tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79866979141433403052024-03-06T00:35:07.632-06:00ECOhoma!Once upon a time, an environmental scientist lived in Oklahoma, and this is what happened... Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-52723046157698552862013-05-23T09:50:00.003-05:002013-05-23T09:50:55.419-05:00home.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">home. Home. Homa. Oklahoma.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don’t know where this image came from – people have been using it a lot this week. Maybe it </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/105370829/oklahoma-home-shirt" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">came from this shirt designer from Tulsa?</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> Maybe it’s been around a long time. But I like it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Home is like family. When a place is really, truly Home… it may still be able to surprise you, but you know its strengths and weaknesses. You’ve seen it at its best and at its worst. You love it anyway. Maybe you love it just because you’ve seen it go through so much; because you know the depths (both good and bad) it can go to, how it behaves under pressure, how it gets knocked down but keeps standing up again and again and again. How, in its peaceful calm and its violent terrors, it is still beautiful. And you know it is worth going back to. And worth working for. And worth fighting for. And worth making it as strong as it can be, every time. The land gives us strength. We give our community strength. Our community gives the land strength. And back and forth. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Give me an EF-5 and not a Category 5, an EF-5 and not a Richter 10. They can all kill me when it comes right down to it… but when it comes right down to it, I can only ride one of them out from home. Were I to live somewhere else, it would not be home. Not like this. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not like a quirky cousin, not like an old friend. Not like this place that I trust like any other to have the fortitude to pull together and come back stronger than it was before. Not like this place where I know - where we all know - we Okies can and will <em>do this together</em>. It's just what we do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">May you all be safe and sound and dry, and have all you need for health and comfort this week.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-56050760800636628902013-05-03T09:00:00.000-05:002013-05-03T09:00:04.579-05:00Air Quality Awareness Week - Part 3 - Real-Time Oklahoma Air Quality<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So now that we have covered a</span><a href="http://ecohoma.blogspot.com/2013/05/air-quality-awareness-week-part-1-air.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> little bit about the history of air pollution and air regulations</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, and a </span><a href="http://ecohoma.blogspot.com/2013/05/air-quality-awareness-week-part-2-air.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">little bit about the pollutants and Oklahoma trends</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, we get to find out what is happening here and now. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first interesting tidbit is that there is such a thing as air quality forecast; this is similar to weather forecasting. The best place to see the forecast right now is to use </span><a href="http://www.airnow.gov/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">AirNow</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> – they have nifty infographics for particulates and ozone. I heard a rumor that AirNow’s forecasting will soon be discontinued? Well, I’m not sure on that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyIST6k5X3UpMRUEbnXaLXgJBmro1-uBMGVTCKsWsfAhKX78y_f1KdaLJIhClvBUy39YE0Gg26nCEaUE_7Wb5Pv3Azpm0aKXekqMjc0SGnluJrqB_RaQqDf6HSbdTyevUOJpuBnWS4OA/s1600/untitled.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="484" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyIST6k5X3UpMRUEbnXaLXgJBmro1-uBMGVTCKsWsfAhKX78y_f1KdaLJIhClvBUy39YE0Gg26nCEaUE_7Wb5Pv3Azpm0aKXekqMjc0SGnluJrqB_RaQqDf6HSbdTyevUOJpuBnWS4OA/s640/untitled.bmp" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOlyfbPhBzUNrdviTEEmj7EpmL03z49ECE4m8m2UoEJu5yaR6c6aHLogZFP3fOn29rE3ry2GOhcI-3RKhq_G5s2b7F8f1ShQgR-lSxtjCZMY43SuHcmVB8WV7iH_tLWylTTqCHNcv6aw/s1600/OzoneAlertLogo2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="154" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOlyfbPhBzUNrdviTEEmj7EpmL03z49ECE4m8m2UoEJu5yaR6c6aHLogZFP3fOn29rE3ry2GOhcI-3RKhq_G5s2b7F8f1ShQgR-lSxtjCZMY43SuHcmVB8WV7iH_tLWylTTqCHNcv6aw/s320/OzoneAlertLogo2012.png" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">If the air quality is anticipated to bad the next day, the Oklahoma DEQ calls an </span><a href="http://www.deq.state.ok.us/aqdnew/education/alert_things.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Ozone Watch</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. The purpose of this is to allow people to adjust their plans if necessary, and hopefully to encourage folks to take measures to help prevent ozone formation for that day. Ozone Watches are often broadcast on the news, but you can find out about them on the DEQ’s website. Tulsa has </span><a href="http://www.ozonealert.com/index.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Ozone Alerts</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">, which are basically the same thing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">But what is the air RIGHT NOW? </span><a href="http://www.airnow.gov/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">AirNow</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> has cool infographics for this as well; you can even loop the time period the way you can with weather radars and watch the pollution move across the landscape like a storm of approaching ozone! (This is most noticeable during the summer months)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are interested in exact measured values, or if you are curious about current levels of other pollutants, </span><a href="http://www.deq.state.ok.us/aqdnew/monitoring/cpdata.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">you can view the data from all of Oklahoma’s air quality monitors</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> online in near-real-time.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGSn9j7VwdWPPzGg5tIYbHfJ3ameQHXs1POHAt3dCTd5qmUcIsurVemp-sMmVB9RL9JZbJUBKTlAbRBx95l77k8uG1iP2iOxOSLDPiZUS3WdtuvP0EsXBAxnCQNFm37C5jZyWtOCeON8/s1600/1073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGSn9j7VwdWPPzGg5tIYbHfJ3ameQHXs1POHAt3dCTd5qmUcIsurVemp-sMmVB9RL9JZbJUBKTlAbRBx95l77k8uG1iP2iOxOSLDPiZUS3WdtuvP0EsXBAxnCQNFm37C5jZyWtOCeON8/s320/1073.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Photo of McClain County Ozone Monitor</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">To research how local weather conditions may be affecting the air contaminants, you can cross-reference data from the air quality monitors with weather data from the nearest </span><a href="http://www.mesonet.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Oklahoma Mesonet</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> or </span><a href="http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/about.asp" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Weather Underground station</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. (The Mesonet stations will be more defensible for serious study, but Weather Underground may have stations that are nearer to the desired location)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are mostly concerned about ozone and particulates for health reasons, the easiest way to stay updated is to sign up for </span><a href="http://www.deq.state.ok.us/aqdnew/AdvisorySignUp.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Health Advisories</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. You can do this through the DEQ website, and when the air quality in your county hits levels of concern, you will immediately be notified via email. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvCk995mgpDAa1apQVXnEQwfzu2I9gHKcnrJD1c38EedoDOkGrwHqlrxS9LLcgCZUSyqju2y05tKL3v89YRO6h6NDjf4r6t0SCwUHtjdFvU5h16EnsmT8GmfH3-1Zvrj_aBAN0QTemcc/s1600/imagesCA5SLKLJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXvCk995mgpDAa1apQVXnEQwfzu2I9gHKcnrJD1c38EedoDOkGrwHqlrxS9LLcgCZUSyqju2y05tKL3v89YRO6h6NDjf4r6t0SCwUHtjdFvU5h16EnsmT8GmfH3-1Zvrj_aBAN0QTemcc/s200/imagesCA5SLKLJ.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you found this series of Air Quality Awareness Week posts interesting and informative! Go forth, padawans, and breathe deep! (To listen to a goofy hippie song about air pollution on YouTube, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2hhNC1nzls" target="_blank">click here</a>) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-83027989282798918272013-05-02T09:00:00.000-05:002013-05-02T09:00:09.005-05:00Air Quality Awareness Week - Part 2 - Air Emissions Trends and Oklahoma<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
National Trends</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to the Clean Air Act and other air quality regulations (such as vehicle fuel standards), the overall air quality in the United States has actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>improved</u> </i>in many ways since the onset of air science and air regulation in the 1950’s. I know it sounds hard to believe, but we have learned a lot as a country in the past 60 years of air control, and it shows. EPA's recent </span><a href="http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/aqtrends.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Air Trends Report</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> describes the progress: Based on historical data, levels of every major Criteria Pollutant have decreased both in ambient levels (the level we are exposed to) and in amount of emissions. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Example Graph from Air Trends Report</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">This becomes more evident if you think back to the tragic events in Pennsylvania and London, where poor air quality resulted in the deaths of many perfectly fine, otherwise-healthy individuals (and these events were not isolated; there were others less note-worthy). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Nowadays, except for very extreme and rare circumstances, most healthy American citizens have less to worry about in terms of air. Some people are extra sensitive to air pollution and they still have to keep vigilant on air quality to protect themselves. These categories of folks are young people (who breathe more quickly than adults and whose lungs are still developing), older people (who are sometimes less physically resilient), and people with cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders (such as asthmatics and heart patients). </span></div>
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Ozone in Oklahoma</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In Oklahoma, our major air pollutant of concern is ground-level Ozone. Ozone is a lung irritant, and especially problematic for asthmatics. Ozone is a secondary pollutant, meaning that it is not directly emitted, but is created as chemicals in the air react with each other. It is a summertime pollutant because the weather affects the rate of these reactions and the amount of ozone created. Oklahoma experiences higher levels of this pollutant for a variety of reasons. Some of these include:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Weather - Hot, bright, still summers allow for more creation of ozone and allow the pollutant to linger for longer periods</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Urban sprawl and long commutes - Automobiles produce chemicals that react in the sun to create ozone (Nitrous oxides and volatile organic compounds), and Okies love to drive. Our state is designed for vehicle transport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Every summer in recent years, Oklahoma has had several days which exceed the NAAQS for ozone. It is possible that areas of Oklahoma - such as OKC and Tulsa - are on the verge of being designated as nonattainment for this pollutant; watch for this in the news in upcoming years.</span></div>
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PM2.5 in Oklahoma</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The second pollutant that Oklahoma is sometimes concerned with is fine particulate matter. This is any thing in the air at all that is teeny tiny... less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. This can be tiny bits of dust, tiny bits of pollen, tiny bits of soot, even tiny vapor droplets. Particles of this size can be breathed in and travel deep into the lungs - penetrating farther due to their size - and our bodies have a difficult time cleaning them out. Oklahoma's major contributors for fine particulates are:</span></div>
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Oklahoma Trends</h2>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oklahoma's </span><a href="http://www.deq.state.ok.us/index.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Department of Environmental Quality</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> produces Air Data Reports each year so you can see what the monitored levels of various pollutants were in the state. </span><a href="http://www.deq.state.ok.us/aqdnew/airreport2012/2012intro.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">The Air Data Report from 2012 is here</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. An example graph for Ozone is below.</span></span></div>
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-63837987316505553172013-05-01T15:43:00.001-05:002013-05-01T15:44:04.083-05:00Air Quality Awareness Week - Part 1 - Air Quality Basics<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ43Muq3Z2yqcSrj5SqjSmnUlXuUpqBEBv3a7iTFPl9Yq4LSL5wVHsFdJYPWjRLe1Ma3MtiSvdIVqlpYLwdPNPDrrBP0ak3b2ozzJ06qMXGZmhi0poptBvpj0VZGUAO_GfK-Mn5ViH2Oo/s1600/Photos_of_the_London_Smog_Disaster_of_1952_(16).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" lua="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ43Muq3Z2yqcSrj5SqjSmnUlXuUpqBEBv3a7iTFPl9Yq4LSL5wVHsFdJYPWjRLe1Ma3MtiSvdIVqlpYLwdPNPDrrBP0ak3b2ozzJ06qMXGZmhi0poptBvpj0VZGUAO_GfK-Mn5ViH2Oo/s640/Photos_of_the_London_Smog_Disaster_of_1952_(16).jpg" width="456" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">It has been a long time since the</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Donora_smog" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">1948 fatal air inversion of Donora, Pennsylvania</span></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> and the</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Smog" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">killing London Smog of 1952</span>.</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> These two events contributed to the growing awareness that the chemicals and compounds we send into the air can have a detrimental – and sometimes deadly – effect on human health. Governments and average citizens around the world sprang into action and began learning about air pollution – what it does, where it comes from, how to control it, and what amounts can be considered “safe.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here in the US, the events in the late 40’s and early 50’s were immediately followed by Air Pollution Control Act of 1955, which created funding for air pollution research. This was followed by the Clean Air Act of 1963, where the research findings were utilized to create a set of federal regulations limiting various air pollutants. The <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/" target="_blank">Clean Air Act</a></span> has been amended several times since it was written, most recently in 1990 – these are the regulations companies in the US follow today. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The Clean Air Act breaks air pollutants down into 2 categories. The first is the <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html" target="_blank">National Ambient Air Quality Standards</a></span>, commonly called the NAAQS (“nacks”). These six pollutants – Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Particulate Matter (PM10) and fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) - can cause immediate health risks to individuals. The other categories of air pollutants are <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;"><a href="http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/188polls.html" target="_blank">Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)</a></span>. Many of these are substances such as carcinogens, which can have a chronic health effect over time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">When air monitors record levels of pollutants that exceed the NAAQS, that area can be designated as "nonattainment"... this basically means that the area is recognized as having unhealthy air and extra regulations are put into effect to help bring the air pollution back down to safe levels. There are certain exceptions to this... for example, an area gets a couple of freebies a year, and sometimes data can be thrown out if the state can prove the high levels were from a rare event that was not within the state's control (like a huge dust storm or wildfire).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each air pollutant has different deleterious effects on humans and the environment. Some air “pollutants” are neutral or even helpful when released in small quantities, but harmful in large quantities. Enough exposure to certain air pollutants can harm even the healthiest of individuals, as well as degrade the infrastructure of our cities and stunt crop growth. For the NAAQS, Primary Standards are the levels of pollutants considered to be safe for public health. Secondary Standards are created to protect everything else.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">The allowed levels of these pollutants are based on current science believes to be safe for public health. EPA uses a committee of scientists called the </span><a href="http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabpeople.nsf/Webcommittees/CASAC" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">Clean Air Science Advisory Committee</span> (CASAC)</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> to review the science and suggest updates to the standards every few years on a regular schedule. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-71220803716404756382013-04-23T15:25:00.000-05:002013-04-23T15:38:58.130-05:00This Saturday! Get a Clean New Mower, Prevent OzoneWe all know about emissions from driving our cars, but we sometimes overlook small-motor emissions. Small-engine equipment must comply with a different set of emissions requirements than vehicles; they are allowed to pollute more than many of the cars we drive. In fact, if you have an old pre-1995 mower, these machines are from the wild west of small engines and didn't have to meet any emissions requirements at all. Gas-powered mowers produce the same types of pollutants as gas-powered vehicles, many of which (nitrous oxides and volatile organic carbons) contribute to low-level ozone formation.<br />
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To help keep our ozone levels low this summer, the Department of Environmental Quality is sponsoring a lawnmower exchange this weekend for Oklahoma City residents and offering a $100 rebate towards the purchase of a brand new electric lawnmower. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzKy2mVBV1i3cfkw5m3qsvBL2MBP2sgK-l4HZyOcUzAGFiMXX8GqrgpZA-vjq4krOSGOwoGZm-nUE9qrSbYCDv4Z3ZZbFbbyNXI1c2RL9Jsd9REpZr7QEaYwyxxkEnw2Gna0LmIiuarU/s1600/mower.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dua="true" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzKy2mVBV1i3cfkw5m3qsvBL2MBP2sgK-l4HZyOcUzAGFiMXX8GqrgpZA-vjq4krOSGOwoGZm-nUE9qrSbYCDv4Z3ZZbFbbyNXI1c2RL9Jsd9REpZr7QEaYwyxxkEnw2Gna0LmIiuarU/s640/mower.png" width="495" /></a><br />
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If you are married to your gasoline-powered lawnmower or miss your opportunity to grab this rebate, you can still help prevent ozone formation by choosing to mow only when your yard really needs it and by mowing either early or late in the day. If you mow during these time periods, the emissions are less likely to react in the sunlight and create ozone. <br />
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My husband and I take lawn care one step cleaner and use a manual muscle-powered reel mower on our yard. I like that I don't have to worry about cutting my foot off or maintaining machinery. He likes that it is lighter weight and we don't have to buy fuel. Our lawn is healthier because we let the clippings compost back into the earth. Our neighboors stop in the street to talk when they see us using it - they tell us how they used to have a mower like this when they were a kid, or how well they think it works, or that they have one sitting in their garage that they never use. One person was surprised you could still buy a manual push-mower! (It was at the hardware store - they're still there.)<br />
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The right choice for the hubby and I might not be the right choice for you, but so long as you know the options and how your choice of mower affects your lawn, the air you breathe, and your community, you'll be ahead of the game! I hope you're all able to snag one of the available rebates if a new electric mower is your cup of tea.<br />
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<ul>
<li>For an ABC story on lawnmower emissions, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=98532&page=1" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>For a National Geographic environmental impact guide to lawn mowers, <a href="http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/green-guide/buying-guides/lawnmower/environmental-impact/" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>To read EPA's regulations on lawn equipment emissions, <a href="http://www.epa.gov/otaq/smallsi.htm" target="_blank">click here</a>.</li>
<li>To view Oklahoma's monitored Ozone values for the past year, <a href="http://www.deq.state.ok.us/aqdnew/airreport2012/2012o3.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </li>
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-80824186721258146502013-04-22T06:30:00.000-05:002013-04-22T06:30:02.804-05:00EcoIcons: Reading Colin Beavan's "No Impact Man"Happy Earth Day everyone!<br />
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I recently finished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/No-Impact-Man-Adventures-Discoveries/dp/0312429835" target="_blank"><u>No Impact Man</u> by Colin Beavan</a>. I suspect you've heard of it? Just in case... a few years ago it was "kind of a big deal." A writer from NYC (and his wife and baby) spends a year trying a myriad of ways for his family to live with zero net environmental impact. He made national news. He made the talk shows. There was a documentary. But the heart of the project was that he wanted to write a book on what he learned.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRou8GguRbwpLuySxY8oBdf4VV_JdNVQMI0R5z9uXgeSCxFNgsX4t99nxj30V91S7DSLp6Ze9DGDhfSUnUrjpBVuJxrXXMvNXbHy2X9IzKutXFZDfhKSPDFb9bmSV7p6cT7e3o-YIyAp4/s1600/nim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRou8GguRbwpLuySxY8oBdf4VV_JdNVQMI0R5z9uXgeSCxFNgsX4t99nxj30V91S7DSLp6Ze9DGDhfSUnUrjpBVuJxrXXMvNXbHy2X9IzKutXFZDfhKSPDFb9bmSV7p6cT7e3o-YIyAp4/s320/nim.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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I watched the documentary a while back. It was interesting/good. Maybe that is one of the reasons I was lackadaisical about getting around to reading the book? (I already knew the plot, I felt.) Well. I should have read it sooner. It's not very long and it flows well to make a quick and interesting read. For me, the book is a solid home run. I wish I'd read it sooner. In some ways, it was not at all what I expected. <br />
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I expected the bits about why we should try to do better for the environment. I expected the parts where he talks about what measures he undertook, and the parts where we find out if those measures were difficult or enjoyable. I did not expect intensely personal storytelling. I did not expect such deep, philosophical speculation.<br />
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In the end, I learned a little bit. But I thought a lot. And I felt more inspired than I anticipated.<br />
