Flight of the ‘Rangs

We needed a wide open space to test the boomerangs we designed and built. Perhaps we were a bit optimistic about the flight capabilities, but nevertheless we chose the park and took my dog with us for a walk.

The spot we chose for flight test was in the center where we figured we could throw in two different directions, one into the slight breeze and the other one in the same direction as the wind current.

My three-winged piñata, as I christened the milk jug, yogurt container, paper-mâché boomerang, performed as I expected. It sailed great, didn’t return and hurt if it hit anyone. If I’d filled it with treats my dog would have had a good reason to sink her teeth into it. It made for a great game for as long as she wanted to fetch.

My honey’s more traditional style boomerang had wider wings, a longer wing span and the cardboard made it more rigid. On his first throw, the ‘ran soared out, made a turn and then flopped to the ground.

“That was probably a fluke, the wind caught it.” He obviously wanted a no-arguments win.

He threw in the same direction as the wind and had the same result except this time the ‘rang soared out, made the turn and came back part way before landing gracefully.

I hugged him. Yes I’m a good sport. “Your design is the clear winner for boomerang qualities.”

We took turns throwing our designs and the dog played along too. We had to call an end to the sport when my boomerang stuck up in a tree and his bent. My honey thought of design modifications. I’m betting we’ll repeat this date many times. My honey caught the design and boomerang throwing bug.

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Building a Boomerang

Our design date was a challenge to make a boomerang that will fly from scrap and trash. Having fund and environmental awareness can happily coexist especially when we can use items that often become trash for our projects.

My honey remarked, “This project would be easier if I could carve mine out of wood.” He made a good point and echoed some of the arguments against cleaning up our collective industrial act. Rethinking how we do things when old ways work efficiently takes time, effort and often money.

We vowed our project would only require our time and effort to have fun. We spread our materials across the living room floor: milk jugs, newspapers, pie tins, twigs and other assorted junk. Even though we were pretending this wasn’t a competition, we both knew we wanted to create a boomerang that would fly and return to us. Yes we want to win and therefore didn’t work together just observed and made occasional comments.

He worked on a design with layers of cardboard and plastic that looked like a traditional boomerang. My design is based on three blades that I hope will fly like a helicopter. We agreed I excelled at creative use of materials including a milk jug, yogurt cups, shiny-paper advertisements and a flour-water paste.

However I’m not sure my contraption will even fly; it ended up looking like a piñata, perhaps because I painted it purple with left-over paint. I expect extra kudos for using the paint because theoretically we should use up paint rather than discarding. I do have hope. I’ve watched videos of people playing with piñatas. They usually fly well and make a great weapon just like the boomerang was originally used.

What I like best about this type of date is that it happens in segments with extra time spent together. Tomorrow - the test flight.

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Mwah to the World

We’re making our Romance Wish list for how to spend the winter holidays. Our list of priorities includes time together, to make only tiny environmental footprints and to spread the joy of romance.

My perfect holiday means indulging in favorite foods, cuddling beside my honey to read a book, running at least three miles and then working together on a project. In spite of the commercial appeal of giving and receiving true joy comes from simple pleasures and having someone to share them with.

Our romantic theme for this holiday season is renewal. Instead of continuing with routine, we plan to evaluate home and lifestyle to find sustainable opportunities for change and excitement. For us this means learning new skills. We are compatible because we have diverse and complementary interests that intersect at our love of learning.

Our gift to our readers is sharing a list of ideas related to education and knowledge we hope you can use to enhance your own romantic moments.

Take a class together

Tour a factory, museum or public visitor center related to renewable energy, waste reclamation and resource conservation. Feel free to borrow our list or make your own based on your priorities and interests

Learn to skills to enhance personal and career goals – computer programming, public speaking, fundraising, graphic design, dancing, acting and comedy

Private Think Tank. Tackle a problem together to find a novel solution. Our first project is more fun than life-changing, we plan to scour our belongings and trash then use only those materials to design and build at least two boomerangs.

May you all have more joy and romance in your lives in the coming year!

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To Tree or Not to Tree

For those celebrating Noel, Yule or Christmas, the trimmed tree is considered an integral part of the celebration. I remember tromping through the snow to help choose and evergreen. My dad set it up on the three-legged stand with water trough. The family gathered to decorate it with treasured ornaments.

