Life Update: List Style!

Random Things I Am Loving: 

Soul Taco - a RVA restaurant that combines traditional Latin American flavors with Southern classics.  They are only a short walk from my apartment/work building. I'm in love with their sweet potato & black eyed pea tacos (with avocado, pickled red onion, crispy yucca, cilantro crema, and cotija cheese).

VRT Theatre - Am I biased? Absolutely. But I am also not wrong: between Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder at the November Theater, 13 the Musical in the Theater Gym, and Tuck Everlasting, TYA at Willow Lawn Children's Theater, I have been privileged to see some of the funniest, joyful, and heartwarming art I've experienced in a while.

Unlock Your Freedom podcast - every episode of this podcast is so different, and I really enjoy the variety of stories and wisdom that come from that. One of my favorite moments was in the episode with Ashley Lemieux, who uses a fantastic analogy to describe how she learned to vocalize her opinions (I'm paraphrasing here): your words are like Skittles. Not everyone may like them, and that's okay, and some people will, and that's cool too. Regardless, they can be fun and colorful and there's no reason to hide them away. I love that!

Walking around Richmond downtown - my roommates think I'm crazy for taking at least one walk a day, but I am loving the cooler weather as well as the way the older buildings look in this part of the city--especially the beautiful ironwork and intricate gingerbread of the homes in the nearby neighborhoods! I also love the way tree roots have displaced so many bricks along the sidewalk in this area...even though I trip constantly!

(Note: I feel it is very important to communicate publicly that Dancing with the Stars is NOT something I am loving. It is something I am watching and seething over and sending my sister mile-long messages about, but I. Am. Not. LOVING. IT. #ImissSharna)

Causes I Am Loving:

Zephaniah Free Education - this organization has been on my radar for a little over a year, but this month I was finally able to interact with the lovely Sister Zeph one-on-one! This organization is so important to their little community in Pakistan--not only do they provide free education for women and children, they also work towards interfaith harmony, teach women occupational skills (such as makeup application, embroidery, and sewing) so they can earn an independent living, promote healthy habits like hand-washing/nutrition, pick up trash in local areas, provide medical care + clothing + food for children who have been injured or are in need, encourage students (especially girls) to gain confidence in public speaking, educate young women about monthly periods, and more.

Christine Katas' School for the FLDS in Short Creek - for those who may not be aware, Short Creek is the home of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS), a church that believes in the practice of plural marriage, or polygamy. In recent years, many FLDS members have left or have been kicked out of the church, and many are looking to create an identity outside of the abuse. Christine's aim is to help the families in this area through her school, especially increasing literacy amongst community members.

Together Rising - spearheaded by Glennon Doyle, this group transforms collective heartbreak into effective action. Every penny Together Rising receives goes directly to serve people in crisis, both domestically and internationally. Recent projects include:

• Funding the first recovery-centered transitional home for mothers and babies in New Hampshire (Abi's Place)
• Providing a computer for David, who is excelling in college and working part time while supporting his mom, who lives with disabilities. David earned scholarships that cover his tuition, housing, and some other school expenses, and he chose to live at home so he can use his scholarship money to help support his mom. When he needed a computer for upper level classes, neither his family nor his scholarships could afford it
• Raising $4,851,117.20 to help save the lives of Syrian families in Aleppo, Douma, Ghouta by providing clean water, food, blankets, rescue boats, ambulances, mobile hospitals, shelters, heat, and medicine. This also includes deploying $50,000 worth of donations this past week to support two mobile medical clinics activated by Preemptive Love Coalition to assist Syrians fleeing ongoing attacks
• Investing $468,000 in the Oglala Lakota peoples of The Pine Ridge Reservation (deployed though One Spirit, a non-profit primarily run by Indigenous people) to cover heating costs; employment of Indigenous people to cut/split/distribute wood for the community; and a storage facility to maintain and protect wood reserves, as well as to establish and fully stock Food Centers managed and staffed by Indigenous people (and emergency relief during devastating floods earlier this year). These funds will also employ Oglala Lakota people to build, manage, and lead the food market, Buffalo house, and greenhouse expansion 
• Deploying $135,991.32 and an additional $50,000 in emergency response and medical equipment for those in the Bahamas suffering the effects of Hurricane Dorian. 

Sierra Watts' Gofundme for Kaylee - Sierra had a child at fourteen, and blessed a couple with said child through adoption. The abusive father of her baby later had a child with Kaylee as well. After connecting with Kaylee, Sierra learned that Kaylee has recently left her abusive fiancé and does not have the funds to home her or her daughter. They are currently living in a shelter. Sierra hopes that through the Gofundme, she can help Kaylee find stable housing and start a new life for herself and her daughter. 

New Experiences/Things I'm Learning:

Taking the GRTC Pulse - who knew public transit was easier to ride than previously thought? Thanks to Aripra for being my inspiration--I had to keep telling myself "Be brave! Be brave like Aripra!" and it was fine, haha!

Volunteering for the Artsies - I ran projection slides for the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Awards this past weekend, and it was so fun. Nerve-wracking because I really didn't want to mess anything up, but luckily everything went swimmingly and it was a fun experience overall!

Instagram Polls - So Grandma (that's me) got an Instagram this year and now she knows how to use polls and she's nosy and she's really enjoying learning all about her friends based on their answers to her weird food/travel/personal questions 

What I Am Looking Forward To:

Fun Home at UMW Theatre - I'm seeing this in late November and I'm so excited! My alma mater has always put on marvelous musicals and plays, and I am HYPE to see some of my beautiful and talented friends killing it onstage!

The holiday season - I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE SALTY OVER IT. I LOVE THE HOLIDAY SEASON. Gotta decorate trees. Gotta eat some fudge, little smokies wrapped in bacon, and peanut butter + Hershey's kiss cookies. Gotta donate paper towels and bleach to Rikki's Refuge so the animals can have a clean Christmas. Gotta work through my long list of movies: The Holiday, Arthur Christmas, A Year Without a Santa Clause, Nester the Christmas Donkey, Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade, + the plethora of Hallmark/Netflix movies that will be popping up. Most importantly, gotta reconnect with the Holiday Cheermeister herself, Alexandra Weathersby.