I like to volunteer. I'm not all noble or anything, there are lots of folks who give so much more than I do. And I think I get just as much out of it as I give to others.
When I was little we'd often do volunteer type things through school or the Officer's Wives Club or something like that. And my ballet schools always took time to perform in nursing homes and hospitals close to Nutcracker or recital times. I liked when we'd get to talk to the patients afterwards. I got to run around in my leotard and dance and chat with people. Seemed like a good time to me.
I volunteered as a candy striper in an ER when I was in high school, but that was as much to learn about medicine and hospitals and see if I wanted to be a doctor. In fact, I think one of my college application essays was about the first time I saw a dead body, which happened while volunteering in the ER. I changed a lot of beds and held a lot of hands and ran a lot of x-rays around, but I got to see a lot of cool stuff too, depending on which doctors were on duty. And I got to meet interesting patients as well. I am my mother's daughter and love chatting with strangers.
My high school required all Seniors do a semester (or actually I think half a semester) of Community Service. Usually it was things like taking animals from the Humane Society to hospitals and nursing homes (I think the most popular one) and such. It was also usually during school hours, during class time. You could request projects and would tell them your interests and all, but projects were ultimately assigned. You'd get a slip saying what your project was and once a cycle you'd meet with a group to talk about it. I think it's a nice idea. Gets students in the habit of giving back and all that. I wanted the Humane Society one, but a friend of mine and I got slips saying that we would be informed of our project details upon our first meeting with our group. So we started calling it the Super Secret Community Service.
It turns out we were going to be sent to an Emergency Children's Shelter. The location of these kinds of places does need to be kept very secret so once we found out it made sense. Also, only a couple of people a semester do this project as it's a weekend one so we hadn't heard of it before. But it was such a great experience. Every Saturday we'd drive out to the house and spend the day hanging out with kids; going to the beach or the mall, hanging around the house and playing, whatever. We were just there to spend time with these kids. And it was amazing. The stuff that had happened to some of these kids would turn your stomach. And while some were very reserved and some were incredibly outgoing they were all so loving and warm. And once they got used to you they'd just shower you with affection. They really seemed to love the attention and having an almost grown-up who was just there to hang out with them and be kind to them and have fun with them. I always had a great time with those kids. And I'm sorry I wasn't able to do it for longer.
In college I volunteered at Head Start my first year, which was again just largely hanging out with kids. Sometimes I'd help with getting stuff ready or tidying up, but mostly it was playing with the kids. I would've done that longer, but then got a workstudy job at the Day Care in the same building. And, once you're paid it doesn't count as volunteering. I loved the volunteering and the job. Hanging out with kids, watching Disney movies, going on field trips; it was all my kind of thing. Though I did get peed on for one of the field trips, on a ride. I still remember one time I was having a crap day and showed up for work in a bad mood. But, a few girls and I sat in the playground watching earthworms and calling ourselves Jessica (except one girl who preferred to keep her own name). And in no time at all I was out of my cranky mood. Giggling with little girls in the sunshine makes it pretty hard to hate the world.
Once I got to New York I didn't do too much at first. But after I got settled into my job at Morgan I checked out their Foundation and volunteer program and started with their lunchtime reading program. It was a pretty simple one. You're assigned a child and then once a week you go and read with them at lunch. Totally easy and fun. Sometimes the kids are ones who could use extra help and sometimes the kids were ones who did really well in school and got a reading buddy as a perk. It was all voluntary for the kids. And it wasn't so much about tutoring them or teaching them to read. It was about them having an adult who was focused on them and only them for an hour a week. And to show them that reading was fun. My first two years I was assigned a holy terror whom I adored. He liked trying to shock me by telling me he drank beer and was going to get a motorcycle and tattoos. He was six. I told him he might want to wait a few years before making that kind of commitment to beer and bikes and skin art. He said he might wait until 18, but did offer to have one of his tattoos include my name. He also frequently tried to look up my skirt and asked me for my number so he could call me over our the summer after our first year. I said that wasn't appropriate and he should call girls closer to his own age. He thought that made sense. He wasn't a huge fan of reading but we found lots of shark and dinosaur books. And he seemed more into it when it was more interactive so we'd grab the globe and look up locations of fossils and such whenever they were mentioned in the books. I'd also bring in puzzles for him. While reading with him for two years I really got to see him learn and improve at reading and at the puzzles. But then his family moved. And I got a sweet, smart girl. Who LOVED math. Which made me so happy. We'd read for a bit, she liked mysteries a lot, and then I'd sit around making up math problems with her. I explained a bit of pre-algebra to her and she really liked figuring out x. She had a friend whose reading buddy didn't always show up so I often got two of them reading and doing math and solving crime. Not a bad two years. But then she was older and wanted to spend all of her lunches with friends instead of me. So I got my last little girl. Who was a blast. I called her Troublemaker. She liked messing with my cell phone and talking about movies and drinking chocolate milk. One night the school had a talent show and she and her friends did a dance. I want to see it after work. It was kind of spectacular. I hadn't been to a grade school talent show in a while. The Spring of our second year I was laid off. I finished up the year, but since I was no longer with the program I couldn't go another year.
