Half empty vs half full

We had a ROWL meeting today. Everything has come together so well lately that we wanted to share the progress with new and old members of the committee. The committee has developed into a group of members who really have a committed interested in recycling.  It is a diverse group: a farmer, former school teachers, former recycling managers, a priest, a laid off medical tech and a waste disposal man, there today.

What struck me was how people with different personalities interact in a meeting. I can only speak from experience with these personalities in this particular setting.  However, it is obvious that some people must see things in general as the glass half empty. Those people can make it difficult to accomplish your objectives and keep focused on your goals. They are the people who will never be convinced even when they see it.  The typical doubting Thomases.

Now I'm not saying that one should go about things with rose colored glasses on and ignore important details.  But, then again I think that keeping an open mind is the first step in accomplishing any challenge.  How do people think Columbus ever would have found America(okay, I know he wasn't really the first) if he hadn't challenged the belief that the world was flat? And how about the guy who invested in and sent the capsule up into space last week. It would never have happened if he didn't take a risk.  Granted a well educated and calculated risk, but still a risk.

Maybe, the older I get the more I feel that weighing the risk against the importance of the mission is worth it.  And what do we have to lose? The opportunity for someone to enjoy saying,"I told you so!"

Graduation

We went to my grandson's graduation yesterday. Great to have some time with my girls and grandkids for a few hours. You would have thought we were traveling there in the middle of the winter instead Memorial Day weekend, with the sleet, snow and cold. Michael said we aren't coming until July next year. In Montana, I don't think you can ever be sure you won't hit snow no matter when you come.  

But, at least that means the weather for the Burger Bash will be good.  I think Anne and I, at least, will be glad when that is over so that we can sleep at night again. We almost had a nightmare come true, too.  The band said they would be there to set up on Saturday at one. That is half way through the Bash, for heaven sakes! However, I called the band leader and got the misunderstanding taken care of when I got home.  Whew! Heck, they have top billing in  all our ads! Hope nothing else goes wrong. At least the bean makers seem to be getting along now.

Anyway, as I listened to the commencement speaker at the graduation I felt as if her message was addressing me as well as the 17 and 18 year olds embarking on their life in front of them. Follow your dreams. Don't just take a path because it is well worn and there.  Unless you are lost in the woods, of course.  Yes, your life is ahead of you no matter how many years you have left.  They all count.

Memorial service

Today I helped out at a memorial service and reception for a lady who died recently.  What else can you do on a cold, wet Memorial Day weekend?  I didn't know the lady personally, but her face in the pictures of her looked somewhat familiar.  She was 77 years old, had been married to her current husband for 10 years and died from Alzheimer's. Now from where I'm sitting, that seems pretty young and gives one food for thought as one contemplates what will take a  person one day.

Not that I spend much time thinking about that kind of thing.  But, services like that do have a tendency to bring on those kinds of thoughts.  As I sat there, I got to wondering if any one much would bother to come to my funeral and what kinds of things would come to mind to tell about my life. 

I could probably write a book about the kinds of things people would say about me. "Never ask her to find the way to some place unfamiliar to you or she will get you lost".  " Let me tell you about the time when she got us lost at __" No lack of fodder there.  "When you saw her coming you ran, because you never knew what crazy idea she was coming up with next."  "What a spastic!"

The person who had her funeral before she died had the right idea.  That way you can be there to hear it all. That's the way it should be, so you can hear what people really think about you. Yet again, maybe at a time like this, they hold back telling the things they really thought.Well, I can say one thing for sure.  I'm going to get started planning mine now so I can have it my way.  That's the another thing they would say about me,"She really liked to have things done her way".

What an education we had today!  My sisters and I drove to Billings for the day, hauling all of our accumulated plastic for recycling along with us.  We had the huge trunk of Anne's Buick full of bags of plastic. I had assured them it would be no problem just dropping it off. When we arrived in town, I expected that there would be a plastic's recycling container in the Wal-mart parking lot so we could get rid of it before we began our day of shopping for all that we needed for the Big Bash coming up.

We drove all around the parking lot with no success. I had been sure that since there is a drop off in Gt. Falls there would be one in Billings. So we next tried the Target parking lot, as I was sure I knew of one in some Target lot somewhere. No better success. Since we knew we had to get rid of it soon, I called the recycling center in Billings to find out where they were. 

Since they told me there are located in some remote spot on the edge of town, so I asked if they knew of any other drop off place around. The nice lady assured us there was one at the other Wal-mart,  and we head over to the other side of town droving around that parking lot to no avail, too.

We were getting pretty desperate since by now we had a truck full of plastic and stuff for the bash and no room for us just about. This prompted us to get the directions to the recycling place on the edge of town. When at last we found it and drug all our plastic out of the car, all we discovered was two containers, one for #1's and one for #2's.

Since all of our plastic was unsorted in our bags and we were at the "I don't care any more" stage, we just threw it all into the containers as is and high tailed it out of there. After all we had devoted an hour and a half into this endeavor up to this point! And think of all the gas wasted, too!

Now I know why no one around here recycles plastic and just gets rid of it anyway they can. I was pretty naive to think this recycling project was going to be something little old me could do. No wonder no one ever wanted to tackle this job.  They are all a lot smarter than I am.  I'm wising up pretty fast now, though.

It is disconcerting when you have something that everyone you talk to in town is so positive and supportive about, but find it so difficult to accomplish that goal. I realize that every new idea is going to have a few snags to overcome.  You have to meet your failures, embrace them, then look at how you can overcome them. I do believe that is how you get to the best solution and plan.

Problem is, every time you come up with what you think is the flawless plan someone puts a whole new wrinkle in it. Right now we are looking at putting a 28' semi trailer on a lot somewhere in town to collect the plastic that has been placed in plastic bags by the citizens. We have the trailer committed, we have interested youth and other groups interested in helping and so you would think it to be a pretty straight forward, simple process. Have the trailer manned once a week for a few hours to collect the plastic and a container beside the trailer to the impatient ones.

Who would figure all the obstacles with finding a place to park the trailer?  Being a snowbird, who doesn't see much snow, one flaw I didn't foresee was snow. Snow piles up and takes money to remove. Snow hazards causing liability issues. Messy snow, slippery ice, winter, winter, winter. Which brings us to the new wrinkle, how to get someone to have a vision and a solution to present to overcome the snow problems.

Probable my cred isn't too strong when I approach someone about using their site and I show no comprehension about snow issues.  Guess I need to bone up on snow and keep the fact that I don't usually personally deal with the stuff in my life to myself.  Guess I'll send someone who relates better next time.

Lessons learned

There are certain lessons you learn on the way to stepping out into the clearing from a lifetime of living in the woods. Most of my life I have tried to a lead my life as well as possible without drawing undue attention to myself. I never wanted to do anything that would make anyone think I was different from the norm, be it as a teenager or in my career choice.  Stay with what you know and don't make waves, has always been my mantra, basically.

Now that I have stepped out into the clearing and taken on some challenges that not everyone sees as the same priority, I have found that sometimes you end up with a bulls eye on your back that some people enjoy taking aim at.  I know it just goes with the territory.  Even Jesus had to deal with opposition (no, I am not equating myself in anyway with him) so I know that it is to be expected when you step out into the public domain and risk taking on a major task.

I always felt that when things got down to it, I was a pretty flexible person, an asset that is also important if you are going to expose your ideas to scrutiny.  I'm finding out just how flexible I can be when I have this idea that I think is so great that I think I have examined it from every angle. Then someone shows me the error in my thinking and I am able to let go of my original idea and try something else that proves more workable. I don't have to have my way so to speak.

However, there is one issue I will not let go of and  no one can convince me otherwise.  Even though the experts say the right side of the sheets on the bed should face down, I still say they are wrong. I will always believe that the hem along the side should face down and they are the ones who make the sheets wrong with the top border facing the wrong way. But, on the big issues I'm pretty flexible anyway.

