Remember me?

Hello, friends.

It's been awhile, yes? It's been a crazy while. We've had some really lovely times, lots of great family moments, including J's first trip to the ocean. We've had some wild times. We've had more than a few rough days. We've had a very full life over the last few months, and it just hasn't come upon me to write. I've had a few things come to mind, but mostly, I was just too busy living, thinking, or feeling to sit and write. (Though sometimes, writing puts that thinking and feeling in its place!) It did occur to me that  you need proof there's more than gloom & doom on this little corner of the internet . . . I have a few ideas in the works, but for now, for those of you who are interested, it's back to my 33 things . . .

Just to beg some grace for my absence, here are 33 things that are happening RIGHT NOW.

(Well, not exactly in this moment right now, but definitely very present and current in my life . . . in no particular order . . .)

ToT: Super Women!

I am fully aware I missed last week . . . it happens. But instead of being perpetually behind, I am just going to jump right in to this week and add last week's topic to the interminable list of 

posts I've written only my mind. One day I will actually write it on this blog. Maybe.

 That's the goal.

This week, in honor of International Women's Day, I had a few ideas . . . writing about women who inspire us, women's issues dear to our hearts, looking back at the women who came before us . . . a few others, too. But instead, we're going practical and light-hearted. Since I find each of our Together on Tuesday bloggers to be Super Women in their own rights, I wanted some of their secrets! And since we're all human, I wanted the shortcuts, too. I'm really looking forward to hearing what these ladies have to say!

ToT: The Darker Side of the Olympics

We have a new Together on Tuesday blogger! Welcome, Katie, from Fun Home Things!

So, the topic today is the Olympics. My husband LOVES the Olympics, and I enjoy them too. In another life I would have been a gymnast, I know it, and Ben is really hoping for a chance to race Usain Bolt. I thought instead of answering all the ToT topic questions (sorry, guys), I'd take a Just Living perspective about the Olympics.

I could write about Gabby's hair. (Anyone notice that the other girls' hair isn't exactly ready for the red carpet? It's called being an ATHLETE.) I could write about the awkward balance between entertainment that brings people together and the massive amount of money spent or the environmental impact. But again, I'm taking it back to human trafficking. (To read more, click the modern day slavery label in the cloud on the right.)

Feeding your Veg-Head

This week, Together on Tuesday is a free-for-all. I had all kinds of lofty ideas in mind, but instead of pontificating, I thought I might continue last week's theme and offer some actual, practical help.

The hardest part of being a vegetarian for the last decade, and now being dairy-free and gluten-free, is most definitely the stress it brings to the people I love. Everyone is afraid to cook for me, despite my best efforts to be as accommodating and low-maintenance as I can. I am FINE to eat salad while others eat steak. I am not belligerent about my food choices, I try to be discreet. I've managed eating vegetarian in Russia plenty of times (though it's easiest during Lent). It's tough at work lunches or similar events when I am trying to graciously eat as much as I can but the food is truly limited, but I never, ever want my choices to be stress for someone else. Even my wonderful mother said she just got used to cooking for me as a vegetarian, and these new restrictions can trip her up.

The thing is, it's really not that hard . . . once you get into a new line of thinking. That's the hard part. So, in the interest of accommodation and collaboration, I give you, in no particular order, the Top Ten Ways to Feed the Vegetarian (Vegan, Dairy-Free, or Gluten-Free) in Your Life.

ToT: Guilty Pleasures

I am not much of a movie person, and I'm not quite sure why. They are so long . . . and I am so tired . . . I would rather just sleep in my bed. My poor husband loves movies, and especially going to movies, and I don't like paying too much for something that is just ok and listening to other people's popcorn noise. Plus it's an expensive nap.

Songs for Changing the World

I thought in light of this week's Together on Tuesday topic I would share some songs that inspire me to make the world a better place.

Some of these are by artists I love, and some are one hit wonders in my catalogue, but all lift my spirit, remind me of beauty in the world, and help me see my neighbor differently.

ToT: La Musica

How has music impacted my life? More like how hasn't it.

Music is as integrated into my life as food or sleep. Sometimes it is glorious, sometimes it is a responsibility, sometimes it is hardly noticed. It has been a long time since I really reflected on music. Now, I'm thinking of all of my musical memories, experiences, and aspirations . . . oy, this could take awhile.

ToT: Then and Now

I finally got around to reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  Fascinating stuff, I think.  One interesting idea Gretchen encountered on her quest to become happier was that we are happiest doing the same things we did for fun when we were children, say age 10. In theory, as adults we are either too busy to worry about being happy or we're focused on what we think should make us happy, while as kids, we just lived it. I'll buy that, and it got me thinking . . .                                                                             

Daily Detox: Screen Time

With Lent comes lots of opportunities to detox, reset, purge, refine, discipline, learn. People do this in many ways, whether simply giving up chocolate (harder for some than others!), starting new disciplines, focusing on changing attitudes, or trying to change a lifestyle. While personal Lenten (or non-Lenten, for that matter) discipline might best be done in private, I thought I would think through a few that have gotten some attention in recent years.

First up: screen time. Television, internet, video games, smart phones, any electronic gadget with a compelling screen qualifies. One study shows the average US resident watches 28 hours of television a week--4 hours a day--and spends even more time online. And it's no wonder--not only can these activities be fun, but they can produce an addictive effect! Just like with any other compulsive behavior, screen time can stimulate our brain's reward system, boosting dopamine levels and causing us to crave more, more, more.

