So Much Stuff

Sometimes I just get completely overwhelmed by all the CRAP we have in our lives.

It struck me today as I was taking a break from sitting at my new Pier 1 office desk and staring our new 24" wide screen flat panel computer to put away a pile of laundry that consisted of one of Marc's 10,000 pairs of bike shorts. As I was cramming said shorts into an over-stuffed spare dresser placed conveniently in the "high performance" closet which is also bursting with jackets, sweaters, shoes and all sorts of other rarely used items (wedding dress excluded), I heard the Tivo ping a notice that it was going to start recording a new program.

The other day, Marc said if we move again, we'll definitely have to hire movers. That depresses me.

When I was in college, I left furniture behind in my trashy little houses because I just didn't need it. I moved in a single trip, borrowing the guy of the moment's truck and donating anything that wouldn't fit to neighbors and street corners. Now, our closets are overrun with "someday we might want it" things and our rooms are bursting with gadgets and miscellanea of all types.

While I wouldn't trade our red couch for any of the Goodwill specials I had in college, it would be nice to get back to a simpler time with less stuff.

I've Seen Fire and I've Seen Rain

Southern California is engulfed in flames, fueled by the Santa Ana winds.
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/news/wildfires/index.html

Heavy rains, up to 8 inches just yesterday, flooded New Orleans businesses and resulted in waist-high water in some parts of the ravaged city.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/5237278.html

It's going to be 75 tomorrow in Denver.

And people still think Global Warming is a "theory"?

Magazines = Good Readin'

I LOVE magazines. I used to subscribe to several - Vegetarian Times, Women's Health, Organic Style (now defunct) and it was always such a joy to discover a new magazine amidst the bills and junk mail. It's been awhile since I've experienced the excitement of seeing a fresh magazine cover in the mailbox ... until today!

The first copy of my Mother Earth News subscription arrived today! Hoorah! And guess what article popped out at me as I was flipped through to pull out all those annoying stiff card thingys? A story about Kiva.org and Microlending. Am I good or what?

I'm sure this magazine will lend some great ideas for my green living - I see something about cage free eggs, recipes for sensational soups and perhaps some tips about composting ... but I also know as hard as they might try over there at Ogden Publications, there's going to be no shortage of out-there crunchy granola type of suggestions. Which I will happily include on my blog for sheer shock value. Take this, for example, from the "75 Inspiring Ideas to Live On Less and Love It" article:

"Avoid paying rent by finding a live-in elder care position. There's always someone desperate for reliable help, and often there are no qualifications needed other than compassion."

"Instead of shopping, scavenge. Watch the curbs at the end of the semester in a college town. If you live near a high school, try talking to the janitor the last day of school when they're cleaning out the lockers." -- You know, for Chapstick, old Algebra homework and if you're lucky, you might score some random tampons.

This one though, I like: "Rediscover the radical notion of a public library: Get books, music and movies for free!" I always say I'm going to go to the library instead of shelling out $25 for the latest book club option. This month I mean it! Maybe I'll even ride my cruiser bike and put the books in my basket.

I might have a little bit of crunchy granola hippie in me yet.

Give a Little

For the cost of a week's worth of lattes (well, not "mine" since I drink fair trade organic coffee brewed in my Cuisinart at home) - or one night of dining out with your honey - you can help make difference in the life of a far-off entrepreneur. Cue Sathy Struthers, you say? No, this isn't one of those "pennies a day adopt a kid from Ethiopia" things. Stay with me.

For my birthday, my sister Lisa gave me a $100 gift certificate to a website called, Kiva.org. The mission of Kiva is to work with third-party microloan providers to connect givers (that's me!) with small business owners around the world.

If you're not familiar with the microcredit concept, it is the extension of very small loans (microloans) to the unemployed, to poor entrepreneurs and to others living in poverty who are not considered bankable. These individuals lack collateral, steady employment and a verifiable credit history and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional credit. Microcredit is a part of microfinance, which is the provision of financial services to the very poor; apart from loans, it includes savings, microinsurance and other financial innovations. Muhammad Yunus launched the modern version of these loans and won a little thing called the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts.

There are some really amazing people on the site - like this guy, Jose Muentes from Guayaquil, Ecuador. He has a recylcing business and needs $675 to buy equipment and supplies.
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=21193

Marc spends that on motorcycle tires every few months. I'm actually really embarrassed to admit that.

I ended up spreading my $100 around to 3 different people:
Koleti Poasa in Somoa who needs stuff for her taro plantation. http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=21130

Hamis Mchika in Tanzania who is a local tailor and specialized in making suits. He needs an electronic sewing machine to boost his business. http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=21793

Luisa Julia Lopez Espejo in Peru needed capital to invest in her grocery store/restaurant/boarding house. Her story is really cool. http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=21858

I encourage all my loyal readers out there (a-hem ... anyone?) to check out the site. There are some amazing stories to read and it's a wonderful opportunity to do something meaningful with a little bit of money.

Going Green for 26.2

Courtney and I ran our first ever (and perhaps only) marathon on Sunday - The Denver Marathon. The course twisted and turned its way through the city streets, big green parks and back into downtown. Despite the drizzling rain and 40 degree high, it was a beautiful way to see the city.

Of course, with 26.2 miles ahead of us, we had plenty of time to ponder the experience and consider ways to green-ify the marathon. The water/Gatorade stations were expertly placed about every 2 miles on the course - leaving behind a river of green and white cups crushed in the gutters. To do our part, Courtney and I shared a cup of water at each station - they were too big for us to want to drink the whole thing and we saved one cup of trash at each stop!

We also think there should be a Green Marathon to raise money for some sort of community organization. It would be easy enough to make a run carbon neutral and Clif could bring their organic bars and energy drinks. Then, we'd just need biodegradable corn cups or make runners carry their own bottles that could be refilled at each stop.

Go Gore!

Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for work to raise awareness about global warming.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/12/nobel.gore/index.html


Fuck yes! Need I say more??

Afternoon Delight

I had the pleasure of dining in the White Wave office cafeteria for lunch today, and I must say it was a pleasure indeed!

When you think of a "cafeteria" you might envision gloopy trays of mystery meat, hairnets and cartons of lukewarm milk. While there was plenty of Horizon Organic milk (and it's dairy free counterpart, Silk) available at this cafe, the food was knock-your-socks-off good. Or, at least pretty darn good for $5 served up in a cafeteria in a business park.

The cafeteria boasted 4 hot plate options which today included: Seafood Bouillabaisse, Roasted Vegetable Tart with fingerling potatoes and green beans (my option), Pizza and Asian Chicken Stir Fry with Soba Noodles. For the less adventurous there is also a make-your-own sandwich bar, smoothie bar, latte bar and an organic salad bar. They're just missing the happy hour cocktail bar! Most everything on the menu is organic or at least all-natural. The cookies and bars looked freshly made.

And the tray dump included bins for composting, mixed recycling and trash. Now that's what I call an office perk!

Doggie Bag

You don't realize just how much trash there is around your neighborhood (and I don't mean Whisky Tango neighbors) until you take a walk with a puppy.

eKo manages to identify (plus stop and smell) every bit of "food" and trash you can imagine. Matchbook covers, candy wrappers, BK french fry boxes ... there is so much miscellaneous trash along our walking route that you might otherwise walk over, unnoticed.

I guess I need to start carrying a trash bag with the poop bags. Fun.