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At work, I like to keep a few special books. These books serve a purpose for me. If I am feeling uninspired and selfish, or even bored; when I don't want to work or have trouble focusing, I pick these books up, flip to a random page, and read just a little bit. When I do that, I am hoping that these books remind me of my priorities and my values. I am hoping they remind me that I didn't come to work to entertain myself, but to accomplish Something Good. I am hoping they keep me grounded and focused. These books are thoughtful and quotable and give my brain something to chew on, in little bits. <u>No Impact Man</u> is going on that book shelf. I might buy a second one to have as a loaner.<br />
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So here's a little quote for you to chew on this Earth Day, one which the author decided was the moral of the story:<br />
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">"I got too paralyzed by this question of whether I was the type of person who could make a difference. Finally, during the year of the project, I realized that's the wrong question. <span style="font-size: x-large;">The real question is whether I'm the type of person who wants to try.</span>"</span></span></b></div>
Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-83605743910681713542013-04-18T21:45:00.000-05:002013-04-18T21:45:28.637-05:00On Monarchs and Free Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Did you know that butterflies (and some other insects) taste with their feet? True. Can you imagine tasting your shoes when you put them on? Or walking on a chocolate cake? Delicious.<br />
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Also, monarchs migrate through the US from Mexico. They breed in the US. They live in the tropics.<br />
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Also, monarch butterflies are at a historic low population this year. So low, that some entomologists believe there is a chance that they will not be able to rebound to normal levels in years to come. There is a variety of reasons for this. Habitat loss. Less food growing around.<br />
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So the awesome part is... monarchs love to eat milkweed. And milkweed turns out to be a beautiful garden plant. (Google image search for the genus "Asclepia"... all Asclepias are milkweeds... you will see what I mean!)<br />
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Butterfly_Weed_Asclepias_tuberosa_Umbel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Butterfly_Weed_Asclepias_tuberosa_Umbel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To help the butterflies... and/or to get free flowers for your garden... send a SASE to:<br />
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<span style="color: #000099; font-size: medium;"><b>3003-C8 Yamato
Road #1015</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-size: medium;"><b>Boca Raton,
Florida 33434</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">$3 donation is requested but not required. For more info on the seeds click <a href="http://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds.htm" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #000099; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">To listen to an Science Friday story on monarch butterflies, click <a href="http://www.sciencefriday.com/segment/04/12/2013/monitoring-the-monarchs.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span> </span></span></span><b><br /></b></span></div>
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-84123421980731922342013-04-05T08:03:00.000-05:002013-04-05T08:03:18.935-05:00Eco-Documentary Favorites<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy April, everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">April means Earth Day. Cool eco-things happen in Oklahoma during April. It would be nice if the events were more equally spread out during the year, but I understand that this is when environmental issues are more prominently on people’s mind and I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">certainly! </i>understand the desire to break out of jail and go outside after the last frost. What a better time to have outdoor events than sunny April, with its crisp breeze and green buds?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m not going to list April environmental awareness events for you – you can find those yourselves, you smart webby people, you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead, I’m going to recommend some environmental documentaries – you know, from when you’re zonked out on the couch because you’re tired after doing a trash-off or tree-planting event? Of course you wouldn’t be watching tv otherwise! ;-)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, I am an eco-, bio-, and adventure-documentary junkie. These are some of my eco-favorites.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1230130/" target="_blank">Earth Days</a> – describes not only the history of Earth Day, but the history of environmentalism in the US. Educational, interesting, and best of all… intensely inspiring! This one has my highest recommendation. In fact, I might have to go watch it again myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/john-james-audubon/drawn-from-nature/106/" target="_blank">John James Audobon: Drawn From Nature</a> – Describes the life of Audobon – including how he came to his profession, his travels, his struggles at becoming recognized in America followed by success abroad, and how his experiences in nature changed his life. Most surprising to me was that he began as an avid hunter – using mounted birds as models for his art – and later became a conservationist after years of watching wildlife populations decline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152399/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">Ghost Bird </a>– Not going to lie. I cried. (The story of the ivory-billed woodpecker, it’s alleged re-discovery and later de-bunking, and the affect that had on the local community)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1280011/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">No Impact Man</a> – A journalist in New York City attempts to live for one year without making a negative net impact on the environment. The man (Colin Beaven) takes this interesting challenge to extremes at times, learning along the way. This was less educational than Earth Days, but I found it thought-provoking and fascinating. As an aside, there is a book by the same title.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-61245229366724835032013-03-15T16:07:00.002-05:002013-03-15T16:08:42.025-05:00Oklahoma City's First Plant Catching Donation!Have you guys heard about <a href="http://plantcatching.com/en" target="_blank">Plant Catching</a>?<br />
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It's awesome!<br />
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Imagine<a href="http://www.freecycle.org/" target="_blank"> FreeCycle</a>... just for plants! Here's how it works: <br />
When a gardener has excess plants, bulbs, seeds, compost, etc, they set it out somewhere visible with a Plant Catching label describing the plant and mark its' location on <a href="http://plantcatching.com/en" target="_blank">the Plant Catching website</a>. Other gardeners can search the website to find it, or lucky folks can stumble upon it and take it home, learning about Plant Catching in the process.<br />
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I set out the first Plant Catching donation for OKC today and I'm going to set more out sporadically. Spread the word! Share it with all your buddies! Let's start a garden trade network right here at home!<br />
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<br />Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-53364319384782809292013-03-05T10:17:00.000-06:002013-03-05T14:13:06.332-06:00The Role of Pride in Your Environment<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you a story.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Once upon a time, I lived in this city that nobody liked. If you admitted you liked it, that meant you were unenlightened, probably boring, and definitely uncool. Parents taught this to their kids, their kids taught it to other kids, and all kids bragged about leaving as quick as they possibly could. The only time this city ever made the news was when something awful happened. Natural disasters. Crimes. That sort of thing. And so the rest of the world thought this city was crummy, too. It was a depressed, unnoticed little splotch in the middle of America. I never understood it, honestly – I was happy enough. But I also planned to leave like everyone else and live somewhere more interesting and more beautiful. In the long run, I didn’t – partially because I realized with no small amount of shock that I love my hometown, despite everything. And because of that, I witnessed this incredible transformation that started not long after I moved away to college and continues to this day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">For a variety of reasons, people wanted to be proud of their city again. They quit moving away. Or like me, they moved away and came back. They invested in their city with their time, talents and money. They passed taxes to make improvements to all sorts of things – to dilapidated parts of town, to transportation, to schools, to community recreation and education facilities. They rallied together around local businesses, artisans and sports teams. They made it cool to keep your money in the community instead of sending it to the box stores. They passed incentives for companies to locate here. They started making the news for something aside from getting their houses blown over – they made the news for low cost of living, for high employment rates, for their sports, for creative policies, for all sorts of things - and finally, people started to move in instead of move away. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The city I live in now is a far cry from the city I lived in twenty-five years ago. The difference is so shocking that it brings tears to my eyes because everyone else has finally started to love it the way that I have always loved it, and it is making it beautiful and exciting. A couple of weeks ago I drove down a street in the dark that used to be abandoned - but at night, on a Tuesday, lights shone. The buildings were buzzing. There were people eating dinner in their living rooms. There were store fronts. There was art in the windows. There was a catch in my throat. But it has always been a good city – it always had talented, intelligent, hard-working people fueling it. It always had an arts scene; it always had diverse citizenship; it always had recreational options and pretty garden parks. It always had some cool architecture, lots of possibilities, and innovative businesses. But now everyone knows it does. And it keeps getting better. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now, it’s </span><a href="http://youtu.be/3GJIHhypBmU" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">this</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The Cinderella City. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">We aren’t perfect- no city is. But people have decided that we are decidedly Not Too Shabby, either. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why did the scullery maid become a princess? Because people were proud of it. And because they were proud of it, they turned it into something to actually be proud of. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">You see, you have to value something before it can become valuable. If you don’t think it’s important enough to take good care of, not important enough to repair or improve, it will keep getting worse. It’s a vicious cycle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So how does this apply to the environment? Simple. Pride first. Value first. Why would someone take care of something they don’t care about? If people don’t think the Oklahoma landscape has any value, why would they care if they damage it or not? On some small level, they have to begin to feel proud of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">So the next time someone tells you that where you live is boring – if they tell you there are no mountains, no interesting wildlife, no Big Nature or wilderness worth protecting (a line I have heard many times) – stand up for it. If you know they’re wrong, tell them so. If you agree with them, do a little research and find out if it’s really that bad. I’d wager it’s not because every ecosystem holds some beauty. At the very least, have something positive to say in return. Like this: “You’re right, but what IS cool about Oklahoma is that…” Don’t contribute to tearing down the ownership and pride for the land – contribute instead to the notion that it is something worth treasuring. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">A friend of mine traveled to the Pacific Northwest this year. She said that the land was incredibly lovely, and everyone knew it and treated it that way. They didn’t litter. They didn’t tear things up. They were proud of it. She described one instance where someone in a car threw trash out the window, and immediately received shocked glares from everyone who witnessed it. Imagine if that’s the response littering got at home. I’d probably have less trash blowing into my yard. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If there is one thing I do in life <span style="font-size: small;">(aside from the obvious - being a good person), </span>I’d like it to be this. I’d like to help people second-guess the value they place in their hometowns and home state. I’d like them to know it’s something worth being proud of; something worth taking care of; something worth showing off to visitors. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we are all are proud of and value the land we travel through this is when we feel a sense of joy and wonder for being exactly where we are. This is when we stop throwing trash out the window. This is when we start considering the impact our actions have on the ecosystem. This is when we think investing in protecting our resources is a wise idea. This is when we realize that other species have an important role in the giant machine called earth, and we treat them with respect. This is when we learn about our home and share what we know with others; when we learn how to be better citizens. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is how our ecosystem will be protected and improved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is when our natural environment becomes just as beautiful as it always was to begin with.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-68729409601246455132013-02-28T19:08:00.000-06:002013-02-28T19:09:26.321-06:00Winter Weekending in the OuachitasI went to school for two years in Latimer County. Believe me when I say that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouachita_Mountains" target="_blank">Ouachitas</a> have a very, <i>very </i>special place in my heart shared only by my hometown and my honeymoon destination. Three days in Southeast Oklahoma cannot possibly be enough... but it was time well spent.<br />
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If you're heading from OKC to SE Oklahoma, do yourself a favor and take State Highway 270. I-40 is monotonous and Indian Nation Turnpike... you could probably sleep for miles and not miss anything. But 270 becomes a beautiful winding country highway through hills and forests and a variety of small towns with character. This is the way we go.<br />
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This was a birthday trip for me, so my husband baked a chocolate cake and packed it away in the car. (He's the best!) On the way down, we stopped at the darling <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bus-Station-Cafe/314286751989213" target="_blank">Bus Station Cafe </a>in Seminole for a delicious burger and a perfectly cooked plate of catfish. Back in the car, we traveled on until we reached McAlester, where we visited <a href="http://www.whisperingmeadowswine.com/" target="_blank">Whispering Meadows winery</a>. The people there were incredibly nice - not only gave us a series of free tastings but also taught us some about wine and gave us a tour of their winery and it's quirky, gorgeous Victorian architecture. We left with a bottle of Deja Vu and In the Mood. To top it off, we learned that they have a sister winery close to our house! If we want one of their wines, they'll deliver it to Urban Wineworks for us. Neat, yes? Onward through Wilburton, my old college town. And my, oh my, did it change in the last... well, a lady shouldn't say how long ago she graduated from 2-year college! I'm still shocked by the number myself. Only one of my favorite diners were still there - and it had moved down the street a ways. We grabbed the flyer for it so we'd have the hours... good to know for later trips. And on to our destination, <a href="http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.4390" target="_blank">Lake Wister State Park</a>.<br />
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The folks in the park office were accomodating and we were in our cabin in no time. And, my friends, it was jaw-dropping amazing. The cabin itself was pretty nice, but the <i>VIEW </i>was <u>incredible. </u><br />
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The cabin was on a peninsula in the middle of the lake, backing up to a little cliff, with a huge picture window from which we could see a little island and both the sunrise and sunset.<br />
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If all we did was sit and stare out the window all weekend, it would have been worth the money. We went to town for some groceries and found a little supermarket full of interesting taxidermy which included - if I remember correctly - a fox with sunglasses and a coyote with elongated fangs. We got some eggs and biscuits and hot links, then went back home for grilled dogs washed down with chocolate cake and Whispering Meadows' In the Mood. Healthy, no. But spoiled, yes we were!<br />
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The next day we drove down to the <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/ouachita/" target="_blank">Ouachita National Forest </a>Recreation Area to hike the<a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_039450.pdf" target="_blank"> Old Military Road Trail</a>. It's 13 miles long, and travels 800 feet up Winding Stair Mountain to Talimena Drive Trail Head. From there it's all downhill. It was a nice hike - it went across little streams and creeks, through pine forest the entire way (and it was nice to see so much green in the winter). There were occassional glimpses through the woods of looming mountainsides and far-off views, and as we neared Talimena Drive we reached the old 1830s military road for which the hiking trail was named.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE Military Road. See it? <u><br /></u></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In a clearing with the mountains far in the background.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8mf_CP4BusCGHZAwOrMOJb0ntn2GJ5HfHWyrdw4U1FZGKVd2VaOY2cn6OXlHsCltkdfHK2FmfaaqzRhdA5C0E4HbDJVjmuTKBugxWTtJxebal6DOoUCH-ZzLXRimH8HP3Jb7Rj1PqZo/s1600/100_8076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8mf_CP4BusCGHZAwOrMOJb0ntn2GJ5HfHWyrdw4U1FZGKVd2VaOY2cn6OXlHsCltkdfHK2FmfaaqzRhdA5C0E4HbDJVjmuTKBugxWTtJxebal6DOoUCH-ZzLXRimH8HP3Jb7Rj1PqZo/s400/100_8076.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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We picnicked on <a href="http://www.talimenascenicdrive.com/" target="_blank">Talimena Drive</a> and then bustled back just in time to make it to the car before sundown. And - my friends - I am not too man to admit that the hike kicked my booty a little more than I anticipated. But finish it we did. And to celebrate we did a little driving along Talimena, enjoying the overlooks, and made it back to the cabin by sunset to enjoy our view and have s'mores. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv88o_H1KuwPqHNo-LUnRArIMrT_-TMW-1yXm7dB0kR19eLUnbYpwbfFaYiAb5CtUIrkXdqKi4MyedrXcTwHHWemn87K_kgrWswdxu5ePD1M48cJZqzO_teiczF3YJ1dbrdBnU6aC9Js/s1600/100_8081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv88o_H1KuwPqHNo-LUnRArIMrT_-TMW-1yXm7dB0kR19eLUnbYpwbfFaYiAb5CtUIrkXdqKi4MyedrXcTwHHWemn87K_kgrWswdxu5ePD1M48cJZqzO_teiczF3YJ1dbrdBnU6aC9Js/s640/100_8081.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Talimena Drive</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Talimena Drive</td></tr>
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Sunday was less eventful, as we were both kinda tired and sore from our grand hiking adventure on the Old Military Road Trail. We made eggs and biscuits, packed up and drove around Lake Wister, getting in and out to explore as needs required. :)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We thought Lake Wister Dam looked a little like Gotham Jail... </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last view of Wister!</td></tr>
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Back on Highway 270, heading for home, we stopped in Krebs for lunch... dare we <a href="http://www.petes.org/" target="_blank">Pete's Place</a> (also the makers of <a href="http://www.petes.org/choc_room.html" target="_blank">Choc Beer</a>)? Oh yes, we dared. I'd only been there once or twice before... if you've been, I'm sure you know why! But we were hoping for a lunch menu? There was none. It's the same as the dinner menu. They broke their rules by letting us split an order. Perhaps it isn't nice for me to tell you that, but it was nice of them to do it. We had the lasagna. Of course it was delicious. And between the two of us, we could not finish eating it. The one meal. (Which came with side orders of bread, salad, spaghetti, ravioli, and meatballs.) We took a box of spaghetti home. And thus ended our winter weekending in the Ouachitas. <br />
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<br />Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-57138189684190871312013-02-13T17:33:00.000-06:002013-02-13T17:33:51.888-06:00Winter Hike at Greenleaf State Park<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsg-QUth22XgReTq_kIWzGpkQ0hXgauIawsUneAnD9ETNPrnxV0qbBvrNvAV2exTRX-m2p3jxSVrKuRUCze2UfNlWAs81F-2MEBU9Qad7YERr4DTg7tvD2yR_gOwvIxKy9fC_8K3f1TY/s1600/100_8038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJsg-QUth22XgReTq_kIWzGpkQ0hXgauIawsUneAnD9ETNPrnxV0qbBvrNvAV2exTRX-m2p3jxSVrKuRUCze2UfNlWAs81F-2MEBU9Qad7YERr4DTg7tvD2yR_gOwvIxKy9fC_8K3f1TY/s640/100_8038.JPG" uea="true" width="480" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Last weekend I visited Greenleaf State Park, just east of Muskogee. I’d never been. I was pleasantly surprised. The cabins were some of the nicest state park cabins I’ve cozied up in, and the hiking trail was everything I could want a hiking trail to be. (Oh, except for that landowner across the highway who marked his land with blue flagging that matched the blue hiking trail markers. Shame on you! But thanks for letting me accidentally detour onto your lovely property). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJ8tU-G_8zWS78rM2fHoEzIoq0xSHmSlYD3AJA0CjyyCgMMi4R0GslpaYtwvcMW9OhyphenhyphenyfQDcWQagxihz6bFY3qhL7K7_6Dvo2LWVtVm2bylhtJ3GjRpuRe4WcbS85kIkEdSWee3NleYI/s1600/100_8004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJ8tU-G_8zWS78rM2fHoEzIoq0xSHmSlYD3AJA0CjyyCgMMi4R0GslpaYtwvcMW9OhyphenhyphenyfQDcWQagxihz6bFY3qhL7K7_6Dvo2LWVtVm2bylhtJ3GjRpuRe4WcbS85kIkEdSWee3NleYI/s400/100_8004.JPG" uea="true" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoT3gdFH0Aq8BlZrR4OM68LK8agSslCgUPzD6oZraRIl5gSFWbCZNNfB7Uy-QykJz0_dr-PFp93yf-roWjsWoVRW5vKqJjCvx-3M2RZKzzafAcpgQlEmiBdZghIMu445DYGrPPiDek-A/s1600/100_8006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoT3gdFH0Aq8BlZrR4OM68LK8agSslCgUPzD6oZraRIl5gSFWbCZNNfB7Uy-QykJz0_dr-PFp93yf-roWjsWoVRW5vKqJjCvx-3M2RZKzzafAcpgQlEmiBdZghIMu445DYGrPPiDek-A/s400/100_8006.JPG" uea="true" width="400" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The trail is clear enough to see, but primitive enough that you really feel like you are hiking and have to keep an eye on the trail markers. The terrain is interesting and beautiful and changes throughout; goes across bridges and roads and up and down hills and rocky slopes and skirts the lake. It's perfect. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ATsCHhxeOgdH-JE5gPQW0oz-1jk1S4jZbpDDPeZYwE79FIATe8thgJFGlNou3nwo_k2Juxa8ZoOQOhMqDSIz2wes2jvZAxgKZW9BlQKEhwNjYK76ko8yuuzzMjRBAb3k_QNQW3bh-1Y/s1600/100_8030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ATsCHhxeOgdH-JE5gPQW0oz-1jk1S4jZbpDDPeZYwE79FIATe8thgJFGlNou3nwo_k2Juxa8ZoOQOhMqDSIz2wes2jvZAxgKZW9BlQKEhwNjYK76ko8yuuzzMjRBAb3k_QNQW3bh-1Y/s320/100_8030.JPG" uea="true" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Day one was cold and drizzly. Despite that I got a nice glimpse of a hawk, an Eastern Bluebird (one of my favorites!), and a group of five deer that were bold enough to hang out right in the middle of the camp ground. My dog and I enjoyed the warm cabin while a night-time thunderstorm passed, and Sunday was the most beautiful day that I could ask for. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set off to knock out as much of the 18-mile hiking trail as possible before I had to drive back home. Admittedly, that was only a few miles in and then a u-turn to head back out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I kept stopping to bend down and admire all the different species of moss and lichen and tiny ferns that were growing everywhere, and to peer at the water looking for critters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Oh. And there was that whole detour onto private property that I mentioned earlier. That took some time, too. But that’s the beauty of hiking – not being in a race with anyone. Having a chance to stop and smell the… moss. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I got a tick! In FEBRUARY! Curses to you, freaky warm tick-breeding winter! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsmYRP7iVhDjHGIdwBiuNiQlVJ-IqqCsziC-joFbF9N87s7QRLkprRJSBrNIcuFEFSGmN0d2OQrj2WXXJmifCOJ-APo_1zY8tNmo3Ig566eUfT9gB1fAc4s_Ylj-Z3LlmZ05zwKFr1_s/s320/100_8016.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 563px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 370px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /><img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsmYRP7iVhDjHGIdwBiuNiQlVJ-IqqCsziC-joFbF9N87s7QRLkprRJSBrNIcuFEFSGmN0d2OQrj2WXXJmifCOJ-APo_1zY8tNmo3Ig566eUfT9gB1fAc4s_Ylj-Z3LlmZ05zwKFr1_s/s400/100_8016.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 428px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 886px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> </span><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-32427204077011903232013-01-19T15:57:00.000-06:002013-01-19T18:05:58.204-06:00This is Important (and Off Topic) - SB32<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8dGM9K-67Ho9rpR2-pdWloeN5gluQkdg7JCa7Iv_5Hh8nJBEtxjk_OZxVnVX6nhvD6ri9yYtD_6D_jOOt2st0rPXgMx2v66DnW66mI0JAicbeEsa3Gj-oBpltFenB1O3KF2_wr61HKY/s1600/us+puppies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8dGM9K-67Ho9rpR2-pdWloeN5gluQkdg7JCa7Iv_5Hh8nJBEtxjk_OZxVnVX6nhvD6ri9yYtD_6D_jOOt2st0rPXgMx2v66DnW66mI0JAicbeEsa3Gj-oBpltFenB1O3KF2_wr61HKY/s640/us+puppies.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Pit Bull Terriers and I... we were puppies together!</td></tr>
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Please be aware of Senate Bill 32 which is currently in committee. This bill will overturn current state law which prohibits what is called "Breed Specific Legislation" - the ability to ban specific breeds of dog within the state of Oklahoma. If this bill passes, a municipality will have the right to outlaw ANY breed of dog - this is not just about "pit bulls." Dogs that have been targeted by breed specific legislation across the country in the past have included not just "pit bulls" (which is not a breed, but a dog type, like "hunting dog") but also German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Chow Chows, Dobermans, and more.<br />
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I can understand if people feel the need to improve dog safety, but breed specific legislation does NOT do anything to make the public safer. This type of legislation outlaws dogs solely based on appearance, not on the dog's behavior or history, not on the way the dog was treated, not on how responsible or irresponsible their owners are. This type of legislation does not treat the cause of dog aggression; it does not increase liability or responsibility of the owner; it does not require people to be more conscientious with their animals; it does not require any sort of humane treatment or training, supervision, confinement, or leash laws. All it does is outlaw a breed - flat out.<br />
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In other cities with breed specific legislation, owners with that particular breed are not always grandfathered in. In other cities, the doggie gestapo has come knocking on people's doors, taking by force their harmless family pets, and killing them. Not that I am calling names (Denver). <br />
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Breed specific legislation is expensive to maintain and enforce, and it is ineffective in increasing public safety. Police have to be trained in dog breed identification, people have to be paid to inspect, confiscate, and transport dogs, animal facilities have to be maintained. Of course we have animal control now, but this would greatly increase the numbers of animals to be processed and require more resources. In the worst case scenario, can you imagine how expensive it would be to kill and dispose of hundreds or thousands of dogs? <br />
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There are plenty of ways to increase public safety from dogs without resorting to this type of legislation.<br />
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If you are against breed specific legislation in Oklahoma, please consider signing the petition and writing your state representatives.<br />
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The petition at Change.org (this is a preview link, so you can view the webpage it directs to before you click):<br />
<a href="http://preview.tinyurl.com/bgopypd" target="_blank"><b>http://preview.tinyurl.com/bgopypd </b> </a><br />
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Bill Text and Status:<br />
<a href="http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb32&Session=1300" target="_blank">http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=sb32&Session=1300 </a><br />
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<br />Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-74491762481155771112013-01-08T16:03:00.000-06:002013-01-08T16:03:14.570-06:00Wine Tasting and Swap Party<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6D1W42idaoSi0jRZ8UQLKmtmtbgjG-rZBUkvYw3MIMWVWfzRxFDm1puGEEbUyKZh6fQ2k3JM_yK9UNe3E6gXJMi0IjIhX0Scsosw-1EeVimKAONlReuXyOoanl-kEp7keNS9yZFpuaTU/s1600/100_7962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6D1W42idaoSi0jRZ8UQLKmtmtbgjG-rZBUkvYw3MIMWVWfzRxFDm1puGEEbUyKZh6fQ2k3JM_yK9UNe3E6gXJMi0IjIhX0Scsosw-1EeVimKAONlReuXyOoanl-kEp7keNS9yZFpuaTU/s400/100_7962.JPG" width="300" /></a>Once upon a time (and by this I mean a month or two ago), in a place not so far away (at work), I noticed a trend. My coworkers were cleaning out their closets while trying to save money for Christmas. I also not had my turn at inviting the colleagues over to my place for fun hang-out time... My work buddies are pretty good about getting together outside of work for nonprofessional friending time. <br />
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But I digress. Observing these trends, I thought we should have a swap party! One of my coworkers suggested we add wine tasting to the event, and the inspiration was born. Due to the theme, it was a girls' night in. Due to the timing, it was extra fun to swap items with one another when we were not spending money on ourselves. A bit of a treat in the midst of frugality. (And of course, reusing is one of the green R's.)<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The rules:</b></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">If you have any clothes, shoes, jewelry, or handbags you don't want anymore, bring them!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Optional: bring a snack</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Optional: bring a bottle of wine for the tasting</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">You don't have to bring swap items in order to take swap items home</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">You don't have to bring food or beverage in order to taste food and beverage</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">First come, first swap! </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Take as much home as you like.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">You may try on clothes in the bedroom or bathroom before you take them home. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Leftover items either go back home with the person who brought them, or left behind for me to donate to Goodwill.</span></li>
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I provided cheese, crackers, water and tea, then added my own bottle of wine and castaway items. I placed my table in the middle of the room and arranged chairs in a circle around it; the kitchen was set up buffet style. I had considered stipulating that everyone bring an Oklahoma wine, but decided (wisely, I think) not to be overly controlling.<br />
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The ladies began to arrive at 2:00. Slowly, a pile started to grow. Like magic, an array of snacks and wine bottles appeared. Much to my pleasure, most of the wines present turned out to be local Oklahoma stock, after all! AND there were no duplicate flavors. By the time everyone arrived there was the perfect amount of food and drink for all and a very large pile of swap items in many different styles and sizes. Because so many women were able to show up (I think we had about 12), nearly everyone had at least some clothes in their size to select from.<br />
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In the end, everyone found something they wanted to take home (except for one friend who was purposefully downsizing her stuff). I personally scored, among other things, my new favorite bracelet and a nice leather jacket.<br />
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When everyone had left I had only one not-quite full trashbag of donation items, and just half a bottle of wine. Everyone agreed it was a fun event, something a little different and laid back. We might have to make it an annual gig! <br />
<br />Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-36072312076617901862012-12-31T14:24:00.000-06:002012-12-31T14:24:16.266-06:00News for the New YearHappy New Year, everyone!<br />
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Thinking about <i>new </i>things has got me thinking about <i>news. </i>(Get it? NEWS for the NEW year? Haha? Ok, so not so funny.) It occurred to me that I should create a page to list all my posts that have been featured in the news and various other media, complete with linky goodness. And there it is, up there at the top. See? <a href="http://ecohoma.blogspot.com/p/in-news.html" target="_blank">Tab on the right. </a><br />
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Also, if you are on my blogpage instead of using a feeder you will see that I have made some minor tweaks to the blog appearance.<br />
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Still not sure about this whole random font changing when I make posts and new pages, though. Sorry. Maybe I'll learn to fix that eventually... ?<br />
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Have fun and stay safe tonight! <br />