Observation

I went to a meeting the other night.  I know just another meeting, nothing new.  However, my observation of the composition of the meeting was different for me. Actually it was interesting to me because of my vantage point. I'm a retired elementary school teacher who mostly frequents places where people my age go: church, daytime shopping (everyone else is working), retired friends in Florida, retired friends in Montana, volunteer groups at the library, etc.  Even when I was teaching, most of the teachers in the school were nearing retirement, like me, so our meetings looked a lot like us. You get the picture.

So the composite of the meeting for building spirit in the schools and community among the youth in Lewistown was a whole new experience for me.  I walked into a room with viral young male and athletic young female teachers and coaches, with a smattering of young parents. I was very decidedly the old person in the room, in a generation all my own.

When they shared their experiences from high school, I just had to let them know how really old I am by sharing mine: sock hop, the old school building, the old Happy Day's scene.. Yet, I noticed that a lot of my experiences as a teen had a lot of commonalities with theirs and those are the experiences they wanted to revive for the kids: elaborate float making, bonfire rallies, recognizing the importance of every event at school and a  great relationship with the community.

Finally, they talked about how the kids could give back to the community with service projects for the kids.  That's when I jumped right in, sharing the ROWL recycling plan and how the kids could become involved. I had my proposal all ready and handed it out for everyone to see. They acted like they thought it was right up the alley of what they were looking for, it seemed.  Or maybe they were just patting the old lady on the head and saying, "There, there, Dearie, it will be okay".  Time will tell.

Tao

My first attempt at Tao painting technique from a book given to me by my daughter, Kathy, for Mother's Day. This style really speaks to m,e as I love impressionism over realism. Of course, you realize that being my first try, this one is not ready for the big time. But I intend to keep at it and see where it goes over time. It is such fun to see how the water, paint and I work together.  Thanks, Kathy, for once again helping expand your mom's horizons.

Kathy has been working in that regard for years since I reached retirement.  First she got me started with spinning wool with just a little drop bobber (don't remember the word for it) yarn spinner.  That was fun, but admittedly slow for producing much yarn at a time. 

Next she got me going with a spinning wheel.  That was fun, too.  Except I was producing all this wool without any idea of what to do with it. I dyed it lots of pretty colors on the stove using many different types of dye from kool aid to chokecherry juice. So the next logical step was to introduce me to weaving by going with me to a weaving workshop in Gt. Falls. I thought I had found my use for the yarn and my niche.  However, since I have a short attention span and like instant gratification and I didn't know what I would do with all the woven wool things, living in Florida, it wasn't long until I had offered the loom to her to expand her horizons.

Finally, she tried again and bought me a watercolor instruction kit with book, paints, brushes and paper. I was thrilled, because I had always wanted to be an artist, following in my mom's footsteps. So from that time on I have dabbled in painting, trying various techniques and styles in the attempt to find my zone.  I've taken classes now and then with teachers who each had their own style and technique. I was hoping that eventually I would be able to identify with one that was right for me. I think maybe I have finally found my expression for my thirst to try to be creative at last.  Time, as always, will tell.

weeding observations

I don't know why it took me until the last quadrant of my life to discover the zen in weeding. I guess part of it is that for years I didn't have access to weeds to pull, living in rented housing in Germany for 12 years. Then, moving to Florida during the winters provided very poor experiences with getting down on my hands and knees in the "grass".

In Florida, there are so many weeds that are out to get you that you don't really feel a bonding with the earth.  Our lawn is mostly made up of weeds and stinging ant hills. The weeds are the kind that, even while wearing gloves, you get this burning sensation that lasts for days on your hands.  I have become pretty adept at pulling them out, though.  The trick is to get a grasp below the soil line and not touch the frilly leaves that are waiting to get you.

The ant hills can be illusive.  If you step on one for just a second,and before you know it those fire ants are swarming up your ankles. And the discomfort from those bites lasts at least a week, leaving you scratching and applying ice every chance you get.

And you never know if a snake or some other creature is lurking among the plants as you dig among the plants in the soil, which is mostly sand. Then you add the humidity to the mix and you can see that this is not exactly a zen moment.

However, since I started weeding my sister's flower bed and began on mine this morning, I realized that there definitely is something therapeutic to this gardening thing. I just find myself a comfortable place to settle on the pleasantly, cool, soft grass and start digging my hands and trowel into  the dirt. Some of those weeds are a bigger challenge than others, but at least I don't encounter anything more threatening than an earth worm now and then.

Yes, I have plenty of time to let my mind go and get those creative juices flowing.  Just move my butt along the ground as I dig and pull and let my mind wander.  Of course with some of the things my mind comes up with, I'm sure some people wish I'd stay out of the garden.

Nothing like a warm spring day to get the juices flowing. After my hill running this morning I finished weeding my sisters flower garden. I suggested she get some seeds to thrown in there to maybe discourage the weeds from returning with such a vengeance. May not work, but at least maybe if there is something in there besides weeds we wouldn't notice them as much.

Now I'm working on my recycle art project for the art exhibit taking place at the Center in July.  Whether it can qualify as art will be debatable, but at least I'm giving it the old Rosemary try.

For those who already know about the new plastic's program I'm working on, you can skip the rest of today's entry. I'm sure you have heard enough. However, for those of you who have been waiting since yesterday with bated breath to hear about it, this is for you.

We will engage the youth organizations in the community to work with out committee to do a monthly curb side collection of plastic.  The community would use the clear plastic bags to store their plastic over the month, then put the bags curb side on the designated day. The youth, with the supervision of their mentors and our committee, would drive around town, pick up the bags and place them into a semi trailer for transport to Billings.  Allied would weigh the trailer and pay back to the youth organizations the money due. I have already gotten a commitment  for a trailer from Allied and the high school group wants to work with us.  I will go to another youth program that wants to do community work  tomorrow night and feel them out, too.

What could be simpler than that? Sometimes it seems we just think we have to make things complicated or they just aren't a viable solution to our problem.  There must be something wrong with it if it is too simple and doesn't involve alot of money and logistics and o, of course lots of committee meetings. I have to say there's a lot  truth to the old KISS.

Eating Crow

Actually, crow doesn't taste too bad if you savor it a bit on your tongue. Today we had our meeting with my perceived adversary with the recycling of plastic at the sheltered workshop. I told him that even though he had said no to the project, we deserved our day in court, so to speak. He was ready to listen and I was ready to talk.

I told him all about my findings from my interviews with the people who are running similar programs around the state. I thought I did a decent job of laying out the information and presenting our case. Then I asked him what the real reason for our rejection was, because none of his argument were holding up.

Then he told me the real issue.  He had lost several of his clients(the disabled people he serves) to other towns. The money for that person goes where ever that person goes.  Because he was not able to fill those vacancies with other clients, he was out of that money for his operation, which meant he had to cut staff hours and not fill vacant staff positions. His program had also been cut $150,000. Since his staff had not had a raise in several years this meant that they were not willing to take on any extra responsibilities other than their job with the clients. Bottom line, understandably disgruntled employees.

Seeing the problem through from his postion made the entire issue take on a whole new light. I could empathize with the situation. It didn't get us what we wanted but I went away feeling a lot better about the answer.  I also feel that we healed the wound that had developed between us. So I actually feel good about eating crow and changing my perception of the situation. For some reason I felt good.

Now tomorrow I will share the great idea I found to solve our problem.

Observations on Mothers' Day

On the Mother's Day I have had some time, while sitting outside weeding my sister's flower garden, to make a few observations.  For one, all of my girls are in good places with their relationships with the men in their life. They are not only loved by these men, but respected. I  think the second is as, if not more important than the first.  I am very thankful for that. I think they know that that is very special in a relationship. You don't always see that today.

I also realized that there is a difference in how much less likely you are to take risk in an endeavor if you are working for someone for your livelihood than if what you are engaged in is on a volunteer basis. I expect I have become quite a bit more assertive and outspoken about my point of view now that I don't have to worry about my next meal. If someone doesn't agree with me I have nothing to lose. I'm freed up to go out on a limb and tell them exactly what I think.

That is what I intend to do tomorrow when I meet with my nemesis at the shelter/recycling center. I have nothing to lose. If I make an enemy as an outcome, it causes me no grief or heart burn.  Used to be, when working, if I had to confront someone on the job, I would get my bowels in an uproar. Not now. It's showdown at the old corral and I intend to have my say.  I would say, the last word except that I still have a ray of optimism that I can persuade him to see the error of his ways. Recycling plastic is what he wants to do he just doesn't know it.

