Countdown to Christmas....or one day closer to 2020 being over?

I'll totally admit that my was attitude this morning - we were one day closer to the end of this crazy year. 

On the way to work all I could think about was getting back home to my cheese Advent calendar. Wouldn't you? And I'd shown great restraint in last the two weeks that it had been peering back at me in the refrigerator. 

On the way to the promise of Edam it turned out to be a great day - a real slice of the great things that happen at Second Helpings each day. 

It's Giving Tuesday so there were the happy sounds of thank you calls to Second Helpings donors happening around me. We may have set a new record for pounds of food rescued in one day. Volunteers and my co-workers made thousands of meals that will be distributed at no cost to the community. 

I am constantly blown away of the support the community shows to Second Helpings. I got to field a phone call for a generous financial donation, coordinate a pasta donation, and marvel at all of the beautiful food that is donated. That's a lot of use of the word "donate" in one sentence - but we seriously couldn't do it without the donors. 

Happy December First. May your countdown to Christmas be full of light and cheese. 

 

hunker down projects

On social media I see so many friends tackling big projects while they're sheltering at home. Making quilts, painting furniture, landscaping, homeschooling, cleaning out their garages.....doing big stuff.

Even though I'm still working full-time at Second Helpings, I'm not working Saturday nights at the Red Key or the occasional Sunday at Marigold. I don't have any writing deadlines, I can go to Mass on my own schedule, and any concerts or parties have been cancelled.

Since I have an abundance of energy in regular times, you'd think I'd channel it and all of my free time into painting the house or starting a novel or scanning the boxes of photographs in my closet or writing letters or organizing my Christmas ornaments or cataloging the PEZ collection....or even keeping up with Words With Friends and birthdays greetings on Facebook.

Nope.

I spent the first few weeks overwhelmed and tired. Second Helpings is doing amazing things and we were working seven days a week in a combination of onsite and at-home shifts and conference calls and planning.

Leaving the house and coming home felt exhausting. I leave my shoes and anything that I was bringing home on the porch, take my clothes off inside the door, run to wash my hands, sanitize the door knob and my keys, toss my clothes down the laundry chute, shower, sanitize my watch and jewelry and glasses, start laundry, sanitize my purse and lunch bag on the porch and fall into bed.

Not that I was sleeping well. I was waking up several times a night in a panic - taking my temperature and realizing that I was hot because the cat was laying on my head or was shivering because the blankets had fallen away. Worrying about COVID-19 symptoms messes with you dang head.

I've certainly settled down. Work has evened out. It's a true testament to how nimble Second Helpings is that we pivoted overnight in how we deliver meals to the community. Not to mention doubling the number of people that we're serving.

I'm sleeping (mostly) through the night and I no longer obsessively take my temperature (now just before I leave the house).

I was feeling guilty that I didn't have a good answer to the question that invariably comes up in Zoom meetings, "what are you doing to keep yourself busy?" Answering "laundry and keeping the cat alive" doesn't seem ambitious enough.

I finally realized that getting through this is a big enough accomplishment in itself. In order to quit feeling like an underachiever I've given myself a list of small things that I can do to feel like I've accomplished something.

This evening I separated a jar of coins from the buttons, pocket lint, and safety pins that had collected there. I went as far as rolling the pennies and separating the Euros from the Canadian coins.

Look at me go!

funny you should say apple....

[click on title for full post] 

Today's Think Kit blog prompt: 

Apple Of Your Eye

You've ranted. You've raved. You've freestyled, soapboxed, and even waved a magic wand or two. Today, let's keep it positive. Who (or what) is doing something good? Share a story of your positive action, whether it's a favorite charity, foundation, or nonprofit – or just an individual whose penchant for do-goodery makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.

It's like this prompt was written for me! 

I am lucky enough to have a job that combines my education, experience, and passion. 

I am the director of programs for Second Helpings, a food rescue, job training, and hunger relief organization in Indianapolis. In the next twelve months we will rescue TWO MILLION pounds of food, prepare and deliver ONE MILLION meals, and educate 50 ADULTS for meaningful careers in the food-service industry. 

