Friday, January 28, 2011

Riding the weather roller coaster

Still frozen here!  When it's 13 below zero one morning and 28 above the next, it seems like Mother Nature is having mood swings, even within the lower range.

I'm glad the DEEP freeze was brief, though,  because even the dog didn't want to go out. He kept picking up his paws as if the ground was biting him.  I considered getting doggie boots for him. But I don't think he would tolerate them.

As for human survival tips, the two most important words are: long underwear. Don't leave home without it.

I am becoming acclimated to the season and feeling less couch potatoey, but I've decided to stay home this weekend and paint all of the wood trim in my house. It has been begging me for a freshening up. (The flooring says, me too!) After this weekend, I'm looking forward to getting out again for some of the many upcoming activities in the area. As you can see from the mere sampling I've posted in my "Upcoming Events" section,  there's plenty to do here even in the dead of winter (even if you don't ski). For those who complain about Jamestown, I have this advice: if it's not happening, then MAKE it happen. I don't have a lot of sympathy for helplessness.

Since winter doesn't last forever (it only seems that way sometimes), I'm starting to entertain ideas about the best use of my new raised bed vegetable garden plot--as well as how to keep the deer and rabbits from eating it all. While I was googling around, I found the most awesome resource material for community resilience from the Bay area (where my son lives), which I will be carefully studying. I've also discovered that here in NY, residents of Tompkins county (around Ithaca) have organized to work on a localization plan. I'll be studying their efforts too.

Meanwhile, I'd love to hear from people here in Chautauqua county who share my concerns about sustainability. You can email me susan.meara AT gmail.com.

Stay warm!  

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Fighting cabin fever

It's cold. For an explanation of this winter that even grandkids can understand, check out this two-minute video clip from the Weather Channel. Click here.

Sensible people tend to stay inside when the Polar Express comes roaring through, and I like to think of myself as a sensible person. But after a while, face to face contact with other humans becomes preferable to the internet, movies, books, and mah jong. So, time to layer up and go slogging through the snow. Anywhere.

Yesterday we went out for lunch and found ourselves at the Hometown Wings Sports Grill.  It's a pretty typical sports bar, but it's just down the street, and they boast that their burgers are made from fresh meat, never frozen. (If you know anything about where typical processed fast food burgers come from, this means something.) We sat in a booth by the front window, basking in the warmth of the sunshine, which made it look like a nicer day than it actually was. (At this time of year, a day without cloud cover tends to be really, really cold.)  The portions at Hometown Wings are on the hefty side, something to keep in mind if you're counting calories, but overall, it was a pleasant enough experience.

Then, we went to a couple of open houses. We keep a pretty close eye on the local real estate market, and "what else is out there", in case we ultimately decide that this little house just isn't going to work for us, even with an addition.  I like to get ideas from how other people in small houses (but bigger than our 600 sq. ft.) configure their space. Jamestown has an abundance of really cute houses, too!  The downside of looking at homes when you already have two (the Cleveland one hasn't sold yet) and are not in a position to buy a third  is that you might stumble upon a house that you absolutely fall in love with.  That happened yesterday, and I'm seriously trying not to cry. Let me just say that we could make this place pretty fantastic, too, if we had a BIG budget for improvements and didn't care whether we over-invested or not. But, that kind of defeats the purpose of simplifying. Not that I'm sure we've actually simplified our lives at this point. Oh well. We keep working at it!

We stopped at Home Depot on the way home for another shelf, this time for the bathroom. I'm going to lick my storage issues one idea at a time. Who knew that walls could be so useful? 

Today, it's sunny again, at the moment, but the temp will actually be dropping throughout the day and we may be headed into sub-zero territory. The wind chill is already there. Once again, we forced ourselves out the door this morning, this time to go to church, because we needed the brain stimulation (use it or lose it!) and we really enjoy the people there.

Social needs satisfied for the moment, I can now hunker down and make the chili to get us through the football games later today.

