relaxing.

We’ve had a busy last few days at our house.

Early on Friday morning Mike and I hopped on a plane to visit with my best friend and her husband in Washington, DC to celebrate the impending birth of their daughter in December. They had a co-ed baby shower at my favorite restaurant in DC and we had a blast! This was the first co-ed shower I’d been too, loved the idea, but one of the younger, posher attendees told me these sorts of things happen all the time. Who knew?

We came back into Denver late on Sunday night which meant not much sleep before heading back into work for either of us. Late on Monday morning Mike got a call from his oldest son’s school saying the boy was feeling quite ill and needed to be picked up. Four hours and a doctor’s appointment later we were told that he has contracted the H1N1 virus.  Whoa.

Despite exhibiting the other characteristic symptoms for this flu (sore throat, body aches, cough and congestion, vomiting is typically not associated) he did not spike the characteristically high (104F +) fever. His fever stayed under 100F and we are glad for that.  He seemed generally content, even if uncomfortable. Had the fever been worse I fear  the stress on his system and our sanity would have been overwhelming.

When I went into work this morning I found out that several of my co-workers’ children have contracted the virus recently and therefore many of them have been at home caring for them.  Apparently this virus has been whipping through the schools out here like a new fashion fad.  What is slightly comforting about that is I have heard repeatedly that there is no cause for serious concern. Yes, this strain of the flu is novel and alarming, but healthy individuals are at low risk and recovering well. Fortunately, we are healthy individuals.

After a day at home with his dad resting and playing video games to his little heart’s content, my stepson is recovering nicely.  He appears to have missed what could have been a much more severe case.  I am home now, too, sitting on our couch eating the delicious dinner Mike made, sipping chamomile tea and watching Fawlty Towers. I’m glad for it.

Love in the Time of Cholera

I’m sick again, and honestly, I feel sick and tired of being sick and tired

I think being on the road for the last month and being around lots of other sick people are to blame. I am also a bit of a workaholic, and when deadlines and overwhelming commitments loom (as they tend to do during the holidays) I put my health last.  I struggle to keep a regular diet and get regular sleep and exercise. I must be more diligent about it, starting now.

The biggest bummer (for me) is that someone I have been seeing for the last couple of months and I have repeatedly made plans to go on a weekend away…there are so many things we enjoy doing together…but then I have gotten sick, or the holiday schedule has gotten in the way. This weekend is another example…despite plans we made to spend the weekend together having fun, I am instead home sick clutching a box of tissues and my “favorite” cold medicine. So *not* romantic. I am convinced, though, that he sees these little “setbacks” as opportunities to prove his affection, since he has quite enthusiastically expressed his delight in spending the weekend taking care of me, instead (A little secret: I think he kind of likes it when I don’t feel well because then he gets the chance to pamper me a bit and be the hero, and a girl like me appreciates when someone *else* swoops in to save the day every now and again ).

I am off to the store to find vitamins and other healthy stuff. I am going to kick this cold’s butt!

Off and Running

Becoming pensive about life always puts me in a classical mood…musically, I mean. As a closet artist, I see most of my moods mirrored in art; in particular, in my choice of music and in my appreciation of others’ art.

Being in this sort of “mood” also means getting out and hitting the pavement. I’ve never been an avid runner, but something about it soothes my unfocused mind.

And so, this morning, I ran.

What goes through my mind in those moments of deep breath, achy calves and crisp, gorgeous air is befuddled. During that time I feel alone, and somewhat free, I guess, to absorb the air, the music, and my thoughts. I can’t really say in words, but it feels something like the latest SongSpot I’ve added (Allison Lovejoy’s RAVEL: Jeux d’eau). The way the time signatures dance around each other – it’s quite intriguing and very fitting.

On Being Sleep Greedy – Part II

Addendum: So, after writing this entry on Saturday, it turned out that I was coming down with the stomach flu…icky.  I should’ve known, since sleeping for long hours like that is my body’s usual first line of defense when fighting a bug.  By Wednesday night I was terribly ill and left work early, even.  The previous week’s stress didn’t help much either, I’m sure.

