Tree Update

So we still have the tree.
I've contacted my family and I'm pretty sure I can find SOMEONE to plant it in Oregon.
The trick is - how to get it there.

My uncle, who works for the Department of Environmental Quality has indicated he thinks it will take more carbon to get the tree to Oregon, than the tree can consume once it's planted. Hmmm.

Maybe if I sent it to Oregon with a Diesel truck driver?

Favorites

Just a quick note that Chase no longer favors Curious George. He's so yesterday.

Elmo is so red and so NOW.

A close second is anything having anything to do with June, Leo, Quincy and Annie (Little Einsteins) ... or Winnie-the-Pooh. And Dora has somehow managed to stay popular.

New House!

So excited. Today our offer was accepted on a little house. A little doll house. It's made of wood (HURRAY) and is a real fixer-upper. But it has great bones and great potential. It's even wired for electricity.

Yes, we're starting Chase early on the property ladder.

one of THOSE days

So I'm checking out job boards in Denver. Again.

I am so torn. I thought everything was supposed to become clear.
That I would k_n_o_w if I am a stay-at-home type or a working type mom.
The truth is I don't know. And I don't know if I will ever know.

Bad Car Karma

So yesterday was a bad car karma day.

Hubs took the Volvo to the mountain - and the sunroof shattered while he was driving. I went to use our truck, only to find the front tire was flat - too flat to drive. And so I decided to take out our little ooh la la hot & spicy sports car, which as soon as I turned it on, it made a high pitched screeching sound (luckily it was only the heating fan).

So this week will be all about fixing cars.

More Tree Updates

Still no word from Denver Botanical Gardens. If there is one place that could house a 70 foot pine tree - inside - it would probably be them.

I'm going to look into how much it costs to send the tree to Oregon by post.

Tree Drama

Okay, ready for this? So we had a landscaper out today, who informed me - GET THIS - that the Christmas tree I bought is NOT ZONED for Colorado. And that if I planted it outside, it would die.

So I went to Home Depot, the place where I bought this tree, and spoke to the customer service folks there. Here's how it went...

"I bought a live tree from you that is not zoned to be planted in Colorado." - me

"Did we have it inside the building or outside when you bought it?" - HD customer service

"Inside." - me

"Well that's because it's supposed to be an indoor plant." - HD

"I find that highly unlikely. It's supposed to grow to be 70 feet tall. You can't HONESTLY tell me that it is meant to be an indoor plant." - me

"Do you have your receipt?" - HD

"No. I thought I was going to plant it outside." - me

"You could always return it and then we will probably just throw it away." - HD

"Well that kind of goes against the whole concept of buying a tree so that I can plant it. I mean doesn't it seem a little strange that you would sell a live tree that can't be planted in this state?" - me

"I don't know what else to say, except you could return it to us." - HD

"Can't you send it to another Home Depot in another state where it could actually be planted?" - me

"No. We don't exchange live goods with other stores." - HD

"Well that's just great. Thanks so much." - me

"Have a good day." - HD

Still Nothing

I called and left another message with the Mayor's Mile High Million campaign and the Denver Botanical Gardens. Still no word as to what to do with my tree.

Doing The Right Thing

So I'm sure I've mentioned that we bought a LIVE tree for Christmas this year. The idea being that we would enjoy it, and then re-home it after the holidays. I guess it's worth mentioning that this tree is supposed to grow to 70 feet, so it's not like I can just plant it in the corner of the yard.

Well, the re-homing process has turned out to be quite difficult. I called the Denver tree planting group - they won't take it because it isn't one of the trees they are allowed to plant.

So I called the Denver Botanical Gardens. I have not heard back from them.

So then I did some research. Turns out the Mayor of Denver is looking to plant 1 million trees by 2009. Jackpot, right? Wrong. I haven't heard back from the Mayor's people about my offer to donate a tree to his cause. Hubs thinks they're busy out planting trees and haven't received my voice mail yet. Yah, whatever!

So I'm going to try the Denver Botanical Gardens again - and then the Mayor's office (again!) and if they don't call me back, I might try putting it on eBay.

Thing is, I've gotten a little attached to my tree, and I want Pinola to go to a good home.

Grow, Girl. Grow.

Thought it was worth mentioning that Chase is now wearing size 7.5 - 8 shoes. She is now moving into 3T clothes, many of her 2T clothes are too small. I have no idea how big her head is (she won't sit still long enough for me to measure it). Size 5 diapers (27lbs plus) don't seem big enough. Oh, and she's 21.5 months old.

