I've tried to be diligent about the reduce and reuse part. It happens in small ways, like taking reusable grocery bags and reusing containers and such. But it never felt like much of an impact--though I suppose every little bit helps.
The thing that was missing was recycling. For the area I live in recycling was never much of an option. You could either pay a monthly fee to get special (not cheap) recycle pickup or you could pack it up and carry it to the recycling center across town. Unfortunately, neither of these options worked. So we never participated in recycling.
At the beginning of the year, our city switched our waste pickup company to one who supported recycling. I was so excited. It makes me feel productive to do my part and recycle. I am thankful that our city decided to make the switch.
Now each week our recycling is overflowing. My only complaint is we need a bigger recycling bin because we have as much, probably more, recycling than garbage. Ideally, I would like to start a compost this summer, which will reduce our garbage as well.
I am thankful that we have another outlet to reduce our carbon footprint and be a little more environmentally conscious.
What is life without Internet? In this day and age, it is virtually impossible to "unplug." I have Internet on my phone and computer so it is always at my fingertips. I use technology for everything. I can't even do math without a calculator (yep, that's on my phone too.) I surprise myself by how much I rely on the Internet. That is where I get my news, a few laughs, connect with friends and family and of course write out my life's journey on my blogs.
This past weekend we were on the move. We visited my parents, Stephen's family, went to two concerts and eventually made it back home. During that time we were without Internet most of the time. Sure I still had 3G on my phone, but even that was inconsistent. This means that I couldn't check facebook, write on my blog, play online games, read the news/funny comics or look up anything. Thankfully, I could still use my calculator.
I realized a few things by this experience. One is that I didn't really miss it that much. I still wrote in my notebook, which I always have with me. I still talked to a couple friends and family members on the phone, there are lots of games that aren't online, and I don't really care that much about the news anyway. I missed looking things up though because the paper sources just aren't as available as the Internet is.
The second thing I realized is that I enjoy the Internet. I love writing this on a public forum for people to read and respond too. I enjoy games that update as I play. I enjoy posting pictures and talking being a silent observer of other people's lives through facebook and blogs. These are things I enjoy doing, and for the most part I'm not going to stop doing the things without Internet just because I have it. I will still read, write in my notebook, play games, talk with friends and not care about the news (it's just depressing really.)
I also realize that these two realizations contradict each other.
I've been thinking about good and evil lately. (This sort of relates I promise.) Some people see technology as evil. But I wonder why? My conclusion is because of the unknown. We do not generally like things that we understand. For me technology is fairly easy to comprehend, but I am still no expert on the matter. I like having information at my fingertips, I like that the world is becoming connected through wireless communication, and I like that the truth is often reviled because of the multiple sources at our disposal.
To me the Internet is not evil. It is wonderful. It doesn't suck my time because I am so busy all the time. I enjoy the time I spend doing what I love to do like connect with people, play games, and write on my blog. Of course, Pinterest is a wonderful inspiration and listening to all kinds of music is amazing.
Okay, so I am rambling a bit. But I've been away from sharing random thoughts for about a week now, and I'm ready to get back into society (until next weekend at least.)
Perhaps I will share some of my stories after I get my pictures uploaded. That could be fun. But one thing I do realize about my blogs is this...it is fun and I do it for me not for anyone else. I have to keep reminding myself of this fact. I want people to read what I write and to like me or at least share constructive criticisms. However, I write for me, for my soul. And that is good.
Zoey has fallen in love with dinosaurs. I think it is so cute. I never really got into dinosaurs very much as a kid, but Stephen did and he is very excited about her interest. I know know all the names of the dinosaurs now, but I have a feeling if this love lasts any time at all I will learn them all.
It all started when Zoey found this Bob the Builder show on Netflix called "The Big Dino Dig." From that movie she learned the word "dinosaur" (which she can say very clearly actually) and then the interest grew. She started pointing out dinosaurs on tv and in books. She even started asking about them.
I decided to share one of my favorite movies from my childhood, "The Land Before Time" with her. This was the most I was ever into dinosaurs. But it was more my best childhood friend and I falling in love with the characters. Turns out, Zoey loves "The Land Before Time" too! We've watched it several times this past week or so.
All Zoey's dinosaurs come to say "cheese"
We were visiting my mom a couple weeks ago ad we went into a toy store and found some awesome toy dinosaurs. There are five of them and she loves them. They quickly became her favorite toy. Now they talk to her cars and sleep in the toy house with her little people. The five dinosaurs fit in well with the toys in Zoey's world.
The Dinosaurs splash in to tub with Zoey
Zoey takes them in the bath with her. One day she was playing with them and watching "The Land Before Time" at the same time. It is really cute watching her make up stories for the dinosaurs and her other toys to play out.
The newest show we've found with dinosaurs is Dinosaur Train on PBS. After watching a couple episodes, I actually really like it. There is so much accurate and interesting information about dinosaurs that I am learning things. They use the real names and even some scientific language. I like shows that don't dumb down the content.
We've been having lots of fun playing with and learning about dinosaurs. I am learning a lot too. I hope to get Zoey some kind of illustrated Dinosaur encyclopedia or story book to delve even deeper. It's lots of fun watching Zoey grow and becoming interested in her own adventures.
Today marks the completion of my quest to read the Bible in 90 days! I actually completed it in 80 days, which is super awesome. I still have to type out my summaries and finish writing the last few, but the reading is finished. I will speak more about it later, but I wanted to mark the date!
Today is Friday and it is a wonderful day. Today it feels like summer. We got the little pool out to splash in the backyard. I am wearing shorts and am still hot. We have had several days of thunderstorms in a row. It might as well be summer.
I love this time of year. Something about the fresh air and warm breeze that makes my creative juices come alive. After being dormant most of the winter and cooped up in the house, it is nice to be outside and let my mind flow free.
I've been feeling more lucid, more alive the past few days. It's almost like I'm using more of my mind, sort of an ever present meditative state. I experienced this feeling, this mindset, a good bit in college, when I was surrounded constantly by new knowledge and creative inspirations. It's sort of nice to have that feeling back.
Today is Friday, which means the end of the week and the beginning of a few free days. It doesn't matter that I am a stay-at-home mom, Friday still feels like an accomplishment. It is exciting to have Stephen home for the weekend and a few days to enjoy doing things out of the ordinary.
Happy Friday everyone! Hope you do something incredibly enjoyable this weekend!
So I am a twilight fan...yes I'm one of those, get over it. I don't know why I'm drawn to this story the way I am, but it is magical. Though I don't particularly like my vampires to sparkle and I still want to knock some sense into pretty much all the characters the majority of the book. Nothing's perfect right. Anyway...The Twilight Saga is a good story. Especially that it all wraps up into a pretty little bow of happiness.
It is all about love--finding it, keeping it and cherishing it. The newest Breaking Dawn movie has won my heart and so has the soundtrack. I love all the songs and they will probably all pop up here eventually, but right now I'm stuck on this one.
"Turning Page" by Sleeping at Last is a soft, love song. The song itself, without any association to the movie, makes my heart swell with love. It really is the perfect song for marriage, about belonging to someone else. I have lots of good things to say about marriage. Even with all of my enthusiasm about marriage, it doesn't mean it is easy. It takes surrendering yourself to become so much more. I am still my own person, but I am stronger in many ways with my husband next to me.
My favorite phrase is "Though we’re tethered to the story we must tell, When I saw you, well, I knew we’d tell it well. With a whisper, we will tame the vicious seas. Like a feather bringing kingdoms to their knees."
Here is a video (granted it is of Twilight: Breaking Dawn) of the song and the lyrics.
Turning Page
by Sleeping at Last
I’ve waited a hundred years.
But I’d wait a million more for you.
Nothing prepared me for
What the privilege of being yours would do.
If I had only felt the warmth within your touch,
If I had only seen how you smile when you blush,
Or how you curl your lip when you concentrate enough,
I would have known what I was living for all along.
What I’ve been living for.
Your love is my turning page,
Where only the sweetest words remain.
Every kiss is a cursive line,
Every touch is a redefining phrase.
I surrender who I’ve been for who you are,
For nothing makes me stronger than your fragile heart.
If I had only felt how it feels to be yours,
Well, I would have known what I’ve been living for all along.
Do you ever feel like you are trying to hard at something? To the point that it is no longer fun, but a chore that demands attention? That's what this blog has become to me. I feel like it has to be a certain way for others to like it. So I have actually stopped posting because I don't like what it's become. But I have recently realized (once again) that it doesn't matter what other people think.
I have spent the majority of my life finding myself and becoming comfortable with who that is. As I grow that mold continues to change, but the root is still who I am. I am happy with who I am. I don't know why I try to fit in online, I don't try to fit in with real life.
So I'm saying all of that to say this...
My blog is going to change. It is going to be random. It is going to be inconsistent. But it is going to be fun. And it is going to be me.
If you are okay with that and want to share in some random wackiness, then I welcome all thoughts, ideas and tales. If you don't like what I post, then don't read it. I'm writing for me and not for what I think other people want to hear.
Just to forewarn you, it will probably suck, but I'm okay with that. Nothing in this world is perfect even if everyone could agree on what perfect is, which in itself is an impossibility.
So there you have it. I don't like labels on myself. I am wife and I am mother but that's about it. I'm not always the best at either of those, though I do try. As for all the other labels out there...stop putting ideas in to a box. I want to rip open the box and color the whole world.
See, I told you it was going to be wacky. But then again, that is me.
