Some people may see my constant posts debunking the inaccuracies from the “other side” as negative. So, here is a list of all the things I am in favor of. I am in favor of: love making my own healthcare decisions being able to defend myself without allowing others to go on mass killing sprees…
Technology has made our lives go so fast and furious that we are often left with a feeling of emptiness at the end of the day when we realize we weren’t fully present for any of it. We were texting or updating our Facebook status or rushing from place to place in an automobile. Many…
When I was 29, it was a very bad year. The previous September, our sense of security had been violently shattered, and many of us were not taking it well. It really put life into a completely new perspective. I’ve always had some level of wanderlust, and, up until that point, I had not wandered…
Being a [mostly] vegetarian is very rewarding but also has its drawbacks. On the good side, you avoid eating factory-raised meats which can have all kinds of physiological and karmic nastiness in them. But some people, myself included, need a lot of protein in our diets. So, I am always looking for ways to inject…
I live in the country… deep in the country. I often lay in bed at night wondering what this or that noise is that I hear outside. Most are brief, and I chalk them up to the wind or some scurrying critter, but last night I was awakened around 2:30 a.m. by a loud, incessant…
I am learning a LOT in my masters degree. One of the things we’re talking about is the ethical implications of our individual actions. It may not seem like your 45-minute commute to work is wrecking the planet, but what about a million people’s 45-minute commute? We all have a duty to exercise the utmost…
Until last week, I did not realize almond cheese existed. When I mentioned it to my mom, she was really surprised. But, as I found out after a visit to Whole Foods, almond cheese does indeed exist. Contrary to what you might think, there is dairy in almond cheese. Neither regular cheddar cheese nor almond…
There is a certain satisfaction to doing something yourself. Whether it’s hanging a picture on the wall, making macaroni and cheese from scratch or giving yourself a pedicure. This year, I have a list of skills I would like to develop that will help my household become more self-sufficient. Because I am living a large…
Whenever I come back to Vermont, I am reminded of what I am made of. Growing up in Vermont is not always a bed of roses. I had to milk cows after school when I was in high school. I dealt with my fair share of cow shit and walked a very long way to…
In order to pursue my Master of Environmental Law & Policy from Vermont Law School, I made the decision to combine households with my sweetheart. Not only did this reduce our global footprint by an entire house, but it made financial (and other) sense as well. For many people, this is an easy decision, however,…
I’m currently reading the book “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle, and I am quite enthralled by it. I am stuck on one particular phrase: “I don’t mind what happens.” Here is the context: J. Krishnamurti, the great Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher, spoke and traveled almost continuously all over the world for more than…
You might all be familiar with my fascination/obsession with tiny houses. I went to a workshop earlier this year on how to build them, and, although I’ve put my plans on hold for a while, I’m still very interested in knowing the best way to build them and the best layouts for livability. The thing…
I am a bargain hunter. I work hard for every penny I make, so I don’t want to waste any more of it than I have to on the things I need to buy in life. I’m a serious Craigslist addict after having found so many amazing deals on really great stuff. I have been…
Being a vegetarian (and someone who likes to be healthy), I try to find ways to get more protein (and other nutrients) into my diet in an unobtrusive way. (For example, without eating a big bowl of soybeans.) Because I make a fruit smoothie every morning for my breakfast, it made sense to get a…
I have been consumed by the evil demon that is the common cold virus. It had been stalking me for 3-4 days, and then yesterday it landed on me like a ton of bricks. I slept all morning and ingested glass after glass of various teas, juices and potions. I didn’t really sleep last night,…