We’re not talking about a festive holiday beverage. We ARE talking about sustainability and protecting the natural beauty of the Shenandoah Valley on the next CO Morning Show. Contributor Marcy McCann speaks to Ruth Rau of the environmental networking group Green Drinks on Tuesday morning’s show. Do you know what a green roof is? Click the link below to find out.

Click me to play!

To learn more about Green Drinks and the Northern Shenandoah Valley chapter, click the link here.

As the effects of eating raw are changing how I look and act (I’m one happy hyper dude lately), more people are asking me about what I’m doing and how it all works.

The “what the hell do you EAT?” question is harder to answer than you might think. At least the first few times someone asks…

I try and answer by focusing on BASICS that anyone can do, whether they are a diabetic who is considering going 100% raw Dr. Gabriel Cousens style, or just someone that wants to replace some of their meals with raw nutritious foods.

All Hail The Vitamix

To me, SMOOTHIES are the most basic thing anyone who wants to eat more raw fruits, seeds, and vegetables (especially GREENS) can do.  Check out my Naked Smoothies page for dessert level raw “shakes” that are a great way for someone to transition over to raw…

What’s the single best tool for doing smoothies, green drinks, etc.?  The Vitamix.

That's why I don't have kids..

Sadly, I do not own one.  I am a broke ass right now and am making due with an eager but under powered (gasp) blender.  The blender and I have an abusive relationship, but we manage.

If you’ve got the money, do not pass go before buying yourself the Cadillac of “blenders”; which also acts as a juicer, dry flour grinder, nut butterer, and even ice cream maker!

Dare you to call it a blender!

I am very familiar with the Vitamix because I use them all the time.  Where?  EVERY bar/restaurant I’ve ever worked in has one.  The main reason being they can crush ice better than a gristle ice trucker, and they are REALLY REALLY reliable.  So, a Vitamix is an investment level appliance we’re talking about here people!

I start my day with a nice stiff (get your naughty minds out of the gutter…) green drink.  Here’s my favorite one right now…

“I am what I am” morning drink

Did you know canned spinach looks like that?

• Juice 2 sweet grapefruits by hand (I also don’t own a juicer).
• Pretty much fill the blender up with spinach.
• Blend.
• Drink down the crazy.

Now if I had a Vitamix, I’d probably juice one of the grapefruits, and put the other one in peeled.  The Vitamix can pulverize whole fruit (and the seeds) down to “juice.”  That has a bunch of advantages..

1. It’s WAY easier than juicing (which is a chore and a half).
2. Less waste (why throw the grapefruits fleshy wonders in the compost?)
3. More fiber…especially important for people with insulin issues.

Also, my blender can handle spinach, but it hates kale, beets and other hard core veggies.  The Vitamix and a good recipe can turn those ruffians into something you’ll actually WANT to drink.  When you start buying mostly raw food this is a huge advantage because a lot of the stuff you buy (beets/carrots/etc.) have greens ATTACHED to them.  They are like BONUS greens IF you have a way to make them appetizing…

Bonus Greens

My New Favorite Toy

shame shame

Wow! You all need to stop looking at so much porn!  I’m talking about my Spiralizer…

What’s a spiralizer?  It’s this little magic slicer dicer that turns zucchini and other unmentionables into PASTA!  I love this tool.  Think about it…once you have the canvas (zucchini noodles)…you are ready to enter into a realm of Bohemian enticements (raw sauces!).

And unlike Vitamix’s and Excalibur Food Dehydrators this little spiralizer is cheap!  Top the veggie noodles with my “meaty sauce” or some fresh walnut pesto and you are asking for savory overload.

MEATY sauce

Ignore the bread

• soak 12 sun dried tomatoes (real ones-not from a jar or in oil) and10 sun dried olives in hot tap water (set aside)
• roughly dice up 1 large fresh tomato, 1 large red pepper, 1 stalk of celery, and 1 clove of garlic.
• Put all the diced items in a blender/processor/or Vitamix
• Add a tbs or some really good cold-processed olive oil, a small handful of fresh basil leaves, and sea salt IF the tomatoes or olives aren’t salted already.
• Blend just until mixed.
• Now…drain the warm water from the sun dried ingredients and add them to the blender.
  

  ironic farm animal plates not included

• Blend to the consistency you like.  This last step is going to make the sauce really rich and “meaty.”  The sauce is also going to be nice and WARM–a real treat for people who eat 100% raw!
• Pour or Ladel over your awesome zucchini noodles!
• Top with Rawmesan to get really old school!

