Happy Earth Day!

I honestly didn't remember that today was Earth Day until I started checking in with all my favorite blogs.  I've also never really done anything for the Earth on Earth Day. One year I went to a concert at the Mo'oheau Bandstand that was in celebration of Bob Marley's Birthday and Earth Day combined.  I found a flyer taped to a post that I ripped down and took with me.  In fact I've saved it forever....I took it to college with me...then I took it back home....and now I have it in my closet on my inspirational corkboard.  It says:

"I pledge allegiance to the earth, and all the life which it supports.  One planet in our care, irreplaceable, with sustenance and respect."

I've always loved this quote...and I can't tell you how much this battered piece of paper has meant to me over the years!

The Web was full of Earth Day link love.....

If you'd like a brief history of Earth Day Wikipedia provides a great one HERE.

Cool sustainability facts.

Shutter Sisters rocked today.  I loved their links....talk about a perfect Earth Day photo!

Poppytalk shared some Earthy links and ideas.

Did you run into any Earth Day gems today?

What's Blossoming?

A few of you may remember that I participated in an online collaborative called Reverb10.  Although we are well into the year 2011 and are not reflecting on the year 2010, a monthly prompt is still being generated and Reverb is still going strong.  In fact they've changed their name to LetsReverb - you can find them on twitter. Aprils prompt was:  What's Blossoming?

When I read this the first thing I thought was 'I Am!' - which really got me thinking - because the thought that directly followed was 'you are?  what are you really doing?!'.  I've been thinking about this ALL month long!  What I most recently realized is not only do I not know what I'm really doing....other people don't even know what I'm kind of doing.

I figured I'd use this as an opportunity to get caught up!

I'm currently in Florida - I've been here since the beginning of January - and as of this week I've officially taken all the classes necessary to upgrade my license from Second Officer to Chief Officer.  I'll be heading home this Saturday (huge sigh of gratefulness) where I'll be waiting for the Coast Guard to approve my application to sit for my licensing exam.  This may take up to a month.  While I wait I'm going to get my house in order...why you ask?  Because I put my house on the market!  I'm going to give it a shot.  At the end of May I'll be returning to Florida where I'll self study intensively for about three weeks before my week of testing.  Immediately following my test I'll be returning to work.  The good news is that I'm on a new ship!  I'll be operating in the Mediterranean instead of the Persian Gulf -yay!  I'll also get to sail with one of my favorite Captains again -yay!  That's about as far as my plan takes me....

I'll be due off my ship in the middle of September and I have no idea what I'm doing next!  Yep you heard me.  The people who know and love me are thinking -- oh great.  For those of you who don't know me....A Megan without a plan is a very scary thing.  I'm an incredibly plan oriented individual.  Not having a plan only amplifies the already prevalent neurosis.  I have some half way plans....I'll be going to New England to visit friends....that's where the plan ends.

So, all that being said I've been kicking around the words 'What's Blossoming?' A LOT.  All I really know is that I've planted some seeds (since it's spring lets pretend I planted bulbs)- and I have no idea what kind of flower to expect - but seriously...does it matter?  It will just be exciting to see some flowers!!!

What's blossoming in your lives?

Not Mentioning Any Names.....BUT...

I RECOGNIZED SOME NAMES IN THE FUNDRAISING HONOR ROLL - THANK YOU SO MUCH!  I'LL BE GIVING SOME UPDATES ON RHIANNON'S FUNDRAISING PROGRESS....IN ONE DAY SHE'S REACHED 7% OF HER GOAL!  YIPPEE!

AGAIN, MAHALO NUI LOA....IT TOTALLY MADE MY DAY!

SINCE I'M FEELING SO EXCITED ABOUT THE FUNDRAISING I DECIDED TO POST MY FAVORITE PHOTO TAKEN IN SEATTLE....I WAS GOING TO SAVE IT FOR A RAINY DAY....BUT WHY NOT POST IT ON A SUNNY DAY INSTEAD?!

