Is this correct?

After making a purchase yesterday of a beautiful watercolor named "Bush Lady", I was forced to fill out this paper upon checkout. After a few attempts of explaining to the nice lady that truly I had no address, she took the paper from me and wrote this....

April Review: Mighty Goals

pardon the indulgence.....

I’m a planner. This I cannot change. In many ways it is good: I’m the most efficient multi-tasker I know, I process a large amount of ideas into realistic, concerted goals, I am 100% reliable – If I say I will do it, I will, and I make a lot happen in many areas of my life giving me a lot of ‘ticks’ in my own prescribed boxes.


This, however, does not come without a few negatives: I can be annoying as hell when I’ve got a plan in my mind. Come hell or high water, I’m going to make it happen. My father can attest to this on our ‘free’ weekends together – I have him up at the crack of dawn, building, digging, making, or loading, depending on my imposed agenda for the day. That, or I sent him ‘to do’ lists (for me) electronically while I’m away.

Furthermore, I can easily zone out into my own world, ignoring the conversations or needs of those around me. Then, I can get really, really grumpy when something interferes with my flow or my agenda. I’d like to say I’m easy-going (and if I’m not on a mission, I am), but I’ll probably be short and snappy, especially if I have a deadline.

***

I say all this as part of a recent “1/3 year reflection session” I had with myself. As I discussed in a past blog post, I spent a big chunk of time this past New Years preparing for my year ahead. I diligently mapped out a large scale plan with 3-4 goals in 10 areas of my life : Work, Helping Others, Producing Creativity, Health & Fitness, etc. … Calling these my 'Mighty Goals'.

I used this template to help me.

As part of the large goal, I set aside Review Sessions in April and August to help me stay on track. (And secretly, I’ve been eagerly waiting for this to happen) I’m happy to report that I’m meeting/exceeding a majority of my goals. Things like: buy a farm, complete a Sprint Triathalon, attend an outdoor music festival will have to wait until I emerge from “the bush”!

In case any of you are as nerdy as me in your self-progress (i.e. having an Excel spreadsheet!), I highly encourage you to also take the time to outline your goals & know yourself more. Oprah says this is the what makes a person successful. (And if Oprah says it….!)

I’m happy to share with anyone interested any of the ways that work for me. This can be my financial spreadsheets tracking debt and savings, Life goal outlines, Mind Maps, Lists that I keep posted on visions, pipe-dreams, life achievements and partner qualities…as well as just my mindset. I’ve found that it’s an extremely personal journey of owning and defining one’s own life, but I’m happy to share! As well as….please share your own methods with me. I’m always open to new ideas.

Another bit from my NYears 2010:

What I commit to myself:

Just be Stephanie Jane.

Ask for What I want.

Trust that life will give me what I need.

Relish in my own unique, natural rhythm.

Attempt each day to purposely do one thing for my body, mind and soul. Balance.

Invest in those people and things that edify my spirit.

Be open to all the possibilities. Live life with energy and a 'Yes' mentality.

Don't be afraid to go for the love I want.

Let the people I love know. They deserve to know.

Act the way I want to feel. Own it!

Continue to respect myself more than anyone.

Showcasing Talent.

Come On Go With Us

This group of guys are from where the rich & famous are from: Columbus, MS, of  course! (my hometown)

Sweet, Southern Boys with an irrational drive to "make it", they've been on the road for almost a year, zig-zagging across the US of A. Every story showcasing all the effort it takes to live in a van, drive ungodly amounts of miles, eat on the road day-in-day-out, sleep in strangers' houses ... all for the sake of doing what they love: playing music!, humbles me (& wears me out!). I definitely couldn't do it, but love it that they can. Good, Bad, or Ugly, I simply love it when people follow their dreams. Find out more here, here and here.

Their music is now available on I Tunes.

(Chris, I'm only buying some when "my" porch song is released!)

Daniel Dugan

From way back in the days of the University of Alabama, this guy & I were friends on Capstone Men and Women. We equally pursued the Medical School dream (him, probably more so than me!), but in the end both of us pulled out at the last moment. Again, in the pursuit of following his biggest dream: acting, he moved to NYC and simply made it happen. Well, to be fair, I'm sure "simply" isn't what he would say, given all the time, energy and effort that he's given to get to where he is.

