Product Reviews

I find myself wondering what's the point of reviewing products that I have purchased from a merchant, when the merchant is going to moderate and decide which reviews, whether positive or constructive, are the ones they will post.

It's one of the reasons I used to post them here in addition to on the particular merchant site. Also a reason why although I have some preferred brands I'm not loyal to any one.

Seriously....

Happy Earth Day!

Happy #EarthDay! Whenever possible
#Reduce #Reuse #Recycle #Repurpose #Upcycle  #EatOrganic #BuyLocal

Volunteers, Contingents, and Upcoming Travel Oh my!

Volunteers... It was a busy Saturday, 23rd with Orientation with Phoenix Pride for the Parade Volunteer Orientation. Only Six of my 18 registered volunteers showed up. A little disappointed 'cause I hoped to see all 18 there, however there is one more volunteer orientation which is Tomorrow, Monday. 25th at 6pm at the Phoenix Pride Office, and I already know of few that are confirmed. Crossing my fingers that the rest show, otherwise we'll see where I end up with as far as volunteers. Ideally all of them not just show up for the orientation but also for the actual day of the event, April 6th.

The orientation itself went great. Speech by Phoenix Pride Executive Director Brandi Sokolosky who introduced her staff, board, and directors, of which the Parade Director is Michael Sciacca, who I report to as the De-Staging Manager/Lead. A "short" speech was given by a Stonewall veteran which was great, before Michael introduced the other Parade directors, managers, and support. We then broke up into Festival and Parade and then from their to our specific teams to deliver our respective orientations.


Contingents... After the Volunteer Orientation and a "quick " lunch  the Contingents line up meeting was next for our day. This time a short speech by Brandi introducing Michael who very efficiently provided the info for the Day of the Parade for the floats, walking groups, bands, politicians, vehicles, etc., and introduced us managers. Met with the IONAZ rep who had a special request for when they get to the De-Staging area. Also, met with one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence who will have a fabulous showing at the Parade. I'm not spoiling that, so you'll just have to attend the Phoenix Pride Parade to see it. :)

Upcoming Travel ... If you saw my twitter feed earlier in the month then you know that I got myself as a Birthday gift Tickets to go see Thalia at The Wiltern. Although it will be a short visit to L.A, since I'll be there from the day before the concert and leaving the day after the concert, my partner has a list of touristy and non-touristy things to do and hoping to do if not all then most of them. I have done a bit of both the couple of times I was there before with friends. We'll see where the road takes us. :)


It has been a great overall several months of planning with the Phoenix Pride Parade Committee and then most recently planning the mini trip. An exciting couple of weeks coming up.

So to warp this post up just a quick reminder of the Parade and Festival dates and times.

Phoenix Pride Parade  on April 6, 2013 with step off at 10am from 3rd Street & Thomas

Phoenix Pride Festival on April 6 & 7, 2013 both days from Noon - 9PM at Indian Steele School Park

Phoenix Pride Parade - De-Staging Lead

 Amazing that it's already March! Time certainly does fly. So just a quick update on the past few months about me joining the Phoenix Pride Parade Committee as De-Staging Lead.


Although I have been participating with the Phoenix Pride as a Volunteer for the past several years, this year, (really the end of 2012) I was given the opportunity to take over the De-Staging Lead/Manager position from the previous De-Staging Lead who took over the Route Manager position. Thanks Robin!

So since December I've attended the monthly Parade Meetings to help with the planning. My biggest pieces of this as you would guess from the "De-Staging" name is recruiting and organizing volunteers for the end of the parade. On the day of the parade this will be crucial, as my team will need to make sure we direct and organize the flow of traffic from the Parade Route into the De-Staging area, making the parade move smoothly at the end.

I'm lucky in the fact that I get to coordinate this also with my employer's Diversity and Volunteer Councils which I am also a member of each. With the Diversity Council I help promote diversity at my workplace with events and informational that tie into my employers commitment to diversity. With the Volunteer Council I help plan and coordinate at least two events in the year, participate in as many other volunteer events as possible, in addition to being the person in charge of our internal social interactions within my employers internal social platforms that vary from wiki, pages, socialcast, etc. Because of this, I have so far a good amount of volunteers.

Now all of the managers and directors also have the task of reaching out to businesses and ask for donations for the Swag Bags.The parade will have 4 announcers and 5 judges that each receive a Swag Bag with items from various businesses.

That's has been my biggest challenge so far, therefore if you know of a business or you are a business and would like to donate items or certificates/gift cards please let me know. Phoenix Pride is a 501(c)(3) organization therefore if needed a donation form/letter can be provided for tax purposes.


Here's more info on the Phoenix Pride Parade and Festival:

The Pride Parade kicks off at 10 am on April 6, 2013 immediately followed by the two-day Festival that is from Noon to 9pm.

