FeeFiFoto Blog

More Power To Me: Choosing Green Power

I received a flier in the mail today from our electricity provider, titled "Choose Green Power."  Here's the gist:

"When you enroll in Pure Power, AmerenUE buys 100% renewable energy credits on your behalf.  Most households can reduce the same amount of CO2 emissions in a year as they could by not driving one car for 19 months (emphasis in the original.  Gee, sometimes it's just a little too obvious that I'm a former lawyer, isn't it?).  And they do this for about 50 cents a day."

What are Renewable Energy Credits?  According to wiseGEEK:

"While a consumer would ideally... purchase renewable energy for his or her home, this is not always possible. Renewable Energy Credits allow companies and individuals to support alternative power in areas which do not offer it directly...

Along with carbon offsets and other incentive programs, Renewable Energy Credits are part of a growing movement which acknowledges that even small changes make a big difference. By supporting green energy, consumers show that there is a demand for it, and companies can build more plants or accelerate production with the funds raised through the sale of Renewable Energy Credits. Organizations which promote programs like this hope to eventually see everyone's ecological footprint, meaning the amount of resources and space needed to support a particular lifestyle, greatly reduced."

It's Time For Some Change: Kids And Money

Today both of my kids coincidentally had concerts.  Cupcake performed with our city's children's choir on a recruiting and community service tour of schools and a children's hospital.  Robespierre performed with his school band at our local Overpriced Amusement Park, after which the kids got to wander around the park for a few hours before the bus came to take them home.  All the kids in both ensembles wore black pants, white shirts and black shoes; they looked like little waiters.

Cupcake packed a lunch and a water bottle, but Robespierre was on his own for lunch at the Overpriced Amusement Park.  Admission was charged to his school bookstore account, but lunch, drinks, snacks and entertainments were on him me.  I gave him $50 just in case; I expected about $20 back.

Here's what he brought home:

Don't Hate Me Because... In Which I Get To Cuddle Babies

...I'm beautiful I got to cuddle nine-week-old babies all morning.  Really, you should feel sorry for me because, do you know what a burden it is to cuddle multiples?  My morning consisted of:

• Picking up one baby for cuddling and rocking,
• Picking up another baby and having to cuddle and rock two,
• Putting one down and rocking it in the car seat while still holding the other,
• All this while listening to nonstop lullaby music.

Meanwhile, I had to change a wet diaper, caress tiny heads, and smell that milky baby smell that compares only to the aromas of fresh coffee, mowed grass, new car and puppy breath.  I could barely stand it when one of them found a tiny hand and went to sleep with knuckles in its mouth.

Sheesh.

Pity me.  I have to do it again tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday: Department Of Redundancy And Repetition

Who's In Your Reader? Tell Me What To Read

Image: TV Acres

I have to confess: I've been abusing Entrecard.  I signed up a year ago, early enough that my ID number is in the low 6000's.  Entrecard seemed to be an excellent tool for developing readership and finding hidden jewels among the mountains of fool's gold clamoring for my attention in BlogWorld.  I liked Entrecard; still do.  I dropped and dropped and dropped; it was one of the few situations when dropping something was actually a good thing.  I left comments and discovered blogs that give me immense enjoyment, like I Do Things and The Junk Drawer.

But I strayed.  Oh Lordy, how I strayed.

Anyone Want A Cute Dog, Cheap? Fine, But You'll Have To Catch Her First

My parents came over for dinner tonight.  As they entered through the garage, Miss Puppy exited.

I read, while researching Tibetan Terriers, of their cleverness, their stubbornness, their tendency to regard any instance off leash as a state-sanctioned game of Oh No You Can't Catch Me.  Our dog trainer (yes, the dog can afford a trainer, but I'm reduced to riding the stationary bike while watching The Weakest Link over and over and over) insisted that any dog could be taught to walk peacefully and obediently off leash, implying that what the dog hasn't learned is the fault of the owner, since there are no bad dogs but only bad, neglectful, lazy and incompetent owners.  I've learned to smile and nod agreeably in conversations with obsessives, and then ignore their preaching.  I'm not going to take the chance that the dog will bolt just as I'm trying to teach her not to bolt, so she's never allowed off the leash in an unfenced area.

