Trash Talkin'

Oscar the Grouch had the correct idea. It's time to love your trash.

This week as I was preparing the baby's organic oatmeal feeling all earth motherish it suddenly occurs to me as I throw away the individual wax paper packet one portion comes in, "what am I doing?" Those were not the exact words running through my brain but this blog is g-rated so I won't go there. I've been disgusted with the amount of trash my family generates for a long time now and I've finally decided it's time to embrace my trash and quit ignoring it. I can honestly say I am busier than most people. I work. I have 3 special needs kids. I am single. I'm old. I'm tired. Yada yada yada. So, don't go all, "easy for you to accomplish you don't have anything better to do" on me. That does not apply to my life.

We live in a society that loves to be frightened. Horror is one of the top grossing genres for Hollywood generating millions on a yearly basis. How about you save the price of a movie ticket and let me scare you for free with two simple facts about trash:

1.) The average person generates 4.6 pounds of trash daily. Since the 1950's we have used more resources than any other generation before us.

2.) Americans total yearly waste would fill a convoy of garbage trucks long enough to wrap around the earth six times and reach halfway to the moon.
( Statistics from Welcome To Dump and Run, Inc)

I'll stop there. I could go on and on to the moon like those garbage trucks about how we are destroying our planet one Styrofoam cup at a time, polluting our water table with landfills, poisoning our atmosphere with incinerated garbage but I'm confident enough in your intelligence to do your own research and scare yourselves.

What can my family do? We don't have curbside recycling in our city. We live in the tropics. We have roaches. I'm too busy to drive to the dump to recycle. I work. I'm single. I'm old. I'm tired. We don't have a have a local farmers market. My kids are making me insane.

Knowing how complicated my life is I've decided to start simple.

Fact: 1/3 of our garbage is from "packaging.
- Buy from a source that sells bulk. I'm going to the health food store or bulk food warehouse and pouring oatmeal in a paper bag from now on. And sunflower seeds. And flour and whatever else I use a lot of that can be poured in a bag.
-Don't forget your cloth bags when your shop. Keep them in the car. Our local Hospice Thrift shop and many other establishments have stopped providing bags for customers already. I know this about Hospice because I was behind a women who cursed the cashier out when they could not provide her with a plastic bag. Good for them.
-buy fruit and vegies at a farmers market or local stand that does not package with Styrofoam and plastic wrap. It's healthier anyway.

Fact: It takes 700 years for a plastic bottle to decompose in a landfill.
-If you have the choice between cream cheese in a cardboard container or cream cheese in a plastic tub choose cardboard. Ditto on all other choices.
-Now go set up your recycling area in your garage,on the back porch, laundry room, wherever. Popi just gave us a bunch of discarded bins with lids that we are going to utilize. I shouldn't have to say this but rinse before you re-cycle. I once had a friend who has an extremely high IQ tell me the smell of spoiled milk was too much for her when she attempted to re-cycle milk containers. Did you rinse them first before you put them in your 120 degree garage or did your just erect little neon blinking signs advertising your roach condo's?

- As Paul Blart would say: "Here's a fun fact:" Be kind to Hershey's because they are getting a bad " wrap" in the green movement and put those kiss wrappers in with your re-cycled cans. Approximately 20,000,000 Kiss wrappers (which are aluminum) are generated every day. You didn't really think I was going to tell you to give up chocolate? Do you think I am crazy? Chocolate to me is like Southern Comfort was to Janis. Enough said.

Photo: Jim Marshall

-Familiarize yourself with more fun facts about re-cycling paper, plastic, glass and aluminum here.

Fact: The air inside the typical home is on average 2-5 times more polluted than outside air—and in extreme cases 100 times more contaminated. Household cleaners and pesticides account for the majority of this pollution according to Worldwatch Institute.
-Make your own safer Home Made Laundry Detergent
-Use vinegar to mop, clean glass surfaces, use as a fabric softener, etc. It's cheap, safe and easy. Go HERE for everything you ever wanted to know about vinegar but were afraid to ask. And while you are at it use a cloth rag that can be thrown in the washer, not a paper towel. It takes one month for one paper towels to decompose.

This is where our family will begin. We have already been implementing some of the above things but will add some new things and do the old with renewed commitment. I'll let you know how we succeed. Having said all of the above I will confess I recently watched the documentary, No Impact Man, and I'm not willing to give up toilet paper. I also realize our overly commercial, greedy society has made it impossible to do away with all packaging. For instance, as a mom of children who have medical equipment delivered monthly to my house I can't do a blasted thing about the plastic packaging. What I can do though is take those huge cardboard boxes to the re-cycling center after the kids have played in them and colored on them. Yes, it's not as convenient as putting them to the curb for local trash pick up but our "convenience" mentality is killing us. One cardboard box at a time.

Let me know what you are doing now and one thing that you will attempt to do in the future. For everyone who writes with one new commitment I will send you a hand crafted, book mark or fridge magnet (your choice) made from vintage rescued jewelry and/or vintage buttons. Include your favorite colors in your comment and if you are Rain Man "sparkly" or subdued in you taste. Have fun!

I can't wait to hear what new thing you will be trying!

Missing Mom

My mom in 1944

My 90 year old dad recently decided he didn't like his apartment complex anymore because it was a "slum." The "slum" is one of the nicer complexes around town.

This all began almost immediately after my mom died several years ago. In his grief, he decided to sell his home and move to an apartment far too quickly. The Genius, The Artist, Popi and I had a family pow wow to attempt to present the pros and cons of apartment life to a man who is very set in his ways wanting everything done exactly the way he thinks it should be done and exactly when he thinks it should be done. As a seasoned veteran of apartment life I explained to Popi that he would never be happy with the maintenance crew in an apartment complex. He nodded with that glazed over look that people get when you know they are not listening to you, however, the pow wow seemed to go well. I commented to the Genius that it seemed to go well. She informed me it always seems to go well in discussions with Popi and then the next day he does exactly what he had originally planned on doing anyway. The Genius was, of course, correct and shortly after our pow wow Popi sold his home and moved to "the slum."

The plus side of all of this of course is that we never knew he was unhappy in "the slum" because he would NEVER admit we were correct in our initial reservations about his move prompted by grief. By the time I had figured out he had been creating havoc in the "slum " office and sending dozens of photos of "shoddy" work to the corporate "slum " offices he was already bailing out. I'm surprised they didn't give him a "moving out incentive." This week he moved to a new complex directly next door to the 'slum" complex.

I've been over a few times to help but grow terribly weary watching the severe OCD in action. No shelf is at it's proper height. The movers "ruined" his beds and he had to spend 24 hours "retro-fitting" them. I listened to stories of "idiots" who didn't do this project correctly or didn't do that project correctly. Interestingly enough he is generally the person responsible for the project but has forgotten this, laying the blame somewhere else. He had a big gash on his head from a shelf that was not properly installed in the new apartment. He sawed the edge off. I figure by the time he is 92 he'll have everything "adjusted" to his liking. Or not. For the first time since my moms death he verbalized that he misses her.

I once asked my neighbor Brasilia how in the world i could possibly show honor to a dad who has been difficult to put it mildly. Brasilia is not accustomed to hiding emotions and her face became immediately and sincerely puzzled. " What are you talking about?" she asked. "Most people don't even speak to parents much less difficult than Popi. You honor him daily by always being there for him."

I left today with mixed emotions and drove to the Weigh n' Pay which conveniently happens to be across the street from the new non-slum dwelling. I was in desperate need of thrift therapy.

