This is going to be very short and too the point. We’ve decided that buying a house does not seem to be working out and so we are going to rent an apartment. I’ll give more of the details once they are confirmed, but I wanted to share that news here.
All posts by ariah
Read and then write, or write and then read
It’s difficult, because there is a lot of reading I would like to do, and so I try to make it a priority by doing it first. But usually I get minutes into something before I want to write things down. Also, when I start by reading I forget all the things previously in my head that I wanted to think about.
But, if I start by writing, I tend to get distracted rather then sitting down and doing it and that can get pretty discouraging. I waste way too much time that way. I really need to sit down like I’m doing now, type things out and then post as quickly as possible.
I really too it takes about 25 minutes just to read all my friends personal blogs and reply. Not too long but a time frame to keep in mind.
Decisions are difficult
Part of community is starting that community. We are still in that stage now on a very practical level: Where we live.
We are currently in the process of purchasing a house (not actual myself, but our friends who we are living with) and trying to continue the conversation to make sure we are on the right track. I think we find often that we close our conversations and our minds down too quickly when we make decisions about something. And that can go for a lot of things, from the purchases we make to the way we choose to view the world.
Back to the house. This is not my decision finally, it’s Bryan and Dawn’s choice, but they have lovingly and willingly opened the conversation up for us to be a part of the process. There are some wonderful benefits of owning the home that we will be living in, there are also some great perks to simply renting the space. We’ll see what the final decision is, but it is encouraging to be a part of the process.
Community begins with small steps
I’m not quite sure how to begin this series of posts. We, my wife and I, and our friends Bryan and Dawn, are about to embark on a year long journey into community. This isn’t your traditional churchy idea of community, this is your raw, live with, share with, laugh with, cry with, hold each other accountable and challenge one another type of community.
What this is going to end up looking like as we take the journey I’m really not sure. The exciting thing for all of us is that we really believe this is a place we are supposed to be. I would venture to say this is the type of living more people should be considering.
We are going to do our best to document this journey, complete with weekly audio updates, a compilition of writings by the four of us (and sometimes the three year old), and plenty of photographs. Who knows maybe we’ll get a book deal or movie contract out of the deal. Seriously though, I’m excited about documenting this because I feel it is a journey many more people can and should take and our ability to trace our journey will give others the interest and courage to embark on it on their own.
I also promise not to glamorize in anyway our experience. There are some harsh realities and difficulties we will face, there is plenty of truth to that. Already we face the tensions and frustrations of giving up our own expectations for the well being of the community. This will not be a reality show, what it will be is the journey of four folks, trying to live out their convictions, and the trials and tribulations they face in that endevor.
Community launching in T-minus 24 hours…
Let me start by saying that I am extremely excited.
In less then twenty four hours I will be sharing living space with a family of four. Dawn and Bryan and their two kids will be moving into our two bedroom apartment with us (Mindy is visiting family for a couple weeks). This is a temporary location, but it is the beginning of our community. I believe I’ve mentioned this community thing on here once or twice, but I’ll be writing and maybe podcasting a LOT more about it in the months to come.
There are a million and a half reasons why we are choosing to live together, and I’ll try to begin articulating those as time goes on. For now it’s a matter of preparing the space so that everyone feels welcome. That means a few things for me (like packing stuff up, and we’ll see what it means for all of us tomorrow. It’s such an exciting time.
I think the first couple nights are going to seem like middle school sleep-overs. We’ve already had a few of those with Bryan and Dawn (once cause of car trouble, once cause I fell asleep), but it’s going to be an exciting time. We have exactly two weeks to find a new location to live. I’m not sure where that location will be (it will be in Nashville).
We are still at a great dilemma as far as renting or buying, apartment or house, distance from work, etc. We are trying our best to keep the conversation open, but it’s also difficult as the clock counts down. If you have any wisdom to share please do.
I’ve been watching too much TV
So, a brief glance over my recent post shows I’ve been watching a little too much TV.
