Two movies that surpass their descriptions

Posted on 04. Jan, 2011 by kchristieh in animals, history, inspirational people, movies

This weekend our family viewed two marvelous movies whose descriptions were so boring that we never would have watched them if they hadn’t been so highly recommended.

The first, Temple Grandin, is described on Wikipedia as a biopic about “a woman with autism who revolutionized practices for the humane handling of livestock on cattle ranches and slaughterhouses.” Not only does it sound boring, but it sounds disgusting! Thank goodness I remembered the great reviews when I saw it in our local video store. Claire Danes does an incredible job of not only portraying what it’s like to be autistic and brilliant, but she captures the excitement that the true-life Temple Grandin felt when she discovered that analyzing cow behavior could lead to implementing more humane and cost-efficient ways to farm them. I appreciated learning more about what it’s like to be autistic, and wish that everyone who’s autistic could be as well-supported as Temple Grandin has been. The animal sequences were so fascinating that from now on I’ll pay even more attention to the sounds and movements that animals make. My inner industrial engineer loved the quest for cost-efficiency.

The second movie we saw, The King’s Speech, is about how speech therapist Lionel Logue helped Great Britain’s King George VI overcome a stammer. I wish that when I took history in school, I had been able to see movies like this. This movie made mid-20th century British history come so alive for me that I’ll retain more long-term knowledge from this than from any history book I’ve ever read. It’s also got me so excited about the subject that as soon as I finish writing this blog post I plan on doing supplemental research about King George VI. Colin Firth is utterly convincing as George VI, as is Helena Bonham Carter as his wife Elizabeth. Geoffrey Rush is perfect as Lionel Logue.

We also saw Black Swan and True Grit this holiday season. Black Swan was a unique story that was brilliantly acted, but it was quite disturbing. True Grit was the best Western that I’ve ever seen, but in the end I’m not really into Westerns and it was one long chase scene. I enjoyed the stories in The King’s Speech and Temple Grandin, and felt like I grew by watching them.

I was brave, but she was braver

Posted on 16. Jul, 2010 by kchristieh in my life

Last night I not only attended The Moth StorySLAM for the first time, but I was brave enough to tell a story. I stood in front of a roomful of people, whom I couldn’t see because the lights were so bright, and told the story of my wild eToys ride. The theme of the evening was “On A Dime”, and ten people’s names were chosen out of a hat to tell a personal story of five minutes or less to the audience and a panel of judges. The judges liked my story, and I scored well.

There were several amazing stories that deservedly scored higher than mine. I am blessed that these are not my story. One man told of how he almost wound up in prison at Leavenworth, and a woman told of how her mother almost drove her and her siblings off a cliff.

But the most poignant story was the last story, which was told by a very classy, poised woman who is probably a few years older than me. She told of when she was 15 and had a crush on an older boy from another high school, and was thrilled that he was coming to a party at her friend’s house. When he finally arrived, he asked if she wanted to go upstairs to talk. He didn’t have talking in mind, however, and wound up raping her. As he zoomed away in his convertible, she reflected on how her life was forever changed, and how the people at the party had no idea. She was so honest, and admitted that her 15-year-old self thought this was the beginning of true love. Of course, it wasn’t. Fast forward six years, and she was in a bar with a female friend. She saw the guy across the bar, and went up to him and addressed him by name. (Note: throughout the story, she used his name. Of course, I won’t say it here, but I’ll never forget it.) When he responded that he did, SHE PUNCHED HIM. Then she ran away. Of course, that didn’t make it all better, but it helped a little. I hope that telling the story last night helped too. I wanted to give her a hug and tell her how brave she was for telling that story and how inspired I was by her actions, but I didn’t see her afterwards. Everyone in the room seemed so nice, so I’m sure she had support.

I can’t recommend The Moth StorySLAM highly enough. I love their NPR show, and speaking and hearing stories in person was even better. I laughed, I cried, and I thought about what I’d do in different situations. I felt like I walked in these peoples’ shoes, and that makes me a better, more empathetic person. Also, as I mentioned, everyone in the room seemed really nice, and I felt very comfortable there.

Too bad it’s not open to people under 21, since it was held in a bar. I wish I could have brought my 18-year-old daughter.

Teen produces fashion show for African orphans

Posted on 18. Apr, 2010 by kchristieh in inspirational people

Yesterday evening I discovered that I can be proud of a child that’s not even my own. I am proud of Shannon A., who designed and sewed nearly 20 fabulous outfits, recruited her friends to model them, and hosted a fashion show to benefit Discover the World, an awesome organization that provides services to Kenyan orphans. (I’m already familiar with Discover the World since I coded their website.)

Shannon didn’t do this for a Girl Scout award or a debutante project. She did this because she genuinely has a big heart, and found a way to combine her passion for design with her compassion for others. She got the word out and filled the Family Life Center at La Canada Presbyterian Church, and not only did she raise money for Discover the World, but she raised awareness about its mission.

I’m so proud that our church and our community have produced such a fine young woman, and I can’t wait to see where life leads her.

