SNEAK PEEK

I won't be doing my next give-away until later this month, but I have already chosen which book to give next, and am having a great time looking back through it, and noting the things that I hi-lited the first time around. I'm not going to reveal what it is, or who wrote it yet, but I'm going to give you some teasers. It was written back in '93. I had read several tomes like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, and they just scared the bejeebers out of me. Then this guy came along, and though he ranted and raved too, he was just so damned funny sometimes, I really didn't mind. Now that I think about it, I guess I do have to tell you his name - can't use a quote without a name, now can I?

"We...bought chemicals to calm our fits, dry our pits, clean our mitts, expand our tits...Have we gone and lost our collective bloody minds?!!! Or are we simply bored? Have our lives become so meaningless and empty that we have to fill every moment with a toy? If that's so, it's sad. Sad that we might turn the universe's only living planet into a monstrous monument to the boredom of us all." Ferenc Mate

(Sound like Wall-e? Remember, this was written 25 years ago!)

BE THE CHANGE

Have you ever asked "Yeah, but what difference can one person make?" If so, check this out: http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1310

TAA DAA!

Today's the big day folks! The Bountiful Sprout went live at midnight, and orders are already coming in. We board members (well, not so much me, as I'm a Johnny-come-lately) have really been scrambling these last few weeks, trying to get as many producers as possible on board, but it's a slow process. First you have to convince them that it would be advantageous to use our website to sell their produce/products to member families, and much easier than having to lug their stuff to the farmers' market each week, never knowing how many people will show up or what they will buy, and having to sit out in the heat or cold for hours on end, just twiddling their thumbs. With TBS they just go to our website twice a month, at the end of the ordering period, and look to see the exact total ordered of each of their items. Then all they have to do is drop that amount off on pick-up day, and go back home. We even sort it for them! How easy is that?

But convincing them isn't really the hard part. In fact, once word spreads, they'll be knocking on our door! No, the hard part is getting a busy farmer to take time out from their work day to fill out their application and return it to us in a timely manner, so that we can come out for a site visit. Then we have to get them to sit down at the computer and list all of the items they plan to sell. Of course, this only has to be done once. After the items are in, all they have to do is log in twice a month and adjust the amounts on each item, to reflect what they have available at this particular moment in time.

We managed to get a decent number to complete ALL the steps before we went live, have several more that have been approved but haven't listed their items yet, and have a whole butt-load who have said "Count me in!!", but who just didn't get their paperwork in soon enough to be included in this first order. Maybe that's just as well. It will be like a new restaurant doing a soft opening, before letting the general public swarm their doors. I have a feeling this whole thing is going to mushroom into something unbelievably wonderful, once word gets around, and I'm hoping other communities will follow our example. To find out more, go to http://www.bountifulsprout.com/.

BOTH THE PROBLEM, AND THE SOLUTION

I was reading back through old journal entries this morning, and discovered that certain things keep popping up over and over again. I am beginning to realize that not only is this computer the source of much of my frustration, it is also the tool that has helped me to figure out a way to deal with it. How weird is that?

Back in late August I wrote "I'm finally coming up with a fairly workable routine, with regards to chores, and they are actually getting done, for the most part. Believe it or not, I think that reading that blog Eyes of Wonder has had a positive effect on me. I figure, if she has eleven people living in an average-sized house, and manages so beautifully to keep it simple, uncluttered, cheerful and inviting, surely I can do as much, with only one person here most of the time. Right? Now my real problem is trying to juggle my passions, and not letting the blogosphere suck too much time away from everything else. For instance, why haven't I done any sketching or art projects this month? Guess I need to work out a rotating schedule for these things too, just like I do for chores, and make sure that I include some outings and creative excursions, so I don't become a complete hermit!"

Then in early September, I wrote "I gotta quit going out of town so much, cause coming back just leaves me feeling too scattered. My routines have gone to hell in a hand-basket, and I can't seem to get back on track. Instead I just sit here paralyzed, feeling pulled in 20 different directions by all the things I should be doing - finish painting that darn wall! read that pile of books and magazines! exercise more! either do some more painting, or put that crap away! when are you going to whip that garden into shape? what about that sketching class you paid so much for? when are you going to do something with that? - and not getting anything done as a result."

And finally, a week later, I wrote "I am still enjoying my nightly bedtime visit with Jewels at Eyes of Wonder. One of my persistent problems, as you have surely picked up on, is my scattered focus and distractibility, when it comes to managing my time. My mornings have fallen into a fairly productive routine, but the rest of the time, I am a pinball, caught in a continuously haphazard carom about the house. I no longer wish to live according to all my detailed lists and schedules, as I had to do when I was gainfully employed. I want something looser, that helps me to focus, but still allows for spontaneity."

I continued, saying "The other day, Jewel's blog gave me just the inspiration that I needed. She was quoting that old poem that was embroidered on so many samplers in days gone by - the one that starts out 'Monday is wash day,' and ends with 'and on Sunday, we rest.' It came to me then, that I should stick with, and further develop, my morning routine of sunrise meditation, breakfast and journaling, writing and reading time on the computer, followed by exercise and lunch. Then, in order to organize somewhat the remaining hours of each day, without over-scheduling myself, I will give each day a designation. Mine, however, will be a bit different than the traditional ones, allowing for plenty of interpretation and spontaneity. One day shall be devoted to food - as in shopping for, perusing my food magazines and cookbooks, cooking something that requires time and attention, etc. Another day will be devoted to organizing - making sure there is a place for everything, and everything is in its place, culling out clutter, filing, etc. One day shall be devoted to creative pursuits, whether it be a meeting of the muses, designing a flower bed, or working on an art project. I will need one day for such things as mending and maintenance, both inside the house and out, and Fridays will be for general cleaning - getting the house in shape for John's arrival and weekend visitors. Saturday will be for exploring - artist's dates, creative excursions, treasure hunts, or just seeking out interesting people and places to blog about. And Sunday, of course, shall be our day of rest, where I will give myself permission to nap, read, or watch an old movie, with none of my usual pangs of guilt!"

So there you have it. The computer gaveth the problems, then tooketh them away.

NEW DO-DID-DIDN'T LIST