Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Sunshine and Sugar


"Real happiness is shared." -Christopher McCandless

Monday, August 18, 2008

Just Like that



I didn't think it was possible to look into someone's eyes and see the entire universe come into focus.. but there it is.



Thank you, Universe, for delivering this wacky soul to me. I promise to continue to drive him insane until our next lifetime together.


"The world is less lonely when you are near."
Ruth Forman


Monday, June 23, 2008

BC Mountain Bike Race

Good Luck Doug!
My boss is racing in a few days from Victoria to Whislter Canada.

You can monitor the race here:

BC Race

As soon as he gets there I will post his Team stats here.

Come back in one piece Doug.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Lovingkindness for my birthday


Ah the time has come once again to mark the occassion of my arrival on this great and awesome planet which I love so much... well almost, in three days. :)

A wise person (an extermely sexy rock climber... sky and water... they are always far apart.) .. hmmm.. where was I... yes..yes.. a wise person, rock climber, said to me.. "years are for those who count.. and who has time to count"... I agree.. I am younger in spirit today then I was yesterday because I have reconnected with the mettā bhāvanā, which is the practice of Lovingkindness.

On my birthday, I will share the sixth stage of the mettā and wish all beings well, and I am smiling because I am happy just being here now.

May all beings be well.
May all beings be happy.
May all beings be free from suffering.

:)

Namaste.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Earth Day 2008

The Green Apple Festival
8 cities across the US- free admission Music, Art and Education

Earth Day Events from around the World
EnviroLink

Earth Day New York

Earth Day Ideas
-Start a River Clean-up get details here:
National River Clean-Up
-Visit Earthday Network
-Visit WWF

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Dirt Cheap Hair -Homemade the green way

Want to be green and look good doing it? Want sexy hair that smells good enough to eat? Well, I have some ideas for you that will help the environment and save you lots of the green stuff too!

Naked Shampoo

Gather up these items first
-3 tablespoons unscented liquid castile soap
-1 1/2 cups water
-2 tablespoons dried herbs (1/4 cup fresh)
-1 teaspoon almond or apricot kernel oil
-3 drops essential oil


Place herbs in a small glass bowl or canning.
Boil water and pour over the herbs.
Cover and let stand for 15 to 20 minutes.
Strain the tea into a bowl (Cheese cloth is excellent for straining)
Pour castile soap and almond or apricot kernel oil into herbal water and mix thoroughly.
Scent with essential oil and mix again.
Pour into a recycled shampoo bottle.
Shake before use.

Ooh LaLa... this is a very gentle shampoo.

Earth Girl Root Shampoo

Gather up these items first:
-1 fresh yucca root (about two inches long)
-2 cups hot water
-Hammer
-Bowl

Peel the yucca's brown covering until you reach the white center.
Using a hammer pound root into a pulp
Place yucca pulp into bowl.
Pour hot water over it and let it sit for two hours.
Strain out pulp. Pour over hair and shampoo as usual. It should lather like shampoo!
Rinse well with luke-warm water.
Discard any leftover.

This shampoo was used by Native Americans brides on their wedding day. It is gentle and has been said to prevent baldness.

Banana Nana Blend Conditioner
Caution: Smells so good you might want to drink this concoction, but don't!

Gather up these items first:
-1/2 banana
-1/4 cantaloupe
-1 Tbsp olive oil
-1 Tbsp plain yogurt

Blend all ingredients until well combined.
Apply mixture to freshly washed hair, saturating from roots to tips.
Leave set for 30 minutes.
Rinse with cool water.

Use this mixture once a week all year round to keep your hair soft and manageable.

Fruit Smoothie Hair Mask

Gather up these items first:
- 1/2 Banana
- 1/4 Avocado
- 1/4 Cantaloupe
- 1 Tbsp Wheat germ oil
- 1 Tbsp plain yogurt

Blend all ingredients until well combined.
Apply mixture to freshly washed hair, saturating from roots to tips.
Leave set for 30 minutes.
Rinse with cool water.
For extra conditioning, squeeze in the contents of a vitamin E capsule into the mix

Ramble on Rosemary Hot Oil Treatment

Gather up these items first:
-1/2 cup of dried rosemary leaves
-1/2 cup soybean oil

Combine ingredients in small pan and heat until warm;
Strain through a fine strainer or cheesecloth;
Coat the entire head and hair with the oil mixture, working it through to the ends;
Wrap hair in plastic wrap and wrap in a warm towel;
Leave oil on hair for 15 minutes;
Wash hair until oil is completely removed.

Ginger Dandruff Treatment

Gather up these items first:
-Ginger root
-1 teaspoon sesame oil
-1 teaspoon lemon juice

Squeeze ginger root through press to obtain one tablespoon of juice;
Mix all ingredients;
Apply to scalp and let dry before shampooing;(see alternative above)
Repeat three times a week.

Oregano Hair Detangler

Gather up these items first:
-1/2 cup fresh oregano leaves
-1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
-1 cup water

In a saucepan, heat all ingredients together on low;
Let simmer for 30 minutes;
Remove from heat and strain mixture to remove particles;
Let solution cool;
When cool, pour solution into spray bottle;
After shampooing and conditioning hair as usual, spray the solution directly into the hair, saturating the strands and the scalp
Comb through hair and leave on.

Lemon Shine Ade Rinse

Gather up these items first:
-Juice of 1 lemon
-1 cup of water

Mix the juice and water;
After normal hair washing, apply this rinse;
It will shine even the dullest hair.

Natural Hairspray
Gather up these items first:
-1/2 orange
-1/2 lemon
-2 cups water

Chop fruit into small pieces and place in a pot with 2 cups water;
Boil until reduced by half;
Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle;
Store in the refrigerator
Add more water to reduce stickiness, if desired.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Clean Green and Dirt Cheap

Want to be green and save some green at the same time? Tired of spending lots of cash on the latest green cleaning gizmo... ah... put it back, you can be green and make it yourself from ingredients around your house.

Hippy Chick Window Cleaner
-1 cup water
-1 cup vinegar
-couple drops of lemon juice (oranges also work//use your imagination)

Combine all ingredients in an old spray bottle; shake it up; and you are ready to have at it. Clean your windows, clean your mirrors... you get the idea. Instead of using paper towels.. why not search your trash for old newspaper, paper bags... they all work just as nicely as paper towels.

Hippy Chick Multi-Purpose Cleaner "a foaming good time"
-1/2 cup baking soda
-1/2 cup vinegar
-4 cups of water

Caution: Be careful this combo has an intense foaming reaction.
Mix all ingredients together in a large glass bowl. Once the foaming has stopped pour into an old spray bottle and clean your kitchen, clean your bathtub....

Hippy Chick Wood Polish
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-Juice from a lemon

Use sparingly, a little goes a long way.
:)

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Oppose Oil Drilling in Yukon Flats

On March 25, the public comment period will end on a proposed land swap affecting tens of thousands of acres of the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. If the deal goes through, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would sacrifice undisturbed land, clean water and incomparable wildlife habitat to Doyon Ltd. for oil and gas development.


At what gain? A few more years of oil!? That's absurd folks, the government and the people need to wake up and start looking for a renewable, sustainable energy resource and stop depleting our planet's natural resources. Your voice matters, oppose this wasteful destructive practice.

Even though the Fish and Wildlife Service has admitted in the past that oil drilling is incompatible with the mission and vision of the refuge, apparently they need to be reminded: drilling will involve roads and pipelines, oil spills and pollution, all of which threaten the lives of the moose, bear, wolves and birds that call the land their home.

We have until March 25th to voice our concerns about this decision. All you need to do is click here to send a message to the Fish and Wildlife Service, letting them know your thoughts and standing in support of the wildlife that depend on the refuge for their survival.

And make sure, too, to pass this note along to anyone else who might care.

Monday, March 10, 2008

What does George W Bush have against Polar Bears?

What does George Bush have against polar bears?

The Bush/Cheney Administration's own scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey say that global warming and habitat loss could eliminate polar bears from Alaska by 2050. Yet, the president had little to say in his State of the Union about what -- if anything -- his administration would be doing to prevent their extinction.

Take action now. Urge George Bush to protect polar bears by sending a message online at:

http://action.defenders.org/stateofpolarbears

Year after year, President Bush has called for harmful drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most important onshore denning habitats for U.S. polar bears. Earlier this month, his Secretary of the Interior approved the sale of drilling rights in the Chukchi Sea, potentially threatening even more bears with pollution, spills and disruptive activities.

The Bush/Cheney Administration will come to an end next year, but we can't allow their decisions and lack of action to spell extinction for U.S. polar bears.

Take action now at:

http://action.defenders.org/stateofpolarbears
Thanks for taking the time to help!

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Pole Pedal Paddle 2008!

Let's say goodbye to Winter and hello to Spring. If you know of a Pole, Pedal, Paddle Race, that I misssed drop me a line or leave a comment. Thanks! ;)

Jackson Hole April 5, 2008
Competitor and Open Class Race
Event Legs:
-The alpine ski leg is held at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. All Classes ski a 3,500 giant slalom approximately 3 miles in length
-The cross-country ski leg consists of 10 kilometers of prepared track at the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort over rolling terrain.
-The bicycle leg is a 19.8 mile
-The boating leg is on the Snake River and includes 9 miles of Class 1 and 2 moving water with small waves and strong eddy lines.

http://www.polepedalpaddle.com/info.shtml

2008 U.S. Bank PPP
The U.S. Bank Pole Pedal Paddle will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2008.
Teams, pairs, and individual participants are composed of recreational and expert athletes competing from Mt. Bachelor to Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend, Oregon. The participants alpine ski, cross-country ski, bike, run, canoe/kayak and sprint to the finish!

http://www.mbsef.org/events/ppp/

Salida Pole Pedal Paddle Race
When: April 19, 2008
Where: Salida, Colorado
What: A multi sport race that starts at the top of Monarch Pass with a 7mile, backcountry ski leg, and then 22miles of mountain biking to the Arkansas River to finish with a 6mile whitewater paddle into downtown Salida.
Who: Men’s, Women’s, Junior’s and Mixed Teams or Individual hard-women, hard-men or hard-kids.

http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f11/salida-pole-pedal-paddle-race-17097.html

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

The truth about bottom trawling

A common industrial fishing method, known as bottom trawling, has the same devastating impact on the ocean bottom as clearcutting forests has on the Earth's surface.

