Angels with Earbuds

One of the sweetest donations I have received yet came from Don and Gina Spicer, my boyfriend's parents! Not only did they collectively send me $38.31, they also included a wonderful letter written by Gina and a beautiful picture of a rose that Don took himself.

Receiving this particular donation was very special to me. It reminded me that, even at times when I feel as if I don't have very much support, I actually have lots. I haven't mentioned Something Unexpected to Gina or Don even once, and they still took the time to send me a donation for the project. Even more than that, they gave me something beautiful, both in the words of the letter and the lovely picture. It reminded me of why I started this project in the first place--because I think that it is possible for us to brighten each other's days.

In return, I sent them a wooden wall angel, a painting I did of a lily when I was about 10 years old, a pair of good-luck earrings, and the Monterey Pop Festival 2 disc collection! As you can see in the photos (taken by Don Spicer), they seem to be having fun with them.

Thanks again, Don and Gina! You guys are so cool.

Bob Dylan Said...

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do."

I enjoy going to bed at night. After the alarm goes off for the third time, I enjoy getting up in the morning. But this question remains: What do I want to do in between?

This is a very difficult question for me, because the answer changes so often, and I am always left wondering whether or not that is okay. This project, Something Unexpected, has made me ponder this even further. Through it, I have an amazing opportunity to learn about myself, but the deeper I get, the more everything fragments. Each and every single splinter of myself that I find holds a deep wish or desire. How can I possibly fulfill on them all?

I thought that becoming a student at the VCU Brandcenter would solidify things for me once and for all, but it did me one better, and now I have more opportunities than I could ever have hoped for; they are teaching me how to help myself in anything I should choose.

Lately, giving away the unexpected (or selling it, rather) has been unexpected for me. I am so fucking attached to my stuff. When someone sends me a donation, I literally spend hours trying to figure out what to give them. Not only do I struggle with the age-old, crippling question, "Is my stuff good enough?"--I also struggle with giving it away in the first place. What is it that I think these things say about me, in or out of my possession? What do I think they say about me that I am not vibrant enough, interesting enough, or weird enough to say about myself?

The attached pictures were graciously taken by Sara Cobaugh, who mailed me $5! Thank you so much, Sara! In return, I mailed her the Dylan book that you see pictured. Good old Abe Lincoln was taped into the card she sent and, through the help of a well-drawn speech bubble, he said to me, "Just holler and I'll be there!" I'm gonna take him up on that.

Extended Hearts

I am so excited at this point to have received several donations. I didn't really know what was going to happen with this when I started out, and every time someone participates it is completely unexpected for me.

The first donation of $5 came from Kimberly Munn. It was accompanied with a touching handwritten letter, sealed with imprinted wax! In return, I sent her a print by my friend Pei-Chen Chien, who creates mysterious and beautiful art that I feel expresses deepest emotions of the human soul. I've included a couple of photos that Kimberly sent me.

You have to check out Kimberly's website for her design, print, and DIY culture shop, Rage Haus: "Design, Life, and Happy Accidents". It is full of amazing design and awesome creations. You can read a post there about Something Unexpected.

Thank so much to Kimberly, and everyone else who has donated so far! Check back soon for more pictures of unexpected items and donations.

If You Contribute...

let me know whether or not you'd like to be included in the blog. I'd like to post donation amounts along with the unexpected item that I mailed back. If you'd like, I'll include your name along with your donation. If you'd like to remain anonymous, that's fine, too!

Check back soon, because I have a few donations and unexpected items to upload!

Thanks so much to all who have participated so far. Each time I receive an envelope, it is impossible for me to wipe the smile off my face. It makes my entire week!

Craig's List Says "No"

Well, it seems that my posting to Craig's List is not legitimate enough. My post has been flagged and removed. It could be that people don't think I will actually send them anything if they send me money. Though I am committed to holding up my end of the bargain and sending something unexpected of equal or greater value, I can't say that I blame the skeptics.

This is something I assumed I would run into. My venture is, to say the least, a bit unusual. We are all protecting ourselves here, and there isn't anything wrong with that. Many have come up against skepticism when starting something new. The best thing I can do is follow through on my promise--build the brand if you will. It isn't hard to remember. Something Unexpected promises something unexpected.

So far, reactions have fallen into three categories: laughter, silence, or enthusiasm. I can't say that I mind any of them.

Oh, and I re-posted to Craig's List to see what happens. The post is under the For Sale: Household Items category. We'll see if they find it this time.

Yesterday, I glanced at my weekly schedule, and felt terrified. It was full of great things that I genuinely wanted to do, but it left me with an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

My schedule is filling up, and each consecutive week is beginning to look more and more the same. I hate the thought of knowing what each day is going to look like and the thought of those days turning into weeks and those weeks turning into months. It makes me feel like I already know exactly how my life is going to turn out. It makes me feel like I'm not leaving any room for the unexpected.

I thought, "Other people must feel this way if I do."

It just so happens that I am currently looking for creative (unexpected, if you will) ways to finance a trip to Costa Rica. As a dept-up-to-her-neck grad student, this is a trip that seems completely out of my reach, but one that I am committed to taking. Suddenly, I smelled a social experiment--a hilarious one. Read the Craig's List posting for yourself:

GET SOMETHING UNEXPECTED!
I've been finding myself getting a little bit bored from day to day. In considering this, it occurred to me that other people might be bored, too. Sometimes the days can get just a bit monotonous. Schedules fill up, and there's just not that much room for the unexpected. I can help. Just mail between $1 and $20 to 211 N. Foushee St., Richmond, VA 23220. In return, I will mail you back something unexpected of equal or greater value to your contribution. To make things a little more unexpected, I will also consider interesting trades. All contributions will go toward my dream trip to Costa Rica and will be featured on the project blog, www.getsomethingunexpected.blogspot.com. Thanks for your help, and I'm looking forward to making everyone's day a little bit more eventful!

I am calling for everyone who reads this to participate. This is a great way to add a little bit of excitement to your day, brighten my day, and help create an amazing story and unusual project. Like I said in my posting on Craig's List, all contributions and mailings will be recorded on this blog. Help me to let the world know that not only do people still find one another interesting, but that we are also unwilling to lead lives devoid of surprise or something to look forward to.

And get something totally sweet and unexpected while you're at it. Again, the address is:

211 N. Foushee St.
Richmond, VA 23220