Changing the world - Day 14

Ladies and gentleman,

Today I will be performing a good deed that may benefit you! It requires a little audience participation but it is totally worth it.

I am a big reader. I love books. Big books, little books, funny books, skinny books, sad books, Dad's books, any kind of books I can get my hands on. As a result, I have a rather hefty collection. Frenchy reckons that I need to give them all away because books are meant to be read rather than gather dust on a bookshelf. But I've always been a bit precious with my books and the thought of giving them away was almost offensive.

But I have had a change of heart. Maybe it's my 365 days of good deeds but I've come around to the idea of sharing my most treasured tomes with others.

So this is what I'm going to do: I am going to pick my 10 favourite books of all time. The most amazing books I've ever read. The ones that changed my life or my beliefs or just generally were the shit.

All you have to do to get your hands on one is this - a good deed. Pay it forward homies. Do a good deed, post it as a comment on my blog (or if you don't have an account compatible with blogger then just e-mail me your good deed at krissiekennedy@gmail.com) and let me know your address. You will then receive (in the mail!!!) one of my all time favourite books to read.

You can't keep it though! You have to pass it on to someone else and they have to pass it on too. These 10 books are going out into the world as vagabonds - never to return to the dusty prison of a bookshelf.

Yippeee! This is going to be fun...There's only 10 though so get your do-gooder skates on.

Until tomorrow xxx

Changing the world - Day 13

I have been killing myself lately trying to get my book finished. My head is constantly pounding with ideas and amendments and...stuff.

Today I had a day off. I visited my Dad. Went shopping with a friend. She colored my hair. Then I had a lovely dinner at a fave haunt with another couple of besties.

By the time I got home I was exhausted. But a different, nice kind of exhausted. Then I made the shocking realisation I'd forgotten to do a good deed!

OMG! As the kids say these days. I had no idea what to do given I was already in bed. My husband suggested something rude (you can guess) - I told him to go whistle :-)

I looked to Facebook for inspiration and noticed a little 1 on my messages icon. A nice diversion I thought! Who had written me a note? I clicked on it and lo, a friend had sent a link asking if anyone wanted to sponsor her wee niece in the MS Read-a-thin! No shit!

I love the MS read-a-thon. I still remember cheating in it when I was in primary school. All my neighbors would sponsor me for 10 or 20 cents per book but unbeknownst to them I was skim reading 100 Little Golden Books. On collection day I'd be collecting a good 10 or 20 bucks of everyone. Result!

My friend's niece had delightfully stated her target amount to reach was 20 cents. Ah bless! How could I not donate to such a worthy cause on behalf of such an adorable child?

So there you have it - good deed opportunities can pop out at you any time, any place. You just have to be ready for them.

Until tomorrow do-gooders xx

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Changing the world - Day 12

My good deed today literally knocked on my door.

I had just returned home from picking the little mite up from childcare when I heard a pounding on my front door.

I opened it to find a man laden with canvases who then thrust a piece of cardboard under my nose which explained he had communication difficulties. I continued reading and discovered he was selling paintings of scenes from around the area. Would I like to see them?

Well, yes I would. It's not every day an art gallery appears at your door. So I invited him in and he displayed five works he'd done, two of which were very pretty landscapes. I asked how much they were and he indicated to a piece of paper which read '99 each'.

I don't know about anyone else but the last time I had a hundred bucks in my wallet was in the previous decade so I had to decline. He'd heard that old chestnut before though and immediately showed me another note that said 'you can go to the ATM.' Cheeky sod!

Noam started crying so I told the artist that I couldn't go to the ATM but I could give him a donation towards his endeavours if that was acceptable. Apparently it was, so I contributed to his art fund and he set off with a smile on his face.

I'm not sure if this is the good deed he was hoping for but it's something, right?

Until tomorrow do-gooders xx

Changing the world - Day 11

My good deed today is a little abstract but will ultimately save lives.

I have had some rather heated debates in the past with a couple of my friends regarding the cinematic credentials of the movie '27 Dresses'. I contend that that film has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, while some buddies are adamant it should be hailed a classic rom-com.

I was informed yesterday by a very considerate friend, that the movie in question was being screened on channel 11 tonight.

My good deed for today incorporates the following: unprecedented restraint at not putting my foot through the tv.

Ignoring an overwhelming desire to create a Katherine Hiegel voodoo doll and stick pins in it for hours on end.

Resisting the temptation to go on a wild, random shooting spree in protest that such an abomination was ever allowed to assault our eyes and ears.

So you see, sometimes a good deed is not what you do, but what you don't do. Amen brother.

