Monday Morning Chrissy

OMG. Worst week ever!

I don't even want to get out of bed today and go back to work. Hopefully, I'll have some time to fill you in this week.

I really need to find a new job soon because this one is literally making me physically sick.

Monday Morning Everyone

 

 

We're staying in bed until it's really Spring!

Secondhand Sunday

Sundays are my Secondhand day. I'm basically too lazy to think of anything new to say so I re-post a "vintage" entry.

If you aren't in the mood for repeats, please feel free to change the channel.



"Am I smarter than a 1st grader?"

Original Post Date, April 10, 1012

I think I’m getting dumber as I age. Or is it, more dumb? Either way, I just don’t feel as mentally sharp as I used to. I think I smell worse, too, but that’s another discussion.

I have always prided myself on being able to think on my feet and complete tasks with both speed and accuracy. Maybe it’s just an inevitable consequence of aging, but I feel like I’m thinking slower than before. I’m not quite to the “riding the short bus” level of slowness but I won’t be applying for “Jeopardy” any time soon, either.

I was off last Monday, lying on my couch in the middle of the afternoon, watching TV. There was something about people living on disability and so I googled “Disability for mental illness” thinking it might be a good career move for my decreasing intelligence.

I reviewed the eligibility categories:

Schizophrenia – I’m pretty sure I don’t have this but I do have Quadrophenia by The Who

Mental retardation - I had this once when I dated a guy that I was pretty sure had killed his last girlfriend and buried her in the backyard. It passed when we broke up.

Anxiety - Thank you, Prozac.

  

Depression -  See above.

Substance abuse disorders - I’m working on this one as I type.

I fell asleep in the middle of filling out the application and I woke to a commercial talking about improving my brain.

It was touting the benefits of a website called Lumosity. This cognitive training website was developed by neuroscientists to help improve your mental abilities. I was intrigued and bored enough to give it a look-see.

The first thing I always want to know is how much something costs. Lumosity offers a three day trial, which only after you sign up, allows you to access the pricing scale. I’ll share it with you here since I signed up. C’mon, you know I’m a sucker for FREE:

1 month $14.95

Yearly $6.70/month, billed in one installment of $80.40.

Two years $4.49/month, billed in one installment of $107.76

Or Lifetime for $299.95 which would be a good deal, if we all weren’t all going to be dead on December 21, 2012 as the Mayan calendar professes.

You start by answering some simple questions about memory, attention, speed, flexibility and problem solving. The allows Lumosity to create a personalized training program just for you. I had fun with the 3 day trial so I decided to sign up for a month.

There's a page called The Science behind Lumosity where they talk about all the scientific studies that have been done showing how cognitive training extends beyond the actual game itself into real life. I think everyone can draw their own conclusions.

I, for one, think the results have been amazing. I mean, just the other day I......wait, what was I talking about?

You've got mail

I honestly don't remember ordering all this stuff. QVC and Amazon must have a partnership with Ambien.

I love poo poo

Paper, that is!

I doggy sat my next door neighbor family's new dog over the weekend. Her name is Shadow and they inherited her from a family friend who passed away. She looks like a little Toto dog with white paws and she is just about as cute as cute can be!



 

 

We didn't really have much interaction with her prior besides barking at her through the window when she's in the backyard. I didn't know how it was going to work out but their original sitter fell through so I wanted to help out.

 

 

I brought her over after dinner and walks and they all got along smashingly!

 

 

 

 

 

Nice to meet you...

 

 

Millie thought I brought Shadow's bed over for her to sleep in which didn't matter since Shadow decided to sleep in the bed with all of us anyway.

 

 

 

My neighbors took their kids to Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, West Virginia and as a thank you, they brought me back some Elephant Poo Poo Paper. Oh...so, that's what she meant by, I love poo poo.

 

I was intrigued so I went online to find out the background and then I realized that there was a whole history written on the ribbon binding the box.

 

Dino had to check to see if it smelled like poo poo.

There's this cool company called, Alternative Pulp and Paper Co, Ltd, and they believe that they can "balance their commercial pursuits and be good stewards of our shared environment."

LOVE them!

In a nutshell, no trees are destroyed to make their paper. They use alternative pulp sources and only natural soy inks and non-edible food coloring. To make the elephant poo poo paper, which was their first product, they initially gather the dung from elephant conservation parks. The process is pretty cool.

1. Collect the poo
2. Pre-rinse it with water, leaving only the fibrous materials from the grasses, bamboo and fruits they elephants have eaten.
3. Boil the fibers in water so they're super clean. At this point, colors can be added.
4. Natural fibers from banana trees and pineapples are added to make the paper thicker and stronger.
5. The fibers are then separated into small cakes and spread evenly over a mesh bottomed tray.
6. The tray is then leaned against a tree and angled toward the sun to dry.
7. Once dry, the sheet of paper is removed and, voila! Poo poo paper products can be made!

 

Love the texture. Who knew elephant dung could be so chic?

But, wait, this company rocks even more. A percentage of their profits go back to elephant and wildlife conservation efforts and to support organizations and schools in their focus on the environment.

AND...love this part.....Alternative Paper and Pulp Co. operates a flex-work cottage-based manufacturing production framework in Thailand where the crafts people that they employ (95% women) can work at home with a fair wage and benefits.

You can read more about them HERE and shop their Poo-tique.

I wonder if they can make paper out of dog poop yet.....



Monday Morning Chrissy

 

 

This is what you get when a beagle is excited to show you the squirrel in the tree. Thanks, Dino.