Over My Hill, Over My Hill...

My month of trying to become an uber conscious consumer has been overall a success. In the past 30 days, I used four plastic shopping bags(two were necessary in Japan, where they have NO trash cans!), and my awesome Timbuk2 compact bag has joined the list of things I double-check on my way out the door - phone, wallet, keys, bag, check!

It has also made me more acutely aware of the problems our generation will have to deal with in a decade or so, as the un-sustainable habits our country has leaned on over the past several decades have compiled to create an unfortunately unhealthy environment. There are other communities in the world who realized this much earlier, and have forced people to pay for using plastic bags, fined people for not recycling everything possible, and developed incentives for the use of composting and renewable energies. I have faith that the necessary changes are possible, but in order to create a change on a great enough scale to impact the planet, they must be inspired on an individual level.

Here is a depressing clip - creative wit and humor aside - that will possibly influence your shopping habits too:

"The Majestic Plastic Bag," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw

I Love Java, Sweet & Hot

Happy National Coffee Appreciation Day!

I adore coffee. Good coffee, that is. I love the aroma of the beans(even walking down the breakfast aisle in the supermarket makes my mouth water). I love the crema that bubbles on top of it, and the way the white milk swirls in and creates various shades of brown. That first bittersweet sip soothes my soul no matter what is on my mind. I will admit that I am 100% a coffee snob. If it's not good, I find it pretty unbearable(like breakfast in Celakovice...blech).

I don't know what created this intense appreciation. My parents never drank it habitually, and in college I didn't rely on it at all. In France, I fell in love with the wonderful strength of espresso drinks, as opposed to the American drip version. Then my standards were raised when I worked at Williams-Sonoma, and spent my first Holiday season there becoming the resident expert on appliances and demoing the Jura Capresso machines. They grind, tamp, brew-to-order and clean themselves at the touch of a button, and of course the best way to promote a $3,000 coffee maker is to brew samples with the best quality of coffee(Illy, true love!). I was hooked, so I mastered our little Krups machine and did pretty well without indulging in $4 lattes too regularly. During grad school I did lean on two or three cups a day - especially last tri when I started every day with an 8am lecture. Since graduation, I have tried to cut back to a cup a day, mostly in efforts to keep the caffeine from intervening with my gloriously rediscovered sleep cycle. At the beginning of the summer my cravings were pretty intense, and I could feel the caffeine deficit. I'm currently back to a more normal caffeine need, though, and after a few out-of-town experiences suffering through icky weak morning cups, I am rejoicing in the steamy mug in my hands, at home on this crisp Fall morning.

Java cheers to my fellow coffee aficionados!

I Got My Philosophy

So far, my mission has been fairly successful. Only once have I found myself shopping for groceries late at night without having brought my own bag. And I was with Brian, and we only used one new plastic bag. Is it bad that I am using him as an excuse? (I technically didn't pay for anything when we checked out...)

Here is some inspiration about the use of plastic versus paper:

Plastic bags were first introduced in 1977 and now account for 4 out 5 bags handed out at grocery stores. They are made with polyethylene, which is made from nonrenewable petroleum resources. For the stores using them they are extremely cheap containers, costing only a cent apiece, in comparison to paper bag products that run three to five cents each. Paper bags also use up more resources during production, transportation and handling because they are much bigger and heavier than plastic bags. However, in comparison to the 7-10 years a plastic bag takes to decompose in a landfill, the month it takes a paper bag to decompose doesn't seem like much! Also, as of 2000, more than 20% of paper bags got recycled, while 99% of plastic bags end up as litter in a landfill.

These facts conclude that plastic bags consume 40% less energy in production, and generate 80% less solid waste than paper bags. Not that either product is ideal, but unfortunately less than 1% of US shoppers use cloth/re-useable shopping bags. Time to step it up!

(My source for most of these facts is http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module14/title.htm.)

