I thought grad students had it made...

Hello my internet friends!

I'm not sure if I ever told you the follow up, but I guess now is the time to do so if I did not. About three weeks ago (right before I left for the Northern realm) was my LAST day at my old job. Yay! My heart took over from my anxiety ridden head and I am now a full time Master of Library Science student at Simmons College. Well, not yet actually, not until classes start the first week of September. As of right now, I AM a librarian :) A part time job at an all girls school happened to fall into my lap about three months ago. I had been chatting up a graduating Librarian about her job searching and such, and she happened to mention a position at a school she did her practicum at, a school she described as "library heaven." This is all girls, grades 5-12, and I am so excited to be there to gain experience as I go through school. I've been working there all this week, slowly but surely learning the ropes. The girls come back right around when my classes start, so I won't know what that is like for a little longer. Already, I LOVE what I am learning and I LOVE the people I work with and my library is AWESOME!

This was not mentioned as openly before because 1) I was still at my old job 2) how bad would it look if they knew I had a new part time job set up three months before I gave my notice and 3) out of respect for my boss, and as a professional, I didn't want to be all obnoxious about my good fortune.

Now, I can be! This is my new career life and I am thrilled to have made the change.

As for my trip to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland...damn if I have had NO TIME to even work on constructing my online albums. There are 800+ pictures I took and no one is going to weed through all that to see random pictures of say, a sock pinned to the wall, in order to see the good pictures of say, a giant bull moose about 20 FEET AWAY FROM ME!!!! There is some ordering and cleaning and captioning going on but only sporadically as my biking to my new job and then biking home seems to be taking up more time than I expected.

Please hang in there. Regularly scheduled programming will resume soon...

Until then, here's one bit of routine I can do. I have a local hero award to bestow upon the Boston Airport Taxi system. Upon exiting the terminal, contemplating taking a cab home instead of the silver line to the red line to the orange line, I noticed this sign -




No I did NOT know I could request a green cab, Boston! Thank you ever so much for informing me and providing such a great service. If I remember to, I may perform a follow up research/blog by phoning this service and asking them for some more info ie how many green taxis do they have? how many people do they drive around in them? Lately I've also noticed more buses with green savings slogans and info about how they are cutting down on emissions. These little efforts are making me tear up a little on behalf of Boston...at least we are trying more now!

Ok, ta.

I do depend on the kindness of Strangers...

The local hero award has two recipients again this week. One was local, but not in relation to where I am now. The other was local...if I live at the airport.

My first heroine is a blonde woman from the Red Sox vs Orioles game I saw Sunday in Baltimore. That's right, the game AFTER Man Ram hit home run #500, but we did see him hit #501. At some point, I realized my sunglasses were gone, having slipped from the top of my head without my notice. I was a little bummed, not because they were $600 sunglass hut glasses, but because Jason got them for me. In the bottom of the 9th inning, the heroine being honored here climbed all the way up to the top of the bleachers to give me back my sunglasses. She was sitting near where our real seats were, where I'd sat for one inning at the beginning of the game before retreating to the shady, breezy upper reaches of the bleachers. THANK YOU KIND BLONDE WOMAN!

Local hero number two is a person from my flight from Baltimore to Boston. Somehow I forgot I was sitting on my favorite sweater. When I debarked the plane, I LEFT IT THERE! Egads! On the way out, I also forgot my coffee mug in the bathroom, so Jason waited as I ran back to go get it. Upon returning, Jason hands me my sweater and says "Some guy came up to me and said, 'I think your girlfriend left this on the plane." My many faux pas worked in my favor or I would be sans my favorite sweater right now! THANK YOU RANDOM DUDE FROM PLANE!


This week's environmental hero goes to my unknown neighbor/s with the a-MAZING backyard garden (looking at my apartment, they would be the ones to the right). If I am correct, the neighbor/s in question are a couple about my age or a smidge older, as I think I've seen them outside before. They have two rows of tee-pees set up for beans or tomatoes or something. Then, FURTHER* back in their yard, they have two beds for planting and an additional tee-pee!
They are making the most of their space.