Often these trees end up in a landfill though environmentally friendly options exist including having a real tree recycled into mulch, buy a faux tree made of metal, plastic or man-made materials, going without a tree, substituting a facsimile wall hanging with a tree pattern or putting a living tree in a planter and then transplanting it later in the yard.

My honey and I chose a living tree this year because the branches will provide shelter for the winter birds in our yard. For our date, we went to choose the tree. Our options were fir, spruce, cedar, pine and sequoia. The choice depended on the destination. We finally settled on a spruce and we decided to not even set it up in the house for the holidays.

Just because tradition dictates putting gifts under the tree doesn’t mean either the gifts or the tree are absolutes. My honey thought the tree was enough of a gift because we would get joy from it all year. We’ll be able to watch our tree grow along with our relationship and we will enjoy the birds’ antics. The birds will celebrate the season in style because we also brought home twenty-five pounds of birdseed.

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Good Deed Leads to Decadent Treats

Local ordinances in most urban areas dictate sidewalks must be free of snow within 24 hours after a snowstorm. Local papers post regular notices reminding people of this responsibility. On my street some people choose to ignore the duty, others are unable to fulfill the obligation because of health reasons.

I decided if I can do the job with my shovel, I’m being environmentally friendly and saving the several elderly and disabled people on my street from possibly being ticketed. Shoveling down one sidewalk to the stop sign and them making the return trip on the other side of the street doesn’t take long. Bonus, my fitness factor improves and as a side-effect improves romance too.

Being a good neighbor doesn’t count as a romantic activity, well it might for some, but I’m only interested in romance with my honey. I asked him to join me. Who knew competition was just what we needed as a pre-date warm-up.

“Race you to the end of the block.” He issued the challenge.

I had my shovel poised and made the first scoop before agreeing. “You’re on.”

Half way down the street one neighbor wandered over to me. “Why are you shoveling everyone’s sidewalk?”

“Not everyone is able to, but I am so why not?”

“That’s good of you.”

While he stopped me to chat, my honey was getting ahead. “Look, I’m not trying to be rude but we’re racing and I’d like to win.”

The older man chuckled and let me go. “Give him a run for the prize.”

“You bet.” My short break gave me an energy burst and I flung snow faster than before.

That neighbor let some other neighbors know what that freaky-exercise-fanatic enviro-health nut neighbor was up to now. Not often do dates become spectator sports except on my street. Neighbors came out with shoves to pitch in and some just cheered us on.

With just two more front yards to clear, we were in a dead heat. I put my shovel point at an angle and ran to the end of the street with now flying like from a snowplow and then turned around to run back in the other direction.

My sidewalk was clean and maybe I must barely edged ahead. My honey hugged me. We would have been happy with the ‘thank yous’ but one of the neighbors offered tea and sweets. Always a good reason to share some time with others.

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You Tingle My Toes

My honey detests the term metrosexual, but enjoys pedicures. Especially if that massage is based on reflexology to hit the pressure points associated with healing or fitness of various organs of the body.

I’m glad neither of us have ticklish feet because at the end of a work week nothing is quite as relaxing. Even though I’ve spend a day at the spa for rejuvenation with a friend and we had a good time side by side in the massage chairs at the spa. I wasn’t sure if giving each other a foot massage would classify as a date.

I have to give a qualified yes. This can be a great romantic activity as long as both partners give and receive. Our shared version of the pedicure and massage started with a nice warm foot soak, massage with scented oils and reflexology by using a foot chart from a self-help book I checked out from the library.

Instead of one of us getting the works first followed by the other, we shared a tub of steaming water, perfect for playing footsies. Then we took turns with the massages. The floor of the den worked great with towels to protect from drips, the fireplace on to keep us toasty warm and lots of pillows to prop us into the perfect position for having our feet rubbed at the same time.

We fended the evening with mint lemonade and some spa type food. I made chipotle hummus to be served with cucumber rounds and miso soup. He made a grilled vegetable Panini ahead of time and let the flavors meld until we were ready. Life just felt a little fresher and truly combined relaxing and energizing.

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I Like My Photography with Passion

My digital camera means I don’t have to print or even save photos I don’t like when I’m editing. When I extol the virtues of my more environmentally friendly choice, my honey’s eyes glaze and his head tilts to the side. My honey doesn’t share my love of photography though on occasion he uses the camera function on his cell phone to preserve a memory. He supports my passion though and one morning he offered to act as guide and site locator for a nature photo shoot.

