Music is something that's always affected me on a very deep level. I have gone through a variety of transitions as I've discovered new forms of music with the result being that I like lots of different sounds. One day I was surfing You Tube and found an Italian commercial that had a great soundtrack.
One thing leads to another and about a year later I found a moving video about the first Baha'i Temple. That voice sounded so much like the voice in the Italian commercial. Could they be the same singer?
The singer in the Baha'i Temple video is identified as Lisa Gerrard, an Australian singer with a hauntingly beautiful voice. As you'll hear in a clip from one of her concerts she is, in fact, the singer in the Italian commercial I heard over a year ago. The internet and You Tube are amazing sources of information because... one thing leads to another. (Here she is in concert.)
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Holiday Shopping
"Holiday Shopping" is going to seem like an unsuitable title for this post, but as I began to contemplate the approaching holiday shopping madness I felt uncomfortable with (yet again) the wanton materialism and waste we will produce along with our Christmas spirit. In the NPR running series called "More Consumed: Is The Consumer Economy Sustainable?" there's an article called "15 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint" by Millie Jefferson. The article is not geared towards the holiday season, but I think it's fair to say that some of our holiday behavior needs to be reexamined in light of these points.
3.
Ditch bottled water. Bottled water has a huge carbon footprint — it's bottled at one location in small plastic bottles and shipped all over. Try buying a reusable water bottle or canteen for your water. Also, a lot of restaurants have made the move from offering fancy bottled water, usually imported from an exotic source, to using in-house filtration systems that make tap water a good choice. Many plastic water bottles are recycled, but most are not, making the footprint even bigger.
4.
Energy-proof your home. We're not talking major upgrades here... Make sure all of your windows close properly and the attic in your home is properly insulated. This can save you big bucks on your energy bill. Also, keep your heating and cooling systems properly maintained, and switch to reusable filters when possible. Switch from incandescent to compact florescent light bulbs. Compact florescent light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than our normal light bulbs and last much longer. Compared to regular bulbs, the fluorescents are more expensive, but they will eventually pay for themselves due to lower energy costs.
5.
Go native. Use native plant species to landscape around your home or business. The plants will grow better in a familiar environment, and the plants may also get shipped a shorter distance to get to your local nursery. Also, use organic soil when planting — it's made using more eco-friendly methods, and uses less resources. And remember, green plants are a good way to offset carbon. So plant something, anything — it helps.
6.
Window shop. If you have the urge to spend, try window shopping or browsing first. This helps ensure you are only buying things you really need, or really want, and you're not just impulse buying. Remember, every item in a store, no matter how small, has a footprint — so if we are conscious consumers, we can reduce our own footprint and the overall footprint of our nation.
7.
Take a direct flight. If you need to travel by airplane, try taking a direct flight when at all possible. Your impact is reduced when you take one flight, as opposed to hopping on a couple or more passenger jets to reach your final destination. You might also feel a little less harried when you arrive, because changing planes can be a real hassle.
8.
Switch water heaters to vacation mode. Most water heaters have a "vacation" setting for when you are away from home for an extended period of time. Switching to that "away" mode still keeps the water warm, but will not use the energy it takes to keep a tank full of piping-hot water. Enjoy your vacation even more, knowing that you're saving money and reducing your footprint.
9.
Unplug it! Unplug appliances that you don't use frequently. Most electronics have a standby mode that siphons energy even when not in use. Cell phone chargers, laptops, televisions, stereos — there's a whole list of items that should be unplugged when not in use. Try using a power strip for groups of electronic items. One flick of the switch and it's all off.
10.
Keep your car. With gas prices seemingly always on the rise, it's tempting to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle. But if your older-model car is in good condition, you're better off keeping it in good running condition. Even hybrids create a big footprint when they're built, so consider driving that old clunker for a little while longer. Also, try more eco-friendly modes of transport when possible, like buses, trains, a bicycle, telecommuting or even walking.
11.
Chuck your microwave. Admittedly, this is a bit drastic. But this speaks more to those convenient frozen dinners some rely on because of their busy schedules. A freezer full of meals is actually more energy-intensive — it costs more to freeze foods, ship them cold, display them frozen in the grocery store and keep them frozen in our homes. So while the modern convenience of the microwave and the Lean Cuisine is enticing, it's much more resource-intensive. Cook fresh food when you can, and you'll also find yourself eating out less often.
