Starbuck's AMA

[ironbaby]

Why are you so awesome?

Where's your favorite place to hike in the US? Favorite place to camp?

[requiressnacks]

What's the hardest part about fundraising? (I have worked in corporate philanthropy and I always felt so bad for the people who had to do the asking for money)

[ironbaby]

That rafting trip sounds AMAZING. I might need to put that on our bucket list.

Mt. Whitney, you say? I would LOVE to take on a challenge like that. I say we plan a trip.

[requiressnacks]

Feb 25, 2016 8:43:56 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 25, 2016 8:37:25 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

What's the hardest part about fundraising? (I have worked in corporate philanthropy and I always felt so bad for the people who had to do the asking for money)

There are a few things.

I worked for a food bank for about three years, so every rejection felt like I was letting people down. If I didn't get the money in the door, we weren't putting food out into communities, and people were going to bed hungry. It's a lot of pressure.

On the flip side, it was hard that every time I would get money and report to my Executive Director, he'd give me a pat on the back and ask what was next, because the org needed a new forklift or truck or some program was expanding. It was a never-ending cycle. $20,000- What's next? $400,000 - What's next? You don't really get to stop and breathe and enjoy your wins.

The average life of a gifts officer at an org nowadays is 16 months due to a number of issues, including this kind of churn.

That sounds like a terrible hamster wheel to be on!

[ironbaby]

Feb 25, 2016 8:50:39 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 25, 2016 8:45:47 GMT -5 ironbaby said:

That rafting trip sounds AMAZING. I might need to put that on our bucket list.

Mt. Whitney, you say? I would LOVE to take on a challenge like that. I say we plan a trip.

I think I'd have to pack oxygen. At one point fairly early on I was like, "my hands are tingling that's weird." Not weird. The first stage. I was with my dad, brother, and uncle. After being up sick all night, my dad had to hike out with me the next morning while the others went on. It took DAYS for me to be able to eat without getting sick. There was a shorter route to the top and my dad tried again, the goal was to meet my uncle and bro at the peak. I didn't make it that time, either.

But if there was another hike at lower altitude, I'd be down for it.

Altitude sickness is no joke. The real problem with mountain expeditions like that is that you have no idea how you'll react until you do it. I have been asked to do Kilimanjaro, but can't fathom spending all that money only to get there and realize, nope, can't do it.

In any case, I think it's incredible that you tried.

[wannabmama]

What's your favorite thing to cook?
(A few years ago friends tried to talk me into doing Mt. Whitney with them...I said no thank you, but they did do it. They said it was the hardest thing they've ever done. I get pretty sick at altitude so I'm glad I didn't try!)

[icedtea]

What was your favorite thing about the Czech Republic?

[irish14]

Battlestar: original or remake?

[Deleted]

What's your favorite brand of coffee?

[Deleted]

What is your scarlet letter? (oh, snap!)

[Deleted]

Feb 25, 2016 9:55:57 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 25, 2016 9:51:46 GMT -5 @wallflwr926 said:

What's your favorite brand of coffee?

I hate coffee. Dr. Pepper for my caffeine, please. Or Coke when that's not available.

Which kind of Dr. Pepper?

[wannabmama]

Feb 25, 2016 9:54:32 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 25, 2016 9:45:18 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

What's your dream vacation if budget wasn't an issue?

Outer space - and I mean that.

But a more down to Earth dream (punny, punny), I'd never been to South America. So, Costa Rica for some rafting, gotta see Machu Picchu, I'd like to travel thru Chile down to the southern tip of the continent, do some hiking/eating in Argentina, and visit Christ the Redeemer in Brazil.

I've never been to almost any place on the list of places you've been but have been to all of these except Brazil...so if you ever want to go hit me up and I'll give you my two cents. They're all incredible (Costa Rica is my favorite place in the world.)

[wannabmama]

Feb 25, 2016 10:37:18 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 25, 2016 10:23:57 GMT -5 wannabmama said:

I've never been to almost any place on the list of places you've been but have been to all of these except Brazil...so if you ever want to go hit me up and I'll give you my two cents. They're all incredible (Costa Rica is my favorite place in the world.)

Awesome! Will do.

What is your favorite thing about Costa Rica?

I love that it's a little bit "wild" still (though that has changed a lot over the years) but isn't totally overwhelming and is, in general, safe (as long as you're smart about it). The culture is wonderful, warm, welcoming. It's a relaxing place with beautiful beaches, rainforests, and animals (so many monkeys!). It's an adventure to get around but that's part of the fun. And there's tons to do and see...but you can also just hang in a sunny spot with a cold beverage and be happy as a clam for days.

[PirateCat]

I have done a little bit of traveling but not a lot. I have not been to a country where I don't speak the language and I realized I have a bit of anxiety thinking about it. I know people do it all the time and I really don't want to limit myself in where I can go. We like to travel independently and are not into cruises or tour groups. How do you deal with language issues while traveling abroad? Are certain countries easier to get around with knowing English? (I did take Spanish in school but gosh that was so long ago.)

ETA: grammar because I want to convey that I really can speak English. 

[PirateCat]

I think I have a bit of a complex, having had to learn English as a second language at an impressionable age, and having a lot of embarrassing memories of not speaking/understanding the language. I really do need to get over it. I could probably brush up on Spanish enough to get by in Spanish-speaking countries and that could boost my travel confidence a bit to get started.

