Things I've Been Up To...

There's a pear tree in the backyard!

Spending quality time in the yard. Deadheading the roses again, feeding the birds and koi, and attempting to stay on top of the produce; ie giving it to others, making more pasta sauce, etc.

I'm so glad to have the ability to compost! Almost every day I tote this little bucket out to the big compost, dump in the remains of my food, and turn it over in the big bin. It's incredible to see how much gets broken down just in a couple of days!

I find it ironic that after two nights of TV, I have yet to really watch anything on the television. I was pretty excited to have it available, as I always am when I'm on vacation, but other than my regular weekly show-I haven't watched much of anything.

I made a big decision this week. If there's one thing I'm learning it's when a decision lands in my gut I usually take action fairly quickly. So within 4 days of initially really thinking about it, I dropped out of one of my graduate programs. The decision came for many reasons: dis-satisfaction with the focus of the program and with my supervisor, the reality that I will have chances in the future to pursue this again if I so desire, and a potential other research opportunity that I couldn't pass up. However I find it ironic that what takes us months of work to line up for ourselves, often only takes hours to dissolve. I feel much lighter and more focused on my purpose for graduate school, which leads me to believe that I really have made the correct choice. I never knew I'd be so happy to say I'm a drop-out!

So beyond enjoying my time on the property, I spent a good chunk of this last week finalizing the procedures for termination of my program and my practicum placement. I have also re-connected to my passion and desire for my original graduate program in public health. I re-started a great book last night about children and nature. I'm looking forward to two weeks of actual vacation and my trip to the coast to see my parents. I'm hoping to sub in the high school, visit with old friends, and just catch up with Mom and Dad.

Another exciting thing: yesterday I went to the Capitol for a job fair to try to make connections for next summer. While the fair was disorganized, I enjoyed it for three reasons. 1) I spent the day with a great friend of mine, 2) we wandered around and bought produce at the local farmer's market, and 3) on display at the job fair were two alternative fuel vehicles. One was a hybrid State car. The other vehicle was an electric delivery truck out of California which will be sold out of the Salem electric dealership. While it only gets 80 miles on a charge, its a great (and affordable) option for local deliveries. It was wonderful to see these being promoted in Oregon, as the last I'd read they were still only available in California. Now to increase renewable energy (so we aren't using coal sources for alternative transportation) and increase the distance traveled on a charge. Both of which are being worked on.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Would This Please Be My Future?

I've had some next to perfect days in my life, but the last several days have left me relaxed and hopeful that part of my future will include days that are similar to this last weekend. I'm house sitting while my aunt and uncle are away to Europe, although there's a little bit more to it than just the house. There's the soft loving cat, the vegetable and herb gardens, the koi pond, the compost, and the family rose garden. There are the birds, the large trees, the multiple bees pollinating the thousands of flowers, and the constant ripple of water. And while not on my list of "must haves" there is also the hot tub and cable TV.

On Saturday morning I headed out to the garden and after two hours came back with a ton of produce: (The herb garden, the veggie garden, and one days harvest).

I have passed some off to my aunt who lives down the way, the lawn care man, and made pasta sauce for my cousins and myself. I returned with another couple of buckets of produce today, as the zucchini, tomatoes, and green beans are going to town. I am leery though of the corn picking due to a "earwig" aversion, so I have developed my own technique for corn removal. It goes a little something like this: while standing far back, remove outer leaf from corn while on stalk, once bugs have run for cover, gingerly and quickly twist ear of corn from stalk making sure to leave any remaining earwigs behind.

With all of the remaining produce on the counter, I will have to make more pasta sauce, bake some zucchini bread (a couple got out of control) and attempt to preserve as much as I can. I have not even put a dent in the food that was left in the fridge for me before they left.

It has been a pleasure to spend my days in a certain routine. Checking the garden for produce, changing out the bird baths and refilling the bird feeders, watering the plants, feeding the koi, lavishing the cat with attention when desired. My uncle re-installed the laundry line device in the laundry room and I have been able to hang my laundry to dry again.

