tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77540400921976578582024-03-13T06:30:17.902-04:00The Unplastic LifeThe Need for and Challenges of Reducing PlasticPlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-73662581836592808452009-07-13T23:18:00.007-04:002009-07-13T23:28:17.303-04:00Not Me! Monday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0lMO1nL1hr5TfIG6D_nKNkJ2R6yDdyp7bkC4qBJGgmWP5ib_jOVNogLE8TEzH5sPSJHIizufKj_63MSnmbKdhaTJB4w2hIkK7KeciodDsGI75VI1WC_vOStsQ_Jn2470p_76Lj0XEHFl/s1600-h/NotMeMondayButtonV2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358151036471245122" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 84px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0lMO1nL1hr5TfIG6D_nKNkJ2R6yDdyp7bkC4qBJGgmWP5ib_jOVNogLE8TEzH5sPSJHIizufKj_63MSnmbKdhaTJB4w2hIkK7KeciodDsGI75VI1WC_vOStsQ_Jn2470p_76Lj0XEHFl/s400/NotMeMondayButtonV2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div>This will be fun! I haven't "Not Me!ed" in awhile.</div><br /><div></div><div>Let's see...</div><div></div><br /><div>I certainly DIDN'T stay in bed the whole weekend (in fairness, I was sick...and I managed not to use any plastic while sick...unless you count the Tylenol bottle. Why does ALL medicine come in plastic? I mean, I do have the special dispensation for medical plastic, but what ever happened to the good old glass medical jar?).</div><br /><div></div><div>I definitely did NOT drink my chicken soup out of a coffee cup at work today when I discovered I'd forgotten my spoon (it was an effort to avoid succombing to using a plastic one).</div><br /><div></div><div>I obviously would NEVER go to McDonald's, despite its inherent plasticity, to get an evening snack in an effort to push through an assignment. (In fairness, the only plastic I used was whatever was coating my cup. But it's more the idea of McDonald's that's plastic...)</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Someone bought FOUR BOXES of granola bars to keep at work (because they were on sale, but only if you bought four!). Who, me? Couldn't be! They come individually wrapped...oh, but they're so yummy (real weakness, granola bars. serious. troubling).</div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>And I totally DIDN'T delay buying binders because I want to find some eco-friendly ones. Nope! Not me.</div>PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-79469837872545439672009-07-08T01:03:00.003-04:002009-07-08T01:16:51.183-04:00Still Here! Still Avoiding Plastic!Sorry I've been MIA. My new job's been really busy. It's not that I don't have unplastic stories -- I do! But sometimes I get overwhelmed trying to choose which one to tell.<br /><br />Let's see...<br /><br />I finally got my pictures developed from DC Pride. Yes, <span style="font-style: italic;">developed.</span> Old school <span style="font-style: italic;">disposable </span>camera. I'm insanely embarassed. Also, for the record, it took HORRIBLE pictures. By and large they are horrendously over-exposed. Sigh.<br /><br />BUT they do document the excessive use of plastic at such festivals. Here's a picture of the people forcing unnecessary plastic bags on festival-goers:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz4lBO0mOiNAgVNqjfG0F_AvBWMzeND4OaekVx1pwZNU-IExyFNaW95pnZcmhi4jhORme38REgZZzaS_E84Ipg8HEDPcB901gMErFWO8qoOLwf29HRNndfePGkKtJH4pJ1wKvFeh04EN1/s1600-h/95080013.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 265px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPz4lBO0mOiNAgVNqjfG0F_AvBWMzeND4OaekVx1pwZNU-IExyFNaW95pnZcmhi4jhORme38REgZZzaS_E84Ipg8HEDPcB901gMErFWO8qoOLwf29HRNndfePGkKtJH4pJ1wKvFeh04EN1/s400/95080013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355952891233539314" border="0" /></a><br />Here's the one of the iced tea taste test that generated lots of waste:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnS6u6BPEX0j-ka8OBOcbN8cJ-dsKGtzWIEvHK3CwdkUg5gToWXpEjqqD1NOQ63cLLSL2pAbbPp_fQNs9kVs6RAzh87nWUJWjSYcUssrx9926ILSARGiXa44Na_c7T1ox3IXIGF7f1FnD/s1600-h/95080015.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEnS6u6BPEX0j-ka8OBOcbN8cJ-dsKGtzWIEvHK3CwdkUg5gToWXpEjqqD1NOQ63cLLSL2pAbbPp_fQNs9kVs6RAzh87nWUJWjSYcUssrx9926ILSARGiXa44Na_c7T1ox3IXIGF7f1FnD/s400/95080015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355952898074424050" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a picture of the recycling bin! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtoDzCoYOwRS-utwWTCy_Te5AFNajtZopGO_so4DyheHP7V4GL9osGIUvVtBAYgngYAzoiZfVQPwfqM9GeTWzBAJyLZcV9oUUDtbcMygb5Q-vTKNC1HzFQ1Yk4vaKks7iU3uWTYiNw_tt/s1600-h/95080016.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtoDzCoYOwRS-utwWTCy_Te5AFNajtZopGO_so4DyheHP7V4GL9osGIUvVtBAYgngYAzoiZfVQPwfqM9GeTWzBAJyLZcV9oUUDtbcMygb5Q-vTKNC1HzFQ1Yk4vaKks7iU3uWTYiNw_tt/s400/95080016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355952900709020626" border="0" /></a><br />Recycling is so <span style="font-style: italic;">gay </span>(I mean that in a good way -- the LGBT community tends to love a good recycling bin!). By contrast, I went to the National Capitol BBQ Festival (where I failed at taking pictures because my batteries were dead), and they <span style="font-style: italic;">didn't even have recycling bins. </span>On a plus note, though, the Dasani flavored water employee gave me a bunch of delicious strawberry-kiwi water <span style="font-weight: bold;">in my Sigg. </span>She poured extra water in because she was impressed that I was trying to be earth-friendly. Nice job, Dasani!<br /><br />I managed to have a low-plastic July 4. Took my trusty Sigg with me and used it for all of my beverage needs. Successfully avoided straws at several spots this weekend -- and my friends even know to forcefully request NO STRAW when ordering for me too!! It's so sweet.<br /><br />So, overall, festivals can be rough times, holidays are do-able, and my friends are the best!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-63483221944445611702009-06-23T22:29:00.006-04:002009-06-25T23:29:10.679-04:00Find It! Episode 2<span style="font-weight: bold;">**Contest deadline extended to 11:59, Friday, June 26 (International Human Rights Day! Totally unrelated...)**<br /><br /></span>It's a happy post tonight. :)<br /><br />So, way back when, I promised that if I posted a "Find It! Episode 1," it would be followed by an "Episode 2." It's time for that episode.<br /><br />You know the drill: Open the pictures, save them on your computer. Use some nifty program to draw circles around the plastic lurking in these gorgeous Grecian landscapes. Email the answers to theunplasticlife@gmail.com. Win a cool un-plastic prize (details TBD, but it'll be good!). Contest closes at 11:59 pm EST on Friday (June 26, 2009).<br /><br />Just four of them this time (I'm so easy on you!):<br />1.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zihduXXmf4vAYhLf6q8xs0kbdNAXOBGD0q3_L4DJfBTebsWyU6ndAo7psKvkDJUwXz4gJZL8_5PGZQMSvPk5UtEkLmnjeEfPVswf-Qe08B9geKbpUvSHh_0wYbOpdITYdYhYlc5gLUN0/s1600-h/Find+it%21+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zihduXXmf4vAYhLf6q8xs0kbdNAXOBGD0q3_L4DJfBTebsWyU6ndAo7psKvkDJUwXz4gJZL8_5PGZQMSvPk5UtEkLmnjeEfPVswf-Qe08B9geKbpUvSHh_0wYbOpdITYdYhYlc5gLUN0/s400/Find+it%21+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350722144359043730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxAn_h2iuV-pGTq__T4XS6FHSVmInSNttzlUZBixknV7xlgxFv7F-8aRSMbdovB9Rt13thqfS0f3Ef9WaMC2sa4a5VeHcUGBvlCKnE9Dz58dhF8WqHBD8z1cKOboMP0UVCv76CGtAIHOW/s1600-h/Find+it%21+4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizxAn_h2iuV-pGTq__T4XS6FHSVmInSNttzlUZBixknV7xlgxFv7F-8aRSMbdovB9Rt13thqfS0f3Ef9WaMC2sa4a5VeHcUGBvlCKnE9Dz58dhF8WqHBD8z1cKOboMP0UVCv76CGtAIHOW/s400/Find+it%21+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350722154014074146" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveC6YUMSI_4O8lWE808iR4JPP4kRFzdjEGCI2soxbkN6bRAXte68CiREfZrkBeH25hpeiJ5ryC-B69Cdkwyh5dDoCeNZ-nlMEx3z6WabpYYwcyhvotJ7xKuznzO9a1WPLBwT_fN6HlqyP/s1600-h/Find+it%21+9.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjveC6YUMSI_4O8lWE808iR4JPP4kRFzdjEGCI2soxbkN6bRAXte68CiREfZrkBeH25hpeiJ5ryC-B69Cdkwyh5dDoCeNZ-nlMEx3z6WabpYYwcyhvotJ7xKuznzO9a1WPLBwT_fN6HlqyP/s400/Find+it%21+9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350722166054839122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />4.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVlpTpG1Pzx9dr0aZbMc1tgBme_eQxAZnDz1-ppIxNPRUMDy8E42dygujw9mmEdj21tvUPvW4MrnwNqX_ek-CAD-TlHS6hrJifFiR2eG6sDelMS8chq6SRrL_jJWK9a_aSBchLd6fSss9/s1600-h/Find+it%21+6+medium.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVlpTpG1Pzx9dr0aZbMc1tgBme_eQxAZnDz1-ppIxNPRUMDy8E42dygujw9mmEdj21tvUPvW4MrnwNqX_ek-CAD-TlHS6hrJifFiR2eG6sDelMS8chq6SRrL_jJWK9a_aSBchLd6fSss9/s400/Find+it%21+6+medium.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350722159595304866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also, congrats, dear readers, you've gotten us over 1,000 page views since May 14! Nice work! Keep it up!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-33793524096818091032009-06-23T00:22:00.004-04:002009-06-23T01:10:07.594-04:00Moby Dick is no Friend to the Plastic DieterI made the mistake of trying to eat at Moby Dick tonight. Moby Dick is a take-out falafel/pita place in Dupont Circle. I was excited, since I absolutely ADORE Mediterranean food. But, once inside, it became clear that <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Moby Dick is no friend to the Plastic Dieter.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span>It started out innocently enough. I walked in and perused the menu excitedly. When it became clear that the restaurant generally served its food on either plastic plates or in styrofoam containers, I started to get concerned. But, this is nothing I don't face often enough. Just last week I ate with some colleagues in the Botanical Gardens. We got take out from the Native American museum, which typically uses plastic for to-go containers, and I just asked the chef to kindly wrap my turkey sandwich in a paper towel. It worked just fine!<br /><br />So, I asked if I could order a pita sandwich and have them wrap it in a paper towel. The employee stuttered a yes but his overbearing, rude manager shouted out a no. Not yet deterred, I asked if they could use foil. The manager reported that it was <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">against the health code. </span>Really? It's against the health code to serve a sandwich in paper or foil? Chipotle, Baja Fresh, Potbelly's, Cosi, even fast food like McDonald's and Burger King do it all the time. And I am 100% sure I've eaten foil-wrapped falafel in Adams Morgan. It looks like this wrapped up in foil:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8dsHx0lESmGY19oNgSe3FdqHq5p55qcWZFPvqI0a1i_9L_rlB4QaG9i7YTEZ0ejo9X2GUGz6YarRmomcXHx0UKdivfzdaI3ILJX8dL48qzPklJOtCtYZIre3NwqiGrxkYi9dywpOZ1Ew/s1600-h/falafel+in+foil.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8dsHx0lESmGY19oNgSe3FdqHq5p55qcWZFPvqI0a1i_9L_rlB4QaG9i7YTEZ0ejo9X2GUGz6YarRmomcXHx0UKdivfzdaI3ILJX8dL48qzPklJOtCtYZIre3NwqiGrxkYi9dywpOZ1Ew/s400/falafel+in+foil.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350376566201154738" border="0" /></a><br />Or like this in paper:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv0_WKMBbW8LlVhCc13irzkEAYDHIR4SBf0QXK__Y-A6RycRZtEMDsycti2E1cw2CazEw-qp49rqNcwVxQcGAkfVBizmIwF7Bo9UIfYmvrGttc2ul7A1U_mfa5Rnh0fyeNj8jliWzheSR/s1600-h/falafel+paper+2.gif"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv0_WKMBbW8LlVhCc13irzkEAYDHIR4SBf0QXK__Y-A6RycRZtEMDsycti2E1cw2CazEw-qp49rqNcwVxQcGAkfVBizmIwF7Bo9UIfYmvrGttc2ul7A1U_mfa5Rnh0fyeNj8jliWzheSR/s400/falafel+paper+2.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350385858877362818" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'd be frankly shocked if there were any rule against using paper or foil packaging. I'd very much like to see it in writing. When it's not the middle of the night, I'll try to check into the DC Health Code.<br /><br />Eventually, the employee brought over the hard plastic plate and the styrofoam container and said, "We have <span style="font-weight: bold;">this </span>or we have <span style="font-weight: bold;">this</span>." And I said, "Well, then I don't think I want anything." My friends still ate there, but I went to Baja Fresh. I will never eat at Moby Dick. Not until they at least try a biodegradeable plastic. There are so many other options that are at least marginally accomodating of their customers. My distress this evening really went beyond the plastic issue to the way I felt I was treated, with a complete lack of flexibility, creativity, or customer service.<br /><br />At least my burrito was delicious.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span>PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-10264830159181770362009-06-18T00:45:00.005-04:002009-06-18T01:00:34.429-04:00Fold-up Reusable BagThis one is really a shout out to my parents for sharing this incredible anti-plastic device with me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkSor8KfshodtD2xTFD5tcekg73EiXy6PaZDV3jeLfn9g0ISUQ8xbHI02SBOlv2ORl5RzXH1xwXny0BLCB_eRv43ZuIy59ii133_40KWYvbuNZGoms0dS7vsgOqTKpaAvnK8U5wAU-cBK/s1600-h/folding+bag.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkSor8KfshodtD2xTFD5tcekg73EiXy6PaZDV3jeLfn9g0ISUQ8xbHI02SBOlv2ORl5RzXH1xwXny0BLCB_eRv43ZuIy59ii133_40KWYvbuNZGoms0dS7vsgOqTKpaAvnK8U5wAU-cBK/s400/folding+bag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348527000547218354" border="0" /></a><br />Thank you!!<br /><br />It's a reusable bag, but one that folds into a small square -- perfect for tucking into my work bag.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcbsVnSYY-UL-OC64LeVxmcuHvLx214ECgb6j9u7jxSDglZjI-lKqK0zr9a0LoyvSbMeSo_-QYrYgg5DpuR8p4HqMxAffir0Dt4Pe7TEYMwcPVznhmHg1dEYE_tYwrJL5ISxcr49MYyte/s1600-h/folded+bag.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcbsVnSYY-UL-OC64LeVxmcuHvLx214ECgb6j9u7jxSDglZjI-lKqK0zr9a0LoyvSbMeSo_-QYrYgg5DpuR8p4HqMxAffir0Dt4Pe7TEYMwcPVznhmHg1dEYE_tYwrJL5ISxcr49MYyte/s400/folded+bag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348526996508349106" border="0" /></a><br /> On my way home, I stopped by the grocery store to grab just a few things. As I was there, and my list went from turkey to tomatoes to lettuce to granola bars, I started to worry that I wouldn't be able to get it all home. Don't get me wrong - I have no shame whatsoever about waltzing down the street carrying a head of lettuce. But my catch was bordering on the limit of what my <a href="http://plasticisforever.blogspot.com/2008/12/no-need-for-bag-i-have-these-here-arms.html">arms could carry</a> (that link is to one of my very favorite posts from Kerry and Erin's anti-plastic journey).