Johnny Knows Best

Freestore Foodbank/Healing Center Memorial Day Hunger 5K Walk/Run

"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead

Freestore Foodbank/Healing Center Memorial Day Hunger 5K Walk/Run
Monday, May 25, 2009

To the lay person, these results would qualify us as "losers":

Place Name Ag S City St 5k Pace S

1197 JAMIE KENNEDY 30 F CINCINNATI OH 1:15:34 24:23 619/685 F
1340 CHRISTINA DIPUCCIO 28 F CINCINNATI OH 1:15:05 24:14 F
1349 DREW REMINGTON CINCINNATI OH 1:15:28 24:21
1352 SANDRA DIPUCCIO 63 F CINCINNATI OH 1:15:31 24:22 F
1353 MANDIRA JACOB 23 F FLORENCE KY 1:15:32 24:22 F
1354 MAUREEN JACOB 30 F FLORENCE KY 1:15:32 24:22 F


But I see differently.

This group of "losers," raised $90 and 840lbs of food for The Healing Center.

840lbs.

Seems like a win/win to me.

Thank you Jamie, Alon, Christina, Drew, Max, Sandra and Mandy.


*Photos by TEAM AWESOME's beautiful, talented photog.

I ♥ Animals: #2

For those who can't understand my animal-loving craziness, here's proof that even as a wee lass, I have been obsessed with them.


Location: St. John's, Antigua, West Indies. And special thanks to my Dad, without whom, all these Kodak moments wouldn't have been possible.

GO Cincinnati

6,500 church volunteers.

More than 300 community service projects.

1 day.

4 hours.

1 city.

1 God.

On Saturday, May 16, a group of friends and I, along with thousands of others, gathered on a stormy, wet Cincinnati morning, at Crossroads Community Church.

It wasn't even 8:30 a.m.


Have you ever been in a room filled with thousands of other people - without an open seat in sight - all gathered together, at the same time, same place, with the same mission/goal?

Try it sometime. I highly recommend it.

So what brought us all together?

Two words: GO Cincinnati.

GO involves an army of church volunteers impacting Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky through various service projects in a one-day, citywide blitz of compassion by loving-on hundreds of community-based organizations throughout the city.

Last year, more than 4,000 people from Crossroads and other partner churches went out into the city to serve the homeless, pray with the broken, paint schools, clean camps and help make a difference in the city.

This year, they had a goal of 5,000 volunteers, 200 projects.

But God had other plans and instead, 6,500 people showed up.

This year's GO "anthem" was The Robbie Seay Band's "Rise." They couldn't have picked a more perfect anthem for energizing the army of volunteers gathered at the "pep rally."



Our group was assigned to Dohn Community High School in Clifton. We did everything from painting, moving boxes of books, to helping out wherever we were needed.

We were a sweaty, dirty, dusty, paint-splattered mess, but in the end, we met a lot of cool people, and most importantly, for four hours, we breathed hope and a new sense of vitality into the halls of a school that needed some aesthetical TLC.

New this year to the GO blitz, was GO Grub, a block party feast, held after the service projects, in Washington Park for the volunteers and the OTR community.

David Falk - chef at Boca Restaurant - gathered his 13 industry-chef friends from the city's finest restaurants such as Nicola's, Nada, Boca, Daveed's and Bootsy's (to name a few), to provide a massive feast that included some mighty fine grub (and I was even able to get some vegan options!)

Click here and here to view footage of the fête.

To see some of the inner city residents enjoying, what surely must've been their first gourmet meal, was simply priceless.

Falk did a really good thing. He will be truly blessed for it. And hearing him share his testimony at the rally was even more of a blessing for those who heard it.

There were many sights, sounds, smells and emotions that afternoon in the park, but somehow, this woman's happy dance seemed to sum it all up for me...

God is good.

Yes, He is.

Facebook Manners

Thanks Charis for sharing!

The New Mile High Club

As if air travel isn't stressful enough, now the people at Air New Zealand have increased the pressure for the passengers of its inaugural "Matchmaking Flight." And we're not just talking cabin pressure, people.

According to reports, the airline's new venture, coined "Love at First Flight," is aimed to help single Americans find New Zealand dates.

The report goes on to say the Boeing 777 will depart Los Angeles on Oct. 13, arriving 13 hours, 10 minutes later in Auckland, N.Z., after which passengers are encouraged to attend the Skycity Convention Centre's Great Matchmaking Ball, a singles-only party. Roundtrip ticket prices start at $780 and ticket holders are also encouraged to upload an online dating profile, six months before departure.