You can buy both of these kitchen equipment items and other “Raw Kitchen Essentials” from the beautiful Kristen Suzanne (click the link and scroll down) or do a quick Google/eBay search for deals.  I just did a quick search on the spiralizer I use (Saladacco Metro) and found a bunch of them on sale here.

I don’t make any money off these links.  So order a second Vitamix for me!  Or at least share your sauce and smoothie recipes with me…

Cheers!

The Dauntless Diva’s 4th Official

30-Day GREEN SMOOTHIE Challenge…

beginning January 1, 2010!

Have you been looking for the FREE peer support and encouragement you need to kick-start Weight Loss, improve your Energy Levels, and watch your Overall Health and Appearance change for the better as you enter 2010?

Follow the link above to sign-up on Facebook… or leave a comment below to join the Challenge!

Other links that will help you get started:

GREEN for LIFE

Raw Food TALK

NOTE: Throughout this Challenge we will not only be drinking our 8 oz or more of Green Smoothie daily, but we’ll also be competing in a Green Smoothie Photo Contest, a Green Smoothie Recipe Contest, and more! Join in the Fun today!

Still feeling the sour aftertaste of 2009? Get into the holiday spirit with these three fun eco-fab events.

Monday December 7th

Kickoff to Copenhagen 2009 Holiday Mixer

Join the DC Green Connection and CarbonfreeDC for the “Kickoff to Copenhagen” holiday mixer. Learn about what’s going on at the Copenhagen Climate Change discussions from climate policy expert Will Gartshore, enjoy Restaurant 1905’s  cocktails and food samples, and network with other greenminded Washingtonians.

There will also be a small silent auction with proceeds going to support CarbonfreeDC’s efforts to green low-income neighborhoods as well as to promote the DCGC mission of educating consumers and growing the green economy.

When:  December 7, 2009, 6:00-9:0o pm
Where: 1905 9th St. NW, upstairs (*Near U St. Cardoza Metro stop on 9th & U)
Tickets: $15 General, $12 DCGC Members. Includes one free drink, appetizers, and drink specials all evening. (Cash/check at the door)
RSVP: dcgreenconnection@gmail.com

Tuesday December 8th

Green Drinks

The monthly gathering is back–this time at Farmers & Fishers. Adrienne Spahr, Founder of Green Living Consulting will offering green holiday tips.

When: Tuesday, December 8th, 6:30-9:30 pm
Where: Farmers & Fishers (formerly Agraria) on the Georgetown Waterfront (Fountain Level), 3000 K St. NW
RSVP: Green Drinks on Facebook

Tuesday December 15th

DC EcoWomen Holiday Party

Join the DC EcoWomen (and men, this time) for a happy hour and networking event. Enjoy light appetizers and a cash bar at one of DC’s leading sustainable restaurants, Farmers & Fishers.

When: Tuesday, December 15th, 6:00-8:00 pm
Where: Farmers & Fishers (formerly Agraria) on the Georgetown Waterfront, 3000 K St. NW (in the Sunflower Room)
RSVP: Strongly encouraged through the group’s Facebook Event Page. If you’re not a Facebook member, RSVP to rsvp@ecowomen.org.

Celebrate the Holidays with Green thinking folks, Tuesday, Dec. 8th from 5:30-7:30pm, at Rocks on the River, Bohemian Hotel, 102 West Bay St.  Enjoy a cocktail after work and mingle with folks who are looking to make Savannah a greener place to be.

Anyone living in Cape Town interested in ‘green’ issues can network with like-minded people at the Green Drinks monthly meetings. There are currently two groups in Cape Town: one based in Newlands (Cape Town), the other in Sea Point (Atlantic Seaboard).

The general idea is to get together on a monthly basis with no particular agenda other than to meet new people, chat, share ideas and sometimes listen to a guest ’speaker’.

The Green Drinks idea is global, so if you’d like to find out more; see if there is one local to you (it would not be environmentally friendly to fly to Cape Town, much as we would love to have you here) or start your own group, visit www.greendrinks.org.

