Today I bought a secret gift for my significant other. I don't want to give too much away because she has definitely found out about this blog and will be able to decipher any clue that I give her. However here is one clue anyway: this is a non traditional Valentine's Day gift and one that she has never received before.
I also discovered this awesome website that will probably be the subject of an upcoming anonymous kindness attack. It is called Dogs Deserve Better. Here is a description of them from their own website:
DOGS DESERVE BETTER is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to freeing the chained dog, and bringing our best friend into the home and family. Our mission is to free them through education, rescue and rehabilitation, grassroots legislation, and fencing programs.
The organization has recently moved into Michael Vick's former property where he housed and trained fighting dogs. They are working to renovate it into a state of the art facility for rescued dogs. Working at a no kill shelter has given me an even bigger passion for trying to help dogs and this organization looks like they do awesome work. More to come on DDB.
Money spent so far: $202.09
Friday, February 8, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
02/06/13 - Day 43 - Helped out stranded family
This has been my third day at that Animal Protective League and I have yet to share any photos of these precious animals.
This is (in order from top to bottom) Elvira, Izzy, and Lexi. They are three of dogs that I look after for my job. I love my fucking job. It's super fun and rewarding. I know this is only my third day but it has been great so far.
As I mentioned yesterday I helped out a friend by covering their shift yesterday. I had the opportunity to help her again by covering her shift tonight as well. After I left the APL and on my way to work my friend's shift I stopped at a gas station and ran into a guy who seemed very down on his luck. He was from Nebraska and moving his whole family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was standing next to his driver's side door while his wife and dog and kids sat in the car. He looked very distressed. He explained to me that he had ran out of money because he didn't budget for gas properly and he had called his family asking them to help but that he wasn't having much luck getting a hold of anybody. He may very well have been scamming me. If it was a scam it was still one that required his whole family to wait in a cold gas station parking lot. He had Nebraska license plates and was clearly far away from home. I could see the back end of his car was weighed down just by looking at it. I assumed this was what they were taking with them to Milwaukee.
Honestly the guy just looked desperate. I have felt desperate before and I wanted to help him out so I did.
Money spent so far: $182.09
This is (in order from top to bottom) Elvira, Izzy, and Lexi. They are three of dogs that I look after for my job. I love my fucking job. It's super fun and rewarding. I know this is only my third day but it has been great so far.
As I mentioned yesterday I helped out a friend by covering their shift yesterday. I had the opportunity to help her again by covering her shift tonight as well. After I left the APL and on my way to work my friend's shift I stopped at a gas station and ran into a guy who seemed very down on his luck. He was from Nebraska and moving his whole family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was standing next to his driver's side door while his wife and dog and kids sat in the car. He looked very distressed. He explained to me that he had ran out of money because he didn't budget for gas properly and he had called his family asking them to help but that he wasn't having much luck getting a hold of anybody. He may very well have been scamming me. If it was a scam it was still one that required his whole family to wait in a cold gas station parking lot. He had Nebraska license plates and was clearly far away from home. I could see the back end of his car was weighed down just by looking at it. I assumed this was what they were taking with them to Milwaukee.
Honestly the guy just looked desperate. I have felt desperate before and I wanted to help him out so I did.
Money spent so far: $182.09
02/05/13 - Day 42 - Covered a friend's shift (free)
My second day at the Animal Protective League was a little bit more exciting. The typical job was actually very chilled out. There are a relatively low number of dogs housed in the kennel and there were actually three people working in that section of the shelter so things really moved along rather smoothly. We did get a call to pick up an animal that had been hit by a car. I really didn't know this was something that the APL typically did. Kyle (my trainer) informed that it really isn't a normal part of the job but that it does happen every now and then.
I had myself mentally prepared for a gruesome scene but when we got to the location we saw a fully grown and very healthy looking dog in the middle of the road. He actually lived nearby and had escaped his enclosure. If he had been hit by a car he wasn't showing any signs of harm. He went back to his home and we spoke to his owners about making sure that he was secure and not roaming the street.
