More Shades of Green...

I must be feeling better because I have managed to get back on the environmental bandwagon... Today's topic is your home!

So, tell me, "Is your home a toxic dump? "

If we are serious about taking care of this planet we live on, then you might just want to give this whole online newsletter a good read. And while you are at it, you could put yourself on Mr. Suzuki's e-mailing list.

Happy reading everyone!

When you are introduced to or meet someone new, what do you tell them about you?

Do you tell them your name and what kind of job or career you have or do you tell them about the core of your true self? What do you think is important to share about yourself with potential new friends and partners?

What I'd like to know is do you define yourself by the kind of work you do?

Someone yesterday commented that all too often, when asked about themselves, people tell you what kind of job that they have and not about things they've achieved as people. Has this changed over the years or has the situation changed now that both men and women are heavily tied to the workforce? It's something that I have been thinking about since I heard it.

I, for one, do not want to be defined by the fact that I sit at a desk all day and so, will be making a much bigger statement the next time I am asked. I'd much rather be known for the facts like, I am a bit of an environmental freak, that I think that people being prevented from reaching their full potential is a crime of humanity and that each and every person should have a voice. I also believe that antidepressants and ritalin shouldn't be handed out like candy when they don't seem to be interested in why serotonin levels fall or even try to see if it's our modern lifestyle is created. I also think that, even though I use it, technology is advancing so quickly yet the human animal has not been given the opportunity to catch up on an emotional level. (yet, we still want the newest, fastest... because of slick, unscrupulous and savvy advertising execs) .

What I believe most of all is that nature can make us AND break us and we must respect that!

Humans think they have the power to control nature but they are sadly mistaken. This is demonstrated every day yet, for the most part, people have their head in the sand and don't want to see it.

Anyway, I've been in a rant frame of mind lately. I hope that you will answer the questions that I have asked in the comment file. Finally, I'd like to ask the following:

Is the world, as it is today with it's technology and convenience and the direction that society is taking us, the type of world that you really want to live in?

If not, what is your true ideal?

A while back, I posted a link to the Kids with Cameras. The work done was documented in the film Born into Brothels in which children of prostitutes in Calcutta were given point-and-shoot cameras to document their lives. Photos taken by these children were sold and donations were taken in order to get them education which some cases worked and in others did not.

Anyway, at the time there were plans to do the same type of projects, giving children cameras, in different parts of the world. Now, they have posted photos taken by children in Haiti and Jerusalem.

I hope that you will take a look. This reminds me how some children are wise even if they don't know it...

I'd like to thank Evil Derek at Three Angry Guys for sharing his thought and this article.

It's things like this that remind me that we're not doing enough. We don't need to find more fuel-efficient cars, we need to rethink our way of lives. Can there not be technologies out there that allow for no pollution? Do we need to live in houses too big and too much beyond our needs that are too far from where we work and shop? Do you really need to have way too much stuff? Do we need to ship foods all over the world instead of buying locally?

We're not doing enough!

I am sorry if you do not agree but this is something I feel strongly about. If you have children, should you not be thinking of what their life will be like? Do you want them to get cancer from lack of ozone or breathing difficulties from too much allergens and their failing immune systems? Do you want them to be plagued by storms that destroy their homes?

Get with it people. We have a job to do. The time for slouching is gone.

I realize that this might be old but I saw an animated clip for Goodbye Blue Sky by Pink Floyd. These kind of things always unnerve me. Not because of the graphic images but because I feel kind of numbed by them...

I'm guessing that most of you have heard about the sinking of the ferry Queen of the North in Wright Inlet near Prince Rupert by now.

This morning, on the radio, I heard that a minisub will be used to search for two passengers who are still missing.

I certainly hope that they did not go down with the ship. It was damn lucky that more people weren't on board of this boat because it was well below passenger capacity. Had there been more people, there might have been more fatalities.

Still, it is a beautiful route. If you have never been to that area and especially Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), you should see it once in your life. It is spectacular!

From the time I was young, I was very sensitive to people's feelings (remember Deanna Troi from Star Trek: TNG?) . Now, I know why...

Read this:

Intuition is an interesting quality of early life adrenal fatigue. The later in life the development of adrenal fatigue, the less likely one is to spontaneously develop intuitive ability. People that develop adrenal fatigue early in life are often described as empaths and will tell their friends (but not their doctor) about their ability to pick up feelings. They often suffer because of their high sensitivity and are always looking for new ways to ‘ground’ themselves. This problem often clears by simply supporting the adrenals and getting them to function well again. Poor adrenal function is not essential for intuitive development. Strengthening the adrenals does not weaken the intuition once it is there. Individuals that develop adrenal fatigue later in life (because of high stress, virus etc.) tend not to claim this intuitive ability.

I was talking to a counsellor the other day and she commented that ours (in the developed world) is the first generation ever that didn't have to live through a war close to home.