Image courtesy of Adam Mada, sxc.hu

Green drinks are becoming popular as energy drinks to enjoy after working out. They are low in fat and cholesterol. A good greens drink will be low in calories and sugar. The drink will be rich in phytonutrients (antioxidants, I.e.) and healthy enzymes. Plus, the products can contain a wealth of plant-based protein and plant sterols, both which can improve our overall health. I have noticed these drinks to be natural appetite suppressants, also.

The ones I have been enjoying come in powdered form. My favorite consists of kelp, cholorophyll, wheat grass, spinach and beet greens (I’m probably forgetting other ingredients). The sweetness comes from licorice and beet. The drink is refreshing, since I mix it only with water. It goes down easy and is a great pick-me-up.

There was a bottled, liquid version sold in the marketplace that looked good. So, I purchased it. Big mistake. It was nowhere like what I was used to. The label claimed it contained all of these healthy greens, but the taste was otherwise. It contained far more fruit juice and natural sugars than anything else. It was a huge disappointment. The label made it look good, though. It has me wondering if there is any regulation on the manufacturing and labeling of greens drinks.

If you’re interested in drinking some green mixtures, they can be purchased in the nutritional products department or in health food stores. I’ve also seen them sold among the weight management products.

The green drinks are not cheap. They are definitely worth the price, however. Plus, they last a long time since one serving consists of only one teaspoon (or less). Not bad.

Another drawback to the drink….they stink (meaning, they smell like the ocean…strong seaweed and fish smell). I’ve gotten used to it. At first, though. Yikes!

No, I’m not getting paid to write this review. Just sharing information that others were interested in learning more about.

Find interesting? Kindly share….

It’s that time again! November Green Drinks is almost here!

Where: Wiley’s Tavern (330 N Main Ave, Sioux Falls, SD)
When: November 18, 2009 5:00 until whenever!

The City of Sioux Falls Sustainability Coordinator, Aimme House Ladonski, will be discussing recycling in Sioux Falls, including an update on the current recycling ordinace reform working its way through City Council.

Green Drinks is a monthly mixer organized by Astronaut and the Sioux Falls Green Project for anyone interested in conversation about all aspects of sustainability. Sioux Falls is just one of 637 cities world wide making green conversation over drinks. For more information about Green Drinks check out the website at greendrinks.org.

…and what a celebration they are having.  Network with other environmentally friendly folk at their Birthday BYOB party.  That’s right, bring your own drinks to Structured Green, 620 E. 35th St., Tuesday, November 10, from 5:30-7:30pm.  Enjoy live music with Stan Ray, free food, a raffle, and more.

Hi Everyone,

Check out this informative article on solutions you can make and do at home for colds:

http://tinyurl.com/ylj6qoj

Have a great green day!

Chow,

Janice

www.TheBestGreenDrink.com

On October 24, people all over the world will be taking a stand for climate change.  In four days, in over 160 countries, over 3700 actions have been registered to incorporate the number 350 into an iconic place in their community.  This number represents the parts per million of CO2 in the atmosphere that is the safe limit for humanity.  350.org and the International Day of Climate Action’s goal is to decrease the CO2 in our atmosphere from 390 parts per million to 350:

“We are a group of people from around the planet—young and old, scientists and writers and activists—who have one thing in common. We know the most important number on earth: 350. And we know how to use that number to finally get global action on the worst crisis humans have ever faced. But we can only do it if you help.

A year ago, our greatest climatologist—NASA’s James Hansen—and his team produced a landmark series of studies. They showed that if we let the amount of carbon in the atmosphere top 350 parts per million, we can’t have a planet “similar to the one on which civilization developed and to which life on earth is adapted.”

The bad news is we’re already past that number—we’re at 390 parts per million, which is why the Arctic is melting, why drought is spreading across the planet, why people are already dying from diseases like dengue fever and malaria occurring in places where they’ve never been seen before.

The good news: that number gives us a target to aim for. When the world’s leaders meet in Copenhagen in December to reach agreement on a new climate treaty, we need them to go farther than they’ve planned to go: we need to make sure they’ll pay attention to the latest science and put forward a plan that gets us back to safety.”

