I have been reading a lot of articles from various sources such as “The Daily Green“, “Yahoo Green” and “Lime” and have implemented some of their suggestions on how to reduce my consumption of harmful chemicals and output of CO2. The term “Green Thumb” now has two meanings:

1. Having the ability to properly grow and nurture plants
2. Having the knowledge to affectively improve the environment by utilizing any “green” means to reduce the consumption of energy, harmful chemicals and reduce the output of CO2.

Don’t look at me at as a tree-hugging, hemp-wearing hippie, Global Warming is the end of the Earth type of person as that’s not who I am. I humbly believe that the amount of energy, CO2 emissions, etc are not causing the Earth’s warming period; it’s exactly that, a warming period. During the medieval period Europe experienced a rise in temperature that actually allowed England to cultivate certain foods such as Grapes which was then made into wine that they previously were not able to due to the cool weather. Shortly after the warming period the temperatures dropped drastically which is referred to as the “Mini ice age”. When my parents were growing up in Maine they experienced snow storms that I have never seen myself, snow levels that literally would reach the top of a house and telephone poles. I know that from what has been proven by scientists, history and the Bible that what we are experiencing is just that, a heightened warming period. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that the Earth is going to be vanquished of its natural resources expect during the Tribulation where God destroys much of the Earth’s resources by natural and supernatural means.

With all of that said, I still think that it is wise to lessen the consumption of energy, CO2 emissions, use of harmful toxins, to recycle and to preserve as much of God’s Creation as possible. Being a technically minded person I am always trying to improve code and design it to be more efficient. Right now I live in an apartment but I am considering purchasing a house in the near future for multiple reasons which has got me thinking how I can better the environment and save myself money by conserving. Some of the steps I have taken to reduce and conserve are:

• Replaced all incandescent lights with CFL bulbs
  • reduced CO2 emissions
  • conserve energy by using less electricity at the same time outputting the same or more lumes (in my small apartment I save anywhere from $5-$10 a month)
• Use non-toxin cleaners such as baking soda, vinegar, water, tea tree oil
• Recycle
• Unplug un-used appliances such as chargers, blenders, etc
• Replaced my work water bottle with a SIGG aluminum bottle that does not release any toxins into it’s contents (thank you Robin)

Some of the things that I have planned for the house are very simple and are cost effective to implement:

• Replacing and or purchasing green linens and bed sheets
• Purchase GE Energy Star and Energy Efficient appliances that reduce the consumption of power and water
• Replace water facets (sink and shower) with LoFlow heads and motion-sensor detection
• Install bamboo wood flooring instead of wood along with using recycled underlayment
• Time controlled thermostat
• More insulation in the attic (recycled)

This week as been a mix of weather ranging from warm temperatures of 45-50 degrees to below freezing with snow and rain one after another. A little after a year I have finally started my exams to become a MCDST (Microsoft Certified Desktop Technician), not out of relentless studying but after finally getting myself motivated to take the tests. This morning I traveled to Waterville to take the first part of the MCDST certification, 70-271 which was very easy, I passed with a 916 out of 1,000. I plan to use the MCDST as a basis for other certifications such as possibly the MCSA, MCITP.

This weekend we are supposed to get more snow which I’m hoping is true as I will have a chance to get out and photograph snow-covered conifers which I have only had one other opportunity to which was on New Years day with Robin. I have not had many opportunities to use my newly purchased Canon 40d digital SLR camera.

This year’s Christmas was a little different due to the amount of snow Maine has received this early in the year. Christmas week we received 18″ which normally does not happen. Mom and Jack arrived on Thursday just in time for a snow storm, an even they haven’t had to live through for a few years. After their arrival we went to Weathervain’s to have supper, Robin has met the entire family now- she has been well received as well. Mom and Jack house-sat for Frankie and Annmarie while they were out of town for the week; I stayed Christmas Eve playing card games and opened my stocking. After having breakfast Christmas morning we headed to Grammy and Grandpas to open our presents- which is a first for all of us.

Robin and I exchanged gifts with each other at her apartment and then headed to my apartment to meet with mom and Jack to exchange a few more gifts.

Thanksgiving for 2007 was a little different for me for a few different reasons; Mom and Jack did not visit as they are saving money to come up this year at Christmas, Robin and I had dinner at my Grandparents in Dexter along with roughly 20 other family members and then later in the evening Robin and I headed to the coast where her parent’s live.

The weather for Thanksgiving day was fairly cool, in the 40’s with clear skies. Robin said that my families Thanksgiving dinner had a lot of people; I’ve never thought of that before as I’ve always had large family gatherings and that’s what’s generally depicted on TV. After eating dinner we headed back to my apartment and then shortly after left for Prospect Harbor to visit with Robin’s parents.

On Saturday Robin and I went in to the hospital to paint our window that she had picked for the annual Christmas window painting contest; we spent a couple of hours painting it and I think ours is the best out of all of them- at least message-wise.

