Simple Can Be Great

This week's tip for improving your world is another simple one. It won't cost a dime. It's really easy, and when it goes wrong, it's still fun.

For this week, try smiling and saying hello to the people who you see. Walking down the street? Smile and say hello at those who are going by. Shopping at the grocery store? Smile at your fellow shoppers.

Most people will be pleasantly surprised, and you'll make their day a little brighter. A few people might be weirded out, but then you'll have great stories to tell your friends about the faces that were made at you!

Hmm...

Today, my boss and a coworker were talking about something they're VERY excited for.  I, apparently, did not display the appropriate levels of excitement.  They said that I needed to be excited about something else then.  I thought for a moment, then told them that I couldn't think of anything I felt excited about.

My boss then said: "I don't like you when you're in school all the time.  It sucks the fun out of you."

Me: "I know."

Not Helpful

Today at work, I had to stop in the middle of a sentence while talking with my boss because my heart was being strange (no worries--it's just a genetic quirk). I told her what was happening, and that led into a brief conversation about how I've been having lots of physical weirdness over the past few days (neck, heart, etc).

Her response, with much agreement from the coworkers, was that I had too much stress and needed to reduce it.

Helpful. I didn't realize before that I had so much stress. If I had known, surely I would've done something about it, because it is so easy to remedy...

Change the World

Here's this week's tip on something you can do to change the world.

When you're going to be out somewhere and you're walking, take a little bag with you for picking up litter.  Some will be recyclable (yippee!) and some will not (bummer), but you can clean up your route a little no matter where you are going.

If everyone would just pick up a little bit, we could compensate for all the people who are trying to turn our world into a big dump!

Best part of this "change the world" exercise?  It takes essentially no extra time to do.

Go get 'em!

Best Demo EVER!

At work, one of my current projects is shopping around for a new piece of software to replace one that we have had for at least eight years (translation: most irritating software we use).  

I have been finding vendors, getting quotes, and setting up demos.

Today's we had a demo from a company who turned out to be based in Canada.  Because none of us is very mature, we spent the whole time trying to not giggle at the presenter's great Canadian accent.  Fortunately, since it was done remotely, he couldn't see us struggling.  That's probably a good reason for us to not invest in any sort of video technology.

All in all, it was a fantastic demo, and I really like the software and the vendor.  We have to see a few more, but I won't be surprised if that is the one we pick.

If we do end up with that software, I really hope that we have them do some training on it for us, not because we'll need it, but just because it's so fun to listen to!!

Seriously

Even if I wasn't working full time...

Even if I didn't have one million years of calculus left to do in the next four weeks...

Even if I didn't have finals this week...

Even if there wasn't extra family stuff going on...

Even if I wasn't in agonizing neck pain, which apparently cannot be resolved without a serious time/financial investment (more on that to come, I'm sure)...

Even if I were sleeping well...

Even if my room wasn't a gigantic disaster...

Even if the weather had stayed nice enough to have the windows open...

I wouldn't have appreciated the surprise carpet cleaning that I came home to this evening.  I didn't even really get to come home to it right away, since I had to dash back out to take a final.  I was just at my apartment long enough to know how soggy the carpet was, how smelly the apartment was, and to see that my room looked even worse than it had when I left it in the morning, due to the carpet guys tossing my stuff all over the place.  I didn't get back home for another 4 hours after that.  The carpet is still nice and soggy though--I didn't miss much.

This is just one among the many reasons that I am glad that I am moving.  Don't you think your landlord should notify you before something like this happens?  That's just too much to ask of my fine, fine property management company.

Pain

My neck is bothering me again. I think it has to do with being hunched over my calculus over the last few weeks.

It's a sign--my body doesn't want to do calculus.

Irony

Today in my class we're talking about business etiquette in my career prep class.  The current topic of conversation is the use of cell phones, electronic gadgets, and laptops in meetings and at work.

We just finished discussing how laptops can be problematic because you can't tell what a person is doing.  They may be taking notes, but they may also be used for playing games, surfing the internet, etc...this concerned many people in the class.  They didn't like the idea that you can't tell whether or not someone is paying attention.

During this conversation, I was playing Tetris.

*Update*

Highlights from tonight's class: our 60+ year old teacher asked someone what "slammin" meant, as someone else had used that word to describe another student's pants.  The student replied, "Slammin' is like bangin'."  

