For earth.

We've been out and about lately. Thanks to my place of employment, we've been given several opportunities to be involved in community activities that benefit the environment. I thought instead of writing another heated rant about how people don't care enough, I could just share what we did.

In honor of earth day, we cleaned the highway that Sun Products adopted (it's a chunk of Bangerter). I've done this a few times and despite what people think, it's actually quite a riot. We play games like who can find the grossest item and who can make up the best story about a littered item.

Chris's stance and face in this photo scream I'm here for court-mandated community service. He volunteered though. I swear. 

We tied for grossest item: I found a condom and he found an unwrapped tampon. But don't worry -- we have nifty pinchers to pick up the trash so we don't come in direct contact (see contraption about).

I won't share the nasty, imaginative stories we came up with.


On to the next event. Tree planting at Wheeler Farm. I've planted small trees before, but these large ones were a challenge. Chris and I were both a bit sore. Tree Utah worked with Sun to organize this event and I was happy to see the big turnout. It's reassuring to know that some people care. Or maybe they were just there to get outta work? Either way, planting trees is a nice thing to do. So do it. Please. (See how non-ranty and nice I'm being about it?)

This isn't everyone. More people came. I think 70 total. Parents brought kids which I think is an amazing thing to do. It was cool to hear the little ones talk about how "happy the trees look" and to see them working as a team. What smart, smart parents. Bravo.

The people who work for and volunteer for Tree Utah were so thoughtful and grateful. They gave out cookies, homemade brownies, bottled water, sunscreen chapstick and these adorable pens shaped like veggies.

I loved them so much, I volunteered to do some writing and editing for them. I'm excited to arrange it.

Work passed out these adorable handmade wildflower cards. I love them. We almost used the same kind of paper of our wedding invites.

So to sum up, I just want to ask the few peeps reading to stop and consider the world in which we live. It's dirty and suffering, but we can make it better. Little bits at a time.

lavatory must-gos

Let's talk about the bathroom. More specifically, things that go on in the bathroom. Yeah that's right. I'm going there. POOP ICK GERMS TAMPON STENCH. Okay, so now that that's outta the way, I want to discuss some things that bother me. I work in a warehouse where some gnarly things go on--and I feel I must vent about it. Sorry for that.

Feel free to agree, diverge, argue or add to my list of LAVATORY MUST-GOS:

1. Skipping the hand wash after using the facilities. REALLY? I don't think going into details on 'WHY' is necessary. Just please (PLEASE) please wash your hands. And if you see someone skipping that part on their way out, don't hesitate to say something. I know I have. It's not THEIR health I'm worried about. It's the rest of us good lil hand washers. We shouldn't have to suffer from staph, e. coli and other illness-causing bacteria lurking in the loo.
2. Using only water to "wash" your hands then wasting three paper towels on your way out. This is the pushy environmentalist coming out in me. It's fine if you wash your hands and use paper towels to dry (though I prefer --because it's more environmentally resourceful--to use the hand drier) but if you're ONLY RINSING WITH WATER, please don't use paper towels. You're essentially just spreading germs around…then killing a tree. 3. Farting/pooping/stinkin' up the place, then telling people on your way out, "I didn't do that. Wasn't me." This happened to me last week. No kidding.
4. Using toilet seat covers. NEWS FLASH: they don't protect you from anything. They are just a way for people to mentally separate their bums from other bums. IT'S JUST SKIN, PEOPLE. To me, sitting on the cold porcelain of a toilet seat is just as unsanitary as touching a door knob or shaking hands. Assertive environmentalist, here: It's a waste of paper, which is a shame.
5. Leaving messes. Just. Don't.
6. Having full-on conversations from inside the stall. Bathroom time = my private time. Leave me alone.
7. Plugging up a toilet in a public bathroom then not telling anyone. Yeah, it might be embarrassing that one of your turds caused an overflow, but it needs to be fixed. I walked into the bathroom at work one day only to find two inches of sewer water and crap ALL OVER the floor. I slipped and barely caught myself--but not before splashing around in the filth from the banana peel slip reaction. The bottom three inches of my pants were wet for hours.

8. Undoing your pants, untucking your shirt or unbuckling your belt before you're actually in the stall. I don't want to see your panties. STAY DRESSED UNTIL YOU'RE OUT OF MY SIGHT.

9. Bathroom graffiti. What are we, six?





What are your bathroom peeves? I'm sure I'm missing some stuff here…

Every Day is Earth Day

It's Earth Day…YAY!

So are you doing something nice for our Mother Earth today? Well if so, that's nice…but shouldn't you be doing nice things for her every day? I'm torn about Earth Day because I feel every single day should be Earth Day. Why only give it emphasis one day out of 365 in a year? Nature and its glory is a personal issue for me, but the point is that animals and plants should matter to us ALL.

Sure, we could shut it all out and pretend it's not happening…we can be foolish about global warming, habitat destruction and pollution, but ultimately (if we keep dirtying the nest at this rate) we're screwed. The trees that give us fresh air and beauty, the animals we love to watch and those pretty flowers we love to smell…they'll disappear, along with us because we all depend on the biosphere. So you think it won't affect your life? You think it's okay to ignore the 3 Rs we learned about in elementary school. That's fine, but what about your kids? What happens when these detrimental things we're doing to the Earth start directly affecting your offspring (oh, and I guarantee they will)? We're stuck here on this planet with nowhere to run. So maybe everyone should quit running from the responsibility of keeping this place livable.

Don't depend on government or large companies to do all the dirty work, because they won't. It starts with YOU and your ability to be conscious of the little every-day habits. Whatever political beliefs you've established or environmental opinions you've formed over your years here on Earth, I think it's a safe assumption that we ALL want fresh air to breathe and a safe place to reside.

Okay so this turned into more of an angry rant than an ode to Earth Day. The bad part is I had to stop myself from going on and on.
Go ahead and click around to find out easy ways you can help.
http://www.cat.org.uk/index.tmpl?refer=index&init=1
http://www.seql.org/100ways.cfm
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/
http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/7-energy-savers-460608

I live in a tiny apartment and still find ways to recycle. I have a chaotic schedule just like any modern girl, but I still find ways to reduce and reuse as well. Lifestyle isn't a good excuse. When people make fun of me for reusing my tin foil, I just tell em 'I'm not cheap, I'm resourceful!'
I'm not ashamed.

If you'd like to know more about simple ways to save Earth, email me!