It’s amazing what our brains choose to remember and what they choose to forget. Our minds, unbeknownst to us, attach random acts to random memories. And each time those acts are carried out we think of those associated memories. These memories are intertwined in everything we do.

Who knows why, but I think about Dustin Hoffman every time I indulge in a cup of yogurt. Perhaps you’ve seen the movie Stranger Than Fiction, a delightful flick featuring Will Ferrell, Emma Thompson, and of course, Dustin Hoffman.

Growing up I was embarrassed by where I lived. And even today, some of my closest friends don’t know the details of my childhood. When my parents divorced my mother went back to work after being a stay-at-home mom for years. She tried to maintain our lifestyle, but eventually we had to move into government-subsidized housing, a cluster of apartments thirty minutes south of our old home.

Long story why I made this map. It’s one of the many things I’m involved with as newbie journalist, and I wanted to share. Below I mapped out all of Chicago’s June 2009 festivals. Click on a blue dot and it will tell you the date, locale and Web information of said festival. Interestingly enough, I can overlay this map with a registered sex offender map I did in grad school. But that might dampen the mood, yes?

If I could be two places at once I’d be a) exactly where I am now (Chicago) and b) the Dominican Republic (surprised I didn’t answer Texas?). It’s been almost two years since I went to the DR for the first time on a mission trip. The experience left me so changed, I quit my insurance job exactly one month later just so I could move to the DR on a more permanent basis. My acceptance into grad school cut my time there short, but I can’t help but think that I would be there now if I hadn’t decided to pursue journalism and a higher education.

My good friend Cara (and DR roomie) just recently started a DR blog (carajanewelch.wordpress.com), which is the reason I’ve decided to drift down memory lane. Since her last blog post, I’ve been reflecting on my life here in the states, half wishing that I could be back in the DR with all those people who need help. I love where I am at right now, but it’s hard to see the good that I’m producing in a real, tangible way.

I have to share one more animation that I thought was too awesome to keep to myself.
Firekites – AUTUMN STORY – chalk animation from Lucinda Schreiber on Vimeo.

A Lull “Skinny Fingers” from A Lull on Vimeo.

Stir sticks and coffee stirrers are inadequate utensils. Each time I grab a cup of Joe from my local coffee shop, I always ask myself the same question: Why am I not allowed to pour sugar into my coffee and stir it with a regular spoon? Ok, sure, spoons cost more. I get it. But I’m 100 percent willing to use a pre-used spoon just so I can adequately mix my morning beverage.

I attended the opening dedication of the new Holocaust Museum in Skokie today for MakeItBetter.net. The ceremony was full of hopeful and gracious speeches by former President Bill Clinton, Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Rabbi Herman Schaalman and others.

All of the presenters talked about using education to prevent further genocides and atrocities from happening again. Here are a few quotes from the day: