Mama Said

As children we think everything is vastly available. Our world is HUGE! Growing up, my mom made sure to remind us otherwise. “Since you do not know how to make water, then you should not waste it,” was a common phrase heard around the house. This statement applied to all sorts of resources. From water, to food, to paper, school supplies, electricity, etc. When I started taking chemistry classes, I learned you can make water by combining two Hydrogen atoms with one Oxygen atom. So when I smartly replied that I do know how to make water, she then asks me if I knew how to make a Hydrogen atom, or an Oxygen one – stuck again. Basically, she broke it down to the fact that we cannot make anything without starting with some kind of natural resource. Even if you find a way to create something out of thin air, you still have to rely on the “thin air” to create it…and do you know how to make “thin air?” So, I’ve been conservative and mindful (almost to a fault) with my resources ever since. Well, give and take some wild and rebellious phases growing up when that kinda stuff didn’t matter….but now it does – again.


Present day: I go in to the bathroom at work. While washing my hands, another lady goes over the next sink and turns on the water FULL BLAST!.... keeps it on while she soaps, rinses, and pumps out approx 12 inches in length of paper towel from the dispenser, crumples the huge paper towel in her hands as a way to dry them (she didn’t even dry the back of her hands) before turning the faucet off.  Then she uses the automatic handicap door opener so she didn't have to touch the handles. My mom would have a conniption if she saw you… and I guess so am I.


I think about the measures this woman is taking to keep her hands clean, but take no consideration to her environment (I know – total nerdy statement – but it’s true). Yes, I get it, proper hand washing encourages good health, but this woman works in a cubicle – what kind of germs does she have in there???? Maybe she’s afraid to get sick, but let's think about the potential health risk of those living near a landfill  (let’s not even get in to the vast real estate a landfill occupies. Land that could have been used for something more than storing garbage); or surely she must be aware that America’s water supply is dwindling down to obsoletion within our generation’s life time. As of a 2010 news article, 36 US States face water shortages in the next three years (well, 2 years now that it’s 2011). I'm sure she’s not aware of all of this, nor does it vaguely cross her mind but I SOOOOO wanted to tell her. But how can I without crossing some undefined boundary between strangers in a bathroom? Maybe I could have taken that risk of offending her, after all, her ignorance is "offending" our environment and future generations, but I punked out and watched her walk out the bathroom.  (sigh) If only she had a mom like mine she wouldn't have been so wasteful.


Perhaps conserving resources was a way for my mom to keep us from running up the bills, or from having to replace any item she’s already bought for us, but it sure left an impression. The other day, I heard my 6 year old niece say to her sister, "Can you make water? then you shouldn't waste it." I'd say it is one of the best nuggets of knowledge ever to pass down the generations. Thanks Ma!

Stone Walk

I am perfectly aware how seemingly ridiculous it is to handpick stones for your landscaping, but that is what I am doing. I have an 8’X2’ space that divides the grilling area from the garden, so I don’t need that much. Garden centers or Landscaping stores sell river rocks in bulk at a handsome cost and for the quantity of rocks I want, I doubt they’ll deliver. I can see why it would cost so much. The process of bringing these rocks in bulk to the stores requires resources: You have to hire people to operate heavy machinery (that use up all sorts of oil byproduct to make it run and releasing pollutants in to the earth) to mine these rocks, and then truck it to some processing center or to the garden center directly which probably drives up the cost as we are nearing the $4/gallon mark on gas prices (and again, more pollution). Just so we can have something pretty to look at in our yard. Ok, so I don’t really know how those rocks get to these stores, but I bet the folks who work at the garden center aren’t bringing them in themselves, and I’m pretty sure I’m right about using the diggers and dump trucks to ship said landscaping commodity. But in all honesty, my main deterrent was the dollar cost. I just don’t have the kind of money to spend on rocks. So, I decided to do it the long and cheap way by heading down a nearby river with son and bucket in tow.