Yeah, that probably helped him understand it.

Later, someone was talking about thongs.  They meant flip-flops, but the word confused a few other people.  One student chose to enlighten the professor: "That's a girl's underware."

Nice.

**

A Chance to Make a Difference

For several months, I've been planning to bring a new feature to my blog. (That's right--my blog can have features. It's my blog, and I'll do what I want.) This new feature will highlight ways to volunteer to improve your community. Some will be large, and some will be small, but I have strong feelings that we should all be doing something.

However, I've never really gotten around to writing this feature. Friday, I received a request for help to find volunteers for an organization that I passionately support. (Me? Passionate?!? Never...)

Today's post is very long, but the subject matter could not be more important.

For the last year, I've been serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA. CASAs work with the Guardian ad Litem, which is the office of attorneys who represents children under state custody. Some of these children are just babies, and some are nearly 18 years old. They have been abused, neglected, endangered, and often forsaken by those who should be fighting for them. Some are still living with their parents, and others live in group homes or foster care.

As a CASA, I am the child's advocate. Each Guardian ad Litem is a highly-skilled, underpaid professional who is committed to protecting children. However, due to lack of funding, each GAL here in Utah County handles over 100 cases at a time, and many of those cases are sibling groups with multiple children. The CASA is key to the GAL's work. As a CASA, I am the eyes and ears for the GAL. I am assigned to just one case, where I can dedicate all my time and effort to one child or sibling group. I meet with them in person. We talk about their lives, what they have been through, what they want, what they need, and mostly, we play. I give them a chance to be kids. In addition to being the eyes and ears for the GAL, I am the voice for the child. My report is key to the GAL's recommendations and judge's decisions.

As a CASA, I am the constant for the child. Children can be moved several times while trying to find them a permanent home. A CASA may be the only person in that child's life who doesn't disappear or change. I can be the one who shows up each week like I promised, even though their parents don't.

The best part of this work is the kids. I have so much fun with my sibling group that I am currently assigned. They are a spunky little set of brothers with enough energy to power a small country. They are sweet, hilarious, and have such tender little spirits.

CASA needs men and women of all ages to help. Some cases must be assigned to a man or a woman due to the nature of the case, so it's vital for CASA to have a good mix of volunteers to match with their cases.

Is the work difficult? Of course. These children have been through things that I can't imagine. I was given great training before beginning my work, and I have a wonderful support system with the GAL's office for any of my questions.

Is the work worth it? Absolutely. As heartbreaking as it can be, I wouldn't change it for anything. It is not a huge time committment--probably 10 hours per month, all working around your schedule--and the rewards are huge. I feel so richly blessed in my association with these children. I feel the love of their Heavenly Father for each of them as I hold them in my arms and tell them that I care about them.

Utah's 4th District (Utah County) CASA group is looking for new volunteers to begin trainings this summer. Here is the contact information for the CASA coordinator with the dates of the upcoming training. If you can't make it to all the trainings, they just work around that (they did for me):

Court Appointed Special Advocates- Serving the smallest in the community

Training for this unique and rewarding volunteer experience
will begin in June 2008!!!

Schedule:
Tuesday, June 3rd 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 7th 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 10th 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 14th 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 17th 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, June 21st 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 24th 5:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

If there is a date that you would be unable to attend, it is no problem. I can provide home study work to make up the hours.

If you are interested in being a CASA Volunteer to serve children in our community, please contact Nicole Nielsen at 801-344-8516 to learn about our next Orientation night.


Call Nicole and get some information about CASA. She's holding an orientation night where you can meet a current CASA and ask all your questions and find out about the program before you commit to any training.

If you have any questions for me, I'd love to answer them--post on the blog, call, or email me.

Those of you who are not in Utah County--check for CASA organizations in your area. This country is full of children who are hurting and need someone to stand up for them. You could be that person.

Check nationalcasa.org for more information.

Uh...

There has been a lot of political talk this year.  Each candidate has attacked the other, and every person in the country seems to have some sort of opinion.  Most are pretty reasonable, and deal with issues.  Some are personal attacks, and are pretty silly.

However, I came across this comment that may top them all:

"Obama is really a renegade Time Lord called The Master.  He has mesmerized the nation in order to become our evil dictator.  Be aware."

They're probably kidding...