Check out his website or watch any one of his clips. He is so versatile: plays, commercials, TV, movies. After being on NBC's Law & Order, I won't be surprised to see what's next! Actor, talented: Hire him. Amazing guy, not to mention oodles of fun!

Casey Hudetz

One of my dearest friends from this summer's voyage with Semester at Sea, Casey documented nearly all of my travel...thankfully. With him around, I never needed my own camera; It was great! Although I got pretty jealous of how much time he spent with his Mac Computer making all of the videos, in the end, it's what he loves.

He has now made the jump and applied for what he considers his "dream job". After a lot of competition,

he's now officially in the Top 10 from all over the US of A! (this stands for something...)

Check out the website, watch his videos and help make this part of his story! Vote for Case.

The Farewell Drifters

I don't seem to have a very musical family. This is unfortunate and bit of a shock-to-the-system for a talented musican to marry into our family! Zach Bevill (middle in stripes) is the lead guitarist and lead singer for this band. I love their site! He too gives many of his life's hours traveling on the road for his dream: his music. His bluegrass band is great & my free CD from him is awesome! (Thanks, Zach!) My cousin and his wife, Marna Jane, married a fantastic guy, talented musician and a super sweet soul. Support his band and  have a look here and here. Buy some tunes!

Sustainable Men.

Recently, I snuck away from the NT for a long weekend visit to see two of my “most favoritest” of friends, Brent & Paul. Brent lured me there with a promised to “spoil me and treat me like a princess”; how can a girl resist?

After some time spent drooling over some of my favourite spots in Melbourne: a well visited cheese stall at the market, cafés in the endless laneways and my favorite Aussie designer at this shop, I took the five:30 up to Malmesbury, Victoria – a spot equally as spacious and charming as I imagined these two would live in.

I’m so glad I went – They were definitely gracious hosts in their new country abode. My visit was extraordinary: part educational, part relaxing, but mostly completely satisfying seeing old friends and engaging in their sustainable ways. I left amazed. And inspired. And quite insanely jealous of these two guys. They live a life that I sometimes catch myself daydreaming about and planning for myself.

Not only do they live in a completely self-sustaining house, but it is a strawbale house! (which is pretty damn cool), with a composting toilet, solar panels, and a rainwater catchment system. They can survive on stored energy for 4 cloudy days, cook on a wood burning stove, and are planning to dig a bore for water to fill the dam.

They make their own beer, press their own cheese, knead their own bread, plant their own garden and have their own chickens (+ plans for goats!). I'm totally in love.

I learned all about these systems, plus what killer sourdough bread tastes and looks like (humidity in the oven is the secret, I learned), how easy an EasiYo yogurt maker is (plus what a huge hole there has been in my life without one), and how to get lost in the forest with a dog that won't lead me home. Not to mention how beautiful cockatoos and parrots are in the front yard all day long, the secret recipes for nectarine & brandy jam, pickles and bread, and left with a bag full of yummy food goodies for my next community (I think Brent was worried about me!).

Ahh…..the good life, i.e. the country life. This is my spot.

I was in my own slice of green-sustainable heaven for four days, napping in hammocks, eating fresh bread, and being loved by these two. Thanks guys, for everything! Especially all the laughs and real meat!

As an aside, this same weekend coincided with the hugely media driven Earth Hour. I can’t help but stating my opinion here and now on this event; It’s my blog, right? I can do as I like.

First of all, I can respect the attempts, albeit meager, at engaging mainstream folks towards the dire needs of minimzining our environmental impacts. This is a good thing & any amount of hype is obviously needed since the majority of people live under a rock and choose to act uneducated on the topic. However, I cannot fully endorse such menial actions as cutting lights off for an hour as a way to acheive our goals. Somehow it felt cheap and blaze' to cut off lights for an hour & then pat myself on the back for a job well done. (In fact, we used candles ... and a corner lamp for the hour!). Secondly, what really get me is this: for those individuals out there who think it is too f**king hard to recycle their beer bottles, stop driving their huge SUV's, only buy bottled water and refuse to limit themselves on the excess carbon-rich activities in their life, this little Earth Hour trick was just what they needed to give them the false perception they were doing something good. Yes, certainly -- cut your lights off, but also your air-conditioners, dryers, toaster ovens and hairdryers more often than not. That -- and start giving a damn. You don't have to be an extremist, just make some changes! 1 Hour of 1 Night in 1 Year Doesn't Do shit, but give more reason to believe that your lights shouldn't be cut off every night for an hour. Earth Hour was a Crock. There, I said it. And that's all I have to say about that.

