Project Genesis 9/1/2010

Still think it is too much hassle, too complicated to recycle?

Even the smallest bit of recycling makes a difference.

Before we had curbside service our family would

drive it over to recycling and

then do something family oriented with the money.

I'm going to make it super simple for you.

No more excuses.

These items are typically accepted at most recycling centers

and curbside pickup and have the least amount of rules:

	Aluminum Cans (all the sodas of the world)
	Steel Cans (soup cans, veggie cans, coffee cans, etc. and you don't even need to remove the labels)
	Newspaper
	Magazines and slick inserts (after you are finished with that magazine and all those catalogs and ads that arrive in the mail, they can be recycled)

These items are accepted on a regular basis, with some exceptions.

	Corrugated Cardboard (shipping and packaging boxes, usually identifiable by a layer of paper sandwiched between sheets. Used pizza boxes are NOT accepted)
	Paper and Paperboard (office paper, notebook paper, cereal boxes, non-Styrofoam egg cartons, some pre-packaged food boxes. Some paper items like paper milk cartons and drink boxes are lined with wax or plastic and are often not accepted.
	Plastics (milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, vitamin bottles, plastic soda and water containers etc. Most centers will only accept those plastics labeled with PETE 1 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) and HDPE 2 symbols. High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) These can generally be found molded into the bottom of the containers. If you can't identify the type of plastic, don't include it. Most facilities also require that you remove the cap since it is usually made of a different type of plastic. Some facilities will accept additional plastics, so, check with your local recycling center.
	Glass (beer and wine bottles, pickle jars, jelly jars, etc. Occasionally a center will accept only certain "colors" of glass. Light bulbs, Pyrex, ceramics, and mirrors are NEVER accepted. Glass is becoming less accepted because of the potential for injury to workers. Here is a great A-Z recycling list for everything. Please see rules if linking for the first time and remember to link directly to your Genesis post not just to your blog. All the Genesis posts are archived in my sidebar, so the direct link to posts is required of everyone. I cannot wait to see what you have to say! Suzan You can link until Midnight Friday

Reminder

Project Genesis III is this Wednesday Sept 1st.

New to the idea? Link HERE.

For those hesitant to link, c'mon it's easy.

We welcome the grandest of ideas and the smallest.

Every small tidbit of information makes a difference

when you share it with others, and they take it into their

lives and into their hearts.

No grand gestures required.

Just a desire to share what you do, or want to do to

make this world a better place.

Women are the caregivers of the world.

Your contribution to Genesis matters.

In a very busy life, and a complicated world, pause

for a moment and share with others your commitment

to care for this world.

Create Change - The World Will Thank You
Project Genesis September 1st

Suzan

Pathways

All over the blogs and overheard here and there..

"Thank Heavens, school starts next week."

I never said or felt this..

I felt "oh no, the kids are going back to school."

I will miss them so much and will miss moments in their lives.

I was always parked in the afternoon lot 15 minutes earlier

than the other Moms to grab the closest spot,

and eagerly searched for those sweet faces coming up the path,

over the rise at the end of their days.

I had initiated a 2 question routine to garner every tidbit of their days.

"What is the best thing that happened today?" followed by

"What is the worst thing that happened today?"

a sure fire winner to get the kiddies talking.

Because I did not have a car when my kids were very young,

(an economic factor to enable me to stay home)

we spent 90% of our days at home playing,

and 10% walking to the market or the library.

I was very selective about quantity and quality of tv viewing.

Only select shows and I watched with them. (no moral or

religious reasoning, I just didn't want their

sweet little heads filled with junk)

Most of the day was spent building with massive

wooden block sets, Legos etc, creating tent cities

all over the house or crafting. No video games until Junior High

(and they still whine about how deprived they were).

We borrowed and bought hundreds upon hundreds of books.

We painted and drew on reams upon reams of paper,

and should have owned stock in Crayola.

No pushing in any direction from their folks,

we just provided all the supplies to stir the imagination,

and waited to see where the paths led.

It didn't hurt that Daddy was an artist, and Mommy read

about ten books a week and crafted in between.

With all the hours of building I believed

Ben might be headed to engineering.

For about seven years we were convinced it would be music,

after the renting of five different instruments and lessons.

Hannah spun and twirled, would she be a dancer?

A physician was a possibility

as she spent hours "doctoring" her dolls and pets.

The blessing for me; I was there at home watching it unfold every day;

seeing the light in their eyes as they discovered and created

and yelled, " Mama, look at this!" I do know it was a blessing.

We bought a very inexpensive home, shared a car,

stuck to a very tight budget, and vacationed only at relatives homes

for many, many years. I cleaned houses where I could take

the baby with me and he/she napped while I scrubbed.

