as I watched six steps off.
I sit on the patio to greet the warm August evening. The breeze causes my hair to dance on my cheeks and tickle my skin, and I glance up to shake the strands from my face. Across the lawn, Tucker the dog stalks. I watch as he takes on the same evening air. His nose flares briefly as he looks at something no one else perceives. He wanders around the yard. Pauses at the edge of the deck, cranes his neck to concentrate on the weathered fence. He sees a whole world through the thin cracks between the boards.
After his moment of consideration, he comes back around by me. Hesitates by the neighboring chair. The nostrils flare again. He licks the chair's metal support for good measure, then continues his aimless search. A grilling rack from the old smoker lay haphazardly on the deck and covers a hole between the wooden planks. Tucker walks by, then anxiously begins pawing at the rusted rack, in pursuit of the unseen, unheard, and perhaps nonexistent creatures below.
Behind him, a squirrel soundlessly drops from an oak limb onto a crepe myrtle. Pale purple blossoms fall like snow to the ground below.
Tucker, the great hunter, does not notice a thing.
8.13.2009
7.08.2009
and the snake who'd held the world a stick, a carrot and a string,
was crushed beneath the foot of your not wanting anything.
Gardening is, as ever, a needy thing. Go away for 2 days, and don't be surprised when you arrive home. Home, not to happy green leaves outstretched as open arms, but instead folding, falling, yellowing and peering up in silent rage; "how could you?" they seem to whisper. So, as much as I love the blooms, I kissed my second dead hibiscus goodbye and instead picked up some succulents. Successful succulents! ;-)
Still keeping up the reading. On the "have read and would recommend list" thus far this summer (forgive me if I've mentioned them before; I am quite smitten with several of them):
Reading Lolita in Tehran
The Kite Runner
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Holidays on Ice (you simply cannot go wrong with David Sedaris)
Three Cups of Tea
Currently reading:
Naked Pictures of Famous People
On the "to-read list":
The Bookseller of Kabul
The Sewing Circles of Herat
The Life of Pi
and many more hanging out on my shelf. Oh, and Anita has me somewhat interested in The Time Traveller's Wife. If you can't tell by the titles, I'm still on my middle east kick, primarily Iran and Afghanistan.
In other aspects, musical life is fun. If you haven't listened to my favorite yet, get on it!
mewithoutYou - It's all crazy, it's all false, it's all a dream, it's alright
Listen to the lyrics, read them, whatever. It's different from their earlier albums, for sure, but I like it just as much. And man they're an absolute joy to see live.
Dredg/RX Bandits next Tuesday; that'll be fun as well. And Rasy and I are also quite excited about Ben Folds with the DSO later this fall.
Also, check out a distant friend's ep; http://cdbaby.com/cd/ariellebryant. May not be your cup of tea, but she's keeping herself busy, and I'm excited for her.
The weddings are going well; we just did a 3 day Bangladeshi wedding last week; check out rasyran.blogspot.com for sneak peaks before the final editing is done. I got henna on my hand as well, and though it's definitely started to disappear, it still looks quite pretty.
We're going to an old school friend's wedding in a couple weeks, just as guests, which will be a first, shooting one a week after that, and another not long after that, I believe. Then one in October (yay Teagan! :-)) and one in November.
I'm loving my not-quite-so-new anymore car, and loving driving manual. Those hills aren't scary at all anymore.
I'm seriously considering this in the fall: http://www.iteachtexas.com/, which would ideally put me in my own classroom by next school year (August 2010). At my current job, there's just another month or so before my kids start leaving for kindergarten, and then it's a whole new crop of kids, and back to the beginning of my curriculum planning. And, starting in August, we'll be open to children Monday-Friday, which will be good for bringing in more peers, just a bit of a juggle with set up. I'm looking forward to it, though.
Well, it's 10:30 now, and I would be finishing an episode of Jon Stewart, but he's off for the week. So, since I'm a big girl without school to procrastinate and stay up to not do, and since I have work early in the morning, I'll start weaning myself off of the internet. Goodnight, and love to you all! Pick up one of those books I mentioned, or you can borrow my copy. And if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!
