Chum Chat: Chelle and Nauvoo

So even though Chelle Clark and I have been working together for three months, we didn’t decide to be friends until a few weeks ago.  What sucks about it most is now she is in Nauvoo.  Far.  Away.  From.  Me.  If only we had become friends sooner.  Think of all the fun we could have had.  Oh well, she was nice enough to do this little interview via Facebook Chat... to keep our friendship alive!

CHELLE:  Sooo... Here I am in a ridiculously small town called Nauvoo.

JOAQUIN:  Ha ha!  Yes, you are!  So for those who don’t know—because I obviously know everything—what are you doing in Nauvoo, Illinois?

CHELLE:  I am living in this cute little three-story Bed & Breakfast.  I will be here until August 15th.

JOAQUIN:  That is very far away!  But at least you will be back in time for my birthday.  So what are you doing besides living in a B&B?  Sounds like a vacation…

CHELLE:  The inn keeper of the B&B is also the manager at the art gallery where I am working.  The owners of the gallery and the inn also own this cute little store/restaurant/hotel that is next door to the gallery called Zion's Mercantile.  Basically I work at all of the above.  I help make breakfast in the morning and prepare the rooms for new guests.  Then when that is done, I go to the gallery and work there.  I frame and package new paintings, I hang paintings, I sell paintings… the whole shebang.  I love the gallery.  Love.  Love.  Love.

JOAQUIN:  Should I assume that it’s LDS art since it’s in Nauvoo?

CHELLE:  You would be correct!  In the gallery we have paintings of temples, the prophets, pioneers, historical paintings of Nauvoo, etc.

JOAQUIN:  Sounds… um… awesome.  Ha ha.  So how did you hear about this job?

CHELLE:  I heard about this job from my lovely neighbor who is basically my second mom.  She came out here last summer with her two sons and worked in the mercantile and the gallery and lived in the inn… just like I’m doing now.  Well, she was so awesome at her job that the owners decided to make her the manager at the new location of Zion's Mercantile.

JOAQUIN:  Oh yeah?  That’s cool.  Where’s that?

CHELLE:  It’s in the Riverwoods in Provo.  Go see it.  It’s lovely and so is the manager.

JOAQUIN:  I will have to do that!  So what do you miss most about your life here in Utah?

CHELLE:  The weather.  No doubt.  I keep forgetting how hot and humid it is here because I am inside mostly all day but then I walk outside to run a quick errand or run over to the mercantile and instantly I am sweaty and gross.

JOAQUIN:  Yikes.  That’s hot!

CHELLE:  I also miss my family, bed, friends, daily naps, no bugs, free time, and Jack of course.

JOAQUIN:  You miss me??

CHELLE:  Is that even a question?  Yes.  Yes I do.  I miss getting letters and poems, watching The Very Potter Musical, making fun of customers in the photo booth, etc.

JOAQUIN:  Those were the good ol’ days.  So hurry back so we can continue those fun times!

Chum Chat: Shannon, Gay Pride and Bono's 'One'

My friend Shannon is a real go-getter!  She always seems to be involved in some humanitarian project or another and I knew that I if I could just get her to sit still long enough she would give the most interesting interview in the history of ever!  The opportunity finally presented itself and I was able to talk to her about jamming onstage with Bono, helping out with the organization One, and getting involved in the Gay Rights Movement.

JOAQUIN:   Hey Shannon!  So I heard that U2 recently came to Utah and you were somehow involved in that…  Do you mind explaining a bit?

SHANNON:  My friend, Mike Monroe, works for the organization One—a humanitarian organization co-founded by Bono.  Basically, One is a political advocacy organization that educates, gathers petitions, and puts pressure on law and policy makers to support initiatives that help the developing world—or what many people consider to be the former "Third World.”

J:  Oh, I see.  So what does this have to do with the concert?

S:  For the concert, Bono wanted to focus on getting people to join One and sign a petition supporting childhood vaccinations in poorer countries like those in Africa and South America.  So my friend Mike, who was in charge of coordinating volunteers, called me up and asked me if I wanted to help out getting signatures at the concert. Of course I said yes!

J:  Of course you did!  You wouldn’t be Shannon if you said no!  Ha ha!  So tell me more about this petition…

S:  Sure.  Three and a half million children under the age of five die every year from Diarrhea and Pneumonia.  That is crazy!  I mean, do you ever hear about a kid in the US dying from Diarrhea?  Yet 3.5 million kids are dying from it each year!  That's more than the number of children that die from HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis COMBINED.  And these deadly diseases are completely preventable with vaccination.  That's just not right.

