When I decided I wanted to try and do an art car with wine theme, I finally signed up for Freecycle. This is the website where people can post what they WANT for free, and people who have things to offer can post what they have to GIVE AWAY for free.
It is amazing what I am seeing on the two Freecycle sites I have subscribed to. People in need of maternity clothes and baby clothes (a part of me thinks this is so sad; a part of me thinks -- "damn, what poor planning"), computer parts, exercise equipment, clothing, furniture, a bicycle. Someone even posted in hopes of getting a free CAR for God sake. And people give away some pretty amazing stuff too -- a complete compact kitchen set up (I wanted this one), TVs, furniture, plants, kitty litter, baby food.
So I have snagged a few things on Freecycle -- an Ab Lounge(!), a two-drawer wooden filing cabinet, a massaging chair pad (for Rod's office chair), some bricks. And I have given stuff away too -- a dish drainer, curtains, sheets, two bags of fabric scraps, planting pots, a big rolling composter, etc.
So during all of this I have developed what I think should be guidelines of etiquette for Freecycle users. To me they are just iommon sense, but I have come to realize that people are pretty clueless in the main, and need rules or all is just chaos.
So here is my suggestions for Freecycle Etiquette:
1. If you subscribe to Freecycle, read the OFFERS and the WANTEDS. So many times I see posts for people who want something that has already been posted as something someone else is giving away. C'mon people --- DUHHHHH.
2. Expand the area to get the best range of stuff. I am subscribed for both Napa an Fairfield/Vacaville. I should check and see if there is a Vallejo Group, too.
3. If someone asks you about the stuff you have offered , please RESPOND. A couple of times I have emailed someone who had something I wanted and I never heard back from them at all, and then the thing was later posted as TAKEN. Once I even got a reply form someone who said something was available, and when I replied with the time I could come get it, the next thing I saw was a post that it had been TAKEN. How rude.
4. If you offer something, give the first responder first dibs by asking for a time and date to pick up. Then tell the second person who wants it they can have it if "X" hasn' t picked it up by "Y". If you don't hear back from the first person, then offer it to the next.
5. I never give someone my address until they have committed to a time and date to pick up. Then I tell them where it will be (on my porch or in the driveway if it is big). Some people just put stuff out in the driveway and put your name on it. That works, too, unless someone else decides to help themselves to the stuff that was promised top you!
6. It's always nice when you get something that you email a "thank you!".
7. Keep your posts up to date!!!!! If something has been taken, REMOVE IT!!! There was this food dehydrator posted for the longest time. I kept sending emails, and the person who had it NEVER got back to me and NEVER removed it. How frustrating.
8. If someone offers you something, and you already got it, please let the person offering know.
9. Don't email and say you want to come and "take a look at it" or "check it out". Either you want it or you don't. Period. Jeez, people -- it's FREE .
There. I got that off my chest!
Now come on, Freecyclers, BE POLITE!!!!!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Chickens
I finally got my chickens!!! I have been wanting to get a small flock of six for awhile now, but decided to wait until after the 3 Day, which was all-consuming for the past several months. I started out by looking for coops, and found a PERFECT set up on Craigslist for $75 -- complete with a fenced chicken yard. off we went o Oakland with the truck and trailer, and loaded that baby right up.
It sat in the yard for awhile until I got my first consulting check, and then I hired a day laborer to lay footings and set the coop up so that no critters could burrow underneath. Perfect! Then I found one nesting box (I actually need one more) and bought food, shavings (cheaper than a bale of hay), cracked corn, and critter-proof storage bins. From the last time I had chickens (FIFTEEN YEARS AGO -- YIKE!!) I had a feeder and water tin.
Dennis had promised pullets, but when the time came, there were no pullets available (from Dennis' source). So it was back to Craigslist.
In Petaluma, I found a source with ready to lay (8 to 9 month old) chickens -- perfect!!! Not only that, but they were variety of different breeds -- Rhode Island Red, Barred Plymouth Rock, Ameraucana, and others that I have to look up because I forgot already what Richard (the chicken guy) told me. Because they all look different, I could name them and tell them apart. Richard had lots of chickens and also had turkeys, including two huge toms with blue wattles and iridescent feathers. He corralled six different chickens, we paid for them (the price of chickens has really gone up since I bought them last - FIFTEEN YEARS AGO- YIKE!) and we loaded them into cat carriers and off we went!
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| backyard coop with the girls |
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| Front: Goldie, Sapphire Rear left to right: Ruby, Jewel, Pearl, Opal |
We have also secured the whole garden area so that after a couple of days, I can let them out to be more free range (within limits, of course! ).
Next on the agenda is to get the planting beds built. I have already started two compost bins, so between the chickens, composting, and recycling, our garbage should go down to one can every month or less!!
Rod took a little flip video of me and the chickens, but I am not sure how to put it into the blog, and not sure that I want to anyhow, since it has more than one unflattering shot of my big old rear end!!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The Last Nature Walk
We started out at 8:30, just as the fog was clearing up, at the Shoreline Preserve Scenic Vista Trail on Mare Island. The drive there was past rows of decaying brick warehouses, and at the very end, a group of military men and women out for a morning jog.
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| Front row: Faith Munn, Brita Winslow, Martha Maher and Amy Ratuita Back row: Jill Menicucci, Jean Menicucci, Cindy Dahlgren, Janet Thomas, Diane Terry, Karen Gonzales, Clarice Bradley, and Sylvia Amen The trail wound up the hill, but it was mostly a pretty gentle ascent, and as we rose higher, the views became more breathtaking.  The first interesting spot we passed was the old Naval Cemetery -- the first on the Pacific Coast -- founded in 1858. According to the informtion at the cemetery, the daughter of Francis Scott Keye, composer of the National Anthem, is buried here.  |
Even from this small distance up, you can see all the way to the Carquinez (Al Zampa) bridge.
A little further on, we came upon the ruins of the groundskeeper's cottage, which still had many of the landscape elements , even though they were very overgrown. Here are Clarice and Dolores at the groundskeeper's garden.
And another fantastic view across the Mare island Straits to the old Sperry Mills building in Vallejo
A little further up, we came upon a pond in a deep hole. You can see how far the water is down by looking at the dock on the right. This was used for fire suppression back when the base was active.
The group's fabulous photographer, Sylvia (right) and her sister, Karen
And finally we were at the highest point of Mare Island, where you could see for miles and miles and miles.
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| Jill, Jean, Cindy, Faith, Brita, Martha and Amy Beyond the highest point was the radio tower, and a monument sculpture dedicated when Mare Island was decommissioned by the Navy. Called "The Spirit Ship" it is a dedication to the long history of ship building that went on here at Mare Island. When first built in 1996, there were a number of "dog tags" hanging from the rings along the outside of the hull, but these have disappeared over time. Beneath the Spirit Ship is a thick rusted metal plate into which the outline shapes of the many tools used in ship building were cut.  |
Just a little further up, we came to the end of the trail. Beyond this point was a pretty nice golf course, but it was on private property.
Brita, Martha, Janet, Faith, Diane, Amy, Clarice, Jill, Jean and Karen
The walk back down the hill seemed WAY shorter than the climb up! Before we went into the Visitor's Center for a look around, and lots of hugs goodbye (with a promise to meet for the last time on Friday September 23 at Gaia), we all posed for one last picture, including Rocky the chihuahua.
Back row: Sylvia, Clarice, Cindy, Karen (with Rocky), Janet, Diane, Faith, Jill. Front row: Brita, Jean, Martha and Amy.
Great weather, great place, great exercise, great views, and best of all, great people!!!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Susan G Komen 3 Day Story
I am a 64 year old overweight ex smoker who smoked for 47 years before I quit on July 1, 2010. I have never been very athletic, and once dislocated both of my knees trying out for cheerleading when I was 15. In March of 2010 I was so sick that I had to be taken to the doctor in a wheelchair because I could not breathe well enough to walk from the parking lot to the door of the Kaiser clinic in Napa.
On September 11, 2011 I completed the most grueling, exhilarating, exhausting, inspiring, challenging, and spectacular thing I have ever attempted -- the Susan G Komen 3 Day for the Cure walk in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For seven months, I have been training -- walking at least twice a week, losing some weight (though not nearly enough), fundraising (THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY SUPPORTERS -- YOU TOTALLY ROCK) and pulling together my gear and equipment for this event. Many thanks to Vicki Thayer for the fanny pack, and to Ann Muzzini for the mattress and egg-crate mattress pad.
On Thursday, September 8, Rod and I. along with Mary and Peter Steinert, went out to dinner in Napa at Ubuntu, our local upscale vegetarian eatery, then headed out for San Francisco, where we stayed overnight and departed at 5:30 am for the Cow Palace in South San Francisco for the kick off for the Three Day.
Here is the link to the website for the complete event highlights:
http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SF_Info_2011
Energy was high as we left the Cow palace for our first day's adventure.
Rod and Peter parked and took some shots as we headed out of South SF toward San Francisco.
The first day took us through Pacific Heights, down through the Presidio, and eventually to Fisherman's wharf, where ferries waited to take us to camp on Treasure Island. Though it was foggy most of the day, it was clearing up as we made our way from the ferry to camp.