I just slept for 13 uninterrupted hours.

This week has been demanding, time wise. I’ve been working longer hours at work, and I had to put my car in the shop – which means getting up extra early in the morning only to arrive extra-late at home in the evenings because I’m riding the bus. In addition to that, I’m preparing a short presentation to the Board of the non-profit I volunteer at, as a statement of my committee’s position on a pressing issue right now. That has meant even later nights due to meetings and planning with a bit of “Dear God, I have to speak in front of important people!” stress added.

On Monday night, I had a couple glasses of my favorite wine when I got home from work, then grabbed my bike and binoculars after dark to go stargazing. That always puts me in a better mood. By Wednesday, however, my energy level had dissolved quite a bit again. Lucky for me, I had dinner plans that night with a good friend who always puts me in a cheerful mood! Thursday turned out to be a late night, due to a meeting, and by Friday morning I knew I’d be keeping it low-key this weekend. I told a friend who asked about my holiday plans that “I only plan to keep to myself”.

But this is a holiday weekend, which means it’s all about being in a crowd. A dear friend invited me to her birthday party some time ago (the party was last night), and despite really wanting to go, I had to call and tell her I wasn’t coming. I would’ve been an unbearable grump, and nobody likes that! I needed to just go home and get much needed sleep, which she completely understood. I’m feeling much better now, although still a bit low-key, so I’ll just have to be extra careful to go with what feels good and say no the rest.

So, what does one do after sleeping for 13 hours? Make buttermilk pancakes for breakfast, of course! Happy Holidays

Green Building Design…Day Three

Whew, what a weekend! Today ended what has been an extremely intense, but wonderful, 3-day course on Green Building Techniques, presented by environmental scientist and green builder Dan Chiras at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Our agenda today covered:

• Passive Cooling Design: Principles and Guidelines
• Residential Renewable Energy Technologies: Part 1 (Solar Hot Water – Solar Hot Air – Solar Electric – Wind Energy – Microhydro)
• Residential Renewable Energy Technologies: Part 2 (more in-depth discussion of Part 1 technologies)
• Green Remodeling (Guest Lecturer, Larry Kinney, Synertech Systems Corp., Boulder)
• Natural Building: Why Build with natural materials? (Guest Lecturer, Larua Bartels, GreenWeaver, Inc. , Carbondale) (Straw bale – Adobe – Rammed Earth – Wattle & Daub – Cob – Straw Clay – Natural Plasters)
• Creating Sustainable Communities: Rebuilding Existing Communities

I am extremely pleased with the outcome of this course–we met our goals as a group and enjoyed ourselves in the meantime. Now that the course is over, I’m one step closer to being Green Building Certified (a process I began about 2 years ago). More details on that as it happens later in the year. For photos on some of the other projects I’ve worked on, follow this link.

Perhaps, the most important point I walked away with was this:

“Truly appropriate technology doesn’t make people or their communities dependent on systems over which they have no control.” –David Eisenberg

Green Design (Building, and Technology) is really, for me, about being good to myself, empowering my community and ensuring the prosperity of future generations…all children of all species for all time. (William McDonough) How can I do this? By being mindful and intentional with what is within my control–little by little, today, tomorrow and every day.

Many thanks to Dan, Mark Shueneman (of the Colorado Straw Bale Association, Boulder), Laura Bartels and our guest speakers for an amazing weekend!

Green Building Techniques…Day Two

Day Two of the Green Building Techniques course presented by Dan Chiras was phenomenal!

An outstanding feature of this lecture is that Chiras is teaching us from his proven methods of success, and also from the mistakes he made when designing and building his own home. He often refers to things he didn’t consider at the time and passes along a note of caution on how to avoid danger in the future. That perspective makes what he’s teaching even more cohesive and practical.

Today’s Topics:

• Green Building Practices, Materials and Technologies: Part 2 (Accessibility – Ergonomics – Adaptability – Earth-sheltering – Energy Efficient Design – Renewable Energy – Water Efficiency – Recycling Waste Water – Water Management – Landscaping for Wildlife – Integrated Design)
• Green Building Programs: What are they and why are they valuable? (Earthcraft, Green Built Colorado, LEED)
• How much does it cost to go green?
• Green Built Production Homes (Guest Lecturer, Jeff Medanich, McStain Neigborhoods, Boulder)
• Energy Efficient Design and Construction (Guest Lecturer, Larry Kinney, Synertech Sytems Corp. and SunFlower Corp., Boulder)
• Passive Solar Heating: Design Guidelines
• Passive Solar Heating: Avoiding Mistakes
• Builder Guide for Windows (BGW2004) Software (Guest Lecturer, Fred Roberts, Solaequis, Fort Collins)
• Radiant Heating, Hydronics, Solar Cooking and many more…!

And the main point that Chiras couldn’t stress enough was: DESIGN FOR EFFICIENCY!!!

During one of the design lectures, I brought up the notion that dome structures are increasing in popularity and asked what considerations one should make when trying to design. Chiras mentioned several advantages, such as stability, efficiency, etc., but also pointed out a few concerns around design complications, such as dome structures creating passive solar heating design complications. He also referred me to his book, The New Economical Home, which we all received a free copy of, where he makes mention of building domes. Surprisingly, the gentleman I met yesterday, the one who is designing a vacation home for him and his wife, currently lives in a house that has a dome feature incorporated into the center! Great! We talked at length about why he chose to do this, as dome living has been a passion of his for a long time. He also explained some of the complications he’s had, and recommended incorporating a dome structure into a larger floor plan (part of my observation/viewing dome ideas anyway). Another woman in our group, who’s actually researched dome living extensively, overheard our conversation and approached me afterwards. She gave me all kinds of links and resources for dome kits, monolithic domes, etc., and updated me on some of the benefits of domes when used as a primary dwelling.

Chiras also showed slides of gorgeous, spacious, brightly daylit interiors. I became interested in Daylighting techniques several years ago after learning about how incredibly easy it is to brightly light an office, classroom or home with natural daylight and little or no electric light. I call natural daylight “happy light”–our brain needs natural sun light each day to produce chemicals that promote feelings of health and well-being. Ever suffer from “cabin fever” in the winter? Shorter days mean less exposure to that vital dose of sunshine. Not only are bright, cheery spaces more fun (and much more productive) to be in, they are necessary for sufferers of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). And, as are all green design techniques when well-implemented, daylighting is extremely cost effective. Less money spent on electric lighting means more money in the bank.

A few buzz phrases I’ve been hearing:

“Design is an indication of intent.” –William McDonough

“Air Tight, Ventilate Right!” –Larry Kinney

and perhaps my favorite…

“When we build, let us think that we build forever.” –John Ruskin

Reporting Live from Green Building Techniques…Day One

I’ve just ended my first day in a three-day short-course on Green Building Techniques, given through the University of Colorado at Boulder. Our facilitator and main presenter is Dan Chiras, who, for many reasons, is fast becoming one of my personal heroes. He’s had a long and exceptional career, with roots in the biological sciences, and he is an expert in the fields of environmental science and green design. He is also living in a home he sustainably designed and built, and has lived off the electicity grid for over a decade.

Today’s lectures were nothing less than intense–A LOT of material was covered in our first session. We discussed topics on :

• The History of Green Building
• The Growing Popularity of Green Building (Guest Lecturer, Laura Bartels, GreenWeaver, Inc., Carbondale, CO )
• Why Build Green?: The end of cheap oil and natural gas
• Overview of Green Building Practices, Materials and Technologies: Part 1 (Site selection – Site restoration – Energy Efficiency – Renewable Energy – Healthy Building – Green Building Materials – Landscaping for Energy and Environment – Waste Recycling – Building a Healthy Home – Reducing Wood Use and Advanced Framing Techniques)
• Green Building Materials (Guest Lecturer, Jeff Scott, SolSource, Inc., Denver)
• Environmental Justice and Affordable Sustainability (Dignity Village, and The Intertribal Council on Utility Policy)