-350.org, the invitation

Sioux Falls is taking part in International Day of Climate Action by completing its own action.  Rather than raise a glass for October Green Drinks, join us in Falls Park to raise awareness for the environment.  Here is the plan:

“Everyone will meet at 5th and Phillips at 3:30 pm, and we’ll parade to Falls Park at 3:50 pm. Inside the Horse Barn Arts Center will be a giant banner that participants will paint their hopes for the future of SD on, and it will be taken outside where everyone will gather in the formation of a giant 350. Pictures and video will be taken that will be sent to our legislators and displayed across the globe as well as on the screens of Times Square in NYC! The banner that is made will be displayed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.

Post party to follow the action at the Falls Overlook Cafe.”

-Sioux Falls Green Drinks Website

Green Drinks is a monthly mixer organized by Astronaut and the Sioux Falls Green Project for anyone interested in conversation about all aspects of sustainability. Sioux Falls is just one of 626 cities world wide making green conversation over drinks. For more information about Green Drinks check out the website at greendrinks.org.

Green Drinks Annapolis, a networking organization based on sustainability and green practices,  is having a happy hour this Tuesday at the historic William Paca House in Annapolis.  Not only can you meet some cool people and get some great ideas on ways to go green, but you can also eat food from Punk’s Backyard Grill! What a deal, huh? Punk’s will be one of three restaurants providing food to this event alongside wines from Terrapin Station Winery in Maryland.

The happy hour goes from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Tuesday, October 20th.  For more information, check out the Annapolis Green Drinks website.

As part of my daily exercise routine, I finish it with a refreshing protein drink. It provides an extra boost and is very welcoming. With all the protein drinks on the market, I thought it would be interesting to find out what the difference is.

In previous posts, I mentioned how Tony Robbins suggests consuming greens drinks as part of your daily exercise regime. So, I have been doing that for the past five months. What is nice about greens drinks is the fact the product lasts a long time. It only takes one teaspoon per cup of beverage (in my case it is water). That is an added benefit, in my opinion. Anything that helps stretch the dollar is worth noticing.

While in the shopping mall a couple of weeks ago, I went into a nutritional store and looked around. I saw something called Muscle Milk. There were other powdered protein drinks available, but Muscle Milk was the only one offering samples. I wanted a sample since there was no way I was going to fork out the price for one of those products without sampling it. Those drinks are not cheap.

Anyways, I was given three scoopfuls. One scoopful is required for one drink. When I was getting the sample, another customer reaffirmed the effectiveness of the product. Her and her husband loved it. She did find the recommended amount too sweet, however. She suggested adding extra water or not using so much powder. I appreciated that insight.

The taste of Muscle Milk, chocolate variety, is delicious. It tastes like a chocolate malt. However, taste is about all it has going for it. I did not like how I felt after drinking it. I did not feel refreshed or energized. I felt weighted down. It felt like my system was taking time processing it. I also felt like I was ingesting unnatural ingredients. One of the reasons I have never bought one of those protein drinks is because the list of ingredients takes forever and a day to read. I do not like that.

When I drink greens drinks, as mentioned, I feel great. There is no feeling of being weighted down. My system feels light and energized. Plus, the drink is like drinking water with a little kick. The list of ingredients can be read in a couple of seconds and they are easy to understand. (There are only a few naturally occurring ingredients).

In case you’re wondering…no I am not getting paid to write this product comparison. I thought about writing this post the other day when I drank the Muscle Milk.

Hope this helps someone else going through the same thing.

Find interesting? Kindly share…

Green Drinks è una serie di eventi in cui persone che sono interessate all’ambiente (e allo sviluppo sostenibile) si incotrano per chiacchierare e bere qualcosa assieme.

In Italia ci sono due gruppi attivi, uno a Milano ed uno a Roma. Chiunque voglia iniziarne uno in altre città può leggere qui.

TUTA pedala.

Hi, Everyone,

This is an amazing testimonial about curing breast cancer in 2 months without chemo, radiation or surgery!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9qejUElQKw

After you watch this, you can order your SuperGreens at my website.  They cost pennies a day.

Chow,

Janice

www.TheBestGreenDrink.com

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call: 239-272-8539

Green Drinks Vilnius skelbia, kad spalio 8, ketvirtadienį 19 val., kaip įprasta, “Skraidančio Olando” bare Vilniaus senamiestyje, adresu Bokšto g. 3 (tarp “B2″ ir buv. “Mano kavinės” barų), įvyks eilinis Green Drinks susitikimas.

