OH MY GOD! I'M FREAKING OUT !!

I just realized that I went on my trip to Rhode Island without paying my bills. What an asshole! I am so freakin' pissed at myself. Chase increased my APR to 22.99% from 4.99%. I am so upset. I called them to see if something can be done; was told that it will take 7 to 10 days to hear back. Can you imagine? I will try to call again tomorrow during the day. I was charged $159 interest this month; last month $30. This so fucking sucks! I was doing so well with paying off my balance, paying about $350 more each month than the minimum. I just can't believe that I didn't pay my bills. I don't understand how I could have not remembered. This is a major problem and I must figure out a way out of it.
I'm crying, crying, crying.

UPDATE ---> 5/20 - OMG... Thank God!! My interest rate was returned to the promotional rate. Hooray!

My Kitties

8 Simple Things to Help Save the Environment

Ann-Marie O'Neill from Real Simple Magazine was on "The View" today and presented the 8 "simple" things you can do to help save the planet.

1) Use a laptop instead of a desktop. A laptop uses half the energy. Choose a model with the energy star rating and you'll lose 70% less energy than a non-certified model. Also, curtail junk mail. If we all reduce junk mail, over 100 million trees could be saved each year in the United States. Visit ftc.gov for more tips.

2) Change your light bulbs. Replacing 5 frequently used incandescent lights with energy star-qualified compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can cut your electricity bill by $60 annually.

3) Buy the right appliance for the job. For example, use an electric kettle (as opposed to a stovetop), a toaster oven (rather than a conventional electric oven), and an electric slow cooker (instead of the stove). A toaster oven uses half the electricity of a conventional oven.

4) Use natural cleaning products (dishwashing powders, lemons, olive oil, baking soda). These cleansers cut grime without the bleach and phosphates that not only threaten river and marine life but also leave chemical residue on your dishes.

5) Save water. For example, install faucet aerators and high-efficiency showerheads and in a year you'll save between 1,000 and 8,000 gallons of water. Also, turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, and you can save 3 gallons of water per minute.

6) When shopping, use canvas bags for groceries instead of plastic bags. A plastic bag takes between 20-1,000 years to break down. And in one year, U.S. households use about 100 billion plastic bags, 99% of which are never recycled.
In addition, skip red meat once a week. This saves 840 gallons of water, which it takes to produce 1 pound of meat. Also, check stamps on all product packaging to identify what containers are made of and to figure out what it will be in its next life.

7) When it comes to makeup, try to use products that are made with items produced through biodynamic farming, which is more environmentally conscious than even organic farming. For example, Pangea Organics are made from 100% plant-based ingredients, and their packaging is compostable, biodegradable, and plantable.

8) You can also go green when getting dressed by choosing organically produced clothing rather than typical cotton items (examples: Organic tee-shirts, Levi's Eco-organic jeans, Patagonia® dresses). Cotton is the second most chemically sprayed crop in America, and each traditional tee-shirt requires one-third of a pound of synthetic fertilizers.


gogreeninitiative.org
earthday.net


EARTH DAY IS ON SUNDAY !!


Josh Dorfman, the "Lazy Environmentalist" from Sirius radio was on "The Martha Stewart Show" today.

Motion Sensors
- First Alert Motion Sensing Light Socket and Decora Motion Activated Light Control
- Will turn the lights on when you enter and off when you leave
- Can set them on timers so they're not going on and off every time you walk out of a room
(First Alert, Decora)

Aquia Dual Flush Toilet made by Toto
- Flushes with a larger or smaller amount of water depending on need
- Can help save 7,000 gallons of water per year and $80 from your utility bill
- This is made by Toto, one of the largest manufacturers of plumbing products in the world.
- Purchase at hardware stores around the country ($395)

G Diapers
- A flushable diaper system
- Washable cotton outer pant
- Plastic-free flushable liner
- Liners breakdown within 50 to 150 days
- Cradel to Cradle certified -- meaning they use environmentally safe and healthy materials; design for material re-utilization, such as recycling or composting; use renewable energy and energy efficiency; efficient use of water, and maximum water quality associated with production; and instituting strategies for social responsibility
- 50 million disposable diapers go into landfills every day
- Disposable diapers take up to 500 years to fully decompose
- Available at many natural retailers including Whole Foods (starter kit: $24.99, diaper refills: $12.69, pants purchased individually for $14.99)

Bye Stella

Have a good life.


Update 4/23: She's still been here but I'm sure she'll be leaving tonight. Fingers crossed!

Dos Dias de Almodovar

Starting on Friday night, I watched 4 Movies directed by Pedro Almodovar.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down!
All About My Mother
Bad Education

I watched Women on the Verge again this morning. They were all very good. I had seen All About My Mother years ago and I watched "Volver" last week, so I wanted to see more of Almodovar.

The Breakers

Oh My God!! Never have I seen such an incredible house! Photography is prohibited inside so here are some photos I found online.

This is the "Great Room".





A video from inside the Great Room

Newport Wednesday

International Tennis Hall of Fame

Redwood Library
Front Room - the Original Library - 1750

The Elms

Touro Synagogue - 1763

Misc. Houses





Warren House - 1809

Ogunquit & Kennebunkport, Maine

Hampton Beach, NH

Providence

Newport, Rhode Island

I'm In New England

I checked in around 1:15. Then drove to Cape Cod. Just to Falmouth and Wood's Hole where the ferry to Martha's Vineyard leaves from. I'm going to eat my dinner... American Cheese on white bread, Potato Chips, Diet Pepsi.

Ciao for Now.

Blood

Miercoles

I watched "Volver" today. It was written and directed by Pedro Almodovar and starred Penelope Cruz, who was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actress. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I saw "All About My Mother" years ago but I just requested it from the library along with some other Almodovar films.

I have yet to find a jacket for my trip. I'll go on Friday. Tomorrow after work I must go to the supermarket.
I also must get my haircut and dyed. Must!

Ciao for Now.
Maria

10S

I played tennis with my brother today. How I love to get on the court!

19 year old Novak Djokovic, from Serbia won the Sony Ericsson Open today. He beat Guillermo Canas from Argentina is straight sets; 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. All tournament long, they played 2 out of 3; in the final, they played 3 out of 5.