The Heart and the Fist

Image from here.

Alright folks, this book was A-MA-ZING and so right up my alley currently. Eric Greitens presents different parts of his journey through life. He discusses becoming a boxer while at Duke, participating in humanitarian projects across the world, attending Oxford, and then at the same time as when he had offers to teach and contract, he discusses his choice to become an officer/Navy SEAL. I loved many things about this book but one of the major reasons that it struck a cord with me was Greitens personal journey from idealist humanitarian to realist soldier----and somehow I feel that this mimics my own journey from lofty social worker to public health advocate to military spouse and veteran sympathizer. Greitens argument is that there is a need for both idealist/realist or warrior/humanitarian to exist in the world however and I couldn't agree with him more.

The first chapter left me in tears (mainly as I am currently so intertwined with so many veterans who have served overseas), but the rest of the book kept me nodding my head and earmarking pages. I learned more about the military and about current efforts overseas. I heard my heart speaking and I heart Greiten just get so many of the things that do weigh on my heart and mind. I also was reminded of the strength that each of us does carry inside and was asked to take a hard look at my own commitment and journey in the larger world. And I would honestly recommend this book to everyone and really wish we had read it this time for book club.

So here are some of my favorite passages so I can unfold the pages and pass the book on for hub and housemate #1 to read next. :)

"Across the globe, even in the world's "worst places," people found ways to turn pain into wisdom and suffering into strength. They made their own actions, their own lives, into a memorial that honored the people they had lost......On the frontlines---in humanitarian crises, in wars overseas, and around some kitchen tables here at home---I'd seen that peace is more than the absence of war, and that a good life entails more than the absence of suffering. A good peace, a solid peace, a peace in which communities can flourish, can only be built when we ask ourselves and each other to be more than just good, and better than just strong. And a good life, a meaningful life, a life in which we can enjoy the world and live with purpose, can only be built if we do more than live for ourselves."----pg 11.

"God, in Earl's view, had invested every person with strength, and it was our duty to develop that strength.....duty to use their strength in the service of God.....Earl rarely used the word, but his whole system of teaching and his whole way of living was built around the concept of honor. You honored God by using your time wisely, and you honored your fellow man by treating him with respect....."-----pg 38-39

"Bruce was both compassionate and demanding. Compassion was primary. He thought it criminal that people could grow up oblivious and unresponsive to the suffering of others. These are your neighbors, he would say. But he was hardheaded enough to know that having a loving, wide-open heart was only a start."---pg 75

"Here in Bolivia most of the kids played in bare feet, and they had as much fun as we ever had. Alone, human beings can feel hunger. Alone, we can feel cold. Alone, we can feel pain. To feel poor, however, is something we do in comparison to others."--pg 92

"If we want to change something, we must begin with understanding. But if we want to love something, we must begin with acceptance. ....Their love was built on patience, and their faith helped them to know that they couldn't do everything, but they did have to do what they could.....I admired their intentions but...there are some things---like civil society, like character, like a child's belief in the future---that cannot be achieved overnight. Humanitarians, warriors, scholars, and diplomats all do best when we recognize the difference between what we can fight for and what we must accept, between change that can be catalyzed and change that must be built over time, from within."--pg 106

"I learned how difficult it can be to stay focused when you're worried about someone that you love, and for that learning I am grateful......Of course, just like life doesn't stop at home, the mission overseas doesn't stop either, and those same men had to wake up the next day and get back to dangerous work. Emerson once wrote that concentration is the secret of strength. You can't chase two rabbits at once. And for men to perform overseas while their lives kept running at home, absolute concentration on the task at hand is essential."---pg 158 & speaking of the difficulty of "issues" happening at home during deployments

"I love American idealism. I love the hopeful spirit of Americans endeavoring to shape the world for the better. A lot of times, though, many Americans.....who have never spent a day working with people who suffer, can be blinded by the bright shining light of their own hopes. You cruise through a town where you don't speak the language and offer someone a conversation about freedom or fifty bucks, most people will take the cash, thank you very much. I'd learned.....the very simple lesson that people were smart enough to know what they needed, and if we wanted to have credibility with them, we had to be able to help them directly." ---pg 224

"The world, I believe, is not constructed so that is presents us with perfect choices. I'd joined the military in part, because I saw that to protect the innocent, we have to be willing to fight. It is also true, however, that for all the warrior's discipline, when we pick up the sword, innocents will suffer. ....The Greeks often talked about phronesis, practical wisdom...Phronesis is the ability to figure out what to do, while at the same time knowing what is worth doing. 

Phronesis allows soldiers to fight well and leaders to rule well, and, as Aristotle argued, it can only be obtained through experience. My own experiences....had not made me a militarist or a pacifist, or any kind of "ist." I knew that the world would continue to require us to make hard decisions about when we draw the sword and I'd seen that the use of force was both necessary and imperfect. There is no school of thought that can save us from the simple fact that the hard decisions are best made by good people, and that the best people can only be shaped by hard experience." ---pg 283 & 284

""Take care of your people" is one of the principal lessons of military leadership, and my people were not just SEALS, or SWCC, or the men in my targeting cell. Serving overseas, everyone in uniform is part of the same team. Everyone is away from their family. Everyone is exposed to danger. Everyone endures the same long, hot days, hears the same bad jokes, reads the same old magazines. Everyone loses friends. If we take care of our people on deployment, why should that change when we come home?"---pg 287 & 288

"Stockdale taught that as a leader, you must embrace reality and be brutally honest about the harsh facts of your situation. At the same time, you must maintain hope." --pg 289

"Our wounded and disable veterans had lost a lot. Some had lost their eyesight. Some their hearing. Some had lost limbs. All of that they could recover from. If they lost their sense of purpose, however, that would be deadly. I also knew that no one was going to be able to give them hope; they were goign to have to create hope through action." --pg 291

"Victor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor and author of Man's Search for Meaning, wrote that human beings create meaning in three ways: through their work, through their relationships, and by how they choose to meet unavoidable suffering. Every life brings hardship and trial, and every life also offers deep possibilities for meaningful work and love. 

I've learned that courage and compassion are two sides of the same coin, and that every warrior, every humanitarian, every citizen is built to live with both. In fact, to win a war, to create peace, to save a life, or just to live a good life requires of us--of every one of us---that we be both good and strong."--pg 297

LOVED IT. Please read.

Jan-March Books

Image from here.

