Notes from Missouri

Zoo Trip

2011-08-16T20:09:00.001-07:00

Zoo 020
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

Raja put on quite a show for us. He really knows how to please a crowd.

On the Ferry

2011-08-16T20:04:00.001-07:00

On the Ferry
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

Here's my birthday photo for 2011. Out to Kinder's, on the Golden Eagle Ferry. I love this place - it's just bar food, but the view from the deck is wonderful - not to mention the hummingbirds.

Gethsemani - Arrival

2011-08-05T19:24:00.000-07:00

Gethsemani 032
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

I flew into Louisville on a seering hot Friday, and within minutes was driving down to Trappist, KY, the home of the Abbey of Gethsemani - the oldest monastery in the US. My goal - to spend a four-day silent retreat and evaluate my life, backward and forward.

I came across the web page of the Abbey by Googling for something else - which is how I find all kinds of great stuff. It seemed perfect - no pressure, no activities, no talking. It's Catholic, but I found several blogs and reviews by people who, like me, are not members of that denomination. It's a completely open, loving facility.

I arrived at lunchtime, and found a note at the front desk that instructed retreatants to go have lunch, then come back to check in. I walked into the silent dining room and saw people eating in silence - one to a table - staring out the window into a lovely garden. In a way, the people in the dining room were also like a garden - each person very different, coming to the retreat with very different goals, thoughts, problems, lives.

Blumenhof Winery

2011-06-14T17:24:00.001-07:00

Winery 021
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

We had a great anniversary out at Blumenhof Winery, which is just past Augusta in Warren County. It may technicall be in Dutzow.

This is our favorite winery, because it's small and fun, and the wine is great. It never gets as crowded as Montelle or Sugar Creek.

On the way back, we stopped by the new Nobleis Winery, and we'll definitely go back there.

Snow in St. Louis

2010-01-01T19:53:00.001-08:00

009
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

It's been snowing here off and on. We haven't had much accumulation to speak of, but we've seen lots of fluffly flakes. This is take off the top of a parking garage on Jefferson.

Slow Food St. Louis

2009-10-06T17:37:00.001-07:00

Slow Food St. Louis Logo
Originally uploaded by slowfoodstl

Last night, at the Joel Salatin lecture, I saw a table that advertised the St. Louis Slow Food group. I was intrigued, but they attracted a huge crowd, so I checked them out online.

Here is part of their mission:

Slow Food is an international, educational organization devoted to promoting fresh, local, and sustainably-produced food, biodiversity, and the preservation of food traditions, as well as celebrating the pleasures of the table.

Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes, and how our food choices affect the rest of the world.

Slow Food is good, clean, and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good, that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare, or our health, and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

They have a lot of events, including an upcoming trivia night that I'm sorry I'll have to miss. Through October 15th, membership is whatever you can afford.

Looks like an intersting bunch, so I did join. You can, too, at http://www.slowfoodstl.org/ .

The Meat You Eat

2009-10-06T04:47:00.001-07:00

Can you say passionate?
Originally uploaded by greenzabiha

About a month ago, my husband and I read "The Omnivore's Dilemma," by Michael Pollan. A big part of the book focused on Joel Salatin, owner of Polyface Farms, a holistic farm that raises no-antibiotic, grass-fed, free-range beef, pork, chicken, and eggs.

Last night, we were fortunate enough to be able to see Salatin speak at Webster University in St. Louis. His methods are not only fascinating, they're very scientific. Instead of using his brain to create more modern machinery to produce larger and more profitable animals, he uses his extensive knowledge of biology to create a sustainable method of rotating animals across his large farm in a way where they support each other.

We met some great people while we were there, including a family from Kansas City whose 14-year-old has decided to become a farmer, and talked his parents into getting a flock of chickens, which he raises Joel's way. His hopes are to try a cow next - but his mom said that their suburban yard is too small, "We'd have to move!"

If you're in the St. Louis Area and want to dip into the sustainable, grass fed, non-antibiotic, grass-fed pool, definitely get out to Benne's farm in St. Charles. Ron Benne has been featured in Sauce Magazine twice, as the "Pillar of Sustainability."

10 Tweeps That I Love to Twead!

2009-04-07T18:45:00.001-07:00

she's baaaack!!!
Originally uploaded by bvshort

These ten Tweeps are people that I love to see Twittering....

