The thing with aging...

...is that it's full of surprises.

For example, my shape is shifting, like the Companion in the ST:TOS episode "Metamorphosis" but without the power, naturally. I'm still slim, but somehow some of my pants aren't fitting quite so well. And it's not merely that they're tighter, but they're tighter in places that used to be not tight, and loose in areas where it used to be tight.

Another example is my disposition. I'm definitely less grumpy than I used to be, and I'm not grumpy for nearly as long. I don't know if it's just that I'm losing my short-term memory and therefore can't maintain the level of annoyance it takes to remain angry, or if I'm happier overall (I know, I know, you probably couldn't tell from all the complaining that I'm doing here).

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Nothing is ever simple

This is a message I posted to http://www.complaintsboard.com/ today:

We wanted to buy high speed internet service and decided to go through our current satellite dish provider, DirectTV. Apparently, DirectTV provides high-speed internet through another company called WildBlue, which then contracts out to BuyTelco. We were charged twice on our Visa for the installation (before anything was actually installed). When I called WildBlue to get the duplicate charge taken off, they said they couldn't do that, and that I need to talk to BuyTelco to get it taken care of.

They gave me a number for BuyTelco (1-866-466-2931), which I called but found that it was no longer in service. So I called WildBlue back, and they gave me two more numbers to try (305-265-0136 – no answer; and 786-837-6808 – msg: “this subscriber’s mailbox is full and is unable to accept any more messages at this time.”).

By this time, I decided to go through my credit card company. The first representative wasn't very helpful. He gave me yet another number (305-384-4156) which was also not in service.

I called Bank of America back, and the second rep was quite helpful, passing me along to their billing disputes dept. The woman who was in that dept took the duplicate charge off, and then she did a 3 way call to BuyTelco and walked through the steps with me.

We never did get to speak to a real person, but the automated system said that BuyTelco supposedly has our order and supposedly will be providing our service. However, I am highly doubtful since a company with 4 non-working numbers is definitely suspect.

I would advise anyone wanting to get high speed internet service to steer clear of any company offering it through BuyTelCo. (http://www.buytelco.net)

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

It's a bad news, good news sort of thing

Well, it looks like the leasers of the land next to us have decided to be a**holes...uh, I mean, have decided to pursue their first rights of refusal. They are trying to get the land for themselves, and given the nature of the lease agreements, they could probably easily do that. We certainly can't afford to up our price any more. Odd thing is that, apparently, they'd always told the current owners of the land that it was an over-priced hayfield. We don't know what they're playing at now, but this process is not going to go smoothly, if it goes at all, because of them.

The's the bad news.

The good news would be that if we didn't get the land, we wouldn't have to tighten our belts nearly as much; we wouldn't be stretched to the limit on the mortgage. If we don't get the land, much as we love our current properties, it'd make it a bit easier, too, to retire somewhere else...at least for me (especially if we end up getting sucky neighbors on that land).

Gotta look on the bright side, I suppose, and accept whatever outcome it will be.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Now I'm a LEGO!

Not quite as extensive as Meez, but cute in it's own way. ;) You can try it at http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mm2/

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

A Giveaway!

A gal I had met at CafeMom is having a Giveaway to launch her new biz, so I thought I'd help out by mentioning it here:

First Impressions

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Useless dog, even more stupid door-to-door sales people

I get very annoyed when people try to sell me something at my own home, doesn't matter if they're selling books or religion or what-have-you. I feel that a person's home is truly his/her castle and I don't like it when people drive over my moat when they see that the draw-bridge is down.

A young guy supposedly studying at the University of Liverpool came to our house today. Not only did the stupid dog not bark at him (aside from the cursory 2 barks when the car came to a stop), but she totally did not read my body language which clearly stated (by the fact that I was very stiff and refused to sit down with him so he can show me the study guides he was hawking) how I felt about this intruder.

So anyway, he proceeds to ramble on, trying to put me at ease, I suppose, but really was wasting my valuable time, asking questions about the kids, their education, etc. When I told him ds#1 took a university level bird biology class, he said, "oh, that would be anthropology?" Either he's lying about going to U. of Liverpool or they have really dumb students there. I gave him a look (must have been an incredulous one) and he said, "oh wait, that's about bugs, isn't it?" And, why, on the basis of his show of intelligence, or lackthereof, would I want to buy educational guides from him??

I think I must have sighed. "No, that would be entomology. Anthropology is the study of humans and their culture. Bird biology would be ornithology."

I finally had to just come out and say, "look, we can't afford to buy these guides right now," (I refrained from saying "we obviously don't need it, but you might try reading them yourself") and added, "and even if I were interested, I'd still have to consult with my husband first." He laughed and said that most homeschooling moms make these decisions themselves, obviously trying to shame me into making a decision. Ain't gonna work; I don't shame easily that way. "We happen to educate together," I replied. He asked if there was a time he could come back when we would both be available, then he added (the lightbulb finally turning on, I suppose), "or would you rather I not?" I smiled and nodded.

He, then, had the nerve to ask if he could get something to drink, a can of something perhaps, because it was so hot out. I figure I could be nice and give him a drink; since we only have cans of good stuff, he ended up with one of my favorites, the Knudsen Mango Fandango spritzer (really, really yummy!).

We need something more "guard dog" like than this mangy mutt, who, during this uncomfortable period, was fawning over this total stranger, letting him pet her and licking his legs. Inconceivable, as the Sicilian would say.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Bottled water vs. tap - for Rosie

Hey Rosie, remember that post of yours regarding bottled versus tap water, and I said I'd try and find something for you? Well, I found something! Here's an article from New American Dream:

Bottled water: buy the bottle, skip the water

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

A good deed never goes unpunished

...a fellow in our homeschool group is fond of saying.

A fine example of this is donating to various charitable organizations. We worked out our budget to include a certain amount for donations. Barring a lottery winning (we don't play; we know statistics) or a grand inheritance (we have no filthy rich relatives), we weren't going to gain any more money during the year, and therefore couldn't spare any more money for these organizations. I used to include a slip of paper that said something to the extent of, "we're happy to make annual donations to your worthy cause, but we cannot make additional donatons through the year. Please do not send us any other solicitations in the mail, and please do not call us. If you call us, we will remove you from our list of organizations to donate to."

And guess what? We still received various pleas for additional donations throughout the year from most of these places. I realized after a couple of years (I'm either a slow learner or huge optimist) that the lackeys who open the envelopes with the checks (or cheques, for Epi) never pass along our request and really couldn't care less, so I stopped including those little strips of paper with our request.

One year, I got so fed up, I actually deleted a few organizations off our list. I was royally tired of them wasting trees and resources to beg for money that I said was not going to be forthcoming.

Another annoying ploy is sending you "gifts" like notecards and calendars to ask for extra donations. It worked a few times; I'm not totally heartless, contrary to what the heart rate monitor may say about me. But, then, I grew tired of being manipulated that way and refused to send money we don't have.

Anyone have a solution to this "extra begging" problem?

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

This land is your land, this land is my land

The land next to us has finally come up for sale. The owners (the couple who sold us our original 5 acres) called us and said they were ready to get rid of it; they've moved on to another phase of their lives. So, we've contacted a friend who is a realtor to help us draw up an offer. This plot is nearly 12 acres, and will cost us a pretty penny, stretching us to a bit of a limit. This will mean, if we get the land (the people renting it from the owners have the first right of counter-offer, or whatever you call it), we should watch our budget a bit more tightly than we already do. We've generally been careful about money, but were lucky enough before to go with a few splurges when we've felt like it. Now, we'll have to splurge less often if we hope to retire happily. Anyone want to buy a couple of kids? ;)

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

In case you were in too good of a mood...

Here's something we got in our recent issue of The Land Report that'll wipe that smile off your face, like it did mine. :}

The Next 49 Years
By Wes Jackson

Expanded from the commencement address at Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland, May 20.

I was born in the midst of what was called the Great Depression. Nevertheless, it was a time of great hope. There had been depressions before in America, and knowing that, adults could imagine that the depression would end. And it did. World War II came and afterward the use of material goods and energy accelerated without interruption, to a level never seen. Unfortunately, this great success by "children of the depression" has made you "children of the depletion." Now reduced options, more than your initiative, could set the agenda.

I want to provide a perspective, not widely appreciated or acknowledged, that makes our time different than the 1930s. Back then we still had an abundance of five pools of energy-rich carbon. Let me go through that history to help us appreciate how unusual our time is. Civilization began 10,000-12,000 years ago with the tapping of soil carbon for agriculture. Then there was the forest carbon, which made possible the bronze and iron ages, and countless buildings. In 1750, coal burning started the industrial revolution. In 1859, Col. Drake drilled the first oil well, in western Pennsylvania. Natural gas extraction soon followed.

Also often overlooked is a discovery of 1909. Two Germans, Fritz Haber and Karl Bosch, developed a process we now use around the globe to turn atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia. Natural gas, the last of the five pools, serves as the main feedstock for this essential fertilizer. Without this process, according to Vaclav Smil, 40 percent of humanity would not be here now.

That reality needs to be tied to one other. Anyone who died by 1930 never saw a doubling of the human population.

And now, as a forecast: Anyone born after 2050 likely won't live with another doubling.

The human population that has tripled in one lifetime depends on these five carbon pools. But the world's leading petroleum geologists say humans have burned through half of the global supply of oil and natural gas, and the other half may be gone in as few as 30 years. There is a lot of coal in the world, but China is building a new coal-fired electric power plant a week. The state of the world does not look good: We have rapid climate change. Human population growth continues to follow an exponential curve, with 6.6 billion of us now. There are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world, more than at any other time in history.

Even considering only these things, we live in challenging times. But depletion comes in many forms:
- One billion people lack access to fresh water.
- The current rate of species extinction is being compared to the five known mass extinction waves. This sixth wave is caused by humans, not an asteroid, and according to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report, agriculture is the largest threat to biodiversity.
- Soil destruction now claims 24 million acres a year worldwide, about half the size of Kansas, a quarter the size of California, or 3.5 Marylands.

If this isn't bad enough to contemplate, the world has never been less secure:
- Eight nations have nuclear weapons, and two more are known to be working to get them.
- In January 2007, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its doomsday clock two minutes closer to midnight, "reflecting global failures to solve the problems posed by nuclear weapons and the climate crisis."

Thinking that most of you are close to 22 years old, here's one more item for perspective: A 22-year-old has lived through 54 percent of all the oil ever burned. In my first 22 years, which ended 49 years ago, I had lived through 16 percent as much as you have.

So here you are, not only "children of the depletion," but also "children of the momentum," which makes you "children of the rapid depletion."

It is natural, around the age of 22 at graduation, to look out on the world with great expectation. So you will ask, "What do we do?"

"We are a clever species," you may think. "Look at the technological array around us. Surely we'll come up with something."

Your future will feature many discussions between optimists and pessimists. Let me provide a couple of examples from the energy problem.

The optimist may say, "We'll build nuclear power plants."

The pessimist asks, "What about the danger?"

The optimist says, "The estimated probability of an accident like Chernobyl, where people have to leave, is as low as only 1 in 10,000."

The pessimist says, "Yes, but what if we have a thousand reactors worldwide? That means on average an accident every 10 years. We currently have about 450 reactors worldwide, which means an accident every 22 years. We're on schedule. Will we be able to repeal Murphy's Law? And now we have terrorists who would love to get their hands on the fuel. Some of them are smart too. And we still have a problem of where to bury the wastes."

The optimist says, "The Faustian bargain is worth it."

Another discussion:

The optimist says, "We can make ethanol and biodiesel from our farm crops."

The pessimist replies, "Twenty-six gallons of gasoline has the same number of calories that the average American eats in a year. Let's say that we don't eat for a year, and turn all that food into ethanol for our cars, trucks and airplanes, for the postal workers, the street crew, bulldozers, whatever. We'd each get about two gallons a month."

"Well," the optimist says, "we will harvest all the agricultural waste-cornstalks, wheat straw, peanut shells, grass clippings."

The pessimist says, "It is not waste, but OK, now we have an additional two gallons per month, for a total of four."

"Let's stop all exports."

"Now we're up to six. But we haven't eaten, we've robbed the soil of countless nutrients for next year's growth, and we have no money from food exports to help offset the balance of payment deficit for foreign oil"

The optimist says, "But we now have a global economy. We'll get our liquid fuel from other countries just like we get oil."

The pessimist does more figuring: "OK, let's assume we use the entire world's wheat, com, rice and soybean crops, currently over two-thirds of human food calories. We will use that to make ethanol and biodiesel. How much of the U.S. gasoline and diesel demand will be met? Thirteen percent. No one in the world eats food from that acreage, just American vehicles."

These discussions are going on in thousands of places.

My worry is that we live in a world of technological fundamentalism more serious than any religious fundamentalism. During this era of unprecedented exploitation of energy-rich carbon, discussion almost invariably drifts to technology becoming more efficient, rather than consider that old, dull word, conservation. There is nothing wrong with being efficient, but it is worth remembering that in 1865, William Stanley Jevons published the results of an extensive study in a book called The Coal Question. His conclusion: As industrial England became more efficient, it used more resources, particularly coal and iron. This is called Jevons' Paradox.

The majority never thinks of itself as fanatic. And this fervent belief that technology will save us resides in high places. Hear what Thomas Friedman said in the April 15 New York Times Magazine, under the headline "The Power of Green." It was the cover story, mind you, and millions likely read it. I mention it as an exhibit:

Presidential candidates need to help Americans understand that green is not about cutting back. It's about creating a new cornucopia of abundance for the next generation by inventing a whole new industry. It's about getting our best brains out of hedge funds and into innovations that will not only give us the clean-power industrial assets to preserve our American dream but also give us the technologies that billions of others need to realize their own dreams without destroying the planet.

Well, we're not going to destroy the planet. Even large asteroids could not do that. But to say that "green is not about cutting back" and that there will be a "new cornucopia of abundance" is to not acknowledge the destruction imposed on the ecosphere by our excessive energy use to date. Climate change will be serious for Homo sapiens. Moreover, Friedman shows no recognition of the importance of the Haber-Bosch process and the nitrogen fertilizer necessary to feed us, no acknowledgement of Jevons' Paradox, no understanding of soils. It would be too complimentary to say that this is liberal, neoclassical economic establishment fundamentalism spoken by a well-placed representative to silence anyone who does not so worship at the altar of technology. Friedman's statement lacks even that low level of sophistication. It is Main Street boosterism, glandular optimism, green cornucopianism. It strikes me as a statement typical of a man late to this issue but now transfixed by happy talk.

In painting you this bleak picture, I hope you understand that I am honoring you as adults. By the current so-called standard of living, you will be the most unlucky generation in the history of humanity to date. You were born on the up slope of energy and economic growth, but much of your life is likely to be on the down slope in the use of nonrenewable energy.

But now, I'm the optimist. In a large sense, you have the potential to be the most fortunate generation. In this era of transformation you will have the opportunity to help shape a graceful down-powering.

The negative consequences of the industrial mind are all around us. Highways have cut through beautiful farms. Small towns have been bypassed. People who worked the land go to town to flip hamburgers or build tires at the local tire plant. Even though all the small towns cannot hold all the city people, the potential of family and community gardens, family and community canning, family and community butchering of chickens, turkeys, rabbits, even beef and hogs, is huge. We can begin to eat locally and live in community rather than spend so much time on the freeway.

Down-powering won't be easy. It will require sacrifice. You will hear, again and again, that transformative sacrifices aren't necessary. Those are the voices who care not a whit about reduced consumption. Bubbly optimists will be everywhere. Steel yourself with understanding of the numbers and remember that the entropy law, the second law of thermodynamics, will not be repealed. If you do, you'll see why more clever technology will have miniscule effect compared with conservation. Realize the Thomas Friedmans of the world won't be around to experience the consequences of reduced energy and climate change. Most will be dead, you won't. You will be going through the greatest and most important transition in human history.

One of our great modern poets, Gary Snyder, has a poem in his Pulitzer Prize-winning Turtle Island. It is the last one in his collection and was written probably in the 1960s or early 70s. It is titled For the Children.

The rising hills, the slopes, of statistics
lie before us.
The steep climb
of everything, going up, up, as we all
go down.

In the next century
or the one beyond that, they say,
are valleys, pastures,
we can meet there in peace if we make it.

To climb these coming crests one word to you, to
you and your children:

stay together
learn the flowers
go light


"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Party on...or not

It's hard to be an introvert. Partying just wear me out, and that's after the first 5 minutes...then there was another 3 hours to go. Dh is like that too. Plus, the ragweed outbreak right now isn't helping any. Luckily, the boys seemed to have a decent time. Oh, and remind me not to serve meat that needs to be cooked at an outdoor party. ;)

We had a funny conversation with one of dh's colleagues at the party. I mentioned how many times we've canned tomatoes in the past week, and he said (with perhaps mock surprise), "you can??" "Yeah, we can," I said. "Are you Mormon?" he asked. "Uh, no," I said. "Why?" "Because I don't know anyone who cans besides Mormons. It's in the Mormon creed to keep a year's worth of food in the house." "Well," I said, "I believe that's part of the Atheist creed too, to keep a year's supply of food in the house. Uh, yeah, that's it." Honestly, it doesn't take religion to have good, common, survivalist sense.

As it turns out, at least a couple of graduate students in the department also grow and can their own foods. It's just us wacky homesteading-wanna-be types.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Same old, same old

Canned another 14 quarts of tomato sauce on Tuesday...or was it Wednesday? My days are running together.

Interestingly, after my previous post, I read a related quote today (I hate to admit where, but gotta give credit: it's from a recent issue of Woman's Day...this mag is really not me. I blame my reading it on weird hospital germs seeping into my head from having to visit my FIL in the hospital all those months!):

"After feeling let down by some people in my life, my husband said, 'If you don't put expectations on friends and family, you'll be pleasantly surprised, and less disappointed.' It's true. Now I don't expect people to do things and I find I'm not as let down." - Monica Levine, Baltimore

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

He did it!

Ds#1 took his first ever exam today (for that high school class I mentioned previously)! He looked so young - and cute, but I'm biased - among the 5 other teenagers who were also there to have their exams proctored. It took him 1.5 hours out of the 2 alloted, and while he was nervous about it when we scheduled the exam, he was calm by today and felt afterwards that it went well. I'm so proud of him.

On a totally different note, I was reminded again that there is nothing for sure in life but death and taxes, and that you can't always count on people unless you get some sort of specific promise...or depends on the person too. I'm not saying this bitterly or anything, just stating a fact that hopefully someone else will take to heart and benefit from.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Close encounters of the Mars kind

NASA Science News for August 21, 2007

Earth and Mars are rapidly converging. Relative speed: 22,000 mph. Contrary
to rumor, Mars is not about to swell to the size of a full Moon, but there
is something eerie and Martian to look for in the night sky next week.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/21aug_hurtlingtomars.htm?list1024543

I am so glad someone on one my homeschool e-lists sent the above item out because most people's grasp of astronomy is so poor or non-existent that they actually will believe that Mars can appear as large as our moon in our night sky.

And speaking of astronomy...Ds#1 (the 11 year old) is taking an Intro to Earth & Space Sciences class through the Indiana University High School Program, and the text is dismally outdated. For example, ds noted that the textbook stated a closed-system for the universe whereas he read in Scientific American that the latest hypothesis is an open-system universe (where there isn't enough matter to halt the expansion and the universe will not collapse back on itself to be reborn in another big bang). We are definitely leaning toward creating our own high school courses for him after this, or just toss him good, updated textbooks and let him learn on his own like he has been doing. I can't see paying that much money ($200+ for a one-credit class) for out-dated texts and assignments with no feedback. [Ds had asked a question on the coversheet of one of his assignments - which is where students are supposed to leave questions for instructors - and it was never answered. Luckily, he found the answer in one of my old astronomy books.] Note to Abby: this is a preview of the problems you'll be facing with Avery. ;> You'd better hope his teachers will take kindly to being corrected by him. LOL!

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

The heat is on...

...or so it feels like when you've got 3 burners on while processing tomatoes (and the outside temperature is in the 90s Fahrenheit).

Summer has been ephemeral for me this year. I suppose it'll seem that way if one is traveling a lot. Sandwiched between the travels are the harvesting and processing chores. After canning 22 quarts of tomatoes on Thursday, I'd think that we wouldn't be doing it again for a while, but a few days later (Sunday), we canned another 14 jars. Prolific boogers, tomatoes...almost as bad as rabbits or Catholics, but far tastier and more versatile.

I know I've said it a lot already, but I can't believe it's nearly September. Co-ops and classes need to be organized, schedules hammered out and re-hammered out again. Life is never easy trying to fit in the needs of several different families in these groups. Homeschooled children/families are some of the busiest people I know.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Tomatoes, tomatoes, and more tomatoes

Back home again from yet another trip to Delaware to see my FIL, and a million things await for my attention (although that is probably still less than what poor dh has to deal with at work).

Dh harvested all the regular tomatoes the evening we got home (phew!), and we're going to process them today.

There are still beans to be picked and all that other fun stuff. It's nearly 10am so I'd better go bust my butt.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Who's afraid of the big, bad pie crust?

Was talking to my friend, G, the other day, and she said that her husband refuses to make pie crusts. Now, this is a guy who is such a skilled home pastry chef that he makes the most wonderful cream puffs, cheesecakes, and, get this, apple strudel (I would not attempt that in my life time). But he will not make his own pie crust! That boggles me (and if you're reading this, John, let me assure you I'm not making fun of you, but am convinced that you'd make a darned outstanding pie crust if you tried to).

I've read many things about finicky pie crusts, yada yada, but have never found that to be the case. I use the oil pie crust recipe found in my Good Housekeeping cookbook and have had years of success with it. It may not be the flakiest crust ever (I won't use lard or shortening), but it's a fine, fine crust, nonetheless.

When I made G a peach pie on Saturday, I timed it. It took me maybe 5 minutes to whip up the dough, and about 11 minutes from the time I plopped the dough onto parchment paper to roll out to when I finished doing decorative crimping and popped it in the fridge. It is so easy!

