Time on My Hands

Unemployment. I thought it would just be a few months. NOT!

I have so much time on my hands that at one time I tried to develop an exercise routine for the fat buildup below my armpits. It looks like I am alone in this dilemma since I cannot find anything on it in the internet! Or maybe there is none that can tone it? Or make it a little bit un-ugly? While everybody buys a bra by cup size, I look for one which can hold my "side boobs" down. Depressing ...

Garbage, Garbage Cans and Garbage Footprint

I do not know when I started to think of what "Garbage Footprint" means. Husband started being mindful of what I throw in the garbage. I throw a shampoo plastic container, a shoebox or an empty cereal box and find them resurrected in a paperbag stashed in one corner of our kitchen. Husband taught me how to look for the recyclable symbol before I throw them in the garbage. This determines if I get to throw it in the garbage can or in his paperbag. Not much thought process went into it even though I read that the recyclable symbol has dozens of variations - and each has a different meaning.

Very recently, I learned that as homeowners, we have the option to request a smaller garbage bin and save $4 per month in our utilities bill. We have 3 bins. One is for garbage, another is for recyclables and the third is for garden waste. We do not have the option to refuse any of the three. Oh -- we actually do, but the State will still bill us for collection ... so WTF?

So I requested for a smaller garbage bin. I also requested for smaller recyclables and garden waste bins and I was told that I can do that too but they will not reward me with a deduction in my utilities bill. Whoa! That made me think ... hmmmm. I began to be appreciative of why the State will give me a reduction in my monthly bill by requesting a smaller garbage bin. They perceived me as throwing less garbage. And by throwing less garbage, I am minimizing my garbage footprint. Then by minimizing my garbage footprint, I am saving the planet!!! On the other hand, they are not rewarding me for using smaller bins for recyclables and garden waste and that makes sense!

Wow. I can imagine kids knowing this because of the emphasis that the schools are givng on planet awareness now. I do not think we were educated like that during our time. Or maybe we were ... but it was not as BIG as it is today.

Now I look for the recycle symbol before I even buy things. If I do not find it, I look for an alternative which might have it. How is that for progress! I am now looking forward to the day when I will have more stuff in the recycle bin than in the garbage. I may have jumped in sooo late in this bandwagon but I have always been a late bloomer anyway so I am celebrating it :)

So, to reward myself for being earth-friendly, I bought a sparkling new garbage can for the kitchen. Look at my fingerprint-free brushed stainless steel garbage can. Haha! I look at it standing tall in my kitchen and I am almost hesitant to throw garbage in it. I will not say how much this costs as I might slap myself unconscious!

GPS

Who knew we would come to an age when we can rely on a box to give us directions on how to get somewhere? Now we do not have to map out our way in our heads. We do not need to know north, east, west or south. All we need is to listen and know left from right. It even allows us to make mistakes! It "recalculates" and leads us back on our way.

So when will we get a GPS-like gadget for relationships? Go or no go?

Social Networking

It is hard not to get involved in social networking when you use the internet for work. I held out as long as I could but I now use Facebook, Multiply and Twitter. I use each for specific purposes.

I use Facebook to see the latest pictures and news from my friends and relatives. It is amazing how I came to connect with long-lost friends and relatives because of FB. I do not have to remember birthdays because FB reminds me!

I use Multiply to store pictures from my camera. I am waiting for the time they will charge for storage space when it gets too crowded already =( In the meantime, I use it to share photos with my closest relatives and friends. I try to make each photo album like a storybook. I just enjoy sharing my joys through pictures.

The buzz on Twitter finally got to me. I am a twitterer. I have yet to get the hang of starting a twitter thread. Mainly because I have 36 followers and I only know one of them IRL (in real life). Pathetic huh? I enjoy short bursts of wit. I already have favorites. It is amazing to see celebrities twitting about what is going on IN REAL TIME!

Wait - I also have a YouTube account. Someone tracking my YouTube viewing history will know that I am a Dancing with the Stars addict! I do not post anything in YouTube anymore because I do it all in Multiply. But I have a lot of treasure finds in YouTube. My favorites and recommend watching at least once:

1. The family (buffalo) dynamic at the Battle at Kruger.

2. The angst filled song, Because of You , sang by KD Lang and Tony Bennett and Kahit Isang Saglit sang by Martin Nievera. Brilliant artists!!!

3. The EXQUISITE Kristi Yamaguchi as she figure skates in this number .

4. This marriage proposal and the funny and witty reply of Steffi Graf as she was getting ready to serve in a tennis match.

5. Dancing with the Stars clips of course!

Oh and I also belong to several Yahoogroups. I am exhaused already. Now, I need to work on networking IRL!

Hello Blogosphere!

I'm baaaaack! Sounds like I have an audience when I pretty much talk to myself :) I am threatening the blogosphere that I have a surge in writing again as I feel I have a lot of thoughts to post. Now why do I feel that? I think I belong to that group of humanity who can best express themselves through writing. My family sees me cry while watching Brothers and Sisters or Grey's Anatomy or a sentimental commercial (oh yes!) and that is all the mush that they see. They do not know that I am 10 times mushier than what they actually believe!