5/24/2009
FreeCycle
If you have not yet tried Freecycle then now is the time to check out the Freecycle group in your area. The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,751 groups with 6,761,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (good people). Membership is free. To sign up, go to Freecycle.org and find your community by entering it into the search box above or by clicking on “Browse Groups” above the search box. Have fun!
2/06/2009
Notes from a Plastic Bag-Free Fanatic!
I recently started the spring semester of college. (Those of you who know me personally know that I have gone back to school after a 27 year hiatus.) I am taking watercolor again this semester, I am not sure if this is just to torture myself and the professor I had last semester or if I truly have found a passion in the class that nearly killed me, but I digress.
Last semester I carried my large sheets of watercolor paper to school in the cardboard box that I received them in, I like that box, it is just the right size! However, it is a bit awkward to tote around, and it is getting a little worn around the edges. So I decided to make myself an oversized tote to carry my cardboard box in, hoping to keep my box and art protected from the elements this semester.
Doug and I went to the fabric store and I made my selection from the remnant pile and headed toward the check stand. I was a little distracted as I was checking out and I forgot to tell the checker that I did NOT need a bag, so she handed over my fabric in a plastic bag. Of course I told her, that I really didn’t need the bag. In fact I was trying to save the world from plastic bags, one bag at time and that I hoped the folks in line behind me would pass on bags as well. Again those of you, who know me, KNOW that everyone heard my story, as I am no shrinking violet. I noted to myself that the lady behind me just had a little bit of ribbon in her hand, and those behind her not too much more, certainly none of them would need a bag for these items.
When we got to the car, I begged Doug to wait so I could see if my words of wisdom had touched any of these souls. Had I been able to convert a person to a plastic bag free life with my words of wisdom? Well, Doug was not as interested in my scheme as I was, so he was not planning on waiting, but as he backed out, I saw the woman who was in line behind me exiting the store……GIANT, plastic bag in hand!
I was so bummed, I really thought of all the folks, with her tiny bit of ribbon she would have passed on a bag for sure. I would like to find some explanation that makes me understand this fascination, obsession/addiction some people seem to have with plastic bags. I wanted there to be some happy ending, but alas that was not the case……. So, I guess there should a moral to my story…….however my mother always told me if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all, so I guess I will just have to keep quiet on this one.
Last semester I carried my large sheets of watercolor paper to school in the cardboard box that I received them in, I like that box, it is just the right size! However, it is a bit awkward to tote around, and it is getting a little worn around the edges. So I decided to make myself an oversized tote to carry my cardboard box in, hoping to keep my box and art protected from the elements this semester.
Doug and I went to the fabric store and I made my selection from the remnant pile and headed toward the check stand. I was a little distracted as I was checking out and I forgot to tell the checker that I did NOT need a bag, so she handed over my fabric in a plastic bag. Of course I told her, that I really didn’t need the bag. In fact I was trying to save the world from plastic bags, one bag at time and that I hoped the folks in line behind me would pass on bags as well. Again those of you, who know me, KNOW that everyone heard my story, as I am no shrinking violet. I noted to myself that the lady behind me just had a little bit of ribbon in her hand, and those behind her not too much more, certainly none of them would need a bag for these items.
When we got to the car, I begged Doug to wait so I could see if my words of wisdom had touched any of these souls. Had I been able to convert a person to a plastic bag free life with my words of wisdom? Well, Doug was not as interested in my scheme as I was, so he was not planning on waiting, but as he backed out, I saw the woman who was in line behind me exiting the store……GIANT, plastic bag in hand!
I was so bummed, I really thought of all the folks, with her tiny bit of ribbon she would have passed on a bag for sure. I would like to find some explanation that makes me understand this fascination, obsession/addiction some people seem to have with plastic bags. I wanted there to be some happy ending, but alas that was not the case……. So, I guess there should a moral to my story…….however my mother always told me if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all, so I guess I will just have to keep quiet on this one.
1/24/2009
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