The Chronicles of Billen

Living room and dining room painted

2008-06-17T11:04:00.001-05:00

We spent 5 days repainting the living room and dining room. Here are a few views of the results. The colors came from the Turandot poster in the first picture. After that is the dining area, living room, and looking in from the front door.

Baby Robins

2008-06-04T22:29:00.001-05:00

I got a few shots while mom and dad were out finding worms after the rain today. There are a total of 4. It looks like they may start flight school this weekend while we are out of town unfortunately.

Garden update.

2008-05-26T20:45:00.002-05:00

First produce of the season. H would be proud.

Overview.

Addition of strawberries on the back/left. Front left = radishes, spinach next (2 squares), lettuce (2 squares), carrots (front row), beets (2nd row). The 4 open squares in the back are going to be hollyhocks because that spot is almost impossible to get to for harvesting. The strawberries are perennials so those and the hollyhocks should come back every year if I cover the bed to keep it warm over the winter.

14 Assorted tomatoes (hybrids, sweet 100s, some heirloom varieties, romas, and sandwich sized), butternut squash and acorn squash in column 3 - back and 2nd rows, jalapeños, habanero, and another pepper in upper right corner.

Finally, the butterfly/hummingbird garden with the blown glass feeder (a going away gift from my former co-workers).

2008-05-21T14:05:00.001-05:00

I have radishes!

And a nesting robin!

Buzzards

2008-05-15T12:37:00.007-05:00

Actually turkey vultures. Here are some pictures from a rainy morning (May 15) about 10:00 AM of the roost of turkey vultures along West Road in Los Alamos. This road traverses Los Alamos Canyon just west of the bridge and passes the skating rink in the bottom of the canyon. Just uphill of the skating rink on the south side is the vulture's roost. Usually they have all left by 7:30 AM or so and return at dusk. This morning was cold with rain mixed at times with snow, so everybody was staying home. These birds have a 6-foot wingspan. It is fun to watch them ride the thermals up in the morning, hardly flapping at all, and then peel off one at a time at about 50 mph to sniff out lunch. They are one of the few birds with a sharp sense of smell. We were fairly far away for these pictures and even with 3X zoom these views are just a small piece of the full-size pictures.

Trail work from May 1 to May 3

2008-05-05T12:24:00.007-05:00

Here are some before and after pictures from work on a 90-foot-long section of the Pueblo Canyon trail. The first two show what was done in one day. The next one is after two more days. I took out the the small tree that the Pulaski is leaning on in the first view. The large rock in the distance in the final view had been above the trail and in the way so I moved it to a hole I dug to catch it below the trail.

Downed Tree on Walnut Canyon Trail

2008-05-01T14:09:00.008-05:00

While walking along the Pueblo trail, you can see part of the trail I built on the other side of the canyon, in 2006 and 2007. There is a tree lying across the Walnut Canyon Trail. The downed tree is on the left third of the picture.

Also in this picture there is a log near the upper right parallel to the trail where Mary and I sometimes have a picnic lunch. My friend Harunori cut off the large tree near the middle of the picture. We rolled the end over to help support the downhill side of the trail.

After cutting a few remaining strands of root, I rolled the downed tree off the trail and just downhill of the spot, but it seems to be hidden by another cluster of trees. The soil is so bone dry and powdery that the wind pulled this live 8-inch-diameter, 20-foot-tall pine up by its roots.

Yard work.

2008-05-01T13:28:00.003-05:00

I've been working on a path from the house to the garage for a couple years now. This spring I decided to work it into my garden (visually) so here is my progress.

This first picture is last summer. The dogs hadn't taken to digging right along the concrete yet.

Here is my progress this spring. The dogs decided eating dirt was a fun past-time so they decided to start digging to China along the concrete slab. Quite an unsightly pain.

In order to nip the digging in the bud, we poured a bag of concrete mix in with the dirt, stirred it up, wet it, stomped on it, and finished off the area with mulch. Hopefully jerks #1 and #2 will leave the area alone now! I need one more bag of mulch to finish off the far end.

Trail work

2008-05-01T12:17:00.007-05:00

Here is a section of the Pueblo Canyon trail I am working on. On the left is a "before" shot showing how steep and narrow the existing trail is. On the right is the "after" shot taken from about the same place.

Happy Earth Day

2008-04-22T06:58:00.004-05:00

Earth Day Newsletter April 2008
The future is now. Let’s live it up.

This has been a progressive year for the Earth. Green awareness is rising and I had a huge pool to choose from for this year’s newsletter. Here are a few selections for your enjoyment.

new news

Welcome, National Geographic Green Guide!

Written for general consumers, Green Guide is full of simple, useful ideas, broken down into achievable steps that make "going green" a gradual and affordable process rather than an all-or-nothing plunge. It’s the resource for consuming wisely.

Find practical advice, like where to recycle broken compact fluorescent light bulbs (http://www.earth911.org/) and stories that vibe with your sustainable lifestyle, even if you just dabble in green.

Visit: http://www.thegreenguide.com/

Go in Peace, Sunflower Market…

What a fantastic place to shop this was! Great staff, great meal ideas and all organic. Smaller than Whole Foods, every item went through a taste test before hitting the shelves. We loved that fact that we could find all our favorites and try new things without breaking the bank.

Well, all things must come to an end, and we hope that now there is more room for similarly-minded groceries. But for now, we will bounce around the organic kiosks at the supermarket and scrape up pennies to frequent the old stand-bys.

Revolution in Residential Design?

John Nastasi is revisiting a great concept: working with nature to build our homes. His use of parametric modeling and site analysis ensure that building is sensitive to the environment and energy efficient for home owners.

Not only does analysis ensure that the build “treads lightly on the Earth,” use of prefabrication reduces labor costs and errors. Make your next home project site-specific. Nastasi is training the next generation of architects at the Product-Architecture Lab program at the Stevens Institute of Technology.

