Holy Poo!

Let me start with same simple facts.  I have my limits.  The point of this blog is to prove to myself (and hopefully others) that one everyday person really can make a difference in the world.  But, I’m not insane. 

The other day, I was watching TLC’s “Extreme Cheapskates” (yes, I somewhat regularly enjoy crappy TV, ridicule away).  Oh how the Midwest cheapskates and world savers (who are often one and the same) were representing. 

One Kansas cheapskate profiled was a stay-at-home mom of six kids.  That fact alone says that this is one brave, brave lady.  But, in case you need further convincing of her bravery, listen to how she saves an extra 20 bucks a month….BY NOT BUYING TOILET PAPER.  Instead, she enlists her kids to cut up old cloths into squares which are placed next to the toilet and used in place toilet paper.  Used squares are then thrown in a bucket next to the loo and washed. 

Let’s all give that lady a round of golf claps for doing the unthinkable. 

Throwing Rocks at Birds*

Once my husband said something along the lines of “It’s like I was throwing rocks at two birds.”   I gasped, “Why are you throwing rocks at birds?!?!?!”  Thankfully, what he meant to say was, “It’s like I killed two birds with one stone.”  To be fair, English is his second language. 

Anyway, that was about 99% off-topic.  The point is, I received a creative, world-saving gift from mom that does exactly that---figuratively kills two birds with one stone.  She gave me a handy-dandy bag made out of...*drum roll*….used plastic grocery bags!  It’s the “bag of all bags” (I can’t take credit for this clever play on words—it’s on the bag’s tag).  Upcycling at its best = world saving bird #1.   

And, it’s no coincidence that I am posting this right after this post.  Looks like I have my first reusable grocery bag!  Using re-usable bags = world saving bird #2.

The bag was made by world-saver Julie Starbuck, who crochets the used plastic grocery bags (recognize the old school Walmart bags?  I do!) into the snazzy new usable bags.  The new bag is even washable (cold water)—which makes it a perfect veggie/fruit grocery bag (or beach tote or slobbery dog toy carrier or lunch bag or countless other uses).

If you would like to purchase your very own snazzy bag, you can contact Julie at djstar@charter.net or 660.441.0598. 

*No animals were harmed in the writing of this post or by said husband

Bagged

Recall ages ago I said there were two simple world-saving things I had a hard time doing, the first being limiting my use of paper towels.  More on the progress on that front some other time. 

Here’s another struggle--using re-usable grocer bags.  It seems like everyone and their mother has taken up this green trend except me.  For whatever reason, I can’t seem to manage to get the bags to the grocery store.  I could keep some bags in my car, which would help, but I probably only use the car to get grocery shop 50% of the time (and remember to put them back in the car).  So, I have to carry the bag with me at all times or I have to actually remember when I head to the grocery store (assuming I also start planning these trips in advance since I often just swing by after work).   

On the bright side, I don’t just throw away the bags I get from the grocery store.  I use them for all kinds of things like garage bags, dirty shoe carriers, and yarn storage. 

It’s still pretty lame. So, my goal over the next couple of weeks is to a) make some reusable bags, b) stuff them in places like the car and my work bag, and c) start using them. 

Anyone have any tips?

We’ll see what happens. 

Dear Family, Friends, and Fellow Bloggers,

Here's wishing you a very merry Christmas (or whichever holiday you celebrate).  May your new year bring you tremendous joy, happy days, and fun-filled adventures.  All with a bit of world-saving mixed in, of course.

With love,

Jen

The Reason for the Season

Two years ago my family decided to forgo the usual pile of presents and instead each start saving for a family trip to Hawaii in 2012/2013.  I think we technically said no presents, but we really meant way fewer, smaller and simpler presents.   We are a very lucky family in that we can afford to buy ourselves the things we need, so gift-giving was all about giving others the things we "knew" they wanted (or thought they wanted? Or hope they wanted? Or could find at the last second?).  Anyway, I think we enjoyed giving each other things we wanted as much as the next family, but, it turns out, we also enjoy not having the pressure of buying the perfect gifts and just spending time together even more.  Or at least I do. 

