On a recycle/reuse scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being a person who dries and re-uses toilet tissue), I think I fall at about a 7. My husband, on the other hand, is about a 3. I don't understand why he insists on throwing beer cans in the trash when the recycle tub is RIGHT THERE! So I pick through the trash a couple days a week and redistribute the recycling.
I also have this thing about saving containers for "craft projects" that I never do. I can not throw out a coffee can to save my life. I had about 15 of them stacked up when I got notice from the school that the art teacher wanted them. I sent a box full of coffee cans, peanut butter jars, and oatmeal canisters, with a note that said, "I thought you'd never ask!" I'd been collecting these things in my garage for 2, maybe 3 years! Of course I didn't get rid of all of them. We still need jars to collect lady bugs, grand-daddy-long-legs, and worms in!
So, I have "reuse" for all you green thumbs out there. You know how we put rocks in the bottom of house plant pots to help with drainage? Well, use packing peanuts instead. They work just as well and you won't add weight to your pots.
What is your best/most creative "reuse" tip?
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Letter to My Daughter
Hi, Peanut Butter…it’s mom. Listen, I know I got really mad at you this weekend but I’m over it now. I’m not mad anymore…I promise…pinky promise…for reals! But I gotta know…please...please tell Mommy…how did you do it? And why did you do it? And why didn’t you stop when you saw the mess? What was going on in your little head? What were you thinking? I mean…the ENTIRE bottle of baby powder A-L-L over MY bedroom? You KNOW that my bedroom is my sanctuary. I worked an entire summer to make that room perfect. From the paint to the chest, to the fabulously regal bedding, it’s my special place. And you doused it in Johnson & Johnson Aloe Baby Powder.
Was it fun? Did it look cool when the “smoke” puffed out as you squeezed the bottle? Did it smell good? Did you drop it…3,278 times? Did you want to write your name in it? Did it feel good to roll around in it? I want to know why you did it. And how you did it! How did you get the powder so evenly distributed?
My fabulously expensive (for me) satin and velvet (looking) patchwork bedspread with the deep reds, golds, greens, and purples was covered with baby powder. The deep red velvet drapes turned white. The dressers, lamps, TV, floor, bench, all of it…covered with a light, white, dust.
I hope that you learned a lesson after having to clean the mess yourself. I hope you will remember how many toys you could have bought with the money I took from you to help pay for the dry cleaning.
I promise I’m not mad anymore. Just please tell me…was it fun?
Was it fun? Did it look cool when the “smoke” puffed out as you squeezed the bottle? Did it smell good? Did you drop it…3,278 times? Did you want to write your name in it? Did it feel good to roll around in it? I want to know why you did it. And how you did it! How did you get the powder so evenly distributed?
My fabulously expensive (for me) satin and velvet (looking) patchwork bedspread with the deep reds, golds, greens, and purples was covered with baby powder. The deep red velvet drapes turned white. The dressers, lamps, TV, floor, bench, all of it…covered with a light, white, dust.
I hope that you learned a lesson after having to clean the mess yourself. I hope you will remember how many toys you could have bought with the money I took from you to help pay for the dry cleaning.
I promise I’m not mad anymore. Just please tell me…was it fun?
Friday, February 22, 2008
Crabby
When working at my computer, my back is to my office door. This isn't my preferred arrangement, but the length of computer cables and the layout of my office pretty much dictates the arrangement for me.
So, I have a document I wrote up on my computer and I'm on the phone discussing edits with a woman from another office. My boss comes into my office and stands behind me. I turn to her and say, "Did you need me?" She say, "No." then proceeds to package a CD, tape it shut, and label it for mailing. She's standing there dinking with this stupid package for almost the entire conversation.
Why is she doing this at my desk? I didn't have any of the supplies she required in my office, she brought them all with her. She didn't even use my pen. She assumed she knew who I was talking to, but couldn't have been sure (I'm the one who answered the phone). My conversation had nothing to do with her and wouldn't have made sense to her even if she heard both sides of the conversation!
So why was she standing in my office while I was on the phone? Am I alone in thinking this was rude? Is there a way to tell your boss to get the hell out of your office without getting fired?
So, I have a document I wrote up on my computer and I'm on the phone discussing edits with a woman from another office. My boss comes into my office and stands behind me. I turn to her and say, "Did you need me?" She say, "No." then proceeds to package a CD, tape it shut, and label it for mailing. She's standing there dinking with this stupid package for almost the entire conversation.
Why is she doing this at my desk? I didn't have any of the supplies she required in my office, she brought them all with her. She didn't even use my pen. She assumed she knew who I was talking to, but couldn't have been sure (I'm the one who answered the phone). My conversation had nothing to do with her and wouldn't have made sense to her even if she heard both sides of the conversation!
So why was she standing in my office while I was on the phone? Am I alone in thinking this was rude? Is there a way to tell your boss to get the hell out of your office without getting fired?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Crunching Numbers
Work is crazy. I’ve been working on budgets and timelines. FIVE YEAR budgets and timelines. Do you know how hard that is? There are more assumptions than tasks!
It’s been four days, but I think I finished the timelines. Tomorrow, I revisit the budgets.
The good to come out of all of this crazy is that I’m having a great time writing proposals again. I used to write proposals for an engineering firm and I loved it! Let me clarify…I loved the work, but hated the hours. I used to work 8 until 6, pick up my daughter from daycare, go home, fix dinner, play, bathe, and put her to bed, then go back to work from 10 until 1. I’d be up at 6 am the next day and do it all over again. Yeah…the hours sucked.
So anyway, if we loose this contract, I’ll suggest that they allow me to write proposals from home. They only have one person doing marketing right now and she could really use some help. AND I could do it from home. AND I get to write things like, “Our team of professionals was hand-selected to best address your needs.” and “Our carefully monitored programs offer superior results.”
Speaking of needing some help…I am having trouble downloading pictures to post. I spent the weekend repotting plants and was all excited to show you the pictures. I downloaded them to my computer, but apparently I downloaded them as an album rather than individual shots. I’m still working on it.
It’s been four days, but I think I finished the timelines. Tomorrow, I revisit the budgets.
The good to come out of all of this crazy is that I’m having a great time writing proposals again. I used to write proposals for an engineering firm and I loved it! Let me clarify…I loved the work, but hated the hours. I used to work 8 until 6, pick up my daughter from daycare, go home, fix dinner, play, bathe, and put her to bed, then go back to work from 10 until 1. I’d be up at 6 am the next day and do it all over again. Yeah…the hours sucked.
So anyway, if we loose this contract, I’ll suggest that they allow me to write proposals from home. They only have one person doing marketing right now and she could really use some help. AND I could do it from home. AND I get to write things like, “Our team of professionals was hand-selected to best address your needs.” and “Our carefully monitored programs offer superior results.”
Speaking of needing some help…I am having trouble downloading pictures to post. I spent the weekend repotting plants and was all excited to show you the pictures. I downloaded them to my computer, but apparently I downloaded them as an album rather than individual shots. I’m still working on it.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Reading
I just finished reading Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire. It is the first book by him that I've read and I LOVED it! For those of you who may not be familiar, the book is written from the point of view of one of Cinderella's stepsister. It is facinating to me on so many levels, but most notably, how the same story can take on a different meaning, depending on the point of view. After I read Confessions, I thought, "Well, of course! These stepsisters got screwed!"
It's a great story. I really enjoyed it. So much so, in fact, that I have reserved Maguire's first book, Wicked, from the library. Wicked is the life story of the Wicked Witch from the Wizzard of Oz. I can't wait.
Today is Friday and I'm thrilled! We are supposed to have some fantastic weather in Denver Metro this weekend...both days! I'm going to repot my plants and go on a bike ride with my daughter (and clean and do laundry and get my grocery shopping done, blah blah blah).
What are you doing (or what did you do, as the case may be)?
It's a great story. I really enjoyed it. So much so, in fact, that I have reserved Maguire's first book, Wicked, from the library. Wicked is the life story of the Wicked Witch from the Wizzard of Oz. I can't wait.
Today is Friday and I'm thrilled! We are supposed to have some fantastic weather in Denver Metro this weekend...both days! I'm going to repot my plants and go on a bike ride with my daughter (and clean and do laundry and get my grocery shopping done, blah blah blah).
What are you doing (or what did you do, as the case may be)?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Moms...We Rock!
My life seems a blur the last week or two. I was reflecting on my accomplishments this morning and thought, "I should, at the very least, get a high five for pulling this off...this "mom" thing." Not that I have done anything above and beyond any other mom, but just think about what we do... It's incredible what we accomplish.
As much crap as my husband gives me about misplacing my sunglasses or my car keys (or both, as the case may be), I remembered to buy Valentines and ensured that my daughter had them in her back pack. I remembered that she had a special homework assignment that was due and I reminded her about her appointment with the school's occupational therapist (handwriting issues). I remembered to fill her water bottle and pack a peanut-free snack (one of the kids in her class is alergic). I remembered to write one check to the PTO, one to the lunch lady, and one for daycare. I remembered that it was PE day, so if my daughter wears snow boots, she needs to also take tennis shoes. I remembered that we have GirlScouts tonight and that prizes will be given to the girls who can recite the pledge and the promise.
I keep the cupboards stocked with everyone's favorite foods, and cook dinner at least 5 nights a week. There's plenty of soap, shampoo and toilet paper. The cat is fed, the laundry is done, toilets are clean, and the recycling makes it to the curb every other Tuesday.
On top of all of this (and more), I work 40 hours a week outside of my home. So, to all you moms out there, "HIGH FIVE, SISTER---WE ROCK!!!!"
As much crap as my husband gives me about misplacing my sunglasses or my car keys (or both, as the case may be), I remembered to buy Valentines and ensured that my daughter had them in her back pack. I remembered that she had a special homework assignment that was due and I reminded her about her appointment with the school's occupational therapist (handwriting issues). I remembered to fill her water bottle and pack a peanut-free snack (one of the kids in her class is alergic). I remembered to write one check to the PTO, one to the lunch lady, and one for daycare. I remembered that it was PE day, so if my daughter wears snow boots, she needs to also take tennis shoes. I remembered that we have GirlScouts tonight and that prizes will be given to the girls who can recite the pledge and the promise.
I keep the cupboards stocked with everyone's favorite foods, and cook dinner at least 5 nights a week. There's plenty of soap, shampoo and toilet paper. The cat is fed, the laundry is done, toilets are clean, and the recycling makes it to the curb every other Tuesday.
On top of all of this (and more), I work 40 hours a week outside of my home. So, to all you moms out there, "HIGH FIVE, SISTER---WE ROCK!!!!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)