They don't mind the heat

Look what happened! Months ago I dumped a packet of sunflower seeds (which I got for free for making a pledge to my local NPR station) into a shallow trough I dug by the back patio and what do you know — it actually worked! I feel like a second-grader whose bean plant just unfurled in its Styrofoam cup sitting on the classroom windowsill. Ahhh, the magic of nature. Sadly, they won't last long. But, they're glorious while they're here.

Sunday column: Maybe being a yuppie isn't so bad

My brother and I have a recurring argument that surfaces nearly every time we see each other: Who is the bigger yuppie?
He contends that I'm the yuppie of the family, since I drive a Volkswagen and have a Mac computer at home. I say he's the yuppie, because he's a coffee snob and has a downtown loft apartment filled with "modern" furniture.
Just for the record, I think I've got the majority of the family siding with me. But, he'd never accept that.
Phillip is a fellow Louisiana Tech graduate, but his Tech experience was a little different from mine. He majored in electrical engineering and immediately upon graduation went to work for Entergy in Little Rock, Ark.
I, on the other hand, was a liberal arts student whose first job after college graduation was waiting tables.
His starting salary out of college was more than I made after three years spent working as a journalist. Go figure.
The good thing is we both like what we do, and that's what's really important, right?
Despite the disparity in our paychecks and our ongoing "who's the yuppie" feud, Phillip and I see eye-to-eye in one area. We're both trying to reduce waste and energy consumption in our lives.
When I talked to Phillip earlier this week, I realized how his life is an example of our generation's heightened awareness of global climate and energy issues.
As a single working professional, he's not feeling the squeeze of the high cost of gas and everything else as sharply as the rest of us are. For example, he recently purchased a brand new computer desk in his favorite "modern" design which, despite its sale price, was more than I'd dream of spending on a piece of furniture right now.
Nevertheless, Phillip is downsizing in other areas. He recently moved to downtown Little Rock, within walking distance from his office. He bought a bike and rides it to work and to the Little Rock River Market, where he buys fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables.
And, even more telling, he sold one of his two BMWs (yes, he had two BMWs and he's not even 30) and is considering selling the other so he can get a smaller, more efficient vehicle.
Why is my brother making these changes when he clearly can afford two car notes and gas for both cars, not to mention insurance and extra cash for enjoying Little Rock's abundant night life?
I think it's because he's aware of the impact his lifestyle has on the world, and he wants to be a conscious and thoughtful citizen.
This really isn't that novel of an idea for Phillip, who is also an avid outdoorsman. In his many years of Boy Scouts, camping trips and hiking trails, he's always been a low-impact camper. He feels it's important to leave a campsite the way he found it in order to preserve the wilderness area.
Along with many others, he's taking the ethical idea of low environmental impact and applying it not only to camping, but now also to day-to-day life.
There are many ways to apply this principle in real life; it just takes thoughtfulness and a shift in priorities.
Maybe people like Phillip are helping to redefine the word "yuppie." Much has changed since the term first became part of the American vernacular back in the '80s. Instead of simply referring to elitist young urban professionals with money to burn, maybe it's evolving to describe young professionals who are a little more concerned about the environment they're leaving future generations and a little less worried about buying the latest brand name products.
If that's the case, then Phillip and I might be a little more eager to be named "biggest yuppie in the family." It could be a label to take pride in, rather than something to be ashamed of.

Why we're excited

Here's one of the main reasons Nick and I are excited about going to Saints Training Camp at Millsaps College this weekend: Jeremy Shockey. Nick has been a big fan of his since he was with the NY Giants, so he was especially excited when Shockey signed on with the Saints earlier this week. And me, well I think he's cute. It's a win-win.
Plus, how cool is the name Shockey? I'm just saying ...

Sneak peek

Finally! Remember that bare patch in my backyard flower bed I blogged about here? Well, take a look at what we've got going on there now! This, my friends, is our very first sunflower. And, there are many, many more to come. It looks like they're just days away from bursting forth in all their sunflower glory. I promise to post pictures when it happens. For now, though, this little guy is making me happy.

Hey, bartender!

Caddy must have had a hard week, because by Friday night she was ready for a drink. She bellied up to the bar and ordered a glass of white wine and didn't seem to be in the mood to talk. I suppose I can understand ... it must be so stressful laying around all day and getting up only to eat and terrorize the dog. Poor thing.

Dad on CNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is my dad on CNN. He is at the very end so watch all the way through. Click here.

Sunday column: I'm not yelling, this is how I talk

There are plenty of ways to categorize people: young, old; fat, skinny; outgoing, shy; neat, messy. You get the idea.
It recently occurred to me that there is another, very telling, way to separate the people you meet at any given time: loud and not loud.
You may think that there are plenty of people who don't fall into either category, but this is not the case. It may take time, but eventually you will find that a person is either loud or not loud. There really is no in-between.
I am a loud person. I realize this about myself, and I accept it. I'm OK with being loud and I don't particularly want to change that about myself. Not all loud people feel this way, though, which I think is a shame.
Maybe the reason I'm so comfortable with my loudness is because I grew up in a very loud family. My dad is Italian, so high volume and explosive outbursts are to be expected. My mom's side, which doesn't boast a stereotypical loud lineage, also has two levels: loud and louder.
As you can see, I come by it honestly.
Our family home was always humming at varying levels of loud. There was the everyday loud, which consisted of yells of "Mom!" ringing throughout the house, someone talking in an eardrum-bursting high pitch to one of the many pets and music blasting from a stereo.
Then, there was mega-loud, which happened anytime someone did something — either good or bad — out of the ordinary. This includes birthdays, holidays, arguments, exciting purchases, a friend coming over … that type of thing.
Clearly, it doesn't take much for us to turn up the volume.
Now, some people don't think that being loud is an endearing quality. I can't understand why, but there are people who simply do not feel the need to raise their voice.
How you can get though life without yelling, squealing, cheering or otherwise being loud is beyond me. But apparently, it happens.
Fortunately, I've always surrounded myself with fellow loud people. This wasn't a conscious decision on my part, but it has worked out nicely.
My best friend and her family are another group that embraces their loudness, which could be one of the reasons we've always gotten along so swimmingly.
Both of us absolutely hate for someone to tell us, "Calm down." Those two simple words are guaranteed to make us even more excited, usually not in a good way.
I think that most loud people are built differently from not loud people. Our sense of volume is skewed, and there are times when we honestly don't think we're being loud.
I can't count the number of times I've been talking with someone when they'll interrupt me to say, "Emily you are really being loud." Usually, it's in an inappropriate place, such as in the middle of a class or when a couple is exchanging vows during their wedding or something. The thing is, I thought I was whispering. Oops.
Here's what happens when a loud person such as myself marries a not loud person: The not loud spouse says the phrase, "Why are you yelling?" as much, if not more, than he or she says, "I love you."
It's something both people will just have to get used to.
I try to monitor my volume, really I do. But it's just so unnatural for me to lower my voice.
To all the not loud people out there, I ask you to not look down on emotional, over-the-top people like me. What we have to say is just as legitimate as what you have to say — we just want to make sure everyone can hear us.