Change of Face

For a few years now I've been thinking of changing my handle. A handle for those of you that don't know is your online nick. So no more warpie (originally a derivative of mindwarp) now it's odat (or odat_kim), its the acronym of the new title for my main blog (One Day At a Time). It was between odat and C2C and serenity (C2C = courage to change). So anyway, odat it is for now, it may change again (although it may take 10 years like the last change). Anyway, new handle, new face, new perspective.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday, so in honour of the occassion, this post is dedicated to her.

Moms
Moms are incredible people, and my mom is no different than any other. It astounds me how moms can accomplish so many things, things that I bet none of them ever thought they could before that fist tiny helpless bundle arrived in their lives to change everything. I was that bundle for my mom. Moms sacrifice a lot for their families and from what I can see from my own mother, rather than bringing resentment it brought pleasure and I think that's one wonderful thing about my mom. I'm also astounded by all the things moms can accomplish in a 24 hour period or a 7 day week, or a 52 week year, bet you never did that pre-kids and you don't give yourselves credit for it now... give yourself a pat on the back for all those years of taking care of the family and managing all the to do lists, and still raising great, well adjusted, healthy kids, that's a major accomplishment!

My Mom

• My mom raised 2 kids, cared for a sister and husband.
• She single handedly took care of all the chores and day to day needs of so many of us, even when we could bloody well do it ourselves, and should have, lazy unappreciating buggers that we were. I dont ever remember my mom losing her temper or cool about it though. I appreciate it and recognize it now mom, I have no idea how you managed to do it all, and your deserve being recognized, however late, that it is appreciated, and your amazing.
• Mom taught us values in knowing what matters to ourselves and not being influenced by others to abandon our core beliefs
• Mom taught us honesty, she rarely got mad if we made a mistake, only if we hid it from her. Maliciousness of course was not tolerated.
• Mom taught us respect, for ourselves, for family, for others, for things. By teaching us this, we can take care of ourseves and don't fall into what the crowd might be doing, we acknowledge when we've done wrong and stick around to accept the punishment. We respect others and their things so that we get along with others, the world does not revolve around our needs, wants and desires and we take care of those without infringing on the right of another to meet their needs, wants and desires. We also know the value of a sincere apology.
• Mom taught us cooperation, because we can't do it all alone, and it lifts each of us up and builds relationship to cooperate, no man is an island.
• Mom taughts us independence, which came from respect and values, we don't ask for things we can do ourselves, it is not another's responsibility to meet our needs.

Go Green for March

In honour of Going Green for March I will endeavour to do the following:

1. Turn down the thermostat 1 degree (day) 2 degrees (night)
2. Replace as many lights as I can with high efficency bulbs, (save the still working floursecents for where I can't do replacements)
3. Buy more organic food
4. Buy food with less wrapping
5. Have a box in the upstairs washroom and basement for compostables
6. Unplug unused electronics
7. Buy a houseplant
8. Make the toilets into lower water use ones
9. Wash large pots and bowls by hand so I can fit more into the dishwasher
10. Use dishwasher and laundry/dryer in off peak hours
11. Weather strip the cold cellar door
12. Only boil as much water as I need for tea/coffee
13. Look into wrapping the water heater and checking the temp on it (can I turn it down a degree or two)
14. Walk more often (i.e. to the buss when I take it rather than getting a ride)
15. Evaluate my water and electricity usage for waste of resources
16. Eat more fruit and vegetables (less packaging)
17. Buy things in bulk (if there is less packaging)
18. Look for fewer disposable items that I use regularly
19. Look into reusable feminine products
20. Look for items I need in reusable/refillable containers
21. Look for biodegradable cleansers
22. Consider manual rather than electric replacements for items that might need replacing this year
23. Find local battery recycling (cell phones too if possible)
24. Freecycle
25. Buy items used or reconditioned
26. Rechargeable batteries for our devices
27. Borrow instead of buy low usage items (i.e. hedge trimmer)
28. Take more public transit
29. Make shopping lists and take them with me when I leave the house so I can just make one trip, or do it after work and then take the bus home
30. Re-learn riding a bike (yes you do have to relearn to balance well after 20 years! And it takes awhile because those seats are *not* comfortable)
31. Use a dust rag for dusting rather than paper towels