Friday, June 02, 2006

Raison D'être

I'll start with a somewhat relevant story: On Monday morning, I freaked out and caused a scene at work for the first time.
Why? I gave one of the cooks, my acting manager, a big flyer from the Rhode Island Blood Center that a very nice volunteer had given to me to hang up, and after this manager and a younger cook scoffed at the thought of giving blood, insinuated it was some sort of conspiracy, and generally mocked the idea of doing a good deed for a person you don't know, he ripped up the flyer before my eyes.
There were customers. I screamed. I stole the pieces (with the panicky idea that I could fix it), ran to the bathroom and cried. I guess it was just a shock- maybe I've come to assume everyone has the compulsion towards kindness. I realize I'm just blessed to often be surronded by people who are so generous, loving and inspiring.

This is, of course, how I spent Sunday night.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Raison D'Etre (reason for being) was Sunday, and it was beautiful. The kids raised $500 for World Vision- and that's at the low admission price of three dollars.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
(Psst, I'm pretty sure The Blue Rhoda is playing in this picture.)

I wish I got some shots of the art in progress- there were two big murals being painted outside, and ornate chalk arrows stretching down the nearby street to advertise. Oh well. Here's some of the art featured:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
These two are by my friend Melissa. She's so talented, it might kill you.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
These pieces are by Mike, who is possibly my current favorite person. What a kid. The top left one is by his girlfriend, Mindy.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
This is the handiwork of Nick, who made an apperance, but was too manly or something to stick around all night. The furthest right is a self-portrait.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
The portrait there is actually a self-portrait, by the leading lady of the evening, Katie! The trombone belongs to one of the boy's friends, but I don't know who painted it. Sure is swell, though.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
These are mine! Huzzah. In case you are wondering, their titles from top to bottom are "Enlightenment", "Turn Your Pain Into Love" and "Yeah, We're Pretty Fucking Beautiful".

And now, a musical interlude:

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
This is an Izaiah, who possesses the very genes for musical genius. Not kidding. I'm pretty sure the members of his family were all born with a tiny guitar in their hands.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
The painting behind him is also by Miss Katie. It's the Mona Lisa. The real one.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
This is Kevin! He's one of the boy's nearest and dearests, and an all-around good kid. He was home for the weekend from Americorps*NCCC, and it's a bit depressing to tell that Ian was working at camp all weekend and didn't get to see him.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
He was very good, and very modest about it. The word for his performance would be "endearing". I hope he keeps playing that thing.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
This is Breathe Easy, who were quite good, and not as loud as they claimed they would be. I was in a band with the bassist, once. Guess he was too "committed to playing music" for a band that had two practices, one of which was dominated by playing video games. The lead guitar player, Tim, is pretty amazing. I don't know those other guys.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic
In this image, people are moving stuff around to accomodate the last band. I don't know who they were, actually, but they were crazy loud. It was pretty good, for a mosh band in an art gallery. The lady in yellow is top banana herself, Katie. I don't mean to discredit the other people who organized this, I just wasn't involved, so I don't know who did what. Not to mention that I don't have any pictures of them. Laura and Jen were the ladies who brought the whole idea forward, I believe, and worked with Katie as a team. There were plenty of others who helped out. From the outside, things seemed to go smoothly- so a pat on the back, an I love you, and a cup of freshly squeezed mango juice to everyone who made it happen.

Well. I'm happy I can say that this is the sort of thing I do with my life, and I'm practically in love with all of my friends. Did I mention Dave was there, after spending a week helping orphans in Haiti? That just struck me, when the cook ripped up that flyer. They were unrelated, really, but I just wanted to shout, "How can you be so heartless about such a thing, when people are out feeding Haitian orphans?"
Katie, Laura, Jen, Kevin, Dave; they're not crazed, or superhuman or anything. They're just nice people, seizing opportunities to do good.
I hope this hasn't been too shmaltzy for you. I'll talk about TV some other week. This week, I hope you're inspired by these friends of mine. I am, constantly.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Giving blood? A conspiricy?!?!!?! Oh noes!

Actually, the reason my brother doesn't give blood is because he doesn't want gang members that stab each other to get his precious life fluid. Gah.

Anonymous said...

Sponsored by MEDC and Michigan Small Tech Association Policy Forum Attendees.

cheap viagra uk
Looking for acne+medicine? Webdirectory about acne+medicine, and related topics

Anonymous said...

FREEDOM HEPPINESS HEALTH ....BUY LOW-COST VIAGRA , CHEAP CIALIS LEVITRA ONLINE
Sildenafil citrate, sold under the name Viagra is the first of a new group of medication which allows adequate sexual stimulation, relaxes the blood vessels of the penis and helps erection..More info
AND FREE OF CHARGE TO YOUR HOME DELIVERY


Teen sex chat teen model nude little nude girls next teen party lesbian




We have over 20 MILLION active swingers of all colors and sexual persuasions ...