Until tomorrow do-gooders xx

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Changing the world: Day 10

Woohoo! Double digits...Today's good deed was the old double-pronger.

I took a very good friend of mine to an excellent maternity bra shop to get some uber comfy bra's for her expanding boosies.

On the flip side - I took a lovely customer into a fantastic local shop called Bodywise and increased the knowledge of their presence outside of Woodend!

Yay me! And yay for boobs!

Until tomorrow do-gooders x

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Changing the world - Day 9

I'm a little bit obsessed at the moment with crowd-funded art websites. If you have no idea what they are then I hope I explain it clearly.

There are websites (predominantly) in the US where artists from all genres can upload their project ideas for the general public to browse. If you are browsing and like what you see you can contribute money to the cause and help the artist reach their goal. For instance - I could upload the first chapter of my book, write a really great pitch and hope people like it and pledge money to help me pay for publishing...make sense?

Artists usually offer incentives for contributions as well. Most authors offer a copy of the book or something like that. Anyhoo - best way to understand it is to go have a squiz at indiegogo.com or kickstarter.com

I was browsing around indiegogo today and found a book written by a couple of likely lasses called 'does this ponytail make my butt look big?' It's a style guide for women who don't have the wardrobe or money of Rachel Zoe. Cool idea I thought. So I pledged some money to help them on their way.

Donations can be as big or small as you like - my thought is every little helps!

So hopefully my good deed for the day will help a very worthwhile cause take off!

Until tomorrow do-gooders xx

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Changing the world - Day 8

My friend Abbey does this sort of stuff way better over at Gild & Grace but I thought I would try a visual good deed today.

Bashing away on the computer I was pleasantly surprised when my Dad turned up on my doorstep for lunch. While eating he commented on the beautiful daffodils growing in our yard.

I had not taken the time to notice them but when I stopped and stared I was overwhelmed by their magic. The colour just makes you happy don't you think?

So I picked a few for my study - I'm hoping they encourage me to keep persisting in what can be a pretty disheartening pursuit.

And I hope they inspire you too - to do whatever it is that you want to...

Until tomorrow do-gooders xx

Changing the world - Day 7

My good deed for today jumped up and bit me on the bum. I was at my Dad's this morning, helping him sell some stuff on EBay, when his very, very, extremely elderly neighbour hobbled outside to collect her bins.

I dashed over to take the bins from her and wheel them in myself while Dad had a chat. She is not well. Nosiree. Last time I saw her I took Noam over to cheer her up a bit but he burst into tears when he saw her. Bad timing.

Today she looked even more frail and sickly. I did not take Noam over.

Bringing the bins in for her was a pretty simple act but I think in the days and weeks to come I might keep Dad's neighbour in the forefront of my mind for good deeds.

Until tomorrow do-gooders xx

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Changing the world - Day 6

I've always fancied myself as a bit of a singer. My confidence took a beating for a while when I dated a singer but luckily we did not work out. So my passion was reignited and I have inflicted my vocals on anyone who's ridden in my car, anyone at any karaoke party / bar I have ever been to and any peeping tom's who've spied on me in the shower.

As I was zooming down the Calder Freeway today on my way to my Dad's place, I realised that as Chris de Burgh hit the crescendo in 'Lady in Red', I didn't quite. Actually I did not hit it at all.

My dad took up piano when he retired a/ because he loves the piano and b/ because he thinks it might ward off any possibility of Alzheimer's taking hold. Fair enough too. So I asked him if his piano teacher might be able to recommend a singing teacher to help me reach the heady heights of Chris de Burgh. He said he'd ask, she said she knew someone and bish bash bosh - I've locked myself in to some singing classes.

This is most definitely a good deed - just ask anyone who's heard my rendition of Lady in Red or anything else for that matter!

A friend of mine imparted some wisdom to me once upon a time. She said she'd always wanted to play the violin and had been telling all and sundry as much for years. For her 40th birthday she booked in for some lessons and was told that if she'd started when she'd first thought of it she would've been proficient already.

Hmmm - good point. By my 40th birthday then you'll probably see me at number 1 on the top 40! So you see - this good deed just keeps on giving.

Until tomorrow do-gooders xx

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Changing the world - Day 5

Hello all,

Had a bit of a bad night last night with a rather unfortunate upset stomach. This morning I wondered what good deed I could do from the comfort of my own home.

But the sunshine and some encouragement from friends inspired me to get out and get a bit of vitamin D (is that the one you get from the sun?) on my sickly skin.

What a brilliant idea. I'm so pleased I did it. Spring is really in the air, the cherry blossoms are blooming, magnolia trees are at their most beautiful and the birdies were tweeting away.

