I'm going to try a new experiment this new school year, starting now. In an attempt to further put my life in line with my belief system, I'm going to be trying to implement some core 'green' changes. And as corny as that sounds, this is something I feel is very important to my children's future and to the conservation of society and the natural world.

So, I was thinking: I can be annoyed that the powers that be aren't doing more for my children's safety and success, but really, what does that say about me? I've raised my children to take responsibility for their choices and to take initiative (that's probably not spelled right, but take it as it's meant)..... and yet, if I'm not part of the solution.....

This, of course, encompasses more than how I dispose of our household waste. It's an attitude. Are my beliefs sincere or am I just giving lip service?

I was not aware of this, but did you know that a direct correlation has been found between rising prices of oil and the decline of societal freedoms in oil-rich countries? That the discovery of oil subsequently stifles broad education and creative enterprise in these nations? That oil sales go directly to fund militaristic extremist groups?

So, in short, if I can't back up the talking with some walking, maybe I should reconsider just how I'm raising my children. In reality.

To begin: I'd like to cut our household waste down to mostly recycleables and biodegradable material. I want my food pesticide free and local. I'd like to decrease my use of my car, or at the very least, maybe figure out a car pool for my kid's school stuff. I'd like to start paying my bills online and getting my paycheck deposited (although, they still print you out a copy and mail it to you, so maybe that's not necessary). I'd like to talk to Memorial Hospital about possible donation of some of their outdated material for the raptor's house use. I'd like to figure out an alternative heat source for our home, possibly a heat pump, and I'd like to figure out where I can talk to other people about this without sounding like an alarmist, although, really, I think it is something to be alarmed about.

When you consider that some people are worried about bike-sharing programs being the gateway to forced abortion, really... well, let's just say that there are crazier things to be worried about than global warming or the effect of oil dependence on societies.

What I did this summer

It's been a little time since I've updated this, hasn't it? I hardly know where to start, so let's see. Highlights from this summer include:

-our first broken bone in the family, sustained by my 7yr old when his 9yr old cousin tripped and head butted him in his right collar bone.
-our first skin infection, in the form of my four year old's right thumb
-2year old's first words and animal sound mimicking, past the puppy barking, that is
-5year old learning first hand that no, he does not have gills, but yes, he is a VERY lucky boy
-discovery of microscopes and bug life (to the inclusion of bug traps) from the back yard
-getting the diseased birch in our front yard chopped down for a stellar price and getting exactly what we payed for (meaning, it took four days, and the free haul away included in the estimate? more of a suggestion really. But, hey, if anyone is in need of birch wood, we are your guys---- you haul)
-my kids meeting MY cousins and knowing what that means
-camping trip to Quinelt rain forest, in a tent, with all four boys
-our first roasting marshmellows campfire with our boys
-me submitting written work for the first time since high school (i'm not even gonna say when that was)
-working extra extra shifts at the hospital, thoroughly disorienting my co-workers sense of time and place
-harvesting a good amount of tomatoes, but killing my dill, and nearly the strawberries

That's all I can think of for now. More later!