1. Mignon Fogarty - Also known as "Grammar Girl," she has all the answers to your grammar issues. Whether your problem is with apostrophes or tenses, you should be following @GrammarGirl.

2. Best Tweet - "Museum for the Art of Micro-Elegance." You don't have to worry about missing the most insightful or funniest tweets on Twitter...@BstTwt does it for you...and he does it very well!

3. Demi Moore - If you like following celebs, you just can't get more real than @MrsKutcher. Whether she's in a limo, or reading a book, she tells it like it is.

4. Bonnie Burton - A blogger from San Francisco, she is an editor/writer for Lucasfilm. She has a quick wit and is very generous with really fun replies to tweets. For a light, fun and funny Tweep, follow @bonniegrrl.

5. Chaviva - She calls herself a "Blogging Jewess." She has a very interesting and busy life, and tweets it with finesse! Don't miss @kvetchingeditor.

6. Wendi Lynn Makeup -- A makeup artist on the TV Show "Heroes," she also works for other interesting Hollywood shows in her spare time. Not only does she give inside information into your favorite Monday night program, she has an interesting and fun life of her own! Twitter @wendilynnmakeup.

7. Jason Tusman - If you love a dry, dry, dry wit, you'll love @whoisJason. He's also an incredible photographer with a fantastic online gallery at http://www.jasontusman.com/ .

8. Bill Mitchell - An expert on many facets of technology - and life! If you have a question, go to @askbillmitchell.

9. Susan Iskiwitch - She's a "digital strategist" with a fresh outlook on everything in her life. She tweets about PR, marketing, technology, and life in St. Louis. Follow @susanisk.

10. Wil Wheaton - My first celebrity tweep, he's not just Wesley Crusher...he's an author, a sports fan, a father...he's just this guy, you know? Whether you're a Star Trek fan or not, you'll enjoy @wilw.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (review)

2009-04-05T19:00:00.001-07:00

jekyll-hyde
Originally uploaded by Walwyn

This afternoon, we went to see "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" at the Repertory Theater of St. Louis.

The star of the show was definitely the set design. It was a beautiful two story set with stairs coming down both sides, and intense red lights which added quite a bit to the story, almost as if it was another actor. For instance, during one of the murder scenes, when the body fell to the floor, the red lights represented the blood spreading across the stage, which looked very modern and realistic.

Another very different method that was used was to have Mr. Hyde played by all of the supporting actors. This is very hard to describe, but it was extremely effective. It showed not only the unattainable nature of the posession by Mr. Hyde, it gave the character so many other facets than just one actor can provide.

The best actor of the day, in my opinion, was Scott Schafer. He went from role to role to role, and I wouldn't have even known it except for the fact that I read in the program that he played five main roles...not minor roles, not small roles...main roles. I would love to meet him in person, because I'm sure he wouldn't look at all like any of the characters he played. He was definitely the highlight of the cast.

All in all, this was an excellent play and well-deserving of presentation at the Rep. It still has another weekend, so if you have time to get out there, I highly suggest it.

Identifying and Categorizing Goals

2009-04-04T06:04:00.001-07:00

File
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

I spent some time yesterday working out of "You Can Do It!" The first badge is about dreaming and identifying dreams. I spent a lot of time listing dreams that I knew about, dreams from when I was a kid that never materialized, and things that I knew I could do but never did.

I narrowed it down to 30 things, and matched them up with badges in the book, if possible. I organized them by how long it would take to do them, the effort it would take, and category.

Did I mention how much I love Excel?

I worked on a few of the initial steps of some of the badges - photography, taking care of my health, planning a party, learning a language and playing an instrument. The first steps are easy - mostly just identifying the goal. The next steps will be tougher!

You can do it!

2009-04-02T19:35:00.001-07:00

Under Bridge
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

I am starting to work on "You Can Do It!," by Laura Catuzzi Grandcolas. It's a series of 60 badges, in the same vein as scouting badges, but it's for adult women.

The first badge is about exploring and identifying your dreams, in order to even know which badges to work on next. Most of the things I've written down so far are dreams that I know I have, there haven't really been any surprises, but I have a few more exercises to go.

