The Accidental Recyler

I’m not a person who solidly believes in man-made global warming. I won’t argue that we don’t necessarily take the greatest care of our planet. I don’t disagree that we should take steps to protect earth, as it is currently our only place to live. I just don’t buy into the theory that there is some huge climate change occurring as a direct result from SUVs idling in the carpool lane. Anyone ever hear of the Ice Age? It’s part of global history that our planet goes through heating and cooling stages. Thankfully, we now have climate controlled homes and don’t have to resort to wearing mammoth pelts. All of this to say, I have become an avid recycler, unintentionally.

When we lived in our last house, we paid for recycling for years without me realizing it. Brandon stuck the bins in the attic, and never told me it was part of our garbage service. Now, I wasn’t in a rush to recycle, but if I’m paying for something I’m going to use it. Recently, our city switched garbage companies and when they dropped off our enormous can/cart, they also dropped off a 96 gallon recycling bin. I thought it would be a great place to store all the balls that roll out of our garage every time one of the doors is opened.

Alex saw the new bin and said, “Hey Mom, at school we talked about the rainforest. And I think we’re supposed to recycle to save the rainforest.” A bit misguided, but I couldn’t argue with Alex over recycling when the city was making it so convenient. I read the information and it turned out I didn’t have to sort the recyclables and they accepted a lot of the junk I normally toss. I’m not even required to rinse the jars/cans/milk jugs, but I do because I want to be liked. Even by the recycling people who don't have time to notice my efforts.

It’s recycling for the lazy and apathetic.

Once I got started I couldn’t stop. I’m boarder-line obsessive about recycling. I will jerk the sale ads away from Brandon just to put them in the bin. I know what type of plastic specific bottles are made from and whether or not they can be recycled. My daily routine includes flipping over empties to see if they have a “1” or a “2”. Sometimes “5” looks like “2” and I realize my eyes are getting bad. I worry because I don’t want to buck the system. Some neighbors are annoyed because apparently the old company accepted “5s” and “7s” and it makes them very mad that the new company doesn’t. I don’t know, but I do know the company only picks up the recycling every other week and lately we’ve had more recyclables than garbage.

Prior to our trash compactor I insisted on installing, Brandon dumping our lawn clippings on the empty lot next door, and my neurotic recycling habit, we needed two large carts for all our garbage. The garbage man even left us a nasty-gram. Twice. Now, most of the time our main garbage been in ¾ empty. I’m not naïve enough to believe all the stuff I put in the recycling bin is made into stationery and purses, but it gets me off the hook with Alex.

After all the complaining about unpacking last week, I set myself up for more. This trip was planned the minute Baby Maria made her appearance on October 19th. Maria and her family live about 20 minutes north of my hometown. Whenever we head “home,” we always over-schedule ourselves and we never leave on time. This weekend was no different.

We left a full hour and a half later than I initially planned. I have no idea why. So, we got to Jill C.’s house an hour or so after I told her to expect us. It’s as though we run on island time. At any rate, Jill forgave us and even let me scoop her sweet, sleeping, pink bundle of a baby out of her bassinet. It’s not that I forget what newborns smell like, it’s just that I forget how positively intoxicating the scent of baby powder is. It’s dangerous.

Maria is precious! While she looks a great deal like her brothers, Maria has these dainty little features that unmistakably scream GIRL! Her hands…Her tiny little fingers. Meredith could not get enough of Maria’s delicate hands.
Meredith was very excited to hold Baby Maria. I was a little surprised because Alex is very much our resident Baby Whisperer. Meredith usually peeks at the baby, comments on his/her outfit, and runs off to play with the older siblings. Before we even left our house, Meredith asked if I thought Jill might let her hold Maria. Jill obliged and Meredith did great. Of course, Jill and I were secretly cradling Maria’s head, but Meredith either didn’t notice or was too proud to care.

Alex loves to play in Jill’s sprawling yard with her boys Giuseppe and Frank. It was cold, but the boys didn’t seem to notice. When they came inside they were all wearing safety goggles, carrying plastic rifles, and bragging about knocking down wasps nests. Evidently, Jill’s husband Gaspare sprayed wasps’ nests months ago, but the boys felt it was their duty to take care of the abandoned homes. This all went on largely unsupervised as Jill and I were taking pictures of Maria and Brandon and Gaspare were at their restaurant making pizzas. (Gaspare’s and Jill’s restaurant, not Brandon’s. He doesn’t have a restaurant. At least not that I know of. Maybe that’s what he does all week.)

After gorging ourselves, we left Jill’s and went to Olney to visit my grandparents. That’s usually a fairly short visit. We sit with them and talk until we can’t hear ourselves over the din of my children arguing and then we excuse ourselves. It’s always good to see them and they’re always reminded how glad they are their four are grown.

Because we were so far behind in schedule, we got to Jennifer’s house later than we planned. I think Caroline had about given up on us. That little cutie came running to the door and immediately jumped up to give me a hug. I don’t get to see Caroline anywhere near enough, and she never seems to need time to warm up to us. Oh, I could kiss her adorable cheeks all day! Caroline’s little brother Reese and I made a deal last time I saw him that he wouldn’t grow. He didn’t hold up his end of the bargain. We couldn’t believe what a big boy Reese is. He’s eating cereal and scooting all over the place. He is so cute and it’s so funny to watch him in constant motion. I remember another little chubby cheeked boy who was always in a perpetual state of movement. In fact, now he’s a tall, skinny boy who still cannot remain motionless. Ever.

After all our Olney visiting, we headed an hour south to my grandma Roger’s. Bless her soul, she expected us two hours earlier…at least I called, and she was dying for us to get there. We had dinner and my aunt stopped by for a little bit. The kids played with many of the same toys I played with as a kid and then finally fell into bed. Alex and Meredith share a bed at Nana’s and the last time there was a quarrel, Meredith was bitten by Alex, and there were tears all around. This time, they were too tired to fight for space and were asleep the minute I tucked them into bed.

We drove home yesterday in time for the Colts game. Thankfully, they made it worth the drive! Now, I’m unpacking, doing laundry, and getting read for ballet. The cycle continues.

I hate suitcases.

It feels redundant to say, “It’s been a busy week.” When has it not been a busy week? Does anyone have a week that isn’t busy anymore? Even my grandma has an insane schedule with trips to the “beauty shop,” lunch with friends, and activities with her joy group, which is basically a youth group for seasoned citizens. Wouldn’t it be great to have a week without a to-do list?

I always have a hard time getting caught up with laundry after we’ve been away. It takes me days to unpack suitcases. Brandon is usually done within an hour of arriving home. I drag out the process until it’s painful. My goal for yesterday was simply to get the suitcases out of the kitchen. I like to reach for the stars. I really need three, uninterrupted days to restore order. I’m also a dreamer.

If I had to do laundry, unpack, change sheets, clean bathrooms, clean floors, and dust without any distractions, I would implode. I had three photo shoots this week, and I’m eternally grateful for the escape!

Sunday morning, I met two families at the park in an effort to get Christmas card pictures taken while central Indiana still has fall leaves on the trees. It was a nice break from unpacking and storing all the shorts for winter.

This is my friend Emersyn, who is every bit as sweet as she looks. She's such a peaceful, calm little soul.

And this is the family of Penny Pickles Art fame. What a fun bunch! I'll have more to share of them next week.

Wednesday was such a great day, that my friend Dawn and I decided we would take the kids to the park after school. Then I remembered I owed Dawn a photo session. So, we dressed up her kids and headed back to the same park. I brought along Christmas card-worthy clothes for Alex and Meredith too. It quickly became apparent that a park and their friends weren’t going to make for two kids willing to sit in front of the camera, especially mine. We may try again today. Or, I may send out Snoopy Christmas cards from Hallmark.

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned, Joe and Annie used to live two doors down from us. Our kids are very close in age and have literally grown up together. I’m overjoyed that their family is growing by one person and they’re going to bring the baby home to their new house in our neighborhood. I can’t wait to have them back as neighbors!

Since the unpacking is nearly finished and the laundry is becoming more of a manageable beast, we’re leaving again tomorrow. We’re going on a tour of Southern Illinois. The first stop is to meet Baby Maria! I couldn’t be more excited. Check back Monday for a blog full of pictures. After that, it’s onto Olney to see Caroline, Reese, and my grandparents. I also might have to pick up a few treats for my squirrel loving friend, Annie. From Olney, we’ll drive an hour south to visit my other grandma. She’s making homemade vegetable soup and I can already taste it. I have my fingers crossed that she’s made extra for my freezer. That I don’t mind unpacking.

We’ll head home Sunday so Brandon can pack for the week ahead and I can spend the week ahead unpacking.

I will survive!

It’s a good thing we have unlimited long-distance service. I have a crook in my neck from holding the phone to my shoulder with my cheek while doing dishes, folding laundry, tying shoes…People want to talk about the election. I’ve decided to take the approach that I won’t waste time worrying about things I can’t control. I’m most definitely in a funk, but I’m not planning a move or making Kool-Aid.

In order to offset some of my jitters, my sweet friend Annie invited us over for pizza and returns last night. We watched a few of the early returns come in and we left in time to get all those too young to vote tucked into bed. It was pretty easy to be distracted and remember what is truly important to me, when I was watching this little cutie splash around the bathtub.

