Buy American!

Buy American! Stop giving your American-made money to corporate tycoons who throw pennies at poor nations in the name of international commerce! Help your neighbors in the USA!

I stopped in a discount store this evening to wait out Friday rush hour traffic at sundown. The low sun angle just makes a nerve-wrecking drive even worse, so I stopped off until after dark. I decided that IF I chose to buy anything, it would have to be made in the USA. There isn't much to choose from. I DID however, find a new (much-needed) plastic litter box for the cat, Sterlite (R) plastic 3-drawer container to house my rock collection, and sport bottles that fit in the drink-holder, AND some BPA-free squirt bottles that looked like dishwashing liquid bottles (why do dishwashing liq bottles need to be BPA-free?) ... anyhow. I was excited to get a few things that I actually need and to BUY AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS!

I am in the market for some new jeans... I searched online to find that most major brands have outsourced their production... even Lee, Wrangler, and Levi's! : o This did not make me happy! But, I DID find American-made jeans at http://www.allamericanclothing.com/ and I do believe they will soon be shipping me some jeans! Woo Hoo!

I crochet and knit... did I tell you, that I buy yarns that are MADE IN USA? I use Peaches & Creme cotton yarns (Old Fort, NC) http://www.elmore-pisgah.com/ and Lion Brand Homespun acrylic yarns (http://lionbrand.com/)

Take a look at the non-food items you purchase... just look at the "Made in _______" I wanted new special towels to take to the gym (made in India/China/Pakistan/Turkey)... new panties? Honduras... new pencils? China (although I am certain if I go to the office supply store I will find American-made pencils there). It's unbelievable! Other than cars and plastic homegoods, what does America produce? My friend replaced her dinnerware recently, determined to buy American, and found Fiestaware is made in USA! On the manufacturer's website, FAQ page, this is the actual question and answer:

Is Fiesta® Dinnerware made in the USA?     The Homer Laughlin China Co is proud to say that our Fiesta® Dinnerware is still made here in the USA at our plant in Newell, West Virginia where it was originally designed and produced nearly 75 years ago.
(copied without permission 2/25/2011 from website: http://www.fiestafactorydirect.com/t-faqgeneral.aspx my apologies for not asking first)

Food is a whole other issue... I want to buy local (regional) seasonal produce, but I have no sense of what should be in season at my local farms? the farmers' market imports, too! grrrrr.... I just know that strawberries, tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers are NOT in season here during February!! Borden advertises that its farms are 100% family-owned right here in the USA and 100% of their proceeds goes back to the diary farmers (http://friendsofelsie.com/about-us) So, I bought Borden processed cheese slices instead of my usual brand.

Have you thought about how you can help America get back to its roots and stop sending our jobs overseas? Or are you just looking for the lowest price? Americans have a higher standard of living, and need larger salaries than impoverished opressed people who are just happy to get something even if it's not enough. Support American families. Buy American every chance you get!

Chore lists not just for kids!

So, my sister has been bragging how her 5-year old can't wait to log in to her personal online chore chart and check off her to-do list!! She earns mommy-set points for each task, and banks those points to earn mommy-set rewards.. like a trip to the museum, ice skating, McDonald's playground, new book/puzzle, etc. etc.... the cool thing? The child GETS IT! She sees a chore that she needs to do, hurries to go do it, and announces that she needs to log in her points! WOW... I wonder if that will work for a 13-year old? So far, logging in is just "one more thing I have to do"... maybe the teenager should earn points just for logging points daily?

Now, I am far past my teens, but I have a difficult time staying disciplined throughout the week. Monday starts off well, but by Wednesday... I have fell off my exercise and sensible eating wagon. So, WHAT IF... I use the chore chart at http://www.myjobchart.com/ for MY to-do lists? I need motivation for daily exercise, completing homework assignments daily, and other grown-up things... is filing my taxes 30-days before the due date worth 5000 pts? 500 pts?... hmmm... I'll think about that. How about detailing the car? Making dinner for housemates once a week? crocheting items to sell on http://www.etsy.com/?

