Darius Goes West

I love documentaries. I also love film making, and enjoying life as much as possible. Darius Goes West is just that: it's an enjoyment of life.

A group of young men decided to take their friend, Darius Weems, across the country to California where they would attempt to get his wheelchair "Pimped out" on the MTV hit show Pimp my Ride. Darius, 15 at the time, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and had never left home before. His brother had died of the disease when he was 19 years old. Along their journey, Darius sees the ocean for the first time, his friends bring his wheelchair all the way down to the shore and he gets in the water and floats first in the Atlantic Ocean, and gets to do it again in the Pacific Ocean when they reach California.

The entire trip was funded by private donations from family members and friends and along the road Darius Weems becomes a legend as their journey was covered by news stations and newspapers. During their trip, the wanted to showcase the different places that were handicapped accessible and those that were not and those news stations helped them do just that.

You can actually watch the entire movie online DARIUS GOES WEST but if you purchase the DVD proceeds go to Charley's Fund a charity for DMD.

I would definitely recommend watching this film, it's beautiful and joyful. Darius doesn't see his disease as an obstacle or as a struggle, and doesn't allow it to stop him from doing any of the things he's wanted to do.

Mr. M

Last week, on Friday February 12th, my good friend Paul Maguire passed away. I spent an enormous amount of time at St. Eulalia's Parish in Winchester, MA when I was growing up and Mr. M-as the kids called him-was the director of the Youth Group and was the one who brought us kids together and created the Youth Center.

We painted the Youth Center together, a nice white. We got donated furniture and games to fill the center up. There was a bar called the E Street Bar, and we even started a dance team. Mr. M helped out with the annual "Welcome the Child" christmas play we put on as well as "Way of the Cross", a Good Friday play. We did the Relay for Life together. So many things, I can't even remember them all. So many great memories, and Mr. M the unifier and shining light that made us a group.

He was always at the entrance to the church whenever we came to mass with a hug and a kiss on the head. Even after I moved away to college, it always felt like I never left when I would come to mass during breaks. He'd ask me about school and our brief exchanges were always ones that would fill my heart.

Thinking about it, I don't know much about Mr. M's life, I knew his mother had passed away a few years before. We visited the nursing home she was in and spent time with the other residents there. I know he was great friends with my mom, and though I am sad in my own missing of him; it hurts more to know that my mother lost one of her greatest friends. She was on her way to Egypt with my father when she found out, and I know it must have been so hard for her that she missed the funeral.

I wasn't able to go to the funeral either, because of NACA, I can't remember the last time I saw Mr. M. Some random Sunday during the winter break if that. I didn't see him much since I worked Sunday nights during the break. The last concrete memory was of Mary and Pat's wedding. The only picture I have of him with me at school, since all the others are in the Youth Center or in some box at home.

This picture was taken in the Youth Center, our hand prints on those white walls we painted together. I will not be able to walk into mass through those front doors without thinking of him. He was a great soul, and a wonderful man who will be greatly missed.

Rise above the unimaginable,

Alice Shea

Boston

As I mentioned before, NACA was in Boston this year and as I am from the Boston area, it was great to be near home! We actually had a fair amount of free time in which we explored the city. A few of the students hadn't been to Boston before! We went to Quincy Market, Newbury Street, the North End, and we looked out onto the Boston Harbor. My favorite part was definitely the North End, it is such a pretty neighborhood. And I had a lovely cannoli at Maria's Bakery.

This was the view from our hotel room in the Boston Marriot Copley Hotel which is connected to the Hynes Convention Center and the Prudential Tower. What a good time!

I regret not knowing Boston that well. Even though I grew up only about 15 minutes away by car, and a short train ride away, I don't know much about the city. Maybe this coming summer I will make more of an effort to explore the city. I have been trying to do that with NYC, I feel like I know it better than I know Boston, but NYC is so big and I am not good with directions! I'll keep working on it.

We had a great time wandering around Boston Harbor even though it was pretty cold outside.I remember going on the Boston Harbor boat tour with Victoria and her parents. There was a tour guide who was explaining all the different landmarks and facts, but Victoria and I were so distracted by the planes flying overhead. Every time a plane would fly by, we would follow it until it landed at Logan. Quite enjoyable. This story makes it sound like we were about six, but we were more like 16.

Always stay young at heart,

Alice Shea

NACA 2010

So I am a few days delayed in writing about NACA, but alas I am doing so now!

The National Association of Campus Activities annual national conference was in Boston, MA this year. About 15 of us from Fordham went, most of us from the Campus Activities Board, but also a few delegates from the Residence Hall Association, and the Commuter Students Association.

It was a blast! There were a lot of great performers, speakers, musicians, and even comedians! (I say even comedians because I rarely find myself laughing at stand-up comedians). I'll focus on a few of my favorites in some other posts.

