If 10,000 people go vegan for one meal a week, in a year we'll avert the amount of carbon dioxide produced by 548 pizza delivery cars.
Wild, huh?
As for me, I'll make my vegan choice be City O' City in downtown Denver. Check out their offerings here.
Some people are ascairt of the word "vegan", but with delectables like pizza with seitan sausage, carmelized onions and fresh sage... You can't live in fear for long!
Oh, and for my GF friends, all of their offerings can be made gluten free too!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
100 things
1. I am a wife, daughter, birthmom, niece, daughter-in-law, half-sister-in-law, cousin and friend.
2. I am a textbook Scorpio.
3. I'm an only child.
4. At one point, I had four step-sisters, three step-brothers and a nephew two years younger than me, but none of them lived in the same house as I did.
5. I have no idea what happened to any of them. (Update! Found one on Facebook!)
6. By the time I was 25, I'd lived in 22 different places in my life.
7. No, I was not a "military brat". I just had a very indecisive mother.
8. I have lived in four states: California, Oregon, Virginia and Colorado.
9. There are so very many things to love about Colorado, but my heart will probably always be in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
10. If I could live anywhere other than CO right now, I would move back to VA or maybe North Carolina.
11. There are tons of places I haven't been yet, so I can't say for sure where exactly I would live.
12. I have had the same best friend since we were ten years old.
13. I wish I had more friends like her, in both substance and longevity.
14. My folks divorced when I was 18 months old.
15. I don't care what they say, kids never have the same lives after divorce.
16. Because of that, I honestly believe I won't get divorced.
17. I went to eight different schools from K-12.
18. Going to so many schools growing up taught me to make friends quickly but not to cultivate deep friendships.
19. Through Facebook I have found kids I went to school with all the way back to kindergarten.
20. I have a master's degree in Sociology.
21. My degree doesn't really do a whole lot for me in my job or my life.
22. I freaking despised my entire grad school experience. The advisor, the classes, the thesis - what a waste of time and money.
23. I can't even say specifically what my thesis was about, but it was generally about open adoption.
24. I am a birthmom in an open adoption. I had a baby in 1998 and placed him for adoption with a wonderful family. We talk to each other every week and see each other several times a year.
25. It was the hardest but most amazing choice I've ever made.
26. Sometimes I feel God put me on this earth to educate people about how amazing open adoption can be.
27. I feel blessed to have a part in my son's life. His parents feel blessed to have me in their lives!
28. I own two cats: Marigold and Obi.
29. I don't think Marigold will ever stop peeing on the floor.
30. To me, dealing with the cat peeing on the floor is akin to changing a baby's diaper. However, it drives my husband completely bonkers.
31. I work at a prestigious law firm.
32. I actually like my job. It's ridiculous that they pay me so well for what I do.
33. Some days I get wanderlust and think about leaving my job and doing something more emotionally fulfilling. Then I panic because I don't know what else I would do.
34. I really wish I could get paid similarly for walking dogs and petting cats.
35. I love to cook. If I could get paid to cook, I would.
36. I also love to scrapbook.
37. I do not work for a big time scrapbookingcult corporation.
38. Ilost invested a lot of money over time by working for such a corporation. But I got a lot of cool stuff out of it.
39. I've taken more personality tests and career tests than I care to admit.
40. Maybe I'm just afraid of change after all?
41. Once I thought that working in a high security government job was right up my alley.
42. I let that dream go after my husband freaked out when I shared the idea with him.
43. I thought it might be fun to tutor kids in math or Spanish. I just don't know how to get started.
44. I wish I had the creativity to write a book.
45. I did paint a really cool picture of a rose I saw in a magazine. That painting hangs on my wall today.
46. I bought my first home when I was 25.
47. I didn't paint a single wall for 6 years. Then I painted one bathroom really REALLY blue (like taskbar on your computer blue).
48. When my husband and I bought a house, I painted every wall a different color before we moved in.
49. I got my first credit card when I was 26, the year after I bought my condo.
50. I am going to be credit card debt free in 2010. (AMEN!)
51. I am blood type A. This means I should be vegetarian and should not eat red meat or dairy.
52. I do not like parmesan cheese or cilantro. I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't.
53. I have a weird crush on Eminem. I cannot explain what I like about him (certainly not his body omigosh)
54. My celebrity boyfriends are Matthew McConaughy and Kenny Chesney. I have asked for a pass from my husband if either of them wanted to take me on a cruise for the weekend.
55. I played flute and piccolo in high school and college.
56. Yes, I was in the marching band.
57. Everything they say about band camp is true.
58. I really really love to sing.
59. I met my husband while I was singing.
60. It was karaoke night, the song was "Travelin' Soldier" by the Dixie Chicks.
61. I'm a Broncos fan.
62. I think part of the reason my husband asked me to marry him was because I cooked him great meals and I could hold my own in a football-centered conversation. I'm okay with that!
63. I was really good at math in school.
64. My calculus teacher taught us by bringing in cheese, crackers and salami to demonstrate a problem. I thought if I were a teacher, I'd want to be like her.
65. My favorite fruit is the Honeycrisp Apple.
66. I drink at least half my body weight in ounces of water every day.
67. It started out as a weight loss tool but I'm not losing a bunch of weight and now, if I don't get that much to drink, I feel dehydrated.
