Who are we?

We are people brought together (though miles apart) by the common idea that today matters. And tomorrow will too. We are teachers, designers, photographers, believers and skeptics, brothers and sisters and friends. We struggle and search through the day-to-day just like everyone else. We are all just here, trying to live this day like it’s the best one we’re ever going to see. We hope you’ll journey along with us.

The Writers

I was born and raised in Houston, and no matter how hard I try to run away I find myself right back here again. I just started teaching a group of 80 low-income ESL students in South Houston and find myself learning every day. In fact, I hope I never stop learning. Past jobs that led me to this place include:  waitress, make-up artist, rafting guide and a horrible year long job at a car dealership that I prefer not to talk about. When I’m not pretending to be Michelle Pfeiffer in Dangerous Minds I volunteer with Young Life, rock babies in the NICU and hang out with the greatest network of support — my family and friends.

Things I couldn’t live without: Patty Griffin, chapstick, Bloody Marys, butterflies, hand-written letters from my mother, a good book, buffalo wings, mountains, a piano, art, Chacos, listening to my dad play guitar, sunshine and — most importantly — hope, creativity, family and love.

Joining you from: Houston, Texas.

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I spend about 22 hours a day with a furry, wiggly-butt pee machine Kansas Specialty Dog Services named Trego. The other two hours I’m in class at the University of Kansas. I like penguins, the band Girlyman, long drives through dark nights and the feeling of getting tattooed. My current home is a three bedroom house that almost always feels as empty as my refrigerator (Come visit.).I aspire to be the mother of children I didn’t birth, the incubator of children I won’t mother (surrogacy) and lifetime friend to a beagle, a Jack Russell terrier or both.

Joining you from: Sacramento, Calif.

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I live in Hamburg, Germany, making me the first European writer on TOD! I am a peace and conflict researcher, currently finishing my PhD thesis. Now, don’t get too excited; this sentence has been true for approximately 4 years now — I got distracted.

I love traveling, learning, expressionist paintings, music that lifts me up, music that makes me cry, playing the piano and watching movies. Some of my favorites are Garden State, Lost in Translation, Smoke and Life is Beautiful.

I am married to a man who makes me feel at home wherever I am, which finally brought an end to my restlessness. We are building a house, together with eight other families. I love the idea of living right in the city, but with the benefit of a warm and welcoming neighborhood full of friends — and kids! If you want to know more, read my blog.

Joining you from: Hamburg, Germany

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I am the Sports Editor at the Emporia Gazette, a momma’s boy and a fanatical sports fan — particularly of the Kansas Jayhawks. I attended the University of Kansas because I could not miss out on four years of games at the Mecca, Allen Fieldhouse. I plan to name my first son Phog (at least his middle name) after the famous KU basketball coach Phog Allen. I’ve watched almost every KU basketball game since I was six, and if I couldn’t watch it, I taped it. I attended the Final Four in San Antonio this year where my Jayhawks won it all and claim that was the best weekend of my life.

When I’m not going to games, getting hugged by naked baseball players (this happened once) or sitting in front of my computer writing about it all, I’m usually playing basketball or out with my friends doing my dance moves (I was once called a white Michael Jackson.) Any ladies interested in a momma’s boy who loves sports a little too much? I’m currently accepting applications for a Sugar Momma.

Joining you from: Emporia, Kan.

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Who am I? If I was being honest, I’d say I’m still trying to figure that out myself. I’m a product of the Midwest, who grew up in the wild, wild West, got an education in the Kansas plains, found myself in southern Africa, and then packed everything up again for a life in the United Kingdom.

Here are some things that I do know: I fall down at least once a week. I wear dresses in every season and every type of weather (mostly because I secretly believe pants never fit me right). I have a weakness for purses and champagne. Sometimes I get nervous talking on the telephone (I hate the sound of my own voice). I’m never on time. I’ve given up on ever getting adequate sleep in my life. And most importantly, I believe that true friends are stronger than miles and even oceans.

In short, I’m not quite sure where I’m going, but judging by the past, it’s going to be one interesting journey.

Joining you from: Edinburgh, Scotland

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I am a graduate student, a breadwinner, a wife, a sister and a daughter. I am an award-winning artist and a wanna-be accomplished writer. I am disabled; I have a bone disease called pseudarthrosis and have had 22 surgeries on my left leg. I have a strong desire to make a difference in other people’s lives — inspire hope and make dreams come true and try whatever medium I can think of to do that.

Joining you from: Phoenix, Ariz.

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I teach English and Journalism at an all-girls Catholic high school even though I am not a journalist, nor a female, nor a Catholic. My workdays are probably much like most typical days for teachers with less discipline problems and more cooing and squealing. The best part of my day is when I get home to see my lovely wife and my overly-enthusiastic dog.

Here are a few things my wife Lauran has learned about me since we got married last July. I change the lyrics to popular songs and sing them to my dog. I am extremely picky about what I wear even though no one would ever guess that from what I actually end up wearing. I never stop telling corny jokes. I am way too perky in the morning. I should have been diagnosed with OCD at some point in my life. Dogs of all sizes love me.