Thoughts

I have several potential blog posts mulling around in my mind right now, so you may see a few this weekend.  Or you may not.  It's my blog, and I'll do what I want to.

This blog post is a serious one, though.  It's about my brothers.  I once wrote a big, long post about my relationships with my brothers, and then I deleted it.  This one will be more brief, largely because I'm sitting in a rather uncomfortable position.

Through our many years of yelling, biting, hitting, kicking, video gaming, eating, geeking (is that a word?), talking, laughing, crying, listening (sometimes), teaching, learning, and other usual sibling activities, we probably took each other for granted a lot.  Although I didn't always say it, I'm glad that I grew up with my brothers.  We spent a lot of time together, and now, as adults, we continue to have special relationships.  I love them all, even though I don't say it enough.    

I know three brothers who are about to be split up from each other.  There's no other way to find them a home, so they'll be separated.  They'll still be brothers, no matter what, but I'm sad that they won't get to spend their childhood together.  

Tonight, I'm thankful for my brothers, and my heart is full of prayers for a little band of brothers who is about to embark on a new journey.

Parking

How I know it's spring: when I got home last night from my parents' house, there was a car parked in my spot. Long time blog readers will know that this is a source of frustration for me, but it had subsided during the winter as my spot is not super close to any of the buildings.

As I pulled up, the car's reverse lights were on. Delighted, I assumed that they were about to move, so I just sat there for a minute. Alas, the car did not move at all, so I parked in a visitor parking spot and carried a few of my things into my apartment so that I could walk past the car and see if there were people in it.

Indeed, there were people in the car, and they were "parking." That's right--not only did they choose to park in my spot, but they were actually just using it as a make-out venue. I took my things inside, wondering if I had just mis-interpreted what was happening in the offending car. I went back out to my car to get the rest of my things. At that point, I got a much better look at what was going on in the car, and it was definitely some serious smooching.

I went back inside with my things, planning to brush my teeth and such in hopes that they would just leave and I could move my car. If they would not leave, I knew I was going to have to have a very awkward conversation. Some of my potential ideas for talking to them:

"I know that this is a great "parking" spot, but could you, uh, "park" somewhere else?"

"I really don't want to get towed out of visitor parking, and I think that there are lots of spaces in parks, or up at Squaw Peak where you could park..."

"This is sort of a wholesome parking spot, where I like to park my car and do nothing else. Could you help me keep it that way?"

"I think that the mall is closed. I bet you could park there and, uh, have all the time you need."

"Get a room."

After some apprehension, I ventured back outside to have what held the potential to be the most awkward conversation in the history of time. Would I knock on the window? Just stand in front of the car and wait for them to notice me?

Fortunately, the car was gone, and I happily moved my wholesome car into its spot. I'm really glad I didn't have to have that conversation, but I am proud of myself that I was actually going to go out there and do it.

I'm also really glad that because of the nature of the activities, I couldn't see the occupants' faces very well, so even if one or more of them are people that live in my ward, I didn't know, so there isn't going to be an awkward conversation on Sunday.

Good Fortune

I had a fortune cookie again this weekend.  My fortune, happily, was an actual fortune.  It read:

"You will find the desired link within the next month."

I have no idea what it is supposed to mean.  I was with family, and they had some ideas about what it could mean:

Somebody's Mother: "Well, you'll either find a man or an apartment."

As appealing as the prospect of finding a man is, finding an apartment seems more pressing, so I concurred that it would be a good turn of events.

Somebody's Brother: "Either that, or you're going to find a great new website."

That's probably more likely.

Why? Why?!?!?

My coworker just said "Everyone kill Liz!"

This was in response to my eating peanut butter for lunch, which I do every day.

A little overdramatic, if you ask me...

Proofreading

There is a great need in the world for more proofreading. I have been searching for a job for my little brother, and saw this on a posting today:

"Great office Atmonspher"

I'm not sure what a great office atmonspher would be like. Sounds scary though.

Happy New Year!

No sort of April Foolery here--I tend to mark the years on my birthday, which happens to be today.

I've spent a lot of time thinking about where I want to be, where I am, and how to get those to be closer together.  I'm making goals for this year, the next few years, etc...

Anyway, as I was doing all this thinking, I realized that we're three months into 2008.  Holy cow!  Time flies when you're...working and at school...