When we arrived at the fairgrounds/recreation area just before dawn, the moon stood out in white contrast against an inky backdrop peppered with stars. I took a couple shots and we headed off on the path winding around the edge of the golf course. He pointed out the fishing ponds and the people fly fishing in colorful gear. It would have made a nice contrast picture but it wasn’t the nature I sought.

The sun rose while we walked. Canadian geese landed in the pond. He pointed out mud puddles reflecting the sunrise and trees. As the light grew brighter, wild flowers painted the hills in shades of pink, yellow and purple. I found plenty of elements to photograph except for a perfect shot of the ponds. While I wandered beside a swampy area snapping pictures of bugs, he scouted other trails.

“Hey babe, you have to see this.” He beckoned me deeper along a path into a canopy of trees.

I expected a beautiful view. Instead he held my hand while we crossed a natural bridge over the inlet of a stream to the other side where a willow created a green bower. He pulled me in under the branches, held me close and kissed me. The dilemma with photography is finding a way to capture the magic of that moment in an image.

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We Woke up to a Snowy Day

Nature provides some naturally fun toys. Fluffy flakes and mild temperatures create perfect sticky snow conditions for building snow sculptures. Bundled up in thermal outerwear with gloves and hats my honey and I ventured out into the snow to play instead of getting straight to work.

My first attempt to roll a ball resulted in some clumping, but not enough accumulation to make a snowman. The snow wasn't yet damp enough to pack well. Time for some old-fashioned ingenuity. I flopped flat on my back and swung my arms and legs back and forth to create the indentation of a snow angel. Then I raided the kitchen for blows and molds to create snow blocks and a squirt bottle with water to help with the stickiness.

We piled blocks one on top of the other like laying masonry and the still falling snow was more wet to make an ideal mortar. My honey formed a small fort and I stacked the snow almost four feet tall to make a tomten (a Scandinavian elf that helps with chores and has a special affinity for animals). I used a garden trowel to carve the pointy hat, facial features including a beard and carved one arm raided to wave Hello. We neither helped each other or competed.

"Can you pass me the big bowl?"

"May I use the trowel?"

We worked side-by-side in companionship. He finished first and went indoors to make cocoa. I used the extra time to make a snow puppy to keep the tomten company. My honey came back outside, wrapped his arms around me and rubbed our noses together in what people call an Eskimo kiss. He charmed me to catch me off-guard long enough to rub a handful of snow in my face. Oh my, I wasn't taking that without a snowball fight.

Once thoroughly soaked and starting to chill we went inside to change into something warm and dry and sip the cocoa he made with cinnamon. Aren't the best dates really just a good excuse to cuddle anyway?

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To Be Thankful Together

Oh the dilemma, with our families living over a thousand miles away we had to deal with travel questions. Should I spend the money to travel to my parents for a long weekend? Does Thanksgiving or any holiday require visiting family? Will we do any permanent damage to relationships by choosing to spend the holiday the way we want? Are the additional emissions from travel worth the trip?

Admittedly every decision doesn’t justify pulling out the environmentally friendly argument, but for many of us it is part of the equation. My honey made the best argument for staying home. “Being thankful can be done with any kind of family, eve one created just for the occasion.”

Together we mulled over the traditions while we enjoyed mugs of hot cider and decided to pick and choose for our special holiday. I refused to cook a turkey; traditions don’t mean I have to stop being a vegetarian. My menu was stuffed seitan roast, sautéed potatoes O’Brien, curried cabbage and apples, lemony garlic green beans and cranberry sauce. Fort the table full of pies too, I made dark chocolate molasses brownies to be served a la mode as guests preferred.

Our family became those friend we share many things with and new acquaintances who could use a new family for the holiday. We didn’t forget our relatives with phone calls to let them know we care. We dreaded hearing criticism and the ultimate question. “When are you coming home?” Instead they just told us they missed us.

Cuddled up after the holiday we discussed the odd thing about holidays; that delicate balance of family politics. Family expects blood relations to trump a date, lover or friends. Instead of releasing everyone to enjoy the day as they wish, tradition seems to dictate following outmoded social rules, traveling farther than prudent, eating more than it healthy of foods that aren’t necessarily favorites and pretending to be thankful for thing that aren’t a part of our daily lives just to make others happy.

We agreed. There is nothing inherently wrong with tradition unless for the sake of custom we sacrifice ideals and goals we care about. I’m thankful to have the opportunity to spend time with someone who shares similar values.

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