J:  That’s horrible.

S:  So One decided to do something about it.  They gathered over 150,000 signatures on a petition asking President Obama to pledge 450 million dollars for the distribution and development of these vaccines at an upcoming Foreign Aid Conference in London.  After receiving the petition and getting thousands of emails, letters, and calls, the White House contacted One's headquarters.  On June 13th, Obama pledged 450 million over the next 3 years!

J:  That's great! So I’m sure you are dying to plug this organization.  Where should someone go if they want to find out more about One?

S:  Just go to www.one.org.  There you can read more about what One does and how to join.  And the best part is, there are no dues or donations required!  One is 100% funded by people like Bono, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffett. So we never have to ask for money.  We just ask for your voice.

J:  So even somebody poor like me can get involved?  That’s really awesome!  So what was your favorite part of the concert?

S:  My favorite part was DEFINITELY going onstage during the song "Walk On.” 

J:  What??  You got to go onstage!?

S:  Bono has dedicated that song to Aung Sang Suu Kyi, a political prisoner in Burma who's been under house arrest for about twenty years.  She also happens to be the legally elected president of the country and a personal hero of mine.  Anyway, she's recently been released and in order to honor her and remember all the thousands of political prisoners around the world who remain behind bars, U2 has volunteers walk onto the stage carrying Amnesty International lanterns and stand there throughout the song.  Because I had the third highest number of petition signatures from that afternoon, I got to be one of those volunteers!  It was so cool standing there in front of 60,000 people, onstage with U2, standing up for something I really believe in.  And afterword, the band played a recording that Aung Sang Suu Kyi made for U2 fans and the political activists that supported her.  I have a real soft spot for Burma and Ms. Aung Sang, and it felt like she was talking directly to me.  It was a really special experience overall.

J:  You just like being front and center don’t you?  Weren’t you in Salt Lake City’s Gay Pride Parade as well?

S:  Ha ha.  You know me.  Always the entertainer.  I DID get to march in the parade.  I even got to ride in a convertible.  It was great!

J:  How did you swing that?!

S:  Well, my roommate, Aaron, is really into politics and a couple of years ago he interned with Ralph Becker, who is the mayor of Salt Lake City.  Becker, who has done a ton for gay rights in Salt Lake, was receiving the Suazo Political Action Award and marching in the parade with a bunch of his staffers.  So Aaron invited me to come march with him and his boyfriend Rigo.  Luckily, when Mayor Becker asked for volunteers to ride in the convertible while he walked, Rigo grabbed Aaron's and my hands and said, "We will!" So there I was, front and center, AGAIN!  Ha ha.  It was a lot of fun.

J:  That’s awesome.  What was your favorite part about Pride Festival this year?

S:  You mean besides the bangin' transvestite walking around wearing nothing but body netting and big yellow "Censored" stickers over her nipples?

J:  Ha ha!  Yeah, besides her!

S:  Probably the atmosphere.  It was so cool to be surrounded by all these people dressed in these crazy getups, just being themselves and proud of it!  I even got to see a former BYU friend dressed in his drag persona "Wilma Blowem.”  Hee hee.  It was awesome.

J:  Do you think it’s important for straight people such as yourself to get involved in the Gay Rights Movement?

S:  Absolutely.  Gay Rights is about Human Rights.  It's about refusing to allow having second class citizens in our society.  We as a people are better than that.  If we aren't willing to stand up for our gay friends and family members, how can we create a better future for ourselves?  How can we be proud of our lives and our communities knowing there is so much injustice happening all around us?  Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor, said it best:  "I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation.  We must always take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented."

J:  That’s a terrific quote, Shannon.  Thanks for sharing it.  So what other fun adventures do you have coming up??

S:  Well, I'm going to New York City next week to see The Book of Mormon on Broadway and I could NOT be more excited!  After that, I'll just be working on finishing my Peace Corps evaluations and HOPEFULLY getting an invitation to serve at the end of the summer.  Keep your fingers crossed!

J:  I will, Shannon!

Chum Chat: Jess and High School Graduation

My cousin Jessica just graduated from high school, and I thought she would be the perfect candidate to jumpstart the “Chum Chat” interviews again.  She talks a little about her time in high school, her worries about leaving her comfort zone, and the possibility of becoming a social worker.  Or a photographer.  Or a chef.

