Halloween Bandit Strikes Again!

Sample Bandit-ry

Decorations supplied by the bandit. Rigging to block office door done by officemates who are funny after original event in question.



Bandit Exhibit A

Prosecution: Your honor, I present to you the case of the Halloween Bandit.

Judge: State your case.

Prosecution: Your honor, at some point between 8 pm on Thursday, October 20th and 7 am on Friday, October 21st, the Halloween Office bandit struck a Santa Monica location.

Judge: Enough. Hasn't this happened before?

Prosecution: Yes, your honor. On record at least since 2009, this Halloween Bandit has spread gouhl-y spirit. It remains an open case, the Bandit has yet to be identified. Detectives believe to have multiple leads to the case but every year it remains a mystery... and then the bandit returns again. Cobwebs, spiders, pumpkins everywhere. Skeletons and trinkets on desk, just to rile up workers in every little way.

Judge: Well I'd say this bandit is good at what he/she does. Isn't this the point of the bandit? To remain unseen?

Prosecution: Why, yes, you may say so, your highness. However, prosecution is baffled by this yearly occurance and continues to seek answers!

Judge: Well who are your suspects?

Prosecution: Two main suspects, sir. One male, one female. Both likely have some part in the act, however both plead innocence.

Judge: And why do you suspect this duo?

Prosecution: After speaking to occupants of office and co-workers of said suspects, these two remain in question. Plus, concrete evidence of bandit-ry follow these individual's patterns.

Judge: How so?

Prosecution: You see, your highness, one office suspect, goes by Jessica, loves the dollar store the most of anyone in the office. All items (seen above) left by the bandit are in line with dollar store purchases.

Judge: And the other?

Prosecution: A male, sir. Blake. Of all officemates, this one has most loyalty to the office chalkboard (exhibit A, above).

Judge: Is this all the evidence you have, prosecution?

Prosecution: Yes, sir. This is all the evidence that the bandit leaves.

Prosecution: If it helps the case, sir, an official office poll taken revealed 8 votes for the male, 3 votes for the female, 5 votes for the male/female team.

Pause... and silence in the courtroom...

Judge: Remind me again why we are spending time on this?

Prosecution: Your honor, without your support and city and county resources designated to this effort, the bandit will strike again.

Judge: Well let the bandit be a bandit! Goul-y cheer among office mates does only good! Prosecution, case closed. Bandit strikes again! Enjoy the cheer, Prosecutor. The Bandit is out to do good!

Shortbread Cookies

One of the highlights every year - for about the past 20 - is shortbread cookie fundraiser time. I remember days of waking up very eary in the morning to go to the Kalama School cafeteria to mix up 100 cups of flour with 100 cups of butter & other ingredients to make these delicious treats. Ten cookies per bag, iron the bag closed, and take them to the streets. Soccer fundraisers, band fundraisers, lots of good reasons to enjoy shortbread cookies.

And the reason I still look forward to shortbread cookie time is because my father, Clyde, without fail, sends me packages of cookies every year. Sweet, right?! I never "expect" the cookies to come, I never hear about it being shortbread cookie time. Every fall they simply arrive at my doorstep as a little piece of home, sent with a lot of love, for me to enjoy.

Most of the time, I enjoy it all by myself. There are few things in life that I won't share with anyone out of pure selfishness. Shortbread cookies from the fundraiser are one of them. They bring such happiness and I appreciate that my good dad sends them just for me! Trust me, he sends me enough to share probably with intentions for me to share. But I'm a big girl and I can make these decisions not to share on my own. 

Thanks, Dad, for always sending me a lot of love, nicely packaged in the form of shortbread cookies! 

Maui Farmer Helps Feed Homeless

Farmer helps agency feed the hungry - The Maui News

Click on the link above to read more about Oliver Ignacio, a farmer who donated over 50,000 of food - in one year! - to Maui organization, Feed My Sheep.

