Poor, Poor Pitiful Me

This is Howdy!  He came to live at work last year, when he was donated to our garage sale.  Weeks before the sale various people were already trying to buy him, and for some reason we couldn't part with him, and he is a permanent resident at our school.  He has traveled on various vacations with some of the kids and their families.  He has had sun screen applied, lipstick, and has had many a pretend meal made for him to eat.  He has even be given a mail order wife, Howdita, to keep him company.

Howdy at Myrtle Beach, hoping to not get caught in the condo!

Howdy and Howdita enjoy a tasty meal!

The other day I walked into work on my way out of town to drop a few things off, and there was a group of kids playing in the large motor room, and on one of the mats, on his side, looking a bit dirtier than I remember, and a little deflated, was Howdy.  I realized that I had forgotten about him, and hadn't known where he had been living the past few months, and even if he was still around. 

My mind wandered back a year ago, when he joined our staff, became an important member of our school, and a cow who everyone loved, young and not so young.  How could I have forgotten him?  His mail order bride is safely stored upstairs, while Howdy takes the brunt of the "love" from the kids. 

At this point I realized that it is time for me to stop feeling sorry for myself.  I too feel that I have been forgotten, and that I am a bit dirtier, and definitely deflated!  It is time for me to move on with a positive attitude, which will be the ticket to any successful change and transition occurring in my life, I get to choose what happens next.  I am pretty lucky.  I have options, I have a husband, kids, dogs, cats, and Howdita to help me begin my next journey in life.  I realized that Howdy wasn't really forgotten, maybe by me, but he had taken up residence is a classroom, living a spectacular life of love and interaction with the children in the class, getting bounced on, hugs, and kisses.  He may be older, but his life is good. He has yet to be put out to pasture!

I'd lay my head on the railroad tracks
And wait for the Double "E"
But the railroad don't run no more
Poor, poor pitiful me

I chose this song, which is really a Warren Zevon song, covered by Jackson, because it always makes me laugh.  When I feel like a failure there is humor, however, twisted, in the idea that one could be so unlucky that they couldn't even successfully end their life, choosing a railroad track that doesn't have a train!  It often helps for me to journey in my head to the point of total ridiculousness to see reality, and jump back and join the world again.  It also brings me back to my son, who loved every song with the word train in it, and didn't have to know or care what it was really about!

My daughter and I saw Jackson Browne on Thursday night.  He was really good, and as usual I liked hearing him sing, and talk about his life.  He always reminds me that I still have time to do lots of different things in my life!  We had never been to Grand Rapids before so we drove downtown to find the venue, to see how long it would take, and where to park, etc.  My daughter, who was born with the ability to spellcheck anything on the fly, quickly says that his name is spelled wrong on the marquee!  Sure enough, check it out!  When your last name is LaPointe, those silent vowels are imperative!  So we rounded the corner of the theater, and low and behold there is the bus!

On the windshield of the bus, is the parking permit, with the name Browne correctly spelled!  



Being a preschool teacher, I had a sharpie, note card, and scotch tape in the car!  We attached a note to the window which said:

Mr. Browne:  Your name is spelled incorrectly on the marquee.  It says Brown, not Browne. 

From the LaPointes not LaPoints!

When we returned for the show the marquee had been corrected, with the happy e in it's proper place.  I'd like to believe we had something to do with the correction which occurred, but even if we didn't, we sure had fun writing the note, and taping it to the bus.  I love going places with my daughter, she makes me feel young, she is really enjoyable, and she has a fabulous sense of humor.  I brings me back to the days, when I would have left a note on the bands, bus.....oh.....I guess I still would.

Now for some reflections on my plastic free, environmentally friendly life I am trying my best to live, or learn to live.  I learned something at this concert, regarding this quest.  I was trying my best to take these new ways of living into all aspects of my life, and for everything that I purchase, even if it wasn't for me.  Although, I enjoyed taking my quest for new habits to that length, I realized at the concert, even Jackson Browne himself doesn't do that!

