Swine Flu vs. Global Warming

Not to make light of the situation, but I keep having vision of I Am Legend running through my head as we discuss Swine Flu. Just a few thoughts I have on it - and I'm completely non "PC" in these musings:

-Dear pork industry, neh-neh. You can H1N1 all you want, but the name is stuck. And quite frankly we could all do with less environment polluting, methane producing, over consuming industries such as this one. I'm much rather you switch to working the grain instead of working the hog anyway.

- It takes an virus scare to make people wash their hands more after going potty.

- I find it vastly ironic that everybody is FREAKING out over something that has killed so very few people out of the billions of us. And seriously, no disrespect intended for those that have suffered, have lost, or many of us that might as that isn't the point. But yet we could all very well be dealing with food and water shortages, the extinction of many of us and decimation of life as we know it concerning climate change - yet we are really like the story of the frog boiling in water. It sits in the water until it is too late. We're stewing and steaming over the flu when quite frankly there are much bigger kettles to look at.

- And I'm really hoping it doesn't get bigger as then I'll feel like a raving witch for saying that.

- It will mostly likely get bigger. We are overdue (I mean that literally as the world kinda goes in cycles with pandemics) for a major flu. The world has her own little checks and balances that we are sometimes helpless with.

- I retain the right to adore Charlotte's Web.

- Can we please have some color choices for face masks?

- There is no way I'd see the US closing a city for 10 days. Hell, when one of the World Trade Centers was hit - people in the other building were told to keep working! Seriously! We have some national issues with not closing things when we should, not taking holidays, and putting priorities in order. I'm hoping if we get away from a consumer culture we can restore balance to doing the things we need to do when we need to do them.

- Wilkin's Ice Shelf Breakage (a key warming indicator) gets the same page lineup as something about Rhianna's jewelry. (And I'm not quite sure who she is or what she does other than have an abusive boyfriend). Major ice shelf folks, check it out.

It seems like a discussion about death from Swine Flu is easier to deal with than Global Warming? Is it because demands mostly action from others whereas Global Warming demands action from ourselves and accountability by our government?

I'm perplexed. Guess that is the pork rind of the issue.

Green Product Smash: Eco Canteen

The fine folks at Eco Canteen asked me if I would be interested in reviewing their product and sent me one to check out. I gotta admit that I got one for free, but this is one that I would freely pay for.

I was sent the 26 oz. canteen - which is a much more generous size then my current supply of bottles. I was most impressed with the wider mouth - it is significantly easier to drink from , fill with liquids, and pop ice in if you desire to keep it colder for longer.

I've waited a bit before I posted a review because I wanted to make sure of the quality before writing a recommendation. So far it's taken a beating as it goes from gym bag, office bag and mini-van cup holder. It has been dropped with no spills, and my guys like it quite well. It has leaked once in a bag, but only because I didn't screw the top on all the way. Yikes!

I like that it is not painted with anything as my Fuel bottles chipped and looked cruddy after a year - and this retains just simple, basic, shiny stainless. I especially like the Eco logo as it conveys a message without being preachy. (Like get a reusable bottle you lazy slacker!!! The bottle says it for you in a much friendlier fashion than I could).

I browsed their website looking for official facts to jazz up my review and put a bit more than - Gee, I loved it. A few that I found that readers may enjoy:

- It contains no inner liners as it is food grade stainless.

- You may have canteens made for your organization with a message or logo.

- It's a very economical buy for a water bottle.

So I'm officially giving the Crunchy stamp of approval based on my experience. Please feel free to give me your feedback if you've used the Eco Canteen and had a positive or negative experience. If you can't already tell, I'm all for reducing our plastic usage - and this was a nice bottle to add to my collection.

P.S. If you would like to be considered for product review, please e-mail me at the link in my contact information. I retain the right to smash (luv it!) or trash (it sucks!) as determined.

Plastic Plague - from National Geographic

A video well worth 10 minutes your time. Listen closely to the information at the end about BPA and baby bottles - rather important info in my opinion.

Pandora Radio

I'm totally loving my new fav online toy, Pandora Radio. It creates a smashup of music based on your selections, no commercials, and good quality sound. You can build radio stations based upon a music sound, band, or song you like, and it spits out like minded music. I dig a wide variety of music but don't really have the patience or time to try to find new tunes for the most part.

