Casa Mojito

QotD: Up, Up and Away

nobody@vox.com(mojitomama) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:09:15 -0500

Have you ever ridden in a hot air balloon or a helicopter? Where did you go?

What a random question. But since you asked, yes, I've been in a helicopter twice. Once, a sightseeing tour of the Grand Canyon, and once in a private helicopter over Mt. St. Helens. The latter (pictured) was awesome, one could get used to a ride like that. ;-)

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eat organic. save the earth.

nobody@vox.com(mojitomama) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 16:10:34 -0400

potomac vegetable farms

Choosing organic foods not only reduces the toxins you expose yourself to, it also helps protect the environment. Organic foods are grown without chemical pesticides, the residues of which remain in the soil and wash into our watersheds. Small family farmers will tell you that "organic" farming is nothing new -- for the most part, they are simply continuing to farm the way their parents and grandparents did, with the basic premise that preserving the earth is critical to sustaining farmland. It is only in the past half century that the focus of corporate agriculture shifted to making more food faster and cheaper. While pesticides are regulated and foods offered for sale in the US have to meet "maximum residue levels," less emphasis is given to monitoring the lingering effects of pesticide usage on the environment. Despite the growth pains of the organic industry, with small farms on one end choosing to forgo certification due to the cost and time involved, and large-scale operations on the other end stretching or evading the rules, growing consumer awareness and pressure is the only way to force the big players to reform their practices.

Locally, the misguided obsession with ethanol is reversing recent progress in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay. While local consumers are increasingly looking for organically grown corn, there is no incentive to corn growers to behave responsibly when growing corn for ethanol.

To learn more, visit OrganicConsumers.org - and to find local, organic farmers in your area, visit LocalHarvest.org.

crossposted at foodietots.com

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vox memes: grammaring on the east coast

nobody@vox.com(mojitomama) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 10:06:53 -0400

I don't usually pay much attention to the qotd or vox hunt - I generally stay in my own little vox watch bubble - but yesterday's caught my interest.

QotD: How I Ended Up Here

Why do you live where you live?

It has now been more than a decade since I left the state I grew up in. It's a lovely place to visit, but not a place I feel especially attached to. My parents both grew up where I live now, and in many ways I considered myself an East Coaster by blood. Even though I lived there for less time than my birthplace or current home, California is my heart's home. (I know "I left my heart in Los Angeles" doesn't have quite the same ring as that other version...)

I majored in government and economics, and interned in DC for a summer. The summer after Monica, a great time to be an intern if you don't mind constant blow job jokes. Living in Washington it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of being at the center of the world. So I came back after graduation. I needed a roommate and L had broken up with his Australian fiancee and had nothing better to do, so he moved down here (from NY). You can probably guess what happened next. Our jobs both revolve around politics, so while we talk about moving away, we've yet to figure out the best way to do so. As much as I love Cali, Sacramento just doesn't have much appeal.

Having lived here for 8 years now, my soul aches to be back home on the west coast. Blue - or brown - sky, green - or brown - mountains, pacific ocean. (And in-n-out, thanks for rubbing that in Janette!)

haystack rock(s)

The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition

Vox Hunt: On Writing

Book: Show us a book that has helped or inspired your writing.

I enjoy tormenting my coworkers with AP style and my trusty red pen, but this is the true writing bible (at least for a CMC alum!).

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cherry blossoms

nobody@vox.com(mojitomama) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:54:57 -0400

cherry blossoms

This is a belated response to the qotd about the first signs of Spring. Here in Washington, there are two, that occur simultaneously.

1. the cherry blossoms bloom, and
2. the tourist traffic begins.
tourist traffic (n): the gridlock created by herds of tourists so distracted by the beauty of spring in the capital that they neglect to consult walk/don't walk signs before ambling across major traffic arteries.

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QotD: This Totally Freaks Me Out

nobody@vox.com(mojitomama) — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:54:47 -0500

Do you have any phobias?
Submitted by Amirul B Ruslan.

Santa Monica Pier

Mt. St. Helens

I have a selective fear of heights, particularly ferris wheels and long, detached escalators. The Santa Monica ferris wheel is the only one I will go on, for the morbid reason that I hope to have my ashes scattered in the Pacific and so dying in the Pacific saves a few steps ... I have no problem, however, flying in a helicopter over an active volcano.

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QotD: One Lump or Two?

nobody@vox.com(mojitomama) — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 01:36:24 -0500

How do you take your tea or coffee?
Submitted by Vasquez.

tea party

Green or white teas lightly sweetened, esp. Honest Teas. Green tea with honey and lemon. Fruit tea unsweetened. Iced Tea with Equal. Sweet tea with bbq. Earl Grey/black tea with milk and sugar. Coffee with real sugar - never artificial - and milk. Starbucks only in sugary flavored forms, e.g. caramel macchiato skim, gingerbread or pumpkin spice SOY* lattes. Cafe con leche. Good espresso, the stronger the better and with less sugar. Unless it's a Black Tiger Black Forest Mocha (served with a chocolate covered cherry on top). Best drink on earth.

And yes, I'm obsessively particular about my caffeinated beverages.

*I recently learned Starbucks doesn't use hormone free milk (for some reason I assumed they did) so I've been sticking to the soy there.

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Vox Hunt: Thanksgiving

nobody@vox.com(mojitomama) — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:25:17 -0500

Show us what you're thankful for.

2daysoldwithDad

The baby of course, but also a husband who isn't afraid to change diapers, with minimal complaining even, or to give up sleep on a Monday morning to play with the baby for an hour when he wakes up at 7am (after waking at 2.30, 4 and 6) and Mama really needs that extra hour of sleep.
This is also an answer to the QOTD about Googling one's self, because I googled Owen and discovered a set of pictures of us in the hospital I hadn't seen yet! (Taken by L's boss.)

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