68. I wish I could get rid of 15 pounds.
69. I did a summer project for Habitat for Humanity when I was in college and helped build a house from slab to shingles.
70. I can totally hold my own with a miter saw.
71. I didn't know either of my grandfathers. One took his life 4 years before I was born and the other died when I was one.
72. I became very close with my grandfather's sister-in-law.
73. She taught me a valuable lesson about time. We lost her to cancer in 2005.
74. Reading old journals I wrote both cracks me up and grounds me. I try to keep up with journal writing but I'm a slacker. Most of my writings when I was young were about boys.
75. When my husband and I were still engaged, we stopped using tobacco together on the same day in 2005. On a road trip. In a car. On the way to introduce him to my father. No stress! We still liked each other after that trip and haven't used tobacco since!
76. Spending six weeks in Mexico while getting college credit was the sweetest trip abroad EVER.
77. My favorite thing to do is read. However, I have a terrible memory, so even if I have read a book, I might not be able to tell you a darn thing about it.
78. I go to the library at least once a week because I never want to ride the bus to/from work without a book. I have bookshelves full of books I have read but don't want to re-read because of all the great books yet to be read in the library.
79. I got to drive my 1983 Mazda RX7 across the country when we moved from VA to CO the summer before my high school senior year. In Kansas, I put the cruise control on 110 mph and didn't slow down until I hit the Colorado border.
80. I'm learning to sew.
81. It's not as easy as some people make it seem.
82. I sewed two curtains for my living room, which took me several hours start to finish and I ripped out at least a foot of seams during the process.
83. I am determined to learn how to knit and/or crochet this winter. I have no doubt this will end in the production of a blue and orange blanket in the future.
84. My husband gave me diamond earrings for my first birthday we were together. Not being a big earring wearer, we turned them into my engagement ring.
85. We bought a 1976 Dodge Motorhome for $900. We call it the "Shaggin' Wagon"
86. The Indigo Girls have been my favorite group since 1989. Up until a few years ago, I knew every Indigo Girls song by heart. I haven't kept up with their new music as much.
87. I've been skydiving twice. Now, after taking off in a commercial jet, seeing the squares of land below, my stomach does flip flops. I'm not sure I could jump out of a plane again.
88. I like to travel in the winter and spend summers in Colorado. The Czech Republic is the farthest I've been, and it's REALLY cold and dreary in the winter. Hawaii, however, is beautiful.
89. My stereo wakes me up every morning at 6:00 playing the classical music station. The first song is always the "Sunrise Serenade" which is supposed to ease you into the day. It works!
90. I really like to turn the volume up LOUD while listening to classical music. It vibrates in my soul.
91. My husband is much better at making coffee than I am. I don't know why.
92. I have one cup of coffee every morning. Rarely two. Must have creamer (Vanilla, if I have a choice)
93. I used to drink tea only if it was iced and sweet. I'm learning to really like hot tea.
94. My first, and last, attempt at snowboarding was on a 13,000 foot mountain. It was comical and battering.
95. I went skiing down that same mountain later that year.
96. I haven't done either since.
97. Having a good hair day can make everything else completely bearable.
98. I struggle with my faith on a daily basis.
99. I realize that I the reason I adored Choose Your Own Adventure books so much as a kid is because life is a lot like them, except you don't get to see what would happen if you made the other choice.
100. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change anything. Or I'd change everything.
2. I am a textbook Scorpio.
3. I'm an only child.
4. At one point, I had four step-sisters, three step-brothers and a nephew two years younger than me, but none of them lived in the same house as I did.
5. I have no idea what happened to any of them. (Update! Found one on Facebook!)
6. By the time I was 25, I'd lived in 22 different places in my life.
7. No, I was not a "military brat". I just had a very indecisive mother.
8. I have lived in four states: California, Oregon, Virginia and Colorado.
9. There are so very many things to love about Colorado, but my heart will probably always be in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
10. If I could live anywhere other than CO right now, I would move back to VA or maybe North Carolina.
11. There are tons of places I haven't been yet, so I can't say for sure where exactly I would live.
12. I have had the same best friend since we were ten years old.
13. I wish I had more friends like her, in both substance and longevity.
14. My folks divorced when I was 18 months old.
15. I don't care what they say, kids never have the same lives after divorce.
16. Because of that, I honestly believe I won't get divorced.
17. I went to eight different schools from K-12.
18. Going to so many schools growing up taught me to make friends quickly but not to cultivate deep friendships.
19. Through Facebook I have found kids I went to school with all the way back to kindergarten.
20. I have a master's degree in Sociology.
21. My degree doesn't really do a whole lot for me in my job or my life.
22. I freaking despised my entire grad school experience. The advisor, the classes, the thesis - what a waste of time and money.
23. I can't even say specifically what my thesis was about, but it was generally about open adoption.
24. I am a birthmom in an open adoption. I had a baby in 1998 and placed him for adoption with a wonderful family. We talk to each other every week and see each other several times a year.
25. It was the hardest but most amazing choice I've ever made.
26. Sometimes I feel God put me on this earth to educate people about how amazing open adoption can be.
27. I feel blessed to have a part in my son's life. His parents feel blessed to have me in their lives!
28. I own two cats: Marigold and Obi.
29. I don't think Marigold will ever stop peeing on the floor.
30. To me, dealing with the cat peeing on the floor is akin to changing a baby's diaper. However, it drives my husband completely bonkers.
