solar squirrel

Consume!

Have you ever seen that movie called ‘They Live’?  It’s this cheesy movie from the 80’s and when you put on these special sunglasses you can see the world as it really is.  Well, I saw that movie when I was a little kid and ever since then all I can think of when I go shopping between Thanksgiving and Christmas is this movie - and the people who mindlessly wander the malls in a shopping frenzy…

Here’s the clip - check out the billboards and what the money says:

So today is Buy Nothing Day.  I have to admit - it’s going to be pretty easy for me since I never go shopping the day after Thanksgiving.  But - this year in particular - I really feel that we need to re-evaluate our spending choices.  Consumers don’t often realize that we have so much power - our dollars can be used for both good and bad.  Because of technology corporations are now more transparent than ever, we’re able to research not only the costs and quality of products, but the entire lifecycle.  Where was it manufactured and by whom and with what materials?  These things are becoming more and more important to people with buying power.  I feel that the age of mindless consumption is nearing its end.  Hopefully you’ll join me on buy nothing day…if not, maybe consider purchasing a little less this year or at least purchase from companies that have triple bottom line business practices.  Check out some B Corps.  Also, try to buy from thrift stores or yard sales, etc.  The best thing you can do is to buy nothing, next best thing is something that can be ‘recycled’, and finally you can buy from environmentally and socially responsible sources.

End of rant.

I just wanted to write a quick post and say how thankful I am for all of the wonderful things in my life.

I am thankful for my FRIENDS

I am thankful for my FAMILY

I am thankful for my HEALTH

I am thankful for the ability to persue anything that I desire!

A wintery towpath

Winter leaves

I always wondered what people did when they got laid off - do they go home and change into pj’s and sit in front of the couch wallowing in sorrow and self doubt, eating whatever they can manage to find in the refrigerator.  I didn’t really know.  Today I found out.

I went in to work as usual, but somewhere waaaaay in the back of my mind, I had a very teeny tiny feeling that something might happen today - since we knew the lay off’s were coming and the rumor was that it was happening today.  Got into work, checked email, went to cafeteria to buy a milk since I used the last of my organic milk last week and hadn’t had time to buy any more.  On my way back from the caf. I decided to swing by the CT service group to see if they had heard anything.  Ugh.  My friend had already had a talk with HR.  He would be allowed to finish out the week. 

When I got back to my desk I received a phone call - it was from HR - they wanted me to go to an office.  Great.  I already knew what it was about - in the 6 years I’ve worked for Philips I have never had an interaction with HR with the exception of getting hired.  Now I was getting to see the other side of things.  I went into the office and my boss’s boss was in there along with the HR girl.  I started crying and asked them if I would be able to get reimbursed for school (I’m 20k in debt at the moment and was hoping to pay part of that off with my tuition reimbursement).  How funny that was the first thing I wanted to know - I didn’t even let them talk!  HR reasurred me that I would be eligible for tuition reimbursement for this semester (I looked over the docs. they gave me and indeed I am - phew!)  Then they went through and told me about some career services that they would be providing…something at a Hotel…resume writing…interview assistance…I wasn’t really paying attention.  I was just thinking - are you kidding me?  I am so loyal, so hard working, no work hour or travel restrictions, no family, young, enthusiastic, full of energy…yet I was the one that was picked?  What is wrong with these people?  Don’t they realize that there are people who work here that surf the web and look at porn?  That there are people that sleep at their desks when they think no one is around?  People that openly vocalize how much they hate their jobs and the company?  And yet I was the one who they decided was the best candidate to be laid off!?  Me - who praises the company - volunteers for EVERYTHING - welcomes a new project and works late trying to get up to speed on it - and NEVER openly puts down the organization even though some of the things they do are just outright RIDICULOUS…  Humph. 

So I take my little folder that they gave me that had a sticker with my name on it and my HR stuff that I wasn’t paying attention to that they went over with me.  I wondered back to my desk and told everyone.  My boss didn’t even know until this morning.  He was so nice.  Great guy.  Everyone was shocked and disappointed and sad.  I told them that I would go home for the rest of the day but I would be back tomorrow.  (I have until Friday to work ‘if I want’).  I was sending instant messages to people - asking them who was hit in their work area.  Quite a few of my friends - crazy!  I still don’t know everyone that was effected - I’ll find out tomorrow, I guess.  In total the number was supposedly 55. 

So I drove home.  I got my laptop and then headed for Todd’s house.  He had stayed home today because he wasn’t feeling well.  I immediately got to work.  I polished up my resume and had Todd review it.  Then I sent a few emails relating to some of my school projects and in between talked on the phone since word travels fast and people wanted to know what was going on.  I had lunch (it was actually leftovers that I forgot to take with me from Sunday).  Then Todd and I went for a walk in the park to look at the beautiful snow.

Now I’m waiting for dough to rise and I’m making some rolls. 

The day seemed to go by really fast now that I think about it.

So - if you know any company that has good values that is looking for someone to help them in their quest to be less of an impact on the world and more of a source for positive change - please - let them know about me. 

I’m so excited that it’s finally snowing and wintery! 

I have been pretty lazy for basically the past month with regard to working out.  I don’t know how it’s possible, but I haven’t gained any weight according to the scale - something tells me that muscle has been replaced with fat, though.  I’ve been eating like the piggiest pig EVER - just ask Todd.  Seriously, I’ve gotten to the point where I can eat 2 meals worth of food in one sitting and still have room for dessert.  I am an obese person trapped inside a work-out-aholic’s body who isn’t working out too much these days.  I would go over the astonishingly large amounts of food that I’ve eaten the past few days but it’s too embarrassing, so you’ll have to just take my word for it.

In other news I signed up for the winter Buckeye 50k.  Todd is also signed up and I’ve been slowly starting my training with Bridget and Steve on the trails.  If you go to the list of entrants, Todd is listed as ‘Mark Blackhedge’; my name is spelled wrong, though phonetically correct (and they have me as 29…wonder if I forgot how old I am or if it’s a mistake), and Bridget is listed as being 281 years old.  Regardless - we all signed up on time and I’m looking forward to beating my previous winter bt50k time.  (It’s sold out!)

School is out of control demanding so much of my ‘free’ time it’s not funny.  I’m taking the 2nd part of my sustainable business class, as well as doing an independent study, and finishing up my Org. Beh. class.  In the spring I will also tack on an entrepreneurship class.  I’m doing this because if all goes as planned I’ll be finished with my MBA in Fall 09.  Yippee!  Now if I can just manage to scrape up the >$4k for each class…

OH!  I signed up for Boston and I got my registration confirmation email!  If you go to the website and search for my name I’m listed!  I’m super excited and I can’t wait!  It’s official - I’m going to do the Boston Marathon!

Here’s a rundown of the past week (11/3 - 11/9):

Monday:  40 min. spin in the am. w/ Joe
Tuesday: 8 x 400 on Solon Track w/ Bridget - ~1:30 pace; 2 mile warm up, 1 mile cool down
Wednesday:  5 mile run at lunch ~8 min pace
Thursday: 5.5 mile run at lunch ~8:30 pace
Friday:  School all day - no time for exercise
Saturday:  School all day - didn’t even get home until almost 10pm
Sunday:  Trail run - Pine Lane (8 miles) - with Steve, Todd, and Bridget

Totals:
Run:  23.5 miles
Bike: 10 miles
Swim: (for you, Brian) big fat 0!