Ignite 2015: The Play At Home Version

Monday night I spoke at my church's annual Ignite event (while held at a church this is not a very churchy event--just clearing that up before you get to the slideshow). Ignite is like short Ted talks where you give a five minute presentation along with a twenty slide slide show where the slides change automatically every fifteen seconds, so you've always got to be moving (verbally). I was told I could speak on whatever I wanted. Deciding what to speak on was not easy. While on a flight last week I went through my photo library to see what I had a lot of pictures of and made three slide shows. Eventually, for better or worse, I chose the slide show posted below so you could experience it yourself. 

The first things you're going to want to do is turn up your volume and then click "play" (the arrow, duh) on "Untitled" here to hear the audio:

And then sort of count to 15 while looking at each picture before clicking to the next one:

Isn't it just like you were there?! 

(Perhaps it requires explaining: I started the presentation with a fake "title page" slide to make people think my presentation was going to be boring and serious. And I almost forgot to record myself speaking, so you miss my introduction and chatter as I was adjusting the microphone height)

Additional Director's Commentary: I made the slide show on a Wednesday and submitted it on a Thursday and by Monday (the day of the presentation) I realized I better figure out what I was going to say and write my talk. So I wrote it all out word for word while I was at work and then didn't read any of it at Ignite. I guess I was just loaded everything into my RAM and then grabbed at it wildly when I was at the microphone.

Last Day of Tutoring 2015

My fourth school year tutoring up in Harlem drew to a close on Tuesday. By 11th grade I just don't understand any of the math anymore, but I'm still going.

Something I encountered on the way up: a jungle's worth of plants for sale on the street.

First wave of kids arrives.

A major tutoring responsibility: setting up tables and chairs, then taking them down a little later.

Chamacos

Although the program is called "Hotdogs and Homework" I've only ever had hotdogs there once. Usually it's pizza. But on special days, Taco Bell!

And on even more special days? Root beer floats, although most of the kids just opted for cups of ice cream.

It wasn't all partying Tuesday night, though. We still dug out books to force the kids to read if they didn't bring any work with them (on account of it being "the last day" and who works on the last day?)

Studious faces. Ok. One of these kids is not studying. And it's Christian.

Back to partying.

This looks like a group photo opportunity begging to happen

Begs obliged

Some people want to be photo'd more than others

Tutoring every Tuesday night, why do we do it? Probably for the half-finished Thank You cards.

Memorial Day Weekend is for Rooftops

Friday night Sabrina had a bunch of people over to her mom's apartment on the east side for home made lasagna. It felt so good to eat a huge plate of lasagna at the end of the workweek. Lasagna is something I haven't had a lot of while in New York. It demands time, care, and kitchen space--scarce things around here sometimes. After we ate our lasagna we went up to the roof for dessert. Everyone flipped over the view and the sunset.

(Blog housekeeping item of note: beginning with this post, I figured out how to get my photo captions on top of the pictures, which is the way I like it because you can read the description as you see the picture, not after it. Posts before this have captions beneath the picture, but those days are behind us.)

Sabrina, our host.

Becky and Liz, fellow rooftop early adopters.

I want to know about this penthouse. It must be like living in a cathedral in there.

Alexis.

Beau.

Hi neighbor!

Tali, Shan, Terra.

Brook and Nicole.

Brandon, Julie, Bryan. Everyone trying to get the sweetest sunset pic.

Maria and Kristi.

Terra and Bryan.

Dave, Hillary, Kristi.

Becky.

Terra, Chad, Kristi.

Then I headed downtown and met up with Natalie for a minute. She really likes her new glasses (not pictured).

And then snapped pictures all the way home.

Saturday I had lunch at Ssam Bar, watched Frozen at Andy's, checked out the line for free cones at Morgenstern's, and saw this Mexico City movie called Gueros with Broek. But I've only got two pictures to show for it.

These are the "Breakfast Rice Cakes" with tomato, Chinese sausage, and fried egg.

The above-mentioned happenings at Morgenstern's.

On Sunday the Jason formerly known as Elder Hinds showed up at church, I hadn't seen him since he was a missionary her in the city in 2006. I could not believe it had been that long, he could have told me he served here in 2010 and I would have believed him. 

Then I ran down from church to Claire and Evan's rooftop barbecue, which at that point had been going on for nearly two hours because I GO TO CHURCH SUPER LATE.

Step out on the roof and the first person I see? Emily. Who does NOT live in New York. But what a small world Claire and Evan's roof can be!

Ben has a cool new haircut.

Renee.

Jeff and Dakota's annual Good Shepherd portrait.

Sheen and Broek.

Ty and Sara. As it usually goes with Claire and Evan's roof, I forgot to get any pictures of our hosts.

On Monday I worked and then I went to a little gathering at Angelique's, but it wasn't on a roof. So no pictures. But it is worth noting that Lauren is in town, as illustrated in this lunchtime photograph: