what to do about youth these days

Hi, All

Something happened to me after picking up Little R from school. It was around 4:45 pm, I just wanted to turn a corner but there were some male youths bunched off the curb. Since safety comes first, I didn't want to accidentally run into anyone who did not notice that I was there. So I did was I thought was the sensible thing to do: lightly beep my horn to get their attention.

Now, what I expected was that they would notice me wanting to turn and just hop onto the curb and let me turn. I smiled at them (this is just a common greeting) in a gesture of "thanks" but they cursed and threatened me, spat on my car and warned me "go around next time!" Why were they SO angry? Did they not see that I just wanted them to be safe? Was it not courtesy to step out of the way (off the street) when someone is trying to turn?

There were about 5 or 6 of them to my right and a couple more coming from my left. Little R was in the back observing this violent situation, so what was I to do? I just smiled and briefly explained that I didn't want to accidentally run into them (they weren't looking and couldn't see me - that's why I beeped).

As you can imagine, I don't feel good about this. I realise that I know very little about how youth are these days, and even less on HOW to deal with them. DH strongly recommends avoiding them. Seriously, they looked no more than junior high kids - maybe 15 at the most. I just could NOT understand the anger and inappropriate language that employed. Where is respect? Did I actually do something wrong?

PLEASE leave your comments to give some insight and advice on how I could avoid these situations in the future. But this experience also stirs up many questions on our social system and educational system. What is behind their violent behaviour? How do we protect ourselves? We live in a small town - what do you do if you can't avoid them?

sick as sick can be for me

Sorry, I've been out of touch. I don't remember ever having to deal with so much temporary illness: flu, cold, pinkeye, diarrhea, vomiting... Yes, it started off with just caring for the kids with these inconveniences, but now it seems to have spiraled out to me.

It started last week when I took Little S to the Walk-in for her pinkeye (yes, and the previous week before that was for her stomach flu). I felt a bit of a sore throat coming on, finding it a little uncomfortable to breathe deeply, but I expected it to pass within a day or two.

So, Saturday came along. It was a long awaited all-day seminar on autism and anxiety with Kari Dunn. Both DH and I were congested, ears plugged, but we had waited weeks for this, plus Auntie D and my mom had already come over for the day. So, we went and experienced the most awful cafeteria food since university! But the seminar was okay, although most of it occurred in the dark.

And BTW, I've been applying for jobs too at night. Remember, I didn't expect to be sick for so long. It's not supposed to happen to busy parents.

Luckily for me, DH was still on vacation this week so took care of most of the kids' needs. He's great at that. Sunday, Monday and especially Tuesday I was very dizzy, couldn't breathe well, coughed up and blew out a whole lot of yucky stuff... as I'm still doing today.

DH decided that he had to go to Ottawa for Thursday so asked Auntie D to come help out. She helped, and I felt better. I felt well enough to go out to eat lunch and walk back home.

Oh, BTW, I got a call for a job interview Wednesday while I was lying in bed. The interview was for Friday. Yes! Surely within two days, I would be much better. So, as Thursday is ending, I start losing my voice. Friday morning (that's today) I woke up unable to speak!

So, of course I had to email (since I couldn't call without a voice) and reschedule the appointment... pretty bad since it was for a "health" position. I'm really glad that they gave me a second chance to go in next week. Not wanting to leave my health in the hands of chance, I decided to go to the Walk-in to get the stuff that I normally avoid: antibiotics.

The doctor also recommended Advil and Tylenol Cold/Sinus. The antibiotics ended costing almost $60. Now I've taken the first dosage, and my head hurts, my left ear and left side of throat have a sharp pain when I swallow - now get this: I got out of bed with one pink crusty eye! Now there are also other womanly things going on, which I won't even go further about... Anyway, right now after over a week of not feeling well, I have pinkeye, a sore throat, no voice, a horrible wet cough, gross muccus, painful ear, bad taste in my mouth, a horrible headache... let me stop there. I WILL get better. I must think myself better. And if you could all help me, send your good vibes and thoughts my way :) Thanks!

So, now I've sent DH out for some Advil Cold and some over-the-counter drops for pinkeye. I want to get better now! I can't believe how much "unnatural" stuff I've taken... against my usual self, to try to get better. I just hope it works. It's crucial time now to be healthy so that people will want to hire me to be a health consultant!

