Having a Voice

If I were a women living in Saudi Arabia this blog may not have been possible. Or a young black man growing up in Philadelphia who was marginalized before he had the chance to grow, this blog may not have been possible. 

It is because of these reasons, and many others, that I am grateful for my voice. I am able to articulate my opinions, however grammatically incorrect.

Although the concept behind this blog may not change policy or be a starting point for new waves of advocacy, it pains me to know there are people who will never have the ability or opportunity to record there thoughts, no matter how inconsequential or silly. I believe it is these people, the people who we call the least, that have the most to teach us. They are the people I yearn to hear.  

 

Left Handedness

Not that I had any control of this one but I really do enjoy being left handed. 

I use it as an excuse for my poor handwriting and I also remind people that a majority of our President's have been lefties. 

17 East Delaware Avenue

This little place has been a second home to me and the rest of the Hoffman family for over 20 years.

Located on Long Beach Island, New Jersey, this house holds a monumental number of memories. From barbecues to Grandpa in a sombrero, boogie board lessons to massive amounts of crumb cake, and loud games of speed Scrabble to louder games of Taboo.

I am so grateful that my parent's and a number of my mother's siblings made this investment. An investment that has been the foundation for many of my relationships with my Hoffman Aunt's, Uncle's, Cousin's, and all the other folks who have come around over the years.    

Lots of People Dancing

If you were unaware, I have absolutely no rhythm. This may be way I love watching people dance. I usually avoid joining in, but I do love watching!

To that end, check this video out!

Four Way Stops

I never thought I would be grateful for an intersection with four stop signs on each corner, but after spending a day in a city that does not place more than two stop signs on a given corner, I am longing to return to the safety of a stop sign on each corner.

Inflatable Fun

Just one example of inflatable fun!

I have long appreciated toys for adults and yesterday in the main quad of my sister's campus there were a number of inflatable games scattered about. 

These big toys are great reminder to have fun!!

The one above is also nice for settling childhood scores. I won't say who won, possibly because I lost. 

Lack of cell phones

Today I had the opportunity to visit the art museum with some pretty cool people. While in the museum and then afterwords on Kelly drive not one of used our cellular device.

It was refreshing. It is very easy to become used to only having people half listen or finding myself only listening half of the time.

Today I felt a renewed appreciation in having conversations with the folks you are with. Yes there may be moments of silence but why does silence need to filled with text messages and Facebook checking?

Along with this appreciation I realized that I will remember the conversations I had today. How often can you say that about checking your Facebook or sending a text?

I want to challenge myself, and the two of you reading this, to make an attempt to really be with the people you are with. I guarantee you will get much more than expected in return, and if not what did you lose?

Glasses

Glasses = win

They make me look at whole lot more intelligent and I can see faces/buildings/large flying objects.

Even if they are usually a bit crooked 

Smiling

Smiling? The photos above are from Project Haiti's first and most recent trip. I was not able to attend but I have loved hearing all about my fellow group member's experiences.

One of the things I have enjoyed most are the pictures of the children. They are beautiful. Their faces remind me that there is always a reason to smile!

Pears

They may not travel well, however they do stain comforters well.

No matter the case pears are lovely. They have soft skin, they smell nice, and their refreshing taste is great!

J&H Brunch

It's not really about the food.

The main dining establishment at Temple may not be trying to win Top Chef but where else can you eat two donuts, sip a glass of chocolate milk, and still take a bagel, or six, for the road? Only at J&H.

NPR

The thoughtful reporting, interesting perspective on the news, and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me!

I really am grateful for National Public Radio.

My Apartment Building

This afternoon I rushed into my apartment knowing that I had 12.5 minutes to throw dinner into my mouth before heading off for my evening class. However, the fates do not seemed to be concerned with timeliness.

As my roommate and I were entering the building we noticed another of our building-mates skipping up behind us. While we were holding the door for her to enter the building, the door to apartment 1 swung open and two of the ladies who lived there appeared to be doing some kind of Irish jig. After we all got inside the six of us proceed to complain about the wind and discuss upcoming plans.

So what I expected to be a quick in-and-out visit turned into to a 'where have you been' conversation, which I loved! I love not locking the door to my apartment, and knowing that I could knock on six other doors to borrow a ruler. However, no community is perfect. But I believe that our attempt to create a community is honorable, even though we fail all the time, I see honor in our attempt.

And for those of you concerned for my academic career I did make it to class, with two minutes to spare

Washer and Dryers

Although I do know where the nearest stream is I don't think they have wifi out there. Therefore I cannot imagine sitting next to the Schuykill river for long periods of time waiting for my freshly washed clothes to dry, nope. It wouldn't happen.

Thanks to washer and dryers I do not have to! [Insert shout out to Karen B. who so graciously allows me to wash my clothing in her apartment. Saving me $3 with every load]

Water Ice

It's refreshing! What is not to be grateful for?

Shoes

Sometimes it is the little things, even if your feet aren't so little.

For the past two years I have participated in Tom's Day Without Shoes. The first year, my freshmen year of college, I was commuting from my suburban home to Pottstown, another suburb. Driving a car without shoes, walking in and out of academic buildings sans shoes, even trekking across the parking lot shoeless was not a huge burden.

Transition to the next year. I am living in North Philadelphia. Tom's Day Without Shoes was a chilly, rainy day in March. It also happened to be on a day when my sister was visiting the city, and invited me to Reading Terminal to meet her for lunch. So yes, I am one of the very few who has consciously chosen to go shoeless on the Philadelphia Subway system. Needless to say being shoeless in the city of brotherly love was no cakewalk.

48 hours, over 2 years, spent without shoes allowed me to grasp what a privilege it is to have something to put on my feet.

Ice Packs

What the what?! I took a tumble last week. Is that not enough?

Apparently not. The forces of gravity got me again! This time however, I was not tossed to the ground.  My knee was thrust into a brick wall. This is better then my head being thrust onto the pavement, which was what almost happened.

Are you seeing where the ice pack comes in? When I walk down stairs, or sit, or stand I receive a lovely reminder from my body that says, "Hey dummy! You ran your knee  into a brick wall, and now you are trying to walk."

Hence the ice pack. After consulting my sister I will be icing until tomorrow. Then I can use heat. It is a great possibility that tomorrow I will be grateful for heating pads. We shall see! Until then I love me a good ice pack.

In case you are unaware of what an ice pack is, or you enjoy photos of clothed legs

Spring

During the long, dark days of winter I must repress what spring is like, at least this Spring. Warm, sunny, relatively bug-less. It is beautiful. Thank you Spring. Thank you.

St. Patricks's Day

It is nice.

That is all.

The Internet

This may be a given, but on the average day I am using the internet, almost, all the time. And guess what? It is because of the internet that you are reading this! So yeah for the internet!

Dog Calendars

Every year for Christmas my mother, with some help from Santa Claus, purchases my sisters and I calendars. For the last two years I have received two very tasteful art calendars. This year however, I was given a dog calendar. A dog calendar.

If you have not noticed I have yet to do a post about man's best friend. This is because I am not a big animal person and my mother knows this. So why the dog calendar? I have come to the conclusion there is a lesson my mother would like me to learn here ... What it is I am not sure, although I have my theories.

Interestingly enough I am finding myself enjoying this calendar. While I type this, if I look to my left, I can see the dog of March. Who is a nice enough looking golden retriever, sporting a sun hat, who I have named Lucy. Underneath Lucy's 9x10 head shot is the caption: Never underestimate the power of a good hat.

Rather then never underestimate a good hat maybe I should never underestimate the power of a goofy dog calendar.

Thanks mom!

Falling Down (literally)

Whoops!

Earlier today I took a little tumble, face first, on a set of exterior steps. Glasses flew off my face while my backpack swept over my head.

Essentially I looked :

a) Intoxicated
b) Like I had never seen/used a flight of stairs
c) Like someone who was using a wheelchair for the past 20 years and thought today, yes today, they would walk
d) All of the above, but mostly C

Needless to say what this fall really made me appreciate was not falling. On the average day I am grateful for not falling. Today, precisely because I had a fall, I was really, really grateful for (generally) not falling.

But it is all because of my fall that I gained this awareness. Thus on some level, probably the level past embarrassment, I am grateful for falling.

Corkboards

Need a place to display pins, old name-tags, or would be bumper stickers? Invest in a corkboard!

Corkboards excite me. I love getting to check out little bits and pieces of someone's life based on what they display on their corkboard.

Below is one of my favorites

Beds

And everything they entail. The pillows, sheets, blankets, I am grateful for all of it.

Naps

Prior to starting college I was adamant I would never nap again. That did not last...

In fact, I think I will take a nap right now

The People of Camden

I am not sure what I expected from the people of Camden but I know I did not think I would meet and befriend as many beautiful people as I did.

From the women who I made sandwiches with to the students at Holy Name school the residents of Camden, who I encountered, are amazing people who are taking small steps, every day to make Camden a beautiful place.