What do I mean???  The bar and snack area outside the theater, was a virtual shrine to single use plastic.  There were tiny, and I mean tiny, wine glasses, single use plastic.  No one individual could consume only one, they were at most 1.5 ounces, and not reusable, water bottles, soft drinks poured out of 2 L plastic bottles, plastic lids on the cups, straws, larger plastic cups for mixed drinks.  The only non plastic item were the aluminum beer bottles!  So much for a plastic free tour!

My point is, that Jackson and his crew don't use single use plastic, however, he still performs at a venue that is using single use plastic, and going out of the way to use as much as possible, not just when necessary for safety!

What does this mean?  Even Jackson Browne has to make a living, and he does that by singing, so, he performs in venues which use single use plastic, rather freely!  Therefore, it is not necessary for me to carry my quest of the lines of my personal life, unless I am asked to!  I guess, that won't make me a hypocrite....It is a process of attraction, not promotion.





Teach your Children

Teach Your Children

Teach your children well,
Their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your
dreams
The one they picks, the one you'll know by.

This is my daughter, Katie, on her first Christmas, way back in 1991.  Seems like yesterday, and seems like a life time away at the same time!  When Katie was first interested in music, and coming into her own as a pre-teen, among other favorites she developed a strong affinity for country music. I found myself at a crossroads, I had NO, and I repeat, NO interest what so ever in that genre of music.  I have to admit it that I never really listened to it, nor did I think of this as something I would ever take the time to try out.

I wanted to continue to understand my children, and I wanted to be able to continue to relate to them, so I took the leap.  I took her to a Kenny Chesney concert, and after wondering how he actually got into his pants, I realized that I did know some of the songs.  I also realized that he put on quite a show, unlike Jackson who as Bruce Springsteen describes it, stands in his t-shirt and baggie jeans and pours it heart out on stage.  Besides Elton John and his changing costumes, in the 70's, it was the most choreographed concert I had ever seen.

Soon, because I respected the likes and dislikes of my young daughter, and was willing to step into her world, I discovered that I liked country music, not just when I was with my daughter.  I let her teach me something new. 

In many ways the trip I am on over these few days, is probably similar to my wanting to connect with Katie, through the music that she enjoys.  This is her turn to connect to me, her mother, with the music I enjoy.  Since I am someone who shares memories of my younger years in very limited quantities, Jackson is the one who can allow me to open those boxes, which are often sealed tight, and awaken a story, which allows others to get a glimpse of where I came from.  Something I think my children are curious about.  I really believe she likes and appreciates Jackson's songwriting talent, and his way of writing every one's life, while documenting his own.  She never seems uncomfortable being the youngest person in the seats.  I am so happy that she has chosen to spend this time with me. 

I am finding that these trips, are journeys, times when we can spend time together, talking, laughing, sharing, and getting to know each other on a real level.  Last night after dinner, the bill was paid, the food was gone, and I realized we were still sitting at the restaurant table, talking, in no hurry to leave.  We were acting like friends!

I am excited to continue on this new journey with my daughter, sharing time, sharing stories, and continuing to learn and appreciate the incredible individual she has become, while still getting the privilege of being her mother.


 



Jackson Browne - Looking Into You - 1974

Looking Into You

I am excited to say that I am finding more and more Earth Friendly products to purchase, for home and for work, and that it is becoming easier to make a "green" choice, each day.  I am finding that I am thinking before I select a product, and if I find myself really not wanting to make another stop to purchase a "better" choice in a product, I feel it, it tugs at my brain, telling me that this is not really what I want to buy.  It is as if, I can feel my self learning to change, or becoming more conscious of my decisions, and if I make one just to simplify my life, I can feel it.  It doesn't feel good, as if I am letting someone down, and trust me, I is not Jackson, it is myself!  I hate it when I give up on a quest.
So above you can see that I located recycled toilet paper, wrapped in paper!  Which certainly makes more sense to me, than being wrapped in plastic!  I could not find paper towels that are wrapped in paper as of yet, but I am purchasing recycled paper towels, and diaper wipes for work, and it really does excite me!  The sad thing is I am not kidding!