Toddler Lounge Singer

Chase has developed a somewhat raspy voice over the past two days. Not sure how she got it - she hasn't had a runny nose, a fever, or has acted out-of-sorts. It's almost as though she needs to clear her throat but doesn't know how.

When she sings "baa baa black sheep," in her little, raspy voice, I can't help but imagine her as a toddler lounge singer. Too bad it isn't Halloween, that would make for a great costume.

But seriously, fingers crossed it clears up in the next day or so, or we may need to visit el pediatrician-o.

Have Passport - Must Travel

As I sit down to plan our trip to London and Scotland, I find myself feeling a bit rusty.

So: Where to go? London definitely - all our favorite places. Scotland certainly. Haven't been there yet. Must go. Quite interested in Haidrian's Wall, Edinburgh and Loch Ness. All is doable, but it's going to be a real "Go Dogs, Go" kinda trip. And I wonder how to schedule activities (a much larger, heavier Chase will be in tow) and what to pack (last time I forgot socks).

Growing So Fast

Chase continues to amaze and surprise us. She loves art, painting, drawing, and glitter G-L-U-E. She enjoys, but gets frustrated by, puzzles. She loves her nesting boxes, and will spend about a half hour nesting and un-nesting them.

She can't seem to get enough stickers, so you can imagine my joy when I came across books that come with magnets - they're awesome.

Dog Park

So we have been taking Taggart to the dog park. Every day. For the past four days. And I have to say I have noticed a major difference in him. He is no longer the hyper, needy, second-toddler in the house. No. He's now the mellow (exhausted) pooch who lounges about while we go about our business.

It's a beautiful thing.

Methinks We Are All Getting Sick

Crumbs.

Maternal Profiling Info Thanks To MomsRising

Maternal Profiling was recently reported on as one of the new buzzwords of 2007 in the New York Times (and members of MomsRising were credited with introducing this term into our national consciousness!). They defined it as:

"Employment discrimination against a woman who has, or will have, children. The term has been popularized by members of MomsRising, an advocacy group promoting the rights of mothers in the workplace."

SPREAD THE WORD: Join us in our New Year's resolution to help stamp out Maternal Profiling. Share this term with friends and family by forwarding this email (or by using our easy online tell-a-friend system @ http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1768/tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=2295. You can also read about how others experience Maternal Profiling on our blog, and if you're so moved, share your story of Maternal Profiling at the end of the blog as well.

*Click here to read more about Maternal Profiling, including how it impacts you & comment on our blog: http://www.momsrising.org/node/710

This new phrase is powerful because it brings forward a shared experience--helping to frame national understanding of the causes of and solutions to discrimination against mothers. Sexual harassment is a phrase which helped spark major legislative and cultural changes. Widespread use of the phrase "Maternal Profiling" can similarly help spark major changes.

And major changes are needed. One recent study found that mothers are 79% less likely to be hired than non-mothers with equal resumes and job experiences. Mothers also face discrimination in their paychecks: Women without children make 90 cents to a man's dollar, but mothers make only 73 cents to a man's dollar, and single mothers make about 60 cents to a man's dollar. Working together, we can stamp out Maternal Profiling and make our nation more truly family-friendly.

NEED AN EXCITING CONVERSATION STARTER? Use this Pop Quiz as a conversation starter, and as an easy way to share the term with friends (You can test friends over coffee, see if friends can make their own wacky definitions, and try it out on relatives). The more people who understand and use the word, the faster we'll be able to stop the practice. Let's get rid of it!

Have a very Happy New Year!

- Mary, Cooper, Kristin, Joan, Nanette, Donna, Anita, Katie

-------So what is Maternal Profiling really? And is it happening to you and your friends?------

Sadly, the answer to the second question is, yes, if you're a mother in America, then Maternal Profiling has likely happened to you. Maternal Profiling is a significant and shared problem which negatively impacts vast numbers of women in our nation, particularly since a full 82% of American women become mothers by the time they are forty-four years old. And, the workplace impacts of Maternal Profiling are jaw dropping, especially given that three-quarters of American mothers are now in the labor force.

In fact, the American Journal of Sociology recently reported a study which found that mothers are 79% less likely to be hired than non-mothers with equal resumes and job experiences. (Sadly, that wasn't a typo. The study really found that mothers are 79% less likely to be hired.)

Mothers also face steep wage hits and unequal wages for equal work. One study found that, with the exact same resume and qualifications, mothers are offered an average of $11,000 LESS than non-mothers for the same upper-level positions. Another study found that women without children make 90 cents to a man's dollar, but mothers make only 73 cents to a man's dollar, and single mothers make about 60 cents to a man's dollar.