Carbon Offsets: TerraPass

Some call me a treehugger... but if you, like me and my friend Nichole, feel terrible for all the flying you do and it's environmental impact, have a look at these guys: http://www.terrapass.com/  With so many companies in the industry, it's nice to have a trusthworthy recommendation for one.

Thanks for the info, Nichole!

Do you eat it? The age old question...

This currently stands as the best news I've received all day: a whole minute!! Here's to shamelessly eating dropped food forever more.

Jamked, India

In 2006, I studied in India at the Comprehensive Rural Health Project. For a summer, I lived and worked in a small, remote village observing and learning about health practices dictated by the community vs. a doctor, as is usually the case. It was one of those experiences that changed the course of my life, identifying and solidifying what type of work I was meant to be doing. It was and still is an absolutely amazing place, run by committed people with incredible results. It's simply one of those places you never forget.

 I am not surprised that National Geographic published an article recently about the place. Have a read here. Below are some pictures that a very talented friend of mine took while I was there -- many arguably better than the National Geographic photos!

Enjoy.

Who Knew?...

...that carrots could grow polka-dot mold?









...that dogs could be so mangy! and still be alive.















...or that donkey's dicks swing!

Ah, the joys of living in 'the bush'. All this stuff that I'm learning.

A Fair-er Christmas

From the recent prompt by my mother to help her decide on what Xmas gifts to buy our family (those to whom it really doesn't matter!), I have begun thinking alot about gifts and buying and Xmas and consumption. I thought this information might be of interest to those of you who know little of fair-trade and help to possibly direct a few purchases in the future.

_________________________________________________________________

Associated with socially conscious consumption, the fair trade label is gracing a number of products, from bananas to soccer balls, entering mainstream retail outlets.
You may know fair trade’s basic premise–paying producers in developing nations a fair price for their goods–but what else does fair trade entail? What else should you know about what’s behind the label?


1. Fair trade represents a movement.
Fair trade began in the 1940s as a form of charity when religious groups in the West set up specialized stores to sell crafts from developing nations.
As fair trade developed in the ensuing decades, the movement politicized its approach: targeting international trade practices that favored rich nations, including dumping subsidized produce on poor countries (thereby driving down the price of local produce); imposing high duties on imports from developing nations; and forcing bilateral trade deals that flood third world markets with cheap products.

2. Without access to markets or the means of competing on fair grounds, third world producers remain mired in poverty.
Oxfam estimates that if Africa, East Asia, South Asia, and Latin America increased their share of world exports by just one percent, the resulting gains could lift 128 million people out of poverty.
In Africa alone, a one percent increase in exports would generate about $70 billion USD, about five times what the continent currently receives in aid.

3. Fair trade is also a brand.
The name “fair trade” is owned by the Fairtrade Labeling Organization (FLO), a Bonn-based association of 23 member groups that develop fair trade standards, confer certification, and monitor compliance.
Each member organization also helps traders and wholesalers in its country access fair trade-certified products from around the world. Cutting out middlemen, the process is more streamlined and cost-efficient than conventional trade channels.
FLO members include TransFair in the US; Comercio Justo in Mexico; the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK; and Max Havelaar in Switzerland.

4. Fair trade certification standards vary, depending on the product.
Producers must meet labor standards regarding working conditions, worker organization, and child labor. In some cases, sustainable environmental practices may also be included.
Pricing is determined by calculating a sustainable living wage in the source country; families must be able to afford adequate housing, clean water, food, and basic education. Farmers are guaranteed a minimum price for their produce, regardless of the fluctuation of commodity prices in global markets. Producers can also access credit at fair rates.

5. Coffee makes up the bulk of the fair trade market…
Coffee is a significant exportable product for more than 60 developing nations.
Though fair trade coffee comprises less than 5% of the total coffee consumed in the US, demand is growing. Starbucks recently announced it would double its fair trade coffee purchases to about 40 million pounds this year, making it the largest buyer of fair trade coffee.