31. I work at a prestigious law firm.
32. I actually like my job. It's ridiculous that they pay me so well for what I do.
33. Some days I get wanderlust and think about leaving my job and doing something more emotionally fulfilling. Then I panic because I don't know what else I would do.
34. I really wish I could get paid similarly for walking dogs and petting cats.
35. I love to cook. If I could get paid to cook, I would.
36. I also love to scrapbook.
37. I do not work for a big time scrapbooking
38. I
39. I've taken more personality tests and career tests than I care to admit.
40. Maybe I'm just afraid of change after all?
41. Once I thought that working in a high security government job was right up my alley.
42. I let that dream go after my husband freaked out when I shared the idea with him.
43. I thought it might be fun to tutor kids in math or Spanish. I just don't know how to get started.
44. I wish I had the creativity to write a book.
45. I did paint a really cool picture of a rose I saw in a magazine. That painting hangs on my wall today.
46. I bought my first home when I was 25.
47. I didn't paint a single wall for 6 years. Then I painted one bathroom really REALLY blue (like taskbar on your computer blue).
48. When my husband and I bought a house, I painted every wall a different color before we moved in.
49. I got my first credit card when I was 26, the year after I bought my condo.
50. I am going to be credit card debt free in 2010. (AMEN!)
51. I am blood type A. This means I should be vegetarian and should not eat red meat or dairy.
52. I do not like parmesan cheese or cilantro. I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't.
53. I have a weird crush on Eminem. I cannot explain what I like about him (
54. My celebrity boyfriends are Matthew McConaughy and Kenny Chesney. I have asked for a pass from my husband if either of them wanted to take me on a cruise for the weekend.
55. I played flute and piccolo in high school and college.
56. Yes, I was in the marching band.
57. Everything they say about band camp is true.
58. I really really love to sing.
59. I met my husband while I was singing.
60. It was karaoke night, the song was "Travelin' Soldier" by the Dixie Chicks.
61. I'm a Broncos fan.
62. I think part of the reason my husband asked me to marry him was because I cooked him great meals and I could hold my own in a football-centered conversation. I'm okay with that!
63. I was really good at math in school.
64. My calculus teacher taught us by bringing in cheese, crackers and salami to demonstrate a problem. I thought if I were a teacher, I'd want to be like her.
65. My favorite fruit is the Honeycrisp Apple.
66. I drink at least half my body weight in ounces of water every day.
67. It started out as a weight loss tool but I'm not losing a bunch of weight and now, if I don't get that much to drink, I feel dehydrated.
68. I wish I could get rid of 15 pounds.
69. I did a summer project for Habitat for Humanity when I was in college and helped build a house from slab to shingles.
70. I can totally hold my own with a miter saw.
71. I didn't know either of my grandfathers. One took his life 4 years before I was born and the other died when I was one.
72. I became very close with my grandfather's sister-in-law.
73. She taught me a valuable lesson about time. We lost her to cancer in 2005.
74. Reading old journals I wrote both cracks me up and grounds me. I try to keep up with journal writing but I'm a slacker. Most of my writings when I was young were about boys.
75. When my husband and I were still engaged, we stopped using tobacco together on the same day in 2005. On a road trip. In a car. On the way to introduce him to my father. No stress! We still liked each other after that trip and haven't used tobacco since!
76. Spending six weeks in Mexico while getting college credit was the sweetest trip abroad EVER.
77. My favorite thing to do is read. However, I have a terrible memory, so even if I have read a book, I might not be able to tell you a darn thing about it.
78. I go to the library at least once a week because I never want to ride the bus to/from work without a book. I have bookshelves full of books I have read but don't want to re-read because of all the great books yet to be read in the library.
79. I got to drive my 1983 Mazda RX7 across the country when we moved from VA to CO the summer before my high school senior year. In Kansas, I put the cruise control on 110 mph and didn't slow down until I hit the Colorado border.
80. I'm learning to sew.
81. It's not as easy as some people make it seem.
82. I sewed two curtains for my living room, which took me several hours start to finish and I ripped out at least a foot of seams during the process.
83. I am determined to learn how to knit and/or crochet this winter. I have no doubt this will end in the production of a blue and orange blanket in the future.
84. My husband gave me diamond earrings for my first birthday we were together. Not being a big earring wearer, we turned them into my engagement ring.
85. We bought a 1976 Dodge Motorhome for $900. We call it the "Shaggin' Wagon"
86. The Indigo Girls have been my favorite group since 1989. Up until a few years ago, I knew every Indigo Girls song by heart. I haven't kept up with their new music as much.
87. I've been skydiving twice. Now, after taking off in a commercial jet, seeing the squares of land below, my stomach does flip flops. I'm not sure I could jump out of a plane again.
88. I like to travel in the winter and spend summers in Colorado. The Czech Republic is the farthest I've been, and it's REALLY cold and dreary in the winter. Hawaii, however, is beautiful.
89. My stereo wakes me up every morning at 6:00 playing the classical music station. The first song is always the "Sunrise Serenade" which is supposed to ease you into the day. It works!