The filling took much longer (about 40 minutes from starting to peel peaches to pouring it into the crust).

There are things I'd pay money for (like apple strudel!), but pie crust ain't one of them.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Random, goofy fun

Someone from CafeMom posted this on her page, and I thought it was fun enough to do it myself. :) I've deleted some questions because I just have no idea what they are.

A Random Number of Things About Me

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
my hair

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
don’t have one

3. Do you like coffee?
I like cream with a little bit of coffee – really, I love coffee, a bit too much

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
annoyed

7. Do you say aim or a-i-m?
what is that anyway?

8. What are you?
Ooh, my friend, G, hates this question. But that’s usually because it’s in the context of ethnicity and the people asking are either racist or ignorant.

9. Could you eat your favorite food everyday for a month and not get sick of it?
Heck, yeah, if it’s borani or roast duck.

10. What are you craving?
fried chicken and soy sauce chicken (we don’t cull until the fall so won’t get chicken until then)

12. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Sauerkraut!

16. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Why would I want to? And when I try to count sheep to fall asleep, I lose track around 20 and have to start all over again.

17. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
I prefer soft serve type ice creams and it’s easy to lick those.

18. Do you use smileys?
Probably a bit too much.

19. How many bedrooms are in your house?
3 official; one unofficial…and it still seems like we run out of room sometimes.

20. Have you ever met a celebrity?
One time we saw Kevin Bacon at the Chicago airport, but we pretended like we didn’t see him. We don’t care to meet “celebs”.

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
Depends on what it’s in.

22. What’s the last song you had stuck in your head?
Voi che sapete from La Nozze di Figaro

23. Favorite place to be?
Home or Vancouver, my former home.

24. Are your parents strict?
Heck, yeah, but that’s how my sis and I turned out to be such good kids.

25. Would you go sky diving?
Once upon a time, I would have. Now, I get sick just walking around with my new glasses.

26. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
Not even if he were the last man on earth (who thinks up these questions?).

28. Is there anything sparkly in the room you’re in?
Uh, my personality...hahaha!

30. Do you rent movies?
Not if I can borrow them for free at the library.

31. Who sat in front of you in your math class?
Probably that idiot Claire because teachers sat us unimaginatively in alphabetical order.

35. Where are you going to be Saturday night?
Unfortunately, Delaware.

36. Brown or white eggs?
Blue-green ones from our very cute Americaunas!

37. Like rap music?
Only Will Smith’s from waaaay back.

38. Ever taken a train?
Yup. Would love to again soon.

39. Experienced the twin towers falling in New York?
Really, who wrote these questions? Oh, how about "ever met Typhoid Mary?", or "have you caught syphillus?"

40. Is anyone in your family famous?
Hmm, well, dh just became chair of his department, and I have to call him Dr. R now (just kidding!); does that count?

41. What day of the week is it?
Monday

42. What was your Lunch?
Leftover homemade biscuits and gravy with our own green beans and fried squash, also our own.

43. What is your best friend doing tomorrow?
Working hard and giving notice at her place of work…way to go, Epi!!!

46. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
Another huh?

47. So, how about them Yankees?
Damned?

51. Is your hair curly hair?
Only with a perm…those nasty things.

52. Last time you cried?
Whenever I last PMSed.

53. Ever walked into a wall?
No, but I have walked into a domed exhibit at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

56. Favorite season?
Spring or Fall

62. Do you sleep with the TV on?
Never.

63. Have you ever drank alcohol straight from the bottle?
I’m not that sad yet.

64. Do you think you're old?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no…depends on whom I’m interacting with.

65. Are you afraid of the dark?
No if I’m star-gazing; yes if I’m watching some creepy movie.

66. Do you like your life right now?
Yes, except for all the traveling.

67. When is the last time you chose a bath over a shower?
When I was pregnant, I think…that would be about 10 years ago.

68. Do you knock on wood?
Only with my head.

69. Do you have good vision?
Yeah, I’m clairvoyant. Oh, you mean with my eyes…yes in one eye, no in the other.

70. Can you hula hoop?
I used to. Too old now; I'd throw out my spine.

72. Do you have a job?
Paying no; non-paying yes, many.

73. Worst thing that happened today?
Having to try about 5 times before I could successfully post a msg to someone at CafeMom (I’m going to stop going there).

74. When is your next road trip?
Thursday…dammit.

75. Have you ever crawled through a window?
Oh for sure…I like to imitate that scene from Gentleman Prefer Blondes where Marilyn Monroe gets stuck in a porthole.