Love Notes: Telling The Kids I Love Them

A precious girl and a precious boy passed away last week.

I emailed both of my kids simple love notes; nothing more than "I love you.  Love, Mom."

Robespierre insisted I not do that; his excuse was that my emails slow down his computer, but I know the real reason is that he's afraid his friends will laugh at him if they see emails from his mother.

I don't care.  I'm doing it anyway.

I love you Robey.  I love you Cupcake

Photo Hunters: Purple

In memory of Madeline Spohr.

See more Photo Hunters here.

Photoshop Phriday: Week Three

Okay, you guys are killing me.  I didn't want to make Photoshop Phriday too difficult but you all have your thinking caps on so I think I'm going to have to pick up the pace.  Here's the next puzzle:

Here's a photo of a thing. The thing is recognizable, but the photo has been seriously doctored, since I've been learning how to use Photoshop.  Your job is to see through the modifications to identify whatever the thing is. The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to FeeFiFoto.  I'll publish the answer and the name of the winner on Monday. Good luck!

Into A Nearby Telephone Booth: I'm A Hero Because I Heard Rick Riordan Is Coming To Town

They screamed.  They squealed.  Their eyes practically popped out of their heads.  They held each other's hands and jumped up and down.  Were there tears of joy and ecstasy?  Swooning?  Rending of garments?  Quite possibly.

What brought on this frenzied display of emotion?  Was school canceled for the rest of the semester?  Had the entire class won the lottery?  Was Paul McCartney dropping in for a private concert?

It was my announcement to the Cupcake's third grade class that Rick Riordan, author of The Lightning Thief and the rest of the Percy Jackson series, is coming to our public library on tour for his newest book (the last in the series).

For that brief moment I was a superhero.  Who knew it would take so little to impress them?

Too Soon To Tell: The Effects Of Limiting Television

Since the Grounding of the Television happened only last week, it's too early to know whether there's been any lasting benefit from the move.  Strangely, the kids seem to have accepted the sequestering of the telly without much resistance; on the advice of my sister I've allowed an exemption for the occasional baseball game, which made Robey happy but seemed not to impress The Cupcake, although she has willingly and surprisingly participated in our Let's Learn Baseball background lectures.

In the past couple of years, since homework and after-school schedules have become more demanding, we haven't had much opportunity for quiet dinners at home, and the temptation of television has made obtaining family time that much more more challenging.  Since the exile of the television, though, we have had a few more real dinners, along with some enlightening conversation.  One theme last week was "When I grow up... "  We must have been discussing the parameters of the television embargo and I asked them what rules they'd impose when they have their own kids.

Wordless Wednesday: Sometimes It's Okay To Play With Your Food

The Space Shuttle, built from donated cans by Robespierre's 6th grade class.  Sixth Grade won first place in the middle school, and all the sculptures will be dismantled and donated to a food bank.

Wonder How Long He Wore The Lei Before Trying To Eat It? Bobama Comes To The White House

The Obamas got a Portuguese Water Dog puppy.  This means that within about six months we're going to see a lot of abandoned PWDs, that same way we see lots of abandoned Dalmations every time 101 Dalmations is reissued.  According to Wikipedia:

"[Subsequent to each reissue of the Disney films, m]any well-meaning enthusiasts purchased Dalmatians—often for their children—without educating themselves on the breed and the responsibilities that come with owning such a high-energy dog breed. Since Dalmatians were originally bred to run with horses, they require frequent exercise to keep them out of mischief. Many owners find themselves unable to cope with the breed's or the specimen's characteristics and cannot provide their dogs with adequate care. Dalmatians were abandoned in large numbers by their original owners and left with animal shelters."

Photoshop Phriday Winner

Did you guess what the photo was?  Let me refresh your memory.

