Happy Bday Mom & Cara

The Commissary Just Got Cooler!

When I was still researching Finland, planning my escape, before we got Spain orders, I learned that they pay a small fee for plastic bags in stores. Many people there, then, keep those bags and reuse them in other stores. I thought it was a fantastic way to cut down on waste. And I HATE having all those plastic bags in my house, but I cannot bear to throw them away! It is almost like littering now.

Not long after that, I saw that Ikea (a Swedish company) started the policy of charging for bags. Or you could by a sturdier bag that was better for more uses. I was so proud to see it in the U.S.

Around that time, in entertainment magazines, stars were seen carrying the ultra chic and super expensive bags used for shopping with these words on the front of the bag: I AM NOT A PLASTIC BAG. See? Even the cool kids were doing it!

Soon after that, Vonns started carrying lil black fabric bags to be used in place of grocery bags. They were 99 cents, and I picked up a couple everytime I went, and eventually had enough to not need those plastic bags! Even Target began carrying cute lil red bags that folded up and zippered close. They were small enough, that I began carrying them in my purse to be used in any store, so that I could avoid a plastic bag. Also, MANY stores have the policy of a small discount if you bring in your own bag!

Then I went to visit Jess in Hawaii, and being the ultra-hippie she has become since Maggie (way to go Maggie!), she had a ton of Chico bags. Fabric bags that squish up even smaller, so they are easier to carry around at all times. They run a lil higher in cost, but they are made of sturdier material.

Completely hooked on the no plastic-bag solution, I went to visit Grandma in TX. Even in the stix of TX, they had the lil black fabric bags for sale at the grocery store. I explained what they were for to Grandma, and told her that we may someday go the Nordic route of charging for plastic bags. Grandma said that she would wait until they "made" her buy the fabric bags. Can't win them all, eh?

After TX, I went to CO. I began preaching my bag politics to them. They patted me on the head, listened politely, and ignored me. Then I bought a few of the bags from the grocery store and a few from Target and actually put one in Grandma's purse. I am hoping I have planted the seed.

Mom made the good point that the plastic bags can be useful at home. And she is totally right. But inevitably, you will be somewhere without your fabric bag, or you will forget to use it, and you will bring some plastic home. This smaller amount of plastic bags, I am sure, would be all you need for things like the kitty box or trash.

Now here is the cool part! Yesterday, I saw that in the commissary here on base, we now have lil green fabric bags for sale!! I am so excited to see that the military family is jumping on the bandwagon! YAY!

Are you on the bandwagon??

BTW, here is an Post on this from another funny blog.

Happy Anniversary

Happy 11th Anniversary to Mom and Ernie!

They are going out of town for the whole weekend!

Have fun!

Colorado News

Extra Extra Here is the latest:

Mom has a new job!! She is working at a drug clinic doing what she did in CA. But the hours are way better. They are from 6am to 2 pm. She bought a whole buch of new, cute scrubs. It seems to be going pretty well. She has gotten out at noon a couple of times too.

Steffy has less than 1 month to go before she has the baby. It is a girl, and they have the name Emily picked out, but so many moms change it after they have the baby, so we will see. She is inducing labor on Feb 11th, because all her family is coming out to see her be born!

Clayton is working at Mission Company, so he brings home tons of chips and pork rines and snacks. We love him!!! He doesn't usually come home until 11PM or so.

Nino started the new semester, but he is only taking one class. A night class. He says that he cannot take any of the other classes until he takes this one. He and I have been lil night owls and have been getting up VERY late in the day. My excuse is that I am on Spain time. Haha!

Ernie has a job that gets him up very early in the morning, so I only see him for a lil while in the evening. He is usually in bed by 8:30.

Grandma is still doing her Red Hat meetings and she invited me to the next one. But because I am under 50 years old, I have to wear a pink hat!! Won't I look just fantastic in a PINK hat!! But I am excited to go.