12.
Use cold water. No, not in the shower... but maybe in the washer. Try using cold water to launder things that don't need to be cleaned in hot or warm water. It takes a lot of energy to heat up water — multiply that by the number of loads, and that's a big footprint. Most major detergent makers sell detergents designed to have the same cleaning power as with regular soap. Try washing mixed loads in cold water, too.
13.
Have the family over. Family gatherings are a good way to spend some quality time with loved ones, with very little carbon impact. Cooking and entertaining for larger groups is more efficient and, per person, a lot less expensive. And who can put a price on these "carbon freebies"?
15.
The Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It seems like something from a kid's sing-a-long, but sometimes we lose sight of just how much we buy. Try buying less, and reusing and fixing things when you can instead of buying new. And for a lot of people, recycling is as easy as rolling the trash bin to the curb. Just remember to do it at work, too.
I didn't buy any gift wrap this year from the fundraisers at work because I still have so much from previous years. Once I run out of it I don't plan to buy more. We will recycle our Christmas tree and anything else that results from our festivities. I will not buy any more Christmas cards. I receive many cards through the mail from organizations to which we donate money and I plan to use those up even if they don't have a Christmas theme. I don't plan to send any one a card I will see in person; wishing someone a Merry Christmas in person is carbon footprint free. I will minimize gift giving (sorry guys) especially useless "things" that are surrounded by lots of wasteful packaging. Gifts can still be gifts even if they are a much needed item. Christmas lights will be on for just a couple of hours after sunset, no more.
This can be our Christmas gift to our planet.
1.
Buy organic and local. When possible, buy organic or "fair trade." There's a better chance the food was grown in an eco-friendly way, and if it's locally grown, it didn't have to travel that far. This also goes for those double lattes — coffee often has a large carbon footprint because of the distance those beans had to travel to get here, and how they were produced. Also, try eating at restaurants that serve locally produced or seasonal foods.
Buy organic and local. When possible, buy organic or "fair trade." There's a better chance the food was grown in an eco-friendly way, and if it's locally grown, it didn't have to travel that far. This also goes for those double lattes — coffee often has a large carbon footprint because of the distance those beans had to travel to get here, and how they were produced. Also, try eating at restaurants that serve locally produced or seasonal foods.
2.
Pay attention to packaging. When out shopping, try to go to stores or co-ops that keep packaging to a minimum. For example, you may choose to buy the loose tomatoes rather than boxed or plastic-wrapped tomatoes. Also, take reusable bags to the grocery store. When it comes to resources, plastic is better than paper — but a reusable cloth tote-style bag is better still.
Pay attention to packaging. When out shopping, try to go to stores or co-ops that keep packaging to a minimum. For example, you may choose to buy the loose tomatoes rather than boxed or plastic-wrapped tomatoes. Also, take reusable bags to the grocery store. When it comes to resources, plastic is better than paper — but a reusable cloth tote-style bag is better still.
3.
Ditch bottled water. Bottled water has a huge carbon footprint — it's bottled at one location in small plastic bottles and shipped all over. Try buying a reusable water bottle or canteen for your water. Also, a lot of restaurants have made the move from offering fancy bottled water, usually imported from an exotic source, to using in-house filtration systems that make tap water a good choice. Many plastic water bottles are recycled, but most are not, making the footprint even bigger.
4.
Energy-proof your home. We're not talking major upgrades here... Make sure all of your windows close properly and the attic in your home is properly insulated. This can save you big bucks on your energy bill. Also, keep your heating and cooling systems properly maintained, and switch to reusable filters when possible. Switch from incandescent to compact florescent light bulbs. Compact florescent light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than our normal light bulbs and last much longer. Compared to regular bulbs, the fluorescents are more expensive, but they will eventually pay for themselves due to lower energy costs.
5.
Go native. Use native plant species to landscape around your home or business. The plants will grow better in a familiar environment, and the plants may also get shipped a shorter distance to get to your local nursery. Also, use organic soil when planting — it's made using more eco-friendly methods, and uses less resources. And remember, green plants are a good way to offset carbon. So plant something, anything — it helps.
6.