Gardening is, as ever, a needy thing. Go away for 2 days, and don't be surprised when you arrive home. Home, not to happy green leaves outstretched as open arms, but instead folding, falling, yellowing and peering up in silent rage; "how could you?" they seem to whisper. So, as much as I love the blooms, I kissed my second dead hibiscus goodbye and instead picked up some succulents. Successful succulents! ;-)
Still keeping up the reading. On the "have read and would recommend list" thus far this summer (forgive me if I've mentioned them before; I am quite smitten with several of them):
Reading Lolita in Tehran
The Kite Runner
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Holidays on Ice (you simply cannot go wrong with David Sedaris)
Three Cups of Tea
Currently reading:
Naked Pictures of Famous People
On the "to-read list":
The Bookseller of Kabul
The Sewing Circles of Herat
The Life of Pi
and many more hanging out on my shelf. Oh, and Anita has me somewhat interested in The Time Traveller's Wife. If you can't tell by the titles, I'm still on my middle east kick, primarily Iran and Afghanistan.
In other aspects, musical life is fun. If you haven't listened to my favorite yet, get on it!
mewithoutYou - It's all crazy, it's all false, it's all a dream, it's alright
Listen to the lyrics, read them, whatever. It's different from their earlier albums, for sure, but I like it just as much. And man they're an absolute joy to see live.
Dredg/RX Bandits next Tuesday; that'll be fun as well. And Rasy and I are also quite excited about Ben Folds with the DSO later this fall.
Also, check out a distant friend's ep; http://cdbaby.com/cd/ariellebryant. May not be your cup of tea, but she's keeping herself busy, and I'm excited for her.
The weddings are going well; we just did a 3 day Bangladeshi wedding last week; check out rasyran.blogspot.com for sneak peaks before the final editing is done. I got henna on my hand as well, and though it's definitely started to disappear, it still looks quite pretty.
We're going to an old school friend's wedding in a couple weeks, just as guests, which will be a first, shooting one a week after that, and another not long after that, I believe. Then one in October (yay Teagan! :-)) and one in November.
I'm loving my not-quite-so-new anymore car, and loving driving manual. Those hills aren't scary at all anymore.
I'm seriously considering this in the fall: http://www.iteachtexas.com/, which would ideally put me in my own classroom by next school year (August 2010). At my current job, there's just another month or so before my kids start leaving for kindergarten, and then it's a whole new crop of kids, and back to the beginning of my curriculum planning. And, starting in August, we'll be open to children Monday-Friday, which will be good for bringing in more peers, just a bit of a juggle with set up. I'm looking forward to it, though.
Well, it's 10:30 now, and I would be finishing an episode of Jon Stewart, but he's off for the week. So, since I'm a big girl without school to procrastinate and stay up to not do, and since I have work early in the morning, I'll start weaning myself off of the internet. Goodnight, and love to you all! Pick up one of those books I mentioned, or you can borrow my copy. And if you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!
6.22.2009
the beetle king slammed down his fist,
"your flowery description is no better than his!
we sent for the great light and you bring us this!
we didn't ask what it seems like, we asked what it is!"
so hear me out. I've been going around in circles about what to write. I've been writing a lot lately, in a journal; random vignettes and anecdotal observations. And it's really, really great, and I really enjoy it. My creative writing professor was right when she said writing is like a muscle that you need to exercise. And here comes my dilemma. I've finally gotten enough positive comments written in the margins of my term papers that I feel as though I can say, "I'm a good writer."
But it was when my history professor, a man notorious for his difficulty, wrote his note that I really began ruminating. I'd had him as a professor for 3 separate classes, and while I knew he recognized me in passing, I wasn't aware he recalled my entire body of classwork.
I'd scraped through the paper for Nazi Germany, like I generally had the bad habit of doing across my courses. Procrastinated and delayed for weeks, then written the whole thing in a storm over the course of 24 hours. Yet on it he wrote, "this is a good paper, indeed, the best I've seen from you. Good work. A-."
And I just can't stop thinking, if I actually researched those papers as I should have, if I actually fully committed, what could I do? I have a history degree now, and while I can't do much of anything with it, I can write, and I almost feel like I owe it to all those professors; I feel as though I cheated them out my real effort and passion. Teaching is still my ultimate plan, but who says I can't do both?
And here's where part two of the problem comes in. I'm so very impatient. I don't want to pick a topic and research it and spend a year writing a great book. I want to just start throwing things at the wind, grasp at straws and just see it anything catches. "After all," I think, "who would take me seriously anyways, as a 20-year-old girl, if I tried to publish some enlightening book?"
"Still," a voice counters, "maybe you should at least try."
It's just that it's such an exhilarating feeling I have right now. Not much has changed at all, and they haven't even mailed me that piece of paper citing my credentials, but I have this feeling that I should be doing something amazing, and, more importantly, that I can. But if I do, I'm going to do it right this time.