Don’t watch “The Cove” with your dog

Posted on 06. Apr, 2010 by kchristieh in animals

Partway through the Academy Award-winning documentary “The Cove“, a diver sidles up to a wild dolphin and rubs its belly. When we saw this, our whole family said the dolphin reminded us of our dog, Ricky. So it’s no wonder that, when the movie got tense, our normally fearless dog freaked out and started trembling. He had good reason: the movie showed the violent methods used to capture dolphins for animal shows at parks such as SeaWorld. We also learned that the dolphins that weren’t “lucky” enough to be chosen would be killed and, despite the dangerously high levels of mercury in their bodies, sold as food for humans. I took Ricky to the living room to calm him down, but he cowered under the coffee table and kept looking back at the family room. Eventually I took him outside and let him run around until the movie ended. He was still shaking slightly when he went back inside, but when he realized the movie was over, he stopped.

When my teens summed up what happened during the movie when I was out of the room, by son said that the dolphin hunting was “like eating orange chicken with one chopstick. Poke, miss, poke, miss.” He’s an eloquent young man.

I’ve been to my fair share of dolphin and orca shows at SeaWorld, but now I’d feel guilty if I ever went again. In fact, I’d feel guilty giving SeaWorld any of my money. I hope that they and other sea life and animal parks improve the conditions of their capturing practices, and if they can’t keep an animal in a setting that approximates the animal’s natural habitat, that they don’t keep the animal in captivity. If you don’t agree, please watch “The Cove” and see if it changes your mind.

By the way, the night after we watched “The Cove”, Ricky started shaking soon after we started watching “24″. He finally calmed down when I turned him around so he wasn’t facing the tv. This is definitely a G-rated dog.

Here’s the trailer for “The Cove”:

Elderly couple playing piano

Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by kchristieh in inspirational people, music, videos

When I’m 90, I want to be able to do this. I guess I better start learning piano soon! Here’s a video of Marlow and Frances Cowan playing piano at the Mayo Clinic:

According to the WishTV8 website, this is no hoax: the Cowans were at the Mayo Clinic for five days, and enjoyed playing the piano there between appointments.

“I saw that piano and it said ‘if you’d like to play it’ and I touched the key and I thought, WOW, now THAT’s a piano,” said Marlow.

They’ve played the piano in nursing homes, prisons and hospitals for years, but have never had the audience they’ve achieved on YouTube. They don’t have a computer at home, so they’re surprised by all the attention.

Maybe when I’m 90 I’ll shock people with my up-to-date technical skills instead of playing piano.  :)

Katrina Kenison to speak this Thursday at LCPC

Posted on 13. Feb, 2010 by kchristieh in books, parenting

When my kids were little, they didn’t understand why someone would cry if they weren’t hurt. They thought I was crazy for getting teary-eyed when we’d pass a wedding party outside of a church. I think they’re starting to understand, however, as we all broke down recently while watching Marley & Me. Some things just hit you harder, and as you grow older, there are more life experiences you can relate to.

That’s what Katrina Kenison does for me. When someone emailed me a link to a video of her reading from her most recent book, , I almost didn’t watch it. I didn’t want to sacrifice 7 minutes to watch a YouTube video. But I trusted the judgment of the person who sent it to me, so I finally clicked on the link. I’m so glad I did. It made me reflect upon the joys and challenges that have come with parenting, and how much my children and I have grown. It also reminded me of how much I’ve been blessed by being a mother for the past 18 years. Grab the tissues and check this out:

You can hear Katrina in person this Thursday, February 18th at La Canada Presbyterian Church. She’ll be speaking during my Parent Ed class, but it’s open to the public. The program starts at 12:30 pm, and she’ll sign books after the presentation. Please rsvp to . Babysitting is available for $10 per child. If you would like to have babysitting for your child, you MUST confirm a spot with Sandy at before Feb. 18th.

Here’s the official event flyer. I hope you can come!

What can/can’t you live without?

Posted on 26. Jan, 2010 by kchristieh in inspirational people, my life

In 1985, I was perfectly happy living in an 8′ x 12′ concrete-walled dorm room. I was thrilled to have a single in a dorm full of wonderful people. I didn’t care that the bathroom was down the hall, or that I didn’t own a car. I had a decent bike, a comfortable bed, adequate food, and was learning and having fun with terrific people.

Twenty-five years later, I enjoy living with my family in a nice house in a safe town with wonderful schools. I appreciate all the comforts life has brought me, but I also recognize how my material comforts have also brought an added level of stress, as my husband and I need to work hard to make mortgage payments, save for college for the kids, and meet expenses. I often tell my husband that I’d be happy living in a much smaller house, as long as I have my computer, a fast internet connection, and a secure yard for our dog. Clearly, the list would be longer if I thought about it…I’d also want great schools, a safe community, my printer, my purse, our couch, my gloves, my boots, my fleece jacket, my special pajamas, my pillows and a few more items and services. But as I sit here and scan the interior horizon, there truly aren’t very many items I’d consider to be that important to me.

