Carbon Neutral

I'm reading "Green Living for Dummies" ( can you stand it?) to try and see what else I can do to be better to the earth, to live in a less toxic home, and teach my daughters to use resources wisely. I am so relieved to find that I am carbon neutral. When we fired up the furnace, in the back of my mind I knew and understood that we are putting carbon back into the air as the smoke dissipates. I felt kind of bad about it. On one hand, it's not oil, but we're making more carbon. I was so happy and relieved that if you use biomass that gets replanted, the replanted biomass ( corn) used up carbon as it grows, negating what it burns off later. Carbon neutral. What a beautiful thing! Now I feel 100% good about what we are doing. I was sad to read only 3% of people in the US are heating with biomass. We still have a long way to come.

I'm energized by the election and am happy that he will support more than just "Drill baby drill". He will show us leadership away from the big biz that is oil. Thank god! AND after just one month of being really focused on my electric bill I just turned in the lowest kWh useage in 12 months. All I did was unplug stuff that used phantom power. It was that easy. I'm looking at more things we can do to conserve electricity now that my numbers went below 1000 kWh per month.

I'm off to drink my fair traded organic coffee made with a reuseable filter. Top of the morning to you........go GREEN!

Living with Dana

I have been watching Life with Ed on the Green channel ( Discovery). My husband thinks I'm nuts I watch it so much, but I am interested in all the new technology and innovations there are out there to live gree, use less energy, and make a healthier home. I am all about this. Funny, my ancestors lived off the grid, drank from a drilled well, and made their own everything. Funny to me that it is the "trend" now. Whatever it is, I am glad to see people embracing it.
I am feeling warmed now by our biomass furnace that went online yesterday. Brian has been working on instillation for the past month, ordering the parts, and getting it hooked up. We could have hired someone, but he insisted he could do it. Well, have at it. Do it he indeed did! He fired it up yesterday, adn I have forced hot air heat coming through my duct work powered by corn. The other good part, besides that fact that we did what we said we would do with our stimilus money and "got off oil" ( 600 gallons of oil per year no longer needed), is that my corn is from a local farmer in Cassville that dries and bags it for heating use. We supported local agriculture. Awesome! Took money from the disgusting oil companies reporting record revenue, and lined the pocket of a small family farm 30 min from my house. That is beautiful to me. No big bas guzzling trucks needed to bring the oil to my house 10 times a year either. We make "corn runs" with Brian's truck when we are going out that way naturally ( it's on the way to my folks house).
This is just the first thing we are doing to be greener, and to use renewable forms of energy. We'd like to research solar and find ways to use it, replace our hot water tank with solar or on demand hot water, etc.....

I know I"m just one person trying to make a difference, but I will. "Never doubt that a small dedicated group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Here is what we installed and are currently running, the Fahrenheit Endurance 50F Biomass Furnace/Stove.

I Hate Celiac Disease

I wish I still had my "Hate Book" going, god, remember those things? What a great place to vent. I was reminded of mine yesterday when working with a girl at my school. Her and her BFF have a note book they pass back and forth. In this age of high tech, it made me smile to see something so simple alive and well.
I wish I had my hate book because I would fill it daily with all thereasons I hate Celiac Disease. I hate it. I'm not even the one who has it and I hate it. I just realized this week that Ava can't play with Play Doh anymore, it's "secret ingredient" according to Hasbro is of course flour. I knew that, but wasn't thinking about it till Ava kept getting sick and I couldn't figure out what was glutening her. Freaking Play Doh! I had to order really expensive gluten free play doh to stock preschool with and a mat for her to play on so her safe play doh doesn't touch the poision play doh. Poision. That is what it is to her. Damages her insides, turnes her behaviorly into a monster. I can't believe what it does to her. Never in a million years would I imagine food could do this to a person.
I hate that she will never be able to go get a "slice and a soda" after school when she is a teen. Our sports teams always do spaghetti dinners in the fall. It's a tradition at my school. If she is playing field hockey or soccer, something so fun and simple, will be a pain in the ass for her. I hate that we can't go to the Applebee's fund raiser this sunday for the girls cross country team. A simple pancake breakfast. Nope, not happening. I hate that we can't go out to eat, or grab something in a hurry. Everything has to be planned in advance. I can't run out of gluten free food, cause there's not much available locally. I hate that slumber parties will be different for her. I hate that when it's cupcake days at school for kids birthdays, she will have to bring her own. That sucks. Big time. I hate that she won't be able to buy lunch at school. There is hardly anything there she can safely have. And college. That's something I think about. The dinning hall.

Mostly I hate all the normal things she can't participate in. I hate that her risk of certain GI related cancers is very high for her. Gluten destroys villi and healthy stomach homeostasis, cheating on the diet is not an option for her. Keeping on it 100% of the time is really tiring.

I hate it. I know it could be worse, but I still hate it. I told you I could fill a book.

I'm Aware Allright!

Welcome October, my favorite month! Halloween Month! A day off this month for Columbus Day ( as screwed up as the history is)! Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Typically, I donate to our school fund raising for BCA month, and that's about it. This year, I feel I have kicked up my own personal awareness to a level I never really needed. I had my first baseline mammo. in September, just like I said I would. Sure enough, I get called back for more "views" they like to call it. Views my ass! Flattening the boob in question ( my left) to even flatter dimensions is now what I call a view. They told me they would take more photos and then see if I needed an ultra sound. Turns out there was a mass they could see in the original photos. They thought at first it was a lymph node. Who knew your breasts had those? Not me, but no surprises there, I never paid attention in science class. The extra photos get looked at, not a node. It's off to ultra soound. Again, who knew they would ultra sound my boob, I asked the tech. To which she replied "Who knew I would ultra sound boobs all day?" The Doc that read the images said likely just a cyst. They measured it and I have to go back in a few months to "follow up" I think that's code for more "views."

All in all, I was pretty calm. I surprised myself. I will not freak out over this, and I will diligently follow up. All in all the prodding, flattening, and "viewing" of my boobs didn't bother me too much. I like my boobs, always have, they are a feature of mine that I am at peace with. Perfect "C" cup ( after babies, used to be a "b"), not too flabby, still not saggy. I hope medicine never has to mess with them, and I have vowed to get them mammoed every year from now on.

Happy Breast Cancer Awareness Month, from my boobs to yours.

Fall Weekend

It's is Barnfest weekend in my neck of the woods. We look forward to this old fashioned street craft fair each year in the Fall. It's kind of a tradition. It means you survived back to school and can embrace everything that is fall, Autumn, my favorite season. Autumn is stunning up here in the north country, I always feel sorry for people that don't live where the colors change. ADK girl through and through here.
In addition to Barnfest, we have the typical 100 things going on. Anna has a soccer game, Miranda has both ballet and Nutcracker rehearsal, and Ava turns three this weekend. Go three. Three is not two. That has to be good. Need to make gluten free "Backyardigans" cake, and frosting, and of course do the usual weekend chores ( Saturday AM and I already have done 3 loads of laundry and got my groceries. I marvel at myself). Need to plan Girl Scout meeting this weekend, and an ice cream social for 200 kids ( school club that I advise is having a social for Freshmen, again, marveling at myself. How do I do all this?) Also need to clean the house for the family that is coming over. Just a typical fall weekend in my life.

Recently, in My World

Wow, you can tell school started up, as my posts have screeched to a halt. Well, I am home today with a sick kid. Ava was the first to succomb to the rampent germs of school. Poor thing. Fever, cough like a seal barking, stuffed up nose, the works. She was all wheezy in the middle of the night, so I wrapped her up and took her outside to get some cool, moist night air. She was able to get a few hours sleep after I did that and propped her up on the couch. It figures, though. Today I took half day off, and was leaving work at 11 to go have my mammogram done ( we get 1/2 day per school year to use for cancer screenings, isn't that awesome?). That would have given me some alone time at home before my appointment. Now, I am hoping Brian can get home early so I can still go.
I did follow up on all my doctor appoints, and so far, everything checked out fine. My BP is 109/60 ( go me), my cholesterol is 146 ( sexy, ha?), and all my labs were normal. I had my yearly girly screen ( way overdue, a relief that that checked out), and since my monthly visitor is only about 2-3 times a year now, I had an ultrasound just to make sure it's due to peri-meno and not anything else. It's not, so I guess I am going out of business. I'm ok with that. I am 37, I am done birthing babies, so hasta la vista baby! ( I work with a woman who is 50 and still not, I think she's jealous). I have decided against any kind of hormone replacament, opted for a natural supplement, and will just ride it out naturally. Not a fan of pharmaceuticals, especially HRT's.
In other health updates, day 43 of no flour and no sugar, and man oh man do I feel awesome! I am energized, my skin and hair are fabulous, and I really did need fabulous. I have lost 10 pounds rahter painlessly. All cravings have stopped and I am able to stick with my healthy eating plan. It's great not to be distracted by food. Incredible. I have stuck with my daily laps at school during the day and that goes a long way towards mental health and well being. I come home feeling like I have actually had a break, and am ready to hit my second shift of being a mom in a good mood. Which is the way it should be. My kids should get the best of me, not the worst. They deserve me to be strong and happy for them.

All in all, busy as everything is, we are off to a great start to the school year. This weekend, the "Farenheit Biomass Furnace" is up for installation! Our plans to be greener and get off oil as a heating fuel are on track!!!!!

My Kind of Weekend!

I had one of those magic weekends where I accomplished everything on my list, plus had some fun! We went out to dinner Friday night, as is our tradition, first Friday after back to school. Kind of a sign we all survived! Friendly's is out as a restaurant choice, what a gluter nightmare that is, so it was off to our new fav, Piggy Pats

Saturday, we had a cord of wood deliverd for our fireplace, so we made an assembly line and moved it into the backroom. Love that smell of it! I also did all my housework, scrap booked with the girls ( 3 pages), made spaghetti sauce, granola, and blondies.

Sunday, I finished 2 loads of laundry, put it away, went on a hike with the girls on the greenbelt trails, finished painting the pantry, helped close the pool, made lasagna, and even had time to polish my nails.

This week, however, activities start for the girls, soccer and ballet, so it's my last weekend of freedom. I did enjoy it!

28 Days

If you are addicted to substances isn't it 28 days that you get in treatment? Well, my addiction isn't drugs or alcohol, and it probally won't kill me, but I am addicted to carbs. Sweets, starches, breads, cereals, good ol carbs. Only lately, with 2 members of my house having to go gluten free, it's got me reasearching and thinking. There really isn't one single thing good about most carbs, especiall wheat, and even in it's 100%true state, it's hard for our bodies to break down. Most are empty calories, viod of nutrition and hard for our bodies to digest, and do lead to many health complications. The more I read, the more I am aware, the less I want things like that in my body. So, I grabbed a book at the library, mostly looking for gluten free recipies, "No Flour No Sugar", and 30 days ago, I went cold turkey. No flour no sugar. I do eat some carbs, but only whole grain oats, corn, and rice. I eat only sugar in the form of fruit and an occasional dose of splenda to sweeten things. I have had sugar free ice cream a couple times, and sugar free pudding as a treat, but that's it. And like every time I go off the carbs, my cravings stop, and I feel amazing. My skin is amazing, my energy is amazing, and I have lost some weight. 30 days means I am past the 28 days, so I should be able to stick with this. My first big goal is 100 days off flour and sugar. My FINAL goal is to see if I can stick with my changes for a year, because if I can do that, then maybe I have changed my lifestyle. I have done this before, for 6 months. Lost weight, health was great, but I missed my carbs. This time, there are very few temptations in my house, as all of our dinners are gluten free for Ava and Brian. Combine that with all I have read about wheat and wheat gluten and I don't even want it anymore.

30 days down. Here's to feeling amazing.

Better Be Good to Me

I return to work next week. That means I have to swap garden clogs and flip flops for actual real shoes, put make up on, and head into my office. This is the time of year that my projects come to a screeching halt, as does any focus there was on myself. ( I actually get a little time in the summer to read, garden, and do some things for myself). Between running my house, taking care of the girls, and my job, which gets stressful as I usually have close to 200 students I am responsible for, I get stressed out. Most people don't know, or can't tell, cause I do deal with it well, but I stop taking care of myself. I need the time to focus on my own kids, so something has to give.
This year, I have decided that the something that has to give is not going to be me. By the end of this past school year I was fried like chicken. I gained back the weight I lost, and I wasn't eating healthy, exercising, or taking my vitamins or even drinking enough water. Combine that to the fact that my office doesn't have a window and most days I don't get lunch, which means no sunlight, erractic eating, I was feeling bottomed out.
Not this year. My supervisor askes me each year what my goals are for the year. This year, I am making some goals that will keep my own personal and mental well being in mind. Sounds a little selfish, but if I burn out and am not refreshed and energized, I am not good to kids, my own or other peoples.
My goals for the year are as such:

1. No working through lunch. I will take a break, get out of my office, eat lunch around adults, and walk for 20 min after lunch. ( I can walk laps in the school and get some sun light before heading back into my cave)

2. I will always have a full water bottle on my desk and even stop to drink it

3. I will take time in the evening or morning at home and exercise, either a walk, my bike, or treadmill. There is time, there is always time. I have found time before and everyone survived.

4. I will say no from time to time. Again, everyone will survive. Other people can handle things too.

5. I will not buy shoes that are cheap. Comfortable shoes are not a luxury item. ( Please note I put all non-comfortable shoes in my garage sale! It was hard to get rid of cute shoes, but I decided to be good to my feet.) Soft Spots are my new signature shoe. ( just bought pair number 2 after pair number one purchased in 2006 not only gets tons of compliments, still look new and are like walking on air. Cute and comfy).

6. My spa day coming up in 2 weeks will not be the last time I go. ( I am using up my birthday gift cert. from Brian to a day spa. Complete pedi and manicure, with hand and foot massage. ) I will schedule another apt. for mid year and not cancel it because I " don't have the time."

7. I will not come up with any reasons not to go to my docs apt. for yearly check ups also in 2 weeks. I will bring my list of concerns and follow up on each and everyone of them. Life is short, make sure you are healthy.

I already feel better. This year, I better be, good to me.

Pocketful of Sunshine

I love this song, it's so me!

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it's all mine.
Oh, ooh oh oh.

Do what you want, but you're never gonna break me.
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me.
No.
I got a pocket, gota poketful of sunshine
I got a love, and I know that its all mine, oh, ooh oh oh.

Wish that you could, but you ain't gonna ownn me
do anything you want, you can't slow me down, no oh.

Take me away: A secret place.
A sweet escape: Take me away.

Take me away to better days.
Take me away: A hiding place.

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it's all mine.
Oh, ooh oh oh.

Do what you want, but you're never gonna break me.
Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me.
No.

I got a pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine.
I got a love, and I know that it's all mine.
Oh ooh oh oh.

Take me away: A secret place.
A sweet escape: Take me away.

Take me away to better days.
Take me away: A hiding place.

There's a place that I go,
But nobody knows.
Where the rivers flow,
And I call it home.

And there's no more lies.
In the darkness, there's light.
And nobody cries.
There's only butterflies.

Take me away: A secret place.
A sweet escape: Take me away.

Take me away to better days.
Take me away: A hiding place.

Take me away: A secret place.
A sweet escape: Take me away.

Take me away to better days.
Take me away: A hiding place.

Take me away: A secret place.
To better days take me away.

Take me away to better days.
Take me away: A hiding place.

The sun is on my side.
Take me for a ride.
I smile up to the sky.
I know I'll be all right.

The sun is on my side.
Take me for a ride.
I smile up to the sky.
I know I'll be all right.

Secret Life of a Soccer Mom

I am a soccer mom. I drive a Volvo, have 3 kids, golden retriever, lead a girl scout troop, work in a school, love to go antiquing, and on the outside looking in, it would seem very boring and cookie cutter. Predictable.
From time to time I shake things up, and some things you wouldn't guess about me are that I love dance music. The more beats per min the better! I keep up on music and like to listen to new music. I like to be hip with my technology as well, and both know how to use it and update it in my home. I love to dance, and would love to do out dancing sometime soon with my husband. Typically, my MP3 player is loaded with great dance music, and I listen to it very loud. I overheard my daughter telling her friend she thought it was "weird" that I have an MP3, and listen to stuff that she also likes ( she loves Madonna. Like mother like daughter).
Currently I have some hot tunes in my MP3. I have the Johnny Visious mix of "Pocketfull of Sunshine." It's delish. I also have my friend JP's club mixes, and I would like to share the link. They are hot as well: http://www.djsupercub.com/mixes.shtml
So if you see me out there droppping my kids off at soccer, scouts, ballet, Nutcracker rehearsal, field hockey, don't assume I am listening to country, or that lite and easy station. I am one jamming mom!

Ava "isms"

Ava, she cracks me up! She is a talker, non stop communicator. She has a couple thing thought she says regardless of correcting her that she insists on saying like:

Going Suit- bathing suit. She can say bathing suit just fine, or swim suit, but this is what she insists on. As in " put your going suit on we are going swimming"

Pickups- hiccups. As in " Mom, I have the pickups". Hmmmmm.....could this stem from me asking her to pick up her toys one too many times?

Coconuts-pistashios. Yesterday, while cracking and eating pistachios with Miranda, she said " Mom, I am eating coconuts, and I like them."

7 Things I hate.....

My daughter has been listening to that Miley Cyrus song "7 Things I hate About you." I was remembering our "Hate Books" from high school.....slam books is I guess what they really were, only I don't think they were intended to be mean, it was our way of expressing things we disliked, not just people although there were a few people on my list.....

So, here is my current hate list, 7 Things I hate:

I hate the way the media morphs 2 names together on cleb couples, like Bradalina. Please, they are 2 seperate people.

I hate the way media also pays enormous sums of money for pics of cleb new borns. 14 milion dollars for pics of their twins. Bless them for donating it all to childrens charities.

I hate how fast cars fly down off the hill on the road in front of my house, and the fact that there isn't a "Children Playing" sign.

Roadside memorials. I have noticed several in the area. When someone dies in a vehicle related death and people put up a memorial marker and flowers, etc....I realize people want closure, go to the memorial, bring those things to the cemetary.

I hate the way our nation is immobolized by the price of oil/gas, and having to decide not to have wanderlust this summer because I can't afford the price of gas.

I hate the way the nations is making a "housing crisis" a big deal and trying to bail everyone out, like those people that live in Old Forge and have not only a house, but a waterfront home in the same area, haven't paid taxes since 2003, and the press is making a big deal about "poor them, they are losing their home". Um, they have 2 homes, valued at 700,000. SELL one to pay your taxes and LIVE in the other. If the county bails them out, they will have to bail everyone out.

Finally, I hate the weather this summer. Too cold. My pool is 62 and nobody wants to swim. Really need to get a solar panel next summer.

Wine Ice Cream

I just read this story on the news site I frequent about some local Wine Ice cream that is now legal to sell in NY. Last year, in June, I purchased the ice cream on my way up North. I was with a friend from work and we grabbed 2 spoons and dug in. Yum! It was awesome. However, we purchased it w/o being ID'ed and I guess we assumed it was only wine flavored. Ooops.

It really was Yum-o!

Halloween

OK, I really do know it's August, be we are already in "Halloween Prep" mode. I love Halloween. The year we went to Salem Mass in October was like Christmas to me. I don't know what it is about Halloween, maybe just that I am a kid at heart? Anyways, we already have costumes, bought them last November on extreme clearance at Target. I think each costume was 4.00, and they are those nice 30.00 costumes that include everything. I start buying candy this month and freezing it, as we get 300 trick or treaters and I like to give "good" candy. Name brand, no fillers!
Where does my husband stand on all this? Well, he decorates the "Haunted Porch" and made me that awesome witch for my yard, and he takes the girls out to get candy, but that's about it. He doesn't like to think about it till about October 20. For the past few nights, somehow Halloween has come up at dinner,very innocently. As in, we were in the party store and costumes are out now, etc....HE thinks it's a conspiracy and we would do anything to bring it up. Well, last night, again without thinking, it came up again, only now it's funny cause it keeps coming up and we aren't even trying. It's fun to drive him crazy.
I was in the craft store yesterday getting more stencil paint for my living room stencil project and guess what's set? HALLOWEEN! Enjoy summer, there is still lost of it left, but Halloween is just around the corner. 92 shopping days left.

My Sparkling Daughters

Turbo Tech!

I spent most of yesterday playing with my computer, but......I actually downloaded music to my MP3 player, a smoking hot playlist of current songs ( and I got the just released remix of "Pocketfull of Sunshine", it's mixed with Sweet Escape and it is AWESOME!), updated features on my computer, cleaned out things we never use, used the flashdrive to dump out photos and free up space, and set up everyone's new email. In addition now that there is road runner, Miranda is able to use some of her technology that didn't work on dial up. She is also on tech overload. However, to make sure she is not a computer slug, for every min you are online, you owe me a min of reading. Works like a charm and she is reading!

I can't believe how fast everything moves on my computer now. I have turbo baby! Turbo car ( I really am going to get a speeding ticket one of these days), turbo online. For a multi tasking mom like me with limited time, I appreciate the speed. Zoom Zoom!

Dog Days of Summer

Need I say more?

We're Not Gonna Take It

So Brian and I had decided in the Spring that we're not going to take it anymore. We are referring to the price of gas/oil and that fact that it has driven all other prices up. We decided to make changes to keep money in our pocket and not feel the pinch of what's going on.
Some of my summer has been consumed by being a better, smarter consumer. To date we have: put our biomass furnace on layaway ( Total is 4K with taxes, we used the stimulus money and some savings and have about 1K to pay off before October), the pellets will likely cost us 1K this year, Oil would be triple that, so the savings is HUGE, this furnace will pay for itself in just 2 heating seasons. Not to mention we are being kinder to the earth. We changes out communication suppliers. Our phone used to run us 50.00/month, 10 for dial up and 60 for Direct TV. 120.00 total. For a dollar less, I switched to all the best from Time Warner, I got: digital cable, digital phone ( one flat fee, I can call anywhere, nor charges), adn road runner. I significantly upgraded our technology and in the long run wil save a few bucks. Finally, I reshopped our home owners insurance and will save us 300 dollars this year.

It seems like good savings, but we will probally just break even, but that was the plan. It took up a bunch of time, but has saved us some cash and improved out technology. If the government isn't really going to do much to make things easier for people, we took matters into our own hands.

Technology

We have updated pretty much all of our technology at home. It's almost overwhelming to make all the necessary changes. Spent the morning typing to update my email address to all. Took my two hours. We purchased the "All the Best" from Time warner and updated to digital cable, Road Runner, digital phone, and we even purchased a new phone to handle all of this. Loving the speed! If you don't hear from me for a while, it's just that I am trying to get everything settled and set up.