Faint free sex chat websites lines showed on both of their buttocks where they had been playing earlier.




Couples Seduce Teens. 1000 Free Pictures. ... Insane cock brothas use their long dongs to rip a teen apart. -



adult men gay sex movies free horny teenage lesbian girls teen blonde orgies



Captured Gays Totally exclusive gay bondage and fetish pics.



war gay sex sex picture in the sex matter, sex anyway? ...


That webcam girls home alone so I knew from my voice ...


pussy licking gay blowjob black pussy dick sucking lesbian sex free gay porn blonde babes lesbians teen


women over 60 in hard core porn women rape pictures bi-porn hardcore sex

Anonymous said...

Fora & Online Watch Shop.
armani cologne
acqua di gio by giorgio armani 6.7 cologne
georgio armani cologne

emporio armani white cologne
BUY LOW-COST LEVITRA ONLINE. IT can assist men with this disorder in achieving and maintaining an erection during sexual activity..!!!

Anonymous said...

Adobe Systems and the Association for Information and Image Management will make PDF more closely


Find bar tables near you - phone numbers, maps, reviews and recommendations available nowhere else


bank foreclosers in georgia


bamboo window blinds bamboo blind


diamond bangle bracelet bangle bracelets

Anonymous said...

Catholic News and Information Center for Catholics and All People of God
buy cheap VIAGRA online

GoldenCasino.com - An incredible online casino experience offering blackjack, roulette, craps, slots, and video poker. Deposit now and get up to $555 FREE!

Visit the top recommended sites for bmw and find exactly what you are looking for quickly.

discontinued born shoes

body pillow covers
finest carved walnut bombe chest with drop front desk
powell bombe chest

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed a lot! Patchwork maternity clothes Secondary high blood pressure Infrared heating systems and your health Decks patios driveways stanford california Dental hygienist licensure lower blood pressure with vitamins and herbs Rhinoplasty remove wrinkles facelfit fiat active sport Cover honda leather seat Texas bondage jeep commander Free anti spam blocker for incredimail cough due blood pressure medication wrist watch blood pressure

Anonymous said...

This is very interesting site... Protonix drip Excalibur software custom car parts body kits and accesories

Anonymous said...

LOW-COST CIALIS
PURCHASE CIALIS ONLINE LOW-PRICES
TREATMENT IMPOTENCE
BUY LOW-COST VIAGRA ONLINE & SAVE
ACNE MEDICINE ONLINE
ACNE MEDICINE
WHAT IS ANTHELMINTICS
Buy Albemza
ANTIBACTERIAL MEDICINE & CARE
buy cheap amoxil
AMPICILLIN ONLINE
AMPICILLIN
BUY CHEAP BACTRIM
buy bactrim without prescription
NEW DRUGS & PILLS… SUPER-VIAGRA…
online cialis
BUY CIPRO ONLINE
CHEAP CIPRO ONLINE
BUY CHEAP DIFLUCAN ONLINE
BUY DIFLUCAN ONLINE
BUY CHEAP SUPER VIAGRA ONLINE AND SAVE 70 % OF MONEY...
BUY GENERIC CIALIS
Credit CARDS

Anonymous said...

Internet!
Sites!
Best!

More best sites...

teen
cancer mesothelioma
student loan consolidation program
real estate attorney
home insurance
car compare comparison css new summary
car for sale
calculator mortgage

houston texas real estate
business web hosting
google com
web hosting provider
my first sex teacher
auto cheap insurance
google home page usa
work at home

apparel woman
beautiful woman
gay dating service
hotel
singapore hotel
nude woman
christian dating service
internet dating

other real estate
dvd movie rental
car finance
world sex
free porn
car part
car dealer
download free music

http://used-car-warranty.online-board.info used car warranty
porn
http://google-search.opewe.info google search
http://engine-google-search.online-board.info engine google search
google
buy a car
hotel
google home page

singapore hotel
hotel denver
dating online service
fat woman
online dating service
wholesale gift
clothing wholesale
sheraton hotel

paris hotel
degree online
college degree online
online college degree
dating gay service
wholesale jewelry
free dating services
free dating

online college degree
san diego hotel
degree online
las vegas hotel
las vegas nv hotel
accredited online bachelor degree
hotel reservation
mortgage loan

wholesale funeral flower
dating personals senior
dutch free movie porn sex
cons interest loan mortgage only pro
woman porn star
hydrocodone ibuprofen
luxury hotel downtown miami
wholesale candle shade

forge hotel pigeon
pigeon forge hotel
luxury hotel
hotel dallas
wholesale flower
hotel phoenix
hotel anaheim
hotel california

chicago il hotel
hotel grand rapid
palm springs hotel
myrtle beach sc hotel
virginia beach hotel
washington dc hotel
purse wholesale
venice hotel

wholesale flower
wholesale distributor
city hotel new ny york
woman 39 s clothing
hotel deal
wholesale apparel
home equity loan rate
hotel dallas