In his recent column, “What Could You Live Without?“, Nicholas Kristof tells of an Atlanta family whose daughter challenged them to sell their house and buy a smaller one, and donate the net proceeds to charity. Even as it inspired some people, it evoked the wrath of others who complained that they shouldn’t donate to people overseas when there are Americans in need. I’m in the former category, and am impressed that a modern American family that has so much could sacrifice it and make a difference in the world.

The unexpected dividend in this case was that the family found that downsizing brought them closer together:

Mr. Salwen and his wife, Joan, had always assumed that their kids would be better off in a bigger house. But after they downsized, there was much less space to retreat to, so the family members spent more time around each other. A smaller house unexpectedly turned out to be a more family-friendly house.

“We essentially traded stuff for togetherness and connectedness,” Mr. Salwen told me, adding, “I can’t figure out why everybody wouldn’t want that deal.”

I look forward to reading the book they wrote about their experiences, The Power of Half. I don’t think my family wants to downsize, but if they did, I’d be all for it. I wouldn’t mind slowing down the treadmill and enjoying life and my relationships more. In the meantime, if I ever find the time, I am going to get rid of a lot of extra stuff we have around here. The Sport Chalet shoes were just a start…

New site: Ramon Resa, Inspirational Speaker

Posted on 03. Dec, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, work

Ramon Resa managed to rise above a childhood full of poverty, violence, physical and sexual abuse, alcoholism, and total disregard for education to become a pediatrician. He returned to his roots, and besides running a successful medical practice, he speaks to teens and parent groups about the importance of staying in school and working hard to achieve your dreams.

I recently designed a new website for Ramon. I’ve spoken to him on the phone, but I’ve never met him. Hopefully some day I will, and hopefully my husband will be with me when I do. I think they’d have lots to talk about.

My new role model: Leigh Ann Tuohy

Posted on 28. Nov, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, movies, parenting

I was slightly hesitant to see “The Blind Side” movie with my family. I felt like I already knew the story after having read the 2006 Michael Lewis article, “The Ballad of Big Mike,” in the NY Times Magazine years ago and seeing numerous previews for the movie.

I’m so glad I went. I only knew the framework of the story, but the beauty of it was in the details.

The framework is this: a rich family takes in a homeless African-American teen who has been given the chance to play football at their children’s private school if he gets his grades up. They help him get his act together, and he becomes a football success in high school and college, and has now moved on to the NFL.

I knew that much of the story was driven by the strong, determined mother in the family that takes him in, but I had no idea what a role model she was. Leigh Ann Tuohy’s two dominant characteristics are ones I strive to have: she cares deeply about others, and she’s true to herself. She takes in Michael Oher because she wants to give him a chance to have a decent life after all the struggles he’s had, and she does it despite the racist remarks of some of her fellow Southerners. I also admire her confidence and outspokenness. It takes a special personality to get away with stopping a high school football practice by marching out onto the field and telling the players what to do. I’m too polite, and would never do that. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, actually, but I’m impressed that she knew when it was the right thing to do and succeeded because she already had the respect of the coaches and players and said exactly what needed to be said. Sandra Bullock played Leigh Ann Tuohy beautifully, and showed that despite all her strength, she was also a sensitive person who would retreat to a bedroom or the car when she had to cry.

Of course, I also deeply admire Michael Oher, who survived his difficult childhood by “closing his eyes” when pain and evil swirled around him. Leigh Ann describes him lovingly as “Ferdinand the Bull,” and she’s right. His big body may scare some, but he’s got a big, soft heart within.

It’s too bad that smaller kids in his old neighborhood don’t get the same chance that he did.

Women are the solution, not the problem

Posted on 26. Oct, 2009 by kchristieh in economy, education, feminism, health, inspirational people, international, startling statistics

Tonight I met one of my heroes: NY Times journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof. I heard him address an alumni group about his work and his new book, Half the Sky. Other than my family and our president, there’s probably no one I’ve blogged about more. I have immense respect for how eloquently he tells the stories of people who are unfairly treated, and for how deeply he cares about what happens to them.

Here’s a quiz based on what I learned this evening:

1. Which do you think there are more of in the world: males or females?
2. If the 19th century was defined by slavery, and the 20th by totalitarianism, what is likely to define the 21st century?
3. True or false: As many American women died in childbirth during World War I as men died on the battlefield.
4. A female sex slave in Cambodia can be purchased for several hundred dollars. Approximately how much in today’s dollars would a 19th century American slave be worth?
5. Which of the following concerns Kristof the least when he visits an African warlord: car accident, banditry, or dying at the hand of the warlord?
6. In some developing countries, families spend 2% of their income on education. What do they often spend 20% on?

Answers:

1. Males. Even though statistically there should be more females, so many females are aborted and such a low priority is placed on the health of women that in many parts of the world, boys outnumber girls by an outsize margin.
2. Gender inequity. It’s a huge problem in much of the world, and holds many societies back. Also, see question 1.
3. True. American maternal mortality improved when women got the right to vote, and politicians thought the electorate demanded adequate medical care.
4. $40,000. As poorly as American slaves were treated, their masters had more of a financial interest in keeping them healthy and productive. A female sex slave is worth so little that if she causes problems, she’s expendable. In some instances, her fellow slaves are made to beat her to death if she’s a troublemaker.
5. Dying at the hand of the warlord. Caveat: that holds true when he’s in the territory of the warlord. The warlord doesn’t want to be known for being responsible for killing an American journalist. I agree about the car accidents; one of my fellow writers from The Stanford Daily recently died in a car accident in Africa.  :(
6. Tobacco, alcohol, prostitution and elaborate celebrations. Kristof argued that this is why women should be empowered to make more financial decisions. He said he’s seen families whose children have died of malaria for lack of a $5 net, and yet the father spends $1.50 on alcohol 3x a week.

