December 2009
48 posts
Katie Day 29: Wait, who's giving? Who's receiving?
Blarg! It’s all over. 29 days, done.
And, a new decade around the corner, to boot.
I have been avoiding doing this final post, kind of like one avoids saying goodbye; I just know it’s going to be inadequate and anticlimactic. But, I will be mature and do it anyway, because this project has been awesome and I want to end it properly. I am sure that Jill would agree, but alas, she is...
Katie Day 27: Thanks, Mom
I gave my mom an apology for the many years of my young life that I was mean to her. The apology was not as dramatic as it might sound… we have talked it over many times now. But I just realized that I never actually said, “Sorry.” So I did that. And she said, “Oh, it’s okay. You had to do that and I’m glad you did.”
And I left a little note under her...
Katie Day 26: Tashi Nicole King
Not much to say about this story except: read it! And help out if you can, even just with your good wishes.
This story was one of the reasons I agreed to do this giving blog in the first place. Jill and I wanted to cook for her, but haven’t been able to schedule it yet. Hopefully we still will, post-blog.
Anyway, I finally gave a bit of money to her today. Just a drop in an ocean, but...
Katie Day 24&25: But it's Christmas!...
It was Christmas. Like, three days ago. Oops.
And this was what was under our tree. Not true.
What is true: I have an amazing family and I feel so grateful for them these days. My mom came to town for the holiday and it was great that she did. She, my two brothers, my cousin, Zoe, Noel and I had a grand old time… but my mom was the lynch pin of the whole operation — Santa Claus...
Jill Day 24-25: Christmas
It’s Christmas and even though giving and receiving is what we do at this time, it still feels so special.
I thought it would be a no-brainer to give yesterday, I didn’t end up doing anything until late at night when I wrote a card to a friend I haven’t seen in a long time. And then I wrote to my grandparents, and then I did a bunch of things I’d been meaning to do for a...
Jill Day 23: I don't know
Oh man, Katie, your post about the necklace was so beautiful. Ayayayay! Thanks.
I’m not gonna lie: I felt like shit today. Some days I have some perspective on the migraines and the fatigue and the aches and the chemical sensitivity. And other days, I am paralyzed by fear and worry and anger and I can’t see beyond that.
When I woke up this morning, I had big plans to buy...
Katie Day 23: On Kindness
Noel and I journeyed out into the snow in the late afternoon to buy my mom a present. I was feeling profoundly tired, but relaxed and in good spirits. We went to Barnes and Noble, and found what I think is a perfect gift rather quickly. Then we went to the overpriced cafe section and split an “apple purse,” a delicious pastry that I had never heard of before, and a root beer. On our...
Katie Day 22: Sharing
Yes, today we gave people cookies. Cookies, cookies, cookies. They looked so pretty, like you woulda paid for those cookies, I swear. And they were tasty too. But this is not news.
The news is that I had a total klesha attack today. In the Buddhist world, this basically means that I was losing my shit. It is embarrassing to admit, but it’s true. I was feeling really frustrated and...
Jill Day 22: cookie monster
Today Katie, Zoe, and I wrapped up the cookies we made and put them in little plastic bags with cute cards and “homemade” stickers that Katie bought. Then we parted ways and delivered them to peoples’ houses like little secret Santas — except we weren’t secret and we’re not that little. Well, Zoe is.
I gave one of the bags to Denny, my friend Maron’s god...
Jill Days 19-21
Ho’ shit — we’re almost done!
This one’s gonna be quick because Simone and I have very important business to attend to tonight. Yes, that’s right: we are watching Confessions of a Shopaholic. Let’s see, on Saturday I went out to breakfast with James even though I really wanted to stay in bed. I knew it would mean a lot to him and so we went to Dot’s and...
Katie Day 20: I have yet to bake...
But I am hoping tomorrow will be the day.
Today I gave Jill a little present - a coloring book! - and she liked it.
But mostly, these days, I feel I am receiving. I am more aware of how much so many people give, all the time. A lot!
Also, I am slowly but surely reading this book which is pretty amazing. I’m not done but I still recommend it wholeheartedly.
Katie Day 18&19: Schlub
I am just a big ol’ schlub. I am giving to people, but nothing special. After all, yesterday was the last day of Hannukah and Christmas is in less than a week. And I celebrate both. So yesterday Noel and I gave each other gifts, and today I sent some gifts to family via a little site you may have heard of called Amazon.com.
Meh!
I guess this stuff counts, but it doesn’t feel very...
Jill Day 18: Pain pain go away
I met a friend for tea today and gave her some free coffee coupons I got from a cashier at Whole Foods.