The trouble with being a grown up is it is akin to having the fox guarding the henhouse. If I rack up say 3500 points, I can treat myself to a fancy frappuccino. HOWEVER... who's to stop me from nabbing that frap whenever I feel like it? Me? Like I will tell ME 'No.'? Who are you kidding? So, I have to think of rewards for me that are within my budget, but that I will not circumvent the point-system and get it anyway. Hmmmm.....????

I would like to hear if you have used http://www.myjobchart.com/ or a similar site and what you think of the idea? Has it worked for you/your family? What special /unique rewards did you come up with? Please leave your comments below! I like to hear from my readers!

Feeling better! Where is fiber?

Feeling better! Where is fiber?

School's in Full Swing!

Hey, everyone! I love geology! The topic this week is "Snowball Earth" (hypothesis). Was the Earth ever frozen over like Jupiter's moon Europa? OR was the Earth only mostly/partially glaciated "the Slushball hypothesis"? The assignment in one class is to use the stratigraphic record to determine what was happening at the Earth's surface nearly one billion years ago. Some members of my family are skeptical on most paleontology. I think that THEY think that the Earth has pretty much looked like it does now, and they may even doubt the age of the Earth (approx 4 1/2 Billion years). There is evidence to the age and constantly changing conditions that shape the immediate geography. That being said, luckily, my assignment is not to support or refute the hypothesis, only to determine from scholarly articles and limited field work if the stratigraphic record is reliable evidence to argue the case.

Else, in my world:
I am recovering from acute bronchitis. I know I am recovering, because my symptoms went from bad to not worse, but different LOL. Coughing is nagging but necessary. :( Winter sucks!

I let my little niece use my loop-lens to look at a rock found in her yard. She was amazed at the little specks you can see with the magnifier that you don't see when you just pick up the rock and look at it (naked eye). Of course, she then wants to use the loop to look at EVERYthing up close... she is going to be science-oriented like me! I love it!

I finished my pink mittens I started crocheting two years ago LOL. They don't match exactly, because I didn't have the pattern to work the second one, and I had to guess the hook size, et al, from the first one. Close enough. Now I can start on a new scarf... while I take a break from the Snowball Earth hypothesis!

Still not sleeping...

Good grief! As if insomnia is not bad enough, I had a couple of disturbing dreams last night this morning!

The more disturbing one was... I am lying on the bottom bunk of my childhood bunk bed. A plain-clothed home nurse is prepping a hypodermic needle. A friend is nearby. The nurse uses an alcohol soaked swab to prep a small area on the back of my right knee, and then uses a scalpel to gently scrape off a melanoma. The flesh-colored raised mole unfurled and swelled before becoming totally loosed and required 3 scrapes with the scalpel to remove. The nurse was intrigued by the mole and said it looked, "Cool, like Kool-Aid!".. is she talking to a child? My mind immediately linked Kool-Aid to the Jim Jones' cult mass suicide. Considering the gravity of the melanoma and the use of Kool-Aid to carry Jones' cyanide, I did not find her comment reassuring at all, and I reminded her of the Jones' incident, challenging that her new specimen is not "cool like Kool-Aid." She conceded and cleaned a split on my middle finger on my right hand. I had what I call a 'cold-split' on the top corner of my finger, at the corner of my fingernail, that only occurs in very cold weather. The nurse uses a hypodermic to numb the finger and then used a quick-stitch gizmo to shoot a couple stitches to pull the split together. It seems this is a pro bono comfort-favor to me, the patient, that we arranged prior to the mole removal. (NOTE: I do NOT have raised moles of any kind, anywhere!)

The other dream I remember was shorter... people were not wearing pants. Everyone had their butts covered, bathing suits, underpants, shorts, etc... but it was odd for no one to have pants. I even was discussing with a couple neighbors (also no pants) about the oddity, and they were equally confused...
**(OOOOHHH! I just figured that one out! I only have one pair of jeans with no rips... in the mind of a woman, "I have no pants!"... Okay... well, I'll leave this one in, just in case it helps someone else figure out their no pants/shirt/car dream!)

Okay! Time for breakfast! I'm awake now. HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

Did I ever tell you about myself?

Mid-40's, no-nonsense, born again Christian woman seeking career in planetary geology. I enjoy hiking, climbing and nature trails which led me into the hobbies of rockhounding and letterboxing (similar to geocaching but without loose items). I also enjoy gardening and cooking.
Things I do NOT like: country music, tattoos, horror flicks, drinkers, smokers, drug users, reckless drivers, criminal records, men with no goals who are wallowing around waiting for an epiphany.I do like romantic comedies, comedy, action, drama (Nicholas Cage, Morton Downey Jr, Morgan Freeman, Richard Gere, Hugh Grant are my fave actors. Actresses: Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, and Angelina Jolie. 'Big Bang Theory' is my favorite TV show. I am most like 'Dr. Sheldon Cooper', less a few dozen IQ points. Within the past 6 months, I have watched most episodes of 'The Practice' and the entire series 'Firefly' (no doubt, I would know a lot more about Geology if I hadn't stopped for the TV!).

Typically my weekends are spent managing my Avon and PartyLite businesses, rewriting class notes, letterboxing (see http://www.atlasquest.com/ to learn about this hobby), spending time with family and friends, or walking in the park with the dog. I often visit my local Starbucks for a relaxing cup o' Joe and a book. Board games, canasta, Wii (LOL), "dance party" haha with nieces... nights I am trying to beat my sis at Bejeweled Blitz or crocheting/knitting, though I am no stranger to reading non-fiction or reviewing French language. In fact, I am reading Mars updates at present, when not studying geology.
I am getting my ducks in a row to move to the Flagstaff, Arizona, area within the next 18-24 months to pursue a Master of Science degree in Geology. I am currently enrolled in remedial courses in North Carolina to patch the difference in programs.
Thank you for stopping by.

Après la fête, la défaite!

Ah! Christmas holidays! The food, the family, the friends, the festivities.... and then it's over. All the presents have been opened, the kitchen is a horrendous mess, and the little ones are running amok on sugar highs!... and in one week, it will be NEW YEAR'S!!!   oh, happy happy, joy joy...

I had a geology centered Christmas. My friends and family are the best! I received a carved stone jewelry box. I haven't taken a good look at what stone yet, but the carving is of excellent lacy vines. I also received a calcite lamp, perfect to display with my rose quartz bookends. I got a locally made, beautiful hematite and semiprecious stones necklace and bracelet, plus two bloodstone spheres. I love rocks and minerals! :)

My gifts to others were primarily hand-crocheted items. I found free patterns online for fingerless gloves and lip-blam cozies. I also tried to design a few hats and make a matching scarf for one of them... I had to rip out the scarf and restart twice! Grrr! But, it's working out this time... I am more careful with the counting LOL.

Hey, this year global warming (heh heh) brought a snowstorm to the southeastern US! That never happens! A white Christmas in Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh?... Bing Crosby has been dreaming for a long time here! ... I'm not a fan of snow. It's "fluffy rain"... it's cold and makes the roads slick (slicker than just rainwater)... it gets in my boots and sleeves, soaks through my mittens, and if the wind is blowing, stings any centimeter of flesh not safely hidden beyond a pile of fluff and stuff. I look like the Michelin Man (TM) or the Sta-Puff Marshmallow(TM) guy except I don't wear white!

Sure, snow is pretty when it gently floats from the grisly grey clouds... and smooths the landscape with a soft white blanket... Then it reeks havoc on the bridges, and drivers forget how to drive. Next are the weakest tree branches that crash over power lines and utility sheds. THEN comes the melt., making everything all soggy for days! See, if it had just rained in the first place, the water would have run away to the streams and a half week later, there would be no remnants.

I'm the minority around here. Most folks I know are loving the snow. Children pray for it beginning the first day of school. Even the adults seem enchanted by a White Christmas... bah! Humbug! ... I think I must have stayed out too late a few times when I was younger; back when snow was "cool." Maybe I got too cold? Maybe I wrecked my sled, and never shook off the embarrassment? Maybe I was the target of a slush ball to the head? Maybe after I started driving I started dreading the "fluffy rain?"... Doesn't matter... I hear it never snows in Southern California?... and that definitely makes it one of the Top 10 Places I want to live!