The class participants have arrived from all over the country to hear Chiras give this lecture; oddly enough, I’m the only one here from the engineering field (there were about 25 of us in today’s session). Most of the attendees are environmental designers, architects and builders, and several are would-be do-it-yourselfers who have dreams (or signed contracts!) to design and build green homes of their own. I fall into the latter category, as I’ve had big dreams of designing and building my own house for a long time. And this course is just encouraging me to dream bigger! Geez, just what I need! So far, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know a young couple from Colorado, who are renovating their existing home, an architect in Denver, who works in commercial government contracts, a young woman who just bought land in the mountains, and is looking to build her first home from the ground up , and a retired gentleman from South Carolina, who is just beginning the process of designing a vacation home for him and his wife in the mountains of North Carolina (who couldn’t find a contractor in his area that would touch a green design project–unbelievable!).

The course is certainly designed for the self-starter looking to bring green building techniques into their home; also pointed out, however, were several segues into commercial applications and professional considerations. As an engineering student focusing (in the larger scope) on space, environmental and biological systems, I am totally geeked over how applicable these techniques are in the areas of sustainable life support systems and habitats–the subjects of energy, air quality, lighting, waste/water treatment, and heating and cooling are all extremenly relevant to the design of well-contained, durable and healthy environments, whether built on this planet or circling above it.

More from the from the scene, as it happens, tomorrow…

Of raindrops and yoga.

It’s pouring rain outside! I had planned to be outdoors today, hiking around and taking photos, but the weather didn’t cooperate. That’s okay, we need the moisture. Already, the lawns out front are a lovely shade of bright green (smile). So instead, I’m inside surfing the web and watching the Thundercats on DVD (hey, it is a Saturday after all).

Since sitting on my bum isn’t really what I had in mind for today, my thoughts have wondered off to my long-forgotten yoga practice, and my desire to be active again. In a really nasty cycling accident 2 years ago, I flew (yes, flew, as in through the air…) off my bike and landed down hard on my right side. That accident resulted in a crushed elbow joint, cracked and bruised ribs and a badly bruised hip socket. At the time, I had been an avid yoga student for several years, but after injuring myself the way I did I couldn’t continue my practice. Even after a year, many postures that were weight-bearing on my arms or right side were too uncomfortable. I had pretty much given up hope that I could pursue yoga with the same enthusiasm I had before. What made it worse was that whenever I got too cold, or whenever it was about to rain, I’d wake up in the morning with a painfully stiff right arm and hip. Lucky for me, this is Colorado, and the rainy days are few in number. The discomfort has lessened with time, but it has left me feeling self-conscious and feeling like my body is older than it is.

Ironically, I credit yoga with helping me to walk away from the accident like I did, literally. Yoga is known for its capacity to strengthen and lengthen the muscles of the body, keeping one who practices regularly in a constant state of muscular fitness and relaxation. I’ve heard many doctors say that a lot of injury to the body is caused not by the impact itself, but by the body’s reaction to the impact–that is, it’s tendency to tense up and block blood flow. After being hit and sustaining the injuries I did, I was still able to get up and walk the mile and a half back home (the person that caused the accident left the scene without offering assistance). I certainly had my share of injuries as a kid, and that may have had a lot to do with my ability to manage the pain, but I really believe my physical fitness had much to do with it also.

This morning, for the first day in years, I had to look to the sky to tell the rain was coming–my arm and hip didn’t ache at all! That feels really good, and it’s encouraged me even more to be proactive and get back into a good practice again. Unfortunately, I’d forgotten how expensive yoga classes can be! The yoga studio closest to my home would cost over $100 per month if I only attended 2 classes per week! Geez! I don’t live near to the center I attended 2 years ago, but it looks like there is a rec center nearby. Hopefully they have yoga instructors, as I’ll need help getting back into proper form with many of my postures, and hopefully the prices are more affordable–family-centered community programs usually are.

Well, I should get back to watching my cartoon; the Thundercats are on the move again, and this time there’s an evil talking oooze…