Joining you from: Houston, Texas

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Joining you from: Kansas City, Kan.

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Whenever people ask me who would play me in a movie (because this is a topic that both my best friend and boss have brought up), I never have a response, even though I’ve given it a lot of thought. I vehemently deny Rachael Ray (suggested because we’re both “bubbly”). The only actress left in the race is Katherine Heigl (Izzie from Grey’s Anatomy). It’s not a perfect match (and certainly one based on personality rather than looks), but it’s better than not having a response at all. When I’m not debating my celebrity counterpart, I design for a magazine in New York City.

The constants of my days are: Johnson & Johnson body wash (smells like baby); subway commutes; obsessively checking my e-mail; art, design and craft blogs; unproductive banter with my cubemates; keeping an eye out for celebrities and avoiding tourists; reading; and listening to music. I enjoy spending Saturdays walking through different neighborhoods — taking pictures of interesting signs, cool buildings, pretty colors and anything else that catches my eye, which I later manipulate in Photoshop or use for inspiration.

Joining you from: New York City

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I am still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Rumor has it I will still feel this way at age 85.

So for now, I live with my husband Cody and our dog Hershey, surrounded by a metaphorical white picket fence and enjoying it for the time being. I spend my time working, writing, reading, photographing, drinking coffee, running, walking, creating, fixing, listening, thinking, waiting and loving. I have dreams of being published, traveling and having babies. (Yeah, I said it). I’m learning life can change fairly swiftly (obviously, since I already feel the need to adjust this bio paragraph since the inception of this website) and that things are not always what they seem to be. Cody and I live in the Midwest surrounded by some of the world’s greatest family and friends. Writing for TOD is only a tiny beginning of what I hope to be a lifelong pursuit of writing well.

Joining you from: Avon, Ind.

Justin is a writer and photographer currently residing in Boulder, Colorado.  Originally from Santa Monica, Ca., he moved to Boulder 2 years ago to chase his now new wife down before she got away.  Among the many things to do in Boulder, such as cycling, and skiing and the general feeling of trying to keep up with all the uber athletes and healthy people around town, Justin enjoys a great glass of wine or a good beer, cooking from The Silver Spoon cookbook for his wife and family, and being lazy on Sundays (not necessarily in that order).

His work can be seen on his blog, where one can keep up with photos, writing and general shenanigans of the day.  He has also recently written a book that follows the dark and light journey of the artist we are all striving to be through photos and the literary musings of his mind and Van Gogh’s, The Madness and Delight of Van Gogh.

Joining you from: Boulder, Colo.

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After a few years exploring the intersection of faith and justice in North Carolina (fighting the death penalty) and in Colorado (being a campus minster), I’ve headed back into the world of academia to get a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA. I’m learning a lot about the foundations of my faith, and I’m also learning it’s impossible to read everything your professors hand you. I look forward to the day I get my degree and can be called a Mistress of the Divine or, alternatively, the Divine Miss M.

As an East Coast transplant to the Bay Area, I both love sunny California and dread the day an earthquake will send me crashing into the Pacific Ocean. When I get the chance to read, I will happily pick up anything by Bill Bryson, David Sedaris, Jane Austen, Kurt Vonnegut, or Dave Eggers, or pretty much anyone else, for that matter. If I don’t become a full-time crusader for social justice, I aspire to be a folk singer, to write things that make people laugh, to be a panelist on NPR’s Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me! or a voice in an animated Pixar movie. I also can knit only scarves, juggle, make balloon animals, disuss the merits of liberation theology, and play a passable impression of some Ben Folds songs on the piano. I think God has a pretty killer sense of humor, and that — as Anne Lamott says — laughter is carbonated holiness.

Joining you from: Oakland, CA

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When I’m not spoiling my adorable puppy, Winnie, I’m attempting to save the world one small child at a time. I work with kids whose upbringing is a far contrast to my childhood in suburbia. Still, I find that when I discover a book both my students and I can take pleasure in, our worlds suddenly don’t seem very different. This is one of the reasons why I am currently working on my M.F.A. in Creative Writing. I hope to one day finish my Young Adult novel and find someone who wants to read it (besides my mom). For now, I live paycheck-to-paycheck and enjoy cheering on my favorite sports teams, hanging out with my wonderful roommate/best friend, traveling, collecting old books, dance parties and anything Tina Fey does. I’m not sure I’m meant to be in Lawrence for much longer, but for now I am enjoying all this town has to offer.

Joining you from: Lawrence, Kan.

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I am a full-time dissertator, which is a fancy way of saying I stare at a computer screen all day, hoping my dissertation will write itself. I look forward to the day I have a “Dr.” preceding my name and can then reject its use for ideological reasons.  I live in a 1920s house that’s not level with my husband and fellow TOD writer, Eric, and dog, Morgan. My husband sets me free to be who I am and inspires me more than life.