[samanthasays]

You have done voice over work? That is so cool! Do you go into a studio for it? Or is it something they do at an office or something more low key?

Also, you obviously have a nice voice if people are paying you for it, do you still hate hearing your own voice on answering machines or VMs?

[samanthasays]

Feb 25, 2016 12:32:49 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 25, 2016 12:23:54 GMT -5 samanthasays said:

You have done voice over work? That is so cool! Do you go into a studio for it? Or is it something they do at an office or something more low key?

Also, you obviously have a nice voice if people are paying you for it, do you still hate hearing your own voice on answering machines or VMs?

I appeared in the food bank's first commercials, like, face on screen. I wanted the ED to do it, but he responded that I had more energy and people would rather look at me than him (he was 74). So once I begrudgingly did that (I would have done anything for that org), when it came time for the next commercial they wanted my voice "for continuity."

We had a contract with the local TV station to produce all of the commercials. So I'd script, they'd take a bunch of shots of our operations, and then I'd go to the station to this little closet with a mike and soundboard. We'd read a few times until the producer was satisfied and that'd be it.

Usually, from what I've heard, they use a voice over freelancer who has a studio in their own home.

Apparently my commercials are still running, even though I've been gone for a few years. lol

And I hate my voice. Don't enjoy hearing it af all.

Sorry for the looong answer, apparently I'm wordy today.

That is so interesting! I always wondered what the set up was like. They show celebrities doing voice acting and it is in some fancy studio, I had a feeling commercials and such were not all done like that. 

[samanthasays]

Feb 25, 2016 12:45:00 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 25, 2016 12:40:06 GMT -5 samanthasays said:

That is so interesting! I always wondered what the set up was like. They show celebrities doing voice acting and it is in some fancy studio, I had a feeling commercials and such were not all done like that. 

lol I wish. No the first time we went they had to clean off a bunch of old wires from the soundboard and move boxes so I had room to stand. I bet for some shows and voice-overs the glamorous studio is used, but that was not the case. And they didn't even care when I said I wanted only blue and brown M&Ms in the studio.

This was, by far, the largest network in the area. The other TV stations were much worse; when I'd go to do an interview the stages were dirty (dusty, stained carpet, etc) and the buildings rather dilapidated. I can only imagine the little murder rooms they would have put me in.

I did hear a lot of local news anchors have to buy their own clothes and do their own make up. It is not the glamorous world I thought it was!

[irish14]

Feb 25, 2016 19:49:14 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

irish14 I have been wondering all day if you are a BSG fan?

ha it was a busy day at work and I fell off the TCF boat!

We named our dog Boomer, if that gives you a hint... Remake all the fracking way!!!

[irish14]

Feb 26, 2016 7:03:09 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 25, 2016 23:03:17 GMT -5 irish14 said:

ha it was a busy day at work and I fell off the TCF boat!

We named our dog Boomer, if that gives you a hint... Remake all the way!!!

lol love it!

i guess I should say I love 95% of it. Except for that middle part of the series before New Caprica where everyone is sad and makes really terrible and illogical decisions. That part is a bit of a slog... Ha

[risscaboobs]

What is your earliest memory?

[lilsneezy]

How are you liking your perm?

[ugotstarbucked]

Do you have a favorite BSG episode?

[lilsneezy]

Feb 26, 2016 10:44:01 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 26, 2016 10:36:49 GMT -5 lilsneezy said:

How are you liking your perm?

I really like it. I used to just shove my hair in a pony tail and call it a day. I wanted to do look better and more put together with minimal effort. The perm makes it easy, I just just scrunch it with some curl cream and go.

How long does it last? My hair is annoyingly wavy. I either have to straighten it or put a bunch of beach spray stuff in it so I don't look like I just rolled out of bed. I've always wanted to try a perm but I'm scared it's going to make my hair even more difficult to manage.

[ugotstarbucked]

Feb 26, 2016 11:19:04 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 26, 2016 10:54:27 GMT -5 ugotstarbucked said:

Do you have a favorite BSG episode?

That's really difficult. But my top:

No Exit, in the final season. Ellen turns up, we learn the story of the Final 5, and that all of this really has happened before. And Cavil is my favorite cylon, by far. He's so damned crazy and engaging. His tirade is so fraking perfect: "I don't want to be human. I want to see gamma rays, and I want to hear X-rays and I want to smell dark matter ... " it's all in his spectacular delivery.

Any episode with Helo is great, I always want more Helo. The Kobol episodes are also in my top.

I love the Episode when the Final 5 get switched on. And the one with Starbuck trying to remember the song. And all the New Caprica ones. 

[risscaboobs]

Feb 26, 2016 9:56:17 GMT -5 starbuck27 said:

Feb 26, 2016 9:44:56 GMT -5 risscaboobs said:

What is your earliest memory?

Visiting my grandfather's auto shop (he was a mechanic). I remember him coming out all greasy in his blue uniform, with his face mask pushed up on his forehead, smiling, then giving us quarters to buy a Coke from the big change cup on his desk. I was 4 or so. It was exciting for like five minutes but since we couldn't run around the shop we got bored fast in his office.

I have like vague memories before then, but that's the earliest and clearest.

The smell of auto shops really chokes me up sometimes. My grandfather hasn't been well for almost ten years now, and I really miss the booming, happy sound of his voice, especially around the holidays when he would drink some red wine with dinner and port with dessert. His voice is in my head for life.