If you would like to volunteer with the Parade and/or Festival click here.

Learn more about Phoenix Pride:  http://phoenixpride.org/

Bienvenido ~ 2013 ~ Welcome

Bueno pues que rapido paso el 2012/2012 seems to have passed so quickly.

Para empezar el 2013 me propongo en escribir mas amenudo. ~ Hoping to post more often in 2013.

Unos seran en Ingles y otros en Español. ~ Some will be in English and some in Spanish.


Espero escribir mas sobre voluntario, diversidad, artes/manualidades, y otras cozas al azar. ~ This year I hope to post more about volunteering, diversity, arts/crafts, and any other randomness.

KAET 8 PBS Pledge Drive - March 11, 2012

This past Sunday, March 11, 2012 volunteered to help with phone pledges for the local PBS station Eight KAET.

A small group of us helped on Sunday, March 11, 2012 with phone pledges.
As telephone operators we took calls from viewers wishing to pledge their financial support to Eight Arizona PBS.

We also got a short tour of the facility and the scoop on what it takes for KAET Arizona PBS to put on a show. This particular time, there was a live show being taped for the latter part of the shift we volunteered for.

We got to briefly meet Robert Van Camp, the producer of Great Scenic Railways: Celebrating North America's Steam Railways, and Big Shoe Stu Evans from KMLE Country as they taped alongside us phone pledge volunteers. The taping was for the various gifts that viewers can choose from when they submit their pledge of support.
Another thing I should mention is food. Yogurtini provided lunch for the afternoon shift that we volunteered for, which of course meant frozen yogurt for dessert. Yum!


Here's a photo.

Jake, Elkirbster, Christine, Sarah

Happy Thanksgiving!

With Google+, Twitter, Facebook, etc. it seems that I come here to write less often. In either case wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, belated!

This is the first Thanksgiving that I spent with my significant other's family in Ajo, Az. Great food and great company.

We had an array of foods: Turkey, Ham, Red Chile Stew, 2 types of bread stuffing, white beans, 2 types of brown beans, several pumpkin pies, peach pie, dutch apple pie, sugar-free apple pie, pumpkin cheesecake, caramel apple cheesecake, ambrosia salads with and without coconut, fry-bread, couwboy bread, 2 types of yeast bread, rolls, potatoe salad, fresh roasted pumpkin seeds, sweet potatoe with marshmallows, various drinks both alcoholic and non, and with so much I may have forgotten to list some.

So much tempting food however was still able to manage and eat sensibly. Hurrah!

After lunch/dinner we went bowling. My first time ever bowling. Wii bowling does not count. I was terrible. I loved it.

Had a great time away from the city.

Kitchen Equivalent Chart

Kitchen Equivalent Chart

A pinch ..................... 1/8 tsp or less
3 tsp ........................ 1 tbsp
2 tbsp ....................... 1/8 cup
4 tbsp ....................... 1/4 cup
16 tbsp ...................... 1 cup
5 tbsp + 1 tsp ............... 1 cup
4 oz .......................... 1/2 cup
8 oz .......................... 1 cup
16 oz ......................... 1 lb
1 oz .......................... 2 tbsp fat or liquid
1 cup of liquid .............. 1/2 pint
2 cups ....................... 1 pint
2 pints ....................... 1 quart
4 cups of liquid ............. 1 quart
1 quart ...................... 4 cups
4 quarts ..................... 1 gallon
8 quarts ..................... 1 peck (such as apples, pears, etc.)
1 jigger ..................... 1-1/2 fl oz (3tbsp)

Long time...

Well it has been a while since I posted. I have been mostly twittering and facebooking. Of course I always mean to post but then don't.

So since my last post in March, I have continued participating in some volunteer events. I'll hopefully eventually post the what and the when of those.

I found some of my old blog posts from 2006 that I had accidentally deleted from blogger, so I did upload those.

In April, I passed a kidney stone and so since then I have been reading up on the why and taking steps to hopefully not ever get one again. I had one about 10 years ago, however that last time I never caught it when passed and this time I did. So had it sent to labs to be analyzed. Maybe I'll post what the analysis says.

And while on the subject of health, I had a biometric screening a bit after this kidney stone issue and so at the same time am taking steps to be healthier. The goal is to loose the excess weight in a sensible manner with no gimmicky diets of any kind. I have lost 24 pounds so far. I am using myfitnesspal website and app to help keep track. I am still on Livestrong, however that one is more tricky to track on and the app is not free, but they do have some great articles.

As always continuing to get rid of things that are not needed and living every day as it comes. I have been playing around with the title of this blog and changed it a few times. I don't think it is yet what I would like it to be. One day I'll get the best title and then migrate this whole thing to it.

Have a great weekend!

2011 Regional Unity Walk

Participated in the 2011 Regional Unity Walk back on February 5, 2011... Here's a Video...

Sorting it out...