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<br />Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-72395465399943600602012-12-24T19:32:00.001-06:002012-12-24T19:32:26.805-06:00Snow and Ice? Power Outtages? No problem!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn01QJq_HARNkRsFLFNAAwk9_JOnG-r97F70CnleUfff1kykZfMZCMO_p1_9DY3MfSTPBKCymCEFra338gf-gIoXWqw0oeC-Es9IoMN-UlUduwhqGwEzMhIupBDIEmOKhZh6Qy0BqAtc/s1600/POWER.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn01QJq_HARNkRsFLFNAAwk9_JOnG-r97F70CnleUfff1kykZfMZCMO_p1_9DY3MfSTPBKCymCEFra338gf-gIoXWqw0oeC-Es9IoMN-UlUduwhqGwEzMhIupBDIEmOKhZh6Qy0BqAtc/s640/POWER.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Predictions of another potential Christmas-time snow storm brings forth recollections of other storms *ahemBlizzard09ahem*. I remember, in particular, one lovely ice storm that led to a 3-day power outage in a rather drafty townhouse apartment. Not only were we out of power… we were also out of water, because our apartments sat below street level and needed an electric pump to move water up to the city pipes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Despite this, we (and our friend who had gotten iced in with us) stayed toasty warm and happy using what I call “Grandma’s Energy Efficiency”… which is really just common sense from the olden days. Stuff like...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Pick a room and stay there! <o:p></o:p> </b></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pick one location and focus on making it as comfortable as possible, then don’t leave. Focusing your efforts on conserving heat in one room is easier than trying to do it across the entire house. Then you want to stay put because going in and out lets the warmth you’ve saved out and lets the cold in. Also, if everyone is staying together in one space, that’s more body heat to warm up the room. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Control the Drafts<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the buddies playing rummy during an ice-pocalypse</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stuff draft dodgers, towels, sheets, blankets, or whatever you have along the bottoms and sides of doors and around windows. If you aren’t going to open them for a while, you can even tape across the seams – this is survival! Hang blankets over the doors and windows using nails or a staple gun (we used a staple gun). We also hung blankets from the ceiling to create extra doors to restrict airflow leading into our warm room – for example, one blocked off the hallway and another was hung to block off the stairs.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Burn, baby, burn!</span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Use the fireplace and burn candles in your “warm room” to build up heat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have a Lock-In </span></h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unless you absolutely must, DON’T open the door! Do whatever you have to do that will allow you to leave it closed! Or else – there goes your heat. And it may not be easy to get back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And then… after this is all done… sit back and relax. The hubby and I actually enjoy being snowed in, even without electricity, because it can be the epitome of downtime. Play some cards with your roommates, take a snuggly nap, or read a book by candlelight. Preferably while wearing a knit hat and thick socks! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>That being said... I hope you are safe and warm, home off the roads, with all the electricity you need this Christmas! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(</span>PS - If anyone can break the magic secret of why Blogger's posting software is so mysterious with formatting and fonts and weird disconnect between editing screen and preview screen, Santa will bring you extra presents.)</span></div>
Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-40097909640241450352012-12-21T08:05:00.001-06:002012-12-21T09:31:42.561-06:00Why Every Day is the End of the World… and the Beginning<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are you are surprised that you are breathing and checking email today?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday was the end of the Baktun, the Mayan long count calendar. For some reason modern people think this means it was going to be the end of the world? It was just the end of a unit of time. As in, December 31<sup>st</sup> is the end of our Gregorian Calendar, not the end of the world, and the calendar starts over on January 1. Same exact thing with the Mayan long count calendar. So basically… 12/21/2012 is one of the biggest New Year’s Eve parties ever… for the Mayans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo from my backyard telescope: lunar eclipse, 2010 winter solstice</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">December 21<sup>st</sup> is nothing to sniff at, because it does happen to be the winter solstice (for the Northern hemisphere), the shortest day of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you feel connected to earth cycles this would be important to you on any year. Aside from that any significance (for me) quickly fades.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why? Because:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every day is a present to be unwrapped. It’s a clean slate. This isn’t hokey New Agey feel good mumbo jumbo. This is true. If you haven’t lived it yet, the new day can be anything. You can make it the end of something – the end of anything you want. The last day you smoked a cigarette. The last day you went with or without a cold beer. The last day of your old job. The last day of living in your hometown. The last day you could see the world as a cold, mean place. It can be the beginning of whatever you like. The first day of the rest of your life – the first day of finding a new job. The first day of learning to like Brussels sprouts. The first day you were happy and comfortable in the company of strangers. The first day you stood up for what you believed in. The first day you recognized your body as precious and complete. The first day of whatever you wanted. Your first day down the path to be the next President of the United States. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tray of bubbly from our 2010 winter solstice celebration</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every day is equally likely to have some horrible tragedy – equally likely that you’ll be murdered for no good reason, equally likely you’ll be hit by an asteroid from space, equally likely you’ll contract cancer. But it is also equally likely you’ll buy your first jackpot-winning lottery ticket, be gifted with a random act of kindness, come up with the next great invention, taste or see or do something incredible, or learn something about yourself that will make you stronger for the rest of your life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter where this day falls on the calendar. It doesn’t matter what the statistics are. It doesn’t matter what your track record is. Any day – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any day </i>– could be anything. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">I think one of the reasons that people feel New Year’s Day is so great is that they feel it is a clean slate, that they can start over, that anything can happen. Well, I will let you in on this – there is nothing magical about New Year’s Day, or New Year’s Resolutions, or the year ticking up to another number. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every day is a New Day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every day is time for a New Resolution. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every day you make or break your future. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every day your fate is up for grabs against the forces of nature.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Every day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even on a so-called apocalypse day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-57496675279705894322012-12-16T21:05:00.001-06:002012-12-16T21:05:38.886-06:00EcoHoma Gifting 2012<span style="font-size: small;">You might remember <a href="http://ecohoma.blogspot.com/2011/12/ethical-christmases-and-that-weird.html" target="_blank">this post</a> from last year in which I am thinking a bit too hard about what it means to give gifts and what is and is not an appropriate way to go about it, unnecessarily strategizing and maybe sounding just a tad irritated.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, I'm not doing that sort of heavy analysis over gifting anymore. When it comes down to it,<b><i> I really am just trying to think about what a person would most appreciate</i></b>, which I can afford, which they may not get otherwise. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">This year, it just so happened that several of the gifts still were win-win on the eco-ethics, sustainability front. Yay! And I got to do some early gifting, so it's ok to share some of them here. This year, I leaned way towards the handmade and food side. I figured anyone can go to the store and get what they like, so making something myself seems more special and more personal. I even opted, purposefully, to hand write everything. Because we seem overwhelmed with professional computer-made products these days. Handwriting almost feels cozy and fun to me since I now see it less frequently. </span><br />
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">1. Home made tea blends </span></span></b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">(using unbleached <span style="font-size: small;">coffee filters and</span> garden herbs)</span></span></span></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. Jars of flower seed </span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;">(collected from my garden, with planting instructions)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSLt8nExIVl8karkuhw3PMCmdSHsEQUF6h7jj6Jf3djm6rFU8nangK2KUFJ-5R4liV07qIAbTvTZysnh-aUg11Y1HDYzwy0kb9jr4Y_c0CZirRrBOkMqHa2DX6_ebNGxSJRXVmEY-Bok/s1600/100_7911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSLt8nExIVl8karkuhw3PMCmdSHsEQUF6h7jj6Jf3djm6rFU8nangK2KUFJ-5R4liV07qIAbTvTZysnh-aUg11Y1HDYzwy0kb9jr4Y_c0CZirRrBOkMqHa2DX6_ebNGxSJRXVmEY-Bok/s400/100_7911.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. Magnet boards </span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="color: black;">(made from old cookie sheets and leftover paint - I was excited - I got this one to come out kind of speckled looking!)</span></span></span><b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5W4hjlvnvdg6IYFjG0KKHtnS9AzR1083kJdamNJxbh34mjM8ADa1iXrCQSMbtXRZFgIw2cXr991w_Zu0-2GeNHERBkfF-gg3sRpAxBUP4fq5HCq_x58UcenQ0ezUcMoBCcoYGTZFsSA/s1600/100_7924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd5W4hjlvnvdg6IYFjG0KKHtnS9AzR1083kJdamNJxbh34mjM8ADa1iXrCQSMbtXRZFgIw2cXr991w_Zu0-2GeNHERBkfF-gg3sRpAxBUP4fq5HCq_x58UcenQ0ezUcMoBCcoYGTZFsSA/s400/100_7924.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">4. Handmade floral sachets </span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;">(using flower petals collected during the growing season and pretty fabric scraps)</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">5. Re-used <span style="font-size: large;">neat </span>cloth sacks from other purchases for gift bags (here: bags from flour and rice)</span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>6. Bottles of Oklahoma Wine -</b></span></span> No pic for this one, but when buying for others I always choose Sparks' Deep Fork Red, because I have never met anyone who didn't like it! Well. No one who likes alcoholic beverages, that is (my only friend who does not like Deep Fork Red simply does not like alcohol) . This wine has now been an official hit at two holiday potluck dinners and one game of Dirty Santa.Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-65050401006515791872012-12-11T21:45:00.000-06:002012-12-11T21:45:36.752-06:00Confessions of a Grinch - the Battle Plan<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Notice a difference in my December postings? There's a reason for that, and it's time I came clean. </span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Hi. I’m a Grinch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<img height="304" id="il_fi" src="http://alternativechronicle.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/grinch-cartoon-03.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="445" /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I know, no one likes a Grinch (not even Grinches), but I’m being honest here. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I didn’t used to be this way. But lately, every year, I have
become just a little bit more… and then a little bit more… well, Grinchy. Until
this year I began to get my Grinch on in early October. That’s when I knew it
was time to make a battle plan. So far the Battle Plan has been doing a
passable job. I feel less stressed about the holidays now than I did a month
ago (thank <i>goodness!) </i>This is the
battle plan:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>1.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Try new ways of thinking</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> One of the first things I noticed is that if I make a negative comment
about the holidays, even a positive-minded person will respond with their own
negative comment! We’ll have a supportive, sympathetic, mini-gripe fest. In the
end this is not helpful to me. I don’t want to re-enforce my negative thoughts!