Of course, it’s not just about saving for a special family trip.  It’s totally world saving because it means buying less stuff and creating less waste. 

As an added bonus, now I can make gifts without worrying that I’m too old to still be making gifts for my parents.  Well, I still worry about what making gifts for my parents at the age of 29 that says about me, I just don’t feel guilty that I’m not living up to some socially acceptable parent gift-giving standard. 

Last year, I had more fun making gifts than I ever recall having buying gifts.  Including writing this silly poem for my mom’s sewing station.

Confessions of a Fabricholic

Saturday after Saturday, I say

I won’t buy any fabric today

I’m out the door, my block in hand

To Quilter’s Harvest , my own holy land

Two whole bags, I buy no less

Fine! I am a Fabricholic—I confess!

Tim spies the bags, big and full

“Are you serious?” he exclaims, “This is bull!”

In my sewing room, each night I’ll spend

Dressed in my robe, my hair on end

Sitting all straight in that ol’ chair

My Singer a whirrin’, not a moment to spare

No more can I buy, it’s such a mess

I am a Fabricholic—let me stress!

More colors, more combos, more textures and feels

Who can believe—so many “steals”

I want it all, just to make it mine

At this point it’s practically a batik shrine

When Amy Butler’s on sale I simply freak

Then I make bag for Jenny (just one Amish streak)

I’ve got the “Tale of Two Kitties,” shoved in a drawer

Under half-finished quilts and so much more

Here in this room, I made quite a disaster

Just to sew Ryan’s quilt a bit faster

I crafted a blanket for my son-in-law

And wedding decorations for all to awe

For Chelle, a new pillow’s on my list

One I’m sure Chuck won’t resist

To Tori an apron, of all things

Oh what joy all my fabric brings!

Each week Cheryl, Janice and I vow

We’ll stop buying it all somehow

We’ll sit right here ‘til we sew something fab

But yet again, all we do is gab

Now I let out one big sigh

It’s true, I can no longer deny

I’ll raise my voice and shout out loud

I’m a Fabricholic and proud!

And That's a Wrap...

I love wrapping paper and would buy gobs of it during the post-Christmas maddness if that guy I live with would let me. However, I have very few presents to wrap and wrapping paper, pretty as it is, isn't all that earth friendly.   So this year, instead of using the paper with owls on it that I came really close to buying, I used pages from the holiday J. Crew catalog (still getting them despite prior attempts to discontinue them) and the cover of a Time magazine.  Yep. 

Tree-mendous

I love REAL Christmas trees.  I like the fresh pine scent as well as the imperfectness that is a real tree (you know, the holes and the odd branches that stick out here and there).  However, buying a real Christmas tree is not the most earth friendly thing to do.  Even if you go to a tree farm where trees are grown solely for the purpose of being cut down for Christmas, it’s still a not a superb idea because that’s good growing land and energy being used for what some might consider frivolous purposes.

Now, I also love the idea of buying a tree in a bucket that has its roots and can be planted.  But, I don’t have a yard in which to plant said tree and I’m not sure how Chicago’s park district would feel about me planting a random pine tree with remnants of tinsel in our local park.  I would venture to guess it’s probably against the law. 

So, although we’ve gotten tiny trees to fit in our tiny apartment the past two years, this year my husband and I decided to forgo a tree altogether (I’m just not ready for a fake).   But, do not accuse me of being humbug just yet, please.  Instead, we did a bit of upcycling.  We scored a pile of fresh pine branches from the discard pile at Home Depot (the ends they cut off the tress for everyone buying them) and decorated with those.  I get the fresh pine scent (and the cleaning disaster) and the pretty holiday cheer at no additional harm and no cost. 

I think it turned out pretty nice…..

