one. There were a few from parents and grandparents, and I sadly couldn't fulfill the ones that have 4 or more kids... I decided on this family because I thought I could do a good job within my financial constraints to fulfill all of this mom's wishes for her daughters!

A woman next to me was there with her husband and her daughter and they were choosing their Santa letters together as a family. I heard her read one in particular -- a child asked for an electric wheelchair so his mom wouldn't have to push him around all the time. (!!!) Some day, when I win the lottery... I would love to fulfill a wish like that!

Okay -- back to work I go!!!

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Check out this website. For every word/definition you get right, 10 grains of rice are donated through the United Nations to end world hunger. AND -- you can play as long as you want to! (Wrong answers just get bypassed with a "Try again!") So -- test your SAT word skills!!

Through my blog on SheKnows.com (http://sheknows.com/scrapbooking-crafts/), I've learned about this awesome project, SHARE A SQUARE. This is a super-grassroots project designed by a woman, Shelly Tucker, who wants to make 140 afghans for children with cancer. The afghans will be distributed to a summer camp for kids with cancer. Each afghan will be made using squares from 40 different people! Attached to each of these squares will be messages from the people who made the squares. Imagine the love each child will feel from the "kindness of strangers" who came together from all over the WORLD to make them something and show their support?

If you knit or crochet, I suggest you whip up a SQUARE TO SHARE. Instructions are here!! Check it out:

http://thiseclecticlife.com/2007/07/10/share-a-square-ongoing-update-page/

I'm really psyched about this project. I've already made two squares, and I'll be making more and more! Join in the fun!

http://www.yelp.com/topic/obwB7Z2KG-sS4df4XciLDA

Aly and I have put ourselves up for auction in a Yelp.com Silent Date Auction benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Place a bid on us! We only have until 6 PM tonight, and we want to do well!

We promise: you'll get your money's worth! We promise to wear matching outfits! There may be cupcakes involved!

We were JUST added in at the last minute, so we are at a serious disadvantage! HELP! Bid on us soon -- pre-6 PM tonight!!

You can bid if you're a member of Yelp. Not a member? Join!

Then: go to the link above! Send a PM (Private Message) to Silly Julie K. with the subject heading:

Auction Bid -- Aly W. and Allison G. -- bidding amount'

Bidding amount can be anything you're willing to give, in increments of $5!

GOOD LUCK!!!

http://votefortrees.com/

For every person who clicks "Yes" -- a tree gets planted! Come help out -- free and easy, and no one asks for your email address (unless you choose to recieve a thank you eamil from a tree).

Here's your good deed of the day!! :-)

http://www.shaneswish.com/

This little 7 (soon to be 8) year old boy in Ontario is courageously battling cancer. He has a dream to be in the Guinness Book of World Records for Most Birthday Cards received. He has a ways to go. Help him out by sending him a card before his May 30th birthday! Also, after you've sent a card, please re-post this message and spread the word! This is his address:

Shane Bernier
PO Box 484
Lancaster, Ontario
K0C 1N0
Canada

I already double-checked this out on Snopes to make sure it wasn't fake. See here: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/medical/bernier.asp

April is Sexual Assault Prevention & Awareness Month, and today is Blog About Sexual Violence Day. In the past, I have tried to get involved with some creative projects that spread awareness about this issue. In high school, I participated in the Clothesline Project (http://www.clotheslineproject.org/) and in college, I was a founding member of V-Day Syracuse, and performed in the first performance of The Vagina Monologues on the Syracuse Campus.

For me, though, the most shocking thing to see are the numbers. Today, I wanted to share some startling statistics with you.

Every TWO AND A HALF MINUTES, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted.
ONE IN SIX American women are victims of sexual assault, and one in 33 men.
62% of rape and sexual assault victims knew the perpetrator.
MORE THAN HALF (59%) of sexual assaults go unreported.

Stop the violence. Stop the silence.

If you, or anyone you know, has been involved in an incident of Sexual Violence, there is help.

http://www.rainn.org/

This is a great idea. I will participate on April 5! Thanks, moonlightjoy!

Here is an adorable site for a GREAT cause! Make your own snowflakes. The more snowflakes people make (for FREE), the more money gets donated to the Salvation Army! Attach nice messages to each flake and share them with your friends!!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I've had a full-year of breast cancer awareness. Truly. But October comes at a time where I just feel thankful about all of the progress that has been make in the fight against breast cancer. My mom's diagnosis was NOT a death-sentence--it was in fact quite far from it! My friend's mom was diagnosed with "stage zero" breast cancer, which is a term only just recently being used, because it is breast cancer detected at the EARLIEST POSSIBLE stage! The fact that we can do this is an amazing thing.

My mom has been back to work for a while now. Her hair is back (she has a very stylin' crew-cut look!). I am just so thankful for normalcy (something that we all take for granted!). Health and recovery are two things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

I will shout out to the world and hope someone sees this: WOMEN OVER 40 - PLEASE GET A MAMMOGRAM! This is so so important! For women who don't have insurance coverage, there are organizations that help fund mammograms. There is no excuse!

But, yeah, I am still walking for Breast Cancer... there is still more to be done. I am walking this upcoming Sunday. If you want to help, here is a link to my Making Strides page! http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=1572029&pg=personal&fr_id=2157&s_tafId=4739