Walk For Lupus Now, 2007

So last year was Troop ET's (ET for Eme Te'o) first year participating in the Lupus Walk.  It was held in Long Beach last year and we walk from the Queen Mary to the Aquarium. They had booths set up and a little "exercise warm up" prior to the walk. Here is a video of the warm up:

Support your local walker here.

Anything Box @ Detroit Bar, 9.27.08

Ahh...such beautiful music. It was great to be apart of it, and so close to home? Who can complain about that. Oh, and the last time they were in Cali was 16 years ago? And they hadn't preformed together since 97 or something? I don't remember the stats...but it was in the 90's.

Oh and check the guy out in the crowd to the left..he's killing me. He was such a trip. You only get to see a little bit about his deep passion for Anything Box :)

The Lupus Research Institute

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYFylYvalz0
Its real and its strong. Please join it the fight against Lupus, help us continue the research for finding a cure. Donations are being accepted here: Personal Donation Page

GRATITUDE!!!

"TROOP ET"

So, many of you know that we lost someone very dear to us earlier this year.  What I didn't mention, was that it was the Lupus that called her home. I'm probably like many of you who had little exposure to the disease.  All I knew is that an Elder in my mission had it. He had to tract with a hat on and ultimately had to stay and help out in the mission office due to his sensitivity to light.  Now I can that I know more about the disease, only because I've been able to see it in action.  But for those of you who don't know much, here are some of the facts:

• Over 1.5 million Americans have lupus
• More than 90% of people with lupus are women
• In the United States, lupus is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans than Caucasians
• Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood, kidneys and brain
• For some people, lupus is a mild disease affection only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems.
• Studies suggest that more than 16,000 American develop lupus each year.

I finally signed up today on-line for the Lupus Walk. This will be Troop ET's 2nd year doing the walk. Anyways, last year one of the Aunties collected $400? last minute.  She asked co-workers and friends for whatever amount they could contribute...people donated $5, $10...etc. which all amounted to larger sum (aka "by small and simples things shall great things come to pass").  Anyways, I took time out from billable work to set up my page on the Lupus web-site.  And began sending out e-mails (you may have been one of the lovely recipients) for donations to our team.  I slacked on raising money last year, and was determined to be more proactive...unfortunately, I have a more personal reason for being proactive this year. But if anything this should be a sign of awareness of how quickly and devastating this disease can be. Last year Eme was walking with us, and this year we're walking in her memory. Anyways, this year's walk will be Sat. October 18th at Exposition Park in LA. I would like to invite you to join me, or donate in support of the cause as we Walk for Lupus Now!

I was prompted to write this blog as already I've received donations. I'm happy and overjoyed at the support (no matter how big or small).  We really can make a difference and I thank you all for whatever support you can give! It started off at $25...but can collectively amount to much more.  

You can support the cause by donating to the Lupus foundation as I walk not only in memory of a cherished friend, but for those who are currently suffering and hoping for a cure. Click here to go to my donation page. Ahe'ee :)

We love and miss you Eme!

I Love Little Brothers....

Okay, so technically its Sept. 20th, but the 26 min. over will have to go unnoticed while I give a shout out to my little baby brother today....

H A P P Y 20th B I R T H D A Y B A K E S ! ! !

That right, my favorite missionary finally left his teenage years behind. He's been out 9 months now, serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and is doing fantastic. He actually was suppose to have a baptism today. What better present could you ask for? That just might be a better than those single serving Nutella packets I sent him :) Anyways, hope you had a great one Elder Bakersman. Keep up the good work, I know the Lord appreciates your service...as well as his children that you're serving!

Also, today was National Talk Like a Pirate Day...I hope you all celebrated, maties...we celebrated @ Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribeean style :) I hope ye arrrrren't to sad if ye missed it. Well shiver me timbers, ye can always celerbrate! Arrrrggg!

"How much fun have you got in you?"

