A must have...

I bought this book today.

It grades companies from A to F for their actions on the enviorment, human rights, community involvement, animal protection, corporate crime, discrimination, employee treatment and philanthropy. I am in love with it. Because it takes no stand in politics nor healthiness of the product my kids are so much more interested in learning about these companies. I think they are a bit sick of the "it may taste good but it's bad for you" line I often use. Max is going to write Oreo's a letter in protest of their actions, I need to write to Guinness (if I can never have a Guinness again I just may cry). But there are some surprises that made them happy... Bugles got a B+. Aidan did a happy dance about that. some of sneakers that they like got a B which was a huge surprise. we are guessing the companies must have changed their ways. Aaron brought the book to school today. He wanted to share it with his teacher. They are currently talking about this in class.

some surprising F's: Saturn auto maker, Poland Spring water, Boca meatless products, M&M's (these tasty little treats are made by slave child labor!), wolfgang puck soups.

I read this on the the web site (was something I was wondering):

How is it that companies like Ben & Jerry's and Tom's of Maine still make it on The Ten Best Companies List? Weren't they taken over by larger corporations?

Many mergers and buyouts result in a kind of corporate Borg-like assimilation of the smaller into the bigger. However, there are some cases in which the smaller company is able to maintain the integrity of its operations despite the takeover. I have been watching Ben & Jerry's since the late 80s. Ben Cohen made it a point to negotiate an agreement with Unilever that would allow his company to maintain its business practices. Since the buyout, B&J has continued to win awards for its social and environmental responsibility as well as expand many of its progressive programs. It looks like Tom's of Maine is headed down the same path. They have done great work in the past, and it seems that they have made a similar operating agreement with Colgate. They are worth keeping an eye on, but until the data demonstrates otherwise, they are still one of the best companies on the planet.

will today's surprises ever end?

Could this be our Harry? Do you think Hermione will dump Ron for a much "hunkier" Harry?

I guess all that Quititch (pls ignore my misspellings. Thanks) really payed off.

Now kids all over the world (or at least the few if any who will see this play) will know that under his clothes.... Harry is naked.

waaaahhh

can you hear the cries of parents across this nation.

Max seems to have succumb to the flu. When I called his school this morning I was told that between the number of staff and students out it would have made sense to just cancel school. yuck. I am reading The Last town on Earth which takes place during the 1918 flu epidemic. I have a very uneasy feeling today. Poor Poor Max. I hate this feeling.

This will be my next read Paula Spencer by Roddy Doyle. If you haven't' read The Woman Who Walked into Doors I highly recommend it. But beware, it's a tough read. Maybe I should read a lighter book in between... any suggestions? I haven't read What is the What yet (i know I don't' have to link that for you) but I know it's anything buy light.

Yesterday Aidan and a friend spend a few hours @ the Y then walked home alone. A small step towards independence. Sort of crazy when you think of how absent minded he is, I figure if he is with someone who is solidly on earth it should be fine.

heaven is

lying in my big warm bed with all of my boys on one of the coldest nights of the year watching a show on meercats and then treasures of the Smithsonian. Max got bored and ended up talking on the on the phone and playing bass. but it was heavenly. I am loving that Aaron seems as interested in certain aspects of history as I am. would be fun to go down to Washington and visit the museums.


Worked with the kids and photography yesterday. Seemed to go well, I know the teachers and many of the students were pleased. I was feeling too much was made about he actual images rather than the effects of lighting, composition and such. Also, I purposely brought in images that didn't work and I don't' think the kids understood that. I wanted them to pick them apart. discuss why they didn't' work. I am thinking that some were hesitant to do that feeling I would be insulted. here are some of the faulty images I brought in:






boring fact of the day:

even though we take out shoes off upon entering the house there is still a grainy feeling on the floors. not loving that. reminds me of when I lived by a beach. no escape from the sand. I should be taking care of that now...or making blackberry muffins...instead I find myself talking to an unknown audience.

poor Aidan part 2

Aidan's saga continues. Chris took him to his yearly physical this morning. They noticed that his spine looks "off". much like scoliosis. His doctor does not think that it is scoliosis but has developed as a result of the chest contusion (if you dont' remember read here) he had a few weeks ago. We are going to take him to a chiropractor. Swimming should help too. Good thing I joined the Y.

Yesterday the boys and best buddy K were playing in our backyard. The ball went over the fence and rather then go all the way around Aidan decided to climb over. well... the bottom of his snow pants became stuck on the spiky part of the fence. so, Aidan found himself hanging upside down on the other side of the fence. Luckily K was quick to act and while Aaron ran in to get me he attempted free Aidan on our side of fence. Once I made it out back K ran around and held Aidan up so he could free his leg. By the time I got there (more about me working out later)all I had to do was help with the final inch of fabric. Aidan was crying and laughing so hard. his ankle hurt and it was scary but it was also hysterically funny.

how are Max, Aaron and G?? they are doing very well. happy to report that they have not ran into pole or been stuck hanging upside down.

