Economy and The Saving of Energy Versus Warmth: Where is the Line?

For me, the line is drawn significantly in front of freezing in the office. Just moments ago, I had on three layers, one of which is some kind of wool blend, and fingerless gloves, also a wool knit blend (%60 wool, %20 angora, %20 acrylic), and I still felt cold! I have decided to put my coat on, even though it somewhat restricts my shoulder movment, and confuses my keyboard into opening strange windows. My fingernails are not blue, not yet, but they feel as though they might be.

How does Lucky say it, in 101 Dalmatians? "My nose is froze, my toes are froze, my ears are froze..." I've misquoted, for sure, but the point remains the same. Nobody should have to wear her coat in the office. Coats are for outdoors. There was a day not too long ago, on which I can remember noting the fact that I didn't even have to button up my (winter) coat, before going outside - because it. already. was.

Thankfully, I am not working in the museum, whose thermometers yesterday measured the cozy temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. But with all the people coming and going from our building, and our position right next to the foyer, and the glass wall that forms part of the exterior wall, it's still not warm.

Now, I'm all for saving energy, and if that means not having a really nice 72 degree temp in the home or office, I can handle that. But 60 degrees I definitely do not do. Nor do I appreciate 65 degrees. In fact, whenever I feel cold and prickly all day long, I'm not comfortable, and quite frequently as a result, do not work productively. There's an old saying that seems relevant here, although it leaves the audience with a negative impression of the speaker/writer: "I can't work in these conditions!" Quite literally, I can't. Just like when a person has to pee really badly, the discomfort of being cold completely overrides all other thought processes. All I think about is how cold my fingers are, and how uncomfortable wearing my coat for 5 hours is, and even how cold my toes (in socks and boots!) feel.

Color me unimpressed and very cold, and unproductive. Did I mention irritated?

Environmental Do-Gooding

I planted my first tree today! Got up before the sun, made my way to DC to work with Casey Trees, an organization that helps restore the urban tree canopy. Good thing they had coffee, and even though I arrived early, I didn't have to wait long for a hot cup. Styrofoam-ish, but what can you do. I hope eventually the improvements I make by helping to plant trees outweighs the styrofoam cups I've used. Though next time I may bring my own mug.

Our tree was perfect. Well, nearly. Straight, but with a slightly crooked trunk, nearly deep enough in the ground. We had to deal with massive root systems left behind by ground cover and an earlier generation of trees. Lifted out a root-and-dirt carpet about 5 inches deep at one point. The trees our team planted were sugar gum, which I'd never heard of before, but they're quite pretty with star-shaped leaves and closely resemble the maples that we were replacing.

I learned how to use a pick-ax. Not sure I'm entirely comfortable with them, but they're not difficult. Just want to be careful not to puncture anyone. Could cause a nasty wound.

Got dirty and looked like a vagabond on the Metro ride home, and didn't feel the cold for at least an hour, we were working so hard. That's the first time in a long time I've had a chance to play in the dirt. All for a charitable cause, too. Can it get any better?

In the end, I can't write enough positive things about this new experience. Furthermore, I'm proud of having accomplished something as unique as planting a tree. What a great and productive way to spend a Saturday morning. Probably this is something I'll do more than just the once.

Before I sign off, a nod to Tyler Sloan, who tonight scored his first NHL goal while playing for the Caps in Dallas. Let's Go Caps!

The Sant Ocean Hall

Took a trip to the Smithsonian on this lovely autumn afternoon (crisp air, turning leaves, warm sunshine). National Museum of Natural History, to be precise. They have a new exhibit there, called the Sant Ocean Hall. Only opened last month, and unfortunately everyone else in the city also decided to visit the new exhibit today. Incredible exhibit, with very wide scope, as one might imagine for an exhibit whose subject amounts to 70% of the earth's surface. Not too detailed, instead very succinct panels and then more specific information about the many models, photographs and especially preserved remains of various species. Learned that the weird-looking creature I found once on East Sands at St Andrews is called a - well, I've forgotten the name now, but it's similar to a star fish. Only more wormlike. Ah, yes. Brittle stars. Point is, good to know, finally. Didn't have time to explore everything, but some of what I did included North Pacific Cultures (a traditional canoe hangs above here) whales - one in particular, called Phoenix - and coral reefs and the Poles, north and south. Another room I couldn't investigate had fossils, a jawbone of an ancient (and much, much, larger) great white shark. Called Megamouth, or something (carcharodon megalodon, technically). I could step through the jaws without ducking or hitting the three, four, five rows of teeth, I think. Shiver. Saw a video projected onto a sphere to represent the earth, and watched a theater presentation on submarine diving (to the deep ocean, approximately 2 miles under the surface).