The couple also inspired my next pitch to the JP Gazette - an expose on backyard gardeners in JP - veggies and flower growers. We'll see if the Gazette bites on this idea.

*I may have mentioned this before, but Jason and I do not have a backyard. Instead, our beautiful and spacious porch looks out on the front of another house, set right where a backyard should have been. Damn the owner who sold off our yard! How could they ever think looking out their back windows into someone's front windows could EVER be appealing? Hence, when I saw my neighbors backyard sprawling out as it did to encompass all that garden growth...my heart cried just a little.

And now a word from our sponsors...

There are a lot of little acts of kindness or intentional living that I see every day, staving off a psychotic outburst from me or someone else, and giving me hope in humans once more. Some days I might miss them, or be so grumpy that I don't care. After watching the news or reading the paper (which someone STOLE from us this past week-end...I know the NYT Sunday paper is not cheap, but c'mon people! I need my crossword), I am filled with anger for a few days, which colors my lens of seeing the world into a way darker, dingier place.

To counter act my grumpiness, the media's hype, and just plain old human cynicism, I've decided to create my own weekly awards ceremony. There are two which I can bestow - the environmental hero and the local hero awards. There are many people in the blogosphere who are not only writing to make change, but mirror their writing and ideas in their every day lives. Where I would like to commend you too, I've decided these awards are primarily going to be for people I see in my life, strangers or people I know. This way, when I look back at those posts, I'll have a record of little happenings all around me, of people who care and are trying. My blog roll is already the record of all of you and your efforts, if that makes any sense.

With that said, I'd like to announce my first recipients of the Environmental Hero Award. The award goes to...The paint writing skillz I possess are measly, but that scrawl says Laurie and Paolo D. Over the week-end Jason and I stayed with my friend and her husband in their New Haven home. They live in a very urban/industrial area of New Haven, a place where most people wouldn't think of making a home. Yet they have turned their land and home into a cozy nook AND into an urban farm. They ordered a hoop house kit from Craigslist, built a three bin compost storage area, and built three really big raised beds. They've gotten as many free and used supplies as possible for their little farm, including chicken and horse manure, starter pots, rain barrels. They work for the produce they get at the end of the season.

*A runner up for the environmental hero would be Pete and Lisa D. (a different D. than Laurie and Paolo). These are two of Jason's friends we visited at their Cheshire home for a Memorial Day BBQ. At this BBQ they had the recycle bins clearly visible and set up by the drinks area and at the end of the night, scraps from plates and dishes went into their compost buckets, which Pete built himself (I think described here).



This week's local heroes are my Mom and Dad. They let Jason and I borrow one of their cars for the long week-end, starting on a full tank of gas. They met me in Manchester to do a car return. They offered to buy my dinner. They do everything they possibly can to try to make my life easier. Thanks Mom and Dad.

*Runner up - the construction worker who advised me to walk on the other side of the street from the construction zone. In his words, "Miss, you should cross the street. The area gets a little weird up here and you might get smushed. You wouldn't want to start your day off like that would you?"

With that, we return to our regularly scheduled blog-cast...

And the award goes to...

My friend and co-worker, who happens to have a blog at Roaring Through My Twenties, was today's hero. Upon coming into my cubicle, I saw a hand written note on my desk. Thinking someone forgot their homework or something personal, I picked it up for a closer look. The personalized stationary soon gave it away and I saw it was a list of songs for the CD contained within.

Thanks, Kelli, for making my day with some new music! You're today's hero.

Earth Day is Every Day Part Deux

Allie tagged me for a little survey on what I did for Earth day. As I didn't do anything especially different than normal, I'll steal her idea and tell you five things I do every day.



1. Little driving -I drive once a month for about 10 miles to get groceries from Trader Joe's. Daily provisions are usually procured on foot by myself or my beau from the co-op store one block from our abode. Honestly, I dislike city driving intensely now that hardly do it. As soon as I sit behind the wheel on that one trip, it's like instant road rage surges in me as I feel my mission in my car is more important than their mission in their car. Maybe this is a sign I need to practice patience...but I think it's specifically car related and based on how un-drivable Boston is as a city.