Like Kid Rock? Put on a Rock song and then like minded music pops out in a non-stop playlist like GNR or Nickelback. Like Train? It runs all sorts of tunes like the Goo Goo Dolls, Hendrix, or even Sugarland. It is a veritable Pandora's Box of interesting tunes coming at you.

It's free, fun, and is helping me explore new tunes based on a genres. Music online is also a fantastic way to be greener - no cases, packaging, plastics, or waste. Enjoy!

The Sound of Diet

(The Sound of Silence tune)

The Sound of Diet

Hello treadmill my old friend,
I've come to hit my stride again.
Because the pounds on me are creeping,
As I recoup from cold snow and sleeting.
And the carby vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains.......
I hear the Sound of Diet.

And now I hit the low carb zone,
And plan a bit of ache and moan.
'Neath the halo of gym bright lights
I turn my stairmaster up to 50 flights
When my eyes were shocked by the sight of my extra girth
I viewed with mirth.

Now I know the Sound.....of Diet.

Sigh. It's been a looonnnggg winter. The outdoor lovin' Mama fortified herself a bit too much here in this last month - and my friend the treadmill and I haven't been bonding enough. Mama must now have the Sound.......of Diet. My mission? Get off at least 15 pounds. I look and feel healthier when I'm running with a little less junk in the trunk. I could do with a bit more (well, o.k., alot more) unpacking, but I need to set a realistic goal.

I'd like to try a solid week of raw food and veggies with a little boot camp exercise. When I go low carb I can melt it off me.....though it is painful as I like my bread a wee bit too much. Anybody else feeling the Sound of Diet?

The Not So Incredible Adventures of the Down and Out Dollar

Watch The Not Incredible Adventures of the Down and Out Dollar in Comedy View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Ouch! Digging it! Gotta love the SNL right on spot humor.

Signs of Spring

Friends in bunny ears, eggs, and a return to outdoor play.

An Easter Bunny visit at the crack of dawn that leaves eggs all about the lawn with tasty jelly beans. And yes, Mama gets up at 6-ish in the morning to deposit eggs so my little bunnies can find them. The neighbors must think I'm loopy as I run about the yard in my robe.

T-Ball uniforms have appeared for the very first time in our house. The guys were insanely excited to dress like real baseball players! This week Daddy also took my guys to see a Cubs game live and in person - Go Cubs Go! They muched on hot dogs, sang the songs, waved a big giant foam hand and had a great experience. Mama was stuck at work - sigh - where is the justice!

A parade was in order, as one must celebrate the beginning of the T-Ball season.

And races can once again be run outside! Hope you are having signs of Spring in your life!

National Library Workers Appreciation Day - Mama's Thoughts

Today is National Library Worker's Appreciation Day. Boy, I bet you had that marked in your calender, didn't ya? It isn't very well known, and I actually don't like that terminology. But the intent is good, so hey, I'll take a little good spirit and team building.

Last month my Library had around 47,000 people come through the doors. Last year we circulated just under 600,000 items. Today as I walked through the Library there were about 35 people using our wireless signal, a packed lab of 16 computers all in action, a full reading room, a line at the Circulation Desk and a Children's program happening.

We have free Wi-Fi, copiers, computer classes, periodicals, a comfy fireplace, a coffee machine, circulating video games, Playaways, DVDs, music and free meeting rooms. Even better then the "stuff" is the service - and in my Library alone there are 40(ish) dedicated employees ready to help you with information, resources, reader's advisory or working for the betterment of the organization. And the books, of course the lovely books.

Our program offerings run from computer classes to couponing, Wi-Fit for Seniors to peace drumming. Book Discussion circles or crafting, reading to dogs or the wonderful storytimes. It is there, just ripe for the taking from folks that want to give you what you want. Just tell us! And did I mention that programs we do are free?

We also do the mostest with the leastest in many respects - where else can you get this much for this little? Right now Libraries are the new office for America and we are having droves of people discovering, or perhaps rediscovering, or even visiting more because a return to public places is important in a nation seeking to restore itself.

I recently had literature quotes painted into alcoves in our Reading Rooms, and one beautiful quote painted on my staircase from first floor to second. “Perhaps no place in any community is so totally democratic as the town library. The only entrance requirement is interest.” - Lady Bird Johnson. As you walk down the grand staircase you see this quote, and it sets a tone for the Library in that all are welcome through the doors. And all are served by the people that serve Libraries.