I'm not gonna lie, this book got a "so-so" review from our book club, as many of the gals thought it had too many details....which means that I seriously loved it. I didn't finish it before book club discussion but it was one that I made sure to finish before starting this month's book. It's definitely a different read than some of Bryson's other books and is an account of his thoughts and experiences throughout a variety of separate journeys he took across Australia. As I have not been to Australia, nor read/known much about it, I felt that the book was interesting and provided new details into an area of the world that I would love to travel! Bryson's usual dark sarcasm is present although less than in some of his novels. (But I will tell you I almost woke hub up from laughing so hard in the very beginning.) While the book might not be for everyone (especially if Bryson can rub you the wrong way), it is insightful as to the intricacies of Australia and entertaining to view the country via Bryson's lens.

Image from here.

So....an interesting detail about myself: certain areas of "humor" are not my favorite--of which stand-up comedians etc usually are included in that not-so-funny-to-me category. I have liked some of SNL but not all of it. I hated Princess Bride and the Monty Python movies. Hub busts a gut over It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, while I find it mildly humorous, etc. SO I definitely had mixed thoughts about reading Tina Fey's book, which was the selection for February. (Ironically, it also was almost the selection for January.) The book was interesting to learn about Fey's life and to read her perspective on women in comedy, within SNL, etc. Overall it was incredibly fast (200-some pages, double spaced, large font) and an easy read---which is one of the reasons it was selected---to give us a bit of a "break" via something light and funny. Fey provides her perspectives on numerous aspects of feminism and being a female in general---which I'm sure will be fuel for book club discussions tomorrow as we all have very different opinions on those topics. ;) So if you're looking for something incredibly fast and easy, while gaining insight to Fey's life....then definitely take a peak between its covers.

March: it's my pick and I'm wavering between Joy for Beginners-Bauermeister and The Heart and the Fist-Greitens. Incredibly different books but both equally thought provoking and timely.

Joy for Beginners is said to be a story depicting the journey of 6 female friends facing personal challenges.

The Heart & The Fist is the story of Eric Greitens, who has been both humanitarian, Rhodes Scholar, and Navy Seal. It's said to provide insight on the need for fighting the underlying issues of the world both via combat and thru a helping hand.

Quick Book Reviews

Image from here.

Here's what you need to know about the above book (which was our November book club selection): hands down it was one of the best books I've read in the last five years. It definitely would make it onto my top twenty book list. It's both a personal story, a story of social justice, a personal account of one of the individuals who contributed (unbeknownst to her) so greatly to our understanding of genetics and disease, AND also a history of much that has to do with genetics, public health, research ethics, etc etc. Now here's my word of caution: everything I just listed is pretty much everything I'm interested in, so I can't guarantee this book will be for you, BUT if you're interested in ethics, biology, and/or personal stories this book might be for you.

The book tells the story of Henrietta Lacks who contributed so greatly to our understanding of cells and genetics, although she contributed without necessarily given her consent nor without her family ever really being aware of it. This book provides an insight into who this fascinating woman was and what became of her family, while also investigating the ethics behind what her cells provided to health and research.

Image from here.

The title, reviews, and cover of this book had me from the moment I spotted it in our local Fred Meyer. The book was an incredibly fast read and mildly entertaining, but it just didn't live up to what I expected the book to be. Rather than ever really grabbing me as a reader, Klam provides a peak into her various relationships with her Boston terriers---the ones she owned, the ones she sheltered/fostered, and the ones she assisted in being placed in forever dog homes.

Image from here.

This book is a series of essays written by Steinem---a well-known and well-written feminist. Originally published decades ago, many of the essays were added to in the 1980s-90s. Steinem offers various perspectives on the passage, perspective, and relationships of the "female experience" while also challenging the stereotypes and language of what that experience actually is.

This was our December book club selection and while we selected to read a handful of the essays, I found Steimen's expose and first-hand account of posing as a playboy bunny to be both insightful and cunning. While my thoughts on feminism can be contradictory, it was insightful and telling to see how many opportunities are now available to females due to the feminist movement. Reading something from an older perspective also provided further reflection on where we've come and where may still have yet to go.

Image from here.

I've alluded to this book in other posts as this was my September book club selection, and here's what you need to know: it's not for everyone. ;) I have a heart for Africa, I enjoy books about journeys toward personal discovery, and this author lives in Portland.....so I thought it was worth a go and I have to admit, for me, I might have been able to read it all in one sitting. However I don't feel that this book is for most. This book is based on the author's desire to have one last hurrah/solo trip of discovery before finally marrying his long-time girlfriend, so he goes off to Africa to attempt to follow in the centuries old footsteps of a previous man who also crossed that section of Africa to demonstrate his worth in order to gain the hand of a wealthier bride-to-be.

What I enjoyed about this book was that it provided me with more insights into one person's version of Africa, it introduced me to a bit of history that most have never heard of, and it encouraged me to think on a deeper level, but in all honesty, it's a book I could have never read and been just as equally satisfied.

I'm also going to add in two reviews of two more books even though I have to finish them in their entirety, although they're both almost done.

Image from here.

This book I picked up from a lil' mom & pop book store in Natchitoches, LA (and blogged about here), which was one of our favorite little historic towns to visit. I've been steadily going through the various essays included in the book and have found it to be interesting reading of many of the various cultural women that are included in the diverse history of Louisiana. The book itself is a collection of stories from various authors based on women from all walks of life throughout the last 400 years of Louisiana history. Many of the stories are pieced together from various accounts as not a lot of written history exists, especially in a region where the worth of a woman was long based on her beauty and her partnership to her spouse. While this book is a bit more "textbook-ish" and has taken me a while to get through, I really have found it to be interesting based on our recent experience in that area of the nation.

Image from here.

This is another book I haven't quite finished although I've started it twice and haven't given up yet. It's not that it's not good, it's that it's the type of book that I'd read better in one or two days rather than trying to read little bits at a time. This story is the voyage of one Scottish man's walk across Afghanistan.....and during recent history. It's a story of his experience with the country, it's people, its various cultures, its joys and its hostility, and with its land. Since this is where hub spent his deployment, I've been interested to read something that so much more clearly depict what some of his experiences with the locals may have been like.

My current reading stack includes:

Image from here.

I picked this up on that same Fred Meyer trip which I lingered too long in the book aisle....and so far I'm LOVING this book, but then again its right up my alley: foreign travel, personal journeys, international social justice, women helping each other.

Image from here.

Which was my stocking stuffer from hub.

And.....

Image from here.