And I am again reminded that doing basic activities has a certain soothing quality for the soul. I hear the breeze moving through the trees, the chirp of the birds, and the patter of the squirrels. I notice the blending of the grass hopper on the leaf as I pick the green beans and I find the little frog hidden amongst the petals of the rose as I dead-head. I am surrounded by the bees happily feeding on the blossoms of flowers and feel the quick fly by of the hummingbird headed off to its next meal. The heat of the day warms my skin and my arms sting from irritation from the produce leaves; and I feel so alive as I embrace the every day existence of life outdoors.

In a phone call with my granny this morning, I was amazed that although she struggles hearing a variety of sounds anymore, she recognized the rattling of the leaves of the zucchini bush as I picked produce. When engaged in a conversation with a neighborhood member the other morning when I went to get the paper, she asked if my aunt and uncle had been raised by farmers. I said that although my grandparents always had a large garden, they weren't necessarily farmers. Yet thinking about that conversation and the phone call this morning, I've realized that in a sense my grandparents probably could be considered farmers in comparison to the majority of society. How lucky that they ingrained a variety of their skills into their children and grandchildren.

My aunt and uncle have this piece of land in what has now become a major suburb of the city due to their own hard work. At one time they had horses where the garden and another pond now reside, and in my minds eye..I can't help but envision how perfect it would be with a couple of little sheep. :-) The beauty of their property exists due to the hours of time put into it by my aunt and uncle however. They take a pride in their land and the land has in turn provided them with food, with beauty, and with a haven that is enjoyed by a multitude of natural creatures.

Now if only I can replicate their hard work onto a piece of land of my own someday....however that is still plenty far away.

Rambles

A productive day has become the theme, so it was somewhat difficult to motivate myself into productiveness on my free today. However once I got going this morning, the rest of the day took care of itself. I started the morning by cutting my own hair (mainly adding bangs again), as I needed a change and hate shelling out so much money at the salon. Next I spent a chunk of time cleaning up the house. I used the old vacuum that is owned by my housemate and loved it! While I had to put more manpower into it than a newer vacuum and the small space it sucks through is limited, it still was completely fun to use and made me feel connected to all those 50s housewives of the past. It also reminded me once again how durable items of the past were manufactured in comparison to those of today.
Once I had washed the dishes by hand and set them to dry, swept the house and porches, vacuumed the rugs, wiped down the counters, tidied my spaces, and picked up the bathroom, I made a list of the few items I needed to buy from the grocery store. I have only found the bar soap I like to use sold at Trader Joe's, so I decided to head back to my old neighborhood where the Trader Joe's is located. I combined my two grocery store trips into one then and felt pretty good about the deals I found.

Had a classmate from the new program stop by for tea after I had returned, so we enjoyed the backyard and moments of sun and conversation. She has recently moved to Portland and lives fairly close by. After my final thoughts in the last class about current affairs and how I've tried to alter my life to better match my values, she mentioned that she'd like for us to hang out more. So hopefully we can develop a decent friendship during the coming year, as it'd be great to have more low-key gal pals in Portland.

Next my father, brother, and grandmother stopped by briefly on a multi-purpose trip. It was great to have them here as the last week has found me missing the comforts of the coast more than most. They came to pick up the router that didn't work, and to show granny the new place. Dad had also heard we have a leaky toilet, so he checked it out as well. They also came with items: a home-baked blueberry pie from granny (YUM!), home-made soaps from my sis-in-law (she and my sis had a soap making weekend!), my curtain rods, rewritable DVDs of my favorite TV show, and extra yarn so I can knit more scarves for the homeless as winter nears.