Read more at dwell.com or read my report on the subject at www.lauriebillen.com/NastasiDesign

travels…san francisco

smart car!

smart® has arrived in San Francisco! Open your mind with the smart fortwo®. Fuel economy is a hot topic, and better engineering allows us to make safe cars smaller than ever. smart is a car that offers maximum comfort, agility, safety, ecology and driving fun.

Here is the stated smart Environmental Policy: "With our products, we are setting a milestone for environmentally-compatible individual mobility. Every day, we live an efficient and dynamic environmental management system that is aligned towards on-going improvement."

smart is dedicated to protecting the environment with future focused recycling and a strong environmental policy. The smart fortwo is also classified as an Ultra-Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) on account of its extremely low exhaust emissions. The catalytic converter is positioned close to the engine for a quick response. An electric pump blows fresh air into the exhaust port when the engine is cold to almost completely oxidize the carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC) and render them less harmful.

Thanks, smart, for leading us into an adorable future!

Michelle’s Naturally

What’s absolutely the best after wandering the hills of San Francisco in the rain? Delicious vegan cookies! I found some spectacular ones made by Michelle’s Naturally. Michelle uses only the finest, freshest ingredients and adds no preservatives in her baking. She works with certified organic growers whenever possible, and takes great care in selecting ingredients for her vegan cookies.

Buy: http://www.michellesnaturally.com/

here in chicago

Rancho Verde

Across the street from the fantastic Center for Green Technology is Christy Weber’s green headquarters, the capstone of a 12.5 acre eco-industrial park named Rancho Verde. The building has received LEED Platinum rating from the US Green Building Council (USGBC).

Among the impressive list of sustainable technologies used in the build are bioswales, green roofs, automated lighting, rainwater cisterns, geothermal heating and cooling, energy recovery systems, solar thermal wall panels, and a wind turbine.

I could probably go on for some time about how impressed I was with the tour, but you should check it out for yourselves! It’s great to see local businesses stepping up to the plate.

For further information please visit: chicagogreenworks.com and http://www.christywebber.com/

progressive products

Chico bags

Ugh! Do we all have the drawer, cabinet or closet full of single-use plastic bags? Does it drive you mad when you stop to pick up something and don’t have your reusable grocery bag with you? While unfortunately single-use bags are still the cheapest option for most retailers, shops are wising up to the use of eco-friendly bags. These little numbers are great because they can be condensed when not in use and are light enough to carry on your keychain.

Buy: http://store.chicobag.com/

Label Once

If you love to re-use but like to stay organized, Label Once labels can keep you from losing your marbles. Write on them with your favorite color marker, and erase and rewrite when you replace the contents. The labels stay on, even in the dishwasher, to keep you and your items sorted.

Buy: http://www.labelonce.com/

Hint Mints

Have you ever tried to find mints or gum without complex chemical additives or animal by-products? Well, it’s damn near impossible. That’s why I was so excited find Hints Mints at my favorite Michigan restaurant and shop, Food Dance. They have 3 ingredients that I can live with and taste great! What more could I ask for in a mint? Well, they look cool too, so there you go!

Buy: http://www.hintmint.com/

quotable…

“Before eating, always take a little time to thank the food.” ~First Nations Proverb

Have a fabulous Earth Day! Thanks for reading!

Happy New Year!

2008-02-07T10:38:00.000-05:00

In honor of the Lunar New Year, I'd like to share this song about the universe. {http://dingo.care2.com/cards/flash/5409/galaxy.swf}

Now starts the year of the Rat, and thanks to Wikipedia, I found out a bit about it:

The Rat (Chinese:鼠) was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. Rat is associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities. The Year of the Rat is associated with the earthly branch symbol 子.

Persons born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "year of the Rat," while also bearing the following elemental sign:
31 January 1900 - 18 February 1901: Metal Rat
18 February 1912 - 5 February 1913: Water Rat
5 February 1924 - 24 January 1925: Wood Rat
24 January 1936 - 10 February 1937: Fire Rat
10 February 1948 - 28 January 1949: Earth Rat
28 January 1960 - 14 February 1961: Metal Rat
16 February 1972 - 2 February 1973: Water Rat
2 February 1984 - 19 February 1985: Wood Rat
19 February 1996 - 7 February 1997: Fire Rat
7 February 2008 - 25 January 2009: Earth Rat
25 January 2020 - 11 February 2021: Metal Rat
11 February 2032 - 30 January 2033: Water Rat
30 January 2044 - 16 February 2045: Wood Rat
15 February 2056 - 3 February 2057: Fire Rat
3 February 2068 - 22 January 2069: Earth Rat
22 January 2080 - 8 February 2081: Metal Rat
7 February 2092 - 26 January 2093: Water Rat

North Lawndale Community News Article

2007-12-04T15:36:00.001-05:00

Chicago Native Makes It Big And Then Gives Back

Written by Megan Sieberg
Nov 29, 2007 at 08:50 AM

Kevin Gates, Microsoft EmployeeFrom the inner city streets of Chicago to the corporate world of Microsoft, Kevin Gates has experienced Chicago inside and out, all the while giving back to the community he loves. Growing up in Albany Park, Gates attended Haugan Elementary and Lincoln Park High school before dropping out his sophomore year. Becoming bored and restless, he joined a non-profit on the North Side called the Williams Youth Service, which is now the School Without Walls on the South Side. According to Gates, the organization gave him an opportunity to get off the streets.

“They allowed me to do filing and stuff like that,” said Gates, “and they gave me an office certificate so it would be something for me to do instead of hanging out in Panera Bread all day by the school.”

The Williams Youth Service also offered Gates enrollment in the Prologue Alternative High School, through which he would be able to receive a real high school diploma instead of a GED.

