I woke to slight snow fall with the sun peering through the veil of gray clouds and a thin blanket of fresh snow covering. I read that Maine was to receive a snow storm this weekend, ranging from 1′ - 2′ of snow. After going through my morning readiness I headed to the gym and then to Hampden to work on a client’s computer. The development that my client currently resides is new and hosts very large 3 story houses with plenty of surrounding land. As I’m waiting for their computer to restart I look out the window to a near white-out of snow, the flakes very large and falling fast. After finishing my work I make my way home, not being familiar with development’s roads as well as not being able to see that well I quickly and embarrassingly find myself in a ditch. I called my insurance company stating that I need a tow truck to pull me out of the ditch and roughly 15 minutes of waiting they arrived and successfully pulled me out, my car did not suffer any damage from going off the road.

When I arrived home Robin was there waiting, thankfully she did not have any problems getting to my apartment. We decided to go outside and make snowmen during the storm since it is something we both have not done in a long time. I unpacked my snowsuit for Robin and found a pair of old insulated wind pants for me. We were able to create a James snowman and a Robin snowwoman in under an hour. We had a good time outside in the snow, it’s peaceful and reminds me of my childhood when my brother and I would be in our field making forts and large snowmen. Bangor received a little over 15” throughout Saturday.

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.