Leave No Trace

This is the lifestyle I've suggested to our roommate, except instead of using it in nature, I want him to use it in our apartment.

I cannot have people over to my apartment because I am so embarrassed by the mess. I will agree that sometimes, I contribute to the mess, but overall my things are such a small fraction they don't even matter. When I walk into the living room, I immediately turn around and walk out, or try to go straight to the patio to sit in a small space of delight.

Today, I did a few small things like: empty the dishwasher, take out the recycling and go through the mail. Roommate came home in the middle of these tasks and I proposed this nugget: "If it takes 30 days to make a habit, and we clean just a little more than the mess we make each day, then after 30 days not only will our apartment be clean, but we will also be in the habit of keeping it clean." He agreed! And proceeded to do nothing. I also giggled and said, "yeah! Like, leave it cleaner than you found it!" since we both like nature and know this rule of thumb.

This weekend, I did give my bedroom and thorough cleaning. Since I cannot control the common space, I can control this space and I'll have to put my focus here.

ohhh it's hurty

I think running the dash triggered a chain reaction that tweaked my SI joint again. My back was tight, but then yesterday, in the middle of a program for work, TWEAK! Can't bend over, can't stand correctly because I can't have that curve between my back and my butt and can't get out of bed without SERIOUS effort. Fun times!

So I'm on muscle relaxers and fake vicodin again. Thing is, it still hurts. I may need to take more vicodin but I'll wait until later because that stuff knocks me out.

I did it!

OMG! I did the St. Patty's Day Dash in Seattle today! It's roughly 3.5 miles and guess what? I ran the whole thing! No walking!!!

My time sucked . . . but I'll take one victory at a time!

Here are some race day photos stolen from Jenny! First is of Jenny and me, second is Nick, Jenny and me. My number is under my sweatshirt. It was too cold to take it off yet!

Update: my official time is 37:16 that's a minute faster than I had thought and eleven minutes faster than they originally posted.

Once you start, never quit

Running, I mean. I really haven't run since Dec. 8th and decided I better get my act together since I'm doing the St. Paddy's Day Dash on Sunday. So I went to Greenlake this afternoon. Remember when I was so proud because I was hitting, four, five miles? Yeah, today I'm lucky if I pieced together two. Killed me! It took me almost 40 minutes to get in three miles of run/walk. At least the weather is better...

annoyed

Yesterday in class, we had to create magnet and charter schools. Two groups created schools that were green oriented. They had gardens and were all about sustainability. Today as I left class I had to pull out plastic bottles that were thrown in the trash because my classmates were too lazy to recycle them.

I am not used to this type of culture.

rub a dub dub

My tub needed some serious scrubbing the other day. It was disgusting. I went into the cupboard to mix up my normal baking soda, castille soap and vinegar to find no baking soda or vinegar. Annoyed and ready to scrub at that very moment I grabbed the still full 409 bottle that we've had for a year and went to town.

I had to work so much harder to scrub off that mildew with the gross chemicalness of 409! I thought it would just wipe right off but no! I'm so glad I made the switch to the more natural recipe!! I'm sad I used the nastiness, but I'm also kind of glad because my method has been reinforced! hooray!

caucus

I caucused today. And I think I should get bonus points for the rigmarole I went through to do so. I went to The Odd Fellows building where I assumed I would go but it turns out I live on the wrong side of my street to caucus there. So I had to hoof it up 11 blocks to the school where I'm actually doing my practicum. Then I had to quick fill out my change of address form and hope everything was done correctly.

Anyway, my name is signed next to my choice candidate and I'll be watching at six o'clock to see who comes out on top for Washington!

new shampoo

Shampoo is very hard for me to buy. I hated to give up the shampoo I've used for years but not only was it not environmentally friendly, they also discontinued it. I was forced to look for something new. Burt's Bees is a well known natural product line so I went for their Super Shiny Shampoo. I LOVE this shampoo! It definitely makes my hair super shiny and glosses my curls. Unfortunately, I have to wash my hair more often with this shampoo because after two days my hair gets pretty stringy. But hey, it's natural so that's not such a big deal!

New Year

The calendar has been changed and everything is new again. Last year I resolved to be a better environmentalist. I definitely made some positive changes! This year I will continue to find new ways to improve and do my part.

The biggest change I need to make is to stop eating fast food for lunch. I initially made this decision based on my health and pocketbook but I realize this is also a good move for the environment too!

Happy New Year to you!

My city

Millesinge. I'm not sure what will happen with this but each time someone visits my population goes up! So go visit and let's see what happens! check it out!

It's official now

The results are in, I did better than I thought. 16 seconds better. ; ) 31:44. I can do better and I will do better. Just watch me!

Here's a picture of the mighty racing girls in the car on that blustery morning. (stolen from jenny)

it's not official

Friday night I went to the Century Ballroom to see Wayne Hancock and do some dancing. Turned out to be a fabulous night for me as I was the only girl in my group of dancing friends! I two-stepped, jived and east coast swung until about 12:30. Oh I also spoke a little French. Got home about 1, woke up at 7 and made it down to Jenny's in federal Way by 8:30am Sat. morning.