My plan is to blog the whole book, but I've planned to blog all of something before, and rarely get past a few entries. Perhaps this will be different. I am already way ahead on my New Year's Resolutions!

The London Tea Room

2009-03-28T15:41:00.001-07:00

The London Tea Room
Originally uploaded by jricker

It was a rainy, chilly, English...er, St. Louis morning when our St. Louis Tea Meetup group visited the London Tea Room. Despite the weather, the tea room was bustling with a very diverse crowd of patrons.

The atmosphere is stately, yet cozy, with a nice mix of glass and wood tables, as well as hardback and cozy chairs. Whatever your seating pleasure, they have you covered.

The main counter is fronted with a full case of quiches, pastries, cakes, brownies and, of course, scones. A bounty of teas fill the backboard, which proudly displays the moniker, "THE LONDON TEA ROOM."

Of course, we started off with tea. The menu of beverages is overwhelming for the casual tea drinker. Be sure to read all of the clever descriptions - you won't be sorry. I had previously tried the Monk's blend, and was going for the Fifth of November blend, only to find out that it had been sold out for the day.

Our waitress, Amanda, came to the rescue like a pro. She offered to make a blend of Organic Vanilla and a dash of Oolong, which would give sweet vanilla taste with a smoky touch. Bingo! I did tell her that the owners should add this as "Amanda's Blend" on the menu, and by the time I left, she had already made the same for another happy customer. It was so good, I'd definitely order it up front next time.

To eat, I went for "The Croque Monsieur," which is hard to say but, oh, so delicious to eat. It's basically a smoked ham sandwich on their pugliese bread. Add both muenster and gruyere cheese, and you have a delightful - and very large lunch.

Last time I was there, I had the Apple and Brie sandwich on the same type of bread. It was slippery, but something very different for the vegetarian appetite.

Dessert was a difficult choice, but definitely try one of the cakes. They had a citrus an poppyseed that I wish I had tried, but I went for the carrot cake and I was not disappointed. Each of my lunchmates had a dessert, and they were so large that not one of us could finish ours, and we are no amateurs when it comes to finishing desserts.

If you're in the mood for shopping, you can find many English treats to take home with you, from Cadbury chocolate to Marmite. I only recommend one of them. You guess which.

If you're down by the City Museum, definitely stop in for lunch or just a snack, and don't forget to pick up some tea to take home!

Visit http://www.thelondontearoom.com/ for directions.

Got the Life by Fieldy (review)

2009-03-25T19:41:00.001-07:00

gotthelife
Originally uploaded by gr8fulged

I was fortunate enough to see Korn (with Staind) many years ago, and really enjoyed the concert. This might not seem unusual, except for the fact that I was a parent chaperoning my kids at the time. The "nu Metal" sound of Korn was new, fresh and interesting. Little did I know how much this band was hurting on a personal level.

Fieldy, Korn's bassist, opens up about his own alcoholism, drug abuse, violence, and general immaturity in a way that shows extreme vulnerability. He takes complete responsibilty and shows deep remorse for the hurts of his past, but makes it clear that his heart was always in the music and with the fans. He shows a love for all of the band members, past and present.

The writing style is as coarse as the material. Fieldy doesn't sprinkle the pages with flower petals, and readers shouldn't expect a watered-down version of a picnic with Korn. I loved the edginess, yet compassion, that resides in these pages.

In addition to a great story, the book is crammed full of great photos of Fieldy, his family, band members, and other cebrities and fans.

It's very well done, and very enlightening. This would make a great gift for teens who are starting to move off of the straight and narrow.

Corned Beef Brisket

2009-03-15T16:40:00.001-07:00

Preparation (153:366)
Originally uploaded by MannyWallace

I made a wonderful corned beef brisket tonight in the oven. I purchased it from the Schnuck's on Zumbehl, and it was very good...and very tender.

It weighed 2.83 lbs. before taking off the fat. I wrapped it in foil and put it in the roasting pan (on the rack), and cooked it at 300 for about 2.5 hours.

My meat thermometer bit the dust, or I would have liked it to have been about 160 degrees before I took it out. Since corned beef is pink on the inside when it's completely done, it's hard to tell just by eyeballing it.

I used my best judgement, and it all worked out.

