Building Green

I would love to build a green home.

The other day, I was driving down the street, and saw an ad outside of a model come. We Build Green. Intrigued, I went back the next day to see what they had to offer, and how much it costs to build an average green home. Boy, was I disappointed. The saleswoman basically told me that they have a few green elements in all of their homes, which means that they have energy saving appliances, windows, bulbs, and a few other features. Everything else is extra. I tried to get ballparks, but it was next to impossible. When I asked about using recycled materials, she looked at me like I was crazy. She kept referring to truly green homes as "extreme". Yes, they can build an environmentally friendly home, and they have (she showed me the newspaper article of the eco-warriors that built their home with this company) with success. However, it seems that the owners ideals have not reached his salespeople. Why advertise "we build green" if you think that recycled materials, solar panels for more than heating the pool, earth/eco friendly building materials, etc. is "extreme"? Argh.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I was watching Planet Green (a television channel in the US) today, "World's Greenest Homes". Today's show featured a house in Colorado, 7,000 square feet...they get so much energy from their solar panels that they sell the extra to the grid. WHAT! My first thought was "this is how the rich stay rich". Build a 7,000 sq. foot green home is not CHEAP, and then to be able to sell the extra, solar powered energy. Nice for your pocket. Oh, and the environment too.

I worked there!

As I browsed through news articles from Yahoo!'s home page, I ran across a familiar name. "Hey, I used to work for that guy!" Although Burt Flickinger was an oft quoted man long before I worked for him, I did not often come across his name. And I can not recall seeing it in the years since. It was an interesting thing, seeing the name of your former boss in print, recalling what it was like to work for him, remembering all of the things I saw and read and learned during my time with SRG.

And it reminded me of another news worthy former employer of mine, the Early Emotional Development Program. While I was there we were working on a preschool depression study, which has recently become MAJOR news. I'm still in touch with my former colleagues, and was quite excited to see of all the press about the study. And it was a little surreal, to read about something about which I have first hand knowledge.

I wonder what (or who) I'll read about tomorrow...

Walmart article (Burt Flickinger III)

One (of many) about Preschool Depression (Dr. Joan Luby, EEDP)

I'm going to France to get some dancing lessons from Elvyna. Trop forte! FRANCHEMENT RESPECT!

I'm a hustler baby

I realized this evening that I have a few things I'm trying to get going. In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, I recently got a part-time tutoring job, am setting up my etsy shop and selling my stuff locally, and advertising my services as a virtual assistant. I'm also looking into getting one more out of the house part-time job, at least for the time being. I'm here for now, so I could as well, right? And thankfully, except for the tutoring job, I can continue my various jobs no matter where in the world we decide to go, which is important and essential, given our lifestyle.

I'm also trying to make a very big decision. Do I go back to school for a year and do something I'm good at but don't love, or go back for 5 years and risk failure to do something I am passionate about? Or do neither and focus all of my energy on being an entepenuer? I feel like the clock is ticking, and I still have so much I want to get done, but time is running out.

Bleeping Food Allergies

In case you were wondering, food allergies suck. I went to the store to find some easy meals for my son, some of those toddler microwaveable meals, to have in the house or the diaper bag (I carry food for him EVERYWHERE). After checking labels, I discovered that of the 20+ varieties on the shelf, my son can not eat a single one. NOT ONE. I was quite frustrated. Seemingly vegetarian meals made with chicken stock, almost everything with eggs and milk. Argh! I know that I can go to the local health food store and get him some organic, vegan/vegetarian meals that he can eat, but they are considerably more expensive and I am on a budget. My sister took one look at me in the store and said "You need a support group."

Then today after dinner, which my son refused to eat, I noticed he had hives on his torso. There were none in the area around his mouth, and he didn't have any of the other telltale signs, like trying to scratch his tongue, pulling and scratching his ears, coughing, gasping or clawing at his face, so I didn't think he had ingested any of his allergens. Turns out that some of my sister's gravy, which contained a little milk, got on his chest (his food was gravy-less, and I didn't know the gravy had milk). She tried to give him some of her food when he wouldn't eat his own, but he refused to eat it (smart boy!). No trip to the emergency room, thankfully. But if that is what happened after coming into contact with a trace amount of milk in a sauce, then I think even a non-ingested reaction could be pretty severe. If there was anything I could to do to guarantee that he would grow out of his allergies, I would do it. Then I would become a millionaire, because so would thousands of other people around the world.

Mocha Dai

Another teaser. I made a few of these belts ("dai" is "belt"). I love them! They have a really fun texture and are one size fits many. They seem to be a hit with the teenage crowd, which is pretty cool. I'm going to make a few variations, different colors and textures, maybe you'll find one you love.