“It was like a second Chance for me,” said Gates. While attending Prologue, Gates pursued his love of culinary arts by working as a chef at Bertuccie’s Pizzeria. Toward the end of his tenure, however, he developed a passion for Trigonometry, a tool which he believes to be extremely useful in “real life.” It was his Trigonometry teacher who brought to his attention a program called i.c.stars, shedding light on an opportunity that would eventually change his life.

I.c.stars is a non-profit organization that offers programs designed to develop community leaders in the IT field. “They take in inner city kids and they teach them web development and business leadership,” said Gates During an initial interview with Cofounder Leslie Beller, Gates was introduced to the acronym “HTML.” Having never heard of it, he immediately purchased a book on the subject and went back to Prologue for the summer to practice web design. Before completing the application process for i.c.stars, Gates created a website for Prologue, which he was able to submit along with his application.

Out of 300 applicants, Gates was one of 10 accepted into the program He received job training and was able to network with various organizations at industry events around the city, being what he called “a sponge.”

At a fundraiser midway through i.c.stars, Gates spoke on behalf of the program to an audience of corporate executives. Adam Hecktman, a Microsoft employee, was impressed with Gates and indicated that he would be interested having Gates on his team. After graduating form i.c.stars, Gates sent Hecktman an email reciprocating interest.

In order to be hired by Microsoft, Gates had to give a presentation on business to business ecommerce, about which he knew nothing. Once again, he bought a book and did his research before wowing the crowds with another presentation on his newly developed expertise; this time to a group of what would soon be his co-workers.Hired as a technical sales representative, Gates had to quickly become familiar with a variety Microsoft products, a task which he admits was initially challenging. “Everything was way over my head,” said Gates when recalling how difficult it was to play catch up with is co-workers.

Being extremely hard-working and adaptive, Gates was able to learn what he needed to know. Soon after, he was hired to manage the new Microsoft Technology Center in Chicago where he works to this day.

While climbing the corporate ladder, Gates has not lost sight of his past. He has remained passionate about his community, and has committed himself to sharing his knowledge and experience with youth throughout the Chicagoland area. His philanthropic efforts include: hosting seminars with Chicago Public School students on future careers in technology, helping Latino youth develop leadership skills at Mirta Ramirez Computer Science Charter School, acting as a Technical Mentor for Science Minors at the Museum of Science and Industry, and continuing his role with staff and students in the i.c.stars program.

“What Kevin has accomplished professionally, personally and philanthropically in his short number of years is something that seasoned community leaders admire and aspire to,” said Hecktman in a nomination he wrote on behalf of Gates for a BDPA Epsilon Award in Community Service.

Gates went on to win that award in 2007, along with a Charter One Community Impact Award in 2006. He continues to dedicate his time to community service while simultaneously utilizing his hard-earned skills in the work world. Modest in his success, Gates believes he has a responsibility to utilize was he has acquired.

As quoted by Hecktman in the nomination letter, Kevin summed up his mindset saying, “with the success I’ve had, I am obligated to share my knowledge and experience, and encourage others to reach their goal.”

Megan Sieberg is a recent graduate of Northwestern University. She has a degree in Communication Studies and is currently the Communications Manager at the North Lawndale Community News.
Last Updated ( Nov 30, 2007 at 09:23 AM )

2007-10-03T09:21:00.000-05:00

4 Years ago I decided to quit smoking.
By my calculations, that's about $8600 saved, which is about 60% of a smartcar.
Yay me!

64 hours

2007-08-26T16:19:00.002-05:00

Last Thursday a nasty front rolled over (first Chicago) then over the lake and onto Kalamazoo. We experienced about 10 minutes of strong winds very heavy rain and then a 64 hour blackout. 300,000 homes in SW Mich were without power after the storm. We just had ours fixed this morning at about 10:30.

This afternoon we did the purge of the fridge to clean out everything except bread and spices. At least all our condiments will be fresh and we won't have to have the "how old is the ketchup" conversation. Later we have to go and clean the basement freezer which has our stock of roasted Hatch green chiles. Good thing the harvest is still on so we can restock!!

A Spectacular Weekend.

2007-07-16T19:44:00.000-05:00

Laurie came over to Michigan this weekend for a little visit. We went to dinner at one of our favorites, Food Dance Cafe, and then went to see a movie. Before all this we were discussing Craig's and Laurie's love of (and my tolerance of... Since I already live with my own version, two is a little much most of the time, however informative he/they may be) Alton Brown. We decided to venture into a new A.B. inspired culinary plane and make some homemade butter!

After the movie (at 10:45 pm) we stopped at the grocery store for the cream and some bread. By 12:05 am we had about a pound of our own fresh creamy butter! What fun! Here is a little photo montage of the event.

This...

Plus this...

Turns into...

And...

And then... TA DA! FRESH BUTTER!!!

Congrats to Kevin!

2007-07-05T13:21:00.000-05:00

This is an excerpt from Kevin's manager's email to his work team:

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that our very own Kevin Gates has been awarded the BDPA Epsilon Community Service Award! This extremely prestigious award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated leadership in the Black technology community through volunteer work, contributions, and other activities that are not included in his or her job description. Kevin certainly has embodied and personified the criteria leading up to this award. Kevin is going to be honored during the 2007 National BDPA Technology Conference awards gala on Saturday, August 18th in Washington D.C. I’ll have the honor of introducing Kevin and his accomplishments as his award is presented, and celebrating his achievements along with other BDPA award winners. Kevin, you are an inspiration and a leader on many levels. Congratulations on this well deserved award!

A Spectacular Evening with Roger Waters

2007-06-23T16:22:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, we went to see Roger Waters for Dad's 60th birthday. It was such an awesome show! My favorite was the gigantic prism that looked liked it was sprinkling the crowd with rainbows, and the genuine appreciation Roger Waters had for his fans and the band.