Kristof doesn’t want to just make people feel sorry for the people he writes about: he wants to spur them to action. Here were some areas where he said improvement would make a drastic different not only in the lives of the women they affect, but would have a ripple effect in helping the societies in which they live:

• End sexual slavery. Nearly 1 million women and girls a year are trafficked as sex slaves, and at least one reputable group estimates that there are 27 million people in bondage worldwide at this time.
• Improve female education. He said that when he’s talking to leaders of poor nations, he makes more headway on this issue by explaining that females are their country’s biggest untapped resource than by appealing to moral arguments.
• Improve maternal health. Today, a woman in Niger has a 1 in 7 lifetime chance of dying in childbirth. Women in many other countries don’t fare much better. A poor woman in a rural setting has two strikes against her, but there are techniques and practices which could be used to serve even these women better.
• Empower women financially. Micro-loans have been particularly successful in allowing women to not only provide for their family’s livelihood and education, but it’s allowed them to have more of a say in how the family money is spent.

If I were a journalist, I’d want to be like Kristof. But I’ve chosen a path where I can be around my family more, so I try to do my part by volunteering, creating websites for non-profits, and blogging.

Kristof was correct when he said that what makes us happiest is when we help others. It’s immensely satisfying to have a positive impact on the world. And Kristof definitely does.

If you’re interested in hearing Nicholas Kristof speak, he’ll be in Southern California for a bit longer. Here’s his schedule of events.

My hero: Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Posted on 12. Aug, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people

I can’t think of anyone that I’d consider to be more of a hero than Eunice Kennedy Shriver. I’m learning more than ever about this woman’s amazing accomplishments through the multitude of flattering obituaries that were published yesterday and today. Some people have said that if our country had been ready for a woman president, she would have been better suited for the job than her brothers. But she wasn’t bitter for lacking this opportunity; instead, she threw her energy into making the world a better place, particularly for the mentally challenged. She not only founded Special Olympics, but she dedicated her life to making sure that the world realized that mentally handicapped people have dreams just like the rest of us, and deserve our respect.

In the end, perhaps she had more of a lasting impact than any of her brothers have had. Here’s a quote from an NPR interview:

“When the full judgment on the Kennedy legacy is made — including JFK’s Peace Corps and Alliance for Progress, Robert Kennedy’s passion for civil rights and Ted Kennedy’s efforts on health care, work place reform and refugees — the changes wrought by Eunice Shriver may well be seen as the most consequential,” Harrison Rainie, author of “Growing Up Kennedy,” wrote in U.S. News & World Report in 1993.

This story in the NY Times captures her energy, humility and dedication perfectly:

“I was just a young physical education teacher in the Chicago Park District back in the summer of 1968, a time of horrific tragedy for the Kennedy family, when Eunice Kennedy Shriver wrapped her arms around the very first Chicago Special Olympic games held at Soldier Field,” Justice Anne M. Burke of the Illinois Supreme Court said in an e-mail message. “I will never forget at the start of the games when she asked me to go to Sears and buy her a $10 bathing suit so she could jump in the pool with the Special Olympics swimmers.”

I’ll keep trying to be more like this incredible woman.

The making of an Eagle Scout

Posted on 15. Jun, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, my life, parenting

I was honored this evening to serve on the review panel for a local boy who was trying to get his Eagle Scout award. He had clearly worked quite hard for this, and taken the Boy Scout lessons to heart. He had glowing letters of recommendation praising his leadership abilities, enthusiasm, and diligence, and he and his parents were very articulate in explaining how much he’d learned and how much this meant to him. It was one of the most pleasurable committees I’ll probably ever serve on: it took about 1 millisecond for us to come to the unanimous conclusion that this boy clearly deserved to become an Eagle Scout.

I wish that my son had continued on in scouting past elementary school, but alas, club soccer won out. It’s not as if we have a strong family history of scouting: my husband didn’t continue on in scouting, and my father chose to go the DeMolay path instead of complete the few things he needed to do to become an Eagle Scout. I was actually a Boy Scout Computer Explorer Scout, and enjoyed playing on the computers at Bell Labs in high school, but we never had uniforms or oaths. Neither my daughter nor I continued with Girl Scouts past elementary school.

What is it that makes a kid stick with scouting? From what I heard tonight, and what my own family’s experience is, I’d say it depends upon:

• The quality of the leader
• Whether the child enjoys being with the other troop members
• Family tradition
• Competing demands
• Love of scouting

My father regrets not becoming an Eagle Scout. He says that when you’re an adult, there are very few accomplishments you can proudly note that you achieved in high school. One of them is becoming an Eagle Scout.

