Kermit was wrong...

It is easy being green.

A few days ago a fellow co-worker at the bank asked me point blank if I was a hippie. I stopped for a second and asked him what he meant. Seeing as how this co-worker knew nothing about me I was wondering where the question was even coming from. Turns out a friend of his who had just come through the bank was a "hippie" because she shopped at Wild Oats. I informed him that if he considered that to be a hippie then yes I was a hippie.

It wasn't even so much a question but rather than an accusation. Like somehow shopping there made me strange. Not like it really bothered me though. I'm used to it by now. Several months ago I felt a strong pull towards this lifestyle I guess you could call it. Maybe it was the movie An Inconvenient Truth or maybe it was Husbands mini-health crisis. I'm not entirely sure. Whatever it is... I enjoy it.

I've been afraid that "being green" as some people like calling it was going to become fashionable and like all fashionable things (think furbies and tie-dye) it would later be forgotten. I'd like to think now though that it is becoming something more... something permanent. You can go into any major store and see "green products". Home Depot is one of the most noticeable, it seems every section now contains a more eco-friendly option along with the standard ones. Target has even started selling Seventh Generation cleaning products and organic sheet sets. Everywhere you look corporations are seeming to be more willing to embrace this eco-friendly life-style. While I'm not wild about corporations taking advantage of this movement I'm glad that they are making it more accessible to the general populace.

Husband and I are trying to do our small part.

• We're gradually replacing our light-bulbs with the new energy star bulbs.
• We recycle. It costs just a few dollars every month to have the city pick up twice monthly.
• We take our own reusable grocery bags to the store with us.
• We shop our local co-op.
• We had our own organic veggie garden this year.
• We're phasing out our normal cleaning products for more eco-friendly/natural solutions. (It's nice not to gag when cleaning the shower)

It's not like going "green" has to be hard or difficult. It doesn't have to/need to be a "hippie" thing anymore. I want to be able to bring children (if I so choose) into a world that is environmentally save. I know I personally feel healthier since beginning the transition to a more "green" lifestyle. I think it's the small changes that are going to make the biggest impact. If everyone just did their small part that would make a world of difference. I know I'm trying to lead by example... hopefully it works.

I'm sorry to say Kermit... it is easy being green.

(For an even greater insight on this matter visit this blog.)

From the marriage files...

It's not everyday that you wake up to hear this:
"Honey... there are chickens in our driveway."



But there you go... There really were chickens in our driveway.

My blog love...

I am in some kind of ridiculous love with my blog. Much love and thanks go out to this guy. Anyone who can put up with my whining and complete lack of knowledge about this type of stuff... well they are pretty special.
Isn't it beautiful?!
Go tell him so.
Now.
lol

As a side note: the photo at the top of my blog was taken by yours truly several years ago outside of my parents place.

Exhaustion...

I'm exhausted. I'm that kind of exhausted in which every fiber of your being feels just worn out. My eyes hurt. My joints hurt. I even feel like my emotional well-being is hurting. I really need a hot bath and a good 3-day nap. I can't even really articulate why I'm so exhausted. The past two weeks feel more like a lifetime then any other two weeks I can remember. My sense of time is completely out of balance. Something could have just happened 5 minutes ago and I'll swear it was months ago. I'm amazed at the amount of things that have transpired in that small amount of time.

My job at the bank has been filled with drama. People are leaving left and right. The management is in complete disarray. I haven't gotten my next months schedule yet for the sheer fact that they aren't sure exactly who will still be working there. This makes starting my 2nd job with the vet a bit more problematic. Lucky for me they are understanding and willing to work with me. I'm actually having to start my 2nd job tomorrow because they had to fire someone today. Should be interesting to see how it all plays out.

In other news... my allergies are back with a vengeance. I think I'm on the verge of ODing on claritin D and ibuprofen. So far it's the only combination that is keeping me alive and somewhat kicking. I hate Oklahoma this time of year. Now if I manage to ward off my yearly sinus infection that I have gotten faithfully every year since 8th grade (that's 12 years for anyone counting) I'll be a happy camper. This time of year just seems to make me crazy. I'm sure Husband would agree.

And that's all for now. I'm off to gorge myself on pizza, medicine and some Dog Whisperer. Happy weekend to anyone who isn't working! lol

A very short one indeed.