Also this was only my second day and I was treated to free cake. So far so good.
I also work part time at the radio station here in town. I only have my shift on the weekends but I got a call from a friend of mine that works at the radio asking me to cover her 6pm to midnight shifts for the next two days. I will still be getting paid for it so it's not a completely selfless act but I did still consider it an act of kindess. I know what this person has been going through.
Changes in her position at the radio station forced her to accept a new job in television broadcasting. She has been trying to balance her schedule between her radio and television jobs and she was overwhelmed. It was clear by covering her shifts for the next two nights I would be giving her some much needed time off.
I truly enjoy spending time on the radio and getting to listen to and talk about music. The job doesn't really pay that much but I always leave after a shift with a smile on my face. That is true for both my radio and animal care jobs. It's pretty sweet.
Money spent so far: $162.09
I had myself mentally prepared for a gruesome scene but when we got to the location we saw a fully grown and very healthy looking dog in the middle of the road. He actually lived nearby and had escaped his enclosure. If he had been hit by a car he wasn't showing any signs of harm. He went back to his home and we spoke to his owners about making sure that he was secure and not roaming the street.
Also this was only my second day and I was treated to free cake. So far so good.
I also work part time at the radio station here in town. I only have my shift on the weekends but I got a call from a friend of mine that works at the radio asking me to cover her 6pm to midnight shifts for the next two days. I will still be getting paid for it so it's not a completely selfless act but I did still consider it an act of kindess. I know what this person has been going through.
Changes in her position at the radio station forced her to accept a new job in television broadcasting. She has been trying to balance her schedule between her radio and television jobs and she was overwhelmed. It was clear by covering her shifts for the next two nights I would be giving her some much needed time off.
I truly enjoy spending time on the radio and getting to listen to and talk about music. The job doesn't really pay that much but I always leave after a shift with a smile on my face. That is true for both my radio and animal care jobs. It's pretty sweet.
Money spent so far: $162.09
02/04/13 - Day 41 - Wrote a song for my wife (free)
I am a songwriter. I do not claim to be a good one. I have close friends that I know are better songwriters than myself. But today I wrote a song for my wife.
Man did I really piss myself off today. There is an open mic that a friend of mine hosts on Monday nights here in town that I typically participate in. It's a pretty fun community of singer-songwriters that come to this open mic. I started a challenge game where songwriters are required to use a phrase of two or three words in a new song each week. This week the phrase was "hard to love." We are supposed to use this phrase at least once in our song.
I always wait until the last possible minute to write my song. I'm not sure why I wait so long but I think there are two main reasons.
1. When I am up against the wall and forced to finish the song it actually forces me to make quick decisions and get it completed quickly.
2. I have always been bad about procrastinating.
So I worked hard to write a nice love song for my wife that included the phrase "hard to love." The song ended up sounding really good. But by the time it was my turn to play at the open mic I had completely forgotten the way the song went. It was embarrassing.
I did play the song for my wife when we got home for the night and she really liked it. Oh well.
Also, today was my first official day working at the Animal Protective League and it was pretty great. I definitely have a lot to learn but I think everyone seems to be pretty good and patient teachers. Fell in love with a little puggle named Izzy today.
Money spent so far: $162.09
Man did I really piss myself off today. There is an open mic that a friend of mine hosts on Monday nights here in town that I typically participate in. It's a pretty fun community of singer-songwriters that come to this open mic. I started a challenge game where songwriters are required to use a phrase of two or three words in a new song each week. This week the phrase was "hard to love." We are supposed to use this phrase at least once in our song.
I always wait until the last possible minute to write my song. I'm not sure why I wait so long but I think there are two main reasons.
1. When I am up against the wall and forced to finish the song it actually forces me to make quick decisions and get it completed quickly.
2. I have always been bad about procrastinating.
So I worked hard to write a nice love song for my wife that included the phrase "hard to love." The song ended up sounding really good. But by the time it was my turn to play at the open mic I had completely forgotten the way the song went. It was embarrassing.