It was a cold morning but at least the sun was shining! We drove down to Kent, pinned on our numbers and rushed back to the car to preserve a little heat. I could not fathom taking off my winter jacket and going back into that cold to wait at the starting line. Yes, Sat. was the day of my first 5k.

I'm not sure how I feel about races. There were so many people on that one little trail. I couldn't keep up with Jenny. That girl has a need for speed and she found it! So I was alone and assumed that eventually things would even out and someone would automatically become my running partner. Not so much.

We ran along the Green River and the blackberry bushes along the banks had a straight line of mud from where the river was several feet higher just a few days ago. Huge earth worms littered the path. Most had already been stepped on but one was stretched out to almost a foot long. I had to turn around and save it. I couldn't bear the thought of someone's heartless foot coming down on it.

It was shortly after the worm save that I decided to walk. The trail seemed to go on forever and without knowing where the end was I couldn't keep my legs moving. I had no watch so I couldn't tell you how long I walked for but I don't think it was too long at all.

When the end was in sight, I felt my strides get longer and I passed by a few folks. I saw Jenny rounding the corner to get a spot where she could cheer me on. (Thanks Jen!)

My legs are sore today. I don't remember the last time my legs were sore for running. Even when Phil and I went four miles over Thanksgiving they didn't feel like this. It's a good sore though and it means I ran had and I feel less bad about walking. It also shows what great shape that Jenny is in! Holy crap, girl!

It's not official but I think I came in at about 32 minutes.

Nature is so amazing!

Disclaimer: I do not want people to get hurt or for their property to be damaged, but nature is AMAZING!

Seattle was just hit with over 5" of rain over the past couple of days. We are used to rain, yes, but not quite like this. Our soils have not developed over thousands of years to regularly absorb this kind of water. Flooding is natural, however. That is why we have such fertile areas like the Auburn Valley and fields of tulips up north. When the river spilled over its banks, historically, it would displace nutrient rich silt we still enjoy today.

Over the past two hundred years (give or take) we have cut forests, paved land, drained wetlands and straightened streams. No one can argue that these practices have altered the natural flood regime. We try so hard to control nature that when an event like this occurs, I cannot help but cheer nature on! "Lay your silt! Gouge those river banks! Find your own way!"

I am sorry for those who are facing injuries and damages to their property.

sunchokes!

They look like ginger, cook like a potato and taste like a yummy! This new veggie came in my CSA box this week. I put it in a barley soup with potatoes, carrots, broccoli and my favorite secret bullion. They are so tasty!! Some say they taste like artichokes..I don't know about that, but I like 'em!

I really hope someone out there is readin this..

I just came across a hilarious link!! It asks what a powerpoint presentation would have looked like if Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address today! It's awesome. : )

this is a lie

Get a Cash Advance

Want to see my underpants?

I had mentioned I ripped apart one of my favorite pairs of underpants. Well, today I made the pattern and sewed up a pair! I used an old staff shirt from when I was a naturalist for the Girl Scouts. I thought the pink thread would be cute but now I"m wishing I had used something that matched better. Oh well. The best part is I"m wearing them right now! ; )

confidence booster

40 year old men love me. And it's more fun when they're hot!

Now if only they were closer to 30 year old men....sigh.

100th post, 100th monkey has 100 things to say

I had such a fun time last night at book club chez Jenny! I got to meet new girls and chat with two friends I don't see nearly enough! Unfortunately, I bought my book for book club new and so I need to decide what to do with it now. I was joking when I suggested this, but now I think I might do it! You know how you get dollar bills that people try to track across the country? Well this is a way to track your book. You just leave it somewhere and hope someone logs in its location. It's a way to share your books so others don't consume more AND a fun experiment! Now where should I leave mine? In Ballard or on the airplane?

I didn't exercise for an entire week. I will go today, after I digest these three donuts.

I turned on the heat in my bedroom for ten minutes last night. It felt luxurious. It's 59 degrees in my living room and I need to go study, I'm tempted to turn it on out there for a little while to take the chill off. I don't know why I feel so guilty using heat.

I got my zen stone plus. It's bigger than a Shuffle, I learned that last night but I heart it still!

Oh AND Jenny gave me four knitted squares, my sister left one before she left a few weeks ago and my mother's coworker gave me 8 crocheted squares. YAY! Getting closer to being able to put this together!

I have learned that early elementary is not the place for me. I do not deal well with boogers and wet pants. OMG, please don't touch me with those hands! It was awful.

I just ripped the seams out of a favorite pair of underpants that were nearing the trash. I'm going to copy the pattern and try to make a new pair. And I JUST put away my sewing machine. Sigh.

Five out of six

I ran allllll the way around GL (plus my .2 to make it an even 3 miles) without even my water break. Then I did some more.

All in all I ran about five miles out of six (including warm up and cool down). It took freakin' forever. This is the first time my legs have told me to stop before my heart and lungs did. woot!