I am a very superstitious person. So it would only make sense that my very first blog would fall on Friday the Thirteenth…talk about bad luck.  This Friday the Thirteenth began like any other, with the power going out once I finished my blog but before I saved it of course. So here I go again…. As a child my mother would tell me it was bad luck to do certain things, it is bad luck to put your shoes on the table, it is bad luck to put hats on bed post, it is bad luck to go back because you forgot something, etc. Looking back I am not sure if these are actual superstitions or just my mother’s way of getting me to conform. Either way it worked. Does anyone else have any bizarre superstitions that it seems no one else has heard of?

Well, perhaps not the blog itself but the world in general does seem to be taking a turn towards the green and so as not to be left out we are taking steps here to do the same (just ask Joy about my “spoon drawer”). Honestly, the whole “Green” movement had started to grate on my nerves as popularity soared and everything was suddenly green this and green that. It really bothered me that everyone was pushing their own green agenda and suddenly stepping up to do what they have been doing all along, as if by doing so now they should get a gold star from the universe.

Then I realized that I was perhaps a little too harsh. Even if greener practices are a little late in coming for many companies and individuals, it really is a wonderful thing that this issue is so prevalent that it is reaching people who may be otherwise oblivious or unconcerned and finally bringing the environment into the public eye. Giving people a realistic way to “live greener” is the best possible thing, in my opinion, that has happened in our country in a very, very long time. It is certainly something that has impacted me, especially as working at Sixthman has brought recycling and greening projects to the forefront of my mind and led me to not only be more personally responsible but also creative about ways to make what we do more eco friendly.

Of course for me “Green” also means money. Money I will spend on the greener things in life. Odd that such an earthy movement is so closely tied in consumerism but it really is. There are some of the best green things on the market right now. My favorite is bamboo… no really. I have these Bamboo sheets that are by far the most comfortable sheets I have ever had. I also love all of the organic bath and body products, somehow they just feel richer and I love the home made vibe of them (actually, I prefer that they are home made- I’ve even tried my hand at this and loved it!). Ah, only if “green” didn’t cost so much green…. Well, there is the future to look to when the market is flooded with responsible products and we can unintentionally leave less of a foot print while wearing a sassy organic lip gloss and a fabulous bamboo party dress.

What’s your favorite green or organic product out there?

OK folks, I will admit plagiarizing one of those forwarded emails that I typically don’t even read…but since my dog is the king of our household and I don’t have kids, this one makes me chuckle.

Dogs are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don’t ask for money all the time
3 Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don’t hang out with drug-using friends
7. Don’t smoke or drink
8. Don’t have to buy the latest fashions
9. Don’t want to wear your clothes
10. Don’t need a gazillion dollars for college, and…
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Now can anyone come up with a reason cats are better than dogs…bet you can’t! OK, so maybe that’s different, but still…dog people unite!

I’ve just realized it is June 10th…which means its only six months until we dive in to the ’09 season with the Simple Man Cruise, and that it has been six months since we set sail this year.

Am I the only one who is wondering where HALF a year has gone? I began to think it was just a cruel trick of nature, doing her part to speed up the days until my 20′s are over, and actually had myself pretty convinced that it was the truth! I had to get to the bottom of it. Turns out, time really does fly! (At least when you’re having fun.) Check out this article. It gets a little scientific, but makes complete sense at the same time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3532195.stm

I can say with certainty now that “time flies!” These six months have been nowhere near boring – the activity here at Sixthman has not dipped below full speed ahead once. It seems like every day there is a new, fun, exciting project or initiative to engage our brains. So its no longer a mystery, and instead of being upset about it, I am going to embrace it! Thank goodness for all the fun.

-Ashley

With two young children, popsicles have become present at our house as a special dessert a couple times a week. I recently enjoyed one and it reminded me of my childhood. One thing that surprised me was the fact that there had been no improvements in the stick. As good a treat as the popsicle is, I always dread the last lick and tasting the wooden stick. It’s the equivalent of nails down a chalkboard for my tongue and I’m not alone. I googled the topic and there is an on-line petition signed by 62 people so far to replace the wooden popsicle stick with something a little less abrasive to the tongue.

I recently had an experience traveling that reminded me of the wooden popsicle stick. The family flew from Nashville to Raleigh and the flight attendants for US Airways could not have been more helpful to us. They helped us carry car seats, checked strollers and even asked other flyers to change seats so we could sit together. We were really impressed. Then we landed and headed down to baggage claim and discovered they had lost one of our bags. The people at the baggage desk could not have been less accommodating to us. They completed the paperwork and were very clear to set a low set of expectations and finally handed us a form and pretty much said good luck. We never heard a “We are so sorry about this inconvenience” or “We’ll follow up with you later to let you know that we found your bag. ” It was at that moment that I realized that they were the “wooden popsicle stick”.

