Less Impact Person

Last night I watched the "No Impact Man" documentary. No Impact Man is Collin Beavin, a writer living in New York City, who decided to try to have zero net impact on the environment for one whole year. He kept a blog, which eventually turned into a book and a movie. It was his intention to write the book from the beginning - environmentalist critics opined that publicity for a book might trump his quest for clean living.

Whatever your outlook - the experiment was fascinating. Mostly, because it also involved his wife and toddler daughter. I could never go that far, but it's making me think. And that's exactly what Collin was hoping to get out of this (at least from the environmental altruistic side of things!). So I'm thinking about my baby steps to "less impact person".

Already we've switched out the light bulbs, use the programmable thermostat and have water aerators on the shower and the faucets. I use re-usable grocery bags (mostly...but I can get better at keeping some in the car for those unexpected stops).

As I was pondering my next steps, I realized just how often I get coffee in disposable cups. I'm so sad to admit, but I rarely carry my mug with me. If I get coffee AFTER I get to my office, I always use my own cup. But Brewed Awakenings is between where I park and my office. The cup is usually in my office.

So, my vows toward less impact:

• no more coffee in disposable cups - my own mug or no coffee
• less reliance on paper towels and more integration of cloth napkins
• begin searching for a tandem bike for Willa and I to commute to school/campus this spring
• as soon as the ground thaws, put up the collapsible clothes line that's been taking up space in the garage since last July

Baby steps. Baby steps.

My Life in Numbers

I'm working with the Advanced Journalism class on campus. We're exploring the creative and social nature of online content creation tools, and one of the tools we're using is Prezi. The assignment is to make a Prezi with the theme of "10 Things About Me". I'm impressed by the creativity the students have applied to their presentations.

Here's mine:

5472 = Lisa in Numbers on Prezi

Finally

After a several week slump, where it felt like we didn't see the sun at all, and every minute outdoors involved 12 layers and as little exposed skin as possible....it's 40 degrees. And rising.

I'm thrilled. I wore a fleece jacket today and little gloves. I dodged puddles and ignored the dirty, wet, garbage filled snowbanks. Predictions indicate potentials for even higher temps this week, so I'll pretend the snow banks are gone already.

I am trying to temper my enthusiasm, because I know it's only February and I know this can't last. But I will enjoy it while it does (and then go back to complaining when it's gone.)

Enjoying the Moment

Last week we walked out of Willa's piano lesson at 5pm, and stepped out into the most spectacular, fiery sunset. Willa said "Oh, it's so beautiful! We should sit down and enjoy it for a while."

Looking around at the view...the Linn County DMV across the street, the dirty parking lot, power lines all over, I suggested perhaps we should go home and enjoy it from our own front porch.

"It might be over by then." She's so logical. She's so right. We sat down on the curb in an empty parking space and stared at the sky. I'm not sure it could have been more beautiful if we'd been on the edge of the world.

Gratefull-nesses and Upliftingness

I've been feeling a bit low this week; it seems sadnesses are all around us. Our neighbor's 25-year-old brother passed away this week, my BFF's neighbor gave birth to a beautiful still-born daughter, my cousin's daughter was diagnosed with melanoma...the list continues.

To lift myself out of this weighted funk, I'm going to share five things that are totally awesome and that I'm thankful for - I'm going to think about the little things, and know that I'm so wildly thankful and uplifted already by the big ones (healthy family, love, friends that continue to talk to me and inspire me after almost 20 years...etc)

So here's my list in no particular order; I'll try to keep this up until I realize that I'm the luckiest person in the world.

1. I'm thankful I can go out for lunch today with a friend. This covers multiple bases...it means I've got enough disposal income to spend $10 for a lunch out, I've got transportation and I've got a job that lets me have enough flexibility to leave it for an hour at lunch time. I've also got a friend that wants to lunch with me!
2. Despite often being exasperated by the details, I'm thankful that I could answer 14 questions asked by Willa on the way to school concerning the busing/transportation systems for Harding Middle School. 
3. It makes me smile that after a weekend away from me, Jamey called me 5 times yesterday. There were flimsy reasons, but really I think he just felt disconnected after being away from me for three days. First call was 10 minutes after he left the house.
4. While most of the trees outside my office window are now bare, there is one brilliant fire-red bushy tree and one golden yellow one clinging to their leaves. I can see them both together if I lean forward and look right.
5. I got the entire Sister Hazel Digital Collection (20 mp3s) as a free download from Amazon.com. I'm not a huge fan of Sister Hazel, and I wouldn't have bought the album, but I'm enjoying listening to the music at the moment, and it was FREE. I just discovered the free mp3 collection (which changes daily) on Amazon.

Posers.

Halloween 2010: Cam the Viking and Willa the Mad Scientist.
While I hate to carry on the stereo type, Willa made an awesome mad scientist!

Reflection

I've organized and am in the middle of a workshop about ePortfolios. Portfolios are all about reflection. We've been talking about how to make our students reflective...to think about what they're learning, why they're learning it and how it relates to the rest of the universe. Why don't I do that??!?!? Starting today, starting today.

Socrates said it best - "A life unexamined is not worth living."