Cracker Barrel

2009-03-14T14:44:00.001-07:00

Love of mine....
Originally uploaded by ifollowedarabbit

Today, after the Toastmasters contest, we went to the Cracker Barrel in St. Charles, MO.

For a fake old fashioned restaurant, Cracker Barrel has some darned good food. Today, I had a sausage skillet, which had onions, peppers, eggs, cheese and, of course, sausage. Served with incredible two buttermilk biscuits, it's a very inexpensive - and large - meal.

Our waitress, Connie, with a southern drawl that fit right in to the atmosphere. She turned out to be an expert at pouring tea out of both the left and right side of the pitcher. Not an easy feat considering she was adeptly handling many tables.

Of course, no visit to Cracker Barrel is complete without a visit to the gift shop. The had some cute Easter items out, and a lot of winter clothing that was 50% off.

I hardly ever go there, because I always forget it's there - tucked right next to the Convention Center - but I'm always glad (and full!) when I remember.

Fountain Lakes Park

2009-03-07T13:56:00.001-08:00

Walkway
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

I went Geocaching in Fountain Lakes Park today. Went for seven, found five. The road was flooded so, of course, I waded across. It was about a food deep in the middle.

Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef

2009-01-18T11:17:00.001-08:00

IFF Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef
Originally uploaded by Margaret Wertheim

I saw this on Flickr and thought it was cool. It's a Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef that looks very lifelike. The word "hyperbolic" comes from a geometric term for circular functions, and you can see how that would apply for crocheting.

Hyperbolic crochet is a favorite among both environmentalists and mathematicians.

2009-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

Unforgettable Walks to Take Before You Die by Steve Watkins

Rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a gorgeous book, full of photos of thirty wonderful walks all around the world. Each walk includes a thorough, interesting, write-up about each walk - travel, lodging, interesting sites, history, tips, warnings, and even the natural significance of the surroundings. Highly recommended for people looking for a peaceful adventure. I rated it four stars only because I would have loved to have seen more than thirty walks!

Off to a great start...

2009-01-01T10:02:00.001-08:00

January 1 - 2
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

Hello, and Happy New Year!

Last night, we had a great celebration at the Comedy Forum in St. Peters, featuring the Fryman. It was the usual fare - comedy, champagne, noisemakers and dancing.

Today, I'm just catching up around the house and preparing for a wonderful new year. I hope you're doing the same!

As you can see by the photo, Savannah is spending the first day of 2009 pretty much the same way she's spent every day of the last six-plus years....catnapping.

Poor Union Station!

2008-12-26T18:56:00.001-08:00

Union Station . Saint Louis . Missouri
Originally uploaded by Stinkie Pinkie

I hadn't been to Union Station in a couple of years. Today, I decided to go there. I had visions of wandering in and out of shops, including the bookstore, the train shop, all of the little artsy shops.

Well, it didn't quite happen that way. Less than half of the shops were full, and the ones that were left were very sad. There are almost no shops on the top level, and only a couple of food places in the food court.

The train shop and bookstore are gone, as are the little specialty stores. I saw a Body Shop, a Dog Shop, a few Cardinals shops, a couple of St. Louis souvenir shops, and a candy shop. Even the mini-golf seemed to be closed.

Union Station is gorgeous, and stil has some great restaurants - Houlihan's, Hard Rock Cafe, etc. The hotel seems to be thriving as well. It all looks like mud without the shops, though.

Looking for a book club?

2008-12-21T18:30:00.001-08:00

Photowalk St. charles Missouri August 2008
Originally uploaded by Rich_stl

Last Monday, I went to the organizational meeting of a great new book club being held at Picasso's Coffee House in Old Town St. Charles. The conversation was stimulating and the people are fabulous. If you're looking for a book club, please drop in!

Meetings are on the third Monday of the month at 7PM. The next meeting is January 19th. For January, we're reading "Cat's Cradle" by Kurt Vonnegut, and for February, it's "The Audacity of Hope," by Barack Obama. Everyone is welcome!

Missouri History Museum

2008-12-14T14:33:00.001-08:00

Missouri History Museum
Originally uploaded by Brian M!

We headed on over to the Missouri History Museum today, where they are having a wonderful exhibit honoring George Washington Carver. If you live in St. Louis, you should definitely stop in and see it.

