The siblings

Had a great night out with my brother and sister. Lemme tell you, those are two amazing young people. Aubrey is really impressing (and upstaging) me with her viticulture knowledge and general presence. Britt is going to be starting college, and already he is more insightful than I ever remember being at 17. Both of them know how to make me laugh--sure, sometimes we laugh at each other (I get the sad wahh-wahhhhh sound when I try to make a joke)...but most of the time we laugh with each other. Tonight's "Captain Planet" mistake was a classic.

Just had to let the world know how great my sis and bro are. They're amazing and I love them. And I can't believe we're all going to be in the same city again.

the new throw pillow

Time is not exactly moving right now. It is actually painful. Which is what makes me really want to be with this girl.

I have been thinking a lot lately about things I need to do--like read more and write more. Fun things, both of them, but I don't seem to make time for them. I keep thinking the day will come when I'm able to just have more time.

More time might not solve all my problems. (I'm reminded of my favorite cult classic, Empire Records, where Liv Tyler's character hands a fellow actress a cupcake: "When did you have time to make these!?" "Dad says there are 24 usable hours in every day!" Turns out she's on speed--"What are these, huh? DIET PILLS?" I don't want to turn to any kind of narcotic to accomplish any more in a day.) More time would probably just create more stress and leave me with even less time to do what I really want to do.

So, I'll just enjoy the time I have and try to use it wisely. My mom likes to say that sometimes, you just have to let the dirt sit. Spend less time cleaning and more time living. And I agree. I'm kind of a compulsive cleaner (even if I do have a penchant for leaving dishes in the sink) but really, I'm gonna take more time to breathe. From now on.

The Bike That Ryan Rides

As promised. HIs masterpiece, the bane of my--I mean, HIS existence, the mixed and remastered Road Bike. Single Speed. Free Wheel. His mean, green, non-polluting, about-to-be-commuting, hand-built machine. It is glorious! Way to go, babe!! (afterthought: last night, AFTER i took these photos, he added grips to the handlebars by recycling old bike tubes and wrapping them around. Pretty sustainable if you ask me.)

why? (warning: I'm about to get political, political)

Why is Texas so red? I must live in a bubble, where I think that there's no way anyone can be blind to the fact that we need some serious CHANGE in this nation's policies on education...stewardship of the earth...foreign policy...the war...health care...poverty...energy...diplomacy...hunger aid...everything...

Yeah. I live in a big, happy, blue bubble.

I'm gonna go ahead and be political here: VOTE OBAMA so we can start seeing this nation turn around under positive, passionate leadership that is not concerned with payouts from oil companies but is instead fighting to make every American's life better!

Go out there and DO

I read this blog by someone who's making a living with her blogs, among other creative ventures, and its point was to get out there and live. "Quit blogging about your pet," she wrote.

But I'm at a point where I feel like I really am living. Sure, I write about my dog Fin a lot--but that's because she makes me feel alive. She reminds me that it's important to be selfless and have fun and just go outside to throw the frisbee once in a while because it feels great. So I'm not going to quit blogging about my sweet, sweet Fin.

And I'm not going to stop writing about what is important to me. Because for the first time, it's not just what I think is important--it's not just me saying, "Oh, I'd like to eat organic BUT..." This time, I'm making changes and really seeing a difference.

I'm not really asking "why can't I..." any more. I want to travel, and I think I've found a way to make that possible. I want to live in a small town, but I know I'm not ready for that yet. So I'm waiting. And in the meantime, I'm finding ways to lead a fulfilling life where I am.

That involves keeping my loved ones close and making as much as I can out of each day. I'm learning to say no to the things I really don't want to do (except laundry. We tend to need clean clothes.) and learning to really expand my own horizons for no good reason other than I want to be who I want to be.

I still think the best place for me is out on a farm, the same kind of place I grew up on. But this is a pretty fantastic place too, and I'm making the most out of it.

So I am out there, doing. Knowing that I need to bloom where I'm planted sometimes, and break through the concrete at other times.

Peak Oil

Let me explain something to you, faithful blog readers, and that is this: We are most certainly running out of fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources. They may not be gone tomorrow, but in the same breath, they may not be here for my great-grandchildren (I'm 24, so I'm projecting a little bit).

I just watched a documentary about Cuba's "Special Period" in which they went from importing most of their fuel and food to a system of urban agriculture, organic farming, and alternative transportation/energy--out of necessity. Because they had no choice for existing without making these changes. And it is incredible to see.

I've been riding the bus to work and have been making smarter food choices--but I have a long way to go before I'm living simply. I have a long way to go before I can say, If everyone in the world lived like me, we'd only need ONE Earth to sustain us all.

There is only one world for all of us, and we're going to have to learn how to share with our neighbors.

Which brings me to another point. Back to riding the bus. I can't believe that saying "I take the bus" is such an earth-shattering statement. Literally, people have responded with, "Oh! That must be AWFUL!" to "Don't you feel TRAPPED when you don't have your car!?" It is insane. My mom asked me tonight how it was going (she's proud of me and very positive, by the way!) and I said that I don't think I'll ever go back to just using my car. Pretty cool thought.

And, finally, speaking of that... Ryan almost has his bike up and running. He's been working really hard on it and learning a lot about bikes, and it's amazing to see the fruits of his labor. Yesterday we went on the second inaugural ride together--the only problem was his brakes weren't quite up-to-speed yet. He's fixing it and will be a bike commuter before we know it (there goes my ride to the bus stop in the mornings...) I'll take a picture of his "frankenbike" and post it. Just as soon as I get un-lazy and start taking pictures.

Signing off. Can you handle it? Three posts in one day?

Whatever, Organi-girl

Since I've been hoofing it to and from the bus every day in the Texas heat, I'd been commenting (complaining? either one...) about how I needed some nice, breathable, work-appropriate skirts that would make the half-mile trek a little more tolerable. The pre-reqs were that the skirts had to fit well, feel cool, and match my Chacos (my Z tan is getting better every day. I'm very excited.).

Well, over the weekend, my boyfriend treated me to some new skirts from REI. Not only do these skirts meet all the pre-reqs, but they are ALL made of organic cotton/recycled polyester blends. It's pretty cool! I have never had organic clothing before, and it comes into my life at a very appropriate time. They cost a little bit more than what I normally pay at my favorite discount store (Ross), but they were a sustainable choice and therefore worth every penny. I say that, but Ryan picked up the tab... so... Thanks babe!

Anyway, I wore one of the skirts Saturday evening when I visited some family. My grandmother commented on my cute new skirt, and I proudly exclaimed, "Thank you! It's made of organic cotton and recycled polyester!" My brother and sister guffawed. "So, your clothes are recycled from...what exactly?"

Turns out, the recycled polyester was, in a former life, plastic bottles! Pretty darn cool if you ask me.

My bro and sis have taken to calling me "Organi-girl." Not that I mind. I'm pretty sure they mean it out of respect.... hmm. Whatever. Works for me.