Which is our January book club selection if you want to read along! ;)

A Few Books & Films

In the last few weeks, I've been on quite the reading kick. I found a few titles at REI that looked interesting, which I then came home and ordered for reduced pricing from Amazon. Although this first book listed here is one that I borrowed from my cousin.

EXERCISE TITLES:

Image taken from here.

This book was amazing. You all know that I started running routinely again in spring of 2010, but since our return to Oregon I've been running and hiking in Vibrams. Thus far, running "barefoot" in Vibrams has been great--no real overuse energies, no shin splints, etc. And my only real complaint has just been stinky feet and blisters from where the Vibrams rub on our long hikes. But since reading this book, I kid you not, I think of some piece of information from the book every single week. It offers me motivation to know that genetically humans are supposed to be capable of running incredibly long distances--in fact it makes me in awe of the capacity of the human body. The book also motivates me to run even if I've neglected myself nutritionally or via my beverage choices on any particular day. And since reading this book, I always try to remember to smile on my runs and hikes....in order to truly increase enjoyment of the activity. If you're into running or into learning about the capability of the human body due to evolution, I highly encourage you to check this book out.

Now these next two books actually are about the same thing---couples that traveled the Pacific Crest Trail. The first book listed has chapters written by both the male and female perspective along the trail, while the second book is only from the male perspective. The books both offered insight to the trail, to the difficulties, and made me laugh at some of the trials faced by the couples upon their time outdoors together. I'm not going to lie though, if you wanted to read one of these, you're much better off with the first book, as I found the author of the second book incredibly annoying and focused way too much on sex on the trail. The first novel however was much more rewarding, balanced, and insightful.

Image taken from here.

Image taken from here.

SUSTAINABLE LIVING TITLE:

Image taken from here.

This book was one that I saw mentioned somewhere although I have no recollection of where I first read about it. I ordered it on a long shot and sure enough I loved it. Kimball was a NYC journalist/hipster out to interview an organic farmer--they surprisingly fell in love and moved onto a piece of land to start their own full-service CSA. Humorous, insightful, and fulfilling, as you read about their adventures in horse drawn tilling, pig and chicken raising, maple sugaring, cow rearing and milking, and the attempting of a relationship leading to marriage.

Recently I've also watched three great documentaries or clips of news.

The first is from a National Geographic Series:

Stress: Portrait of a Killer

It can be found both on YouTube and on Netflix Instant and it's about an hour in length. Incredibly insightful on how stress impacts us biologically.

The second is a 20 minute Frontline Video found here, which is about for-profit colleges taking advantage of veterans and their education benefits/GI Bills. I'm not a huge fan of for-profit educational institutions anyway but this just annoys me even more.

And the third is a documentary: God Grew Tired of Us which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006. Incredibly heart-warming and heart-breaking it provides the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan who were forced to flee Sudan during Civil War or be killed. They traveled by foot with limited water and food, basically starving, to Ethiopia where they lived in a refugee camp for three years. At the conclusion of the three years they were forced to relocate again to a refugee camp in Kenya, walking again. At the time of the film, the boys had been in exile for 10 years. From there the film follows a handful of boys (now young men) who are relocated to the United States and discusses the hope and trials they face as they integrate into our country. It'll warm your heart, it'll make you cry. It was available via Netflix DVD or a rental, but you can watch the trailer here:

PS If you are interested in either of the hiking books or The Dirty Life, let me know and I'm willing to pass on. Drop me a comment and I'll send you an email for your mailing address. Born to Run is not up for grabs however as it belongs to my cousin.

Gratitudes...

It's been a while since I've listed some of the great things making me all-around happy, so it's about time that I do so. ;)

1) Granny volunteered hub's and my place to have a family BBQ last evening. She's missed preparing food for the family and since my parents were coming up, she decided that we ALL should get together. It was seriously awesome and wonderful to have the aunties and several cousins here along with a couple uncles, mom & dad, and the mighty matriarch Granny. House was awfully quiet after they all left. Hopefully we'll be able to do it again soon.

2) There is a potential wine & book club in the works that I am incredibly excited about. It'd just be a monthly, rotating gathering but I've really been wanting & needing to expand my social circle and this might be just the thing. Here's hoping it all works out! With books, wine, and gal gab time, I don't know that life could get much better.

3) I'm in the process of changing banks and have been waiting on checks from my new account. Now I'm not going to list on the internet who I'm switching to but many of you can probably take a guess and those that want to know can ask.....because right now I am singing their praises. They messed up and never put my check order in. I've been needing them to arrive this week for various reasons, and I called yesterday to see what was going on and to encourage them to fix their error on their dime. Imagine my happiness and surprise when today (less than 24 hrs after my phone call....) my newly printed checks arrived by UPS. Now THAT is customer service. Here's hoping they truly do reverse the rush check charge... ;)

4) Our landlords are fabulous. Really there's almost no way around it. I know we've only been in this house a little under four months but they're so positive and encouraging. It's my hope that our relationship with them stays this way, as they too continue to let us know how blessed they feel to have us as renters. To top it off our landlady even sent us a hike she thinks we would enjoy---now how awesome is that?!

5) I'm not the greatest always at knowing my role of maid of honor for my gal's upcoming wedding. When I was trying to figure out which invites would be the best for the shower, etc I sent out an inquiry to some of my much more in the know gal pals.....which led me to the discovery of this great site: Vista Print. Pretty well priced and fairly quick shipping for personalized invites! Definitely would encourage you to check it out if you need something provided by the site and in case you're like me and not too crafty these days....

And now we're down to some of the little things:
--Hub going out with his bud & cousin's boyfriend shooting
--Tasting Granny's blueberry and apple pies for the first time in 2 years
--Harvesting lettuce out of the garden
--Hub's soft spot for Lady even when he hates to admit it
--Tingling skin kissed by the sun's rays and warmth
--Running round the corner to a breeze and mist across sweaty skin
--Dogs following in footpaths
--Blooming roses from Poppa's garden
--The daily arrival of the mail
--Lazy mornings in bed followed by great coffee
--Homemade garlic toast
--Coconut...anything

Hope you all are having moments of happiness and gratitude wherever you are currently. Know that I'm grateful for each one of you, too!

Camp Lessons & Products

There were a few great items that got us by while on our travels, and the lack of facilities and light packing taught me some great lessons along the way too.

