sustainable systems & storytelling
“Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It is up to you to give [life] a meaning.” --Jean-Paul Sartre What if we could wrestle down life’s big questions using the scientific method? What if we could systematically improve human thoughts, actions, and environments... Continue Reading →
Goodness, it's been awhile! Two months later, little has changed and, yet, simultaneously, so much has. Three months ago, our home was deemed unsafe due to high levels of biotoxins. We moved in with my in-laws and have alternating continually between gratitude and ripping our hair out. You know how that goes. The HOA and... Continue Reading →
Three weeks ago, I had to leave my home due to a terrible mold infestation and worsening symptoms. A lot has happened in that time and I have access to a computer for just a bit, so I'm eager to jot it down. In January, our doctor and two third-party environmental testing companies informed us... Continue Reading →
Today, we're leaving our home. And we may not return. We're taking a week's worth of clothing, my work laptop, and basic toiletries. Nothing else. Including the computer on which I am writing. Everything is overwhelming and in flux right now. It feels like I'm trapped in a nightmare, but too drugged up to realize... Continue Reading →
A month ago, I posted that levels of mold in our home were higher after professional remediation. While some levels dropped, others rose. The rise in the toxic black mold stachybotrys chartarum suggests dampness or moisture. In Arizona, that generally means a pipe leak. We've moved all the furniture and there is no sign of... Continue Reading →
Hello, there! I've been super fatigued. My shoulder and wrist have been sort-of bothering my since I fainted five months ago, so I'm finally getting x-rays next week. My home has mold and rats. The upstairs unit installed hardwood floor just before selling, in violation of the bylaws, and surely unbeknownst to the heel-clicking prospective... Continue Reading →
Last year ended on a high note. After being dragged, from many years, through a rotating door of mysterious symptoms, my partner and I found evidence that both of our health issues were due to significant, decade-old water damage hidden behind the drywall. We began treatment to remove the mold from our home and our... Continue Reading →
Do you ever feel like you just can't catch a break? My life is good, so I can't complain. And yet, my healthy habits seem to be perpetually assaulted by factors beyond my control. In 2018, we had a major pipe leak that flooded a third of our home. In 2019, we discovered black mold... Continue Reading →
Hello, friend! I hope you're doing well, staying safe, and comfortably settling into the new year. Mine has been off to a bumpy start, but I'm ready to start kicking up the momentum. Last week, I had a mild illness for around a day. I was hoping it might be a mild case of Covid... Continue Reading →
An old friend once said that your area of expertise should be an inch wide and a mile deep. Basically, one should have a very narrow specialty and be the most knowledgeable person in the world on the topic. It makes sense unless, like me, you are interested in dozens of different distinct things. In... Continue Reading →
On Wednesday evening, I developed a tickle in the back of my throat. Uh oh. Thursday, I felt tired and took the day off to rest. Thursday afternoon, I developed mild head congestion. By Friday morning, I felt great! My boyfriend experienced the same mild symptoms, though his lasted a few days long. Conservative estimates... Continue Reading →
Hello, friend! After a two-month hiatus, I'm back with my mashup of delightful and thought-provoking findings. There was a lot of self-imposed pressure to make #100 extra-special, but instead I think I'm going to switch things up as we move into the new year. No one, myself included, wants to sift through a dozen links.... Continue Reading →
My first experience with affirmative action was as a naive 18-year-old first stepping foot into my college dorm building. After a lifetime of high marks in school, scoring in the top percentile on standardized tests, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work, the university had offered me a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, $5,274 per... Continue Reading →
The holidays have come and gone, and tomorrow marks the start of a new year. This has been a strange year, hasn't it? With the rise of Omicron, I'm hoping that a year from now, the pandemic will be a foggy memory recalled only briefly when the beam of our mind crosses that distant corner... Continue Reading →
Merry Christmas to all!! Thank you for your friendship, insights, and kind words over the last year--I am truly grateful for everyone that says hello or shares their thoughts. From the depths of my heart, my wish for you in the new year is that your life is filled with peace, joy, abundance, and good... Continue Reading →
For the last eleven years, I've spent late-December pondering the successes and lessons of the past year, along with what my hopes are for the year to come. It has always been a powerful and grounding exercise, whether the year has been incredible or a nightmare. A word can't be "broken" in the way that... Continue Reading →
existential ergonomics 
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