I’m addicted to this site.  We haven’t even listed yet and I can’t stop looking at rental listings.  The good part about this is that I’m learning what’s available and how much it costs.  Paul & I have decided that if we are going to rent, we want to do it as cheaply as possible without living in a hovel.  I’ve been also looking into ideas such as work for rent trades (working on upgrades and home projects in exchange for free or reduced rent)… or I saw one that was $500/mo in exchange for mucking out horse stables.  The other idea is housesitting/caretaking. That idea looks like its a very competitive market though.

I figure it doesn’t hurt to be creative and seewhat I can turn up for us.  There’s a chance something great will come about.  And without trying, there’s no chance of getting something amazing.

We believe in taking action against climate change. Since 1998 we have not invested in any business involved in the extraction or production of fossil fuels. This is just one aspect of our Ethical Policy.

Blogging about a bank isn’t something I’ve ever thought of doing before.  But when I was exposed to The Co-operative Bank, well, this is the type of business I’d like to promote.  A bank with a stated Ethical Policy is so appealing.

I love the increasing business trend of not only being responsible but become a leader in making a difference in areans spanning from social initiatives to environmental concerns.

This UK-based bank offers personal, business and corporate support.  And their credit card programs for individuals are inventive.  They have several types including:

• The Clear Card:  provides up to 59 days interest free credit if balance is paid in full by the due date, and gives a limited donation to good causes based on what you spend  on your credit card.
• Flat Rate Platinum Credit Card: provides a fixed rate for 5 years, and 46 days interest free credit when balance is paid in full by the due date.
• Advantage Credit Card:  gives you 0% on purchases and balance transfers fixed for six months, and up to 46 days interest free credit if balance is paid in full by the due date.
• Travel Card: gives you up to 59 days interest free credit if balance is paid in full by the due date, travel reward points and 6 months 0% fixed rate.
• And my favorite… Affinity Card where your spending raises money for an organization of your choice. Just a few of the organization beneficiaries include: ActionAid International, Amnesty International, The Children’s Society, Christian Aid, Oxfam and more.

I can only hope that banks like The Co-operative Bank have so much success that others will be eager to follow in their footsteps.

Check out the most recent pic on my Dad’s blog of Amira.  There’s something about it I like!  :)

Amira came down with a fever yesterday afternoon.  At one point, it was 103°.  She fought it back down, but was in bed before 7pm.  She woke up several times during the night.

Her spirits are up this morning, but she still has a slight fever.

Hopefully, sweetpea beats this soon.

638 months ago, we met for the first time. 166,554 minutes ago (give or take a few), we had our first kiss. And 5,111 days ago, Paul & I got married.

This past year was our 2nd seven year itch cycle. I think we both needed some calamine or Aveeno-like balm. Paul & I hit a critical mass. I had a lot to learn. I had to learn not that I love Paul, but HOW to love him so that he knows and experiences it. You’d guess that after all these years together, I would have it down. Unfortunately, I thought I did too.

This year, I learned differently. Because of it, I’m learning how to listen better and to put aside my ideas for the better good. I’m learning to work past initial (and oh so strong) emotional habits and reactions and move onto something helpful. I’m learning while there is always so much room to improve, he and I have something.

Today, we start our 15th year of marriage. Just about everything is changing for us. And those things that aren’t being changed for us, we are. Everything old is new again.  There lies not only hope but also a healthy marriage.

Marriage isn’t easy. Not easy.

But so worth it.

In this and every moment, I love him.

It’s not perfect, but nothing rarely is.  And, that said, I love the gesture that Nike made here.

The Beaverton-based company says the Air Native N7 is designed with a larger fit for the distinct foot shape of American Indians, and has a culturally specific look. It will be distributed solely to American Indians; tribal wellness programs and tribal schools nationwide will be able to purchase the shoe at wholesale price and then pass it along to individuals, often at no cost.

“Nike is aware of the growing health issues facing Native Americans,” said Sam McCracken, manager of Nike’s Native American Business program. “We are stepping up our commitment … to elevate the issue of Native American health and wellness.”

(source*)

For your WordPressers… check out this WP Admin plugin.  I likey.

It’s Saturday morning. I’m taping together old dusty moving boxes. I’m filling them with books. They will go into hibernation (storage) while we show the house and until we move into our new place. Now that my books are disappearing into the gaping brown mouths, a part of what makes this home to me has been swallowed up. I noticed during prior moves that when my books are packed away, inaccessible, that I don’t feel totally at home. Even when we had moved into Butternut Hollow, and every thing else was unpacked… it wasn’t until I had my bookshelves filled with books that I felt “ah, now I’m home.”

As I’ve been working on projects, packing up the extras to stage the house for listing, I’ve had pangs of sadness. It’s going to be hard to leave Butternut Hollow. It’s hard just preparing to leave.

I’m certain everything is going to work out well. We’ve always been graciously and generously provided and cared for. But for now, I’m letting myself feel the sadness.

Read this Esquire article — about regrowing a finger.

