http://postsecret.blogspot.com/2009/12/holiday-secrets.html

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people
mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.



-----Email Message-----

In ev'ry job that must be done
There is an element of fun
you find the fun and snap!
The job's a game

-Mary Poppins















-----Email Message-----

In China, it is custom to wait until the gift-giver leaves before opening the gift -- then there's no put-on about how much you love it etc.

















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The December PostSecret/HopeLine fundraiser has raised $8,250, $10,995 $12,375 $17,465.

100, 72, 45, 0 signed PostSecret books remain. HopeLine

Thanks for your support and for helping those who may be struggling this time of year.





I received the following message from Reese Butler, Founder of HopeLine, this morning. . .

Frank -
This was unbelievable. What a great effort and response. The comments are so profound and caring. Some made the donation and asked that the book be sent directly to someone else as a gift. Some who lost loved ones to suicide and thought this would be a healing gesture. It is truly heart warming and amazing to read each one.
-Reese


----Email Message-----
Thank you so much for your support, Frank. And sincere
thanks to all of the volunteers at the Hope Center!


-----Email Message-----
Thank you for the good work you continue to perform. You have
helped me personally and I am honored to give back.


-----Email Message-----
I am an avid postsecret fan - checking every Sunday with my fiance, even attended a live show in Peoria - and recently saw your response to a woman's message about her feelings of sadness and helplessness. I think your hopeline is such a great thing. I am happy that both you and Frank Warren have found your calling - happy for you, but mostly happy for those lives you impact, and, ultimately save.


-----Email Message-----
I just saw your message on PostSecret about responding to non crises. Is there any way that I could help with this by volunteering and taking calls? I'd absolutely love to help out! Thank you!


-----Email Message-----
Hopeline is one of the miracles out there.




This week, you can receive one of the actual 6-foot by 4-foot billboards used in the making of the most popular All-American Rejects music video by your $2,000 donation to the Kristin Brooks Hope Center. 1(800)SUICIDE

Caught a little bus down to San Pedro La Laguna Thursday.  Went directly to my school and got to learn how to salsa dance while waiting for my familiar to come pick me up! My familiar is very sweet. Jose, Maria, and their 3yr old son, Felix.

The house is cool! I have my own, clean bedroom with my own lock. The first floor is the bedrooms and the toilet and shower (not heated) are in their seperate rooms. Then the kitchen/dining room are on the roof with a fabulous view of Lake Atitlan.

Thursday I slept from 9pm till 645am, 8am till 11am. Then started school from 2 till 6. A torrential downpour started about 515. I was drenched by the time I finally finished getting lost and finding my way home.

Friday night, slept from 9pm till 7am. Saturday morning, ate breakie and headed to school to go kayaking. Forgot sunblock. Burnt to a crisp. Got the great raccoon eyes going. Had a fabulous time.

After kayaking went to a wedding with my family. Now I am headed to the Buddha Bar to go to some artist fundraiser.

First!

Hi world. I've been up to no good lately. Thanks to a Secret Santa buddy who sent me sample vials of Hermes' Elixir des Merveilles perfume, which is heavily scented with chocolate covered-orange peels and vanilla biscuits, I may have had thoughts about what it would be like to devour my arm for a meal. Sadly, the only thing Hermes really means to me stems from the Densha Otoko legend. I still have to figure out, in the grand scheme of things, whether my ignorance to high fashion is a good or bad thing in the long run.

Semester's over. I still work too much, but no more 34-day work streaks. My checking account still closely resembles Jay Cutler's accrual of fantasy football points (100 yards forward, 2 interceptions back). Well hey, at least it's nowhere near negative. That's saying something! I'm still really good at making inappropriate and only half-funny one liners. There are some things about me that never change.

I finally finished the scarf I started knitting. It's ugly and very imperfect but I think I got the hang of it. I'll be making useful things in a short while, I think.

I'm also growing away from Facebook and growing towards Twitter/Foursquare. I grew up in a different era of Facebook, the one where you put your college schedules on it and there were only nine people from your high school on it, and six total colleges. It's just become too busy for me. I'm really liking Foursquare, and although there have been some interesting rivalries (three of my coworkers are on it now and my friend is hellbent on ousting me as "mayor" of our Starbucks) it's still pretty cool. It was the first app I downloaded on my iPhone when I got it, and I've been a convert ever since.

Oh yeah, and I got an iPhone in October. Gone are the days of shitty phones that I get because I feel as though phones should be used for calling and texting. Well, I still stand by that fact 100%, but unfortunately, my lack of living in a place I deem "home" makes it convenient to have a smartphone, and it just so happens that my network doesn't carry any Android phones. Honestly, I would've been happy with any smartphone, but iPhones do some pretty cool things. I hate how it runs my life, though. I manage all three of my fantasy football teams from it in a pinch, play Foursquare, update Twitter/Facebook, check out all my news, ready books (currently working on Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger). In short, I hate it and love it simultaneously. But such is life.