Forget the Speech that Moved the Stone

I consider myself fairly eco chic, and have always made an effort to reuse and recycle everything that I can. For better or for worse, I was raised to be conscious of the waste that I leave this planet. That's probably why my husband refers to me as a pack rat, and people who help me clean up after events think I go overboard to save cans and bottles. In support of my coffee habit, I also make it a point to carry my own travel mug to use for any beverages I purchase, and I'm confident that over the past few years I have saved hundreds of paper cups and cardboard javajackets. However, one thing I know I could be better at is using my own shopping bags when I shop at the grocery store or at Costco. I usually have them in my car somewhere, but I can't seem to regularly remember to bring them into the store with me.

So, for the month of September (HOLY COW, IT'S SEPTEMBER?!), I am committing to myself and to my environment that I will not use a new plastic bag. I will take the extra time to go back to the car if I forget to bring in my own, or limit the number of items I buy to what I can carry. We have plenty of bags in the kitchen closet to help clean up after Bosco, and pretty much everything else I could need one for should be covered by a re-usable bag. My hope is that this will create a habit and this effort will become second nature to me.

Working on a case last year about Wal-Mart's efforts to Green its business practices, I discovered some astounding facts about global uses for shopping bags. For example, in Singapore, more than one million plastic bags change hands every day. Almost a quarter of the trash collected is made up of plastic wrappers and bags! While most gets incinerated, too much of it ends up in marinas and rivers, choking wildlife and polluting the water.

In efforts to inspire myself, and potentially others, I will also commit to posting additional research along with my progress once a week through this experiment. Here we go!

You're My Best Friend

My dog is amazing. Not just because he is an American Golden Retriever with a gorgeous dark red coat and adorable fluffy blonde tail feathers, and not because he is regal and bursting with personality. I don't adore him because he pushes me to run faster on days when we hit the bike path together, or because he has his own stretching routine he does when I ask him if he is up for a run. I don't just admire him when he stops and sits to look both ways while waiting for me before he crosses a street, or the patient way he will sit back and watch silently when Bailey comes over and takes on all of his toys at once. It's not because of the darling way he pirouettes and prances around the kitchen when it's meal time, or the concerned way he bursts into the bathroom (because when you close that door, you are OBVIOUSLY in need of assistance!). It's not because of the determination that he applies when he is solving a serious problem, like how to get a second tennis ball in his mouth or get as many possible kibbles out of his Kong (which is accomplished by repeatedly dropping it down a flight of stairs).

I love my dog because he unconditionally cares about everybody in his life. He is genuinely excited to see friends and family when they come over, and he is always happy to see me when I come home. He is full of love and not afraid to shower us with affection. I love the way he sits at my feet and looks up at me begging to be petted, and the way he gently licks my wrist and sighs in happiness when I reach down to scratch his chest. And I love the way he looks at me as he creeps up toward my pillow when he wants to wake me up before my alarm goes off in the morning, like he knows he's interrupting something important but he doesn't understand how it could possibly be more important than his hungry tummy.

Don't get me wrong, he isn't an eternal bundle of sunshine, and he does occasionally bark at passers by from the safety of his bay window. When he is annoyed or grumpy with you, you definitely know it. He will ignore all conversation and sulk in the corner by the front door, and sometimes ring his bell incessantly just to let you know he is less than thrilled about whatever is going on. Sometimes he will sneak something off of the kitchen counter or a table, and leave it for you on the floor somewhere - which inevitably plagues his conscience enough that he grovels in apology when you find it. He mostly gets a little rebellious when he thinks he is too mature to need his leash and leader when we go for walks in the evening. He also has his moments when the weather is not fit to run outside and I abandon him in favor of the treadmill, or when it is 8:05 and you are severely delinquent in serving his 8:00 meal.

