Chastity's back y'all!

I present the 4th Annual Chastity Party:  Dipping Chips Instead of Hips.

The spread and peeps gettin' crafty

First prize crafty winner - a limerick:

(There once was a young man called Cassidy

Who decided to practice chastity

He lasted 'til noon

When some girl named June

Offered to give him a hand with it.)

Second prize - pipe cleaner warning sign:

First prize chastity belt:

Second Prize Chastity Belt:

White Elephants were sparse this year.  Here was mine:

White Elephants also included such gems as party poppers, and a latch-hook kit.  Thanks to everyone who participated, it was a great evening.  Already looking forward to next year!  Though, of course, everyone hopes to be ineligible by marriage by that time.  ;)

A special shout-out to Sister Tullis from the ward for bringing by her married-person contribution.  Thanks for your support!  And for the delicious dessert bars.  

Stay chaste my friends!

Scads of books.

I'm a pretty avid reader - 46 books last year. At the end of last year I picked 3 books to share that I had enjoyed reading. We're not even 4 months into the year and I already can't narrow it down to fewer than 5.  So I decided to share early.  Here are some recommendations for you:

Willpower:  rediscovering the greatest human strength
by Roy F. Baumeister & John Tierney

A book about willpower - imagine.  Seriously though, this was amazing.  It talks about the science behind willpower - and most notably strategies to increase yours.  What I found most fascinating is that studies show that we have a limited supply of willpower in a given day.  And we use willpower for all kinds of things - not just the traditional resisting of temptations.  We use it for all kinds of decisions.  That knowledge really can help you to make sure you're using your willpower at the right times. Luckily it talks about how to shore up that limited supply gradually.  Definite recommendation on this one.

Born to Run
by Christopher McDougall

A book about running.  It's a loosely narrative non-fiction book that follows the story of a secluded people in Mexico called the Tarahumara.  They're the greatest long-distance runners in history.  What I found most fascinating/helpful were the interwoven chapters involving the science of running.  That we're biologically engineered to run.  That running shoes have basically destroyed our natural running form.  I even started making fresh corn tortillas for nearly every meal because of this book.  I have also started running again.  I stopped because it was killing my knees, but then I read about forefoot-strike running, and barefoot running etc. and decided to just go for it.  Significant, and immediately noticeable improvements.  Check it out.

Wonder
by R.J. Palacio

This is a fictional children's novel that tells the story of August - a boy with severe facial deformities caused by a bizarre twist of genetics.  He starts his first year of public school in the 5th grade and things progress and you'd expect, but end up - predictably, but delightfully - on a much more positive note.  I'm something of a crybaby, but this book had me weeping.

Not-so-dirty 30

I turn 30 this year.  30!  The big 3-0.  In a month, in fact.  I was thinking about what kinds of adventurous, fun, exciting, momentous things I wanted to do for this milestone.  Travel Europe?  Host a killer dance party?  Cruise?  Skydiving?  Unfortunately my current financial situation won't allow for much more than a really tasty dinner and a movie at Rave on $7 Tuesday.  I'm really okay with that, but I still want to make some kind of a positive impact on the world.  Two thoughts:

A little over a year ago I read a blog about a lady who, for her birthday, did one random act of kindness for every year she'd been alive.  I LOVED that idea.  Then I read some research that says random acts of kindness maybe aren't the best because rather than feeling kindess, people feel skeptical.  Also, a lot of the acts of kindness involved things like leaving a big tip for a waitress, or buying dinner for people in line behind you.  As I said, I don't have lots of funds.  So, I will probably still look for opportunities to open people's doors, and offer a friendly smile, but may leave "placing random gift cards around Barnes and Noble" for another day.

Late last year, through a series of clicks on the internet that I could in no way replicate at this point, I happened upon a website for a charity that does something with clean water in Africa.  They had a button on their page labeled "dedicate your birthday".  The purpose was that instead of getting presents, you dedicated your birthday to donations for their project.  I saw that and thought, "What a cool idea!"  And while I understand the great need for clean water in Africa (I was in a PSA for it, after all), I believe that to truly make the world a better place you need to decrease the suck and increase the awesome, and I really live more on the increase the awesome side of that equation.

So here's the plan:  If you were planning on giving me something for my birthday (or even if you weren't), instead I'd like you to pick a charitable organization of some kind and make a donation.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Donorschoose.org  "Teachers ask.  You choose."

We all know that education is not the most well-funded of programs.  Teachers are constantly in need of supplies.  Donors Choose allows you to be part of the solution.  Teachers from around the country request money for things like books, art supplies, field trips, science equipment etc.  The website is set up so that the teachers don't handle the money, and they update their profiles with how their supplies etc. are being used.  All kinds of accountability, and you can feel safe knowing the money is going where it's needed.

Kickstarter.com

Kickstarter is a website where artists of all kinds can go to get funds for their artistic endeavors.  Everything from short films to CDs.  Artwork to books.  Find a project you like and help it get funded!

