Moving, Moving, Moving

It's time to pack up after 4 years.  I can't believe it.  It still doesn't seem real, even though the only piece of real furniture left in my place is my desk!  Graduation is a week from today.  My parents, Grandma, and two of my aunts are flying out on Tuesday, the last of the 4 sisters will join us on Thursday.  It should be fun.
Now, I just need to buckle down and get some packing done!  I'm making progress - slowly but surely.

It's been 4 years since I've had to pack and I've never had this much stuff.  I'm just not exactly sure what the best way to go about it is.  Trial and error I guess.

What I do know is that I'm making this move a little greener than some of my previous moves.
Here's what I'm doing.

Green challenge #18:  Use previously used boxes for moving. 
The other day I went to the grocery store and got some used boxes from them.  I'm also using random other boxes I have around the house from buying items such as a printer, sewing machine, etc.  I will admit that my mom and I did buy 2 new boxes from home depot, but my goal is for those to be the only two newbies.

Green challenge #19:  Wrap all breakables in newspaper or old shirts.
You know how when it's time to clean out the closet for a move or a yard sale there are a pile of old shirts you don't know what to do with.  Like the free Trinity T-shirts, an old softball shirt, or a senior class t-shirt, etc.  There's some sentimental value, but you don't really wear it.  And well I guess I'm a bit of a pack rat and it's hard for me to get rid of some of that stuff.  I could donate it or try to sell it, but really who wants a Willows High Class of 2002 T-shirt?  So...I decided I will make a t-shirt quilt out of the designs of the t-shirts and the remainder will go to wrap my valuables.  For what I don't have t-shirts for newspapers it will be.  (again, one confession - mom and I bought a small thing of bubble wrap for the really fragile things - but no more after that little roll is gone).  And of course I'll recycle the newspaper once I'm done with them.

And...there you have it I'm all caught up on my green challenges!  whew...finally!!

Ok, game time!
In the next 2 pics of my messy room in the packing process - find Penny!  (she's only in one)

One more - Penny helping me fold my clean laundry - aka knocking over 1/2 the stack and sitting on it.

Bully Stick / Beef Pizzle

Ok, so a while ago I went into the pet store across the street with Penny.  The clerks ooh'd and ahh'd over how cute and small my little Penny bear was.  I told them that she was shy and a rescue dog, etc.  I went in to buy her a small tennis ball, thinking that since she rarely played with her other toys that maybe she would like something that rolled. 

One of the clerks suggested this chew stick thing.  It was expensive like over $3 for one stick, granted it was ~12 inches long, but still.  Anyway, I said that I would pass, because I wasn't sure if she was a chewer or not.  On our way out the woman hands me a smaller version of the original stick she suggested and told me to take it home to find out if she's a chewer or not.  Well...guess wo didn't like the ball I bought her, but LOVED her stick.

That's right, Penny did.  She chowed down on it and finished it that night.  Since I've been gone I thought I would treat her to another chew stick.  I went into the pet store and bought a cheaper version of the one before a 6 inch Beef Pizzle.  This time I checked out the name.  I was curious, because last time Sief joked and said he thought it was a bull penis.

Well....would I be posting this right now if it wasn't?  Yup that's right, I feed my dog bull penis.  One article I found on the internet states that some merchants will claim it's dried beef tendons or muscle, to make it seem more appealing, it's not.  Interesting fact is that at the beginning of the bull stick or beef pizzle making process the penis is 23-25 inches long!  They drain them of their fluid, then stretch them, twist them or braid them into different shapes which are dried or smoked.  This sticks are then cut up into various sizes and sold.

Being the eco-friendly dog owner I am, I did not take a bag, but rather stuck the dried beef penis directly into my purse.  Later I came home and cut them in half with a saw mind you because they are so hard, so Penny could have a 3inch pizzle.  6inches would be too long for her and I picked out thick ones because I wanted to get my moneys worth.

The internet article also states that "bully sticks last an incredibly long time.  It can take weeks for a small dog to chew on one bully stick"  Let me say that my small dog can finish a bully stick in a couple of hours.

And since I know you all would like a better picture here is one from Naturalicious pet treat's website.

Presenting....the Beef Pizzle.  YUM!

Crafts and Catch Up!