90. I really like to turn the volume up LOUD while listening to classical music. It vibrates in my soul.
91. My husband is much better at making coffee than I am. I don't know why.
92. I have one cup of coffee every morning. Rarely two. Must have creamer (Vanilla, if I have a choice)
93. I used to drink tea only if it was iced and sweet. I'm learning to really like hot tea.
94. My first, and last, attempt at snowboarding was on a 13,000 foot mountain. It was comical and battering.
95. I went skiing down that same mountain later that year.
96. I haven't done either since.
97. Having a good hair day can make everything else completely bearable.
98. I struggle with my faith on a daily basis.
99. I realize that I the reason I adored Choose Your Own Adventure books so much as a kid is because life is a lot like them, except you don't get to see what would happen if you made the other choice.
100. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change anything. Or I'd change everything.
If you live in California
I strongly encourage you to vote YES on Prop 2. It is the modest measure that stops cruel and inhumane treatment of animals, ending the practice of cramming farm animals into cages so small the animals can't even turn around, lie down or extend their limbs. Here is a very cute video showing what the animals have to say about Prop 2 (HT to my mom)
Sadly (VERY VERY SADLY), the truth isn't as cute as even the worst parts of this video. The truth is that these animals lead horrible lives. Treating our food sources with respect will only reap bountiful rewards for us human beans in the long run. So, please, my California buddies, vote YES on Prop 2.
Sadly (VERY VERY SADLY), the truth isn't as cute as even the worst parts of this video. The truth is that these animals lead horrible lives. Treating our food sources with respect will only reap bountiful rewards for us human beans in the long run. So, please, my California buddies, vote YES on Prop 2.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Playing the numbers game
Isn't it funny how the littlest things can really blow up and change our thinking - about our day, about ourselves...?
Our company brought in representatives from our insurance company to run tests on employees who wished to have their numbers. They took measures for weight, blood pressure, BMI, body fat percentage, glucose and cholesterol.
They do this because they want to encourage healthy lifestyles for employees so that we may work for the machine longer. I get it.
I feel quite healthy in general. Low blood pressure, which is odd for a law firm secretary.
My blood glucose level was well below the normal range. This is great news, because I was borderline gestational diabetic 10 years ago. I'm always suspect regarding those levels and how my blood sugar may fluctuate throughout the day. It's good to know that I'm not diabetic.
Apparently I'm just fat. I always struggle with my weight, it's so easy to struggle with! I would like to drop 10 pounds but would LOVE to drop 15. Using weight and height, they calculated my Body Mass Index. This number doesn't tell you anything except what your weight divided by your height is. Frankly, I think they should toss out the BMI number entirely.
Then they took my body fat percentage. Apparently, one out of every three cells in my body is a fat cell based on the results of that test. How much does that suck? For females, 18-39 years old, the ideal range is 14-23%, 40-59 years old it's 18-30%, and I'm up there with the 60+ year olds. Actually, it's off the chart. Sad, isn't it?
I have been really focusing lately on getting healthy. The truth is, I eat really healthy. I have ever since I found out high cholesterol runs in my family. And I knew I could lose the weight if I just exercised more. So I've been hitting the circuit at the Rec Center after work, and that has really been great.
I would advise other people to not base their self-esteem on what some numbers on a sheet of paper say. But I have a hard time not doing the same thing. I guess I need to view it as a personal challenge: to lower every one of those numbers each month.
So, wish me luck. It's time to take charge of my health. I want a HOT body, but more than that, I want low numbers all around. Lower the numbers, the body will follow?
Our company brought in representatives from our insurance company to run tests on employees who wished to have their numbers. They took measures for weight, blood pressure, BMI, body fat percentage, glucose and cholesterol.
They do this because they want to encourage healthy lifestyles for employees so that we may work for the machine longer. I get it.
I feel quite healthy in general. Low blood pressure, which is odd for a law firm secretary.
My blood glucose level was well below the normal range. This is great news, because I was borderline gestational diabetic 10 years ago. I'm always suspect regarding those levels and how my blood sugar may fluctuate throughout the day. It's good to know that I'm not diabetic.
Apparently I'm just fat. I always struggle with my weight, it's so easy to struggle with! I would like to drop 10 pounds but would LOVE to drop 15. Using weight and height, they calculated my Body Mass Index. This number doesn't tell you anything except what your weight divided by your height is. Frankly, I think they should toss out the BMI number entirely.
Then they took my body fat percentage. Apparently, one out of every three cells in my body is a fat cell based on the results of that test. How much does that suck? For females, 18-39 years old, the ideal range is 14-23%, 40-59 years old it's 18-30%, and I'm up there with the 60+ year olds. Actually, it's off the chart. Sad, isn't it?
I have been really focusing lately on getting healthy. The truth is, I eat really healthy. I have ever since I found out high cholesterol runs in my family. And I knew I could lose the weight if I just exercised more. So I've been hitting the circuit at the Rec Center after work, and that has really been great.
I would advise other people to not base their self-esteem on what some numbers on a sheet of paper say. But I have a hard time not doing the same thing. I guess I need to view it as a personal challenge: to lower every one of those numbers each month.
So, wish me luck. It's time to take charge of my health. I want a HOT body, but more than that, I want low numbers all around. Lower the numbers, the body will follow?
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Natural Weed Control
Are you spending more time pulling weeds than enjoying the garden you've doted on all summer? Are you worried about the effect on the health of your family by using awful toxic pesticides?
