i'm a stickler for enunciation

I LOVE this song that's being played in regular rotation on WBER lately. Except for the part that goes "why don'tchewlike me?". It drives me totally nuts in this instance, but it's still a fun song to sing along with in the car.

method = bad PR

Back in June, I left a comment on ljcfyi's post about new Method products that mentioned how the handle on my recently acquired O-Mop had snapped right off after only a few times of use. Not long after, this comment appeared on my blog:

Hey,

Hope you don't mind me following you from LJC's blog. I just read that your omop handle broke! That sucks!
if you email felicia@methodhome.com she can set you up with a new one, stat.

Meredith
meredith@methodhome.com

So, I sent the e-mail along with this photo of my broken O-Mop. The reply e-mail I received was:

No Problem,

What you’ve sent is perfect. I’ll send the coupon today. It will cover the cost of a new omop starter kit at Target.

Thanks, and if there’s anything else I can do please let me know,
Felicia

That was at the beginning of July. Here it is September 8th, and still no coupon for my replacement O-Mop.

if facts are the seeds...

The September/October issue of Audubon Magazine reviews several new books about Rachel Carson, someone in whom I have a special interest.

Rachel Carson has often been called the mother of the modern environmentalist movement. Her most famous book, Silent Spring, cited the dangers of chemicals and pesticide sprayings. Written 45 years ago, that book was a landmark, and my inspiration for switching to all earth-friendly household products like laundry and dish detergent, shampoo, etc. Today, we are still fighting (and losing) that battle.

In 1950, my grandfather and Rachel Carson both won the AAAS-George Westinghouse Science Writing Award for excellence in science writing. My grandfather, who at the time was a journalist for the Democrat & Chronicle, won the award for his article "Cancer Problem Riddle May Be Discovered in Carrots, Coconut Milk"* from the September 24, 1950 issue.

I remember my mother telling me a story about he and my grandmother flew out to wherever the ceremony was held - L.A., or Vegas, or somewhere out West, for a very glitzy, glamorous affair. They also got to meet Rachel Carson.

The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe around us, the less taste we have for destruction. -Rachel Carson, 1954

*End note: A few months ago, I tried e-mailing the Democrat & Chronicle for a copy of my grandfather's article. I never received a response. If anyone out there has an idea of how I can get a hold of an article from 1950, please let me know.

finally getting things done

On my day(s) off, I rarely sit around and do nothing, and this past Labor Day weekend was no exception.

Ryan and I finally got up into the attic to clean up the mess the roofers left behind. (Note: the photo to the left is not of our actual attic, although it is similar.) Once we had surveyed the area and assessed what we needed to do, the whole project took less than an afternoon. This included sweeping, vacuuming, ripping out old carpeting, and making fun of how each other looked wearing a dust mask. Among the various and assorted sundries we unearthed, we found: Legos, puzzle pieces, cigarette butts, broken glass, nails and staples of all kinds, a pair of little kid underwear, someone's Power of Attorney form, and a Medicaid brochure from 1967.

stuff

I have a bunch of pointless blog posts waiting to be published: one about the new bike I got, one about the good music they only play once in a while on WBER (usually on New Wave Wednesdays), one about going up to the cottage last weekend.

None of that matters now.

I've entered a mode of self-re-evaluation. What do I really want out of life and my relationships? I'm not eating right. I'm not exercising enough. I'm not getting enough "me time." I'm losing sight of why I'm doing some of the things that used to bring meaning into my life.

Sometimes I feel like I've gotten myself stuck in such a deep rut that the only way to get out of it is to do some major re-creating.

eating out

There are an abundance of restaurants in Rochester, which makes it a great city for foodies like Ryan and me. Last Wednesday we went to Oasis Mediterranean Bistro with Kirk and Kristi. We had a fabulous time - the food was fantastic (the dolmades were to die for), it wasn't crowded, and the chef (ACF-certified!) even came out to greet us during our meal. Ryan and I are already planning a repeat visit some time soon.

i love my job

This past Thursday was my official one year anniversary at my job. My boss called me into his office at one point during the afternoon, and we had the following conversation:

Boss: Ok, here's your annual review. Do you want a raise?
Me: Yes, please.
Boss: How's six percent?
Me: Cool. That's good.
Boss: Because, you know, we do pay for all your benefits.
Me: I know.

And, not only did I get a raise, but I also got flowers, too.