It's been a while...

Yeah, I have neglected this blogging thing.  I thought I was on a roll with my first two posts, but then got distracted with The Real Housewives of New York City.  I know, just another reality show.  Not so.  Its hysterical.  Watch it.

I made couscous the other night.  I suggest trying it.  It rocks.  I got whole wheat couscous from Trader Joe's.  Instead of just using water to cook it in, there is a recipe where you can use water, lemon juice and olive oil.  It adds a ton of flavor.  I then cut up grape tomatoes, spinach and a little parsley.  It rocked.  I ate it in a pita with hummus.  Try it.  Its good for you.

I'm also on a supplements kick.  Not like I wanna-get-ripped-creatine-supplements, but rather daily vitamins, resveratrol, and omega-3's.  Good stuff.  Resveratrol is what is found in red wine that is supposed to give you a longer life.  However, to get your daily amount you would have to drink a case of red wine.  As fun as that was, I just wasn't very productive afterwards...  So, they have these concentrated pills that you can take.  Omega-3's are found in fish.  I know, most people are scared of fish oil, but now most companies are adding lemon juice to the supplements to not only cover up the taste, but to aid in the bad breath that may ensue after taking the omega-3's.  For this reason I take all my supplements before going to bed.  Oh, and the Omega-3's are in gel caplet form, so its not like you are downing spoonfuls of fish oil.

That's all.

Be Cause.

So I am going to continue the theme of "causes" for my second post. Don't worry, I'll soon get off my soapbox and start blogging about my preference in coffee drinks and Friends re-runs, but for now bear with me...

I want to tell you about another organization that I started volunteering for about a year ago. Its called The Art of Elysium and I think its pretty great. The sole purpose to the charity is to provide art, music, and acting workshops (among other experiences) to children in hospitals. It isn't really art therapy, though the result is undeniably therapeutic (if not for the children, then certainly for me). With all of the things that the children are dealing with while in the hospital, The Art of Elysium offers an escape. No doctors, no nurses, no exams...simply art. Painting masks, or writing music with a songwriter can do for the human spirit what no medicine can.

When I am doing an art workshop with the kids, I think it is the only time when I am truly out of my own head. Living in Los Angeles and pursuing a career in acting, it is very easy to get bogged down in the "me." For those two hours I leave it all behind. The first time I volunteered it was at Shriner's Childrens Hospital. Spanish is the first language for the majority of the patients at Shriner's...I don't speak Spanish. I quickly found that I could communicate simply through drawing. For two hours I sat and connected with a 7 year old from Mexico and neither of us said a single word. Well that's not entirely true, I'm sure I through in a "What is your name?" spoken very slowly and loudly of course...as if that would have helped.

Anywho, check out www.TheArtofElysium.org There is also a chapter in NYC so don't let three thousand miles hinder your interest in participating...

Also check out www.jrifilms.org They promote awareness for organ transplant and donation... become an organ donor, its a good thing. They have amazing events throughout the US called Share the Beat. (www.sharethebeat.org) The next one is in May in Boston.

Ok, I'm done. Tomorrow's post will be something trivial and mind numbing. Promise.

Because Facebook, Twitter and Myspace don't waste enough of my time...

I'm blogging...

Just another something to suck the minutes of my day away...with the hope that I might possibly inspire someone with my literary wit and exagerated day to day experiences...

So what do I write about? I'm going to start with something that I care about.

Tuesday I participated in a rally to raise awareness about the atrocities that are happening in Darfur. Truth be told I was quite ignorant on the subject until a good friend of mine, Ari, started working for an organization called Jewish World Watch (www.jewishworldwatch.org). The organization was founded by an amazing man named Rabbi Harold M. Schulweis. After the holocaust, the Jewish people said "never again." Rabbi Schulweis lives those words as he combats genocide throughout the world.

Some may ask what does holding signs on Wilshire Blvd. during rush hour accomplish? I realize that I am not physically saving lives with my "Honk for Darfur" posterboard; however, I truly believe that passion is palpable. When you care for something and take action in hopes to create change, that energy goes into the ether and something transitions within your being. You carry yourself in a different way. Your interactions with other people, strangers even, are affected. When you realize that we are all connected you treat people differently. You smile at the barista at Starbucks, say thank you and truly mean it. The world takes notice. Trust me.

Yesterday morning my sister gave birth to her second child, Lee Summers Faust. I am excited to see what changes she will make in the world...

M.