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a shower-every-night type of gal. I hate going to bed without being clean. I "put my face on" almost every single day, even if I'm not going anywhere. I floss every.single.night. And much to my husband's dismay, I totally use "face stuff" aka a layer of protective zit cream before bed each night. BUT when you're camping in the woods with no mirror, no running water, a lack of desire to carry extra weight, not wanting to use products that might damage the environment, and in locations where it's luck to have an established hole in the ground to do one's business.....then you sort of throw your "normal" tendencies out the window.

I packed a small ziploc that stayed in the truck and contained the following: two bobby pins, a small bottle of face lotion, a small bottle of Burts Bees outdoor body & hair wash, a tiny packet of foundation and a foundation brush, a tube of chap stick, a tube of fix-all ointment, black eyeliner, floss, and my leftover nub of a cover-up stick. I also had a stick of deodorant and my Burts Bees facewash in my bag. However, in my hiking pack, I had more bobby pins, "natural" bug repellent, my toothbrush, and another tube of lip balm that I figured could be used for a couple functions.

So here's the irony, I packed almost nothing for this trip.....and it was rare that I even used what I brought. In fact, on the backpacking part I used basically none of it. I rinsed my face with running water from the stream morning and night and I washed my feet in the stream before bed. I did run my toothbrush over my teeth, but without paste because I didn't want to leave the paste behind in the woods.

Once we got to the second camp site and were camping out of the truck, I still didn't use anything extra, except this time I did floss and I did use toothpaste since I could deposit them into one of those holes in the ground (aka an established outhouse....).

In fact, thanks to the magnificence of baby wipes (again only deposited into the outhouse) used just to clean (TMI) my swimming suit region, I didn't even mind not showering for three days. Yea I was dirty and I'm pretty sure sweating into the same shorts for three days put off an odor, but it really wasn't all that bad. THANK GOD FOR BABY WIPES though! ;)

Even once we could shower again and were back in civilization, I only put on the little amount of make-up I had when we met friends and the dry mountain air actually seemed to be great for my skin.

The second irony of our trip is that I had only intended to not be camping for one day---meaning I packed all hiking clothes/shoes and only one pair of jeans, one regular wear Tshirt, and one pair of light-weight flip flops....so I ended up wearing the same jeans, shirt, and flops for three and a half days in a row. We washed our hiking clothes while at my parents, but somehow I actually didn't mind wearing the same outfit---definitely made choosing what to wear a whole lot easier...

Beyond the clothes and personal care products, I did get introduced to some great hiking and camping gear. (You have to understand that I didn't really grow up camping, before this I'm pretty sure I'd only legit tent camped maybe, maybe 5x.) Since hub spent the last two years pretty much camping and running around in the woods half of every month thanks to the Army, he's got some pretty neat stuff:

This is the Jetboil pot. Great for heating up water in a flash and great for backpacking since its small and lighter weight. Image found here. We used this to heat water for cocoa, to fill our kanteens for warmth in the foot of our sleeping bags at night, and to cook our meals. We did decide that we need to get a legit camp stove however for when we're cooking & camping out of the car.

Hub recently found a water purifying device apparently called the SteriPEN. It uses UV light to kill bacteria and viruses. Its light weight and is similar to a lighted wand you stir like a stick in a stream-filled water container. His bud and he used it on their longer backpacking trip without any illness, and we used it on this trip too. You can read about it here and the image was taken from here.

I had my first introduction to freeze dried food from a PNW company called MountainHouse. We ate the Macaroni & Cheese, which hub thought was amazing for freeze dried food and which tasted almost exactly like box mac n cheese. The more I thought about it, I'm pretty sure box mac n cheese must already be some sort of freeze dried. We also had the freeze dried ice cream sandwich which was A-MA-ZING! Image from here.

Two days before leaving on our trip we found a sleeping pad for me. We settled on a Thermarest Trail Scout that was on sale at our local Sports Authority. It was definitely comfortable (much more comfortable than hub's Ridgerest basic light weight!) and with enough padding to separate me from the cold ground. Image from here.

One item that we used at the second camp site which we also string up in our backyard is hub's camp hammock. It actually can be used for sleeping and its incredibly simple to hang up and take down. The whole thing stuffs into a tiny little sack and its also light weight. It's the ENO Doublenest Hammock and the image is from here.

Some of the other camping and hiking gear was stuff hub had from the Army, including a sleeping bag and backpack. As usual our Klean Kanteens were awesome, although hub did also use one of his old Nalgenes (hello BPA exposure.....).

One thing I do have to rave about were the Eddie Bauer shorts I recently found on sale that were fabulous. I'm not a huge shorts person, but these seemed great for hiking and have proved to be quick to dry and easy to move around in. They have great pockets on the sides to hold IDs, chapstick, and a thin camera without being weighed down. I'm pretty sure they are these, although they seem to hit me shorter than they appear in the picture.

Hub and I also snack along the trail when we need a burst of energy and while most of our snacks consist of apples or dried fruit & nuts (cranberries & almonds are a fav, but we've recently added another lil bag of dried apricots and cherries), we discovered Nature Valley's new Oats N Dark Chocolate granola bars on our last Costco trip. They were delicious, made the fastest breakfast possible, and provided great energy to get me through a few more miles. Hub also made white chocolate chip-cranberry-coconut oatmeal cookies that we ate while camping. Unfortunately I left our other great Costco hiking grub at home---peanut butter filled pretzel bites!

Some great gear, snacks, and camp lessons!

Reason for Blogging & A Book Response

I've mentioned my recent questioning about the purpose of maintaining the blog.....

....and then today, when I was whipping through the end of "Living Simply" by Joanne Heim, the following passage stuck out at me:

"How are you making and recording your memories? What are you doing to remember today? Nothing important has to happen--it could just be Thursday. But if you happen to be driving down the beach with your hair blowing in the breeze, smelling a tantalizing mixture of sea and Mexican food, singing your heart  out along with the Indigo Girls--then it might be a good idea to stop and think, I want to remember how this feels forever.

Feel the sun on your face, take a deep breath, and hold it for a second. Let it out and continue on your merry way, knowing the memory is made and stored away for the next time it's cold and rainy and you're feeling blue (pg 192)."