Front page coverage

After receiving an early morning call that the article about our plastics' controversy was on the front page today, I had to throw on my jacket and run down to the post office to get my own copy to read.  There it was, logo and picture, with the article giving the views of both Snowy Mt. Ind. and ours.  Quite objective, just as it should be. That's what good reporters do. Don't get emotionally involved, even though I know how the reporter feels about the issue.

Meanwhile, I'd been on the phone gathering my facts for a showdown with the adversary scheduled for Monday. And did I ever gather some supporting information! Sheltered workshops all over are recycling plastic. Concerns about contamination? None, because they wear gloves when they are sorting it.(In our operation they would not be sorting because all of our plastic would be in clear plastic bags to go directly into the baler). Never had a problem. (We had promised volunteers to come on baling days and remove any questionable plastic).Concerns about stuff that doesn't belong in the area? Well, we just pick it up and put it where it belongs. No duh! Concerns about revenue?  Plastic is bringing in more revenue than any of the other commodities right now.  If we have a short fall we have reserve funds. (We had promised to cover any shortfalls).

Sure, each place I called had a different version of their way of handling their operation. But the fact is they all worked out something for themselves.  And they did not throw out the baby with the bath. They just adjusted the temperature of the water and played with the baby a bit. But they kept the baby because they knew it was the best decision to make.  For them and the baby. I wonder where their research came from that they claim to have done? I'll compare anyday. Mine came right from the doers mouths and you can't beat that.

An error in time

Last week I had put together a flyer advertising our Big Burger Bash Festival.  It was pretty cute with happy burgers at the top and  green frogs playing instruments along the sides. I had checked to be sure all the information was correct, then took them to the printers to get copies made. As soon as they were printed, I took them to every store and business in town to be displayed. In the mean time I had also sent a copy to Betts to be used over the local TV.

After I got home, I had a call from Betts that I had a spelling error.  I had spelled Jack's Hangar with an e.  Of course the spell check didn't pick it up.  In the right context hanger works.  But not in this context.  Why I didn't pick up on that is beyond me.  Of course it isn't the first and it won't be the last time I spell a word incorrectly.  Sometimes they just don't look right, even if they are. Don't know if that is from looking at them for too long or not enough, but I just get them wrong.

Well, as an ex school teacher you just can't let those things go. It's a pride thing I guess. Anyway, I took my mom's old calligraphy pen and marched back down town and went into every one of those stores and business to correct the error. Quite humbling to that I need to correct a spelling error that I made for the whole town to see. So I would take them off the windows and fix them up, one at a time. I always asked permission first so they didn't think I was vandalizing or something. 

The interesting thing for me was how many great conversations I had with the store workers, getting their views on the economy in town and their take on the solutions. Well worth the time and effort.

It took two trips down town to catch them all.  Michael went with me the second time.  After looking at the corrected versions, he commented that they looked better before I fixed them. I'm sure they did, but at least anyone seeing them can't think they are smarter than I am.

Italy or plastic?

Italy is looking better all the time.  In nature they talk about how when an animal feels cornered the fight or flight instinct kicks in.  I know that is not a unique instinct to dumb animals, as we call them.  Have you ever had that thought," Do I fight the situation or do I just get the heck out of town?"

I feel the fight brewing here in town about the plastics recycling program.  Everyone I speak with wants the program, but the vehicle for the operation is posing opposition.  It would be so much easier to just buy a ticket to Italy and let the whole thing die a natural death. I'd take my books and paints, rent a villa along the Cinque Terra coastal area and just chill out for a few months. I'd let everyone go back to their old way of doing things, tossing those milk bottles into the landfill without a backward look. Those who are extra fanatic about recycling, like me, could just continue their trek to the  Billings to find a place that will do something responsible with their discards.