Here's the puzzle photo:

And here's the actual object:

It's a Russian Nesting Doll, or "Matryoshka."  In provincial Russia, "Matryona" and "Matriyosha" were popular female names, derived from the Latin root "mater" (mother) and evoking the image of the healthy and zaftig mother of a big family. Eventually Matryoshka came to refer to the nesting dolls modeled after such women and their families. The first Russian nesting doll contained 8 pieces: a girl with a black rooster, then a boy, then another, finishing with a baby in the center.  Some nesting dolls are devoted to historical or storybook characters. 

For much more detailed information on the history of Russian nesting dolls, click on Russian Legacy.

And our first correct commenter Mrs. Marine.

Now wasn't that just gangs of fun?  Come back soon and play again.

Photo Hunters: Triangle

It may be hard to tell from this slightly fuzzy picture, but this is a large triangle made by Robespierre, in a blacksmithing class he took at summer camp.

Blacksmithing.  That is just wicked cool, in my opinion, first that a camp could offer such an activity (what do I know?  Maybe they all do.  I hated camp), and second that Robey would be interested in something that requires strict discipline.  I mean he could burn himself up or permanently brand himself, but he takes it very seriously, follows the rules, and comes home with treasures like this one.  Which he gave to my father.  Along with the handmade barbecue spatula.  While I get bupkes...

Anyway, all I care about is that he enjoy himself.  Really.  I don't require any recognition...

See more Photo Hunters here.

Photoshop Phriday Week 2

Ready for a challenge? Here's a photo. Of a thing. The thing is recognizable, that is if you have eyes like a fly that can see infrared or whatever it is that flies see. In any case, I've altered the photo of the thing, and your job is to see through the modifications to identify whatever the thing is. The winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to FeeFiFoto. This one looks pretty easy to me, but maybe it's because I already know the answer.  I'll publish the answer and the name of the winner on Monday. Good luck!

Passover Starts Tonight

Image courtesy of Diana's Desserts

Happy Passover to all my Jewish friends, and to all the Gentiles out there who think matzah is yummy and delicious -- just be grateful you don't have to eat it for a solid week.

For anyone who doesn't know, Passover is a Jewish holiday that comes in the spring, commemorating our escape from slavery in Egypt.  Jewish families gather to retell the story of the Exodus so that we and our descendants will always remember.  Different aspects of the story are represented by different foods we display on the table and eat.  The youngest child present takes part in the service by asking four questions about the meaning of the holiday, and the rest of the pre- and post-meal service comprises the retelling of the story and an explanation of the various foods and traditions.

During Passover we refrain from eating anything leavened, including pasta, crackers, cookies, pancakes, cereals, and bread, of course.  Instead, we eat matzah, which is a flat, unleavened cracker representing the dough that the Jews didn't have time to let rise as they prepared to flee.  There are strict rules for manufacturing matzah, such as the requirement that the manufacturing process, from start to finish, take less than 18 minutes.

Wordless Wednesday: I Haz A Cheezburger

U no touch it, k?

Cold Turkey: Cutting Off Television

I took away the television.  Completely.  Open-endedly.

It wasn't anything having to the do with the television per se.  At the moment I took it away the TV wasn't even on, although it had seen some action earlier in the day.

Robespierre and I have been butting heads lately on issues of manners and empathy, completely typical for a mother and a 12-year-old boy, yet still distressing for me.  I understand that he wants to assert himself by the way he dresses or the language he uses.  I know it's totally uncool to kiss your mom goodbye in the morning (although, could he spare a wink or a thumbs up?  Sheesh).  These are not the things that keep me awake at night.

What does keep me awake is my concern that he might drift away from the persona I've tried to help him establish as a kind, thoughtful human being, a mensch.  It's okay if he wants to dress gangsta-ish or goth-ish; to him dressing goth is little more than wearing black and he looks good in black, so what do I care?  It's okay if he feels like cursing after stubbing his toe; I feel the same way.

Photoshop Phriday: We Have A Winner

Did you guess what the photo was?  Let me refresh your memory.

Here's the puzzle photo:

And here's the actual object:

It's a peacock feather!  Don't you just love peacock feathers?  And our first correct commenter was Thorne.  Yay! 

Now wasn't that just gangs of fun?  Come back soon and play again.