The Simplest Change of All

No more mid-afternoon vending machine runs for this girl this year.  Nope.  I’ll be dropping all my change in the Salvation Army buckets. 

They make it SO easy. 

Down the Drain

I have sensitive skin.  If I wash it too much, it hates me.  If I wash it too little, it hates me.  It gets terribly dry and itchy in the winter.  Years of experience suggests my skin does not appreciate the lengthy list of chemicals included in most facial washes.  Even so-called sensitive skin products contain far too many things I can’t pronounce.  So, as my bottle of Cetaphil neared empty recently, I thought I would give something all natural a shot.  Figuring water alone wouldn’t cut it, I poked around on the internet a bit for ideas.  

I would venture to guess that you would not guess what I tried.   It comes in an orange box.  Can be purchased at any grocer for about a $1.  And sort of looks like a dangerous street drug.  Any ideas?!?!

Baking soda.  As in Arm & Hammer.  A pile of baking soda, mixed with a few drops of water, gently rubbed on my face for  a couple of minutes, and rinsed off.  That’s it. It’s working--in fact, it feels fantastic.

And the best part?  I did something for a completely different reason (to save my skin) and it turned into something world saving.  If I don’t wash my face with chemicals, those chemicals don’t go down the drain.  There’s a sh-load of nasty chemicals in beauty products (for more info, see here). 

It’s okay if you are whispering “hippie” under your breath.  I don’t mind. 

Oh, and if anyone is interested, I totally started collecting all natural beauty recipes on my Pinterest.   The possibilities are endless. 

There’s a Reason Richard Simmons Has A Ridiculously Happy Demeanor

For many, myself often times includes, the holidays equate to an inordinate amount of stress.  Stress does not bode well for my world saving plan.  It’s hard to save the world if you are cranky, rude, and mean and you are making everyone around you cranky, rude and mean—because we all know that a bad mood is more contagious than pink eye. 

The quickest ways for me to re-adjust my mood include a) find that ever-happy, sparkling shining person and surgically attach myself to them, or b) work-out. 

I’m not creepy (well, not THAT creepy) so option b is my usual choice. 

 

I’m kind of a cardio hound---working out tends to be the “hit a punching bag” kind of stress relief.  There some weird thing (is this just me?) where when I run (or insert any other cardio activity), one of two things happens:  1) my mind goes blank and I think of nothing but running and relieve stress by simply not thinking about the stressors or b) my mind works on overdrive, at a pace equivalent to my work-out speed, and I relieve stress by reviewing my day, organizing my thoughts, formulating plans, setting goals, and so.  This typically results in me rushing home and overwhelming my husband with the 80 things “we” are going to do/change/find/be in the next 24 hours.  But I feel better.  And when I feel better, I AM better.  I’m happier, nicer, and all around more pleasant to the world.  Besides, I’m extending my life which gives me more time to save the world. 

On that note, Spin Class is calling my name….Get to the gym people. 

EPIC

As in EPIC fail.  Remember my goal?  To post, on average, twice a week.  I could make a million excuses as to why it didn’t happen but I’m not going to bother because ultimately, I made a conscious decision to not post.  Life got the best of me and something had to go on the chopping block.  I had to choose between blogging and taking a shower on a regular basis.  I’m not going to lie—it wasn’t an easy decision.    

Anyway, let’s do the math…

A.       52 weeks in every year x 2 posts per week = 104 post

B.      My first post (4/22/2011) was 33 weeks ago

C.      33 weeks x 2 posts per week = 66 posts that should be complete

D.      I’ve posted exactly 25 times

E.       That’s a deficit of 41

F.       I have 79 posts (104 desired-25 completed) left to reach my goal

G.     And 19 weeks to write those 79 posts

H.      So….now I need to average 4.2 posts a week

Oops.

The odds are against me.  Oh well.  I believe everyone, myself included, deserves a second chance. 

So here goes….