Even though he wasn’t an Eagle Scout, my dad’s a great guy anyway, as are the other guys in my life.

Read about an amazing everyday hero every day

Posted on 09. May, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, parenting

“Hero” is a big word. It describes someone who’s made a great personal sacrifice to help or save another person.

Most of us don’t meet too many heroes in our lifetime. I’ve met a few, and have blogged about others.

Next time you’re feeling a bit negative about your fellow humans, check out Today’s Hero Blog. Each day it tells the story of an everyday hero. These aren’t people you’re likely to read about in the newspaper or on Wikipedia, but that makes them that much more extraordinary. Most of these people have quietly made a difference in others’ lives without any expectation of recognition. They do what they do because it’s the right thing to do.

Here are a few of my favorite stories. Watch out for the first one: it made me cry.

• Randy Shroeder, who quit the Army to raise three daughters after his wife died at a young age;
• Douglas Weymier, a high school teacher who went above and beyond to get a student on the right track;
• Ben Jones, a bus driver who went out of his way to help a passenger who was down on her luck.

We don’t all get a chance to be heroes. But if we ever get the chance, I hope we’ll all step up and become one. And hopefully I’m teaching that to my kids.

Why I give money to the Father of the White Monkey

Posted on 22. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, international, religion

Can you imagine putting yourself in mortal danger by training medics and bringing humanitarian aid to besieged people in an ongoing civil war? Would you bring your spouse and young children behind the enemy lines?

Several years ago I heard the founder of the Free Burma Rangers speak, and that’s exactly what he does. He’s the son of missionaries and a former U.S. Special Forces major, so he’s well-equipped to risk his life to bring medical care and hope to the ethnic Karen people of Burma. In order to shield his identity, he’s referred to as “Father of the White Monkey” in the recent Atlantic article, “Lifting the Bamboo Curtain.” Here’s how he describes his work:

“We stand with the villagers; we’re not above them. If they don’t run from the government troops, we don’t either. We have a medic, a photo­grapher, and a reporter/intel guy in each team that marks the GPS positions of Burmese government troops, maps the camps, and takes pictures with a telephoto lens, all of which we post on our Web site. We deal with the Pentagon, with human-rights groups … There is a higher moral obligation to intervene on the side of good, since silence is a form of consent.

I was incredibly impressed by him (and his family). He’s brave, honest, hardworking and loyal. I feel completely confident that my donations to the Free Burma Rangers are used wisely and have an incredibly positive impact.

If you want to learn more, visit the Free Burma Rangers website. It uses photos and stories to document what the FBR relief teams have found on their missions. Note: it’s not for the faint of heart, for the Burmese Army has perpetuated some horrific atrocities.

Someone should make a movie about the Father of the White Monkey. In the meantime, I’ll keep donating, praying for them (I have a Memo to Me reminder to do so every day) and will make sure to wear the Good Life Club t-shirt he gave me to Curves tomorrow.

I’m adding Anderson Cooper to my Favorite People list

Posted on 17. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, tv

OK, I don’t really have such a list. But if I did, Anderson Cooper would definitely be on it!

I had the pleasure of hearing Anderson Cooper speak this evening at the Distinguished Speaker Series of Southern California at the Pasadena Convention Center. (Thanks, JB!) I was impressed by the dedication, humility and heart he brings to his job. He could have easily sailed through life living off his trust fund, but instead he’s chosen to go to the world’s most dangerous and heartbreaking locations and report on the real stories behind events. He makes a big effort not to take sides, and isn’t impressed by celebrity or power. He said his favorite interviews are when he finds an everyday person whose story illuminates a given situation.

Here are a few of his main tips, all of which I agree with:

• Never underestimate the power of working harder than everyone around you. Now to teach that to my kids…
• Follow your bliss. Amen to that, too. There’s no job more rewarding than doing what you love. Not everyone is blessed to be able to do what they love like he does, but it’s worth a shot!
• Always keep your heart in what you do. I think that whether you’re reporting or doing any other job, you should always remember your humanity and respect those around you. You’ll do a better job and live a fuller life.

I wonder if he’s friends with Nicholas Kristof? I bet they’d hit it off quite well.

Two of my mom’s friends from Escondido turned 104 today

Posted on 24. Jan, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, life lessons, quotes

Happy 104th Birthday to Doris Heard and Stephanie McGraw. These two energetic Escondido, CA residents turned 104 today. My mom took this wonderful picture of them last year:

A recent North County Times article says that Doris, pictured on the left, was going to celebrate her birthday today with five generations of her family. She’s still quite active, and drives herself to the store and other errands three times a week. She participates in various philanthropic groups, and loves to attend Padres games. She’s a perennial parade grand marshal in Escondido, and often steals the thunder from younger participants. Click to see an article from the March 17, 1949 Vista Press that mentions that Doris was a hostess at a meeting of the Acacia Shrine of the Order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. (see page 3)

Stephanie is a former Hollywood hairstylist. She helped enhance the beauty of such starlets as and Marilyn Monroe. When she was 101, she was named an honorary lifetime member of her local country club. Their said she “participates when she isn’t busy tending her 3 acre orchard or sewing or re-decorating her house.” Stephanie also started painting portraits when she was 89. She even has a “money back guarantee” and won’t accept payment unless you like the painting. Click here to see some wonderful pictures that photographer Dan Clement took of her.

