That time I was in a rugby commercial

Did you know that I was once in a rugby commercial?

For about a year in college I played on the women's rugby team. That winter, we got an email through the team listserv that a commercial was being shot in Manhattan that upcoming weekend and they needed extras.

At this time I was actively pursuing randomness and opportunities. I had a recently seen the movie Yes Man and the concept had stuck with me. I stopped over-scheduling myself and starting saying yes, even if I was uncomfortable or hesitant. When this opportunity presented itself, I said, "Yes!"

So I ended up driving into the city before sunrise with a few of my teammates in what must have been late February/early March. If you look closely in the video, you can see snow piled up on the edge of the pitch.

When we first got there, we were huddled in a locker room of one of the universities' athletic fields, poring through boxes of Canterbury New Zealand's new women's gear. After some searching and bartering, I found a pair of scrum shorts, socks, and cleats that fit.

Then we waited.

Most of the commercial features members of the US women's team, including Phaidra Knight (perhaps best known for her work on the MTV show Made). Therefore, most of the day was spent filming those talented women. When they needed extras, they called us out.

We ran through a couple of plays, not unlike we might do at a practice. I was a jumper at the time, as was my mentor Heather. In the commercial, look for the lady being lifted up. If she has long sleeves, it's me!

You can see me in a few of the actions shots, running around like a baby giraffe with a ponytail.



This was one the coolest experiences of my life (up there with attending the taping for the Glee Movie and meeting one of the creators of Google Maps). It was great to meet some of the top female rugby players in the country and to be part of a commercial.

All because I said "Yes."

The Colorado River From the Beginning to End

Those who have seen Into the Wild are probably aware that the Colorado River, the architect behind the Grand Canyon, runs dry before it reaches the ocean.

I've been aware of this, but I didn't appreciate the magnitude of the human effect on this river until I watched NRS's webseries, Remains of a River.

In the winter of 2011-2012, two friends paddled the Colorado River from its source, through the numerous reservoirs that dam its flow, all the way to the dry riverbed that leads to the Sea of Cortez.

Remains of a River Trailer from NRS Films on Vimeo.


You can watch all ten parts on Vimeo.


Here's part 1 to get you started:

Remains of a River: Headwaters / Episode 1 from NRS Films on Vimeo.


Did you know the story of the Colorado River? Have you experienced a river like this?

My Brother, the Undergrad

My baby brother is in college now! It's been about a month since he moved in and he seems to be adjusting just fine. Check out his first video as an undergrad!

"I Like You" by TeeJay

My brother is awesome.

I admire Amanda Palmer

Amanda Palmer.

This name has been on my radar for years. My longtime friend Kodi has been raving about her music and her work for as long as I have been on Twitter. I kept meaning to find out who she is.. but I just never got around to it.

My journey to Amanda Palmer is a little bit convoluted.

It all started when my little brother, TeeJay, introduced me to Doctor Who and The Vlog Brothers. I became a huge fan of DW, and a passive observer of Hank and John Green. This past fall, TeeJay came into the possession of three tickets to An Evening of Awesome at Carnegie Hall. He gifted two of those tickets to Jesse and I for Christmas.

One of the many fabulous people included in this celebration collaboration, positivity, art, and all-around good feels, was Neil Gaiman, a man I knew as a writer for Doctor Who.

Neil, I later learned, is both a fantastically amazing writer and Amanda Palmer's husband. Now I really needed to find out who this woman is.

So I followed her on Twitter as well.

And then I found her music.

And then I saw her TED Talk.

And then I was fully enraptured.



What I admire about Amanda is her honesty and the way she connects. Her tweets are conversations. Her blog entries are insights into her mind. Her music is the thoughts you won't let out for fear of judgment. But she let's it all out. She sees her fans and she loves them. She truly appreciates her fans - not in the "Thanks for making me rich" way, either. She gives and receives graciously and humbly. If more people knew had to say "please" and "thank you" the way Amanda does, the world would be a lot better off.






What do you think of Amanda's TED Talk? What do you think of her art and her following?

The man who lived on his bike - video

THE MAN WHO LIVED ON HIS BIKE from Guillaume Blanchet on Vimeo.

Rocks, Scissors, Sunshine?

Apparently sunshine is even more hardcore than Spock.