Houtopian resources

Just a quick, sloppy post here to convey two related bits of information, given that one of them takes place tomorrow.

(1) If you ever get the chance to visit Houston's Green Building Resource Center, it's well worth a drop-in. 

1002 Washington Avenue, a short distance off IH-45 near the city core.  Public Works and Engineering does a lot of city permit administration out of this location. 

Not only is the building itself an absolute marvel of modern architecture, they have all kinds of cool stuff that's interesting to see whether or not you consider yourself to be concerned with "green" initiatives.  I'm mostly a fan of innovative and efficient living products, designs, and methods rather than "greenery", but it so happens that "innovative" and "green" often go hand in hand. 

There are displays of various building materials and techniques...

...all very artfully arranged, plus there's actual art all over the place as well, and I'm also a fan of art... 

...especially if the art has a local connection and is designed to serve a specific purpose. 

Here's some art of the wall-hanging type, made to look like graffiti, but you recognize it, don't you?  You've seen that configuration before.  Cross-referencing is king.  In this case, king of the highway.

Sometimes I find displays of neat stuff in there that I wouldn't otherwise stumble across...

...such as this device by Gro Pod, which could be made to work well in microscopic back yards such as we have in Centerpointe, where folks might like to do a bit of gardening but don't know how to squeeze it in.  And not only that, I believe this device might be available for less money than you'd pay at a retail big-box home improvement store for an analogous product. 

Anyway, my mention of these exhibits is a prelude to the fact that:

(2) The Houtopia festival is tomorrow from 12 pm to 6 pm.  Booths, live music, all that jazz.  Here's a YouTube embed describing it, with hat tip to Houston Green Scene on Facebook. Blogger, in all of its infinite Google-driven glory, is unable to index this on YouTube, so this might come across as an improperly-sized embed:

Peripheral development update

There's a troubling situation brewing down the road near our neighbors Victory Lakes, because League City allegedly approved a nearby construction project the nature of which it refuses to reveal to the public. 

Microsoft clip art, cat and mouse concept modified by yours truly. 

The rate at which League City is p*ssing people off appears to be accelerating.  GCDN reports that it has already filed a FOIA/TORA/TPIA request to obtain further information about this project. 

This is absurd.  At the very least, it reflects an abysmal public relations failure on the part of League City.  Even if there is a valid reason why they agreed to withhold the nature of that development, they need to declare their justification in the type of generalized terms which acknowledge that they are answerable to the public.  I don't know what might be considered "a valid reason", but there are a number of business contingency, strategy, and permitting scenarios that come to mind as possibly being in play here. 

But what's even more interesting about this situation is a comment logged in that GCDN article by a user who self-identifies as Texas2539, a resident of Victory Lakes, who stated that the League City Planning Department removed its zoning variance request list from the internet.

 Initially, I replied in the GCDN forum that I also could no longer find that link, but when I subsequently went back to this blog post of mine from two years ago, I actually did find a variance request list link.  I'm not sure if it's the same site that Texas2539 had been accessing, but here's what's curious about it:

There haven't been any entries in almost one year.  Given the velocity at which previous variance requests had been logged through 2011 and early 2012, is it likely that they came to a screeching halt?  Or has this list simply not been updated in the past year or so?

Screengrab from http://www.leaguecity.com/index.aspx?NID=1201 as accessed 20130315 10:55 a.m.

Texas2539's GCDN comments elude to the possibility that the extra-VL mystery development might have incorporated a zoning variance request.  No proof of that, but as homeowners in close proximity, we need to be able to confirm or deny these types of things.  Victory Lakes and Centerpointe are neighboring subdivisions which share a similar predicament: we are both surrounded by prime sale tracts in a north county area where the pace of development is now accelerating. 

Google grab from a previous post, Centerpointe in red polygon, Victory Lakes at lower right, arrows roughly pointing to tracts as yet undeveloped (that was actually a post about wildlife, so the arrows also point to stormwater retention features). 

It's in our own interests to know exactly what's going to happen to those areas, and to know in advance what kind of a "say" we might be able to have in that process, as potentially-impacted landowners.

Anyway, at this point, I guess we'll await further comment from League City, further sleuthing from GCDN, and yes, I will be passing this info on to both our POA and VL's POA. 

Laundry room makeover, Part 1

Fair warning - this isn't much of a makeover.  But looking at other examples on the internet, the laundry room ideas out there seem to be universally underwhelming, so I'll throw up this post anyway. 

As I mentioned previously, we don't have a laundry "room" per se.  We have a 45-square-foot void space between the kitchen and the garage into which laundry equipment and a whole bunch of other things have been unceremoniously stuffed. 

Still, after I got that new artistically-correct light installed recently, I decided to brighten the place up.  The door is usually open and that space is visible from our kitchen, so it ought to look like something short of a hot mess.

