Gone Campin'

Granted I've been signed off the blog loooong before this weekend, but now I'm getting some R&R that will hopefully get the ol' blogger juices reflowing.

45% there for the Performing Arts!

First, I'd like to thank everyone who has donated so far to my Milller Lite Ride for the Arts personal fundraising campaign.

Kudos to:

• Mom
  
• Rachael J.
  
• Heather C.
  
• Michael C.
• Becky L.
  
• Jason L.
• Yesh P.
• Kristen G.
• Brooke B. & Craig F.
• Sarah S.
  
• Nicole E.
  
• @Bananza - seriously this is a Twitter friend who felt compelled to give $5! She rules!
• Grandma!
• My grandma's friend, Ardene, in Tacoma who thought this was such a cool thing that she sent me a check for UPAF for $35!
  
• Monica D.
• Greg & Angela Q.
• Julie B.
• Jackie V.
• Timmi C.
  
• Chris M.
• Kaycee W.
• Paul C.

Whether its been $5 or $50, you are making a difference. I'm so blessed to know you guys from literally SO MANY areas of my life.

I also want to thank the folks over at Spreenkler, who are putting the TweetUp funds from last month toward the ride.

BUT there's still lots of work to be done! My goal is $1,000 and I have $555 to go in 23 days. Crunch time to find $25/day. Or 55 people to give just $10 each.

A few weeks ago I shared why I'm riding. Tonight, I thought I'd share the following from the United Performing Arts Fund on where your pledge will go:

The Many Reasons to Pledge

• $25 will provide a classroom with either a pre-show or post-show workshop through First Stage Children's Theater.
• $75 will provide a classroom with both a pre-show or post-show workshop through First Stage Children's Theater.
• $85 allows one student to participate in the Mad Hot Ballroom program with Danceworks.
• $115 allows one student to be part of the Classroom Connections Program with First Stage Children's Theater. This program instructs teachers on how to use drama as a teaching tool.
• $120 provides a classroom with a core theater workshop. In these one-hour workshops First Stage teaching artists work with teachers to design a workshop based on current curriculum being studied.
• $120 provides up to 8 lessons to a motivated but financially needy student through Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO).
• $120 provides 24 students the chance to attend The King Who Danced. This is a Milwaukee Ballet in-school assembly program starring the entire class of Milwaukee Ballet II dancers. It tells the history of ballet from King Louis XIV through to today's Milwaukee Ballet.
• $150 allows ten students to attend a Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestrain-school ensemble. One of the most positive and unique corollary benefits to this program is for students to have opportunities to see and hear their peers as role models, with additional opportunities for peer mentoring.
• $250 provides a classroom with a Teaching Through Theater (T3) workshop at First Stage Children's Theater. These innovative week-long workshops utilize dramatic techniques in the classroom to teach lessons throughout existing curricula.
• $250 helps put a violin of the proper size in the hands of a beginning student in Progressions, through Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO).
• $500 sponsors two classrooms in a City of Milwaukee school to participate in all aspects of the Connections Program through First Stage Children's Theater.
• $500 pays for The King Who Danced at a school assembly presented by the Milwaukee Ballet.
• $500 allows an ensemble of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra to visit a classroom.

Remember, you can donate online very easily at https://www.firstgiving.com/mcarnold

call to action: support our parks with pints

Yes, I still am a big slacker blogger.

BUT I wanted to point out this great event on Sunday to support my FUEL Milwaukee team's (Healthy & Green) adopted non-profit The Park People. It's just $10 and includes a regular Lakefront Tour PLUS Rehorst AND wine tasting too. Besides the boozing, there's also entertainment and raffles. What's not awesome about this?

Hope to see you there!

midweek check-in: what ever happened to the accidental wisconsinite?

I want to assure you that I am still alive and well.

Spring has truly sprung in Wisconsin, which means I am on the go constantly.

I've been riding my new wheels (although I have to fix a flat) as much as I can, I subbed once (and hope to more) on a volleyball team, and I've been out and about with friends a lot. My friend Ellen was in town from North Carolina last weekend, so we were on the go in the nice weather quite a bit connecting with wonderful old MU pals.

This weekend I'm laying low with the Star Trek crew tomorrow, then Saturday is shaping up to be epic. Becky, Mar and I are attending the Brewers vs. Cubs game with the Marquette Young Alumni Club, then my friend Matt is in town with some buddies for the game, so we'll all rendezvous with his crew at Miller Park and then head over to Mad Planet for the May Get Down. Luckily I don't have to crawl out of bed to participate in Mother's Day activities (and my mom is in a timezone two hours behind), although I should probably stock up on bloody mary supplies as the brunch spots are going to face a mom invasion.

girl on film: i'm not a trekkie but...

...I am finding this week very Star Trek focused.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Oriental Theatre for the blockbuster event of the summer. I'm not geeking about it like most people, but going because a big group is and also because I'm a LOST freak and JJ Abrams is behind this flick.

Tonight I was at the Oriental thanks to Milwaukee Film and the Milwaukee Ballet thanking their subscribers/donors with a special screening of William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet. This was a documentary about a ballet interpretation of Shatner's spoken word album Has Been. The awesome part about the whole thing is that the ballet premiered with Milwaukee Ballet in 2007 and boy does Milwaukee come off looking world class. Although the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is the most recognizable physical landmark, the talent and efforts of lots of Milwaukeeans were evident in the credits -- as the audience cheered almost every time a new name scrolled up on the screen.

The film had appeal across the board for not just ballet lovers, but also pop culture lovers and music fans. My friend Mark and I described it as "completely random," but in a really good way. It's always great to see our city getting national and international attention for its accomplishments.

Even better to see our artistic accomplishments putting us there! Maybe by the time there are people permanently stationed in space, Milwaukee will be remembered for its great contributions to earthly culture.

Shamless plug: You can help keep the arts in business here...donate to my efforts for the Miller Lite Ride for the Arts at www.firstgiving.com/mcarnold.

thankful tuesdays: hitting goals

A quick thanks to all that have donated so far to my Milller Lite Ride campaign.

I know times are hard, but every $5 or $10 helps.

You can donate at https://www.firstgiving.com/mcarnold

thankful tuesdays: retro laughs

I will try to post better in the coming weeks. It's my busiest time of year at work, and the swine flu H1N1 public freakout has only thrown a wrench in my game. I'm exhausted and run down, but still trucking.

I'm backlogged on a lot of my internetting, but luckily this little gem popped up on OnMilwaukee.com tonight and made me thankful that in a house without cable, YouTube can always brighten my day: