So This Is Christmas.....

Just a couple Christmas tunes running through my head! ;-)

Last evening for some reason was one of those evenings when I just felt overwhelmed. Not because I've been going non-stop, and not for any real apparent reason. I think I just needed a bit of silence and space from the stimulus of the season, even with how steadily I've been avoiding the commercialism. I think that moment arrived in the midst of our candle lighting ceremony at the Christmas Eve service last night. With the entire sanctuary lit by only candlelight, and Silent Night being sung by the congregation, peace settled upon my soul. How fitting that the rain dropped down gently upon the roof at the conclusion of the song, as if God himself was sending applause in response.

I may have written about this last year as well, but the Christmas Eve service always leaves my heart aching for several members in our church family. One family lost a college age daughter to a battle with liver cancer a couple of years ago, and quickly after that one of the fundamental women in our church lost her own lengthy battle with breast cancer. Beyond the candle lighting ceremony, I was touched at the special music offered by the husband of this incredibly vibrant woman. This woman left behind an incredibly caring, soft spoken husband and an even softer spoken son-just now in his final year of college and getting ready to become an officer in the military. Never have I seen this husband share his musical gifts beyond the safety of the choir, yet last evening he did just that in the form of a duet. A duet he sang 22 years ago for the the baptism of his son. I may have been mistaken, but from where I sat, it appeared that his son was moved to tears, just as many of us in the congregation also had misty eyes. However it reminded me of how truly we are surrounded by the gifts and blessings that the individuals who can no longer be with us impart upon our souls, and how important it is to share our love with those who are still here with us in this life. How blessed we've been for knowing those we've lost, and yet how fortunate we are to know that with the celebration of the season, we WILL see them again one day.

This morning my parents and I all slept in and stretched into the day slowly. While we still have stockings and just a few presents from my granny under the tree, it generally takes us all day to get around to opening it all. By 1pm when my brother and his wife arrived, the three of us had made it through our stockings. (And I have to admit, as much as I'm not a huge fan of gifts these days, I was pretty stoked to see my sander from Santa, especially with the desk still waiting to be finished.) We spent the afternoon just chit chatting, reading, knitting, and enjoying tasty goodness, before Mom and I finished preparing Christmas dinner. A lil' family Wii fit competition time, and then surprisingly my father joined my brother, SIL, and myself for his first trip out to see the major holiday light display on the shore, making it one of the more special trips I have yet to take out there. Five years ago, he had less than a 5% chance of even still being here himself, how grateful I am for every moment he continues to be here with us. Here are some pictures from the light displays this evening:

The puffins are my favorite. The display is pretty spectacular and this year they primarily used LED lights for almost all of it (which includes 250,000 lights).

A simple day surrounded by family, with texts arriving from my dearest friends, and phone calls from family that are farther away, I truly felt that I already have the greatest gifts of my life. It's been the perfect, simplistic Christmas that I always hope for each year, even as I think of those that have so much less than I. I hope for simple joys and blessings in their lives and that we all may reach out a hand to those in need regardless of the season. I hope that you, too, were encompassed in a most satisfying day. MERRY CHRISTMAS-Peace and happiness to you and yours!

Christmas Eve

I think I deserve a F for Failure with how well I've kept this blog up in the last year. However the last few days/week have found me spending much time with friends that are in town. It's always nice to know that while we are all spread so far and thin, at least once a year during the holiday season, we all can come back together and connect for a few days or a few moments. And there's something about this town that pushes all differences aside. Rather than agreeing or disagreeing about how people have changed over the last few years, it's more about enjoying people for who they are and where they are. However, it is always interesting to see which ones are still concerned about keeping up appearances and touting off exactly how prestigious they think they are. I think in the last two days, I've said about 10 times that "money isn't as important as you're making it sound." There are moments when I keep my thoughts to myself and moments when I also go ahead and share them.

All that being said, I haven't been making very good headway on my goals lately. I haven't worked on any of the stuff for my job or school, but I guess I recognize that it will all get done one way or another. And it's been nice to take the time to really just relax. I've been able to keep up my swimming and running which has felt great, although I'm planning on taking these two days for Christmas Eve and Christmas off.

On Sunday evening, I joined a group of members from my church down here at the local mission where we sang Christmas carols with the homeless individuals who are staying there. While my fellow church goers have the best of intentions, it always strikes me somewhat sad and ironic that rarely do my fellow church members sit at the tables where the guests of the mission are seated. I tend to show up a few minutes late, so for the past two years have had the pleasure of meeting lots of great individuals who just happen to be going through some rough times. This year there were some adorable little kids there and lots of laughter was occurring throughout the event. Yet again, I was moved to watch one little girl in particular being so content to play with a naked doll with a broken baby carriage.....something that most other kids may have considered not playing with because it wasn't perfect. But life on this planet, in this society, isn't perfect...it's broken. And sometimes I feel I learn more about life from the broken non-perfect moments, things, and people than I do in most other situations. Because truly we all are somewhat broken.

And on that super cheerful note :-) I will leave you with a wish for a most Merry Christmas! May you be surrounded by your loved ones and many blessings-for we are so very blessed.

Another Good Day

Steadily making it down the to-do list.

Today I was dropped off by my mother at the grocery store on her way to run another errand, where I bought the missing ingredients needed in order to make my soup. I filled up my little tote bag, bundled up, and walked home for the return trip. In my jaunts around town, I get lots of strange looks, but I'm getting to the point where I really enjoy the strange looks just because I'm walking. I want to give strange looks just because they are driving. Especially to our neighbor who lives up the street, who I kid you not, we have seen get in his truck and back it out across the road in order to get his mail....

I spent a good portion of the afternoon looking into organizations to donate to for Christmas gifts for my remaining niece and nephews:

I chose a larger donation at Save-a-Manatee for two of my brother's kids. In exchange they will also get a quarterly newsletter throughout the year and a calendar. Something that is both environmentally supportive and educational for two of the boys. Since we used to live in Florida, I figure it makes a nice segway for my brother to also share some of what he knows with his kids.

My brother's other two children and my sister's eldest son sponsored donations via World Vision, which is a Christian organization focused on alleviating poverty and injustice throughout the world via a sustainable development model. My eldest nephew sponsored art & music instruction for kids (he's a musician), my youngest nephew sponsored two ducks for a family, and my niece (just entering that cheerleader/tween fashionable age) sponsored a contribution for clothing and other basic needs for kids in poverty stricken areas of the world.

I had looked into donating via Unicef USA which I feel is a very worthwhile organization, yet I was fairly unimpressed to see how much corporate America has infiltrated the donation process of that agency. I definitely think it's great to raise everyone's standard of living, but I don't know how much corporations need to be hawking their wares on those in poverty either.

Through all my research it appears that 8% of most organizations' expenses go toward fundraising. An annoyance for most of us that already give, yet other research is showing that it's one of the only ways to continue to get donations from individuals...by harping on us to continue to do so. However for World Vision, I specifically sent a follow-up communication asking that they do NOT contact me or my sponsored donors via mail and minimal email if they want to continue to receive donations....we'll see if they follow through. I don't need them spending my donation on postage and on wasting more paper. However an additional nice thing about World Vision and the Save a Manatee organizations was how readily accessible their financial information was in order to see exactly how much money goes where and to who.

While a donation might not be the same as having an actual gift under the tree, I hope my niece and nephews can truly understand the difference they are creating in the world. They are positively impacting other people and the planet, and that is the best gift of all.

In the midst of my donation research, I chatted with my sister online, who pointed out this posting on Down to Earth, which led me to this posting, which led me to this website for Handmade Toy Alliance, which led me to write to Representative Blumenauer, Senator Wyden, Senator-Elect Merkley, and to sign the petition...all to try to save a crafters right to construct healthy toys, clothing, and diapers for infants in the USA without hefty regulation costs. If you read this and live in the US, please look into this! It's really not that hard to send a form email to your elected officials, although I generally try to include a request at the bottom that if they choose to respond they should do so via email and not via a form letter that will just waste more trees and CO2.

After finishing my hemming and hawing and tailoring of donations, I finally got to chopping up vegetables for the soup. I like to think of my soup making as "everything but the kitchen sink." Tonight's soup included: red potatoes, broccoli, peas, celery, onions, garlic, carrots, a bit of white wine, two cans of vegetable broth, and some spices thrown in. Cooked all of the veggies down before adding the wine, seasonings, and then broth......then whirred it up in the blender. Served with some warmed french bread and waa-lah....a nutritious meal! I always make a large batch so I can freeze the rest for future meals.

Last evening I was able to get the hemming of my pants done and one of the shirts fixed. I had found the pants at Goodwill and just needed to re-hem them to the right length. The shirt was one I've had for years and wanted to take the arms off of to create a sleeveless black t for summer. Now tonight I hope to make some decent headway toward finishing up Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. So far a pretty decent read! Definitely makes me want to focus on buying local!

Hope everyone has a had a fabulous Hump Day!

Winter Break Happenings

It never fails to amaze me at how much more relaxing life is down here. I could have the same things to do in both the city and on the coast, and I would automatically be less stressed taking care of them due to being on the coast. I haven't decided if it's due to just a general slowness about small town life, the protective factor of physically being back in my parent's house, or maybe a mixture of both or something else. But whatever it is....it's always a nice feeling.

My computer has been reformatted. (Warning: Be careful using jump drives in numerous computers as there is a nasty virus transmitted through them!) We erased everything off the hard drive and used the restore CD to get the basics back that I needed. Yesterday, Dad and I up and downloaded a few more programs that I generally use, erased programs that I don't need that came with the restore CD, and transferred over a bunch of the pictures and documents. Today I just transferred the rest of the files back over to my computer via the external hard drive and then re-saved everything to the external hard drive so that everything is up to date. The two best things are that I don't think I lost anything with this computer issue and that my computer is running a million times smoother than it ever has. Sometimes everything in life can use a good cleaning out in order to truly get back to just the necessities.

Yesterday I was able to finish shopping for the two kids I selected from the Giving Tree per request of two of my nephews for their Christmas presents. I was able to get a game for both kids and warm jackets as well. Now it's focusing on what to do donation wise for the rest of the kids and for my parents, although I have some things in mind.

Since being home, I've also been able to be more active which has been great. Mom and Dad have been using the Wii Fit for a while now, and although I have mixed feelings about using a video game for exercise, it really does create a work out and get people moving. The last 3 days I've been 3 days I've been back I've been able to do at least 45 minutes a day on the Wii Fit and two of the days have walked 2 miles a day also. I think I have months of pent up physical activity that is ready to burst out. I'm still walking everyday to the MAX and from the MAX to campus in Portland, but obviously it's not enough. So it's been a great feeling to get more movement back into my life.

It's nice to slowly be making it down my goal list and spending good quality time with my parents. The weather this week has been crazy throughout the state, with snow in the valley and very cold temperatures for Oregon in almost all locations. No snow yet on the coast, but more snow is predicted for the valley tomorrow and again on Sunday. If you are not acquainted with Western Oregon, then you must know that even a few inches of snow is enough to send most towns into a tailspin. Schools and businesses shut down for the day, as the roads tend to become treacherous with lots of ice as the snow melts and refreezes. There have been numerous accidents throughout the state, as people on this side of Oregon tend to not know how to drive in these conditions. But in some ways, a few extra days off during this season are good for most. A few more days to enjoy the beauty that surrounds them, a few more days to enjoy the tasty treats and family togetherness. However it does create a mess.....

Off to deliver the Christmas packages, to go for a walk, and to make some homemade soup for dinner. I hope that each of you is having a beautiful and productive day!

Home...So Refreshing

Home again, home again, jigitty jog,
Maybe this means I'll have more time for my blog! ;-)

Whoo. Spent Friday evening with my granny, visiting, and making sure things were in order for her for the coming winter weather. My house mate had walked me through making my first home made soup the night before Thanksgiving and my granny wasn't a huge fan of the jar I had brought her because of the spices we had used. So in preparation for my trip south, I made a second soup of my remaining vegetables and seasoned with primarily just oregano. Hopefully Granny will like this one better!

I headed over to the town where two of my siblings live in the morning, after multiple cautions from Granny to drive safe (we're in the midst of some unusual snow/cold spells here--however bear in mind that on this side of the state 2 inches of snow on the road is enough to send people into a tailspin). My eldest nephew had a swim meet, which I missed him swimming but at least got to chat with my sister's family for a couple hours. And he had done great in his meet! We come from a family of swimmers, so it's nice to see him doing so well at it!

From my sister's I headed over to the family beach house to meet my father. (The roads over there are probably a mess to drive by this morning, as there was some snow visible on the sides and tons of water on the road. Add freezing temperatures to that and you've got a mess on your hands the next morning.) Originally I was going to spend the weekend over at the beach house but with the crazy weather, we decided to shut the house up for the winter instead. So I helped Dad load the unfinished desk into the back of his truck, load some extra boxes he'd brought into the attic, clean out the gutters, work on a leaky window issue, clean out the fridge, and then he taught me how to properly winterize the house. I feel like I'm learning new things all the time!

From there Dad and I drove in tandem down the coast, where we discovered gas for $1.41 (I can't remember the last time it was that cheap!). I had called my mother to let her know what time we'd be home and that we hadn't eaten, and I was shocked when we arrived home to see that she had actually made pasta sauce from scratch! Yum! A lil' family Wii Fit time, some unpacking, and a good sleep later and now it's Sunday morning.

Off to walk to church in a few minutes, but gosh it's great to be home. I plan to get the computer issue resolved today as I discovered an easier way to transfer files to my university network so I don't have to burn numerous CDs of files that won't ever be used again. If I can focus on setting this week up like a work week, then I can probably have the remaining time to just relax without having deadlines looming. What a great concept!

Hope everyone is well! Have a great Sunday!

Going-On Disappearance

Disappearance...it always happens on this blog, but especially at the end of the term. I completed my last final yesterday, motivated by a fellow classmate to get it done early, and the need to have my own academic stuff completed in order to focus on research items before being able to head home to my parent's house. Saturday will be a happy day-time visiting with my granny, siblings, and nephews before heading home the rest of the way. Although there may be an evening stop at the beach house to attempt to tackle that desk project again. Yet, as much as I'm looking forward to relaxing on the coast, there is much to get done during these "off" weeks also. Internship paperwork and article writing for university related stuff. Computer reformatting and all that comes with it for virus killing stuff. Plans for walking and swimming to rid myself of the extra pounds that have gained ground due to a bit more stress, a bit more sitting, a bit more fatty food, and a bit less walking. Friends to see, books to read, and family moments to relish. And somewhere, somehow I'm hoping my head just clears a bit.

There have been some great moments in the last few weeks that I haven't been able to share about including a beautiful Thanksgiving affair full of the warmth and love that only family and good food can bring, the crispness that has finally arrived signally that winter really is here, the numerous fun and interesting conversations I've had on the MAX with random Portlanders who need an ear to hear or a smile to share, the times I've been able to stop in the midst of it all and gab with coworkers and friends, a weekend full of fun with my house mate, and an all important football watching day with the baby who brought me hope for the future.

Random thoughts have also entered my mind such as: how incredible it must be to be a construction worker and know that what you are creating is something that will mark the landscape for many, many years to come; why is it that we are stressing about what to buy aunt X for christmas when the headlines share that so much of the world is suffering in need (case in point: Zimbabwe); why has no one developed a faux-fleece bra for the cold?; why in the world do people feel the need to hose off sidewalks when a broom is probably more efficient?; etc, etc, etc.

Last night to mark the introduction into a few weeks of somewhat freedom, my house mate and I took a walk around the neighborhood to enjoy the lights. Things have been going well between us and I feel that we are actually really benefiting each other. We've just settled on a new "yellow let it mellow" rule in the house to try to reduce water usage and she's just started working on some scarves for homeless around town. After our walk, I caught up via phone and made a plan to visit a friend of mine who lives close but out of state. And then I started the lists of what is left to do before Saturday as a means to clear my mind. Things to pack, books and DVDs to return to friends, books to loan to friends for break, scholarship thank-yous to write, emails to respond to, and general organizing of items, schedules, bills, etc that need to occur before the next term starts.

It is my hope that over the next few weeks, I'll be able to regroup and write a few more frequent posts, especially as I'll be reading some interesting books. However until that occurs, I hope each of you is enjoying an especially fulfilling week and remembers to take the time to stop and notice the little joys of life along the way. Blessings to you and yours!

December Already

It's already the second of December and how time speeds up the older one gets, I'll never know. About two weeks to go until a bit of vacation, and I'm ready for it to be here. I'm ready to drive home to my parents house, to visit with old friends, to read the stacks of books piled up around my rooms, to sit in the pews of my old church and sing Christmas hymns, to gaze out on the waves crashing into the shore, and to just have time to visit with Mom and Dad. Life back on the coast just slows down and everything relaxes. I know that once I'm done with grad school, I'll have to readjust to less vacation, so I plan to relish this last one even more. Although I can't help but hope that some day the United States will actually work less and relax more.

Yesterday brought good news into my life. It's interesting to me that this year has brought opportunities that count as items on my lifetime goals list (over on the sidebar). Last year I finally read the entire Bible. And this year I have had two opportunities to potentially be published in a couple of different ways. Yesterday brought one of these opportunities, as it looks like I will co-author an article based on the research project that I am involved in. While I don't plan on pursuing a PhD at this point, nor am I entirely sure what the future will hold, the opportunity to be published in the major journal of our profession is very rewarding. I can't help but feel that sometimes we really do receive what we ask for.

I also felt that yesterday was good on the political front as well. Obama's choice of Hillary for Secretary of State was one that I was glad to see. Clinton is an intelligent woman with experience and plans for how to move this nation forward. But more than anything I was glad to see that two individuals that had been major rivals were able to step forward into their own partnership. Now if we can just repeat this same practice throughout the world, this would be a much better place.

Hope your December has gotten off to a good start!

Thanksgiving (AFTER) & Advent

It has been a wonderful Thanksgiving. I felt glad that I was able to contribute a variety of dishes for this afternoon's meal, as I truly think it's the first time I've actually prepared something for the day. All of the food was delicious but the time together is always the most rewarding thing about the day. The thing I love the most about Thanksgiving is that for once Americans take time off in order to enjoy the basic things that surround us. We attempt to cook from scratch, we say grace over our meal, and we laugh and love and share moments with those that mean the most to us. We don't work, we relax, and we provide for each other. And for once we are content and feel gratitude for the blessings that we have---instead of "needing" more than what we have.

How ironic then that the day AFTER Thanksgiving is the largest shopping day of the year. I will be avoiding the stores this year; something that is not very difficult for me to do. The consumption that occurs on this one day is astounding, especially since most of the items purchased are far from necessary, far from encouraging health in any form, and generally will be cast aside in just another year's time. Just another notch on the belt of America's gluttened desire for more, although most are never going to gain fulfillment from what these items will bring. The saddest reality for me, is imagining what good COULD come if instead this money that is spent on items was invested in human kind and in doing good for others and the planet. While the global economy will benefit tomorrow, will the current economic model ever really benefit humanity in the long term? I think not.

It's too bad Christmas couldn't just be a repetition of Thanksgiving Day (and not the day after)....just extended into a longer season. Although in reality it is....

Today at our Thanksgiving celebration, I did receive two gifts...one was the plastic tote bag constructed via my sister as this was the first time we'd seen each other since it had been finished. The second was one that has become a tradition between my mother and I, and arrived in the form of my annual chocolate advent calendar. To me, Thanksgiving and the advent season go hand in hand in terms of favorite holidays. The advent season has special meaning as it is based in preparation and remembrance of the coming of Christ. Instead of the "normal" holiday season which is based in mindless consumption, advent is about being mindful of the historical reason we even celebrate this "season." To me, advent truly is the extension of Thanksgiving Day as we focus on the great gift given to all of us that reside on this planet. This year, the first Sunday in advent is this Sunday....and that's something else to be be grateful for...

Regardless of your religious or spiritual connotation, I hope you enter into this holiday season with a gracious heart, a peaceful mind, and a joyous soul! The best to you and yours....

Some thankful thoughts...

Thanksgiving has always been, at least in theory, my favorite holiday....

This week I am thankful for:
-moments with my house mate and having her teach me how to make leek and potato soup from scratch
-time tomorrow with family
-maturing to the point of actually contributing something nourishing to thanksgiving dinner
-the fact that even though i got a nasty computer virus, there's hope that either a) my brother can work his magic and get it off or b) that reformatting will do the trick
-the knowledge that really one little computer virus is no big deal in light of the problems of the world
-the fact that through my two class presentations i feel that my group members and myself enlightened many new people to the lack of chemical regulation and the harmful health and environmental effects of these products
-finishing scarves, a good book, and the approaching winter vacation
-hours of laughs and conversations with my friends/colleagues
-flannel sheets still carrying the smell of line drying from months ago

This month I am thankful for:
-my organic food box delivery
-stacks of good books waiting
-pretty decent weather for fall and warm coats, scarves, etc for walking
-the groups I have worked with for class projects
-my GRA position and the financial burden it has lifted
-the close relationships I have with many of my family
-EmergencE packets that deter colds
-peppermint soy lattes
-a new outlook for our nation
-new friendships and time with old friends
-the formation of study groups for comp exams and the opportunity for my internship for spring
-Dad's 5 year cancer free mark

This year I am thankful for:
-numerous answered prayers
-successful grad program changes and learning more about myself in the process
-my brother's new marriage and traveling to see them
-the new living/house mate situation
-numerous moments with my parents, siblings, nephews, cousins, granny and extended family that make me glad that I've stayed in Oregon
-the growth in my relationship with my aunt and uncle
-continual growth and learning
-being back in Portland and the opportunities it has granted me
-the bloggy community
-continued health and happiness mentally, physically, and spiritually

I will spend tomorrow with members of both my immediate and extended family surrounded by good food and drink. And the one thing that I continue to think is....I have much to be thankful for. May each of you have a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving remembering the blessings that are present in your lives.

And as always....if you can....a) give what you can to others and b) avoid the stores the day after Thanksgiving....

Survey Results and Answers

With the closure of my survey as of last evening, I have retrieved the data and am posting it here. The results are fairly interesting. 75 people attempted the survey with only 71 completing it. Not all respondents answered every question and for some questions more than one answer was available for selection. Of the respondents, 8 were males and 59 females, with some not reporting sex classification. 15 respondents were under 25 years old, 46 were 26-50 years old, and 8 were 51-75 years old.

1) Have you ever considered how the ingredients in consumer products impact human health?71 responded yes
4 responded no

2) Have you ever researched the ingredients in any of the products you have purchased?
36 yes
39 no

3) If yes, where did you get your information from?
Most common answer: google/internet
Other answers included: books/magazines/journals, product labels, school, Safe Cosmetics Database, friends, alternative medicine practitioners

4) How many chemicals are currently known to exist within the United States?
12 answered correctly (50,000 to 100,000)
53 answered: over 100,000
(Leading me to believe that respondents recognize that there are many chemicals that surround us).

5) In your opinion, who should be regulating chemicals in consumer products?
35 for watch dog groups
36 for consumers
50 for industry
63 for government


6) When research is done on how chemicals impact human health, should safe exposure levels be based on: (could select more than one)33 for adult male
34 for adult female
32 for teen male
32 for teen female
41 for a child
46 for an infant
16 for lab animals

I forgot to include the fetus as an option, as the fetus is the most susceptible. Currently, any testing that is actually being done is based on a white adult male.

7) What percentage of chemicals used today were allowed to be continued for use without screening when the Toxics Act was implemented in 1976?23 answered 55% (largest response group, although almost all responses fell between 33% and 77%)
6 answered correctly with 99% (this is the correct answer based on actual volume of chemicals produced)

8) Of all the chemicals on the market throughout our industrial history, how many chemicals have actually been banned by the EPA in the United States?
22 answered correctly with less than 20
29 answered with 21-100

9) The European Union has recently implemented the "Precautionary Principle," which is based on the idea that chemicals in consumer products should be proven safe before being used in those products. In your opinion, do you believe the United States should operate under this principle also?68 yes
2 no

Since I used Survey Monkey I was only able to ask 10 questions using the basic free option, although I had several other questions in mind. Technically I only had to ask 10 people for my assignment, but I am generally interested in responses to these questions.

Thank you to those of you who took the survey/quiz, I definitely appreciate it!

Life, The City, Commerce

Last night I watched a mainstream moving that set my mind in motion, and it dawned on me how many movies exist on the theme of finding ones self or seeking satisfaction beyond just financial achievement. While I tend to think of Hollywood as materialistic and very money orientated, it seems that there really are quite a few movies out there that encourage people to think about what actually matters in life and to head for a life that is fulfilling in ways other than success as society tends to see it.

So all of this swarmed through my head today as I trekked down to campus for a group meeting this morning. I had forgotten how dead downtown is even late on Sunday mornings. There are the occasional people out for breakfast, the photographers trying to get pictures of the city without many people, those headed to Saturday Market, and those that are headed for the churches that are located downtown. But in comparison to a weekday morning, downtown is pretty empty. And it made me think about how ironic that people come into the city to do their work or other business, but on days when they aren't required to do so--it seems that most people avoid the location of that part of their life.

Originally cities were created as a means of commerce, and it seems that continues to be the primary function of it today. Yet....what would things look like if commerce changed? What if society actually enabled people to not have to care about money....or allowed people not to have to work a job that they didn't enjoy? What if we could all find positions that actually benefited others as much as ourselves and brought fulfillment on more than one level? What if markets took into account externalities?

So I'm left with this thought....I wonder if everyone on this planet was asked what they'd truly like to do with their life.....what would their responses be?

Survey Help?

Hello all!

I am taking a course this term that requires us to informally survey individuals on any topic of our choosing. I'm sure it's not too big of a surprise to most that I am selecting to survey individuals in the United States on their consumer product and health knowledge/opinions. To make it easy, I created a survey online via Survey Monkey. Since it's free I could only create 10 questions, so the survey should be quick and painless....relatively easy to complete. AND the responses are voluntary and anonymous with no real risks involved (except maybe increased education?!).

The survey will be open until 8pm on this Sunday, November 23rd. PLEASE feel free to pass the link on to other individuals who you think would take the time to help me out,(especially since many of you close friends and family already will skew the data based on the things I've blogged and talked with you about during the last couple of years AND it would be nice to have a wide cross representation). However if you are also willing to help me out by taking it yourself, I'd greatly appreciate it! Just answer truthfully and to the best of your ability. It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong, as the point of the gathered data is to design a (fake) media campaign to educate the public on the topic anyway.

You can always comment with feedback or if you want to know the answers to some of the questions. After Sunday, I'll post the results of the quiz and the answers to the questions. Thanks in advance to those of you who are willing and/or able to help me!

The link is: Chemical Exposures
Simply Authentic

Feeling It...Called

Here is my LENGTH caution :-)


So on Sunday, sitting in my lovely church service, I was impressed by the guest preacher, although he did make me wiggle in my seat. It was one of those sermons....the ones where they tell you all about the reluctant prophets....and then they remind you...that we are all reluctant prophets. That there is something each one of us, regardless of your religious/spiritual/philosophical persuasion, can do here on this planet in order to benefit this planet, these people, and to ease the existence that we all have here together. You could call it a "calling," a "purpose," a reason for existence. And then the wiggling increased, when this guest preacher asked us to actually go out and DO something about our faith...to actually demonstrate God's love and the love that we are to feel toward each other. (Picture here: actual sign ups in the front of the church for the missions that the church is involved in, an offering basket, and a miscellaneous sign up for new project ideas...and all of this in a Presbyterian church which is not known for it's...um....evanglicalness).

So needless to say, I've been thinking....about what I'm actually passionate about, where I feel I can make a larger difference, ways I could get involved to actually "minister" via my actions to others. I'm not one to completely talk about my faith and religious beliefs, but I do feel convicted that I am to live a life that openly gives to others and of myself as a demonstration of those beliefs. And so here I was sitting in the pew, and realizing that really I could and should do more. (Technically during the service, I was compelled to go volunteer in India, but how that will play out and when I'm not sure).

Anyway...insert tangent here...that eventually will get back to the point, I promise. So over the last few months I've also been thinking about how inept I am at spouting off great stats from the top of my head about important studies and links related to what I study. How am I supposed to educate people on the facts of environmental issues and health concerns if I can't remember the minute details to back up my claims? (We are in the midst of evidence based everything after all!) So cut to Sunday afternoon, when two dudes tried to pick me up outside a coffee shop and instead were debated with about gentrification in Portland and the still existent racial/SES/ethnic barriers that exist in the city. In the midst of my educating these individuals I was able to pull all sorts of dates out of my head to back up my claims (and no, I'm not calling them). How interesting that in one subject matter I can readily provide what I need and in another I struggle...

Zoom back to the present. So this morning I check my one list serv and there is an announcement of a film showing and discussion going on this evening on the topic of immigrant day laborers. Now one of my original excitements about moving back to Portland, was that I envisioned myself being more involved in the city and going to more forums, events, etc. Until this evening that vision had not been realized. So I go...and I'm blown away and connected and involved in this incredible discussion with other like minded individuals. I see, via the film, the discrimination placed upon Latino day laborers. I hear the story of a Jamaican individual in the crowd talking about getting spit on this week by a woman in his taxi and told to "return to his own country." I am surrounded by people who get that "we're all human" and that we happen to live in this nation only by luck of being born here. I meet individuals who work with immigrants and refugees...and truly just like a flower something starts to blossom inside of me again.

So I've come home...and now I'm processing via this posting. I'm not sure yet what direction I'll go in with this, but it's something. I feel that file re-opening and the cause striking a chord within me...the same cause that I studied and surrounded myself with as an undergraduate. The same cause that originally led me on this path of simplicity. The same cause that I wish more individuals would feel and understand. Some call it human connection, some call it brotherly love, some call it social justice. My job is to spread it...in whatever manner I can.

...and for better or worse, I've decided to start with my siblings' children. :-) This year instead of giving presents, I've just emailed out a challenge....for each individual or family subgroup to instead discover an individual/organization/cause that they want me to give to in their name. While the kids range in age from 8 to 15, I feel that they can do this and that they can truly give of themselves this way in order to improve the world in which we all live. Whether they want me to buy food or sleeping bags to hand out personally to the homeless, sponsor a child their age from a giving tree, or donate money to an organization...the choice is theirs and I hope will reflect their interests. Maybe this is me inflicting my own philosophy onto them...but to me...this is the real meaning of the season anyway. For the meaning of Christmas comes from the birth of Christ and His message to the world was to love God and to love our fellow brothers and sisters.

And with that I've come full circle. Thanks for joining me on this rambling of callings, religious insight, social justice causes, and maybe a little humor. Hope you all are having very blessed evenings!

A Saturday in the Fall in the City

Outside the library.

The start of campus...you can see the Saturday Farmer's Market in the distance.

All of these are the Park Blocks downtown in the city. Campus is at one end of them.

Thought you might enjoy some pictures of fall in the city. I was on campus last Saturday working on some projects and assignments that are due, so took my time getting there and returning home in order to take some pictures.

Whew..(and some CEH resources)

So after 4 weekends in a row of being away from my house and feeling like I've been on the go during the weeks as well....I finally had a day to "catch up" today. Thus I did those great things that make me feel like my life is a bit more orderly. I vacuumed the house, swept the floors, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen, did two loads of laundry including the sheets, prepared a cabbage salad I can take to work with me this week, paid a couple bills, wrote some Thanksgiving cards, aired out my room, generally got organized, and now I'm in the process of cleaning up my email inboxes.

I have three email addresses but two of them I have linked together so I only have to worry about checking two. One email I primarily use for personal contacts and some class stuff, as it was started when I was having problems with professors receiving emails from my old account. So the old account has turned into list-serv central. I receive newsletters from my church, from three environmental organizations, from Mother Earth News, from a social work research institution, from a public health organization, and from a local charity. Then I have two list-servs and a Bible verse that are delivered daily, and multiple emails everyday from my MPH program. Needless to say, its very easy for me to get behind on the "news from the field." So here are some great resources for all of you! :-)


A REPORT CARD BY WOMEN’S VOICES FOR THE EARTH which looks at the chemicals that are in common cleaning products.

Another new book I need to check out: Poisoned Profits which argues that many of the negative health and behavioral outcomes we are seeing in children are related to the toxins we all are exposed to...which the newest research is demonstrating an even stronger connection to this theory.

And another push for breastfeeding as breastfeeding has now been linked to decreasing child behavioral problems. (Although, scientifically I do have some questions about definitively stating that just breastfeeding is the reason for this...there are many other factors that could also be related to this outcome.)

If you haven't noticed, a lot of the research that I focus on pertains to childhood outcomes associated with exposures to everyday chemicals. While I would argue that these chemicals also can be associated with negative outcomes in adults (such as the fact that 1 in 3 people will develop cancer in their lifetime), it seems to me that when we talk about children we are more able to get people to listen. Thus a lot of what I am interested in and some of the best ways to get legislation passed, is by focusing on how our lifestyle is damaging our kids.

While my original intention with this blog was to be much more educational than personal, I've struggled with writing meaningful blogs full of what I'd like to transmit while I've been in school. The irony is that I have more research available to me, but it's harder for me write posts about it while I have so many different health subjects rattling around through my brain. So hopefully in six more months, I might be able write a bit more educational of posts....until then I'll probably just continue to direct any readers to where they can glean some of the information.

Hope everyone is having a great day!

Six Random Things

Hmm...we'll see how well I do at this and whether or not people want to play along is up to them. Although I might not tag 6 so we'll see....

The rules are:
Link to the person or persons who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

SIX RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME:
1) I have a great habit of making random comments or sometimes asking direct questions that leave people shaking their heads and wondering why I thought of that particular thing in that particular moment.

2) Even after living in Argentina for about a year and minoring in Spanish in college, I will never be completely fluent in any language other than English. I can communicate but I just don't have the capacity to fully adhere to all the sounds and rules. Some people have the language gift, I'm just glad I know what I do.

3) I sucked my thumb as a child and I think it's why I have stubby thumbs.

4) One of my favorite things to do with any of my good guy friends is enjoy a couple of beers while playing a fun but intense game of Scrabble.

5) When I was 18 I got a tattoo of a cross, as I always felt more protected somehow by wearing one. (And this way I felt that I wouldn't have to continue to buy new cross necklaces when the old ones broke or chlorine ate them during swim season, etc.) Eight years later I still haven't told my father, who is staunchly opposed to tattoos, so hopefully he still doesn't read my blog. :-)

6) For the last 23 years of my life, I have always lived within a couple hours drive of the beach, and now I can't imagine ever not living near the ocean in the future.

So I will be tagging:
Heather at My Journey
Jelly Wares
Learning to Step Lightly
I don't know if they've already been tagged or not but some of the others I would have tagged already have been tagged in the past.
And I'm not tagging her but Katie over at Two Frog Home has her own 100 Things that she posts on occasion about herself. Neat idea!

Wednesday Happiness

Wednesdays used to be my favorite day of the week because you're halfway through. So I thought I'd share some happier things:

My lovely sister found this great idea of making totes out of plastic bags. She's completed two and has requests for many more, but what a great concept of reusing those pesky plastic bags that don't hold very much into something that actually can carry quite a bit. I've quite enjoyed the stories of my youngest nephew in that family telling his mom about everything that could be put in one of those bags and how deep to make it so that it could carry even more. Here is a picture from when she was working on the second one:

We had a storm pass through here last night. While I might get tired of the rain at the end of our months long rainy season, I always love the beginning of the rainy season. The rain and wind whipping around has a sense of renewal, a sense of cleaning the Earth off for the coming year. Another comforting piece of this for me is that five years ago one of my high school best friends sent me a bamboo wind chime. That wind chime has followed me to almost every residence I've been in since then, and I have memories of many nights of hearing the bamboo chime clanging throughout the midst of a storm (much to my sister's dismay one night). However the chime itself has become a comforting sound to me...that regardless of where I am and how many changes I make there is a natural ebb and flow and consistency within it all. In recent years I've had to repair the chime twice, but I should still be able to get some decent life out of it yet.

Last night I finally finished my midterms and am now heading into the downhill wind up of papers and presentations. However the best part of the school factor is that a fellow friend/colleague and I met with a major Oregon environmental organization yesterday about potentially interning with them and several projects were offered to us as possibilities. This organization is one that I have been following and involved with on the peripheral for over a year now. They focus on many of the issues that I feel are most important and it would be an incredible opportunity to get to work with them!
What are some of your Wednesday happy things?

Another Weekend Away

As much as I love these weekends away without Internet, it really does leave a major pile of "to-dos" for when I return home. This weekend was spent with my grandmother at the beach and was incredibly relaxing and worthwhile. The older she gets, the more I cherish the moments with her and the wisdom she instills in me. One of my aunts and cousins came over on Sunday evening and it was great just spending time catching up.

I spent several hours on Saturday and Sunday attempting to sand down an old desk that I've had in storage over at the beach house. The desk was originally made by the boyfriend of my granny's sister. It was used by my father when he was younger, my sister, and finally was passed onto me when my granny was clearing out her house after my grandfather's passing. The desk itself is large with wonderful shelves but it also makes it a challenge when it comes to removing paint. I had originally attempted to strip the 2-3 coats of paint and finish but the stripping agent just created a huge mess. Not to mention I kept thinking of how horribly toxic the fumes and the thick liquid are for my health, and what to do with all the gunk once I'd stripped it? So instead I pulled out Dad's sander and spent two days just sanding down to the stain. Sometime in the next month or two before we close the house for the winter, I'll need to go back and do the finishing sanding so that I can finally bring the desk to my house for usage.

As I was sanding, I couldn't help but look up in awe at the beautiful view we have from the ridge of the hill the beach house resides on. Even when it was pouring down rain, I was still protected in the garage, surrounded by years of past projects and the numerous tools that were held in the hands of many of the industrious men in my family. I saw the shelf Dad created me for a previous apartment made from the loft bed he'd made for my dorm room. I saw the saw and lathe used by my brother to make beautiful gifts for family. I remembered years of watching my brother, father, and grandfather cut, nail, screw, measure, etc in order to add on rooms to the house and remodel what had previously existed. I re-lived helping Dad on one of his most recent projects. And with my hands stuck in Poppa's gloves, I felt protection from the spiders crawling around as I searched for the tools I needed on his benches. :-) But really most importantly, I felt so glad that while I still like my dangly earrings and shiny shoes, I am also happy to use a hammer, haul wood inside, and sand for hours in order to get the result I desire.

On the drive back this afternoon, I started thinking......about how strange it would be to not know how to do some of those things. I feel there is MUCH to learn about how to survive off the land and how to really get by....but I feel so grateful for the things that I do know, for the experiences I've had in my life, for the experiences taught to me by all four of my grandparents. And I have to wonder what it is like for individuals who have grown up never having any of those experiences. What is it like to not know how to catch a fish? What is it like to not know how to make a birdhouse or to cut a piece of wood? What is it like to not have seen a dead deer, or to have never picked berries, or made jam, or chopped wood? What is it like to have missed out on so much.....of self-sufficiency and existence?

Some would argue that we don't need to know how to do those things anymore, that technology will solve all our problems, etc etc. But how incredible to feel that connection to our history and to recognize that technology or not, sometimes it's just easier or more fulfilling to do it for one's self.....and to actually recognize the worth of the thing being created, produced, or consumed.

Monumental Day in History

I had class this evening from 6:40 until about 8:20pm. However my cube mate and I hunkered down between our research hours and our evening classes and watched election coverage via the BBC. Before class was let out early, the texts and calls were coming in to let us know that Obama had taken the election. What a night in our nation's history! What a night for those of us that live in the United States. And what a night for the world.

I just finished viewing Obama's acceptance speech for the second time this evening. And I am proud to say that our President elect is one eloquent individual. And for the first time in a long time, I feel hope for our nation. I feel hope for the world. I feel hope.

My first of three phone calls tonight went to my brother who updated me on the polls and on the local races. My second phone call went to my grandmother, as four years ago she and I spent this evening together and watched in stunned silence as the nation was overcome in red. Both of us were overjoyed tonight and any tears this time around were ones of happiness and not of sorrow. My final phone call this evening was to my father-who reminded me of how honorable both men are who ran for office and just how incredible this change is especially for the young in America.

In watching McCain's speech this evening, I was proud of the man who quieted booing crowds at the mention of Obama's name and who encouraged all individuals in this nation to come together to truly change the tide of what the United States has become. This theme was evident in Obama's own speech as he called for the coming together of the nation--to repair the incredible division that exists among individuals within this country, to re-establish the care that we must feel toward one another and toward our nation. Obama's success could in fact be due to his experience as a community organizer, as no other race has been built upon the techniques which he utilized and which served him so well.

It has not escaped me just how divided this nation truly has become. These divisions exist within my family and between myself and some of my longest standing friends. Yet I can't help but hope that we, as a society, truly can look beyond the differences and see how similar all of us in this world truly are-that when it comes down to it we all have the same needs and often the same desires. That more than anything else we should be extending our hand to our fellow countrymen and to the world.

Yet again, what a monumental night in this nation's history and for the first time in a long time....I am proud to be an American.

Happy Halloween!

So I'm slightly later than usual this year, but I still was able to enjoy myself today:

A black cat crossed my path...and is now laying near my feet on the porch...
My pumpkin got carved, the extra flesh was cleaned and saved....
And the seeds were washed, spiced, and roasted. This year I tried something new and cooked them with olive oil, rosemary, and garlic salt...delicious! Give it a try!

I'm not sure if we'll have any trick or treaters tonight or not. I bought a bag of candy just in case and we'll give it out until we run out if kids do come. The weather predicted rain but after morning showers, I'm currently sitting in a big ray of sunshine on the back porch, so who knows what the evening will bring. Hope you all are enjoying a beautiful day!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

THIS SITE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Which means that I'm not satisfied with the new header, but I'm liking the use of the whole page. I am struggling with finding a picture to use that I feel represents what I'm going for here....Any feedback?

Weekend Fall Pictures

Another wonderfully relaxing weekend spent with my granny. We ran her errands, enjoyed the Scottish Reformation Sunday service (complete with bagpipers and tartan flags), indulged in her delicious homemade pumpkin pie, watched World Series games over glasses of beer, walked around the lake, and just enjoyed each other's company. I also got in some short but quality time with my siblings that live locally. It's incredible to me just how much I can get done and enjoy when I'm removed from internet access! :-)

Oh Disney, How You Let Me Down

While I appreciate your reply, I am NOT pleased with your response. Striving for cleanliness in terms of killing most bacteria, while necessary, should not be the only focus when considering the healthy option for cleaning products. You should also be looking at the long term health effects of certain chemicals. When most "safe" levels are based on the adult body, it is incredible to me that your corporation would continue to deem these as appropriate products when you appeal mainly to children. Who knew that a corporation based mainly on the short term happiness of the nation's children (and obviously the short-term health) would not worry about and take into consideration the long-term life of an individual. Safer (and cheaper) alternatives are readily available that would allow your corporation to fully support your claim to care about the health of your clientele.

No need to reply to this again, as you will not change my opinion. When Disney has the financial and marketing capacity to truly step out for the nation's children, it is disheartening to realize that this corporation is just one more example of a "greenwashing" industry.

Please know that until these standards change I will be advocating for my family and friends to avoid taking their children to your locations.

However I do hope you all have an enjoyable day. Differences of opinion aside, we are all still human.