How cool is that? 

Here is a talk I gave about Second Helpings a few months ago - I got to tell the story in only twenty slides that changed every twenty seconds, which turns out to be the perfect format for my can't-stand-still, jumping around, fast-talking personality. Click here to see it. 

isms

[please click on the title for the full post] 

This is a small portion of Jerry's conference room wall. 

Jerry is a great Second Helpings board member, volunteer, employer of our graduates, and larger-then life personality. 

You can't help but giggle when he yells "Spitznogle" in a meeting. 

Do you have an 'isms' or a motto? 

I have 'Don't Let Logistics Get in the Way of a Good Idea' on my office wall. 

I also try to come up with a motto for the year. 

2012 was It's Not About You Sunshine. I've always known that the world doesn't revolve around me, but I used to think that every interaction I had was about me. I would take it personally if someone didn't use their turn signal or if a cashier looked frustrated. I knew that people didn't wake up each day plotting about how they could piss me off, but I needed to wrap my head around it. 

2013 was Graceful Conclusions. I worked on not getting too worked up about things before they actually happened. I tended to worry about every possible negative outcome of any possible situation. Often things have a graceful conclusion - no reason to be a jerk or get in people's business.

I've finally settled on Trust the Process for 2014. I'm going to work on not micro-managing everything. Even if I didn't articulate my concerns, I was certainly rearranging things in my head.

I'll keep you posted.

summit

I'm not a big conference goer. I've never had a job where conferences are a big part of the working culture. In the last few years I was more likely to be a panelist or presenter than attendee.

It is exciting to be with other organizations who do similar things to Second Helpings, although none of us are exactly alike. For instance of the agencies attending the Catalyst Kitchens Summit we are the only ones who use all rescued food. And our training program is the shortest, at ten weeks.

I'm soaking in tons of information and ideas and hopefully sharing best practices that others can use. Day One has been great, although I'm not used to sitting still this long.

behind the scenes

[click on the title of this post above to get the proper map to load]
Have you ever exactly what the inside of Second Helpings looks like?

Now you can take a peek!


View Larger Map


Some tips for taking the pictorial tour:
• On the upper right corner there is are two icons. Click on the one with four squares for full screen viewing.
• The wheel in the upper left corner will let you move around the room for the full 360 view.
• In the middle of the bottom of the photo arrows will appear that will move you from room to room. Suggested path is to start in the classroom, move straight through the door to tour the cafeteria, from there tour the cooler, blast chiller and production kitchen. From there go down the hallway to the storeroom areas, loop through the garage, to the dry storage, back through the cafeteria and end in the lobby.

How cool is that?

Visit TourTheMap to see other examples of thier work, and read about their Second Helpings experience by clicking here.

Thankfully they did not photograph the top of my desk. I don't think that they had enough cameras to do justice to the stacks of papers and such.

indiana state fair 2012 - day three

Second Helpings had a table at the Fair as part of Elanco’s Hunger Relief Day. 

My first goal for the day was to get the display materials to the table by 9:30. Typically an easy task but the scary early-morning storms that passed through the neighborhood had knocked down trees and my power was out. I had a hard time just making it to the Fairgrounds.

Once that was done I decided on an Elephant Ear for breakfast – after all I had no power at home….

I swung by Pioneer Village to check on everyone. Most of the folks that take part in the activities sleep on the Fairgrounds, above one of the barns, I think. I’ve never heard exactly where they bunk – I have a feeling that they might thinking I’m stalking them anyway. I don’t want to freak them out by asking where they sleep. Anyway, they were all fine, and except for some downed branches the Fairgrounds were unscathed.

I got there just in time to see a demonstration on shaving benches – sort of a combination of vice and workbench. Dick Reel did a great job of explaining how they are used and how to make them, with a few groaner jokes thrown in - something about not using it properly and now having a half brother (or two). 

I went home for a few hours to write and submit an article. Difficult without electricity – I should have stayed in Pioneer Village – more amenities then home!

