For the second time in a week I just felt an earthquake. Those of you who have lived in earthquake zones will think I'm crazy, but WOW it is freaky to feel that. I was at my desk and my chair started shaking. I could feel it coming up through the floor. The wind is blowing pretty hard today, but it has never blown hard enough to make the floor shake. USGS says it was a 4.2, and was centered about 120 miles north of us.
Having grown up in the rocky Ozark Mountains, I never experienced these. Tornadoes were our dangerous force of nature, but these earthquakes just blow my mind!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
$300
I was working in Quicken tonight entering some receipts and decided after entering in a frightening receipt for puchasing gas for my car today (and I didn't even begin to fill up) to see how our gas expenses compared to this time last year.
For the first four months of 2008 (and April isn't over!) we've spent a whopping $1739 on fuel for our two vehicles.
For the first four months of 2007 we spent $1426.
For comparison sake I went back to 2002, the first full year we lived in our current house, which would make the distance we drive to town and work roughly the same. Taking into account I personally didn't make as many trips back and forth to take kids to school, etc. it is still a SHOCKING difference. In the first four months of that year we spent less than $300 on gas. I subtotalled our fuel expenses for the last 7 years by year, and you can see it creeping up year by year, until the last couple of years, when it began to shoot up really quickly.
Does the current administration understand that their cozy relationships with the oil companies, and their failure to be advocates of middle and poor Americans is making it almost impossible for the average lower-income (and many middle income) workers to even GET to work?
My contempt for them cannot be measured.
For the first four months of 2008 (and April isn't over!) we've spent a whopping $1739 on fuel for our two vehicles.
For the first four months of 2007 we spent $1426.
For comparison sake I went back to 2002, the first full year we lived in our current house, which would make the distance we drive to town and work roughly the same. Taking into account I personally didn't make as many trips back and forth to take kids to school, etc. it is still a SHOCKING difference. In the first four months of that year we spent less than $300 on gas. I subtotalled our fuel expenses for the last 7 years by year, and you can see it creeping up year by year, until the last couple of years, when it began to shoot up really quickly.
Does the current administration understand that their cozy relationships with the oil companies, and their failure to be advocates of middle and poor Americans is making it almost impossible for the average lower-income (and many middle income) workers to even GET to work?
My contempt for them cannot be measured.
Ring the Bell
At T1 and T2's school, the ultimate honor for having made an achievement is to get to ring a large bell in the courtyard of the school. Today, T1 got to ring it. The accompanying "certificate" said:
"T1" (not her real name of course) has shown winning behavior by cleaning the playground. She picked up over 100 pieces of trash without being asked to so so. She gave her whole recess to this job.
Signed both by her teacher, and by the principal.
T1 shared this honor with one of her classmates, who also worked throughout recess to pick up trash.
I told her I was most proud that she took the time to get the playground clean of the things other people just throw on the ground.
Now this is the same child who can leave a trail of debris behind her at OUR house, but at least she's making her effort for the environment at school this week.
"T1" (not her real name of course) has shown winning behavior by cleaning the playground. She picked up over 100 pieces of trash without being asked to so so. She gave her whole recess to this job.
Signed both by her teacher, and by the principal.
T1 shared this honor with one of her classmates, who also worked throughout recess to pick up trash.
I told her I was most proud that she took the time to get the playground clean of the things other people just throw on the ground.
Now this is the same child who can leave a trail of debris behind her at OUR house, but at least she's making her effort for the environment at school this week.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
urban gardens
I'm sure my fine organic-guru-niece will have a comment about this topic. I heard on NPR this morning that because of high food prices many families are opting to grow their own produce this year. It is a new trend in the suburbs...the backyard veggie garden! It is also a reaction to more people wanting to eat organic-grown produce, and to try to buy foods grown in their local area.
Here's the negative twist to the story. Turns out that lots of HOA's are balking against backyard gardens. Seems they present a "threat" to the quality of the neighborhoods, and "bring property values down." I kid you not. A small patch of tomatoes, lettuce and beans makes people feel less affluent, apparently.
I don't live in a subdivision with an HOA. There are times where I think such an organization would come in handy in our particular subdivision, but overall I'm glad we don't have one. I wonder how many people living in such neighborhoods have actually ever SEEN a small vegetable garden. I can't think of anything I would personally rather see in our neighbor's backyard than a well-tended garden, with the colors of cabbages, stalks of corn, tomatoes (both red and green) and perhaps some sunflowers stuck in there for fun. How is that worse than looking at someone's hot tub, or bbq grill?
My standard for such a garden is my grandfather's. He had a perfect flat spot in his backyard to grow rows and rows of the best tomatoes I've ever eaten; watermelon, corn, and I don't remember what else. What a joy it was as a child to sit in a lawn chair near the garden and crack open a freshly picked watermelon and attempt to spit the seeds across his lawn. The sweetness of those melons cannot be described.
Here's another thought. Backyard gardens create conversation. How nice it would be to share gardening tips with your neighbors...exchange fresh beans for radishes, or just visit while you water or tend your garden.
People are hellbent on holing up in their McMansions, watching their big-screen tvs and don't know what they are missing. Eat your drab, overpriced lettuce from Honduras; and your cardboard-like tomatoes from Florida...you are really missing something.
Here's the negative twist to the story. Turns out that lots of HOA's are balking against backyard gardens. Seems they present a "threat" to the quality of the neighborhoods, and "bring property values down." I kid you not. A small patch of tomatoes, lettuce and beans makes people feel less affluent, apparently.
