Monthly Archives: December 2009

Look what I just unearthed. Cleaning up is fun.

Uh, yeah, I guess so.

Babble made a list of the Top 50 Mom Bloggers. I suspect that I’m included because of Momversation, and although I’m really very grateful, you will see that I left a DMCA takedown notice in the comments.

Even though it’s Babble, and even though it’s flattering, it was a picture that belonged to me. The list is good, like any list, it includes a few headscratchers and a misses a few that are amazing, but it’s good if you like lists.

Folks, use copyright free photos, even when you’re giving kudos. Because really, stealing content is just plain scummy.

*The current photo is copyright free

I’ve talked briefly about the Summit to the Summit party I attended last week, and I’d promised you more.

Summit on the Summit is a program created by Kenna. Kenna is a Grammy nominated recording artist originally from Ethiopia. A few years ago his father contracted a water borne illness and was deathly ill. Kenna’s father then told him the story about losing his best friend to a water borne illness at age four. Oh, and then at age 7. Another at age 11 and yet another at age 14.

Clean water in a developing country can be the difference between life and death. From infants to the elderly and everyone in between, water matters. If you recall psych 101 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs nothing can happen until the physiological needs have been met.

How does this relate to me? I know, I know, I asked the same question. Naturally, you can follow Summit on the Summit as they send out live tweets and climb Mt. Kilamanjaro. You can support Summit on the Summit Financially too.

You can also look at your own back yard. If there are water bottles piling up in your trash bin, I’d urge you to think about your health and the health of the planet. I have never been a fan of the individual water bottle. First off, I don’t want to drink water that’s more expensive than gasoline. That’s just not okay. Secondly, there isn’t a set of standards in place for water bottling. The City of Los Angeles provides me with more information about my water than a bottler.

I don’t like waste. I like the idea of using PUR, filtering the water I get from the city (for pennies), and enjoying clean fresh water at home. Unfortunately the world’s most developed nations have many of the same issues as emerging nations. Here in the US we have everything from pharmaceuticals to weed killers. Oh, also, they can add flavors… which is wonderful if you want it and weird if you don’t (this house is split on that one).

I got this information from the folks at PUR, which typically I’d summarize for you, but this time, well, they got it right:

Water Filtration:

PUR Water Filtration products do far more than provide great-tasting water. PUR reduces many unwanted contaminants to provide clean water right from your tap.

• PUR is the first leading brand to claim removal of pharmaceuticals identified in U.S. tap water – more than 99 percent for PUR faucet filters and more than 96 percent for PUR pitchers.*
• The main workhorse of PUR filters is activated carbon. Contaminants in water collide with the activated carbon particles and get trapped in the intricate pore structure of the carbon, thus removing the contaminant from the water stream.
• PUR filtration systems remove 99.9 percent of microbial cysts such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium parvum, which can lead to intestinal illness.
• PUR filtration systems remove 98 percent of lead and 97 percent of chlorine (taste and odor).
• PUR is the only leading pitcher certified by NSF to claim reduction of the weed killer atrazine.
• PUR is certified by NSF International and the Water Quality Association (WQA) and is tested by other third-party laboratories.
• PUR reduces contaminants in the water while leaving fluoride, which is essential for developing and maintaining healthy teeth in children and adults, and has been granted the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Approval.

Drinking Water Infrastructure and Contamination:

• In 2009, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave America’s water infrastructure a grade of a D-.
• The Environmental Protection Agency reported approximately 10-20 percent of human exposure to lead is attributable to lead in tap water.
• In April of 2009, The Associated Press reported that a vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones — were found in the drinking water supplies of 51 million Americans.
• In August of 2009, The New York Times reported that the common weed killer atrazine may be dangerous at lower concentrations than what is currently allowed by the EPA, which may lead to birth defects and low birth weights in children.

Most importantly PUR has an ongoing commitment to giving. Every time you purchase a PUR system you are also supporting Dr. Allgood’s work, providing children everywhere with clean water.

Ooh, also, I met some of the folks at PUR and I’d really recommend you follow them on Twitter. They’re just nice. Really, nice is the new black. Dr Greg Allgood is @DrGregAllgood, Bruce Lux is @BDL3556, Rob Hite is @Hite RJ and Suzette and Dave Tomasi might have to be dragged into the world of social media kicking in screaming. Cuz ya know… they’re sorta adulty about it all.

*The kind folks at PUR brought me to a great party, this is my thank you.

I dropped my daughter when she was a baby, twice.
I knew my son needed medical attention, but I didn’t believe it. Twice.
My daughter has a dot tattooed on her neck, where I stabbed her with a pencil. Luckily just once, it was a crossword puzzle accident.
My kids have had enough time alone to cover themseles head to toe in lipstick, both black and red.

I’ve slept at the playground. I snore too.

I’ve had car accidents and other mishaps. I set a tree on fire once, that was not easy, but it, too was an accident.

Alexander had seven staples in his head, because we played too rough.

I’m a good mom. Kids get lumps and bumps, and we all make mistakes.

According to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Shellie and Steve Ross lost her son Bryson due to an accident. I’d really like everyone who has kids to take a moment, be honest, really honest and show Shellie a little empathy. There’s a family that needs and deserves your kindness today.

Yesterday was the kids’ last day of school. I played tennis in the morning and my tennis partner’s tree was full of oranges. The kids are heading over there today to pick the oranges. Maybe we’ll make orange marmalade?

I have a post for y’all that been in draft for five days. Please get used to nothing happening, I have kids to play with.

Also, take a moment and really watch this weeks momversation. I think it was incredibly brave of all of the moms to try out video.

A special thanks to my mom and all her pictures are at iPhone Gran.

Grandmoms of Momversation

This is perfect, just as it is.