Happy almost Halloween

One more sleep, 4 more meals, 1 soccer game, and 5 dog walks til Halloween. We're ready, thanks to the Halloween Parade and Assembly at school today!

Thanks for the kind words on my last post; makes me want to get out a little more thoughtfully with my camera and explore the world I think I know.

Seeing the train station

Last week, Dean's class took a field trip to Boston. They are currently studying transportation, so they spent the day using as much public transportation as they could, and talking with a couple of experts in the city about urban planning, transportation, and the environment. They were supposed to ride the commuter ferry boat, but the weather was so raw that it wouldn't have been enjoyable at all. I arrived at the station a little early to pick him up at the end of the day, and decided at the last moment to bring my camera along.

I'm still enjoying the experience of seeing what I could see at the station.

Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change

Today, bloggers all over the world are writing about climate change, urging readers to get involved. "Blog Action Day is an annual event held every October 15 that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day with the aim of sparking discussion around an issue of global importance." I registered to participate without any grand plan, other than my belief in sharing ideas to change the world.


My own take on climate change is that, without heavy or undue guilt, I simply believe that every choice I make has an impact. Driving a couple of fewer times in the course of a week by combining (or eliminating) errands, recycling every bit of everything that can be recycled, turning lights off, conserving water, stopping to observe and delight in the beauty of the natural world (and sharing that habit with my son) -- every single thing makes a difference. It goes the other way, too; bad choices hurt. I try, again without feeling hopeless, to sort of run my own sets of carbon-offsets. If I feel that I don't have a way around something, I make an effort to offset the the poor choice with a bunch of better ones.

The point is that I believe that each individual needs to care deeply about personal choices. That it's not up to government nor industry nor some mysterious 'they' to solve the climate crisis; I believe it is up to each and every one of us.

Mister October

Are you ready yet? We're getting our Halloween on (Mr. Skeleton was courtesy of Martha) indoors and...

...out. Or thinking about it, anyway (this outside shot is from last year -- we won't carve our pumpkins or put up the lights until closer to the big day). Dean's costume is nearly finished (more of an assembly of parts as opposed to sewing this year), and the detailed plan around trick-or-treating is in the works.

Meanwhile, still a gorgeous fall. Although

I'm keenly aware of the rhythm life has taken on, the one where blogging never gets my best attention. I steal a couple of in-between minutes to get some photos up (and rarely have time to re-size), then I cobble together a post as best I can.

I'd like to think it's because real life, in real time, is getting my best effort. I'm not sure that it's true, but I do like to think it. I still keep my camera ready and I do keep thinking about everything, I just don't get many thoughts down. I'm not giving up; I guess I'm just asking for some patience. Maybe you're out in the fresh air, too?

Resolute

I have resolved not to noodle away the day. It's Friday, my 'day off,' and I'm going to accomplish things. Housework things and personal things. Dough for pizza will be made, laundry will be put away, and at the very least my craft space will get tidied up. I have a way of letting these days get away from me, but not this time.