Friday, January 21, 2011

Getting organized--a new way of life

I know why downsizing is so difficult--I'm having to learn a whole new way of living.

Not that I was ever excessively (I know, in the eye of the beholder) disorganized.  But when you're surrounded by a lot of space, you have a lot of places to stash things.

Now I have to think about it, and it's like the mother of all jigsaw puzzles.

I spend a lot of time poring over "getting organized" articles and "storage solutions" photos. No need to reinvent the wheel, the wisdom of others is out there. If you're an average European or US city apartment dweller, living in small spaces is normal. No wonder IKEA is so popular.

I'm having to reconfigure my living space in ways I never considered before. It's not a bad thing, but it's a challenge.

Food for thought:  storage cubbies and hooks eliminate the need for lots of furniture. Eliminating furniture frees up floor space.

Meanwhile, baby steps. I've rearranged the furniture again.  Old magazines went in the recycling bin. My pots and pans are hanging now.  I'm putting like with like in baskets and bins, and organizing drawers. I'm working towards finding a place for everything and putting everything in its place.

Yesterday, the cooking utensils. Today, the refrigerator. Tomorrow, the world! Or something like that.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Doors Open Jamestown

Getting acquainted with your community's history and attractions can lead to a greater appreciation of "this place we call home." The Jamestown Chamber of Commerce sponsors a very smart annual promotion in the dead of winter, Doors Open Jamestown, a day when the local museums and attractions waive their admission fees and invite everybody in to discover what they're all about.

Today was the big day, and Tom and I had been looking forward to it. The following places were on the list:

  • Audubon Center and Sanctuary
  • The Fenton History Center
  • Lucy-Desi Museum and the Desilu Playhouse
  • Robert H. Jackson Center
  • The Roger Tory Peterson Institute
  • Bill Cody Billboard at the Reg Lenna Theatre
  • Open skating at the JSB Ice Arena
  • The Sports Hall of Fame
We didn't think we wanted to rush through everything in one day, so we had to make some decisions. We've already visited the Audubon and Jackson centers. The snowfall today made for messy driving conditions, so we decided to keep close to home. That means we went downtown. Well, not quite downtown.

First stop was the Fenton History Center, technically not downtown, but near downtown, to discover the local heritage. "Fenton" is Reuben Fenton, Governor of New York from 1865 to 1869. As one of the founders of the Republican party, he was also a close associate of Abraham Lincoln. The museum is housed in the landmark Italian Villa style Fenton mansion, built in 1863, and when you enter, it is like stepping back in time. A very nice time. Fenton made his fortune in the lumber business and investments, before entering the political arena, and the scale of everything in his home is ginormous--the height of the ceilings, the towering windows and mirrors, ornate moldings, massive chandeliers, mansion-sized chests and bookcases, a sweeping main staircase--it's all very elegant and indicative of Fenton's public life.  The Fentons would have done much entertaining. The array of historical information and artifacts is quite impressive (and with the holiday exhibit still on display, festive too!), from the Civil War battle flag carried by the 112th NY Volunteer Regiment from Chautauqua county, to an embroidery sampler stitched by the the future wife of Jamestown founder James Prendergast. There are artifacts from lakeside hotels in "The Golden Age of Chautauqua Lake" (19th century) exhibit, a display of wrenches made by the Crescent Tool company of Jamestown, and a tower room from which is it said Mrs. Fenton would watch for her husband coming home from work and then alert the servants to get dinner. The Fenton Center is a great resource for the community to discover their links to the past, making their library and geneology database available to the public.

Well, then it was time for lunch, so we went downtown and stopped in at the Labyrinth for a cup of Jeff's amazing beer cheese soup and the best coffee in town. Go there. We always pop in at lunch time, but I hear it's a happening place for live entertainment in the evenings. Did I mention that Jeff is an amazing cook?