Thanks,
Simply Authentic

--- On Thu, 10/23/08, WDW Guest Communications wrote:
From: WDW Guest Communications WDW.Guest.Communications@disneyworld.com
Subject: Email from the Walt Disney World Resort

Dear Ms. Simply Authentic,
We appreciate your interest in how we utilize environmentally-friendly
cleaning products here at the Walt Disney World® Resort.
We are very proud of our ongoing commitment to the environment as well
as our reputation for providing our Guests with a clean, safe
atmosphere. Our first focus is to ensure that the millions of visitors
enjoying our facilities are provided with sanitary guest rooms,
restaurants and restrooms.
We are using only products we consider safe
for our Cast Members and our Guests, including many
environmentally-friendly products. We hope you will be pleased to learn
that we have an entire team dedicated to evaluating the content and
effectiveness of eco-friendly formulas, and when appropriate, these new
products are integrated into our cleaning protocols.
Rest assured we will never compromise the health and safety of our
Guests by using a product that does not meet our sanitizing standards.
Thank you again for taking the time to write. Please know that it is
our intention to provide the safest and cleanest surroundings for all
Guests who visit the Walt Disney World® Resort. If you have additional
questions, please provide a telephone number, and we will be happy to
follow up with you.
Sincerely,
Executive Offices
Walt Disney World® Resort

------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Montgomery,,
I am deeply concerned with growing evidence that toxic chemicals in
everyday products are contributing to serious illnesses in children.
In Disney's Animal Kingdom, unnecessary toxic cleaning products that
would harm the animals are banned. However, those same products are used
around children in your parks, restaurants and hotels. Disney's
environmental policy states that your company follows its environmental
policy with 'significant responsibility in mind', but instead continues
to expose your youngest guests to harmful chemicals through toxic
cleaning products when safer alternatives exist.
Please transition all your parks, hotels, and restaurants to certified
green cleaning products and procedures this year. By making this simple
change, you will protect all your guest's and employee's health, and
become a true environmental and health leader in the tourism industry.
In an effort to decrease un-necessary resource usage, if you are to
reply please do so via email.
Simply Authentic

Pumpkin Patch Fun

Cooper the cow.

A couple of pictures from the trip to the pumpkin patch and corn maze last weekend. One of my good buddies from high school came up and I took him out to Sauvie Island where there is acres of fabulous farm land. I'm hoping to spend one of these afternoons soon carving pumpkins with my housemate!

On the property, they had a variety of areas. As you can see, there was the large corn maze and huge fields of pumpkins. There also was a flower garden, a kids play area, and then vendors selling many types of squash and pumpkins. They also had a barn area set up with different animals: goats, chicks, sheep, the pig, a calf, a cow, a llama. In the barn however there was also an interesting display based upon high fructose corn syrup. The owners had placed about 20 products and placed a sign saying that every product except one contained high fructose corn syrup in it. It was a pretty easy guess I thought as to which one didn't contain it (maple syrup), but it was a great visual to show people how many common food items contain this subsidized addition.

So a little bit of education, a little bit of land, a little bit of farm animals, and a little bit of fun--what better way is there to spend a Saturday afternoon?

Transitions to Frugality

I'm currently writing from my cubicle on campus. As many of you know, I have been working as a research assistant this term for a former professor and thus now have my own space on campus. I'm just about to walk down to the MAX stop in order to transport home, hopefully beginning The Body Toxic on my train ride. Before I go though, I wanted to briefly write about the conversation I had this afternoon with some fellow graduate students/friends.

One of these individuals mentioned needing to live a more frugal existence and of course I responded with something along the lines of "oh that's right up my alley!" He then went over how much money he spends on a given week just for eating out and some of his other typical expenses. I was completely astounded! However they both were astonished at how little I do spend on groceries and going out expenses. It made me realize that even when I feel that I have been spending a lot, that I'm still far below others in my same age category.

So in an attempt to help, I did offer several suggestions for ways to cut back on expenses. Some of these suggestions included maintaining his current lifestyle but selecting cheaper options, and others were based on completely changing his current spending patterns. However in some ways I feel like the suggestions I offered probably went in one ear and out the other. When it's all said and done it DOES require a lifestyle change to majorly save money.

However that being said, I don't know that I feel that I miss out on much by only going out a couple of times a month with friends. Nor do I feel that I am short changing individuals in my life if I ask them to come hang out at my home over a cup of tea, rather than meet out somewhere. I also don't feel that by growing some of my own food, shopping mainly on the outer edges of the grocery store, and attempting to bring food from home most of the time that I am missing out nutritionally. When I buy a portion of my clothes second-hand, forgo most major name brands, and alter/create/repair items to wear, I still get many compliments on the way I dress. Instead I feel that my life is enriched by these choices and many more.

Sometimes it's just meeting people where they are though, and then slowly opening their eyes to other options that exist (and enrich). In the last week, I have had encouraging news from another friend, who really has taken my advice about paying off debts and is now hacking away at what he owes. While it can be an uphill battle at times, sometimes once you've made it over those first mounds the rush of no debt can be one of the best feelings of all. It's a feeling I'm looking forward to having myself again...that is...once I get these student loans payed off. ;-)

To home I go. Hope you all are having frugal evenings at home! Enjoy!

An enjoyable afternoon

After receiving my box of produce today, I thoroughly enjoyed getting out my cookbooks and searching for ways to prepare the bounty of produce I received today. One of my recent goals has been to try to prepare food that I can take with me in my lunch throughout the week. While I'm a huge fan of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I also believe I could probably benefit from a more varied diet during the week. Yet, when I'm busy, it seems the last thing I really want to do is put effort into anything other than pb&j.

So what a great afternoon! I chopped cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, olives, and tomatoes before adding in cooked rotini and italian dressing for a pasta salad. I made a huge pot of brown rice which was used for my bell pepper, tomato, soy cheese, olive, and rice quesadillas tonight, and provided me with enough left over that I can easily create several other dishes out of it. I brought in the basil plant off the back porch to remind me to make and freeze pesto in the next couple of days. And throughout the afternoon, sunshine streamed through the kitchen, a local musician crooned from the stereo, and the cats wandered around aimlessly.

Even after dinner and the salad, I still have an entire drawer full of produce and all that stuff in the freezer still to use. I learned that the greens that I had no clue about are collards, so I'll have to come up with some way to use them...or pass them off to my housemate. I never expected that cooking and veggies could make me so happy, but playing around with produce was one of the best parts of my day.

Some other beautiful parts to this day included:
-waking up to the sound of rain on my roof and the hollowness of my windchime
-crunching through the red, rust, and yellow leaves
-sitting on the back porch to finish my reading and enjoying the intermittent sun and rain passing by
-scritching the heads of cats and hearing their contented purrs
-the feel of leaves as I ran my hand across multiple bushes
-the 2 beautiful roses blooming on the newly hacked bush
-a mid afternoon phone call with my father
-a supportive chat session with my sister
-and researching local organic food options for my SIL

I hope you all have been passing through a beautiful day yourselves!

Food, food, glorious food

Okay, so I've pretty much been bristling with excitement like a kid on Christmas. Not only have I been prancing around through leaves on my walk downtown today, but I was at the front door to retrieve my delivery this afternoon before the van had even left the curb. Today was my first Organics to You delivery and now my little side of the fridge is packed! So exciting!

This what the delivery box actually looked like:


It contained:
2 little acorn squash, 2 big onions, 4 red potatoes, 6 apples, a bunch of carrots, a head of cabbage, a bag of grapes, 2 large tomatoes, 1 red pepper, 3 pears, 2 large cucumbers, a bunch of leeks, and a bunch of green leafy things that I have no clue what they are (I'm sure my housemate will though). I am currently signed up for a once a month delivery, as it will take me about that long to get through all of that probably. I still had a bunch of veggies left from the past month, and my side of the freezer still has plenty of items in it as well.
Add to that the leeks, spinach, arugula, collards, beets, and other greens my housemate has growing in the back yard, and I think I'm pretty well set. Mainly all I have to buy from the store is bread (which truthfully I know I could make my own) and soy milk. Very nice.