Tai galimybė tiems, kam rūpi arba kas dirba aplinkosaugos, ekologijos, darnaus vystymosi sferose susitikti neformalioje aplinkoje, be dienotvarkės ar oficialių pranešimų, inicijuoti naujas pažintis, diskusijas, dalintis idėjomis.

Tikėsimės, kad Green Drinks Vilniuje taps ilga tradicija ir susitikimai vyks mažiausiai kas mėnesį.

Kaip rasti (žemėlapis)

Green Drinks pokalbiai gali išaugti iki realių iniciatyvų, atnešančių naudos miesto ekologijai.

***
^{foto: Zane Selvans}

A comunidade de Belo Horizonte já tem uma boa opção para discutir temas ligados a sustentabilidade, trata-se do evento originado pela ONG Green Drinks e que na capital mineira é organizado pelo Grupo Anima, mantenedora dos Centros Universitários UniBH e Una. O evento é um Happy Hour onde uma vez por mês, bares em mais de 30 países no mundo recebem especialistas sobre temas “sustentáveis” para um bate-papo informal e agradável, onde você ouve, fala e aprende com todos.

O próximo encontro acontece nesta terça, 6, com apresentação do professor Rafael Tello, que conduzirá as discussões sobre construções sustentáveis!

Green Drinks: happy hour onde o tema é a sustentabilidade

Anote na sua agenda:

Quando: Terça- Feira, 6 de outubro de 2009.

Horário: 19:30

Onde: Reciclo 2

Rua da Bahia n° 2164, Praça da Liberdade, Belo Horizonte.

Quem: Todos aqueles que acreditam e que se interessam pela temática que envolve a sustentabilidade (Empresas, Universidades, ONGS, Empreendedores Sociais, Associações, etc.)

Regras do jogo: Convidar amigos que tenham interesse pelo assunto!

Mais informações: Entre em contato com Poliana Abreu pelo telefone: (31) 3290.8823 ou pelo e-mail: poliana.abreu@animaeducacao.com.br

Você pode ainda participar do movimento por meio do Blog ou da comunidade no Ning.

Well, first of all, I don’t think it’s so much about Drinks as it is about Green.  The idea is to begin discussing, contemplating and networking for the cause of sustainability.  So the point of this monthly get-together is definitely Green, for the purpose of creating positive Green changes in Pueblo.

To be honest, I wish I knew more about Green Drinks Pueblo Style.  I showed up for the July meeting at the end of a day when I had not been feeling well.  I had to leave fairly early.  But I did get to chat with some folks, and I came away impressed with their sincerity and enthusiasm.  Pueblo may not seem like much of a “Green” city, but with these folks’ energy it surely will become a more sustainable community.

There’s a Green Drinks Pueblo Style this coming Tuesday, September 29, 2009.  There are drink and dinner specials offered by the hosts at The Cock N Bull, 325 S. Union Avenue in Pueblo.  Tisha Casida will talk about supporting small businesses, our local economies in southern Colorado, and the opportunities that we have to build a sustainable economy by creating networks of people, businesses and information.  Then the last get-together for this year will be October 27, 2009.

Sound interesting?  It is!  You can contact Dena at (719) 369-9087, or pick up a copy of That’s Natural! magazine in Pueblo.  And there’s a website for Green Drinks, too.

WEDNESDAY, 9/23

Day 21.

It’s been three weeks since I started this blog. I feel a real sense of accomplishment. I honestly didn’t know if I’d take myself seriously enough to write everyday. Funny thing is, I didn’t write yesterday. So today I will write both Wednesday’s entry as well as Tuesday’s.  It’s funny trying to put myself back in what I think might have been my mindset yesterday, but alas I will try.

Tom and I had our rehearsal yesterday afternoon. It was great. I sang for about three hours and really wore my poor little voice out. It’s like I went to the vocal gym, after not being there for a while and did one of the most intense workouts I could do. I literally felt exhausted yesterday. When I helped Tom carry his gear out to his car, I remember standing on the curb thinking I need to take a nap…desperately.

The rehearsal was great. We went through a few songs from the first album and two from the second. I initially didn’t want to have the older songs in the set because these were the songs I used to perform the last time I was performing here in LA, but then I thought, some folks are going to want to hear these older songs. They’re what made me in the first place…or something like that. They’re great songs and deserve some energy again.

I also included two brand new songs that have never been performed or recorded for that matter. They are in their infant stage of being notes scribbled on a piece of sheet music. I love that they will be exposed to other ears. It’s time.

It was great reconnecting with Tom. He came with me to Amsterdam all those years ago (2005) when my first album had just been released and a promoter from the Netherlands invited me to come perform there. I wanted him to go because he knew the music. He agreed because it would be a fun opportunity and he could tie the trip in with going home to Germany to visit his folks and friends.

I remember the promoter asking me on our cross Atlantic calls if I needed her to hire musicians to work with me while out there. I kept telling her no. I guess I thought I’d be able to hire my own. Ludicrous. The truth is I was afraid to tell her or anyone for that matter that I needed help. Like something was wrong with me for not having access to the Dutch musician’s roster. That’s one thing I’ve done for a good while and it’s also a pattern I am willing to break.

**

Tony Robbins really inspired me today. I was listening to day 4 of his program. He talked about our physical bodies and the ways we can build and sustain energy. I really appreciated what he said about eating green vegetables and hydrating the body. He said that eating fruit was not the best thing for us- which bothered me since I try to eat a lot of fruit in my smoothies. But today I tried a different breakfast of water, spinach, kale and a banana all blended into liquidy goodness. It was alright. I definitely missed the fruit, but I could actually feel the effects of the boost I was getting as the liquid went down.

Something I’ll consider.

**

I feel pretty low energy in this moment, funny enough. I am sure it has something to do with today being the day I said I’d mail my first draft off to a reader. I will do it. I wonder if I shouldn’t bother breaking big tasks into smaller chunks over different days. It didn’t seem to work for this read through task. When I made the plan to accomplish this task, I broke it down so that I’d read 25 pages a day and feel comfortable with the book so that by today, I’d relaxingly go down to the post office and put the manuscript in the mail.

It hasn’t happened this way. No. In fact, today, after writing this entry and Tuesday’s, I will spend the late morning and afternoon, ignoring anything else in my life to read this God awful book. I’m sure it’s not really awful, but sometimes reading through it is more pain than a woman wants to willingly subject herself to. The feelings I’ve had over the years, the way I thought the world was, the thoughts I still have today that embarrass me…it’s challenging to confront all of that. To see it on paper and know that my intention is to put it out in the world. Why would I want to do that? Yet, something inside me tells me it’s necessary.

Of course the side of me that has no faith in me and feels totally unsafe in my presence (stay with me) says, ‘You’re just going to embarrass us! You’re proving to everyone what a fool they already thought you were!’ That side of me hates me right now for even considering shining light on the dark, shameful thoughts, feelings, experiences I’ve had.

There’s the other part of me that is driving this train that really wants the book to get out. For one, to just complete something I said I’d do, but also to share my experiences. It’s bound to relate to someone and can’t be a bad thing if it’s honest. And it is.

There’s a lot of judgment swirling around in this possible Molotov cocktail called my thoughts. And I keep moving forward anyway…procrastinating till the very last possible moment, but still moving.

**

I had my third voice over session last night. I was exhausted before we even started since I’d sung with Tom for 3 hours earlier. It was still fun and I appreciate what I am learning. I can’t wait to get an agent. It’s almost torturous. I’ve only been working with my teacher for three sessions, but I so want to be going out to book jobs.

She shared last night all the different ways to make a living as a voice over artist. It was all very exciting. I was seeing myself being a the voice of some major product or an announcer for some network’s new season of shows. How fun and lucrative would that be?! She told me about Loop groups which sounded awesome. They’re the people who make all the background sounds or paging sounds in a hospital (for example) on the post production side of tv and movies. They work consistently and get paid over $700 for a four hour day of work. Hell yeah.

She also asked me a question that got me curious to find out what she was really asking. ‘Are you staying in LA because you want to?’

‘What?’ I asked hoping she’d clarify what she really wanted to ask.

‘Meaning, you are probably getting offers to go sing overseas, right? What’s keeping you here in LA?’