Onwards to music. The Top 10 on What has been an endless rotation of music that makes its way onto my phone. I hate the way the iPhone sets up its playlists and it's harder to build on-the-go playlists over my 30 GB 5Gen Video. I can't carry that around all the time anyway. Besides, it's full, and that's sad.

Painfully waiting for Contra to leak.

I mean, be released.


Music I Love:

Robin Thicke's new album, Sex Therapy: The Experience: Holy mother, this album's so good. Oddly reminiscent of Timberlake's FutureSex/LoveSounds, but dare I say... sexier? Less Timbaland-esque hooks, equal album flow, more Brazilian lounge integration, sound samples from porn flicks. To be honest, I can't really listen to his first album cover to cover but I cannot stop listening to this album on continuous loop. I also told my boss to download it in the hopes that it may aid her in conceiving another child. If any album could, it's this one.

Yeasayer's [leaked] album, Odd Blood: I think that if you took a lot of Animal Collective's music and made it more mainstream, catchy, and digestible, you'd get Yeasayer's new album, most notably in the single off the album, "Ambling Alp". It's also incredibly delicious and due out in February 2010, although it's all over the internet already.

Kings of Convenience's relatively new release, Declaration of Dependence: Dude, this album. My sister has been a big KoC fan since high school, where she would describe them as a super-European version of Simon and Garfunkel. Their remix album was great too, but I always found a few sleeper tracks on each of their releases amidst the various gems that still find their way onto my mixes nowadays. This album, in my honest opinion, is my favorite and the most whole as a release. There are some really great tracks on it, especially "Rule My World", and "24-25". The guitar work is absolutely impeccable.

Lady Gaga: On a scale from excellent to absolutely excellent: "LoveGame" < "Bad Romance" < Kid Cudi/Common/Kanye's "Make Her Say" < "Paparazzi". Cherry cherry blue moon.

Anything by Passion Pit: I don't know why this band keeps steadfast in my rotation. With their all newfound exposure I could be uber-pretentious and hate them off the bat, but seriously, they are so damn catchy. They sold out House of Blues Boston, incidentally on my birthday, shame on me for thinking they wouldn't or couldn't. To be fair though, they did not even come close to selling out Paradise Rock Club this summer, which is like a third of the size, although probably it was because Major Lazer/Matt & Kim/Bacardi Tour was giving out tickets at House of Blues like candy. Free candy.

But seriously, I digress. They're catchy, but I'm not too torn up about the Jan 6 show because they'll come around again, and again, and again.

Princeton's album, Cocoon of Love: This album roped me in with the first track, "Sadie & Andy", maybe because it sounds a lot like a throwback or eerily similar to Belle and Sebastian's "Lazy Line Painter Jane". Maybe it's because I'm a sucker for the 50's progression. Probably because I'm a sucker for the 50's progression. Okay, I'm a 100% sucker for a well-executed, cutesy-style 50's progression.

But it's good all around.

Any album by Phoenix except Lisztomania, most notably It's Never Been Like That: I must admit that the first album I listened to by Phoenix was Lisztomania, since Phoenix was always on my list of "bands that I must check out when I get the chance", a list only smaller than the list of "TV shows that I must check out when I get the chance". So I gave Lisztomania a looksee, liked what I heard, and went backwards. What I found was outstanding... I actually liked all of Phoenix's older stuff more than their well-received recent release. How about that.

Kid Sister's album, Ultraviolet: A lot of people say this album is a disappointment compared to the release of her EP and some other singles, but it flows really well. Great dance music, fantastic hooks. And oh my god, "Switch".

The new Spoon single, "Written in Reverse": Spoon never fails to disappoint, and I'm so amped for the release of Transferrence, like you wouldn't believe.

Music I hate:

Uffie's new single: Ke$ha does Uffie nowadays better than Uffie does Uffie.

Lil Wayne's [accidentally leaked by Amazon, way to go guys] new album, Rebirth: So when Kanye West decided to stop being brilliant and before he became a total asshole, jumpstarting Taylor Swift's career and spawning memes, he released what most regarded to be his worst album, 808s and Heartbreak. Of course, I loved it (because I'm a sucker for autotune). This is Lil Wayne's venture into making a rock album, and honestly, it totally fails. Seriously, if he picked up a guitar and played all the riffs himself, that'd be different, but this album is sort of... boring. Lifeless. Awful. If they do rerelease it and change it up, I'd be surprised about what they can do to make it better.

The Black Kids' EP, which was not memorable enough to remember: Someone upped a reported v0 that made the Top 10 on What. I streamed a bit of it, and no, just no. I really liked Partie Traumatic even though it received a Pitchfork 0 that turned into an image macro that only pretentious hipster types could understand, but... I just cannot back up this EP. I just don't like it. It's just... not good.