There were celebrations as we came into camp at the end of our first day of 20 miles!!!!
Because both Rod and Peter had volunteered to be "Camp Angels" we were lucky enough to arrive with our tent set up and our gear all unloaded. Even our beds were made!
Mary's bed on the left, mine on the right. We were in row E-65 amid a sea of hot pink pup tents.
And finally ............
There were also places where you could charge your cell phone or laptop, buy commemorative clothing and other gear, and of course the medical tent where blisters were attended to and chiropractors were volunteering adjustments for out-of-whack backs and strained muscles.
After dinner, we went to get our towels and off to the shower trailers where those hot showers felt like heaven., especially after waiting in line so long to get one! Back in camp, there was karaoke and entertainment, but we did not participate. We collapsed into our tent, and all lights were out by 9:00 pm, because next day we were up and at 'em at 5:30.
This day we were dropped at the Berkeley Marina and walked up Shattuck and through the campus at UC, where a cheering section was gathered at the campanile. We were there when the gongs struck 11:00 am.
Then on through Oakland, downtown at City Center, and to the ferry launch at Jack London Square. This was a perfect location because it was right next to a restaurant and bar, so Mary and I could have a glass of wine before we boarded for camp. MUCH better than the day before, where we waited in line for the ferry at Fisherman's Wharf with no place to sit!!! The weather this day was mild and not foggy like it had been the day before. By the end of the day, my blisters were pretty hot, and I felt like I was walking on shoes full of sand.
That night, we went to the showers FIRST and there was hardly any line. So we ate dinner in our pajamas -- broiled chicken breast, browned potatoes, peas and carrots, green salad, and another one of those luscious brownies!!! That night, I was asleep before it got dark!!!!!!! The worst thing about camping out was the long chilly trek to the portapotties in the middle of the night - brrrrr!!!!!! Although it was amazing how CLEAN those portapotties stayed with so few men using them :o) !!!!!!!!
Day Three was the hardest on me. By then, my feet felt like I was walking on broken glass, not just sand. I made it from the ferry dock to the first pit stop in Tiburon, but there were so many walkers at the medical tent that I took the shuttle to the second pit stop. When I took off my shoes, I was amazed to see brand new blisters not only ON my toes but BETWEEN my toes, to go with the ones I already had on the sides of my feet at the big toe where my bunions lay. I got taped up and felt pretty good walking to the next pit stop in Mill Valley. But just to make sure I could make it across the Golden Gate, I took the bus to lunch at Fort Baker. By this time, the weather was super spectacular -- clear and breezy and just mild enough so that we were not sweat covered loonies. At Fort Baker we were met by cheerleaders from the local high school, and had our last lunch. I had called Rod the day before, and he and peter had gone to camp and folded up our tent and took our gear, so that was one thing we didn't have to worry about. At lunch, I called him and he and Peter were at Marina Green. They drove down to the visitor center at the foot of the bridge so that they could greet us as we crossed.
At the foot of the bridge, we had a rest stop with potties and beverages. We needed both .
From this point, although Mary, accompanied by Peter, walked on another 2 miles to the holding area at Fillmore and Marina, Rod and I drove. This is where we met the walkers coming through, including the woman I trained with in Napa, Monica -- who was nearly delirious with fatigue
Mary at 60 Miles YAY!!!!!!
I picked up my T shirt and my Rose
And then I took care of my poor ravaged feet
And one last shot of Mary and I together at the end of a long and exhausting wonderful once in a lifetime journey together.
To all of those who supported us, cheered us on, made donations, kept us in your hearts and prayers and warm loving thoughts, we cannot thank you enough. All 1500 San Francisco walkers were there to make a difference and help wipe out the terrible scourge of breast cancer, and we were so happy to do it with humor (SAVE SECOND BASE, F**K CANCER, FIGHT LIKE A GIRL, HELP THE HOOTERS), passion and love.
On September 11, 2011 I completed the most grueling, exhilarating, exhausting, inspiring, challenging, and spectacular thing I have ever attempted -- the Susan G Komen 3 Day for the Cure walk in the San Francisco Bay Area.
For seven months, I have been training -- walking at least twice a week, losing some weight (though not nearly enough), fundraising (THANK YOU TO ALL OF MY SUPPORTERS -- YOU TOTALLY ROCK) and pulling together my gear and equipment for this event. Many thanks to Vicki Thayer for the fanny pack, and to Ann Muzzini for the mattress and egg-crate mattress pad.
On Thursday, September 8, Rod and I. along with Mary and Peter Steinert, went out to dinner in Napa at Ubuntu, our local upscale vegetarian eatery, then headed out for San Francisco, where we stayed overnight and departed at 5:30 am for the Cow Palace in South San Francisco for the kick off for the Three Day.