In Memory Of

I decided years ago that when I die it will probably be because I have cancer.  I realize that this seems extraordinarily pessimistic.  Unfortunately, I can't avoid the fact that my Grandmother and all of her sisters died of cancer (as well as my Grandmothers parents).  Did you guys know that my Dad has survived cancer not once but twice?!  Two years ago I personally had my own brush with cancer.....small potatoes....and a story for a different time. While I have resigned myself to my fate - others have chosen to work hard and take a stand to promote positive change.  My cousin is biking in The Ride to Conquer Cancer - in memory of her Father (my Uncle John) and her Uncle.  I'm so incredibly proud of her.  I wrote about Rhiannon and her Father while reflecting on the year 2010 - please feel free to catch up here.

Rhiannon's hard work has made me realize that maybe I need to change my attitude.  That maybe if enough people change their attitude and work towards a common goal we (I) won't have to 'resign myself to my fate'.

Please visit Rhiannon's personal page to read a bit more about her and her goals.  You can also read about the team she'll be riding with.  If you're feeling up to it - throw a few bucks their way!  Like my Mom always says....you can't receive anything if you've got your fist clenched tight!

Holy Crap-ola!

Yesterday I met up with my dear friend Lala (Yes!  She was a Travelin' Tootsie if you'd like to know more about her!) for a tour of her yacht. This was truly a life changing experience for me.  I realize that this sounds dramatic.....but it's true!  It really drove home the point that we (or in this case I) have options!  I don't have to work on a product tanker in the Persian Gulf.....I can work on a yacht in the Mediterranean instead!  I don't have to work on a ship that has a big fat hairy man cooking my food!  I can work on a mega yacht with a professional chef!

Walking around the yacht I realized that crew comfort is all about the little things....when you add them all up they equal BIG differences in crew morale!!!  The crew lounge had a jelly bean dispenser - yes, you heard me correctly....a JELLY BEAN DISPENSER!  There was a beautiful gym, a flat screen in every room, granite counter tops, a flower arranging station....and bottled Pellegrino!

Now I realize that work is still work...and butt heads are still butt heads....and that smiling at the guests all day long would eventually be exhausting however, I doubt that they spend too many days soaked in diesel with sweat running down their butt cracks - how was that for a visual?!  Am I getting my point across?!  I think that while work may always suck some work will always suck more!

Don't be surprised if you find out I've quit my job to go yachting!

Here come TONS of photos!!!!

Link Love :: Palm Sunday Edition

Watch your thoughts!  It's like the book The Secret....with some homework. I love garden fresh herbs.  Garden fresh herbs in alcohol....yes please!

My Body Likes....what an interesting concept....it definitely got me thinking about what my body likes.

I love local legends!  New Zealand has so much in common with Hawaii.  Pania of the Reef was a new one for me but she definitely caught my fancy.  Slightly mermaid-ish, no?

I'm not a player, I just blog a lot.  Amen sister.  I need one of these.

One of my favorite sites posted 'Currently Crushing: a man's perspective'.  I read through it and thought 'Maybe a gay man'!  I think you'll all agree that these items are hardly 'manly'.  Just sayin'......

Terrariums showed up twice this week....I love terrariums and even had one as a kid that thrived.  Check out some twists on the classic terrarium here and here.

I read this and cried out 'Hallelujah'!  I'm a huge supporter of the public school system.  I plan on sending my kids to one and wish more people shared my belief that public schools prepare children for life and quit throwing money towards a system which promotes a sense of entitlement.

This is my brain on fear.  I've been struggling with this myself as of late....I do plan on blogging about my own brain on fear ;)

Ahhh Facebook.  Such a love hate relationship!  I think this is a good set of Facebook guidelines.  I'm finally starting to grow a Facebook backbone.  I will un-friend you if necessary!  Take that!

TOTALLY.

I saved the best (or at least what were my ultimate favorites this week) for last:

Jay-Z interviewed Gwenyth Paltrow.  Several things....first of all....read the interview here....she's mad cool.  Secondly, how wicked is his site Life + Times?!  Lastly, who knew Gwenyth Paltrow had her own site?  Check out GOOP....like I said....mad cool.