Recycling Update

It works!!!! If you start talking about something and then they start talking about it too, change really does happen!!!

I'm referring to a recent post about how our Building supposively recycles, i.e. the big blue paper bins, but then we found out we were being misled. Well, I started talking to some people and then they started talking then no one knew exactly what was up and the game of telephone ensued and today we were all sent an official memorandum clearing up the mess and stating that:

"As of today, any paper placed in the locked bins that are between both elevators on each floor is picked up by Recall Corporation and taken away for destruction, after the destruction everything is taken to a paper mill to be recycled."

Even better, in the list of what we can place in aforementioned bins there was colored paper, post-its, photos and manilla folders!!! It's 11:36 and there is nothing in my garbage can yet!

I am so effin' happy about this!! Even better still is that now that the memo went out, EVERYONE knows and everyone's mind has been refreshed back to recycling and now everyone is more likely to be mindful of this.

This is just the beginning.......

Speak up/Speak out.

A message to anyone not doing anything about Global Warming

Washington D.C. is flooding, Philadelphia is flooding. The Northeast is flooding. Texas, yeah, that dry state, is flooding in areas. Rivers are pouring ashore.

This is not normal. These are direct effects of Global Warming.

The best comment I've seen so far of Al Gore's documentary, An Inconvenint Truth, is this by Roger Ebert:
"You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to."

I continue to urge everyone to see this film which is now even easier since it's been picked up by major theatres like Loews. Do it for yourself, do it for your grandchildren and do it for our Earth.

Thankfully, this issue has recently gotten a lot of press. I thank Al Gore for that. Bceause of him, the truth is getting out there and people are starting to act. The issue has once again gone to Senate. Forgive me as my research is currently at home and I am at work. But basically, there needs to be laws regulating carbon dioxide emissions. The greedy men who this might hurt the pockets of refuse to believe that carbon dioxide is in fact an issue.

Remember when our Ozone was a huge problem? You don't hear much about the Ozone anymore do you? That's because we fixed it. We can fix Global Warming as well. We just need to convince as many people as we possibly can that this issue needs fixing.

Go see An Inconvenient Truth and take as many people as you can with you. At the very least, start being more aware. I thought I was pretty good at not being wasteful. Oh man, was I wrong. I have cut my personal CO2 emissions by half. I've posted this before but here it is again:

If you'd like to see what you can do to cut your emissions, check this out.

http://www.climatecrisis.net/pdf/10things.pdf

It's a pdf file so print it out and throw it on peoples' desks (who you know won't toss it), put it on your fridge and memorize it!!

Our Earth is crying out to us. Her tears are flooding our world. Please help her and all the rest of us.

Thank you in advance for doing what's right.

College update

I'm pretty out of touch. I couldn't go to school next fall even if I wanted to. Apparently, the deadline for fall applications was back in January. I'm crossing fiscal years now so I think the application needs to be updated. I "assume" my deadline will be in October for my application to start school in Spring 2007. I think that's a great time for me to start school.

Back to School

I'm two thirds of the way through my College application. Damn dates. When did I graduate college? A couple of years ago, that's when. Thank goodness I graduated high school in 2000. If "they" didn't make such a big tadoo about the class of 2000, I may have very well forgotten what year I graduated high school in. Some simple math helped me to determine that I started school in September of 1996.

I'm going back to school. I've kept in on the D.L. because I'm sure I've had big plans and big ideas before and shouted them out and let them fall to a heap at my feet. I'm starting to leak the news. But in a very no big deal sort of way. Ah-hem, for example:

"Yeah so I've decided it's time to go back to school. "
"Really? For what?"
"For a BA in Liberal Studies. Most of my credits from my Associates in Applied Science transfer over and I can get the amount of credits I need going to school at night and in about three years."
"What school?"
"Rutgers University - Camden. It's close by and dead center between work in Philly and home."
"That's good."
"Thanks."

That's about it. I really love working for a non-profit and I'd like to be a program director (decision maker) in a non-profit. Preferably, an environmental non-profit. I think I'd like that. My degree holds no weight. It was great and all and got me two of my last three jobs, but now I'm as far as I can go in this field.

So I don't know if it's a matter of "getting in". I've just been supplying information and I need to dig out some old records for the rest of it. I checked off I'm applying for the fall but I was thinking more like next spring. I figured I'd just fill out the application and take it from there. I need to check out financial aid. I requested my transcripts yesterday.

