From Homeless to Harvard

Posted by random olio

Feel like reading a good book and heartfelt memoir? A few months ago, I read: Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard, by Liz Murray. It is a book that even if you had a good upbringing will make you feel like anything is possible.

Liz grew up in the Bronx with drug addicted parents. While she was not living on the streets until she was 15, the apartments she did live in were not truly habitable. This book shares her story of coming out of horrible circumstances. She eventually graduates from high school in two years, and wins a New York Times scholarship to Harvard. It happens because of her perseverance to change her current circumstances. Some parts of the book are hard to read, but as you read, remember that she lived these experiences. There were times when she would hide in her friend’s closets on very cold days. Other times her friends would smuggle her into their rooms and feed her. My heart just yearned for the fact that her friend’s families did not take her into their homes completely. Maybe the parents were just getting by to feed their own children. I so badly wanted someone to notice her situation and take her in.

She watches both of her parents abuse drugs for many years. They steal any money Liz might make for food or clothes to pay for their drugs, and they use their welfare check at the beginning of the month for drugs. She has such love for her parents, regardless of what they put her through. Without giving it away, you will see how later in her life, the unconditional love she gives them.

After college, Liz Murray founded the Broome Street Academy, one of the first high schools for homeless youth. You can find more information about Liz Murray on her website, Manifest Living.

I encourage you to read Breaking Night. It will remind you that we are capable of more than we know.

First Day of Spring!!

Posted by random olio

It is March 20, 2012, and the FIRST DAY OF SPRING! I am so excited. I cannot wait for days and days of sunshine. The stems of my daffodils are up, as are my snow caps. The leaves are getting bigger and bigger on my hydrangeas, and my hostas and irises are just sticking their heads out of the ground. In the front, the weeping cherry tree has small, light pink buds opening up. And yet, we had snow flurries on Sunday and actual snow just a few miles away yesterday morning. Each time the snow hits, I pray my green budding friends will continue to bloom. I am not much of a green thumb. I tend to kill most indoor plants (my husband keeps them hydrated because I forget). What?! Sound strange? If something does not yell for my attention, I can easily forget about it. Which means quiet plants = no watering. Somehow I have managed to keep the plants in the backyard alive. Although I do not think I can take all the credit. It must be our sprinkler or maybe Chris is really watching over them.

My green budding friends mean that soon I will be able to break out my Chaco flip-flops! I cannot wait. In honor of Spring, here are a few ideas I wanted to share with you. (Click on the image to read quotes more easily).

a few ideas on Spring and renewal...

Enjoy!

Triple C weekend – (Cleaning/Creativity/Cookies)

Posted by random olio

I had a great weekend! Chris and I randomly started cleaning out the garage on Saturday. We purged, took items to Goodwill, organized, found items to sell on eBay, and then headed into the house and thoroughly cleaned. Ah, spring cleaning! It is almost as though spring cleaning should be done spontaneously. We even did all the laundry. It felt great to accomplish so much together. At the end of the night I made Chris’ favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies.

mmm...chocolate chip cookies

I have been making this recipe for years, but rather than type it up, I also found it recently posted here. My notes on how I alter this recipe: I use 2 cups of chocolate chips. I bake both cookies sheets at the same time and switch which rack they are on at about 6 1/2 to 7 minutes in to the baking time. I also make smaller cookies (use 1 Tablespoon) to form each ball. Mine look chewier (and are chewier) than the picture on the recipe link.

Since we worked so hard on Saturday, Sunday felt laid back, AND while we had moments of snow flurries, what we also had is SUN. Gosh how we Portlanders fill with glee when the sun comes out. It was perfect. For most of the afternoon, my studio had sun. It was bright and I was inspired. So, between yummy brunch and my run, I painted for quite a few hours. I finished a painting and have almost finished another.

newly finished painting...

I will post the other painting once I finish it. Happy Monday! Do something creative today!

50 Posts Already!?

Posted by random olio

Yesterday I posted my 50th blog post. I know for many bloggers out there that is not a huge feat, but for me it is exciting! When I started Random Olio I did not know where I was going with it, but each day I have loved putting my random hodgepodge into the world of ideas over the Internet. When I started I know I would never have imagined writing 50 different blog posts. Yet, I have loved every moment of it. There have been times when I felt: “What is the point of this?” or “Why am I even taking the time to do it?” I would get discouraged, and then I would hear from a blog follower, or a friend that said: “Your blog made me think about this idea differently. Thank you for continuing to write.” Those little comments encouraged me to keep going. Often we will be out and about in town, or I will be on the treadmill, or in the shower (where I do my best thinking), and an idea will come to me. I will pause the treadmill, or finish my shower, or send myself an email and come and write for a bit. Just enough to get the idea down and out of my head, then I come back later to expand on the idea.

So, thank you for everyone that has continued to read Random Olio over the last 1-50 posts. I am grateful to you! Feel free to post your comments and feedback anytime. I love hearing from you!

Since it is also Friday, I wanted to share a little fun with you. I watch Ellen and I think her “Dance Dare” is a hoot. Have fun watching her introduction video here:

Enjoy and happy Friday!

Do you know how to PLAY?

Posted by random olio

Last week, I had lunch with a friend and the topic of “play” came up in our conversation. It is one that always interests me. I am one that much of the time is led to do the responsible thing and NOT play, rather than to play and realize that the responsible item on the list really did not need to be done, or at least that it could be done later. What develops in us as we grow up that makes it harder for some of us to play, while it is easier for others? What does “play” mean to you? I find that I am my most playful self when I am around young children, especially if there is laughter, make believe, hide and seek, tickles, etc. I usually forget the surroundings I am in and jump in and play with glee. Does “play” for you mean you are just relaxing? What would it look like to let go and dance, sing, and laugh hard (you know when tears start spouting from your eyes)? Is that a normal everyday occurrence or does it come out as often as I cook (ever so rarely, mostly when my husband is traveling).

Is play for you climbing, running, biking, baking, cooking, organizing? Or are all those things work? Is play when we are in the “now” and when we are in the zone? That is a hard one for me to answer. You can be at work, loving the project you are working on, and in the zone, but does that mean it is play? Playing games, Wii, the batting cages, bowling, and skee ball are just a few forms of “play” for me.

I love this blog post from Nathan. It is a good reminder for all of us. Nathan, I hope you are doing well after your car was hit. Keep letting your daughter pull you away from work.