Photos by Maui News Matthew Thayer

myTeam Triumph

myTeam Triumph is an athletic ride-along program for children and adults who would otherwise not have an opportunity to race.

Inspired by the father-son team of Dick and Rick Hoyt, myTeam Triumph allows "captains" to race in triathlons, 5Ks, 10Ks, half-marathons, and marathons. Team provides all the necessary equipment for the Captain-Angel team including wheelchairs for run races, boats and harnesses for swims, and trailers for bike rides.

Check out the local races in your area and support myTeam Triumph.

Travel for Good!

Travelocity sponsors a Travel For Good program encouraging green traveling, traveling that makes a difference around the world, and sponsors a volunteer service grants each year. It's an awesome approach to traveling.

Twice a year, Travelocity awards four $5,000 Volunteer Vacation grants. Participants send in a 2 minute video showing their inspiration for a volunteer trip, the good they are already doing in their community, and why they should win. Winners are based on 50% fan vote and 50% Travelocity chosen based on their video.

Below is a link to an individual 365 Days of Service recommends followers to vote for. Her name is Ashley Walters and she is AWESOME. She's already an accomplished woman of service and now she hopes to reach out to those in Tanzania. Ashley says, "I may not be a superhero, but I believe I can make the difference in the lives of others... " and shes asking us to believe the same.

Watch Ashley's video and vote!

Empanada Night!

Empanada Night!

I'm very fortunate to be friends and co-workers with a lovely woman named Karin who annually hosts an Empanada Night for friends. Tonight was our night.

The best part? Karin always says empanadas are best to dish up for large quantities, thus we are the lucky ones who can "help" her baking extravaganza! And these aren't any cookbook empanadas. Oh no, these are Argentinian host mom empanadas.

Karin and Jesse, along with their kitty, Mia, and rescue dog, Sammy (who I call Sandy because of her sandy color and because I misheard her name when we were introduced) open their home to one and all and we have a lot of fun.

Here's the list of great things about tonight:

• Empanadas - authentic and delicious!
• A host mother recipe!
• Good time with friends
• Celebrating Karin and Jesse's recent marriage and looking through their beautiful photos!
• Nintendo (yup, real old-school nintendo, not even the super version)
• Karin and Jesse fostering a rescue dog
• Everyone brings a treat to share. Also, on the menu: caprese skewers, assortment of fine cheese and crackers, chocolcate covered strawberries, pumpkin cheesecake, wine and more wine
• Homemade cheese! Karin really made homemade cheese and it was awesome!
• Chouch - or something like that. A chair-couch they are proud to own.
• Teaching others how to empanad (the word for the active learning of making empanadas). Karin taught Kristin to make empanadas. Kristin was so happy. She says, "My place is in the kitchen" with a big smile and much happiness to learn a new recipe and a new awesome food to cook.
• Good friends! We are fortunate to work with such incredible individuals every day. And, it's so awesome to enjoy our incredible every day people in a very relaxed, warm, and fun setting.

Thanks Karin, Jesse, Mia, and Sammy (Sandy!) for hosting such a wonderful evening for all of us. We loved every minute and loved every bite!

Thumbs up!

"If you can read this, thumbs up!"

Yup, that's how awesome these kids are.

I've gathered this to be a study hall type room for kids in a local soccer gym. As the 7 pm games ended and a large number of adults filed their way out of the gym, this was in the window.

I saw the binder at first and didn't think too much about it. Thankfully, I took a second look!

"If you can read this, thumbs up!" (Please also take notice of the drawing of the thumbs up)

The kids were watching all the adults pass by at first. Then I was fortunate to catch this gem of a moment with such cool kids!

Pretty simple, right? Thumbs up? 

Binder + dry erase marker + venue for adult passers by + kids imagination = awesomeness.

They lifted my spirits for sure. The joy coming out of that room from those kids - amazing!

C'mon, you have to love this!