Well, the travel bug is nibbling at my toes once again. It's like a coil that grows tighter the more I think of all the places I have yet to experience. I'm so fortunate to have the ability to travel pretty spur of the moment, though as I get older, have found so much joy in the planning of it all. I've been hatching a plan to travel cross country to see what the size acceptance movement is like on this continent. Travel from state to state, meeting with other big beautiful men and women and the people who enjoy them. I will be traveling back to Italy by the end of this year. My Italian Mamma and her "brother" came to visit me this past September. What an awesome birthday gift to myself! During that trip, I was able to help Giselda sign with a talent agent up in Hollywood. What a great thing. She is now learning English from a tutor so she can make us all so proud of her. It brings tears to my eyes. I will be taking Italian in summer school...I'm very excited about it! Also, will be taking a number of dance classes. Also have a new goal for a BBW dance troupe kinda thing! So many ideas, so many plans yet to start. I certainly would love hearing from anyone, be it with ideas or with contacts in different areas of the country! Look forward to writing again soon Monica's Journal, March 11, 2000 Well, it's been a long time since I've written, and I kept thinking that I didn't have much to write about, but when I look back on all that's happened since Jan, 1999, I realize what an amazing year it's been. I had a voice rectial in March and finished my music teaching degree in May. I worked at a great children's development center and took an intensive Spanish class over the summer. I continued my education in Early Childhood Education in the Fall and Spring, as well as having ankle surgery (all recovered now!) I participated in a bunch of swims and parties with BEACH CITIES ISAA, so my wish to do local ISAA events came true! That chapter has now become it's own group, and they are sponsoring a women's retreat I'm planning on going to this Spring. I'm going on a trip to meet a wonderful FA in England (we're starting off at a science fiction convention in Glasgow, Scotland!). I've been attending events here in Orange County with a group called Mor 2 Luv, and I have spoken at my first panel about Sizism. A group called the National Association for the Education of Young Children (which I'm a member of) has chapters all over the US. Some local chapters held a conference about Diversity (which size acceptance is a recognized component of). I spoke on a panel that included people of very short stature and very tall stature. My audience was mostly preschool and elementary school teachers, so I read them the story "Belinda's Boquet" about a fat girl getting teased by a bus driver for being fat and how her friends mothers help her accept herself without dieting. I gave them a terrific handout including the "No Taunting Pledge" by the National Educators Association, and then we sang some size acceptance songs.
If you'd like information on my handouts or songs, please contact me at: Rachel's Journal, Thursday, January 4, 2001 - 11:15pm (Wow, it feels like such a loonnggg time!) Who needs therapy when I have these journal entries to purge my thoughts! *chuckle* I won't bore you with the past years details of my life. I'll start tonight...right now. No new years resolutions for this gal. I believe in making gradual changes throughout the year, not lumping them into one night of frantic list making. I start school on Monday. Can you believe that? An old fart like me going back to school! (Ok, I feel like an old fart some mornings.) I'm taking a full load my first semester back. That's what happens when you aim high for a double AA. Music and Theatre, the joy of my soul. Italian, so I can speak to my Italian family. (Yes, the same Italian family I met on the ISAA European tour a few years ago.) It will be interesting to see how I've grown, not grown, evolved since going to school four years ago. Saturday night will be my last chance to go out and "shake my groove thang" for awhile. It's funny...I anticipate school taking up the priority in my Life, but I don't see it cutting me off from the world. Maybe I'm thinking too optimistic with 18.25 units! Oye'! I'll try to send some recent pictures from this past year. I know how much you visual people out there enjoy them! *grin* I'm glad to be writing again...thank you for this opportunity. |
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