Window shop. If you have the urge to spend, try window shopping or browsing first. This helps ensure you are only buying things you really need, or really want, and you're not just impulse buying. Remember, every item in a store, no matter how small, has a footprint — so if we are conscious consumers, we can reduce our own footprint and the overall footprint of our nation.
7.
Take a direct flight. If you need to travel by airplane, try taking a direct flight when at all possible. Your impact is reduced when you take one flight, as opposed to hopping on a couple or more passenger jets to reach your final destination. You might also feel a little less harried when you arrive, because changing planes can be a real hassle.
8.
Switch water heaters to vacation mode. Most water heaters have a "vacation" setting for when you are away from home for an extended period of time. Switching to that "away" mode still keeps the water warm, but will not use the energy it takes to keep a tank full of piping-hot water. Enjoy your vacation even more, knowing that you're saving money and reducing your footprint.
9.
Unplug it! Unplug appliances that you don't use frequently. Most electronics have a standby mode that siphons energy even when not in use. Cell phone chargers, laptops, televisions, stereos — there's a whole list of items that should be unplugged when not in use. Try using a power strip for groups of electronic items. One flick of the switch and it's all off.
10.
Keep your car. With gas prices seemingly always on the rise, it's tempting to buy a hybrid or electric vehicle. But if your older-model car is in good condition, you're better off keeping it in good running condition. Even hybrids create a big footprint when they're built, so consider driving that old clunker for a little while longer. Also, try more eco-friendly modes of transport when possible, like buses, trains, a bicycle, telecommuting or even walking.
11.
Chuck your microwave. Admittedly, this is a bit drastic. But this speaks more to those convenient frozen dinners some rely on because of their busy schedules. A freezer full of meals is actually more energy-intensive — it costs more to freeze foods, ship them cold, display them frozen in the grocery store and keep them frozen in our homes. So while the modern convenience of the microwave and the Lean Cuisine is enticing, it's much more resource-intensive. Cook fresh food when you can, and you'll also find yourself eating out less often.
12.
Use cold water. No, not in the shower... but maybe in the washer. Try using cold water to launder things that don't need to be cleaned in hot or warm water. It takes a lot of energy to heat up water — multiply that by the number of loads, and that's a big footprint. Most major detergent makers sell detergents designed to have the same cleaning power as with regular soap. Try washing mixed loads in cold water, too.
13.
Have the family over. Family gatherings are a good way to spend some quality time with loved ones, with very little carbon impact. Cooking and entertaining for larger groups is more efficient and, per person, a lot less expensive. And who can put a price on these "carbon freebies"?
14.
Make time for errands. A lot of us try to run errands in-between work and other commitments. Try bundling errands together to reduce how far you need to travel. Going back-and-forth to the same part of town on different days to run errands uses more gas than if you planned and did everything in the same area all at once. And if you really want to make it a "carbon freebie," try carpooling and running errands with a buddy.
Make time for errands. A lot of us try to run errands in-between work and other commitments. Try bundling errands together to reduce how far you need to travel. Going back-and-forth to the same part of town on different days to run errands uses more gas than if you planned and did everything in the same area all at once. And if you really want to make it a "carbon freebie," try carpooling and running errands with a buddy.
15.
The Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It seems like something from a kid's sing-a-long, but sometimes we lose sight of just how much we buy. Try buying less, and reusing and fixing things when you can instead of buying new. And for a lot of people, recycling is as easy as rolling the trash bin to the curb. Just remember to do it at work, too.
I didn't buy any gift wrap this year from the fundraisers at work because I still have so much from previous years. Once I run out of it I don't plan to buy more. We will recycle our Christmas tree and anything else that results from our festivities. I will not buy any more Christmas cards. I receive many cards through the mail from organizations to which we donate money and I plan to use those up even if they don't have a Christmas theme. I don't plan to send any one a card I will see in person; wishing someone a Merry Christmas in person is carbon footprint free. I will minimize gift giving (sorry guys) especially useless "things" that are surrounded by lots of wasteful packaging. Gifts can still be gifts even if they are a much needed item. Christmas lights will be on for just a couple of hours after sunset, no more. I hope to see more ways to reduce waste as I go. Around the corner from Christmas is the New Year, a good time to resolve to do even more earth-saving measures.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Visitors From Atlanta
Last weekend Saeed received a call from Tannaz and Masih that they would be in Charlotte this weekend for an engagement party for one of their friends. Since we have been trying to get them to come to our house since they moved to Atlanta, we were really excited about their visit and wondering if they'd actually make it. What's prevented them from coming before now is Tannaz and her mom's mortal fear of cats. We didn't think they'd ever come, but come they did. Saeed was in the kitchen most of the day cooking some awesome Persian dishes; I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of that.