Wish me luck though. I'm super excited. School just seems so purposeful. I really can't imagine feeling like "waa waa I'm not doing anything *tear. Waaa" when I'm in school. A real college grad. My mom really played down my whole Associates thing. I didn't go to a "real college" or get a "real degree". She really hurt my feelings. I worked hard as hell for that degree and I graduated with a 3.97 gpa damnit!

But my bro kind of set the bar on the whole college thing. He set it pretty high too. Really high. I can't blame her for comparing the two experiences.

Anywho, I'm giving myself until next Wednesday to get the application in and hunt down all the records that got moved in the move.

We shall see.

Weekend away from home

This weekend was the first time I left for Mike's house and actually felt like I was "going away" for the weekend. I even tidied up the mess I made when making the six pounds of potato salad and five pounds of macaroni salad for Saturday's party. I knew I'd want the place clean when I got home late Sunday night.

It was a nice late night drive Friday night and my new pink travel mug rocks so I use it every chance I get. It's weird locking up for a few days. Leaving Philly house was never ever like that. But I didn't rush out of the house like I always ran out of Philly. I took my time, showered again, finally got on the road at 10:30 pm.

Saturday was our party. Mike's parents threw us a little farewell/good luck bbq with all our friends and just my mom and stepdad and Mike's best friend's parents were the only adults. The rain kept at bay just enough that the deck was packed all night standing room only or else you'd have a wet butt. The food was good and only one person was noticed missing. Dustin was out slinging buckets, tossing birds, chucking chickens, whatever you want to call it. An interesting second job.

The beer was flowing and a good time was had by all. And I thought I looked pretty so even better. Pictures will be posted soon.

Sunday's party was lame and all the coolest cats only came to ours (Go Mike and Jess) and the leftovers who weren't invited to our par-tay were in full effect with scattered groups of coolness. Ahem. We left early.

I wish it would stop raining. I can't wait to just relax ths weekend and finish up the house. Four day weekend! Boo - yah!

Hardest Drinking games EVER

The fine folks at Cracked (thank you, Kirk) posted this great article today, "The Most Difficult Movie Drinking Games Ever".

We've all done it. Hell, we may have even added a blunt or two or three to the rules on top of it. Watching movies is great. Watching silly, stupid movies is ok. Watching silly, stupid movies with your friends while high is great. Watching silly, stupid movies with your friends while high and adding drinking rules to the mix which will ensure your drunken ass will be laughing until you cry and holding the stitch in your side is EXCELLENT. (I haven't done this in oh, say, four years. I think I'm due.)

Sometimes it's just too easy. Follow Cracked's rules and you'll be sure to end the night sober and bored or quite possibly dead. Especially if you chug the 237 beers if you follow the rules of Dazed & Confused.

Enjoy and turn your damn phones to vibrate would ya?

http://www.reid.cracked.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=595

Onions & Insults

I went to the grocery store last night in order to get ingredients for some homemade brownies I made last night for my roommate's farewell thing a ma jig at work and to pick up some veggies for the eight pounds of cold side salads I'm making for my party Saturday. (Mike's parents and my mom are throwing Mike and I a little farewll and good luck bbq Saturday with all our friends.)

So I was perusing the onion corner when an older man (70ish) approached me and said something I couldn't quite make out and pointed at my arm. I assumed he was addressing me about my tattoo which is common so I turned my arm to him.

"Is that permanent?"
"Yes."
"Oh no. That looks just awful on a girl."

My mouth fell slightly agape and I was honestly at a loss for words. Never once in the two years I've had my large arm tattoo has someone insulted me or it. It's beautiful work. Very beautiful work and pretty art.

I'd say about ten to fifteen seconds went by where I was just looking at him and he was just looking at me and he decided to break the silence.

"That's just my opinion. Awful, just awful, to have done that."

I still don't know where what I said came from. I was thinking, Yeah, asshole, but you don't need to go around expressing your opinion to young women in the fucking grocery store who aren't bothering you! Jack ass!

Somehow all that came out in a soft, patient sounding, perfectly articulated statement was, "Well, you are entitled to your opinion."

This shocked him. He was on the defense from whatever misconceptions and assumptions he had already had about tattoos or what kind of woman would have one so large. I bashed the stereotype with those seven words.

His mouth fell slightly agape and then whilst turning his head to walk away he turned it back but continued to look at the floor and muttered, "thank you" as he pushed his cart away.

I was pissed. Tattoos aside, you don't insult someone in a grocery store or anywhere else for that matter. You just don't. I couldn't stop thinking about it throughout my whole shopping order.