Here is the link to the website for the complete event highlights:
http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SF_Info_2011
Energy was high as we left the Cow palace for our first day's adventure.
The first day took us through Pacific Heights, down through the Presidio, and eventually to Fisherman's wharf, where ferries waited to take us to camp on Treasure Island. Though it was foggy most of the day, it was clearing up as we made our way from the ferry to camp.
There were celebrations as we came into camp at the end of our first day of 20 miles!!!!
Mary's bed on the left, mine on the right. We were in row E-65 amid a sea of hot pink pup tents.
 |
| Peter in his volunteer T-shirt displaying our ALOHA banner. |
It was so wonderful to have our significant others there to greet us! We were able to get big warm hugs and even have dinner with our husbands! First night dinner was penne pasta with tomato sauce, meatballs, sausages and pepper, macaroni and cheese, two kinds of green salad, mixed veggies and carrot cake, brownies, and apple pie for dessert choices. I save my carbs for dessert -- the chocolate brownies were heaven.
Also at camp were tents where you could take a picture and so many people did. Here are a few of our compadres .
And finally ............
There were also places where you could charge your cell phone or laptop, buy commemorative clothing and other gear, and of course the medical tent where blisters were attended to and chiropractors were volunteering adjustments for out-of-whack backs and strained muscles.
After dinner, we went to get our towels and off to the shower trailers where those hot showers felt like heaven., especially after waiting in line so long to get one! Back in camp, there was karaoke and entertainment, but we did not participate. We collapsed into our tent, and all lights were out by 9:00 pm, because next day we were up and at 'em at 5:30.
This day we were dropped at the Berkeley Marina and walked up Shattuck and through the campus at UC, where a cheering section was gathered at the campanile. We were there when the gongs struck 11:00 am.
Then on through Oakland, downtown at City Center, and to the ferry launch at Jack London Square. This was a perfect location because it was right next to a restaurant and bar, so Mary and I could have a glass of wine before we boarded for camp. MUCH better than the day before, where we waited in line for the ferry at Fisherman's Wharf with no place to sit!!! The weather this day was mild and not foggy like it had been the day before. By the end of the day, my blisters were pretty hot, and I felt like I was walking on shoes full of sand.
That night, we went to the showers FIRST and there was hardly any line. So we ate dinner in our pajamas -- broiled chicken breast, browned potatoes, peas and carrots, green salad, and another one of those luscious brownies!!! That night, I was asleep before it got dark!!!!!!! The worst thing about camping out was the long chilly trek to the portapotties in the middle of the night - brrrrr!!!!!! Although it was amazing how CLEAN those portapotties stayed with so few men using them :o) !!!!!!!!
Day Three was the hardest on me. By then, my feet felt like I was walking on broken glass, not just sand. I made it from the ferry dock to the first pit stop in Tiburon, but there were so many walkers at the medical tent that I took the shuttle to the second pit stop. When I took off my shoes, I was amazed to see brand new blisters not only ON my toes but BETWEEN my toes, to go with the ones I already had on the sides of my feet at the big toe where my bunions lay. I got taped up and felt pretty good walking to the next pit stop in Mill Valley. But just to make sure I could make it across the Golden Gate, I took the bus to lunch at Fort Baker. By this time, the weather was super spectacular -- clear and breezy and just mild enough so that we were not sweat covered loonies. At Fort Baker we were met by cheerleaders from the local high school, and had our last lunch. I had called Rod the day before, and he and peter had gone to camp and folded up our tent and took our gear, so that was one thing we didn't have to worry about. At lunch, I called him and he and Peter were at Marina Green. They drove down to the visitor center at the foot of the bridge so that they could greet us as we crossed.
At the foot of the bridge, we had a rest stop with potties and beverages. We needed both .
From this point, although Mary, accompanied by Peter, walked on another 2 miles to the holding area at Fillmore and Marina, Rod and I drove. This is where we met the walkers coming through, including the woman I trained with in Napa, Monica -- who was nearly delirious with fatigue
Cheering them Home!!!!!
Mary at 60 Miles YAY!!!!!!
I picked up my T shirt and my Rose
And then I took care of my poor ravaged feet
And one last shot of Mary and I together at the end of a long and exhausting wonderful once in a lifetime journey together.
To all of those who supported us, cheered us on, made donations, kept us in your hearts and prayers and warm loving thoughts, we cannot thank you enough. All 1500 San Francisco walkers were there to make a difference and help wipe out the terrible scourge of breast cancer, and we were so happy to do it with humor (SAVE SECOND BASE, F**K CANCER, FIGHT LIKE A GIRL, HELP THE HOOTERS), passion and love.
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