March 18, 2010 | "Whoa whoa I gotta go...back to schoooool...again", 2nd Semester, Life in General, Prescott College, School Daze, Spring 2010, The 4-1-1 on Me

As you all know, I am currently a junior in the Adult Degree Program at Prescott College obtaining my Bachelor’s in Nonprofit Management. Prescott College is a very unique school in which the students are allowed to create their own degree program and find mentors within their community–or nationally–to mentor their courses. This is a hands-on, learning-by-doing method of education for which I think I am best suited. I’m very much looking forward to working with the best and graduating in December 2011.

I am looking for professionals within the community to mentor the following courses:

Volunteer Management
Strategic Planning
Marketing for Non-Profits
Human Relations
Social Entrepreneurship
Program Planning for Nonprofits
Laws and Legal Issues for Nonprofits

In ordered to be considered, Prescott College requires potential mentors to have a Master’s Degree in their chosen field; Extensive teaching experience in the chosen field can eschew a Master’s degree. As a mentor, the time you give will be considerable but valuable, and you will be compensated by the school. If you are interested in mentoring one of these courses, please send your resume to acolston[at]prescott.edu

March 15, 2010 | Reading is FUNdamental, SARK-ism, Sunday Scribblings, The 4-1-1 on Me, Writing Movements, writing workshops

Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: The book that changed everything

Make Your Creative Dreams REAL
A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders, and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day
by SARK
May 2004, Simon and Schuster, ISBN: 0743229215

First of all, I’d like to point out that SARK is one of my favorite authors and literary crush. I am a SARK disciple and pray at the alter of SARK. If she were a cult, I’d join and never look back. I’ve met her several times and have had the pleasure of attending a couple of her workshops. And each time, I’ve come away feeling energized. She has the most amazing presence. Her regular attire of lounge pajamas could be the reason, but I’m sure that’s only part of her charm.

This book changed everything…for my writing. Because SARK (a.k.a. Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy) introduces the Micro Movement Wheel.Click image for bigger view

It’s to help you complete a huge task in increments of 5 sec-5 mins. As you can see in this example, the “dream” is in the middle and each of the 12 sections has a task. Each of these can take 5 sec-5 mins, until eventually, you get further every time and have reached your “dream”.

I applied this activity to my writing, but call it Writing Movements. When I actually have Writing Movements, they get posted here. The results of the Writing Movements, not the actual writing itself. I’m superstitious like that. But I digress…

It works! I’ve finally found something that works for me! Hallelujah, praise the Lord, pass the biscuits!

I use this when:
1) I’m not feeling very productive
2) Trying to crack through writer’s block
3) Procrastinating about writing.

This book was made for me because my other middle name is Procrastination (it’s just not on my birth certificate). I love all this woman’s books, but this one has a special pocket of my heart. The one for writing.

Technorati Tags: Sunday Scribblings, Make Your Creative Dreams REAL, A Plan for Procrastinators, Perfectionists, Busy People, Avoiders, and People Who Would Rather Sleep All Day, SARK

March 15, 2010 | "Whoa whoa I gotta go...back to schoooool...again", 2nd Semester, LAS: Community and Social Change, Life in General, Movie Queue, Nonprofit Explorations, Prescott College, School Daze, Spring 2010, The 4-1-1 on Me, Weekend Wrap-Up

We didn’t do a whole heck of a lot, to tell the truth. The most exciting thing we did was try a new place for breakfast on Saturday: Butterfields Pancake House. I liked their coffee, but Steven and I agreed that their pancakes were too fluffy.

Yes, it’s true.

You can stop laughing now.

I’m a pancake connoisseur and hate pancakes that are so thick they soak up syrup. I love syrup. I love my pancakes drowning in syrup and butter. The best pancakes are the ones where you only have to use the bottle of syrup once. One time. Not multiple times and surely not the whole damn thing in one sitting (for the record, no that’s never happened to me).

The really cool thing about this place, though, is their orange juice squeezer machine…thingy. They advertise freshly squeezed orange juice and you actually have proof that it’s freshly squeezed. The juicer sits right out in the dining room, up against the wall near the kitchen and they use real oranges (y’know, as opposed, concentrate. LOL). They have crates upon crates of fresh oranges sitting right next to it. If the pitchers are running low, you’ll see the servers work the machine right there. It was pretty cool. I’m not a fan of orange juice, but it was pretty cool to see.

We ate at Ron’s Place, our usual place, on Sunday, then went to check out these townhomes. I just wanted to see the area, but the one unit we saw online didn’t include a refrigerator. I’d like a refrigerator already in the place, thankyouverymuch. We’re looking to sell our house and rent a townhouse. Not sure when it’s going to happen, hopefully by the end of the year.

On Sunday, we went to see GREEN ZONE. We liked it. I think Matt Damon makes a great action star. I think I might like to see him a romantic comedy, but he’s doing very well in the action genre and should probably stick to that. I could even see him doing an action/sci-fi flick. If you’re reading this, Matt, there’s a suggestion for ya.

Got some homework done, too. I have two assignments due this week because I’ll be out of town for 4 days next week and I’m not bringing the laptop. I’m attending my job’s annual records mgmt training in Alexandria, VA. Never been there and I’m really looking forward to going. My supervisor and I got on the list to tour the White House and we hope to see Obama at the Medal of Honor Day ceremony on the 25th. Squee! I’ll have pics, I promise.

So, that’s it for me. How was your weekend?

Technorati Tags: Butterfields Pancake House, GREEN ZONE, Matt Damon, White House, Obama, Medal of Honor Day

March 12, 2010 | Life in General, Random Thoughts

I like the Shuffle feature on my iPod Nano, but realize it’s not much of a shuffler when you’ve got multiple albums by the same artist.

I hear a lot of:

Live
Gavin DeGraw
Linkin Park
Creed
Scott Stapp
Glee Soundtrack
Dishwalla
High School Musical (all 3)

I find myself shuffling past these artists–well, not Linkin Park–in hopes of getting a onesie-twosie-threesie song I downloaded.

Technorati Tags: iPod Nano, Live, Gavin DeGraw, Linkin Park, Creed, Scott Stapp, Glee Soundtrack, Dishwalla, High School Musical

March 12, 2010 | Life in General, Sunday Scribblings, The 4-1-1 on Me

I missed this one weeks ago, so I’m doing it today. Today’s word of the day is brought to you by Sunday Scribblings: “When Pigs Fly

I will marry again when pigs fly. Dating was so hard. After nearly 3 yrs of marriage, not to mention the 5 yrs before that, Mr. Maul and I are still trying to feel our through this thing called Relationship. By the time I’d met him, I was fed up with the whole dating scene and resigned myself to the fact that I was going to spend the rest of my life alone.

And I was okay with that.

Seriously.

I told him that if anything ever happened to him, that was it. Put a fork in me. I’m done.

No more men, no more relationships, no marriage.

I’ll live out the rest of my days writing, reading and taking care of my cat.

Technorati Tags: Sunday Scribblings