This summer his companionship has been invaluable to me. There is nothing that could ever replace the affection and unconditional support he has provided so liberally over these past few months. He has been energetic and excited with me on good days, and gentle and understanding on the more frequent bad days. I have so enjoyed watching the trust we have in each other grow as I get to spend one-on-one time with him, and he gets to accompany me on errands and visits. His Addisonian issues aside, Bosco has been a reliable source of joy in my life, and it is unfortunate that I can't express to him how genuinely I appreciate him. I know he understands that I adore him, and he definitely comprehends his dependence on us. But his eyes express confusion and disappointment when he has to stay home by himself, or when I enforce a rule he doesn't understand, and it breaks my heart. I wish he could fathom the depth of my gratitude for having him in my life, for he has permanently captured a piece of my heart, and inspires me daily to be more open and loving to people I care about.

One by One I Count Them...

"Blessings only come to those who notice." ~ courtesy of my Dove Dark foil this morning

Today is definitely a day to notice all of the things in my life I am grateful for. Jay, first of all, and his miraculous transformation since that night he ended up beneath the cab of a semi. We've gotten to spend a lot of time together this summer and I am amazed at the person he has become, and thankful for his friendship and support!

I am grateful for being born to two loving parents, who taught me the value of hard work and staying true to myself. I have never been hungry a day in my life, and have always had a comfortable bed to call mine. Their unconditional willingness to help me do anything constantly amazes me, and I am truly fortunate to be able to depend on them.

As difficult as it is to force myself through my regular workout routines, I am aware that I am physically able and healthy enough to push myself that way, which is definitely a blessing most of us take for granted.

I also have a deep affection for this planet we inhabit, specifically my beautiful mountains and Colorado Blue skies, and the coasts with their powerful and infinite rolling waves.

I am extremely fortunate that I have been privileged to explore other parts of the world, and I deeply appreciate my open mind and awareness of other cultures and life experiences.

On this day, in particular, after three homes next door were destroyed by a terrible fire, I am blessed that I have a house. It may be riddled with construction shortcuts that have complicated our time here, but it is mine. I have hot water and functional plumbing, which is not something everyone in the world can say. I also have a lovely dining room table that is frequently full of food and surrounded by people I love. We were very fortunate to escape any damage from the flames, heat, smoke, water and foam.

As uncomfortable as I feel like my life is at the moment, I am extremely blessed to be where I am, and to have been where I have.

You Look Good in Orange

A few weeks ago I noticed a crispness in the air while Bosco and I were on a morning walk. My first thought was that Fall has announced its intentions, which was followed by the thought that it is only August and we should still be in the midst of summer heat and pool days and barbecues. This thought process led me to erupt with joy at the thought that I actually get to experience Autumn this year!

After two tortuous extended triple-digit seasons in Phoenix, I will once again get to experience the joys of the Fall season. This includes crock-pot comfort foods like chili and hearty pasta sauces loaded with end-of-summer veggies, spiced cider and mulled wine, the glorious colors that the aspens and oaks bring to Colorado, Halloween decorations, and sweaters, scarves, and pea coats! I am enjoying summertime but these ideas are more appealing than usual to me, so I can't say I will be sad when the change of seasons brings cooler weather and cloudy days.

I am not excited about the early arrival of football season, however. Losing Sundays isn't something I have ever been enthusiastic about, but having all day to myself when Brian is at work just makes eliminating his company on one of the weekend days even less appealing. After six years you'd think I'd have found something to take up my time for that quarter of the year. Any suggestions for fun(affordable) things to do on Sundays in the winter?

I'm not opposed to being a fan and rooting for your team, or even attending a few games. The Bronco's used to be good, and used to be fun to watch. My main beef with pro sports is that they are strictly commercial enterprises. But there are millions of suckers out there who will pay $200+ for entrance into a stadium to be hounded by advertisements, fork out another $40+ for beer and sodium-laden stadium treats, and scream for a couple of hours at athletes who get paid ridiculous sums of money to strut around on a field wearing spandex embroidered with their biggest sponsor's logo.

OK, Back to anticipating the upcoming joys of Autumn - like getting wrapped up to go out and enjoy the fresh air and fall colors! At the rate time is flying in my world, it's literally just around the corner. I think that I might actually be ready for this change!