Batteries recharged, we walked down Pine to Third to visit the Reg Lenna Civic Center. This is a grand old theater, opened as a Palace Theater in 1923. Like many grand old theaters in the age of multiplexes and arena concerts, it fell into disrepair. When Harry Chapin played there in 1981, he got rained on. Indoors. A major community effort eventually saved  and restored the theater to its previous grandeur. It reopened as the Reg Lenna Civic center in 1990 and serves as a local venue for the performing arts.

But...the main purpose of our visit was to see the unique historical artifact on display inside the inner lobby of the theater: a completely restored 130+-year-old, 26 x 10 ft. billboard, discovered underneath a crumbling brick building facade  in 2002. The billboard was an advertisement for a live theater performance of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West show in Jamestown in 1878. We'd heard about the billboard and its restoration from our friend Pat Anzideo, who was the Project Manager, but this was our first time viewing it. Impressive, Pat!

We followed that by trekking down the street to the Lucy-Desi Museum and Desilu Playhouse for a look at more recent history. Yes, really--this was our first ever visit there. In a town that celebrates the birthday of its native Queen of Comedy with a Lucy festival every August, bringing in hordes of fans in character costumes, we've been surprisingly insulated. Not that we don't love Lucy. I was a bit young for the original programs (I was born the same year as Desi Jr., and what a good-looking guy he turned out to be!), but I grew up on re-runs. Everyone loves Lucy. But I'm not what you would call a fanatic about it, and face it, the admission to these attractions is a bit pricey if you're trying to live on a budget.

Well, I loved it. Loved learning more about Lucy and Desi, loved seeing the TV sets (I have a set of Pyrex bowls in primary colors just like the ones in their kitchen!), the costumes, the video clips. It was fun. You won't catch me dressing up like Lucy at a festival, not even for her 100th birthday celebration this year, but I'm happy to be an admirer of her contributions to television, back when television was actually entertaining.

That was as far as we got today.  I feel that I know Jamestown a little bit better now. We met lots of people, whole families with grandmas too, out having a good time today. It's nice to know your community has a pulse, even on a snowy Saturday.  Kudos to the Chamber for this brilliant promotion.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

No Impact Week from afar

The experiment intrigued me, because I had seen the movie about the Beavan family's year-long experience of living lightly, and I believe we should all be taking deliberate steps to reduce our wasteful ways. Yes, we are a wasteful, throw-away society, though some of us are trying, in our own way, to break out of that cycle and live more...thoughtfully. So, participation in this week-long, planned experiment, with thousands of other eco-conscious people, would have been illuminating, because each day presented a particular challenge that forced conscious thought about our mostly unconscious daily living habits.

I signed up to receive the guide and the email updates. Alas, the timing made it all but impossible for me to join in, because of our previously made plans to be out of town and out of our normal environment. I had to settle for following along vicariously, which was also illuminating, but not quite the same as actually doing it. Of course, I have the guide downloaded to my computer (NOT printed out!), and I can pick my own date and run my own No Impact Week at any time...I just like to think I'm already on the right track.

Meanwhile, Day One was CONSUMPTION day for the participants, who, after watching "The Story of Stuff," were directed to make a list of items they needed to buy for the week. Then they were told to delete the things they could live without. For the rest of the items, they were encouraged to examine what they could borrow, buy secondhand, or make themselves. Colin Beavan stopped buying new goods (except food) three months into his year-long experiment. His wife Michelle (painfully) kicked her shopping habit and discovered that she had more money, more space in her house, and more time to spend with family and friends. As you know, if you read this blog, "stuff reduction" is an ongoing project for us.

Participants were also instructed to save (in a reusable bag) ALL of their personal trash for the day (empty bottles, can, wrappers, food waste, etc) in preparation for Day Two, which was all about TRASH, why we create so much of it and how to stop doing that!  After having to look at your trash from the previous day, something becomes immediately clear: disposable=trash. And the remedy is...stop using disposables! Plastic bottles and grocery bags are some of the worst offenders. You can recycle them, but why not stop using them altogether?  Carry your own reusable bags for food shopping, and carry your own reusable water bottle or coffee cup. Look for items that don't come packaged in throwaway bags, boxes, wrappers, etc. (This should take you to the outer aisles of the grocery store, or to farmers markets, and you'll find you're eating healthier too). Goodbye fast food and carry-outs--hello potlucks with the neighbors. Cut up old clothing for rags and stop using paper towels. Stop using disposable razors. You get the idea.