I thought I'd walk until something struck me and it did. I saw the local library in the distance and thought what an important service they provide. Being a huge book lover I had joined the library when we first moved to Woodend but in 2 years I've been about twice - when my Internet was broken at home.

So I slouched about the library looking at all my possible borrowing options. Surprisingly they were extensive (in the fiction section anyway) and I borrowed a book titled 'Dear Editor'. I thought that was appropriate at the moment :-)

So there you have it. Good deed for today was utilising the public library. I'm making a promise to myself to go more regularly because they're ace and where would we be if they disappeared?

Until tomorrow do-gooders x

PS - thank you to everyone who has left a lovely message of encouragement. I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment x

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Changing the world - Day 4

Hello everyone,

Made it back from a wonderful weekend in Warrnambool. Managed to see a southern right whale and her calf mucking about at Logan's Beach. Very cool.

My good deed today didn't even require me to move from the computer. I signed the 'get up' petition supporting equality for our gay brothers and sisters! Let them suffer through a legally binding marriage like the rest of us I say! :-)

Seriously though - are we really still debating this? In 2011?! Ridiculous.

If you want to do something good today - click on the link below and stick your support where your mouth is...or something like that :-)

Until tomorrow do-gooders xxx

https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/marriage-equality/petition/sign-now?referring_service=mailto#.TlC1CGcRRjo.mailto

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Changing the world - day 3

In warrnambool today on a bit of a family weekend away. While my husband, dad and son were out having a walk (I was having a nana nap) they saw sections around lake pertobe with a big revegetation effort underway.

Somehow, a few of the little treelings had lost their protective milk cartons so I went back to the site with frenchy and fixed them.

Easy peasy. I would put a photo up of the little trees we 'saved' (maybe a little dramatic?!) but I can't work out how to add more than one photo from my phone. Not very technologically advanced :-)

Until tomorrow do-gooders xxx

Changing the world - Day 2

Isn't it lovely when you get mail? Real mail. In the letterbox, from someone you want to hear from. The sad fact is it rarely happens anymore. We're all so busy being 'connected' we've forgotten the pure joy derived from the simple things in life.

Today I decided to send a letter to a friend, just to let them know they're ace and someone is thinking of them.

I think I'm going to do that more often. It was easy, nice to write and fun to post. And I'm hoping will improve my friend's day when it's delivered.

Until tomorrow do-gooders xxx

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Changing the world...

It's been a long time between posts my friends but for good reason. I have been thwacking away on the keyboard trying to write and finish and perfect and re-write my book. Yes indeedy. In case you are unaware I have been writing a book (the most humorous work you've ever seen) about my pregnancy. Fingers crossed.

When last we met, I was looking for inspiration on what I could do for 365 days of the year and blog about. Like the movie Julie and Julia and countless other 365 endeavours that are occurring on blogs across the world.

I was slightly underwhelmed with the responses from my loyal followers (none). However, I blame you not, for everyone leads busy lives and who has time to think up such whimsical notions? Well I was inspired yesterday, quite unexpectedly, by a friend who was very excited about the 365 days of something. He suggested 365 days of training for the Hawaiian Iron Man and then actually competing in the Hawaiian Iron Man. Ho ho ho. While that may be something that a lot of people would be interested in following (considering the possibility of my dying during the training or competition would be incredibly high) I didn't think it feasible for me.

But the discussion got me thinking once again about the 365 day topic and then a sprig of an idea grew. I don't know about anyone else but for me, seeing the state of the world at the moment is almost too much to bear. There are more wars going on than you could possibly imagine, there are pirates and riots and all sorts of hideous evil-doings. It's just plain sad.

So what do I propose to do about it you may ask? I'll tell you...

For the next 365 days I am going to do a good deed a day. A GOOD DEED A DAY.

I don't mean donating all my worldly possessions and becoming a monk and moving to Tibet (though who knows how I'll feel by the end of my year). I mean daily gestures, small deeds that generally make the world a better place. Holding doors open, having a cup of tea with an elderly neighbour, not swearing blindly at a car who cuts me off, having sex with my husband (ho ho). You get the picture.

If you have some premeditated ideas for deeds I could do please send them in. Otherwise I'll just be going with organic, spur of the moment deeds. Either way works for me.

My good deed for today - Day 1 - is to upload a photo and update the blog that we've set up for Noam's Grandmamie and Grandpapi in France. It's the only way they get to see their little man and I need to be more diligent about it.

There you go. That was easy. And has definitely improved the world by making some people happy.

I feel good already. Until tomorrow do-gooders! xxx