P.S.  Oh, and why didn’t anyone correct me when I said 102 postings in my very first posting instead of 104?  Seriously?  I’m supposedly a statistician of sorts…yikes!

Don’t poo-poo this post….

Contrary to my husband’s belief, I don’t think that I’m always right (just usually).  Actually, I believe that, for most tasks, there are many “right” ways to get the job done.  However, there is this one thing that, as far as I am concerned, there is ONLY one right way to it.  My way, naturally. 

It’s pretty simple really--putting the toilet paper on the roll.  Oh, yes, good ol’ TP hanging.  There is no arguing with me on this one--the toilet paper should ALWAYS be placed so the loose sheets hang over the top of the roll.   Why?  Because, by golly, it’s saving the world (and right).

In order to assure you that I have not gone off the deep end, let me explain.  In short, hanging the loose sheets over the roll (read:  correctly) allows for easy, quick one-handed tearing.  Hanging the roll so the loose sheets are under the roll (read:  incorrectly) results in erratic, unexpected unrolling of the TP when attempting to tear.  You get too much (I know you aren’t re-rolling the extra every time…don’t lie).  Then you waste it.  Considering the number of times a day you use the restroom, this is no small matter.  You can get the full (scientifically sound) details here:  http://currentconfig.com/2005/02/22/essential-life-lesson-1-over-is-right-under-is-wrong/

Come on, all.  This is one thing we can all do to save the world.  Don’t be afraid to adjust your friends’ rolls a dinner parties too.  You know I will be doing it. 

PS.  MM,  there is nothing about not changing the toilet paper roll that saves the world.  Don’t even try it. 

PPS.  Shout out to T expressed upon me the seriousness of TP hanging. 

Waste Not, Want Not

God and all his people know I don’t like leftovers.  Except chili.  And Uncle Jim’s lasagna.  I try not to make more food than what will be eaten in one sitting.  Admittedly, sometimes I pack my husband’s  lunch only so I can make sure someone besides me is taking care of those leftovers.   But, for those leftovers we do end up with, the ones I dutifully put in the fridge, if the human garbage disposal known as my husband refuses to eat them chances are, they get trashed.  Sadly, we throw things away that have gone bad because we simply didn’t eat them fast enough more than I care to admit. 

I’m sort of losing sleep about the amount of food we are wasting.  Not only it is KILLING the world, but it’s not so great for our budget either.  This whole panic was spurred by the fact that we returned from a vacation on Monday and I threw out 2/3 of what was in the fridge.  And there was still plenty left to eat.  I felt pretty ashamed.  We had house guests prior to leaving on vacation and may have over-bought in anticipation of their stay.  Or just over-bought in general over the course of a couple weeks (read: months).  And went out to eat more than expected.  I’m full of excuses, huh (such a subtle pun I have to point it out)? Anyway, I can’t peacefully sleep at night if I continue to throw away food excessive amounts of food. 

How can I stop the madness?  How can I cleverly waste less food?  Do I simply have to suck it up and eat more leftovers?   Never eat out again?  

I don’t have the perfect answer….YET.

But, I do have the ability to try to do better.  I’m a superb try-er (and modest to boot).   So, I’ll try to buy less.  I’ll try to cook what’s going to go bad first.  I’ll try to be more creative in the kitchen so I use up the orphan foods.  We’ll see what happens. 

Things are Looking Up

Per Wikipedia (the most reliable source if you ask me), upcycling is:

“ the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.”

Or, per Jenipedia (also a reliable source), upcycling is making old stuff into new stuff.   It sounds a lot like recycling, but it’s different because you skip a step — breaking something down to raw  materials — and save even more energy than you would with just plain old recycling.  Furniture, toys, paper, pots and pans…there’s a zillion things you can upcycle. 

In case my detailed definition wasn’t sufficient…here’s my real-life example.*

Old t-shirt once belonging to the nice gentleman that lives with me:

A bit of cutting, a little bit of sewing, and a little bit more cutting:

A new (pit stain free) shirt for me (don't know why I look so serious...must have taken a lot of concentration to push that button...):

Turns out, I love upcycling.  I’m off to raid my closet.   Or someone else’s.   

