One person's trash = another person's treasure...

Missoula is a unique town/city. One of the best things about most Missoula people is they always seem to want to save and sustain the environment. We are a give and take society with a lot of extra help for people who might need it.

"Mongo the process of putting things out for others." I was walking by the Food Bank on Third Street a couple of years back with four of my friends and they noticed this couch that was sitting out front and they wanted it in their house. So, the four of us carried the couch from the Food Bank all the way to their house, which across from the Job Service on Third and to this day they are still getting use out of that same couch. That is when I really realized that people left things out so others could take them freely. I really didn't know that this same scenario would be called "mongo", but I knew that it existed places, especially in Missoula. There is mongo on almost every block of downtown. I'm not sure if people don't want to take their trash to the dump or just want someone else to get use out it, could be both, but as I said, "give and take." In that case in the classifieds of the Missoulian you can find out what is free and where to find it. Also, there is missoula.craigslist.org, which a lot of people use to find rides, computers, bikes, clothes, cars, etc. So, those are both great places where you can find things here and there.

I appreciate mongoing as much as any other person struggling financially. It is helpful for people in an economy like this. I have never put things out for other people, but I have donated some things. I just haven't conjured up that many items yet, so once I am a junior in college maybe I will have some things to put out there for you. I see a lot of people who redecorate or refurnish getting rid of perfectly good items. This article by Robin Nagle (http://believermag.com/issues/201009/?read=interview_nagle)will help people see the light on how much garbage is actually being wasted by us. People, we could help someone else out and help the earth out at the same time, wow how neat is that.

Water Pollution

I chose water pollution to write about for our sustainability research paper. I chose the subject water sustainability because I am concerned with Montana's water systems. It may not seem as though they are polluted but not all pollutants are visible. There is a vast amount of pollutants that are human caused. I want to find out which pollutant causes the most harm to our water and if it can be avoided. Also, I want to find out how harmful the pollutants are to our bodies and if we should drink our tap water. I would like to research how Missoula's water contaminants can be "below legal limits, but above health guidelines". http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/toxins_in_missoula_theyre_on_tap/C559/ How is that even legal.

100 ways to make a potato

Potatoes are the second most consumed food in the world, right under dairy and is the fourth most important crop. I love potatoes, I can eat them almost any way and never get sick of them. They, to me, are the best part of dinner and I would eat them every night and probably will now that I'm attending college. Potatoes fascinate me because there are so many different combination's that can be whipped up and they still turn out good. Lets see, there are already french fries, hash browns, mashed, baked, Au gratin, chips, twice baked, and many many more ways to make them. Now think about all the different toppings that could go on potatoes,  the list is infinite both ways. My favorite way to eat potatoes are mashed with gravy. I just can't see rice having the same affect, it never seems to satisfy quite as much as potatoes and it is definitely not as filling.


So, potatoes were founded by the Aztecs (of course) about 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, but the conquistadors being the explorers they were also found them in about 1537 and they actually didn't make it to Europe until about 1570. http://www.indepthinfo.com/potato/history.shtml From then it took a little bit, approximately three decades, for everyone to realize that they were going to end up loving this root we call a potato. http://www.foodreference.com/html/a-pot-hist0607.html In 1995 we decided to grow them in space, the largest potato weighs about 18 pounds, and what is known to us that the U.S. served the first French fry to Thomas Jefferson. http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/7-interesting-facts-about-the-potato/923

               Usually reading is most convenient for me right before I go to bed, but if I am into a good book I can't put it down it comes with me everywhere. Any Nicholas Sparks book can do that for me. My favorite would have to be The Guardian, one reason is because the dog is a main character.  I think that there is only a few books of his that I have not read. He can make me cry, laugh, and be angry all in the same chapter. I like how sometimes it makes me feel as though I am apart of the story thats probably why I get so emotional. There are so many different genres of writing that it is hard to choose, so I won't. The Symbol by Dan Brown is the book I most recommend it is the third book of the series The Da Vinci Code. I was on the edge of my seat every night I read it and I can't wait to read it again.

Big world little places...

             Growing up in a small town with the population of 300 wasn't as bad as most people think. When my family moved to Charlo I was four years old, playing outside with my animals was my enjoyment. On my first day of kindergarten I met my best friend in my elementary days on the bus it turned out to be the best day of school ever.  It is always nice to see people you know and to have a better chance in sports or any activities. I enjoyed playing basketball most in high school. Throughout the whole high school days it was always a fun time, laughing, seeing friends, but I wasn't always the brightest. I did get into a little trouble further on in school. All I can say is at least that stage is over. The person who  influenced and helped me was my friend Amanda without her I'm not sure high school would have been as fun. Summertime was always the best time of the year, no school and sunshine. Being so close to the Flathead Lake made life seem like it couldn't get better. Most weekends my family and I floated the Flathead River sometimes it stormed, but most the time not one cloud in the sky. After high school I moved to Puerto Rico for almost six months living right on the beach. My job of choice for four years was being a cook and I have to say my food is great. Now I am trying to work on the college life and prepare for my son who is expected to show up on January 20th.