Save as much of it as possible, please!

The Nature Conservancy recently purchased 161,000 acres of almost pure, never-touched land in the Adirondacks. Having faced criticism before over its handling of land, the group promises to reach a compromise on how to develop the land so that everyone can use it fairly while still maintaining a level of eco-friendliness. I hope that's true; this land is beautiful and there aren't just that many places like this left. For a real treat, view this slideshow from the NYTimes.

"Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead" (B.Franklin)

This is one of my favorite sites on the Internet. The premise; people send in anonymous postcards that contain a secret they've never shared with anyone else....ever. Then the postcards are uploaded online for everyone to see.

Most of the secrets contain heavy thoughts from some dark (and occasionally twisted) places in people's hearts and minds. But every once in a while a postcard appears that is laugh-out-loud funny. Like the one a few weeks ago that said 'I work in the Apple store in the mall. I totally judge you by what color iPod you buy."

I've never mailed in a postcard, but I've spent some time thinking about what mine would say. I'd imagine the act of dropping the card into the mailbox is cathartic; putting your secret out there for the universe but never having to reveal yourself.

And sometimes the site has effects that ripple well past 20 secrets every week. Sometimes the universe reminds us that we aren't actually alone. Kind of comforting......

On loosing a job (again)

Go for long walks. Indulge in hot baths. Question my assumptions. Be kind to myself. Live for the moment, loosen up, scream, curse the world, count my blessings, just let go. Just be.
(Carol Shields)

Sitting watch over paradise

Ever been hiking up to those old fire lookouts and wonder what it must have been like for the Forrest Service guys who manned those stations back in the day?

A wonderful interview appeared in the NYTimes today with a man who has spent the last 21 years manning one of the remaining 800 or so active fire lookouts (down from 8,000 in the 1930's). What makes the story even better; he dropped out of Corporate America to do it. And his wife's name is Prairie Rose. Talk about two people destined for each other!

Come to Jesus - amen, sistah!

Tonight I had the amazing experience of listening to the sweet voice of Mindy Smith at the Walnut Room. She's most known for a song called Come to Jesus which received a bit of airtime a few years ago. It was an incredible show! At times you almost wished she'd stop playing the guitar and sing a Capella because it distracted you from listening to her voice. Dolly Parton has been quoted saying she prefers Mindy's version of Jolene over her own. (!!) Be prepared though; most of Mindy's songs are dark and gloomy and sung in minor keys which adds to the haunting-ness sound of her voice. But they are truly beautiful. A treat for sure.