*Disclaimer: I have an awesome camera but couldn’t get it set up at the correct height so I used a crappy phone camera.  Whatever.

Sometimes you're a winner and sometimes you're a winner

And the winner of the “Lunch Bag Contest” is…..YOU.  What the heck, it’s my contest and I’ll sew if I want to.  I’m making a lunch bag for every single entrant (it sounds better if I say “every single entrant” than “all six entrants.” 

I won’t name names, but there’s a certain individual who entered the contest who will HAVE to know who the “real” winner is so I still did a random number generator. 

And…..*drumroll”….Congratulations, Mom!  I hope it’s not a let-down that everyone gets a bag not just you, Mom.  Or that you are a better sewer than me but you have to pretend to like a bag from me anyway.   Really, you are still a winner because you get your bag first and you're just a winning kinda lady anyway. 

Everyone, send me your color choices (2 colors please!).    

PS.  Sorry for the delay in the announcement. We have guests, I haven’t touched a computer at home in days.   I hope you didn’t lose too much sleep. 

PPS.  The delay in making the bags will  be much longer than the announcement.  Summer = house guests, traveling, biking, beach, and, in general, not sewing.  But it will happen. 

Uh…Electricity, Eee-lec-tricity (anyone else remember Schoolhouse Rocks?)

There’s a million ways to save on electricity.  What’s one we can all do?  Turn off the lights!

I think I’m pretty fantastic about turning off the lights…maybe even a bit obsessive.  I may have or may not have been grounded for leaving on lights as a child.  Multiple times.  I also may or may not have been grounded because my mom left the lights on. 

My parents claimed I had to turn off the lights to save money (or foot the bill myself) but I think they were just secretly world savers in a time when it wasn’t as cool to be green.  Oh, those secret world savers... 

The Contest is Still ON -- Don't miss out!

Thank you to all the lovely world savers who have entered the contest thus far.  If you have not yet entered, don't be sad--you still have plenty of time.  I'm accepting entries until Friday, July 28th at 11:59 PM cst.  All you have to do is write in the comments of the below blog post what you have done to save the world this today, this week, this month, or this year to save the world.  Go, world savers, go!

CONTEST! Win a PRIZE!

Seriously, I’m going to give away a hand-crafted, super awesome, “tool” that every world saver needs.  I thought about not telling you what the prize is because, quite frankly, I’m concerned you won’t be as excited about the prize as I am and you won’t participate in the contest because you don’t care about the prize.  Then I said, “No, Jen.  Your readers are better than that.  They want to save the world.  Or they at least know someone that does.”  So here it is. I’m giving away 1 handmade (by yours truly) lunch bag (as seen this post).

All you have to do is...(*drumroll*)…tell me what you did to save the world this week.  Remember, my definition of world saving habits is pretty broad.  So, respond in the comments with what you are doing by Friday, July 30^th (I’m giving you plenty of time to do something just in case you haven’t so you don’t have to lie).   I will use a random number generator to select the winner.  Since it’s a random number generator, I suppose you could say you’ve done nothing at all or write gibberish and it won’t really matter…but you wouldn’t do that, would you?  Only 2 comments per contestant please (2 is my favorite number).    

Just to entice you further, I’ll let the big winner pick the colors of the lunch bag .   For those of you who already received one of my lunch bags, I do think it will be a good gift.  Or you’ll have a spare.  When I wash mine, I don’t dry it, so I could use a spare myself.  I’ll mail you the prize as soon as I finish it.  It will be “soon” but I don’t know how soon (I’m a busy girl, people, saving the world is not easy work). 

Things I “Can’t” Do

Ok, so there’s lots of world saving things I realistically can’t do ever or can't do just yet.  But there are also a few very obvious, reasonably easy things that I FEEL like I CAN’T do.  I’m human with faults, you know.