If you are like me, you’ll keep looking for the line that says “Gotcha!” But it’s not there.

No joke.

The full set is out on Flickr - if you are curious.

Arghh, ya lily livered lanlubbers! Today be International Talk Like A Buccanner Day! Ye know we all need t’ put aside all th’ seriouses an’ be havin’ som fun an’ play in our tide. So i want t’ hear yer best sea dog speak…

If ye be needin’ some help, matey…. click here.

Amira & I went to lunch at the mall today with my dad. After we finished our meals, we went for a walk through the mall. We made a loop through the mall and then through the Terraces, the outdoor portion of the mall. There is a water fountain sculpture outside that Amira always enjoys visiting. We throw pennies into the water… and feel the water running down the side of the rocks. At the edge of the fountain is a drop down to the water about 2 or 2 1/2 feet. The edge isn’t a perfect circle but rather has edges that scallop in every 2 feet or so. When she was little, I always held her hand. As she’s gotten older, she’s shown a great understanding of how to be close but not *too* close to the edge.

Today, we were throwing pennies in as usual… watching the water run over the edges of the rocks when Amira stepped into one of those scalloped sections. And down she went. Dad & I were, in an instant, in action reaching down to pull her out. She was thankfully not hurt, but utterly soaked. She shrieked with shock and indignation. WET!!! Yes, baby, you’re wet. You fell in.

A woman listening to her iPod and just watching the water fountain came over to us. As I was pulling off Amira’s sopping tank top, the woman offered her fleece jacket to help dry Amira off. I was surprised at her kindness and took her up on it. Luckily, I was carrying a sweatshirt of Amira’s. I stripped her down to her underwear, dried her off with the sweet woman’s coat and bundled her up (as much as possible) in the sweatshirt.

We made our way back to Dad’s car, Amira in her underwear and sweatshirt. I carried her on my shoulders (”up top” as she likes to call it). I think most people didn’t notice that she had no pants. And all the way home, Amira happily recounted her adventure of falling in the “penny water”, getting wet, and drying with a coat…

We have a two week countdown. What countdown? Well, the one until our home goes on the market. We have several home repair projects that we need to complete before the sign post put up and our beloved Butternut Hollow gets its own MLS number.

A few of the things we need to do: 1) repair a whole in the bathroom ceiling, 2) put in a new bathroom fan, 3) install a couple of lights, 4) patch the kitchen cabinets where some of the wood framing was stripped away, 5) stain the bathroom cabinets, 6) finish tiling the entry way downstairs and at the base of the stairs, and more.

Paul & I have always been pretty capable with home repairs. We do our homework and usually get the job done right. I remember one time though, in our first house. There was a wall in our living room that had been covered with that dark walnut colored wood paneling. You know the kind I’m talking about, the stuff that was popular in the 70’s?). We removed the nails and found that it was still firmly attached to the wall. We finally took a crowbar and pried the stuff of the wall. Turns out there was adhesive holding the paneling to the wall.

Now, I don’t know what that adhesive was made of - but it was impossible. We couldn’t chip it off without taking huge gouges out of the wallboard. It wouldn’t sand and we weren’t sure we wanted to anyway. Who knows what it was made of and make it airborne in sanded dust didn’t seem wise. Finally, to mask the adhesive, we decide to texture the wall. After a lot of work texturing, we put on the primer and then painted. It looked awesome.

For a while anyway.

Three or four months later, we noticed some strange patterns appearing in the paint. The paint color was changing, but only in certain areas. As it became more pronounced, we realized it was the adhesive somehow bleeding through the texture, the 2 coats of primer and our 3 coats of paint. It looked horrible.

Back then, the best resource for teaching yourself about home improvement methods, pitfalls, tips and tricks was talking to the local hardware store guy or subscribing to a do-it-yourself magazine. I wish we had a site like DoItYourself.com. Doing a quick search on DoItYourself.com’s forums and/or buying one of their available do-it-yourself-DVD’s would have saved us “bleeding” walls.

DoitYourself.com is an open, free community with thousands of articles and over 100 active forums on several do-it-yourself home improvement topics. Websites like this keep me excited about the internet. When you buy a resale home, you can count on needing to do some home improvements. And when it comes to home improvement projects, knowledge is power… no to mention saved time, money and personal frustration! I’ve bookmarked this site! With only two short weeks until listing, I don’t have time to botch any of these projects I’m working on.

(*This is a sponsored post)

Getting from point “A” to point “B” is easy when all you are doing is running out to pick up a loaf of bread. Getting from where you are to where you want to be when you are crystal clear that you are destined — is going to seem impossible at times. You will be tempted to choose the path of least resistance because a journey on the road less traveled is guaranteed to break your heart. It will challenge everything that you know to be true. You will work hard, drive alone and question, everyday, whether or not you made the right decision in the first place.

–Dana Roc, “No Matter How Far”

This is an excerpt from my friend Dana’s Weekly Insight. Read the whole thing. It isn’t long and it’s good.