In addition, there's a great Lindbergh exhibit, which doesn't focus on the actual flight as much as the hoopla surrounding Lindbergh once the flight was successful. It was overwhelming!

There was also a small display honoring Anheuser-Busch, which probably should be put in the basement, at least until the layoffs are over. While I understand that it's a part of our area's history, this rough patch should probably be a little more in the past before we're ready to honor it again.

We stepped into Meriwether's Restaurant at the museum for brunch. The food display was practically an exhibit in itself...and we made quite history of it!

All in all, it was a nice few hours in a great St. Louis Museum. It's right on the Metrolink, so it has very easy access for everyone. I highly recommend putting a visit on your calendar very soon!

Inside the Actors Studio

2008-12-06T09:59:00.001-08:00

1006081855.jpg
Originally uploaded by cZimba

Watching a marathon of "Inside the Actors Studio" with James Lipton. Guests inlcluded Daniel Radcliffe, Alec Baldwin, Dave Chapelle, and James Lipton (being interviewed himself). What a great show, for everyone - not just actors. If you're a speaker, or even just want to get out and live life to the fullest, there's a lot of great stuff here.

Hancock

2008-12-05T20:56:00.001-08:00

Hancock Movie Advertising Wall
Originally uploaded by tipacali

"Hancock" had promise, for the first half. The second half really was slow. Too much sad-Charlize-Theron-face. I didn't really care about their plight, I just wanted to see him save more people!

Moon-Jupiter-Venus

2008-12-01T18:01:00.000-08:00

This photo was shot over Australia, of the gorgeous moon tonight. We can't see it here -- we're under complete cloud cover. You're not only seeing the moon here, but also Jupiter and Venus. Incredible -- well, for those who aren't encumbered by CLOUDS. This won't happen again for 44 years, when I'm too old to go outside and see it. They look close, but are really 500 million miles apart. All of you with clear skies, get out there and look at it!

Phil, our Guardian Gnome

2008-11-30T12:53:00.001-08:00

Phil, our guardian gnome
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

We had some snow overnight, which turned into rain later on today. The rain stomped on the snow, and all that's left are a few icy remnants.

The photo is one that I could get any day of the year, rain or shine. Phil is always sleeping, but provides a reminder to everyone who comes up the front steps what home and family really are.

He came to us after the fire, and he was placed there the day we moved back into our home after six long months away. His name is "Phil" after our contractor, who understood our situation and really took care of us -- leaving our home a much better place than even before he arrived.

With Phil, the contractor, we knew that our house was our home even when we weren't living there. With Phil, the gnome, we are reminded of the same -- even if the girls have moved out and live across the country, they always have a home here.

Geocaching at Queeny Park

2008-11-29T14:28:00.001-08:00

Birds At Queeny Park
Originally uploaded by fotobydave

Spent a couple of hours out in Queeny Park today with my husband and some friends, looking for Geocaches. Thanks to a lot of construction, it was more difficult than it would have been under normal circumstances. This was their first time caching, and they seemed to really enjoy it. Anything that's outdoors and requires some thinking is always a winner!

Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T19:17:00.001-08:00

multitudes
Originally uploaded by Wen Z.

I think the picture covers it all -- what I'm most thankful for is differences -- different people, different personalities, different sunsets, different books, different children, different likes, different dislikes -- a whole colorful jar of markers with which to draw the world.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T13:57:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by twinsline7

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my friends out in Internet-Land. We had a wonderful dinner -- husband and dog are sleeping it off!

Riding the 'link

2008-11-26T20:19:00.001-08:00

New Red Line Headsign
Originally uploaded by =DMG-42=

Every day, I ride the Metrolink to work. I get a lot of reading done, but the best part is all of the people I see every day...all kinds of people. All ages, walks of life, occupations, types of dress, you name it...they're on the 'link.

I ride from Hanley to Union Station and back, which takes about 20 minutes. If you see me, say "hey!"

Meeting Michael Apted

2008-11-25T19:18:00.001-08:00

Apted 030
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

On Sunday, November 23rd, director Michael Apted appeared at the Tivoli Theater in University City to accept a lifetime achievement award for his documentaries. There was a great interview, and then a Q&A session, in which I participated. There was also a showing of "The Power of the Game," Apted's new soccer documenatry. Afterwards, I was able to talk to him in the lobby a little bit.