Okay, thanks for reading my complaint of poor health.
Here's to everyone: hale and hearty health!

Roll up the rim to win?

I recently wrote about those red and yellow coloured Tim Horton's roll-up-to-win cups: www.ecomuse.ca.

I don't want you to think that I don't like Tim's. But I'd like to emphasize that habits (little on-going actions) have a big impact on our environment and our health. I went to Cornwall with my family this past weekend to visit family. And in Cornwall, there is a HUGE Tim Horton's coffee and food culture. Everywhere I went I saw people drinking from landfill cups, or I saw landfill cups and paper bags on the streets, lawns and in public garbage areas. It sounds like people have an addiction to coffee (and their cups) as I did to potato chips (I still do enjoy chips, BTW).

Well, I am openly admitting to you that I bought three bagels and a donut this past weekend from a Tim Horton's. I hadn't had a donut for a very long time, and it was a very nice treat albeit unhealthy. After the first bagel, Little S asked for "more bagel" so I decided that we should go get another since we weren't allowed to eat such things around Little R. I brought the paper bag back, but the worker there just gave me another bag. The next day, I made sure to specifically ask that they reuse the bag I brought.

I felt my conscience on me after eating and participating in the Tim Horton's culture. What were people going to think of my actions??? First, I ate a donut (which I would not recommend to others), then I participated in using the paper bag one time. On top of all that, I was teaching my daughter that in order to eat bagels we have to sneak out to Tim's. In doing so, we were supporting a company that promotes quick waste (single use cups, in particular). What kind of example was I? And on top of that, I enjoyed the sinful donut!

Okay, this goes to show you that I'm far from being perfect (and I never will be). I do enjoy some bad things once in a while, but I have to make sure that my habits are as clean as possible. 100% is very difficult if at all possible to achieve, but I can always strive to be 90%. There's no sense in immobilising myself for little things.

Seeing landfill cups bother me all the time, but I can't control people to not use them. However, I can be disapproving. And people know this when they come over. Anyway, two or more landfill cups had been sitting on my kitchen counter and in my car (not mine!). Finally, DH urged me to take them to a Tim Horton's for recycling. Well, I spent about half and hour walking to one during a lunch hour that I decided to take to go recycle these cups and lids. When I got to the shop, the worker didn't even know that the municipal recycling program did not accept these cups! Alas, their shop and the other Tim's shop that was close by didn't offer the landfill cup recycling program. So, now I have two of these cups in my car just waiting to be "taken care of."

Bye-bye, cats

E and H Cats have a new home now. It's still sad every time I think about them. I miss them a lot, but I believe they have a new owner who has time to dedicate to them. March Break was emotionally draining with all the changes in our household.

According to me, E and H Cats will always be a part of our family. They were our first babies. We were going to keep them until they were old. Alas, if ever their present owner needed to find them a new home, I hope that we would be in the position to welcome them back.

Job seeking in sales

Time to go "back to work" - as if I haven't been working for the last 4 years! But, I think you know what I mean. I need to make an income to support my family now.

Please let me know if you know of any opportunites for working for an eco-conscious company in the areas of sales, admin and customer service. I am seeking a position that is flexible and rewards the worker for his/her performance. I also want to work for a cause such as recuding waste and promoting a healthier lifestyle.

Some of my skills (although rusty) and traits:
-functional with computers, Internet and Windows Office Package
-functional communication skills, good interpersonal skills
-able to adapt and problem solve
-fluent in French, functional in Spanish, functional in Chinese (Cantonese)
-diligent worker

Water saving tips

How to make the most of your water:

1. consider a sponge bath
   
2. use the water from your sponge bath to wash your underwear and socks
   
3. use only as much water as you need to cook (this will also save on the fuel needed to heat the water)
   
4. consider flushing the toilet less
   
5. keep a bowl of water in the sink to rinse your hands while you're prepping instead of running the tap every time
   
6. consider using the water from your dehumidifier to water plants
   
7. use the water from washing veggies to water plants or wash dishes
   
8. consider a tankless water heater (hot water on demand means you don't have to run so much water)

Changing habits and kicking addictions

DH and I talked a little this morning about how much our home life-style has changed in the last two years. I remember how overwhelming the journey seemed. I remember looking up at the mountain that we were to climb. Then I just focused on where we were and the next little step. And with each little step we took, a habit would change. And as habits changed, the journey was not so overwhelming.