Scientists have discovered deep-sea coral reefs off the Aleutians containing over one hundred species of coral and sponge, comparable in size and structure to tropical coral reefs. The Aleutian Islands marine ecosystem is an exceptional area of biological productivity and diversity in part because of its complex seafloor habitat. As a result of bottom trawling in these areas, critical fish habitat in Alaska state waters is currently being destroyed and will not recover for centuries if ever.

Species Known to Associate with Deepwater Coral in Alaska
Rougheye rockfish
Redbanded rockfish
Shortraker rockfish
Sharpchin rockfish
Pacific ocean perch Dusky rockfish
Yelloweye rockfish
Pacific ocean perch
Northern rockfish
Flatfish (several) Atka mackerel
Golden king crab
Shrimp
Pacific cod
Walleye pollock
Greenling
Greenland turbot
Sablefish
Sources: Freese 2000; Krieger and Wing 2002; Heifetz 1999; Heifetz 2000;
Stone, pers. comm. 2002

Bottom Trawling Kills
Bottom trawling is the most destructive fishing method recorded and reported on coral and sponge in Alaska, effectively clearcutting large areas of coral and sponge habitat.




For additional information please visit and support the following websites:

The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition
Alaska Oceans Program

As always, the simple truth is you ... can't change the world but you can change you.

Friday, February 22, 2008

The rise and fall of the Grey Wolf

Bush Administration Plan to Remove ESA Protections Jeopardizes Recovery, Allows Over 1500 Wolves in N. Rockies to Be Reduced to As Few As 300

On February 21, 2008, the US Fish and Wildlife Service released its final rule delisting Northern Rockies wolves from the endangered species list, effective in late March 2008, leaving wolf management in the hands of state agencies.

With a base population of 66 wolves introduced into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho in the mid-1990s, there are now nearly 1,300, with an additional 230 or so in Montana that have drifted down from Canada. State management plans allow for wolf hunting, or outright eradication in some places — including most of Wyoming — with a target population of 150 in each of the three states.

In the opinion of this humble redheaded blogger, I do not think that 1,500 wolves is enough to justify delisting a species and setting it up for eradication at the hands of hunters wanting a trophy for their mantle or the priveldge of dining on 1 of only 1,500 creatures in existence.

According to the Defenders of Wildlife.."Idaho has plans to kill 75% of the wolves in the Clearwater National Forest. Wyoming's wolf management plan would allow 16 of the existing 23 packs of the wolves in the state to be killed on sight. To accomplish this goal, the state would authorize poisoning, trapping and shooting within 90 percent of the wolf's current home range outside of the national parks."

For more information on the policies of the three states please visit this website:
Northern Rockies Wolves Management and Policy




Sunday, January 27, 2008

Paddle Faster... I hear Fiddles

First post of the new year for me. Let's see where it takes us.

For those of you who missed seeing "the tree" in full decorated glory. Check it out, I was able to light it for 1 and a 1/2 hours a day with one solar panel... pretty slick for the amount of watts this big guy sucked down!!


.... I can tell.... you must be wondering... so far no paddles or fiddles have been mentioned. What is that all about? well, it is a long story.. but basically my in denial "hippie" boss... claims that he saw two prefect bumper stickers for my car. .. "Grow your own clothes" and "Paddle faster.. I hear fiddles" Thanks, Doug... you have helped me establish the name for my future business and captured the essence of my entire life with one brilliant slogan.

I have always wanted to grow my clothes, but I believe I have a better idea! You see, the world is getting hotter... and hotter and pretty soon it is going to be so hot...everyone will be walking around naked. Well, there are some people who I believe are... meant for clothing... me on the other hand... if I didn't get a blasted ticket every time I would forgo clothes. haha...

I really think I'm on to something here... all of this digital stuff and global warming has got the brain working... and here is my idea... oh... and I came up with a killer slogan... "it's either off or on! ... and even when it's on its off...yay baby" Digital clothing! (too much caffeine.. I need to burn this energy off) Hell, I'd even be the test case. I'll walk around with a digital image on my skin. There are some bugs I have to work out... obviously... like maybe I should invent a bodysuit with sensors on it.... this way I can regulate body temperature in the hot or cold... could possibly eliminate a lot of gear for my backpacking trips... hmmm... might be fun... think of the possibilities.