Doris had some great quotes for the North County Times:

“Eat good food, keep your body well and keep busy,” she said about her secret to a long life. “Keep up with the times. Don’t sit down in a rocking chair, and keep active.”

“I have seen yesterday, I love today, and I look forward to tomorrow. I have plans up to next year.”

Good for her – and Stephanie!! May we all be blessed to live such long and vibrant lives!!

The Top 10 Quotes from President Obama’s inauguration speech

Posted on 22. Jan, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, politics, quotes

I love to find quotes that distill timeless wisdom into a few key words or a sentence. It’s rare to hear quotes being spoken for the first time, so I enjoyed hearing some quotable phrases in Barack Obama’s inauguration speech. Sometimes separating quotes from their context can give them more lasting power.

Here are what I consider to be the Top 10 quotes from Obama’s inauguration speech:

1. “America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.”
2. “We gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”
3. “We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.”
4. “It has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated, but more often men and women obscure in their labor — who have carried us up the long, rugged path toward prosperity and freedom.”
5. “Greatness is never a given. It must be earned”
6. “They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.”
7. “Our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.”
8. “Our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint”
9. “As the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself.”
10. “To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

My favorite is #9. I actually wrote that down when I heard it, to remind myself to remember it.
Reading this speech again makes me proud and grateful to be an American.

Vivian Stringer is my new heroine

Posted on 15. Dec, 2008 by kchristieh in books, feminism, inspirational people, sports

When Vivian Stringer recruits players for the Rutgers women’s basketball team, she doesn’t just promise them that they’ll play on a wonderful team. She looks the parents in the eye and promises them that if their daughter plays for her, she’ll treat her like a daughter, and do everything she can to make sure she graduates and is prepared for life. She means it, too: she’s still in touch with most of the young women she coached.

She’s the real deal. She comes from modest roots, as the daughter of an African-American coal miner, but was raised with self-confidence and an incredible work ethic. She also has a huge heart, and genuinely cares for everyone she knows. She’s overcome incredible adversity: the death of both her father and her husband at young ages, caring for a daughter who suffered severe brain damage from spinal meningitis, surviving breast cancer, and more, but she soldiers on and makes the most out of life.
I haven’t played on a basketball team since 8th grade, and I didn’t play any school sports in high school. Even so, I was completely entranced by her autobiography, . By the time I got to the end of the book, where she recounts how she chose to respond to Don Imus’s “nappy-headed hos” comment, I wasn’t at all surprised that she handled it with the utmost of grace and courage.

She inspires me, and I think she’d do the same for you. If my recommendation isn’t enough, 24 out of 25 reviewers on gave this book 5 stars, and the other gave it 4 stars. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such positive feedback for a book on Amazon! This would make a perfect gift for a coach, teacher, or athlete.

I’ll always be Young at Heart

Posted on 06. Oct, 2008 by kchristieh in cool websites, inspirational people, movies, music, my life

I figure that at 45, I’m theoretically halfway to retirement. I say “theoretically” because I don’t ever see myself “retiring.” I like what I do, so I can’t imagine wanting to stop. Hopefully at some point I’ll slow down a little and put together a few photo albums, however.

Maybe some day I’ll reprise my high school choir training and sing in a chorus like the stars of the wonderful documentary “Young @ Heart.” The average age of their chorus members is 80, and instead of singing old standbys, they conquer the works of artists such as Sonic Youth and David Bowie. Three generations of our family sat down together and watched this movie this weekend, and we all loved it. I loved the spirit and energy that the chorus members had, and I admired how they’d found a group of like minded people to have fun with. Their music videos were hilarious, but there were some very poignant moments also. It comes with the territory, I suppose. I also admired the group’s director, Bob Cilman. He was incredibly patient and persistent, and had a real gift for leading the chorus. He’s a true hero.

I wonder/fear what it will be like some day if I don’t die before all the people I love. I’ll probably become an expert at attending funerals and mourning people.  Maybe I really should take up the bagpipes, so I can at least participate in the ceremonies. Death will be certain for all of us, but the living must go on with their lives. It’ll be hard to strike the right balance. Hopefully I’ll have the same good attitude that the “Young @ Heart” singers do.

One more thing: besides singing, I still hope to be blogging. Like Margaret and Helen. Best Friends for Sixty Years and Counting…. (or is it The Blog As Performance Art? Who cares? I love it!!)

PS – When I’m old, don’t call me “Dear” or “Sweetie.” It’s demeaning. See this great NY Times article about the topic, “In Sweetie and Dear, a Hurt for the Elderly.”

