Holidays = Family, Friends, and BABIES!!!!

So I've had a lovely time so far this holiday season, hanging out with friends, chatting and playing games with family, and most of all...playing with everyone's children!!! This must be the year of the baby...bc everyone I know is having one!

Below are just a few pics I'd like to share:

Everyone, meet Baxter - a bright-eyed, laughing and very intelligent baby. Father and mother are both good friends of mine. Baxter, meet internet friends!!

Next up, little Troy! He is very quiet, but very inquisitive. He likes long crawls on the blanket, with shiny Christmas ornaments.

And it wouldn't be a party without my nephew, Jaheim! Always ready to laugh, and play tricks, one must always have a discerning eye!

We have a little heartbreaker in the making in Kiana! She melts people with her stare!

Truely a fun Christmas and one that I will remember! I think it is times like these that really keep me motivated to help others in need, especially children who are less fortunate. I am not an expert on foreign trade, farm subsidies, global hunger, but the facts still remain. We, as humans, fight for resources that allow us a certain quality of life which usually means others might not have access to the same quality.

Let us fight for others to acheive the same qualities as us. Chip away at poverty and inequality by teaching, loving, and giving.

Am I leaving a legacy?

My Americorps*VISTA term as Technology Coordinator is coming to a close. I have a few months left.

I am both incredibly excited about what lies ahead and sad to let go.

About a month ago I would've told you that I will be a VISTA for another year because of my willingness and ambition to complete everything in my workplan, but I realize it is time to move on. Cultivating a career path is daunting, but necessary and I am definitely a step closer to knowing exactly what I want to do because of my experience in this program.

I have been blessed with so much lattitude and free space to create and deliver programs relating to systems analysis and design to computer literacy workshops, while also directing research efforts of an undergrad and leading a team of grad students in shaping the information architecture and future of data management for the office I work in....It is soo rewarding...and diverse! I also helped facilitate, plan, and coordinate a grant to dialogue about war and terrorism, work with professors on health disparities, and consult an organization on how to develop a board of directors and obtain 501c3 tax code status.

What is amazing to me is that I have had little training or knowledge going into doing all these really cool things, but have grown and dramatically increased my capacity to achieve and learn how to do them. I am better for that, a better person for the interaction. I am moved. Inspired. And changed to see a profound reality of hope to cause change.

So I am sad to leave this incubator. So I am humbled to appreciate what I have.

So what now?

Find a job, that's what! It is so exciting to look at everything available!

I really want to further my eduation to a point where I can more effectively cause more positive change, but the realities of debt and living in poverty leave me to seek employment first (a recent revelation).

I've begun to recieve the first round of rejection letters in the mail, but I will prevail...armed with hope, experience, and inspiration....

and knowing that I can 'get things done'

I will miss the people I've met...and I truely thank them for helping me along.

Podcastercon 2006!

Podcasting?...subscribable audio on a blog?

With the ever-increasing tools to create your own audio and put it online, content-creators and people that have something to say should come to this conference. What is great about it is that it is totally FREE!!!!

What is also so awesome about this conference is that there is not just for 'techies' or your typical 'geek'. You can attend this conference if you have no prior knowledge of podcasting, but are very interested in learning about it.

What is PodcasterCon?
PodcasterCon 2006 is a free one day conference open to all participants to discuss and learn about podcasting. This not for profit event is being organized by a group of volunteers from around the world. PodcasterCon is an Open Event.

The event will not have traditional speakers, commercial product pitches, or bags full of conference swag. The event will have free food and drink, pre-organized sessions, and will be conducted in an unconference style. Please goto this page on our blog to learn more about this style of event.

I am definitely going....and I hope you are too! Click Here to sign up and learn more about it!