This was the first time we met Farideh. It's obvious where Tannaz gets her good looks! Saeed has a mouthful of pomegranate seeds. How cute!
We had a great time with them. But I'm sure you're wondering about the dreaded cats? Well, our cats are quite afraid of strangers, nearly as scared of strangers as Tannaz and Farideh are of them. All was well for a while, as the cats stayed safely upstairs. Ok, look at the stairs behind Tannaz's head. See anything?
How about now?
Only Layli couldn't stay away. She kept coming down into the diningroom scaring Tannaz and Farideh. She just wanted to be with us, but I had to put her back on the stairs several times. She seemed pretty happy to be watching us from there too.
After our guests left I looked up the stairs and I saw Lupe and Shahbanu (you can see her back at the very top) ready to come down and snoop around now that the coast was clear.
Masih took this picture and...
... I took this one. What did we have? Khorush-e bademjoon, fesanjoon, rice, tadeeg, noon, and sabzi. Mmmmm. Can't wait to eat the leftovers tomorrow for lunch. It'll make having to go to work tomorrow less painful.
This was the first time we met Farideh. It's obvious where Tannaz gets her good looks! Saeed has a mouthful of pomegranate seeds. How cute!
We had a great time with them. But I'm sure you're wondering about the dreaded cats? Well, our cats are quite afraid of strangers, nearly as scared of strangers as Tannaz and Farideh are of them. All was well for a while, as the cats stayed safely upstairs. Ok, look at the stairs behind Tannaz's head. See anything?
How about now?
Only Layli couldn't stay away. She kept coming down into the diningroom scaring Tannaz and Farideh. She just wanted to be with us, but I had to put her back on the stairs several times. She seemed pretty happy to be watching us from there too.
After our guests left I looked up the stairs and I saw Lupe and Shahbanu (you can see her back at the very top) ready to come down and snoop around now that the coast was clear.
Teddi was there too, but she never left the safety of the upstairs the rest of the night.
Shahbanu and Lupe had to patrol the diningroom table.
Lupe had to smell EVERYTHING, even unused forks.
Shahbanu and Lupe had to patrol the diningroom table.
Lupe had to smell EVERYTHING, even unused forks.
Interestingly, although they like to smell everything, neither Shahbanu nor Lupe like to eat human food. If Obi or Chappu had been on this side of the house we would've been beating them off with a stick!
What were the cats on the other side doing? Mostly sleeping, but I did catch Chappu playing with the string setup Saeed made for her. Earlier in the day she kept crying for us to pull the string so she could chase it, but neither of us had time. Thus the string setup.
I think Masih will at be emailing us the pictures he took with their camera. If the pics are any different I'll post them too. I'm so glad they came - it was great fun!
What were the cats on the other side doing? Mostly sleeping, but I did catch Chappu playing with the string setup Saeed made for her. Earlier in the day she kept crying for us to pull the string so she could chase it, but neither of us had time. Thus the string setup.
I think Masih will at be emailing us the pictures he took with their camera. If the pics are any different I'll post them too. I'm so glad they came - it was great fun!Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sunday Evening Wind Down
Well, all good things must come to an end. Shirin had to leave her hubby with their friends to come back to the house to study cat reproduction and cat behavior for today's test. "Cats" is a subject she knows a lot about and the studying appeared to be relatively easy. This is a good thing because on the other couch was a sleepy but chatty father.....
Once Gabriel came home Saeed couldn't resist getting into a conversation with them about how their lives are going to change once the baby gets here, and did Gabriel really know what he was getting into!
The interrogator in action.
Fortunately the young couple doesn't look outdone by the insinuation that "life as they know it is over!"
..... who interrupted a lot as usual! Calvin took advantage of the situation and enjoyed all the lovin' he could get.
Chappu sat with me on the other chair.
Once Gabriel came home Saeed couldn't resist getting into a conversation with them about how their lives are going to change once the baby gets here, and did Gabriel really know what he was getting into!
