If you want to get into the drawing tomorrow, you need to comment on my post: Free Bike = Youthful Fun. My First Contest! with your favorite healthy snack by the end of today, Saturday.
Drawing tomorrow. Hopefully on video. Hopefully from my bike. Off to pump up a tire right now...
After wanting one for years, I finally bought a bike when I got laid off a yearish ago. A little counter-intuitive, and certainly I wasn't splashing money all over the place just as I lost my primary income. But I thought, suddenly I have time to pick out a bike, suddenly I have time to exercise, and so I charged it. One of my best life decisions, actually.
I get seriously discomforted when I'm not working and making an income, and the bike kept me feeling good and gave me a place to push through my negative feelings.
But what surprised me is how much getting a new bike in your 30s feels exactly like getting a new bike when you're ten. Simply put, it's the most fun exercise out there. It feels so much more productive and powerful than walking. It feels like you have the coolest new toy on the block. It feels like flying.
And you, my (American) friends, can win a Fuji Crosstown 2.0 bike from me (and Lipton)!
Now, I know that the bike is cool, but allow me to geek out here for a minute. This is a really impressive online blogosphere promotion. It allows bloggers to give something away to their readers, which is fun and has many of us hosting our first contest ever.
They sent me a "White Tea Experience Pack," which included:
1 20 oz. bottle, ready-to-drink Diet Peach Papaya,
coupons for some free 1.5 liter bottles, 1 box hot White Tea, and
5 To-Go Sticks. I will say that the bottle of Diet Peach Papaya was a little too sweet for me, but the To-Go Sticks (powder to pour into your water bottle) were raspberry white tea, and I liked them a lot. Sometimes I don't drink water because it feels to harsh on my throat and stomach, so the To-Go sticks are cool for me, plus, I prefer raspberry.
And the hot tea is divine. I'm going to sound like a pansy now, but I can't drink hot black tea sometimes because it's hard on my stomach. The white tea (there's some green in there, too) is much lighter and smoother, and the mango peach flavoring isn't overwhelming. Very tasty, and with those nice pyramid bags, too.
So free tea for me, a bike for you, what gives? It's all part of the "Free Your Y" promotion.
To highlight the fact that Lipton’s White Teas are made from young tea buds, plucked early in their life cycle, we worked with Lipton to develop the “Free Your Y” campaign. “Free Your Y” is all about tapping into our customer’s inner youthful spirit and highlighting those things we do every day to make us feel young again.
Part of the promotion is a cool video competition on YouTube. The deadline for submissions is today, but you can go there and watch the fun things people submitted. They've put together an impressive YouTube page, that's for sure. And hey, if you're reading this right after I post it, you could whip up a video submission today. It's basically, shoot yourself doing something fun and/or cool and throw it up there. They're giving away $25,000.
And I'm giving away a bike!
The winner will also receive 5 coupons for a free 1.5 liter bottle of Lipton White Iced Tea and a check for $75 for professional bike assembly. Lipton is in charge of fulfillment, and here's some important legal stuff: The Pepsi/Lipton Partnership will provide a check for $75.00 to be used for professional assembly of all Lipton Fuji bicycles awarded. Neither Pepsi Co. nor Unilever is liable for any injuries, damages or accidents that may result from the receipt, assembly or use of this bicycle.
So! Here's how to enter to win a bike from me:
Deadline for entry is next Saturday May 17th. So long as your comment comes in time stamped by Saturday and includes your favorite healthy snack, you're in. I will randomly determine, announce, and contact the winner on Sunday May 18th. At which point the winner will need to promptly email me back their information to forward onto Lipton. (You do have to be in the United States to win. Sorry to my international readers.)
That's it! I really looking forward to reading all your comments, and picking a winner. I'm hoping to do the drawing as a video post next Sunday.
Cheers, and good luck!
This morning, BlogHers Act and GlobalGiving expanded our Mother's Day fundraising initiative to save women's lives to include the tens of thousands of people devastated by Cyclone Nargis. Now, in addition to donating to hand-picked and carefully vetted programs to help women and children in Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Darfur, Nepal and South Africa, you can use the BlogHers Act donation widget to help get water and shelter to thousands of people whose lives are in danger. And we'll help!
Yes, BlogHer is matching funds.
Here's how BlogHer and GlobalGiving will match your donation:
Whichever of the now six projects recommended via the BlogHers Act fundraising widget receives the most donations between now and the end of the week will get a $1,000 donation from BlogHer, which Global Giving has agreed to match. The other five worthy projects will also get a donation of $200 each from BlogHer.
From the NY Times: Aid Flows to Myanmar as Magnitude of Loss Grows.
The BlogHer widget is in my left sidebar and on every page of BlogHer. Your donation will immediately show in the widget, which is pretty cool. So if you'd like to donate to Myanmar emergency relief, this is one way to do it.
Thanks.
1. I'm getting a facial tomorrow. I often think that I would sell my soul to the devil for clear skin, and in reality, the cost of clear skin is pricey, but much less than my soul. From now on, I give me, semi-regular facials and the clear skin that comes with them. Done.
2. I'm buying a bike pump. So that I can take a bike ride. Done.
3. I'm going to watch the film short that first made me think that I could be a director: An Exercise in Discipline - Peel by Jane Campion. Done.
4. I'm going to finish my ABC/DGA application so I can get it out next week instead of the week it's due. Fail. Applications are so boring.
5. I'm staying home from Strategicon, so that I can do all these other things for myself and enjoy having the apartment to myself. Done, obviously.
6. I'm going to finish my chit bag for Carcassonne: Hunters and Gatherers. (There's just one more finishing touch I want to make, and then I'll post pics!) Done. (Pics to come.)
7. I'm going to go to the movies. Fail, but not for lack of trying. The Arclight was evacuated when I got there.
8. I'm going to sage my bedroom. Done.
9. I'm buying myself some flowers. Done. (The orange ones opened up on Sunday - beautiful and cheery!)
10. I'm going to break out one of my favorite home exercise tapes, even if it's just 10 minute abs. Fail. This was asking a bit too much, I think. ;)
Got an election today? Don't forget to vote!
Yada, Yada, Yada...
Holy crap, have you seen Super Tuesday: Google + Twitter??? Watch people Twitter Super Tuesday on a Google map. It must work on key words, and it is mesmerizing!
How fun is this! Well, OK, if I don't get any Valentines, that would not be so fun. But I've got my fingers crossed...
This is the best part:
All of the messages you receive will remain hidden until the appointed day. Until that time, you will only be able to see the number of messages you have received, but neither you nor anyone else will be able to see what they say. On the appointed day the messages will automatically become accessible, and you will be able to read the messages that have been placed in your Greetinger mailbox.
It's Blog for Choice Day today - An annual day to remember how important it is to get out and vote for your right to have an abortion. And today it's also the 35th anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
I think a lot of people are pretty blasé about their right to an abortion - that they take it for granted or don't think about it till they or someone they know wants or needs one. Perhaps until recently, I think most people just assumed that their right and ability to get an abortion was safe. (Further, if you've got money and you're over 18 you can always get one somewhere.) Of course, our rights are not safe, and there are teenagers and poor women whose right and access to an abortion is even more critical and more under attack.
Anti-choicers protest Planned Parenthood! They fight against birth control! They believe that a pregnant woman is incapable of making decisions for herself! It's completely, completely disgusting.
Feministing started the day with this round up of great Blog for Choice Day posts.
The suggested topic this year is why it's important to vote pro-choice. For me, it's a matter of standing up for freedom. America is not a Christian nation, and no church should have anything to do with state. I support someone's right to be personally against abortion, but no one should have the right to get involved with me, my doctor, and my medical decisions.
It can be exhausting, but truly, every single time an abortion-related vote comes up, truly you must get to the poles and cast your vote. Every. Single. Time. For me, it's honestly about being an American and standing up for freedom. That may sound cheesy, but that's the truth of it for me.
You can click here for more information from NARAL and links to participating blogs.
What's one more thing in the schedule this weekend?
OK, I totally wasn't going to go out tonight. I was going to work at home and watch my Netflix; I always get a ton done on a Saturday night at home. But then I went to get my hair cut (gray hair update someday, I promise!), and the artist, George Fuentes, was in the gallery space at Wax Poetic surrounded by flowers. He's doing a full instillation, his art looked beautiful even from afar, and there's live (indie! folk! bluegrass!) music tonight at the opening.
WAX POETIC GALLERY CELEBRATES THEIR 8 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH: "LOST BUT HAPPY", THE ART OF GEORGE FUENTES
Exhibit opens at Wax Poetic Gallery on Saturday, January 19th 2008 in Burbank, Calif.
