Yesterday, reading Real Live Preacher, he recommended the soap and the blogs of one Melanie Teegarden, aka Althaea Officinalis. The soaps looked so yummy that I ordered some samples; I will let you know what I think once I've tried them. Her stories of her life are fascinating, and also make me angry and sad that some children have to grow up in situations like that. But my favorite post of hers so far is "Why Standards Are Such A Big Deal To Me."

She is someone who reminds me that I was given many head starts in life, surrounded by love, support, and a relative abundance of material resources compared to most other people in the world; I'd better make damn sure I don't waste my opportunities. I want to change the world for the better, somehow; she reminds me that talk is cheap: do something.

contents of purple tricycle are copyright 2004 carrie lynn king unless otherwise noted.