Adventures in Jennyland

I just need a moment

2009-10-19T13:52:00.001-05:00

I just need to take a moment and vent.

PEOPLE! I cannot get volunteer groups for your site if you never return my emails.

OK, I feel better now.

Thanks.

Thanks, Volunteers, I Guess ...

2009-07-08T13:54:00.003-05:00

How do you politely give not-so-great feedback about a volunteer group?

I had a group of 5 grad students come out from one of the area universities a couple of weeks ago. There were two projects we asked them to do

Set up an apartment for a new resident, and
Give the small group kitchen a thorough cleaning.

I wasn't able to stay and supervise the whole project, but I greeted them and - along with another staff person who was there the entire time - thoroughly explained the tasks that made up each project. I even left them written instructions on what to do in the kitchen.

And yet, when I asked the site director how the kitchen looked the following day, she hesitated and said: "It looks alright, I guess."

I had my doubts about the group. One girl came in a dress and espadrilles. Never a good sign. And the two girls (they were all girls) who made the bed didn't really know what they were doing... they didn't know to tuck the sheets in under the mattress. Who doesn't know how to make a bed?

I'm sure the kitchen cleaning would have gone better had I been there overseeing each step, but honestly, what part of "take items out of the cabinets, wash the cabinets, and put the items back in, getting rid of the expired foods" is hard to understand? And even though we asked them to also clean out the fridge, they didn't even touch it. And, I was told, the group left two hours early (after arriving an hour late - although that part I didn't mind because I got lost on the way to the site too).

I realize my blog is turning into a never-ending rant and whine about volunteers and volunteer coordination, but good grief!

I have had fantastic groups of grad students from this same university so I don't want to dismiss them entirely. But the so-so groups vastly outweigh the good ones.

My question is, how do I politely let the volunteer coordinator at the school know that the volunteers they sent weren't very good? Is there even a point in doing so? And how much is my fault? I thought I provided adequate instruction and supervision, but maybe I didn't.

Volunteer Hoardes: More work than help

2009-06-24T10:37:00.003-05:00

Dear Boston colleges and universities,

STOP ORGANIZING YOUR SCHOOL-WIDE, CITY-WIDE VOLUNTEER DAY ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

Do you ever wonder why it's so hard to find placements for your hundreds and thousands of freshmen? It's because you all choose the same week - even the same day in some instances - to carry out this event.

Boston University is even competing with itself: I've received requests from BU FYSOP (Boston University's Freshman Year blah blah blah Program) whose program runs 8/26-8/28 and BU Law School whose volunteer day is 8/26.

MIT's City Days is mercifully Sept. 4th, but their Freshman program lasts a whole week: 8/25-8/28.

I know it seems all convenient and nice to pair up freshmen orientation with volunteering, but I've got news for you: most of the freshmen could care less. They usually come dressed improperly and last year, out of a group of 15 students, only one student actually did yard work while 14 others spent the entire time staring at a snail. I won't name the school, but our property manager won't take them back again, and yard work is pretty much the only thing a group of 15 can do for 4 hours (and even that's a stretch).

So stop calling me, stop emailing me, and stop talking about how you'd love to work with me to develop a project. I don't want to "develop" a project, nor do I have time. If we have a need that coincides with your day, time span, and group size, great. If not, that's just too bad.

Honestly, I pity the poor staff and unknowing student workers who are roped into organizing these events every year. They are not paid nearly enough. That said, why not consider a mid-semester community service holiday? Or better yet, forgo the school-wide days entirely. Let residence halls or departments pick a day, and coordinate them through the community service office to keep everyone from choosing the same day - or week, even.

Do you know when I need volunteers? February and March, and June and July. Just small groups to come in and socialize with the residents (maybe bring ice cream, or a movie, or practice your one-act play in front of an audience). These are the months when nobody thinks of volunteering (it's not the beginning of the school year, it's not Christmas, it's not the end of the school year). Guess what? People are hungry and homeless all year round, elders are lonely and isolated all year round. I am much more willing to sit down and develop a project during the volunteer "off season."

Just think about trying something new, OK? Or at least sneak a peek at the competitions' calendars and pick a different day.

Sincerely,

One very tired, overworked 1/4 time volunteer coordinator*

*The other 75% is divided between fundraising admin, communications, and being Human Rights Officer

AmeriCorps - Good Investment?

2009-06-12T15:57:00.005-05:00

Despite the fact that I am an AmeriCorps and VISTA alum, I kind of agree with Lori's logic in her latest blog post - Should MA fund Americorps? My unpopular view - that funding more AmeriCorps positions may not be the best use of funds.

Direct philanthropic investment in experienced volunteer recruiters and volunteer managers paid to serve on charity staffs may be a better route to increase volunteer engagement, versus “hiring” inexperienced people with limited training and resources for short stints without long-term vision and commitment to volunteerism from charity leaders.

Putting money in volunteer program infrastructure (yes, actually paying people to run volunteer programs!) for either actual charities who utilize volunteers or for organizations like PMD who organize volunteer projects for charities (best service ever!) is probably a better long-term investment.

However, I can't ignore the fact that upon graduating from college I had no direction. Not a clue what I wanted to do with my life. So I joined AmeriCorps and volunteered with the Greater Dallas Habitat for Humanity. I honestly have no idea where I would be - most likely I never would have come to Massachusetts or met my husband. And Habitat for Humanity is an organization that actually knows how to use AmeriCorps effectively and has the capacity to do so.

Even so, I must admit that I could not have survived my two years with AmeriCorps and the VISTA program if I didn't have the support of my parents. They helped me with rent and my car payments (Dallas is not a pedestrian-friendly city), not to mention other small emergencies that came up from time to time. It's not really fair to only partially fund the work AmeriCorps volunteers do. Especially as more and more people view it as something to do after college and not before which means they aren't (or not interested in) living at home with their parents. And a lot of people use it they way I did, as a way to move to a new part of the country (there actually weren't many AmeriCorps options I was interested in, in my home state).

Then again, most AmeriCorps alumni I know continue to work in the nonprofit/social services world. The few I know who switched over to the for-profit world continue to be heavily involved in community work (including urging coworkers and the companies they work for). So in that sense, funding AmeriCorps does provide a good return on investment as alumni continue to meaningfully contribute.

But who knows, maybe I'm just dwelling in my nonprofit bubble. There could be a ton of AmeriCorps alumni who stop volunteering or who choose to become investment bankers or are behind the million credit card offers I get each week (if there's no credit to be had in the current economy, why are credit card companies so eager to give me credit?).

My conclusion? The answer to the AmeriCorps investment question lies somewhere in the middle, as most answers do. Yes, the AmeriCorps program and its many parts (VISTA, City Year, SeniorCorps, etc) play an important role, though we should reevaluate the goals and structure (like focusing more on having local people work on local issues; I admit that given my own history with AmeriCorps, that can seem like a hypocritical stance for me to take). And yes, investing in lasting volunteer support infrastructure is necessary and overdue in order to fully take advantage of the very American, pioneering, can-do spirit.

So if there are any philanthopists out there looking for something "new" to support, how about supporting volunteer coordination programs?

Delicious (educational?!) Spam

2009-06-01T10:20:00.004-05:00

Best spam subject heading of the day:

"Man wrestles leopard hunting pet cnat in bedroom."

Yes, it was spelled "cnat" but I assumed it was supposed to be "cat."

For kicks I googled this (with cat spelled correctly), because the phrase was just to alluring to pass by, and it turns out to be an actual story, dated May 29th, from Reuters.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli man wrestled a leopard to the ground after it
entered his bedroom in a desert college and tried to make a meal of his pet cat.

I actually learned something from spam. Amazing. Unfortunately I also learned there are only 10 wild leopards left in Israel. Poor animal was so hungry it succumbed to breaking and entering. The pet cat survived, by the way.

A little can go a long way

2009-05-25T10:53:00.003-05:00

There's an interesting article on the NY Times website posted on May 20th: How to Make Smart Gifts to Charities.

Working in fundraising, I know that a lot of people are pulling back on their donations. I'm doing it myself. There key to reducing your charitable giving, as the article says, is to adopt a sensible strategy. Look at the charities you give to and think about which organizations:

1) need more help at this time - like social services organizations (food banks, affordable housing, shelters, etc) and the other organizations that support them (like People Making a Difference, for example)

2) can make your donation dollar go the farthest - hint: larger organizations are not necessarily better at this than smaller ones.

PMD falls into both these categories. There are more individuals and groups looking to volunteer, but many nonprofits - especially small ones - don't have the infrastructure to handle the load (believe me, sometimes that's what it feels like: a heavy load of eager would-be volunteers).

Not only does PMD provide a tremendous service to charities by organizing groups and projects (a cook-out at Hearth, packaging books at the Prison Book Program, serving meals at Rosie's Place, landscaping at the Franklin Park Zoo, etc...), but PMD is also extremely cost-effective:

In 2008, PMD organized 642 volunteers and completed 63 high-quality projects which helped 40 different charities - with a budget of less than $100,000.

With a budget that lean, any pull-back from funders hurts PMD - and that ripples out to organizations throughout Boston (and a few beyond).

So, if you're wondering how to make your donation bucks go farther: PMD is a pretty good answer.

If you build it, they will come - and stay!

2009-05-22T13:02:00.002-05:00

Brace yourself, dear readers, I'm actually blogging about working at a nonprofit which was what the focus was supposed to be (as you can tell from the web address).

I've been the Volunteer Manager for just about a year now (in addition to my other job duties) - long enough to know that what I mange to accomplish is barely adequate. It's frustrating, but I'm learning to accept the limits of my time and energy:

I cannot be both a full-time volunteer manager/coordinator and also a full-time associate director of development and, additionally, a part-time Human Rights Officer and do any of these jobs to my satisfaction within a 40-hour work week)

A few months ago I joined the board of directors of People Making a Difference (PMD), an organization which promotes informed and responsible volunteerism by involving people in meaningful, one-time, hands-on work that meets the needs of local charities and by assisting companies and charities in building successful community involvement programs. This has given me the opportunity to spend more time with the founder and executive director, Lori Tsuruda, who is one of those amazing women that seem to have endless energy and the devotion to work 60 hours a week on a regular basis for a cause/job they love (I am not one of those people, at least not for more than a few months at a time). Most of the time Lori and I inevitably talk about volunteers and volunteer management.

Volunteer Management is the underdog of the nonprofit world. Few organizations (mine included, I'm afraid to say) recognize how important it is to have the proper management structure. Volunteers - the wonderful, generous people who give their time and talents to charities - need the same structure and support as employees. Businesses have Human Resource Managers to oversee employment. Nonprofits need to have an HR person and a Volunteer Manager.

I'm blogging all of this because, while looking for information on aging/elders/etc, I stumbled across a report from a 2003 conference sponsored by Harvard School of Public Health–MetLife Foundation entitled "Reinventing Aging: Baby Boomers and Civic Engagement." It's fascinating and it includes an entire section on the necessity of building proper volunteer management infrastructure and the current lack of it.

Very often, the job of volunteer coordinator in community agencies is marginalized or nonexistent. Likewise, the costs of managing volunteers often are left out of agency budgets or funding proposals (Cobb and Johnson 2003). Unpaid labor is a resource, just as paid labor is, but unpaid labor is not free. It must be planned, managed, organized, and coordinated, just as paid labor is—and this requires an investment of time and resources.

I'm holding on to this for the day when I propose we hire a volunteer manager who does nothing but manage volunteers. I can't wait.

You Never Call Me ....

2009-05-13T12:52:00.002-05:00

L.A. Times headline: Americans not concerned with diversity on Supreme Court, poll shows

I could write all day about this poll, but what I really want to know is, who does Gallop call for these polls?

I have never been called to participate in a poll. I have lots of opinions to share!!!

Setting aside for the moment that I don't really like polls and am suspicious of all stats that come from them, I want to know: Have you ever been asked to participate in a Gallop poll?

Pet Peeve O' The Day

2009-05-11T15:00:00.003-05:00

And my pet peeve o' the day for Monday, May 11:

When you repeatedly email coworkers for the answer to a question, and they repeatedly not email you an answer (or call or anything!).

I'm not a mind reader, people! Especially when you're mind is located in an office on the other side of the city.

Funky Tulips

2009-05-07T21:37:00.000-05:00

A Letter to Weather.Com

2009-05-07T10:18:00.003-05:00

I'd like to preface this open letter with this comment: It's a sad day for the media/news when you need to take basic advice from an ignoramus like me.

Dear Weather.com,

I use your website frequently to check on local weather forecasts. It's a great resource and I trust its accuracy. I generally ignore all other content on your website, however I couldn't help but notice the video box underneath the current weather conditions.

You label your list of video clips "Video Highlights." The first two videos listed underneath that heading as of 11:34 am EST:

"Tornado rips through homes"
"Multi-million dollar homes in flames"

Given what follows, calling the section "Video Highlights" rather crass. And while the 24-hour news culture has given rise to the trend of news-as-entertainment, and we, as a nation, have generally surrendered to (and, admittedly, fostered) that notion, identifying videos documenting the destruction of people's lives as "highlights" borders on heartless, though perhaps brutally honest.

I suggest "Top Videos" or "Recent Videos" or "Current News," and at least cloak your shamelessness in a thin veil of compassion.

Thank you.

The Silver Lining

2009-05-01T21:45:00.004-05:00

Well, perhaps it's more of a fuzzy wool lining. To my cloud of plague, I mean.

I've been feeling pretty lousy for several weeks, but today I decided I didn't even care if my eyes were dry and felt like sandpaper. I wanted to knit something.

So I knit the "Spiral Hat." I'm sure there is a pattern out there in the knitting universe to make such a hat - but I decided to make it up myself.

I based it on Crazy Aunt Purl's "easy roll-brim hat recipe" and added the purled spiral pattern. I haven't quite figured out how to write up, but when I do, I'll post it here. This is pretty much my first unique creation and I am pleased!

I'd like to thank the girl on the bus this winter who wore a hat with a similar pattern. I stared at her hat for so many weeks, I'm surprised she didn't take a restraining order against me. I guess a normal person would have asked her about her hat. But I've never claimed to be normal.

Spiral Hat

Hmmm, spam

2009-04-27T16:03:00.002-05:00

Every once in awhile a spammer really puts effort into a good email subject line. This one caught my eye and made me laugh:

"Welcome to the world of big monsters in pants and big possibilities!"

I can't help but picture a big Muppet monster strolling around in a pair of dockers ....

Drugs Currently in My System

2009-04-21T14:29:00.003-05:00

I just swallowed 3 ibuprofin tablets (Wal-Profen, to be specific) and wondered (aloud) "how many drugs can I take at one time?"

This is what's currently in my system:

Paxil (10 mg ... almost off it now)
Welbutrin (100 mg)
Wal-Profen (600 mg)
Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom SEVERE (yes, it has to be in bold italics like that) which contains:
- acetaminophen (650 mg)
- dextromethorphan (20 mg)
- guaifenesin (400 mg)
- pheylephrine (10 mg)

I don't think I'll be having a glass of wine with dinner tonight ....

What's for Dinner? Ask Google

2009-04-19T18:32:00.002-05:00

The dreaded question: "What should we have for dinner?"

I thought about what I had in the house. Off the top of my head:

a bag of frozen okra (I try to always have one in the freezer)
a bag of frozen corn (needed corn in the stuffed mushrooms I made last week)
a container of grape tomatoes (soon to go bad)
a scraggly basil plant that needed to be put out of its misery

I thought that could make a meal, along with some whole wheat rotini (we were out of rice and couscous) and a spicy black bean veggie burger (yum!).

I googled okra, corn, and tomatoes, and wouldn't you know, it's a very popular combination? If I had spent longer in the south, I guess I would have learned that. I tried to make it healthy by not adding bacon and multiple tablespoons of oil, and I think I succeeded.

It was almost ruined when the bottom fell out of the salt shaker. Luckily most of the salt landed next to the pan (whew!). Here's what ended up in my okra, corn, and tomato dish:

1 bag of okra
2 cups of frozen corn
3 cloves garlic
1 medium onion
2 tsp olive oil
1 pint grape tomatoes
2 cans of diced tomatoes
springs of basil
sprinkle of red pepper flakes
fresh ground pepper
salt
dash of chili powder

It turned out so well! And leftovers for days of lunches! To quote this week's guest on Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me, Paula Dean (I never heard of her before either):

"It is fabulous. It'll knock your socks clean off and into the washer!"

A Better Blog Than Mine

2009-03-21T06:49:00.004-05:00

Rather than attempt my own version of this article, just read the original, written by Steven Samra for Change.org.

Get a Job! (you bum)

"If only they'd get a job, they wouldn't be homeless anymore."

You've thought it before. Perhaps you've even muttered it a few times. But however pervasive this "common-sense" rationale for ending homelessness might be, "getting a job" is just not that simple for a homeless person.

Before we even get to the point of being able to afford a home as an employed and "productive member of society," let's talk a moment about what simply trying to get a job actually entails for the typical homeless person:

Read on!

Human Rights Officer on the Case

2009-03-16T15:30:00.002-05:00

About two weeks ago I took on the responsibility of Human Rights Officer for Hearth. Each organization that holds a Department of Mental Health contract is required to have a Human Rights Committee to protect DMH consumer rights.

This afternoon I met, for the first time, with a tenant about what s/he felt was a human rights violation. When the front desk phoned down and said that a tenant wanted to speak with me, I was terrified. My heart started pounding and my mouth went dry. Oh God! What do I do? What do I say?

Theoretically I knew what to do, of course. The prior human rights officer had thoroughly explained the process and procedures to me.

(DMH suggests that the position of officer is passed around periodically. Moreover, the officer is not supposed to have direct, service-related contact with clients. That is, the officer should not be a social worker, site director, nurse, etc, since it's most likely they would be the subject of a complaint. With a small nonprofit staff, there aren't many possible officers outside of fundraising and finance.)

Anyway, the tenant came downstairs - I'll call them Tenant A. Tenant A sat down with me and poured their heart out. In the end, I'm not sure if it's a true human rights violation, but s/he definitely has a cause for complaint. So we talked and I wrote up their complaint for them; s/he looked it over, agreed to it (actual words: "this is really nice,") and signed it.

Then I talked it over with staff. It's weird to confront a coworker and say, "Look, Tenant A feels like staff is discriminating against him because Tenant B continually gets away with saying hateful things about them." We mulled over possible actions, and agreed the best thing to do was keep everyone talking, including both Tenants A & B, although Tenant B especially has a very inflammatory personality and is easily worked up - and not easily calmed down.

So I survived my first meeting with a tenant about a human rights issue. It's really quite fascinating. I learned things about Tenant A that I certainly did not know before - and staff was surprised and slightly impressed that Tenant A spoke so openly to me.

As someone who has gone to counseling in the past, I certainly understand the benefits of having someone to talk to in confidence. But to be on the receiving end was new for me. Tenants have access to complaint forms; they can file a complaint without talking to me if they want to. But Tenant A greatly appreciated being able to talk to me. I could tell that it was both cathartic and difficult to express just what s/he felt. When I offered phrases like "verbal harassment" and "discrimination" Tenant A was so pleased. "Yes, that's it exactly." And to read my finished version of their complaint and say "that's really nice," was such a quiet but powerful compliment that I could interpret their feelings for them.

In the end, I realize that it's hard to defend yourself, to stand up for your rights, if you can't articulate your feelings. And that, for me, underscores the necessity of defending "free access to education" as a universal human right.

I hope that I won't need to wear my Human Rights Officer "badge" very often. I don't expect to need to. But this first experience has shown me that I can advocate for our residents because I have the power of language.

Genius!

2009-03-09T12:39:00.010-05:00

There's nothing like learning a new trick to bright up your day.

I successfully took glare off of Peter's glasses in this photo from Hearth's 2008 annual meeting (photo credit: Jennifer Buchwald - thanks!)

I did it using Photoshop (from Adobe Creative Suite 3) and guidance from this handy article.

And thus I give you:

Before

After

cloudy with a chance of meatballs

2009-03-09T10:03:00.000-05:00

Jenny is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

In Memoriam: Millard Fuller

2009-02-05T10:18:00.003-05:00

I just found out that Millard Fuller, founder of Habitat for Humanity, passed away on Tuesday, February 3rd.

I am more affected by this than I can understand. I met him once, briefly, while volunteer in Americus, Georgia (the birthplace and headquarters of HFH). What do I remember best: he had really large hands. I shook his hand and it just engulfed mine. I have two autographed copies of one of his books because he misspelled my name in the first one, so he sent me another one!

He was such a lovely, inspiring, generous man. Millions of families around the world have simple, decent homes thanks to him. He built such a strong organization that Habitat for Humanity will continue to grow and reach more people around the world for many years. That's the kind of legacy most people can't even imagine for themselves.

For the full story, see Habitat's webpage.

I Love You, but No

2009-01-16T16:59:00.003-05:00

Seriously?

I'm really excited about our 44th president, but our free market is running rampant all over it.

Did you know you could get a limited edition Barack Obama Inaugural Tie?

The tie sports "O" and some versions also include the number "44" and comes in five colors (three of which are shades of blue).

If I had to choose one, I think I like the periwinkle the best. The raspberry is a bit bright for my taste - although some men could pull it off admirably, I'm sure.

On the upside, it would be great to see Obama and Oprah square off in a cage match for the use of "O." Prince - as someone familiar with using a symbol to, er, symbolize himself - could provide commentary.

Tiger Beat Centerfold

2009-01-14T11:18:00.004-05:00

Did you hear?!? The official portrait of President Obama has been released today!!!

OMG!!!

It's utterly ridiculous, but every time I see Obama looking presidential, I get all giddy.

I know there will be disappointments. It won't be all rainbows and unicorns with Obama in the White House.

But still ....

Isn't he a dreamy President?

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T16:28:00.000-05:00

Merry Disco Christmas

2008-12-20T16:59:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Declaration of Human Rights

2008-12-10T13:02:00.004-05:00

Happy 60th Anniversary, Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Although I'd like to focus on the good things, I think it's more important to focus on some of the current violations of human rights:

Zimbabwe

"Democratic" Republic of Congo

China

Tibet

Sri Lanka

The problem is that there are so many violations - and they are mostly ignored unless there is some political importance to the major world powers - or a celebrity shines the spotlight on them. But the light fades, politics change gears, and we forget that people are still imprisoned, still hungry, still dying of illness and diseases that "modern" nations don't even worry about.

So Close

2008-11-15T11:07:00.000-05:00

Your result for The Beatles Lyrics Test...

You are 96% a Beatles Lyrics Master!

I can't believe I got one wrong .....

Take The Beatles Lyrics Test at HelloQuizzy

Cuter Than a Bug's Ear

2008-11-12T13:18:00.002-05:00

Have you ever seen anything so precious?

It's a baby armadillo! For more ubercute baby zoo animals, visit Boston.com.

Artiste, C'est moi!

2008-11-11T12:48:00.001-05:00

OK, I'm not. But I do know my art, apparently.

Your result for The Famous (and Not So Famous) Art Quiz...

Art History Major: You scored 99% Artiste!

"You've studied art for years, and therefore you recognized almost if not all the works represented here. Way to go!"

Take The Famous (and Not So Famous) Art Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Not Me

2008-11-06T14:07:00.004-05:00

In an CBS blog article about the resignation of Roy Blunt as House GOP Whip, Blunt relates some of the "Republican Victories" (as written to himself in a letter following the 2006 mid-term election failure).

The "victory" that best illustrates today (I'm sure I can find another example tomorrow) why I am not Republican (or Libertarian, for that matter):

upholding a veto on an expansion of children's health insurance

We wouldn't want under-privileged children to be too healthy. Otherwise for-profit hospitals and insurance companies wouldn't make any money.

Awesome

2008-11-05T09:46:00.002-05:00

Jon and I spent part of Tuesday night at historic Doyle's in Jamaica Plain. It was great to be part of the crowd, cheering as the results came through in Obama's favor.

It's been so long since I've been really excited about the outcome of an election!

On the BBC website, a woman from Boston posted a comment about how she just wanted to hug all her neighbors because she was so happy. I kind of felt the same way. Riding in on the T this morning, I wanted to high five everyone or break into song or something.

One of my co-workers - who doesn't even work on Wednesdays - came into the office just to say "Hallelujah!" That was great.

Back to the BBC, they have a great world map where they've plotted all the comments that have come in from around the world. It's really fascinating. Highly recommend: Have Your Say Map.

From Mel to Mayhem

2008-10-28T13:49:00.004-05:00

I never saw even a hint of a famous person (except maybe the fancy portable toilets they use) while they were filming on my street (one evening I watched them furtively from my porch but all I saw were bright lights and tech guys wandering about). Alas.

Now I'm so busy at work I barely see anything but piles of paperwork and database entries.

Fundraising: sucking all the fun out of fall.

Also, if anyone wants to sponsor Hearth's annual meeting, our funding from the state got cut by $100,000 about two weeks ago, so we could use some help.

I don't understand the economy ....

I mean, it's not a fabulous monster. We're not talking unicorns and dragons. It's a man-made, man-run, man-conceived thing (too many men, that's the problem). If everyone stopped panicking, stopped selling off stocks like there's no tomorrow, stopped freaking out (then there would be no pundits .... or Fox news), then wouldn't everything be reasonably OK (minus all the no-good, greedy banking/mortgage people)?

We are the economy. So everyone stop screaming and just shut up and take a 10 minute time out.

Of course, on the upside, gas is a lot cheaper now.

Hi there, neighbor!

2008-10-22T15:02:00.001-05:00

So, Mel Gibson is filming a movie in my neighborhood.

Who's filming in your neighborhood?

Says You ... Why, yes, I do!

2008-10-06T08:45:00.002-05:00

What am I doing for Halloween? Well, Jon and I are going to Lincoln, MA (location: somewhere on the other side of I95) for a taping of Says You, our favorite public radio show.

Who needs costumes and candy when you can have bad puns and Scottish Derivations?

We're ridiculously excited.

Hot Sewing Machine Action

2008-09-15T11:43:00.003-05:00

Ever since I viewed pictures of my friend's new house - and then succumbed to the latest edition of Decorating on a Budget (thank you Better Homes and Gardens publications) - I've been itching to organize and decorate the apartment.

The pantry is a mess (bottles of wine next to empty flower pots and a buck of screws) and the kitchen cupboards are a disaster (for such a large kitchen there is very little storage).

And I keep guiltily thinking of my seldom-used sewing machine and all the projects I have lined up (in my head).

Lo and behold, what do I see on Crazy Aunt Purl's website? This:

I'm not sure what Jon would think .... but I'm certainly inspired to get out the sewing machine. And I think my machine would be quite eager to sew on that.

Some Days

2008-09-10T15:22:00.000-05:00

Some days I wish I were a cat.

Oh! Whoa! Ow!

2008-09-04T17:06:00.002-05:00

Jenny is a klutz.

Jenny ran into the kitchen to feed the cat and somehow ended up sprawled across the kitchen floor, after running into a wall and knocking over the cat's water dish.

A large, painful bruise quickly developed on Jenny's arm.

Jenny now finds herself talking in the 3rd person.

Jenny's not sure if the klutziness and the 3rd-person-voice are related.

What?!

2008-08-25T12:20:00.002-05:00

In what delusional universe does Amazon.com dwell that a person - namely, me - interested in purchasing season one of Mad Men (if you haven't seen it, you should!) would also be interested in purchasing the latest Slipknot CD?

Ahhhh, crispy

2008-08-20T14:49:00.003-05:00

Someone dared to complain that it was cold.

It's not cold, it's just not freakin' hot. The air is not wetter than water or denser than the center of a black hole. It's light and comfortable. And, yes, in the morning, there is almost a tinge of autumnal crispness.

To which I say: ahhhhhhh......

It's nice that I no longer work up a sweat just waiting for the bus. I'm not adverse to sweating; I just desire to exert energy before it comes pouring off my forehead.

So, Mother Nature, thank you for taking a chill pill.

Ahhhhh........

Welcome Home

2008-08-14T11:55:00.002-05:00

My friend's nephew, JJ, is going home today! How 'bout that for a quick recovery? Brain surgery, a day in ICU, a day in a regular hospital room - and, voila: all better.

The doctors even OK'd him to go to the Red Sox game on Sunday. Way to go!

Fingers Crossed

2008-08-08T11:45:00.003-05:00

My friend's 10-year-old nephew is having brain surgery on Monday to remove a tumor. The prospects look good, apparently, but never-the-less, that's quite the ordeal for a 10-year-old.

So, fingers crossed, everyone.

An easy way to be good!

2008-07-29T09:51:00.003-05:00

Compliments of my daily 5 Minutes of Caring email from CoolPeopleCare.org:

If you like saving money as much as you like saving time, try this: the next time you come across money saver such as a "buy one, get one" offer, give the one you get for free to a local food bank. While it's good to stock your shelf with extra soup or black beans, consider stocking the shelf of a nonprofit that provides free food to those who need it. If you've never clipped those Sunday coupons before, this is a good reason to start. Fill your buggy with good offers and good food for a good cause.

Such an excellent idea! This way, you can shop (always fun) and be good, kind, and neighborly to your fellow citizens who need a little help. What's not to love? Better yet, you may want to take a moment and call the local food pantry first, make sure they have room for your donations.

Home Sweet Tent

2008-07-23T13:38:00.003-05:00

Hooray!

Next weekend Jon and I will take our first camping trip together! Wahoo.

I'm so excited. Not only is it nice to spend a couple days living out doors and communing with nature, but then you get to come home again to a soft bed and indoor plumbing. Excellent.

We'll spending the weekend at Pearl Hill State Park, located within Willard Brook State Forest (why a park within a park? I have no idea ....)

I can't wait ....

Would that I Could be a Garden Gnome

2008-07-16T14:54:00.003-05:00

I love food. I looooooooooove food. And while I admit to loving things that are not good for me - buttery popcorn, pints of ice cream, sour cream & onion potato chips, and gobs of peanut butter - what I really, really love is food from my garden.

[Let me take a moment to talk to my garden: hurry up and ripen, tomatoes! Yellow squash, got growing! Beans, produce more!]

I'm still learning the ways of urban gardening, and learning tricks of the trade (I do not grow spinach and other greens very well, alas. And the squash boar moth is my mortal foe. Also, I am lazy and do not water or weed as much as I should.)

Anyway, I digress. I grew up with gardening and trips to pick-your-own farms/orchards for strawberries and apples. Grandpa Hibbard would harvest nuts from the trees on his land, grow grapes and make wine (alas, I never got to try any), and pick wild blackberries. And while I did not enjoy always finding the little green worms in my home-grown broccoli (still traumatized, thanks, Mom) it was damn good broccoli.

What am I saying? I don't know. It's 4:00 pm and it's summer and I really don't want to be in my basement office writing a newsletter that no one reads. I want to be outside, patrolling farmers markets, giving my tomato plants pep talks, and discovering new uses for the monster-chive plant (soon to be the star of its very own creature-feature! not really, but it could be) that's currently trying to shade out my bush beans.

If you haven't already figured out that it's not natural to get salmonella poisoning from a tomato, guess what: that's just wrong! And those tomatoes you buy at the grocery store give real tomatoes a bad name anyway.

Go to a farmers market, or better yet, start planning your own garden (be it one pot on your porch a whole acre ... or buy a local farm share - produced delivered weekly to you!).

And, here some new blogs I just found. Yum!

For those of you in Boston: Boston Localvores & Food in Boston

Am I in Your Way?

2008-07-15T15:35:00.003-05:00

From our dear leader: "the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is action from the U.S. Congress."

By which he really means: "Only the last vestiges of Congress's courage and decency is standing in between possible limited reserves of off-shore oil and lots of money for me and my oil tycoon buddies."

Furthermore, I stand in your way. Me and most of the country which is smart enough to realize that off-shore drilling is not an answer to the problem of our gluttony but only a small snack. Much like those bags of potato chips which look full, but then when you open them, you realize it was mostly puffed up with air.

Hmm..... puffed up with air. Can't think of anybody else that describes ....

Furthermore, I still don't understand why these oil companies don't start investing in new energy alternatives rather than go the way of American car companies: in debt and increasingly obsolete. If I had as much money as Exxon Mobile I'd try doing something decent for a change and fund projects to create cost-effective solar panels or wind turbines - or develope a fusion engine like the DeLorean had at the end of Back to the Future. Where's Doc Brown when we need him?

In the meantime, Bush, you're blocking my rays as you stand on the beach, drooling over the lost City of Atlantis or whatever treasure you think is out there. I'm not moving. Aren't you due for a month vacation? Go clear some brush and let the rest of us get back to work on the looming energy crisis.

Ahhhh ..... Vacation

2008-07-07T10:05:00.003-05:00

Considering that I just enjoyed a three day weekend like most of the country, you'd think I would be well rested and refreshed.

That's not how I felt this morning.

I felt rather exhausted! Why? I'm not sure, really. We did do a lot of running around from here to there, from party to cook-out (oh, poor us, I know), but still.

I'm not that old.

This morning as I readied myself for work, I realized that no amount of readying was going to allow me a productive day.

I love my job, and when I walk out the door I'm happy to go. Those rare mornings that I'm not happy to go? Seems to me it's a good idea to obey that instinct since it happens so rarely. I'm a big proponent of taking "mental health days." This seemed like one of those days.

It's 11:00 and I'm sitting in my pj's typing this and sipping iced coffee. There's a load of laundry to hang on the clothes line, and soon I'll get dressed, hop on my bike, and run some errands.

I feel much better.

Much Delayed Mourning

2008-07-02T12:25:00.004-05:00

I've been so out of it, I only just know realized that Humphrey Lyttelton passed away in April!

I knew him has the chairman (that is, "host" in American English) of I'm Sorry, I Haven't a Clue one of my very favorite BBC 4 radio shows. Apparently the rest of the world knew him best as a jazz musician.

Check out his obituary in the London Times.

Stating the Obvious

2008-06-28T12:07:00.001-05:00

Summerfest rocks!

Onions

2008-06-19T09:02:00.004-05:00

While searching for a file on the shared drive at work, I came across the following Word file named "Onions." I have no idea who made this or why (although it's clearly a shopping list or the beginning of a recipe).

The entirety of the Word file:

Onions,
Green peppers
Chicken
parts
Potatoes
Eggs
Cheese
Barbeque
sauce
Noodles
Carrots
CelerySoap

Personally, I am most curious about "celerySoap."

Weeds Galore!

2008-06-17T13:32:00.003-05:00

Every spring I throw myself into gardening. I weed tirelessly and with much enjoyment.

However, this past Friday I spent 8 hours doing yard work at one of Hearth's residential sites. And I spent far too many of those 8 hours trimming thorny bushes.

I am still recovering.

My spring joy of weeding and gardening has past, I think. I'm still finding splinters in my hands (and I was wearing a double layer of work gloves!)

So go ahead, weeds in my garden plot. I don't think I'll be tackling you anytime soon.

In the News ...

2008-06-12T09:14:00.007-05:00

I like sudoku as much as the next person, but really ....

The jurors in a long-running Australian drugs trial were discharged in disgrace yesterday after it emerged that some of had spent more time in court playing Su Doku than they had listening to the evidence.
--"Su Doku-loving jurors force judge to abandon major drugs trial" from the London Times

And this is just too good to be true ...

"Single-horned 'Unicorn' deer found in Italy"
ROME (AP) — A deer with a single horn in the center of its head — much like the fabled, mythical unicorn — has been spotted in a nature preserve in Italy, park officials said Wednesday.
Children everywhere (and I) rejoice!
Mommy ... can I get a unicorn?

Gone? Gone!

2008-06-11T14:57:00.003-05:00

Good grief!

Lake Devlin, the lake that made Wisconsin Dells famous is gone. I'm probably the last person in the civilized world to have heard about it - but I'm going to blog about it anyway.

It's just crazy. How many Original Wisconsin Duck Tours did I take on that lake?

I'm flabbergasted. Not as much as the flopping carp on the empty lake bed, but still pretty stunned.

At least Noah's Ark is still there ....

Calm in a Crisis

2008-06-08T09:29:00.002-05:00

This is the woman I want around when something goes wrong....

MARTINSVILLE, Ind. — Margaret Clemmons stood barefoot on the shoulder of a highway and stared at the floodwaters surrounding her home.
"I believe it's going to call for new carpets," she said.

Violent storms ... um, stormed through the Midwest yesterday. My dad called about 2:00 pm central time and said the sky was dark enough in Green Bay that the solar lights in the yard turned on.

But I have a feeling our carpets are just fine.

How (not) shocking

2008-06-05T13:41:00.002-05:00

"Senate Panel Accuses Bush of Iraq Exaggerations"

In a report long delayed by partisan squabbling, the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday accused President Bush and Vice President Cheney of taking the country to war in Iraq by exaggerating evidence of links between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda in the emotional aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Um, how much money and time did the government waste on this? Isn't this really old news? Thanks, NY Times and Federal Government, for sharing this late-breaking news.

A long way to go

2008-05-28T16:00:00.002-05:00

Britain announced that it would agree to the cluster bomb treaty and ban the highly dangerous weapons. The BBC posted archived footage of cluster bombs being dropped - and it's scary stuff (unlike other aspects of war? I can't help but add sarcastically ....)

Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross,
said: "Cluster munitions are weapons that never stop killing."

Of course the US is grouped with the delightful nations of Russia, China, India, and Pakistan against such a treaty. How did we get in this position? I guess I shouldn't be so naive - we've always been in this position.

Countries like the US, India, Pakistan and Israel claim such munitions can
be highly useful on the battlefield and want to see the treaty watered
down.

Maybe if (most) of the world signs enough treaties, war will be banned someday ....

Unfortunately, we never stop inventing new ways to kill each other.

Nothing Says Memorial Day Like Zombies

2008-05-22T15:30:00.003-05:00

What are your Memorial Day plans?

I'm going wedding shoe shopping on Saturday. On Sunday I'm going to be a Zombie. Yes, that's right, a zombie. Or maybe just an extra in the crowd. But it's way more fun to say Zombies.

Greg - the same Greg who will be officiating at the Jon and Jenny Super-Awesome-Fest-Apalooza (copyright 2008) - is currently filming a movie: The Drive In Horror Show. In conjunction with the film they held a contest. Local bands submitted a song, and the winning band would get a music video. So this Sunday Greg and MonkeyRay Productions is filming the music video for the winning band, Coffin Lids ... and since we have nothing better to do, we're going to be zombies!

So what are you doing for Memorial Day? Having a BBQ. How cliché!

Ring Bell ...

2008-05-19T14:36:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure why, but everytime I walk by this sign on Columbus Avenue, I just want to laugh. There's something faintly surreal - or maybe fairy tale-ish - about it.

Plus, I can't help but think the sign should read: "Think about ringing bell for psychic."

or "Don't bother ringing. I already know you're here."

Good-bye NKOTB CDs

2008-05-16T08:40:00.002-05:00

Thanks, again, to my 5 Minutes of Caring email from CoolPeopleCare.org I have learned something this morning!

Instead of just throwing away those old scratched CDs and DVDs and the ones that are so embarrassing you can't even own up to owning them (let alone find someone who actually wants them), you can recycle them.

Nice.

Visit CD Recycling Center of America to find out how you can be eco-friendly while you spring-clean your music and movie collection.

Hooray for Habitat

2008-05-14T09:56:00.001-05:00

This week is the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project down on the Gulf Coast. I really wanted to go this year but the whole wedding thing kind of got in the way (financially more than anything else). Bummer.

(I did get to scratch my Habitat itch last weekend. I volunteered up in Lawrence with the Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity. Back in January a fire burned down an entire block - including 3 Habitat homes that were nearly ready for move-in. So the MVHFH mobilized in record time, and framing has started. I worked to install floor joists on two houses. I am still sore (it's been awhile since I wielded my framing hammer!) but I loved every second of it.)

However, my friend Sylvia is at the JRCWP. We were AmeriCorps volunteers together at the Greater Dallas Habitat for Humanity, and unlike me, she's still there! Sylvia is living proof that what you study in college doesn't really matter. She majored in Art History and is now the Manager of Field Operations for GDHFH.

And now she's famous. OK, well, not famous exactly. But she is featured in photo 6 of the Day 3 photos from the JRCWP. The photo is classic Sylvia: keeping track of tasks by writing them down on the blue board insulation already installed on the house.

How Does Your Air Rank?

2008-05-01T11:31:00.002-05:00

The American Lung Association released its report on the state of the nation's air quality. Suffolk County, Massachusetts, the location of Boston, got a C. Oddly enough, it was one of only two counties in MA to even rate that high.

Boston didn't even rank on the nation's most polluted cities which was a nice surprise.

Out in the Midwest, Milwaukee and Chicago were tied for spot #24 on the list of most polluted cities. Appleton, WI was the only metro-area in WI to show up on the clean city list (which does not provide rankings).

Hopefully this report will give people pause (while the wheeze away and suck in all kinds of soot and nastiness). Our nation still relies far too heavily on coal-powered electricity - and that is some of the dirtiest electricity around. We need our government to take serious action and stand up to the lobbyists paid to promote coal.

Let's keep the coal for our Christmas stockings, OK?

Cake or Death? I Choose You, Eddie Izzard!

2008-04-29T12:24:00.003-05:00

Last night Jon and I had amazing seats to see Eddie Izzard at the Orpheum Theater in downtown Boston.

I laughed so hard I could barely breathe.

We sat in THE THIRD ROW! OK, we were off to the side and they were labeled "obstructed view" but they weren't. I could see all of Eddie the entire show. Awesome (like a hot dog).

Last night's show was the very first of this North American tour, so I feel especially special to have been there. He covered just about everything, including bits in Latin (a Roman soldier trying to warn the general that Hannibal was approaching), a classic imitation of Sean Connery (while discussing the origins of the word "assassin"), and plenty of mentions of badgers.

Best badger mention: "I guess badgers can be choosers." This elicited loud groans from the entire audience, but Izzard stuck firm. "How many creationist badger jokes do you hear?" he asked, referring to the pun's place in his larger thesis on creation theory. "I like it and I'm going to keep telling it."

Best miming: Silent giraffes on the Sahara trying to communicate that they see a tiger ("I know it should be lion but I can't do the bit that way," Izzard tossed that correction in as he started the skit.)

It was marvelous. I wish I could go again tonight!

(Also bought a t-shirt: "Cake or Death" with a cute little cupcake on it topped with an "E" instead of a cherry)

Tech-Curse

2008-04-14T08:19:00.002-05:00

I must have offended the Tech Gods because I think I've been cursed. Although this has, so far, not extended to my computer at work (please, no, oh mighty tech gods!) in my personal sphere, I have experienced some strange occurrences.

Many of you know that for the past several months my less-than-a-year-old cell phone has been temperamental. Sometimes it works perfectly. Other times - and these times were increasing in frequency - my phone was plagued by static, and I was muted. I could hear the other person clear as a bell, but they heard nothing from me.

It finally got to the point where I decided I had to do something. A couple weeks ago I took the phone back to the Verizon store. The help desk guy (sorry, I didn't get your name) was really nice and said he would download some updates that should help improve the service.

Yeah, that didn't work.

Last Wednesday I was back, and I talked to another service guy (who I think of as tall, skinny guy) who basically told me the same thing: "Come back in 20 minutes. I'll troubleshoot it and see what I can do."

But when I came back, he handed me a new phone! I made phone calls, and it worked! People could hear me! It was amazing.

Then on Sunday, while talking to Mom, she suddenly went silent. I looked at the phone; no, she hadn't hung up on me. The phone call was still going on. But I could hear nothing. I called her back: still nothing. She called me back, I heard her faintly, as if she were shouting to the speaker phone from across the street.

I tried calling Jon, who was standing right next to me. Over the phone, I heard nothing, not even the ringing of his cell phone.

So after checking all the options, (like, did I somehow have it on mute without knowing it?), I went back to the Verizon store. Tall skinny guy was there. "It's me again!" I said. "This time people can hear me, but I can't hear them."

He called himself to verify it. Then he opened up his supply cabinet. "I'm sorry, we're out of this model. We may get some in tomorrow. Call and check. If not, we'll ship one to you."

Just like that, another new phone.

And now my home computer (which is 6+ years old, I admit) won't connect to the wireless network and can't seem to connect to the power source).

I'm really sorry, Tech Gods, for whatever I did to displease you! But I think I've been punished enough. Honest. I respect you and recognize your powers. Please just let my phone work and breath life back to my old computer. Please!

Garden Fun and Fun with Camera

2008-04-06T11:17:00.009-05:00

It became unexpectedly sunny on Saturday afternoon, and I rushed to my garden plot to take advantage of it. I forgot to take the before shot, but after a couple hours of weed pulling, path renovation, chive-reduction (I swear chives are the flora equivalent to roaches ... they will outlast all other forms of life!), and compost hauling, my plot looked like the photo on the left. Just look at that lovely dark composty-soil!

But will all my desired veggies fit? Who knows? I planted seeds yesterday in my little "greenhouse" starter kit (a plastic box with a plastic cover). I started 25 little peat pods. (They're so neat. They come all flat and round, and you add a bit of warm water, and - poof! - they swell up into little peaty incubators for seeds.)

What did I plant? The acorn squash, carrots, cukes, sweet basil, yellow summer squash, and spinach I mentioned in my last post, along with some Armenian cukes, parsley, yellow pear tomatoes, bell pepper mix, and a second kind of basil.

Yes, that's a lot of stuff. But how many of those little seeds will make it into the big, bad world filled with mold, bugs, cats, and my own inattention? Time will tell.

There was ample proof of spring in the garden, notably crocuses:

our garden's "famous" red and yellow tulips (of course the flowers aren't there yet):

and the beginnings of another possible monster rhubarb:

Spring Fever

2008-04-04T13:46:00.003-05:00

Or, to be more precise: Garden Fever.

Yesterday I took advantage of the lack of rain and wind (leaving it a partly sunny 53) and stopped by the Lamartine/Hubbard Street Community Garden (yes, I think we do need a catchier name) to pick up some seeds (carrots, cucumbers, acorn squash, basil, and spinach).

I could not help myself and succumbed to the temptation to play in the dirt (cashmere sweater and all - it survived). I grabbed the "garden claw" and stirred up the soil, waking up earthworms and ripping up weeds.

God, it was fun.

Rain, rain, go away!!!!!

Allendale Farm is opening up for the season today, and I'm going to drag Jon over there tomorrow to see what there is to be had. I usually start tomatoes and peppers from transplants, and if I don't see what I want, I may order them through Seed Savers Exchange.

I loved the little orange cheery-type tomatoes I got last year at the BNAN Spring Perennial Divide and Plan Sale. They were divine. But I am interested in some of the quicker producing, northern climate hardy plants offered by Seed Savers, such as the King of the North Pepper (red, sweet), Wisconsin Lakes Pepper (ditto), and the Stupice Tomato (smallish, red).

And to make the best use of my limited space, I want to go my plants as vertically as possible. So I've been looking at everything from the very basic bamboo stakes to the more elaborate Tomato Ladders and the esthetically pleasing Coil Plant Supports and the Rainbow Spiral Supports.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!

Are you kidding?

2008-04-03T15:54:00.003-05:00

Headline of Christian Science Monitor piece: "Will Mugabe go out like a lion or a lamb?"

Gee ... I think lion. A man-eating lion, or better yet, a liger "half lion, half tiger, skilled in magic."

I usually think the Monitor is fairly reputable. But that headline is positively Fox News-worthy in its obviousness.

If Mugabe actually cedes control and fades away into history, I'll eat one of my many hats. Honest.

(At the end of the article is this note: "A journalist who could not be named for security reasons contributed from Harare). Yeah, that's the climate of a country with a dictator acting lamb-ish. Is there a kind of lamb I don't know about?

If only it weren't true

2008-03-25T14:12:00.001-05:00

U.S. mistakenly ships missile parts to Taiwan
At least it wasn't Iran or Bin Laden's P.O. Box.

Water Conservation

2008-03-21T12:15:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow is World Water Day (thanks, CoolPeopleCare for letting me know) and perhaps we can all take a moment to reflect on our water usage. Could you take a shorter shower? (I am so guilty of taking longer-than-necessary showers! But I vow to shave a couple minutes off mine! I'll let you know how that goes.)

Think ahead and bring a Nalgene bottle (or container of your choice) filled from the tap with you when you head out instead of purchasing a bottled water along the way.

Hey there, crazy obsessed homeowner, how about not "washing" your driveway with a hose for 20 minutes. What's that about, anyway? And landscape with drought-tolerant and/or native plants. They're hardier and they don't need you to water them so much.

Here's a scary little fact out there for all you steak lovers:

The production of one kilogram of beef requires 16 thousand litres of water

And all you people out in the southwest US - stop trying to have manicured green lawns. You moved to the desert! Deal with it!

What's your water footprint on the world? (Be sure to also check out the food footprint too.) Find out, and spur yourself on to make some changes!

The Internet - It's more than just pornography

2008-03-13T09:07:00.003-05:00

I few weeks ago I added the link in the sidebar to CoolPeopleCare.org. I admit I don't visit the website often, but I do receive my daily "5 Minutes of Caring" email every day. In 99 words or less, CPC founder Sam Davidson will offer a topic and some easy action you can take to make the world a little bit better.

The second link I just added is for GoodSearch.com. By using it instead of Google/Yahoo/whatever (actually, GoodSearch is powered by Yahoo) every search you do earns money towards the nonprofit of your choice. Cool, huh? There's also GoodShop.com which offers links to the all the usual on-line shopping destinations, like Amazon.com. The difference is, by accessing them through GoodShop.com a percentage of your purchase price is donated to the charity of your choice. As if I needed more justification to shop online!

So, there you go. Now you can goof off on the internet at work and rationalize it: you're doing good!

Well done, you.

Bacchus

2008-03-10T12:59:00.003-05:00

Every time I communicate with my organization's board member who spends her winters in Montpellier, France, I'm overcome with such longings to be in Provence. I especially miss being there this time of year, as January - May is when I went to school there in 2001 (all those many years ago - mon dieu!)

I've already missed the blooming of the mimosa in Bormes-des-Mimosa (one of the most picturesque, Provencal hillside villages you can imagine, with its tiny winding streets and mimosa trees covered in sweet-smelling, yellow flowers .... yummy).

And then at the end of March is the annual Bacchus Festival in Toulon. Vineyards from all over southern France are represented, and for a measly 4euros (at the most that's, what, $8?) you get your own etched wine glass and can spend the day tasting wines and eating delicious foods!

I try and remind myself that Toulon was not exactly heavenly but actually a bit dilapidated. But I cannot deny the beauty of beaches and the peninsula, and the mountains behind it.

If anyone wants to go to Paris or Provence and needs a tour guide, just let me know!

::sigh::

Wait, Wait .... OK, tell me!

2008-03-05T11:04:00.003-05:00

For those fans of NPR's weekly news quiz I have for you a link. (What did you expect? This is blog, after all. I can't hand you a plate of brownies.)

In the course of duty (hunting down addresses so that the volunteer event I'm in charge of will have attenders) I stumbled across this article written by Wait, Wait panelist Adm Felber (and, apparently, Tufts alum class of 1989. I was 9 then, by the way. I was playing with My Little Ponies.).

Read and enjoy. And don't forget to tune in to the next episode (check your local public radio schedule)

In Which I Venture into the Mythical Realm of Credit Reports

2008-03-04T16:35:00.005-05:00

I could rant about the disgust I feel for cut-throat corporate greed, and how I feel that certain industries should be run solely as not-for-profit (not as a charity, per say, but as an institution not bent on reaping profits) such as the the insurance and health care industry - and, I feel, much of the finance industry.

It's one thing if your a multi-millionaire looking to buy a yacht. Fine, take out a loan - if you need one; hell, I'd pay cash for that - and let the industry charge you all the interest and fees they want.

However, if you are the average American, you should be able to access your credit report and know your credit score without having to shell out money. I don't understand why - how - businesses can CHARGE YOU for giving you information about you.

But I won't rant about that (um, except for that little bit that slipped out). Instead I'll just mention that I'm a teeny bit ANNOYED (I'm sorry, I seem to have an attack of Lewis Black capital letter rage) at the Mass.gov website. Since Deval redecorated the State House, that website has been less helpful than ever (something was better under the Mitt? Unbelievable). The latest case of hidden information: finding the web address to access my once-a-year free credit report (gee, thanks. That's like handing out a monthly saltine cracker to a starving child in Darfur.).

I honestly had to ask for help from our CFO to track down the information (I'm going to bullet point out this so you can see the chain I had to go through) hidden in:

the middle of the FAQ section (who looks at those, honestly) of
the Consumer Credit section of
the Consumer Protection section of
the Attorney General's section of
the Mass.gov website.

And when I used the website's search function to find this information, did it work? Oh no. Of course not. (And let me point out that I usually help other people find information on the internet).

And so that you may benefit from my labor I bequeath you the website address so you can request your free annual credit reports (but not your actual credit score, oh no. That's only available for an extra $10!).

And let me tell you that even after you reach the Shangri-La of webpages, it's still not easy. There are three different agencies you can collect this information from, but I only managed to procure information from one of them.

The first one confused me with all of their "Pay $10 to see the amazing flea circus" links, and so I left the page without ever finding my information (and now that information is closed to me until next March 4th).

The second - Equifax - was fairly straight forward. They had more previous addresses listed for me than I would have ever remembered on my own! I still don't know my credit score, but I think it's pretty good as there was nothing bad on my Equifax report.

The third asked me so many security questions - which I'm not complaining about at all, except that: even I couldn't answer them correctly, and so I was not allowed to view my report.

Thus ends my first expedition into the land of finance and consumer information. I almost didn't get out alive (mostly because I nearly had an aneurysm from rage and frustration) but I hope that my experiences will benefit y'all.

Call and Response to Close the Sermon:
ME: May the Force be with you.
YOU: And also with you
ALL: Amen.

I'm Rich!

2008-03-04T08:56:00.002-05:00

No, I haven't won the lottery. Nor has a mysterious, unknown relative left me a large trust fund. In fact nothing has changed.

But in my "Five Minutes of Caring" email from CoolPeopleCare.org I learned about this website, The Global Rich List. You enter in your annual income and it compares you to the rest of the world - all 6.whatever billion.

Turns out I'm the 359,597,702 richest person in the world - I've made it to the top 5.99%. I'm a "fortune-aire."

Whoa.

Also, did you know that a mere $73 can buy a mobile health clinic for AIDS orphans in Uganda? I have shoes that cost more than that - boots that aren't waterproof (grr).

Someone smack me the next time I whine about how little money I make.

The Oscars? Oh yeah .....

2008-02-25T15:36:00.003-05:00

I totally forgot about the Oscars, and didn't even remember to look up the winners until two minutes ago (it's 3:30 pm, in case you're wondering).

I'm quite behind in watching most of the nominated films, but I did see Once , for which it won Best Song, "Falling Slowly" (and I saw Glen and Marketa perform it live - thank you, Brattle Theater!)

I also saw Juno (best original screenplay) and Ratatouille, although I kind of feel bad that it beat Persepolis for best animated film.

However, I shall be watching lots more movies in the future, as Jon and I finally joined Netflix. I had so much fun putting movies in queue, that we already have 48 films waiting to be delivered. First up: The Awful Truth!

Interview with a Dr. (who?)

2008-02-22T14:35:00.004-05:00

OK, I apologize for the title of this post. At the same time, though, I stick by it - terrible pun, allusion, and all.

So there.

I may have mentioned my love for BBC radio once or twice before. I think I have become the American prophet, spreading the word to the populace about the incredible entertainment that is BBC7 and Radio4. Seriously, BBC, you should pay me. Really.

I mean it. Give me a call, would you?

Anyway, before I lose track of the point of this post ....

There's a very engaging interview show, Chain Reaction. Each week an entertainer (usually an actor or comedian) interviews a fellow entertainer; then the next week the interviewee becomes the interviewer.

To my extreme delight, this week the guest was David Tennant, better known in America as Dr. Who (#13, if you're counting).

So if you, like me, are a fan (and maybe sporting a huge crush as well), you should tune in and learn a little about the man behind the Time Lord. Then remember to tune in next week to hear him interview fellow Scottish actor Richard Wilson.

Honestly I haven't a clue who Richard Wilson is, but that hardly matters, after all. It's David Tennant I care about! He has such a lovely Scottish accent. I dont' see why the Doctor couldn't have one, not that I don't love him just the way he is .... oh dear. I think I better just stop typing now.

(Three cheers for the fixed spell-check application on blogger. Hip-hip-hooray!)

Yes, Dahling, I Went to the Symphony.

2008-02-18T16:33:00.003-05:00

Armed with kleenex, water, and a full bag of coughdrops, Jon and I attended the Boston Symphony Orchestra on Saturday evening. I had not left the house for two days previously, having made the grievious mistake of admitting to myself that I felt rather ill (once germs are acknowledged they're impossible to stop, I find. Rather like when you stop on the street and respond to a Mormon missionary, they won't leave you alone).

The first piece was a violin concerto featuring some famous violinst - I don't know or care who, really. He's not why I went. The second piece of the performance is what made me shell out (well, Jon paid, actually) $37 for the "cheap seats." I'm not saying it wasn't worth it, but, honestly ..... and the poor elderly gentleman with the delightful accent who was in line in front of us (the joy of will-call tickets, you know) and tried to buy tickets the night of (you'd think such a gamble could pay off with last minute tickets or something) but alas, the BSO only had $50 or $100 tickets left. Good gracious.

Anyway .... it was Shostakovich's 4th Symphony that made me stop in my tracks as I passed by Symphony Hall and call Jon to check for tickets online. I've only been to the symphony one other time in my life - the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (free tickets! hooray for working for nonprofits) - and that's where I first (knowingly) heard Shostakovich. Coincidentally it was the 4th symphony. The thing about #4 is that, though he wrote it in 1936, it wasn't debued until 1961. The story at the time was that Shosta (I refuse to keep typing out his whole name!) was dissatissfied with it and scrapped the whole endeavor. In truth, following the disasterious response to his opera Macbeth (the public loved it, Stalin hated it), he was warned that a performance of #4 could endanger his life and the life of his family. Imagine being killed over music!

Anywho, Symphony No. 4 is quite amazing. I gripped poor Jon's arm quite tightly at the end. The ending is so very sad after all the bombast, terror, and sarcasm of the piece.

The reason I know anything about dear Shosta (and why I'm rather keen to learn more, actually) is because of William Vollmann's 2005 novel Europe Central, which I have posted about last year when I read it. Shosta is one of the main characters in this hightly detailed - but fictional - account of WWII and Stalinist Russia. There are probably plenty of people who couldn't stand it - great books are often like that - but I loved it. If you don't mind a bit of a challenging read, and you like history and great epic drama, do yourself a favor and give it a try!

Seriously ...

2008-02-15T08:36:00.003-05:00

In more serious news, the Washington Post reports that crimes against the homeless are on the rise. "Nationwide, violence against the homeless is soaring, and overwhelmingly the attackers are teenagers and young adults."

The Post points out that America's intolerance to homelessness is growing, signified by laws against loitering, "sleeping in parks, and begging."

Yes, everyone has been annoyed by a persistant begger at one point. But at least in my own case - and, I dare to assume, in most cases - that annoyance is paired with pity and guilt. I wonder if this intolerance isn't rooted in a societal guilt that homelessness is out there at all - that families, children, elders are left to survive as best they can. Passing laws that ban homeless individuals from sleeping, begging, resting in one spot for too long - these laws don't deal with the problems, they hide them.

Slowly governments on all levels are awaking to the fact this doesn't work. Cities are making plans to end homelessness but these plans take time. And the plans will never succeed if we can't teach communities to show tolerance and not hate for those individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

It's gonna be a blockbusta!

2008-02-15T08:19:00.003-05:00

The Washington Post agrees with me that the story of the dying spy satellite, "takes a page from Hollywood sciene fiction."

However, the L.A. Times gave us a far better headline - a movie treatment in itself. "U.S. will try to shoot down spy satellite gone bad."

I can hear the trailer now:

In a world where a shooting star could kill you, only one man can save the planet from a spy satellite ... gone bad.

Happy Valentines Day ..... blahhhhhh

2008-02-14T18:11:00.003-05:00

I generally allow myself to be sick once during winter. But twice?

Yesterday afternoon I made the mistake of admitting to myself that I was feeling a little sub-weather. And once I admitted those physical feelings of "uckiness" it was all over. Mental powers are amazing.

I spend the night in achy, parched misery. My mind wandered all over the place; the topic I remember most clearly: Bush's "clean coal" declaration during the State of the Union.

You'd think I'd be over it be now .... the idiocy of standing in the entry way of a new centuary and proclaiming that coal - the harbringer of the Industrial Revolution - is the 21st century answer to energy.

Let's pretend that clean coal power works, that archaic power plants would not be grandfathered out of upgrading. I know, I know, it's hard to imagine. Just hang up your disbelief on the coat rack and come with me.

All you have to do is walk away from the "clean coal" power plants and witness the environmental raping of strip-mines and the less-than-stellar working conditions of coal mines (under the ground in dark tunnels - you can't get less stellar than that) to realize that "clean coal" is pure fantasy. Never mind the energy and fossil fuels it takes to mine the coal and deliever it to these fabulous clean coal power plants.

Now excuse me while I consume my 100th glass of water, blow my nose, an crawl into bed.

(and why doesn't spell check work on blogger? Now my misspelled underbelly is vulnerable and composed ....)

[sniffle]

Books - Them Be Good Reads!

2008-02-10T08:35:00.001-05:00

For those of you who love reading and discussing literature (in all its varied forms), "allow me to submit" (to borrow an irksome phrase from one of my lit profs, Bob Dam - and yes, that is his actual name) a suggestion:

Critical Mass

It's the blog of the National Book Critic Circle. The discussions on the page go far beyond the usual book reviews. And if you miss slogging it out in lit class and reading critical essays, this page is for you.

OK, so for some of you, the above suggestion is akin to proffering a cup of poisoned wine. Here, drink it, really! The hemlock adds spice and character to the merlot, honest.

That's fine. I'm a lit geek, and I understand that position puts me out of line with much of the general public (although I may not go so far as Duffy - another illustrious UWEC prof, and Dean to boot - and relish a novel for one sentence). For example, earlier in the month I scoffed at having to read Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway for book club. And though I'm not glued to the pages, I do get shivers of excitement as themes - like every mention of Big Ben at pivotal moments - develop. I know, it's amazing I have friends.

If for no other reason - and just humor me, damn it. You are reading my blog after all. You must be desperate for entertainment - visit Critical Mass to gather up suggested readings not on the usual best seller lists. Or at least not on your usual reading radar.

Kitlerdom!

2008-02-08T16:27:00.000-05:00

I feel unbelievably proud. Charlie Chaplin made it onto catsthatlooklikehitler.com! He is, in fact, the 1983rd kitler on the website. Amazing.

This has made my day. I can't stop laughing.

Charlie das beste Kitler

2008-02-07T16:14:00.000-05:00

My good friend Kelley happily notified me that there is a webpage devoted to Cats That Look Like Hitler. (Why am I surprised? Surely there are websites devoted to nearly everything by now ... except harlequin woodchucks. Last time I checked Google came up blank with that query)

And so, like the crazy cat owner I am, I submitted the following owner of our Kitler. I thought this steely-eyed stare was appropriate:

From Charlie Chaplin

I'm Popular ... And a Dunce

2008-02-05T09:06:00.000-05:00

My ploy worked! Look at all those posts and comments! You love me, you really love me!

Now, for my favorite kind of story: one in which I end up looking rather dumb. This happens a lot.

A few days ago I posted that my computer wasn't working because it wasn't connecting with the power source. It turns out that it wasn't connecting to the power source because the power strip had come unplugged (I blame gremlins ... or possibly THE CAT). Amazingly, when I plugged the power strip back in, the little light came back on my computer.

Wow. This electricity thing is big. I think people everywhere are going to start using it.

I shall now slink into the corner and put on my dunce cap. At least I look good in hats ....

Ah ... work

2008-02-04T15:48:00.000-05:00

Everything I need for a productive day is close at hand ....

Grrr

2008-02-03T08:40:00.000-05:00

I'm having some computer problems - namely, my computer won't turn on (it doesn't seem to be connecting with a power source) - so my posts may be rather more infrequent than usual (for all 3 of you who read this - mom, jon, the rabbi).

Hopefully I can get my computer fixed, as I'm not in the market for a new one! Although, ever since I downloaded the latest version of Internet Explorer (I know - what was I thinking?) my computer has not been a happy camper.

Sigh.

Edwards Bows Out

2008-01-30T14:06:00.001-05:00

Good-bye, Jon Edwards. I will miss your populism and $200 haircuts (just kidding, it was just that once, and he didn't mean to do it .... but I do find it funny all the same).

Giuliani is gone too, but did anyone even remember he was still around? Now if we could only get rid of Romney and his too-perfect hair -- I wonder what he spends on hair cuts?

State of the Bush 16

2008-01-28T21:33:00.001-05:00

Man ... I'm tired ... I just can't type fast enougbh to keep up with the idiot pronouncements you keep making.

You win, Bush.

But I never have to sit through another State of the Bush again! Hooray!

State of the Bush 15

2008-01-28T21:31:00.001-05:00

The Path of Service

More Americans are volunteering than ever before ... because the government isn't doing their job.

I'm all about volunteering ... but if the government was more capable handling the Gulf Coast Crisis post Katrina ... well, you see what I'm saying

State of the Bush 14

2008-01-28T21:29:00.000-05:00

Ban the patenting of "human life" ... but it's OK to do that to food ...... gmo food patents are fine .... we'll protect life but we won't help sustain it ... that's the Republican way.

State of the Bush 13

2008-01-28T21:28:00.000-05:00

Matters of life and science ...

Respect "moral boundries" (morals our government decided for you)

State of the Bush 12

2008-01-28T18:26:00.000-05:00

The Enivornment ....

Let's create a treaty .... It's called the Kyoto Treaty! And you refused to sign it.

State of the Bush 11

2008-01-28T18:24:00.001-05:00

Energy ...

Not coal power, you idiot! .... That's 19th century technology ... what's futuristic about that?

Are you going to propose a fleet of hot air balloons next?

And I hear steam power is going to be huge!

State of the Bush 10

2008-01-28T18:24:00.000-05:00

"Purveyers of false populism" ... fancy phrase, Mr. I-clear-brush-on-a-ranch.

State of the Bush 9

2008-01-28T18:21:00.000-05:00

The Government should not worry about the fate of private schools .... they're private ... isn't that consumer choice in action?

Flip flop much?!

Public monies should go to public schools!

--I swear, I've only had less than one chocolate martini --

.... Trade agreeements with Peru? What are we getting, llamas?

State of the Bush 8

2008-01-28T18:19:00.000-05:00

"Trust students to learn if given the chance?" WTF!

Oh sure, they test better ... but is they learning gooder?

State of the Bush 7

2008-01-28T18:18:00.000-05:00

We may share a common healthcare goal, but certainly not the means to the ends.

"Consumer choice" is such an empty phrase!

Bush - what are you smirking about?

State of the Bush 6

2008-01-28T18:15:00.000-05:00

Oh there's a unique stand: balancing the budget.

Cheap applause, Bush.

(Come on, Nancy, slug the VP .... something exciting like a heart attack is just what this speech needs)

State of the Bush 5

2008-01-28T18:13:00.000-05:00

"Tax Relief" = keeping the rich for paying their fair share.

Nothing like an IRS joke ... oh, didn't go over well with the Democrats .... too bad, Prez.

Republicans stand .... the Democrats scowl.

Where's the Td Kennedy shot? Come on, people.

State of the Bush 4

2008-01-28T18:11:00.000-05:00

Come on ... he's been speaking for nearly a minute, and not a shot of Ted Kennedy .... what's the deal, ABC?

Summation of first point: Some things are going up .... but other things are not .... and the net gain is not in your favor.

State of the Bush 3

2008-01-28T18:10:00.000-05:00

Seven LOOOOOOONG years have passed .....

Bush is wearing a flag lapel pin ... does anyone actually question his allegiance? Does he really need to wear that?

State of the Bush 2

2008-01-28T18:08:00.000-05:00

Nancy in lovely lavendar ... very feminine. Now, just wallop Cheney upside the head. Go on, Nancy! Do it!

Where did Cheney's neck go?

State of the Bush 1

2008-01-28T18:07:00.000-05:00

He hasn't even started yet, and I'm already annoyed by him.Honest to God, why are they clapping for him?! Whas he done lately - if ever - to deserve such applause?