Dad and I met at the Fairgrounds around suppertime. We took our traditional look at the woodworking in the 4-H Building. Dad likes to look at the types of wood, the finishes, and design. I like to count how many kids made gun cabinets and gun racks. We also thoroughly examine the cakes and home furnishing projects. Next stop was the Home and Family Arts Building to look at the project there. I especially enjoyed showing Dad the twig plant stand that came from his side of the family.

It was time for my volunteer shift at the Second Helpings table. Dad gathered a wonderful feast or us of pork chop sandwiches and spiral cut potato chips.

Another fabulous day at the Fair. Going home to no power, not so great. 

indianapolis state fair 2012 - day two

This was to be a quick visit to the Fair. I worked at Second Helpings until almost 3:00 and had to be at the Red Key at 5:00 for my waitressing shift.

My goal was no only to visit the Fair, but to get a new chef’s hat to Second Helpings Chef Sam Brown. He’d given a cooking demonstration earlier and it was so hot that his hat wasn’t looking so fresh. He was being interviewed for book, Food for Thought: An Indiana Harvest, and wanted to look crisp.

 It started raining just as I pulled into the Fairgrounds. And trust me, no one was complaining about it - woo hoo glorious rain! I stuck the toque (chefs hat) in a cooler in an attempt to keep it dry. The rain turned into a thunderstorm as I was walking and an announcement was made for us all to seek shelter in a permanent structure building.  

Look at all of those interesting things tucked away. 

I was lucky enough to get hustled into a space that isn’t usually open to the public – the workshop for Pioneer Village AND the State Fair Queen and her court were there. Jackpot!

I'm soaked and showing the Queen my dairy cow ring. 

We waited about 20 minutes or so for the ‘All Clear’ announcement. By the time I made my way around the Fair, I burst into the end of Sam’s interview. I had just enough time to make my way back to the car and head to work.

It was a short but very sweet visit to the Fair. 

indiana State Fair day 3 - 2011 edition

Read all about Day Three by clicking here.

what i did this summer, part one

It really was a busy summer. Germany, house guests, seventeen days of the State Fair, working three jobs and writing and an occasional day at the pool made the last three months fly by.

One thing I did this summer was get my name/photo in the paper an embarrassing number of times. It started with this:

My recipe for "cheaters" salsa was in the Indianapolis Star. The article is too old for the free link, so here is a picture of me showing the piece to my family while were in Baden Baden.

I didn't realize that I would be photographed, I thought they were just going to shoot photos of the salsa. I always hate the way I look in pictures so I asked my friend Joni, who used to teach modeling classes for tips. She she had me practice standing with my weight on my back leg and doing some complicated shoulder roll for good posture. Once I realized that I was being photographed holding the salsa I tried to remember my modeling moves. I'm not coordinated on a good day, so you can imagine my awkwardness in trying to hold a bowl of salsa in one hand and a basket of chips in the other as I tried to pose. I must not have had the swanky look I was going for, because the photographer said, "great, look like you're walking in the door." I do like the way it turned out.

A few weeks later I was in the social column...wearing an apron!

The link for this is expired too, so here is a photo of the article on my fridge (if I wasn't so damn lazy I'd scan it). I love it that Cathy talked about Second Helpings Culinary Job Training program and my friends Linda and Kristi and her daughters. And you might also note that Fuzzy Zoeller is wearing an apron in the same article - I think we're starting a trend!

NUVO did a great cover story about Second Helpings: Serving Second Chances and a video about line cooking: Line Cooking at Second Helpings (you get to hear me being bossy, see my sister Beth training the servers, Ann Mitchell, Mrs. Herr and Kristi and her daughters).

I made the social page one more time with our Harvest event - here I am with the chairman of our board of directors. Click!

My favorite thing was that I got to fulfill a long time dream and write about my Top Ten favorite things about the Indiana State Fair. Click! NUVO also used several of my photographs, including the one of the corn and the Ferris Wheel.

Thats enough for tonight - I have dishes to do....

march wrap-up

Akk! Another month passed by without keeping my promise to myself of blogging more regularly. If only you could read the posts I've written in my head...

