Help Me Raise some $$$$ for Nami Please!

Hey Guys!

I am writing today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me.  It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMI’s signature walkathon event that is being held in Houston, TX at Sam Houston Park/Allen Parkway on May 1, 2010.

Mental illness is something that I care very deeply about. I have personally been affected through my diagnosis of bipolar disorder in 2001 and there are people that I have met throughout my life that have been affected too. Too many people in our country are suffering with mental illness. While I really hope to raise money  my number one motivation in being involved is to truly  stomp out stigma. I know how it feels to be judged unfairly due to my diagnosis. I wish that when I was first told of my affliction with this disease I had known of the support that NAMI offers. This organization is truly a blessing.

I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Visit my personal walker page to sign up: http://www.nami.org/namiwalks10/HOU/stompingoutstigmatx. It features a link to my team's page where you can see who else is walking with me. There is also a link so you can donate directly to me online. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those whose lives are touched by these illnesses.  This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers.  The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office.

The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved, and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.

NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible.  NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,
Tiffany Fairbanks

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Oh! How I love the Oscars!

I am a total geek when it comes to awards shows. I get so caught up in the excitement of the winners and sometimes I get really pissed if my pick doesn't win. I don't really choose my preferred winner by performance most of the time I choose who I root for based on my own personal opinion. For the first time I am going to post a list of who I hope take home the awards tonight. The Oscars are far and away my favorite awards show. I love the fashion, emotions and the long, long ceremony. I love the pre-show and the footage on E! afterward. I have no shame. This is my Super Bowl. I have not seen all of the movies up for nomination and probably will never see all of them because I have learned over time that Oscar nom does not equal a movie I will enjoy. That said here is my list of preferred winners.

BEST PICTURE
The Hurt Locker

I loved the perspective of an American soldier that this movie left me with. I really appreciate that the movie was not predictable. The cinematography was outstanding and I want Bigelow to beat out Cameron. Also, I have a history of hoping for the underdog to win.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jeremy Renner
The Hurt Locker 

This year there are so many people that we would have never guessed (and possibly never heard of) would be nominated. After the nominations came out  I have learned more about where I had seen Renner. The whole time I watched the movie I kept thinking, "Where have I seen this guy?" He's been acting a while, but mostly in supporting roles. I hope he wins.

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Stanley Tucci
The Lovely Bones 

I'm used to my Tucci funny. He is so transformed in The Lovely Bones.

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Meryl Streep
Julie & Julia 

I love Meryl Streep. I also love that she was able to pull off Julia Child. I was enchanted while watching Julie & Julia. I know Streep has so many awards and it would be nice to see other people win, since they haven't before, but I don't care on this one. Meryl Streep is amazing and when someone has that much talent they can take all the awards in the world for all I care.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Mo'Nique
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
Up 
Pete Docter 
I absolutely adore this movie. Pixar can't make a bad movie to save a life.



ART DIRECTION
Avatar
Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg (Art Direction); Kim Sinclair (Set Decoration)

CINEMATOGRAPHY
The Hurt Locker
Barry Ackroyd


Amazing!


COSTUME DESIGN
Nine
Colleen Atwood


DIRECTING
The Hurt Locker
Katheryn Bigelow

(Maybe it's the feminist in me?)





DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Food, Inc.
Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein

FILM EDITING
The Hurt Locker
Bob Murawski and Chris Innis

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
Up
Michael Giacchino

VISUAL EFFECTS
Avatar
Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones 

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

 An Education

Screenplay by Nick Hornby 

 

Love Nick Hornby.

 

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

Inglourious Basterds

Written by Quentin Tarantino 

 

If you noticed any missing awards, that's because I skipped them. See you at the show.

 

 

 

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