Day Three was TRANSPORTATION day --"don't burn fossil fuels, burn calories!"  I'm all in favor of spending less time in the car. As the mother of an Iraq war veteran, it's really easy for me to remember that soldiers are dying for the freedom to keep the oil supply and corporate profits flowing. As far as I'm concerned, we aren't paying nearly enough for our gasoline to cover its real cost. I'm sorry if it sounds harsh. But that's my trigger, and other people may be motivated to reduce their oil consumption for other reasons.

Anyway, make a list of the places you are going this week. Are all of these trips necessary? Can you walk, bike, carpool, or take public transportation to get to some of your destinations, instead of driving your own car? Are you at least combining errands in a way that reduces your mileage travelled?

Throughout this day, participants are told to keep a list of everything they eat, where they eat it, and where they purchase it, in preparation for Day Four--FOOD day. This is when everyone takes their list from the previous day and calculates their carbon "foodprint."   Did you eat anything grown with 250 miles, how much non-organic meat and dairy, how much packaging came with it, etc? Then, there is encouragement to try altering your diet towards more local, organic, less processed and packaged, vegetarian and vegan choices.

Day Five is ENERGY day. Walk from room to room in your house and make an assessment of how much energy you're using, i.e., how many devices are plugged in and turned on, and then decide what you can MITIGATE or ELIMINATE.  The Beavans actually had their electricity shut off towards the end of their year-long experiment. That would be an extreme step for most of us (though one should always be prepared for emergencies when the power goes out and it's NOT your choice).  But most of us can use less heat and a/c, lighting, TV, and other energy-sucking devices. At the very least, there are compact fluorescent and LED bulbs, programmable thermostats, and Energy Star appliances.

Day Six---WATER. This is probably our most precious resource, the one that makes life possible, and we who have a good supply tend to take it for granted. Many areas of the earth, including some of our largest population centers in the US, must get their drinking water from somewhere else and would suffer severely if that source were cut off. If you haven't experienced a dry or contaminated well, or a watering ban during a drought, then you may not have had a reason to think about this. No Impact participants are asked to assess their water footprint.

There are lots of ways to use less--do only full loads of laundry, or at least set the water level appropriately. Don't run a dishwasher that isn't full, and if you hand wash your dishes, let them soak for a few minutes in hot, soapy water to get clean with less water and less effort..  Don't leave the faucet running while you brush your teeth, put a brick in your toilet tank to reduce the amount of water per flush, take shorter showers, don't water your lawn.

Day Seven is GIVING BACK day. How do you contribute to your community? Do you volunteer,or write checks to charities, perform random acts of kindness for strangers? Is there something you would like to help with that you aren't doing now?

Day Eight is an ECO-SABBATH, take a break from everything day. Don't go anywhere, don't buy anything, don't turn on the TV, don't answer your phone, don't cook, just give yourself and the planet a break and spend time by yourself or with family and friends. Read, converse, play a board game, commune with nature, be grateful for what you have.


Some folks diaried their experiences at the YES magazine No Impact Week Blog, and I'm reading through them as time permits. Some of them are very good writers and their stories are quite enjoyable. There's a wealth of information for anyone looking for tips to modify their lifestyle to a more earth-friendly one.

Should everyone try the No Impact experiment? I suppose it could be eye-opening in dramatic fashion for some, but it's kind of like a crash diet if you return to business as usual when the week is up. For people who have already overcome their indifference to the world around them and WANT to live more thoughtfully, it makes more sense, I think,  to gradually incorporate more and more of these practices into your daily living until they become your normal habits.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Back again

We've been out of town for the past week, with limited internet access, which is why it's been so quiet here. Got back about an hour ago and had to shovel the driveway before we could get the car in. Will update as soon as I am resettled and caught up.

