Biodegradable question mark

Before I begin, I'd like you all to reconsider letting me handle your children.   Because, as you can see in the photo above, I take more of a hands-off approach in my so-called handling.  In this particular case, I decided to let little Carson fall straight into a face-plant while I quietly watched.  I'm just glad there is photographic evidence of this event.

And, yes, to answer your question, those are Thomas the Tank Engine light-up sneakers available for kids, but not for adults.  I checked.

Anyway, to get at what I meant to blog about here:  I bought biodegradable sandals a few days ago and they arrived at my home in MD, just in time for when I got in late last night.  I always worry about buying things online because I never know if it's going to be as good in person as it looks online (but this worry has yet to stop me from buying inordinate loads of unnecessary things).  I am pleased to say, though, that the sandals are very pleasing.  I think they look better against my tanned feet and painted toenails than they did on the pasty mannequin's feet that were online.  Too, they are super light weight and I feel like I'm walking around barefoot (minus the obvious set-backs of actually walking around barefoot)!  And as an added bonus they make me feel hip with an urge to rip pretty flowers out of the ground and put them in my hair.

Today I took them out of their green shoebox and into the real world for a test run.  I went to the movies (I saw District 9* and want to go back immediately).  When it ended, I left the theater in a mad hurry because I was going to be late for a doctor's appointment (follow-up for the wisdom teefers).  So, on my jog through the parking lot to my car, I stepped in some gum.  At the time, it didn't really matter.  It was nothing but annoying because of how my left foot stuck slightly to the sidewalk and picked up things like newly cut grass and toilet paper.  

When I got home, though, I tried to clean it off.  Again, it was not for aesthetics but more for practicality because I didn't want this piece of gum picking up anything else along my journeys (sadly, though, this doesn't prevent me from picking up even more gum).  Whilst I was scrubbing it off with some kind of wet-wipe my mom gave me, I began to wonder exactly how biodegradable my sandal was.  Was the moisture in my wet-wipe going to be enough to assist some kind of microorganism breakdown?  When I consulted the wisdom of the inter-webs I found no definite answer to my definitely silly question.  And, while there is much debate about things termed biodegradable and their degree of biodegradability, the European Union (you may have heard of them) qualifies something as biodegradable if it can break down into carbon dioxide, water and other organic matter...within six months.  Yikes.  I can only hope that the EU doesn't technically call my sandals biodegradable.

To going green,

Monica

*You should go see the movie.  Need some encouragement?  Check out Alexa's praise for District 9 here.

Boredom

This is what I did in the wee hours of the morning when I was extremely bored and indecisive:

From right to left and left to right, colors: Indian River Ruby, Glitter Pink, Aventura Azalea, Tamiami Tulip and Bikini Pink

Snails finished*

So, today I was asked to babysit Carson and his big sister for a couple of hours.  It was easy as pie as usual and I had lots of fun.  The coolest part was that their fish tank was overcrowded due to a recent explosion of fertility amongst momma guppy and momma snail (there were tens and tens and tens of baby snails and baby guppies frantically swimming about the tank, searching for an uncrowded corner in which to swim).  And while I was pleaded with to take lots of both species, I did not want any guppies for my fish tank.  I did, however, agree to take as many snails as they (the daughter and her father) wanted me to.  Consequently, I left the house with a sandwich-sized ziplock baggie containing about 8 or 9 aquatic snails.  And, oh, how I was excitedly thrilled to put the snails in my fish tank as the latest accessory (I've recently started putting bamboo plants in the tank and find that I absolutely love furnishing the place)!  

I dumped them right in, watching carefully where they landed.  I think the water change confused them a bit, and they did not immediately suction themselves onto the glass in the tank or onto any plants.  And I wasn't really nervous about the koi's reaction to the snails (for I have seen them cohabiting at various pet stores).  However, it only took me stepping away to the bathroom, to come back to an empty tank.  For, THE SNAILS HAD EATEN THE FISH!

Just kidding.  But, seriously guys:  In accordance to one of my fears I had not given much thought (it was fear in the siberia of my mind, with some cobwebs around the edges) the koi had greedily gobbled up the snails, leaving no sign or trace that they had ever been there. 

And, oh, how I felt terrible for promising the little girl that her snails would have a good home in my fish tank.  I had no idea that I would be bringing them to a dinner in which they were the main course!  I should stop feeling guilty, though.  How was I supposed to know that this would happen?  I was just trying to do a good thing.  My fish are the ones really to blame.  I believe that Karma will work its way around to them as I suspect the hard shells on the snails will do nasty wonders to the fishies' digestive systems...

*finished: obviously, the snails were finished.  But I also put the word there because, while I was babysitting, I found myself reverting back to behavioral strategies I used at camp.  Carson is not with Autism, but I noticed that I used those strategies from camp to solve problems this afternoon [I guess it's going to be a while before I forget all that I've learned the past 2 months (which is a good thing!)].  For example, when Carson, who is 3 years old, kept trying to brush his teeth over and over again just so that he could eat his toothpaste (Thomas the tank engine toothpaste, another little shout-out to Autism), the first thing out of my mouth was "Brush teeth finished" and not only did I say that in a stern way, but I also signed it without thinking.  Whether or not it was appropriate, my message was heard loud and clear by Carson and it, well, worked.

Camp Royall Talent Show

Here are two goofy pieces and one less goofy piece that Jean and I did for the staff talent show a couple weeks ago (in original order):

And, yes, I realize how dreadfully obnoxious I get when I am super nervous on stage.

9.58

My hero, lightening bolt in human form

The Human Tetris 6 (Dec 20, Japan) (warm water)

A good, good day in pictures

First we hung out downtown and shared the panini special at a cute, petite Italian deli.

In the late afternoon, we walked to the LaMancha goats.

She's my favorite, you know.

I fed them mushy blueberries but, also, fresh cherry tomatoes from my mom's garden.

Have you ever wanted to give a farm animal a breath mint?

After eating all the fruits and vegetables I brought, they turned to the hard-to-reach, out-of-bounds, possibly-poisonous plant.

David helped them reach it.

Then we went to Lighthouse Tofu with my parents and got bubble tea for dessert.  That's honeydew (left) and taro (right).

When we got home, I made homemade ice cream to cope with my nostalgia for camp.  Tomorrow, after I get my wisdom teeth pulled, I could probably eat this stuff too!