Setting up this shop is a bit of work. I had to push back my deadline a week, but I'm still crocheting, and experimenting with different techniques and styles. Everything I sell has to be my original design (or something in common use, like a granny square) so that is also challenging. It is a great feeling though, when something I've been working on (and frogging, yarn speak for taking out and starting over) finally comes out nice! I've tried a lot of new things in the past few weeks: wire, beads, thread, fishing wire, and hemp, to name a few. Even after I get the shop set up, I will be adding new styles as I become more comfortable with different materials and techniques. A little scary, but exciting too.

Online Store

I finally started to set up my Etsy shop! I'm still taking pictures, so the shop is empty. But here is a teaser for all of my faithful blog readers:

The Citrus Collection

The Newspaper Collection

And here is my first custom order. She wanted a pair to match her work uniform.

That is just the jewelry. I also have belts, hats, scarves, and a baby blanket or two. So, get those bank accounts in order, my etsy store is coming soon!

It's been a long time

I've had a busy summer. Lots of traveling...by plane, train, automobile, and even coach (bus). I attended the long awaited for union of my oldest friend and her husband (CONGRATS Mrs. H! And Mr. H too.) I've packed and unpacked, moved lots of furniture, had a yard sale or two and spent time with the family. I went to look at schools with my sister, spent some time with my goddaughters, saw my friends, and reconnected with a person or two. And that's not all. My baby celebrated his first birthday, and he is running around, calling me by my nickname (instead of mama) and generally giving orders. He's a blast! I've contemplated where in the world we are going to live, applied for about 50 jobs on three continents, and made a few decisions.

One of the most exciting decisions is that I'm going to sell crochet accessories. Yay! I know some of you have been waiting a LONG time for me to come to that decision. Thank you for your patience. I hope that I can have your continued support (and purchasing power). For now, I'm going to stick with women's accessories, and I will definitely have some organic and natural stuff for the "crunchy" crowd, like myself. There might be a few baby blankets and other items, for those of you that really want one of my lovely handmade items for your little one. I do have a deadline, which is fast approaching, so keep your eyes open for the launch of my etsy store.

So far, I've made some belts, a few hat and scarf sets, and earrings (thanks for the suggestion AT, they are not easy to do but they are cute!). Is there anything else you all would like to me to make? Those of you that know me personally have an idea of the kind of stuff I make, feel free to make suggestions (or requests). And for those of you that don't know me personally, I will post some pictures in the next day or two.

I'm going to pick up a hook and some thread, and get to work. Until the next posting, be well.

Color of Change

Dear friends,

Two weeks ago outside Philadelphia, sixty-five children from a summer camp tried to go swimming at a club their camp had a contract to use. Evidently, the club didn't know the kids were largely Black.

When the campers entered the pool, White parents took their kids out of the water, and the swimming club's staff asked the campers to leave. The next day, the club told the summer camp that their membership would be canceled and that they would refund their money. When asked why, the club's leader said the "kids would change the complexion ... and the atmosphere of the club."

A "Whites only" pool in 2009 should not be tolerated. The club's actions appear to be a violation of section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act. Whether or not any laws were violated, a "Whites only" pool should be something every American condemns.

I've just joined ColorOfChange.org in doing exactly that -- will you join me, and email your friends and family asking them to do the same? We're also calling on the Department of Justice to evaluate suing the facility under federal law. It takes just a moment to do both, here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?id=1550-910789

Obama is President but that doesn't mean that suddenly all is fine when it comes to race in America. This is a vivid reminder of what we know still lies beneath the surface.

We all know stories like this one -- similar incidents play out quietly every day in different communities across the country. The difference in this case is that folks got caught and there was a contract in place that makes for a potentially illegal act.

Standing up now isn't just about making things right for these kids in Philadelphia or bringing consequences to this swim club (called the Valley Swim Club). It's about creating a climate of accountability everywhere. If we can publicly shame the Valley Swim Club and hold them accountable for this incident, it will make others think twice before engaging in this kind of discrimination.

Please join me in condemning the Valley Swim Club's blatant discrimination and calling on the Justice Department to investigate whether they violated civil rights laws. And please ask your friends and family to do the same.

http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/?id=1550-910789

Thanks.

Here are some links to more info:

"Pool Boots Kids Who Might 'Change the Complexion,'" NBC Philadelphia, 07-08-09
http://bit.ly/90Zyr

"60 Black Kids Booted from Philly Pool For Being Black -- Speak Out," Jill Tubman at Jack and Jill Politics, 07-08-09
http://bit.ly/GkJTs

"Valley Swim Club: Day Two," Adam B at Daily Kos, 07-08-09
http://bit.ly/qbpSA

"Section 1981 Summary," Employment Law Information Network
http://www.elinfonet.com/1981sum.php

Inside Story - United China? - 08 July 09