(Burbank, Ca. January 8, 2008) Wax Poetic Gallery is proud to celebrate their eight year anniversary with the art of George Fuentes along with live music by Cosio. "Lost but happy" features a series of 9 new paintings. Opening reception will be Saturday, January 19th from 8p.m. to 11p.m.
Fuentes' process begins with writing a specific scenario and description for each piece. Many of these written pieces will be shown along with the paintings. This allows the viewer to get a peek into the mind of the artist. Much of Fuentes' inspiration comes from traveling to Tibet and is shown through his dark yet whimsical paintings. "My paintings have kind of a wicked environment.but they're okay with it", said Fuentes when describing the "Lost but Happy" show. This description could not be more perfect. His paintings portray the wicked environments as surprisingly endearing. As for what the future holds, Fuentes has no plans of slowing down. "This is just the beginning of many shows to come," says Fuentes. A graduate of OTIS College of Art and Design in Marina Del Rey, Fuentes plans on continuing his education in addition to working as a professional animator.
Along with the art of George Fuentes, Wax Poetic will also be featuring a live acoustic performance by Cosio, an indie/folk/bluegrass band which will play 30 minute sets at 8:30p.m., 9:30p.m., and 10:30p.m. Cosio's unique sound which stems from their incorporation of the banjo and washboard really sets them apart from other los angeles bands. They have released an EP titled "Walk Through Blood, Sleep in Bones" which will be available to purchase on the night of the show. Cosio is currently recording their next album which will be released this spring.
This show is open to the public and is appropriate for all ages. "Lost but happy" will be on display through early March. Hope to see you there!
Going to gallery openings at Wax Poetic really is one of my favorite things to do, and I find that I simply can't miss it. I, of course, am not on the ball enough to coordinate with anyone to go with me, so if any of you Angelinos come check it out and you spot me, say hi, OK?
I love making (and keeping) New Year's Resolutions. For me, the key is that goal-setting is very different than resolution making. Goal-setting represents challenges that may evolve throughout the year. I wouldn't make a New Year's resolution to exercise twice a week, but I might set that as a goal.
Resolutions are simpler, and rarely involve my schedule, which is constantly evolving and responding to opportunities. Resolutions are challenging, but totally doable.
I skipped resolutions last year. Getting laid off a week before Christmas kinda shakes the snow globe. So this year, I have two resolutions.
1. I resolve not to transfer any money out of my savings account in 2008.
We are talking about a super small amount of money here. I transfer $25/month into savings, and then the Keep the Change program amounts to another $10 - $15/month. But every few months, I run short, and I transfer whatever's accrued back to my checking. It's one degree better than using a credit card, but in 2008, it's time to take the next step. Right now I've got $80 in there, and if I keep this resolution, I should easily have $500 by the end of 2008. That's not 3 weeks living expenses, but it's a start.
2. I resolve to stop counting how many years I've lived in Los Angeles.
When people ask me how long I've been in Los Angeles - because that's what we do in the transplant pool - I resolve to answer, "I moved here in 2002," and let them do the math.
Here's the thing. I moved to Los Angeles to live here. To build my life, here. Not to just give it a go.
It's not a race, and it's not "the six years I spent in Los Angeles" or "the ten years I spent in Los Angeles." There's just something about counting the years that gives a meaning to the time spent that I don't care to give it. A lot of people in the entertainment industry were born here. They don't count the years, and neither am I. This is home, and it has been since 2002.
~
Linked over at BlogHer, on Denise's post, I'm fascinated by New Year's Resolutions but I don't make them. Do you? Check it out to read other people's New Year's Resolutions, and if you blog your resolutions, you can link them over there, too.
So this year, BlogHer launched an amazing Holiday Guide. There's these great cooking videos (page down on the home page, and click on the yummy food videos on the left) and have you seen the gift lists?
Seriously, gift lists written by bloggers are out of the box and fun to read. And they just keep coming! Now if only I could stop buying things for myself...
You can share your own gift list, too. This is BlogHer after all. We love to hear from you!
Not to mention the Question Of The Week, which will be posed by yours truly on Christmas Eve. Rare meme blogger that I am, I've not been on the Question of the Week bandwagon, but it looks super fun so I think I'm going to ignore the "of the week" part and just start answering some of them. You can post your answer on your own blog and then go to the question and leave your url.
I've been a little stalled out after NaBloPoMo, so I'm thinking that answering the questions will get that brain gerbil running with a little more pep. You kinda can't help getting into the holiday spirit after you start reading and watching all the great BlogHer editors talking about the holidays and gift-giving.
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