I met Mike from the Real World D.C. He is a really nice guy, and is my favorite on the show, so I was super excited when I walked past him in the marketplace. He is visiting campuses and speaking about human rights issues. He works for the Human Rights Campaign focusing on Gay and Lesbian rights (He himself is Bi-sexual and comes out to his family on the show). Hopefully Fordham will be able to bring him to campus for orientation next semester. (And I will sneak in so I can watch!) Here we are with other students from Fordham. The marketplace at NACA is basically a big fair with booths of different agencies and companies giving out information and free things. I also got the chance to meet Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes. A for-profit business that has the policy ONE for ONE. Every time a customer buys a pair of TOMS shoes, the company donates a pair to a child in a third world country. You can find our more about TOMS here: TOMS Mission

Blake was in one of the lecture showcases and talked about his business for about 15 minutes. In that 15 minutes I remembered why I was in business school. Business can be for profit and still change and improve the world. Business is the foundation of America and by changing how people view business and what they think can be done with it, we can find new ways of finding solutions. So cheers to Blake for his brilliant business model and service to humanity!

I had to add this picture because it was just added to Facebook. This is all of the students on our way to Quincy Market! :)

I have so much more to write about NACA 2010, but I'll split it up into different posts so it's not too confusing! I was in the middle of doing some reading for my Public Relations class and the chapter was on blogging and it got me in the mood. Too bad I stopped reading to do it though. At this rate I'll be an expert blogger but not have done my reading assignments!

To each day that comes, let it not pass by,

Alice Shea

Ahh Suke Suke

Life is good. My life is always good, and I've always appreciated how good it is, I just like to say it out loud/type it on occasion. Last night was so much fun, Rose came to visit Maryanne and we had a Ke$ha mess of a night with our hair and make up did. We tore up the town. Aka the Bronx. Which is not a town. Anyway, it was a grand time.

School has been going really well, I got my books late so I am currently trying to catch up on reading. Might not happen, at least I am giving it a go. It's already getting to be mid February. Crazy! NACA is this weekend! I am really excited, it's in Boston (My home!) It should be a fun time. Unfortunately Dana Alexandra won't be performing there :( She's a great singer/song writer and I want to hear more from her, but she only has one album that I know of. My friend Julie is going to NACA with her school too, so hopefully I will get to give her a big bear hug. AKA tackle her with all my might.

I am currently in my PJs watching "The Sweetest Thing" I can't even say how many times I've seen this movie. Most of those times I watched it with my best friend Sarah. We were obsessed with it and we often say "FREAKKAAAY" and "Ahhhh SUKE SUKE" to each other. Anyway, it brings back some great memories and I can't believe how long it's been since I've seen it. But alas, I am watching it now and that is great.

Tomorrow is the super bowl. Walsh 504 (aka me and my roommates) are hosting a small party so we will be preparing all day by making food and such. Should be a good time. Hopefully I'll be able to get my reading done at some point.

The movie is almost over, I am going to finish it and go to bed. Last night made me exhausted and anyway I love sleep. Sleep is great.

Reach beyond what you believe,

Alice Shea

See I've forgotten if they're green, or if they're blue.

I thought I enjoyed blogging, apparently not so much since I haven't found much time for it lately. Once I start it's fun, I just don't think about it much. But, alas, that is me. When I was younger I had multiple diaries, none of them full, only a few pages at the beginning are ever filled and then I get distracted. But oh how I love finding old diaries and reading the entries. I was such an interesting little person.

Last night was the Grammy's. I have to say, that might have been my favorite awards show in all of the award shows history. Lady GaGa opened the show with Elton John. Their performance was spectacular and I am currently listening to it on my itunes. I can't believe they started singing Your Song. It's one of my faves, actually I don't have Elton John's version. That's lame. I only have the Moulin Rouge one sung by Ewan McGregor. I should get on that, I love it and I love Elton John's voice.

GaGa won two awards and I am very happy for her. She's a legitimate artist so maybe people will start taking her more seriously. Or maybe not, probably not. Anyway, one thing I am going to comment specifically about the Grammy's is TAYLOR SWIFT. I love her, and I love her music. And she's not undeserving of best album of the year, FEARLESS was quite good. However, it was not the best album THE FAME was. And I should know, because Taylor was one of my top artists (like #2) for a long time and I loved her a lot longer than most people because she originally started out as a country singer. And then came GAGA. And GaGa took over everything and all my #1 spots in all my lists. Anyway, my main thing is, Taylor Swift needs to stop pretending she is a country singer. She stopped being one after she released Teardrops on My Guitar, pop version to pop radio. Now all of her songs are pop. There is nothing wrong with being a pop singer, but her saying she is doing it for Nashville, and she is just "a country singer" when no country singer ever wins big awards like that, is a lie. And it makes me angry.

The end with that.

School is going well. I like my classes so far, and I am keeping busy, but not too busy that my mind is going to explode. I am now on the executive board of the Student Culinary Council and I like it. I kind of want to be a chef sometimes. HaHa. Maybe when I have money to spare I can take some cooking classes on the side. Who knows, I could be the next Julia Child. :)

I am getting upset with myself that I am waking up so late everyday. See, either my first thing to do is at 1:00 or 2:30 everyday. So I've been waking up at like 11:00 everyday. And I've always liked that I wake up early like 9:00 or 10:00. I feel so productive even if I just sit around after getting dressed. Hopefully I will fix this. I like feeling productive.

oo Dancing in the Street with Mick Jagger and David Bowie just came on my itunes. That's fun.

I have nothing to say right now, so I am going to go. I have class in an hour so I am going to read. Very nice!

Warmest wishes and salutations to you and yours,

Alice Shea