I got the idea that we needed mirrors in our laundry room.  It's so claustrophobic, and we spend a lot of time working in there.  Something needed to make the place feel less like a rubber room.  Every time I walked into it, I felt like I should be reaching for a straightjacket instead of an apron.

AAUUUGHHHH!!

Photo from Wikipedia. 

 I settled on IKEA Lots mirror tiles.  Ten bucks for a four-pack.  Can't beat that.  Not the most sophisticated choice, but it's a laundry room. 

Measure wisely, grasshopper, because the ones I bought proved to be neither exactly 30 cm nor 12 inches square, a fact that becomes very important if you decide to set them with tight tolerances. 

In our initial build contract, we ordered our laundry room constructed without any shelves, a directive that subsequently proved impossible to communicate to the tradesmen.  They assumed it was a mistake on their work orders and they built it with shelves anyway.  And then they had to rip them back out and repair the drywall. 

The problem with laundry rooms is that most builders put in a generic shelf configuration which is woefully inefficient.  We needed to customize it because our house is small and we can't waste space.  Retrospectively, I regret not installing Elfa Platinum in there, because I have that in our kitchen, our pantry, and our dining area (more on that later).  But because we had to complete the initial laundry room configuration ourselves prior to moving in (and we were simultaneously closing on the sale of our previous house), we just picked up whatever plain mesh shelving was available at Lowes and slapped it in there, for lack of time.

So - our shelf configuration had been previously determined.  But remember in this other post, I said that nothing comes into our house that isn't built as a cardboard mock-up first. Or a paper mock-up if it's a wall element.  I did my usual paper mock-up thing to settle on a mirror tile configuration that worked with the shelves that were already there.

Cut-up brown paper bags get the job done here: initially I thought maybe I'd just run the tiles up the blank space above the clothes dryer, maybe something like this.  But that didn't look right. 

Continue it above the microwave?  Underwhelming. 

Wrap it around the adjacent wall?  Too disjointed. 

I ended up settling upon this configuration - not too much, not too little, fairly cohesive placement. 

These are the tools needed for this simple DIY job. 

Beware of your orange peel wall texture, grasshopper.  Even with the paper bag squares being temporarily placed using masking tape, some still peeled off.  This is not good when hanging breakable mirror tiles using adhesive pads. 

I did this number with masking tape to pull off any loose texture pre-emptively before adhering the tiles. 

I was reminded of the book The Paper Bag Princess, which was one of my daughter's favorites when she was young.  Taking the paper bag squares down from the wall one by one, I marked a guide line and a center tick so I could get these things lined up properly.  And simultaneously I prayed that my now-teenaged daughter will never, ever forget the vital lessons in feminine perspective that were conveyed so fabulously by The Paper Bag Princess. 

If you screw up the alignment of the first tile, you've got nowhere to go but down. 

Midline tick mark erases easily afterward.  I didn't get these absolutely perfectly level and parallel, but they are within a millimeter, which looks good enough from a distance.  Especially in a laundry room. 

By the way, the LOT tiles come with pretty generous adhesive pads.  I'm writing this about five days after doing the project, and none have come loose, despite the annoying orange peel wall texture (don't click that link - you'll just end up annoyed). 

Here's the mirror tiling result.  In this 2-D picture, the mirrors appear to amplify the appearance of clutter that seems to characterize every laundry room I've ever seen, whether it's had a "makeover" or not.  But in the 3-D experience, the mirrors do give the illusion of a bit more space, which is a relief.  It's an acceptable trade-off. 

Yes, that's my camera-holding yoga arm visible in the mirror as I tried with incomplete success to squeeze out of this frame.  In sooth, the blogger tried unsuccessfully to "fade" out of the photo like the main character in the award-winning work The Graveyard Book. My daughter and I read over two hundred young adult novels together before she became a teenager who is too cool for that sort parental unit participation. 

Laundry rooms universally look cluttered because they have to serve a specific purpose which is intrinsically difficult to de-clutter.  This, by the way, is our solution to managing detergent slop.  The microwave oven becomes a handy drip pan supporter.  We use multiple paper plates as a drip pan so that when the top one gets soggy, we can simply peel it off and there's already a fresh plate underneath.  And we place the measuring cup on a wash cloth which we just throw into a batch of laundry when it becomes soggy with detergent drips. 

Little things, but any procedure that helps me to avoid additional clean-up tasks is helpful. 

Here's a view that includes the snazzy new light we installed.  I used a lot of baskets for storage here in order to contrast with all that metal.

This area rug has separated squares which echo the placement of the mirror tiles.  Cross-referencing is king, even in a lousy laundry room. 

This configuration won't entirely make sense until I explain my rationale for the opposite side of this room as well.  I'll save that for a near-future post. 