So even though I might not feel that I'm where I intended to be on this simple living journey (in fact most the time lately I've just plain forgotten.....), this passage reminds me that this blog has the capacity to be a living document---of those moments, of my life, of who I am at this exact time....if only I actually take the time to sit down and click out a few moments into script. In the few moments that I think about shutting down the blog, I do always contemplate using one of those hardbound services to convert the experiences and thoughts from previous years into paper......hmm....although I've thrown away/recycled some of my old journals, so not entirely sure about the point of that either. ;)

And now here are some thoughts on the book itself and the other lessons that I took out of it:

Honestly the first 3/4 of the book I wasn't overly impressed. Some of the reviews I'd read before purchasing the book had been mixed as well, but mainly from individuals who didn't know until the book arrived that the author is a known Christian author (and really you wouldn't know easily if you saw the book as a suggestion). There were many things about this book that didn't speak to me mainly based on a difference of lifestyles and that the author's manifestation of simplicity didn't necessary correspond to my idea of true simple living. The initial annoyance with the book surprised me as in the past I've delved into this material from other authors and felt much deeper connection and/or similarity of philosophy. However, there were some passages I highly enjoyed and that caused me to pause and think, including this referenced quote on friendship by CS Lewis:

"Friendship is the greatest of worldly goods. Certainly to me it is the chief happiness of life. If I had to give advice to a young man about a place to live, I think I [should] say 'sacrifice almost everything to live where you can be near your friends.'"

Truly I only finished the book because a) I hate giving up on books and almost always see them through to the end regardless of how frustrated I become with them and b) I feel like my sister may relate more to this book and I wanted to honestly be able to send it on to her with a positive reference for her. Honestly the last three chapters of the book were my favorite: Simple Sabbath, Simple Pleasures, and Changing Seasons. From those chapters the things that stuck with me the most harken back to one of my primary reasons that I fell in love with a "simple life" in the very beginning: we need a time to refresh and restore leaving ourselves open to what God has to tell us, we are surrounded by so many incredible experiences that can bring us such pleasure if we only stop to notice creation and the daily gifts of life, and that it's not to be about us but rather about how to glorify God.

When I think of the moments from 2007 that I love the most, I am engulfed with memories of trusting in God and his provision, of keeping in mind a global outlook while focusing on my local surroundings, of relishing the glory of what surrounded me, of trying to live rightly to benefit others on this planet, of feeling that my truest gifts were minutes and hours in the company of friends and family, and of realizing that in all things it never was nor is about me.  All of those thoughts, those moments to me are the foundation of Christianity, of simplicity, and of sustainability....

So for every individual there is a book, while this one may not have been my favorite, it will probably speak to others....and at the very least it did remind me of a fabulous reason for blogging! :)

Blue Like Jazz

I've had multiple people over the years suggest that I read the book Blue Like Jazz. When we got married and integrated homes, I realized the husband had a copy in his book shelves, so its been patiently sitting there waiting for me to open its covers. This past week I finally pulled it out....and fell in love with Miller's words and experiences.

The church discussed (Imago Dei) is actually one I went to sometimes as an undergrad in Portland (although I have mixed feelings about it now after a couple of my friends were mis-treated while seeking baptism and I'm never a fan of what happens when a church grows to mega-size). The non-profit I give to (Dinner & A Movie) is one mentioned several times in the book as well, although its never directly mentioned by name. (I actually first discovered it through Imago....)

The book itself is a great discussion of Christian spirituality rather than "Christianity" per se and is much more up my alley of what I agree with from a religious point of view. Its based on establishing relationship with all kinds of people, getting over ourselves, giving to God and to others, and keeping heart on issues of social justice. Loved it, loved it!

So here is a pieced together example from the book, which is probably my favorite section/message:

Obviously all words and credit to Don Miller (and I hope its legal to do this, if not then someone please let me know and I'll delete)....

"The thing I have to work on in myself is this issue of belief....Here is the trick, and here is my point. Satan, who I believe exists as much as I believe Jesus exists, wants us to believe meaningless things for meaningless reasons. Can you imagine if Christians actually believed that God was trying to rescue us from the pit of our own self-addiction? Can you imagine? Can you imagine what Americans would do if they understood over half the world was living in poverty? Do you think they would change the way they live, the products they purchase, and the politicians they elect? If we believed the right things, the true things, there wouldn't be very many problems on earth.

But the trouble with deep belief is that it costs something. And there is something inside me, some selfish beast of a thing that doesn't like the truth at all because it carries responsibility, and if I actually believe these things I have to do something about them. It is so, so cumbersome to believe anyhing. And it isn't cool. I mean it's cool in a Reality Bites, Welcome to Sarajevo, Amnesty International sense, but that is only as good as dreadlocks. Chicks dig it to a point, but you can't be all about it; you also have to want a big house and expensive clothes because in the end, our beliefs are about as enduring as seasonal fashion. In the end, we like Ethan Hawke even though we don't know what he believes. Even our beliefs have become trend statements. We don't even believe things because we believe them anymore. We only believe things because they are cool things to believe.

The problem with Christian belief--I mean real Christian belief, the belief that there is a God and a devil and a heaven and a hell---is that it is not a fashionable thing to believe.

I had this idea once that if I could make Christianity cool, I could change the world, because if Christianity were cool then everybody would want to deal with their sin nature, and if everybody dealt with their sin nature then most of the world's problems would be solved.....

My friend Andrew the Protester believes things. Andrew goes to protests where he gets pepper-sprayed, and he does it because he believes in being a voice of change. My Republican friends get frustrated when I paint Andrew as a hero, but I like Andrew because he actually believes things that cost him something. Even when I disagree with Andrew, I love that he is willing to sacrifice for what he believes. And I love that his beliefs are about social causes.

Andrew says it is not enough to be politically active. He says legislation will never save the world. On Saturday mornings Andrew feeds the homeless. He sets up a makeshift kitchen on a sidewalk and makes breakfast for people who live on the street. He serves coffee and sits with his homeless friends and talks and laughs, and if they want to pray he will pray with them. He's a flaming liberal, really. The thing about it is, though, Andrew believes this is what Jesus wants him to do. Andrew does not believe in empty passion.

All great Christian leaders are simple thinkers. Andrew doesn't cloak his altruism within a trickle-down economic theory that allows him to spend fifty dollars on a round of golf to feed the economy and provide jobs for the poor. He actually believes that when Jesus says feed the poor, He means you should do this directly.

Andrew is the one who taught me that what I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do.

.....

We live for what we believe, Andrew would say....If Andrew the Protester is right, if I live what I believe, then I don't believe very many noble things. My life testifies that the first thing I believe is that I am the most important person in the world. My life testifies to this because I care more about my food and shelter and happiness than about anybody else.

I am learning to believe better things. I am learning to believe that other people exist, that fashion is not truth; rather, Jesus is the most important figure in history, and the gospel is the most powerful force in the universe. I am learning not to be passionate about empty things, but to cultivate passion for justice, grace, truth, and communicate the idea that Jesus likes people and even loves them."