What am I struggling with, you might ask?  The first one, is a doozy.  Paper towels.  I can’t see to let go of over using paper towels.  They are my security blanket.  I use paper towels for much of my cleaning—from every day stuff like wiping the counters to more serious jobs like washing the windows.  Go ahead and shun me, but I even use them to dust.  I know there’s no good excuse for this naughty behavior, but, truthfully, re-using dish clothes and rags just grosses me out.  I can’t explain it.  I’m not an overly obsessive neat person.  I don’t think I’m a germ a-phob.  But it literally makes me sick to my stomach to regularly use the same dish towel.  AND, I don’t like washing those towels with my other towel or my clothes. 

I don’t know how to get over this.  I’m here, though, seeking your help.

PS.  I’ve got another “can’t” I’ll be sharing soon. 

PPS.  I'm behind on posting because a) we've been very busy remodeling our bathroom and b) we had a brown-out last night--we had one working light and a sort of working fridge.  Excuses, excuses, I know. 

Cool as a....Melted Popsicle

Anyone who has every paid an electric bill knows that running the air conditioner uses an excessive amount of energy.  Boo hiss, right?  Running the AC less = saving the world.

Our cozy home has a single window unit to cool all 600 square feet.  Luckily, Chicago’s summers are relatively mild.  At least they were until yesterday when someone turned us to “high broil.”  Seriously, it’s hot as Hades out there.   

Being sweaty-hot really doesn’t bother me---I very much prefer it to being cold.  However, I share my home with my husband and can only force so many of my world saving habits on him, so I can’t exactly boycott the AC.  But, I’ve uncovered many things I can do to minimize our use of the AC and optimize its refreshing-ness when it is on.  There’s: closing the blinds when we aren’t home enjoying the sunshine (something I’m TRYING hard to remember to do), minimizing use of the stove/oven (easy peasy—who wants hot food when it’s 100+?), opening the windows (duh), turning off the lights, and turning off other heat-producing appliances (that stinkin’ laptop AGAIN).   I turn it off when my husband isn’t home.  

Also, I am lucky enough to not have central AC at work.  I know it’s hard to tell when reading, but there was zero sarcasm in that statement.  It seriously negatively impacts my work productivity if I am in an office that’s freezing in the summer.  And I don’t get to wear my cute summer apparel.  Anyway, I have a window unit there as well, and, since I have my own office,  I can suffer all I want.  I’ve turned my AC on exactly once (on low, yesterday) and turned on the fan exactly once (today). 

AND *poof* I’m using less energy.   

Sew Saving the World

Exhibit A

I’ve taken up sewing rather recently, and at some point tossed around the idea of starting some craft blog for novices like myself but opted to save the world instead.  That being said, I’m certain that sewing plays an integral role in my plan to save the world.  Let’s review Exhibit A.  That’s my lunch bag, made with love by my dear mom.  I take my lunch to work in this reusable bag almost every day.  And, I’ve shared the wealth.  One of the first things I created when I started sewing in my adult life was a lunch bag for a friend.  And then some more lunch bags (Exhibit B).  Then I sort of went crazy with the lunch bags.  Anyway, using my lunch bag (and giving others lunch bags to use) is definitely key to my world saving activities simply because it’s reusable.  Reusable=less waste.  The math is simple. 



Exhibit B



Sew saving the world?  Why yes, I think so. Oh, how I love a good play on words….

