You Are a Gingerbread House |
 A little spicy and a little sweet, anyone would like to be lost in the woods with you. |
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
I'm a Gingerbread House!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Well, That's Satisfying.
We bought our townhouse in June. The kitchen countertops are tiled in large ceramic tiles, with about 1/4" of grout between - not the best surface for rolling out things like pie crusts or biscuits. And they're hard to clean, too.
But one thing they're good for?
But one thing they're good for?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Addiction Central
Monday, November 12, 2007
An Inconvenient Excuse?
Environmentalism is everywhere now. Well, not everywhere, but pretty ubiquitous. Flex fuel! Canvas Whole Foods bags! Organic bedsheets! Even evangelical Christians (a historically anti-liberal-platform bunch) are entering the fray, coming together to agree that we need to be better stewards of God's creation. A gigantic church I keep up with did a sermon series in the summer called "God is Green". The former vice president of the US won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on global climate change. I'm not getting ready to deny the effects of humanity on this planet, or say that the American way of life shouldn't have to change just because of some stupid ozone.
I think that the thing that concerns me about the whole climate change/environmentalism/"going green" discussion is the moral overtones it's been imbued with, particularly in Christian circles. Yes, the earth is being exploited and we need to do something about it. But last I checked, girls in Bangkok are still being exploited in the sex trade, and children in sub-Saharan Africa are still being exploited as child soldiers (don't get me started on fair-trade and labor exploitation - I just finished reading Grapes of Wrath). I get the very uncomfortable feeling that many Americans are, in some respects, eager to latch onto "going green" as an easy way to do something that makes them feel good about themselves. There's no dealing with human beings beyond telling the grocery checker, "Oh, I brought my own bags".
I know I'm probably not the best person to take this position, since having a one-year-old considerably limits my contact with other people (think hermit-like existence), which in turn reduces my ability to get a broad opinion on this subject. I'm mostly working off of my observations and some discussions I've had recently with My Hero. I guess it bothers me that the conversations I hear tend toward, "which is better: driving across town to recycle, or throwing away bottles and saving the carbon emissions?" rather than, "which is better: spending quality time with my friends, or saving the $40 I could have spent on beer and sending it to someone who can buy a prostitute out of slavery with it?" After all, if you don't buy the stuff, you don't have to recycle the bottles.
So how about this? Instead of buying $10 canvas grocery bags, learn to knit and make your own. Or buy one of these - fair trade, supporting local economy. Christmas is coming...ever give anybody a duck? Or five?
Maybe saving the planet has more to do with how we treat each other than how big our carbon footprint is. Maybe if we screw in a fancy lightbulb, we should also give the homeless guy on the corner a hat and gloves. Maybe if God commanded us to be stewards of the rest of creation, and His Son commanded us to love one another, they're both right at the same time.
I think that the thing that concerns me about the whole climate change/environmentalism/"going green" discussion is the moral overtones it's been imbued with, particularly in Christian circles. Yes, the earth is being exploited and we need to do something about it. But last I checked, girls in Bangkok are still being exploited in the sex trade, and children in sub-Saharan Africa are still being exploited as child soldiers (don't get me started on fair-trade and labor exploitation - I just finished reading Grapes of Wrath). I get the very uncomfortable feeling that many Americans are, in some respects, eager to latch onto "going green" as an easy way to do something that makes them feel good about themselves. There's no dealing with human beings beyond telling the grocery checker, "Oh, I brought my own bags".
I know I'm probably not the best person to take this position, since having a one-year-old considerably limits my contact with other people (think hermit-like existence), which in turn reduces my ability to get a broad opinion on this subject. I'm mostly working off of my observations and some discussions I've had recently with My Hero. I guess it bothers me that the conversations I hear tend toward, "which is better: driving across town to recycle, or throwing away bottles and saving the carbon emissions?" rather than, "which is better: spending quality time with my friends, or saving the $40 I could have spent on beer and sending it to someone who can buy a prostitute out of slavery with it?" After all, if you don't buy the stuff, you don't have to recycle the bottles.
So how about this? Instead of buying $10 canvas grocery bags, learn to knit and make your own. Or buy one of these - fair trade, supporting local economy. Christmas is coming...ever give anybody a duck? Or five?
Maybe saving the planet has more to do with how we treat each other than how big our carbon footprint is. Maybe if we screw in a fancy lightbulb, we should also give the homeless guy on the corner a hat and gloves. Maybe if God commanded us to be stewards of the rest of creation, and His Son commanded us to love one another, they're both right at the same time.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Get Thinner Here!
The above exclamation was blinking on a sign I drove by the other day. A weight loss clinic? In that building? Looks like the paint store is taking up all the -- oh. Right. Paint thinner.
I've spent some time since then discussing with myself the implications of the fact that even though the blinking lights were on a paint store sign, I immediately assumed it was for a weight loss clinic. Am I so accustomed to my culture's preoccupation with appearance and slimness that any other option is barely plausible? Seriously, it took me over a block to realize my mistake. Additionally, did the company realize what they were saying? Usually, when you're used to thinking of something from one perspective, it's hard to recognize a different perspective unless someone points it out to you - like that line drawing that's a young lady with a hat - wait! it's an old crone! - wait! You know, the one they always pull up in Psychology class. Had anybody ever walked into the paint store, looked puzzled, and asked about the weight loss clinic?
And what about people for whom English is just barely a second language? How does one explain to them that Get Thinner Here can mean two different things at exactly the same time? I love playing with English, listening to it knot up into itself and then fluidly unravel, like some kind of linguistic jellyfish. I'm looking into getting certified to teach ESL, to some extent because I get such a kick out of the language and want to pass it on, to let these outsiders in on the joke. Because I would hate to see someone walk into an LA Weightloss Center with their dried-up paintbrushes and not understand when everyone laughs.
I've spent some time since then discussing with myself the implications of the fact that even though the blinking lights were on a paint store sign, I immediately assumed it was for a weight loss clinic. Am I so accustomed to my culture's preoccupation with appearance and slimness that any other option is barely plausible? Seriously, it took me over a block to realize my mistake. Additionally, did the company realize what they were saying? Usually, when you're used to thinking of something from one perspective, it's hard to recognize a different perspective unless someone points it out to you - like that line drawing that's a young lady with a hat - wait! it's an old crone! - wait! You know, the one they always pull up in Psychology class. Had anybody ever walked into the paint store, looked puzzled, and asked about the weight loss clinic?
And what about people for whom English is just barely a second language? How does one explain to them that Get Thinner Here can mean two different things at exactly the same time? I love playing with English, listening to it knot up into itself and then fluidly unravel, like some kind of linguistic jellyfish. I'm looking into getting certified to teach ESL, to some extent because I get such a kick out of the language and want to pass it on, to let these outsiders in on the joke. Because I would hate to see someone walk into an LA Weightloss Center with their dried-up paintbrushes and not understand when everyone laughs.
FO
Finished the Hemlock Ring Blanket. I loved this project, although it got kinda boring toward the end. The pictures weren't as blurry on Flickr...
For those of you who are interested in these things, I used five (maybe six? I lost count) balls of Cascade Indulgence - an alpaca/angora blend that's extremely yummy, as long as you don't have to rip it too often. It's about four feet across, and it's destined to be a lap blanket for My Hero's grandmother, who turns 100 on November 18. She's spunky and spry, living on her own and active in her church.
Also, in yarny and bloggy news, I received my prize for bravest delurker from WoolGathering the other day - a fabulous...uh...stuff bag-type thingy for holding knitting notions - yarn needles, row counter, etc. And a tape measure that looks like a cake! And in case you're just joining us (insert irony here), this prize is the reason this blog exists; the big question is whether I'll be able to keep it up now that I'm not sloshed and waiting for my swag.
For those of you who are interested in these things, I used five (maybe six? I lost count) balls of Cascade Indulgence - an alpaca/angora blend that's extremely yummy, as long as you don't have to rip it too often. It's about four feet across, and it's destined to be a lap blanket for My Hero's grandmother, who turns 100 on November 18. She's spunky and spry, living on her own and active in her church.
Also, in yarny and bloggy news, I received my prize for bravest delurker from WoolGathering the other day - a fabulous...uh...stuff bag-type thingy for holding knitting notions - yarn needles, row counter, etc. And a tape measure that looks like a cake! And in case you're just joining us (insert irony here), this prize is the reason this blog exists; the big question is whether I'll be able to keep it up now that I'm not sloshed and waiting for my swag.
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