Go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an an enormous reward. You will have created something.

— Kurt Vonnegut 

Spreading the love

So, I have this notebook that I keep, and in this  notebook, all the people who matter to me have a page with their name written on the very top, and on their page, I write all the wonderful things that I think and love about that person but never tell them.  

Its a little project I started in order to force myself to really examine the thoughts I have about the people in my life, and my relationship with them. As I sat there looking at the names of all these people, who mean so much to me in various ways, I started to wonder how often I actually say any of these nice things to them.  Its so easy to insult someone, or make a snide comment, or just get lost in the negativity of the small things that bother you day in and day out about a person, that I think we lose sight of the fact that people need to hear the nice things too.  Even if we think them and truly feel them, if its only negative/sarcastic comments that roll off the tongue, I think we're cheating ourselves and them of feeling that happiness and security that comes with knowing you are valued.  I'm not saying profess your undying love, but that so often we just assume ' they know', and maybe they do, on a level, know that we love them, but whats the harm in saying it?  If you've ever been involved in a program, think of it this way:  Have you ever had a coach or instructor that ONLY told you what you were doing wrong, and eventually it felt so exhausting and tiring, and as if you weren't doing anything right at all? This is what its like in all your daily interactions. It comes in all those sighs of exhaustion, the eye rolls, the small moments of annoyance because we're familiar and things that we'd perhaps over look with another person, we allow to bother us.  Those sarcastic comments add up when they're the only things that come out of your mouth, and slowly but surely will beat a person down.

sayinggoodbye.org

Perhaps its a bit too early and i'm a bit too tired to try to phrase these thoughts properly, but I was thinking back on how from the very beginning, we're kind of groomed by society to not show affection as openly as we do negativity.  Brass, loud actions of aggression are supported ( think how sports/athletics are celebrated, for a general example) whereas things that involve expression are often cut out of programs, slashed in the budget, and just not as celebrated (art, theater, music programs)...  from as early as elementary school, a classic form of teasing is "ooOoooOoo, you like so and so!", as if finding someone enjoyable is a bad thing.  Again, i'm perhaps too groggy to try to really explain how these are all connected but i'm hoping that me getting these thoughts out are at least getting it rolling in other peoples heads.  Imagine how different a nation we would be if we valued the arts just as much (at least!) as we do our sports programs. 

So...yeah. I don't have a nice little bow to tie this up with, just some thoughts.  I'm trying to actively work on this though...sharing my thoughts with those that matter to me.  So far its really weirding people out, which is both amusing and just going to show that my thoughts are correct on this, starting with family.

In which I climb the peak and am on top of the (very tiny) world

So, recently I got to go back to Antelope Island,
which is easily one of my favorite places that we've discovered on these business trips.

While driving along the Island.

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If you're ever in the Salt Lake City region of Utah, I highly recommend taking the short drive out to Antelope Island.  It's a state park about 30 - 40  minutes out, depending on traffic and how well you listen to your GPS.  

Photo from up near Buffalo Point. 

Some quick information for those of you unfamiliar with the spot; its an island out in the middle of a lake, accessible only by driving down a narrow, two lane causeway that spans the gap between the mainland and the island.  During low tide, you'll see tons and tons of birds just scattered along the shore line on both sides, however, and this is a personal favorite, if you get there early in the morning, there will be a thick layer of fog that blankets the road, lending itself to the spirit of adventure that drives so many down this road to begin with.  Once out there, you will have the option to hike, bike, ride horseback, boat, view wildlife and visit the one of 'the best places' to experience the Great Salt Lake on the beach side.  All of that is amazing in and of itself, but here's the real catch: The Island is populated by a herd of Bison ranging anywhere between 400 and 600 strong, depending on what time of the year you visit.  On top of that, there are the more elusive Antelope, for which the island is named, as well as Bighorn Sheep, Mule Deer, and a variety of birds and reptiles. For a fee, you can book a morning of horseback riding at the Fielding Garr Ranch where they'll take you out around the island, climbing the mountain, looking for buffalo, and seeing some amazing sites as you ride side by side. 

This Bison decided to linger for quite a while.

This year when I went, it was much warmer than it has been in the past, but still quite enjoyable.  In the past we have hiked much of the Island, in one case even getting stuck on a rock for a while when part of the herd we were watching decided to stop on the path down.  

Waiting out some Bison in the morning fog.

The herd will also get relatively close to the cars, which is pretty awesome when you're wanting to see them.  Naturally, and this should go without saying and yet I find so often that people surprise you when it comes down to 'common sense', the Bison are still wild animals, and just like any other living thing deserve to be treated with respect, so don't honk your horn or shout and holler at them.  I for one don't believe in 'unprovoked animal attacks', so be aware of how close you are and what the animals around you are doing.  That being said, its a pretty awesome thing that you can observe these amazing animals so close, and in a setting that brings you back to a pioneer feel (as much as paved roads and cars can manage.)