Before take-off, passengers will attend a pre-flight gate party at Los Angeles Airport, and themed food, drink, entertainment and games will be offered during the flight.

"If your dating profile says you enjoy fine wine and long walks on the beach, then New Zealand is your perfect place for romance," says an airline marketer.

So what prompted all this mile high-ery?

The airline claims it needed to come up with innovative marketing ideas since the economic crisis and the swine flu outbreak have dampened "sales."

But inspiration for the speed-dating flight mainly came flooding in, after the airline released an ad depicting its staff in body paint. The spot has become an Internet sensation:



Personally?

Shoot.

I can't even get a date for the life of me while I'm "grounded," so the thought of being stuck on a 13-hr-plus flight, socially interacting with a bunch of strangers, WHILE still managing to look cute, AND being able to walk away with a few numbers after landing...is absolutely revolting to me.

Someone...quick!...hand me a barf bag.

Distant

I feel so distant from You right now.

I know that it's all my doing and none of Yours.

I know I should be talking to You.

And instead I'm not.

I'm just extremely frustrated right now.

I'm so cold and numb right now.

Help me find and feel Your warmth again.

For it's the only thing worth living for.

Jimmy Dean Lovin Vegan

*Disclaimer!*

As a strict vegan, I am NOT promoting the consumption of Jimmy Dean products. But as someone who can appreciate a witty, clever ad campaign, I have to give props to these commercials. Everything from the music, costumes, props and acting...these spots always make me smile. Honestly, I don't even notice the dead animal products since I'm always chuckling at the actors.

This one is my absolute fave.

Rwanda Birdhouse in the K-Y

Meet Mr. Red.

Meet Mrs. Red (do you see her?)

This is Mr. & Mrs. Red's new house* and food*.

At first, Mr. Red was hesitant in checking out his new booty.

But then, Mr. Red's lil belly got the better of him.

At least Fiona and...
...Kitty's bellies...

......didn't get the better of Mr. & Mrs. Red.

*Birdhouse and food from OUTSIDE. Birdhouse proceeds benefited the "Birdhouses for Rwanda" project.

Awkward Family Photos

Boy, I sure do love me the Internets machine.

Every. Single. Day. I find something that just stops and make me go...WTF?! or makes me snort and some sort of beverage come outta my nose!

Yesterday, I found this site:

Awkward Family Photos:
Spreading the Awkwardness

People! This site is craaazy good!

Just as the name implies, the site is dedicated to serve as a virtual database of the most awkward family, wedding, vacation, engagement, baby and prom photos...of the familial genre...known to man.

Here are some of my faves...so far (click on the caption links to view the hilarious comments that accompany each photo)...

Family Tree

I Think He’s Going to Pork Her

Happy Mother's Day

DoubleDelish

The Wonder Years

I can't enough of this shizz man!

People!

Please upload your own awkward family photos ASAP!

It's simple to do. Just click here and follow the instructions.

You can also follow the site's tweets and become its Facebook fan (which just happens to have MORE awkward pics!)

Spread the word, so we can have more browsing pleasure!

And you better believe I'll be doing my part in adding to the database - on behalf of my family - with this jewel of an initial submission...

Creepy Indian Dad

What makes this photo awkward you may ask?

Two words: my father.

Another family member - who just happened to be present at the shoot - said that his mischievous look made it seem like he was doing "something" to my mom and that's why she was grimacing. The way he's staring right into the camera just makes it all the more creepier. Trust me when I tell you that this scanned version doesn't do justice to the hard copy and his piercing gaze.

When I questioned my parents about the goings-ons behind this picture, all I got was a loud chuckle from my father, and then...silence.

Which was the most awkward of all.

The Catholic Church: Choosing Battles Worth Fighting For

They call him "Padre Oprah."

But his real name is Alberto Cutié (KOO'-tee-ay).

Cutié is a telegenic 39-year-old Cuban American priest, advice columnist, radio and television personality, best-selling author and pastor of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Miami's trendy South Beach.

A Mexican magazine ran pics of Cutié and his girlfriend in "compromising" situations on a Florida beach.


Since the pics ran, Cutié was removed last week as head of the Miami archdiocese's international radio network and as head of his parish.

Cutié told the CBS "Early Show" on Monday, he supports the church's stand that priests should be celibate and said he does not want to become the "anti-celibacy priest."