They want the program but are they willing to fight for it?  Until the report with the update from the local newspaper is published, I won't know where and how great the committment is. How willing are they to back up what they claim they have wanted for so long? What are they willing do do about it? I've been told I need to be patient and wait. As anyone who knows me is aware, that is not my strong suit.  Not my greatest virtue by any means.

So first I wait.  Then I decide, do I fight the fight to the end or do I get the heck out of Dodge?

Training time

Today I decided I'd better start getting in to shape for the backpacking trip I am taking with my daughter, Kathy.  In August I will be required, so she says, to carry a 40 pound pack up the mountain to our campsite where we will set up camp for the night.
 I began today to work on running up the hills here in town at the end of my regular run. One time for today. Up and back half way.  I figure you need to start easy, no extra weight for now, and work up to the forty pounds by August. 

I told Michael I needed to get up into the mountains around here to get into shape. He reminded me that we have plenty of hills to train on right here in town.  No duh! So in town it will be for now, anyway.

Yesterday, as I was taking a leisurely jog up the other side of town, along comes a cowboy, all decked out in his Stetson, jeans and cowboy shirt(I believe he wasn't wearing boots, though) zipping by me looking like it wasn't any effort at all. I thought maybe he was just making a short dash to the corner or something.  But no, he kept on running along, widening the gap between us as we went. You may say he was some young buckaroo, but no, he looked about as old as I am.

So I got to thinking that if he can make it look so effortless, without even looking the part, then why can't I. Just move those legs faster, that's all. So I tried it.  There really is a little something to that.  You get into a pace that becomes yours without stopping to wonder about whether it is all you can do anymore.  It takes some cowboy to wake you up and cause you to do a little self check and kick it up a notch.  But, I still couldn't have caught him.  It's going to take some work I can tell.

I'm back!

Okay, so life happens to you and you don't feel particularly like spreading your words of wisdom to the world.  However, my mantra right now is "I may be down, but I'm not out".

We've had a glitch, to put it mildly, in our recycling program plans. The marriage vows have been broken between the non-profit that had committed to operating the plastics baler and the committee funding and promoting the program. The non-profit simply decided at the final hour theynot to walk down the aisle with us, they were no longer interested in recycling plastic.  To say the least, this news was a kick in the gut and totally confusing to everyone who has heard.

So we take a step back and wait for the dust to settle. The media will handle the information put out to the community and we'll see if the reaction sends a message from the public.  How committed are they to this program?

So far, the feedback is disbelief and disappointment. A man, who had been following our progress, called me today and wants to help us, lending his full support.  That's what it will take.  Not only those verbally pushing us forward, but those willing to fight the good fight to the end.

However, this is a great time for me to put my energy into a different direction for a while.  June 2nd we are trying a new idea for a fund raiser for Relay for Life, our 1st Annual Big Burger Bash Festival.  Hopefully, the community is as impressed with the name as we are with the idea and all turn out in support. Although nervous about how it will turn out, we are optimistic that this will lead to the 2nd and 3rd festivals each year to come. I'm up for this!

Schmoozing

I just got home from an evening of schmoozing! I got as dolled up as I'm able to doll up and went with a group of women to a library dinner which an author speaker at the country club. Michael stayed home and had his favorite meal, MacDonald's, and watched a sci-fi movie on TV.  We both had the kind of evening that suited us best.  That's the way it should be. He hates the social scene and I hate Micky Dee's and sci-fi. Where as I totally enjoyed the company, meeting people and listening to the author. (I'm heading for the library to check out his books). His name is Craig Johnson, if anyone is interested.  Entertaining speaker, too.

It was my debut, actually.  I needed to get out and meet people to promote our cause, the plastics program.  That's what people who have a cause have to do.  They have to make contacts, get out there and mingle so people can put a face with what they have been hearing about.  It was the safest place to to start, actually, getting out there with the program.  Aren't library people easily identified with causes? I can't imagine there was an anti recycling body in the room.

When we arrived this evening, we were given either a red piece of paper if you were eating prime rib and blue paper if you were having shrimp scampi. I didn't see another piece of blue paper in the room.  Silly me, of course, I'm in beef country.  Even one of the ladies at our table had to go feed her cows after the event. I hope I didn't lose some of my schmoozing points for that guffaw.