Sounds like it's time for a trip to the library for a little research.
Scratch that. A lot of research.
we sent for the great light and you bring us this!
we didn't ask what it seems like, we asked what it is!"
so hear me out. I've been going around in circles about what to write. I've been writing a lot lately, in a journal; random vignettes and anecdotal observations. And it's really, really great, and I really enjoy it. My creative writing professor was right when she said writing is like a muscle that you need to exercise. And here comes my dilemma. I've finally gotten enough positive comments written in the margins of my term papers that I feel as though I can say, "I'm a good writer."
But it was when my history professor, a man notorious for his difficulty, wrote his note that I really began ruminating. I'd had him as a professor for 3 separate classes, and while I knew he recognized me in passing, I wasn't aware he recalled my entire body of classwork.
I'd scraped through the paper for Nazi Germany, like I generally had the bad habit of doing across my courses. Procrastinated and delayed for weeks, then written the whole thing in a storm over the course of 24 hours. Yet on it he wrote, "this is a good paper, indeed, the best I've seen from you. Good work. A-."
And I just can't stop thinking, if I actually researched those papers as I should have, if I actually fully committed, what could I do? I have a history degree now, and while I can't do much of anything with it, I can write, and I almost feel like I owe it to all those professors; I feel as though I cheated them out my real effort and passion. Teaching is still my ultimate plan, but who says I can't do both?
And here's where part two of the problem comes in. I'm so very impatient. I don't want to pick a topic and research it and spend a year writing a great book. I want to just start throwing things at the wind, grasp at straws and just see it anything catches. "After all," I think, "who would take me seriously anyways, as a 20-year-old girl, if I tried to publish some enlightening book?"
"Still," a voice counters, "maybe you should at least try."
It's just that it's such an exhilarating feeling I have right now. Not much has changed at all, and they haven't even mailed me that piece of paper citing my credentials, but I have this feeling that I should be doing something amazing, and, more importantly, that I can. But if I do, I'm going to do it right this time.
Sounds like it's time for a trip to the library for a little research.
Scratch that. A lot of research.
4.16.2009
And so I thought I’d let you know, that these things take forever
I especially am slow
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home
Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up
And you said “this is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you
But now I don’t care
I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy”
I am happy.
In exactly a month I'll be a college graduate! Nothing's going to change right away; I still need my certification and I really like my job so I'm not in a huge hurry. I don't have kids to support yet, so I can keep enjoying the non-profit thing for a while. :-) But geeze it will be nice to not go to school.
I also love my new car! I've had it two weeks, and it's the most fun ever. I drove it off the lot with only 33 miles on it. It's really pretty sweet; I already had a car payment, so this one is only 20 dollars more or so and the car is worlds different. I loved my old one, but this is just an entirely different beast. And driving a standard is just so much fun; I don't understand why many Americans are so averse to driving a stick. Only three hundred more miles until it's all broken in and everything and I can officially drive like a racecar driver. :-D
Here is a not-so-great picture of it because all the others are still on the memory card and I don't feel like getting the card reader out.
I've been throwing myself into gardening more and more lately. In the big bed, I have cilantro, oregano, and chives hanging out from last year. I also have tomato plants, sweet peas, lettuce, spinach, and bell pepper. On the porch, I have all sorts of random herbs and flowers and straweberries. I like plants; if I've got time after class I'll exit forth worth drive and stop by my favorite nursery and buy some random plant and a random pot and add it to the collection. But I can't do houseplants. They always die long and sad deaths, with the exeption of my orchid in my room.
I also am getting better and better at this bird thing, finally. It took me a while to get anything but house sparrows that would only eat out of the cheapest plastic feeder. But the past two evenings, we've had a male and female cardinal out there, and in the bird bath! I also bought a bird house today. The yard is becoming somewhat of a creature haven. All I really want now is a patio set. I keep browsing craigslist for something that's not too far and that's the right price.
I've been reading a lot lately. When I was younger, I was the kid who got in trouble for reading in the car as the sun was setting, while I was eating, under the covers with a flashlight, walking around the house, all the time. My mom actually had to tell me to stop reading.
My current routine on Tuesdays and Thursdays (school days) is thus: stay up way too late the night before doing useless crap on the computer and throwing in some homework here and there, then read or occasionally nap through all through my lectures. I'm very good at multitasking, and I very rarely ever miss class. In my five classes today, I've gone from page 19 to page 265.