Here is a song list:
1 In The Flesh - Pink Floyd
2 Mother - Pink Floyd
3 Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun - Pink Floyd
4 Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part One) - Pink Floyd
5 Have A Cigar - Pink Floyd
6 Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd
7 Southampton Dock - Pink Floyd
8 The Fletcher Memorial Home - Pink Floyd
9 Perfect Sense (Part I) - Roger Waters
10 Perfect Sense (Part II) - Roger Waters
11 Leaving Beirut - Roger Waters
12 Sheep - Pink Floyd
13 Speak To Me / Breathe - Pink Floyd
14 On The Run - Pink Floyd
15 Time - Pink Floyd
16 The Great Gig In The Sky - Pink Floyd
17 Money - Pink Floyd
18 Us And Them - Pink Floyd
19 Any Colour You Like - Pink Floyd
20 Brain Damage - Pink Floyd
21 Eclipse - Pink Floyd
22 The Happiest Days Of Our Lives - Pink Floyd
23 Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2 - Pink Floyd
24 Vera - Pink Floyd
25 Bring The Boys Back Home - Pink Floyd
26 Comfortably Numb -Pink Floyd

D.I.Y. Home Improvement 101

2007-05-28T20:33:00.000-05:00

To preface, I would like to say that Craig offers to help when I am playing handyman around the house even at the risk of my wrath. We both know that the fastest way to a fight is to try to work together on one of my projects. (I've been told that I can be "abrasive" in these situations). This in no way reflects his ability or desire to do any of the improvements.

This weekend I decided to tackle the deteriorating state of our bathroom. The only "before" picture I have (below) doesn't show the worst of it - mostly because for almost 2 years we've had shower curtains on 3 of 4 sides. The walls had cracked grout that leaked shower water into the basement. The previous owners had caulked over the grout with clear caulk, but somehow all that did was seal in moisture and create strips of mold you couldn't scrub off. Needless to say, we haven't had several thousand dollars handy to have it professionally repaired so we went with the shower curtain option.

THEN, about 8 months ago, the faucet started dripping. Then leaking. And seeping through the tiles into the drywall behind the fixtures. The hot stem was essentially rusted away and the faucet handle broke off. We are now using a pliers to turn the water on and off (and still leaking).

I bought a repair kit of some kind to replace the faucet parts. Not as easy as it would seem. I made several attempts (which included ripping a hole in the hall closet to be able to access the fixtures from behind) and only succeeded in creating a 3x3 tile-wide gap around the fixtures. NOW we had a gaping hole to the basement. I did the only obvious thing to do and duct taped a garbage bag over the hole and the faucet handles.

We removed the "stem" (as I now know it is called) and headed to Home Depot. After spending probably 30-45 minutes bickering about which part we might need we (Craig) asked an employee. He looked it up and ordered the part. A week later we had the part, new knobs, no drips, and still a hole in the wall. That was several (probably 6) months ago.

A few months ago I bought some tile-like board stuff (It is MDF with tile pattern on one side) to put up on the wall to repair the hole. Now is the first time I have had a chance (and the energy) to do anything about it.

I cut, I measured, I drilled, I glued. The hole is covered. I then decided that the off-white (I think it wasn't to start with) tiles needed something. I decided to first paint over them with an oil based primer/sealer to fill the grout issues. That was left to dry on Saturday night. Then I painted over those with an oil based paint. That was left to dry during today. Then I applied the caulk strips and filled in any spots that looked like it needed extra water proofing.

It is by no means a professional job. Probably not even a mediocre job. BUT, the hole is gone, the grout isn't leaking and the garbage bag and extra 2 shower curtains are retired. Plus it looks nice from afar. Bravo to me.

Almost 9 years ago.

2007-05-20T11:37:00.000-05:00

I was backing up some old pictures onto Flickr and stumbled on our wedding pictures. This one was a nice one.

Just some misc stuff.

2007-05-09T19:39:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy spring. Our fence was installed a few weeks ago. The panorama distorts the yard a bit, but here is a picture. It is 5' tall (a foot taller than the one we did on our own). We still don't trust the dogs out by themselves yet. Chewie escaped underneath within about 12 hours of it being finished. (There was a dip in the ground and he discovered that he could wiggle under. We've fixed it, but still don't trust him.)
Panorama-Click on the picture to see the whole thing on Flickr.

Today I seeded the yard in bare spots and dog trails. Craig and I have been doing a good bit of yard work over the last few weeks. Pruning trees and bushes, fixing the stone path, trying to fill in dog holes, etc.

Mother moved back to Wisconsin a few weeks ago. Lots of drama but she is happy as a clam in her new place. She is in the same building that GG lived in for a couple decades. It's right on the lake and she has a view of the lighthouse. Grandma G lived in apartment 410, Mother is in 510. It will be wierd visiting because the layout will be exactly the same (but GG was a neat freak and we all know that my mother is not).

My medical transcription class is progressing. Slowly. I'm trying to make a little more time to work on it.

Still working at the farm. Nothing new there.

I got a $200 order of frames (about 110 frames) this week. Getting started on that.

Dogs are good. Book has been limping a bit, we think he's pulled a muscle. He has his annual checkup next week where I will ask them to look at it. Chewie still has a bit of the devil in him, but he's getting a little better. They had an impromptu play-date with a neighbors dog this week. Jack (or Jake) was wandering and stopped at the fence. I called his mom and he spent about 15 minutes romping with the dogs while we waited for her.

Craig is good. Nothing new, still working hard at Pfizer.

M

An Incredible Afternoon

2007-05-06T18:39:00.000-05:00

Today my friend Kandy and I went to see the Dalai Lama speak at Millennium Park. The subject was "Finding Inner Peace in World Full of Turmoil." His Holiness is the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso. He is internationally known for his non-violent struggle to protect the Tibetan people and preserve Tibetan culture. 'Dalai Lama' is the Mongolian term meaning "Oceans of Wisdom." He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 and in October of this year, will receive Congressional Gold Medal by the US Congress for his outstanding contributions to peace, non-violence, human rights and religious understanding,

The "Awakening" was a celebration of diversity in music and performances that "prepared our minds and hearts for the Dalai Lama's message." It was followed by an awesome prayer by the Gyuto Monks: "Homage to Buddha Shakya Muni." It was an amazing chant that put everyone in a trance. I have never seen that many people be that quiet! Yeshi Tenzin Dremagang, president of the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago, started by saying, "If you hear something here that helps you, take it with you, if it does not, leave it here...for that is the Buddhist way."