2. Little Plastic use -I have not bought plastic baggies (Ziplocs if you will - funny how the brand has become the product) in over 9 months. We had two or three boxes when we moved in and we still have them. The secret? If it's cleanable, it gets washed out and reused.

3. Cut down on Paper use - no more Kleenexes (again with the brand being the product! who can name others that have done this subtle brainwashing?) and hardly any paper towel useage in the house. Instead of paper towels, we use rags. In the last 9 months we've purchased only one roll of paper towels. Instead of tissues, we use hankies. Even for guests, handkerchiefs are provided. No longer are handkerchiefs a thing of antiquity or a relic of a man's world. Because if we look back to their origins, they were a symbol of status, beauty and grace.

4. Lower Phantom Load - appliances use electricity even when not in use. If they are plugged in, they are literally still plugged into the grid and using some energy. This is called Phantom Load and can be measured per house by an energy auditor (if you can afford one or have one as a brother who will do it for free, like me). Everything, but the television gets unplugged after use. I was very tempted to convince my beau we should unplug the t.v. as well, but upon having to reprogram all the stations five times in a row, I just didn't want to deal with it. Perhaps this can be something I work on doing more...and Earth day eco-challenge for myself.

5. Using a Clothesline - while I have not switched to drying everything on a clothes line, I have decided to dry more clothes on a clothes line (especially towels, sheets, rags, undies, anythign nylon, etc...) We've got a nice big back porch perfect for doing so and with the warmer weather coming on, I can be more encouraged to do so.

Summer Tip -
Recently I also learned that grills versus conventional ovens are better to use. Less harmful chemicals are released and less energy is used to grill food. Homes don't have to be cooled off from the heat of the stove either. Even better too - use wood lump coal as opposed to straight up charcoal - less harmful for the creators of it as well. How great was that to hear from someone who loves grillin'? So I encourage all of you to be eco-warriors this summer - get out there and grill! It's Earth friendly.

Like A Virgin, Awarded for the very First Tiiiiime

I have been bequeathed an award from Jenn of Free n' Flawed fame. Thank you for this award, Jenn. This is my very. first. award. It feels good. Real good. I'd like to thank my glorious sponsors - Earl over at the local co-op, Joyce from accounting, and Steve, my yogi and meditation teacher. And most of all, I'd like to thank YOU, readers. Thank you for coming here to listen to the most random drivel on earth.


I pass this torch of distinction to the following blogs and bloggers -

The Simple Family - she's outta commission right now, but when she's on, she's ON. her style is cynical, jaded, but witty, funny, real, and honest. i respect this woman's attempts at simplifying her and her family's lifestyle against any odds.

To Angie at Are We There Yet? This woman is a small farmer, a mother, a friend, a wife, and she still finds time to blog. If only I lived closer to Wisconsin, I'd want this lady to be my farm mentor and friend.

Allie's Answers has easy tips on living conscientiously and sustainabley, and articles and links to blogs in all kinds of "green" fashions. If you've ever felt like you wanted to save the earth but didn't know where to start, start at her blog.

I just found this woman's blog in the last few months, but already I'm hooked on some Crunchy Chicken. She has a MAJOR following and has started some movements and non-profit type work from scratch...all while being a support to her husband who is going through some heavy medical issues. Check out her latest escapade to shave her head after collecting donations for multiple myeloma research.

And lastly, but not least important, to SadieandLeo. Her blog combines both the personal, the inane, the philosophical, with the whimsical. She has a giving, kind heart that reaches out to fellow artists and friends in support, though I've not met her in person. She's an artist, a wife, and a wanna be mommy (good luck!).

Thank you ladies and gentlemen, and good night.

Not an Award, a Gift silly!

Free and Flawed. has started a movement...or become part of a movement that made its way to me through Sobe over at Pass the Chalk . I'm only going to change this movement one tiny bit. Instead of the first three people to comment on THIS post, the first three people to comment on my last post will be sent a surprise gift. Not a prize. Not an award, just a gift. And a really cool gift each will be, each one unique.