OJ

Yesterday, my husband kindly offered to pick me up mid-commute.  He was a few minutes away so I sat on concrete wall with a few others who were waiting for a bus.  The area (the Roosevelt Red/Orange/Green line stop, Chicagoans) is a relatively popular El/Bus transfer stop and is teaming with people during rush hour.  While I was sitting, a young woman came and sat next to me.  Truthfully, her demeanor didn’t scream warmth and, I’m terribly embarrassed to admit it, but I assumed her to be a bit stuck up (judging by her attire and other boring details there’s no need to write here).   As we sat, a gentleman shuffled in our direction asking each individual on the wall, “Are you blessed enough today to buy me an orange juice?”  Person after person shook their head or ignored him completely.  I prepared to spout my usual “Sorry, Sir, not today.”  But...I didn’t have to say a word.  Because that young woman pulled out her wallet and said, “I don’t have cash, but would you like to walk to Starbucks to get an orange juice?”  Needless to say, the gentleman was a bit shocked.  He asked, “Do you feel like walking?”  “Sure,” she replied, “It’ right over there.”  And off they went, she slowing her pace so he could keep up. 

Wow.  What a kind thing to do.  She’s a world saver.  Oh, and today's lesson --> I really shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

Rah-rah-rah!

I’ve never been a cheerleader in the traditional sense.  Honestly, I find the uniforms quite intimidating. The closest I’ve come was being the mascot (a female bulldog…no joke) during college—I wore a cheerleading uniform over my fur and carried a large dog bone.  But, anyway, the point is, although I’ve never been a cheerleader in any official sense, I joined really rocking cheerleading squad in January. 

Whose our team?  Why, it’s ourselves, “ourselves” being a diverse team of folks living around the world with a passion for running.  Or at least a passion for being healthy.  We are cheering each other on via www.dailymile.com, a Facebook of sorts for those who enjoy running, swimming, biking, walking, etc. 

And, I have it say….it is FAN-tastic!  I’ve never run so consistently in my adult life than I have in the past 6 months and I promise that’s a direct consequence of dailymile.com and my cheer squad.  And you know what the best part is?  We provide each other with 100% POSITIVE feedback.  Our abilities range--some can run faster, some can run further, some with baby buggies, some with dogs—but, we recognize that the most important thing is that we are getting out there and doing SOMETHING.  Even if it’s just one mile—right, Ladies?  It truly energizes me.  I can only hope I am doing the same for them. 

In case it isn’t obvious, I have to conclude with….just how are we saving the world?  Well, we are pushing each other to make staying healthy a priority.  To do more and do better.  To recognize that we each have something to be proud of.  This is getting pretty sappy and I think you get the point…I’m cutting myself off….

PS.  Feel free to join me on http://www.dailymile.com/

The Digital Disaster

Technology is EVERYWHERE.  I am all for the majority of technology.  And I might be addicted to certain technology.   But, seriously, there’s been an explosion of technology over the course of my life time, some of which is saving the world (hello, hybrid cars) some not so much (xbox = couch potato).  Much of the up and coming technology is digital—cellphones, computers, e-books, as well as numerous other methods of “connecting” and connecting quickly. 

Now, I love my laptop as much as the next blogger.  But, boy, it is NOT saving the world.  Or, rather, some of the ways I use it, are not saving the world.  I’m cringing as I admit this to the world, but here goes…I leave my laptop plugged in.  All the time.  It’s terrible, I know.  It’s simply a convenience thing.  I almost always use it in the same spot and the plug is hard to reach.  So…I just leave it plugged in.  Even if I take my laptop elsewhere (e.g., the other end of the couch), I just leave the plug in the outlet, which according to my dad, means it still using some energy.  Ouch.

So, it’s gotta change.  There’s no reason for it not to change except laziness.   And I am not lazy. 

Unplugging…right…..NOW. 

Don't Doubt Me, People!

I’m not a slacker.  I know I haven’t been posting twice a week, but I promise my blog posts will average at least twice a week over the year.  I’ve just have a rough couple of weeks (lame excuse, I know) so it didn’t happen.  I’m not going to beat myself up over it so you should beat me up over it either.  But, seriously, I’m sorry.  I know you are so incredibly disappointed when you don’t get your twice weekly dose of me (that was dripping with sarcasm, FYI). 

PS.  My blogger-monitors (I like to make up words and catch phrases) did not yell at me.  What kind of management system is this?!?!?!