If you're not familiar with Michael Apted, I suggest you check out the "Up" series, starting with "7 Up," then "!4 Up," "21 Up" and so on, until "49 Up." Apted interviews a group of children when they are 7 years old, then every seven years afterwards. The kids are fairly ordinary, but have very interesting outlooks on life which some of them change (and some do not) over the years. I highly recommend them!

Always a Bowling Pin, Never a Bridesmaid

2008-08-10T14:00:00.001-07:00

Sophie, Barbara, Megan
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

This photos is from my sister's "retro" wedding at Concord Bowl. This is me (the bowling pin), with my nieces Sophie and Megan.

New Job, New Start

2008-07-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in a few weeks...the company for which I work was bought out. The contractor conversion spots were cancelled and I only have 6 months on my contract. So, I just went out and found a new job, which I start on August 19th.

Paper or plastic?

2008-07-08T14:43:00.001-07:00

you're still using paper?

Neither, of course! Why? According to Enviroliteracy, "to assess the comparative environmental impacts of each material is not a simple matter; it requires consideration of the inputs of matter and energy throughout each stage of the life cycle of each product."

Gomestic!

2008-06-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Tips on gardening, finance, and going GREEN at Gomestic.

The Best Plates, Ever

2008-06-18T11:39:00.001-07:00

Verterra makes plates and bowls completely from fallen leaves and water. No kidding! They are compostable, reusable, microwaveable. Check them out!

International Day of the African Child

2008-06-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

June 16th is the International Day of the African Child. In 1976 in Soweto, South Africa, thousands of African school children took to the streets in a march to protest the inferior quality of their education. Hundreds of young boys and girls were shot down. To honor the memory of those killed and the courage of all the children who marched, the Day of the African Child has been celebrated on June 16th every year since 1991.

In honor of this day, head over to Global Girlfriend and give a one-time donation to provide school uniforms for girls in rural Africa ($25), send an AIDS orphan to school in Zambia ($20). or providing school meals for African children ($20). You can even give $36 to the WhizzKids HIV Prevention Soccer Camp for African Kids.

How does the Iowa Stored Energy Park (ISEP) Work?

2008-06-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Iowa Stored Energy Park is a fantastic idea from the Hawkeye State where wind is plentiful. So plentiful, in fact, they are building a wind power generator to power municipal utility companies all over the state. Cool!

The actual compost starter

2008-06-09T20:08:00.001-07:00

June8_3
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

Yard and garden clippings, and some wood chips from some stumps we had ground up last year. The wood chips have been over the garden all winter, so it might be half compost already!

My New Composter

2008-06-09T20:07:00.001-07:00

June8_2
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

This is a 90-gallon Feelgood composter that I ordered from HomeDepot.com. It was very easy to assemble, and not to bad to get started. We'll see what happens!

Reusable Bags

2008-06-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

Try these great biodegradable compostable plastic bags. Sandwich sized and trash can sized. I'm sure this is the wave of the future. You can get them at ReusableBags.com

Think Outside the Bottle

2008-05-29T13:08:00.000-07:00

Up to 40% of bottled water comes from the same source as tap water, but is sold back to consumers at hundreds of times the cost. Producing bottles to meet Americans’ demand for bottled water required more than 17 million barrels of oil last year – enough fuel for more than 1 million U.S. cars for a year - and generated more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide.

Take the pledge to give up bottled water at ThinkOutsidetheBottle.org.

Is my blog too long?

2008-05-28T09:11:00.000-07:00

Adocu, the new one-word blog, just opened today. I am proud to be a charter member! Use it to update your status quickly, or to put one-word (hyphens are allowed!) thoughts into the minds of (eventually) millions! Here's my page...check it out:

http://adocu.com/missouri_gal

"Final Salute"

2008-05-27T14:14:00.000-07:00

The eMail Our Military blog, is giving away a copy of Jim Sheeler's "Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives."

This book is about the servicemen and women who notify loved ones of a soldier's death. They have a unique look at every family's worst nightmare. Jim Sheeler spent two years working with Major Steve Beck, a marine in charge of casualty notification.

To enter to win a copy, head over to eMail Our Military.

In fact, visit the blog even if you don't want to enter the drawing, just to learn more about how you can touch a soldier's life with one email.