The day has wrapped up with hanging my curtains, watching 2 episodes of my show, visiting with my house mate, and making dinner. My house mate is intent on teaching me to be a better and more frugal cook, so I have been working harder at trying to make things from scratch. Last night was my first home-made pesto (who knew it would be so easy?!), and tonight I made a half home-made dinner of pad thai. In both cases there was lots left over for good lunches for my practicum. Next on the list is to conquer home-made soups, and I have to say I don't know that I'll ever go back from cast iron.

So obviously the house mate situation is going well thus far. She's teaching me to cook and to garden organically. This weekend, we attempted to fix the toilet, hung a window together, and she changed out the broken lock on the front door. We find ourselves chatting often and several nights a week eat dinner alfresco together. I'm starting to finally relax more, especially since this evening she told me how much she's enjoying having me here.....

However maybe that's just cause I'll be house sitting for the next two weeks and gone to the coast the week after that....:-) Nah.

Hope you all have had a great week behind you and are in the midst of another as well!

Money and Poverty

Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you."
~ Hebrews 13:5, NLT

Interesting that this is the daily verse that was sent to me today. Money is such an uplifting and depressing conversation at the same time. A lot can be done with well intentioned money, but a lot of power, and at times abuse of that power, can also come along with it.

It seems to me that people feel that they never have enough, even as I watch so much of it be squandered away by all of us. One idea that I have been confronted with again this summer is how much money I do waste, even on my limited borrowed budget, in comparison to the majority of the world. While I'll readily admit that I am well provided for, it has come to my attention lately how much $30 could provide for an individual living in extreme poverty.

For one of my summer classes, we read the book The End of Poverty by Jeffrey Sachs, an international economic advisor and a well-known academic in his field. While Sachs intentions are well-placed, I couldn't help but walk away from the book dismayed that so many individuals believe that transporting our economic model to "poor" countries will benefit them. Especially in light of how our economic model has been negatively impacting our long-term health, the environment, and increasing financial disparity within our own country. It's in moments like these that I wonder why our Western model of living is still seen as surpassing that of a traditional model found in many of these impoverished countries. Isn't there a better way to endorse their culture and help ease them toward a less impoverished existence without trying to impose our "needed" technological and economic advances onto them?

While I'm sure my viewpoint is far off in its own world, it dismays me that my view is so foreign to most involved in this discussion. So for now, I'll do what I can in my own individual life, trying to minimize the negative impact I have on the world in the hopes that a smaller burden may fall on the shoulders of those who suffer the most by our guilty choices.

Although I do hope for an end to global poverty......

Just Life...

Busyness has resumed. I have been joking (and grudingly) telling my friends that I must check my calendar before I can schedule some social time with them, so finally I dedicated most of yesterday to just being social. I started out with a doctor's appointment, utilizing my great health prevention focus. But after that I was treated to a late brunch with my best Portland pal, as a belated birthday gift. I had always had this great idea of being a "lady who lunched," so we both dressed cute, ordered breakfast food, and drank bloody marys before noon. The restaurant brought us a free dessert before leaving as they overheard the belated wishes given via my friend.

I was able to combine several trips together during the day as both my appointment and brunch were located downtown. Then as I spent the rest of the afternoon with my good high school pal, his wife, and the baby who live just east of Portland, I was able to drop off that bag of donations to the organization on the outskirts of the city. I felt good knowing my items would be given directly to individuals and knowing that I didn't really have to drive out of my way to get the donation there. Plus it was just extra incentive to go see the baby (who is incredibly sweet and in that stage with lots of little rolls)!

However with class all day today and a meeting afterwards, three full days of practicum instead of the usual two, and an equally busy weekend, I'm doing a lot of time behind the wheel of my car and I'm feeling that my time is pretty much mapped out. Welcome back to the "real world," although I keep asking myself why it's even necessary to be a part of it. But until it's actually feasible for me not to be a part of the rat race, then I must conform to some of its aspects I suppose while still trying to be mindful of living with a lighter step.