Fortunately, we know how to narrow these wage gaps and how to stop Maternal Profiling. Countries with family-friendly policies in place--such as paid family leave after the birth of a child and subsidized childcare--don't have the same degree of maternal wage hits as we do here. That's one of the reasons why MomsRising is fighting for family-friendly policies, as well as for laws that protect mothers and other caregivers from discrimination in the workplace. Cultural change is another way to help stop Maternal Profiling: The more people who become aware of what are often subconscious discriminatory actions, the less often those discriminatory actions will happen. So it's important that as many people as possible learn about the widespread practice of Maternal Profiling.

*Take a moment to help spread the word (literally!) to friends and family by forwarding them our Pop Quiz.

P.S. Don't forget to get more details about Maternal Profiling and share your experiences at the end of that blog by clicking here: http://www.momsrising.org/node/710

P.P.S. Read the recent New York Times article which includes Maternal Profiling and MomsRising here: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/weekinreview/23buzzwords.html

Must Have

Consumerism has been on my mind as of late.

Maybe it's because we just had a big influx of gifts (thanks Santa). Maybe it's because Hubs and I lived on so little (two duffel bags each) for four years. Or maybe it's because we now we have more STUFF then we know what to do with.

And I don't mean to go all Angelina Jolie, but after living in China, it's hard not to look at the way we live and the things we consume differently.

After seeing the pollution and poverty first hand (it easy to blame the Chinese, when in fact much of it is caused thanks to American demand for more inexpensive crap than you can shake a stick at) and getting to know the Chinese people and culture (both of which I love), I feel so conflicted.

It's hard not to want more - always. It's hard not to want the newest this and the newest that. Why can't we just be happy with what we have?

UGH. I just feel all caught-up in -- and disgusted with -- consumerism at the moment.

WORST MOVIE EVER

Otherwise known as "I am Legend."
(Warning: Spoilers ahead)

Let me tell you why.

1) It's about Zombies
2) Will Smith watches his wife and daughter die
3) Will Smith has to kill his own dog
4) It's about viral diseases that spread out of control
5) Will Smith has to kill his own dog
6) Will Smith kills himself in the end
7) Will Smith has to kill his own dog

And so we went to this movie, on our "date night" -- and I came away wanting to build a bunker somewhere remote that is completely self-sustaining.

About New Year Resolutions

So I was listening to NPR as I mulled over my New Year resolutions this morning. I was about to jot down a couple, but then an interview with Beth Lisick, author of Helping Me Help Myself, "One Skeptic, Ten Self-Help Gurus, and a Year on the Brink of the Comfort Zone" stopped me before I could put pen to paper.

Beth, the author, spent an entire year trying to be a better person. She studied under ten self-help gurus - including Richard Simmons, Franklin Covey and Deepak Chopra. After spending countless hours (not to mention dollars), she came away with a better understanding of herself, but she didn't sound as if she really became a better person. The book, however, sounds utterly entertaining, for people who, um, have time to read.

On the flip side, we spent New Years eve with four other couples (with toddlers) and one proudly announced they were not making any resolutions, which I admire. I admire it because I can't do it. Historically, I have made New Years resolutions in January - try to accomplish them by June - and then make new ones, so that I effectively accomplish two years of resolutions in one year. I know, I know; I need professional help.

So as I sit down to think about what is most important this year, I can't help but reflect on an article I read recently about the 50% League. It's about people who have donated at least 50% of their income or inheritance to charity. (Read: http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2007/07/29/for_this_club_life_begins_at_50_/)

And although I would love to do that, the planner in me won't let go of the purse strings. I mean, we have to save for retirement, not to mention Chase's education, extra-currics, travel, an apartment in Veil (you get the picture). But I do want to figure out how to give more. If not money, then time and resources.

And on a different, and terribly sad note - that eventually ties back into New Years resolutions - I have actually been overwhelmed by sad, horrible news in the past week. Two different friends have gone to the doctor - and the doctor found "dark spots" - one friend has them near the brain, the other friend has them near the heart. A family member whose cancer was in remission has returned. And two people passed away. One on Christmas eve and the other just before Christmas.

And so on this New Years day, I am just grateful for what I have, for my family and our friends, for my daughter, for our health, for our well-being.

The only resolution that makes sense to me is to enjoy life and live every day to its fullest, to be grateful for what we have and to give to others whenever possible.

(more on the book? http://www.harpercollins.com/books/9780061143960/Helping_Me_Help_Myself/index.aspx)

Happy New Year!

May your 2008 be filled with love, happiness and good health.














And lots of paper, pens, paint, books and stickers!