Any Kings of Leon post Aha Shake Heartbreak: I seriously can't believe that a band with enough talent to put out an album like Aha Shake Heartbreak could put out all those albums that everyone loves them for, that they can sell out the Agganis Arena twice for. I don't get it. Every so often, I try to listen to their newer stuff and I just can't wrap my mind around it, to the point where I deleted one of their albums off of my hard drive. Seriously Kings of Leon, I wish I could love you more, but I just can't. I love the ghost of your former self.

I got in to America last night and have been mostly settling back in since then. I already had my first job interview this afternoon (it seemed to go well, but they're only offering part-time).

I don't have a cell phone number yet, but I hopefully will by early next week.

Let me know when you're all free and what's going on

January - on Jeju. Lots of exploring was being had.

February - much of the same as January.

March - Got sick (whooping cough)
- Nathan died.

April - Dad and Gail came to Jeju for 8 days! (I was pretty sick but still attempted to take them out)

May - JinSoon died.
- mom's motorcycle accident.

June - left Jeju early.
- Brianfest with Greggie and Dan

July - mom hangouts.
- helping Christopher

August - Connect - Shambhala with Dan

September - Burning Man!!!! with dan and chrissy
- my birthday
- many other fabulous virgo birthdays

October - Grandma Schroeder's 90th

November - Great Aunt Jessie's funeral (anj and dad roadtrip)
- Grandma Stirling's 80th

December - Victoria stayed with Chance, visited Tim
- Vancouver - stayed with Shaun and Amber   
- visited; HyoJung and family, Kyra, Jaime, Carter
- Seattle
- Guatemala

Just got into Guatemala early this morning...


Yesterday, woke early and went d/t with Jessi. Hung out, FedEx'd some stuff home. The lady at FedEx was TOTALLY awesome! Coffee. Talked with this Russian(?)guy over coffee. Threw out my maps of Seattle then realized after I left the coffee shop that I still needed them. haha. oops. Goodbyes then off to the airport.

Almost didn't get onto my flight due to not having a return/onward ticket. Called Marlin Travel and purchased one. It was uber expensive, but I will get all but the traveller's agent fee back. (It totally WAS NOT necessary).

7 hour layover in LA! I HATE LAX!! Anytime I have ever travelled Internationally with them I have always gone used entrance/zone 4. This area is HUGE! There is tons to do after security clearance. This time I was in zone 2. Due to lack of anything better to do I went through security three hours early. That was with over a half hour wait to get through security and apparently it only gets busier. Once I got to the other side I was shocked, stunned, and ready to cry. There were 6 gates. No Internet. A couple of restaurants. This was about to severely blow. I drank. and the beer was NOT delicious.

Gonna stop drinking beer. For the past couple months after drinking I will go and pass out then wake up again 2-3 hours later. Stupid carbs giving useless energy!


Arrived in Guatemala. Shit. No ATM. No Info. No anything really, except an exit and many cabbies tryin to drum up business. Went up to departures to see if I could get any more info from there. Found an ATM and talked to a foreigner.

Taxi to Antigua (I'm such an idiot, coulda taken a bus from Guat City. pretty obvious, ya... but... I'm going with the totally spacey, travelling too long, not enough sleep card)
now waiting till 2 freakin 15 for my bus to leave!!

Gonna go find a cafe and curl up with a book. I feel like total garbage.


- woke up too late to use Internet before leaving\
- rain
+ awesome FedEx lady
+ lotsa coffee
+ met Leshick
- Threw out maps prematurely
- Starbucks = crappy coffee
- Goodbye to Jessi
+ New adventure
- almost wasn't allowed on my flight
--- 7 hour layover in LA!
- Guat less anj friendly than woulda hoped
+ I'm on the same time zone as Regina
+ it's nice out. maybe mid-twenties. sunny.

Last year was my first year teaching. Obviously, there were a lot of things I did wrong, some of which I have corrected this year, but there are also a lot of things I did right. The people who completed my algebra class last year are good at dealing with functions algebraically, better than people who completed Mike's (the math teacher I replaced) Algebra class the year before.

Also, I was really proud of how far I got in the text last year, how much of the curriculum I was able to get to. Including the summer session, I touched on every single point in the Algebra I curriculum standards, even ones that weren't included when I took Algebra I 14 years ago. Looking at the pace that I am setting this year, I had been disappointed that I didn't think I would be able to accomplish this feat this year.

I kept comparing where we were this year to where we were last year, day by day, and we were so far behind...

Then I realized that I had skipped chapter three initially last year, done the beginning of chapter 4, then gone back to chapter 3, and having to REDO chapter 4. Right now my class this year is where my class last year was in early March. It's December. I'm three months ahead. I won't need the summer session to get through the entire curriculum this year.