The move this weekend went well. I am incredibly grateful for my brother, his wife, my father, and my mom for all of their hard work in tranisitioning me between places. Mom finished the packing and cleaned most the apartment, while the four of us hauled items to the truck and cars and then into the new place. Everything ended up fitting up the stairs (although barely!) that I had thought would fit and my leather chair even was given a spot in the living room. The first night was HOT but I survived with the help of two fans supplied by my family. By noon on day two I had finished unpacking and was situated in the space.

And so far it's been great. It's always a transition getting to know someone new, but so far the new house mate and I seem to be getting along fairly well. It helps that we have our own spaces, but we have also had some good chats, meals, and cups of coffee together as well. We have some things in common: both have been teachers, both love travel and good food, both are somewhat liberal and eccletic, but we're different enough to really inspire each other as well. On day one she had purchased a drying rack and she's already taught me a million new things about life as well. And I (and my bed) have even been adopted by one of the cats as well. So hopefully here's to a good and productive (albeit busy) year!

The following are pictures of the space:
So you can see I still have a "sitting room" and a sleeping room. I feel like it's a pretty good deal. I spent Sunday reading for class and sipping tea on the back porch with the cats by my feet. The back porch was utilized yesterday morning as well as we drank our morning perks while watching the rain come down and chatting. The drastic change in weather has been interesting, but has really ripened up the few tomatoes on the vines. Now all I really need to do in terms of housing adjustments is figure out the bus system to campus (as the MAX line is currently under construction) and hook up the internet router so I can have consistent wireless access.

HOPE EVERYONE HAS BEEN HAVING A WONDERFUL WEEK THUS FAR!

Bush Signed Phthalate Ban

Hi "Simply Authentic,"

Last week we asked you to call the White House and ask President Bush to sign the Consumer Product Safety Commission Act and he did! The Breast Cancer Fund released the following statement this morning.

Thanks to everyone.

President Signs Phthalate Ban into Law
Major milestone reached for children's health and for chemical regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Bush signed a federal bill today that bans six toxic phthalates from children's products. His signature bolsters Congress' overwhelming support for this legislation, and sends a clear message that toxic chemicals have no place in toys.

The phthalate ban, a provision of the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act, will protect children from these harmful plastic-softening chemicals which are linked to breast cancer, decreased sperm counts, birth defects and other health problems. Advocates see this legislation as a first step toward broader chemical policy reform. "Congress got a glimpse into how chemicals are regulated in this country and saw how broken the system is," said Janet Nudelman, director of program and policy for the Breast Cancer Fund. "The phthalate ban is only the tip of the iceberg of what's needed to protect Americans from unsafe chemical exposures."

The Breast Cancer Fund led a national coalition of parents, health care professionals and environmental health advocates that convinced Congress to pass the phthalate ban, despite aggressive lobbying by the chemical industry. "This is a David and Goliath victory," said Nudelman. "Public health advocates and parents were up against big oil and the chemical industry, and we won. This should serve as a wake-up call to industry: chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects have no place in consumer products."

Key legislators heeded parents' and advocates' concerns and brought the issue into the legislative arena. Champions include Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who authored the original Senate amendment on phthalates, as well as Sen. Barbara Boxer and Reps. Henry Waxman, Jan Schakowsky and Diana DeGette, who strongly advocated for the ban among their Congressional colleagues.

This legislative action is a direct response to a growing movement of parents, scientists and advocates who are raising concerns about unsafe chemicals in consumer products. Months before Congress took action, retailers and manufacturers including Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Lego, Evenflo and Gerber responded to consumer outcry by announcing plans to phase out phthalates in toys. In the past year, California, Washington and Vermont restricted phthalate use in children's products.

"Public awareness is at an all-time high," said Nudelman. "Consumers are saying that the products we buy must be safe, period. The phthalate ban is a great start, and an indication that Congress is ready to consider the kind of sweeping chemical policy reform that is needed."

This message is brought to you by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice.
For more information visit the CHEJ homepage at www.chej.org.