Going Barefoot

Tom's Shoes has asked people to go barefoot today, April 8th, so that we can experience the difference shoes can make in a child's life. For more info, check it out here: http://www.onedaywithoutshoes.com/

So, we're doing our part. The boys and I took a walk this morning down to the Farmer's Market. We were looking for "the honey man" as we go through honey like crazy, and now that allergies are upon us we need it more than ever! Sadly, he wasn't there today. Fear not, he'll be there this weekend. The walk was not a waste though (is a walk ever a waste?).

This used to be Miss Zini's house. Now her grandson lives there. I love the rocks (sorry for crappy photo quality, I used the cell phone) and the way he's made little cairns, or rock sculptures. The boys thought it was pretty neat too.


Salem's City Hall. Always stately and beautiful, in every season. We had been noticing & identifying all the different flowers that were blooming as our walk progressed, and so, we had to stop and admire all the red tulips in front of City Hall.

What else did we learn on our walk?

~Always watch out for broken glass, it's a bad, bad thing. - We saw broken glass but luckily didn't have trouble avoiding it.

~Pesticides Suck. - We talked about how putting a lot of chemicals on the ground was "yucky." The boys decided that the idea of walking barefoot on a ground doused in chemicals wasn't too appealing, and announced their pleasure in our yard being free of them. We talked about how if we don't want to walk on them, imagine the animals that have to live in the ground or who get their food from the ground (like our chickens). Yuck.

~Asphalt is HOT! - Luckily our walk was early in the morning before the asphalt really got hot. Mama knew well enough to time that one on purpose. But, we were able to notice a very significant change in temperature between grass, concrete sidewalks, old & gray asphalt roads, and freshly paved asphalt parking lots. We talked about the impact it had on the world around us.

~There are people who have it a LOT worse than we do, so we should be grateful for what we've got! - This was the main lesson when we started our walk. To be grateful for the things we have. To help the kids realize why it is good to donate things we don't have use for anymore (or that we've outgrown, etc) to people who could use them or need them. To remember that, despite how we might feel from time to time, we've got a pretty darn cushy life. Not all people are so lucky.

My apologies if any of the above lessons seem overly simplistic and obvious to you who might be reading this. Please remember that Shannon is 6 and Tristan is 3, so lessons learned have to be on a level that they can learn them.

Goals ~ Do Girl Scout Cookies Count?

I blogged the other day about some goals - wanting to shed some weight, be healthy, you know, THOSE goals. So, how am I doing??

First, I've met the walking goals pretty nicely. This week I've not only started my wonderful cycle, but I got sidelined by a nasty migraine. I made an appointment at Dancing Crane Center of Chinese Medicine for some acupuncture (they have a clinic now - very cool!) and gave myself enough time to walk down there. --- Lesson Learned: If you're going to walk, wear shoes that are good for walking. Not the shoes you've been wearing every winter for the past 6 years that are comfy as all get out, but apparently not good for strolls around town. Thankfully Stephanie was tres cool & acupunctured me right on back to not-crippled shins. Migraine is slowly subsiding too!
We also took another walk down to the library today. With both kids. And both dogs. That doesn't sound like that much of a task, but Jomo doesn't really know how to walk on a leash, is scared of EVERYTHING, looks mean but is really a chicken-shit, and weighs a very muscular 80 pounds or so. My hands feel raw from trying to hold the leash. And hold Tristan's hand. And not fall. Justin remarked that we should've given Jomo a Valium before leaving and I think he was right. When I got home I thought I was going to throw up (no joke). --- Lesson Learned: Wanna intensify you're walk? Walk Jomo!

Now, I know you're wondering about the Girl Scout Cookies. It is a cold, hard fact that the genius who came up with the concept of adorable little girls selling boxes of delicious cookies once a year should be shot. Really.
Thursday, like I said, I was down with the migraine. And I was crampy. My step-dad (thanks Barry!) picked up the kids after their naps, taking them for the afternoon, allowing me to rest. Ah .. quiet.
I have been good about eating breakfast. I even ate a nice little lunch. You know the rule: Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, approx. every three hours.
So .... does a box of Girl Scout Cookies count as a meal?? That was what I noshed on as I laid in bed, with PMS cravings and a throbbing head. I needed cookies. I HAD to have them. Justin had hidden them, per my request, but *TA DA* I found them!!
I mean, c'mon, 15 cookies should NOT count as a box!! Not 15 6" diameter cookies. No, 15 little tiny, two maybe three bite cookies. Not good, I know. But really, I don't regret it.

If I ever find the person who thought up Girl Scout Cookies I'm gonna give them a good beat-down. Unless, of course, they agree to start calling 'Caramel delites' & 'Peanut Butter Patties' their proper damn names, 'Samoas' & 'Tagalongs'!!