I have enough of them without trading them around like baseball cards. Besides,
I feel guilty for giving them my crappy baseball card. So the first order of
business became: Quit complaining!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The second order of business became seeking patience and gratitude… which
is easier said than done when it comes to emotional responses and perceived-to-be-stressful
situations. </span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Giant_Wild_Goose_Pagoda_-_Laughing_Buddha.jpg/800px-Giant_Wild_Goose_Pagoda_-_Laughing_Buddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="File:Giant Wild Goose Pagoda - Laughing Buddha.jpg" border="0" height="240" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Giant_Wild_Goose_Pagoda_-_Laughing_Buddha.jpg/800px-Giant_Wild_Goose_Pagoda_-_Laughing_Buddha.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wikimedia Commons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So that led me to utilize some of my<a href="http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php" target="_blank"> Paperback Swap</a> credits to get books
on meditation and anxiety reduction. I go through them slowly, doing every
exercise on the way, whether or not I think it will work, and whether or not I’ve
tried it before. <span> </span>Because hey – you never
know – this part of the battle plan is about the <i>trying</i>. One of the exercises even helped me refine my anti-Grinch
battle plan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I also found a free lunch-time class on meditation at the <a href="http://www.mls.lib.ok.us/mls/mls_library/dn.htm" target="_blank">Downtown Library</a>, graciously offered by <a href="http://www.waynemcevilly.com/_/Home.html" target="_blank">Wayne McEvilly</a>. I am trying out the tools he
taught us on using mantras. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">My husband casually reminded me a few weeks ago about the studies that suggest
smiling makes you happy, even if you weren’t already. Something about smiling
triggering your brain to make the happies. Well. I have tried – when no one is
looking, say, in the car for example, just smiling for no reason at all. Like a
crazy person. I keep practicing it. (Don’t tell my husband; he might think I
pay attention to him!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f;">
</span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span><span>2.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Remember my yoga</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><b>
</b></span></span><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">One of the reasons for my Grinching is that I hold a long to-do list in
my head at all times. If not careful, I lose track of my linear perception of
time. I feel that everything on my to-do list has to be done NOW, that all the
parties and events are happening tomorrow. In short, my brain will condense all
the activity over the three-month holiday marathon into one finite perpetual
moment. I forget to Be Present.<span> </span>I forget
to Be Now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">So I am making a more concerted effort to be fully in the moment – to remember
that all I have to do right now – is what I am doing right now. And all I have
to worry about right now – is what I am doing right now. Now. Now. Now. Be
present now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<b><span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>3.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>If I don’t have to… I don’t have to!</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m usually a “Git ‘er done” kind of gal, but in honor of the holidays I’ve
given myself Permission to Slack. I’ve bowed down from most of my usual holiday
cooking and I’ve pushed several tasks and decisions off until January. So if it
doesn’t need to be done right away… it’s not gonna. Less to worry about. If I
earn some free time through this process, I spend it on Yours Truly, lazily and
selfishly. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><b><span><span>4.<span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: normal; -moz-font-language-override: normal; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span>Loads of extra exercise</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Extra exercise not only reduces my concerns about becoming less healthy
as a result of holiday temptations, it also naturally increases mood and energy
levels. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQmaO1BAy2CXesqkCXUMm6-IToEgz40wCKiqQA0SK6cPrDzyfVcjtqVDhHrzVRVQJuLEvMPCBG8G5mOcfFQ8jmmAkA-hrWeB7EpiXlKgVmfYjQZRKp00lulRMlHeTGDFFJ6rI5afy4b4/s1600/_MG_0465s.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQmaO1BAy2CXesqkCXUMm6-IToEgz40wCKiqQA0SK6cPrDzyfVcjtqVDhHrzVRVQJuLEvMPCBG8G5mOcfFQ8jmmAkA-hrWeB7EpiXlKgVmfYjQZRKp00lulRMlHeTGDFFJ6rI5afy4b4/s320/_MG_0465s.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...from my former life as a yoga teacher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I have been taking an exercise class almost every day. My goal is 5 days
a week. I’ve also hit 6 days some weeks. I’m going to have to be gracious on
other weeks and accept less-strenuous alternatives or breaks as the holidays make
more time demands. During Thanksgiving, for example, I had to count walks around
the neighborhood as my daily exercise. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m taking classes from three different exercise businesses – a yoga
studio, a dance studio, and a pilates studio. The constant changes in how I
move my body on a daily basis is helping minimize muscle fatigue and it’s
keeping me interested and motivated.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I’m
going to be honest here – I can’t afford to live like this. I calculated that,
full price, taking so many classes from so many facilities would cost me
something like $3000 a year to maintain. I am doing it now through a
combination of regular cash, trade, and Living Social vouchers. But I like it
so much I think I’ll treat myself like this every November and December.<span> </span>I feel like this is helping me behave like a
sane person more than any of my other devised Grinch medicines. </span></div>
Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-64789618807096648902012-12-07T16:48:00.000-06:002012-12-07T16:48:04.775-06:00Handmade Goodies this Weekend!If you aren't one of those early-shoppers (and even if you are!) you may want to consider stopping by Deluxe Indie Craft Bazaar this weekend! It's really amazing - stuffed with unique, quality handmade items from artisans all over the state. One year I bought nearly ALL of my Christmas gifts here - they have things for all budgets. <br />
<br />
Shopping at Deluxe supports Okie economy and Okie artists... AND makes you one of the coolest gifters around. ;-) <br />
<br />
For more info, visit:<br />
<a href="http://www.deluxeok.net/">http://www.deluxeok.net/</a>Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-49858908810401967932012-11-29T14:58:00.000-06:002012-12-11T21:51:19.415-06:00Yummy Beet & Wine Vegetable Soup<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">One of my favorite things about the cold seasons is soup. Soup everyday! I love soup. I am indiscriminate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">“But, Alien Mind Girl, it is 70 degrees in Oklahoma!” you might say. This may be true, but it is still November, and November means I get to make soup. I made a soup last week that I was especially pleased with. There aren’t any pictures because… well, we ate it all. It might sound weird, but just trust me, k? We ate it. All. And because the soup was wine-red, it looked so pretty and colorful dished up with a plate of greens and basil-and-cheese-sprinkled toast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Beet & Wine Vegetable Soup<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">2 cups of chicken stock<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">½ - ¾ cup of red cooking wine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">6 cloves of minced garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Half an onion, chopped <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">A cup and a half of beets, boiled and diced<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">A cup and a half of cabbage, diced or shredded fine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">1-2 cups of fresh kale, chopped <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Sprig of dill <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">Basically… throw it all in the pot together, and add water to cover, bring to a boil, then simmer it for as long as you can stand, stirring occasionally and checking the water level. By the time I had finished cooking it, the beets had mostly dissolved into the broth along with some of the onions. When you’ve decided it’s done cooking, find the sprig of dill and pull it out to discard. Then it is ready to eat! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: small;">I really enjoyed it. Super healthy, and I thought it tasted decadent with the rich broth, hint of wine, and garlicky-sweet flavor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-7491737097727837342012-11-17T23:09:00.001-06:002012-11-17T23:09:24.166-06:007 Ways to Get to Know Your Community<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Heqp-xaREna3ilVCA5hqIdyfQAYYwNryln6ac_eFx-vzY8DOW8r-9LZZYv9pPNQhNSVZCRK4r6BhkJhrXT1uIUUSYwHkTZKLmGRhbzvlor_zAvN18gKg1FtEGUs8qXREXs1VP7_9zA8/s1600/100_3416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Heqp-xaREna3ilVCA5hqIdyfQAYYwNryln6ac_eFx-vzY8DOW8r-9LZZYv9pPNQhNSVZCRK4r6BhkJhrXT1uIUUSYwHkTZKLmGRhbzvlor_zAvN18gKg1FtEGUs8qXREXs1VP7_9zA8/s640/100_3416.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Don’t get there in a hurry</span></span></span></b>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
My number one tip is to take your
time getting from point A to point B, and above all, avoid the interstate if
you can. Drive city streets for longer treks, walk or bike for shorter ones.
This way you not only know what is at point A and point B, but you also know
everything between. You know the businesses and neighborhoods, the bus stops,
the events, and how the area changes over time. You see when new restaurants
and shops open, when it’s bike night at the bar, when buildings are being
renovated, when homes are for sale. If it’s a route you take often you grow
accustomed to the place. You KNOW that street, you know that man that sits at a
certain bus stop and the dog that barks from a certain yard. You know the
quickest way to trip chain if you want to pick up pizza on the way home and you
know exactly when the church opens its pumpkin patch sale. If you were on the
highway or the expressway, you’d miss it all.<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Read signs</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
This seems like common sense, but
how many people do it? Stop and read the posters and the fliers. Stop and read
the historical placards. Read the event postings on the marquis and bulletin boards.
Skim the business cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Read the
cornerstones on old buildings. If it’s there and the building isn’t on fire,
read it. It only takes a second or two.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Make it a point to do
something different</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
Change up the routine once in a
while (or a lot); try a different coffee shop, café, or route home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Go Local<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">(AKA, </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Make the box store your
second option rather than your first)</span></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
When I was growing up, our first
option was always the major chain retailers and restaurants. We only went to
other businesses or local establishments if what we wanted was unavailable in
the box stores. It was, in fact, harder to shop local because our house was
surrounded by box stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also lived
for a couple of years in a small town where options were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really </i>limited… it was often Walmart or nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would never want to shop that way again.
