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#VlogMoms: First Jobs

OK. So I’m submitting my first ever vlog as part of #VlogMoms, and it took me a million tries, and I hate my face and the way my voice sounds, and then once I finally got through it the bloody thing is nearly SIX MINUTES LONG. It kills me because I’m pretty good at public speaking… next time I’m filming from a lectern.

Certainly I have zero expectations of you sitting through six minutes of my stilted nonsense, so I’ve written up the general gist below (from what I remember saying; I’m not watching it again). However, I’m going ahead and posting this just so next week I’ll be able to see just how much I improved… seriously, I’ve got no place to go but up.

Hiya. I’m Robin and I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone a little bit, so this is my first submission for the Vlog Moms.

The prompt this week comes from the delightfully adorable Annie Schultz aka Mama Dweeb, and she wants to know about jobs we had in high school or college.

I worked a lot. I worked selling subscriptions for a theater company over the phone– I don’t recommend it– I worked in a comic book store in the mall, I flipped waffle fries briefly at Chick Fil A. I worked at a tuxedo rental place called Smalls Formalwear, I ran the cashier at the Hickory Farms kiosk during Christmas season, and I worked at a camera supply store that catered to professionals.

The best job I ever had was revamping the filing system at an insurance office, the summer between my junior and senior year. This was 1993, so before everything lived on a computer. There was this huge wall of file cabinets, and whenever there was paperwork for an account it kinda just got shoved in the file. So my job was to come in, take each file, separate out the quotes and the policies and the correspondence and the payment slips and the everything else, then arrange them by chronological order, most recent on top, highlight the dates, then hit em with the hole punch and secure them in binders. Then, I got to label them with a label gun and color-coordinated tape.

I worked with one other girl, who was a few years older than me and went to college in one of the Carolinas. It was through her that I learned that people still listen to country music in present day times. Her name was Erin, and she had a very pert nose and perfect teeth and short curly hair and a deep tan and the face of Sarah McLachlan. She looked like the kind of girl who probably went surfing on the weekends, you know? Sunny and athletic and tousled.

Erin and I had a lot of fun. We worked with our shoes off and the radio on. That was the summer that Sheryl Crow exploded on the scene, and every time All I Wanna Do came on she’d make us stop what we were doing to sing along and dance. I still do that when that song comes on the radio.

Erin was the best, most active listener I have ever met. If she was here listening to me right now she would have asked what colors I used with the label gun. When I admitted I worked at Chick-Fil-A she would have mock gasped and been like nooooooo not you!

And when I talked about the girl who made me feel like I was a storyteller, who always made me feel interesting and funny, she would have leaned in and said that she sounded like a fantastic person to know and that I was so lucky to have met her at that lonely and insecure time of my life.

And I was lucky. I think about her all the time. It’s because of her I tell stories. I think about the details she would have asked for, the turns of phrase that would have made her crack up and tell me I was something else.

I don’t have her address or anything so your hate mail will have to continue to come to me. But at least now you know who to blame 🙂

To see much better videos than mine check out the other VlogMoms participants this week:

February 2, 2012
Green Cars 2013: 7 Eco Vehicles that Earn This Hippy Housewife’s Seal of Approval
C’mon Dad, give me the car tonight

-Violent Femmes

Jacob is 14, which means that in two years he will be driving, and what he will be driving is the minivan that I have been shamefacedly chauffeuring children in since 2004. It is a truth universally accepted that the worst part about finding out that you are pregnant with a 3rd child is that you will have to become a Minivan Mom.

More importantly, that means in two years Mom gets a new set of wheels. Look, I might be a hippie housewife but I know a hot car when I see one. Odds are, I won’t be able to afford any of the ‘green’ cars I’m about to show you, but that’s not going to stop me from window shopping. It’s good to have goals.

Here are the ‘green’ cars, hybrids, electric vehicles, and fuel-efficient models that I’d love to tool around town in. Let me know your favorite 🙂

(And yes, that’s Jake up there, on my friend Kristin’s motorcycle. Photo credit is all hers.)

Fisker Karma Surf

I’m going to pledge loyalty to the Karma first, not just because that’s my puppy’s name, but because these will be produced here in Wilmington DE. Karmas are luxury vehicles, make no mistake. That low-slung growly-yet-elegant aspect (reminiscent of Jaguar) comes with a hefty price tag in the area of $100K. It boasts a top speed of 125mph, going from 0-16 in 5.9. It has a range of 300 miles, 50 pure electric and another 250 on the range extender. The Surf has a BMW engine and is being marketed as “sports car meets station wagon,” but that phrase undermines just how damn sexy this car is.