It takes 5minutes to walk toward the river, cross a couple of train tracks, through a short bridge over a man made canal and in to a paved trail. The canal empties into the river creating a refreshing, semi-natural water fall near the entrance of the trail, where you can find the prettiest stones and pebbles. Along the path are side trails towards the river bank. At first glance, it’s all mud and sand and some sharp rocks, but once you find the first stone the others start to appear and before you know it, your bucket is filled. I don’t know what it is, but there is something so satisfying in finding rocks. I guess it would be similar to looking for shells at the beach. Sometimes I get carried away, and realize I’ve selected more rocks that I can manage, so I dump some out and head home. This time, it takes me 20-30 minutes to get home now that I am approx half a mile away from the entrance, and I am now carrying a bucket full of stones.  Did I mention that the way home is all uphill (and at some parts have a steep incline)? While this part is probably not as fun or relaxing, I find it rewarding: I somehow squeezed in a workout. On my last trip, I had a scene from the movie Spaceballs where the characters were carrying suitcases full of rocks across the desert, flashed in my head. I felt a little silly lugging around these stones back home, but I’ve already committed to this project.


I’ve made two trips so far and this is what I have to show for:

As you can see I have a few more trips to make. I honestly didn’t account for the weight these stones amount to, and the challenge of walking back home with it, but this time I’m going to bring my son’s radio flyer wagon instead of his Lightning McQueen Easter bucket (which cracked from the weight of all the stones); and I’m going to pick up the rocks at the farthest point of my walk first, instead of point of entry – the waterfalls. Maybe if I had gone by myself, I would have topped off my bucket at the waterfalls and headed home. But I failed to realize that my son had his own agenda of walking through the woods a little further than the entry point. I ended up walking another half mile with a bucket full of stones before heading back home. Lessons Learned!


So, what does the long and cheap way add up to? A lovely stroll around the woods with my son, about 300 calories burned, money still in my pocket and no harm to the environment…oh yeah, and some landscaping rocks. WINNER!






Just passed the waterfall at the entrance

 

One of the river banks



Heading back home

Mommy moment I had to share

The other day, my son was telling my husband and me who he wanted to invite to his upcoming birthday party.  After naming the usual suspects, he adds, "you can invite your friend too, Dad."  Not sure who he was talking about, my husband asks him to describe which friend he meant.  He says, "he has a head like a letter O, eyes, nose, and a mouth, and a body, and he has blood in his body and bones...you know, your friend!"  How  absolutely refreshing it is to describe someone without first resorting to their gender and race.

When I grow up...

Recently I had a sit-down with my boss.  She tells me she's not sure about my contract status since budget has been scrutinized in the past year, so we have to just wait and hope that they'll renew/hire me before my contract is up in June....in the meantime, I have to show this guy all that I do because he will be moving over to our team.  Hmmm.... what do you think she's tryna tell me?

After a week or two of getting over what felt a lot like rejection, I decided to move on to something else.  I dove in to the world of job searching:  updating and customizing resumes, composing cover letters, sending them all off to the abyss of job leads, job search sites, then making follow up calls, etc. when it finally dawned on me that I don't want to go back to another 9-5 gig without first deciding what I really want to do.  A job was always this thing I had to have without giving it some real thought.  Well, I thought about the salary carefully, but as far as career path, not so much.  Well, here I am in my 30s and I think it's time I give it some time and serious thinking.

I'm not really sure what's in store.  A few years ago, I took a yoga certification course.  It was a real accomplishment for me because it was a solid decision.  In fact, I started making those connections of some random event from the past that made me think, "this is meant to be!"  It felt right.  Shortly afterwards, I found myself in the unemployment line.  All of a sudden, the uncertainty of a yoga career path fell by the wayside as I scrambled for another job to maintain the bills.  I dabbled in teaching yoga on lunch breaks for a while, but an overwhelming work load and demands of motherhood kept the schedule inconsistent.  I complained a lot about not having enough time to do what I want to do.  And now that I potentially (there's a teeny weeny chance I stay at the job) have that time, I am scared!!!  I am well aware of my propensity to procrastinate and make excuses...no more I say to myself, but reality has it's way of hiding behind ideals.  And I gotta keep a sharp eye out for that as I once again embark on the yoga path.