Also through Morgan I'd sign up for the Holiday Gift program every year. You get a child's letter to Santa or whomever and then you go shopping. Pumpkin and I have had a blast in previous years buying things for little girls. We don't have too many kids in our lives so it's fun to shop for the small girlie stuff. And they'd always tell us this could very well be the only gift the child would receive that Holiday season so I'd go a little overboard. But, that was also through Morgan.
So, now that I'm settled in my job and have no volunteer options through work I've finally signed up for New York Cares. And I'm a total dork about it. Vader has been doing it for years and is humoring me. I did my orientation last week, but most of the projects have already been filled for the month. I guess the calendar comes out around the 21s or 22nd and people sign up for projects quickly. It's a nice system. They have lots of one-shot projects so you don't have to commit long-term if you don't want. And you can try all kinds of things. And if you have a free evening or Saturday you can see if any projects are open and sign up. Vader said that things don't fill up quite so fast after the summer is over, so that will be nice. I'm excited to try some of the kid or animal ones, and playing cards or casino nights in homes for the elderly, and maybe one of the zoo or aquarium visits. But tomorrow Vader and I are going to sort clothes for a thrift shop whose profits go to help the Homeless with AIDS/HIV. It's not too glamorous which is probably why it was one of the few things still left for tomorrow. But I'm still kind of excited. And later this month I'm signed up to play Wii at a health center in my neighborhood and a coffeehouse at a center for the blind and those with low vision. And New York Cares does the Winter Wishes gift program as well so I can get back into that again. I'm looking forward to all of that. Though, is there someone out there who can teach me to Wii?
Friday, August 08, 2008
More Movies
So, for WarGames I got to be the one to sit next to the crazies. Actually, they weren't crazy, but they were very angry.
We got to the theater and there was a HUGE line at the door to our particular theater. Which we thought a little odd, but not too odd. WarGames is a fantastic movie after all. The food line was bad too so I went to get food while Vader waited in the theater line. Everyone in my food line was on their phone so I called Vader just so I wouldn't feel left out. I told her this and the guy in front of me thought I was pretty funny. Not that he got off the phone to chat with me or anything. So, that doesn't work as a pick up line.
Anyway, we realized I had both tickets with me so we decided Vader would call me when they started seating us, if it looked like they were checking tickets. A little while later she came up to me and said that the line that seemed to start right at the door of our theater was NOT for WarGames. We never found out for sure what it was for, but we suspect The Dark Knight in the theater next to ours. Even though it was a Tuesday and almost two weeks after that movie opened. Right then I got our food so we booked it to the theater. The BEST seats were gone, but there were decent ones down front. A nice man let us climb over him though he was worried I was going to dump soda and popcorn on him. I did not, but I did drop a dollar bill on his lap. He said that was perfectly fine. And then he nicely gave us the dollar back. I wandered off to get butter for our popcorn (yes, I know that's not helping me lose weight) and Vader let him read the Wired article on WarGames as a thank you for tolerating all of our climbing.
I came back and we got all settled and were hanging out waiting for the movie to start. About five minutes prior a man and woman came and sat next to me. They had to climb over us and our nice man to get to the seats and the woman was very annoyed at this. But really, you come to a movie five minutes before the start and the odds aren't good you'll get a choice aisle seat. Whatever. They sat down and they seemed to know the people in front of them and possibly the people behind them. A little chatty group.
Now, I would like you to know that the ad that first brought this viewing to our attention advertised this as a WarGames 25th Anniversary event with never before seen interviews and clips from the sequel (straight to video, do not want to see). When I searched for the event online that was clearly started as well. The same when I purchased tickets. And when we were waiting for the movie to start, every minute or so the screen would flash the event ad/sign along with the mention of never before seen interviews and clips from the sequel.