We have been going through food rather quickly lately. seems the like it is eaten while we are unpacking the grocery bags. Max will actually get up from the dinner table and start making more food. I think you can image that this can be both funny and stressful. (Reminds me a lot of the comic strip Zits. I would post a strip but I do not have the time now to look for one.) Though I measured the boys 2 weeks ago I decided to recheck last night and Max has grown an inch and Aidan, Ari and g a half an inch each!!! Makes me exhausted just thinking about it. maybe that's why I spend a good amount of time last night perusing around the web.

I don't' usually marvel over the cover art of Barron's. Can't even say I have ever read the magazine but I do like this cover a lot. I think it is quite a clever way to illustrate the visual effects on wealth/poverty.

saddness

Aidan is going to have to wait a few months (fingers crossed that his current frames can wait) before he gets contacts. He had a really hard time opening up his eye and sticking his finger in. Wonder why? he is disappointed though.

I just spent way too much time preparing for a presentation I am doing on Friday. Start looking at images and the whole morning is gone.

Today Aidan has an appointment for contacts. I really hope they will work out. Life will be so much easier for him.... and me, not worrying about him breaking his glasses will be a big relief.

We joined the Y again. yay for us!! Does this mean I will start getting up early to exercise again? we'll see. Lately it seems I cannot get enough sleep. I think part of it may be due to the Bean hours.... maybe it's winter and I really should be hibernating.

I do plan on taking at least one yoga class.

Imagine

If mens leggings takes off.
Think about all the horrible sights the belly shirts and low rise jeans have given us. Today as you walk around, picture the men you see in leggings. We must ban together and fight this. For the sake of humanity. please

On a brighter note. I finished the Mailer book. Was happy to read the New York Times had the same thoughts I did. not to imply that I am on the same intellectual level and the writers for the Times...please... how obnoxious can i be.

we have heat. ahhh.... now THAT'S the way life should be. The man from the oil company told me that he had 17 calls like mine that morning so I don't' feel like such a dumb ass.

I was hoping to post last nights Scrubs. It was a musical and so funny. I really love musicals. The Man Love song was the best..hmm maybe not... something for me to think about today. When it is available I will post. i know you want to see it.

oh... i am back to reading The Castle in the Forest. I think I just needed to get away from it a bit. thought you'd want to know.

baby it's cold in here

When Chris told me we needed to call for oil I placed it on the back burner. i would get to it. how bad could it be? we just had oil delivered a few weeks ago. oh ya...it's winter in Maine. so... we have no oil and I am sitting her typing in gloves with my ill 6 six year old laying in my bed in his winter gear waiting for the oil to be delivered (and something else has to be done but I don't' remember what it's called) Can't take him out since the delivery is due soon.

I keep thinking that this is how it must have been for past occupants of this house. I am telling myself that they were able to get stuff done in the cold. they had to go on with life and they did not have a dishwasher, washing machine, etc. With my love of books that take place hundreds of years ago one would think that I would use this as a opportunity to further recreate what my favorite authors illustrate in these books. (Actually I just began the new Tracy Chevalier which is set in London in the 1700's. Decided to give up on the Norman Mailer. am interested in reading the reviews. I found it to be an interesting topic and narrative voice but a grueling read)

I am cold and I think the house may smell of oil but cannot tell if it is my imagination.

Thought you may be interested in hearing Slate's commentary on Obama's ad during the football game this weekend.

Course the Bear's game was not the one playing in our house. The Chargers/Patriots game ruled the mood in our house. Had some interesting effects on my boys... I will not go into to describe the wide range of emotions the Chargers losing had on this men folk in this house.

Weird event of the night. Max went to let the cat out and felt something bad enter the house. He said Mica stopped in fear then ran off. The next morning he reported that he felt it leave very early in the am. He woke around 3am and could not get back to sleep. odd.

They are very excited about watching American Idol. I must say the auditions are quite funny. Who knew?

oh... important fact about me... I HATE WINTER. I do not enjoy the crunch of sand/salt and ice under my feet. I will never long for dry dead air of a closed up house. You will not hear me reminisce about he daily harried search for hats/mittens/coats/etc.. (and we do have a place for them. I think they all run off and hide elsewhere in the middle of the night. naughty things that they are)

Something you dont' see everyday

I could see Gabriel doing something like this (not smooch with Lions...read the article)


People in Cali, Colombia, are shocked to see the bond between a large African lion and a woman who saved it from abuse, involving long, affectionate kisses and hugs between the pair.
Ana Julia Torres, who runs the Villa Lorena animal shelter in Cali, fed and nursed Jupiter the African lion back to health years ago after it was found abused and emaciated in a traveling circus.
"It is amazing to see an animal like that be so sweet and affectionate," said Torres. "This hug is the most sincere one that I have received in my life."
Torres, 47, said her work rehabilitating animals began more than a decade ago when a friend gave her an owl that had been kept as a pet.
Later, when she asked her students to bring their pets to school, she realized many families illegally kept wild fauna from Colombia's biologically diverse jungles in their homes.
The number of animals under her care grew, and now Jupiter is among 800 recovering creatures at Villa Lorena, where Torres looks after, among others, burned peacocks, limbless flamengos, blind monkeys and mutilated elephants.
Most of the animals are caged, though some, like iguanas, roam freely around the grounds of the shelter, which are enclosed by a 13-foot wall.
Torres said she relies on donations and her modest teacher's salary to run the shelter.

"We dedicate our lives to the care of these animals without one single peso from the state," Torres said.
Torres said many of the animals were rejected as infants by their parents in the wild or found abandoned on the streets of Cali.
Torres said because she opposes exhibiting animals in circuses, she decided to keep her shelter closed from the public.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
Copyright 2007 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The artsy duel to the death is over

and Karin is the victor!

She will start her job as the the community programs manager at the Fuller Craft Musuem in a few weeks.

yay Karin.

max is home sick today...

I am thinking he doesn't look to good. maybe I should call the doctor.

Max is trying to figure out what High School would be best for him. At this point he is thinking private even though he knows he will be happier at PHS. The other school has a great music program, plus it's got a very good academic record. I find it amazing to listen to his thoughts on this. So mature. He has his eyes on colleges and how to get there. No way was I thinking like this when I was 13.

oh...Aidan made the hot shots competition for basketball. very cool but even more stressful. Aaron is playing in a winter baseball league and practicing his calligraphy and origami. G, what can I say about G...he is like living with a cartoon character... but better because we can hug him. Thursday he is going to try out karate. The boys are very into discovery the house. Tonight they are Chris went exploring found some very interesting things in that strange place under the staris... including a bottle of whiskey.


I'm so happy my bean stint is almost over. nice to have some extra cash (like there is such a thing as extra cash) but I am going to do more freelancing and work at the bookstore. Plus I have a few ideas on the backburner that I may put more attention on.

I miss my people

I really do. I want to be out drinking wine with Emmy and Karin. i am now feeling two hours away is just too much.

Today we went down for our final holiday party with my Mom, Joelle, Eva and Paula (and of course husbands and children. guess I could just say the men folk). was wild with all the kids and the football game on but i really miss being with my family.

it would be hard to leave Portland. it's a great little city, I have wonderful friends here and a great community. and most importantly, max, aidan, ari and g are happy.

sigh...

why can I not add a photo?

karin, everytime i go to your blog I admire the painting.

the painting that is MINE.

MINE ALL MINE.

my head hurts from the work I should be doing right now and am instead playing on blogger.

I am writing a forward to the portland book. am almost done but need a break. it's sounds just like this, "blah blah blah"

new years

we had a wonderful new years. Actually it seemed it was one of the best (do I say that every year too?). I think because Ari, Mickey and G are older and play with the older boys and amongst themselves so well it made it an peaceful evening (not as in quiet peaceful.... happy child peaceful). At one point I looked at the dining room table and it was filled with food, wine and had 3 cameras on it. then around the table...my best friends and our children were laughing in the other room. maybe this is my heaven.

Ari playing with fire... not even sure I took this photo.

Chris
Clyde, resting a few moments before midnight... popper in hand

future pro...seriously. she really can take a shot. plus she looks cute while doing it

The mob. :)

movie

i couldn't go to work last night due to allergies (yes allergies...) so Chris as I finally watched the Squid and the Whale. I truly enjoyed it. Hated the parents. Felt especially deep anger towards the father. it was one of the those movies that may need to be viewed twice. there were so many simple visuals that carried a heavy message.

Of course our normal "not before 7am" rule was placed but Ari and G woke @ 2 (fell back asleep) and Max and Aidan woke at 3:15 and the rest of us finally dragged our tired bones down @ 6:30. Reports from those who were there suggest that this may have been the best Christmas yet (though I do believe they say this every year).

christmas party 1

The Saturday before Christmas we headed south for a party @ Karin, Michael and Janice's house. Much fun was had by all. The first half of the night was family then some of Karin's friends showed up and stayed until around 1. Ari, G and I finally headed up for rest but Max and Aidan partied on. we made it back home aroudn the same time Chris came home from work and had a relaxing Christmas eve. Always fun opening the brother gifts. not so much trying to fall asleep.