Anyways, so I'm on a Middle-East kick. I finally read The Kite Runner, which is a #1 NY Times Bestseller. It's amazing. It is sad, and graphic, and horrible, but I need to read more things like that. I'm now very close to finishing Three Cups of Tea, a nonfiction account of a man who builds schools for the rural people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Next on the list is Reading Lolita in Tehran. Incidentally, both of these are also #1 NY Times bestsellers. I didn't pick them because of that; they were all given to me or recommended. It's interesting too because they're all set in modern day society, in conditions that are going on now or that were in very recent history.
I can't even reconcile the life I have here in America with that of the characters in these stories, both real and imagined; I can't comprehend the racist and sexist ideology that dominates. We hear "Taliban" or "Al Qaeda" and we hear "Afghanistan," "Iraq," "Iran," "Pakistan," what have you, and the people and all get lumped together as one evil entity under "Muslim" and "Islam," words which to many, especially here in Texas, are dirty words. It is not the fault of those countries that, not so long ago, a French and British foreign minister arbitrarily drew lines on a map, ignoring geographical features and tribal affiliations. If you have animosity, read these books, and others, please. Try to understand the people, not the politics. If you have one to reccomend, tell me!
I am so lucky. I'm in love with a man of a different socioeconomic class, different religion, different race, and, to just about everyone I know, it doesn't matter one bit. America has many faults, but I see so many people arguing over such trivial matters here within our borders, when there is so much else in this world. Instead of making decisions for people you can't begin to relate to, both here and abroad, live your life in love. I choose love over judgement, always.
But I realize that I need you
And I wondered if I could come home
Remember the time you drove all night
Just to meet me in the morning
And I thought it was strange you said everything changed
You felt as if you'd just woke up
And you said “this is the first day of my life
I’m glad I didn’t die before I met you
But now I don’t care
I could go anywhere with you
And I’d probably be happy”
I am happy.
In exactly a month I'll be a college graduate! Nothing's going to change right away; I still need my certification and I really like my job so I'm not in a huge hurry. I don't have kids to support yet, so I can keep enjoying the non-profit thing for a while. :-) But geeze it will be nice to not go to school.
I also love my new car! I've had it two weeks, and it's the most fun ever. I drove it off the lot with only 33 miles on it. It's really pretty sweet; I already had a car payment, so this one is only 20 dollars more or so and the car is worlds different. I loved my old one, but this is just an entirely different beast. And driving a standard is just so much fun; I don't understand why many Americans are so averse to driving a stick. Only three hundred more miles until it's all broken in and everything and I can officially drive like a racecar driver. :-D
Here is a not-so-great picture of it because all the others are still on the memory card and I don't feel like getting the card reader out.
I've been throwing myself into gardening more and more lately. In the big bed, I have cilantro, oregano, and chives hanging out from last year. I also have tomato plants, sweet peas, lettuce, spinach, and bell pepper. On the porch, I have all sorts of random herbs and flowers and straweberries. I like plants; if I've got time after class I'll exit forth worth drive and stop by my favorite nursery and buy some random plant and a random pot and add it to the collection. But I can't do houseplants. They always die long and sad deaths, with the exeption of my orchid in my room.
I also am getting better and better at this bird thing, finally. It took me a while to get anything but house sparrows that would only eat out of the cheapest plastic feeder. But the past two evenings, we've had a male and female cardinal out there, and in the bird bath! I also bought a bird house today. The yard is becoming somewhat of a creature haven. All I really want now is a patio set. I keep browsing craigslist for something that's not too far and that's the right price.
I've been reading a lot lately. When I was younger, I was the kid who got in trouble for reading in the car as the sun was setting, while I was eating, under the covers with a flashlight, walking around the house, all the time. My mom actually had to tell me to stop reading.
My current routine on Tuesdays and Thursdays (school days) is thus: stay up way too late the night before doing useless crap on the computer and throwing in some homework here and there, then read or occasionally nap through all through my lectures. I'm very good at multitasking, and I very rarely ever miss class. In my five classes today, I've gone from page 19 to page 265.
Anyways, so I'm on a Middle-East kick. I finally read The Kite Runner, which is a #1 NY Times Bestseller. It's amazing. It is sad, and graphic, and horrible, but I need to read more things like that. I'm now very close to finishing Three Cups of Tea, a nonfiction account of a man who builds schools for the rural people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Next on the list is Reading Lolita in Tehran. Incidentally, both of these are also #1 NY Times bestsellers. I didn't pick them because of that; they were all given to me or recommended. It's interesting too because they're all set in modern day society, in conditions that are going on now or that were in very recent history.