I did play the song for my wife when we got home for the night and she really liked it. Oh well.
Also, today was my first official day working at the Animal Protective League and it was pretty great. I definitely have a lot to learn but I think everyone seems to be pretty good and patient teachers. Fell in love with a little puggle named Izzy today.
Money spent so far: $162.09
Sunday, February 3, 2013
02/03/13 - Day 40 - Signed petition for Save the Children (free)
It's Super Bowl Sunday and for the first time in a long time I didn't watch it. My wife and I watched Paranormal Activity 4 and now we are pretty sure there is a demon in our house.
I did however sign a petition for the organization Save The Children. This organization does so many good things for children all across the world that it is hard to put your finger on what they actually do. Their self description is:
Save the Children is the world's leading independent organization for children. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
Nothing makes me more insanely pissed off than hearing about child abuse or animal abuse. It sucks that there are children in the world that have to suffer. It sucks that there is suffering in the world at all but my heart doesn't really bleed for adults. At least not like it does for children.
This petition is very generic but the idea is pretty great. A National Commission on Children. It doesn't get specific about what would be discussed in the national commission. Just that there should be one. It does seem bizarre that the government wouldn't want to investigate how to make the life of children better. Sign the petition below:
Keep America's Children Safe
Money spent so far: $162.09
I did however sign a petition for the organization Save The Children. This organization does so many good things for children all across the world that it is hard to put your finger on what they actually do. Their self description is:
Save the Children is the world's leading independent organization for children. Our vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.
Nothing makes me more insanely pissed off than hearing about child abuse or animal abuse. It sucks that there are children in the world that have to suffer. It sucks that there is suffering in the world at all but my heart doesn't really bleed for adults. At least not like it does for children.
This petition is very generic but the idea is pretty great. A National Commission on Children. It doesn't get specific about what would be discussed in the national commission. Just that there should be one. It does seem bizarre that the government wouldn't want to investigate how to make the life of children better. Sign the petition below:
Keep America's Children Safe
Money spent so far: $162.09
02/02/13 - Day 39 - Signed up for Fight For Air Climb
Tardiness is one of my vices.
Here is a quicklist of stuff that I did yesterday. I will update when I get back from work.
1. Signed up my band for the Fight For Air Climb.
Update: The American Lung Association puts on this event in my city (and a bunch of other cities) every year. It's called the Fight For Air Climb because it benefits lung cancer research but also because you will literally be fighting for air as you climb up 32 flights of stairs. I have wanted to sign up for this event for the past few years and for various reasons haven't until now. I took the plunge and pushed my band in along with me. I actually signed up my band as a team that I will be representing. I did invite them to participate but it's coming up relatively soon. I don't know how physically prepared all of them feel. In fact, I don't know how prepared I really am. This is also a fundraiser. My personal goal is $100 and so far I only have $25. I'm not a huge fan of fundraisers because I don't like asking people for money. Hopefully it won't be hard to reach my goal.
2. Made my wife breakfast and went to get a pizza!
Update: I forgot the awesomeness of Papa Murphy's Gourmet Veggie pizza.
3. Watched Super 8.
Update: This movie is pretty much J. J. Abrams homage to all of Steven Spielberg's science fiction movies. That is just fine because I'm a big fan of Abrams and Spielberg. This movie is awesome.
4. Hung out in my secret room most of the day
5. Was sort of lazy.
Update: This was nice because my wife doesn't usually hang out with me in my man cave area but it really is the warmest place in the house right now. Plus her computer works pretty well in here. So we hung out in here most of the day.
6. Helped my mother in law with computer.
Update: I mentioned in a previous kindness attack that I am the "go to guy" for my mother-in-law when it comes to computer problems. She called again today to ask for some help and even publicly thanked me on her facebook page for helping her out.
Money spent so far: $162.09
Here is a quicklist of stuff that I did yesterday. I will update when I get back from work.