Two years ago we still had dairy in the house, shopped at No Frills (we still do, but for different things), ate factory farmed eggs/animal products, used inefficient dryer and washer, lived in a poorly insulated and energy inefficient house, had carpeting through the house, had cable TV, ate potato chips (the flavoured stuff), ate at buffets or all-you-can-eat restaurants albeit maybe once a month or every two months, bought GMO corn, used GMO canola oil, ate GMO soy products... we changed little by little. We still do some of the things we did two years ago but they aren't habits anymore.

None of the things I listed above that we used to do two years ago was bad - until we felt a conviction. Becoming more aware of where things come from and where they're going makes us think and sometimes reprogram our everyday behaviours. For example, I used to eat and buy chips while knowing that it was bad for me and for my children (monkey see monkey do). However, I would still partake in the chip buying and chip eating even though the awareness was in my head. But the awareness grew. I started to analyze it deeper and deeper.

Picture me talking to myself:
"Why do I want to buy chips?"
"Because I want to eat them."
"Why do I want to eat them?"
" Because they are tasty."
"But they are bad for me."
"Just this one bag."
"No, I must not!"
Then my body just propels itself toward the large chip display advertised for $0.99. I pick up a bag, put the bag down, pick up the bag, fight within myself, then pay for the chips. I open the bag up, start eating from it and shake my head in pleasure and defeat at the same time.

I struggled with a chip addiction for several years. For some years, the problem seemed to be under control. The less I thought about it, and the less I ate it, the less I wanted it. BUT, the more I ate it, the more I wanted it. How did I finally kick this addiction?

It was last summer about the same time what I wrote the posting on hidden MSG, that I said "no" to the chip addiction. It was not easy, but through the experiences and past failed attempts to quit (see, I had been practicing) I was equipped with the right frame of mind.

Every time I used to finish a bag of chips, the bag would be left for me to throw away in the residual waste basket. And I would feel horrible that I was sending a chip bag to landfill. So, every time I wanted a bag of chips, I would remind myself that I would be left with a bag for landfill if I did get the chips. Also, I reminded myself of the MSG (and my headaches). I reminded myself of the good example I wanted to set for my children. So the first few days passed. Then the first few weeks. Then months... then I allowed to eat some chips again in social situations, but I haven't allowed myself to be controlled by them, to buy them against my will. Moderate is only possible when there's no addiction.

Habits are not easy to change. And good habits don't really need to be changed. But, habits that impact us negatively can be changed as long as we are aware of their impact on us, on the environment and on our children. Habits are not easy to transform, but I believe the mind can reprogram the brain. Then little by little, the mountain is not that hard to climb. Just focus on the next little step.

Your New Independant EcoAdvisor

I hope that the beginning of 2010 finds you all very well.

I have taken the plunge and started my own home-based business by becoming an Independent EcoAdvisor with OnlyGreen, an eco-friendly Canadian company whose mission is to make people's transition into a greener life-style as seamless as possible. OnlyGreen continually evaluates their products to ensure that the highest and most cost effective alternatives are available. As an EcoAdvisor, I educate consumers through EcoWorkshops so that they can make informed purchasing decisions. Please visit: http://ea.onlygreen.com/kim. Feel free to flip through the catalogue - no pressure to buy anything. If you have any questions regarding any products, please email me. If you see something you wish to purchase you can do it easily right online from the website.

As you may know, we have made many changes in our life-style since the birth of Little R, and even more changes since learning of his diagnosis. Becoming an EcoAdvisor enables me to work around my children's lives while still getting out and promoting a happier and healthier ecologically-friendly way of life. I appreciate your support in my endeavour.

I had been searching for an opportunity like this for a couple of years before I found it - if you are interested in hosting or attending an EcoWorkshop or becoming an Independent EcoAdvisor, please let me know.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email. I wish you all a bright promising green new year!