Tesla Model X Electric Crossover

The car pictured is actually the Tesla Roadster. I’ve made no secret of my love for the Roadster and its more ‘affordable’ version, the Model S. But since that’s not new I won’t bore you with it again.

The Tesla Model X Electric SUV Crossover is going to be unveiled on February 9, so I’ll have to come back and update at that time. However, some lucky ducks did get a sneak peak and this is what I’m seeing reported across the interwebz:
- all-electric AWD 7-seater SUV
- faster than a Porsche 911 and roomier than an Audi Q7
- rumored to be available in late 2013, probably for the cost of a Porsche 911 & Audi Q7 put together.
2013 Honda Accord coupe concept
The Honda coupe comes in three different powertrains:
- an efficient, 2.4-liter direct-injected 4-cylinder
- powerful 3.5-liter V-6
- and a plug-in hybrid, all of which are expected to achieve class-leading fuel efficiency
It offers Lane Departure Warning (leaving your lane without a blinker on), Forward Collision Warning and the Honda-exclusive LaneWatch™ blind spot display: a camera system mounted on the mirror on the passenger side that allows you to view your blong spot. The new Accord will also have a rear view back-up camera.
It’s a fairly nice-looking car, I guess, but I suspect its strength will lie in the market of people already loyal to Hondas (I briefly drove a little Honda, until someone made a lefthand turn right in front of me while I was doing 50 on a rain-slicked road, an accident that 2-year-old Maverick and I walked away from unharmed). This is basically a car that people are comfortable with, only in eco-form; no sacrifices to style. Plus, there’s an abundance of Honda Accord parts out there, so presumably the basic costs of repair should be kept reasonable. If I do wind up buying something in this post, the Honda Accord hybrid is probably the best blend of eco-friendly car, wallet-friendly sticker price, and husband-approved profile.

E-REV Extended-Range Electric Truck from VIA Motors

It’s an electric vehicle for the tough truck-driving set, with “Better gas fuel economy than a Prius™ with the payload of a pickup.” Can be charged with a standard outlet, or faster with a 240 volt outlet or charging station. The vehicle only uses gas once you’ve drained the batteries: 40 miles on battery power and then up to another 300 miles. It also generates its own electricity, meaning you could use it for power when camping (or when the power goes out), or on a job site. Starting at $57,000.

Toyota Prius c

OK, I don’t love the looks of a Prius, I admit it. I think the meh styling of the Prius is part of why hybrids didn’t take off right at the start. BUT the Prius c hatchback (c is for city) has advantages you can’t argue with:
- 53 MPG city-driving, the highest city fuel economy of any car “without a plug”
- the trusted Toyota name; the name Prius has pretty much proven itself, too.
- starting MSRP under $19,000.
2013 Ford Fusion

This is a pretty good-looking car, with design overtones of Audi. It will be available in gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, which engine options including:
- Standard 2.5L Duratec® I-4 engine
- Available new 1.6L and 2.0L EcoBoost® engines (with Start-Stop system that turns the engine off when vehicle stops and restarts when you take your foot off the brake)
- Available hybrid 2.0L I-4 Atkinson-cycle powertrain
- Available plug-in hybrid electric 2.0L I-4 Atkinson-cycle hybrid powertrain
Features include:
- 47 MPG to the lithium-ion hybrid and 100+ MPGe to the Plug-In Fusion Energi
- lane-keeping system alerts you and actively applies steering torque if drifting is detected
- parallel-parking assistance, which I’m hoping will become standard in cars by 2014 so I won’t feel dumb using it (6 years in the sticks has rendered me incapable of parallel parking.)
- regenerative braking captures braking energy & stores it to help power the car
- the seats are made from foam derived from plants, like soybeans, and covered in cloth that’s 100% post-industrial & post-consumer.
Honorable mention: Dodge Dart

NOT the greenest of the bunch, I admit. But 40 mpg isn’t too shabby, and I have such fond memories of a Dodge Dart that was converted into a Batmobile that I can’t help but be thrilled they brought it back. Plus, it’s just a damn fine-looking car.

Other recent noteworthy news in eco cars:

Look, ma, no plug!: Electric cars recharged wirelessly: convenience is always a top priority.

Secretary Chu Predicts Steep Decline in EV Battery Prices: this could go a long way towards driving that initial investment cost down.

One-third of car fuel consumption due to friction loss: in the engine, transmission, tires, and brakes. Electric cars experience only half of that energy loss.