It was nice to do that, but it didn’t feel like much of an offering. Driving home, I could feel my stomach and neck tensing as a migraine started to make itself known. I felt pissed off, scared, frustrated, and sad. I had plans to go to a party tonight, was excited about the weekend and...
Day 15-17 Jill: Wagon. I fell off.
Ayayayay! Many days me no write. I am sorry, Blog, for my neglect. I fell off the writing wagon, but I am here now and ready to go.
Now I have to remember… Let’s see, on Wednesday, I gave to Karme Choling, a place I love, that was my home for a year and continues to be in many ways.
Yesterday, I sent some holiday cards and one was to Suzann, my MI, teacher, and friend while I lived...
Katie Day 17: Funky Town (Thank You)
Today I was in a funky funk. A funkady funk funk, funk. And I was trying to pull myself out of said funk. I saw the sunlight and the warmth outside and I said, Yes. I will go forth. And thus it was. (Yes I am speaking like the Bible. What?)
And then I opened the door and found a package there, from a friend. A total surprise and a wonderful feeling. A book for me and a book for Noel, perfectly...
Katie Day 16: Prison Dharma Network
Today I gave to Prison Dharma Network. Just thinking about what they do is inspiring and touching to me. Thank you, people out there, for doing this.
Katie Day 15: Holiday Hello
Yesterday I finished some holiday postcards to a few friends and family, mostly those scattered across the country and the world. It’s the first year I did this, and it simultaneously feels fun and uncomfortable. Fun because I get to stamp and design and write and send a little cheer to people. Uncomfortable because it has a flavor of stretching into true adulthood, for me. If having a...
Katie Day 14: We'll all dance the hora
Yesterday I went to the post office to get postcard stamps and there was a man sitting outside asking for money. “Here ya go.”
Then I went to buy Hanukkah presents for my family. At the Barnes and Noble checkout, the salesman asked me if I wanted to buy a book to donate to the “I Have a Dream” Foundation. Um yes, yes I do. This is what I’m avowed to do, give to...
Jill Day 14?
Kinda losing steam with the writing part of this. Maybe with the giving too. I mean, I’m giving, but I feel less motivation, or less intention around what I give. We’re right in the middle of this and the shininess of it has worn off. I’m no longer waking up thinking about what I could give. The “project” aspect is waning and it’s kind of ordinary now, mundane...
Katie Day 13: Sam Moves Camp
At the request of my friend Adam, I donated to Sam Moves Camp and Cankatola Ti Ospaye. Sam means a lot to a lot of people. He’s a Lakota Medicine Man, and I only know of him because he is very special to many of my friends. I regret to say that I have never met him personally.
The money I donated will help Sam buy Christmas presents for his children, grandchildren and children that he takes...
Jill Day 12&13: Quickie
Yesterday, I gave a party. We had folks over to eat and drink and celebrate the holidays. We talked about making it a potluck, but decided that it feels so much better to provide food for people and to offer to them while in our home. So, we all baked and cooked and rolled dough and cut cookies and it was so sweet to see people enjoying themselves, relaxing, laughing.
I also gave a friend my...
Katie Day 11&12: Gimme
These days were total gimmes. And it’s lucky for me because I just can’t seem to get un-tired. Goodness.
It’s Noel’s birthday — his 30th, no less — and I bought him some gifts. No big surprise there. And wow, Noel likes gifts. A lot. Although his actual birthday is on Monday, he just could not wait. I was holding out and wanting to save them for the day,...
Jill Day 11: Hannukkah!
Tonight is the first night of Hannukkah. An inconsistent Jew, I haven’t celebrated it, apart from exchanging presents with my family, in years. But today, I was inspired to buy a menorah and celebrate with Jenn, James, and Simone.
I found a tiny menorah at Pharmaca and Jenn and I picked out little gifts for everyone in the house. It was so fun to think of a treat that would make each person...
Day 10 Jill
Tonight I took my friend Jenn out for sushi. She’s visiting from Chicago and it’s been such a joy to spend time with her - to catch up, laugh, talk about our lives, drink tea in the kitchen. She asked me months ago if she could come visit and although I’m the one “hosting” her, it feels much more like she’s the one giving to me. Just spending time with her,...
Katie Day 10: Friends
I made a huge pot of veggie soup a few days ago. Barley, lentils, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes… and some “kosher for passover” stock my dad left here. And it was good and hearty and perfect for this weather. But I have been trying to force it on people for days, with no takers. Noel doesn’t really like soup (the horror!) and no one else really seemed interested. Me and my...
Katie Day 9: Snowy Bathtub
Today I drove a baby bathtub to The Parenting Place. The Parenting Place is a very good place indeed. Becoming a mom is not always the easiest transition. And this little house-like building right in the middle of town offers basically free (by donation — and I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve been there a bunch of times and have never donated) services to Boulder parents and...