I can't even reconcile the life I have here in America with that of the characters in these stories, both real and imagined; I can't comprehend the racist and sexist ideology that dominates. We hear "Taliban" or "Al Qaeda" and we hear "Afghanistan," "Iraq," "Iran," "Pakistan," what have you, and the people and all get lumped together as one evil entity under "Muslim" and "Islam," words which to many, especially here in Texas, are dirty words. It is not the fault of those countries that, not so long ago, a French and British foreign minister arbitrarily drew lines on a map, ignoring geographical features and tribal affiliations. If you have animosity, read these books, and others, please. Try to understand the people, not the politics. If you have one to reccomend, tell me!
I am so lucky. I'm in love with a man of a different socioeconomic class, different religion, different race, and, to just about everyone I know, it doesn't matter one bit. America has many faults, but I see so many people arguing over such trivial matters here within our borders, when there is so much else in this world. Instead of making decisions for people you can't begin to relate to, both here and abroad, live your life in love. I choose love over judgement, always.
4.13.2009
Oh you pious and profane, put away your praise and blame
I've had some encounters lately regarding closemindedness in the face of love. Love of my boyfriend, love of humanity, love of freewill. It seems to me that if I'm happy being Catholic and being in love with someone who is Buddhist, I don't see why it should be your problem, or why you should think any less of it.
I believe in love, and that love is my faith, regardless of what title you want to put on it in an attempt to categorize it.
Animosity, judgment, condemnation.
these things have no place here.
1 John 4:16
"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
or, as mewithoutyou paraphrased, God is love, and love is real.
That's all I need to know.
I believe in love, and that love is my faith, regardless of what title you want to put on it in an attempt to categorize it.
Animosity, judgment, condemnation.
these things have no place here.
1 John 4:16
"So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
or, as mewithoutyou paraphrased, God is love, and love is real.
That's all I need to know.
3.26.2009
Crash
I totaled my car. It's not even that bad, but my car is not worth a whole lot, so...yeah.
Its funny, but I really love my car and will miss it. In a silly way, I feel like I just broke up with someone. I feel like I betrayed my sweet car by hurting it and abandoning it. And now I have to find a new car and time's-a-wastin' because I can't freeload off of people forever. I have a few friends that deserve a big THANK YOU for their transportation aide. :-D
Anyways, here's pictures. RIP handsome boy.
On a side note, you guys should be checking rasyran.blogspot.com for weekly (or more frequent) Rasy Ran Photography updates!
Its funny, but I really love my car and will miss it. In a silly way, I feel like I just broke up with someone. I feel like I betrayed my sweet car by hurting it and abandoning it. And now I have to find a new car and time's-a-wastin' because I can't freeload off of people forever. I have a few friends that deserve a big THANK YOU for their transportation aide. :-D
Anyways, here's pictures. RIP handsome boy.
On a side note, you guys should be checking rasyran.blogspot.com for weekly (or more frequent) Rasy Ran Photography updates!
2.06.2009
All you need is a modest house in a modest neighborhood
Ok, so, this is a post that has been coming for a while.
My plans to save the world.
Let me clarify a little. I'm not out to get some giant mythical being and stop it from eating our planet or selling us to the aliens or whatever it is exactly that superman and all his buddies protect us from. But those of you that know me probably know of my penchant for, in today's popular terminology, "green living."
Now I'm not perfect. There are so many things I could do, should do, and don't. But I think it would be beneficial to open a dialogue and give some people ideas, and to give you guys the opportunity to give me more ideas.
Recycling.
This is a loaded term. Yes, I do throw my paper and bottles and cans and boxes and fast food bags and all that recyclable stuff with the little rotating triangle on the bottom into the big blue bin. But, the scary thing is, the big bad economy can't stop at our pocketbooks. It's taking on recycling, too, making it more and more expensive to do, and making our biggest buyers of recycled goods, such as China, reluctant or even unable to dish out the cash and buy a pallet of cardboard. There are warehouses upon warehouses full of recyclables. So, if you can go without it, or can reuse it, do that, first. If not, recycle it. I've got my preschool classroom recycling, and I'm so proud of them! They recycle their lunchable boxes and everything!
Water Bottles.
Did you know every plastic water bottle you throw away sits in the landfill forever? It doesn't biodegrade, it doesn't go away. All 12 or 16 or 24 or how ever many were in your value pack of bottles just sits there. Buy a sink filter or a reusable jug. They come in pretty colors and don't make that obnoxious crinkly noise. :-)
Grocery Store.