I got the job.
Pending a drug test of course.
No I still don't know how much it pays.
I'm working way too many hours at the bank.
Both Husband and I are very tired.
I have nothing else to say.
Witty or otherwise.

Breeding Misery...

Today on the front page of the Tulsa World they started a 4 part series on dog breeding in Oklahoma. Fascinating and horrifying at the same time. Below are links to the 4 full articles as well as snippets from those articles that I thought were interesting. It's a long read... go grab your coffee and settle down for a while.

Breeding misery

"Oklahoma is a puppy-mill state with some unscrupulous breeders neglecting their dogs, falsifying pedigree papers and knowingly selling animals with defects and diseases... Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s licensed breeders have been caught with substandard conditions at their kennels, according to records obtained... through the Freedom of Information Act. Between 2003 and 2006, nearly 20,000 animals lived in unsanitary conditions and substandard pens or suffered from untreated health conditions among other problems found by federal inspectors, records show."

"Oklahoma has become a puppy-mill state due to its rural roots. The state is in the middle of the ‘‘puppy belt,’’ a group of states that supply thousands of puppies to pet stores and buyers in other states each year."

"Within the puppy belt, the top five puppy-producing states are Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, Kansas and Arkansas, according to USDA records. The larger markets for these states are New York and California."

Records show USDA inspectors cited Oklahoma dog breeders with the following number of violations by category between 2003 and 2006:

Facilities and enclosures: 1,255 violations

Cleaning, sanitation, housekeeping, pest control: 335

Record-keeping requirements: 243

Attending veterinarian/adequate vet care: 167

Improper identification of animal: 110

Feeding/water requirements: 79

Miscellaneous: 44

Ten breeders and brokers, 473 USDA violations

"Shelia Gamblin recorded the most USDA infractions among Oklahoma’s 645 commercial breeders between 2003 and 2006, records show."

Specific examples of Gamblins’ USDA violations are:

October 2006: "Fecal matter and urine were standing on concrete runs. The dogs were having to walk around or through the waste. 59 dogs affected."

October 2006: "Excessive number of flies outside the enclosure and inside the building. Fly spray was being used but the flies were not under control. 213 adults and 69 puppies affected."

August 2006: "Dog #266 had hair missing all over face. The skin was crusty yellow. No vet had looked at the dog. Dog needs to be taken to the vet for proper treatment."

August 2006: "Staph infection has been diagnosed on puppies and some adult dogs. Dogs need to be re-examined by vet and written documentation of the diagnosis and treatment made available upon inspection."

Investigation finds issues in industry

• Oklahoma attracts unscrupulous dog breeders due to a lack of state regulations. Between 2003 and 2006, nearly 20,000 animals lived in unsanitary conditions and substandard pens or suffered from untreated health conditions among other items found by the USDA.


• About 40 percent of Oklahoma’s 700 commercial breeders and brokers were cited for two or more violations by the USDA between October 2003 and October 2006.


• Oklahoma’s dog-breeding industry is Internet-driven, with most of the puppies being shipped to out-of-state customers and pet stores.


• Efforts are being made to close a federal loophole on Internet sales. Currently, federal law primarily covers wholesale operations and allows unlicensed breeders to raise and sell an unlimited number of puppies directly to the public.


• Some Web sites are actually fronts for puppy mills or dog breeders with sick or poor quality animals.


• Puppy-mill owners routinely ship sick or genetically inferior animals to out-of-state customers who have little recourse once the dog is received.


• Oklahoma puppies shipped to other states are being deemed unfit for sale after being taken to a veterinarian for a check-up.


• Some Oklahoma breeders have lied about the pedigree of their ‘‘purebred dogs.’’ Some breeders have been fined by the American Kennel Club and had their AKC status revoked.

Definitions:

• Puppy mill: A dog-breeding operation that usually has a large number of small-breed animals kept in unsanitary conditions without adequate veterinary care for the purpose of breeding the animals continuously for profit.
• Puppy lemon law: A law that allows a consumer to seek a refund, replacement animal or help with veterinary expenses for a sick or defective animal purchased from a pet store or other source.
• USDA breeder: A breeder licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and subject to federal regulations that cover sanitation, pen size, veterinary care and protection from the elements.
• Hobby breeder: A breeder with three or fewer breeding animals used to provide animals for sale. Not required to be licensed by the USDA.
• USDA broker: A person licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to buy and sell animals in the wholesale and retail market.
• Purebred: A puppy that has a sire and dam (parents) that are registered with a dog registration organization that tracks the animal’s lineage and bloodline.
• Designer dog: An animal produced by crossbreeding two animals with pedigree bloodlines.

