Motivation: Lacking, Gaining, Jury Still Out

Since our family is nearing a state of potential transition (husband's job search is picking up lately), change is in the air. I'm distracted - my motivation on different efforts is waxing and waning. Here are some things I've been thinking about lately.

Motivation: Subject 1 - "Lacking"
Bean Challenge Update: The most recent bean dinner was polenta and black bean patties. This was the general recipe:
1/2 tube of polenta
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 egg
bread crumbs
Diced red pepper, onions, sauteed
Salt & Pepper to taste
other seasonings, if you wish

Make patty shapes and pan fry.

Interesting flavor...but not quite a home run!

As you may know from a previous post, I'm not exactly keeping up with my weekly full-steam-ahead bean challenge approach. I still eat beans often - lately it's been opening a quality can filled with the organic variety, rinsing them off, and putting them in a salad for lunch. I love them, I really do. But the predictable objections from my daughter and the (hidden) disappointment from my husband that these bean dinners create is NOT motivating. So, dear family - a little more support please!

Motivation: Subject 2 - "Gaining"
We Joined a Co-op
We paid $75 recently a joined a co-op. The $75 makes us an owner/investor, so we get some benefits, such as:

• a 10% discount once per quarter
• a refund of profits based on our purchases for the year
• a vote on co-op issues (not exactly sure what comes up - should be interesting)
  

Another one of our 2009 goals accomplished. The co-op is shiny, new, big, and not too far from my neighborhood. A nice surprise - my receipt states at the bottom the percentage of local goods that I purchased during that trip. My first trip - 27% was local. What a great motivator to increase the percentage. Truly - if you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it!

Motivation: Subject 3 - "The Jury's Still Out"
Mapquest - How much will that trip cost me?
Have you see Mapquest's little button that allows you to calculate the cost of a trip, based on your specific car's MPG?

After getting driving directions, click the "fuel costs" button and it will let you calculate based on your best MPG guess.

Or get more specific when you create an AOL account (AOL...why? I don't know - they're snoopy). It will base the cost on the specific car info (year/make/model) you enter.

This could be a motivator if you're trying to save fuel AND money. I know I was recently horrified to learn the monthly gas cost of my husband's potentially long commute. I'm OK with being scared - I prefer to be fully informed.

How about you? Motivated or distracted?