evil lurks at the grocery store

I'm sure by this point, you've all been warned of the damage you're causing the earth by allowing your local grocer to automatically throw your purchases in a plastic bag. Yesterday, my friend Jenna sent me this link and it truly opened my eyes not only to the harm plastic is doing to the environment, but also just how behind our country is in making changes to bring this to a halt.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016/

I urge you all to check out the link and then do your best to remember your reusable bag the next time you visit the store.

Don't have a reusable bag, or think they're a pain to lug to the store? Here are a couple of companies that are making it not only easy to carry them in your purse or pocket, but also to be easy on the eyes.

Envirosax
RuMe

I keep one of my Envirosax in my purse. It folds up to about the size of my wallet, and it's lightweight. Oh, and they each hold the contents of approximately 2-3 regular grocery bags!

flex-day fun

My manager recently instated a new flex-day policy. Basically, we all work nine-hour days and can have two scheduled days off each month. Today was my first in-state flex day. (I was in Ohio for the real first one.) I've decided to do my best to view them as mini-vacations in my own town. 

Here's what I did today:

• Slept in until 9:30.
• Explored downtown Louisville, a neighboring town that's full of remnants of the old mining days.
• Chatted with a local to learn more about Louisville.
• Acted like a tourist and took lots of photos. One old man, who was sitting on a bench, noticed, and said, "We have a beautiful town, don't we?" I responded, "Yes, sir. You certainly do."
• Met Jenna for lunch.
• Sat in a coffee shop I had never been to before and wrote a letter to a friend.
• Broke my "vacation" rule and did laundry . . . but I do like to do laundry, so was it really breaking the rule?
• Sat in the rain.
• Was mocked by my friend Adam for sitting in the rain by myself. He said I looked "pathetic." Thanks, Adam.
• Ate dinner with Aubrea.
• Hung out with Rusty and Jenna and discovered more new applications for my iPod. Yes, I'm a nerd.
• Shot photos of Rusty and Jenna with Rusty's awesome camera.
  
• Stole the photo off of Rusty's Facebook.
• Wrote this blog.
• Went to sleep.

Next flex day: August 11th. 

Stay tuned.

more photos from ohio

To see more photos from Ohio, click here.

two birthdays and a wedding

The last couple of weeks have been a bit of whirlwind for me. Last Tuesday, the 15th, I flew home to Ohio to celebrate my grandad's 80th birthday, my cousin's 30th birthday, and the wedding of my friend Chris. Every moment that I wasn't a part of these celebrations was spent with my friend Chris (Bubba) and my family, including my three-year-old niece Claira and my (almost) five-year-old nephew Corbin.

Here's a little photo blog of my time in Ohio:

On Wednesday, Corbin and Claira came over, and we played outside in the little pool. When my dad got home, Claira introduced me, saying, "Hi Papaw! This is my friend, Aunt M." Cute.

Later in the afternoon, my friend Chris (Bubba) picked me up, and we went antiquing in a nearby town, Bainbridge. Bub loves taking the back ways, so while he was busy blazing up the barely paved roads, I attempted to snap some photos.


On Friday evening, we met up with the entire family and approximately 75 friends of my grandad's to celebrate his 80 years of life.

At the party, I finally had the chance to meet my cousin Bethany's new boyfriend Harry, who is Dutch. We like him, and as you can probably tell, they really like each other.

On Saturday, we traveled down to Cincinnati for Erin's surprise 30th birthday party. Jay, her husband, planned it, and did a fantastic job keeping the secret from Erin. She was shocked. Because I was going to Chris's wedding the next day (also in Cincy), I stayed at Erin's house. We were up until 3 a.m. playing cornhole. So much fun!

On Sunday, I went to my friend Chris's wedding. It was great to celebrate his relationship with Jenna and to see so many friends whom I hadn't seen in years. My buddy Dan made me feel like I was back in Boulder with his beard and discussion of Wendell Barry and organic farming.

stevie wonder

On Tuesday night, Jenna and I, along with several of her co-workers, took the long way (public transportation of every sort) to Fiddler's Green, an outdoor music venue south of Denver to see Stevie Wonder.

Though I went to the show hoping to hear many of the songs that I love of his, I was even more delighted once there to discover that he sang several great well-known songs that I didn't even realize he sang, such as "Signed, Sealed, Delivered."

His band was awesome -- 13 of them on stage at all times, including 3 drummers, 2 extra keyboard players, backup singers/dancers, etc. -- all laying down some sweet funky grooves.

We had a great time! Thanks to Jenna for taking me to the show!

welcome, woody!

My love for garden gnomes formed simultaneously with my love for the film Amelie; however, I've never had the privilege of owning one until this week. Woody, named after the legendary OSU football coach Woody Hayes, arrived on Wednesday.

Jenna owns his counterpart, Bucky, a cute little OSU cheerleader gnome.

Woody enjoys sitting in the sunshine, watching me cook, and guarding the basil that is growing in the little pot beside him. (The basil is from the seeds of a Pangea soap box!)

fireworks and a frozen dead guy

Just a short drive up beautiful Boulder Canyon lies a quirky little mountain town called Nederland. At an elevation of approximately 8,200 feet, the temperature is always cooler than that of Boulder, making it one of my favorite summer getaway spots. Last night, the 4th of July, Niles, Shauna, and I left our house around 6:30 p.m. The temperature was 93. Twenty minutes later, we arrived in Nederland, where the temperature was 73. Sweet.

Not only is Nederland one of my favorite places because it's literally cooler, but because it's just so interesting. Every March, Ned holds a festival called "Frozen Dead Guy Days." In a tuff shed in this tiny town lies a cryogenically frozen dead guy named Bredo Morstoel.

So last night, along with frozen Bredo and many other Ned-heads, the three of us watched the fireworks over Barker Reservoir. I believe this will become my new 4th of July tradition. Ned is just so much more laid back than Boulder (it's possible -- I swear), and the fireworks were gorgeous. This year, the city decided not to pay for the fireworks, so a local family fronted the $15,000 bill, and spent the last year raising money. Knowing this made the show so much more meaningful.