1. Signed up my band for the Fight For Air Climb.
Update: The American Lung Association puts on this event in my city (and a bunch of other cities) every year. It's called the Fight For Air Climb because it benefits lung cancer research but also because you will literally be fighting for air as you climb up 32 flights of stairs. I have wanted to sign up for this event for the past few years and for various reasons haven't until now. I took the plunge and pushed my band in along with me. I actually signed up my band as a team that I will be representing. I did invite them to participate but it's coming up relatively soon. I don't know how physically prepared all of them feel. In fact, I don't know how prepared I really am. This is also a fundraiser. My personal goal is $100 and so far I only have $25. I'm not a huge fan of fundraisers because I don't like asking people for money. Hopefully it won't be hard to reach my goal.
2. Made my wife breakfast and went to get a pizza!
Update: I forgot the awesomeness of Papa Murphy's Gourmet Veggie pizza.
3. Watched Super 8.
Update: This movie is pretty much J. J. Abrams homage to all of Steven Spielberg's science fiction movies. That is just fine because I'm a big fan of Abrams and Spielberg. This movie is awesome.
4. Hung out in my secret room most of the day
5. Was sort of lazy.
Update: This was nice because my wife doesn't usually hang out with me in my man cave area but it really is the warmest place in the house right now. Plus her computer works pretty well in here. So we hung out in here most of the day.
6. Helped my mother in law with computer.
Update: I mentioned in a previous kindness attack that I am the "go to guy" for my mother-in-law when it comes to computer problems. She called again today to ask for some help and even publicly thanked me on her facebook page for helping her out.
Money spent so far: $162.09
Saturday, February 2, 2013
02/01/13 - Day 38 - Sent gift to random friend #2
Today was pretty awesome. I had an interview with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization here in my hometown. It was a very interesting meeting. I initially felt like I was going to job interview and I defintely dressed like it. The woman who interviewed me is my case handler and placement coordinator. She was very nice and gave me a lot of information. She said she had a tough time reading me right away. I took that in a negative way at first but she explained what she meant was that she had a tough time reading who would be the best little brother for me. I explained that I have no preconceived notions or expectations about what my little brother should be other than that I would like him to be 10 or under. She said the matching process could take up to a month. I'm pumped.
Another facebook friend of mine was sent a gift today. She will receive this gift because she was one of five people to respond to a chain letter facebook post of mine. She was actually the one to initially post the chain letter facebook post that I responded to. I should actually be getting a gift from her sometime in 2013 also.
This friend and I are not super close. I do know she likes to run and loves farmers markets and organically grown food. Here are the gifts she received:
1. Monkey Headphones. Headphones that look like little monkey heads and they keep your ears warm.
2. A blinky LED light for running. This keeps you safe while you're jogging in the dark.
3. A personally crafted "Farmers Market" Mix CD.
Check it: earthy and heartfelt tunes
In other news...I really screwed up my Friday night. I forgot to track my on air shift earlier in the day so I had to go out to the station at 9:30pm and I didn't get finished until now. Suck.
Oh well I didn't have any money anyway so I don't know what I thought I was going to do.
Money spent so far: $137.09
Another facebook friend of mine was sent a gift today. She will receive this gift because she was one of five people to respond to a chain letter facebook post of mine. She was actually the one to initially post the chain letter facebook post that I responded to. I should actually be getting a gift from her sometime in 2013 also.
This friend and I are not super close. I do know she likes to run and loves farmers markets and organically grown food. Here are the gifts she received:
1. Monkey Headphones. Headphones that look like little monkey heads and they keep your ears warm.
2. A blinky LED light for running. This keeps you safe while you're jogging in the dark.
3. A personally crafted "Farmers Market" Mix CD.
Check it: earthy and heartfelt tunes
In other news...I really screwed up my Friday night. I forgot to track my on air shift earlier in the day so I had to go out to the station at 9:30pm and I didn't get finished until now. Suck.
Oh well I didn't have any money anyway so I don't know what I thought I was going to do.
Money spent so far: $137.09
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