On National Library Workers Appreciation Day I think it is important to recognize people that have a deep passion for literature, reading, people, information, technology, children, organization, communication, and fiscal responsibility. A Library is actually the ultimate search engine - use it!

In Suport of Iowa, or, Guest Blogging for Sunshine

I've been asked to be a guest poster over at .......and the pursuit of happiness blog by Sunshine. She is running a series of blog posts discussing the recent Iowa ruling that now provides a legal marriage for same sex couples. And yes Iowa, the next round is on me.

Sunshine runs a quirky little space in the blogsphere world as well as her own T.V. show. She's taken a much needed vacation and left her blog to the hands of a few (ha! ha!) errant bloggers.

She may very well not get it back! Enjoy the series of posts, and a Happy Easter to the world.

Mama's Mama Secrets

Last night as I was hurriedly grading papers on my laptop in bed while also drying a load of undies and trying not to think about a sink full of dirty dishes I listed to the hilarious Oprah show about the Secrets of Mothers. Mothers across the nation busted out with the secret angst and comedic moments only another mother would understand.

I'll put out that I adore being Mama- oh gracious I do. We can all wax poetic about being a parents, and yes, I get down on my knees frequently because my kids are amazing. My kids are the one of the best things I've ever done in my life, and certainly the most important.

But it is nice to hear a few other stories of the hilarity. I recently took an online bud's 2o questions about motherhood and one of the most important answers I think I gave was that if I could tell a new mother something it would be to realize that you aren't perfect, and you shouldn't be expected to be. Right now we women have so much pressure to have it all, do it all, be it all, enjoy it all. No wonder many of us feel like fleeing from it all at times!

As my children were only 15 months apart I think the ante was also upped tremendously the first couple of years as we were pushed to the max to keep it all together - and we were incredibly tired trying to make it all work. Two close together was a blessing, but also a challenge you just have to experience.

Seems like some of the most challenging moments involve pee, poop and vomit. Sometimes all three at once.

A few of my Mama dark secrets that I will share:

I think I was an overanxious Mama at first, mainly because I wanted to do it "all" right. A drawback to working extensively with children is that you also feel a bit like a know-it-all, which when that happens in life you are usually in for a good kick in the ass.

I used to be more judgemental about parenthood until I became a parent, or at least a seasoned one. I am still judgemental about a few things like sodas for kids, guns, video games, etc........but I've also learned to only be just a teensy bit judgemental in my own head and not blast my opinion everywhere. The second one does it will usually come back to haunt you.

When Lio was a newborn I had lucid dreams of harming him - and they were mostly prompted out of fear that I would do something wrong. For example, I had reoccurring dreams that I would set him down on the stove and turn it on and set him on fire. I lived in mortal fear of the upstairs rail - I had dreams that I would walk to close, trip, and somehow fling him over the rail. So many nights would I wake up sweating with a nightmare that I had somehow done it wrong!

A symptom of both pregnancies was that my husband could suddenly do no right. I literally wanted to smack him in the back of the head on the onset of both pregnancies.

The worst fights between my husband and I have mainly been over cleaning (who does more), sleeping (who gets more), and driving (who nags who more). All three are connected to parenting as the dirty ante goes up with kids, the sleep ration goes down and driving is a pivotal issues as each thinks themselves is infinitely better for the safety of said family unit.

I once caught a poo in midair rather then let it hit the ground after leaving the behind of a diaperless child. That was while my child was sitting diaperless in the booster seat because I was out of underwear and clean diapers and I put him down on a towel until something came out of the dryer.

You will be vomited or pooped on many times as a parent. Quite frankly you kinda forget it is rather gross and just deal with it objectively as you are more concerned with how the person feels rather then the messiness of it. Other people think you are nuts when excrement just doesn't bother you any more.

Both my children know how to pee and poo in public discretely. We call it a "nature pee." I frankly think you are doing your child a disservice if you don't teach them how to take care of their business because there might not be a toilet around the bend. Many times parks, trails, outdoor areas don't have a bathroom!

I love having boys. But having boys is also HARD if you do like moments of quiet. I turn into a crabby shrew when my noisiness meter has been triggered.

For the first two years of my children's lives I strapped a big plastic sliding drawer thingie in the back of my van and neatly organized emergency food, first aid, clothes, toilet paper, diapers, etc. so that I could live sanely while going placed. I also carried a portable kid toilet so I could survive potty training. Bless the bungee cables and call me a redneck if you like - but it works. You can see the two incidents below to figure out why I started doing that.