We were 2 among 11,000 people gathered around Gehry's band-shell on a beautiful, slightly overcast day. We were on the lawn and somewhere in the crowd what smelled like orange oil incense was burning. The Dalai Lama was introduced by Bill Curtis. He arrived on stage, took off his shoes, and folded his legs up onto the chair. He assured us that he liked to talk in a casual way and that anyone who arrived today expecting an epiphany would probably be disappointed. :)

He was very humble and happy. He had the audience in stitches and in awe. He spoke of compassion for all since, in this increasingly small world, everyone is a part of your community. He said that anger and hate is the enemy of us all, and if we don't stop once in a while and turn off the music and the TV and really think to ourselves, we may no longer be able to think before acting. He preached that violence is an unacceptable answer to any problem and that we must disconnect ourselves from anger before it controls us. He also said that no one can take away your peace of mind.

He laughed with us and we applauded with him. And after all the lines and metal detectors and bag searches, you wonder how anyone could have ill will toward this sentient being who cares for all and hates no one.

"When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher."
~His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

Happy Earth Day!

2007-04-22T10:06:00.000-05:00

Greetings All!

Happy Earth Day!! I know you probably already have this edition in your email, but I thought I would put it on the blog as well.

Laurie

EDN 07
Earth Day Newsletter April 2007

tips

1 ∙ Use fewer plastic bags ∙ Most curbside recycling programs don’t take plastic bags and some plastic bags can’t be recycled at all. They could possibly ruin a whole batch of recycling if they slip in. If the bag can be recycled, it only has one life left: as carpet or decking. It is not a closed loop material and it does not biodegrade. On another point, plastic bags are made from petroleum. If we want to wean ourselves from fossil fuel and foreign oil, we should consider using fewer petroleum products. Bartell Drugs in Seattle WA uses plastic bags that are 100% degradable (which means it degrades in landfill within 12 to 24 months, but can be recycled prior to degradation.) You can get great reusable bags from Greenfeet.com.

2 ∙ Buy locally ∙ Since when did agriculture become agribusiness? Not only will buying and eating local foods save on fossil fuels for you and shipping companies, but you can support local businesses, your community, and get to know your neighborhood and food. Now that’s culture! Besides, farmer’s market produce and baked goods blow away the mega-marts for taste! Check out Chicago’s numerous Farmers’ Markets this summer.

3 ∙ Eat less meat ∙ especially beef and pork. Industrial meat factories can’t produce meat cheaper than small farms without breaking the law. Meat Barons build complexes to house feed-animals in cramped, miserable conditions. Waste from these warehouses is filled with dozens of toxic chemicals and antibiotics, fed to the animals to stimulate growth and prevent death from stress. Hauling and treating this waste would be financially crippling for the mass-meat industry, so they just ignore permit requirements and hope they don’t get fined.

4 ∙ Support green companies ∙ It’s simple supply and demand. If we, the consumers, demand more sustainable and eco-friendly products and practices, pressure for market change increases. Plus it’s a good way of thanking those businesses for making an effort. Some places we like to frequent are Food Dance Café in Kalamazoo MI; the Greener Cleaner in Chicago IL; and most recently, The Schlafly Tap Room in St. Louis MO. Check out these places for a taste of progress!

5 ∙ Buy recycled products ∙ Again, does it really matter how many recyclable products there are out there if no one is buying the products they are being recycled into? Buy used when it’s reasonable to do so. A little ‘vintage’ anyone?

6 ∙ Use natural or organic cleaning products ∙ Not only will they pollute less groundwater, they are usually housed in recycled and recyclable containers. They are also safer for kids and pets, and smell like herbs, flowers and fruit – not chemicals. We like Mrs. Murphy’s, Caldrea, and Seventh Generation.

7 ∙ Spring clean ∙ Go through the cupboards and closets! Donate before items become obsolete or out of style, re-appropriate or recycle. Try FreeCycle to find new homes for your items. Remember to treat electronics properly. Contact United Recycling Industries for e-waste recycling.

8 ∙ Turn out the lights ∙ As we all saw on Mythbusters and heard from our moms, you use less energy when you “pull the plug” on electronics and lights you are not using. Not only do you save money, you save the habitat of a plethora of creatures that live in mined areas. You are also helping to prevent Black Lung disease. Black Lung disease is a man-made disease that decreases the quality of life of miners and makes their lungs look worse than smokers’ lungs. If you have visited the Body Worlds exhibit, you’ve seen how disturbing this condition can be.

climate change

Al Gore offered a compelling argument with his book and movie An Inconvenient Truth. While solidifying what the scientific community has been warning for years, Gore has made an important step in bringing this crisis to the social and political sectors.

By burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere, and temperatures are rising. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing. The Earth may soon experience extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever imagined.

Time and National Geographic are just two snowflakes in the avalanche of media spouts now offering disturbing factual information about climate change, but they are a good place to start. Also visit ClimateCrisis.net. Gather information, understand the situation, and come to your own conclusions. Make some emergency kits for your home, work and vehicle, and prepare for some wild weather. This, of course in addition to being eco-sensible and sensitive, will help us all in the future.

here in chicago

The city of Chicago is proud to co-host the first Midwest Green Festival and Green Business Conference.

Green Festival is an opportunity for Chicago to highlight the important work towards making it the nation’s greenest city. Green roofs, alternatively-fueled buses, use of solar thermal panels and wind energy are ways the city is changing how it operates. Find out more at the City of Chicago website. Mayor Richard M. Daley is committed to building a sustainable city and hopes to make Chicago the most environmentally-friendly city in the world! We’ll see what he has to say on Saturday.

