It's that time of year again.
My friend Robin and I were talking about creating New Year's resolutions that are actually attainable. Small things, no major personality renovations (cause it never works anyway). Being the public health dorks that we are, we even considered making them "SMART" (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timebound). Oh, yes, we've written a few too many grants.
So, what are your resolutions?
Here's a few I'm considering.
1) No more plastic bags. Zero. I need to figure out what to do with my garbage since I now use the plastic grocery bags-- any suggestions?
2) Take an art class.
3) Every time I go to the beach I will pick up 1 bag of garbage (I guess a paper bag if I'm doing #1). I started this in 2007, but I forgot lots of the time.
4) Take re-useable containers to restaurants (for left overs) and take out places.
Here's a few cool sites to consider as you make your own resolutions.
If you live in Hawaii and want to think of small things to improve the community -- Join Kanu
To reduce the amount of stuff you buy, check out Swaptree -- you get to trade books, music and movies. I just signed up and it seems pretty cool.
The cats and I are moving back into the house tomorrow. Hopefully, the toxic, termite killing fumes will have dissipated.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Fame and Fortune?
Ok.....no fortune.
But how about this for a little end-of-the year fame? http://starbulletin.com/2007/12/24/news/story04.html
Somehow, I made the list even after being out of the country for 6 months. Crazy huh?
For those of you still reading this blog (hi mom). Here is the news from this part of the world.
1) I'm back to battling the powers that be for funding for tobacco control efforts -- some things never change
2) Our house is being tented for termites (preventativly) on Wednesday. This means that they pump the whole house full of toxic chemicals. Which also means that we spent the whole weekend moving plants and food out of the house. Dan is heading to Florida tonight and the cats and I will move out to a friends house for a few days.
I have nightmares about the long term effects of toxic termite killing gases. But if you don't tent here termites can take down a house in about 7.2 seconds.
3) Worms. Dan and I started worm composting since we've come home. They are cool to watch -- like having your own ant farm in the kitchen.
**don't worry the worms are leaving the house for the tenting too.
4) The first box we shipped from our trip finally arrived in Hawaii. The box was sent airmail and was supposed to take 15 days. 8 weeks later it arrived.... Here is a picture so you can see the way we shipped boxes....a miracle anything will make it.
And as a bonus, here is a shot of my adorable nephew Zach helping me cook over Thanksgiving. The kid makes a mean cranberry sauce!
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. For all the Jews -- enjoy your Chinese Food and let me know what movies you went to see.
But how about this for a little end-of-the year fame? http://starbulletin.com/2007/12/24/news/story04.html
Somehow, I made the list even after being out of the country for 6 months. Crazy huh?
For those of you still reading this blog (hi mom). Here is the news from this part of the world.
1) I'm back to battling the powers that be for funding for tobacco control efforts -- some things never change
2) Our house is being tented for termites (preventativly) on Wednesday. This means that they pump the whole house full of toxic chemicals. Which also means that we spent the whole weekend moving plants and food out of the house. Dan is heading to Florida tonight and the cats and I will move out to a friends house for a few days.
I have nightmares about the long term effects of toxic termite killing gases. But if you don't tent here termites can take down a house in about 7.2 seconds.
3) Worms. Dan and I started worm composting since we've come home. They are cool to watch -- like having your own ant farm in the kitchen.
**don't worry the worms are leaving the house for the tenting too.
4) The first box we shipped from our trip finally arrived in Hawaii. The box was sent airmail and was supposed to take 15 days. 8 weeks later it arrived.... Here is a picture so you can see the way we shipped boxes....a miracle anything will make it.
And as a bonus, here is a shot of my adorable nephew Zach helping me cook over Thanksgiving. The kid makes a mean cranberry sauce!
Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas. For all the Jews -- enjoy your Chinese Food and let me know what movies you went to see.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
The fun of reality
We are totally back in the thick of things. Some great, some.....just ugh......
Dan started his new job on Monday and already left this morning for a 3 day business trip to Maui and the Big Island. I know...boo hoo...it's rough being Dan.
I'm back at work where there is just a lot of WORK!!!! My desk is already mile high and I haven't even been back a week. Somehow, Kathy, the fabulous interim director who was filling in for me while I was away simply didn't finish all of the crap I left for her to do. Can you believe it?
It has been raining a TON here this week (we are talking flooding, high winds, no power for some people.) But I gotta say, it's still a warm rain and beats the Buffalo snow storm any day of the week.
Lots of people have been asking if I'm somehow "different" since the trip. I don't really think so, but I have noticed one odd phenomenon (and no I don't think it is a weird parasite). Since returning to America, I want to buy everything. I've become this bizarre obsessed consumer. It's like there are so many choices and I've been deprived for so long that I feel like I deserve things. Last year, I bought all my clothes at Goodwill. Last week, I bought a George Foreman Grill..... I mean my Grandma did say that it makes the best sandwiches ever, but the old me would never have purchased such a thing. I need to be stopped.
Maybe it's the glow of the Christmas lights at the mall, but right now I'm seriously shopping for some high-quality speakers for my iPod (anyone like to make a recommendation?)
Dan started his new job on Monday and already left this morning for a 3 day business trip to Maui and the Big Island. I know...boo hoo...it's rough being Dan.
I'm back at work where there is just a lot of WORK!!!! My desk is already mile high and I haven't even been back a week. Somehow, Kathy, the fabulous interim director who was filling in for me while I was away simply didn't finish all of the crap I left for her to do. Can you believe it?
It has been raining a TON here this week (we are talking flooding, high winds, no power for some people.) But I gotta say, it's still a warm rain and beats the Buffalo snow storm any day of the week.
Lots of people have been asking if I'm somehow "different" since the trip. I don't really think so, but I have noticed one odd phenomenon (and no I don't think it is a weird parasite). Since returning to America, I want to buy everything. I've become this bizarre obsessed consumer. It's like there are so many choices and I've been deprived for so long that I feel like I deserve things. Last year, I bought all my clothes at Goodwill. Last week, I bought a George Foreman Grill..... I mean my Grandma did say that it makes the best sandwiches ever, but the old me would never have purchased such a thing. I need to be stopped.
Maybe it's the glow of the Christmas lights at the mall, but right now I'm seriously shopping for some high-quality speakers for my iPod (anyone like to make a recommendation?)
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