77. Can you handle the truth?
I watched X-Files - of course I can! Either that or I’m just completely deluded so it doesn’t matter.

78. What was the most recent thing you bought?
A book for my dear, dear friend Debbie!

79. How often do you talk on the phone?
Hate to talk on the phone. Don’t call us; I won’t call you. ;>

80. Are you in a complicated relationship?
Only when dh is being a dim bulb.

81. Do you hate more than 3 people?
Maybe, but I try not to.

82. Have you ever tripped someone?
No, I may talk mean, but I’m not a mean person.

84. Have you ever slapped someone?
Ds#1 on the butt when he used to get totally hysterical as a toddler. It was the only thing that snapped him out of it. One smack and he was fine. Hasn’t happened in 9 years though.

85. Do looks matter?
Alas, I do think so.

86. Do you use chap stick?
Yup, but not often enough.

87. Are you forgiving?
I try to be because I don’t want to be like my mom.

89. Do you own a gun?
Dh has an old one from his dad…he uses it to hunt occasionally.

90. Have you made a prank phone call?
No, I dislike adolescent pranks.

91. Have you ever been in a castle?
Yup…at Heidelburg, Germany. Is that how you spell Heidelburg?

92. Do you like your hair?
Hate it. Want my sister’s.

93. Do you like yourself?
If I didn’t, I wouldn’t talk to myself.

94. Are you closer to your mother or father?
My sister.

98. What’s the closest thing to you that’s red?
My lipstick color.



"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)

Dishwashers

My friend, G, and I had a conversation recently about whether using a dishwasher or washing by hand is better. And serendipitously, an article appeared in my Green Guide e-newsletter today about dishwashers, so I thought I'd share in case anyone else is in the market for a dishwasher. The table didn't copy over very well, so hope you can make it out.

Dishwashers
Depending on your individual habits, hand-washing dishes may use up to 50 percent more water than a water-saving, energy-efficient dishwasher. If you’re in the market to purchase a new one, choose one of these Energy Star-rated models, which can save you 13 percent on energy and as much as 1,200 gallons of water a year.

[Table]
Name, Energy Star Rating, Consumer Reports Rating, GPC (normal cycle), Place Setting Capacity, MSRP, Manufacturer Contact
Asko D3531XLFI 141% n/a 3 12+ $1,500 www.askousa.com, 800-898-1879
Asko D3531XLHD 141% 81 3 12+ $1,600 www.askousa.com, 800-898-1879
Kenmore 1332 110% n/a 4.8-6 5 $800 www.kenmore.com, 800-349-4358
Viking DFUD142 102% n/a 4.5 16 $1,600 www.vikingrange.com, 888-845-4641
Viking DFUD042 100% n/a 4.5 16 $1,200 www.vikingrange.com, 888-845-4641
LG LDF7810 59% 81 5 16 $800 www.lge.com, 800-243-0000
Bosch SHE45C02UC 48% 78 4-13 10-12 $700 www.boschappliances.com, 800-944-2904
Whirpool DU1100XTP 43% 81 6 14 $435 www.whirlpool.com, 866-698-2538

Choosing the Most Efficient Dishwasher
The upfront costs of some highly efficient dishwashers can be daunting, but while all appliances designed for efficiency cost more, the long-term savings are significant. They can reduce total water use by one-third, which translates to an annual savings of $95.

The following are basic criteria to use when choosing a new unit:

Energy Star Rating
Energy Star qualified models typically use one-third less water and 41 percent less energy than non-qualified models. The percentage above indicates the percent more energy-efficient each dishwasher is; Energy Star does not currently factor in water savings for their ratings.

Consumer Reports Rating
Consumer Reports rates dishwashers based on their performance in washing ability, energy use, noise, loading flexibility and ease of use. The numbers on the chart indicate the score each appliance was given based on a scale of 0 to 100.

GPC (normal cycle)
If your current model is at least 10 years old, it likely uses between eight and 15 gallons of water per cycle (gpc) when set on "normal," while the average new Energy Star-rated dishwasher uses four gallons per load. A newer model can save more than 1,000 gallons of water annually.

Place Setting Capacity
Compact capacity models hold eight place settings plus six serving pieces, while standard capacity models hold more. If your home sees a lot of dirty dishes, a compact model will use more energy and water if it's run more frequently to handle multiple loads.

Shopping Tips
• Look for models with several cycle selections. If your dishes don't need heavy-duty washing, you can use a light or energy-saving cycle and less water.

