The Peace Corps

Even with all of my school loans, car payment, and credit card debt, I know that I have a pretty awesome life. I live in the beautiful rocky mountains and work for a company that allows me to ski for free anytime I want. I have my health, a working car, and a loving family. Knowing all of these things, all I can think about lately (before the earthquake in Haiti) is helping people in 3rd world countries.

I have been looking into some new options that I could do in the near future. One thing I have always wanted to do is volunteer my time in Africa by helping build a school or help educate children. A friend of mine that I went to high school with started working for a company called Come Let's Dance. She was building orphanages in Uganda for several years and loved every minute of it.

I started looking into the Peace Corps. After looking at their website and researching my options, I stumbled across a section titled, "Who Volunteers?" On this page, there is an area that says, "Between careers? Unsatisfied with your job? Ready for something truly different?...See the world, and give something back while you're at it?" This is exactly where I am in my life.

There are a lot of really awesome benefits as well. My studen loans would be deferred, medical and dental care, and the most important part, I would get to live in the same environment that the local people are living in. This is truly the opportunity of a lifetime!

Here are the issues: I have a dog and the Peace Corps requires you to live overseas for 27 months. The application process takes anywhere from 9-12 months, almost a year of waiting, so planning ahead isn't an option. I have credit card debt and other bills that I wouldn't be able to pay while away.

I'm kind of in a pickle with this one. It's the perfect time in my life to do this, but there are too many other things that are holding me back.

I need a sponsor. Who's up for it? I take cash or check!

Golden Globe Winners

I absolutely love award season! Considering I made my predictions before actually seeing half of these films, I think I did pretty well.

I'm so excited for Michael C. Hall and John Lithgow winning for Dexter. I love that show, and both actors deserve the Globe. Especially Michael C. Hall. If you've ever seen Dexter, you know why.




1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

My Pick: Inglorious Basterds
Winner: Avatar
**After seeing Avatar, I would have changed my decision.

2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

My Pick: Helen Mirren
Winner: Sandra Bullock
**Still haven't seen The Blind Side

3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

My Pick: Morgan Freeman
Winner: Jeff Bridges
**THE DUDE!

4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

My Pick: Julie & Julia
Winner: The Hangover
**Kind of a surprise, but definitely worthy of this award.

5. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

My Pick: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Winner: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
**Loved this movie!

6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY
OR MUSICAL

My Pick: Robert Downey Jr.
Winner: Robert Downey Jr.

7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

My Pick: Up
Winner: Up

8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

My Pick: A Prophet
Winner: The White Ribbon

9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

My Pick: Penelope Cruz
Winner: Mo'nique

10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A
MOTION PICTURE

My Pick: Matt Damon
Winner: Christopher Waltz

11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

My Pick: Clint Eastwood
Winner: James Cameron

12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

My Pick: Nancy Meyers (Love her!)
Winner: Jason Reitman

13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

My Pick: Karen O, Carter Burwell
Winner: Michael Giacchino

14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE

My Pick: "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)"
Winner: "The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)"

15. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

My Pick: Dexter
Winner: Mad Men

16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

My Pick: January Jones
Winner: Julianna Margulies

17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA

My Pick: Michael C. Hall
Winner: Michael C. Hall
**WOO HOO!!

18. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

My Pick: 30 Rock/Glee
Winner: Glee

19. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

My Pick: Toni Collette
Winner: Toni Collette

20. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

My Pick: Alec Baldwin
Winner: Alec Baldwin

21. BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

My Pick: Grey Gardens
Winner: Grey Gardens

22. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION
PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

My Pick: Jessica Lange
Winner: Drew Barrymore
**Right series, wrong actress

23. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

My Pick: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Winner: Kevin Bacon

24. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

My Pick: Chloe Sevigny
Winner: Chloe Sevigny

25. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION

My Pick: John Lithgow
Winner: John Lithgow

The Reader

All through elementary school, middle school, high school, and college, I hated reading. I would like to blame it on the fact that I was forced to read, but I look back at it now and I think I really missed out on some really great books. The books that were assigned in school never got my attention, so I would pray that there would be a movie to go with it so I could just watch that instead and skip reading the book. I took the easy way out. I regret that now.

In the last 11 weeks I have read nine books. Most of them are really amazing stories. I have been keeping a list of all the books I want to read and it is literally endless. I would love to hear about some books that you all have loved and recommend for me. I am open to anything, non-fiction, biographies, fantasy, and thriller. Send 'em all my way!

30 Rock

I'm obsessed. Tina Fey is amazing. And I am now slightly attracted to Alec Baldwin.

Packers.com - January 10, 2010: Game Review: Packers Lose Playoff Heartbreaker In OT

Packers.com - January 10, 2010: Game Review: Packers Lose Playoff Heartbreaker In OT

Posted using ShareThis

Books!

One week into the New Year and I am keeping up with #5 on my "2010 To Do List", which is read a book a week. I just finished My Sister's Keeper and have started The Lovely Bones. I'm starting to get into reading books that are being made into movies. The movies look so good, but they always cut out so much detail from the book it was based off of. I want to know the full, in-depth story. Of course, I'll throw in a few books that don't have movies coming out...not yet anyway.

Here's a list of the books I'm hoping to read this year. Let me know if you've read them and your rating!

My Sister's Keeper, Jody Picoult
The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold
When You Are Engulfed in Flames, David Sedaris
The Pleasure of My Company, Steve Martin
The Year of Living Biblically, A.J. Jacobs
Walking the Bible, Bruce Feiler
Long Walk to Freedom, Nelson Mandela
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, J.R.R. Tolkien
Eragon, Christopher Paolini
The Poinsonwood Bible, Barbara Kingsolver
The Godfather, Mario Puzo
Darkley Dreaming Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Dearly Devoted Dexter, Jeff Lindsay
Dexter in the Dark, Jeff Lindsay
Dexter by Design, Jeff Lindsay
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris
Club Dead, Charlaine Harris
Dead to the World, Charlaine Harris
Dead as a Doornail, Charlaine Harris
Definitely Dead, Charlaine Harris
All Together Dead, Charlaine Harris
From Dead to Worse, Charlaine Harris
Dead and Gone, Charlaine Harris
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson
The Girl Who Played with Fire, Stieg Larsson

This is just a starting list, and I'm sure I'll go through some faster than others, so I'll be adding more. I am also a part of a book club, and only three of the books are listed, so once I know the rest of the list, those will be added as well.

This is so exciting!

2010 To Do List

1. Travel to Boise to meet my niece, Olivia Diane
2. Ski Jackson Hole
3. Get through the Olympics
4. Travel to Phoenix to visit Cheryl and Nicco
5. Read a book a week
6. Travel to New York City to visit Matt
7. Camping in Glacier National Park with family
8. Accomplish my HUGE goal for March/April...and maybe into the summer
9. Lose 87 pounds
10. Michael Buble