So, the lights dim and the previews start. Then the lights go out and the featurette starts with interviews and clips. And the woman in my row is LIVID. She is very, very angry they're showing this featurette that they advertised all over the place. At one point early on she shrieks, "Just show the movie!!!" Now, I am enjoying the featurette. Fun stuff in it and all. Everyone else seems to be chuckling and having a good time as well. Except the chatty crew to my left. The woman in front of us yells, "They're ruining it!!" Now, they did have clips from the movie in there, but I've seen trailers that revealed more of a movie. Also, they did show Joshua's last screen, but not for long and if you haven't actually seen the movie I can't imagine the screen making enough sense to give anything away. But this group was freaking out. Finally midway through they calmed down and just decided to ignore what was going on onscreen, just chatting and typing on their blackberries. Bah.
So, the movie started and all was well. I've never seen it on the big screen before so Vader and I were having a blast. But, right when they're trying to get off the island the movie stopped. Annoying, but hardly the end of the world. I thought the woman in our row was going to have a heart attack she was so upset. Lots of people got up, to tell a manager, get some snacks, hit the head, whatever. Vader and I stayed seated because 207 people do not need to get up and tell the manager the movie is out. We figured it would get worked out or we'd be told otherwise. The woman next to me kept turning around and looking at the projection booth and spitting out, "No one is BACK there!" and huffing. Of course she made NO effort to get up or have one of her group get up to talk to anyone. She just huffed.
Within a couple of minutes a manager came out and told us all that the satellite went out and the event folks were working on it. The theater wasn't showing the movie it was a nationwide event so this was going on all over the country, not just with us. But it would be up shortly. Some folks yelled out we should get free food or something but everyone laughed (except the woman in my row) and within a couple more minutes the movie was going again. And it was awesome.
I had a great time and loved seeing the movie on the big screen. I know technology has come so far since then, but I still think it's a kickass flick. I just feel bad the angry woman couldn't enjoy it. Luckily she didn't ruin it for us and now Vader and I have added, "They're RUINING the movie." to our collection of things to say when waiting for a movie to start.
We used it last weekend when I finally got to see The Dark Knight IMAX. I hadn't seen the movie yet because I wanted to see it on the IMAX screen first. And I'm so glad I waited. Don't know what it was like on a regular screen but seeing it on the giant glory that is the IMAX was lovely. Though it took some effort. Tickets in New York were selling out like mad. Vader and I tried to get tickets earlier, but within a day of being available everything but the 4:30AM shows were selling out. And some of the 9:30AM weekday ones. But, finally, on a Tuesday, I got tickets for a Sunday show, which was sold out by Wednesday.
Bon Jovi joined us and we thought about getting there at noon for a 1:15 movie. We weren't sure if that was too early or too late and decided to go for 11:30AM feeling kind of like nerds. Well, I did. Vader has seen first or almost first showings of the recent Star Wars movies so she sorta thought we were lightweights. (And yes, she is going to the first showing of Clone Wars next week. I tease her lots, but I think it's kinda cool she loves Star Wars so much and knows so much about it.) But, we got there at 11:30 and there were already 10-20 folks in line ahead of us. By the time noon rolled around the line was huge and out the door and down the stairs. So, 11:30 worked. We got great seats and settled in for the awesomeness that is The Dark Knight. Good times. And it was kind of fun watching people enter the theater around 12:30 or so and see that it was already packed, with the only available seats on the ends or down front.
Of course, after all my line waiting drama I made Vader get to the waterfalls cruise last night ridiculously early. We WERE first in line. But we were first in line for a good 20 minutes so... At least we always have something to talk about. And she was a very good sport.
Hopefully there won't be any drama for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Maybe if I go on Monday during the day...
We got to the theater and there was a HUGE line at the door to our particular theater. Which we thought a little odd, but not too odd. WarGames is a fantastic movie after all. The food line was bad too so I went to get food while Vader waited in the theater line. Everyone in my food line was on their phone so I called Vader just so I wouldn't feel left out. I told her this and the guy in front of me thought I was pretty funny. Not that he got off the phone to chat with me or anything. So, that doesn't work as a pick up line.
Anyway, we realized I had both tickets with me so we decided Vader would call me when they started seating us, if it looked like they were checking tickets. A little while later she came up to me and said that the line that seemed to start right at the door of our theater was NOT for WarGames. We never found out for sure what it was for, but we suspect The Dark Knight in the theater next to ours. Even though it was a Tuesday and almost two weeks after that movie opened. Right then I got our food so we booked it to the theater. The BEST seats were gone, but there were decent ones down front. A nice man let us climb over him though he was worried I was going to dump soda and popcorn on him. I did not, but I did drop a dollar bill on his lap. He said that was perfectly fine. And then he nicely gave us the dollar back. I wandered off to get butter for our popcorn (yes, I know that's not helping me lose weight) and Vader let him read the Wired article on WarGames as a thank you for tolerating all of our climbing.
I came back and we got all settled and were hanging out waiting for the movie to start. About five minutes prior a man and woman came and sat next to me. They had to climb over us and our nice man to get to the seats and the woman was very annoyed at this. But really, you come to a movie five minutes before the start and the odds aren't good you'll get a choice aisle seat. Whatever. They sat down and they seemed to know the people in front of them and possibly the people behind them. A little chatty group.
Now, I would like you to know that the ad that first brought this viewing to our attention advertised this as a WarGames 25th Anniversary event with never before seen interviews and clips from the sequel (straight to video, do not want to see). When I searched for the event online that was clearly started as well. The same when I purchased tickets. And when we were waiting for the movie to start, every minute or so the screen would flash the event ad/sign along with the mention of never before seen interviews and clips from the sequel.
So, the lights dim and the previews start. Then the lights go out and the featurette starts with interviews and clips. And the woman in my row is LIVID. She is very, very angry they're showing this featurette that they advertised all over the place. At one point early on she shrieks, "Just show the movie!!!" Now, I am enjoying the featurette. Fun stuff in it and all. Everyone else seems to be chuckling and having a good time as well. Except the chatty crew to my left. The woman in front of us yells, "They're ruining it!!" Now, they did have clips from the movie in there, but I've seen trailers that revealed more of a movie. Also, they did show Joshua's last screen, but not for long and if you haven't actually seen the movie I can't imagine the screen making enough sense to give anything away. But this group was freaking out. Finally midway through they calmed down and just decided to ignore what was going on onscreen, just chatting and typing on their blackberries. Bah.
So, the movie started and all was well. I've never seen it on the big screen before so Vader and I were having a blast. But, right when they're trying to get off the island the movie stopped. Annoying, but hardly the end of the world. I thought the woman in our row was going to have a heart attack she was so upset. Lots of people got up, to tell a manager, get some snacks, hit the head, whatever. Vader and I stayed seated because 207 people do not need to get up and tell the manager the movie is out. We figured it would get worked out or we'd be told otherwise. The woman next to me kept turning around and looking at the projection booth and spitting out, "No one is BACK there!" and huffing. Of course she made NO effort to get up or have one of her group get up to talk to anyone. She just huffed.
Within a couple of minutes a manager came out and told us all that the satellite went out and the event folks were working on it. The theater wasn't showing the movie it was a nationwide event so this was going on all over the country, not just with us. But it would be up shortly. Some folks yelled out we should get free food or something but everyone laughed (except the woman in my row) and within a couple more minutes the movie was going again. And it was awesome.
I had a great time and loved seeing the movie on the big screen. I know technology has come so far since then, but I still think it's a kickass flick. I just feel bad the angry woman couldn't enjoy it. Luckily she didn't ruin it for us and now Vader and I have added, "They're RUINING the movie." to our collection of things to say when waiting for a movie to start.
We used it last weekend when I finally got to see The Dark Knight IMAX. I hadn't seen the movie yet because I wanted to see it on the IMAX screen first. And I'm so glad I waited. Don't know what it was like on a regular screen but seeing it on the giant glory that is the IMAX was lovely. Though it took some effort. Tickets in New York were selling out like mad. Vader and I tried to get tickets earlier, but within a day of being available everything but the 4:30AM shows were selling out. And some of the 9:30AM weekday ones. But, finally, on a Tuesday, I got tickets for a Sunday show, which was sold out by Wednesday.
Bon Jovi joined us and we thought about getting there at noon for a 1:15 movie. We weren't sure if that was too early or too late and decided to go for 11:30AM feeling kind of like nerds. Well, I did. Vader has seen first or almost first showings of the recent Star Wars movies so she sorta thought we were lightweights. (And yes, she is going to the first showing of Clone Wars next week. I tease her lots, but I think it's kinda cool she loves Star Wars so much and knows so much about it.) But, we got there at 11:30 and there were already 10-20 folks in line ahead of us. By the time noon rolled around the line was huge and out the door and down the stairs. So, 11:30 worked. We got great seats and settled in for the awesomeness that is The Dark Knight. Good times. And it was kind of fun watching people enter the theater around 12:30 or so and see that it was already packed, with the only available seats on the ends or down front.
Of course, after all my line waiting drama I made Vader get to the waterfalls cruise last night ridiculously early. We WERE first in line. But we were first in line for a good 20 minutes so... At least we always have something to talk about. And she was a very good sport.
Hopefully there won't be any drama for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2. Maybe if I go on Monday during the day...
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