Network rescues animals in need

Last year, the Tulsa Animal Shelter euthanized 13,000 animals.

‘‘They can be like wild animals. They cower or hide. Or they snap or growl. It takes a lot of work to rehabilitate a puppy-mill dog.’’

‘‘Someone has to speak for the animals because they don’t have voices,’’ Steinberger said.

Tulsa Pets Website

Something has to be done... These animals don't deserve this.

Saturday fodder...

Cartoon from the Bunny Suicides series by Andy Riley.

I bought the box set for Husband last Christmas. He didn't know it even existed until I pointed it out one year in Barnes and Noble. It doesn't matter how many times I read the cartoons it still makes me giggle. Yea, I know, I have a sick sense of humor...

A change of pace?

My horoscope today:

The good news is that your career is about to take a very exciting turn -- the bad news is that it might also take up a lot more of your personal time, at least for a while. Your past problems at work are all water under the bridge, and you have learned some very valuable lessons. Things are much more under your control than ever before. You have proven yourself capable of the responsibilities you have been given, and everyone is ready to see what you have to offer!

Is this a sign that things are finally going to change? I sure hope so.

I had an interview this morning. It was for a part-time kennel tech position with a vet here in T-town. I think it went fabulous. I'm supposed to go back in Monday for a "working interview" which I think means I'll go for an hour or two and follow them around to get a feel for the place. I think. I'm not entirely sure. Although if this does work out it'll mean that other things should start falling into place as well. I'm hoping to start taking classes again in Jan and eventually getting my associates in veterinarian technology.

If all goes well I probably won't leave the bank unless they refuse to adopt my schedule to work to this possibly new situation. We shall see. I just hope for once my horoscope is right...

Oh the embarassment...

The other night Husband and I are attempting to do some mall-walking after a dinner full of El Chico fajitas.

This girl smiles at me, I smile back thinking "gee, she looks familiar..."
After we pass by I hear a... "Karen...?"
I turn around and this mystery girl starts talking about how she always sees my mom and asks how I'm doing, etc....
I attempt to introduce her to Husband when I fail to tell him her name she offers it up instead.
She says her name is Katrina.
A vague light bulb goes off in my head but I still have no earthly idea who she is...
We exchange awkward pleasantries and go our separate ways...

I call my mom in attempt to jog my memory. She finally figures out who I'm talking about and offers up a last name. Then it clicks... I had drama with her... my freshmen year of high school. I know I haven't seen her in 7 years because since graduation I haven't really been back there. To be quiet honest though I'm not sure I really saw her much or had any interaction with her after Freshmen year.

It's weird that people can remember me and recognize me after all these years but I have no idea who they are. So I guess the moral of the story is if you ever see in the mall and I just blankly stare at you... take no offense... I do it to everyone.

End of an era

It was announced today. The thing myself and many others knew was coming. Yahoo!360 is more or less shutting down. You can read the crap they posted about it here. I know a lot of us former 360 users have already gone "indie" but I can't help but feel like I've lost an old friend with his announcement. 360 is where I met and was befriended by so many wonderful people. It feels like the end of era. I began blogging back in the summer of '05 when Husband was deployed overseas. Looking back I never thought my simple way of staying in touch with him would lead me where I am today. It's been fabulous though. I can only hope now that I won't loose these wonderful people just because yahoo couldn't be bothered to work on the best idea they ever had.

Knowing

scan0016,
originally uploaded by Karen.H.

I'm sitting here cropping photos of Husband that the in-laws so graciously provided and I'm wondering.

I'm wondering about him.

Wondering about his life before I came along.

I realize now just how much I don't know about my partner.

I realize that there are things I'll never know.

Things I won't know even if we are lucky enough to grow old and wrinkly together.

I look at the photos of people and places I don't know and I wonder about him.

It's weird to acknowledge that he lived/existed for 21 years before I came into his life.

I know if I asked him he would tell me, in his way of telling. His matter-of-fact way of story telling.

You begin to think that you've heard all the stories before, and that just because you can finish each other sentences you know everything...

It's startling to discover that you don't...

Anxiety

A blog in which I hope honesty is the best policy.

To say this past week has been rough would be perhaps the understatement of the year. My anxiety got the better of me. My emotional well-being has been like that of an earthquake and it's aftershocks. Monday was the day that sent me cowering into a corner of our bedroom crying my eyes out. The days since have been filled with smaller, less noticeable tremors. Mostly I feel sorry for Husband having to deal with it all.

I would say my anxiety started towards the end of my college career. Each passing year in which I feel like I'm not fulfilling my potential it seems to get worse. The pressure I feel is completely self generated. I am my own worst enemy. I grasp at small things in order to feel like I'm doing something, anything at all. It's not healthy and I'm aware of that.

I'm not looking for sympathy. I'm not looking for that maxim of "just get over it" either. I'm just hoping that perhaps by being brutally honest and laying my inner most thoughts bare I might find some peace with it.

Searching...

This is a topic I've gone out of my way to avoid blogging about until now. However, here goes.

I am not a Christian. I am not an atheist. I am me.

I have always been indifferent to religion. It existed and because of various friends I dabbled in it. I will say I never felt "it". That thing you're supposed to feel when you go to church. When prayers would be said I would close my eyes and daydream. My mind wandered as the preacher paced red-faced in front of me. I couldn't pay attention. I tried reading the bible on several occasions but found myself bored. I desperately wanted to fit in and be a "Christian" but I just never could.

Then I grew a bit older and made opinions about things. I found that the things I believed in weren't exactly kosher with most religions.

Then I grew a bit older and saw the terrible things that were done in the name of religion.

Today I would call myself a budding Buddhist. Not because it's hip or trendy but because I feel like Buddha is a kindred spirit. I am never more at peace with myself and the world then when I am meditating (reference my zen moment blog).

I don't want a faith or spirituality that is based on the fear of going to hell.

And to be frank I've always had a bit of a problem with an omnipotent being watching us all be horrible and nasty to each other without doing anything about it. Yes I know what omnipotent means and yes I know what the theory is about free will. (I have had far too many discussions with believers not to know my history) It just always bothered me.

I think when it comes right down to it we're all searching for the same thing. Just because we search for it in different ways doesn't mean that we're all so different we can't peacefully co-exist. I would love to have more friends for a variety of religions because I find spirituality/religion to be fascinating.

And that's my two-cents.

Thin line between love and hate...

I love books.
I'm passionate about books.
Although Barnes and Noble is about feel my wraith.

Pictured above is the newest addition to my book family. Want to read more about it? Click here. I wanted to pick it up in store when I saw that it had been released because I don't seem to have good luck with ordering online. We buy it and I get my discount... then I come home and see I could have saved $4 ordering it from their website. Bastards.

I ordered a couple of books from their website on 10/3 because Husband didn't want to drive across town to just pick up the one book I wanted originally. Therefore I had to order some additional books just to get free shipping. Bastards, again. They didn't even send out my order till yesterday. 3 day shipping my foot. I'm not scheduled to get the books until the 11th.

Maybe I just need to get a library card...
Oh wait... that means I'd have to actually give the books back though...
Nevermind...

My Zen moment...

I was walking into the house from grabbing the mail when I felt a raindrop on my arm.
I had this compulsion to go and sit on the back porch.
It felt like every nerve in my body was on fire with a million sensations.
I closed my eyes.
That's when the dizziness hit.
I felt dizzy with emotion.
Dizzy with sound.
Dizzy with sensation.
The air around me felt electric.
Suddenly I was very aware of everything around me.
The lawn mower next door.
The way the wind moved my hair.
The subtle sounds a tree makes as the wind whips through it.
For the first time in my life I felt like I could explain how everything is connected.
Nothing else mattered besides being in that moment.
My heart stopped racing.
My mind felt calmer then it ever has.
I almost forgot to breath it was so surreal.

If I could bottle everything I felt in that single moment...

New favorite...

I think this song may be my new favorite... It's so mellow and profound at the same time... I'm grooving baby... lol

Gone
Jack Johnson

Look at all those fancy clothes,
But these could keep us warm just like those.
And what about your soul? Is it cold?
Is it straight from the mold, and ready to be sold?

And cars and phones and diamond rings,
Bling, bling, because those are only removable things.
And what about your mind? Does it shine?
Are there things that concern you, more than your time?

Gone, going.
Gone, everything.
Gone, don’t give a damn.
Gone, be the birds, when they don’t wanna sing.
Gone, people, all awkward with their things,
Gone.

Look at you, out to make a deal.
You try to be appealing, but you lose your appeal.
And what about those shoes you’re in today?
They’ll do no good, on the bridges you burnt along the way.

And you're willing to sell, anything?
Gone, with your head.
Leave your footprints,
And we’ll shame them with our words.
Gone, people, all careless and consumed, gone

Gone, gone, gone, everything.
Gone, don’t give a damn.
Gone, be the birds, when they don’t wanna sing.
Gone, people, all awkward with their things, Gone.

Gag reflex at it's finest, Part 2...

This is what I get for attempting to eat out after watching Kitchen Nightmares...

Husband calls On The Border to place a to-go order. I've been craving some of their spicy chicken flautas all day. He specifically tells them no sour cream sauce. Several times. Asks for a side of guacamole instead of said sour cream. Little bro-in-law comes back with food... The flautas are drowned in sour cream... but they remember my guacamole.

Sour cream makes me sick.

I tried to save the food by scrapping off the sour cream and wiping the flautas down with napkins. However, from the vast amounts of sour cream the flautas are so damp and soggy that it makes me gag.

Husband calls them to talk about the issue. Thankfully their manager actually cares and offered to send us a $20 gift card because we don't live close enough to just run back over there.

Although I think tomorrow I will just clean out the fridge and go spend several hundred dollars at the grocery store instead of worrying about food poison...

Election '08

I'm not into politics. I don't pretend to really know "the issues". But I do know this...

If Hillary Clinton gets the Democratic nomination I may be forced to move to Canada.
That woman is as crazy as her husband is horny...
I *heart* this man...
Well-spoken honesty should be worth something these days...
And besides he inspired this:

National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month

I had intended to post this yesterday but better late then never! So without further ado...

October is National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month.

I'm passionate about animal rescue. I'm passionate to the point that I probably annoy those around me. Until the day comes that there are regulations surrounding "breeders" and our pet population is under control this will be my passion. Think you can only get a pure bred dog from a breeder? Think again!

"The City of Tulsa Animal Shelter...of the dogs impounded on June 1, 2007, the following identifiable breeds were available for adoption:
-2 Akitas -1 Alaskan Malamute -1 Australian Shepherd -3 Bassett Hounds
-2 Beagles -2 Blue Heelers -1 Border Collie -1 Boxer -1 Bull Mastiff
-1 Chihuahua -1 Chow -2 Doberman Pinschers -5 German Shepherds
-1 Golden Retriever -3 Jack Russell Terriers -12 Labrador Retrievers
-1 Shih Tzu -1 Westie"

-Tulsa Pets Magazine

So in honor of National Adopt-a-Shelter Dog Month I give you links to sites about all things dogs.

• ASPCA - The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• Cesar Millan Inc - The Dog Whisperer
• PetFinder - Great place to find a new pet
• The Animal Rescue Site - Easy way to help
• The Humane Society - Another great rescue organization
• Dogster - A great community for dog lovers
• Cesar's blog - Cesar Millan's blog on yahoo

If you have any other great links please let me know!

I hope next time that you want a new family member you avoid those AKC toting breeders on the side of the road and go to a rescue group.

Sensationalism at it's finest...

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. - Buddha

I try to avoid the news when I can help it. I don't like to surround myself with all that negativity and sensationalism. However, sometimes you just can't help it. I read through the headlines on yahoo and msn daily just to keep me up with the vague happenings of the world. Then I ran across this and well it just makes me pause to figure out how I really feel.

I feel sorry for those poor boys more than anything. I think Britney Spears has lost her ever loving mind and it's tragic. Although I have a sneaking suspicion if I were famous they would question my sanity as well. You have to wonder if this would have ever happened if the media could just respect privacy. I just feel sorry for the people involved in this whole tragic mess.

I wish we as a society could reshape the values of the media. I'm tired of feeling depressed and dumber for having read/watched/heard about all of this.

Construction

My blog page is going under the knife as of this morning. I'm going to attempt to overhaul the whole template because I'm not really loving the way it's set up. This means that my page will probably look just a like wonky for a few days till I get things ironed out.

Just fair warning as I have no earthly idea what I'm doing.

p.s.
If you know of anyone who would be willing to help me out I would be willing to pay them handsomely with Cheerios. Just an idea...