In short, here's how this simple act works -

The first three lovely people to comment on my prior post will receive a gift from me in the mail. The only thing you have to do in return is post the same concept on your blog and send three people (best if their strangers) a gift from you. As far as I know, there aren’t any rules as to when you write your own gift giving post and how much you spend on the gift. Some people are sending homemade items, and some are purchasing theirs. It doesn’t really matter what you send. Though, as a rule of thumb, I would send something you might like to receive yourself.

I'm asking for comments on my last post because it seems when I write about an environmental topic, people are not as quick to respond, read, or be interested. The prior post is not too long and yes, I'm almost begging just three people to read it. The knowledge is truly worth knowing.

Other than that one selfish intent, this is an exercise in giving without thought or care of receiving in return. So, first three...ready...set...GO!

Inspiration

Reading over at the FC today, I was inspired. Aaron, you inspired me! I have been so out of practice with writing outside of my blog. When I read your friend Kate's poem and your poignant recollections of the power of art, it reminded me of why I want to be a writer. Some writer I am when I haven't produced anything but blog entries and the occasional letter.

Put that reminder and inclining together with a heart catching phrase that I found at my girl Christine's site and I found a writing idea. One so good and clever (ah ha ha!) I thought I'd share it and challenge other people who have been resting from their creativity to try it too.

Take this phrase -



and make it your own. Whether that be to write a poem. A song. Prose. A letter to someone. Or to make a collage. A card. A poster. A painting. Whatever your medium, EXPLORE! CREATE! Post your finished products here or a picture of it, and the winner will get a prize. I'll post my creation too, but I won't be in the running, no no, this is my site after all.

Good LUCK!

Better Late than Never

I've always been behind (or is it beyond....?) the trends of the current year, so it is no surprise that I missed this fun opportunity from yesterday. First, I'll give a "shout out" to the ladies who created this fun little game - Milk Money or Not, Here I Come - don't know this lady yet, but thanks for the interaction...action - and her other friends at Sweetney. and JenandTonic. Where do you find the time to not only write blogs but to be creative and think of ways to help other bloggers!?!? You go ladies.

And now, I'll commence the "shout out" to all the MoFo lurkers out there to rise UP! say hello, and tell me who you are. This here blog is a baby compared to most out there, so there may not be too many lurkers, or too much to comment on, but I welcome y'all. Read a post or two, think of your own story, and share it. That's what this is all about - telling our stories. If I could quit my job and do anything I wanted I would travel around to tape record people's stories.

Oddly enough, as I beg and plead for comments, my timing is a bit off because shortly (as in tonight) I will be leaving for one week's time. My boyfriend and I are going on a trip. He's a grad student and there is a three day conference in Phoenix AZ he is attending. Oddly, this is a perfect spot for a conference and a trip because high on both of our "Do Before We Die Or Else We Have Failed Miserably at Life" is to see desert life. The images I have seen of the South West have enticed me for some time now, probably since high school when I first read Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. Finally I will see images like this in person -

We are taking a day to go through Sedona, AZ where I hear there are special, old and holy places called Vortexes. Places where more than our every day 3 dimensions can be felt. If anyone's read The Celestine Prophecy, you'll know what I'm talking about here. And then for one day, we'll be going to the South rim of the Grand Canyon. Who knows when we will ever be so close (4 hrs drive) again, so we decided it was definitely worth the drive.


I'll be attempting to post at least once while I'm gone, but if I fail because my one day spirit quest turns into a week long spirit quest, let there be no hatin' going on. I'll post when I get back and assuage your abandoned spirits with pictures of serene, desert stills.

(If you still don't know what to write after reading a few posts, reading this post, well then...here's a prompt - tell me the story of your first "romantic" getaway. Where'd you go? How did it turn out? How did the then relationship turn out? Best story will win a homemade card from me!)

PS. I would not have known this whole "Delurk" thing was happening if it was not for my girl Kelli over at Roaring Through My Twenties.



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