"I think it's a debate that's going on in our society, and now I've become kind of a poster boy for it. But I don't want to be that. I believe that celibacy is good, and that it's a good commitment to God," Cutié said.

Cutié told CBS he has been romantically involved with the woman in the photos for about two years after being friends for much longer. He said he is still deciding whether to leave the clergy and get married.

"I'm now in the process of thinking about all those things, of making decisions," Cutié said. "And my bishop has given me the time to think about it. This is a difficult time. It's a time of transition, it's a time of thinking about the future."

"I believe that I've fallen in love and I believe that I've struggled with that, between my love for God, and my love for the Church and my love for service," Cutié said.

More than 100 people gathered outside St. Francis de Sales parish in Miami Beach, waving posters and chanting their forgiveness for Cutié.


It's a shame that the Catholic Church would take such swift action against a man who has been straightforward with his "celibacy" issues, yet when confronted with its 2002 priest abuse scandal, the Church chose to cover it up for years and protect the priests involved.


It's a shame that the Catholic Church didn't administer the same swift action implemented on Cutié, on John Geoghan.

According to reports, Geoghan stands out as one of the worst serial molesters in the recent history of the Catholic Church in America. For three decades, Geoghan preyed on young boys in a half-dozen parishes in the Boston area while church leaders looked the other way. Despite his disturbing pattern of abusive behavior, Geoghan was transferred from parish to parish for years before the church finally defrocked him in 1998. Some 150 people eventually came forward, claiming they were fondled or raped by the priest.

It's a shame that the Catholic Church isn't as strict in abolishing pedophilia as it is about abolishing celibacy.

It's a dirty ole shame.

Happy Mother's Day

"Her children arise and call her blessed..."

10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (New International Version)

Elizabeth Edwards' Message to Whores

Yesterday, Elizabeth Edwards sat down with Oprah to talk for the first time publicly, since the scandal of her husband John Edwards became known.

Here's what she said to Oprah:

"I blame John...and her...but also, women need to have more respect for other women," she says. "There's no excuse for women to do this. I have created this life...this is a life I have put together. It takes a lot of hard work to put together a marriage, to put together a family and a home. And you spend a lot of time trying to do that...You can't just say, 'Hey, I like the way that looks, knock on the door and say, 'You're out and I'm in!' You can't do that. Somebody has worked hard at that and you have to have enough respect for other human beings to leave their lives alone. And if you admire that life, build it for yourself. Don't just try to come in and take somebody else's life."

It's so easy...and selfish...to covet someone else's mate. Someone else's life.

Who among us hasn't looked at a person and wondered longingly...if it were only he and I? Or she and I?

True devastation lies in taking the what-could've-beens and turning them into a reality.

I ♥ Animals: #1

For those who can't understand my animal-loving craziness, here's proof that even as a wee lass, I have been obsessed with them.

Trust me. This is just the first in a series of "proof."

And yes. That is me in the first three pics.

My mom thought it would be "cute" and "fun" to dress and give me a haircut like a boy. For a whole year.

I seriously think that's why even to this day, I still prefer to dress with a more "masculine edge," than be caught dead wearing a dress or anything "girlie."

Thanks Mom.

Location: St. John's, Antigua, West Indies

The Apple Falls...Very Far from the Tree

What do you do when one of your parents lets you down?

How does a child assume the "parent" role in a situation?

God's sixth commandment is to, "Honor thy father and mother," but what if sometimes you just don't agree with the choices a parent makes? Do you still go along with his or her decisions and actions, just in the name of "honoring" them?

I understand the context of the commandment and how the word "honor" really translates to respecting and obeying one's parents, but what if what your parents are doing something that goes against EVERYTHING you fundamentally believe in and try to live your life according to, and ultimately, is jeopardizing the whole family dynamic?

Dear Jesus, please help me honor

...your words.

Cinco De Mayo: A Cultural Learning Experience

This post is dedicated to 5chw4r7z.

5chw4r7z used to think that a pakora was a piñata.

He has since been "cultured" on all things Indian, courtesy of moi.

So in celebration of Cinco De Mayo today, we will be hitting piñatas with light sabers.

Not pakoras.

Just had to forgive the guy though.

He is white.

And nerdy.

Fashionable, Yet Influential, Angel of Mercy

I was thumbing through my latest TIME that arrived the other day, and it just happens to be "The TIME 100: The World's Most Influential People" issue.