This year’s festival will have 350 exhibits and 150 speakers. It will focus on sustainable economy, ecological balance, and social justice. Features include green shopping, organic food, beer and wine, community networking, live music, green investing, fair trade, and a green kid’s zone.

April 21 + 22
McCormick Place and Lakeside 2301 S Lake Shore Dr
Saturday 10 AM ∙ 8 PM
Sunday 11 AM ∙ 6 PM
Tickets $5 to $19

global green

Australia to Phase out incandescent light bulbs

Australia is set to become the first country to phase out inefficient incandescent light bulbs in favor of more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs as part of its drive to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The government is mandating a nationwide phase out of incandescent bulbs by 2010. The new policy, announced by Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull should reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and household lighting costs could be reduced by up to 66 %. Exceptions will be made for special needs such as medical lighting and oven lights.

A compact fluorescent light bulb can last between 4 and 10 times longer than the average incandescent light bulb. They may be more expensive to buy, but pay for themselves in lower electric bills. They use 20% or less of the energy to produce the same amount of light. In Australia, lighting currently represents around 12% of greenhouse gas emissions from households, and around 25% of emissions from the commercial sector.

Australia already has minimum energy performance standards that apply to electrical appliances, and a similar system will be applied to light bulbs. Australia will be the first country to implement such a plan.

progressive products

World’s Best Cat Litter

Scientists at GPC have made a discovery: the highly absorbent proteins and fibers found naturally in corn actually bind cat urine and odor molecules in the litter. So they developed a patented process that turns corn into a natural litter. It clumps better, and controls odors without the need for perfumes and scents. It’s flushable, more sanitary and weighs less than clay litter. And it’s virtually dust-free, which helps eliminate tracking. If you have a cat, you’ll appreciate all these things.

Get this at Petsmart or For Dog’s Sake.

Preserve Toothbrushes

The Preserve Toothbrush was developed with dental and represents the latest in toothbrush design and function. It is constructed with environmentally friendly materials to let you replace without the waste. The Preserve is available at natural food supermarkets such as Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's.

The Preserve's handle is made of polypropylene. This plastic material was chosen for its strength and flexibility. It is an efficiently recycled material since its strength does not break down in the recycling process. Polypropylene is also available in many sources of post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled plastics, labeled #5. Presently the main source is from recycled Stonyfield Farm® yogurt cups. After reprocessing, the post-consumer plastics are tested to confirm their cleanliness - this test is called a "foreign elements reading" which shows that the cleansed and reprocessed plastics have the same infinitesimal readings of foreign elements as virgin plastics.

The Preserve's materials are also completely recyclable. The handle and bristles are effectively recycled together--the polypropylene and nylon actually strengthen as they combine in the recycling process. Return the Preserve toothbrush to Recycline, and they will use it to make material for recycled plastic lumber.

Efficient packaging also eliminates unnecessary waste. All of the packaging is made from recyclable materials, and the reusable brush canister provides a sanitary holder to keep your brush clean and portable.

St. Louis Zoo

2007-04-13T13:03:00.000-05:00

A Quick Tour of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis

2007-04-12T16:28:00.000-05:00

Please note, the door is 4' tall; 4" is a typo. The elevator to the top was small, but not THAT small!

We also enjoyed a stroll today.

2007-04-01T18:48:00.000-05:00

We tried out our new dog coupling device. It links the beasts to each other and theoretically makes it easier to walk them at the same time. No fancy t-shirts, however.

Spring

2007-04-01T17:24:00.000-05:00

Ahh Spring. Time for parks and tank tops! Here is Lil' Jon looking fly in his springtime fashions.

Seattle and Vancouver, eh?

2007-03-24T22:13:00.000-05:00

We recently returned from my premier visit to Seattle and Vancouver! Our rented Volvo offered heated seats for all of the rainy weather. We stayed at the Edgewater in Seattle, located on a pier, the same hotel The Beatles stayed in and fished off their balcony.

Our first dinner was at Cafe Flo ra in the Madison Avenue neighborhood: "A creative world of vegetarian foods." The most memorable foods were the "Caesar" salad (they used capers instead of anchovies to add that salty edge) and the lavender gelato for dessert. We also found a great cider beer - Spire Mountain. If you like cider, you'll love this brand!

Day two was for more neighborhood exploration. We ate breakfast at the Wayward Cafe in the University Neighborhood. It was the scariest place to eat delicious vegan food ever! With some "death metal" playing in the background and the cashier who may or may not have been the nude model in the painting behind us, we chowed on some of the best tasting and least pretentious vegan grub we've had.

Over in the Ballard Neighborhood (known as one of the top 10 "green" neighborhoods in the country.) We stopped into a music shop for some theme tunes for the trip. Choices were: 1) Local Artist: The Dept of Energy - Held by Waits. Great for tooling around the hills under overcast skies. 2) Album Been Meaning to Buy: OK GO - Oh no! Awesome album!! These guys bring WAY more to the table than just great choreography. Detailed descriptions of vague concepts paired with catchy drum and guitar work. 3) New Album of Artist We Like: Miss Kittin - Mixing Me. Cool techno beats, kept us awake during the drive up to Vancouver.

We drove up to the Microsoft campus in Redmond and cruised around with the company Prius cars. We also visited the Space Needle, rode the Monorail, shopped at the Pike Street Market and discovered a sculpture walk. It was nice to return to the fireplace in the hotel room. And the hotel coffee? Starbucks, of course!

Before our trek to B.C., we stopped at the 14 Carrot Cafe for brunch. A great place for veggies and non-veggies alike. "The Jewel of Eastlake." If you go, split a meal, because they give you tons of delicious eats like tahini French toast and fresh fruit. Great art as well. And we found this place from our trusty TomTom GPS. In Vancouver, we were on the top floor of the Pan Pacific, which impressed me with their double-hinged doors and half-recyclables waste bins. We visited Stanley Park, an amazingly huge wooded park with many vantage points. In the fog and mist, the moss-covered trees look like something out of a magical movie.

