To smoke, or not to smoke... That's not the question.

I am going to have to stop reading posts on facebook!  I don't find it useful to attack others' opinions, especially strangers who I know nothing about, but I am finding it hard to keep my mouth shut on several issues.  There is always someone arguing the evilness of WalMart or the "right" way to raise children.  I am a stay-at-home mom of four because my husband has a great job at WalMart.  These things hit home.  I know these are just opinions, and often, they are from extremists.  So I bite my tongue and try to forget the comments.  But today, I have gotten so riled up, I need to vent.  So I am going to choose to write about something that can make a difference.

Our town is in the midst of a clean air debate.  There are many looking for the city council to pass a smoking ban on public places.  Currently there are several restaurants in town that already offer a non-smoking environment, but there are many that still have smoking sections.  As with any debate, you have two sides.  I am on the side for clean air.

I have been amazed at the arguments people have posted against Clean Air.  One particularly offensive man made several posts about things he thought should be "band".  Those included buffets (because "fat pigs stuffing their faces" made him sick), potatoes (because they make people fat) and kids under five in all public places (because he can't stand smelly, screaming kids that don't mind).  Another guy said he smokes and he should have that right just like you should have the right to have a drink, and that everyone who supports it is crazy.  Seriously? Do the people who wrote these really think the goal is banning things we don't like? Obviously they are totally missing the point.  You can't get drunk just from standing next to someone.  Alcohol doesn't enter your body through the air you breathe.  And, the debate isn't about smoking or not smoking, its about where to smoke. 

We have all been informed of the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke, so I won't go into that. I appreciate not smelling like smoke after I go out to eat.  While in college, I loved to play pool.  My friends and I would spend lots of time at pool halls, which allowed smoking.  I would have to do laundry more frequently just to keep the smokey smell out of the dorm room.   It didn't bother me as much then, but now that I have experienced non-smoking establishments, I am hooked.   We went to a birthday party in a bar a few weeks ago and spent several hours there.  I was glad I didn't come home smelling of smoke.  It's amazing how quickly the smell of smoke can permeate your clothing and how long it can last.  Jackson went to a restaurant with a smoking section for lunch a couple of days ago.  He sat in the non-smoking section and was only there for an hour.  5 hours later, he came home, and I could smell the smoke on him.

Many people who are against the ban claim the fear of loss of business.  I will admit, I have not done my research, and don't have the time to do it at the moment.  Someone did post a link that supported the increase of business after smoking bans, but I have not looked at it.  My past experience tells me that it could definitely help business.  There have been countless times I have gone to restaurants and waited for non-smoking seating while there are numerous spots available in the smoking section.  More tables seated= more revenue, right?  Who hasn't left a restaurant and headed to another to avoid a long wait?  Places like bowling alleys, and maybe even pool halls, could see more business from families who avoid the smoking establishments for the health of their young children.

The thing that bothers me the most about the debates I read online, is the way people choose to argue their opinion; by attacking others and being offensive.  I shared some of the comments above to show how offensive some people can be.  Name calling and insults are not effective arguing techniques.  Though I disagreed with many of the opponents, I tried to state my reasons without attacking anyone.  I cannot say that I have never said someone who had differing opinions was crazy or nuts.  I just read the post Jackson and caught myself saying, "Isn't that guy crazy?"  I would never say that to his face, or post it on a public forum, though.  I just wish people would show some respect.  You are much more likely to have your opinions heard if you share them in a respectful way.       


 

Part Time Project/ First Day

After I made the commitment to begin my project, I jumped right in.  I spent the morning with my two little ones.  We had lunch and around 1 o'clock, I started to work. 

I first made better use of the bookshelves.  I had several things that could find other, more appropriate, homes.  There was no sense taking up prime book space for an empty wedding album box or our home inspection binder.  Those moved to long-term storage in the attic.  I put away all of the books the children had left on the floor or on the desk.  I made enough space to fit some new chapter books we had been given.  They had previously been sitting in boxes just inside the doorway.

I kept a trash bag handy for all of the useless things I found... Broken pencils, scraps of paper, shopping bags and receipts left over after gift-wrapping, fast-food toys, etc.  I also  had a recycle box for paper and a box for things I wanted to sell or donate. 

I went through and tossed about half of my craft paints that were nearly empty or dried out.  I removed a canvas storage piece that no longer suited my needs.  I found a few books we didn't need, though I should have spent more time sorting through them because I am sure there are more I could part with.  I found several other things I could part with including scrap fabric from a Halloween costume I made 10 years ago!

In just 3 hours I had made a significant difference in the room!   I had to quit for the day to get the older boys and head to church, but seeing the huge improvement in so little time gave me the motivation to finish the cleaning phase.

My Dirty Little Secret

I have a secret...

Though some have seen it, many have not.  It is difficult to hide, frustrating to look at and something I am embarrassed by.  My craft room/library is a nightmare to anyone who is neat and tidy.  I walk by every day and ignore the challenge.  It is a small room, but it has no door.  The kids go in and out to get books or craft items and never put them away.  I run in to wrap a gift and leave the scissors and tape out.  Keepsake items and photos that I eventually plan to scrapbook are piled on every flat surface and fill at least two boxes.  I look inside and can't even think of where to begin.  We have lived here for 2 years, and though at times the room has been useful, it has never been the great space I dreamed of.  I am now ready to conquer it.  It will be my part time project.  Something I work on a little at a time, with the goal of finishing someday.  I don't want to be too specific with a timeline, and it may take a while, but it will get finished.

I am doing it part time because with four kids, anything I focus completely on, takes me away from the things that have to be done.  When I was painting, I spent several days doing minimal laundry, cooking and cleaning.  The older kids were away at Nanna's, so I could do work on painting.  I have to work this project into my daily life without neglecting things.  I have visions of painting and decorating.  Having it all organized to maximize its usefulness.

Desk covered with papers and craft items.

So many things out of place that you can't walk!

Many things in here aren't even useful anymore.

For now, I have to start with the obvious... remove the stuff we no longer use and the things that don't belong and put things where they go.