The interrogator in action.
Fortunately the young couple doesn't look outdone by the insinuation that "life as they know it is over!"
Flag Football
What a gorgeous day Sunday! Saeed, Gabriel and Shirin met David, Jenny and Clayton at Winthrop Lake for a friendly game of flag football. It was sunny, in the upper 60's and actually almost hot in the sun. They came prepared with flags, football and plenty of water.
Although Gabriel is on the Red team, he is always the one to run these games. Fortunately he is a trustworthy director as evidenced by the Yellow team's rapt attention.
David gives Jenny, who's from China and has never played football, a few tips about American football.
And the game begins!
You can see the ball in the air on the right. Since Saeed threw it I hope either Clayton or Shirin caught it!
Another scramble for the ball.
Saeed punts.
David throws one passed Saeed.
C'mon Shirin, grab David's flag!
I'm not sure if it's a legitimate strategy, but it looks like the running back from the Red team is making advances towards the defensive end from the Yellow team!
I don't know who won yesterday's game, but it was a lot of fun. Cha Cha would have had a blast. Afterwards some went out for Mexican food and others ate leftovers from Thanksgiving. Time for more naps!
This was the Red Team.
This was the Yellow Team.
Although Gabriel is on the Red team, he is always the one to run these games. Fortunately he is a trustworthy director as evidenced by the Yellow team's rapt attention.
David gives Jenny, who's from China and has never played football, a few tips about American football.
And the game begins!
You can see the ball in the air on the right. Since Saeed threw it I hope either Clayton or Shirin caught it!
Another scramble for the ball.
Saeed punts.
David throws one passed Saeed.
C'mon Shirin, grab David's flag!
I'm not sure if it's a legitimate strategy, but it looks like the running back from the Red team is making advances towards the defensive end from the Yellow team!
I don't know who won yesterday's game, but it was a lot of fun. Cha Cha would have had a blast. Afterwards some went out for Mexican food and others ate leftovers from Thanksgiving. Time for more naps!Sunday, November 18, 2007
Cooking and Eating And Sleeping
This first picture doesn't really fit with the title of this post but everyone has been asking whether Shirin is showing yet.
... apparently the website tells her the baby is about the size of an avocado. I believe they were comparing this to the fruit of last week's gestation!
Yesterday was a wonderful day. We cooked, ate Thanksgiving dinner, watched UGA football, and napped...
.... and napped ...
... and napped.
Chappu moved her nap to the kitchen area so she wouldn't miss out on all the activities.
Shirin and I pulled the meal together the way Tita and I did last year (Shirin was in Florida.) At least I've always had at least one daughter home each time.
I love feeding Gabriel. He's not fussy and enjoys almost everything.
I caught Shirin in action. She loves to take pictures of her meals. I'm sure you'll see the result on her blog!
It was so nice that Lisa stopped over and ate with us.
For people who wonder what we vegetarians eat for Thanksgiving we had mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, green bean casserole, a vegetarian meat substitute cooked in a poulty seasoning-type sauce, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin cream cheese roll.
Lisa took this photograph for us.
For those of you who still have Thanksgiving on Thursday, Happy Thanksgiving!!
See for yourself.
This morning as I was putzing around in the kitchen I could hear Shirin and Gabriel laughing about something...
... apparently the website tells her the baby is about the size of an avocado. I believe they were comparing this to the fruit of last week's gestation!
Yesterday was a wonderful day. We cooked, ate Thanksgiving dinner, watched UGA football, and napped...
.... and napped ...
... and napped.
Chappu moved her nap to the kitchen area so she wouldn't miss out on all the activities.
Shirin and I pulled the meal together the way Tita and I did last year (Shirin was in Florida.) At least I've always had at least one daughter home each time.
I love feeding Gabriel. He's not fussy and enjoys almost everything.
I caught Shirin in action. She loves to take pictures of her meals. I'm sure you'll see the result on her blog!
It was so nice that Lisa stopped over and ate with us.
For people who wonder what we vegetarians eat for Thanksgiving we had mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, green bean casserole, a vegetarian meat substitute cooked in a poulty seasoning-type sauce, pumpkin pie, and pumpkin cream cheese roll.
Lisa took this photograph for us.
For those of you who still have Thanksgiving on Thursday, Happy Thanksgiving!!
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