I have a wonder-woman friend (Nicole that's you).  She gardens (more like landscape), renovate bathrooms, constructs (not bake) yummy cakes, crochets/knits purses/blankets/dresses, you name it, she's done it with a professional finish.  I am so impressed (and mildly intimidated), and she humbly says it's due to the available time she's had since she's been unemployed.  I don't know about that, I've seen some people do nothing with their free time (including me). So, if the yoga thing doesn't work out, my fall back plan is to be like her when I grow up (wouldn't hurt to get a few inches on my height either).  

Shamed

Sunday I received an email invite to a Spring Potluck and Seed Exchange event hosted by Raices Cultural Center in New Bruns for Tuesday. I'm currently germinating 3 types of veggies and I'm determined to expand my garden this year. What better way to acquire more seeds and connect with a community of gardeners than to attend this event. Monday night, I made a beet salad (recipe below) for the potluck. Come Tuesday morning however, I realized that we (hubby, kid, and I commute in 50miles from home using 1 car) would be getting home really late if I decided to attend since it started at 7pm. Plus, I would be coming to this event after running 4miles. So I nixed the thought, and started on my day.
On our way home, we stopped by Home Depot to pick up this thing to fix the base of our toilet. Upon entering, the marketing geniuses bombarded the entrance with gardening merchandise. Of course with a gardening mindset, I decided to "look around" and check out some magazines for ideas on how to map my garden. Well, I looked around and every section in Home Depot, there are seeds. So I decided to "look around" some more to get an idea of the types of veggies I should grow. Well, a half an hour of "looking around," I started pulling seed packets off their shelves... and after another half an hour of putting it back, and taking another packet, putting it back and talking myself out of it again, I purchased beets, string beans and carrot seed packets for $1 each. Okay, so I skipped a community event of gardeners who probably saved their seeds from last year's harvest. Seeds with a personal touch, to a Home Depot seed packet from who knows where??? Oh the SHAME!!! I wouldn't even feel this bad if I at least waited a day or two. But no, I was marked for target, and I totally went for it.


Beet Salad:


6-8 beets
1 can sweet peas
2-3 large celery chopped
1 small red onion (minced)
3 TBS mayo (or use olive oil for vegan substitute)
1 TBS dijon mustard
garlic powder
salt
pepper


peel and boil beets. Once beets are cooled, chop in to cubes. Rinse red onions in cold water. drain can sweet peas. Combine ingredients in a bowl. Add mayo/olive oil and dijon mustard. Add garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste.

Note: Add canned asparagus and canned mushrooms for a hearty meal

Why Not Glass Jars?

Yesterday, I went over to a coworker's cube to chat.  Upon seeing my coffee "cup," she tells me, "you know, I've started saving my glass jars too."  This is the first positive remark I've heard since I started taking my reused glass jars to work.  I get the strangest look walking in to meetings.  Some guy usually smirks, "What is thaaaaat?" pointing at my coffee in a reused spaghetti jar.  If the jar is filled with water, I get, "is that moonshine?"  I'm not sure how to respond, but I silently judge them with their dented plastic/disposable water bottles with the label slightly peeling and the coffee stained styrofoam cups.  My coworker continues, "Since I've seen you carry that jar around, I realized I've been wasting my money buying cups.  My household can't keep drinking glasses, we seem to always break them.  These jars are so sturdy, I'm more worried it'll chip the tile floor."  YESS!!!  That was my problem when first deciding to keep glass jars.  Not to sound like an infomercial, but not only is it hard to break, you can also use them to save your leftovers if you keep the lid.  Wait, there's more!  Dinner guests will immediately be taken back to their childhood when you hand them a drink in a glass jar.


I realized I'm not the only one to rediscover the benefits when I noticed a peanut butter jar in my sister's cupboards. I've even started sending people home with water or coffee in glass jars.  Sort of a way to campaign the trend (and to get rid of ours).   And now, my other sister tells me she and her roommate fight over the one glass jar in her house.  Look, I know some of you are already saving your chinese takeout containers, and others are proudly reusing  their canvas bags for grocery shopping.  I'm just suggesting another alternative.