Just a section, but the rest of the book is just as fabulous. A bit of humor, a bit of sarcasm, and a lot of thinking about reality. Take a look at the whole thing......

Anna & Roxi Got a Package!

When I checked the mail today, there was an anonymously ordered package of treats for the dogs!

Anna's anxiously waiting for me to open it. Roxi's too busy running around in anticipation to make it in the photo!

Homemade dog treats from all natural ingredients!

They were SO excited and seriously couldn't get enough.

It took me a couple hours to figure out who may have sent the treats to the girls! Prior to Roxi, Anna and I used to go on walks with another dog named Wall-E and his owner. Sure enough, Wall-E's owner sent the girls their own care package! Her sister-in-law is Chef Sarah of Never Spoiled, Just Well Loved Homemade Pup Treats out of Charleston, SC. If you're looking for a great gift to send a family pet, please check out her website. It's great to know that someone is producing delicious smelling and naturally made treats for dogs (and cats). The ingredients are simple, most the packaging was able to be recycled, and Sarah's willing to ship just about anywhere in the nation. (She also helped Wall-E's owner with delicious ingredients for his first birthday party!) What a great way to show a bit of extra delicious and healthy love to a neighborhood furry friend! 

Operation Homecoming: Writing the War Time Experience

So I decided a while ago that I wasn't going to share many of my own thoughts and opinions on the military, current wars, or soldier treatment until after the hub is no longer in the military and I am no longer working with soldiers. While this blog is primarily anonymously written, I also know that its not that difficult to figure things out thanks to the internet these days....and I've been raised to recognize that whatever I say/write now can reflect upon others that are connected to me AND can be brought back up years down the road. What I will say is that I whole-heartedly believe in my current job and in providing services to soldiers. And I'm recognizing every day that my opinions are currently in a state of metamorphosis thanks to my changing environments. 

I have many friends who think that the military can be a viable option for any individual who needs an income, secure health care &  housing, etc---however thanks to my job, I can wholeheartedly tell you: this way of life is not for everyone and anyone. (On a side note: The lowest level enlisted soldier makes such a minimal amount that if s/he has dependents, they qualify for state assistance due to income.) No one should think of joining the military (any branch) lightly, and the military isn't keeping just anyone in the service these days. On the other end of the spectrum I have friends who have a hard time understanding why anyone at all would join the military...

I will say that I think that every single soldier's experience is different than the next. Two people can experience the same event and have completely different view points, interpretations, and reactions to that same event---the same thing happens with soldiers. There are men soldiers, there are women soldiers. There are mechanics, pilots, supply, communications, human resources, infantry. If you want to know the break down of the different Army occupations you can find it here and Marine occupations are here. Keep in mind the Navy and Air Force are two additional branches of service, and deployment cycles and experiences vary based on branch of service and military job. What most people envision when they think of a deployed soldier who is fighting on the front lines is most likely going to be an infantry soldier or artillery soldier. However these individuals are only a percentage of the total military.

I'm sure that many individuals envision an infantry soldier's experience to be similar to the movies that are produced based on soldier experiences. While there may be some truth to those films, I will say that a lot of soldiers do not feel that mainstream films totally convey the experience nor demonstrate the truth. While we are still fighting two wars overseas, the public's focus on this fact and the amount of news demonstrated to this fact are limited. Even as a military spouse, my awareness and understanding of the soldier experience is limited. Hub isn't a big fan of talking about his current work and while I've seen pictures of his past deployment, that's about as indepth as we've gone. What I do realize some days more than others though is that most of the soldiers I work with have seen the face of war and several of them are headed back to it.

Last night I found a great instant stream documentary on Netflix (that mail-in & instant streaming movie rental program available here in the States for my foreign readers!) called Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience. The Iraqi and Afghan wartime experience written by those that have been there and lived it. (The stories have been compiled by the National Endowment for the Arts.) What the soldiers wrote seemed to convey much more of the experience than what any blockbuster film could do. I would encourage you to check it out.....

Interesting Links for Week May 2-7

After a week of not having as many interesting links, here I've got quite a few interesting ones.

More TV for Toddlers Equals School Trouble Later. My opinion on this: I think one of the pieces of this research that stuck out most to me was the decreased attention. This is something that many educators struggle with when attempting to instruct the information age generations because kids are so used to being constantly stimulated in multiple directions. While multiple educational methods should always be used, Idon't know that I agree that it's a teacher's job to constantly make kids feel entertained. But I definitely don't think there's anything wrong with a lil TV (I mean who doesn't have a fond memory of Gilligan's Island or Mr Rogers Neighborhood), but it does concern me when I hear and meet individuals who have grown up with the TV as their baby sitter. Putting a child in front of a TV for hours on end as a means to distract them doesn't seem to create individuals who are easily ready to entertain themselves or pay attention for lengthy periods of time.


Facebook: The Evil Interface? and Facebook Glitch Brings New Privacy Worries  As a user of Facebook, I have watched the social networking site grow from a fun way to keep in touch with family and friends into a marketing corporation.  These newest attempts to barge into my private life as a way to force me to link myself to other individuals and organizations I am not interested in, only is one more strike against Facebook.  I have deactivated my account in the past and have seriously been considering doing so again (as one can never truly delete it).  For now I have deleted most my photo albums and most the information I had posted to avoid their newest push.  Oh and if you haven't checked out the site speakeo.com....you might want to in order to hide a bunch of public information about yourself available to numerous thrid parties. (Although in just checking the site, the website appears to be broken....hopefully it will stay that way.)


Are you interested in cultural comparisons?  Then you might want to check out the new Babies documentary that is coming out that looks at four infants and their how the experience of being a baby differs across the globe.  Awwww, ewww, Who's a Good Baby? is the NYT's movie review. 


How to Go Green: Easily and Cheaply by Forbes.  Twelve suggestions for how to easily live a more eco-friendly existence. 


President's Report Links Chemicals to Cancer.  All I can say about this is: FINALLY!!!


Preventing Cancer: 9 Practical Tips by Environmental Working Group.


And if the Gulf of Mexico being overtaken by oil wasn't enough for the oil companies....Here's a blurb on their desire to take over a good chunk of the Amazon and displace undisturbed tribes: Photo Released to Prove Uncontacted Tribes Exist


Thursday's New York Times used to be my favorite because of the Home & Garden and Fashion sections.  Interesting article that showed up during this week.  Fabulous concept and the home is really fashioned from local resources and artisans.  In Costa Rica, a Home Without Walls.


