Tuesday, April 30, 2019

March 2019 Donations

Smile Train

Smile Train is one of my most favourite organisations. I love what they do and support them as often as I can. Please read below for a little info on them and their cause:

Smile Train is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.

Many children with clefts around the world live in isolation, but more importantly, have difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Cleft repair surgery is safe, and the transformation is immediate. Our sustainable model provides training, funding, and resources to empower local medical professionals in 85+ countries to provide 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care in their own communities.

We use the “teach a man to fish” model focusing on training local medical professionals to perform cleft repairs in their communities. Those medical professionals then go on to train others creating a long-term, sustainable system.

Patients see their forever smile for the first time, parents cry tears of joy, lives and communities are changed forever.

As a result of our efficiency and with the support of our donors and partners around the world, Smile Train has transformed the lives of more than one million children by giving them the power of a smile.

Join us and change the world one smile at a time.

Bernie Sanders

I like this man. I like him a lot. I donated money to his campaign again this month because I believe in him and I want someone like him at the helm of this country. Someone that wants equal rights for everyone, believes in a woman's right to choose, healthcare and education for all, and reflects the vision I share for this country. The US needs Bernie Sanders and his ideals and ideas to make the changes we so desperately need.

(photo kidnapped from cnbc)

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Monday, April 29, 2019

March 2019 Books

Consider the Lobster ¹ by David Foster Wallace
* Married to Laughter ¹ by Jerry Stiller - I mean who doesn't love Jerry Stiller? Seeing him on TattleTales with wife Anne Meara prompted me to grab this audiobook and let Jerry tell me of how he met and fell for the love of his life. Just charming.
* If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face? ¹ by Alan Alda - That Alan Alda can do no wrong! I would love to see him put out more books; he's an incredible writer.
* The Stranger ¹ by Albert Camus
* I Think I'm Outta Here ¹ ² by Carroll O'Connor - Would have absolutely loved this to be unabridged but listening to Carroll O'Connor tell his memories of childhood, adulthood, fatherhood, and life as one of television's most memorable faces was just wonderful.
* Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ¹ by Roald Dahl  - As good as I remembered from my childhood!
* To the Stars ¹ by George Takei - Really great memoir from 1994 that tells of Takei's early life. Love this guy!

Chekov Short Stories ¹ by Anton Chekov
Demon Dentist ¹ by David Walliams - I absolutely loved this book and it was so nice to hear the audio version and remind me of the story all over again!

When He Was Wicked by Julia Quinn - Disappointing historical romance.
* Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey- I love this series!!
* Call the Midwife ¹ by Jennifer Worth - I had read this book in early 2014 and it was great to listen to the audiobook version to refresh my memory. Next up are the two sequels to this memoir!
Scrappy Little Nobody ¹ by Anna Kendrick
* Let's Face It ¹ by Kirk Douglas - I usually dislike people other than the author's read a memoir, but Jason Alexander was sublime and I thoroughly enjoy Kirk Douglas' thoughts on life and all the tales he has to tell.


¹ - audiobook
² - abridged version
* - liked
♥ - loved
Any unmarked titles were, in my opinion, so-so.

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Cutie Cousins

These two look like they are posing for the cover of the Summertime issue of a Sears Roebuck catalog!

(photo by Lucy's Papa, Dave)

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Maverick

Discovered another classic television series and I really like it! Although I prefer Bret's episodes to Bart's.

(photo kidnapped from amazon)

Friday, April 26, 2019

Singin' in the Rain

After a super stressful night and morning, it was nice to finally be sitting on the plane, no longer carrying fifty pounds of luggage in my backpack and tote. Usually the film selection is not to my liking until I saw a classic that I've not seen in ages - Singin' in the Rain. Oh god, it was so good and just what I needed.

(photo kidnapped from amazon)

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Where the Willow Meets the Ash

My delightful neighbours on SLP, Bairbre and Michael, told me about a play they were working on and tonight I went to The Viking Theatre to see Michael James Ford co-star in Where the Willow Meets the Ash, directed by Bairbre NĂ­ Chaoimh. It was absolutely hysterical and had me wiping away tears. Michael was wonderful and the other gents, Malachy McKenna (the playwright and main character) and Tom Lawlor who played anger like no one I've ever seen, were all so stinkin' funny. Would love to have them make it a film so I could see it again and again.









(^ Left to right is Michael, Malachy, and Tom ^)





Saturday, April 20, 2019

Back to Kopstraatje!

Seeing some new graffiti art on Kopstraatje was so exciting!!