I still struggle to remember to bring them to the store, but I have reusable grocery bags and they're amazing. They're also part of what my mom and Rasy's mom got for Christmas. (CYMA is a good company; every time I've bought from them on Amazon they've sent me some random awesome extra bag. I got a really nice canvas one last time.) And some grocery stores will give you a small discount per bag.
Fast Food.
I like going to fast food places just like the next person, but I've really figured out the benefits of going inside, not through the drive through. First off, no idling car, and the line is usually shorter inside anyways. Second, you can control exactly how many napkins, ketchup packets, and everything else that you get. I also don't get a lid and a straw the majority of the time for my drink.
Food.
I don't throw it away. I throw it in the backyard or over the fence. I would have a compost pile, but Christine won't let me. :-P True, it probably accounts for many of our creature problems , but they do make life interesting. I also am big into gardening, and growing yummy things I can eat. Which leads to snake problems, but eh.
Clothes.
Ok well other than the fact that I really don't wash them as often as I should (my closet is scary), when I do, and it's not freezing or dark outside, I hang them on a clothesline to dry. Another source of embarassment for Christine. Interesting side note-my grandma does this as well, blaming dryers for global warming , which is true to a small degree.
Energy.
This goes along with the not using the dryer much, though our appliances are energy star. We have the energy star lighbulbs and opt for windows over heat or the A/C on in the milder seasons.
I know there are other things I do, but I have homework to do and I just lost my train of thought. Give me more ideas!
My plans to save the world.
Let me clarify a little. I'm not out to get some giant mythical being and stop it from eating our planet or selling us to the aliens or whatever it is exactly that superman and all his buddies protect us from. But those of you that know me probably know of my penchant for, in today's popular terminology, "green living."
Now I'm not perfect. There are so many things I could do, should do, and don't. But I think it would be beneficial to open a dialogue and give some people ideas, and to give you guys the opportunity to give me more ideas.
Recycling.
This is a loaded term. Yes, I do throw my paper and bottles and cans and boxes and fast food bags and all that recyclable stuff with the little rotating triangle on the bottom into the big blue bin. But, the scary thing is, the big bad economy can't stop at our pocketbooks. It's taking on recycling, too, making it more and more expensive to do, and making our biggest buyers of recycled goods, such as China, reluctant or even unable to dish out the cash and buy a pallet of cardboard. There are warehouses upon warehouses full of recyclables. So, if you can go without it, or can reuse it, do that, first. If not, recycle it. I've got my preschool classroom recycling, and I'm so proud of them! They recycle their lunchable boxes and everything!
Water Bottles.
Did you know every plastic water bottle you throw away sits in the landfill forever? It doesn't biodegrade, it doesn't go away. All 12 or 16 or 24 or how ever many were in your value pack of bottles just sits there. Buy a sink filter or a reusable jug. They come in pretty colors and don't make that obnoxious crinkly noise. :-)
Grocery Store.
I still struggle to remember to bring them to the store, but I have reusable grocery bags and they're amazing. They're also part of what my mom and Rasy's mom got for Christmas. (CYMA is a good company; every time I've bought from them on Amazon they've sent me some random awesome extra bag. I got a really nice canvas one last time.) And some grocery stores will give you a small discount per bag.
Fast Food.
I like going to fast food places just like the next person, but I've really figured out the benefits of going inside, not through the drive through. First off, no idling car, and the line is usually shorter inside anyways. Second, you can control exactly how many napkins, ketchup packets, and everything else that you get. I also don't get a lid and a straw the majority of the time for my drink.
Food.
I don't throw it away. I throw it in the backyard or over the fence. I would have a compost pile, but Christine won't let me. :-P True, it probably accounts for many of our creature problems , but they do make life interesting. I also am big into gardening, and growing yummy things I can eat. Which leads to snake problems, but eh.
Clothes.
Ok well other than the fact that I really don't wash them as often as I should (my closet is scary), when I do, and it's not freezing or dark outside, I hang them on a clothesline to dry. Another source of embarassment for Christine. Interesting side note-my grandma does this as well, blaming dryers for global warming , which is true to a small degree.
Energy.
This goes along with the not using the dryer much, though our appliances are energy star. We have the energy star lighbulbs and opt for windows over heat or the A/C on in the milder seasons.
I know there are other things I do, but I have homework to do and I just lost my train of thought. Give me more ideas!
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