In the Spirit of Christmas.

I have done it.

I am 14 hours away from my last final... and 3 days away from my certification test. and while I tried to think of who i was and how I got here in May when I walked, I found it hard to do because I knew I would be back this semester, so I just couldn't take it seriously.

And yet, here I am. Maybe it is because of Christmas, or my productive day, but I found myself compiling a list of all the people who I should, and would thank. Affirmations have always been a huge part of my life, and I think maybe now, at the beginning of a new chapter in life, I would take the time to affirm them, as I know when I win a Tony, I would never have enough time:

To my biggest supporter, and trail blazer, My sister Chrissy: For reminding me we come from a family of champions.

To my Brother Danny: who always keeps me thinking outside the box.

My mother: Who always told me I could do anything I wanted, and meant it.

My Father: for being my biggest creative inspiration of my life. From making up his own game, being his own boss, and never understanding me, I will always strive for his approval (read: affection).

To My Grandfather, Papa Q.: who reminds me daily that while most people strive for 15 minutes of fame, We strive for lifetime achievement awards. Also, you can go further in life with a positive demeanor, hard work ethic, and honest heart then any certificate, degree, or trophy will take you.

To My Grandma Q: Who reminds me that being a lady is not old-fashioned or stuffy, but classy and appealing

To My Grandma D: for giving me, what my roommate calls "Passion in my blood".

To my deceased grandparents: They are watching me.

To Andy and Else Sinsigalli: My pseudo-parents, whom even while raising their own children found a way to support and guide me in all my decisions.

To Karen and Dan Brady: for helping shape my young adolescent mind into a positive healthy experience:

To Mary and Melissa Muntz: for teaching more than just ballet barre and how to dance in 2.5 inch heels.

To Carolyn Felker, My first and oldest boss, for giving me the option to leave and come back as my schedule allowed. I would not have taken the risks I did in college had I not always had an income to come back to.

To Jolie: for being my shoulder to cry on, my listening wall, my whipping post, and my partner in crime throughout my college career.

To Gary, Fred, and Janie: for reminding me to take chances, be arrogant and to always do something.

To Jason Becker and Wayne Cope: two people I would never make a lasting decision about without weighing the pros and cons with them.

And hardly last, but all my closest friends through school: Christine, Denise, Shawn, T.J., Vanessa, Alex, Dante, Kiersten, Charlene, Megan, Morgan, Andrea, Heather, Corinne, Jamie, Claire, Rachel, Savs, Stephanie, Ash, Renae, Bridget, Toby, and Matt: for giving me the support, guidance, and strength to be myself.

Back to the books....

A christmas story

It's more funny than to teach, but I'm goiong to tell it anyways...

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who went to a catholic school... There was nothing worng with going to a catholic school, but they did wear uniforms, whihc is where the conflict comes in this story. As a result, all the children at this catholic school could express their individuality in only one of 2 clothing mediums: Hair and Clothes, and even hair had a no hat policy.

It was in these accessories that the little girl developed her hat/shoe addiction, and had every hat and shoe accessory any little girl could possibly ask for. Her impressive hat collection had everything; newsboy caps from her grandfather, a pink brimmed hat for playing with grandma in the garden, a red Baret for family church... This little girl had everything she could possibly ask for.

Until one day, there was a new shoe in town. It was delightful! So sleek with high-tops, the crisp white laces, right down to the light up sides of the outside support that made the wearer's feet sparkle when they walked. The little girl in the commercial taunted the little girl, riding her bike to catchy music on the commercial, when she pumped her bike pedals the shoes lit up too! Obviously, these shoes were too good to be true...

.... L.A. Gears.

The little girl wanted them SO bad. She PINED for her L.A. Gears, until the next day after Saturday morning cartoons when she first saw the commercial, she went to school, and alas. Everyother little girl had the L.A. Gears that the little girl wanted. They were even more Perfect in person, but when 12 little little girls wore them, it looked as if they fit in with the uniform the girl had to wear everyday. And so her heart sank, because she knew now that she would never own a pair of the BEloved L.A. gears. On one hand, they were the very essence of everything she had hoped for in a shoe: classy & elegant. On the other hand, if she ran home and asked her generous parents for a pair, the magic was ruined, because she would always, even on weekends, be reminded of her uniform, and how it was only a matter of time before she had to go back to school.

And so she never asked, and in turn never Got the L.A. Gears.

Several years went by, and the little girl grew up. Her addiction to shoes and hats had slowly shifted to hats, shoes, scarves and bags. She had so many and was so happy, but now that the girl was ending her degree and moving into the adult world, she was hoping to find something to help her start her working career. What she sought after was a new bag: something practical and grown up; sophisticated and functional.

One day, in her last month of going to school, she found such a bag. The little girl saw her two best friends with the most beautiful bag she had ever seen. "what is that?!" The Little Girl cried.

"Lululemon" Her friends replied, "we each have one! Aren't they so functional?"

She ran right home and told her generous parents of the magical bag, but they laughed at her, telling her they bag was silly and not pretty. But, it didn't need to be pretty, it needed to be practical and functional. And it didn't matter that she found it at school, she now loved school and wanted to use it to remember the great education she had gotten. The little girl pined for her bag, and it laughed at her from the store window. When the time came for her to really get her degree, the economy was not in the best shape it had ever been in, and the thing that the little girl had been studying for so many years was dying like an exotic animal in the rainforest. So the little girl came up with a plan.

She ran home, only 18 days til chirstmas, and wrote out her plan to Santa.

"Dear Santa:
I know it is only 18 days until Christmas, and I have tried so hard to be a good girl this Year. Santa, this year, all I would like for Christmas is for California to remember how important art is to our community.

Santa, I know you are busy, and I know that this seems like such a big request. I know how to make this happen, Santa, but in order to do so, I might need a new tool. So Santa, if you cannot bring arts back into the bay for Christmas, can you please bring me a lululemon bag?
Love always,
The Little Girl"