This situation has encouraged me to be sure that there will never be a “wooden popsicle stick” in our business.

My boyfriend and I have been together for 8 years, which means that I have been planning our wedding for exactly 8 years. Actually, I have been planning this wedding for my entire life, I just didn’t know that he would be in it, nor did it really even matter. I was one of those little girls who always dreamt about her wedding day. When I was young, I pictured myself walking down the church isle in a long, white, traditional gown. When I was in high school, I planned exactly which of my friends would be my bridesmaids. When I was in college the fantasy evolved into a ‘spiritual’ (a.k.a. hippie) ceremony on top of a mountain. Well, my boyfriend is jewish, I no longer talk to my high school friends, and butterfly wings and crystals no longer hold the appeal that they once did, but none of that matters. The fantasy still changes almost daily- the location, the dress, even the ring (of which I have not-so-subtly sent dozens of different pictures to my boyfriend over the years- poor thing).

My mother never dreamt of her wedding. When the day finally came, her 13 year old sister put together a modest sized backyard bash at their parents home; my mother too busy with her studies, her job, politics, and activism to be bothered with such things (seriously I wonder if I am even her daughter). So whenever the topic of weddings came up, she never failed to remind me of her sensible offer to help with a down payment on a house if I chose to forgo an elaborate ceremony. And every time I scoffed at such absurdity.

Suddenly, her proposal doesn’t seem so preposterous. After 20 plus years of planning for ‘the day,’ it is starting to make sense to me that it is just that- 1 day. And a house to start a family in and to make our own, well that could be forever.

The decision seems straightforward and easy when you think about it like that. But, in fact, this is one of the hardest decisions I have faced in my lifetime. Can I relinquish the dream I have had for a half a lifetime in order to have a home for the next part of my lifetime? Please weigh in. I’d love to hear your opinons!

Summertime “feel” and excitement?  As the mother of 15 million, ok…7, but what’s the difference, summertime takes on a whole new meaning.  School’s out -  to me means 77 days until relief and a chance to catch my breath, at least a little.  My reason for moving to Atlanta from Michigan was not better opportunities, as I lied and told everyone.  It was to minimize my chances of “snow days” during the school year.  If only there were a place I could go where year-round school  is mandatory.  If there is, someone let me know. 

I suppose the key is to try and keep them busy.  Otherwise, I am faced daily with hours of TV turning them into little bickering zombies who whine at the suggestion of playing outside.  “It’s too hot! Mom, I’m bored!  There’s nothing to do!  He won’t stop making that noise!  I’m hungry!  Can I have a snack!  Can I have ice cream for breakfast?! Can I have Fruit Loops for lunch?  Why does she get to do that?  Why do I have to clean that up?   Can my friends come over?  Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom! 

Don’t get me wrong, I love my children.  I just want to be one of them again.  Kids do not realize how good they have it.  I couldn’t wait to grow up and have the freedom that I thought adults had.  I miss the summertime “feel” and wish I could somehow get it back.

 —Mom, uh, I mean Michelle

Dontcha just love the summertime hit? I was thinking this the other day as I was driving along, windows down, radio cranking. And, ya know, it really is more than the tune. Sure, the catchy melody helps. Or the rocking guitar. Or even the sweet vocal harmonies. But, more so than that, its THE FEELING. That happy, groovy, hopeful, invincible feeling the song gives you. All of your troubles melt away and fly out your open window as “Love Shack” or “All I Wanna Do” or “Crazy in Love” comes blasting out of your speakers. And for those few moments, you are joyful and free in the feel good ether of the summertime hit. Sometimes, its enough to get you through the entire day. As summer quickly approaches, (its actually already here in HOTlanta), what will your hit be? I can’t wait to discover mine!

I have this recurring dream about an afterlife experience where I’m standing at the gate of the entrance to eternity and the guard at the gate tells me they have a ticket for me to enter, but that I can only come in on one condition.

What have I got to lose?

I agree to the condition. He then leads me to a room and points to a very large quantity of food. He says I am welcome to proceed beyond the gates once I eat all the food in the room. I ask him what the purpose of this is and he says, “That is all the food you threw away while you were on earth.”

I always wake up before I begin the eating, but I have thought a lot about how that would be a cruel but fair concession.

Now that my awareness is high, I am wondering if anyone out there has any suggestions of ways to consume less and be less wasteful?