Sure, I’ve been watching things of my choosing on my computer at the times I want to, but I probably need to do a bit more thinking and commentary on my own.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the clips I’ve shared. Let me know if you want me to continue sharing them, or if your more interested in writing then watching.
I’ll still have more clips I’ll send your way at some point, but I’m gonna try and tone down the day to day stuff (especially the political stuff). So if your interested in what I laugh at, it’s The Daily Show, but I won’t post much more about it.
Lot’s more posts to come, I’ve got time on my hands to write, so I’m gonna try to do as much as I can.
Going to Vote: Early voting in Nashville
I think I’m going to go vote today. It’s the last day of early voting before this weeks official voting day here in Nashville. I never knew early voting existed like this, and I think it’s a spectacular idea. For folks who work multiple jobs or take public transit or have children, it’s difficult to get time in a Tuesday or other weekday to go and vote. Early voting gives EVERYONE an opportunity to exercise their rigts as citizens to vote.
Now, I just have to figure out who to vote for. Really I have no idea who in this state. I haven’t done much research, there are so many names.
Quick, if your from Nashville, give me a list of folks and why before I head out to the poles!
World Cup training Video: From Italy
A to Z on conserving water (bbc)
“Two-fifths of the world’s people already face serious shortages, and water-borne diseases fill half its hospital beds. People in rich countries use 10 times more water than those in poor ones.”
A dripping tap could waste as much as 90 litres a week.
Brushing your teeth with the tap running wastes almost 9 litres a minute. Rinse out from a tumbler instead.
Cool water kept in the fridge means you won’t have to run the tap for ages to get a cold drink.
Don’t use your washing machine until you’ve got a full load. The average wash needs about 95 litres. A full load uses less water than 2 half loads.
Every time you boil an egg save the cooled water for your houseplants. They’ll benefit from the nutrients released from the shell.
Fit a water saving device in your cistern and save up to three litres a flush.
Grow your grass a little longer. It will stay greener than a close mown lawn and need less watering.
Hoeing stimulates the growth of plants, reduces water loss from the soil surface and removes weeds that take up valuable water and nutrients.
Installing a water meter can save you water and money by monitoring how much you use.
Just taking a five minute shower very day, instead of a bath, will use a third of the water, saving up to 400 litres a week.
Kettles should be filled with enough water for your needs but not to the brim. This will reduce your fuel bills too.
Lag your pipes to avoid bursts and leave your heating on a low setting while you are out in cold weather to prevent pipes freezing.
Mulch for moisture in the garden. Adding a layer of tree bark, compost, coconut husks or even newspaper keeps the sun off the soil and retains precious moisture.
No further watering is usually required for established trees and shrubs.
Once a week is all the watering your lawn needs even in the hottest weather. Over- watering can weaken your lawn by encouraging roots to seek the surface.
Purchasing a water butt will help you to collect rain water for use on the garden.
Question your local garden centre about the water requirements of different plants. Some thrive in drier conditions.
Replacing a toilet cistern can save water. Toilets manufactured after 1993 use less water per flush.
Sprinklers can be wasteful. It doesn’t take long for a sprinkler to soak your lawn thoroughly. A sprinkler can use as much water in an hour as a family of four will use in a day!
Trigger nozzles can save water by using it only when needed. This can save up to 225 litres a week.
Use the dirty water when cleaning a fish tank on your houseplants. It’s rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, which provides an excellent fertiliser.
Very ‘water efficient’ washing machines and dishwashers are now manufactured. Machines with ‘A’ ratings are the most economical. You’ll find that they save on energy too.
Water your garden at the coolest part of the day to reduce evaporation.
Xeriscape means ‘to landscape for water conservation.’ The idea is to use plants that require less water. You can also utilise objects for decorative effect such as rocks, bricks, benches and gravel.
You can use less water by turning the hot tap down, rather than the cold tap up, if you require cooler water.
Z The end of the alphabet but not the end of water saving ideas. Some people think that by the end of the century we will be fighting wars over water.
Me getting a free pro account at Zooomr
I guess I’ll get a free account now.