• At the store, compare the energy- and water-consumption costs of one model to another using the yellow "EnergyGuide" label on the product.

• Choose a model with an air-dry feature, which cuts down on energy use.

At Home
• Don't run the dishwasher unless it is full.

• Instead of pre-rinsing dishes, scrape food into the garbage or rinse them in a pan of water in the sink. Adding an additional 20 gallons per load on average, pre-rinsing can negate any water-saving efforts you've achieved with your dishwasher.

• Save energy by air-drying or hand-drying dishes rather than using the washer's drying function.

• If you must hand-wash dishes, do so efficiently. Get two basins, one filled with hot, soapy water for washing and another filled with cold water for rinsing. Start with the smaller, less dirty items first and work your way up to larger, dirtier ones.

The Backstory
Roughly 26 billion gallons of water are used each day in the United States, about 300 million gallons of which go to operate dishwashers. The average person in the U.S. uses a total of 100 gallons daily. Residential water use accounts for 13 percent of the water used in this country (agriculture, at 41 percent, and industry, at 46 percent, are the biggest consumers). Considering that only 3 percent of the earth's water is fit for human consumption, and the majority is sealed up in ice caps, preserving water is an urgent task.

Environmental Issues

Household water consumption has a significant impact on aquatic life, especially when water supplies come from freshwater lakes and streams. The Rio Grande, recently named one of the World Wildlife Fund's Top 10 Rivers at Risk, has been so overextracted that saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico has begun moving upstream and endangering native species. So far, 32 of the river's 121 native species have been displaced as a result of increased salinity. And in New Mexico, supplying Santa Fe with water has transformed the Santa Fe River, named America's Most Endangered River in 2007 by the non-profit American Rivers, into a dusty ditch for most of the year.

Just like the Rio Grande, city water supplies are succumbing to saltwater intrusion, which occurs when increased pumping of groundwater allows saltwater pools to infiltrate freshwater supplies, making water unfit for human use. In response, cities are installing energy-intensive desalination plants, which require more fossil-fuel-derived power that, in turn, contributes to global warming. To date, desalination plants are under construction in Tampa Bay, Florida, and cities across California, with even more plants being proposed for that state.

Social Issues

According to a recent government survey, the Environmental Protection Agency reports that at least 36 states are anticipating local, regional or statewide water shortages by 2013. The scarcity of any necessary natural resource leads to political conflict, and many states are in the midst of water wars and disputes over water rights.

Developers in south Florida, for instance, recently requested additional water supplies to be diverted from their northern neighbors, infuriating citizens in north Florida. Rather than encouraging water conservation, the state responded by providing funding for costly wastewater disinfection plants. Out West, water wars have raged for decades, mainly among farmers, who need water for their crops, and city water consumers. Cities are gradually taking more water, which could mean a long-term struggle for small farmers. Denver Water, which already sends over 15 billion gallons of water a year to the highly populated Front Range region, is proposing to send an additional five billion gallons through an expansion of the area's water supply, which currently diverts water from 40 points on mountain tributaries. Local municipal and environmental groups are fighting these efforts and campaigning to restore water levels in order to preserve the watershed's threatened trout populations.

In Nevada, Las Vegas water officials are campaigning for rights to the states rural groundwater, hoping to redirect 65 billion gallons of groundwater a year to support the city's phenomenal growth rate, a deal which could potentially deprive farmers of well water for irrigation.

Resources and References
GG Resources

"American Waters: What Hurts, What Helps," www.thegreenguide.com/doc/121/water

"Virtuous Cycles," www.thegreenguide.com/doc/120/laundry

"A Calculated Loss: How to Reduce Your Global Warming Emissions," www.thegreenguide.com/doc/119/calculator

Resources

Energy Star: www.energystar.gov, 888-STAR-YES

Consumer Reports: www.consumerreports.org

References

America's Most Endangered Rivers 2007. American Rivers, www.americanrivers.org.

Hemminger, Pat. "Damming the Flow of Drugs into Drinking Water," Environmental Health Perspectives. October 2005, www.ehponline.org/members/2005/113-10/spheres.html.

How to Buy an Energy-Efficient Home Appliance. Federal Trade Commission and Department of Energy. June 2000, www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/homes/applnces.shtm.

"Residential Product Guides: Dishwashers," Flex Your Power, www.fypower.org/res/tools/products_results.html?id=100125.

"Using Water Efficiently: Ideas for Residences." EPA, www.epa.gov/WaterSense/pubs/res.htm.

"To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge." ~ Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881)