One reason that I was out of touch last three weeks is that I had a secret! And it is hard for me to keep such exciting news quiet, so I stayed home and told the cat. And Cliff (I figured telling someone in Nebraska was fairly safe).

The Sunday night, tear-jerker show, ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition came to Indianapolis. And they are holding an Extreme Food Drive for Second Helpings in conjunction with the construction of the house. Any food that we cannot use for prepared meals at Second Helpings will be sent to food pantries in the neighborhood (Martindale-Brightwood) of the makeover home.

Second Helpings provides 880 meals in that neighborhood every single week. We also redirected 131,000 pounds of food in the last six months to the Saint Vincent DePaul Food Pantry that serves the neighborhood. In the first two days of the Extreme Home Makeover we’ve collected over 800 pounds of food.

I am just amazed by all of the behind scenes things on this project. There is a staging area across Keystone (a major street in the city) in an industrial park. All of the trucks are queued up and ready to go. When I left Monday evening they were pouring concrete for the resource/library building and working on the basement for the house. One day later they were putting on the roof, running the electricity and putting in the HVAC system.

The show travels with a crew of 70, a security company and trucks of supplies. The community has stepped up with 3000 volunteers, donated goods and labor. All of the food for the volunteers and crew has been donated.

I am most impressed by the work that is being done in the neighborhood. Two abandoned houses have been demolished, several houses painted, tons of trash picked up, windows replaced and 1500 trees planted. It warms my heart to see some basic quality of life things that most of us take for granted being addressed. I can’t say enough about Estridge (the builder for the project) they’re doing things right.

view from the golf cart

I volunteered on Monday and had the best, yet most nerve-wracking volunteer job ever. I told them I'd do anything but drive. So of course I drove all day. I shuttled VIPs around the site in a golf cart. It was disconcerting to look over my shoulder and see a cement truck behind me as I crossed Keystone. My next job was driving the shuttle bus. Sarah Fisher was one of my passengers. I think I sweat through all four layers of clothes I was wearing having her as a passenger. For the record, she was lovely and didn't do any backseat driving.

I also have a media pass, so I'll be photographing the progress each day.

Monday, March 30

Tuesday, March 31

The Golden Gloves matches started this month - John Mellencamp's son is fighting this year adding to the excitement. I've had fun playing with the camera. I really need to take a class - in my spare time.

My favorite thing I did this month? Shopping with June Bug, Mom and Anna for JB's First Communion veil. I was searching for the perfect Godmother gift for such an important occasion - the veil was perfect.

okay, just one more...

The Tonic Ball is the cover story for NUVO this week - with a great illustration by the very talented Wayne "Barfly" Bertsch. Wayne also drew at strip that describes Second Helpings very well. See it here.

You can read the cover story here, complete with some slightly dorky Nora quotes. Not that I didn't say them....

I'm looking forward to tonight. I've been battling a wicked cold and I'm full of fizzy medicine. I might have to have a medicinal whiskey tonight....

more media

Any one tired of reading about me yet?

The interviewer becomes the interviewee. For the Indianapolis Business Journal no less:
Doing Good Tonic Ball VII

I was lucky enough to get involved with the Tonic Ball in the second year. The experience really has changed my life. It connected me with Second Helpings and loads of great people. It is by far my favorite day of the year.

The founder, Ken Honeywell connected with Becky Hopewell over the event- and now they're married. Woo Hoo. The committee is amazing. We all trust and respect each other- novel, I know.

The committee members are all friends in real-life too. Each year we make a bet about who will go home in a taxi. It's never me- I'm always too conscious of my responsibilities through out the evening. And typically I'm hauling a drum kit or an amp or a drunk musician home - or sometimes all three. In my little truck.

I joked that this year my goal is to make-out with someone by the dumpster behind the club. I hope it's not raining....

nascar comes to second helpings

FedEx gave Second Helpings a Pruis - delivered by Denny Hamlin!

It was a fun day. We combined it with a volunteer appreciation luncheon.

I was in heaven. I had a plan, a clipboard and Ann Herr at my side.

The two of us can do anything, really.

Actually, I'd been talking big and we actually pulled it off.

