LOVE IS THE MOVEMENT

it’s happening.
oh yes…. it’s happening.
update on probably one of the greatest moments of my life:
To Write Love On Her Arms will be coming to the University of Florida.
finally, one of my crazy thoughts will actually come to fruition. oh i am sooo happy right now! happy is actually an understatement-ecstatic-yes, that’s a better word. or giddy. i don’t think i’ve ever been so giddy.

So here’s what’s happening:
Thursday a couple weeks ago I had a chance to meet with Christine from the Rietz Union Board at UF… she said that they had loved the idea of Jamie and TWLOHA coming to UF, and that they had already been in contact with them (I had an idea of this from talking to Aaron back home).

I had spent numerous hours the few days prior to meeting with her preparing a portfolio of information/news articles and photos from TWLOHA, and then upon meeting with her, shared of my involvement with them, and all of my ideas for advertising and promotion as well.

After speaking with me, Christine said they were going to book the Grand Ballroom for the event, with seating for 800 people, and standing room for plenty more! She asked how many people I could bring to the event, and I gave her a ballpark estimate, but I told her I would bring as many as they’d let me… I intend on filling that room!!

We’re also working on getting some bands involved with the event too! Between the Trees was one we were trying for-I had my friend Tiger call Ryan Kirkland…we went to school together-but no idea if they’ll be able to do it yet. My friend Michael’s band has also volunteered to help too, and I’ve got a bunch more resources I intend to use as well…

I know the intended date for the event, but until I get the official word (I’ve had confirmation from TWLOHA, but am still waiting on the “official” e-mail that’s supposed to come tomorrow) I’m not posting it anywhere… It’s going to be awesome though!

I created a group on Facebook called “Love is the Movement” to use as a networking system for people interested in helping promote the event… So far the response has been amazing! 282 people have joined the group-many who I don’t even know! So many people have volunteered to help. I’ve even been blown away with serendipitous events… at least a few times now I’ve randomly bumped into strangers, and after starting to talk to them, have found they are either fans of TWLOHA or are interested in helping out! There is also a list-serv that I’ve started at twloha_uf@yahoo.com

I’m writing an e-mail and letter right now that I intend on sending to local TV/radio/newspaper, as well as clubs on campus and other organizations that may be interested in helping promote the event. I’ve a thousand ideas for promotion and advertising, and plan on exhausting every single connection that I might have in order to promote the event!!!!

At RUF the other night, my friend Nick told me that apparently the whole Rietz Union Board thinks I’m crazy. Good. I seriously hope everyone knows how head-over-heels-enthusiastic I am about this!!

This is something that means so much to me–I believe that it is a cause worth championing. Suicide and depression have a hold on so many people… We need to remind everyone out there that hope still exisits. We need to remind people that they can make a difference, that love has a chance and that rescue is something worth fighting for.

If you don’t know the story about To Write Love On Her Arms-or if you’re in need of resources–check it out here: TWLOHA

Just last weekend I found out that an old classmate of mine hung herself. I wasn’t particularly close to her, and don’t know any of the reasons why she might have felt death was her only escape. But I wish I could have told her that it wasn’t. I wish I could have given her hope…

I am only one person. And I may not have much to bring to the table…and I’m not able to change the world by myself… But maybe-just maybe-this could be something that has an impact…

…more updates as they come. If you want to know more, send me an e-mail at twloha_uf@yahoo.com

Anticipation

Thursday afternoon will perhaps be one of the most highly anticipated days of my life.
Granted, it seems as though I am almost always looking forward to something, but this something has such great meaning to me.
I am scheduled to meet with the UF Reitz Union Board (they are in charge of entertainment/speaking gigs at UF). Almost 2 months ago I had sent them an e-mail asking them to consider To Write Love On Her Arms as a potential speaking engagement.
Much to my joy, they were very impressed with the website and my recommendation. I am meeting with a representative tomorrow to go over logistics.
I had spoken with Aaron the other day, and he said to e-mail either him or Kyle to work out booking, and that Jamie and the crew should be able to get up here.
This is something that I am right now throwing my whole being into.
I have such high hopes and millions of ideas for promotion, advertising and ways to recruit others to become involved to. Just the other night I approached a girl at RUF who was wearing the TWLOHA shirt and struck up a conversation with her, asking if she’d possibly be interested in promoting the event. Needless to say, we are now Facebook friends, and I’m excited to be meeting more people who are on-board with helping promote TWLOHA at UF.
I’m doing a lot of work for my Technology education class right now, and am hoping to have my website up and running with separate tags for non-profits, and more info about TWLOHA up there.
I want to plaster the campus in flyers and sidewalk chalk. Painting the 34th street wall and the tunnel by Norman Hall are also on my to-do list. Facebook groups and events are bound to follow, and I’m hoping to have the backing of numerous groups on campus as well…
All this and we haven’t even gotten around to a set date.
I’m sooooo excited.
I don’t think there were enough o’s on the “so” te emphazise the exstacy I have right now.
There is so much I want to do with my life, the majority of it being bringing love to others.
To Write Love On Her Arms has become to me the perfect example of how I can be involved. I’ve witnessed so much pain…and while I cannot claim all of it as my own, it has impacted me in such a way that has driven me to want to make a deep impact. If I’m burning out, I want to burn out bright (thank you Switchfoot ) and leave a crater behind.
Shooting stars may only be seen for a second, but that second is one of brilliant light.
So, as i gather my thoughts, and statistics and articles to present, I wanted you to know…this is something I am excited about–because it’s something worth fighting for.
Life is precious.
“Tell them to remember hope. We have hope…”

