A Word on the Census

I believe in the U.S. Census. I use census data frequently in my work, and I know it is important for allocation of funding for infrastructure and services, not to mention political representation. I have also found historical census data to be a very useful tool in doing family history research. I believe in the U.S. Census.

I remember filling out the form as I lay in bed one night, taking pride in completing my civic duty, and having my daughter be "counted" for the first time. I remember filling out the form, but apparently it didn't get in the mailbox. Looking at the pile of papers next to my bed, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

This fact was brought to my attention by the appearance of a Census-taker on my doorstep a couple of Saturdays ago. After confirming who she was, I politely answered her questions with Lucy on my hip, and she seemed genuinely surprised that I was cooperative. I guess there are some out there who feel the government is collecting this information for deviant purposes. I can only imagine some of the attitude they get from others when they ring the doorbell.

Lastnight and this morning, in a span of about 12 hours, I received 3 calls from the Census office stating I was 1 out of 25 "lucky ones" that would be subject to a call to confirm the on-site visit. Two of the calls occurred within a 40-minute timeframe. The 3rd call also caught my voicemail, the message to which included a veiled yet perky threat that if I didn't call back someone would be coming to my house to conduct a follow-up interview.

I called back, and waited about 2 minutes listening to other calls being placed, and someone shuffling papers until they apparently stumbled upon my paperwork. He asked a few questions and I was done.

Point being, just mail the damn thing in. OR THEY WILL HUNT YOU DOWN.

Earth Day Challenge

Lastnight I went to Target and DOH! I forgot to bring my handy-dandy reusable Target bags. I forget them way too often, and I have to sheepishly haul my wares to the car in those horrible plastic bags. I am sheepish because:

• Single-use bags made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) accumulate and persist on our planet for up to 1,000 years.
• The U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags.
• Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistake them for food.
• Each high quality reusable bag you use has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime.

More fuel for the fire here.

So...this year for Earth Day, I am vowing to go the entire week without using plastic bags (or paper for that matter - it's not better). Not just at Target, but everywhere...in my lunch, at Kohl's, and anywhere else I need to go this week. I have put a Target bag and another plain reusable bag in my car. (And don't worry, I rarely escape a week without at least 2 trips to Target, so I guarantee that more shopping is required!)

This is something simple and easy, and will hopefully help me re-establish good shopping and lunch-packing habits. I'm ashamed that I've become so lax. Will you join me by trying it for just one week?

In Honor of Grandma

What you should do:

Mammogram: yearly for women age 40 and older

Clinical breast exam: Women in their 20s and 30s, at least every 3 years. After age 40, every year.

Breast self-exam: Monthly starting in the 20s.

Why you should do it:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer.

It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

About 178,480 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2007.

About 40,460 women will die from the disease this year.

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8.

The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35.

Because people care about you and want you to be healthy.

(American Cancer Society, 2007)