What am I thankful for, you ask?

When asked what I was thankful for, I wrote this poem to sum it all up. Enjoy!

I won't annoy you with sappy prose
And wax on and on some more,
Let's all be thankful for rhyming couplets
And a reader I hope not to bore.

I am thankful for my children,
Sweet Addison and Reid.
Without them I wouldn't be who I am,
For better or worse, indeed

I am thankful for my husband
Who puts up with all my crap.
He really is a saint, you know.
Anyone who knows me will confirm that!

And without my supportive parents
Who on earth would I be?
Surely no one I'd recognize,
Not the strong woman you see.

Thanks for my sister, Heidi,
And her fam, Don, E, A, and M
They're close by and I'm lucky.
Don't know what I'd do without them.

Thank you to sweet Sophie
My dog of over 13 years.
I love that stinky old pup,
And her toots that bring me to tears.

And without my awesome girlfriends
I'd be an empty shell me.
Who else would run at the crack of dawn
Or keep my secrets expertly?

I'm thankful for Lake Quannapowitt
And my runs before sunrise.
I am also so thankful for FightFit
And my sensei who is so wise.

I am thankful for the right I have
To speak my mind at will
I should be thankful for a filter of those thoughts,
But alas that filter is nil.

I'm thankful for a margarita
On the rocks with salt, no doubt
I'm thankful for chips and salsa,
And salted caramel chocolates I can't live without.

On that note, let me say thank you
For my Starbucks extended family,
And for Whole Milk Lattes and Decaf Americanos,
That I drink obsessively.

I'm thankful for People StyleWatch
And a fabulous eye cream as well.
I also say thanks for jewelry and shoes
And outfits that look wicked swell.

I give thanks for good hair,
Thick and healthy, curly or straight.
Thanks to Erica at Carl Michael Salon
Who performs magic to make me look great.

I'm thankful for my freckles,
That mean I've been in the sun.
I'm thankful for my wrinkles
That mean I've smiled, I've cried, I've won.

I'm thankful for my flabby belly
That shows I'm a happy mom.
I'd rather have my children and chocolate
Than a body that's the bomb.

I'm thankful for a sense of humor
That keeps me alive and (mostly) well.
I'm thankful for a body that moves,
Hands that create, and a voice to give 'em hell.

I'm thankful for the life I've built
And all things good and bad.
I wouldn't know how happy I am
If I didn't sometimes feel sad.

Happy Thanksgiving!

If Only

She stole a glance
and her breath hitched
when she saw him.

Meeting his eyes
she looked away,
hiding her smile
in her shoulder.

She missed the look he returned.

He longed for her.
He did not look away.
He did not hide.
He wouldn't.
Not anymore.
He willed her to look at him
So he could tell her -
that she was beautiful
that she consumed him -
So he could tell her everything
with just the look in his eyes.

Having her there
so close
but still distant
hurt.
She was a world away.

He didn't see her look
that matched his.
He only saw her look away.

Marketing: Consumer Education

The following was written to educate potential customers on the various "new" applications of a technology called Supercritical Fluids. It was inspired by Green Eggs and Ham. A video including this text can be seen on the Applied Separations website.




Green Eggs and SCF

Green-I-Am

Green-And-Clean!

Clean-And-Green!

Prof Ol’ School

Green-And-Clean?

Clean-And-Green?

I don’t know what on earth that means.

That Green-I-Am is up to trouble it seems.

Green-I-Am

Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, did you hear?

The biggest impact on your process this year!

No longer a lab curiosity for a science geek

But mainstream, cool and proven technique!

A clean Supercritical Fluid is what I’m talking about

“SCF ROCKS!” from the rooftops I could shout!

Prof Ol’ School

SCF Rocks? Excuse me? What did you say?

Carbon Dioxide? I really don’t need more of that today.

And Supercritical Fluids? I’ve never heard of that gunk.

Clearly you’re giving me a big load of bunk.

Green-I-Am

Not bunk, not at all, it’s the FOURTH state of matter!

I’m telling the truth, not giving you chatter.

They’re clean, and they’re green and they’re changing the world!

Where you’d never expect – with more uses unfurled!

Prof Ol’ School

A 4^th state of matter? That’s a whole bunch of hooey

Something inside your head’s gone kerpluey

Clearly you’ve imagined all this science-y stuff

Now please Green-I-Am, I have had quite enough.

I’m happy with the way I do business today.

I’m not going to use them. No how. No WAY!

Green-I-Am

Supercritical Fluids aren’t liquids or gasses.

Or solids but something not yet taught in science classes.

They are permeable, soluble and really quite cool

And if I have my way, they WILL be taught in school.

No solvents. Earth-friendly. And won’t mess up the dirt.

That this stuff is amazing, I will gladly assert.

No residue either, nothing to pitch

After hearing all *that* I’m sure you will switch!

Listen up, Professor Ol’ School, don’t turn an ear that’s deaf.

YOU can use them, Supercritical Fluids, SCF !

Prof Ol’ School

I doubt it. And even if what you say is true

I’m sure *I* can’t use them, nor can my crew.

Green-I-Am

Not just for decaf coffee but there’s no so much more!

Uses, upon uses, upon uses galore!

They’re really catching on, with more and more applications.

All around the world, in just about every nation!

Aerogels, Coatings, and NanoParticles for sure.

MIM, Hydrogenation, Textile Dyeing and more

Medical Implant Cleaning, Reactions, Essential Oils.

Flavors, Impregnations, test what’s in the soils.

Critical Point Drying, and dry Artifacts too.

Now do you believe that SCF is for you?

Prof Ol’ School

My coatings, my implants, my particles are just fine.

You use your process and I’ll use mine

Cleaning? Cleaning? That’s what you suggest?

SCF? Surely you jest.

So what if I have solvents and some residue too.

I will NOT try Supercritical Fluids for you!

Not for Flavors or MIM or Textile Dyeing!

Do you hear me Green-I-Am? I am not lying!

Not for Aerogels, Coatings, Flavors or Oils

Trying to convince me is a waste of your toils.

I will not try SCF here or there.

I will not use it ANYWHERE!

Green-I-Am

With all of this stuff, a whole laundry list of uses

Get your head out of your books or get handed your cabooses!

Beat your competitors in this Green Economy

Save green and go green – it’s not a dichotomy!

Safe, affordable and easy to do.

Please consider trying Supercritical CO2

Prof Ol’ School

OK, Green-I-Am, you’re making me insane!

Clearly you have SCF on the brain!

If I agree to try them, will you get on the next train??

Wow! I LOVE my new system! It does just what you said!

It’s clean, green and mean and doesn’t fill me with dread.

I can use it for aerogels, cleaning and MIM!

I can use it for particles, coatings and PIM!

I can dye, impregnate, extract and debind!

Green-I-Am, SCF is just blowing my mind!

There’s no surface tension, and nothing to clean

I’m convinced, Green-I-Am! I see what you mean!

It’s safe and it’s cool and it won’t break the bank!

It’s simple, it’s fast and accessible like French Fries and Franks!

I can use them for anything! So many uses under the sun!

I can’t wait to tell everyone SCF is “The One”