Day 9? Jill
Today was a day for receiving. I got into a car accident last night. Someone rear-ended me on 28th St. and the experience was shocking, painful, traumatic.
I received so many calls today from friends, text messages, a massage. So much love from all the people around me — it was more than I could respond to.
I didn’t leave the house until late in the day, didn’t give anything...
Katie Day 8: Thump
Hi bloggyblog. I know, it’s been awhile. I’m sorry. I just had to take a little break.
It’s just that… well, sometimes you’re a bit too much for me. And it’s not the giving… it’s you. It’s your way in public, the way you have no sense of privacy and you just air all my stuff for everyone to see. Sometimes I just need some space to myself, you...
Day 7 Jill: Me simple too
Funny how we seem to be in sync somehow, Katie. I’m also feeling sick-y and icky. So, yes, today I gave to This American Life because it makes me happy, and probably many others too, and because as we all know from Ryan Warner, our good friend at Colorado Public Radio, NPR always needs money.
And I sent my mom the herbs I bought for her. FINALLY.
Katie Day 7: SMC
Keeping it simple today because I’m feeling sick. Today I gave to Shambhala Mountain Center, a place close to my heart that really needs help right now.
It seems like SMC always needs help, but now is different. They’ve cut tons of staff this year and most remaining staff have accepted pay cuts. I lived at SMC for years and I love it very much. Noel and I met there, and many of my...
Day 6 Jill: Edna strikes again
I gave some things yesterday, but mostly what I felt was pissed off. I’m not talking about irritation or annoyance; I’m talking about white hot rage. Rage that you feel in your body, rage that’s tight and suffocating in your chest and your throat. Rage that rises up into your head and eyeballs until you think they might explode. Rage that demands an object even though its energy...
Katie Day 6: Feelings, Ugh.
Yesterday Jill and I got together and did this giving thing in tandem. We made a welcome home sign for one of our friends, Hannah, whose sister just had a baby. It was a scary situation when the baby was born and she had to be in the NICU for a few days. So Hannah went to be there and support her family. It felt good to make her a little something. Not the most challenging giving experience, but...
Katie Day 5: Little Blue Hippo
I had kind of a hard day, a slow day, a not so communicative day. Cleaning the house with Noel. We had a hard time understanding one another and were just in different spaces, on different wavelengths, at different levels of energy. I felt really tired and worn down today, which happens a lot lately whenever I try to do too much. I can’t catch up on my sleep in the way that I used to.
And I...
Day 4 & 5 Jill: Beverly
I’m not sure if my gift yesterday was something I gave or something I got. I had to call this woman, Beverly, for work and I had a long list of things to do after. She’s an older sangha member whom I’ve never met and I was hoping the call would be short and to the point, or better yet, that she wouldn’t be there and I could leave a message. I love it when that...
Katie Day 4: I Feel Things
Goodness me, what to say. Today, today…I just took a bath with Zoe and laid in a dark room putting her to bed for a half hour, so I’m pretty chillaxed. My usually razor sharp wit is a bit slower tonight, but my sarcasm seems to be doing fine.
Well, I’ll just stick to the basics to begin with, and see if I come up with more thinklings for you, my abundant throng of loyal...
Day 3 Jill: GRUMPY!!
I am tired. and cranky. I want a bath, a movie, a warm house. I want this cold weather to be over and I don’t want to have to go out again today to go to a dharma talk.
Oh wait, sorry, I forgot this about GIVING. Well, giving, it turns out, is hard. Or maybe, giving isn’t hard in and of itself, but turning my mind in that direction is.
I had big plans today. Oh yes. Big plans. I...
Katie Day 3: Noel
I think a lot of this project is about getting outside of my comfort zone. Sometimes it’s really easy to give, or at least it’s habitual. For instance, it’s really habitual for me to give Zoe breakfast, lunch, dinner, and about eight snacks, all evening and night long. But that’s not the kind of giving we’re talking about, right? This is about giving in ways that we...
Day 2 from Jill
Oh, I’m happy to be doing this… Several weeks ago, I was reading a women’s health magazine and there was an article about this woman, Cami Walker. She found out she had MS and went to see a healer who suggested she give one gift every day for 29 days (something ritualistic about 29 as opposed to 30, maybe having to do with the Lunar cycle…?).
There was something about it...
Okay, here goes.
So, my dear friend Jill called me tonight and we got to talking about giving. We determined that generosity is a really good way to combat the self-pity, and other unpleasant emotions, for that matter, that sometimes take hold of each of us. That’s right, giving makes us feel better. This is one of the basic tenants of living a good life and yet something that’s so easily forgotten. As...