<3

and all’s right with my world…

and in this crazy existence, my little bubble of a life is back to an illusion of normality.
my Facebook and e-mail accounts were hacked into. I shut down my online banking. I managed to call Yahoo and boot the hacker off. [insert sigh of relief here].
Thank you to all of those who kept me in your prayers as I tried to deal with that fiasco…
I have now regained the appearance of control…
as I thought about the possibility of “identity theft” i was encouraged to realize that the most important identity i possess can never be stolen from me…
ok, so it might seem like a corny and “cliche” moment to speak of deeper meanings and existences…
(yeah, sarah, you’re being a little lame… it was just e-mail and facebook you lost temporarily… you shouldn’t be spending so much time on them in the first place…)
but in all seriousness–the greatest identity anyone could ever possess can never be stolen.
no matter how cunning or deceptive the thief.

now that calls for a sigh of relief!

in other matters… i slept through my statistics lab today. first time i slept through it. i actually didn’t sleep through it. i woke up at 8:30am-right as it started. salt in the wound right there… i wake up early enough to realize class is starting, yet i can’t make it because the TA locks the doors 5 minutes after it starts. plus… i can no longer go back to sleep. ugh.

last weekend was quite an adventure-Delane’s friend Hallie was in town for her birthday, the Band Marino concert, the UF game, Jonathan and Aaron Moore were both here. UF lost to Auburn (hey–we’re still the SEC and National champions!)…
this weekend promises to be a bit more relaxing… thank goodness!
Delane is up at LSU for the away game… (and in a sidenote–she has to be one of the most thoughtful and sweetest people in the world–realizing the stress i was in with the whole “hacker” business, she wanted to do something to make my day better. she noted that i had laundry to do (a lot at that) and she took it to the cleaners for me! she’s wonderful! i’m so blessed!)

Leah’s birthday is coming up… I have no idea what to get her…. Hannah loved the dress i sent her… makes my day.

still working on TWLOHA up here at UF. going to meet with the Reitz Union Board hopefully next week!
sigh…
my long Friday was shortened with the missing of class…but now i have to head to work, and then to my afternoon classes.

have a wonderful weekend reader.

p.s. i had a nice conversation with a regular volunteer at the Radio Reading Service. He mentioned that he was a retired publisher, at which I told him my dream of having a book of poetry published within one year of graduating. He warned me as to how difficult my goal actually was, gave me the name of a book every hopefully “author” should read, and told me to never give up.
I don’t intend to.

FACEBOOK HACKER

Someone on my friend’s list on facebook sent me a message late tonight asking if i could do them a favor… It was a little wierd because i hadn’t heard from the person in ages.
They said that they were experiencing problems with their facebook, and asked if i could send them my yahoo e-mail and password, apologizing for the wierdness.
a bit suspicious, but wanting to help, i said that i’d be happy to if they could just give me a call and confirm this… they responded, saying that their phone was dead, thanks anyway.
odd…
a matter of minutes later, i received another message, saying “ha… thanks for nothing b****. this isn’t your friend. i’ve gone and changed your yahoo account. if you want it back you had better do what i say…”

I immediately tried to login to my yahoo account, and it told me i had submitted an invalid password. before i knew it my facebook had been hacked into as well…
as soon as this happened, i notified a friend to post something on facebook and warn as many people as possible, and started checking all of my other online records…

THEY HACKED INTO MY BANK ACCOUNT.

I quickly called the bank’s number, and had my online account ability de-activated, in hopes that none of my money was stolen.

I cannot get ahold of facebook, and i’m trying to contact yahoo right now…

If you’re my friend and you’re received something from me within the past few hours (and in the coming days…I am sorry, it is in error. IGNORE IT AND DELETE ME IMMEDIATELY!!!) safeguard yourselves from hackers and avoid any suspicious messages you may recieve.

call me if you need to know more….