Our parents and grandparents and generations before that, only had time to think about surviving on what little they could scrounge up. Ours, while we struggle in other ways, is the first generation that has had the priviledge (is it?) to grow up with a whole set of worries... mostly of an emotional nature. She went on to say that we have no visible example of how to deal with things on this level.

We have to learn about the technologies but haven't learned how to "catch up" with that technology emotionally. I mean, we all use it but are we sure of the impact to our psyche when things are made so much more easy for us.

Many of us go on with our day to day lives and perhaps are not aware of the conflict that goes on within us. I for one, find that even though I can use the technology, I do not feel like I have accomplished anything. If I grow a plant from seeds, I can see the final result of my efforts. However, if I sit here all day at the computer, there is no result. I just get more and more into this pattern of doing these kinds of tasks. I do not move around because I have deadlines to meet and it certainly takes a toll.

Anyway, I've just been thinking about this lately.

I mean, in a sense we're all trailblazing. I, for one, find that a little bit scarey.

Yeah, I know that I haven't posted for a while. Have been busy at work as well as dealing with an illness aptly called adrenal fatigue.

Apparently, I have had it for a while and while I think my physician thinks it's depression, my naturopath tells me it's due to me abusing my adrenals. Too much coffee, sugar, late hours and generally bad care for myself as well as my age has caused all sorts of crap. While I am much better than I was a few months ago, I still have a way to go.

Treatment involves eating healthy, sleeping enough, controlling stress, yoga, breathing properly and all sorts of calming things. It could take 3 months or more to get any noticeable recovery but for those of you who know me out there, you know that I do get in these states occasionally and now I finally know why.

Do not lament for me. It really gives me a chance to get well instead of just putting up with it. I will perservere. Anyway, this will not be a sad post, I just want to let you all know that I am still here and that I am feeling more under control.

Take care and I will try to post again soon!

I had meant to share this story with you a while back but I haven't quite been myself as of late and have poor memory skills. Nevertheless, I am now here to share it with you...

You may not know that I am a secret fan of Coronation Street however, I rarely watch the show on telly. I generally check out the official British website to keep up. It's a good thing too because we are so far behind here (we're still dealing with the Shelley/Charlie abuse story now) and I like to be "in the know".

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I was on the bus going to my naturopaths office and I overhear a conversation going on between these two British expat pensioners talking about the show. The average person wouldn't know what they were discussing without know the details of the storyline and it actually took me a few minutes to realize that they weren't talking about some friends or family...

I managed to get myself involved in the conversation, assuring these two that Shelley would dump Charlie and all will be fine. Charlie would end up with Tracy and that was what was happening. I wasn't going to tell them but they insisted on knowing whether Shelley would get her head on straight. They asked how I knew and I told them that I check out the website.

I also told them that they could check it out as well, if they had a computer with internet connection, that is... They said they did but that they weren't sure how to get it up and running but that they would get a family member to help them set a bookmark to the site.

It was an interesting conversation and I am glad that I stuck my nose in.

I wonder if they got around to it?

Dare I say it? Can we finally expect NeverMoreLand?

Excuse me, can someone tell me if it's really March or not?

Not only did we have heavy winds last night but when I woke up this morning, it was snowing. It's been alternating between sun, cloud and even snow today.

What did we do to the powers that be to warrant this type of weather? Oh, I know... we've been abusing resources and polluting the environment.

Okay, so I was watching tv last night and while surfing through the channels, came across a live performance of Frankie Goes to Hollywood except that there seemed to be a new vocalist. I was confused at first but then today, I searched out their website and noticed that there was a lineup change. The new vocalist isn't bad except that this is another one of these established bands (like INXS) that has a new sexy singer.

I am so out of touch sometimes...

Is anyone else out there surprised that Tom & Katie were voted most tiresome?

This photo is for any of you out there who has an inner drag queen...

(This photo was taken by me and scanned so the quality probably sucks...)

And for Audi & Hildur who I know really love shoes!

Okay. So there are those of you who wondered if I would ever post my photos on this site. I had a few minutes while cleaning off my drive and came across this one...

I cannot remember the name of the place in Wales so I am looking to David or Sian to remind me. Sian, we walked out there one day with Josh, Jack, Ella and I forget who else came with us but I was enthralled by this place. It was so peaceful!

The resolution may not be great and I would like to say that I don't really want people to use or edit this image (you know us protective photographers!) As many of you know, I haven't gone digital and this is a scanned version that's why it doesn't have the crisp clean look that it might under different circumstances.

Just so you know, I am not a morbid human being, I just found this to be so peaceful and indicative of life (there's no way to prevent yourself from dying).

So, now that I have figured this out, I can post more. Maybe I will print this image onto t-shirts. If you are interested in purchasing one, let me know!

Ou est Monsieur Takehiro? Est-ce qu'il habite à Paris?

Happy St. David's Day!