I had the grand idea that we could turn the garage into a picnic area for 120 with only an hour and a half turn around time.

I love events like this - print and television photographers and reporters covered it - ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN and the Speed Network were there.

Denny volunteered in the kitchen shucking corn. The corn was donated by my dear cousin Leo.

Denny washing his hands- we're food safety geeks around here.

Denny Hamlin and Nora

The Pruis being delivered . Actually it was a faux Pruis. Ours is back ordered. I'm making no commentary on the fact that they drove the fuel efficient car from Chicago and back in a semi truck.

The car was decaled with FedEx, Denny Hamlin's number and the Second Helpings logo.

Here is Denny telling me that he loved me. Or, talking about Second Helpings. I might not have heard him right.

Special thanks to Ann and Nancy. Nancy recruited great volunteers for me, I could not have pulled it off with out her help.

Denny finished 3rd in the Brickyard - and if not for the crazy tire problems, I think he would have won.

achy breaky feet

I cannot even tell you how tired I am. Seriously. Tired. I am.
It has been a fun week. I just figured out that I'm on track to see at least 40 different bands/musicians this month, so I'll catch you up on that.

In other news, I got to help a friend host David Sedaris at her book shop yesterday. David was charming and signed books for seven hours! I love what he wrote to me: Nora, thank you for doing stuff. And, I did do a lot of stuff yesterday. Ugggh.

The NUVO night life guide came out today. I got to write some of the blurbs. Since I'm always writing it was fun to have something written about me. From the contributing writers section:

Nora Spitznogle
With all her work for the Broad Ripple Gazette and her Web site Queen Bee music, and her day job as director of operations at Second Helpings, it's a wonder Nora Spitznogle finds the time to write about music for NUVO. But who better to write about Broad Ripple than Nora, the former manager of CATH Coffeehouse and a fixture at local shows and bars.

I think it is great, except for the "fixture [in] bars" part. I like to point out the I work in a bar and I go see music in bars....wait, maybe that does make me a fixture. Dang it!

[edit]

It is only 6:30 and I'm in bed with a Peanut Buster Parfait, the new David Sedaris book and my feet up propped up.
I'm guessing I won't be doing any laundry.

miss nora goes to washington

I'm off to the National Nonprofit Congress. Exciting stuff!

How could this adventure be even cooler? 

The smart and talented Kirsten  and I are traveling together. 

greenie

All of my world collided, in a good way. I got to write about Second Helpings for NUVO's Green Guide.

Here is a link to the pdf for the guide. My piece is on page 25.

I like the contributing writers blurb they did for me.
I also like being called a contributing writer!

Nora Spitznogle
When she’s not busy writing for the Broad Ripple Gazette, or contributing music stories to NUVO, Nora Spitznogle works at Second Helpings, the city’s largest food rescue operation that not only averts tons of perishable food from landfills, it redistributes the food to those who might otherwise go hungry. Given its multilevel greenness, we asked her to share Second Helpings’ story and success with you.

Wheeee!

wiped out

I'm wiped out, but it was a lovely day.

First check out Robert Egger's blog entry from Indianapolis.

Nora with Robert Egger

Second Helpings first-ever annual meeting was today. We held the meeting in an old duck pin bowling alley. It went wonderfully, all of the glitches happened before the doors opened at the venue. I arrived at the building about forty-five minutes before the event started. I should first point out that I'm hyper-aware of my surroundings, follow me if there is a fire. In fact I'll probably be the first one to notice the fire. I can't recite my multiplication tables, but I'm always prepared for disaster.

Anyway, I rolled past the building and see a heating and cooling repair van parked outside and a puzzled looking man on the roof. F-dash-dash-dash flew out of my mouth, and I started saying a Hail Mary immediately (hopefully the two things cancelled each other out). I was on my fourth Hail Mary by the time I reached the door. I arrived just in time to see the lights pop back on (the HVAC problem had also tripped a breaker). The heat came back on, but the room was cavernous (again, an old duck pin bowling alley) and the outside temperature was 20 degrees.

