Reel Grrls Animation
I spent the majority of Saturday helping out with the Reel Grrls Animation Workshop, which was for younger (under 12) girls. We got to do one big stop motion animation with the whole group and then broke off into smaller groups (1 mentor + 2 girls) to make a short stop motion piece using iStopmotion and a bunch of toys. I’ve never really worked with a group of girls in that age group but it was loads of fun. It was funny hearing one of the girls say she’s known she wanted to be a filmmaker since she was 2 and wants to go to NYU for film school.
I remember hearing on NPR that there have been studies that show girls under the age of 12 are a lot more outspoken and interested in participating and giving answers. And for some reason when a lot of girls become teens they are more hesitant to speak out and give answers. It’s amazing that I can actually see that so clearly now. These younger girls, even the shy ones, were all bursting with ideas and stories. Whereas with the older girls it sometimes seems like you have to drag opinions out of them. While there are girls who are more than happy to speak up the majority of them are kind of silent.
Of course I’ve sort of always been more of listener than a talker, even before I hit the teen years. So I’m not sure if/when that phase is suppose to wear off. Maybe it’s something that I’ll shake off by the time I’m 30.
Running updates etc..
I have officially given up on training for the half marathon (evident by the return of The Belly). I feel lame saying that but I really just can’t bring myself to keep up the training any more. I’m not sure if it’s just because it’s getting colder and wetter outside but that last ounce of motivation I had to get me to the 10k has pretty much been spent. I think I was also getting intimidated by the increasingly daunting milage. I should be up to 10 miles right now. I feel good about getting the 5k and 10k done for the year, so I’m okay with putting it on hold for this year. Maybe next time I try for one I should plan for one that happens in the warmer months so I don’t bail when it gets too cold and wet out.
The return of The Belly means I’m back to exactly where I started earlier this year weight wise, which is a little annoying but at the same time I keep justifying it by telling myself that maybe this is just my winter weight. I’m pretty sure all animals pack on some pounds in the hibernation season so maybe that’s the culprit. That and all the cookies, candy, popsicles, and rum cake at work probably.
PF
Not that this is going to turn into a personal finance blog but since I was raving about Mint last month I thought I’d share that I actually managed to spend less than I make in October, which hasn’t happened in at least a few months. I’m usually only a little over but it’s kind of nice to be legitimately under. Hopefully that keeps up and I can get back in balance. Yay!
Earlier tonight I was realizing that I never took any finance related classes in school. No business, economics, accounting, stat, nothing. I just wanted to stay as far away from The Dark Side (aka the business school) as possible. I don’t know why I’m suddenly so interested now (probably has something to do with bills) but I sort of feel like a kid on the first day of school flipping through a new textbook filled with ideas and pictures of things I’ve yet to learn.
I’m hoping tomorrow goes well. To all my homies back in the good ol swing state of Missouri, please don’t let me down tomorrow! Make it a blue state this time with Obama!