My first clematis of the season

My dad's influence

I like things and think things should be done a certain way. And when they're not, I get-I don't know-disappointed?

All this week I've trained at the front desk. But I've been unsure whether I'm now doing both kitchen or front desk or just front desk or what. I guess it's not THAT big of a deal, but I've felt like i've been in limbo and I don't like that in-between feeling.

So then while I was at work last night my kitchen manager came up and told me the general manager had told her she was pulling me up to the front and that she could start interviews for a new kitchen person.

Hm. I kind of would've liked to have had that information.

That said, woo to not working in the kitchen!!

The Knot alert

6 months to go!

Doing my part

I recycle.

I use rechargeable batteries.

I use reusable grocery bags.

I made a feeble attempt at a garden. This year will be better, I declare!

I have a compost pile.

I reuse.

I make eco-conscious shopping decisions (most of the time).

I use plastic containers for my bag lunch instead of ziploc bags.

I (mostly--I won't lie) use fabric cloths instead of paper towels. One roll lasts for months.

I have moved to the funky light bulbs (used up all my old standard ones).

And now, my big (or little) move is to natural cleaning products. My fiance says, "We're out of Scrubbing Bubbles! Put it on the list!" Little did he know, I have a plan. When "natural tub cleaner" is typed into a Google search, this is what pops up first. And as I expected, vinegar and baking soda do the trick. Not surprising since these two products are used often in cleaning. Think of the money saved! Think of the satisfaction gained by knowing crap isn't going down the drain! *sigh*

Now there's something that I've wrestled with for a while. Instead of completely replacing everything (bulbs, appliances, cleaning products), I use them until they're gone and then switch to more eco-friendly options. And boy do I feel guilty! Why is that?? Why, after all the reducing, reusing, and recycling I do, do I feel guilty for using my chemical laden cleaning products that I still have?! I'm blaming it on the media.

I've come to this conclusion: this is what works for me and I'm not changing a thing.

I know that it gets tiring hearing "Green is the new black" over and over AND OVER AND OVER. On Oprah yesterday (she drives me nuts sometimes) she was floored by the massive (size of TX she kept repeating) swirl of trash in the ocean. Really? You're JUST now aware of this? Just like with the puppy mills. She was flabberghasted and swore she'd only adopt from then on! Really? You're JUST now aware of this? Anyway, she has tons of money so I guess it's okay.

I guess I get upset because it seems like being eco-friendly has be done a certain way. Go replace all your bulbs. Go recycle everything that can be recycled...and if your city doesn't recycle it, find some place that will. Create a rooftop garden. Get rid of your old appliances and buy only energy efficient ones. Install a digital thermostat. Ride your bike to work. The list goes on and on. I say screw everything you're supposed to do. Do what you can. Can't remember those reusable grocery bags? That's quite alright...carpool to work tomorrow instead. Can't afford to get all new energy efficient appliances? Buy just one. Or whatever little thing you can do.

It's like trying to become something your not...it just won't work.

Don't want to get rid of all your non-eco-friendly cleaning products? Use them until they're gone, then replace with green options.

Perhaps I have it all wrong...people really are just giving suggestions and really would like to see a minute change and it's my own self that's bringing out this crazy feeling of guilt.

I'm ending it there. Because now I'm all confused and can't make heads or tails of this post. Ha!

The perks of being a church member...

...you get the use of a church for your wedding at no charge. You also get the preacher at no charge.

What do we get for not belonging to a church? Spending lots of money on a place to have the ceremony and spending ~$300 for someone to perform the ceremony. WHAT?!

I knew we'd be paying a pretty penny for a site, but never in my wildest dreams did I think the going rate for an officiant would be $300. It still blows my mind. Of course, you can hire a magistrate and legally, they can't charge anything over $20. You'd probably give them a pretty good tip, but they can't charge you more than $20.

I'm just worried a magistrate won't have the "feel" of a preacher. Which is funny...I want the feel of a preacher but without all the God stuff.

I have a bad feeling about this...I'm going towards a religion discussion and that's a topic (along with politics) that you're not supposed to talk about.

I was baptized Methodist and when I moved here, went to almost all of the Methodist churches around here. I skipped one because it looked REALLY small (it's on the registry of historical places I think). Anyway, I didn't feel connected to any one and determined that it wasn't the churches...it was me.

I've since semi-determined that my place is in the Unitarian Universalist church. I haven't yet attended one, so I don't know for sure, but I feel this is where I'm meant to be. The nearest one to me is in Franklin, however, it's so small they don't have a regular preacher--they have "speakers". And that doesn't appeal to me (I get enough of that at school), so I haven't gone. The next closest is in Asheville, but I haven't yet gotten to where I'm willing to drive 45 minutes to go to church.

The whole point of this post was that I emailed the reverend at the UU church in Asheville about performing our ceremony. He said he normally doesn't do it for non-members, but he'd be willing to do it for us. I wonder what I said in my email that made him take pity on us??

Anyway, after reading his email, I'm really excited about him possibly doing the ceremony. It'll fulfill my vision of a preacher with a liberal religious view. He even stated that he's protesting NC laws that prohibit same-sex marriage by not signing wedding licenses (we'd need a magistrate to sign it). And that makes me even more convinced that he's the man for us!!

His price is $300 as well (negotiable he said), but if we meet with him and like him, I think we'll just suck it up and spend the money.

And that's the story of the search for an officiant.

Fun animal pictures

I bought a net to go over the peach tree and Callie thought I bought it for her to play in.