My alternative? We use fabric. Fabric groundcovers block sunlight which deters weeds while simultaneously keeping the soil moist so you don't have to water as much.
Any fabric will do, really. They sell the weed fabric at the big box stores for about $10-12 for a 50 foot roll. You thought gas was expensive? Try a gallon of Round Up for $20!
If you have an old army blanket in the basement that's half eaten by moths, throw that out in the yard! It will even compost over time!
You can lay fabric under decks, or gravel pathways, or brick/stone patios. If you use it in the garden, all you do is cut circles out of the fabric where you want to plant, throw some mulch over the rest of it and voila! You're green!
Fabric in the garden definitely works for me!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Guess what I'm doing today?
I am oh so fortunate to be attending my favorite conference of all time!
The Women of Faith conference has come again to Denver. Hallelujah!
I have been to this conference off and on for the last five or six years. I get something different out of it each time I go.
There were the years that my heart has been broken. I felt so alone, dejected and rejected. The WoF conference allowed me to realize that I could sit there and bawl my eyes out with 10,000 other women and not feel like a freak. It allowed me to know that any time, I could just lay my head on the chest of God and weep. The conference showed me that I was not alone.
There were the years when everything in my life was going pretty okay. Max Lucado taught me how to really delve into my soul to find my "Sweet Spot." How to use my own uniqueness to make a BIG deal out of God every day of my life.
What is Women of Faith? They describe it best:
Oh, this year promises to be just as good if not better than the previous ones! The hilarious Anita Renfroe is joining the women on stage. It should be a riot!
You have probably seen her Total Momsense video on YouTube:
But you might not have seen the complementary video - Total Dadsense. Too funny!
Have a GREAT weekend everyone!
The Women of Faith conference has come again to Denver. Hallelujah!
I have been to this conference off and on for the last five or six years. I get something different out of it each time I go.
There were the years that my heart has been broken. I felt so alone, dejected and rejected. The WoF conference allowed me to realize that I could sit there and bawl my eyes out with 10,000 other women and not feel like a freak. It allowed me to know that any time, I could just lay my head on the chest of God and weep. The conference showed me that I was not alone.
There were the years when everything in my life was going pretty okay. Max Lucado taught me how to really delve into my soul to find my "Sweet Spot." How to use my own uniqueness to make a BIG deal out of God every day of my life.
What is Women of Faith? They describe it best:
It’s two days, 10½ hours. It’s refreshment, reality without reproach, and relationships.Refreshment – Imagine getting together with your closest girlfriends for a weekend. Think of the laughter you’d share, the tears you’d shed, the FUN you’d have. Now multiply that by 10,000 or so. You’re starting to get the idea.
Reality without Reproach – We’re not perfect. We don’t expect you to be perfect, either. Our speakers are real women who share stories from their real lives. We’re here to encourage women, not to condemn anyone. Even those who have never set foot in a church feel comfortable at our conferences. You can check your mask at the door. You’re welcome just as you are.
Relationships – Connecting with God and with each other. At Women of Faith we believe that God loves you – no matter what your situation in life may be. We also believe that He wants a personal relationship with you. Through our conferences, more than 150,000 women have indicated decisions to start or renew that relationship. Relationships with each other are important, too. At a Women of Faith conference you’ll have the chance to connect with other women – even if you go there alone!
Over the course of the conference, you’ll have the opportunity to:
Renew your spirit with messages of hope and humor from the Women of Faith speaker team
Recharge your spiritual batteries with drama that tickles your funny bone and touches your heart (at the same time!)
Rejoice with music from top Christian music artists
Reconnect with God and each other as the WOF worship team leads an arena full of women in praise to God
Revitalize your life with resources that will help keep the conference experience alive all year
Relax in the comforting knowledge that God loves you – right where you are!
Oh, this year promises to be just as good if not better than the previous ones! The hilarious Anita Renfroe is joining the women on stage. It should be a riot!
You have probably seen her Total Momsense video on YouTube:
But you might not have seen the complementary video - Total Dadsense. Too funny!
Have a GREAT weekend everyone!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
House guest
My mother-in-law and brother-in-law, who live about 75 miles away, are staying with us Saturday night. This has prompted a necessary whirlwind cleaning session in our house.
Handsome was completely apathetic about it.
Um, yeah. Oh, and I'm going to be out of the house all day Friday and Saturday. *sigh*
Handsome was completely apathetic about it.
What are you worried about? All we need to do is change the sheets, vacuum, sweep, mop, do the dishes, clean the bathroom, clean the other bathroom, and I should probably hook up the plumbing in the basement so we can do laundry.
Um, yeah. Oh, and I'm going to be out of the house all day Friday and Saturday. *sigh*
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Change your thinking, change the world
I wish the United States would lead the charge in innovative, sustainable energy. We could so change the world.
Chevrolet announced the unveiling of its electric car, the Volt (cute, huh?), which will be available in 2010. Of course, the gas-free, zero emission vehicle comes at a price tag of about $40,000.
It's a start, even with the hefty cost.
The line of thinking that we must drill everywhere we possibly can just isn't the right one. Even if we utilized all the oil and gas leases that are currently out there, oil and coal are finite substances. They just won't renew and thus, if we exhaust them, we'll be at this EXACT same spot down the road.
Why is it so difficult to move away from the destruction of our blessed mother earth and figure new ways to transport ourselves from point a to point b? With hybrid technology and electric vehicles, we should not be so dependent on oil.
The candidates in this year's election are making a big deal out of the viscous liquid. I just don't think drilling is the answer.
Even Bush's administration has admitted that, should we drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, we'd only see a 4 cent per gallon decrease, and that would be around 2020.
That is unacceptable to me. Why bother assaulting the land, the animals and the seas just for a savings I can get with my Safeway card at the pump?
Some ways to help yourself in this energy quagmire we've found ourselves:
Some day, Mother nature will shrug us off like a water from a wet dog. I just hope we don't badly damage her in the meantime.
Chevrolet announced the unveiling of its electric car, the Volt (cute, huh?), which will be available in 2010. Of course, the gas-free, zero emission vehicle comes at a price tag of about $40,000.
It's a start, even with the hefty cost.
The line of thinking that we must drill everywhere we possibly can just isn't the right one. Even if we utilized all the oil and gas leases that are currently out there, oil and coal are finite substances. They just won't renew and thus, if we exhaust them, we'll be at this EXACT same spot down the road.
Why is it so difficult to move away from the destruction of our blessed mother earth and figure new ways to transport ourselves from point a to point b? With hybrid technology and electric vehicles, we should not be so dependent on oil.
The candidates in this year's election are making a big deal out of the viscous liquid. I just don't think drilling is the answer.
Even Bush's administration has admitted that, should we drill in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, we'd only see a 4 cent per gallon decrease, and that would be around 2020.
That is unacceptable to me. Why bother assaulting the land, the animals and the seas just for a savings I can get with my Safeway card at the pump?
Some ways to help yourself in this energy quagmire we've found ourselves:
- Pump It Up. Check your tire pressure. More than a quarter of all cars and nearly one-third of all SUVs, vans and pickups have under-inflated tires, according to a survey by the Department of Transportation. Properly inflating tires or buying low-rolling resistance tires could increase fuel economy by 3 percent or more.
- Get in Tune. Take your car in for regular maintenance (check your owner's manual to find out how often your car needs a tune-up). Following the recommended maintenance schedule keeps your car running better and longer. A poorly tuned or poorly maintained engine can increase gasoline consumption by as much as 4 percent.
- Use Good Motor Oil. Use the motor oil grade designed for your engine and choose a fuel-efficient oil marked with the "Energy Conserving" label by the American Petroleum Institute. Using a friction-reducing formula in the right grade can improve fuel economy by up to 2 percent.
- Lighten the Load. Removing heavy items from your trunk and roof racks can improve fuel economy by 2 percent.
- Slow It Down. Ease up on the pedal. Slowing down from 75 to 65 miles per hour will drop your highway gasoline consumption by about 15 percent. In town, avoiding rapid acceleration and aggressive driving can improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent.
- Cut the Engine. If you're waiting to pick up a teenager or trapped in a huge traffic jam, turn off your engine. Across the country, idling cars waste millions of gallons of gasoline every day. If your wait is longer than 30 seconds, restarting the engine uses less gas than leaving it running.
Some day, Mother nature will shrug us off like a water from a wet dog. I just hope we don't badly damage her in the meantime.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
My Best Friend
My bestest friend in the world has created a blog to celebrate the birth of her son.
Check it out!
Congrats!!
Check it out!
Congrats!!
Monday, September 15, 2008
A "W" is still a "W"
I heart Jay Cutler. Can I just say that right now? As a Broncos fan, yesterday's game was as exciting as they come.
The home team took the lead early in the game and didn't let it go until late in the fourth quarter. In typical Broncos fashion, it was a nail biter at the end.
Sure, people are screaming about the botched call(s) by the officials. But c'mon, it's football! Things will go your way sometimes, other times you get hosed.
However, this kid is simply unbelievable.
What he's done with the team is amazing. And he's so darn confident. Oh, Jay, thanks for being a good kid and a great QB.
Unlike your nemesis in yesterday's shootout.
Smack talkin' P-Riv. Not liking you so much. Frankly I think you got what you deserved yesterday.
The home team took the lead early in the game and didn't let it go until late in the fourth quarter. In typical Broncos fashion, it was a nail biter at the end.
Sure, people are screaming about the botched call(s) by the officials. But c'mon, it's football! Things will go your way sometimes, other times you get hosed.
However, this kid is simply unbelievable.
What he's done with the team is amazing. And he's so darn confident. Oh, Jay, thanks for being a good kid and a great QB.
Unlike your nemesis in yesterday's shootout.
Smack talkin' P-Riv. Not liking you so much. Frankly I think you got what you deserved yesterday.
And Norv? Really? I thought he was going to pop a gasket or a heart valve on the sidelines.
I'll take that 2-0 record. Leading the division. I'll savor it as long as I can.
Thank you Broncos. It's good to be a fan again!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Concentrate on this
The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Friday funny
My Texan girlfriend Melissa was railing on her blog against Hurricane Gustav.
Take THAT Gustav!
Oh, you are a nasty one, Gustav. And what kind of name is that, anyway? Gustav? Seriously, if you were all that nasty they would have named you Chucky, Freddie, Jason or Cujo. Gustav makes you sound like you are going to hit landfall, break into a rousing rendition of a Walt Disney theme park number and have your shirt unbuttoned down to your navel.
Take THAT Gustav!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Remembering
In Denver, it was 6:46 a.m. when the first plane hit. I was out of the shower listening to my favorite morning show, Dom and Jane. They usually had the Today Show on in their studio and suddenly, they were talking about how a plane inexplicably just flew into one of the buildings.
17 minutes later, the second plane hit. I continued to listen in shock, not turning on the TV for fear I would miss my bus to the office.
Everyone on that bus was talking about what happened. Those who hadn't heard were filled in. Those who had watched news channels that morning relayed the horrific scene in New York.
As soon as I got into the office, I pulled up Mapquest to get a picture of the buildings. The buildings imploded shortly after.
I called my boss, who just the night before had supper with me because he was leaving town to go be with his family. I cooked for him when he had no one else to eat with. I caught him on his cell phone, cruising oblivious down the highway toward Phoenix.
"Turn on your radio, find a talk radio station." We got cut off.
The head honchos at the office determined that we were not fully safe in our office building, being so near one more than 50 stories high. We didn't yet know whether all skyscrapers in the country were being targeted or if the damage was yet complete.
They told us to go home.
So, we did.
Most of us spent the next eleventy hours glued to the television, watching replays of what happened that morning. The planes, the smoke, the fires, the ash, the horror.
This morning, I woke up and looked around my neighborhood. There are flags flying today where there were none yesterday.
I thought about the women who were pregnant at that time, whose babies lost their fathers that day. They'd be in first, maybe second grade this fall.
It was incomprehensible then. And no less so now.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
News which made my day
When Handsome and I bought our house, it needed quite a bit of work to make it work for us.
The itty bitty kitchen was very cut off from the itty bitty living room by a 3/4 wall with a barely there window cut out above the sink. The kitchen counters were pomegranate red and the floor was flesh colored. The carpets were dingy and the light fixtures were ghastly.
We worked every night after our "real" jobs for two months straight fixing that house up. We knocked down the wall between the kitchen and living room and made a breakfast bar out of what was left. It opened up the space tremendously.
We built a cabinet to house a double oven given to us by my father-in-law (oh, how I love that double oven!). We purchased new tiles for the kitchen floor, the entryway and bamboo flooring for the living room, hall and office area. While looking into kitchen countertops, we thought that wood would look splendid in the rustic Tuscan kitchen we were creating.
There was a problem. Nobody had wood countertops.
We couldn't find butcher block countertops for as much space as we needed for anything under $1000. We didn't have $1000 to spend on wood, for our counters.
But I was in love with the idea of wood, so we kept searching.
My search led me to IKEA. They had wooden countertops. For much less than $1000. Unfortunately, there are no IKEA stores within 500 miles of our newly remodeled house. Why does Texas have three and California have eight of these stores yet Colorado has NONE? *sigh*
Smack dab in the middle of our remodel project, we took a trip to Montana to celebrate my dad's wife's 60th birthday. The drive up to Montana is never as cool as the drive back, usually because we head up at night and are totally exhausted and then drive all the next day to get to their house. We usually drive up through Wyoming and cut across the vast expanse that is Montana. Sometimes we drive back the same way, varying slightly for sight-seeing purposes. This time, we had a whole house remodel to come home to, so no sight-seeing was in the plan.
However, as we were planning for this trip to Montana, an idea struck.
There was an IKEA not too terribly out of the way back from Montana. You know, in Utah.
Yep, we got our wooden countertops, loaded them up in ol' Ruby (our Jeep Liberty) and drove those 800 miles home with our new finds. Actually, the only way they would fit in Ruby is by laying the passenger seat back and stacking them on top of each other in the vehicle.
Visualize it.
I spent most of the ride home in the back seat, directly behind my awesome chauffer husband.
By the way, those countertops (96 inch long, 26 inch wide) were only $70 a pop! I KNOW!
Soooooo.... the reason for this entire post, besides cementing the memory of redesigning our kitchen and scoring the most awesomest kitchen countertops for a steal is this:
THEY ARE BRINGING IKEA TO DENVER!
I am a happy happy girl! What works for you?
The itty bitty kitchen was very cut off from the itty bitty living room by a 3/4 wall with a barely there window cut out above the sink. The kitchen counters were pomegranate red and the floor was flesh colored. The carpets were dingy and the light fixtures were ghastly.
We worked every night after our "real" jobs for two months straight fixing that house up. We knocked down the wall between the kitchen and living room and made a breakfast bar out of what was left. It opened up the space tremendously.
We built a cabinet to house a double oven given to us by my father-in-law (oh, how I love that double oven!). We purchased new tiles for the kitchen floor, the entryway and bamboo flooring for the living room, hall and office area. While looking into kitchen countertops, we thought that wood would look splendid in the rustic Tuscan kitchen we were creating.
There was a problem. Nobody had wood countertops.
We couldn't find butcher block countertops for as much space as we needed for anything under $1000. We didn't have $1000 to spend on wood, for our counters.
But I was in love with the idea of wood, so we kept searching.
My search led me to IKEA. They had wooden countertops. For much less than $1000. Unfortunately, there are no IKEA stores within 500 miles of our newly remodeled house. Why does Texas have three and California have eight of these stores yet Colorado has NONE? *sigh*
Smack dab in the middle of our remodel project, we took a trip to Montana to celebrate my dad's wife's 60th birthday. The drive up to Montana is never as cool as the drive back, usually because we head up at night and are totally exhausted and then drive all the next day to get to their house. We usually drive up through Wyoming and cut across the vast expanse that is Montana. Sometimes we drive back the same way, varying slightly for sight-seeing purposes. This time, we had a whole house remodel to come home to, so no sight-seeing was in the plan.