All of this comes as I've been reading this week about population growth, food, and hunger throughout the world.....Such a sad topic, as enough food exists to feed everyone on the planet--it just doesn't get distributed fairly. I never knew that many low-income countries actually produce a large quantity of food, but they depend upon the money they can make from exporting it. Can you imagine? Growing food, watching your children and fellow citizens be hungry, and yet because of the world market, needing to sell that food in order to feed your children substandard fare....
Makes me desire all the more to eat even more local, although I'm sure there is much more to the story than I know....

Food for Thought

On Thursday evening, I joined a group for a birthday celebration at a well known chain restaurant in the suburbs of Portland. It was the birthday of my friend's wife, who is the mother of the adorable little baby. However I didn't realize that I was going to have to be such a "back-to-nature" proponent at the table. We all know that "breast is best," and I feel it's unfortunate that our society has taken a negative view of mothers' breast-feeding in public. My friend's wife has been very good at only feeding the baby breast milk, and in the middle of dinner the little guy became hungry.

We were sitting in the corner of an alcove in the restaurant and the mother had a blanket draped over her shoulder, yet my friend (the father) was disgruntled at the idea of his wife diminishing the baby's hunger by breast feeding at the table. Fortunately for the baby, my buddy was outnumbered by females at the table, and I appeased him by hunting down restaurant management to ask if breast feeding was against restaurant policy. The response was that no policy was in existence yet that management was grateful that we had asked. I couldn't help but give more of my opinion when management came back to talk to us about it again a few minutes later. In my opinion, it's a pretty sad day in society when we have to ask permission for the most natural feeding event in existence to occur in public.

Sometimes I can't help but wonder when society is going to recognize that what we've created is a facade instead of the reality of natural existence.

Life as of Late

My half of the parsnips that we planted out at my aunt's in the spring. They harvested 86 total and several of these are 2-3 inches across. For free seeds that I got from a Gerontology event, they did very well. A wonderful afternoon spent out at the aunt's including tasty carrot and parsnip soup made from scratch. My lil' car was used today to get out there, the first time in a week as my main mode of transport these days is foot and the MAX line.And speaking of the MAX...I noticed this last week several small poems, mainly about nature, posted on the upper walls of each train. It's nice to see that they are encouraging riders to take a moment to appreciate a wonderful art form that often can quiet one's soul. This one reads: "In spring, asleep, I'm not aware of dawn, till I'm surrounded, with the cry of birds. Last night arrived, with a sound of wind and rain--who knows how many blossoms, drifted down?"--Lois Baker

The kitties here are enjoying a bit of sunlight streaming in through my bedroom window. They have taken to sleeping inside of my curtain if I leave it down during the day and the door to my bedroom open. Moments before I snapped this they were entwined in a big hug.

And this was taken downtown last week when I walked out of my building after a day of work. In our family, rainbows are very symbolic not only due to God's covenant but also as a major memory of the patience, love, and life of my Poppa. Moments after his passing five years ago, several of our family members spotted rainbows in the sky. To this day whenever we see one, we can't help but remember the wisdom and the legacy that he left us, the love that he had for us, and his desire that each one of us be the best that we knew how to be. On this particular day, his memory was exactly what I needed to quiet my soul and renew my strength for the week ahead.

Small still moments, blessings, gifts---whatever you want to call them, they quiet the soul and are there whenever we are willing to see them.

Energy/Oil & Some Politics

This term I'm taking an environmental sociology course as part of my MPH load. This coming week's focus is on energy. So in an effort to share what I'm thinking about, I decided the easiest way to do this might be to just attempt to highlight things that stick out to me and post them here.

From the reading:

Harper, Charles L. (2008). Environment and Society: Human Perspectives on Environmental Issues. Pearson Prentice Hall.

-Between 1890 and 1990, total global energy consumption increased by 14x.

-Dependence on oil shapes foreign policy problems, including our current situation in Iraq.

-At current consumption rates, 80% of known oil reserves will last for another 40-90 years. (Hence "peak oil crisis" which is to arive between 2010 and 2020).

-The above estimate does not take into consideration the growing economies, production, & consumption of other nations (such as India and China).

-One American consumes as much energy as 3 Japanese, 6 Mexicans, 14 Chinese, 38 Indians, 168 Bangladeshis, 280 Nepalis, or 531 Ethiopians.

-By 2100, most estimates are that the world would need 4x the amount of energy that is produced today.

-The "cost" of energy that we pay today does NOT include pollution clean-up, military spending on protecting our sources, medical bills & insurance premiums due to air quality issues, noise pollution, time wasted in traffic jams, loss of biodiversity, government tax breaks for oil companies. I can't help but wonder if we would pay for it, if we had to include the total costs of items such as this.

-Natural gas, while a cleaner fossil fuel, is imported primarily from Canada to the U.S. and is expected to peak between 2020 and 2030.

-Currently the U.S. only utilizes 7% of its total energy from alternative sources (hydro, wind, solar). Estimates are that alternative sources has the capability to produce half the world's energy within the next 50 years. ....Now if only someone would fund it.....

To see how the presidental candidates compare on energy issues, please go here.

I'm not a huge fan of Obama's support for "clean" coal, nor that both of them are open to nuclear. But at least it gives a better idea of how they stand on a variety of energy categories.

Personally I'm all about the wind and the sun:

Healthy Living Fair

Ever wanted to know about the products that effect women? Then it would have been wise to attend the Healthy Living Fair in Portland organized by Rachel's Friends. This fair is put on annually, so if you missed it today there is always next year, and this event is incredibly informative.

Today's key note speaker was Portland's own Nena Baker, the author of The Body Toxic. I would encourage everyone to get their hands on a copy of this book, as it takes a look at many of the chemicals that the average American carries. Nena actually paid to have her own body burden analyzed, and the results are described in her writing. Her book arrives after the Oregon Environmental Council's study of the chemical body burdens of 10 average Oregonians. The report from that can be found on the OEC website, or through the link HERE. Needless to say, the average person is carrying more chemicals than we wish to admit, regardless of how careful we try to live our lives.

Following Nena's talk, which wrapped up with the lack of bans on dangerous products from federal entities and the fact that consumers have become today's "regulators," Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis from the OEC introduced two upcoming Oregon bills. One bill, the Healthy Schools Act, focuses on promoting "green" schools (which actually is a cost-benefit plan) through green cleaning, green construction, and more preventative efforts in dealing with pests. The other bill, The Children's Safe Products Act, will be attempting to ban certain chemicals from children's products. If you are an Oregon voter, PLEASE check out both bills and send your support to your legislators during the upcoming session. When American children today are born with an average of 200 toxins in their cord blood, it's important that we attempt to contain the additional toxins they are exposed to throughout their lifetime.

Additionally, I found several great new resources. One is a Portland mineral make-up company called Alima. When searched in the Safe Cosmetics Database they result in a low-moderate rating, but in terms of make-up are some of the safest I've found. They are also a Portland based company and include a jar return program. I also signed up for a once a month delivery of produce from Organics to You, which is a spin off of the CSA movement. Organics to You delivers organic produce gathered from a variety of local farms to your doorstep, if you live in the Portland area. For the new mothers there was also Mother Nature's Baby Store...finally a good place to buy baby products for all my friends having babies. (Nothing makes me cringe more than going to a baby shower filled with toxic products these days).

So while a lot of this information may not apply to my international friends, hopefully those of you that are local will check out some of these resources and issues. And any of you will hopefully be interested in Nena Baker's book. I've been slightly out of commission with the new term and the beginning of the research project...but the good news is that I feel that I'm finally finding my nitch (and that there are opportunities to use it). I hope you all have been feeling equally blessed, even amongst all the economic drama of our world. The best to all of you!