I don't live in a subdivision with an HOA. There are times where I think such an organization would come in handy in our particular subdivision, but overall I'm glad we don't have one. I wonder how many people living in such neighborhoods have actually ever SEEN a small vegetable garden. I can't think of anything I would personally rather see in our neighbor's backyard than a well-tended garden, with the colors of cabbages, stalks of corn, tomatoes (both red and green) and perhaps some sunflowers stuck in there for fun. How is that worse than looking at someone's hot tub, or bbq grill?
My standard for such a garden is my grandfather's. He had a perfect flat spot in his backyard to grow rows and rows of the best tomatoes I've ever eaten; watermelon, corn, and I don't remember what else. What a joy it was as a child to sit in a lawn chair near the garden and crack open a freshly picked watermelon and attempt to spit the seeds across his lawn. The sweetness of those melons cannot be described.
Here's another thought. Backyard gardens create conversation. How nice it would be to share gardening tips with your neighbors...exchange fresh beans for radishes, or just visit while you water or tend your garden.
People are hellbent on holing up in their McMansions, watching their big-screen tvs and don't know what they are missing. Eat your drab, overpriced lettuce from Honduras; and your cardboard-like tomatoes from Florida...you are really missing something.
women in comfortable shoes and colorful clothing
Yes, folks, it's quilter's week here in the western part of the Commonwealth. The show doesn't even officially begin until tomorrow night, but already there are hordes (herds? flocks? gaggles?) of brightly dressed women wearing sturdy, comfortable, but not stylish shoes walking around downtown, mouths agape at the possibilities of fat quarters* they can purchase!
Now that I've been very condescending about them, let me point out that these women (and men) do something I have no talent for...taking bits of fabric and sewing them together, sometimes with handstitching so tiny you need to be right next to it to see it, into a piece of art. It is amazing how someone can take a handful of mismatched (but color-coordinated) fabrics, and by snipping them into various shapes, then carefully patching those shapes together, often in quite intricate and complicated designs, they make something that their children, and grandchildren will cherish for generations. And those are just the traditional quilts. The quilters who make the "fabric art" pieces are just artists using a medium that most people think of as a means to keep warm. The "art" quilts use subtle variations in fabric color to create illusions of shadow, light and depth.
It's not too late! Pack your bags, come see the quilts!
*if you don't know what a fat quarter is, ask a quilter.
Now that I've been very condescending about them, let me point out that these women (and men) do something I have no talent for...taking bits of fabric and sewing them together, sometimes with handstitching so tiny you need to be right next to it to see it, into a piece of art. It is amazing how someone can take a handful of mismatched (but color-coordinated) fabrics, and by snipping them into various shapes, then carefully patching those shapes together, often in quite intricate and complicated designs, they make something that their children, and grandchildren will cherish for generations. And those are just the traditional quilts. The quilters who make the "fabric art" pieces are just artists using a medium that most people think of as a means to keep warm. The "art" quilts use subtle variations in fabric color to create illusions of shadow, light and depth.
It's not too late! Pack your bags, come see the quilts!
*if you don't know what a fat quarter is, ask a quilter.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
True Patriotism
From a church bulletin for Sunday, July 6, 1941, Armored Forces Replacement Training Center, Ft. Knox, Kentucky, morning worship.
[on the back of the bulletin*, in a box titled "true patriotism"]
Independence Day, or Fourth of July as it is more commonly called, recalls the principles of human liberty and reminds us that we must cherish and preserve our country's traditions of bravery, justice and equality, of which very true American is proud.
But what is meant by true patriotism? It means unfailing loyalty to our God and to our country. The greatest duty we owe our United States is to be worthy citizens.
Loyalty to our nation implies loyalty to God, because he who serves God faithfully, serves his country loyally. The true patriot thinks of the honor of his country and is always willing to do his duty to his native or adopted land. We are not patriotic when we are selfish, unkind and unwilling to do our duty to God and country.
America expects each one of its citizens to do his or her duty. It is more than merely standing and cheering when a band plays the "Star Spangled Banner" or the waving of the American flag. It is, in fact, obeying the laws of the land, being true, truthfully honest, kind, loving, pure, unselfish and trying to make our country in the eyes of both God and ourselves a better and more beautiful place in which to live.
Let us thank God today for giving to us this splendid opportunity of being truly patriotic. Let us pledge our wholehearted allegiance to God, to our country and to our flag. Let us keep our star-spangled banner waving in the air ... spotless - stainless - sinless - true.
[*found in a letter written by my father to my mother]
[on the back of the bulletin*, in a box titled "true patriotism"]
Independence Day, or Fourth of July as it is more commonly called, recalls the principles of human liberty and reminds us that we must cherish and preserve our country's traditions of bravery, justice and equality, of which very true American is proud.
But what is meant by true patriotism? It means unfailing loyalty to our God and to our country. The greatest duty we owe our United States is to be worthy citizens.
Loyalty to our nation implies loyalty to God, because he who serves God faithfully, serves his country loyally. The true patriot thinks of the honor of his country and is always willing to do his duty to his native or adopted land. We are not patriotic when we are selfish, unkind and unwilling to do our duty to God and country.
America expects each one of its citizens to do his or her duty. It is more than merely standing and cheering when a band plays the "Star Spangled Banner" or the waving of the American flag. It is, in fact, obeying the laws of the land, being true, truthfully honest, kind, loving, pure, unselfish and trying to make our country in the eyes of both God and ourselves a better and more beautiful place in which to live.
Let us thank God today for giving to us this splendid opportunity of being truly patriotic. Let us pledge our wholehearted allegiance to God, to our country and to our flag. Let us keep our star-spangled banner waving in the air ... spotless - stainless - sinless - true.
[*found in a letter written by my father to my mother]
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