Everyone we met in Vancouver was so nice it made you wonder what was going on. We ate at a fabulous 24-hour vegetarian joint in an old house named The Naam. After being informed that - No, there is no list of names, just a queue (that we had just barreled through), we waited in line. :) There we had an incredible Mediterranean appetizer (and we have a Greektown here!) and, of course, a tasty local brew. We cruised through the Gas-Light district and saw all the great shopping to be had downtown. All the shops are right next to each other, so it must be easy to go on a spree (this we did not do.)

We raced the flood waters back from the Pineapple Express to Seattle and had a bite at one of Kevin's favorite haunts: Six Arms. "Another basic classic British-style-pub-meets-Deadhead kind of place." Veg-friendly, micro-brews and fantastic decor, how could we go wrong?

We had a great time on our West Coast adventure, and have more pictures on dreaddontdie!
Also check out my vacation video at http://lauriebillen.com/5%20yr%20trip.zip!

Hiking again! But no more skiing.

2007-03-22T22:20:00.000-05:00

I went for my first walk in the canyons for several weeks after finally recovering from the cut on my left heel. Good to get some exercise again. Since I was partly laid up with the heel, I had the doctor cut out a small cyst on the 2nd toe of the other foot. Of course, both the heel cut, then the toe managed to get infected. I was on an antibiotic for the heel for a week, then 2 days after finishing that prescription the toe got infected. Another week on another antibiotic. But now (one day to go on 2nd antibiotic week) everything is fine. I saw the doctor on Friday to get stitches removed from the toe and he thinks both heel and toe are heeling normally.

Trails are in good shape. There are lots of deer tracks on the trails these days. There were also horse tracks(!) on my new trail, and they made a few deep holes where the trail has not compacted enough yet. I also see that the county crews have been using the new trail to pile up and burn much of the dead wood lying around in that part of the canyon. That sort of work might save the town from the next forest fire.

The ski hill closed for the season on Sunday, March 18 after quite a good year. Too bad I missed the last month of it. It was in over 70 degrees F for too many days here to keep any snow for long. The ski club is getting closer to getting snow-making equipment installed. Most of the approvals are done, water is available in Los Alamos Canyon, and estimates for the equipment and a holding pond on top of Pajarito Mountain will be coming in soon. Then all we will need is a gourmet restaurant on top of the mountain.

First Vacation in two plus years!

2007-03-18T16:18:00.000-05:00

Sunday March 18, 2007

We finally pulled off a real vacation. After the trip to Kenosha for Stan's uncle's funeral, we headed to Gulf Shores, AL - checked in one week after we were supposed to check in, so I asked when we checked in if the unit was rented the week after we were leaving. NO, so I said, can't we start our month now, as I did buy travel insurance. The kid checking us in, and a gal that was training him - thought that sounded ok. (The "big shooter" was on the phone at the time).
They changed our dates, etc and after he got off the phone, he didn't think our travel insurance covered that, so I asked him to call the insurance company and check. He couldn't get thru - and I think he got sick of it - so ok'd the changes!!! YES!

Now we get our full month - but needed to make some changes on the other part of the trip. We had planned to go to Florida for 2 weeks and visit 5 different friends. Way too aggressive, packing and unpacking dragging shit in and out. So we decided to visit the people who live there year round - not the people who live here in the summer (we see them anyway). So we "cut"
3 visits out and went to 2 places. Bradenton for 4 days and The Villages for 3.

Back to Gulf Shores, we had a beautiful 2 bedroom condo over looking the Gulf, the weather was a little cool the first week. High's in the 50's (It was zero when we left Keno - so 50's felt pretty good) The next 3 weeks were in the high 60's lower 70's. Perfect. Stan golfed a lot, I walked the beach, and read 15 books from the library. Ate lots of seafood, did not walk enough, as I gained 5 lbs - too many fried oyster sandwiches!

Bradenton was ok - I am not real fond of the people we visited there (a childhood chum of Stan's and his wife). But the Villages was cool. HUGH retirement community - with lots of activities - we may end up there sometime in the future. Everyone rides around in golf carts. You can go to Wal-mart, Dr, hospital, dinner, shows, etc all in golf cart (we will have to put Bears logo on ours!)

The guy we visited in the Villages is getting married to another resident in July - her house is bigger than his, so he will be moving in with her. He plans to hang on to this place, so his kids can visit - we may be renting his 3 bedroom home next Jan 15 to Feb 15 and then go to Gulf Shores for a month Feb 15 - March 15 next year. When we are there, we plan to look at lots available with a realtor. Even if we never end up there, it should be a good investment. Plan to look at the most desirable lots available.

I guess that is all for now! WOW my first Blog!

It's 70*F outside today!

2007-03-13T14:17:00.000-05:00

And 82*F at my desk here at work. My elbow and knee pits are actually sweating. We aren't allowed to touch the thermostat and we don't have windows for circulation of fresh air so we are sitting in a stuffy sweatbox while it is glorious outside. Sigh. Makes me motivated to work on my class tonight an extra hour so I can be free sooner.

Craig is on his way to pick up the Prius! Yeay! The nightmare is over and I can pretend like it never happened now.

For the record.

2007-02-28T13:31:00.000-05:00

I don't understand how any sane human being (i.e. one who can hold a job at a company such as Pfizer that requires higher education and the ability to function in society) can insist that the Prius was at fault.

Diagram 1 shows the Prius coming to the intersection, looking to the West to see a blue truck almost an entire length of the lot away and deciding to continue with the right of way left turn.

Diagram 2 shows the Prius making the turn and being slammed into by the blue truck. Please note that the speed limit in the parking lot is 10 mph. Prius was slowed even more to make a left turn on the snowy parking lot.