When Lukie was an infant we went on our annual trip to Johansen Farm for the fall festival, and somehow managed to run out of diapers, clothes, etc. right when Lukie had a diaper buster massive poop job that ran all out the back of his pants and on the pumpkin seat. Johansen Farms also does not have real bathrooms and use portable potties, hence no papertowels or such. I wound up cleaning him up with all of his clothes, using my underwear as a makeshift diaper, my husband's giant socks as pants, and my t-shirt under my coat as a top for him. Add on a nice comfy baby blanket and he was good to go for another hour.

Picture the same thing happening, but to Lio in the McDonalds Playplace when he was a toddler and Lukie was an infant. (Yes, I took him to a Playplace - is that a confession there? - Lio could play, I could nurse and we survived winter) Lio had a diaper buster BM that just ran all down him and all over the tubes and jumpy thing - so you know I was already the hit of the crowd on that day. In the family bathroom off the Playplace there was NO toilet tissue, ONLY a blow dryer and NO hot or warm water. I already had my child stripped down to naked, thrown his entire outfit away as it was just polluted and had no diapers or wipes. I had to splash water all over him, dry him under the dryer and then use Lukie's blanket to wipe the rest of the poo off and dry him. He was naked and freezing by that point. I pulled my shirt off him, wrapped him up in it and then marched out of McDonalds in my bra and teensy weensy undershirtie thing which was not a pretty sight. As I stopped to tell the worker that there was poo all over the floor and I had no way to clean it up I finally lost my cool when she began eye rolling at me. My husband met my vehicle in the driveway with towels and I placed a harshly worded phone call that afternoon with the corporation.

Dark secret - I suck at playing board games and such with the kids. I just have very little patience for that and inside my head I'm screaming in agony. I've never liked them as an adult either so I guess it is the same difference. Thank goodness Daddy loves this.

Yes, I have screamed at my children. Yes, I have lost my cool before. I had to go back and look up THIS POST because it directly goes into those moments that no parents really want to talk about - but we all have - but we don't share. I think we need to let each other know that we will have those moments. I'm making sure my ratio of goodness exceeds my ration of suckiness - but you can and will have those moments you don't want to remember when you are just overwhelmed.

I cannot stand to vacuum.

I am a bad parent past 9:00 p.m.

Sometimes I tell my husband that I have to grade papers so I can have just a few minutes to myself where I feel like nobody is needing something from me. I then fritter online for a bit and then turn to the book on my bedside table. It is my few, few minutes.

I have said I'm going to the gym before and really had more of the book on the treadmill in mind then the treadmill. Before kids I used to adore those long interrupted stretches of reading or writing - and now they are snatches.

I love reading the Dumb Bunnies by Pilkey to my kids.

So anyway, did anybody catch that Oprah show? It was quite funny, and very real. Got any parenting moments to share?

Done Birthed a Clemson Fan

I'd like to send a shout out to an old classmate, Dabo Swinney (Dah-Bo) for making it as Clemson's Head Coach. How wonderful when folks you know make it - and make it big! From what I remember of him he was always the quintessential nice guy, always had a smile on his face, treated people kindly and had a sense of humor. He got top marks in everything - and was one of those people that could drive you nuts because he made it look easy.

I think (obviously) that he ran in the more jockey-sporty crowd and I was in the wild child group/writing/kinda really shy- but just like apples and oranges - we're all the same fruit now 'eh? So congrats to an old Pelham High School alumni, and I think we done birthed a Clemson fan here.

FYI - They've got a new Dabo Song on You-Tube to check out. Whoo! There is also a Facebook Dabo Fan Club if you decide to be a joiner. How interesting that I'm discovering so much about folks I haven't seen in 20 years - and being vastly entertained along the way.

I was also completely amazed when I read an extended bio about Dabo HERE. I'm ashamed to say that he always seemed to me in that day and age as one of those "perfect" people - and today for the very first time I learned the extended story, and tremendous struggle that this person overcame. How little did I know?!?

Behind every face is a story, and in each person there is a struggle that many times goes unseen. I'd like to wish this person double luck, and I'll also send a prayer his way. I think he is a good lesson for many of us about hard work, courage, and keeping your eyes uplifted.