And one more home idea: Living Walls Go Mainstream, Hit the Home Sections.  We've seen living roofs, but now that idea is being transmitted over to walls inside of homes too. 

Photo Project Day 8: REVIEWS

Over the course of the last few weeks I have read and watched quite a few interesting items.  The husband and I aren't big TV viewers (except for sports and the occassional Netflixed show), and it's always interesting when we're around other people who watch a lot of TV.  We hear a lot about random, brain-numbing shows, and then it's always entertaining to watch their eyes glaze over as we talk about the latest documentary we've viewed. ;-)  And speaking of documentaries, we just watched The Cove this weekend.  If you haven't seen it, it's definitely worth watching.  It's about the hidden dolphin industry in Japan.

However beyond documentaries, I've also been reading quite a bit again and several have been really interesting books.  Although I must say I was quite disappointed in both the book and the film on No Impact Man.  After following his blog over the course of the year, I felt the book was not easy-to-read and unorganized.  The way the chapters were put together did not create for an easy flow of his story, and I felt the same way about the film.  In fact, my husband did not know much of the background of No Impact Man and he felt that much was assumed to be known about it.....meaning that we both walked away from the film before it ended. 

But back to the other books:

If you are at all interested in the recent health care debates, I highly suggest Reid's The Healing of America.  After going through the public health program, I feel that this book would be an excellent addition to many of the courses and I learned a lot about health care systems throughout the world.  Reid takes a global comparative glance of health care systems including their insurance mechanisms, as he searches for a solution to a personal health care issue.  His initial discussion gives an overview of the four primary health care systems that exist in the world (which all are used in the USA), and he searches out examples of each throughout the world.  Regardless of one's take on the current debates, it's an educational read.

Currently, I am in the process of reading Half the Sky: Turning Opression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Kristof and WuDunn.  Another incredibly interesting read centered on the various ways that women are oppressed and struggle throughout the world including: lack of education & rights, rape as a tool of war, lack of health care access, poverty, enslaved prostitution, etc.  At the end of each chapter, there is a discussion of someone or program that is attempting to help that particular situation however.  The book is to empower others to create change.  While my reactions have been mixed, I've definitely increased my knowledge on these issues more than I ever could have imagined. 

I also recently read Pollan's In Defense of Food.  Between this book & the documentary Food, Inc the United States "should" learn to change the way it eats.  I walked away after reading this newest book of Pollan's less weary of eating whole fats, less concerned about individual nutrients and instead reminded more of the benefits of eating whole meals, and more into reading the ingredient labels of the processed foods we do eat.  Definitely a read that everyone should tap into.

And within the last few months, I finally conquered The Confessions of An Economic Hitman.  While this book will leave you annoyed with the author by the end, the information and his confession discussed in it (primarily in the first half) leave you with a new understanding for the mess of the world, thanks to our nation's business and government interests....

Two books that leave you feeling amazed at the capacity of individuals: The Beautiful Things that Heaven Bears and Strength in What Remains.  And as mentioned in a previous post, the documentaries The Garden (the struggle over an inner city garden in a food desert of central Los Angeles) and Dear Zachary (murder, emotion, legal systems, family) were incredible.

I always keep a running list of books that I want to read.  I usually add to it by titles mentioned in books that I'm currently reading, mentions from friends, or reviews from magazines.  And since I don't seem to be getting called to sub, I'm relishing these final weeks by reading, cooking, relaxing, and hanging out with the dogs. ;-)

What are you reading?  Any good suggestions

Holly Days are Here Again

Looking into the area behind our back yard with the recent snowfall

Our Trees for Troops Christmas tree!!

So Christmastime is here again and I've decided to return to the blog. Sugar cookies are cooling on the counter, the pets are lounging about lazily, and Bing has been singing us his holiday hits for the last two days straight! Our free tree is up and decorated with ornaments from Mom and Dad. Our holiday lights have been hung on our back patio with care!

Much has changed and yet much has stayed the same in the last month, although altogether things have gotten better. I subbed fairly consistently during the month of November, although it proved to the husband and I that sharing one vehicle isn't conducive to my actually maintaining a job. So we're in the process of gathering a down payment so that sometime in the spring we'll be able to purchase a second vehicle. I also recently got a second on-call (although more off-call) part-time position that will start in January--hopefully this will lead into a full-time position. In the meantime I'll continue to have subbing opportunities as well.

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with various friends. A high school buddy of mine was presenting at a conference in New Orleans so we joined him and explored the city over the actual holiday. We both definitely want to return to check out more of the culture and history that exists there! From New Orleans, we traveled to Georgia to meet up with friends of my husband and then to attend a wedding for a couple from our military post here in Louisiana. The wedding was small and really done well! The return drive across the south was beautiful during the fall and the time away together was much needed. While we planned well with cheap hotel rates, we still blew through a decent chunk of change.....thus we've been re-learning to live on the cheap.

Our food budget for this month has been much less and our initial grocery trip included buying in bulk and price comparing just about everything. However in an attempt to save money it also meant forgoing some of our usually organic choices for more commercial ones (ie regular yogurt rather than organic, etc etc-- btw there is a major taste difference). The only choice this didn't impact was our eggs--after watching Food Inc (which is now available on instant Netflix) the husband agrees that organic, free range eggs are the most ethical choice we can make. However by buying in bulk, we've also lessened the number of trips we need to be making to the grocery store which is very nice!!

The pets continue to keep us entertained...and on our toes. After noticing the horrible, chemical smell coming from the clay litter in Major's box, we have switched to some great pine shavings. The litter clumps much better, lasts longer, and doesn't smell hardly at all. Ironically cleaning out his litter, now reminds me of cleaning a hamster's cage!

Another product I recently had to replace/reorder was that of my mineral foundation. While I went ahead and replaced my mascara with the cheaper version, I didn't want to skimp out on the substance that covers the majority of my face: my foundation. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the order from Alima (remember: Portland based, recycles make-up containers) also shipped in recyclable packaging, included many free sample products, and sent us organic chocolate samples for the holidays too! VERY PLEASED!!

In the next week or two I want to spend some time thinking about the direction of this blog. Getting married and moving has definitely changed up my world as I've known it and at times that filters into other areas of our lives too. It dawned on me this past week that I no longer flinch when I throw a glass container into the trash, nor when I'm drinking out of a Styrofoam container...and it bothers me that these things have become normal to me. Yet I also don't see myself attempting to take on the battle of creating change either. Whether or not that makes me apathetic and part of the problem, I have yet to decide......