Our catering staff was working well under the pressure, but the coffeemaker was not. If there is one thing I know for sure, it's that cold Hoosiers want their coffee. I ran to Iaria's, the restaurant next door with three coffee pump pots. I burst through the door "Hi, I work at the Red Key and I need help." A waitress looked up, and said "Hello Nora." There is an whole underground restaurant workers mafia- we always hook each other up. Julie promised to make the coffee- and deliver it!

Back to the venue- everything was going wonderfully. Dad and Mr. Ternet were posted at the door to greet people and point out the awkwardly placed steps (the only two people that tripped on the steps? My parents). Lunch was terrific (special thanks to my sister Beth for helping). The CEO did a great job with her "state of the agency" address, we gave out awards and Robert Egger had the whole crowd inspired and fired-up.

Christamore House was given the Recipient Agency of the Year Award

Robert with the Second Helpings Culinary Students

More later, I'm literally under the covers as I type -still wearing my clothes and boots.

miss 2007

I'm in the mood to do a year-end wrap-up, some reminiscing.

Favorite events of 2007, in chronological order:

Indianapolis Colts won the Super Bowl: I got especially geeked-out about this, I loved the excitement and pride that glowed throughout the City.

Chez Pez on tour: My PEZ collection was on display at two public libraries. As someone who credits the library with changing my life, I got teary-eyed preparing the displays.

Visiting Cliff and Marilyn in Nebraska: This trip was fun for many reasons. Of course meeting the Morrows was a blast, but I also really enjoyed hanging out with Jerry. Hours in the car and we're still friends!

Purchased a 'real' camera: I love it for illustrating the blog and it is really helped with my music column.

Took the first (on purpose) picture of my feet: It has turned in to one of my favorite ways to illustrate my stories. I'm hoping to to hang of series of "my feet" photographs in my house.

Indiana State Fair: I got to see David Cassidy and ride in the Tractor Parade. Two childhood dreams come true in one week. Almost too much to bear.

Posted every day in October: Posting every day really cemented my commitment to blogging. Thanks to all of you who suffered through it.

Tonic Ball: Best day of the year, hands down.

Things that happened this year that made me feel like an adult:

Got promoted: The job is perfect for me and I love it. It is the first job I've had in years that does not feel temporary (even though I held some of those temp jobs for seven years).

Bought my house: I went from having no debt and being a tenant to having a mortgage and being the landlord.

Money: I spent the year with a chunk of money in my savings account, hell, I had a savings account for the first time in years. I got a significant raise. The raise just covers the amount of money that I'm paying over rent I was paying, plus what my tenant is contributing. So, my standard of living is exactly the same. And I have no savings account.

Things that did not happen like I thought they would:

Writing: I vowed at the beginning of the year that I was going to quit writing for this paper. It was starting to feel like a chore. Boy, did I misjudge that one! I started writing more, and pitching stories to them. I seriously considered (and was encouraged to) applying for the music editor job when it came open in November.

Quitting a part-time job or two: Still working all of them. I tried to breakup with the clothing store, but they offered to reduce my schedule even more (and I still get the discount). The Red Key is part of my social life - they'll have to kick me out.

Dating: I'm not sure that I had an actual date this year. A couple of almost/are we on a date-dates. It does not get any easier. Ugggh.

Weight: No more, no less.

Organized basement and garage: No comment.

I can't wait to see what 2008 brings.

second helpings christmas party (holiday party #12)

The Second Helpings staff party was held at Santorini Greek Restaurant in Fountain Square. It was fun to see everyone out of work clothes and meet spouses and children. The food was excellent and was served family style - I ate way too much.

We played some fun games - my favorite was the one where you put a piece of paper on top of your head and draw a Christmas Tree. Then add presents underneath and decorate the tree. Add a star and sign your name. The really hard part is signing your name - or maybe its just hard to sign my name. Hint: don't take your pen off of the paper.

We did a gift exchange. Everyone brought a wrapped gift and sat in a circle and listened to a story. Whenever the words "right" or "left" were said you passed the present that direction. I took an giant Santa Pez dispenser. I wound up with a mug and Starbucks gift card. I'm going to treat myself to an eggnog latte...tastes a lot better than PEZ.