Storypirates.org

Story Pirates is an organization that I'm involved with, as many of you know.  They take stories that elementary students have written and turn them into musicals, plays, and even short animated films.  They also teach workshops on writing.  This does all kinds of stuff for kid's confidence, creativity, etc. etc. etc.  It's pretty cool stuff.

The great thing about these websites is that you can donate as little as $1, or as much as you want.

If you're more of a "decrease the suck" kind of person, feel free to donate to clean water in Africa, or medical supplies in the Amazon (Indiegogo.com is a great place to find stuff in this arena).  Either way, find an organization you feel passionate about - or even just one that you like - and make a donation.  Small or large.

Lastly, leave a comment with where you made your donation, or what kind of project you funded (i.e. if you went to donorschoose, tell me about the project you picked).  You don't have to say how much you donated, cuz that's kinda tacky, but I would like to know what kinds of things people are donating to.

Let's make the world a better place!

New and Improved!

New year blah blah blah, reflecting on life blah blah, resolutions blah.  Here are mine for 2013

Be more spontaneous/goofy/crazy/awesome/fearless.

I think I have a pretty fun and/or exciting life, but I feel like I kind of let myself coast a lot of the time.  I want to do more fun/crazy things.  Spontaneously go to the beach just to build sand castles.  Buy a model rocket and launch it.  Do kitchen science, wear a stick-on mustache to dinner, have a glamorous night out, turn the sound off on a movie and assign everyone a character, build a fort, dress as a superhero and run around the mall, wear my red galoshes, organize a flash mob, sing carols in random places, fly a kite, throw a theme party, have a water fight, get on outta my comfort zone etc. etc. etc.  I have these friends in my life who just live to the fullest extent they can.  I read about their lives and think, "Man, I wish I'd been there."  I kind of want to be someone that people say that about.  And of course you're all invited to come with me on any/all adventures.  So let's make some fun things happen eh?

Study the life of Christ more fully.

I phone in my gospel study a lot.  A lot.  It's no bueno.  There is a full, hard-back set of the Messiah Series by Bruce R. in my house.  I'm going to read it this year.  The whole thing.  On a rough estimate, that's somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 pages a day.  Most days I have more than enough time for that.  So I'm gonna do it.  I figure if I can bust through the entire Harry Potter series in a week, I can probably tacke the Messiah over the course of a year.

Do more things outdoors.

This goes along with being more crazy.  I live in a wonderful part of the country.  It's almost always sunny and warm and there's tons of stuff to do.  There's really no reason I should spend as much time as I do sitting around looking for something to do.  I want to go hiking, spend a significant amount of time at the beach - there's also no reason I should have a farmer tan as a opposed to a regular tan - go paddle boarding, go sailing, read at the park instead of my front room.  I want "fresh air"* to be a daily occurrence.  And I've never been to Catalina Island, so...

Volunteer more.

I have enough free time that I should really get involved in more volunteer opportunities.  I'm part of an organization called "The Art of Elysium" that volunteers at local children's hospitals and the like.  They do art projects, improv games, music etc. etc. etc.  It's pretty cool, but a lot of it is far far away from where I live.  I still do it, but I'd also like to look for some opportunities closer to home.  Specifically I want to see about being a baby cuddler at a local hospital.

Start my own traditions

I still have a couple of traditions that I participate in with my family back home, but for the most part I'm my own family.  "A family of one" as they're preaching in my ward these days.  I want to invent/discover/find/start some traditions that I can incorporate into my life from this point forward.  I already have a pretty rockin idea for probably Thanksgiving weekend.  And the Chastity Celebration may have to make a come-back this year.  So many options.

Work on my own film projects.

I'm working on some ideas for an educational web series (to hopefully turn into a successful TV show involving ridiculous amounts of syndication and merchandising etc. etc. etc.), maybe some collaborative and hilarious ukulele music videos with a friend of mine.  Along with some other ideas I have.  I want to be more proactive about my career, and I think this'll be a good way to do that.

Other things I might add to my list:  getting a pen-pal, cuddling more, dating**, learning/writing some songs on my ukulele, trying surfing, giving up soda.  If the funds allow I would also like to take some classes in improv, art, voice, and tap dance; travel to Florida and/or New York; buy a new car; adopt/buy a pet; and get an ipad mini.

It's a lot, I know, so if anyone would like to help me out with any of these goals, or participate in them in any way please feel free.  Let's make this a crazy awesome amazing year!

*The air outside my house in LA is probably actually less fresh than the air inside my house, but whatever.
**maybe...

Cien. Cent. Cento. ONE HUNDRED!

The relentless march of time rolls on.  Can't say I'm sad about that.  Enjoying every minute.  Like ya do.  'S how I roll.  I also apparently roll with short declarative phrases.  As far as years go, 2012 was pretty epic in many ways.  It was also pretty slow in many ways.  But!  I managed to make it to the end with my usual sense of optimism, a new stamp in my passport, no debt, and a little less hair.  Here is this year's list of 100 things that brought a smile to my face:

reading

oreo balls

vacations

sleepovers

beach time

new clothes

lunch with friends

FRIENDS!

family time

weddings

trips home

live theater

road trips

scooter rides

acting class

working

quitting my soul-sucking job

working out

fireworks

cuddling

singing

acting

improv

$6 movies at AMC

paying off the credit card

Stout

good news from my agent

NPH

scaring people

Pioneer Day BBQ

museums

a massage

TV

ice skating

Christmas lights

future plans

Disneyland

hummus

babies

being an advocate

the support and love of friends and family

Spain

inspiration

flirting

good haircuts

yellow pants

roller skating

dance parties

the world not ending

Walking Dead

pajamas

hocho

scarves

shorts

farmer's markets

Pitch Perfect

roller coasters

grandmas

grandmas on Ambien

the Muppets

the sale rack

auditions

being on set

being on stage

comfy couches

senior citizens dancing

walks

nephews

the niece

teaching

building blocks

projects

cleaning

showers

churros and hot chocolate (European style)

public transit

hobos

seeing myself on TV

seeing friends on TV

Garlick family chip dip

memories

the many uses of baking soda

socks

love songs after dark

inside jokes

Facetime/Skype/Google Hangout

sleeping with two, count them - two!, comforters

Brene Brown

people watching

exercising

nerf gun fights

Pip and Phin

cherry pomegranate juice

hot tubbing

lovesacs

awesome views

clementines

mail

Trader Joe's holiday waffle cookies

new glasses

Have any spare change?

Along with my personal blog here I'm also a contributor to the Northern Lights blog over at the North Star website.  North Star is, basically, a support organization for us gays that are stickin' it out with the church.  And our friends and families.  Sometimes I write posts because it's my turn and I think, "meh".  Other times I write posts because it's my turn and I think, "That was an alright post.  I'd like people to see that one."

My most recent post over there deals with the question of changing orientation.  It's a letter to a member of the church - friend of a friend - who is of the opinion that I, and everyone else in my position, have a duty to use the atonement to change.  I shared my opinion that while the atonement certainly has the power to change that sort of thing, I don't think that's what it's for.

Read the whole thing here.

And Merry Christmas.

And here's to a prosperous 2013!

Card Trick

I was super ambitious this year.  At the beginning of the year I decided I was going to do a kind of info-graphic, pie-chart, bar-graph, interesting statistic kind of newsletter and send it out with a Christmas card to all my friends and loved ones because I'm a grown-up now and stuff.  I even kept track of all kinds of interesting statistics for that very purpose.  All year long!

Then the end of the year got here and I'm broke, so I couldn't afford to print off cool newsletters, or Christmas cards featuring me in some festive scenery, or buy cool matching envelopes in which to send you the cool newsletter and card.

But I didn't want all of that fastidious statistic-keeping to go to waste, so I'm gonna do a makeshift newsletter here.  I also designed the card and I'm posting it here for your enjoyment as well.  (You can tell I put TONS of thought into the card because it says, "Full Name".  Maybe that's just the new nickname I gave myself.  You don't know.)  I realize you won't be able to tape it to your door, or hang it on your wall, or whatever it is you do with your Christmas cards (I put yours on my tree because I'm too poor for real ornaments, but it my very well turn into my tradition.  So for now your Christmas card is surrounded by hand-made origami ornaments.  In the future it may just be surrounded by ornaments bought on clearance from Target.  So, ya know, classier.) - unless you choose to print it off of course - but maybe one year I'll be rich enough to send you a Christmas card encased in chocolate or something, at which point it'll all be worth it.

Until then - Merry Christmas!

2012 RECAP!!!

It's been a pretty crazy year.  I've done 6 national commercials, an assortment of unpaid projects including student films, PSAs, and short films.  I worked for NPH in a haunted house.  I visited Spain.  Saw some shows on Broadway.  Went to Utah about 8 times.   Was rejected by Disney - twice.  Quit my job.  And considered getting a cat.  Life continues to be amazing and adventurous here on the Golden Coast.  I'm loving every* minute of it and cannot wait to see what 2013 brings.

2012 IN NUMBERS!!!

auditions

trips to Disneyland

books read

dollars spent on hamburgers

approximate miles traveled

2012 BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS!!!

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Old Mr. Franklin was one fairly inspirational human.  He left home at 16 and did amazing things with his life.  His autobiography is not comprehensive, but gives a good idea of what his life was all about.  I think I'm gonna keep this one on my shelf for those days when I need a little boost of motivation.  I recommend everyone reads this at some point in their life.

Miss Peregrin's School for Peculiar Children

A quirky little tale using old, odd black-white-photos as the inspiration (photos are included in the book).  I like when I read a book and am surprised by what happens.  Not surprised in the sense that I didn't expect what happened a-la-mystery novel, but surprised by the creativeness and "different-ness" of the book.  This was one of those books.

Pillars of the Earth

This one is long.  LONG.  So be prepared for that, but such an amazing story.  I was fully engrossed.  It's set several hundred years ago and follows the interconnected lives of several sets of characters as they build a cathedral and a community.  Be aware that some of the situations/language in this book can be fairly adult in nature, but not gratuitously so.

*almost