Under the category, "Builders & Titans," this is what Gweneth Paltrow had to say about fashion designer and friend, Stella McCartney:


Stella McCartney
By Gwyneth Paltrow

Everything about Stella McCartney is authentic. Her red hair is her own. She has real guts. She means what she says. Sometimes it's even a bit scary: she somehow works tirelessly to create the chic looks that have made her a fashion icon and yet still manages to be home with her three beautiful children at the same time. She laughs really hard. And she is a vegetarian. I mention this because you cannot accurately characterize Stella McCartney, 37, without underlining that she is a vegetarian. Always has been. And even if you are not interested in being a vegetarian, somehow Stella gets you to believe. She manages to convince you (never sanctimoniously, never from a soapbox) that killing animals is needless and cruel and bad for the environment. It may last the duration of just one dinner, but you start to feel a bit sad for your neighbor's lamb and a bit embarrassed by your chicken.

Stella is an uncanny mélange of passion and cool, and that is her deadly weapon. She will win you over. And what better way to do it than to make her commerce friendly to man, mouse and Mother Earth alike? She puts her money where her mouth is. Did you know your superchic Stella handbag is vegan? How about the shoes? Maybe that's why you bought them, maybe not. It's still cool. Of course it is — it's Stella.

Paltrow is an Oscar-winning actress and the founder of goop.com


McCartney's fame, personal and business ethics aren't certainly new to the world, but her inclusion in this list, is indicative of the tone of a country that is starting to recognize, and challenge, the truly inconceivable horrendous abuses committed against animals in the name of fashion and luxury.

I commend TIME for recognizing McCartney.

She has taken a stance in an industry which thinks treating animals like this is fashionable...






Pledge to go fur-free at PETA.org.

It takes a certain type of person to wear fur.

And a certain type of person who chooses not to, and instead, educates the world on why they don't.

Learn more about McCartney, her designs and her activism, here.

The Ugly Let Down

Why do You put up with me?
How can You tolerate me?
I let You down every time.
When will I ever be good enough for You, Your love, Your forgiveness, Your grace?

I am so easily tempted.
I am so easily persuaded.
I am so weak.
I am so evil.
I am so dirty.

Please.
Forgive me.
Once again.

Horse Racing: Cruelty You Can Bet On

*Barbaro's Tragic Injury: A Symptom of a Cruel Industry

Although Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro's tragic breakdown a few hundred yards into the Preakness was awful to watch, it should come as no surprise. Thoroughbreds are bred to have unnaturally delicate legs, are forced to run at ever-younger ages, and are drugged to mask injuries, which leads to horrifying and life-threatening injuries like Barbaro's. As a New York Daily News reporter remarked, “The thoroughbred race horse is a genetic mistake. It runs too fast, its frame is too large, and its legs are far too small. As long as mankind demands that it run at high speeds under stressful conditions, horses will die at racetracks.”

Drugs, Deception, and Death

The horse-racing industry is fraught with cruelty. It is common for trainers and veterinarians to use drugs—both legal and illegal—to treat injuries that horses incur while running. Lasix is a legal drug that stops bleeding in the lungs while also masking the presence of other drugs in a horse's system. Phenylbutazone is a commonly used painkiller that allows horses to run with minor injuries, which may result in more serious injuries.

Horses who do not “make the grade” are not always retired to grassy pastures. Tens of thousands of horses—including champion racehorses—are sold for slaughter every year. Some of their flesh is used in dog and cat food, at least 4 million pounds of horse flesh is incorporated annually into zoo diets for carnivores, and “prime cuts” are sold for human consumption in Europe and Asia.

A Dying Sport

Forcing horses to run—sometimes literally to their deaths—is losing its luster with the public. Actor Pamela Anderson made headlines earlier this year when she announced that she would boycott the Kentucky Derby because she didn't want to support cruelty to animals. The industry is in such decline in Maryland that the state's governor created a special commission to come up with ways to revive it. Just last year, the North Carolina General Assembly killed a bill that would have allowed racing in the state. Few tracks in North America have remained economically viable, and many are shifting their focus to slot machines in order to remain in business.

You Can Help

PETA is campaigning to get the Breeders' Cup's 2-year-old juvenile race, which is particularly harmful to young horses, canceled; many horses who have won that race have been forced to run injured or became “broken down” within the following year. Please call 1-800-RACE-CUP to voice your objections to this cruel event.

Please don't attend any events at the track, and let friends and family members know that horses will continue to suffer as long as they do.

Read PETA's horse-racing factsheet for more information about racing and what you can do to help horses.

*Source