Yes, We Can - Make it a day on

On Sunday, January 18th, in the spirit of the King Day of Service, the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), in partnership with Green Decade Cambridge and with funding from the Massachusetts Service Alliance, will hold a Weatherization Barnraising at The Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House and the Cambridgeport School.

Traditionally, a “barnraising” was when a community would come together to help a family build a barn. Using this concept HEET is brining volunteers together to weatherize The Margaret Fuller Neigborhood House and The Cambridgeport School.

HEET has organized expert builders and contractors to lead the weatherization activities. Weatherization is the practice of protecting a building and its interior from the elements, predominantly from sunlight, precipitation, wind, and of modifying a building to reduce energy consumption and optimize energy efficiency.

Dr. King’s Day of service aims to make the Martin Luther King holiday a day ON, where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to “improve lives, bridge social barriers, and move our nation closer to the “Beloved Community” that Dr. King envisioned.” For more information about the King Day of Service please visit http://mlkday.gov.

The Home Energy Efficiency Team is raising funds in order to make weatherization barnraisings available to households that cannot afford the cost of weatherization materials. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to support some of our neighbors who are most in need.

Check back for hammer in hand interviews and pictures posted live from yours truly.

Picture from http://www.mlkday.gov.

Looking forward to a day ON, not a day OFF

Are you just now finding yourself recovering from the post-election frenzy, or starting to already tune out to the pre-inauguration hype, or maybe you think the most interesting development seen on CNN politics recently has been Dr. Sanjay Gupta's nomination to U.S. Surgeon General?

Yah me too. So, while you could spend next Monday's holiday catching up on CSPAN. But what better way to become re-engaged in the state of our nation, by directly volunteering to improve the state of our state. (Which, by the way Governor Patrick will be delivering his speech Wednesday January 15th--remember to tune in!)

President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Biden have launched a National Day of Service to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and enable Americans to make an ongoing commitment to volunteer service and civic engagement on the eve of this new administration.

The National Day of Service is a mass-organizing effort to engage volunteers to help organizations in communities across the nation. In Boston and Massachusetts, field directors hope to have hundreds of service projects ready to go over the course of this coming three day weekend--January 17-19. Many local groups have created new events to assist organizations with one-time opportunities and others have requested help with specific, ongoing projects.

To find out how to get involved, find an opportunity in your neighborhood, and sign up to volunteer--the Presidential Inaugural Committee has launched a website where all of these events can easily be searched by zip code. Visit www.usaservice.org to see more details.

Honestly, what else do you have to do next Monday, January 19th? You weren't really planning on taking the day off to do laundry, catch up on sleep, continue to work, or watch the new episodes of 24 all day, were you? Why not help organize goods at a Longwood food bank, clean up the North End streets and waterfront, learn more about online youth mentoring Downtown, improve and beautify a Charlestown community center, help repair a neighborhood house in Cambridge, assemble care packages in Somerville, improve a family center in Dorchester, help care for shelter animals in JP, and countless (seriously) other projects around town.

There are so many families out there for which Monday will not be a holiday off, but I know for me, I'll be making the most of mine by helping out in some small way.

Talking Trash

It's truly an adventure walking to work every morning. I leave my apartment in the North End and walk through Government Center, across Boston Common and finally up Boylston to the Pru. Usually by this point sweating profusely (because Dylan Dryer is sometimes a little off) or trying to get the feeling back in my numbed face, fingers and toes. The walk usually takes about 35-38 minutes which leaves plenty of room for me to peruse the sidewalks for unusual sightings and people while rocking out to my ipod. Most people think I'm keeping to myself, but really I'm looking for my next opportunity to exploit whatever might strike me as obnoxious, funny, or simply out of the ordinary.

Last week, and really since I first moved to the North End over a year ago, I thought about how many random, stray objects I've walked past on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday trash days. I came across this television which has been keeping this tree company for about a week now. I'm not sure what guidelines the garbage men follow but I guess this guy didn't make the cut. I've seen things like bed frames, cat scratching posts, fish tanks and more so was surprised to see this pretty average looking tv abandoned for so long.

I wonder what will happen to it...maybe someone will pick it up and see if it works, maybe someone will use it as decor in a shop or restaurant, maybe the garbage men will feel bad it has been sitting there for so long and just take it, or maybe I'll still be walking by it in the spring.

Hope it survives another night in the cold.

Guide Horse?

Traditionally when you think of "service animals" you think of dogs. That's not a suprise really, dogs are loyal, loveable and easy to train. Dogs can easily be trained to suit the needs of the disabled or elderly person who requires help for everyday life.