However I also recognize that many of the values that I do hold most dear are ultimately ingrained and have stuck throughout the many transitions of this last year. My lettuce continues to grow in the front beds (its about the only thing that survived the fluke snow we had last weekend!), we're still thinking about toxic exposures and attempting to prevent them in our home, I'm still darning clothes that need mending, and I'm still thinking about where my money is going....but maybe, just maybe, I'm also wondering what it means these days to be just so authentically me....

One thing is for sure: I'm glad for the remembrance of the season and the refreshing nature that comes with the new year! Until I post again, happiness and fullness for each of you!

Sleeping Naked is Green...

So as discussed earlier, I spent the end of last week reading Vanessa Farquharson's Sleeping Naked is Green. The following is the mini-review I wrote on Facebook: After following Green as a Thistle throughout many of her 366 daily changes, I enjoyed reading the further insights provided by her book. Her dry British humor and Canadian bent often left me laughing, although I frequently wondered how her fellow friends and family felt about such personal descriptions in her novel. However at the completion of her story, I felt that it was a worthwhile read and I took away several new suggestions toward living a lighter life.

Vanessa's book also got me wondering about how many of her green changes, my husband and I are currently implementing in our home and how we are doing on consistency of use. So I started looking through her lists and this is what I came up with:

-I use an eco-friendly toothbrush and razors (Preserve)

-We both use natural shampoo, soap, and face soap in the shower (Burt's Bees)

-I use natural toothpaste (usually Tom's but when I couldn't find it here, I've fallen in love with Jason's)

-We clean with eco-friendly cleaners (glass and multipurpose)

-We use eco-friendly laundry detergent (usually Seventh Generation but my sister just sent us some homemade stuff too) and we wash in warm/cold....However we also hang about 50% of our laundry to dry on clothes lines in the garage which is something Vanessa didn't do in her challenge

-My husband utilizes paperless billing

-We always turn off the lights when we leave the home

-Although we do have a car, we share one vehicle (which is a financial blessing but at times a major difficulty too)

-We have about a 50% success rate of using our tote bags together and we turn down bags when we remember (and don't use produce bags); while environmentally debatable (believe me, I know plastic bags are bad!) we use the bags we do bring home for pet waste removal

-We both use our reusable water bottles, although my husband still prefers those toxin leaking plastic ones over his Klean Kanteen! (although in getting that link, I just discovered they just came out with a new version of the Kanteen that has all the traits he loves about the Nalgene!! woo hoo!!)

-We rarely use disposable eating ware, unless out somewhere and I even wash out and make the husband and his friends reuse their plastic beer cups (although he recycles them when I'm not looking sometimes!)

-We recycle pretty much everything we can

-When taking coffee from home, we use our reusable coffee cups

-We only drink fair-trade, organic coffee when at home

-We primarily eat organic, free-range eggs and organic yogurt

-I use an Oregon based mineral make-up (Alima) for face and eyes and the rest of my make-up products are natural options; I also forgo make-up remover

-I'm collecting our used batteries, but I'm not sure where I can recycle them

-Our housing utilizes CFL light bulbs (and monthly changes of our air filters)

-I've attempted natural deodorant; instead most days I don't use it and then just use the unhealthy mainstream stuff on days when I know I'm really going to need it

-We attempt to let it mellow when it's yellow (although some days this is just practiced during the night)

-Most our music is bought from Itunes, we read the news online (although I do pick up and then recycle the once a week, free on post newspaper), and we rarely buy new video games or movies (instead we use Netflix--although I'm not entirely sure how environmentally friendly this option is although I hope they recycle the paper packaging)

-I attempt to fill the coffee maker and/or kettles with only the water that is needed, and I use our left over water from our next-to-the-bed glasses to water plants in the morning

-When we do fly, we use the most direct flights, I request vegetarian meals, we just use carry-on luggage, we both bring our own headphones, and we use electronic tickets

-We rarely order take-out or delivery

-I always air dry my hair and almost never use a curling iron or anything like that on my hair; I don't dye my hair

-We basically only iron my husband's uniforms (although this could be because I seriously despise ironing)

-I also don't use nail polish nor wear perfume or fragrance

-At least half our furniture we got second-hand and most our art work are photos/art from individuals we personally know

-For the most part, we don't wear shoes in the house

-We donate clothing and other items to others that can use them or to thrift stores

-We save the boxes and packaging we get in the mail in order to use them to mail packages out

-I've also saved and reused the same moving boxes and packing paper for the last 9 years

-We have houseplants

-We reuse our bath towels and kitchen towels for about a week a piece

-We have a bamboo cutting board

-We don't use hand sanitizer or air freshners

-We share and borrow a lot of stuff with our friends down the street

-I attempt to make sure the shower curtain is pulled straight to dry

-We let dishes soak that need extra time

-I knit scarves and dishcloths and I mend/darn what I can

-We close the blinds and curtains at night to insulate; during the hottest parts of the day I close the ones where the most heat enters the house in order to keep it cooler

-I also keep the emails in my inboxes and sent boxes to a minimum based on what I'll still need or want to remember

Additionally there were several changes that Vanessa took on that I'd like to be able to implement, even if only a bit more frequently:

--Eco friendly kitty litter (and other animal food & products)

--Increase tote bag usage!

--Create a compost for our food scraps

--Turn off/unplug most unused electronics until they are in use

--Eat/drink only organic, free-range dairy and meat products

--Decrease water and electricity usage

--Switch to recycled paper products

--Resign up to block junk mail at current address

--Give greener gifts

--Buy more food in bulk (although this isn't an option locally)

--Buy more organic, local food (although again, not really an option unless we drive an hour)

--I'd love to find biodegradable pens!

--Donate to worthy causes

--I'd love to use biodegradable garbage bags (again they don't sell them here!!)

--Attempt more ethical, eco friendly housewares, clothing, and shoes when we need to get something new; or buy used when feasible

--Jam/Can/Preserve and cook more from scratch

--Turn down the water heater

--Use a rain barrel to collect water

--Use alternative energy methods (although again, not currently feasible)

So while there are several things we definitely could be implementing (although some of it is not easily feasible based on available resources), I actually was surprised by how much one or both of us is already doing. There were several things that I will not be implementing--either cause I'm not ready to go quite that far or because its not available here, but we'll definitely be implementing some of these additional things as we can. And while you're at it, why not pick up a used copy of the book and see how you rate?! ;-)