Master Social Worker

I am now officially a Master Social Worker! That is a funny way to say it - all throughout the ceremony we kept being referred to as "master social workers." It totally makes me think of the Colonization computer game I played when I was younger. You had blacksmiths, and then master blacksmiths, carpenters, and then master carpenters, and so on. So now I have earned enough points to move from social worker to master social worker : )

We had a nice dinner Friday after the ceremony with my family, and then we had a barbecue picnic Saturday afternoon with friends. I had a lot of fun just hanging out with my friends, enjoying the moment. My apologies go out to anyone who was cornered by my grandfather or my great uncle. They are incorrigible to say the least!! My dad took a lot of pictures, and I will post a few up here.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me these past four years and especially sat through my gripe sessions.... Your friendship and support helped me reach this day : )

Back to the normal world

Jonathan and I received an incredible gift on Sunday - a car! It was a combined effort by his grandfather, grandmother, and parents, and we are very thankful that they were sweet and gracious to give this to us. It is a 2001 Subaru Forrester, and it has more miles on it than my poor Jeep, but it's engine works...the Jeep's engine does not work. I will post a picture soon : )

I must admit that I was skeptical at first. I did not want to take a hand out, and as I thought more about it, pride was at the heart of my attitude. Not only pride that I wanted to take care of myself instead of having others take care of me, but pride in being a little rebellious and living as a Memphian without a car. So, we accepted the gift, and I was still a little uneasy about it. But then as I was driving to an appointment Monday afternoon, it hit me..."Our family GAVE us a CAR!" There is no way that we could have afforded to buy this off of a lot, and it has been such a blessing in the three days we have had it! I have been able to help out my team more at work, Jonathan and I were able to grab a quick dinner together in between appointments last night, and my commute to work is now 15 minutes instead of an hour.

Downside to owning a car is that I have not walked more than a few hundred feet at a time since Sunday (when I walked from church to Jason's Deli for lunch). I am going to have to do something to get exercise into my life!! I think we will still walk for errands around our neighborhood, there will be days when Jonathan needs to car, so I will still take the bus to work, and I still plan to run to church on Wednesday nights as much as I can.

So, friends, hopefully you won't receive many more emails and phone calls from the Hulgans asking for transportation places. Thank you for your support over the past nine months : )

How the President's proposed budget will help pay my salary...

I know I have mentioned before on this blog that since my salary is paid through federal and state funds, your tax dollars help pay my salary (and subsequently feed me, keep a roof over my head, clothe me, pay my student loans, etc.). We just found out today that Youth Villages has been listed as a beneficiary of funds in Obama's proposed budget. Read slightly more HERE.

Some encouragement for the $250 challenge!

This is for my Memphis friends...since I think it would be pretty difficult to do this for out of towners:

The FIRST person to donate to my Breast Cancer 3-Day account will receive a home-cooked dinner for their family! I'm a bit of a foodie, and most of you have tasted at least something that I have cooked, so hopefully this is a good award : ) I can cook something you request, or I can surprise you!

So there it is - FREE home-cooked meal, brought to your home, for your family, lovingly prepared by yours truly. I need to raise $250 by May 15th!!! Donate by clicking on the 3-Day box at the top of the page, or click on the "My 3-day page" link on the left side of the page.

Thank you for your support as I raise money to end breast cancer!!

$250 Challenge!

Hopefully you know about my participation in the Breast Cancer 3 Day in November! My fundraising goal is $2300, and the organizers have issued a challenge to raise $250 by May 15th!! Cutting my ultimate fundraising goal into smaller segments is supposed to help keep me (and my donors) motivated : ). If ten people donate $25, I will meet the challenge!

I recently read an article about a Canadian study that found exercise significantly decreases death rates among women diagnosed with breast cancer. That may sound like common sense, but now that there is a scientific study backing it up, hopefully more women will begin exercising regularly before diagnosis, and more doctors will perscribe an exercise regimen to their patients battling breast cancer. I am fundraising and walking 60 miles to promote more research like that! So, if you don't exercise regularly now...start! If you already do...keep it up and encourage a friend to join you! And all of you...donate to the cause by clicking on the 3 Day box at the top right of the blog : )

Sunshine Cleaning

Jonathan and I went to see Sunshine Cleaning last Friday in my continuing "Of course I can't go see normal movies" phase. I loved Little Miss Sunshine, so I thought this would be equally as good. Hmmmm.... It was just slightly too depressing for me for about 99% of the movie. The main chartacter looked to be at the point of tears for most of the movie because she was so depressed and digusted with her life. Thankfully the last three minutes had a positive spin, so I didn't cry into my dinner at Memphis Pizza Cafe. I think what made it slightly more depressing than Little Miss Sunshine is that it was more believable - single mom, kid with antisocial behavior, not measuring up - at least in the character's mind - to the rest of her high school friends. Oh, and the grandfather character isn't a heroin addict in this installment.
If you solely go to movies to escape reality and have a laugh, don't see 'Sunshine Cleaning.' If you go to movies to delve into the inner workings of complex character's minds - ugly though they may sometimes be - then this might be a good movie to see.

Get Ready for Earth Day

What are your plans for Wednesday April 22nd? (Aside from recovering from the haze that will descend on April 20th, of course)

Here are some of my suggestions for celebrating Earth Day:
*Walk, ride your bike, or take the bus instead of drive your car.
*Can't live without your car? Carpool with someone to work or on errands.
*Start recycling if you don't already. Call waste management to request a recycling tub to set out with your weekly garbage.
*Go to the Memphis Farmer's Market this Saturday (opening day!) and prepare a meal Wednesday night with local ingredients.
*Don't cook? Go out to eat at a Green Fork restaurant. Green Fork restaurants are working to become sustainable.
*Unplug your appliances and electronics when you are not using them.
*Support President Obama's high speed train proposal.
*Switch to soy/rice/almond milk. Its production is much more sustainable than cow milk.

Just a few ideas for Earth Day : ). What else can you think of to do?