Last Saturday, February 26, 2011 I helped sort close to 10,000 lbs of food in about 3 hours at St. Mary's Food Bank. I was there with a group from work. Here's a photo...

Welcome 2011... !

Welcome 2011...! I'm a little late to this, so here is just a quick hello to this new year.

12 of 12: Not quite, but it's OK

So here we are in a new year, and me trying to catch up to this post that I should have written last year. I have been putting it off and off. The reason for that is because I did not achieve volunteering 12 times out of the year in 2010. I kept thinking back on the year to see where it is that I went wrong. Where were the missed opportunities? When was it that things changed to cause me to not complete what I thought was a simple goal?

So here we are in a new year, and  finally able to say to myself, "It's ok. Just think of all the positive things you were able to do."  Although for my own sanity, I have got to list all the good things I was able to do even if they were not successful and regardless of whether I thought they counted or not.

-     Donated Hair to Lock of Love
-     PF Chang's
-     Childsplay
-     No Sew Blankets
-     PBS Pledges
-     Supplies 4 Students
-     Mission Sack Meals
-     Snack bags to give at Freeway exits
-     Step Out: Walk to fight Diabetes
-     JDRF: Walk to Cure Diabetes
-     Christmas Tree at Phoenix Children's Hospital
-     Donated food & clothing throughout the year

That's better...

Family Holiday Traditions

We were asked to share some of our winter holiday traditions at work. Here's what I shared:


My Family Holiday Traditions are celebrated at my Grandmother's house in Mexico. Some of the traditional family celebrations for the winter holidays that my family takes part in are:

- Piñatas: Both on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, our family will have piñatas in the shapes of stars. We fill them up with candy and sometimes add some dollar bills. Both kids and adults partake.

- Gift Giving: Gift giving in our family is mainly for the children. Only some adults, aunts mainly, are the ones that may give gifts to their brothers/sisters and are usually handmade items like scarfs, hats, buñuelos, personalized/embroidered items like towels or jars with trinkets in them, etc.

- Loteria: Because we do not do big gift exchanges, on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, we get together and play loteria(Mexican bingo). Some family members will bring wrapped items that vary from chocolates, Avon, house items, etc. Some years we have had just one big loteria day on New Year's Day.

- Corsages: A variety of handmade corsages are made by my mother or one of my aunts and everyone gets to choose theirs on Christmas Eve. Aunts, uncles, children all get one.

- Traveling Canasta: My grandmother started this tradition of filling up a huge basket with snack items from soda, chips, cookies, etc. I couldn't tell you when but definitely before I was born(1980) as we have been doing that for as long as I can remember. She would stuff the basket with as much as could fit in it for Christmas. Then everyone's name is put in a bowl and one person wins the basket. The person that wins the basket on Christmas then refills the basket with new items for New Year's and again the names go in a bowl for a winner. The winner then returns the basket to my grandmother for the following year. My grandmother passed away in 2007, so now the traveling basket is continued by my aunts.

- Posada and Rosary: Christmas Eve is the day my family gets together to celebrate begin the Christmas celebrations. It starts with a praying the rosary and then we do the posada. The men go outside with candles and a sheet with the verses to sing and the women stay inside. We do the different stages starting on one door and ending on the other. Once we are let in then dinner begins. 

- Nativity scene: The nativity scene is finished by the youngest member of the family. The youngest person carries the baby Jesus and everyone gives a kiss to both. Once everyone has done this then the baby Jesus is placed in the Nativity Scene.

- New Year's Eve and Day: On New Year's Eve, our family gets together for a late dinner. When the clock strikes at midnight, we all cheer to each other and drink our Champagne. We also eat 12 grapes, each symbolizing the coming 12 months, and make a wish for each of those months as we eat each grape. After this, we all hug and wish each other a Happy New Year.  

- Dia de Los Reyes: On January 6th we celebrate Dia de los Reyes(Kings Day/Little Christmas), although most of the family is back to their routines, there will be a Rosca de Reyes(a sweet bread) that everyone can come by and get a piece of. A baby Jesus is baked in the bread and whoever gets the piece with the baby is supposed to do a dinner/celebration on el Dia de la Candelaria(Candlemass) which is on February 2nd.

11 of 12: If you can't volunteer...

If you can't volunteer, whatever the reason, you can always donate. Throughout the year there are many opportunities to give back by donating. I personally have donated food and clothing items throughout the year. Now, whether you participate in a food or clothing drive; a blood drive, etc. and regardless of how much you donate, it will make a difference.

Heres's a short list of places that can benefit from your donation:

- St Mary's Food Bank Alliance

- United Food Bank

- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

- American Red Cross

- Arizona Humane Society

- Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA



Although I may have volunteered for several events throughout the year, the nearing of the end of it makes me reflect back on what all I have done to give back; and there's always the feeling that I could have done more.