Nessa has an interview for a job that will pay her to go to school for 9 months before she works. So we are wishing her luck on that one. She also has been seeing a guy named Stan for a while now. I introduced them last time I was here. I just thought he was cute, but he turned out to be a really cool guy. He works for the prison here, but on the side, he does the sound for concerts, so Nessa has been able to go backstage at a few concerts here. Next week there is a music festival at the art center here. She will be going to that as well. Click HERE to see his website. But has no pictures of himself on there. Never fear:

Nessa and Stan:

They are threatening us with more snow, and it is COLD, but I have not seen a flurry since a last week. I hopeit does not all come at once, I wanted to go to Grandma's property in the mountains this weekend, but the roads may close for the weather.

All us kids went to dinner a few nights ago. We have had some fun nights of snacks and games. Clay works late into the night now, though, so we have to wait for when he is feeling perky.

Clay and Steffy

Empty

The movers came today and took all of our stuff. We have our laptops, some movies, clothes, and odds and ends, and an airmattress until we leave. It is also all we will have until our stuff comes to Spain which will take at least a couple months.

Also, Mom called me today to say that Alex (the Corgi) will have to be put to sleep. She was bitten by a black widow spider they think. She went into siezures. She was so much fun while I was there. She was by far my favorite dog there. I will miss her. And so will Cole. They were major pals.

Last day in CO

I spent my last night playing pool at the town saloon. The rest are pictures I took of everyone before I left for the airport.

I had SO much fun seeing everyone in CO! I am really glad I stayed as long as I did.

And I really miss everyone already!

31 days left!! yikes!

Click HERE to see more pictures of my last day.

John in Colorado Part 1

John and I in Lake Isabel

While John was with us in Colorado, we took a lil trip to Lake Isabel and Bishop's Castle. they are not far, and Ernie, Mom, and Nino came as well.

Lake Isabel is very pretty this time of year with the snow and ice.

Bishop's Castle is a local oddity that you really have to see to believe. It is in the mountains, and the owner just started building out of rock and steel this castle. It is huge and full of stairs to climb high up into the air. However, it is not like anyplace built by a company. Lots of parts have no railing and the stairs are steep and small. Also, some windows and doors lead to nothing- just a big drop. The higher you go, the rickitier it is. John was not impressed with the construction and did not trust it enought to go too high. Although he did get some video to be uploaded later when I am better with this new contraption of mine.

Click HERE to learn more about the Castle.

Click HERE to see more photos of our trip.

Whispering Aspens Trip

We had a wonderful time at the property in the mountains, which Grandma named Whispering Aspens. We stayed 2 nights. It was relaxing and so gorgeous. You are so high up there, that you can see all around you.

The scenery is really breathtaking.

Cole went hiking with me and Grandma. He walks so well now! He hits his head on everything too. He is incapable of being careful. That is ok. It is good training for his budding hockey career.

He also hates open doors. He ran around the cabin, closing doors after him. We tried propping them open with something heavy, but he works at it and works at it, until he gets it closed.

Enigma loved the hiking too. He is a really good rock climber! He will not even try jumping onto the couch at home, but out there, he was like a mountain goat. I kept him on a leash the whole time he was outside though, because I was afraid of a large hawk or owl taking him away to eat him! He is not bigger than any of the rabbits out here.

As you can see by the pictures, he has also perfected his cheesey smile. Whenever he sees that you are taking his picture, he makes this smile now!

We also made a "horse" out of a rolling fold up bed, so Cole could "ride" it. Yes, it is dangerous, but it is so cute! Besides, Nessa is right behind him, ducked down, making sure he does not fall. We used to do this horse-out-of-roll-away-bed all the time when we were little at my Grandma Edna's house. We have tons of pictures of Nessa, me, Alicia, and Rodney on it.

Video of Cole of his horse:

Click HERE to see more pictures of Cole hiking and our time at Whispering Aspens.

One of the days, we took a trip to a nearby town called Cripple Creek. It is a gambling town with lots of casinos, but it is TINY- just a main street really. It used to be a great big mining town in the 1800's. There is a lot of history there, so that is what we went to see. Well, not Grandma; she loves to gamble. But we went to the historical museum and talked to a lady there that knew all the old, scandalous stories of the old days. Click HERE to see more pictures of Cripple Creek.

A painting from the historical museum.

Mom being naughty!