Creative justice, egalitarian living and peaceful adventure are my passions. I hate sexism, racism and a few other -isms.  I’m afraid of drive-through car washes and passive voice. I love sunshine and have a serious travel bug that’s taken me to nine countries and a host of strange locales in my own city. I believe time is a circular continuum and thus history is God’s miraculous way of weaving us all together through fascinating stories.

Joining you from: Houston, Texas

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I’m a yoga teacher, a writer and a recovering peacekeeper. After a decade living and working in war-zones I came home to the simplicity and ease of village life on the New Zealand coast. I teach yoga because yoga is what I need to learn. I’m writing a memoir about my work in Afghanistan because it’s what I need to read. You can find me at Zen and the Art of Peacekeeping and here, amongst other lovely places.

Joining you from: Paekakariki, New Zealand

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I live in Oceanside, Calif., which is about 30 miles north of San Diego. I work through AmeriCorps in a mentoring program that aims to prevent students from joining gangs through tutoring, mentoring, activities, etc. My job ends up being, for example: teaching how to address an envelope and sew; giving students rides home from school; playing catch while spelling words; talking to 13-year-olds about sex, drugs, fighting, and other things that make me have to hide my suburban Kansas white girl shock. I love it. I also work part-time at the North County Times, a local paper. (I majored in journalism and Italian).

Here are some Natalie facts: I love reading; hot weather; and eating, reading articles about and discussing food. I can be sympathetic to both sides of most political issues. One of my favorite movies is Dumb and Dumber. I only paint my nails red (although recently, occasionally, black) because I think it’s glamorous in a 1950s movie star kind of way. I cannot play card, video, computer, board or mind games — or sports. I have beautiful hands. I love classic rock. I go to church every Sunday. I’m not very good at driving. I am the oldest of six children, and my family is awesome. A friend once said we single-handedly restored his faith in families. I’m fiercely proud and protective of my siblings.

Joining you from: Oceanside, Calif.

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Born in Kentucky, I got to Texas as soon as I could. I grew up all over West Texas, and I actually enjoy the flatness and bareness of those desert plains. I graduated from Texas Tech and Rice Universities, and I follow Red Raider football hopefully and relentlessly. It’s a voluntary ride on a roller coaster of emotion each and every fall, but I am the eternal optimist, and next year will always be better. I have recently relocated to Columbia, Missouri, and I am greatly enjoying the plethora of running trails and hills on which to ride my bike. I am a huge nerd and proud of it. I love to watch documentaries and read biographies and memoirs; I tend to buy shoes even when I’m not looking for them; and I fold my shirts very meticulously. Of course, that’s if they get folded.

Joining you from: Columbia, Mo.

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I’m the brains behind this little project. I collected all my friends to make it work (they’re the magic). I’m a Kansas girl who is shocked, and a little bothered, by the fact that Texas is starting to feel an awful lot like home. Four years ago, a recruiter convinced me it would be a good idea to give up my wild journalism dreams and move to Texas to teach English to a bunch of crazy kids. It was a two-year gig, but I’ve yet to find a better offer so I’m sticking around indefinitely. When I’m not teaching a hot mess full of kids how to be better people (and read and write), I’m busy coaching soccer, talking with my hands and generally drinking too much coffee.

I have a small-scale obsession with strangers’ blogs, Gmail Chat and boys names on girls. I also have a deep and abiding affection for margaritas, craft projects and young adult literature. And Jesus. I probably should have mentioned Him first, seeing that He’s Jesus and all.

I firmly believe that no bag can ever be too big, no shoes can ever be too bright and no moment is worth wasting. I will stand by that much longer than I will probably like Texas. Sometimes I write here too.

Joining you from: Houston, Texas

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I’m a mom… Some people call me Mom on purpose — an almost 14-year-old and an almost married 25-year-old. Others, like the 90+ students in my journalism classes, call me mom by accident. Hey mom, I mean Cough. I know, that looks a lot like cough (as in sneeze), but it’s really Cough (rhymes with dough). It’s a nickname that my students gave me when I first started teaching. It is a short version of my last name at that time… Coughenour. All these years and it’s just stuck.

And a teacher…

I advise a yearbook and a bi-weekly newspaper and teach photojournalism. Not only are my students loads of fun, they make me look good when they win lots of awards and then become successful at life.

And a wife… I’m married to the most amazing and patient man on the planet. He is a total romantic and gives the best presents. (Yes, he has brothers, but they are all married as well…

sorry, ladies).

I’m also a daughter, aunt, sister, cousin, niece and daughter-in-law… I can’t imagine the words that could fully communicate how important my family is to me. We are very independent, but incredibly close knit.

Speaking of knitting…I like to. And I like to camp and ride my bicycle —

with my daughter when she can stand to be seen in public with her Muuu-therrr. I’m also an amateur photographer. When I grow up, I’d like to be good enough to sell my photography as art. And I’d like to be a grandmother.

Joining you from: Shawnee, Kan.