Hypermiling

2008-05-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Get better gas mileage without getting a new car, or buying anything...become a hypermiler! Hypermilers try to get the best gas mileage possible out of the car they have by adopting new and better driving habits. Get 100 tips on better driving,

Covenant House

2008-05-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

I've been donating to the Covenant House of St. Louis for many years, since I saw their story on local television. They serve teenagers and young adults who are too old for the foster care system and too young for adult missions. The goal is to make them self-sufficient, so they won't need to use adult mission services, and can function as independent adults.

Buy eBay items for Myanmar and China Relief Funds

2008-05-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

Support China Earthquake Relief

Support Myanmar Cyclone Relief

Endangered Species Day

2008-05-16T17:56:00.000-07:00

May 16th, Endangered Species Day is a day to celebrate Endagered Species successes!

Who Doesn't Love Sea Turtles?

2008-05-16T14:56:00.001-07:00

reefturt
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

Today's link is tothe Caribbean Conservation Corporation and Sea Turtle Survivor League: http://www.cccturtle.org/.

Read all about sea turtles and the attempt to conserve their habitat. Adopt a sea turtle, or just follow one as it jets around the Caribbean. You can even volunteer to help out in the research of sea turtles.

Impact Your World

2008-05-13T05:53:00.000-07:00

On May 12, a devastating 7.9 magnitude earthquake rocked the mountainous regions of South Asia. As I write this, the casualty figure is hovering around 9,000, with about 18,000 still missing.

In Myanmar, over 30,000 people were killed this month when a cyclone hit the region.

Where there is need in the world, World Vision is there. Please visit their web site and read about their works and, if you feel moved, give of what you are lucky enough to have to help others.

Save the Children of Darfur

2008-05-06T19:51:00.000-07:00

SaveDarfur.com

Five Things You Can Do in 15 Minutes

Convince China to Use Influence to Stop the Violence in Darfur

Purple and Gold

2008-05-05T19:58:00.001-07:00

Purple and Gold
Originally uploaded by missouri_gal

Spring has sprung at the St. Louis Zoo. This is near the bear pits.

Lake Victoria Disability Centre

2008-05-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

The Lake Victoria Disability Centre was formed as a vocational training centre with the primary objective of improving access to social, economic and educational opportunities for disabled youths in the Mara region of Tanzania. One in 10 people in Tanzania are disabled – 3,456,900 people suffer from a physical, mental, hearing or visual impairment.

Global Girlfriend

2008-05-03T10:07:00.001-07:00

Their tagline is: "Women-made. Eco-friendly. Fair Trade." What more could you ask for in a gift?

They offer organic apparel, jewelry, bath and body, paper, handbags - you name it!

You can even make a donation that will go to shoes for schoolgirls in Africa, dolls for refugee children, saving monarch habitats, and books for children in Nepal...75 charities in all! Donations can also be given as gifts.

Please peruse Global Girlfriend, and bookmark it...the holidays are coming up fast!

Exxon Valdez -- Still a Mess

2008-05-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Did you know that tons of volunteers are still cleaning up the Exxon Valdex oil spill nine years after the fact? Exxon Valdez Spill Trustee Council is still very hard at work.

Here's a photo of current research efforts on mussels, which shows the amount of oil that's left!

A Divine Site

2008-04-29T08:47:00.001-07:00

I found this site yesterday: Divine Caroline. The writing and design is above average, and you can write your own articles and reviews. If you're a creative woman, you can find a lot to read and do here.

Make a Loan, Save a Life

2008-04-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

I have been involved in Kiva for almost a year. I heard about it on NPR, endorsed by President Bill Clinton. Basically, you make a $25 loan to someone in an impoverished nation, and they use it to help build a business. You pool your loan with others around the world to help people help themselves. Check it out:

Meds and Food for Kids

2008-04-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

I had a great conversation with a friend who is on the board of Meds and Food for Kids , a not-for-profit organization that feeds starving children in Haiti. Through a special food product that they developed, they help keep 120 children a month from certain death. They also provide dietary education for mothers, and provide some jobs for local workers. What impressed me the most is that all of their adminstrative workers are volunteers, so 100% (that's right, 100%) of your donations go directly to the operation in Haiti. Check out the web page and, if you're moved, make a donation.