I understood her question to mean, are you serious about a voice over career? I’d gotten the sense that there had been other folks she’d invested her time in who, maybe on a whim or because of a great job offer, decided to not pursue the voice over craft anymore.

I explained that I was very serious. So serious in fact, that I am watching tv for the commercials alone now that I have cable. That’s not totally true.  I actually watch tv for tv still but I don’t mute the commercials anymore and sometimes I even rewind them to practice.

I want her to know that I am someone who is serious about this work and someone who is eager to go out and audition.

As soon as possible.

Like yesterday.

**

I am continuing to reach out to people to build community here in LA and am finding it challenging. I have to reach out to the woman who offered to mentor me last week and finally start the conversation. I have people who I haven’t heard back from who I’d like to reach out to again and then there are folks who have reached out to me and for some reason (most likely overwhelm) I haven’t returned their calls.

Today is a busy day. I am grateful for it and hope it all works out beautifully.

leaves from freefoto.com

Yes, we’re all lamenting the end of summer. But cooler temperatures bring lots of events from workshops to street festivals to networking happy hours. Let the social season begin.

Tuesday September 8th

Green Drinks

6:30-9:30 at Current (1215 Connecticut Avenue, 202-955-5525). The usual suspects, a green signature cocktail, and a presentation by the authors of a new book on green jobs.

Thursday September 10th

Making Solar Energy Competitive: Swiss and American Perspectives

6 pm lecture followed by reception at the Embassy of Switzerland (2900 Cathedral Ave., NW).  Experts from two leading Swiss solar companies and from America’s premier solar research institution will discuss how technical innovation and manufacturing improvements have the potential to trigger the rapid growth of this renewable energy source. Cohosted by DC Green Connection. RSVP to was.events@eda.admin.ch

Saturday September 12th

Wash Your Hands of Triclosan Drop-Off

10-2 at the Whole Foods on P Street NW. Food & Water Watch will collect unwanted consumer products containing triclosan in hazardous waste bins and will haul them to the Fort Totten Trash Transfer Station for proper disposal. Simultaneously, all Whole Foods Markets in the Washington D.C area will offer an in-store promotion, buy one get one free, on triclosan-free antibacterial products through September 15th.

Sunday September 13th

The Green Pavilion at Adams Morgan Day

12-7 in Adams Morgan (18th Street between Columbia Rd. and Florida Ave.). Food, music, and a new Green Pavilion featuring local green vendors including Clean Currents, Treincarnation, Greater Goods, Skincando, Tranquil Space, the Sierra Club DC, Natural Body Spa & Shoppe, and more.

If you’re interested in networking with other like-minded folks or business professionals, Greater Portland offers a number of meet-ups and networking opportunities. Almost all are rather informal, the way life should be in Maine!

Each week we’ll work to keep you posted on the events out there and ask that you share with us any events that you are aware of so that we may pass them along to everyone and encourage even greater attendance.

Networking events for September;

September 8
Successful Thinkers Meet-Up from 5-7pm
Location: Ruth’s Reusable Resources, 39 Blueberry Road, Portland, Maine – Cash Bar, Door Prizes, Catered, 50/50 raffle

Portland Green Drinks from 5:30-8pm
Location: Green Design Furniture and MadGirl World, 267 Commercial Street, Portland, Maine – Hosted by Propel, a branch of the Chamber of Commerce.

September 10
Mastermind Referrals Networking from 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Grace Restaurant, 15 Chestnut Street, Portland, Maine – Cash Bar

September 13
Twestival207 from 5-8pm
Location: SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress Street, Portland, Maine – $10 admission includes food, a couple free drinks, and fun. Benefit to support The Maine AIDS Alliance.

September 21
Social Network of Maine (SNOM) Mixer from 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Portland Harbor Hotel, 468 Fore Street, Portland, Cash Bar

September 23
Maine Tweet Up from 4:45-7pm
Location: USM Portland

September 29
DownEast Pride Alliance Business After Hours from 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Pearl, 444 Fore Street, Portland, Cash Bar

Finish up your Labor Day Weekend hi-jinks at Green Drinks, always the second Tues. of the month, and this time, to be held at one of our favorites, Sol, at 1611 Habersham (33d St.). Cocktail specials and our Cocktail Buffet. 5:30  pm to 7:30 pm.  Enjoy!