First the fun stuff.  It's getting closer and closer to my move out date!  I'm super excited to find a place and redecorate.  This week my mom and I planned out our upcoming road trip to Tucson.  That's a post for another day.  We've been looking online at places to live and it seems that either places are pretty dumpy or super nice - not a whole lot in between.  With that said, I've fallen in love with 2 places, a little higher priced, but...super super nice.  I'm hoping once we get to Tucson my favs will still be available or that some of the other places will look better in person.

Mom and I completed our first craft for my new place.

We found the instructions at a blog called Monkey See - Monkey Do.

Here are the pictures of the message board my mom and I created.  We bought a cheap frame at the thrift store and then spray painted it black.

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Next craft - make my own green rags/"paper" towel/napkins.

I am behind by 4 green challenges.  My excuses are my little Penny poo and the fact that I've been relaxing and enjoying the time I have off before graduation.

Green Challenge #15:  No more paper towels.

• this includes cleaning up after Penny's accidents, wiping down the counter, drying my hands in public bathrooms, etc

Green Challenge #16:  No more paper napkins at home.

• I'll do my best to use my new towel when out - whenever I remember, like at the airport tomorrow on my flight back to Hershey.

Green Challenge #17:  No more Tissues.

• I'll give my Dad credit for using handkerchiefs for as long as I have known him.  Sief thinks it's gross, but whatever, it's not like I blow my nose all the time anyway.

So what's the big deal with all of these paper products? 

Are you thinking, well...duh?  it's paper - and paper comes from trees.  Well yes, that's correct, but...there's more to the story.

• Remember those gorgeous pictures of the rain forest I posted?  The ones that don't do justice to the beauty of the place, nor show even a minascule amount of the diversity that relyies on that forest.  Well, guess what is being cut down to make those wonderfully (but really not that soft) of kleenexes that you blow your snot into or those paper towels that soak up whatever mess...well blow or wipe away that rain forest.  I haven't given up toliet paper yet, but....if I run out of ideas for more green challenges you never know.  No Impact Man did it during his no impact year.
• In a New York Times article, it states that the fact that Americans demand soft and fluffy toliet tissue or kleenexs that new trees must be cut down, recycled productes are just as easy and cost effective to make, but...they aren't as soft, but maybe with a little research could be made to be just as soft.
• Large companies like Kimberly-Clark don't even deny the fact that they use virgin trees to make their product!  They may argue the percentage (14% in one article) of ancient trees that are part of the boreal forest and an integral part of that eco-system - when really none of those trees should be cut down for me to wipe my ass or blow my nose.
• K-C used 3,113,000 metric tons of virgin fiber in 2005
• NYT states that "barely a third of paper products sold in America are from recycled sources -most of it comes from virgin forests."

Here's a link to a GreenPeace article where I got most of my facts. 

So how do I plan to do without all of these paper products that we rely on everyday?  Recycle of course!

I took an old pair of comfy PJ pants, that had a hole in the waistline.  I stuck my finger through there everytime I pulled them up.  Mind you that these pants are much softer than any kleenex.

Snip, snip with some pinking shears and...

wa la...napkin/hanky/rag, etc.

Rachel's Wedding

Friday was my younger cousin Rachel's wedding.  She was a gorgeous bride and married a great guy who somehow stuck around after meeting all of the women in the family!  Tough dude :)
It was a terrific celebration for Rachel and Scott, but also for me.  It was my own little celebration for being done with medical school!!!!!  That's right I'm officially finished.  No more classes.  I just have to wait 2 more weeks until graduation.  Rachel's wedding actually got me excused from the final day of class on Friday.

I know I've been a bad blogger and I owe you 3 green challenges.  Also, an update on how some of the other challenges are going.  I've blow dried my hair twice - once for graduation photos and once for Rachel's wedding.  I've also made the mistake of eating with plastic cutlery a few times.  At least one of those times was in the San Francisco airport and it said on the spoon "biodegradable."  That's not the point though.  I'm still working on making that one a habit.  Also, I've eaten beef a time or two in the last day.  So I guess I'm failing slightly at my green challenges.  Big changes are in the works, so bear with me.  I'm doing some necessary research for a few of the upcoming challenges and that has delayed some of my blogging.


In exchange for waiting another day or two for my new challenges - I give you fun pictures from Rachel's wedding! 

  Lovely Family Photo.

Grandma and I

Mother and Daughter - oh so sweet

Aunt Ed lets her hair down!