Then I get to the checkout and there he is in the line directly next to mine in the exact same place in his line as I am in mine. I didn't mind. I hoped him having to acknowledge me again would make him think and possibly even reconsider his actions. My arm was in his face so to speak.

It worked. A few minutes later as I was bagging up my red pepper and spanish onion, he was strolling past me.

"I hope I didn't hurt your feelings."
"You know what, yes, you did hurt my feelings."
"Well that wasn't my intention. This little one here (at this point he actually touched the butterfly on my left arm) is nice, but those big ones are just so unattractive. It looks like you should be in the marine corps."
"Well....I didn't get my tattoos for you. I got them for me and I love them very much."
"But men don't find that attractive."
"It's a different world now, sir, and yes, men do find them attractive."
"I guess so, but really, men like them?"
"My boyfriend loves them."
"Well, I guess it is a different world now."

At that he began to push his cart away toward the exit and I told his back to have a good evening. He half turned and uttered a good evening.

If anything, I hope my patience and soft, short, yet well spoken responses made him think a bit. He was old and so regardless, he deserves a little extra patience. I think he thought I was trashy. I have issues with white trash and never ever do I want to resemble it and I know in my heart I don't. I may have large tattoos but damnit, I was dressed nice (still in my work clothes even) and I had on some nice shoes and a great bag. My hair was up and I was still in make-up.

I don't know what he thought actually. All I know is that whatever it was he thought I was, I proved to him I was the opposite. Maybe next time he'll think before he opens his mouth to insult someone.

Jack ass.

Moving Stats

Well we did it! We made it through the day...barely. I see moving is much like playing tennis and not unlike frisbee. Don't do it with your significant other. The chances of a break up ensuing are quite high.

Hours spent moving - 5
Cost of move including gas and tolls - $84.80
Bruises - 8
Actual injuries - 3 (A pinky, a thigh and a forearm.)
Times Jess called Mike a "fucking asshole" - who's counting?
Times Mike called Jess a "fucking bitch" - Who? Me?
Children within a mile we have scarred for life with our raging antics - They were at school thank God.
Pieces of furniture hoisted up and over a second floor balcony - 2
Casualties - Zero
Pieces of furniture thrown into the street in a fit of rage - Zero, but just barely.

A success!!!!

Father's Day Dinner for Mike's parents was a huge success. It was a blast cooking and cleaning and getting ready for that. I'm a damn good hostess I think. Mike's mom is a damn helpful guest. It was fun. The most awesome thing about it and a brand new experience; they were the ones heading out for a long drive home while I got to shut the door, pour a glass of wine and collapse onto the couch. That was awesome!

It was a good weekend. Things are coming along. Now I just have to gather up small stuff and the remaining contents of my closet.

An Inconvenient Truth

I saw Al Gore's documentary on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth, on Monday. I urge you to go see it and bring as many people as you can with you and then I urge you to convince others to go see it as well. Check your smaller independent theatres for show times.

Please visit Climate Crisis for more information on the film and more information on global warming. It really is a great site.

This blog may be undergoing some cosmetic as well as content changes. I finally have something to say and something to wrap my arms around. I must say I hit the ground running after seeing the film. I've been a busy gal since then and I will share how I've been helping this cause in a moment.

I find it coincidental Al Gore was featured on Larry King Live Tuesday night. What a brilliant man. His film is inspiring, informative and you may even chuckle a few times. He interviews wonderfully and I shake my head now as I shook my head then when the man this country elected did not become our next President. I may not have the credentials to make the following statement but I believe it with my whole heart: This country would not be in such awful shape had Gore been elected. When I say bad shape, I mean environmentally as well as ALL THE OTHER REASONS we are in such bad shape. The United States today hardly resembles the U.S. it was six years ago.

Back to global warming. I knew nothing about it last week and I admit that. Now I feel I could hold my own in a conversation with even the toughest republican or anti cutting emissions type person. What I wasn't clear on after seeing the film, I researched. I've researched until I felt confident I knew what I was talking about then I got pro-active and I know this first blog is only the beginning.

I've checked out other legitimate sites and printed out a petition for support of the business friendly, bi-partisan Climate Stewardship Act, which would tackle the growing problem of global warming by putting national caps in greenhouse gas emissions. You can find printable global warming petitions here and you can sign it electronically and send it to others here at the site of the Environmental Defense Action Fund. The goal is one milllion signatures and last I checked, there were 595,473. The site at www.undoit.org even lists the breakdown of signatures by state and country. Very cool.