Why Barack Obama should read “Three Cups of Tea”

Posted on 15. Jul, 2008 by kchristieh in books, inspirational people, international, politics, religion

For all the money we’ve spent fighting terrorism in Pakistan, it seems to me the situation is far worse off now than it was several years ago. Too bad our government doesn’t adopt Greg Mortenson’s tactics. Nicholas Kristof agrees:

Mr. Bush has focused on military force and provided more than $10 billion — an extraordinary sum in the foreign-aid world — to the highly unpopular government of President Pervez Musharraf. This approach has failed: the backlash has radicalized Pakistan’s tribal areas so that they now nurture terrorists in ways that they never did before 9/11.

Mr. Mortenson, a frumpy, genial man from Montana, takes a diametrically opposite approach, and he has spent less than one-ten-thousandth as much as the Bush administration. He builds schools in isolated parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, working closely with Muslim clerics and even praying with them at times.

You can read all about Greg Mortenson in the book, Three Cups of Tea. (Wow. It’s as of this time.) I finished reading it recently, and was totally inspired by this humble American mountain climber who sacrifices his time with his family and a potentially higher standard of living to help people halfway around the world. His willingness to adapt to local customs and the love he has for the people he is trying to help have earned him immense respect among people who are usually suspicious of Westerners.

Today I had lunch with a friend who’s involved in a ministry in Ethiopia that builds schools and especially tries to educate girls. Hopefully I’ll be able to help them by creating a website in the next few months so that they can convince more people to support them. Here’s an impressive ministry our church supports that I think someone should write a book about: The Free Burma Rangers. They brave incredible dangers to bring emergency assistance to the indigenous Karen people of Burma, as well as document human rights abuses.

We’re so blessed in this country, and it’s incumbent that we share our blessings. Hopefully our next President will understand this and we’ll make REAL progress towards peace and understanding.

The book you MUST read this summer: “What is the What”

Posted on 20. Jun, 2008 by kchristieh in books, inspirational people, international

If you read only one book this summer, read Dave Eggers’ . It chronicles the life of Valentino Achak Deng, who escaped from his village in Southern Sudan to become a “Lost Boy” who saw unspeakable horrors as he walked across the desert to safety. After years as a refugee, he was fortunate enough to come to the U.S. and start a new life. His courage and determination are inspirational.

This incredibly well-written tome weaves current events with Valentino’s recollections of his youth. The book is labeled a novel only because he can’t guarantee that conversations and events are exactly as he remembers them, but the book has so much detail that I bet he’s not far off. I couldn’t put this book down.

Besides learning a lot about this time and place, I gained even more of an appreciation for the current situation in Sudan. It was also a good reminder not to whine about the little setbacks I may suffer in life. In truth, I’m a very, very fortunate gal, and need to be thankful for that and do what I can for those who aren’t as fortunate.

Hopefully I’ll be able to convince my kids to read it.

We’ve come a long way

Posted on 05. May, 2008 by kchristieh in inspirational people, my life, politics

When I started kindergarten in North Arlington, NJ in 1968, all of my classmates were White. My parents told me that Black people weren’t allowed to live there. It bothered them, and I think my mother marched in protest marches. Thankfully, within a few years towns were forced to let anyone live in them.

My Mexican-American in-laws faced similar discrimination in Wichita, Kansas. Among other indignities, they weren’t allowed to drink from the same water fountains or swim in the same swimming pools as Whites. When my mother-in-law wanted to go to college, an administrator told her that “Mexicans don’t go to college,” even though she was born in Wichita. (She eventually got a nursing certification, as shown in this photo. That’s my husband as a cute little boy.) Even though my father-in-law was an Army veteran, when the family moved to Kansas City with my husband in the late 1960′s, they weren’t allowed to buy a home where they wanted to. Thankfully, they purchased a home in a school district that wound up getting better, and my husband and his sisters got very good educations and all three went to great colleges.

I was reminded of all of this today when I heard on NPR that on Friday. Mildred and her husband, Richard, were the plaintiffs in the 1967 Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia, which struck down miscegenation laws. Mildred, who was part Black and part Native American, married Richard, who was White, when she was just 18. She didn’t intend to be a groundbreaker, and said that she was just a girl who fell in love with a boy. “It wasn’t my doing,” she said. “It was God’s work.”

Thank God for Mildred & Richard Loving and others like them who have blazed the trail so that I could marry who I wanted, and so that my husband and I could buy the home we wanted. Our country may not be perfect, but I appreciate the freedoms I have here that I wouldn’t have in many other places.

Daryn Kagan’s new book shows us “What’s Possible!”

Posted on 25. Apr, 2008 by kchristieh in books, inspirational people, international

Do you ever get tired of reading about all that’s wrong in the world? I do. The world is full of wonderful people who do amazing things, but their stories are often ignored by the media.

Former CNN anchor (and fellow college classmate) Daryn Kagan is determined to find these people and tell their stories. Her website, www.DarynKagan.com, uses videos to tell the stories of people who have accomplished extraordinary feats for themselves and others.

Daryn’s summarized many of these stories in her new book, “” I couldn’t put this book down. I thought that fifty stories might be a bit overwhelming, but each one of them was so special and inspirational that I wanted to read more. Each one of the stories is sticking with me, and I’ve mentioned some to my family and friends. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Sebri Omer, an Ethiopian immigrant who gave up half of his successful gas station business to fund a hospital in his native land;
• Henri Landwirth, a Holocaust survivor who founded “Give Kids the World,” a group which treats children with life-threatening illness to a memorable visit to the attractions of Central Florida;
• Zainab Selbi, who survived Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship and went on to found Women for Women International, which helps other women war refugees;
• Bob Nameng, who went from being a Soweto street child to founding Soweto Kliptown Youth (SKY) to help give the children and young adults of Kliptown hope for the future;
• Paula Lucas, who founded the American Domestic Violence Crisis Line to help women like herself who were being abused on foreign soil;
• Ken Wyniemko, who got heavily involved in The Innocence Project after he was released after being wrongfully imprisoned. (The Innocence Project estimates a 5% failure rate in the judicial system, which translates to 100,000 people wrongly imprisoned!)
• Jacquelyn Mitchard, who emerged from a tough time in her life to write , which wound up being selected for Oprah’s Book Club.

These are only a few of the amazing stories Daryn tells. By the end of the book, I think anyone would be compelled to stop any future whining and find a way to make their own mark on the world. Read this NOW!

Give the disabled a chance to contribute

Posted on 13. Mar, 2008 by kchristieh in inspirational people, politics, startling statistics, work

David Paterson is about to become New York’s first African-American and first blind governor. Today he remarked that 71 percent of blind people and 90 percent of deaf people are unemployed, even though they have a higher level of education than the average American. He noted that this is a waste of potential, and the world may never know if one of these people might have discovered a cure for cancer.

I bet he would love the story of Allison Wright that I heard on NPR the other night. Allison has Down Syndrome, but that hasn’t stopped her from learning how to use a specialized carving machine at her framing store. Her father helped her apply for a micro-loan to set up the business, and she’s got a business partner who helps her with the finances. Allison’s enthusiastic about working, and appreciates the opportunity to operate a business. Her father is clearly a very special person and has done a marvelous job of finding ways to harness Alison’s strengths.

I was also impressed by Allison’s business partner, Clay. He’s only been with her for six months, but he’s completely in her court. He told the interviewer that if a customer doesn’t want to deal with Allison, then he doesn’t want to deal with them. He and Allison joked around a lot during the interview, and it was obvious that he appreciates and respects her immensely. I thought it was neat that he takes her to museums on a regular basis so that they can look at frames!

It’s too bad that everyone who’s disabled hasn’t had the opportunities that David Paterson and Allison Wright have. Hopefully more will as time goes by, and our society will discover that everyone benefits when people realize their full potential.

The world is a good place

Posted on 03. Aug, 2006 by kchristieh in cool websites

The last two posts were depressing, so it’s appropriate that today’s is more optimistic. Former college classmate Daryn Kagan is leaving CNN on September 1st to devote herself to launching darynkagan.com, a website devoted to telling inspirational stories. The site is scheduled to launch on Nov. 13th.

Here’s what the AP story has to say,

“I think there is a void in the straight news business now, (which is) lacking a certain spirituality,” Kagan told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I think most people live in a space where they are looking for meaning in life and good in the world and that is not necessarily reflected in straight news coverage right now.”

Kagan said the site is not affiliated with any religious group, although she certainly welcomes people who are religious to visit. She expects to include audio, video and print reports.

The content will be similar to that featured in “Your Spirit,” a regular segment on her CNN program. Within the past month, for example, she has profiled Daniel Gottlieb, a quadriplegic who wrote letters to his autistic grandson collected in the book “Letters to Sam: A Grandfather’s Lesson on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life.” She also interviewed a laid-off flight attendant who walks the streets of Atlanta twirling a baton.

Good for her! She’s absolutely right – there’s a lot of really good stuff going on in the world. This reminds me of The Week’s feature called, “It wasn’t all bad.” I’m looking forward to checking in on her site in a few months. Go, Daryn!

Doctors Without Borders Speaker in Pasadena

Posted on 13. Mar, 2006 by kchristieh in articles, international

Here are some more heroes you should know about: the brave and talented women and men of Doctors Without Borders (aka MSF, Médecins Sans Frontières). They risk life and limb to provide medical care to the world’s sickest and neediest people, and support themselves primarily through private donations.

I just returned from hearing the group’s Executive Director, Nicolas de Torrente, speak in Pasadena. His talk reiterated what Nicholas Kristof’s article says in my previous posting, that Africa is in the midst of a huge humanitarian crisis, and much of the world is ignoring it. Here’s a snippet of what the Doctors Without Borders website says about Chad:

So what can we do? Lobby politicians, write blogs and get the word out, pray and donate money are the best options I can think of right now.

Many thanks to Julie for inviting me to this talk!! This was part of the Distinguished Speaker Series at the Pasadena Civic Center.

A Village Waiting for Rape and Murder

Posted on 12. Mar, 2006 by kchristieh in articles, inspirational people, international

Nicholas Kristof is my hero. This intrepid NY Times reporter doesn’t flinch from going to some of the most wretched, dangerous parts of the world and reporting the truth. (Stephen Colbert would like his “truthiness,” I’m sure!) Anyway, today’s story was particularly shocking.

Something must be done!