7 weeks into social distancing. If I was going to title each week the 7 titles would be:
Excitement?
Overworked
Overwhelmed
Exhaustion
Sick or is it allergies
Grandfather passes
Cramps
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Monday, April 6, 2020
Tomorrow
Reflections are written and delayed posting not a reflection of current status, but a window into a past moment.
Cant do it all
To be a high achiever
or an overachiever
I find that I excel in the face of unimaginable challenges where many before me have faltered and where the stakes are unimaginably high and the oceans continue to rises.
But I do it at a cost
There are weeks that I don't talk to friend and family that I love
There are days where the sun it out and the weather is perfect and I am overwhelmed by the though of leaving my apartment.
It is not depression its just exhaustion.
A deep physical and emotional need to hibernate for a day and to re-charge.
Tomorrow I'll go outside.
Tomorrow I'll call my mom
Tomorrow I'll be ready to take on the evolving humanitarian needs in America.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
2020 Donation Guide
2020 charitable giving time has arrived. We truly enjoy annual giving research. We are able to learn about so many interesting organizations and incredible work being done. During the search I add the feeds for these great groups to my social account regardless if we decided to donate to them.
Last years monthly donation plan did not work out as well as we hoped. Life became chaotic and there were many months that we simple let making a donation fall off our priority list.
This year we are trying something different with three gifts, each under $500 to three non profits in January.
The focus is on combating climate change with non-profits that have action beyond research. Not being environmental scientists I turned to google to help us find our three. The first question we had was what are the biggest environmental issues facing our planet? Schooled by Science listed 10 issues, the three that we picked from that list are biodiversity, water pollution & pollution
In reading about biodiversity we learned that habitat protection and restoration are key to biodiversity. The great lakes region is one that we both love so we narrowed our search and found Michigan Nature Association, They were referenced by several other conversation groups as a key partner. The end of year report had a great blend of land acquisition for preservation, education and natural area stewardship - creating public access.
Pollution was the next issue we wanted to impact. Carbon capture having been in the news was where the google search started. Reading about the controversies and challenges with carbon capture I noticed a next article link about the risk faced in Tongass forest. This is a very concerning risk and we found several groups doing advocacy around the logging threat but we could not find any direct action organizations. Keeping in this part of the world we found Litter Free a non-profit who put on regular litter clean up days and provide ongoing education and advocacy about litter free actions and recycling.
Final issue that we want to make a positive impact on this year is water pollution. Google results showed that dynamic habitat protection and restoration are important elements to address this issue. With the help of Charity Navigator we narrowed to another area we both love and looked at many Washington based organizations. The decision was Northwest Watershed Institute. Northwest Watershed Institute leverages land acquisition, public/ private restoration and education to improve water quality in areas of pacific salmon natural habitat.
As in years past we will provide in kind gifts to the Red Cross & an annual donation to our local United Way. We have just started to volunteer with a local animal rescue (Houston Pets Alive) and are keeping an open mind that we may add them to our in-kind donations list in 2020.
The goal in sharing this each year is to give light onto some great organizations and to hopefully encourage you to make a positive impact as part of your plan for the year.
Last years monthly donation plan did not work out as well as we hoped. Life became chaotic and there were many months that we simple let making a donation fall off our priority list.
This year we are trying something different with three gifts, each under $500 to three non profits in January.
The focus is on combating climate change with non-profits that have action beyond research. Not being environmental scientists I turned to google to help us find our three. The first question we had was what are the biggest environmental issues facing our planet? Schooled by Science listed 10 issues, the three that we picked from that list are biodiversity, water pollution & pollution
In reading about biodiversity we learned that habitat protection and restoration are key to biodiversity. The great lakes region is one that we both love so we narrowed our search and found Michigan Nature Association, They were referenced by several other conversation groups as a key partner. The end of year report had a great blend of land acquisition for preservation, education and natural area stewardship - creating public access.
Pollution was the next issue we wanted to impact. Carbon capture having been in the news was where the google search started. Reading about the controversies and challenges with carbon capture I noticed a next article link about the risk faced in Tongass forest. This is a very concerning risk and we found several groups doing advocacy around the logging threat but we could not find any direct action organizations. Keeping in this part of the world we found Litter Free a non-profit who put on regular litter clean up days and provide ongoing education and advocacy about litter free actions and recycling.
Final issue that we want to make a positive impact on this year is water pollution. Google results showed that dynamic habitat protection and restoration are important elements to address this issue. With the help of Charity Navigator we narrowed to another area we both love and looked at many Washington based organizations. The decision was Northwest Watershed Institute. Northwest Watershed Institute leverages land acquisition, public/ private restoration and education to improve water quality in areas of pacific salmon natural habitat.
As in years past we will provide in kind gifts to the Red Cross & an annual donation to our local United Way. We have just started to volunteer with a local animal rescue (Houston Pets Alive) and are keeping an open mind that we may add them to our in-kind donations list in 2020.
The goal in sharing this each year is to give light onto some great organizations and to hopefully encourage you to make a positive impact as part of your plan for the year.
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Fort Boggy State Park Cabins
Cabin 1
Cabin 5
Cabin 4
Cabin 3
Cabin 2
Had the chance to introduce my brother and sister - in - law to the joys of staying at Texas State Parks. As they are not big outdoors people the cabins at Fort Boggy State Park were the perfect location.
The park has recently redone the cabins and the information that I could find online was limited. But after an awesome weekend of fishing, campfires and board games on the screened-in porches I would say that the best to least best for the cabins are 4, 3, 5, 1, 2.
The park itself is fairly limited, not many hiking trails, the lake is small and the bathroom options are clean but limited.