BUT remember:

Used Car Expert Says Buying Used Is “Greener”– the greenest choice is almost always what you already have! No matter what, new production means an energy cost and a certain level of pollution. Be good to the car you already have so it will last.

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Growing up in a household with no car meant my brother and I grew up with a healthy obsession with wheels: he went on to become a mechanic for a while (and owned more cars than I can remember). I’ve always been more fascinated with the evocative nature of well-designed cars (my favorites being the lean, mean Corvettes and Jaguars and stately Bentleys). That eco-conscious cars have evolved to the point that they can be both beautiful and earth-friendly is genuinely exciting for me— now I’m waiting for the prices to come down to the point that they’re practical for the everyday commuter or soccer mom.

Hey, if you liked this eco-vehicle eye candy you might want to follow my “green cars are sexy” board on Pinterest. Just sayin’.

Which of these is your favorite?

If money were no object, what would you be driving right now?
January 31, 2012
Pet Obesity: How about a New Year’s Resolution for Your Dog?
Diagnosis: OVERWEIGHT.

That’s what it says on Jimmy’s vet visit papers.

Jimmy is 35 pounds, and the vet thinks he should be about a 30 pound dog. That means we’ve been handed the heavy responsibility of trimming 1/7th of his body weight.

He’s not alone, you know. 54% of this country’s cats and dogs are overweight or obese, which more than anything else I see as an indicator of unhealthy practices in the home. With kids, you can blame marketing and school food, to some extent. But dogs and cats depend on their humans for food and exercise.

There are even fat camps for dogs. Check this one out, in Morristown NJ:

Pets are susceptible to all the weight-related issues humans are: diabetes, kidney issues, heart disease, joint pain, osteoporosis.

And, with pets as with humans, the real issues are:
- quantity of food eaten: treats, table scraps
- quality of food eaten: human junk food, overly processed food, dog chow that is mostly carb rather than protein
- exercise frequency and intensity: not getting out enough, not getting to run and play
The thing is, we Eltons get plenty of exercise— outside the house. I go to the gym or to the basketball courts, the kids have practices and games and recess and gym class. Once at home, we’re pretty sedentary creatures, and Jimmy has always fit in perfectly. This dog, I kid you not, goes to bed (BED bed, like even if the rest of us are still up he goes to the bedroom) around 11pm, gets up briefly with Cassidy to eat whatever she leaves in her cereal bowl, then goes back to bed until about 1pm. He just doesn’t have an active nature. Walking him around the block can take 20 minutes because he is content to sniff and meander.

He also tends to get the leftovers from meals and whatever Cass drops on the floor, which is a lot. Kid is a slob.

We’ve recently made some moves to better dog food for him. More details on that over the next few days, but generally speaking, you should look for ingredient lists that have:
- whole meat sources as its top ingredients, rather than corn or grain based sources.
- no generic meats— should read beef, or chicken, or lamb, or whatever, not “meat meal”
- no corn gluten meal, a filler commonly found in lower quality foods
- human grade ingredients, for quality control
- no artificial colors or preservatives
- no sugars or sweeteners
Note, feeding instructions are generally for the “most demanding” life stage, so we may be overfeeding by as much as 25%. And it’s not like most pet foods list calorie counts, anyway. (This website does show calorie counts for pet foods, check it out.)

A quick internet search suggests that dogs will love green beans as a treat substitute. I cannot confirm or deny at this time, but Jimmy loved a few bites of pineapple as an after-dinner treat tonight.

With pet food as with so many things, as a nation we’ve caved to the cult of cheap. Cheap pet food is full of non-nutritionally-sound corn fillers that are make for round little bellies. Add that to a chronic lack of exercise and we have a nation of fat cats and dogs.

It’s not like cats and dogs can run out to the store and buy better food. Or hit the gym on their way to work. They depend on us for the quality of their lives. And the quantity: an obese dog is just not going to live as long as one that’s a healthy weight. Just the facts, ma’am.

So, Jimmy is getting a better diet, getting kicked outside more often, and once the weather warms I’ll be taking him to the park for walks. Because frankly we’d like to keep him around for a few more years.

If your New Year’s Resolution was to drop a few pounds, or live a healthier life, maybe a better way to achieve that (by taking the focus off YOU) is to be conscious of your pet’s health: switch to healthier staples, incorporate more real unprocessed food, exercise frequently with bursts of intensity, and play regularly.

I’ll check in with Jimmy’s progress. You keep me up to date on yours.

Got a pet that could stand to lose a few?

Tell me about it. Please. I feel guilty.
January 29, 2012