It was no less a word than Heaven.

Dearest Son taught himself to read and entered kindergarten

reading at about a fourth grade level, he is a writer today.

Darling Daughter won the first painting contest in Kindergarten,

she is an artist today.

They've chosen wonderful paths. Mom and Dad are very proud.

Suzan

Repetition In White

I was pondering Friday's photo challenge of repetition while

preparing some shots for White Wednesday.

I started with this cabinet, located just inside the front door.

Very quickly I noticed that nearly every vignette in my home is based

on repetition. Seriously, look at this display alone!

The jars, finials, fabric balls, birds, all in multiples.

Creme de la creme, check out the

mirror reflecting not one, but TWO more mirrors.

Panning just the front room alone, netted more examples of my

obvious attraction to multiples, to repetition. I will only show a few

or this post would be much too long.

Analysis would venture some theories I suppose.

Multiples are everywhere, I even had two children. :-0

Not satisfied with one necklace, I nearly always wear three.

Yep, more than one of these too.

Justice and Howie

OK, a reprieve. Just like my kids, one boy, one girl.

I may be repetitive, but I'm not obsessive.

Please visit Razmataz for Chania's Photo Challenge this week.

Suzan

Create Change - The World Will Thank You
Project Genesis September 1st

Saturday Rant

Kindness and consideration should be the norm not something

pulled out occasionally " just to be nice".

I witnessed some things this week that have stuck in my craw,

and I feel like a rant.

Last night I ran over to get a Bobbie Sandwiches at my local Capriottis,

( Thanksgiving in a sandwich)

and watched a man express extreme rudeness with no

provocation whatsoever.

They call your name when your order is ready and each time

he got up and yelled at the young man behind the

counter with "who did you just call?" Now granted, being

in a a casino it is quite noisy, but he sat about 30 feet away so

if he had hearing issues shouldn't he have

loitered a little closer? Yes, I said casino.

We here in lala land get pickup food at the casino

2 blocks from my house.

Anyway..

He finally got his order and before he sat down with it, he marched

over to the counter and threw his fries across the counter down

and over to the other side spewing them everywhere screaming "I said no salt!"

The girl who made them said quite nicely."Sir, there is no salt on them."

He pounded on the counter and said "make em again, NOW!" and sat down.

I was sitting next to the counter and heard the girl explain to a co-worker

there was no salt on them and asked what she was to do.

Then I see the guy's wife pick up one of her fries and taste it

and told him there was no salt. He ignored her.

I was then called to pick up my order.

When I got up there I said to the young man

"What an !#$%&^%"

He said laughing "yeah sure thing."

He then said "we're making them again the exact same way,

wonder what he'll do." I said "do you want me to stick around,

I'll ask for security to throw the bum out." He laughed, declined,

and said "they wouldn't do anything to him anyway."

As I walked by the guy I almost said something.

I have been known to do exactly that.

Oh, I was itching to. I actually paused, but I knew whatever

I said would fall on deaf ears, literally and figuratively.

Besides Hannah and I were in the middle of

Hepburn Movies- 4 classics in a row. Thank you TCM

So here are two young adults maintaining decorum while this

jerk of an adult sets a horrible example.

*********

Earlier in the week, I'm standing in the market line and

up runs a guy humphing and huffing and searching for

the shortest line. There are three -15 item lines, but they have

a few people in them so he searches the other regular ones and

there are two more each having two people.

I'm one of the two with maybe 20 items.

He very loudly starts to yell to anyone

"hey get some more lines open here, I have to be somewhere."

Now he is not laden with diapers or formula rushing home to a

hungry baby or one with severe abdominal issues,

nor does he have prescription drugs for an ill family member. Not

even dog food for the pet he forgot to feed (who should bite his butt anyway).

He has a bag of pretzels and cheap beer.

So he sighs and harumphs and fidgets and gives the clerks dirty

looks and even though I did not want to, I wanted THIS GUY GONE so

I offered him my spot, he pushes past me, slams his stuff on

the counter without giving me a glance and says..

" about ^&%$#(* time"

He pays, throwing the bills onto the counter,

not even bothering to hand them to the clerk or

look at her and storms out.

The clerk, who I've known for years says

"What an #@$%*&^"

I laughed saying

" Yeah, sure thing."

CHEERS!

A toast to Chania with her first photo challenge.

I'm afraid I am not very original using the first suggestion she made:

Pink Champagne

However I thought it a perfect tribute to her new venture

and I am thrilled to participate. I am sure I will pale in

comparison to the wonderful photographers we will see here.

However, I am suffering under a handicap.

You see, once opened, a bottle of champagne cannot simply

be left to bubble it's way down to mere grapes.