Which is why I, like many others, have had those days where I started out with good intentions on the internet and ended up wasting more time than I ever thought possible. And who has time for that?? Furthermore, time spent with television or the internet is time spent away from flesh and blood connection, nature, emotional or personal growth, or any host of lovely human experiences. All those fast moving images and bright lights can leave us feeling zapped. It affects our abilities to sleep, to interpret subtle human cues, to relate well to people we love. It affects our stress levels, adding cognitive clutter to already very busy brains. I've even read that lots of technology correlates to lower sexual satisfaction!

I've been teased before about being a stick-in-the-mud who hates technology. We went without cable for years. I was slow to get Facebook. I don't remember the last time I played a video game (Super Mario Brothers on Super Nintendo?). I refuse to get a smart phone. (Too many OCD tendencies--no one needs me to have THAT much access to my work email!) But I, too, am capable of falling down the slippery slope of too much screen time.

So here's one idea: cut back, on purpose! I have tried limiting myself to checking email accounts (including Facebook) NO MORE than twice a day. For some people, that might seem like a lot. For others, maybe for procrastinators who spend a LOT of time on the computer for work/research purposes, this is a very good idea. Around here, we try to avoid channel surfing. We try to watch TV on purpose, just sometimes. Old habits die hard, though. It is shocking (and somewhat disappointing) how difficult this can be, but I can tell my anxiety level is dropping and my peace of mind is increasing. I have more time and energy for things that are really important, including other people. Better sleep, better relationships, better me. It's so worth it!

Super Bowl and Child Slavery

The Super Bowl is coming! While my team is sadly out, I am still a football fan. I'll be watching through the playoffs (and hoping the Bears ride it out), partying and eating and all that good stuff. And as a football fan, I believe it is my responsibility to chime in on the issue of human trafficking, as described by Change.org:

Every year, children as young as 11 are trafficked involuntarily to Super Bowl cities. There, football fans – usually men, often inebriated – will pay traffickers to have sex with them.
The Texas Attorney General estimates these kids have a life expectancy of just seven years from the time they're first trafficked.

This year, the Super Bowl Host Committee is charged "to engage in responsible planning . . . to ensure the readiness of North Texas to host the first Super Bowl in the Cowboys’ new stadium."

Local anti-trafficking groups have repeatedly offered to help the Committee use its influence to educate fans and the public about the dangers of child trafficking -- which could help to prevent thousands of rapes and abuses at America's biggest sporting event.

But the Host Committee has refused to take meaningful action. And thousands of children will pay the price.

Tell the 2011 Super Bowl Host Committee to take a stand against child trafficking.

In Dallas, a terrific local organization called Traffick911 has created the "I'm Not Buying It" campaign. They've offered the Host Committee free PSAs, posters, banners and informational cards to educate the public and protect children from being abused and raped.

But the Host Committee refuses to display the information.

The Committee is working hard right now to generate good publicity for North Texas and the game, so public pressure at this moment will be especially powerful.

Tell the Super Bowl Host Committee that they have a responsibility to protect the children who'll be trafficked to Texas for the Super Bowl:

http://change.org/petitions/view/ask_the_super_bowl_host_committee_to_stand_up_and_protect_children

After you sign, please forward this information to friends and family to let them know about this crisis, and how they can help. And, click here to share this campaign on Facebook.

This is a simple but important way to let the Super Bowl committees know that fans are watching, and we care about the safety of our children! None of these officials want to see children abused and exploited during the Super Bowl, but we have to help them see that their silence is dangerous and they have the power to make a change. If these prone-to-drink men know the risk, or their friends know what to watch for, they can make choices that keep children safe. Further, this is a chance to bring an understanding the horrors of human trafficking to a whole new audience--to more people who can make a change. Awareness is key!

Should the 2012 season come to be, our city is hosting the Super Bowl. We can get started fighting against this abuse now, let Texas know that Indiana is watching, and do our part to keep children safe. Please sign the petition and spread the word!

The Weapon We Have is Love

"Did you ever wish that Harry Potter was real? Well it kind of is."



How much do I love that there are other Harry Potter fans who deeply feel the book's resonance with social justice issues? Check out the Harry Potter Alliance, a group of fans who seeks to defeat the dark arts in our world. Their first task: slave-free chocolate. Julie Clawson spells it out better than I ever could (as she often does--remember how much I love Everyday Justice?), and they are slated for NPR's Morning Edition tomorrow. I am so excited at the prospect of bringing this message to a mainstream pop culture audience, and I'm inspired by the young people who have taken it to heart. Cheers to HPA!

Going Home

I deal with the hard stuff of life on a daily basis at work and in other commitments. As much as I want to continue to learn about what's going on in the world, I have found myself drawn more and more to lighthearted entertainment. I can only tolerate so much complete and total fluff, so I find myself drawn frequently to memoir. I love to read something lighthearted, honest, heartfelt, and meaningful that offers some perspective from someone else's view while not taking itself to seriously.

In Russia, I read Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home.
I haven't laughed that hard in ages! Weaved with the hard truths of her adult life, Rhoda Janzen reflects on the life she's left and the life she's chosen with grace and humor. Her perspective on faith is honest and, at least for me, relatable. And her family is hilarious! If you are a person of faith/classical musician and can make it through the Classical Loon section without laughing yourself into tears, I don't know what else to offer. This book is highly recommended!