Sometimes I still do it when they have the products I need, but more and more
often now I leave in frustration when the gigantic box store does not, in fact,
have what I want. My success is better if I know the exact spiffy small
business that caters to me, rather than just hitting the one giant business
that tries to have a little bit for everyone. Plus, I get the fun of treasure
hunting for the exact perfect place for curry, or the perfect cup of joe, the
perfect pair of wooly socks, and once I’ve found the place, that’s it. The
search is over, and it’s as easy to find and get to as the box store ever was. And
I learned so much more about my town along the way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;">5. Browse local publications</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
You know those free community
publications that are often in racks in the businesses you pass? You don’t have
to read the whole thing to get a feel for what’s happening in the community –
even a quick flip through to skim the headlines and bold font could be
beneficial.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. Hook up with people of
similar interests</b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
This is another that should have
been obvious, but wasn’t for me. I stumbled upon it on accident. Obviously if
you know someone who knows someone who knows what’s going on, and people know
that it’s an interest of yours, the information is likely to reach you. And
then you will hear about art openings that don’t have a budget for
advertisements, small performances by artists without a PR team, sports events
that aren’t big enough to make it into the news… And I mean social networking in
person. Not just Facebook! Still not my strength, but I know how to do it. This
is easiest with interests that I’m most passionate about.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">7. Sign up for newsletters</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
If I am very busy, I don’t even
read the newsletters that are in my inbox. I just delete them. But if I have
free time I’d like to fill or if I’m looking for some specific information,
I’ll open them and scan what they send me. </div>
Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-25425929158683367802012-11-09T17:55:00.000-06:002012-11-09T17:55:00.037-06:00Bicycle Success! (The saga of how I finally overcame my fear of bike riding)You may or may not remember <a href="http://ecohoma.blogspot.com/2011/08/just-like-falling-off-bicycle.html" target="_blank"><u>this post</u></a>, wherein I mention my adventures in learning to ride a bicycle. (Yes, you heard me correctly. <i>Learning</i>. At thirty.) Well, I did not update you for a very good reason. Jenny (my bicycle) and I had a disagreement. A rather embarassing one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMaf8iRC2psdBQcWLDhM2Sx_84vgmpAk5K1WRUfILc1X4A3k3M0Qq_8FSWy2a7tjTzw7VbHCGjeykzst-AnxF6amMQM8o_UrNQR3WQOgmKcagXzKKkPiL6LJ3epreHxh1-F-zW5RaMaI/s1600/kkkkkkkkk+140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTMaf8iRC2psdBQcWLDhM2Sx_84vgmpAk5K1WRUfILc1X4A3k3M0Qq_8FSWy2a7tjTzw7VbHCGjeykzst-AnxF6amMQM8o_UrNQR3WQOgmKcagXzKKkPiL6LJ3epreHxh1-F-zW5RaMaI/s400/kkkkkkkkk+140.jpg" width="400" /></a>The first summer I had her (summer 2011), I spent a lot of time *not* riding her because it was too hot. And then I got tired of this, and felt like it would ALWAYS be too hot. You remember that summer, don't you? Yeah. Too hot. For months. So I decide to slowly acclimate myself to the heat. Spending longer and longer periods outdoors. And then I thought, today is the day. Today is the day I will ride my bicycle in the heat. I will be careful. I will bring water. If I start to feel tired, or thirsty, or bad, I will stop. I will stay close to home so I can go inside quickly. Well.<br />
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Jenny and I headed out. It was a hundred and some odd degrees, like every other day that summer. I paid close attention to how I was feeling. After 15-20 minutes, my legs started to feel a little fatigued so I turned around. And then I started to feel a little more icky. And I considered my options, which were to continue the short distance to the house, or stop under a tree, which was a refreshing 100 some odd minus half a degree thanks to the shade. Home was close. I went home. By the time I got home I already had heat exhaustion. No matter that I cooled off super quickly, made sure I rehydrated fairly quickly. And so I wound up in the emergency room a few hours later.<br />
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This was not Jenny's fault, really, but I held it against her. Stupid bicycle sent me to the ER! Irrational thinking. But I had to be angry at something other than just myself I suppose.<br />
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So Jenny gathered dust, and the longer she did, all my intimidation at riding bicycles came back. And then some. I glared at her in the garage the rest of the summer, through the fall, through the winter and spring, and through half the next summer. Knowing that I would have to get over it. And then the perfect thing happened.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilN2nMFB_EW63-aHSXVBAmf_7JIOEt4eehvkaKgyNhCQX586oHaCRbT59ZicrsIp_tTLjT0SL1Q-xarrQVVcf-rhSA-LUOuh9ngw8fZFwV9dCx0rW_c7vgOq20MKBrGRvSnaGJDRobJY/s1600/7253069806_8b7ef1238b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilN2nMFB_EW63-aHSXVBAmf_7JIOEt4eehvkaKgyNhCQX586oHaCRbT59ZicrsIp_tTLjT0SL1Q-xarrQVVcf-rhSA-LUOuh9ngw8fZFwV9dCx0rW_c7vgOq20MKBrGRvSnaGJDRobJY/s400/7253069806_8b7ef1238b.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from http://www.okcbicyclist.com/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://spokiesokc.com/" target="_blank">Spokies</a>.<br />
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Wow, if I could ride a bike, I could go to the botanical gardens at lunch. But I don't know those bikes. They look scary. OMG, no hand brakes! I'll die! But the thought put them on my radar.<br />
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And then Spokies had <a href="http://www.downtownokc.com/downtownokcbiketours.aspx" target="_blank">a series of free tours</a>. That meant I could try out their bikes for free, with a big group of people (which for some reason made me feel safer - they would navigate for me and all the cars would see us for sure), and get to do one of my favorite things: listen to history stories. Plus. Free helmet. I'd been putting off buying a helmet. I think the helmet was the kicker, because I know if I ride bikes I will need one and I know they aren't cheap. The helmet decided me.<br />
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So I made a date with a buddy. We signed up. I couldn't back out because... my buddy was my ride my home that night! And right after I got on the bike for the first tour I would have quit if I didn't need that ride home. I was suddenly very terrified. Of being on a strange bicycle, on a busy street, of being on a bicycle at all, IN TRAFFIC even. By the time we got to the first stop on the tour, my arms hurt from gripping the handlebars so hard. But I was ok. And the start-and-stop design of the tour helped give me a break and calm me down. The stories distracted me from being scared. By the time we had to ride again I was usually ready. I wasn't a great bike rider, but I made it through to the end of the tour. And then I made it through to the end of the NEXT tour, too. There were several moments on these tours when I was absolutely terrified for one reason or another. Because we were riding down a busy street. Because someone else was riding really close to me, or trying to talk to me. A drunk even touched my bicycle while I was trying to ride! Because the sun was in my eyes, or it was getting dark, or I had to ride over a railroad track. I didn't even know there were so many things to be scared of while I was on a bike! But I did them.<br />
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And after my second tour I went home and looked at Jenny, and she suddenly seemed so easy! If I can ride a one-speed bike down Reno, with no hand brakes, with people distracting me, in the dark, then I can ride sweet 7-speed Jenny on a designated bicycle route. Piece of cake!<br />
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Monday I rode her to the dentist and back. My first full commute that replaced a drive I would have made in my car. And the first time I touched Jenny in over a year. Also, the first time I felt pretty confident while riding her. Once again, I'm not up to driving her to work and back... realistically, I am physically not there right now. But I'm not scared of her anymore.<br />
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<a href="http://spokiesokc.com/" target="_blank">Hooray for Spokies! </a><br />
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Bicycle success! <br />
<br />Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-44044568674693262052012-11-06T05:00:00.000-06:002012-11-06T05:00:00.627-06:00Don't Forget to Vote!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6BBZksbYOMWWyqB9neWWT2ft8fTHH0dc7dRdUOFUfPXjKcyPiwLKio0P-4nr16Pja84P_c_So1NI2K1XnbYrvbe5DMdCklIhvs7pU4VyaKZhWxXg6RuiPKiMOmkDeyLoWeGgiQni-iQ/s1600/vote2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz6BBZksbYOMWWyqB9neWWT2ft8fTHH0dc7dRdUOFUfPXjKcyPiwLKio0P-4nr16Pja84P_c_So1NI2K1XnbYrvbe5DMdCklIhvs7pU4VyaKZhWxXg6RuiPKiMOmkDeyLoWeGgiQni-iQ/s640/vote2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7986697914143340305.post-7359555963541758672012-11-04T08:00:00.000-06:002012-11-04T08:00:08.648-06:00CSA and Cooking Beets and Zucchini BreadThis will be my last CSA recipe installment. I saved my favorites for last. I hope you enjoyed them! <br />
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On one fine zucchini-acquiring Saturday, I thought I'd treat myself and try <a href="http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2012/10/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-bread.html" target="_blank">this recipe for chocolate zucchini bread from the Prairie Homestead</a>. And, my friends, it was one of the tastiest things I put in my mouth all month. If you love chocolate, if you love bread, if you ever have a zucchini, YOU MUST TRY THIS! Go to the link. Then make this bread. Just do it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSZaMpNbubC4ifHt_FPTviyMqdjbEss2lExxJK4Ebe1o9j8XrrNrLcf6WqRIxwHUpzFYBmqWi7MSTfwmB09uEr6Np8aZ50Ad0gzDypmY-uqCh50by8r5F61Xtju4GY9pgEo12pmtmDI0/s1600/zuc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSZaMpNbubC4ifHt_FPTviyMqdjbEss2lExxJK4Ebe1o9j8XrrNrLcf6WqRIxwHUpzFYBmqWi7MSTfwmB09uEr6Np8aZ50Ad0gzDypmY-uqCh50by8r5F61Xtju4GY9pgEo12pmtmDI0/s640/zuc.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture from <a href="http://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2012/10/healthier-chocolate-zucchini-bread.html" target="_blank">Prairie Homestead</a></td></tr>
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Beets are one of the vegetables that the CSA has taught me to love. During my first CSA, the uber-drought year, beets were one of the few crops that defied the drought and flourished. So despite having never touched a beet before, I had beets every week, for many weeks in a row. I tried very hard to like them alone; I simply don't. But, like tomatoes, while I don't eat them individually, I <i>love </i>to cook with them! They lend everything I put them into a natural sweetness and a pretty red color. <br />
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What follows is my favorite beet recipe. It is delicious, easy to cook, and filling. I love this one so much, I would say that 90% of my beets go into this. I have gleefully stored packs of chopped beets in the freezer, just so that I can whip out this spicy-cozy recipe on an icy winter day. It even made my hubby's list of favorite dishes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFrZVHo4RhIzjC1jUzIJLFINpxOahdGNYEaDVqhce7yEpWMKY6BEiRszwP6YWAK0kCVSjrAv2TQojFfRfSF-TisZlAaKBwf2WJ9jSDSuNrh3zhL2XLlJssna6TMpF21C-MdeUoY2Tauk/s1600/100_7754%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFrZVHo4RhIzjC1jUzIJLFINpxOahdGNYEaDVqhce7yEpWMKY6BEiRszwP6YWAK0kCVSjrAv2TQojFfRfSF-TisZlAaKBwf2WJ9jSDSuNrh3zhL2XLlJssna6TMpF21C-MdeUoY2Tauk/s640/100_7754%5B1%5D.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Flannel Hash - One of our favorites!</td></tr>
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<u>Red Flannel Hash – <i>adapted from </i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vegetarian-Meat-Potatoes-Cookbook-Non/dp/1558322051" target="_blank">Vegetarian Meatand Potatoes Cookbook</a></u></div>
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4 small red beets (or more to taste - I sometimes do 5 or 6)</div>
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3 medium size potatoes</div>
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1 large red onion</div>
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1 lb ground beef</div>
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1 tablespoon soy sauce</div>
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½ teaspoon salt</div>
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1/8 teaspoon cayenne (or more to taste)<br />
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<br /></div>
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Cook the beets in boiling salted water until tender, about
30 minutes. Drain and cool. Skin, peel and chop. Set aside.</div>
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Peel and dice the potatoes. Steam over boiling water about
20 minutes. Drain and set aside.</div>
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Brown the beef and drain. </div>
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Add onion, cover and cook, strirring a few times until
softened, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes and beets. Increase heat to medium high
and cook, stirring frequently, until potatoes are lightly browned. Add soy
sauce, salt, and cayenne and cook until flavors are blended, about 5 mintues.<br />
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Alien Mind Girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17747679137267152709noreply@blogger.com0