Verdict: Well worth a visit. And then a second, and maybe a third, to get all the information. Good thing it's FREE!!! (God, I love living in DC some days)

Rediscovering "Family Time" at Dinner

There's something about eating with friends and family that just equals comfort. Comfort food on another level, if you will. Growing up, we always had dinner together as a family. Now that I live on my own, it happens far less frequently. Not all the siblings can gather together at the same time, because sometimes one is really busy and another is on travel or on the other side of the country. Only once have I lived with flatmates in a situation where we ate together most nights, because we alternated cooking dinner. All of us enjoy cooking, and they had a talent for it, luckily for me.

But I'm rambling. As a young adult, living on my own, eating together happens very infrequently. Last night, for the first time, my newish roommates and I finally got around to having a "roomies dinner". And I discovered how much I miss cooking for people. Not that I'm exceptionally talented, nor do I have the time or inclination to cook for people every night, but once in a while I do really enjoy it.

So last night I cooked a chicken, which I haven't done since I first moved in. It all started with the usual debate about what kind of chicken to buy, the choices being chicken (not free range, unfortunately) not given antibiotics or fed bits of other animals, and preserved without immersing it in water (evidently the Europeans do it differently) and then organic. Look at Green Guides for an article on different safety/environmental labels for beef (not sure if they have one specifically for chicken). I went for the cheaper version, because it seemed healthy and at the same time was $4 cheaper than the organic birds. Of course we were running late, so had to rush a little in the eating, but it's not even so much the eating with others I enjoy as the cooking part. A glass of wine; chopping veggies; putting the bird in the oven; mixing the cookie dough; occasionally munching on the food that's supposed to be cooked; and chatting all the while.

Who else can't wait for Thanksgiving?

Happy Discovery of America Day!

"In fourteen-hundred-ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue..." yadda yadda yadda. Today was a federal holiday. Those of us who work for the government and didn't go to work to have the day after Thanksgiving off, well, didn't have to go to work today. No matter that there doesn't seem to be any real point to it. There's nothing to celebrate, like our country's independence, no feasts to be prepared and then shared, no presents to be given... it's just a day off. For some of us. I'll admit, up front, that I love having three-day weekends and I wouldn't want to get rid of Columbus Day, because that would bring the total down to nine. And I want as many holidays as I can get!

However.

Most people know by now that Columbus did not actually discover the North (or even South) American continent, but a tiny island (in comparison) called Hispaniola. Or rather, which he named Hispaniola. Strong work there, Chris. Not only that, but he wasn't even aiming for a new world! Some might say that whether or not he succeeded - in his actual goal or in discovering the New World - he brought awareness of the new world to Europeans. Sure. Obviously they didn't know about it prior to his visits, because he claimed to be the first. And didn't even imagine when he got there that where he was wasn't, in fact, India. Furthermore, other explorers discovered the "new world" centuries before Columbus. Take Lief Eriksson, for example. Lived five centuries before Columbus and established a colony in Canada.

My point is, Columbus is given more credit than he probably deserves. Not that he doesn't deserve any, he just isn't the only important explorer. In light of the above, why not call it "Discovery of America" Day, and teach the elementary students about all the sightings and discoveries of America. These days, being politically correct is so important. The name for this holiday could better describe the important historical event, in my opinion. While we're at it, why don't we celebrate the establishment of all the various colonies? Who's for it, eh?

P.S. The Caps won today, "spanked" (a word I heard from a disappointed Vancouver fan on the Metro ride home) the Canucks with a score of 5-1. Sat four rows from the boards today, where the players seem much, much bigger than they are from the 400 level sections, and where the action is even more exciting. Shiny.