Monday, January 3, 2011

The End of the World As We Know It (and I feel fine)

Rarely do I leave a Sunday morning service feeling as uplifted and inspired as I did yesterday, after hearing our student minister, Michelle Buhite, address an issue no less serious than the of the end of the world.

Apocalyptic gloom and doom, inspiring and uplifting? Well, no. Some future generation may very well see the demise of our planet, made uninhabitable by nuclear war, plague, global warming, zombies (kidding), or knocked out of orbit by a giant asteroid, or swallowed up by the sun. Whatever the calamity, it is highly unlikely to be in our lifetimes.

Our gigantic manmade systems, on the other hand--our countries and governments, industries and economies, class struggles and social justice--these things are in need of a serious overhaul, and soon, if we want to stem the tide of human misery.  It's not just developing nations anymore, the pigeons are coming home to roost. Joblessness, homelessness, and hunger are right here, not to mention fear and loathing of "the other", and you may be looking at these every day without recognizing them.

I hope I've made clear that I am not a survivalist or back-to-the-lander, just a relatively normal person emerging from the suffocating layers of stuff that complicate our modern lives, in search of something more basic and authentic and equitable and sustainable. The World As We Know It has problems. The remedy is in all of us and our willingness to act, in little, mostly painless ways. We CANNOT wait for somebody else to "do something." Replacing one President or Senator or administrator with someone else is not going to do it. They are cogs in the wheels of much bigger systems that cannot turn on a dime on the actions of one person or a handful.  BIG CHANGE won't happen fast enough to make a difference now. And there's always the distinct possibility that BIG CHANGE is going in the wrong direction anyway.

All of US have real power to effect change near to us, and that is what each of us must do. We can shed our insulating and isolating complications to make our own lives run more smoothly. Don't make hokey New Year's resolutions, just pick one thing and go do it.
  • Go through your wardrobe and donate clothes you don't need to the Salvation Army or Second Chances. 
  •  Likewise all those books you've read and are never going to read again--give someone else the chance to enjoy them. Some might be worth cash here.
  •  Gather up your old cell phones and recycle them.
  • Go through your cupboards and drawers and THROW AWAY foods and medicines that are past their expiration dates.  This includes tea bags that you received as a gift but can't stand, food color and cupcake sprinkles leftover from your Room Mother days, and your late mother's old rusting tins of anise and mustard seed from before you were born. You KNOW you're never going to use these, and it's a stretch to claim sentimental value.
  • Unplug your TV.
  • Practice saying NO and stop saying yes to things you really don't want to do. Except when your very life is at stake, it's counterproductive to chew off your own leg.
Now. Look at the people around you. What small act of kindness might make a world of difference, whether you know it or not? How much does it cost you to smile and say hello to a stranger you pass in the parking lot on your way into the grocery store, or to strike up a conversation with the next person waiting in line? How about whipping out $5 for the elderly woman in front of you who is short of the funds to cover her cat food?

You know--I'm talking about the things that make us humane. Not necessarily the same as human.

Next time you bake cookies or make a big batch of homemade chicken soup, how about putting some in a container to share with your next door neighbor and walking it over?

Take a walk around the block and carry a trash bag with you to pick up litter as you go. (If you're walking with a dog, you had definitely better be carrying bags.)

Ask your 90-year-old neighbor (when she's sitting on her porch in  nice weather, of course) how she's enjoying this beautiful day, and if she'd like you to weed out her flower bed for her. Or bring her a small bouquet from your own garden, just because you thought she might like it. Check in on her in bad weather or if she isn't feeling well.

If you have a prolific vegetable garden, share the wealth with the neighbors. Share your garden tools and power tools and any skills you have that can make their lives easier. Karma is a powerful thing, and right now there seems to be a lot of bad karma going around.

Speak up for the person being picked on. Small acts of courage can save lives.

I've always liked the message of this commercial.



We each have the personal power to set positive change in motion. We can't be afraid to use it.