JOAQUIN:  Hey there, graduate!  So how many kids did you graduate with?  Were there a lot?

JESS:  My graduating class was actually (from what I heard) kind of small.  It was 436 students…

JOAQUIN:  Woah!  Woah!  Woah!  You call that small?  I graduated with like 36!  Now that’s small!  Ha ha…  How did you feel graduating?

JESS:  The fact that I was graduating didn’t actually hit until it was the turning of the tassels.  When I had turned it, then it was like, “Oh my gosh, this is for real.”

JOAQUIN:  Were you a good student in high school?

JESS:  Depends on what you consider a good student!  Ha ha.  From the behavior idea of it then yes, I would say I was a good student.  I always did my homework and wouldn’t talk back to the teachers.  Sure there were some I didn’t like.  To tell you the truth I was no different than any other kid when it came to complaining about them behind their back…  Ha ha.

JOAQUIN:  Oh, I always complained too.  It’s like a student’s favorite thing to do!

JESS:  But when it comes to grading… well that depends.  See, tests were never my strong point.  I could study for hours on end and still not do too good.  I always had to do my homework in order to pass.

JOAQUIN:  I got good grades in school, but it came from lots of hard work as well.  I wasn’t naturally smart.  I had to do the homework too.  But hey, even if your grades weren’t perfect you got your diploma!!  That’s the important part!

JESS:  Yeah.  The changing of the grading scale helped.  My freshman and sophomore year it was a 5 point scale so it was harder to get A’s and B’s.  Even though I would be doing A and B work it would count as a C or a D. I could be doing just as well as kids in other schools but seem like I was doing worse.  After the grading scale changed in my junior year my grades jumped tremendously.  I would get all A’s and B’s with an occasional C.

JOAQUIN:  That’s interesting.  I’m glad they changed the system!!  So were you involved in any activities in school?

JESS:  When it comes to activities I didn’t really participate in much. For me, taking on too much was just too big of a step.  I needed to take on one thing at a time instead of adding on too much.

JOAQUIN:  Oh, I see.  So you just focused mostly on your homework?  That’s good.  I probably filled my high school life with way too many extracurricular activities!!  I never had time for anything it seemed like.  Ha ha.  So what are you going to miss most about high school then?

JESS:  A mixture of things actually.  Friends are a big one.  I had the best of friends who always supported me and were like sisters to me.  I never want to lose touch with them and I hope I never do! 

JOAQUIN:  I hope you don’t!  I hate to say that I don’t talk very much with friends I had from high school… even though most of them I’ve added on Facebook.  Anything else you’ll miss?

JESS:  I was used to the everyday schedule which I had.  Monday - Friday get up at 5, go to seminary at 5:45, leave for school at 6:25, be home at around 2:45 (or 1:30 my senior year), sleep in on the weekends and go to church on Sunday.   I like that I am done with high school but scared that I am going to be out of my routine and my comfort zone that I have adapted to. 

JOAQUIN:  You’ll be fine, I’m sure of it.  Are there any things that you won’t miss?

JESS:  The drama and the environment is probably what I will miss the least.  All throughout high school it seems that I managed to get in the middle of drama that really had nothing to do with me in the first place.  I will definitely not miss that.  Also, I hated the cussing and inappropriate jokes…  I would always be thinking in my head, “Are you for real?” 

JOAQUIN:  Well, some of those things sort of continue on… but they do get better as people mature.  Much less drama, that’s for sure.  So now for the question every high school graduate gets asked: What are your plans for the future?

JESS:  Job over the summer most likely then college in the fall… nothing really set in stone. Once again, when it comes to me I have to take one thing at a time. 

JOAQUIN:  Any ideas at all for a future career?

JESS:  I am leaning towards being a social worker.  I love to help out others and want to be able to do that in everyday life.  I believe that being a social worker would give me the biggest opportunity. I have also been thinking about other things that I love like photography and cooking…  I love to do all of those things, but I think overall I am leaning the most on being a social worker.

JOAQUIN:  That’s cool.  You still have plenty of time to decide what you want to do anyway.  Just look at me…  I’m an old man and I’m still not done with school!  What do you think will help you most to achieve your dreams?