Pedestrian Pete

A man after my own heart, to be sure.  Pedestrian Pete leverages his unique personal history and name recognition to draw attention to the abysmal condition of Houston's sidewalks.  This FOX clip (embedded below) is fun to watch.  Perhaps I should develop a sidewalk-promoting alter-ego, too, instead of merely ranting about it ad nauseum.  Oh, wait - this blog is my alter-ego. 

Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Comet schmomet

Meh.  I hereby pronounce Comet PanSTARRS to be underwhelming, given that neither my husband nor I could actually see it with the naked eye.

Click on the photo to enlarge it, because you're not going to see it otherwise. There are only two celestial objects visible in this frame: the slivery waxing crescent moon to the right, and a teeny tiny smudge to the far left of the moon at about ten o'clock. I was only able to detect the latter object after returning home to process these photos, which explains why this artistic composition is just plain bad: I didn't quite know what I was aiming for.

Retention ponds looking west across West Walker toward the Cypress Pointe intersection.

Here is close-up of Teeny Tiny Smudge.  In terms of quality, it starts to remind you of my crummy great horned owl cell phone pics, doesn't it?  It's a great ball of ice hurtling through the solar system, but I'd need a much better photo op to do it justice. 

Oh well.  The hubster tells me that Comet Ison is supposed to be a more impressive viewing op come this December.  Until then, I think I'll stick to ogling Orion which, by the way, is directly overhead.   You can't miss it. 

PanSTARRSless

You've seen those T-shirts that say, "My mother went to Florida and all I got was this lousy T-shirt"? 

Well, I went to the Interurban and all I got was this lousy picture of the Interurban.


I was using a long lens, which tended to amplify the impression of the high-towers.  Looking north toward West Walker Street.

I was actually out looking for Comet PanSTAARS.  Yes, I know that a person is not supposed to face north while looking for it, but I was bored with seeing nothing whatsoever on my western horizon save for the good people of Centerpointe whose McMansions were subtending at a very inconvenient five-ish degrees even when viewed from as far away as the Interurban. 

It was inconvenient because PanSTAARS is very close to the horizon right now, so the houses may have been blocking it.  But I've got a few more nights to try this gig, and when the "toenail moon" manifests, it might become easier to spot by virtue of the handy reference point. 

Stardate.org has this graphic on their homepage right now, with the caption "Sneaky Comet".  Indeed. 

Yoga options in the Clear Lake area

In this initial blog post titled "Better preparation for a bitter pill", I talked about my unnerved sequential response to the TIME magazine feature titled "Bitter Pill:  Why Medical Bills Are Killing Us". 

In that post, I covered my reaction to the article by listing these responses.  And then I gave a colorful step-by-step procedure for #6 on this list.

I'd like to address #4 now by describing what I know about yoga options in the Bay Area / Clear Lake area of Texas.   

First, a word on positioning (pun intended).  We continue to see case after case of people objecting to the practice of yoga because they interpret a religious goal associated with it, a goal that is perceived as incompatible with Christianity.  In fact, there was another major lawsuit launched just within the past few weeks over a public school district's teaching of yoga.  It is true that yoga originated as a component of Hindu philosophy.  But to my view, that doesn't mean that one has to subscribe to a specific doctrine in order to benefit from the physical practice of yoga.  Without a doubt, many contemporary programs have, by this time, stripped away any religious associations in favor of a focus that is purely health-based.

The City of Friendswood recently announced a series of yoga classes which start today, in fact.  Knowing what we know about Friendswood's religious demographics, its unique municipal history, and its reputation for conservatism, do you reckon that the city government would be openly promoting this kind of activity if there were "alternative" religious motivations associated with it?  My guess is, um, no. 

Screengrab courtesy of the City of Friendswood. 

So at this point you may be wondering... if yoga is perceived as controversial and hindered by cultural baggage, why even choose it?  Why not go for something more mainstream?

The answer for me is as follows: the analogous exercise programs I've tried are either too Americanized or have followings which are smaller than the critical mass needed to form a local group with good rapport.  On the issue of critical mass, for example, have you ever heard of Callanetics? It's a wonderful program but its reach has always been limited, and it arguably peaked in popularity a few decades ago.  By "too Americanized" what I mean is that they focus on competition (implicit or explicit) and punishing oneself under a drill-sergeant-style administrative regime.  If I want that kind of atmosphere, I'll get it in the corporate realm, thank you - I don't need that go, go, go, push, push, push, fight, fight, fight attitude to sour my exercise regime as well.  I was looking for something more introspective, non-competitive, and stress-reducing. 

So for those reasons, yoga was my choice.  When I first went searching for a local class about 20 months ago, it was my intention to avoid any sectarian flavor that some of the programs still retain, and which they usually tell you about up front.  But if they don't explain that up front, go ahead and ask, "Is this a nonsectarian program, or are you incorporating explicit elements of Hinduism or another eastern religious or mystic tradition?"  If the response does not mesh with your spiritual belief structure, find another program. 

