Yesterday morning's phone call from Cory:
I heard this really interesting story on NPR the other day about Time Banking. Basically time banking is a regional Web site in which members log hours and choose from hundreds of services. So you could offer and perform an hour of computer help for someone, bank that hour, then exchange it for an hour of someone coming over to clean up your yard. I think this concept is really innovative, especially given the rise in unemployment. It's also a wonderful community builder.
I ordered a salad today from a local place. It was one of those places where they mix the salad up for you. The guy waiting on me was friendly, making small talk while he assembled my salad. When he finished mixing it up, he commented, "This is a lotta salad" to which I replied "I'm a lotta woman." Dead silence. My filtration system clearly needs a tune-up.
I heard an interview on NPR with this chorus teacher. I can't stop watching these kids. Fantastic!
Yesterday I listened to this piece on NPR about newly retired food critic and author, Frank Bruni. I couldn't find the transcript of the interview but I did find an article in Time Out New York that contained the blurb I was looking for.*"I think part of weight management is making sure the things that tempt you are not around all the time. You will never, ever find peanut butter in my cupboard, because for some bizarre reason, it’s my kryptonite. I am powerless around peanut butter. If I have a jar of really good—especially natural crunchy, not like Jiff crunchy—peanut butter, if I have it in the cabinet and allow myself to take one spoonful, it’s gone."
I am looking forward to reading his book, Born Round.
*I laughed aloud at this part in the interview because the night before I had just been describing to the girls my obsession with peanut butter and the fact that I can't keep it in the house. I spoke of it so passionately... I think Bri was blushing.
Over the next decade, a city of 50,000 residents will be built from scratch. And unlike any other city in the world, Masdar City will have no carbon footprint. Once it's built, the city will be powered entirely by renewable energy.
We took the babe to the playground on Friday afternoon. She had a great time running around and even went down the slide by herself. She was doing a lot of independent exploring so Cory and I hung back while she sidled up to a group of 3 or 4 kids playing in the sandbox. She slowly waddled over to them and reached in to touch the truck they were huddled around. A little boy, about 5 years old, clearly agitated by her presence, shoots up and says to her, "You're gonna die." Beatrice, god love her, smiles at him, like he just said "You are the cutest baby I have ever seen" and reaches in to tickle his belly. (That's her de facto greeting for little people. She is not interested in personal space or getting to know someone before getting all sorts of intimate.) Cory and I give each other the horrified look and quickly usher her away. Them Southborough kids are no joke.