Today Robin and I went to Church at Cornerstone and then headed back to Bangor for dinner (Governor’s). The weather was fairly warm for this time of year- 48 degrees with no wind and clear blue skies. We ate at her apartment on Brewer Lake, shortly after we decided to take advantage of today’s weather and ventured out on to the water in her land lord’s kayaks. We paddled towards a small island on the north end of the lake that hosted a tree swing and what appeared to be a small tree house from the water. We decided to investigate what was on the island and to our surprise the tree house was a real 20×20 camp about 60′ in the air secured by two trees and 6 support beams with cement bases. Unfortunately the ladder was not present; so we looked around the island and sat at the edge for awhile and talked. The trip back to her apartment was much rougher as the wind picked up and was blowing south against us; Robin got wet by the gust driven waves.

I woke up on early Tuesday morning greeted by a cool breeze and a dark horizon, it was time to take a shower and head to the Bangor International Airport. When I passed through TIA’s security checks I boarded the near-full aircraft to my surprise; most of the commuters were from Maine. Earlier during the week I had read an article on how to take photographs through an airplane’s window as it’s something that I’ve wanted to attempt the next chance I had; unfortunately my window was scratched to the point where they would show. The sun started to rise as the jet engines were warming, by the time we were in the air the sun was just above the horizon illuminating the dark blue sky that display a beautiful gradient. As we climbed higher Maine’s many bodies of water were covered with a light fog- a common sight in the mornings of Maine.

I arrived to the Cincinnati, OH airport a mid-sized airport and from there we were up and down in about 45 minutes. I arrived to Roanoke Airport in Jeans and polo with an under T as it was cool in Maine but in Roanoke it was roughly 90. We had dinner at The Cracker Barrel, I had the same meal as last time- Hardy Breakfast.

Thursday the 30th was a little cooler, in the high eighties with very high humidity. Mom and I hiked Otter Creek Trail which was roughly four miles long consisting of river bed trails, tree root stairs, crossing the stream, walking under bridges and the woods up and down mountain stream crevasses. At the end of the trail a log cabin restaurant awaited us at which Jack treated us for dinner.

On Friday the 31st we headed out to Jamestown, VA to visit the original and permanent English settlement that began the US’ history. Friday was probably the hottest day that I experienced for a very long time, the temperature was at 100 with very high humidity. When we first arrived to Jamestowne we drove the park loop that had informational signs depicting what the inhabitants did to survive. At the beginning of the trail a male Eastern Box Turtle was crossing the road; Jack stopped so I could take a look at it as I’ve never seen a Box Turtle before. Near the end of the loop there’s a path that leads to a beach on the James River, since it was hot, mom and I went in knee deep- the water was bathtub hot something a Mainer is not accustomed to.

Once we finished the loop we headed to the original settlement where excavation was still in the works, we visited the first Christian Church, a remake of how houses were built, remake of the three ships that landed and a museum that hosted many artifacts that were dug from the site. Tools have always interested me, especially early tools man has used to ease his work; the museum had a lot of old tools ranging from eye glasses, ear picks, make-shift knives, hoes, metal shards meant to stop intruders, etc.

Afterwards, we headed towards Virginia Beach only to find out that traffic was very very heavy- what would normally take 45 minutes took us roughly two hours. Once we arrived we walked on the beach and I went knee high since I did not not bring my swimming shorts.

Sunday the 2nd was my first visit to Thomas Road Baptist Church since Jerry Falwell passed away a few months ago; his son, Jonathan Falwell is now the primary pastor for TRBC. I am always amazed at how God has blessed Jerry’s work and the people he’s help bring to Christ and one of the many things that show this is TRBC and its members. During the service I started to regret turning down a job interview for Liberty University last year because there are so many groups and outreaches that I would like to be apart of. TRBC posts the majority of their sermons on their website, even if you’re not a Believer, I suggest that you at least check one out, especially “Preparing To Build, Part 8″.

Monday’s weather was a cool (for Virginia) 82 with partially clear skies, Sharp Top Mountain’s visage was semi-clear. On our way to Sharp Top Mountain we stopped in an Angus field to snap a few photos. We purchased bus tickets to the top of the mountain as didn’t want to spend the majority of the day hiking; while waiting for the bus one of the Game Wardens allowed me to take their pet Box Turtle out so I could properly photograph it. Once we reached the top, the skies were regrettably hazy but we still enjoyed the limited view. On our decent a Doe walked passed us, ate a few leafs of a lower hanging branch, walked passed us again, stopped and stared at us. Mom was just inches from feed her a handful of leaves; the Doe was very calm and curious, she followed us down the majority of the trail, eating and watching as we walked. As funny as this may sound, I think she was a gift from God as I was complaining that I didn’t have an opportunity to take a decent shot of much today.

Later in the evening I photographed the Moon hours before the full lunar eclipse that I woke up for very early in the morning.