Diagram 3 shows the results of the crash. Note the Prius is now turned 90* from the impact of the blue truck. One would ask, how could a vehicle going 10 mph and slowing down to stop have made another vehicle spin 90* while also ripping gashes in the side of the Prius from the impact?

I tell you what, I certainly cannot see in any shape or form how he can insist that he was in no way at fault for this incident. He HAD A STOP! UNBELIEVABLE!! On top of it, he claims he was planning on turning right at that intersection. How he was planning on doing so while going 30 mph on snowy terrain is beyond me. Had I waited for him to "turn", he would have still broadsided us when he spun out.

GET THIS!!!!!!!

2007-02-28T12:12:00.000-05:00

So the jerk that hit us sent a claim to his insurance company saying that I was at fault. State Farm called and I had to re-explain that I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY and he HAD A STOP. State Farm once again agrees with me and is denying his claim. But wait, it's not done yet, he can still take us to small claims court after SF denies his claim. And don't think he won't, he is enough of a jack ass to do it. So if (when) he does, I have to go to court and again prove that I was right and that he was 1) speeding and 2) not even planning on stopping at the intersection. The way this is going, I'm sure he will file a lawsuit and I'm sure it will be scheduled for when I plan to be in St. Louis. Karma better be a real bitch to this guy.

If he does sue, I'll be tempted to coutner sue for mental anguish and shitty gas milage that we've had since he trashed the Prius.

Hustle up the Hancock

2007-02-25T22:56:00.000-05:00

Today was the Hustle Up the Hancock for Kevin. Hustling up 94 floors (very early in the morning)! His other years' times are 15, 20 and 18 minutes. We'll find out soon what this year's time is.

Kevin says, "it really is an experience every time."

Thanks, Kevin! You are an inspiration to us all! Good Job!

Kevin - Before.

Kevin - After

Ice Storm!

2007-02-25T22:30:00.000-05:00

Lil' Jon in the ice storm.

While he likes walking on top of the drifts of snow, and appreciates his fabulous winter coat from Aunt Melissa and Uncle Craig, Lil' Jon is not a fan of the ice rain!
We have had very weird weather today. Winter Blitz, as the Weather Channel calls it. :) It threw off the satellite TV; may be covered in ice.

Canyons in Los Alamos

2007-02-24T16:08:00.000-05:00

Here is a view of Pueblo Canyon looking south-southwest. Pueblo Canyon runs downhill from right to left. It intersects Acid canyon (above), which goes up toward the swimming pool and Walnut Canyon (below), which goes up toward the golf course (not shown).

You can see our neighborhood just to the left of the pool. There are a number of trails visible on the canyon "bench" on both sides of Pueblo Canyon. The trail I take from the pool to the bottom is the Ranch School Trail. It is very hard to see in this view, but it comes down the east slope of Acid Canyon and ends at the footbridge that crosses the bottom of Pueblo Canyon. This bridge was washed away in a flood on July 15, 2006. To find it, start at the clearing at bottom of Walnut Canyon Road, the wide white area near the bottom of the photo and look to the right a short distance. The trail I built last fall (not shown in this picture from Spring, 2006) starts at the clearing and runs to the left down Pueblo Canyon a short distance, then turns left to go up parallel to the road but on the other side of Walnut Canyon. It connects with Walnut Canyon Road just beyond the bottom of this view. The prominent U-shaped trail on the opposite side is a dirt road that starts at the Los Alamos Jewish Center on Canyon Road. The portion of this road that is horizontal in the picture is the remains of an old pipeline road. There used to be a high bridge called the Peggy Sue Bridge that continued the horizontal segment of road to the right across Acid Canyon. This year I plan to work on widening a trail off to the left down Pueblo Canyon. The trail is about 250 feet above the bottom of the canyon. The views are spectacular, but the present trail is too narrow and dangerous to be gawking at the views while walking.

Google Earth view of 905 Circle Dr.

2007-02-23T23:01:00.000-05:00

Resolution of Los Alamos is now much better Google Earth than a couple of years ago. This picture shows our neighborhood called 2500 Central . Circle Drive enters off Rose street on the left. The first house on the left is 900 Circle Dr. and the numbers increase as you go around the outside of the road. The four houses in the center island are 926 to 929. Ours is 905 Circle Dr., which is the right hand side of the third pair from Rose St. That is the Mesa Public Library just behind our house. The architect wanted it to look like a bird from the air, and for that he got some sort of award. Other architects like it, but the building is not very functional. The building just across Central from 2500 Central is the new movie theater called the Reel Deal Theater. The developer was Bill Deal, who we occasionally see at Santa Fe Opera functions. The dark area in the upper right is Ashley Pond, named after the person Ashley Pond, who founded the Los Alamos Ranch School (see http://www.losalamoshistory.org/school.htm). Los Alamos Canyon appear in the upper right.

A bit more from Chinese New Year

2007-02-22T22:46:00.000-05:00

Chinese New Year Parade

2007-02-22T22:18:00.000-05:00

Chinese New Year

Yes, it was lots of fun, but a bit chilly (of course). We had lunch at Moon Palace, which is some of the best Chinese food in Chinatown, according to me. I took Melissa and Ma on an adventure on the CTA (I took us on the wrong train.) :) But we got there just in time. The "lions" came out to the restaurants to eat cabbage and oranges to give the business good luck.

Happy New Year! May it be auspicious!

Here is Melissa at the Parade :)

Year of the Pig

2007-02-21T21:47:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday was Chinese New Year and to celebrate the coming year of the Boar (It's your year Dad), Laurie and I went to Chinatown for the parade and lunch.

In the restaurant.

Greetings!

2007-02-21T21:41:00.000-05:00

Laurie and I would like to welcome you all to our new blog designed to keep everyone in the family in the loop. We hope you enjoy reading and posting family news!

Melissa and Laurie