The cabins are incredible with AC, fridge, beds, screened and unscreened porches with ceiling fans and each has a picnic table and fire pit. Really ideal if you want to relax and enjoy slowing down & being in the forest.
Monday, December 31, 2018
Donation Guide 2019
In what is now an annual tradition my partner and I are spending part of our new years making charitable donation goals for the upcoming year.
Check out last years here: https://surrealvolunteering.blogspot.com/2017/12/day-6-7daysofsocialmediavulnerabilitych.html
The first year we focused on water systems. The second on expression and speech. This year we are going a bit more local with a focus on things that have impacts in the Houston area.
Houston Magazine ran a great article about local non-profits that are making a positive impact in our community. Check it out here: https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2018/7/20/nonprofits-houston
With this to start us off, we have 4 that we will give to, 3 times each over the year.
The 2019 charities of our choice are:
Houston Public Media: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/ - This has some carry over as in 2018 when we donated to NPR.
Houston Justice: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/
Clinic Access Support Network: https://clinicaccess.org/index.html
ACLU Texas: https://www.aclutx.org/
As in years past, we will provide in-kind gifts to the Red Cross & an annual donation to our local United Way. Partway into 2018 we began carrying "homeless kits" in our car and have been passing out bags with small support items to those we pass begging at stoplights. These bags have items like water bottles, kleenex, and cough drops. We plan to continue this direct style of donation into 2019.
The value of supporting systems that make our world a better place is priceless, but from over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, I know that monetary donations are required for these systems to function and our world to be better.
My wish for 2019 is that the world is a better place, one donation, one hour, one person at a time.
Check out last years here: https://surrealvolunteering.blogspot.com/2017/12/day-6-7daysofsocialmediavulnerabilitych.html
The first year we focused on water systems. The second on expression and speech. This year we are going a bit more local with a focus on things that have impacts in the Houston area.
Houston Magazine ran a great article about local non-profits that are making a positive impact in our community. Check it out here: https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2018/7/20/nonprofits-houston
With this to start us off, we have 4 that we will give to, 3 times each over the year.
The 2019 charities of our choice are:
Houston Public Media: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/ - This has some carry over as in 2018 when we donated to NPR.
Houston Justice: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/
Clinic Access Support Network: https://clinicaccess.org/index.html
ACLU Texas: https://www.aclutx.org/
As in years past, we will provide in-kind gifts to the Red Cross & an annual donation to our local United Way. Partway into 2018 we began carrying "homeless kits" in our car and have been passing out bags with small support items to those we pass begging at stoplights. These bags have items like water bottles, kleenex, and cough drops. We plan to continue this direct style of donation into 2019.
The value of supporting systems that make our world a better place is priceless, but from over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, I know that monetary donations are required for these systems to function and our world to be better.
My wish for 2019 is that the world is a better place, one donation, one hour, one person at a time.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Rosemary Mote
Relentlessly kind
Always in my corner
Always had time
Made me feel valued and important
Gave me space to grow but was there to catch me if I miss judged
Yesterday I lost someone I loved but never told, someone who managed me, who mentored me, my colleague.
I am not sure what a path forward looks like without her in this world. I don't have steadfast honesty that I feel so confidant I can trust. I don't know if I can go, but I don't know if I can stay.
Our world is definitely a bit dimmer with her loss.
Her mother always said there was nothing that a fresh coat of lipstick wouldn't make better. Lipstick did give me a moment of minute peace. I cant. I just feel sick
Always in my corner
Always had time
Made me feel valued and important
Gave me space to grow but was there to catch me if I miss judged
Yesterday I lost someone I loved but never told, someone who managed me, who mentored me, my colleague.
I am not sure what a path forward looks like without her in this world. I don't have steadfast honesty that I feel so confidant I can trust. I don't know if I can go, but I don't know if I can stay.
Our world is definitely a bit dimmer with her loss.
Her mother always said there was nothing that a fresh coat of lipstick wouldn't make better. Lipstick did give me a moment of minute peace. I cant. I just feel sick
Weekend itinerary Houston Texas
A weekend itinerary for a long weekend with mom in Houston Texas.
Arrive Lunchtime on Thursday.
- Eat at Bellagreen in Upper Kirby - https://bellagreen.com/
- Walk around Levy Park - https://www.levyparkhouston.org/
- Check into the hotel, Four Points by Sheraton, Upper Kirby
- Walk over to Whole Foods to get a few snacks for the hotel
- Dinner at Fadi's Mediterranean Grill - http://www.fadiscuisine.com/
- Post dinner walk at Memorial Park - https://www.memorialparkconservancy.org/
Friday
- Breakfast at Snooze AM Eatery - https://snoozeeatery.com/
- Explore NASA Space Center - https://spacecenter.org/
- Lunch on Galveston Island at Marina Bar and Grill - https://www.galveston.com/marina-bar-and-grill/
- Walk along the beach at Galveston Island State Park - https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/galveston-island
- A little shopping at Whole Earth Provisions - https://www.wholeearthprovision.com/
- Dinner - light foods from our trip to Whole Foods
Saturday
- Breakfast at Tiny Boxwoods - https://www.tinyboxwoods.com/
- Art & Craft festivals in Downtown (Main Street & George RR Brown)
- Lunch from Snap Kitchen in Upper Kirby - https://www.snapkitchen.com/
- Walk around Rice University campus - https://www.rice.edu/
- Dinner at Fresco Italian Cafe - http://www.frescocafeitalian.com/
- Movie at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts - https://www.mfah.org/films/
Sunday
- Breakfast at Nekter Juice Bar - https://www.nekterjuicebar.com/
- Coffee at Starbucks
- an hour of games at Top Golf Webster- https://topgolf.com/us/
- Flight back home
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