Yes, this means I failed my students last year, but it makes me feel good to know that I'm improving.

Seattle has been pretty fun!

Couchsurfed for the first time, with Rob and Heather. It was good times. They introduced me to Rock Band. Tonsa fun!

Then the next day I went to JingleBomb8. Wow. So much slutty clothing. Apparently there is a proper way to layer your underwear for your outfit. I felt so old and overdressed. Anyways, it was a great time. Got to spend time with Sean, Travis, Ian, Amber, and Andrew from Burning Man.

Then it was late night JackInTheBox on the way to my comfy couch. Sean stayed on the other couch and we went for Beth's in the morning. Apparently it is the shiznit of greasy spoon American diners. It definitely was pretty greasy ;)

Sunday night Rob and Heather were fabulous and took me with them to Wild Mountain to have dinner with his sister, Heidi. Jessi came and joined us and I went with her afterwards and that is where I have been staying ever since.

Monday morning I went downtown with Jessi when she went to work. Then there was some random wanderings. Eventually I met up with Sean and Travis. We went out for some sushi then went and hung out at Travis's with his broken toe and his cat, Dinner.

Sean and I met up with Sam and Jessi at Contour for cheap happy hour.

So much rain....

Today was a lazy day. It was raining. It was cold. I have decided that I am going to send my sleeping bag home so I spent lots of time enjoying our time together this afternoon.

So much rain....

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/2009/12/sunday-secrets_13.html

A wedding band came inside this envelope.




PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people
mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a postcard.





-----Email Message-----
She was pretty, she used to climb trees. She made jewelry for her family for Christmas. She was the single mother of a son she loved. She tried her hardest, but just like the rest of us, she made mistakes. And we forgave her for them, just like we forgive you. 


-----Email Message-----
I'm a Firefighter/First Responder, and I google their names because I couldn't save them.


-----Email Message-----

I work in the ICU and Google almost all of my patients. I found out one patient adored her granddaughters more than anything, so I made sure that her granddaughters were allowed in before anyone else.




-----Email Message-----
I baked Christmas cookies with my friend the other day and I'm really scared he's going to think that I sent this in.














-----Email Message-----
I stood right where this picture was taken on the only hill in Paris this weekend and that's when I decided that I wasn't going to just accept who I've become, but instead work to make myself a better person--the one I always wanted to be, but never quite had the courage to achieve.


-----Email Message-----

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart has been the destination for my future
pilgrimage ever since my dad played the John Denver song "A Country Girl
in Paris". I know for certain that something amazing is waiting for me up
upon Montmartre, and I hope - more than anything - that what I find there
is self-acceptance. "For even in her sorrow, there's something in her
eyes.."

-----Email Message-----
I use my wheelchair in my dreams. It took a long time. I think it means I have finally fully accepted myself.. And I am happy.




-----Email Message-----
My boyfriend makes me use a wheelchair. He says it's the only way he's attracted to me. I wish I could fly away.













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PostSecret Events for 2010 are being arranged now. Enter your email below for a full schedule of dates, schools and performance centers.

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/2009/12/wall-street-journal-postsecret-video.html

During the book tour PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller List. Thank you.


Order Your Copy Today




-----Email Message-----

Frank,

I sometimes feel depressed, though thankfully never to the point where I consider suicide. Sometimes I want to call the Suicide Hotline to talk to someone that can help me, but I am worried that I will be occupying someone, and preventing another more desperate caller from getting the help they need. Is there a different number to call that more suits my situation?


-----Email Response-----

Dear Sara,

Frank forwarded your request onto to me. We created 1-800-442-HOPE
(4673) to serve as a warm line for those that were not suicidal but
still wanting to talk with someone who could offer a empathetic ear. The
only caveat is if the crisis line worker gets a crisis call they will
have to end the call with the non crisis caller.

I hope this answers your question and provides the support you are
looking for. If it does not please let me know and I will provide other
referrals for you.

Best always,
Reese Butler
President and Founder
Kristin Brooks Hope Center
National Hopeline Network 1-800-SUICIDE 784-2433
202-536-3200
202-536-3206 fax
1250 24th Street NW
Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20037
www.hopeline.com
reese@hopeline.com

http://postsecret.blogspot.com/2009/12/sunday-secrets-coming-later-today.html

I just returned home from a long book tour and am going through a week's worth of postcards now. Sunday Secrets will be up later today.





The 2009 PostSecret Event tour is also over. PostSecret Events for 2010 are being arranged now. Enter your email below for a full schedule of dates and locations.

2010 PostSecret Events

Follow PostSecret for Updates Today & More News Twitter.





During the book tour PostSecret: Confessions on Life, Death and God reached #1 on the New York Times Best Seller List. Thank you.


Order Your Copy Today