Author:bluelollipoproad

January 10, 2011 In Uncategorized

no black sheep

In my Twitter feed the other day I learned of the movie: Pariah. Naturally I clicked through, curious at the intriguing looking film. Of course that lead me to learn of Kickstarter (what a great fundraising platform!) and to also watch the preview and interview with the makers of the film. I’ve shared before that I have a brother who is gay and several friends as well, so projects like this make me very thankful. We all have those days we feel judged, unsupported and confused as we grow up and attempt to find our feet underneath us. It’s hard enough to be an average, straight joe and wrap your head around your place in the world. I can’t imagine having my sexuality judged and hated too like so many do in the mix of the already overwhelming growing up process. The only way we’ll be able to keep promoting tolerance is to create windows into other people’s worlds that might be different than ours. Exposure is everything.

Congratulations on being a selection for the Sundance Film Festival Pariah. I hope you make your fundraising goal. Thank you for working so hard to make a film that will encourage open hearts and open minds. You are no doubt saving lives.

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January 7, 2011 In Photos, Virginia

graffiti and polenta

Last night I had dinner with friend and at my favorite restaurant in the whole wide world, Mamma Zu. I have only written about this place about 142 times. It’s that yummy to me. I love that they still don’t even have a website, or at least I’ve never been able to find one when I do a search. Great thing about a place that good and that busy? They don’t need one!

I was one happy camper when I looked up at the chalkboard menu and saw an appetizer that had seemed to disappear for years: polenta gorgonzola. Of course we ordered it. Here’s our serving:

Polenta gorgonzola at Mamma Zu

The whole package at Mamma Zu makes me happy: Incredible food, good wine, reasonable prices, funky looking characters working in the tiny open kitchen, seedy neighborhood, dilapidated looking building with paint peeling off the front door next to the “pull hard” paper sign taped to it, and the graffiti on the bathroom walls. (That is just scratching the surface.) Of course I have participated in the allowed delinquency over the years, writing on those walls of the scrubby looking ladies room. This summer before I left for Alaska, I had to get my Mamma Zu fix. The bathroom wall 6 months ago was fairly bare, so I opted from some prime real estate to write my message. Guess what was still there last night? Indeed my message, with a “response” of sorts from a stranger:

Graffiti bathroom wall at Mamma Zu

In case you can’t read the message above mine, it says: “Alaska was here. Do what you like and like what you do!”

Hoorah to that Alaska…thanks! I left you a message back, so you’ll have to check it out next time you’re in my favorite little hole in the wall house of deliciousness.

To my dinner company~

Here’s to moving at the speed of light, no matter what your age, going to bed happy, and waking up even happier. Thank you.

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January 6, 2011 In Uncategorized

vote for one week job!

Guess who’s up for a Pepsi Refresh Grant?! My friends at One Week Job. Yay for them! I’ve written about Sean and OWJ a few times here. I got to meet and stay with him when I drove through Vancouver this summer during Alaska or Bust. I had a blast hanging out with he, Ian (Videographer) and their friends. In person, these guys were more humble, generous and interesting than I could’ve imagined. (What a bonus to find out people you think would be uber cool are even better than that when you finally meet.)

Please vote here for One Week Job.

Sean and Ian~

Congratulations on everything. So happy for you guys. Good luck and keep doing all that you do. Here’s to work you believe in, and following your passion!

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January 6, 2011 In Uncategorized

BLR 3.0

This is Sarah, the BLR intern. You’ve met her before:

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What a goofball. I love this photo. She and I have been working very hard to give Blue Lollipop Road a new look and updated information. I owe her like, big time X 1,000. She’s stupendous.

Look up and click through the pages up top to see new stuff.

Sarah and I are off to do something really fun this weekend, so watch for photos and video next week. (Ooh I am so excited for this one.) Wait until you see what we do for our “company outing.” Nothing like some good old fashioned team building. Mwah-ah-ahhh…

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January 5, 2011 In Uncategorized

do coupons ever really expire?

Alicia, who runs Social Media for American Honda Motor Company left me a return voicemail. SWEET! You know I love a Honda.

Travis, the Founder and CEO of Gogobot. has returned my email and we have set up a time to chat via phone. YAY! You know I love a fun company filled with people that travel.

In the irony of life, they both asked if I could stop by and meet them within days after I left the west coast to come east for the holidays. Thankfully I have a Honda that’s reliable and great on gas mileage, so if it’s necessary for me to drive a quick 3,000 miles again soon, I am all over it. We shall see. These are some of the many surprises to come. Aren’t you excited? I sure am.

Who knows what the future holds. I don’t need to. What I do know is the best way to do something is to start doing it. How is Alicia at Honda ever going to know I love the product her company makes if I don’t tell her? How is Travis supposed to know I think it’d be fun and I am experienced enough to work with his company if I don’t say: “Hey there Travis! I think your company looks swell. I’d really like to work with you, look what I have done! Can we chat?”

Before I get to my point in case you haven’t gotten it already, I’d like to share some inside scoop with you: I AM NOT A GENIUS. (In fact, I just Googled genius right now because no matter how many times I type it, I still want to type it as “genous” incorrectly spelled.) So? When people are aghast and asked how I’ve “managed” to do something, I reply: “I know this is going to sound crazy, but I just did it.” (Go figure, those Nike guys have been on to something all these years.) Logistics? Sure. Planning? Sometimes. Actually doing, as in- asking, attempting, starting some kind of movement? Yes. There’s no other way.

If you like it, love it, or gotta have it (indeed this is in reference to the fun sizes at Cold Stone Creamery) then start squeaking. If you’re not squeaking for that cheese, the mouse in the next house that is, will get it every time.

Thanks Grandma. Your: “They always take expired coupons if you just ask. All you have to do is ask.” -theory really does work!

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January 5, 2011 In Photos

hello, i’m diane and i’m a stamp addict

I was so intensely focused on making sure I had everything just perfect before I sealed the priority mail envelope today, I forgot to take a photo. I wanted to fully document my passport renewal process, but now all I have to show for it is this:

Passport Renewal Delivery Confirmation

…my Delivery Confirmation Receipt. Better than nothing. I was thrilled to find out even though I had to send my current passport away, it comes back with the new one. When the woman at the post office told me I had to send my delightfully stamped, stickered and bent companion away to get a new one, I probably looked like a kid who just found out there’s no such thing as Santa Claus: horrified and heartbroken. She assured me that I’d have my precious blue book of traveled miles back in just 4 to 6 weeks. Whew!

When the nice girl at Kinkos handed the photos she took of me to send along, I thought- what?! THAT is the pasty white, winter skinned and chubby cheeked girl who will be staring back at me for the next 10 years on this mucho important document? Great. Then I remembered that I’d only ever be looking at that photo while at some kind of border patrol or customs station, which would mean that I’d be on my way to adventure somewhere. Suddenly I could care less whether I looked like a purple panda, a booger face, or a pasty white chunk head. I just happily skipped out the door knowing once again, that the world is my oyster…

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January 4, 2011 In Uncategorized

good things come to those who wait

At least that’s what they tell me.

I know, I think talk is cheap and I like results too, so I am here to say sorry to keep you waiting for the surprises I have been teasing you about. Turns out, things do take longer than expected sometimes. I promise when you log on and visit here this week, you will see some fun changes. There will indeed be a lot more goodies after that as well in this fine month of January to kick off 2011- so sit tight.

YIPPEE!

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