In the parking lot i ran into one of my favorite characters who is employed by the Weigh n' Pay. Leo (not his real name) is a developmentally disabled adult who likes hats. The first time I met him he had on a black granny, gold lamay, giant church hat with a big gold rose on the brim. We've been friends ever since I told him how much i loved his hat. Recently, he had a toddlers Thomas the Tank Engine ball cap perched on his too big head. He informed me he wore it "because I knew you liked it." Several times I've witnessed Leo having seizures on the job and being lovingly tucked into an office sofa by the supervisor. "He'll be ok." she always assures me.

Today Leo is in the parking lot gathering carts when I arrive. No hat? "Where is your hat?" He gives me a withering look and replies, "i can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair."

And then it starts. I can't wear no hat i got grease in my hair. I can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair. I can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair. I can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair. I can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair.

Um, Leo? I can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair. I can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair. I can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair. I can't wear no hat I got grease in my hair.

I realize most folks would walk away at this point but not me. Short of knocking him upside his hat-less head like you do a malfunctioning CD player I tried everything I could think of to re-route his misfiring neurons. I have no idea why I finally asked him what kind of grease he used but those turned out to be the magic words. "I don't know" he replies, " but it's pink grease." Is it PINK? (I am an avid Pink fan generally buying it by the gallon) "Yeah! That's it! It's called PINK! " Hooray! Mission accomplished! Neurons back in sync. As I was waving goodbye Leo assured me, "Next time I see you I'll wear a hat for you." I look forward to it, Leo.

Our command is this: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

Paul sums it up in Romans 12. "...Outdo one another in showing honor..."

You are so right, Paul but it isn't easy. You are so right, Paul but it isn't easy. You are so right, Paul but it isn't easy. You are so right, Paul but it isn't easy. You are so right, Paul but it isn't easy.

Summer Time And The Living Isn't Exactly Easy But...

People keep asking me what summer camp my children are going to this year. I'm going out on a limb here to clarify my feelings regarding summer camp. I hate summer camp. In my day there was no such thing as summer camp unless you were dripping with money. I grew up in a Catholic Irish/French/Italian neighborhood where no one had money. Just lots of kids and Mary statues in the front yard. Most mothers didn't work in the 50's and 60's and for those of us who had working mothers the rest of the neighbors pitched in and made sure we didn't burn our houses down. Occasionally, they'd toss us a bologna sandwich.

We did have a one week Catholic camp that I went to once at the age of 7. I flunked my canoe test so I never even set one foot in the alligator infested lake but i did learn all about "making out." Our teen cabin counselor snuck out nightly behind a tree to meet up with a counselor from the boys Catholic camp over yonder and we would all peek out of the screened door, watch and giggle. The highlight of this camp was winning a glow in the dark rosary when I was presented with the "most religions camper" award at the end of the week. I wish I still had that rosary.

The Genius and the Artist endured years of summer camps and vacation bible schools since I was a single working mom and in the 80's latchkey was a dirty word and not the norm. I still carry the guilt as do most single working moms. Sorry girls.

The boy went to summer camp once and re-broke his femur during origami week. It took 1 1/2 years to heal. Cursed Japanese paper folding camp.

I've been trying to get the teenager into a special needs summer camp since she was 6. That was 11 years ago. They've never had an opening. I think it's kind of like getting a ticket for a rock concert. I probably have to go camp out at the rec center over night or something to get her on the list. If one more mom of a special needs kid comes up to me and tells me their child has been going to this camp since they were born I might just hurt them. Beware.

At my age I've finally resolved the summer issue and the guilt that is heaped upon our mom heads by a society who has gone "entertain your kids" insane. And for the first time in a long time I am actually enjoying summer. I haven't knelt by my bedside once this summer asking God to make it all go away and have the school district decide to start school early this year.

It's fun watching them be kids. Getting tan, eating watermelon, catching bugs, sleeping late. Yesterday, for instance the boy had his guy friends from da hood over for a swim, cookout and marshmallow roast. After the boys wrecked my house left we all cuddled up and watched Anne Of Green Gables which I got free from freecycle. I still have the barbecue potato chip crumbs in my bed. It really was fun!

The bottom line is this...and it's the truth and nothing but the truth. If your child spends the summer at home or they go to a camp in the Swiss alps where they para sailed with The Rock and the entire cast of i Carly when your child's teacher asks them what they did this summer the answer will always be the same. "Nothing."

Mini Vacation

The artist has arrived and we are enjoying her company immensely! I wish it was a little longer than 3 days but honestly a week might kill her with this family. Today we are "chilling." Here's what we've been doing this week:

Rowing around in Explorer 100
Here's a surprise...you actually don't get very far in a 15 foot above ground pool.

Sinking Explorer 200

May I have your attention please: One year in Haiti I was desperately flailing in the water off of Grand Godet' (Latitude: 18° 55' 60 N, Longitude: 72° 39' 0 W ) in a kayak which kept sinking. I noticed the adult male medical clinic interpreters rolling on the sand laughing and pointing at me. Eventually, Gerard Prevot my favorite interpreter, called me aside. "Sister, do you know why you sink?" I was seriously stumped! No why? "Because you have a BIG booootom." FYI: My fat butt BIG booootom had nothing to do with the sinking of Explorer 200

Enjoying the pool:

Making yummy food at home:

The Artist, The Genius, Haggie Maggie and I had a big girls night out wihout kids. Whoop! Whoop! We ate at The Artist's favorite Vietnamese establishment. I passed on the "Condense Milk + Egg York" and went with the Thai tea instead:

Weigh n' Pay trip:

And my first Weigh n' Pay injury:

I know you're impressed with my makeshift tourniquet. A strange bald man informed me the last women who sliced her hand at weigh n' pay got SARS. Seriously.

Re-inventing our thrift treasures:

We've managed to pack a lot of fun into a very short time! Happy 33rd birthday Ms. Artist!

Oh, and PS...Famous NYC based photographer, Lois Greenfield just called the artist to tell her she will be in Lois's 2011 dance calender, Breaking Bounds again this year. What an honor! You all know what you'll be getting for Christmas this year right?

Fall Garden Countdown

Our fall gardens should go into the ground in August which doesn't leave me much time as the garden is now nowhere near ready. I've already mentioned that I'm a Plunker not a Planner so this is a teeny weeny challenge for my plunking personality. I have most of my seeds and have a few i can't wait to try like the Heirloom Garden Berry Red Wonder Wild Strawberry.

In the meantime I am still working on the front yard water-wise plantings which have been a physical challenge in this heat. The completed garden (one of three) is looking good and tending to itself.

The Gulf Fritillary butterflies LOVE this area which is nice as I haven't seen many Fritillary's in the back butterfly garden this year. Lantana is always a butterfly favorite. In this heat you simply can't go wrong with Lantana.

I did have a major blessing recently when a neighbor and his son called and asked if i needed some yard work done. They stopped by last week and dug out the weeds from the other two gardens so now all I have to do is plant. Whoo Hoo!

Big trip to Home Depot is planned for this week and one to Jene's to pick up some Surinam Cherry bushes which will go along the back of the fence. When I was very young I remember gorging myself on these "cherries" at my grandfathers house as he had an entire hedge of them. Like I said before we can't grow cherry trees here so we grow the tropical substitute! I'm going to have to bite the bullet on this tropical substitute as Surninam Cherry bushes are a tad expensive. It might be cheaper to move north.

Appointment Marathon

Disney backpack!

It's been one week since I posted because I've been in the midst of a project to get all of those annoying appointments out of the way prior to the beginning of the school year. In our house that amounts to a lot of annoying appointments. In one week we have accomplished:

1.) A wheelchair modification evaluation for the boy who has out grown his first wheelchair from 2004. He has ordered a new, glow in the dark chair of which I approve wholeheartedly. The last time we met our OI buddies at Downtown Disney I couldn't find him in the dark. Except for the occasional "screeeeeeeee" of a tourist he had just mowed down I had no idea where the child had rolled off to. I asked Rick from Custom Mobility if he could also install a tracking device.

2.) A first time wheel chair evaluation for the baby who when presented with the color chart pointed to purple three times. It seems she wants a purple wheel chair. Apparently it's a good thing I said yes as I have to interject here that today while we were making some drug runs the baby had her very first ever temper tantrum in XYZ pharmacy. When we walked in she pointed to a shopping cart informing me she wanted a ride in sign language. I said no as we were just zipping back to pick up one script and zipping out. She signs "PLEEEEEEEEZE!" Um. No, again."PLEEEEEZEEEE!" Nope. Boom! Temper tantrum ensues. How sweet the glimpses of normalcy are. I was terribly proud at that moment.

3.) We've been to orthotics to have a shoe lift made for the boy who has a significant leg length discrepancy after his horrifying 2008 femur fracture and 2 major surgeries that followed. Tonight I found the other two he had lost. Of course.

4.) We've had a school physical for the baby who will start public school pre-k in the fall. She needs a new DAFO so a new script was obtained while we were there. Her physical therapist recently asked what in the heavenly realms had happened to the foam piece on the top of her current DAFO. I hadn't noticed that someone had taken a big bite out of it. It probably wasn't her as I don't recall seeing any pink foam turds recently. I have a mental image of one of her friends at the learning center she attends gnawing on her leg during circle time? As part of her school physical she had to have a TB skin test, Prevnar immunization and a hemoglobin. We had to return in 48 hours to have the TB test read and pick up our paper work. Another trip. Of course.

5.) Saw the fabulous orthodontist who is part of the USF/CMS cranio-facial team the boy is followed by. Children with OI have severe dental issues. In the boys case he has miraculously never had a cavity or severe tooth discoloration but he does have the typical OI malady of adult teeth erupting and baby teeth not budging. We have already had 8 baby teeth extracted at once in the big city hospital and now we are looking to remove 4 adult teeth that have absolutely no where to go. Two of the four teeth, however will require an oral surgeon along with the pediatric dentist and another hospital admission. And then... in about 9 months...."he will be ready for his braces." Oh joy.

In the quest for organizing my house, ridding it of clutter and making the patrons of Freecycle very happy with my discarded treasures, I have managed to misplace my appointment calender so I have no idea what is on the agenda for next week. It's just as well. In addition to everyday torture life, we are gearing up for school. We found this fabulous Disney backpack pictured for the baby. Not only was it purple but it also has fairy wings attached! Fairy wings! Could it be any more fabulous than that for a family who leaves room in the butterfly garden for the fairies to dance? I had already purchased the boy's white polo shirts for school only to be informed that they have changed the uniform top to a blue polo with logo. Of course. I. Could. Have. Cried.

Hopefully, we will be graced with a visit from our favorite vegan artist this week so I'm cooking ahead. Garbanzo bean soup is in the crock pot and some Basil Pesto with fresh basil from the garden and whole wheat linguine is on the menu. I truly hope she shows up because we really miss her and no one else in this family will eat this crap healthy stuff.

So what's on your agenda for this week?

In The Pink Friday Thrift Finds

Yes, I realize it's really Saturday but this morning when I found the above arrangement that had planted itself in my garden I was inspired to list our pink Friday finds beginning with this hideous mirror purchased for $5.00 at a local church thrift store:

Hideous mirror after:

Eventually hideous re-purposed mirrors will line my stair well. It's an inspiration I found in a shabby blog and the final results were breathtaking. At least in the shabby blog they were breathtaking. I'll post my project when finished which hopefully will be as impressive.

In the meantime I am off in search of more hideous mirrors to transform and in my travels found this pretty treasure which is now a saucer for a...you guessed it... pink plant:

Did I ever mention I like roses? Here's the next Friday treasure acquired from the same 40 cents a pound weigh n' pay dumpster. This will hold sewing notions in my....you guessed it...pink sewing room:

Total Cost: $5.25