Support Matching. It should be a law...

Donate to Palin's agenda, donate to gulf clean up. Balance.

I think it should be a law that when you donate to support a political candidate or party, that you have to match that donation to a charitable cause.

For instance, the millions of dollars going into supporting your "family values" candidate, could be another pile of millions to counseling, family planning, adoption, health care, orphanages, fostering and so on. We can call it:

SUPPORT MATCHING.

Just saying.

Raw attempts!

In an effort to eat more organically and with full potential of all
enzymes & nutrients available... I'm drawn to the "raw" eating ways.

Stay tuned as I learn to "sprout" beans, seeds & maybe even
reintroduce my sensitive system to nuts. It's a good thing I make lots
of collandars in my pottery creations!

Reverse

(Cathy, left and Bev at Emerald Bay rest stop)

Sometimes life forces us to reverse rolls, and roll with it! Two weekends ago was "America's most beautiful bike ride" on June 6. A 72 or 100 mile ride route around Lake Tahoe. Your choice. Or if you are me... and realize you haven't ridden beyond 20ish in over a year, and need to resist the urge to join the Team-in-Trainers, the novice riders, the "never ridden this far before" crowd, and stop at a designated point... you do 30 miles.

Now I know that I'm supposed to be proud, and I know I would coach and preach the positive aspects of the fact that just under a year ago I was in a wheelchair, but it still hurt. The most wonderful part of that weekend, was seeing my sister, a working out healthy woman, that hasn't ridden much on the road, and never ridden beyond 20 miles herself in one batch... successfully go around the lake spontaneously. We had planned to both ride to "Sunnyside" -30 miles from our Condo in South Lake, and she was so strong... with tears in my jealous eyes of desire to be the leader, the coach, the advocate for going beyond ones limits, resisted continuing, and encouraged her to reach a goal that she didn't know she could reach. My nice friend Louisa was already on her way to play SAG (support and gear) vehicle, and come rescue me at said Sunnyside stop.

Now before we parted, Cathy and I made it up the Emerald Bay climb to the most stunning view of Lake Tahoe out there, (tied with the Flume trails view of Sand Harbor). After we summited, Cathy was able to reach for her water bottle and drink while still riding. A skill that many road riders don't have - and like an experienced touring or racing goddess, with giggles of joy that she crossed that line, after a tad of coaching from myself - this win was a big one. Previously we needed to stop on the side of the tour, and drink while "parked". This is the type of skill I try to emphasize is important for safety, health and hydration, and basic bike handling skills that are important. This was a win for both of us, and now she is unstoppable. Seriously - she just kept going!

Like the tortoise and the hare, the rest of our fast century-riding-group of guys averaging 18miles per hour for the 100 miles of high altitude, w/ 2 large hills, would see her at rest stops, think she was me (as at this point she was riding my bike now, and still wearing her SLaB jersey)... to realize that smiling woman was my amazing sister! Even though I'm the younger, I'm used to being the encourager for bike adventures... and now I'm am the one forced to listen to my body and physical therapist, and not push my knee and ankle beyond it's recovery limits. Grrrr. A tough mental space to be in, but a joyous one to see what is possible, and see not only my sister, but novices of less fitness than either of us, with good causes in mind such as raising funds for the Leukemia Society - carry the inspirational torch for a bit. It's my turn to get encouraged and see the inspiration, not my turn to inspire.

Weird reverse in my life. I'm trying to keep my eye on the future, and continue forward, and take note of the advances, not the backwardness of it all. After all, that is what SLAB is all about isn't it?!

What products we use that are made from OIL...

In the wake of this catastrophic disaster in the Gulf. I find myself again pondering what else I can take out of my life to lessen the desire for oil. I drive a hybrid, ride bikes (which surely use oil to make - but burn less in the long run)... Bee's wax candles if any... Try to buy clothing that's non polyester - bike jersey's are hard to find - but we should change our ways there.... Organic plant based toiletries...etc etc...
A Brown Pelican sits in heavy oil on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Taken from: Answers.com (WikiAnswers).

Q: What products are derived from crude oil?

A: Crude oil is feedstock for just about everything under the sun. When crude oil is refined, its various chemical parts are separated and some become gasoline, some lubricants, some asphalt, and others the raw materials for plastics and rubber and many more things. Here are some examples of what can be obtained from petroleum (crude oil, natural gas, and/or viscous or solid forms):

Fuels - like gasoline, diesel, propane, heating oil

Heavy bottoms - like asphalt, bitumen, tar

Petrochemicals - used as a feedstock for many everyday products:

• plastic gadgets, tools, bags, toy, plastic bottles... plastic plastic...
• candles
• clothing (polyester, nylon)
• hand lotions
• petroleum jelly
• perfume
• dishwashing liquids
• ink
• bubble gums
• car tires
• ammonia
• heart valves
• and many more

Crude oil is refined and used to make all these products:

• Ethane and other short-chain alkanes which are used as fuel
• Diesel
• Fuel oils
• Petrol
• Jet fuel
• Kerosene
• Liquid petroleum gas (LPG)
• Natural gas
• Alkenes (olefins) which can be manufactured into plastics or other compounds
• Lubricants (produces light machine oils, motor oils, and greases, adding viscosity stabilizers as required).
• Wax, used in the packaging of frozen foods, among others.
• Sulfur or Sulfuric acid. These are a useful industrial materials. Sulfuric acid is usually prepared as the acid precursor oleum, a byproduct of sulfur removal from fuels.
• Bulk tar.
• Asphalt
• Petroleum coke, used in speciality carbon products or as solid fuel.
• Paraffin wax
• Aromatic petrochemicals to be used as precursors in other chemical production.