6. But fair trade isn’t just about coffee, produce, and handcrafts.
You can find the fair trade label on flowers, sports equipment, wine, cocoa, chocolate, tea, rice, honey, sugar, spices, and many other products. Check the Fair Trade Resource Network to learn what products are covered and where you can find them.
You can also check Ten Thousand Villages,one of the original fair trade craft retailers, which has hundreds of retail shops in the US and Canada. Other large sales and resource networks include Equal Exchange and SERRV International.

7. Fair trade does have its critics.
Fair trade has been compared to farm subsidies, in which artificial price setting encourages market inefficiencies and overproduction, hurting producers elsewhere.
Other contentious issues include the rigidity of certification rules (coffee growers, for example, must be part of a small family farm that is part of a larger cooperative), fees that small producers can’t afford, and poor enforcement of standards.
FLO member groups have been criticized for liberally granting the use of the fair trade label to corporations without considering their overall business practices. For this reason, several American coffee importers have pulled out of the TransFair system, opting to use an alternative label.

Merry Xmas!

What I'm Learning/Thinking About Today.

Are Your Friends Making You Fat?/Is Happiness Catching?

A compelling look at yet another set of reasons of why it is imperative for each of us to surround ourselves with people that we want to emulate.

Beware: Soap Box Alert!!

I'm so fired up, so grossed out & so very sad all rolled into one. Can it be true that chicken farms are so grotesquely managed that millions of chickens are kept in the pitch-black dark during the day? That none of them have their complete set of feathers due to plucking each other in the rear? Can we seriously buy mass-produced chicken meat that is raised in such extremes that the hundreds-a-day dead are counted & thrown into buckets, compost, or incinerators? Seriously? It's shit. And we're shitty for supporting it with every $$ we throw at Tyson. ugh. Makes me sick.

In the boonies of MS, when I was supposed to be learning to use a compass, I discovered a row of 6 chicken houses that were operated by Tyson Farms. I, of course, was beyond curious to see all aspects of this business up-close & personal; my compass was quickly tossed aside. I wandered up to one of the doors and creaked it open, not really knowing what I would see next...it scared me, even the 2 inch space I was peering through. Chickens were everywhere!!!


The huge buildings were COVERED with chicken bodies in the dark ( my pics don't show the depth of these buildings). No cages, no infrastructure, just long water pipes and feeding bins. As I opened the door more, letting in more and more sunlight, the chickens became scared to death...from the closest to the farthest away, they started squawking in fear, climbing over each other to get away. The dead were literally trampled on even more. I didn't even go in, I just looked and looked and looked. I was in shock! This was real. I literally couldn't believe it. I became angry that this was the reality we supported. A cycle of anger, then sadness, then outrage, then pity....on and on. I even went so far as to quiz the feed-delivery man (this was the only person around) on what his views were of the business he was supporting. His answer was that he'd never even looked inside...what????

I've read so many books and heard so many stories, but seriously --- seriously --- you can't appreciate it (is that the right word?) until you see it for yourself. I'm not advocating that no one should eat chicken. I am simply requesting that if you should choose to eat this meat, then please eat ethically raised chickens. Anything less is not only not good for your body, but certainly can't be good for your soul.

**Some books to check out:
Slaughterhouse Blues
Slaughterhouse
Meat Market
and my all time favorite: The Ethics of What We Eat

And, as my final plug, I have to make mention of the very ignorant, nearing asinine, comment the guy I was with said : "If I don't look, then I don't have to know." Needless to say, I had to bite my tongue.

Educate yourselves people & act accordingly! This is total (chicken) shit!!

The Health Care Debate

I am so fired up over this health care debate. It seems that because I am involved in the medical field and an Obama supporter, people feel the need to share their (usually uninformed) opinions with me with the unspoken attempts at sparring some type of debate(less a debate & more of an argument, I've learned). I have my opinions, but I'm still learning all the details and last night was a great presentation from our President on this hot topic.

Obama's FULL Health Care Address

In case any of you didn't get to see this live, take the time to watch it now. The rumors are rampant (at least in my parts) and the facts are few. I, for one, definitely agree that it is time for a change. ... and this change is better than the alternative, i.e. no change. Working in this illustrious, money wasting, ridiculous system, some days makes me sick.

But, aside from the system's issues, I strongly agree that this is our true problem. Pollan has his finger on the pulse! It always comes back to the basics...

This Guy is so Damn Cool...

...and his shoes aren't too shaby either. Learn and support!

Toms Shoes