Those little dots start to look like "energy centers" and all that new-age jazz.  How about instead focusing on mindful, self-aware contemplative exercise without all that unnecessary narrative? 

Microsoft clip-art. 

I was also searching for a program that was matched to my skill level, which at that time was nonexistent - I had good cardiovascular fitness from jogging and swimming, but I had no small-muscle development, very little strength, mediocre balance, and no flexibility (!).  Furthermore, being middle-aged, I suspected that I had poor prospects for developing flexibility. 

Ain't Never Going To Happen.

Microsoft clip art.

The local options came down to two basic types:

• A dedicated yoga studio.
• A yoga program incorporated into a big-box fitness club.

The first option tends to run about $100 per month depending on the facility, which is a lot of money to me.  I ended up deciding that would consider that magnitude of investment only after I had gained a level of proficiency that outstripped what was offered at my existing health club, which is LA Fitness on League City Parkway.  The entire membership there, including yoga classes, is only about $30 per month. 

But guess what??  The classes at LA Fitness have proven to be so good that I may never get to the point of needing a greater challenge. 


This was the schedule published online as of March 2013.  Screengrab courtesy of LA Fitness, yellow yoga highlights mine.

The teacher whose personal style appeals to me the most is Christine - she is absolutely wonderful, both in skill and in mannerism.  She also teaches at the League City 24-Hour Fitness (7 p.m. Wednesdays as of March 2013) and I believe at a few other local clubs as well. 

I'm not the only one who has been surprised by the quality of the in-club instruction.  I have a friend who used to take classes at Yoga Haven in Galveston before Ike forced them to resettle in north county.  She said, "It just amazes me the quality of instruction you can get at these chain clubs - and for no extra money."

If instead you're looking for a local dedicated yoga studio, I have virtually no experience with those, but here are the local ones I've stumbled across:

(1) The Yoga Institute, which has a studio in Nassau Bay and another one on Richmond in Houston.  I have a friend who has attended their Houston studio for a few years now and he absolutely loves it.  Dedicated studios such as this one tend to offer more classes, more class variety, and some people prefer the more sequestered atmospheres of these places (I'll have to admit that, in the LA Fitness, sometimes the adjacent raquetball players drive us bonkers with their noise during our classes). 

(2) Yoga Lola in League City.  They advertise astrology and "energy work" on their homepage, so this doesn't sound like it would be a good choice for me. 

(3) The Yoga Studio, also in League City.  The web pages don't appear to have been updated recently, so I'm not sure if they are still active. 

(4) Yoga Rasa on Mercury Drive in Clear Lake.

(5) Sundance Yoga on Friendswood Drive in Friendswood (and they also have a studio in Pearland).

I found those last two above because I was looking to buy a Manduka yoga mat and I wanted to buy locally.  I don't mind paying a little more if it supports a small business, and both of those studios were cited in the Manduka dealer's list.  I phoned both, but neither had the mat that I needed in stock, and so my excuse to drop in on a local studio went out the window, and I had to order it from Amazon instead.


I was looking for a Manduka Black Pro to replace the existing mat in my four-function room.  I was initially attracted to yoga in part because the overhead is so low.  You don't need a bunch of expensive equipment and paraphernalia - just a mat.

Amazon always delivers, although the mounting accusations that it's destroying local retailers echo the Walmart-related cries of yesteryear. 

Incidentally, if you're just beginning to do yoga, this particular mat may not be your best choice.  It's got that advertised lifetime guarantee because it's very durable, but durability means it's very dense and hard compared to some other choices.  Depending on your situation, you may need a mat with more cushioning than this model offers. 

So, 20 months after commencing yoga classes, what's my verdict on what they offer?

I'm hooked.  The cliches have proven to have merit - yoga has definitely helped to reduce my stress level and has helped me to focus more on what I can realistically expect of myself, versus what I'm supposed to believe that others are entitled to expect of me.  I'm much stronger, much more self-aware, better-coordinated and my understanding of spatial physicality has improved significantly.  The slow but steady self-development process reminds me of watching a baby learn to walk: month after month, I won't be able to achieve certain poses that require more strength than I've traditionally possessed, and then all of a sudden, there it is: I've surprised myself by achieving it.  It's fascinating that way. 

I'll close with a screengrabbed quote from Andrew Weil, from this CNN editorial published yesterday.  As is often the case in the mainstream media, numerous op-eds have emerged to echo and expound upon TIME magazine's initial feature.  This was one of them.


Myself, I'd prefer to focus on the keeping-healthy part with blog posts such as this one.   

Screengrab courtesy of CNN.