JESS:  Family is a big thing because I know that they will always support me in what I choose to do for the long run.  Also not giving up and believing in myself will help me to achieve my dreams.

JOAQUIN:  That’s terrific.  You have a great family and I just know that your life will turn out just the way you hope.  Congratulations on your graduation.

Chum Chat: Jack and His Thoughts on Christ and Easter

My father—also named Jack Garcia—is a truly great man.  He’s charismatic, compassionate, and a strong believer of the Christian faith.  With the Easter holiday quickly approaching, I thought it would be a good time to talk to him a little about Christianity and the true meaning of Easter.

JOAQUIN:  Hey, Dad!  Like all of us, you’ve faced some trials in your life, but when was it that you felt compelled to devote your life to God?

JACK:    It was when I was living in Fort Lyon, Colorado.  Molly [his second wife] and I had separated, and I was all alone in a big house on the grounds of Fort Lyon Correctional Facility.  I wanted my marriage to Molly to work, and I cried out to God to reconcile me to my wife.  His immediate response was: "Reconcile yourself to Me."  From that moment on, I became a true follower of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  I still have my ups and downs, but I live my life as a response to God's patience, love, mercy, and grace in my life.

JOAQUIN:   And I’m guessing that’s what led you to study at the Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs.  What is it like now that you've graduated?

JACK:   Nazarene Bible College helped me come to know the truth of God's Word regarding God and grace.  I am able to live a life of security, and I am able to do so because I now understand what the Bible has to say about Life.  I truly understand that we are fallen and broken people navigating a fallen and fractured world.  This understanding helps me as I minister to those in need. 

JOAQUIN:  Speaking of those in need, you now work at the Springs Rescue Mission.  How does your job benefit your life?

JACK:  At Springs Rescue Mission, I come into contact with a lot of broken and wounded people that society treats as outcasts, and realize that God gave them the same value He gave me when He emptied Himself and came down to earth, taking on the form of a man, and being obedient to death, even death on a cross.  The love of God is not just for those who understand the true nature of God's relationship with us, but for every single person.  The beautiful thing about God's economy is that I am ministered to by those who come to the mission for help.  It's amazing the faith of the people of God who are enduring adversity, and their strength of faith is an example for me.  I am at a place in my life that I believe I am doing what God has put me on earth to do--and that is to love and be loved.

JOAQUIN:   So they give to you what you give to them:  a strengthened faith in Christ.  Based on what you believe, who is Jesus Christ?

JACK:   One could really be bogged down in theology trying to answer this question.   The bottom line is that Jesus Christ is God.  He is the God who saved His people by dying for their sins.  He is the God who earnestly seeks us out.  He is the only true God, and not only does He love us in a way we can't even wrap our brains around to understand, but He wants us to love Him.  Imagine that!  God, Creator of all, wants us to fall so madly in love with Him that we desire to please Him, to write Him love letters and sing love songs. 

JOAQUIN:  That’s beautiful, Dad.  What role should Christ play then in our day-to-day life?

JACK:  He should be everything for us and to us.  He's not a genie in a bottle that we cry out to when we have an earthly and physical need.  Too often, we look to Christ for what we can get out of the relationship.  When we say that Jesus Christ is our Lord, we need to understand that we come under His sovereign rule, but His sovereign rule is not like that of men, but is a rule in which we are blessed and led to eternal Life.

JOAQUIN:   As you know, Easter is just around the corner.  What is the spiritual significance of this holiday?

JACK:   Easter is about the two parts of the Atonement:  Christ's death on the cross and God raising Him from the grave—RESURRECTION!!!  When Jesus took the place of Barabbas on the cross, He took the place of each and every one of us.  We are all guilty of death, but Jesus died a substitutionary death for us, and all we have to do is believe in Him.  Easter is the event in which sinful and unholy man was reconciled to a Righteous and Holy God. 

JOAQUIN:   So with the greater meaning that all Christians give to the holiday, does the secularization of Easter bother you?  You know what I mean.  You see movies like Hop in theaters, with bunnies and chicks and eggs…

JACK:   I wouldn't say that it bothers me per se.  I'll still eat the Easter eggs and the chocolate bunnies!

JOAQUIN:  Ha ha!  Well of course you will.  You have a worse sweet tooth than I do!