Cheers!

Gardening Conquistador (Part 2)

My poor snowman I so carefully and painfullly (for 2 days after) scultped is now reduced to a stump.  Which means spring is right around the corner, which also means, time to get gardening.  Now, most gardening sites/magazines will tell you, you should be germinating your seeds at this time to ensure it's survival once you commit them to the ground. I always intend on doing this, but sometimes work schedules get in the way, or that darn procratination bug rears it's ugly head that by the time I actually get to it, it's full blown spring or even beginning Summer.  This time however, I'm really going to do it.  I will get my garden started before spring.  But before I get on about which vegetables I'll be planting this year, and showing you adorable baby photos of light green stems curling out of its seed in a wet paper towel, I wanted to catch you up on my life as a gardener so far.
The first year I had a garden (2009), all I did was commit a patch of land and turned the soil and pulled some cable wire roots (see previous blog).  That's it!  I didn't do anything - too busy to remember to stop by Home Depot to pick up seeds, too tired at the end of the day to garden, but mostly, too confused on what to do next.  I recall thinking to myself as I was digging out the lovely patch of green, "I'm really going to do this?  Every painsaking task will be done by ME?  EEEeeps!"  For some reason, I  thought planting involved more than putting seeds in the ground.  All my research talked of soil testing, arranging, planning, rows and columns.  The only thing that grew in my patch of dirt I indignanlty called a garden were the dandylions and other weeds taking advantage of the real estate I carved out. Until one (June) weekend, my parents came by with a small tomato plant and eggplant (uhh) plant and stuck it in my designated patch of dirt.  For a while, it didn't do much: no flowers, no buds, no obvious growth, nothing.  And so I left it alone, sure that it would eventually wither away and die before bearing any fruit.  At some point during the summer, my husband and I went out on vacation for a week. and when we returned, our designated garden area blew up in to a mini-amazon forest.  Motivated by the site, I got in there the following weekend and diligently weeded our garden.  Fortunately, my parents happen to visit again that weekend and stopped me from killing the plants.   Apparently, the tomato had taken to the soil and multiplied.  I probably pulled out about 5-8 large healthy tomato plants - oops!  Still, by the end of the summer and early fall, we enjoyed some hearty tomatoes and eggplants.  And it yielded so much that I had to give some away.


Last year, I was late again on getting a garden going.  Fortunately, a friend was staying with us for the summer and asked if he could plant some vegetables for an experiment.  This mad scientist friend decided to mix up a bunch of different seeds and sprinkle over the garden patch - in hopes to get some sort of hybrid vegetable (scratching head).  He watered it daily and  doted on it - much to my delight (better him than me) and doubt ("nothing's gonna grow" I said to myself).  A few weeks later, waddayaknow???? some seedlings came up.  Though we didn't see any tomato-squash, or cucum-peppers, a variety of plants did grow.  Throughout the summer, the weaker plants gave way to the more resilient types  namely:  squash, tomatoes, and cucumbers all tangled up in a lovely heap I proudly called a garden.  At some point, I had bought one of those pre-grown Basil with roots at our local grocery store and bravely stuck them in, and it GREW much to my surprise. It wasn't pretty, but at least we were able to harvest throughout the summer and the early parts of Fall.  AND more importantly - I learned it is as easy as literally throwing seeds in to the ground.


So ok, I've never been the originator of the garden, but at least I've maintained them.  Despite  my haphazard approach to gardening, it's become an important part of my yearly/seasonal  (dare I say) hobby.  Not only is it cheaper ($3/seed pack will yield a season's worth of food - can't beat that - unless you save your seeds from last season's harvest), I've also noticed the vegetables I conveniently pick right out of my backyard are heavier, juicier and flavorful than the store bought variety.  Afterall, "Despite the gardener's best intentions, Nature will improvise" -Michael P. Garafalo.




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