Cars and climate change

Our car is 10 years old.  We own a Toyota Corolla.  At the time, it had very good emissions compared with other vehicles.  It's been a good car.  It's still going strong.

But because it is a decade old, we have been keeping an eye on other cars and considering which one will replace this one when the time comes.  The other day we got a great offer in the mail from Toyota to replace this one - cash incentives and 0% interest.  Sounds good - and we were tempted.  But the truth of the matter is that the least expensive option is still our current car.

When we do get a new car, we'd like it to be a hybrid.  And the one we would like is a Toyota Prius (one of the 3 styles, anyhow).  And they are expensive.  I think it was going to be $215 every 2 weeks (or maybe it was more). A new Corolla is a lot cheaper.  It would cost us less.  And it is tempting.

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you'll know that I am a bit of an environmentalist.  But over the past year or so, my convictions have weakened.  I've actually allowed over-packaged granola bars and Babybel cheeses back into the house.  I've not been bombarded with news about climate change - partly because I unsubscribed to many of the Facebook pages that I used to read regularly.  It was just too depressing.

And then an article comes along like this one:  http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/11/us-climate-carbon-idUSBRE9490YD20130511

And another like this one: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/may/17/global-warming-not-stalled-climate#start-of-commentshttp://bit.ly/14s0XSE

And I realize that the cost of our vehicle to us, in dollars, every two weeks, is maybe not as important as reducing our carbon emissions.  And if we CAN afford to do it, maybe we should.

But, I still feel that using the old vehicle is better - maybe not for emissions, but for the use of metals and plastics and new materials.  So we'll use it until it is no longer viable.  Then we will likely take the dive and spend a little more on a vehicle that puts out fewer emissions.  It feels like a responsibility that we shouldn't be slack on simply because of money (that we have but might rather put into a vacation or dinners out).

Boobs and Gay Marriage - why I'm bothered at all

Okay, so it happened.  A couple of things came across FB in the past couple of days that pointed out a major human flaw to me yet again.  And so I am back to the blog and posting on it.

Let me first point out the two things.

So Angelina Jolie had a double mastectomy - unless you live under a rock, you probably heard about it this week.   Her mother died at 56 from breast cancer.  She has the gene that means that she has an 87% chance of getting breast cancer.  This was probably the hardest decision of her life.  Because she is a public figure, she has to tell people in a way she feels comfortable with and after the fact.  She chose the New York Times, apparently.

I have no problem with any of it, it's her life.  However, the very next day, a FB page called "Farmacology" (okay, I thought it was called that, but now I can't find it, it might have been another one, but now I can't find the post at all.  Maybe they removed it), which I used to like, posted an article  (either exactly this article, or one just like it) that was criticizing Jolie for being a patsy to Western Medicine and getting an operation which wasn't necessary.  And that she was apparently talked into it by money-grubbing surgeons who only wanted to make a profit.  Well, I commented on their post saying that it was none of their business what choices she made for her body and that unless they were her and had gone through what she had, they shouldn't criticize.  My comment was blocked and I wasn't allowed to comment again.

"Unlike" Farmacology (or whatever it was).  If they can't handle an honest critique, I want nothing to do with them (says the woman who wouldn't take comments on her blog because she couldn't handle harassment ... but that's a different story ... in this case, I wasn't harassing.  I was commenting).

The other thing that came across this morning was George Takei's response to young Christian kids putting down gay marriage.  Here it is if you missed it.  As always, George took a hate situation and put a humourous spin on it.  Love George.

So how are these two things tied together?  And what human flaw is pointed out to me yet again?

Here it is:  there are over 7 billion of us on this planet now, right?  Each one of us has our own life experience, our own belief system and our own point of view, right?  So what makes any of us think that our point of view and belief system can make up the rules for the other 7 billion+??  And what makes us think we have the right to criticize people just because they have a different opinion and/or way of living.

That guy who wrote the op/ed about Jolie being duped - well, he wasn't Angelina Jolie watching her mother die at the age of 56.  He isn't a famous, beautiful actress with 6 children married to Brad Pitt.  He doesn't have her life, her experiences or even BREASTS.  So who the hell's business is it of his if she wants to live her life contrary to what he believes?

And I know there are a lot of people out there who do not understand homosexuality.  I have adorable, loving friends who don't believe that people should be homosexual.  But just because you don't understand it does not mean you need to fear it.  Just because you believe it is a sin to be a homosexual, does not make it so for everyone else.  Just because it's not how YOU live your life, does not mean it isn't how someone else is most comfortable living theirs.

I personally don't believe that God created anyone in any way that is contrary to nature.  God uses nature to create.  God uses us to create.  We are all part of nature.  So anything that exists on this planet that does not directly hurt anyone else .... well, it's none of your business.  If, in your opinion, these men and women are going to hell .... why does it matter?  It's not you.  Let them be happy.  (Just to clarify, the God I believe in wouldn't send anyone to hell for loving someone else ... ever!)

Believe me ... I am not perfect.  I'm still working on letting other people (especially family) live their lives without inserting my opinions.  But I AM working on it.  I fail.  We all do.  But I strive toward open-mindedness and allowing others to live the best way for them.


There is a line, however.  If someone is doing something that harms another, then I'll take offence.  For instance - you really shouldn't kill other people.  It's not a good thing.  It's really, really bad.  So just don't kill anyone, okay.

Joe Biden won my life-long respect when he voiced it as well as anyone could while talking about abortion:

Your personal beliefs do not give you a right to impose limits on others.  And they do not give you the right to criticize.

I learn from many different sources.  Christianity is one - and they have some good rules to live by.  But Wicca puts it most succinctly:  "an ye harm none, do what ye will."  (still leaves some things open to interpretation, but covers most things pretty well).

Gardening posts

For any of you who like my gardening posts (I hope there might be a few), I have started a separate blog for those.  It can be found at http://northernurbanfarming.blogspot.ca.  Please take the time to check it out.

I haven't written much lately - guess I haven't needed to.  But hopefully a topic will come up that I feel I need to talk about and I'll be back at it.  I do go through these lulls.

The Secret to Losing Weight is .... MATH!!

Okay, so last September I decided I needed to lose some weight before going to Disneyland at the end of October.  I managed to take off nearly 6 pounds in about 8 weeks.  Since that time, I've been hovering between 140 and 143.  I'm not happy about that.  I want to weigh less.

I realized, while on vacation at Easter, that I'm definitely a stress eater.  My husband made a comment that stressed me out and I wanted to go directly to the Cadbury's Easter eggs that were in my purse (Easter is a HORRIBLE time for us chocolate addicts).

So it's been a struggle.  Much more of a weight struggle  than in the past.  I am assured by all that it is definitely harder when you're over 40.  That's reassuring, but doesn't help with motivation to lose weight.

Well, I ran across this website which is helping a lot.  It's www.myfitnesspal.com.  I've got an account and have lost 2 pounds in 1 week (today's weight:  139.8 - been there before, but not below that in a couple of years).  It keeps close track of calories in and calories expended.  MATH ... that's the secret ... maybe.

However, it is the same with this computer program as with everything else.  I push it.  I wonder how many cookies I can fit in.  How many days do I do good before cheating big time?  And I'm feeling quite put out about not being able to go out for dinner - because, let's face it, restaurant meals are not part of a weight loss scheme.

However, 150 is no longer acceptable.  And I don't want to get back to that weight.  So I think the way to truly deal with this is to face my emotions a little more honestly and try to recognize when I'm eating emotionally and not because I'm hungry.

This is a really big problem for a lot of people.  I know it is difficult.  And I know I don't have a weight problem per se .... but if things continued as they were, I would have.

So ... to face the demons.  Hmm.  Wish me luck.

And I'll keep up with my fitness pal and continue to ride the new elliptical my husband bought for himself. 

Any book suggestions for emotional eaters?

Ruminating

If there is one symptom of anxiety/depression that I wish would just go away, it's ruminating.

Ruminating is when you keep thinking of something over and over again.  The situation builds each time you think of it.  You know that it isn't nearly as bad as it feels, but you just can't stop your damned head from going over and over and making you feel worse and worse.

Happened to me last night.  It was choir night and we were practicing at our church.  I didn't really want to go, but we have performances coming up, and it was imperative.  So I went.  And it went just fine.  Until the end.  There were three of us left, I thought - the conductor was no where to be found in the sanctuary or the lobby, and the Minister's door was closed - her meeting had ended and I assumed she had gone home.  Our piano player and co-conductor was left and I assumed she was locking up.  But the sound system was still on and when I asked, she didn't know how to turn it off.  So I went over and took a look.  There was a "main power" switch so I turned it off (and heard a "bump" from the speakers), and covered the sound board. 

Then, when I went out the conductor was there with three other members of the choir - they had been downstairs.  As it turned out the Minister was there, too - just had her door closed.  And I had turned off the sound system incorrectly.  There's a power down button - that turns things off in a certain sequence.  The church recently had the speakers blown, and now I was worrying that I had blown the speakers again and would have to buy them new ones. 

Here's the thing - it wasn't the physical fact of damaging speakers that bothered me.  It was that I had made assumptions and then done something I didn't know how to do (with good intentions) and screwed up.  Even if the speakers were fine (which I'm hoping they will be), I had done something wrong.  The perfectionist in me was wounded, I suppose. 

And the ruminating began.  And I couldn't shut my head off.  There were tears (embarrassing to say) and I eventually took a pill in the hopes that it would go away.

This morning it is still there - that little annoying voice in my head.  But it isn't as loud. 

Here's hoping the logical side of my brain takes over from the illogical.

And can anyone who knows tell me if there's even a possibility that I damaged the speakers?

If you are depressed, you MUST read this!

I consider myself well versed in depression.  And not a bad writer.  But there are times when someone else gets it spot on. 

I bow to a more in-tuned, better blogger.  Please read if you or someone you know is depressed: 

http://www.diycouturier.com/post/47249603128/21-tips-to-keep-your-shit-together-when-youre

Scarring Child for Life

I decided (thanks to some sage advice) to not blog about my son.  I'll define this one as blogging about a bad decision my husband and I made the first time we took our child to Disneyland.

Our son now will go on most of the rides at Disneyland, but I'm sure his anxiety levels were greatly increased by this trip down the chute at Splash Mountain when he was not yet quite 4 years old. 

Will be posting to Facebook as well - if you guys think it's as funny as I do!