JACK:   I will say this, though... today at the mission I noticed a big picture of an Easter bunny on the pantry door.  I took it down.  Why?  Because such things have their place, and I don't think their place is in the pantry door of a non-profit organization that honors and preaches Christ.  There might be fellow employees who would have left it up.  That would be their prerogative.  I don't think this is anything worth fighting over.  Besides, God's grace is bigger than such things as Easter bunnies.  So, there.  I hope I've confused you just a little bit with my response. 

JOAQUIN:  No, I think I get what you mean.

JACK:  It's just an opinion...nothing dogmatic about it in the least.

JOAQUIN:  Well, thanks for the interview, Dad.  I hope you have a Happy Easter!

Wizard Week Chum Chat: Mikell and Her "Mud in My Blood" Store

My friend Mikell Price is a fellow Harry Potter fanatic, and has participated in some of my most nerdy Harry Potter-themed gatherings.  In fact, I’d say our love for Harry Potter is one of the bonds that really glues she and I together as friends!  Well, that and the fact we are both awesome.  Then when I found out she had opened her own online store selling handmade Harry Potter merch, I just had to interview her!  So even though this is an “Ask Joaquin” week (it alternates every other Tuesday with “Chum Chat”) I decided to just forget my own self-imposed rules and offer her interview as a special Wizard Week BONUS!  Aren’t I generous?  But not nearly as generous as Mikell is, for she’s concocted an exclusive special offer for Joaquin the Chihuahua readers… 

JOAQUIN:  Hey, Mikell!  So Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 comes out on DVD and BluRay this Friday.  Are you excited?  Think you’ll buy it?

MIKELL:  I can’t wait!  I will be one of those freaks that will be at the store at midnight and then will go home and watch it.  I’m just glad that it comes out on a Friday because I would be taking the next day off work otherwise.  

J:  You’d even miss work to get it, huh?  That’s dedication! Ha ha.

M:  I’m still hoping to find somewhere that will be having a DVD release party with games and stuff beforehand so that waiting in line will be more fun.  If you know of anywhere, let me know… 

J:  That does sound fun!  I’m sure someplace is doing that… maybe.  They should!  Ha ha.  But I don’t know of any.

M:  What are you doing for the release?  Wanna party? I’ll dress up like Ginny if you be my Harry (she winks).

J:  Yes!  Let’s totally party!  Oh, but I won’t even know my schedule for that night until Wednesday or so…  but if I’m not working I’ll definitely give you a call!  But back to the interview here, how long have you been a fan of Harry Potter?

M:  When the first book came out in… ‘97?

J:  I think.  Maybe ’98.  Something like that.

M:  Well, when the first book came out I refused to read it.  My brother was raving about it and I thought it sounded so silly.  I don’t really like reading.  It was on a cross-country car trip with my family that I was outvoted after much complaining and was forced to listen to the first part of book one on cassette tape.  I was so mad and determined to fall asleep instead… yeah… but that didn’t happen.  It was about 10 minutes before I was in love.   I would have the next tape in my hand so I could switch them as soon as the last one ended.  I went home and read the first book over and over until it almost fell apart.  My mom still gives me a hard time about it because I was so determined not to read them. 

J:  So what is it about Harry Potter that you love?

M:  I love this series because I feel like I grew up with Harry Potter.  I was 11 when the first book came out.  (I think… as long as my math is good…) I was dealing with the same kind of things he was in school.  Okay, not the magic parts, but kids like Malfoy who thought they were so cool, and wanting to be part of teams, and finding the best friends of my life.   I think I secretly wanted it all to be real… okay, I still think I want it to be real.  It has intrigued me more than any other created world in all of film or literature.   I wanted to be able to be invisible.  I wanted a pet owl.  I loved the complexity of the world and learning about it with Harry…. Okay… I really am such a nerd… wow.

J:  You and me both.  No worries.  So when did you first get the idea of doing an online Harry Potter-themed store?

M:  My roommates were crocheting flowered head bands.  I joined in and I wanted a scarlet and gold one to match my gold pea coat and to add a little Gryffindor flare to my life.  My roommates started talking about selling them.  I asked where they would sell them and they mentioned the Etsy Website.  Well, I was having fun crocheting and I figured if I could be paid to do fun crafts and to release my inner HP nerd, then life would be complete.

J:  Yeah.  Who doesn’t want to be paid for something they do already for fun?  Sounds perfect to me!  Did it take long to get started?