Map of the World

Not only is it helpful when searching for Carmen Sandiego but almost each time I see a map of the world I realize how much exploring is possible.

Second Avenue

Second Avenue Elementary School, where I spent grades 2-5, was an amazing school. The dedicated educators I encountered here set me up for my love of learning.

Mrs. Kunch, Mrs. Potma, Mrs. Yeager, and Mrs. Salava thank you for the countless hours you spent in the classroom and preparing outside. It is, in part, because of the time you spent that I am who I am.

Mafia

The card game!

If you are spending a week with a group of people, some of whom you have just met, this is the game for you! It is a great balance of fun and annoying. Perfect for getting to know everyone in your group while having a great time.

Here is the wiki site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mafia_(party_game)

Desales Service Works

This is the group that ran the spring break service trip that myself and eleven other Temple Students participated in. They are amazing!

If you see the Catholic Church as unable to relate to the present conditions of our society, this group will prove that perception wrong. They are living and working in Camden, New Jersey a city that has had better days. The work they are doing is astounding!!

Check em out : http://www.oblates.org/dsw/

The National Mall

I love everything these grounds represent.

The good old US of A is by no means a perfect nation but the National Mall is an amazing tribute to a handful of our past leaders and many others who have made the freedom I have grown up with possible.

Libraries

Oh my! Where to begin...

My love affair with libraries has been a lengthy one. However, my first memory is not a good one. Yes that is correct, even I have had a poor experience in a library. I am sure whoever snatched the Lion King picture book from my table had a lovely time with it. I digress.

If I had to pick a single aspect of public libraries that I like the best, and it is hard, it has to be that they are an equalizer. In a library everyone is a patron. Your status or position does not matter. Gosh! Just thinking about it reignites my passion for the library!  

In August I will have been an employee of a public library for seven years. And I am happy to say that mixing work with pleasure has worked out quite well for me. 

Below are pictures one of the coolest libraries I have had the opportunity to visit, the main branch of the Seattle Public Library.

Simon & Garfunkel

Music for any mood, that's what the S&G are for me.

Feeling groovy? Homeward bound? Or possibly at the zoo? These guys are where it is at.

T Shirts

What can I say, I enjoy displaying little bits of my cultural capital on t shirts! Not only do I enjoy wearing cute t shirts I also appreciate those who wear their own or comment on mine.

So go ahead tell me you like my shirt. Then I'll be grateful for you too (as if I wasn't already)!  

Ra(h) Ra(h)

This entire weekend, and today, and for the foreseeable future I am grateful that I was selected to be a RA.

Yeah buddy!

Newspapers

Curious about world events? Looking to challenge yourself with a crossword puzzle? Interested in the hot new gallery? Need something to roll up and look intimidating with?  You need look no further than a paper!

Clearly the paper is great. With an edition of the New York Times I gain access to the world, without having to leave my kitchen table.

Yah! Newspapers!

The Telephone

Alexander Graham Bell does not receive nearly enough props. His creative mind set the ball rolling so today I was able to speak with my Grandmother (NewYork) and my Aunt Mary and Uncle Keith (Seattle). 

In a time when text messages rule I still enjoy making and receiving an old fashioned phone call. Thanks Alex! 

Fun Mugs

For the sake of honesty this post is serving two purposes: 

1. Informing you of my gratefulness of fun mugs

2. Informing you that Mark is missing. Let's form the search party!

Warm beverages are nice. However, picking a container for said beverage to be consumed in is the best part.

Above is my favorite warm beverage container. His name is Mark. Mark has recently gone missing! If you know anything about his whereabouts please contact me. 

Playgrounds

Hello! Just the word playground brings a smile to my face. 

Playgrounds are spaces where superhero's wear velcro shoes and princess's rule over magical lands from the tops of slides. Even though I may no longer be of average playground using age I love the observable joy they bring to tiny folks faces. Remembering back to a time when a slide or swing could bring a smile to my face and put a skip in my step... oh wait! That still happens. 

  

My Family

Wow. This is a cliche. But one that I am totally ok committing. 

I love em'! Even when they get annoyed with my April Fool's pranks and tell me my jokes aren't funny. 

So much love.    

Circa 1992

2011 

Why Hello!

This year for Lent I am attempting to be creative-ish. Not full on creative, ya hear!

My thinking behind this blog is if Jesus was hanging in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights he might have become a little contemplative. Although I am not blogging from a desert through this little blog I hope to remind myself of the immense number of things I have to be thankful for.

Bring it Lent! I have got so much to be grateful for.