Searching for the Perfect Green

All I Ever Needed to Know I Found on Pinterest

2012-06-04T16:19:00.002-07:00

Guess what? I have emerged from the mommy haze almost two years after having my child and remembered, "oh yeah, I have a blog..." So without fanfare, I am rejoining the blogosphere. Dozens of faithful readers await.

Will I mark this occasion with a meaningful post about my parenting journey, you ask? Why, no, I will not. Trust me, it's all been said before. I had no idea the legions of mommy bloggers there are churning out daily witticisms about potty until having a child myself. Anything you want to find is out there. Trust me.

Today, I have a much more important topic on my mind: Pinterest. In case you haven't heard of it you should check it out. It's a site that lets you create digital pin boards of things you like or that make you "lol." In all seriousness, I can happily waste many valuable hours on Pinterest, but like anything that requires the general public to be involved it is...enlightening.

Here are ten things I have learned from Pinterest in no particular order:

1) Nail art is a big deal. No seriously. I had no idea people were giving themselves ombre manicures or using scotch tape in such an ingenious fashion.

2) There are really is no limit to the totally adorable poses you can use in your overexposed family photography. Extra points will be awarded for cute signs or using your hands to make a heart shape.

3) You can do a lot with plastic spoons. Unfortunately, they still look like plastic spoons to me when turned into a delightful chandelier. Maybe I lack creative vision.

4) I wish I had invented the site someecards.com People love them some personalizable snark.

5) Cute baby animals are not just for inspirational posters any more.

6) Mason jars will give you a lot of street cred with the crafting/diy set.

7) People really dig cupcakes. Especially if they look like other food (e.g. hamburgers), are layered in a rainbow or come on a stick.

8) Casseroles and crock pots: they aren't just for church potlucks any more.

9) Apple cider vinegar could probably cure cancer if you could gargle it, drink it and soak your body in it, whilst using it to clean your bathroom.

10) Marilyn Monroe is still very popular.

Don't you feel better informed about society now? Doesn't it make you proud of the human spirit? Me too...

A Hungry Child Can't Wait: Ask 5 for 5

2011-09-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged for over a year, so I decided to make a comeback with a guest post. Savvy, yes? (I also may have posted a version of this post with screwed up HTML that came through your reader. Ignore my technical prowess.)

In all seriousness, though, this is a topic dear to my heart. I'm so proud of Sarah for having the courage to take action and make a positive change in a heart-wrenching situation. Please read what she has to say and see how you can join her in helping those who are suffering in the Horn of Africa.

Guest Blogger: Sarah Lenssen from #Ask5for5
Family photos by Mike Fiechtner Photography

Thank you Nicole and nearly 150 other bloggers from around the world for allowing me to share a story with you today, during Social Media Week.

A hungry child in East Africa can't wait. Her hunger consumes her while we decide if we'll respond and save her life. In Somalia, children are stumbling along for days, even weeks, on dangerous roads and with empty stomachs in search of food and water. Their crops failed for the third year in a row. All their animals died. They lost everything. Thousands are dying along the road before they find help in refugee camps.

At my house, when my three children are hungry, they wait minutes for food, maybe an hour if dinner is approaching. Children affected by the food crisis in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia aren't so lucky. Did you know that the worst drought in 60 years is ravaging whole countries right now, as you read this? Famine, a term not used lightly, has been declared in Somalia. This is the world's first famine in 20 years.12.4 million people are in need of emergency assistance and over 29,000 children have died in the last three months alone. A child is dying every 5 minutes. It it estimated that 750,000 people could die before this famine is over. Take a moment and let that settle in.

The media plays a major role in disasters. They have the power to draw the attention of society to respond--or not. Unfortunately, this horrific disaster has become merely a footnote in most national media outlets. News of the U.S. national debt squabble and the latest celebrity's baby bump dominate headlines. That is why I am thrilled that nearly 150 bloggers from all over the world are joining together today to use the power of social media to make their own headlines; to share the urgent need of the almost forgotten with their blog readers. Humans have the capacity to care deeply for those who are suffering, but in a situation like this when the numbers are too huge to grasp and the people so far away, we often feel like the little we can do will be a drop in the ocean, and don't do anything at all.

When news of the famine first hit the news in late July, I selfishly avoided it. I didn't want to read about it or hear about it because I knew I would feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable. I wanted to protect myself. I knew I would need to do something if I knew what was really happening. You see, this food crisis is personal. I have a 4-year-old son and a 1 yr-old daughter who were adopted from Ethiopia and born in regions now affected by the drought. If my children still lived in their home villages, they would be two of the 12.4 million. My children: extremely hungry and malnourished? Gulp. I think any one of us would do anything we could for our hungry child. But would you do something for another mother's hungry child?

My friend and World Vision staffer, Jon Warren, was recently in Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya--the largest refugee camp in the world with over 400,000 people. He told me the story of Isnino Siyat, 22, a mother who walked for 10 days and nights with her husband, 1 yr-old-baby, Suleiman, and 4 yr.-old son Adan Hussein, fleeing the drought in Somalia. When she arrived at Dadaab, she built the family a shelter with borrowed materials while carrying her baby on her back. Even her dress is borrowed. As she sat in the shelter on her second night in camp she told Jon, "I left because of hunger. It is a very horrible drought which finished both our livestock and our farm." The family lost their 5 cows and 10 goats one by one over 3 months, as grazing lands dried up. "We don't have enough food now...our food is finished. I am really worried about the future of my children and myself if the situation continues."

Will you help a child like Baby Suleiman? Ask5for5 is a dream built upon the belief that you will.

That something I knew I would need to do became a campaign called #Ask5for5 to raise awareness and funds for famine and drought victims. The concept is simple, give $5 and ask five of your friends to give $5, and then they each ask five of their friends to give $5 and so on--in nine generations of 5x5x5...we could raise $2.4 Million! In one month, over 750 people have donated over $25,000! I set up a fundraiser at See Your Impact and 100% of the funds will go to World Vision, an organization that has been fighting hunger in the Horn of Africa for decades and will continue long after this famine has ended. Donations can multiply up to 5 times in impact by government grants to help provide emergency food, clean water, agricultural support, healthcare, and other vital assistance to children and families suffering in the Horn.

I need you to help me save lives. It's so so simple; here's what you need to do:

Donate $5 or more on this page (http://seeyourimpact.org/members/ask5for5)

Send an email to your friends and ask them to join us.

Share #Ask5for5 on Facebook and Twitter!

I'm looking for another 100 bloggers to share this post on their blogs throughout Social Media Week. Email me at ask5for5@gmail.com if you're interested in participating this week.

A hungry child doesn't wait. She doesn't wait for us to finish the other things on our to-do list, or get to it next month when we might have a little more money to give. She doesn't wait for us to decide if she's important enough to deserve a response. She will only wait as long as her weakened little body will hold on...please respond now and help save her life. Ask 5 for 5.

Thank you on behalf of all of those who will be helped--you are saving lives and changing history.

p.s. Please don't move on to the next website before you donate and email your friends right now. It only takes 5 minutes and just $5, and if you're life is busy like mine, you probably won't get back to it later. Let's not be a generation that ignores hundreds of thousands of starving people, instead let's leave a legacy of compassion. You have the opportunity to save a life today!

Common Ground

2010-04-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

*I am going to mention the health care reform debate, and this post is not going to be that funny.*

Consider yourself forewarned, and please do not become alarmed, stop reading this post or succumb to the overwhelming urge to spew rhetoric. I am not planning to talk politics or debate which "-ism" is more flawed. There are far too many nuances to the issues that I don't fully grasp.

The thing I do want to talk about is a pattern I see that has become increasingly alarming to me as this wearisome media storm rages on. Simply put, when did we all stop trusting everyone but ourselves? I feel odd even bringing this up because I am usually what I would term a realist and what some would call a cynic. I'm certainly not a Pollyanna that wants to carry on blindly with my head in the clouds, but the level of distrust I see astounds me. We don't trust our leaders. We don't trust our fellow citizens or our neighbors, and some of us in our hearts seem to not even trust our friends. So much of the chatter is centered on "them" and how "they" are trying to screw "us" over. It's coming from all sides too. I know people on both extremes of the political spectrum accusing the other group of the same thing.

The funny thing is, when I think of the people I know, I can't conjure one image of someone that is actively working to take advantage of others. Certainly there are plenty of flawed humans and hidden agendas, but I have a hard time swallowing the idea that the whole world gets up in the morning looking to step on everyone around them. Mostly, I know a lot of people that work hard and try to live good lives. More often than not, I'm surprised by the kindness and generosity of people, rather than the opposite. Certainly there are some selfish jerks out there, but I personally find them to be the exception to the rule. This was even the case when I worked for a social service agency. I found myself consistently and pleasantly surprised that both the clients of our food bank and our wealthy Eastside donors were generous, grateful and considerate of their community.

To me, this is a problem that is more insidious and harmful than any policy change. It's being highlighted through the health care reform debate, but I think it's not limited to this arena. I wish the media would give it a little attention and maybe leave Sandra Bullock alone for awhile. I think to some extent fear and distrust are natural feelings for a person who is stressed or threatened, a state many of us find ourselves in these days. I also believe that we have control over our mindset and our emotions. Personal responsibility starts with me--not with "them." In fact, our thinking and our behavior are the only things we can control no matter what the external situation may be.

While I certainly believe in healthy dialogue and debate, I can't help but feel that we would be collectively more content and better equipped to navigate this stressful economic and political time if we committed to begin from a place of trust. In my opinion if we allow ourselves to be drawn into an atmosphere of fear and distrust, it will only serve to hurt us both individually and collectively. I know you think I might burst into a chorus of Kumbaya at any moment, but any negotiator would back me up. It's much easier to find common ground when you are looking for it. Can we try to see our own humanity in those whom we want to distrust? It's so much harder to fear "them" when we do, and I believe it will lift a heavy weight from our shoulders.

It's Only Life After All

2010-03-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Every now and then when I'm feeling stressed out like I was this morning, something amusing happens to me. A song pops into my head. Not just any song, mind you. This one belongs to a band that went to my high school called Dork, which was led by a guy named Spike. I am not making this up. Even the teachers called him that. The lyrics say, "Today was a good day. Yesterday sucked. Tomorrow will be better if we make it that way. Ya, ya, ya, ya." Very profound, I know. It was the height of ska (kind of a reggae/punk mix for those that blinked and missed that era).

The thing that makes it noteworthy for me is not the depth of the lyrics or the quality of the melody, but the fact that I cannot think of this song without smiling. It's silly, but it works every time. All of the sudden I am transported back to high school. I think of the silly, happy song and the goofy band, and it is impossible to take myself and my life so seriously. (I'm not sure this would work for everyone. One of my friends from the time lived within earshot of their practice space, so I think the thought of their songs makes her grind her teeth.)

I lost track of these guys, and I'm pretty sure the band broke up when we graduated. Last I heard Spike was headed to the University of Hawaii to major in surfing. Wherever they are, I'd like to say thanks to Dork. Your music still makes me smile, whether it’s today, yesterday or tomorrow.

The Way of the Kitty

2010-03-06T11:05:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a while since I blogged, I know. What can I say? I've been working at some side jobs that have turned into almost full time work. It's amazing how uninspired that can make a person. There's also the reality of just how tired growing a child can make you. Anyway, I'm back, hopefully to write more consistently.

One morning this week I was making my bed and observing the daily ritual my cats undertake during this process. It got me thinking that their approaches really are a metaphor for life. Not one to pass up sharing the Tao of the Kitty, I thought I would share.

As soon as my husband and I leave the bed in the morning, both cats jump up and get very comfortable, each being careful not to invade the other one's territorial claim. (This is very important because one is a pacifist and other one is a fascist dictator. Boundaries are crucial to peace.) One usually lies spread-eagle on her back, while the other one sprawls out on her side. This bliss lasts while the humans rush around getting ready for the day, and then the time comes to make the bed.

Neither of them will jump down willingly, so I usually just start moving pillows and tugging at the covers. Without fail this will evoke the same response in each one every time. The dictator will immediately jump down and stare back at me indignantly, making unhappy noises. The pacifist, back-lier just holds on for the ride, stretching and making contented sounds.

As I watched this the other morning for the seemingly zillionth time, I had to laugh. Aren't we all a little like one of these creatures? The bed must be made. We know it's coming. It happens every day, and yet some of us will rage against the machine getting angry at the disruptive realities of life. Meanwhile, others just stretch and get more comfortable, enjoying the ride of life. I tend to be more of an indignant rager, but I'm thinking...maybe my mornings would be happier if I followed the way of the stretching, contented kitty.

It's Not Why Time

2010-01-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

A while back a friend and I were chatting about a theory she had heard. The idea was that everybody has a primary question (who, what, when, where, why, or how) that informs the way in which they interpret the world. Immediately I knew that my question is undoubtedly why. It started early for me. In my childhood it was so incessant that my grandfather invented something called “why time.” As in, “it’s not why time right now!” I’m sure this was in response to the inevitable merry-go-round of questioning that comes from an inquisitive four year old. Behind every reason there’s always another question as to why that reason is true.

As I have grown older I have learned to (begrudgingly) accept that sometimes there is no good answer to that pesky question. This truth has been painfully apparent this last week as I’ve watched the horrific aftermath of the earthquake unfold in Haiti. Of course, there are scientific explanations for earthquakes and sociopolitical reasons that help explain the magnitude of the devastation. These really aren’t satisfying, though, because they don’t truly get at the BIG whys. Why them and not me? Why did those babies have to die? Why do I get to sleep in a warm bed with plenty to eat, while the Haitians wander their former streets homeless and hungry?

The fact is there are no real answers to these questions. All possible explanations that we can grasp with the human mind fall severely short. More dangerously, these “answers” lead us into false attribution of blame or merit. We run the risk of falling into the trap of thinking that good things happen to those who do good and bad things happen to those who have done wrong. The truth is, though, “Time and chance happen to us all.” (Eccl. 9:11)

So, even as I struggle with the desire to know why, I’m trying to change my question to something more appropriate and productive. I’m asking, “what would I want someone to do if I was affected by this crisis?” and “how can I help alleviate the suffering of the Haitians?” There are concrete answers to these questions, and they are the only answers that matter to our suffering neighbors.

Please Donate:
American Red Cross
Doctors without Borders
Mercy Corps
Partners in Health
World Vision
World Relief

Who's the Boss?

2010-01-06T12:13:00.000-08:00

Recently I’ve been thinking quite a bit about the illusion of being in control. For some reason I’ve had several conversations in the last week about this topic, and that’s set my wheels turning. Being pregnant also seems to be a constant reminder that I am no longer “in control” of my body. Just today I tried to walk up a hill and got so dizzy I had to stop three times, all the while making me more frustrated. Good grief! I should be able to walk up a hill without stopping. But…apparently that wasn’t in the cards, and really what was I accomplishing by getting annoyed. Who suffered? Only me. It didn’t change the reality.

It seems to me that a lot of our struggles and angst in this life are based in the fight for control. We’re fighting others, fighting our flaws, fighting nature and fighting the unknown. We try lots of different methods. Some of us drive ourselves crazy with worry over every single imaginable outcome in the hope that if we prepare ourselves then everything will be OK. Others try to manipulate and argue our way into what we think is “the way.” Some of us withdraw, thinking the less others are in our lives the more control we can retain.

Honestly, it’s a losing battle. None of these methods are fully effective. They exhaust us. They alienate us from others. They leave us feeling angry and let down because we’ve failed to perform the impossible task. It’s no way to live. We can never truly be fully in control. That would require the ability to transcend time and space. To read minds. You would need a flux capacitor for sure, and I bet x-ray vision wouldn’t hurt. Plus, I doubt it would be a very fun existence.

What are we to do then? Stick our heads in the sand and assume someone else is responsible for our lives? That’s no way to live either. I think we’ve got to find a new metaphor. Maybe we need to focus less on dictating every step along the path and more on successfully navigating the journey toward the intended destination. We can spend our lives clawing at road blocks, or we can just accept that we need to find a different way.

This year, I’m want to spend more time focused on living a life rooted in my values in a constantly changing world and less time focused on the perception of how exactly I accomplish that. I’m going to try for less bulldozing and more careful steering.

2009 - A Year in Review

2009-12-31T11:08:00.000-08:00

I know. Everyone is doing New Year’s posts. It’s cliché, but so is Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve and I still watch that too. I think it’s good to stop and reflect at least once a year.

Recently I did an exercise that required me to remember a noteworthy event for every year of my life. I’m still pretty young, and I have to admit that there were several years that just blended together. I don’t really know what happened when I was 23. I’m sure I’d remember if it was anything big. Still, I don’t think I’m that boring. A few noteworthy things probably happened. At the time I was likely too busy living life to stop and write a couple things down, and I probably thought I would remember. Silly girl.

So, in the spirit of reflection and at the risk of overinflating my importance, I give you my top ten events/accomplishments for 2009:

1) Got pregnant. (Probably won’t forget this one.)
2) Quit my job during the worst recession since The Great Depression because it was killing my soul.
3) Grew a vegetable garden and started composting (with John’s help).
4) Started writing a blog after finally finding a suitable title.
5) Joined Twitter and became truly addicted to social networking. (See: possible New Year’s resolutions)
6) Began trying to eat mostly organic and local food.
7) Took my first two week vacation since childhood. Visited Maui and it was glorious.
8) Bought a food processor and started cooking in earnest.
     a. Made my own pie crust from scratch during the hottest summer on record.
     b. Made pickles.
9) Visited New York City for the first time.
     a. Successfully hailed my own cab and boarded a train at Penn Station.
10) Joined a yoga studio and started going regularly (until pregnancy nausea set in.)

Now, on to 2010! May you have a prosperous and peaceful New Year!

The Gifts of the Magi Were Not Purchased at the Mall

2009-12-22T11:54:00.000-08:00

I didn’t really want to write this post because, frankly, I think some people won’t like it, and I like when people like me and the things I have to say. I also don’t especially want to stir the pot on a divisive issue. However, I just keep hearing and thinking about this debate, so I felt like I should probably just go for it. Here goes…

I am really tired of the debate about saying “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays.” To me, it’s tedious, argumentative and misses the proverbial forest for the Christmas tree. “Merry Christmas” are not magic words. They don’t appear in the Bible. They mean enjoy celebrating the Mass, or church celebration, of Christ’s birth. In theory we should be saying Happy Advent until December 25th (which is an arbitrary date), but that’s another post.

It is true that Christmas in its purest and original form is a religious holiday, but we also celebrate a host of traditions that have nothing to do with Christ or the Nativity story. I’m pretty sure that Santa was not at the birth of Jesus, there probably wasn’t a Christmas tree and the shepherds weren’t wearing ugly sweaters and gobbling gingerbread men. My point is, there are both secular and spiritual traditions associated with Christmas in this country and around the world.

I see it as the job of the Church and followers of Christ to uphold the important spiritual traditions and their meanings inherent in the story of the birth of Christ. I don’t understand getting angry at retailers for their secular portrayal of Christmas. These are businesses. They want to make money. They are going to do whatever they think will do that, so they cast as wide a net as possible. Why are we looking to Wal-Mart to set the theological pace for our lives? This is ludicrous. Personally, I think the co-opting and commercialization of Christmas for profit is far more offensive than someone saying “Happy Holidays.” I’m fine with the fact that most of the current retail ads leave Christ out of their messages because sweaters and video games on sale have nothing to do with the spiritual meaning of Christmas.

For those that celebrate the spiritual traditions and meanings of Christmas (a group in which I am included), I would like to suggest an alternate approach. Instead of getting angry at them for ruining Christmas, let’s find positive and productive ways to uphold and share the meaning of Christmas with as many as we can. Let’s look at our own actions first and see what we can do to spread hope, grace, peace and goodwill toward all.

"Charlie Brown, you're the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem." ~ Linus Van Pelt, A Charlie Brown Christmas

Santa, Baby

2009-12-04T15:48:00.000-08:00

...and, we're back. Sorry for the radio silence. It's part of my new 10 Steps to a Successful Blog theory. Step 1 - Start a new new blog, post two times and then go silent for a month. I'll be releasing the whole article soon.

Anyway, as you probably have realized unless you are in an isolation chamber, Christmas is coming. In preparation I have been thinking a little about my wish list. I don't actually really like to make a list, but we draw names in my family. If you don't supply options you will end up with an ill-fitting sweater. This year, I find I'm having the same trouble as the last few. I can't come up with anything good. I don't really need anything, and the great ideas that pop into my head include fancy cameras and diamond jewelry. Not helpful for the $50 limit. When I ask myself what I really want, I inevitably fall down the rabbit hole into a land of options not intended to be wrapped. So, I thought maybe I'd share a few of them with you and you can talk to Santa for me if you see him.

1) Find a Magic Wardrobe in my House - While I'd love to go to Narnia (post witch deposition), I quite literally would love to discover a magic storage space. My house is just shy of 900 sq ft and lacks a proper coat or linen closet. I keep checking the wall for the magic spot that opens it up, but no luck yet.

2) X-Ray Label Vision - With all the talk of phthalates and parabens in every beauty product and cleaner these days, I would love to be able to read the label and know what's really in my shampoo. Maybe there's an app for that...

3) Learn a New Language Like a Toddler - Maybe I'm just lazy, but I want to figure out how to reopen that language center in the brain before I invest in the Italian lessons.

4) Pull Off the Ten Item Wardrobe - There are magazines that say this is possible, and it always looks very chic in print. So far, I have not been able to edit the closet this ruthlessly. This would also be useful in solving the closet shortage issue.

5) Reclaim the Upper Arms from my Senior Homecoming Photo - I ran across the photo the other day, and I kicked myself for not appreciating them when I had them. Now it will require lots of work to get 'em back.

6) Extreme Home Makeover for the Neighbors - No, I'm not that altruistic. Their house is just that hideous. Washing machine in back yard - that is all I have to say.

7) Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men - Cliche, yes. I really would like it, though. Everyone is so contentious these days, and I find it a little exhausting. Maybe if we had a heavenly host singing to us, we could all look past our noses. Including me.

I wish you a peaceful and joyous Advent season! Don't forget to talk to Santa for me...

Losing my Stuffin'

2009-11-01T17:15:00.000-08:00

For the last couple of weeks I've been working on getting rid of unwanted stuff in my house. I am amazed at the amount of material things with no purpose that manage to pile up around here. I would hate to see the results if I wasn't actually trying to fight the accumulation to some degree. Stuff seems to be oozing out of every corner, and it's especially striking to see it all gathered up and waiting to be given away.

First of all, we have the candles and lotion pile. Let me just state for the record, that I love my friends and family and appreciate the lovely thoughts behind their gifts to me. That said, a girl can only use so many candles and bath salts for fear of rashes and overscenting, yet these items seem to be a default present. Be honest. Who among us hasn't forgotten to get a gift and felt foolish arriving empty handed, only to swing through the smelly bath section of the drug store and grab the first thing that looks serviceable? No one else? OK, maybe it's just me, but the candle and lotion giveaway pile is there and it's telling your story. I suspect for guys the same phenomenon is at work, but in the form of all-in-one pocket tools and brain teaser puzzles. I have three words for those who find themselves in need of a last minute gift that I plan to take to heart: ITunes gift card.

The second pile that always shocks me is clothing. How can I possibly be giving away this many items of clothing, when I clearly have nothing to wear? Why just yesterday, I looked in that closet and saw only tumbleweeds. While some things in this pile are worn out and a few might be misguided gifts, for the most part I'm looking at the (wo)man in the mirror. She's gotta take a look at herself and make a change. Seriously, I am considering entering a twelve step program for the overpurchase of plain t-shirts. I don't know what comes over me, but it seems I have an irrational fear of running out of black shirts.

As I wade through the existing stuff with some dismay, I find my stuff sensitivity has been heightened. Stuff is everywhere and avoiding it can feel impossible. A seemingly innocent purchase of false eyelashes related to my Halloween costume really got me thinking. This morning as I was throwing them away and recycling the box, I felt guilty and a little bit like I drank the Kool Aid. That was pretty wasteful, and I didn't even think twice about doing it. I wondered why I didn't think about it, and my thoughts immediately went to the store where I bought them. It was filled with stuff: for my house, for the holidays, for my amusement, for my health, etc. Yesterday it was equally filled with people consuming this stuff with a cranky fury. Why? Because they need it. They have an itch and it needs to be scratched. After all, you really should talk to your doctor because you need our product to cure your athlete's foot and/or psychological ennui. Ten out of ten people we paid said it works great.

Everyone complains about stuff, but it's like we are trapped by it, sometimes quite literally. We have given stuff great power in our lives. We've gotten to the point where stuff is equated with love, security and status. We've confused stuff with substance, but really it's just clutter. It takes up valuable space in our homes, on our planet and in our psyche. While there are some necessary items in life, I think the first step to avoiding the siren song of stuff is to consciously change our thinking. As I go forward, I want to try to live my life instead of interpreting it through things. I won't lie. It's gonna be tough, especially when I see the next black t-shirt.

And now, to avoid ending on a mildly preachy note, I leave you with some of my favorite thoughts on stuff from George Carlin.

I Prefer Baby Bear's Porridge

2009-10-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to get around to starting this blog for a few months now. I've even started the process a couple of times, but I always got held up on one little detail: the name. As I am the former holder of an email address that included the words Betty and Boop, you can understand my hesitation. It had to be perfect. After all, maybe I'll become famous some day and be stuck with some silly moniker. Furthermore, the rest of the site also had to be perfect and look hip. I can't have people knowing I'm relatively new to the blogosphere. So today I started thinking about setting it up again, and when I found myself making a long list of potential names I had to laugh. After all, I'm not attempting to write the great American novel. Perhaps I might be taking myself a tad too seriously?

The thing is, I have been this way my whole life. I can't help it, coming from a long line of perfectionists. Countless hours have been spent in search of the precise dress, exact couch or perfect turn of phrase. The holy grail can be found if you're committed enough. I'm just sure of it. In reminiscing about these quests, I was particularly struck by the absurdity of the fact that many of these searches have been brought to me by the color green. Not just any green, though, it has to be the right green. The perfect green. It's kind of an appley-avocado-lime shade, and for some reason I am inordinately drawn to it. A version of it appears currently in my life in the form of a tablecloth, a purse, three shirts, two sweaters and my water bottle. What can I tell you? I gotta be me.

While I have a healthy respect (and possibly an unnatural love) for exacting standards and detailed preferences, the truth is I know that perfection doesn't exist. Even with lots of editing and liposuction. That's actually what makes life amusing. It's more interesting when things don't go according to plan, particularly if you are the observer. So, I offer you my musings and my potentially regrettable blog title. Enjoy...