Essentially Speaking

My sister was in town recently and we were both interested in seeing Julia and Julie. We were delighted. The idea of blogging every day seems daunting and the movie does a great job developing the unfamiliar side effects that blogging inherently provokes. Judgement by others being at the top of the list. But isn't that what typically happens anyway, whether blogging or not? Random worrying about what others might think, are already thinking or have thought in the past....

Less so than you would think. Essentially, we are all wrapped up in our own story and hardly recognize that most others are really not that interested in what we have to say or when. Our self centered motives for blogging or any other self promotion usually go unrequited, unnoticed and uneffective in garnering that much coveted attention. Truthfully, we've created this false reality that others sit around anticipating ways to judge us, from our hair and clothes to our very blogs and facebookings. Where are most people when we tentatively tap the publish button, regretting the post as we watch the hourglass drip? They are busy with their lives, and only so often do they tap into your realm, read your blunders and smile, feeling better by engaging in a hap hazard quip relayed by a friend and congratulating you for your courage, whilst remarking that your grammar needs improvement.

Happy posting!

Fair Expectations: Rainforest Alliance v. Fairtrade

Fair Expectations: Rainforest Alliance v. Fairtrade

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How can PR help your business? example 1

Grant Opportunities for Earth-Friendly Community Improvement Projects Local Nonprofits and Community Groups can Win National Recognition and $5,000 in Plants to assist in the Betterment of the Environment from the Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards. Omaha, NE (PRWEB) January 21, 2009 -- The Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards (http://www.naturehills.com/green_america_awards.aspx) is a new annual award program created by Nature Hills Nursery. Nature Hills Nursery offers plant grants and national recognition to the winners, and is currently accepting project submissions from community groups and local organizations. Any local community group or nonprofit organization can apply by submitting a gardening or "greening" project for consideration. Nature Hills Nursery is looking for submissions that aim to improve local environments; projects that are literally "greening" communities, parks, schools and public spaces by planting trees, shrubs and other plants. Many Nature Hills Nursery Green America Award Applications have already been received from boy scout groups, church and school organizations, booster clubs and other groups throughout the United States. Potential award winning project ideas could range from the refurbishing of a landscape in a community park to the reclamation of an abandoned lot with the creation of a fruit orchard that will provide much needed fruit to nearby low-income residents. The Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards (http://www.naturehills.com/green_america_awards.aspx) Grand Prize winning garden project will receive $2,500 in plants from Nature Hills Nursery. The First Prize winner will receive $1,500 in plants and the Second Prize winner will receive $1,000 in plants. The plant materials can contain any combination of trees, fruit trees, bushes and shrubs, perennials and vegetable seeds that Nature Hills Nursery offers. Applications for the Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards will be accepted now until April 1, 2009, with the inaugural award winners chosen on April 2, 2009. The winners of the 2009 Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards will be announced on April 17, 2009. To apply for the 2009 award online, visit the Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards website. About Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Nature Hills Nursery (http://www.naturehills.com/) is a website-only retailer that sells trees, shrubs, perennials and other plants. The company created the Nature Hills Nursery Green America Awards as a way to give back to the communities and people who have contributed to the success of the seven-year-old company. The company's website is NatureHills.com Media Inquiries: Jeffrey Dinslage Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. (402)934-8116 ext.101

Skydivers Rejoice Repack

Skydiving equipment must be inspected on a fairly regular basis and the benefit of this routine is fewer malfunctions. Malfunctions are just what they sound like, failures in various materials and functions, and failure is not an option for most people. Not that all malfunctions have life changing outcomes, but the rule goes that the fewer malfunctions you have the better chance you have of a successful landings. Success, of course, can cover a broad range of landings, we will qualify it as walking, limping or crawling off the landing area. Whether or not you have dirt, grass or red ants all over your jump suit is not of particular concern. Welcome to skydiving.
Recently, FAA rules have been reviewed regarding the frequency of these inspections and the public was rewarded with a long contested change giving skydivers less frequent reserve repacks. Regulations per the FAA are observed at all US dropzones and skydiving gear is routinely checked to ensure safety is job one. The reserve is not supposed to be needed, just like an air bag, but once its out it better work.

To see the article, visit the official USPA website story:
http://uspa.org/NewsEvents/News/tabid/59/Default.aspx#4832

Utopia

current.com has a cable broadcast that highlights viewer created content. One story talked briefly, less than a minute, on the Federation of Damanhur and it's temple.
I was intrigued enough to visit the website.
The temple is extraordinary.
See for yourself.
http://www.thetemples.org/

Broken

6 weeks! 6 f-ing weeks! ugh.

well, at least I can type.

What is Skydiving?

There is a wind tunnel in Orlando of which I have been a patron. It has been nearly eight years ago but I wil never forget it. It was not housed in a temperature controlled environment so, not unlike jumping at altitude in winter, the bitterly cold blast was much like actual skydiving. This particular January, the boys were in West Virginia with their dad and I am discovering how bitterly cold it can get in Florida. Temperatures on New Year's Eve dropped to the 30's with a wind chill making it feel like 15 degrees. Ther were four of us that decided that it would be fun to jump in the wind tunnel whilst the temperatures hovered just above freeze my butt off.

Kate and I left her place in Royal Palm Beach early, planning a pick up of Dale and Shane in Jupiter Farms before heading to Orlando. We made it there without incident and each took turns riding the wind tunnel. We came prepared with gloves, mittens, hats, suits, etc. I think we were even wearing long underwear. The video above shows the amazing flight that can be acheived both in the wind tunnel and while skydiving. Expensive but worth it.

15 minutes in the wind tunnel: $125

the thrill of flying and the mastering of wind: priceless

I don't know....

Lake Placid, FL trip : Rest and Relaxation

Jake hanging with the Ladies

Blog Friends

Fellow bloggers in the Artemis world.
Sister Kelly often posts stories and pictures related to her business in Weissport, Pennsylvania. She started a quilt shop ten years ago and it's grown to include many characters.
Her blog:
http://the-quiltery.blogspot.com/

A neighbor and good friend has also entered the journalistic world of blogging, although she is more of a photo blogger and is quite talented.
Jenalee has many subjects (sounds like she's a Queen) but her favorites of the hour, as evidenced by her blog, are her two and her fiance's two Golden Retrievers.
I am impressed with her creative eye.
Her blog:
http://barefootinflorida1.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

I am off to Clewiston, Florida today to drop off my rig for its quarterly repack. Pain the buttocks but that's the rules for now. The weather doesn't look accommodating for skydiving but our trip is not about jumping. Brock is heading down with me, and although it's a long drive, one and half hours, we'll keep ourselves entertained nonetheless. He has never been to the drop zone. His love of airplanes could make this a very exciting trip for him. I want him to see the skydivers fly in so if it looks like there won't be jumpers today we may postpone our excursion.

ttfn