M:   I spent a day brainstorming a name and a logo and opened a store, Mud In My Blood.  Nothing happened for a few days, but I was talking with a friend who makes duct tape rings for Etsy and she was encouraging.  She said it may take a while; I just needed to be patient.   I had my first sale in two days and then weeeeee!  

J:  Ha ha!  Sounds like you were excited!

M:  Her store is called Quiet Mischief by the way…and they have some freakin awesome stuff too!

J:  I’ll provide a link!  So what products do you sell?  Do you make them all yourself or do you collaborate with other artisans?

M:  My first sale was a headband and a wand.  My close friend Nate makes beautiful hand spun wands on a lathe and I offered to put some of his extra attempts in my shop to see if he could get a few bucks for it.

J:  Did he?

M:  Yeah… like $30… it was sweet.  We decided to go into business together.  He makes the wands and my products include crocheted head wraps, head bands, pin-back buttons, hair flowers, ministry decree posters, and the occasional garment if the craft mood strikes.  Next week we are getting together to have a bottling party.  We will be selling a really yummy concentrate that you add to hot water and it makes the most delicious butterbeer.  So, keep an eye out for that.  We have been discussing a brand name and labels and stuff like that.  It’s glittery… and delicious.  

J:  I will definitely be buying some of that!  Brian and I tried making butterbeer once—you were there actually—and it wasn’t so delicious.  So I’m curious to taste yours!  Do you do any custom orders?

M:  Yes.  If people have requests for posters, buttons, or wands we can create a custom listing.  Sometimes my customers have really good ideas!

J:  Is it hard to keep up with the demand while balancing everything else in your life?

M:  It has gotten harder since I moved into a house with no internet… I end up staying after school to work on things so I have a connection.   That is kinda lame.  I realized what my life had come to this morning.  I didn’t need to go into the school, and I found myself sitting in my car, in a handicap parking space outside of Barnes and Noble…. with my computer… stealing their internet… for an hour… while I listened to Harry Potter on CD… yeaaaahhh.   I turned off the CD eventually because I realized that I didn’t ever want to admit that was happening… and here I am… telling you… wow.   My life has come to this… HA.

J:  You crack me up.  I’m sure it’s not all that bad.

M:  In short, it’s ok.  I go to the post office on my lunch breaks and I fill orders before I go to bed.  If my job went full time, it might be a bit harder, but for now it’s just fun.

J:  Has business been good?  Are you making lots of money?

M:  I think for an Etsy store business has been awesome.  We have had 41 sales in about a month and a half.  Not anything huge, but still a nice little supplemental income.  I think one of the reasons it has done so well is because I use Facebook as an advertising tool whenever I get a chance.   I have a page that I maintain and post new product info, sale updates, and coupon codes.  I’m getting a pretty big following of a targeted HP nerd group.  Yeah… shameless plug here:  the page is called Mud In My Blood… look it up.  Like it.  Love me.  The end.   

J:  I hope lots of my readers check your store out.  I plan on promoting you in my sidebar for a little while as well.  Do you think you could offer a special deal to my readers?

M:  If your readers want a discount, I’m all for it.  If they use the coupon code JOAQUIN15 at checkout they can get 15% off their purchase.   That code will be good until the end of May.  If they want more after that they may have to join my Facebook page… mua ha ha ha!  Cough.  Excuse me… what?

J:  Nice evil laugh, Mikell.  You’re really good at sneaking in more and more plugs!  So one last question:  if you could perform one bit of magic, what would it be?

M:  I was gonna say being invisible or flying… but those seem so cliché.  I would probably want to be able to brew Felix Felicis.  I think having luck on my side all the time and experiencing that feeling of elation would be excellent.   There are so many times I could use a little luck.  No traffic during my rush hour commute… that would be nice.  Being totally smooth and clever and awesome on a date… mega win!  What would you perform?

J:  Now you’re asking me questions?!  Some nerve!  Ha ha.  Um, let me see…  I think you chose the best one.  Having liquid luck is sort of a catch-all isn’t it?  But, to be different, I think it would be really cool to brew up some Polyjuice Potion and experience life in someone else’s shoes.  You know?  Be someone else for a little while…  And of course, impersonating someone could lead to lots of fun mischief!

Chum Chat: Courtney and Her ACL

I was hoping on doing an interview with my cousin who just returned from a mission, but things didn’t work out this time.  Maybe in the future.  However, here at the Kesler home there are plenty of people to talk to so I decided to interview my “personal trainer” Courtney.  Just before Brian and I left for California she got hurt snowboarding and while we were gone I hear that her recovery was rough.   I decided to ask her a little bit about the whole ordeal.  So here goes!