Above is the new bar shampoo that I has finally arrived, it is from Apple Valley Natual Soap, and it is definately an improvement over the hemp variety.  The two flavors that I purchased are Marshmallow, and a Berry blend.  I used the Berry this morning and it rocked!  I didn't feel as if my hair was going to crack off, even once today!  Tomorrow I can use the Marshmallow and then have a Smore poptart for breakfast, and I can feel like I am a girl scout, maybe I can use my plarn to make a sit a pon!

See. That could definately be made of plarn, and after yesterday I have enough plarn to make sit a pons for every girl scout in East Central Illinois!

Wait, I hear you say, I thought the whole green thing was becoming easier, more natural, and you were consciously making better choices??  Well, yes, that is all true, but there was this one little issue yesterday.......

I went to the store and did some shopping, look at the "green chlorox anti bacterial wipes", that I purchased!  I did some other shopping, cat food in cans, not plastic, a few other green cleaning products.  I arrived at the check out counter, and realized that I left my awesome reusable shopping bags in the car!  Now, sitting here right now, I know that I could have parked my cart, ran out to the car, and retrieved my bags, and then made my purchase.  It wouldn't have taken five extra minutes. 

Well, I didn't do that.  I thought to my self, self you don't have that much stuff, it won't be that bad....just pay and leave.  I wasn't feeling the greatest about forgetting the bags, and I assured myself that I would reuse the plastic bag which would house these items, or create a collage with my dogs of all my plastic mistakes over the past few weeks, and hang it in the living room.  So, as I am paying, the cashier starts telling me that they are out of medium sized bags.....and frankly I am not really listening, so I go to grab my ecofriendly purchases and this is what I see:

This picture doesn't do this bag justice.  It is draped over my stove, and takes up the whole front of the stove.  It is big enough to house a three year old child!  So if I had any hope of sneaking out of the store with out anyone who I might run into, not noticing my plastic bag, it was gone!  I think this could be recycled into a tent, with that an my new sit a pon, I could become a scout leader!

The title of this entry, Looking Into You, is my favorite Jackson Browne song from the early days.  I know I have many favorite songs of his, but this one is really one I love, and one that I haven't heard him sing in person for many, many years, if at all.  I did notice that he has been singing it occasionally on his current tour, which is exciting. 

 

 And I looked into the faces all passing by
It's an ocean that will never be filled
And the house that grows older and finally crumbles

That even love cannot rebuild
It's a hotel at best, you're here as a guest
You oughta make yourself at home while you're waiting for the rest

I know what this song is written about, or what I have heard Jackson say this song is about, however, as I have said, to me it is about what I think about when hearing his words, that influences me, and my life.  The same song can mean different things to me at different times in my life, and help me work through a variety of situations.

Today the message that I am taking away from this fabulous song, is about the challenge of moving on, and making changes.  In many ways life is a hotel, and we are all guests, with an unkown amount of time to spend and make our mark in the world.  Each stage of life can be seen as a hotel, on the very individualized trip we call "our life", and as we travel through the decades, we find ourselves needing to change our hotels either through choice, or necessity, sometimes due to situations out of our control, sometimes due to the evolution of our family, and the eventual ability of each family member to be responsible for their own lives and the paths that they eventually choose to follow. 

It is not always an easy thing to do, but it is part of the cradle to hearse experience! (to steal a line from Jackson)

Tomorrow I am going to pick my daughter up in Chicago and we are heading to Grand Rapids to see Jackson Browne, himself.  So, if anyone out there has an pipe line to Jackson, I would really like to hear Looking into You!

 



Tender is the Night

 



Happy Birthday to my "baby" Andrew.  He is 19 today!  Andrew spent most of his time infancy through preschool and beyond learning about the world while playing with trains.  We knew that he knew his colors, because he could identify the various Shining Time Station trains.  The same with his numbers, the concepts of sequencing items from smallest to largest, and his letter recognition, all was based on Thomas and his friends. I knew he didn't have a hearing problem, because he could hear the word train, in a crowd of hundreds, when whispered!  He could tell someone how a steam engine worked, prior to being able to ask for a cup of juice, he was obsessed.  Since he was my child, his obsessions didn't bother me, I totally understood.