There is a small fee for accessing the park, and the horse back riding is an extra expense should you choose to do that, but for the most part, everything else is free.  There is a food option out there, over by the guest center (which includes a museum with information about the island's past and the animals you can encounter there), where you can also get some pretty fun souvenirs.  In fact, one of my favorite posters in my room comes from there.

There are tons of areas to stop and go hiking for those of you who like to wander around by foot.  I myself recently sprinted up to the top of Buffalo Point, where I had a solo view of the island and lake around me.  From the various spots that i'd wandered, the incline tends to be pretty steady, so I don't recommend it for people with knee issues or unsteady footing.  I do recommend proper shoes (perhaps even ones that go up your ankles, given the terrain) and having a sweater on hand, as you'd be surprised at the temperature changes throughout the day.

While coming down from my solo throne on Buffalo Point.

Utah has constantly impressed me each time i've gone out there, and while I hope to keep adding more 'dots to my map', Antelope Island will remain a constant for me as one of my favorite places to visit

when in the area.

While on the ride, we stopped to enjoy the view for a spell.

In which I volunteer at Camp Boggy Creek

Hello again!  It has been a while since i've last posted on here, things have been incredibly busy, but I wanted to share with you a little about my experience volunteering again with 

Camp Boggy Creek.  

In case you didn't know, Camp Boggy Creek is an amazing camp located in Eustis, Florida, that is free for children with serious illnesses to attend.  They host both camps throughout the Summer weeks, as well as " Family Day Weekends", which are 3 day weekend events where the whole family can come and participate in activities.  For the Summer Camp weeks, the weeks are split into specific groups, so that they can provide and meet all the medical needs for those children.  

The session I have volunteered with for the past two years has been the Blended Camp, where children with Asthma, Spina Bifida, Kidney, Transplant and Craniofacial attended.  The camp is split into age groups, which are divided by 4 colors (Red, Blue, Green, and Yellow) and then divided into 4 cabins per color (2 for boys, 2 for girls.)  The detail and care put into these sessions are truly incredible, allowing children the place and opportunity to behave as children, and not worry about their illness or what others might think of it.  

For the past two years, I have been in the Blue group.  Each cabin has its own theme, something that the counselors and the camp play up and support site wide.  

This year, my cabin were called

 The Fireflies~

Chalk art I drew to welcome the girls to the cabin on arrival day.

The Blue Cabin  this year (and last, so maybe its consistent) were the youngest group, so our age group ranged between 7 and 9 years old.  It was fantastic.  The thing with young groups (and to be honest, this camp in general)  is that they just get so into the spirit and will buy what you sell them, so we were all about The Fireflies, and the idea that you shine solo, but as a group and a team, you shine the brightest.  We really emphasized team work.

A shot of the camper side before arrival.

 Some of the basic activities that we did throughout the week included Archery, Horseback Riding, Cooking, Arts and Crafts, Woodburning, Nature Barn, Boating and Fishing, Swimming, Theater, and more.  The kids all rotated through these activities as the week went, and got to select them for special projects and time frames.  Then there were camp activities with things like Aquatic Activity (some might call it a water fight, but they would be wrong, as there is no fighting at camp), a Banquet, a Dance, and what is called the Silly Olympics (or Silly Os.) 

 The Silly Olympics are a high light for the kids as its a time where they can paint on their counselors, or put pudding in their hair, or maybe even sling cold oatmeal at them.  They also get to roll through spaghetti on a slip'n'slide sort of set up.  Its all very messy, but very fun, and afterwards the fire department comes out and creates a river of water basically for the kids to run through on their way to the cabins. 

Little Acts of Kindness jars that we had in the girls room
for them to leave messages for each other.

This year, we also had a spectacular firework display take place, where the whole thing was basically like a grand finale.  The kids loved it, to be sure.

Due to the nature of the camp, I can't post photos of the children, obviously, but I had an incredible time there and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to volunteer at an incredible facility.  Everything there is donated, from the pool (Sea World) to the gym (Orlando Magic) to the Theater (Universal Studios), and so much more.  So much care and attention has been put into this camp, so if you know anyone who would benefit from going here, either as a camper or a staff volunteer, please recommend it!  They are always welcoming volunteers, especially male volunteers! 

Something that really meant a lot to me was that every single child I had as a camper last year came up, found me, and gave me a big hug.  I had wondered if they would remember me or not, so it meant a lot to me that they saw me and greeted me so enthusiastically.

The kids are hysterical, and I know, as cliche as it sounds, that you go there expecting to have an impact on them (even if its just making their life easier/more fun) and instead you walk away just as changed yourself for having attended.   No matter what group you end up volunteering with, I promise you you're going to learn just as much from them as they will from you.