So I poured a little, and a little more, and I am embarrassed

to admit how many times I needed to use spell check... "hic"

So please celebrate with me and visit Razmataz and all the wonderful

gals who are participating in this fabulous "hic" photo challenge.

Cheers to you dear friend!

Suzan

A Milestone

Two years ago on August 19 I sat down without any help

from a fellow blogger, or my kids, and decided to start a blog.

I very quietly tested the waters and with each post gained

a little more confidence and knowledge.

Now, this evening I commemorate the occasion in the same fashion.

Quietly reflecting on the lessons I've learned, the precious

friendships I've made, and the impact this blogdom has had on my life.

No fanfare - no giveaway at this time, just me remembering.

I reflect most of all on those friendships formed that were unimagined

and unexpected; the intimacy and trust, the fears, self doubt,

joy and laughter shared with these strong women who are now

so much a part of my everyday life.

So it's just me in the celebration tonight.

Toasting my good fortune and the blessings

that have come my way because of this small

space known as oldgreymare.

My most heartfelt thank you to everyone who has joined me,

once, several times, or every week. Every visit is a gift.

I celebrate you.

Suzan

I Confess

The first step is to admit you have a problem:

I have a white bowl problem: there it's been said.

See previous post here

These aren't all of them either, just the ones in the drawer.

Oh, for shame.

Please visit all the other White Wednesday gals

over at Faded Charm, hosted by Kathleen

---------------->

Create Change - The World Will Thank You
Project Genesis September 1st

Flummoxed

Bewildered
Nonplussed
Bemused
Muddled
Discombobulated

Anyone else out there feeling like this?
Nothing concrete enough for me to grasp and clench, just an unrest,
uncertainty tinged with an unsettled gut.

I could chalk it up to Darling Daughter returning to college, or my political
frustrations ( Rich, you got the brunt of that, sorry) or the consistent
Iranian, Pakistani, Afghani, ______(fill in the blank) unrest
that permeated the Sunday broadcasts.

Maybe it's just the unrelenting heat and zero rain we have
experienced here in the desert. 17 year old bushes that have
always flourished before in my yard, and towering ash trees,
now equally tinged with brown tips.

Perhaps it is the trials facing dear friends as they struggle
with financial, personal and health issues.

I can summon a happy grin in an instant, and still
find laughter and joy in every hour..but there is still
"muddleness"...perplexing, head shaking, what the heck is it,
dark clouds a-comin' muddleness...muddliness?
(since both are made up words, choose preferred spelling)

I comprehend and appreciate my bountiful blessings,
and never for a moment does uncertainty replace
these gifts of family, friends and health.

Until the boom is lowered, the sky falls, the end is near,
the unforeseeable is seen, the last straw falls upon the hump,
and the well runs dry...I remain flummoxed,
and wary.

or, maybe I'm just hungry....

Z

Jam

There was apricot jam.
Delicious, homemade from a local tree, jam
Jam from BFF Paula.
Fresh from the bakery croissants.
I ate it, yep I did.
2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and tonight's dinner jam.

Now there is blueberry jam.
Three croissants remain.
Nighttime snack? YUM!

Thank you Paula!

Thank you Theresa

A week ago, ( I cannot believe I am this tardy),

the lovely Theresa at 612 Riverside

chose me for this award. I've known Theresa for some time and

have so enjoyed her blog and her friendship. Theresa has incredible talent,

enthusiasm and her genuine warmth shines through each week.

Please stop over to visit her ASAP.

Thank you so much for thinking of me, I am very flattered.

I understand that I am to sum up my blogging motivation,

philosophy and experience in 5 words.

OK not possible...

I began my blog in an attempt to keep a journal for longer

than 5 days-my previous record.

In about 5 days I learned enough about blogger to do

a post with out freaking out, and in 5 weeks, I was

actually testing my boundaries fearlessly,

if not always correctly.

Within a few months, I had made 5 friends that

I talk to regularly outside blogdom. We share our lives as if we

lived in the same neighborhood,

not as we really do; in different states and countries.

There are days and weeks I couldn't get by without

their wisdom, advice and humor.

They are my 5 blog blessings.

5 years from now, will I still be here blogging?

No one can say for sure.

So much in life changes and oh so frequently.

I enjoy the ride and value the journey.

After sitting here for the last 5 minutes,

I realized there is no way that I can award just

5 of my favorite blog friends.

I quite simply adore them all, and cannot imagine

slighting any one of them, but the rules say pick 5.

...so I failed this part, but I truly do believe that any one

blog written with absolute honesty, no hidden agenda, and

with a genuine outstretched hand of friendship and sincerity

is a blog of substance.

I wish to share my award with all of them, and again I thank

Theresa for the opportunity.

Suzan

Create Change - The World Will Thank You
Project Genesis September 1st