However, as we were planning for this trip to Montana, an idea struck.
There was an IKEA not too terribly out of the way back from Montana. You know, in Utah.
Yep, we got our wooden countertops, loaded them up in ol' Ruby (our Jeep Liberty) and drove those 800 miles home with our new finds. Actually, the only way they would fit in Ruby is by laying the passenger seat back and stacking them on top of each other in the vehicle.
Visualize it.
I spent most of the ride home in the back seat, directly behind my awesome chauffer husband.
By the way, those countertops (96 inch long, 26 inch wide) were only $70 a pop! I KNOW!
Soooooo.... the reason for this entire post, besides cementing the memory of redesigning our kitchen and scoring the most awesomest kitchen countertops for a steal is this:
THEY ARE BRINGING IKEA TO DENVER!
I am a happy happy girl! What works for you?
Monday, September 8, 2008
Question about baby showers
My girlfriend is pregnant with number 3. Her eldest, a girl, is 6 and her youngest, a boy, is 3.
I'd like to throw her a shower for number 3. My cohorts are questioning the etiquette.
Do you think it's okay to throw a shower, even if it's just a diaper and onesie thang, for the mom-to-be of number 3?
Me? I like a party! I believe each child's life should be celebrated! I know diapers are expensive! I am positive that this mom-to-be would appreciate the gesture.
Please, weigh in. Thank you!
I'd like to throw her a shower for number 3. My cohorts are questioning the etiquette.
Do you think it's okay to throw a shower, even if it's just a diaper and onesie thang, for the mom-to-be of number 3?
Me? I like a party! I believe each child's life should be celebrated! I know diapers are expensive! I am positive that this mom-to-be would appreciate the gesture.
Please, weigh in. Thank you!
Quote of the day
Feeling kind of funky today and already arguing with my boss about something that he specifically instructed me to do, which turned out to be wrong instructions...
So, this quote struck me as funny and very apropos:
Have a glorious day!
So, this quote struck me as funny and very apropos:
Whatever you give a woman, she's going to multiply.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So - if you give her any crap, you will receive a ton of sh!t.
Have a glorious day!
Friday, September 5, 2008
What am I doing?
Do you ever have that feeling like you have NO idea what in the world you are doing here? Generally, specifically, physically, metaphysically?
I read something recently that applies just to that feeling.
Now, when that feeling of confusion, hopelessness, or wonder hits you, just remember that you're here for a purpose and you don't have to know what it is.
All you have to do is the best you can at whatever it is, and do it all for the glory of God. That should be enough!
I read something recently that applies just to that feeling.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours; yours are the only hands with which he can do his work; yours are the only feet with which he can go about the world; yours are the only eyes through which his compassion can shine forth upon a troubled world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours. ~St. Teresa of Avila
Now, when that feeling of confusion, hopelessness, or wonder hits you, just remember that you're here for a purpose and you don't have to know what it is.
All you have to do is the best you can at whatever it is, and do it all for the glory of God. That should be enough!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Waxing nostalgic
What has happened to the drive-in movie theaters across the country?
Why do people not think that these icons of Americana are worth saving?
We had a drive in theater about 10 miles down the road from our house. It was old, with two screens, one on each end. You could settle in with the speaker through the window or tune your car's radio to the AM station which broadcasted the sound from the movie you were watching.
They leveled that drive in this year. I hear they are putting up condos in its place.
'Cause that's what we need, more condos.
The number of drive in theaters open in the United States is steadily declining. Only 70% of the drive ins open a decade ago are still in operation. They haven't built a new drive in theater in this country since 2004.
Does this make you as sad as it does me?
We have a recurring party with our friends we lovingly call "Redneck Drive In". This constitutes dragging a big ol' 1970s tv set to the bottom of the driveway and inviting everyone together to watch a movie. We pop popcorn and have a potluck (of course, the beer's usually flowing steadily as well). It's a hoot!
This is already a world where the kids who graduate high school this year don't know that Michael Jackson used to be black. Can't we do something about the fact that they may never visit a drive in theater?
Why do people not think that these icons of Americana are worth saving?
We had a drive in theater about 10 miles down the road from our house. It was old, with two screens, one on each end. You could settle in with the speaker through the window or tune your car's radio to the AM station which broadcasted the sound from the movie you were watching.
They leveled that drive in this year. I hear they are putting up condos in its place.
'Cause that's what we need, more condos.
The number of drive in theaters open in the United States is steadily declining. Only 70% of the drive ins open a decade ago are still in operation. They haven't built a new drive in theater in this country since 2004.
Does this make you as sad as it does me?
We have a recurring party with our friends we lovingly call "Redneck Drive In". This constitutes dragging a big ol' 1970s tv set to the bottom of the driveway and inviting everyone together to watch a movie. We pop popcorn and have a potluck (of course, the beer's usually flowing steadily as well). It's a hoot!
This is already a world where the kids who graduate high school this year don't know that Michael Jackson used to be black. Can't we do something about the fact that they may never visit a drive in theater?
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