So what else have I done to cut carbon dioxide emissions by hundreds of pounds within a few days?

1. Instead of putting on my space heater at work when I'm chilly, I've put on a sweater.
2. I've turned off my computer when I leave work at the end of the day. Something I never do.
3. I've used my air conditioner sparingly and on energy saver mode.
4. I've used less hot water when washing dishes and I bought new cold water detergent for my washing machine. (I forget who made it.) Not only will you save on your electricty bill by using less hot water but you'll help the environment at the same time. Your clothes are still getting clean.
5. I've asked Mike to put up a clothes line in our new backyard so I will not need to use the dryer. He's excited with his new task.
6. I put compact flourescent light bulbs on my shopping list. I plan to change all my lightbulbs by the end of next week. I'll save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide per bulb.
7. I don't drive much. That's nothing new. Walk more when you can. It's not only good for the planet but good for your heart and belly too.

That's just the beginning people! I've already prevented carbon dioxide from entering our Earth's atmosphere. It's not hard...just be more mindful!

I can't wait to build my compost heap. My goal by buying products with less packaging, recycling, and putting some trash into my compost will be to have only one bag of garbage per week! What a goal that is!!

On a side note: I've been pulling white paper out of the trash at work and putting it into our big blue recycling bins. We don't recycle bottles or cans here. Something told me I should double check about this whole recycling thing. So I made a call to my trusty contact who works with the building and lo and behold, we are recycling white paper under false pretenses. It all goes right into the trash. I was appalled same as she was when she found it. We are committing ourselves to informing others and buidling up a small committed team to bring recycling into the United Way Building on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Sarah is making calls as we speak.

See. it's not so hard. It doesn't take planning or an organization. You alone can cut your own personal emissions. Check your tire pressure. You'll save gas, money, and emissions. Plant a tree! Over the course of its lifetime it will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide.

Go see An Inconvenient Truth. I urge you. Forward this post to others. Send out the petitions. We don't have much time to right the wrong. Start right now.

We can do this.

Can you find the hidden word?

No home is complete unless you have a jarbled bunch of pre-school colorful alphabet magnets. This is Mike's doing. I love it.

Our bathroom also would not be complete if it weren't for the magic dinosaur capsules on the sink. I hope the first time we have company, out guests feel compelled to drop them in the sink and watch them "grow".

Update

Between work being very busy, moving, and Stephen King's The Darktower Series Book I, I haven't had time to update.

Here is an update:

Things are moving along. Mike and I are enjoying the house and our time together at the house in between my screaming fits about how much of a fucktard my landlord is. I can't even get into it. He's a lazy good for nothing LIAR! Everything is half-assed and tomorrow to him really means in eight days. Mike got to the house yesterday and our front door was WIDE OPEN. I don't mean unlocked, I mean WIDE OPEN. Dumbass (as Mike has so suitably named him) didn't show up for an hour and a half. We have no clue how long the door was open before Mike got there but we do know if he hadn't come, it would have been open for at least that long. He left last night saying he was going to Home Depot and that he'd be back. Fucker never came back and never called. I hate him. I HATE HIM! I wish he'd just finish up. Ahem, this was all supposed to be done June 1st. Once he's done, I hope I never see him again.

Yes, we're still moving. I cleaned the carpets Sunday and will clean them again Saturday. Painting is still almost done. I spent several hours Saturday and Sunday going along the trim with a tiny painter's brush doing touch up work and it's time consuming. Not a good thing to do a little tipsy either.

Nightmares are back full force. Mike says I've been waking up screaming about people looking in through the windows. I don't know about all that. I do recall waking up screaming the other night due to an excruciatingly painful Charlie Horse in my calf. It took half a day for my leg to get back to normal. I popped into the Cathedral yesterday morning to have a word with the Man about those nightmares. But I guess reading an unnerving, confusing, dark book about parallel worlds and demons doesn't help matters.

Friday night I am staying at the house for the first time ALL BY MYSELF. I'm a little nervous but plan to exhaust myself and finish a bottle of wine before bed. That should help knock me out. I'm hoping to get a whole lot done this weekend. Now all we need is some furniture. We'll have to rent a small truck afterall. My friend Randy crashed his Titan.

I don't know what else to say. I'm hungry and have too much on my mind.

I still love my kitchen though and love cooking in it. Overall, I do like the place. I just want my landlord to finish up his side of the deal and I want furniture and curtains and stuff. Slowly but surely. I do like it though.