Attempting to make conversation and flirt on my way in from the parking lot to the office today, I began a conversation with a woman. It went something like this...
Get out one of my multiple 'electronic fobs' (building doors and VPN access), and open the door. Hold door for cute blonde coming in behind me.
She does the same on the next door.
Thanks, I say, and we trade pleasantries
Her hands are quite fill of various bags, I assume for work
Ok here's my chance, "So, what's in all the bags?"
"Oh, since you ask, this ones a breast pump"
Randy does a quick bee line towards the steps and mutters something about "Have a nice day"
You gotta admire her honesty. Which I assume was more of a "Hey dude, leave me alone" response.
Sometimes the most obvious and apparent solution might just make the most sense.
I was having a discussion with my sons about the energy crunch and gas and global warming etc. You know, all that fun stuff that little boys like to talk about. When out of nowhere comes this from Cole, almost 8, "If it were me I'd just say use less gas". Whoa, why hadn't anyone thought about that before??
Instead, we keep hearing from certain political parties, that we should just drill for more oil. I did a rudimentary explaination of supply and demand. Which they seemed to comprehend to some extent. Still, both in agreement that we should just use less gas.
When explaining the production of electricity, Ethan who is now 10, asked "Isn't there an unlimited supply of fire?". Basically equating the production of electricity with some type of fire, coal, gas etc. Nope, I said, there isn't. Because the fire has to come from some other source. He got it!!
Amazing when you take two young children, explain something to them that most Americans don't understand, and they get it. Not because they are any higher intelligence (although I personally think they are), but because they don't have an bias yet. Nor do they have a vested interest in Big Oil etc.
I'm always a bit offended and frustrated by people who stereotype Wisconsinites as some kind of lazy, overweight, lard-asses. I spent most of my life in Texas and always hear the snide remarks from friends and family. Well, this time I've got the evidence to dispel the rumors of our obesity.
Calorielab has published the fattest states of 2008. And... Wisconsin comes in at 26 this year. While Texas trails far behind at 15. So there, all you fat Texans!! Just kidding Mom.
Today is Earth day and I'd like to say a couple things about it. First, why can't we have more creative commercials such as the one above. Oh my, it shows someones ass. Or arse, as they say in Great Britain.
I've been trying hard to minimize my impact on our environment. But, sometimes you just can win. I was buying some meat, yea I know, eliminate that and you've done a lot, but anyway. I was buying some meat and I thought how can I get meat without that nasty styrofoam tray that the product in the cooler has? Hmmm, well how about if I get that nice man behind the counter to slap me a slab-o-beef on a piece of butcher paper. Great idea, right? Well, until I got it home and realized that the nice man behind the counter put that slab-o-beef on a stryofoam tray anyway. Next time I'll have to ask for my beef sans-styrofoam.
I've also been trying to look at more products that I buy and what impact their packaging has. A one gallon plastic jug of milk is about 15% less then buying 2 half gallons cartons. But is the dollar I save worth the impact that the plastic jug will have on the environment? At least the milk jugs will get recycled into something. Yea, I know so will the plastic. But if you think it's being recycled into more milk jugs, you're sadly mistaken. Pretty much any plastic that comes in contact with food is made from virgin plastic. So, from now on I'm spending the extra to help reduce my plastic consumption, and getting only the half gallon cardboard cartons.
CFL's, that seems like a no brainer at this point. Trying to eat more local? Well with the Farmers Market now open, I hope to at least eat one or two meals a week with the primary source of the meal from the market. I'd like to take the boys down on Saturday morning and maybe have them pick out some things that they would like to have for one meal that week. I think they are getting old enough to start to understand some of what that means.
Navy showers? Believe it or not, I've done this a few times. With it getting warmer, it's not too big a deal. It seems like it doesn't make a big impact. But, again if everyone did this once a week think of the impact that would have. It's kind of like if everyone quit using electric can openers. Amazing when you think about something so simple and small.