Since conception Andrew listened to Jackson Browne, it's not like he and his sister had much choice, especially while in the womb.  However, soon Andrew had a favorite song, Tender is the Night.  Andrew was certain this song was a about a train tender in the night.  So although before the birth of Andrew,  this song conjured up an vague memory( and I mean vague, the 80's are somewhat a lost decade for me) of an MTV video with Jackson walking down the street, and ending up entering a home, and ending up in bed with some attractive woman.  After the birth of Andrew, in my mind the tenderness in the night was the beauty of holding my "baby" Andrew and rocking him before bed, while he fell asleep dreaming of engines pulling into the station for the night.  Those days have been gone for years, but when I hear that song, I always smile, and thinking happily of Andrew as a baby!

When Andrew was four I was able to take him to McCormick Place to see Jackson Browne.  Just he and I, he was so excited.  It was a political rally, so there were a variety of performers, and speakers, and there was no assigned seating.  There we sat, not far fom the stage,  him snuggled on my lap, watching Jackson.  I was seeing an old friend, he was meeting a new friend.

While he patiently waited to hear his train song, and I tried to explain that Jackson wasn't going to sing train songs at this event. Andrew being persistant, would not accept that there would not be a train song. Then Bonnie Raitt joined Jackson on stage, they began singing together and the following words were heard:

There's a train every day leaving either way

There's a world you know, there's a way to go

And you'll soon be gone, that's just as well

This is my opening farewell

Andrew was so excited!  Jackson had produced a train song just for him!  If we could have added a rendition of Midnight Train to Georgia, and Chattanooga Choo Choo, it would have been a grand slam!

Day two of taking better care of our planet:

This is a bit more difficult than I anticipated.  I entered the shower this morning and there were 5 single use plastic containers. I fed the cats, their favorite wet food which is housed in a single use plastic container, I picked the newspaper off the front step, and tossed it enclosed in it's plastic bag on to the hallway floor.  I picked up my new travel cup, and removed it from it's plastic box, and then pealed the styrofoam off the bottom and washed it to start my day of using less plastic!

Once at my office, I needed a pen, so I reached for the new pens which are made of out of recycled water bottles, and had to unwrap them from the plastic cover they were secured in!  I am sure by now you get my point!

Things I have done to work towards being more Earth friendly today:

1. Purchased my meat for dinner at the meat counter, so it would be wrapped in paper.
2. Purchased laundry detergent in a box.  Felt like I was moving backward in time purchasing flakes instead of liquid.
3. Didn't purchase Andrew cupcakes or a cake, as they were all housed in plastic.  Am I going to have to learn to bake?
4. Used my eco friendly cup.
5. Prepared my pepsi cans for recycling.
6. Bought cat food in aluminum cans.

 Things that didn't go as well as expected:

1.  Left reusable bags in the car again.
2.  Spent 45 minutes in the store trying to be Earth friendly, then purchased it all, and bagged it in a plastic bag with out thinking that might not be correct!

Things I need to research:

1.  Bar shampoo
2. Bar conditioner
3. What am I supposed to do about toothpaste?
4. Refillable soap dispensers
5.  Dog chewy's in bulk, so they are not wrapped in plastic
6. Revisit the cheese cube issue
7. Must we say goodbye to gogurt!
8. What besides a plastic bottle, can the pharmacy put medication in?

Please let me know if anyone has any suggestions regarding these topics or any other ways to reduce my use of single use plastic.

I will spend the rest of the day counting the hundreds of items in my home, that are housed in single use plastic.  I heard yesterday that it is possible to make pot holders out of plastic grocery bags....maybe that will become my new hobby!



Jackson Browne--The Pretender--Seattle-2008-09-29