Life is about what you make of it!

When I was in high school and college, I volunteered for all types of things. I tutored, candy-striped, and helped in a soup kitchen, among other things. Since then, I have not had the time to volunteer very much. In Syracuse, I volunteered for the Syracuse International Film and Video Festival in 2005 and 2006. I'd like to continue doing that in the future, but I have missed traditional, hands-on volunteer work where I'm actually helping someone else in some way. Well, my chance to volunteer landed in my lap last week when I was finishing up my Christmas shopping. I was walking into Borders, when a friendly woman in a santa hat started talking to me about the Eastern Farmworkers Association - a group that helps migrant, farm and other low paid workers throughout the east coast. She started talking about the holiday party they were holding and how they needed volunteers, etc. Not really sure what I was getting myself into, I gave her my name and number and walked into Borders.

Several days later, I received a phone call regarding helping out at the party, and I signed up to be there. Well, the party was yesterday, and let me tell you, it felt good to be able to help others again! Farmworkers and their families attended the party from all over Central New York and enjoyed eating baked ziti, salad, cake, ice cream and Christmas cookies as well as experiencing some holiday cheer with Santa and Christmas music. I stayed from abou 11-4. As someone who has some experience with parties, I helped decorate with about 200 helium balloons that we inflated and tied ourselves, helped to direct and serve the food, and helped clean up. I think the absolute highlight of my day was when one little boy, about five, came up to me to get some more ziti and asked me if I was one of Santa's elves... I said of course, and "I bet you didn't think elves could be this big, huh?" He smiled and giggled, and I really felt good about volunteering again. I think I am going to help them again on Thursday packing Christmas boxes, that is if I don't have an interview...

Yep, I had a preliminary interview with the Syracuse City SD last Friday. I am hoping it will lead to a permanent job in the district, I will find out if I have an interview with this school sometime this week.

In today's New York Times, one of the schools where I student taught, Fayetteville-Manlius, was featured because their principal, James Chupalia is cracking down on "dirty dancing" at school dances. It is a positive message he is sending, but when I think about the city schools and the behavior that occurs there, I just wish they were receiving some guidance and discipline as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/nyregion/17grind.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1166450622-EjOp5spkTrZG+VTaVNxKGg

Today is my last official day at LOFT, sadly, I gave my notice because 4 hours a week is just not enough. I am on-call on Wednesday and Friday, but working on those days is uncertain until just before the hour I am supposed to be there. I'll be at the barn tomorrow, Wednesday and Saturday - and possibly on Saturday I will be riding in my new saddle

Yes, it is another long story. When I was 15, my folks gave me a beautiful Crump Prix de Saute saddle. It served me well for 15 years until my present intructor told me that it did nothing to help my balance. Ugh. So I thought about it for awhile and then put it away to try the various saddles at the barn to see if any of them helped my balance and position. I tried lots of saddles, and when Linda received saddles from friends and colleagues on consignment, I tried them as well. Most notably a Pessoa, and the lovely Marcel Toulouse Celine shown on the left.

The Pessoa did nothing for me, but the slightly used Toulouse was a good fit. The owner of the saddle wanted $900 for it and said she would take off $50 for cash. Not having a whole heck of a lot of $ to be spending on saddles, I checked it out online. Some reputable sites were selling it for much less. So I showed the paperwork to Linda and she said that her friend was not willing to lower the price, but she did not mind if I bought it online. Thanks to my sweet DAS, I purchased a brand new version of the saddle online and will be riding in this saddle in 2007, and possibly a few times in 2006 depending on when it arrives here from Jupiter, Florida!

Though sometimes I get a little homesick for NJ and the 'rents living up here, I do have a good life and I am very fortunate to have D & X, friends and all of the fun things I get to do here, e.g. riding (and now volunteering)!

Happiness is something that we create ourselves. No one can do it for us, so here is to much more happiness for all in 2007.