Just when you got used to the idea of seeing dogs in restaurants, here comes around an article that presents the idea of service horses. According to the article, horses are just as loyal, and trainable as dogs. Another plus is horses live longer, 25-35 years where as the average dog is 10-15 years. Apparently these horses are very small and are about the size of golden retriever. These mini horses are even better for disabled adults who have allergies and can't not have a service dog because of their allergies.

Seems reasonable, but I don't know what I would do if I saw a guide horse walking down the street. Would it even be allowed in a restaurant? I believe legally it should be, but would you want to sit next to a minature horse at a restaurant? I don't know, it certain would provide interesting conversation if I did see one.

What are your thoughts?

Related Posts: Recycling Dog, Sock Monkeys for Charity, TGIF from OYFP: Talking to Animals

Picture Courtesy of: http://www.guidehorse.com/

my nails are making me miserable

Chemotherapy is a real pain in the ass. The side effects are really tiresome and annoying...

I suppose I'm being ungrateful. Chemotherapy is saving my life and I am happy and thrilled about that.

I haven't been posting much -- though there is a lot on my mind -- because it hurts to type. My nails are a wreck and my fingertips are really painful. I mentioned awhile back that my nail beds were discolored, as though they were bruised. Well... now it seems that the discoloration is leading to the loss of my nails. The nails are peeling a little and lifting which is not a pretty sight.

I have a lot on my mind and I'll share it in a few days. I just need to process it a little more before I let you in on it. But, I'm still here... just thinking and praying and crying...

Have a blessed day -- God is amazing.

~Nic

Putting things off -- Guilty as charged!

I wouldn't call myself a procrastinator. Typically I get things done early or on time. However, as anyone who has been in my car in the past year knows, my left windshield wiper arm is disabled. By disabled, I mean it doesn't work. At all. This means I'm windshield-wiper-less when it's raining, or snowing, or when my windshield is dirty, and as a result I can't see so well out the front of my car.

This makes for some not-so-safe driving, to say in the least. In fact, I think John R from OYFP has been avoiding getting rides home with me after OYFP meetings for this very reason! Miraculously, I have not had any accidents. Yet. And it's been a whole year (yes one whole year).

But why haven't I gotten it fixed? It just seemed like too much of a pain in the butt. I didn't want to drive out to Wellesley early on a Saturday morning to get the windshield wiper arm. I tried to get the piece at a junkyard, no dice. I tried to get it at a few auto parts stores, but it's too special to be in stock.

So instead, I just drove around, endangering all passengers, passerbys, other drivers, and myself whenever there was any precipitation.

FINALLY just now I called the dealership, and $80 and a few days later, I'll have the part. What spurred me to action? Well... I made a bargain with my boyfriend - if I got the windshield wiper fixed, he would make a dentist appointment.

Sometimes we all need a kick in the pants, even if we know the action we're putting off would be good for us. Actually, especially when the action is good for us (but maybe not so fun). The New Year is a great time to take care of those nagging little tasks, like writing to your grandma, bringing that bag of clothes to Goodwill, or finding a place to volunteer. Make bargains with your friends or roommates to ensure you'll actually complete those chores you have been avoiding.

What have you been putting off doing?

Relaxing in tropical paradise with a glass of bubbly and an apple can wait until after some of those chores are done.

Related Posts: Moving? Donate your items; Spring Cleaning Part Deux; Unexpected Volunteering
Photo courtesy of me and my 2006 vacation to Puerto Rico.

What to do with all those Holiday Cards

Now that the holiday season is winding down and you have started to take down any holiday decorations, you may be left with the inevitable pile of holiday cards. Holiday cards are always fun to receive and I am EXTREMELY thankful for everyone I get. That being said, there are more things to do with your holiday cards than simply put them in the recycle bin when the season is over. Here are a few ideas on what you could do with yours.

1. Put them in a scrapbook. I used to do this when I was a child and saved all my holiday/birthday/valentine cards in a scrapbook. I used to hate it when my mom made me do it, but when I was home over the holidays I found a couple of theses old scrapbooks and it brought back many fond memories. Over time I had forgot some of the little details of who I was friends with, the funny cards that were sent my way, etc. It was really enjoyable to look over these old cards again!
   
2. If the front part of the card is not written on you can cut it out from the back part (make sure to recyle the back part) and reuse it as a postcard the following year or a unique gift tag for one of your presents.
   
3. Cut your cards into decorative tree ornaments.
   
4. Bring your cards into a local daycare center to be used as arts and crafts projects.

These are a few of the ideas I know of, do you have any great ideas on what to with the holdiay cards you receive?

Related Posts: Alternative holiday gift ideas, Green Tips for the New Year
Picture Courtesy of: http://papercrave.com/index.php?tag=paper-christmas-ornament