Grandma and her daughters

For Fun ;)

More Dancing...the sisters are so cute together :)

The cousins plus some!

Penny's New Trick

Adventures with a rescue Dog!

First, I know I'm behind on my green challenges, but I have some ideas in mind and will catch up with those shortly.  My excuse will be my little Penny bean.  She's a cutie pie and is slowly coming out of her shell.
As you can imagine she is spoiled rotten.

It's funny, how having my first real pet all by myself, without my parents around to help me - feels semi-like having a kid.  I think that's how my parents felt, as I gave them nearly hourly updates during my first few days with Penny.  I wanted to know if this or that was normal.  Yes, I know I will be a doctor in less than 3 weeks, but not a Vet.  My biggest worry was whether or not she was going to the bathroom enough.  My Dad said, "didn't you not like pediatrics because all parents talk about was pee and poop."  Let me tell you I sent my parents numerous emails freaking out because Penny only feels the need to go potty 2x's per day.  I've seen her go nearly 24 hours without going to the bathroom!!!  That's crazy.

 We were all worried when we got her about what were we going to do when Sief and I have to work 12 hr shifts.  Well apparently we've found the dog for us, because she can hold it that long and longer.  During those first few days she barely drank any water and would only eat 1/2 the amount of food the shelter told us to give her.  I kept touching her nose, it was moist, so I figured she wasn't dehydrated.  She's getting better now.

She sleeps all day, but has a little more spunk.  We finally heard her bark after having her for a full week and not hearing a noise from her, except for her breathing.  One night we locked her in the bathroom, with her bed, where she sleeps at night ... well she decided she had had enough of that.  She stomps around, scratched at the door, and finally barked.  It was funny, because we should have been mad, but were happy, because she spoke!  haha....   And let's just say the spoiled baby now sleeps in my bed with me. 

We're continuing to work on house training her, my plan is still to litter box train her.  You can do that with a dog.  I don't want to make her hold it if Sief and I have to work late.  Her and Sief still are not friends, but they are working on it.

That's my Penny update.  We'll see how she does this week by herself in the house from 8am-5pm, because Sief and I have our last week of medical school!!!  woo woo

I didn't tell the adoption lady that I have yet to keep a house plant alive....

Introducing....Penny!

Hi, my new name is Penny.  This is a picture of me and my new mom.  I was rescued on Tuesday from a  shelter, to this new place that will be my furever home!  They tell me I'm 4 years old.  Before coming to Pennsylvania, I lived in Alabama with a woman who was a hoarder and had 30 dogs!  30 dogs - can you imagine.  Let me tell you there, I did not get much individual attention and the other dogs were mean.  I had a set of puppies at some point as well, don't know where my babies are now.

My mom thinks that in my old home I must have had to fight for a spot on the couch, because that's my absolute favorite spot in my new home.  I LOVE the couch.  At some point my tail was broken and there is a permanent kink in it.  I don't remember, but it's possible that I used to be abused, because I am very shy and timid.  I love my new mom, but am scared a little bit around my new Dad.  He's ok when he gives me treats and I'm ok with sitting with him on the couch, but other than that I don't like to go for walks with him or really let him pet me when I walk by. 

This is a pic of Dad and I on a walk.

Here's me at my favorite spot on the couch.  Dad has put a giraffe on my head (*eyes roll*)  He doesn't think I notice, but I do.  And...he wonders why I don't like him. ;)

My new home is wonderful and I get tons of love and attention.  I have new toys and get treats.  I don't really play with my toys very much.  My mom can't figure out if it's because I've never had toys or if it's because I just don't like to play.  I try to play sometimes, but usually only for a few minutes at a time.  Otherwise, my absolute favorite activity is sleeping.  I LOVE to sleep and rest all day long.  Cuddling and sitting in my mom's lap is also pretty awesome.  My new bed is super comfy (not as comfy as the couch though) and it's eco-friendly, because the stuffing is made out of recycled post-consumer plastic bottles.  I know it doesn't sound comfortable, but it is super comfortable and I sleep all day.  Sometimes I sleep on my back so I can get belly rubs!!! 

Oh and this is me getting in trouble.  While Mom was in the shower I stole a slipper, sock, and a couple pairs of underwear - SCORE!!  Except for mom took them away.  She didn't yell at me though, because I'm so shy I think she's afraid I won't like her if she yells at me.  See being shy has advantages.