Then again, maybe that’s part of the reason I am so disappointed in the election results. As a good (and obviously brilliant) friend said last night, our kids may not get to enjoy the same kind of lives we lived.

Wait, I vowed not to worry about things I can’t control, did I not?!

I’m so far behind on housework; it’s as scary as a Democrat majority. I still have suitcases in my kitchen and they must be moved today. I’ve also got loads of photos to edit from three weekend shoots. Poor Meredith is becoming far too familiar with PBS Kids. Clearly, I don’t have time to be sitting on my can in front of the computer, but I wanted to assure everyone I haven’t headed for the hills! Hey, after all I still have My Man Mitch.

Wake me when it's over!

I don't ever remember being this gravely concerned over an election. I look back and laugh at how I FLIPPED OUT over Bill Clinton's election. In fact, Jennifer reminded me last night, that although I was too young to vote, I called her house and made mention of my plan to move to Canada. Little did I know...

John McCain isn't a quitter...

I don't know if you can read this gentleman's sign or not, but it says, "John McCain NEVER QUITS." I know his sign might insight eye rolling out of my two, maybe three Obama supporting friends. I'm sure there are a lot of leftists who think, "No kidding, he never quits. Give it up already!"

I saw this picture, and subsequently borrowed it from McCain Blogette.com. It's a site Megan McCain keeps journaling her life on the trail in support of her dad. As any daughter would be, she is so dedicated and proud. What struck me about this photo is both the age of the gentleman holding the sign and his buddy standing in the left of the frame. These guys aren't newbies to the political game, who know little about a candiate other than, "He's just so articulate, and makes such motivating speeches." These are probably guys who have been around the block. It wouldn't surprise me if they've served our country in the same capacity John McCain has. They know tenacity, determination, and honor. They know McCain is the epitome of all three.

John McCain doesn't quit.

That wasn't a vacation.

Wow! I haven’t posted anything in a really long time. Normally, when this happens, people e-mail me and ask if I’m okay. No one did this time, so either no one is reading this anymore or everyone knew it was October. And if it’s October, the Webbers are in Disney.

We left on the 24th and just got home yesterday, the 1st of November. We had a good time and PERFECT weather. I mean perfect. Blue skies, zero humidity, and even a chill in the air at times. I kept checking the local news to make sure we were in Florida. Some people head to Florida for the heat. Not me. I really don’t like to be hot…or hungry, but we’ve discussed this before.

The second day we were there, we met up with our friends, the Hindmans. Karen and Dave used to live here, but moved to Florida several years ago. We wind up seeing them at least once a year during our visit, and they come to Indiana in the summer if we’re lucky. We went to Epcot and for the first time in years, our families were able to ride most of the rides together. Everyone met the height requirement! It’s the little things.
Every other year we’ve made the trip, we’ve built in little excursions outside of the Disney parks here and there. It didn’t happen this year. I didn’t need my usual break from the heat and the kids are old enough to stay awake for evening excursions to the parks. We were finally able to “Eat to the Beat,” at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. We’re always there for the festival and they advertise some faded band from the 70’s under the guise that you can “Eat to the Beat.” Brandon talks about this non-stop every time we go. We’ve done it, now hopefully he’ll stop speaking in rhyme. The kids were wound like eight-day clocks after a mid-day three hour nap, so this is them taking Brandon’s suggestion literally…



We had breakfast with Pooh (again…I’ve memorized the buffet), and lunch with the Princesses (again…I still don’t like Norwegian food). Meredith did ask me if Tigger was just a man in a suit. I asked her where she got that idea and she explained that Tigger lives in The Hundred Acre Wood, not Florida. I tried to stop her from growing up and thinking on her own and said, “Well, maybe he vacations here, just like us.” “Oh,” Meredith said, “You think he hops a flight just like us? I think it would freak me out to fly next to Tigger.” Me too, Merdi. Me too.

We took the kids Trick or Treating at Downtown Disney along with the rest of Central Florida’s residents and every vacationing European. The Europeans. I forgot to mention the Europeans! I mean no offense, but I don’t think I have any European readers anyway. The parks are LOADED with Europeans. The weak dollar is great for their travels to America. I find it funny that America is supposedly struggling with Her image abroad, yet these folks don’t seem at all hesitant to hop the pond and visit a significant piece of Americana. The great thing about the Europeans…for the most part, no matter what I wore on any given day, I looked much more put together than half the people there. Our family looked like a toothpaste commercial comparatively.
Believe it or not, I think we may have finally gotten our fill of Walt Disney World, at least for the next few years. Maybe that’s part of the reason we did spend our entire vacation in the parks. Normally, we’ve pretty much known we’d be back the following year, but this year it felt like we’re due for a change of pace. Alex let us know by writing a note: “Next year, I wint two go two Maxico.”