Joaquin:  I know you got hurt while snowboarding, but what exactly happened to you?

Courtney:  I’m a klutz!  Ha ha.  I was going down and the back part of my board got caught in the snow. The front part spun up and I fell down and twisted my knee.  I basically just biffed it.

J:  Ouch!  Sounds painful! 

C:  Actually, it wasn’t that painful which is the weird thing. 

J:  It wasn’t?

C:  Well, when it first happened it hurt really bad for a few minutes so I sat down.  But then it felt better so I tried to get up and keep going, but it just felt really unstable.  I tried to walk down the mountain, but I couldn’t.  My friends had to get Ski Patrol.  I was there all by myself waiting for the Ski Patrol… until I heard a cute puppy barking!  I looked up and saw that the rescue dog had come and found me!

J:  That’s cute!  I didn’t know they used rescue dogs.  So what happened when they got there?

C:  The Ski Patrol asked me a bunch of questions and when they found out I was a minor they said they had to call my parents and I was like “NOOO!  My dad’s going to kill me!”

J:  Did he?

C:  No.  Luckily.  We didn’t think it was that bad at first.

J:  So did you break anything?

C:  I went to the doctor and he did this weird test where he lifted my leg like this [too bad you didn’t see her reenact this part because it was funny] and said that he was 99% sure that I tore my ACL, even before the CAT scan.  At first I thought it would be okay, that I would just use crutches for a few days and it would get better.  There was a time when I felt like I was walking just fine.  But he said I would have to have surgery.

J:  Surgery!!  I’ve never had to have surgery and I’m very grateful!  Stuff like that scares me.  What was the surgery like?

C:  Well, I've had plenty of surgeries... I had to be there at like 5 in the morning.  I couldn’t eat anything the night before.  I got a cool hospital wrist band though!  And I got to pee in a cup!  Ha ha.  They shaved my leg and the anesthesiologist came in and talked about the nerve block they were going to do on my leg, basically paralyzing it with a big needle.  They took me to the operating room and the next thing I knew I was in the recovery room!

J:  So you didn’t notice anything, huh?  That’s good.  What happened after the surgery?

C:  The nurse wanted to see me walk on crutches before I could go, and I got really nauseous while I was doing it so I hurried and got back to my bed because I was going to throw up!  They gave me some meds and I felt fine.

J:  That sucks.  But I didn’t really mean exactly right after the surgery… I kinda wanted to hear about the recovery.

C:  Oh!  The next few days were miserable because the nerve block went away!  Then I would always get nauseous…  And the day I went back to school I was high on pain medication… apparently I was acting really weird.  I don’t remember it.

J:  Too bad nobody filmed you and put it on YouTube.  Videos like that tend to go viral and you could’ve ended up on The Ellen Show even!  Ha ha.  So when did you start physical therapy?

C:   I started physical therapy right after surgery.  It’s painful, but I’m getting better.

J:  Your mom says you were even in a wheel chair…

C:  Yeah.  Two—three weeks maybe.  Mostly because it was easier than being on crutches, but eventually my physical therapist made me switch back to crutches to get used to walking again.  I hated it!

J:  Well your knee seems to be a lot better now.  You’re walking just fine, although I know you still go to your physical therapist regularly.  But aside from all that, what’s been the worst thing about the whole accident?

C:  Not being able to play softball!

J:  I know.  It’s your passion.  And you’re really great at it.

C:  Um… sure! 

J:  Don’t be modest.  You really are a talented athlete, and I know you normally play softball year-round.  What would you be doing now if you hadn’t torn your ACL?

C:  Right now is high school season and I would be playing on the varsity team if it weren’t for my injury.  I would have been playing pitcher…

J:  When can you start to play softball again?

C:  I’m hoping in the beginning of June.  For girls, the recovery is 5-6 months and June will be five months!  For guys it’s like 9-11 months to recover, so good thing I’m a girl! I can’t wait to play softball!

J:  Well I hope you can play again soon!  Do you think it will affect your game at all?

C:  I think it’ll put me behind for a few months, but after a while I should get back on track.  I just missed the opportunity to get better and perfect my skills… but the muscle memory should return quickly.  I’ll just be happy to be out on the field again.