So, I had to work in Santa Clarita yesterday (ahhh, the infamous Whittaker Bermite). I didn't want to wake up any earlier to run to the office to pick up the work truck, so I opted for another 30 minutes of sleep (having to wake up at 4:30 in stead of 4) and my own car. Anyways, I was rummaging through the cds in my case (that never gets used anymore...thank you CREATIVE:ZEN Vision) and came upon this jewel...this playlist brought life back into my dust filled lungs and joy back into my rhythm tapping foot. Behold, from the music archives of moi:

A Tribe Called Quest - Bonita Applebum

Sean Paul - International Affair

Jagged Edge - Girls Gone Wild

Nick Cannon - Gigolo

Bloc Party - This Modern Love

The Bravery - Unconditional

Jack Johnson - F-stop Blues

New Order - Age of Consent

Brand New - Sic Transit Gloria

Death Cab for Cutie - Company Calls

Pretty Girls Make Graves - Pyrite

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Modern Romance

The Strokes - Juicebox

The Killers - Mrs. Brightside

? - Asparagus Dance

The Juliana Theory - Into the 

30 Seconds to Mars (aka Jared Leto) - The Kill

The Cure - In Between Days

The Smiths - Girlfriend in a Coma

Death cab for Cutie - The New Year

The Strokes - Take It or Leave It

Ahhh...delicious goodness to my ears. What more could I ask for then a musical awakening on a 3 hour "drive" through traffic? ..."you're like a hip hop song you know..."

IT"S FRIDAY!!! CAUSE TO CELEBRATE!

So in celebration, I'm listing this week's list of:  

"A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS..."

1.  Yummy, yummy, delicious goodness packed inside a cute little, edible BUNNY GRAHAMS.

 2. Another Annie's bunny favorite...The ever so lovely CHEDDAR BUNNIES!

3. Thao's album: We Brave Bee Stings and All.

She's ever so lovely and always is capable of making one happy, don't believe me? Play "Bag of Hammers." (p.s. if you want to search her on itunes, type in 'THAO,' or 'THAO NGUYEN.'  She's also known as Thao Nguyen and the Get Down Stay Down...). 

4. MOJO bars by CLIF. I love the name (its also a nickname for my seester) and I love these bars. I like CLIF in general, but these are new, and crunchy, and lovely, and tasty and delicious...I think CLIF sums is up just dandy, they said: 

"Honey roasted peanuts - when bees and peanuts get together, nutty sweet & salty things happen." And who can argue with that?

(Oh, and for more pictures of real live people, who have real live bees....check this amazing, female, olympian-like bee keeper--->HERE.)

What are "a few of YOUR favorite things?"

PROPOSITION 8

"Hi, I am with 'Yes on Proposition 8' and I'm in your neighborhood today. Are you familiar with Proposition 8? Well, basically, its to be an amendment to the Constitution that says:

"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California."

This was basically my "opening" when going around a couple Sat.'s ago as many of us Californians walked for Proposition 8. We we door to door asking people how they would vote, if they were to vote today. I knocked probably 120 doors for ~3 hours. Sadly enough, only 3 households whose doors I knocked said that they'd vote, "YES." It was an overwhelming response of, "I could never support that. I would have to say NO."

Now I don't consider myself to be very politically minded. I am a registered voter, but I have never been one to join campaign or even watch presidential debates, ect. So me going door to door with a campaign for a Proposition is out of the ordinary. I debated on staying home that Sat. morning (thank you Allison for encouraging me to go). I had to think about why I believe in this enough to go door-to-door (besides being strongly encouraged by my church officials). I believe strongly in the family unit, as defined by mother, father and children. In thinking of what it would be like for my future children to grow up in a world where that was the norm or having to explain why "Jimmy" had 2 daddy's...I don't want that. And then there's the issue of adoption...wow. The following are other consequences that would result if the amendment didn't pass:

"The Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage did not just overturn the will of California voters; it also redefined marriage for the rest of society, without ever asking the people themselves to accept this decision. This decision has far-reaching consequences. For example, because public schools are already required to teach the role of marriage in society as part of the curriculum, schools will now be required to teach students that gay marriage is the same as traditional marriage, starting with kindergartners. By saying that a marriage is between “any two persons” rather than between a man and a woman, the Court decision has opened the door to any kind of “marriage.” This undermines the value of marriage altogether at a time when we should be restoring marriage, not undermining it." (taken from http://www.protectmarriage.com/).

I'm still doing my research. I encourage you all to do the same. I've already had conversation/confrontations about my stance on this issue. There is possibility to burn many bridges, but I feel strongly about this.
 
There are also other good articles that you can check out in the LDS newsroom.

Donations are also being accepted at http://www.protectmarriage.com/ 

OR you can also sign up there to volunteer. We're already been seeing media spots for the opposing side (tv commercials, radio spots). Any small amount would help. Anyways, check out the website and let me know if any of you have any enlightment on the subject. Thanks.