<br /><br />And then - dah dah dah DUHM - I remembered that I'd tucked this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxI_fMM80f7rB1_-lD-UykvJ5eOINmbsxJmTlxw4groXbyHxDzoqDLgEzRtbZKJoXMvJyPAENWY1GsehrK7lw8tIcJ2IItRyJW7fJbuM-DlM_z3vw6SMmbYNZ_GeT_EOxuE0Kz12LTGkT/s1600-h/folding+bag.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxI_fMM80f7rB1_-lD-UykvJ5eOINmbsxJmTlxw4groXbyHxDzoqDLgEzRtbZKJoXMvJyPAENWY1GsehrK7lw8tIcJ2IItRyJW7fJbuM-DlM_z3vw6SMmbYNZ_GeT_EOxuE0Kz12LTGkT/s400/folding+bag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348526989982519634" border="0" /></a><br />into my bag. Yes, that's the same picture, but it's so beautiful, don't you think? And, yes I've <a href="http://theunplasticlife.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-dont-need-bag-but-thanks-anyway.html">blogged about this awesome contraption before</a>, but since it totally made my night, I figured it deserved another shot.<br /><br />*While we're on the subject of carrying heads of lettuce down the street (sans bag), I just want to note that among the health and conscience benefits of Plastic Dieting is the fact that it works your confidence. I'm a stronger human for not caring at all if people think it's weird to carry around lettuce without plastic. I think it's <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">weirder </span>to carry it around IN plastic.PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-40769812137833854332009-06-15T22:18:00.005-04:002009-06-15T22:37:45.569-04:00Blueberry Muffins!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXktwYWh9Jnz4tApDymH4pC1IIJ7akGV308UyHiDP36Dou9ur7S4hCeNz3QbaFS_epc_1th56nm4sCJCq4b-aKfMwoYIM2ujDb-qbZenW_rV5o5TzmbL8xcdxL_Rv7TryqLgozRj-qUZt/s1600-h/blueberry+wrapper.jpg"></a>Tonight, after dinner, I was craving something more. You know, preferrably something a little sweet but not too heavy. I opened the pantry and saw an extra pack of blueberry muffins! I made some last week and forgot that I bought two of the mixes. I was definitely the happiest person ever!<br /><br />I made myself (and my roommate) a delicious treat:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmM6rHY4oZf0WFqgROyuYwe4s5nvXARrOiBFtem60kXic8StKNnGXLLoKZMJlZRuD6l1sSAeEUeELXPzEp0mTn7u2G4KcXDLRT30otwxivaPpK01RMU34JcwHgejyy5aHwJVGsQ4VFB0Z/s1600-h/blueberry+blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347748426201302034" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmM6rHY4oZf0WFqgROyuYwe4s5nvXARrOiBFtem60kXic8StKNnGXLLoKZMJlZRuD6l1sSAeEUeELXPzEp0mTn7u2G4KcXDLRT30otwxivaPpK01RMU34JcwHgejyy5aHwJVGsQ4VFB0Z/s400/blueberry+blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXktwYWh9Jnz4tApDymH4pC1IIJ7akGV308UyHiDP36Dou9ur7S4hCeNz3QbaFS_epc_1th56nm4sCJCq4b-aKfMwoYIM2ujDb-qbZenW_rV5o5TzmbL8xcdxL_Rv7TryqLgozRj-qUZt/s1600-h/blueberry+wrapper.jpg"></a> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXktwYWh9Jnz4tApDymH4pC1IIJ7akGV308UyHiDP36Dou9ur7S4hCeNz3QbaFS_epc_1th56nm4sCJCq4b-aKfMwoYIM2ujDb-qbZenW_rV5o5TzmbL8xcdxL_Rv7TryqLgozRj-qUZt/s1600-h/blueberry+wrapper.jpg"></a>And this was the only packaging:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidABJ-B5Qk-Pv9TUxzXA4Da4322dGxL7RkmE7N-aLATt3gkPuDkjbin0LQ6BWTv7gupkctwqu2IwsibacB7rGbyBKN3Js1abL_0apl7zmHeMD542fXLc2TE5PL8fDvEjZ_2Cduxv7CdElX/s1600-h/blueberry+blog.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRH2ptLvqR9wGfWz3r4njx6WKaxm4yEo_YtWH8aKstd_OB_P-gFua8AfLVSr6H0jpJ5aPevHElCDqJFt9pUOHMaswHnCDmq1NmW2ICku4Kvy812T8h_0bgy9S_8U334g9opmsbCXIVHm0/s1600-h/blueberry+wrapper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347747703224169442" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRH2ptLvqR9wGfWz3r4njx6WKaxm4yEo_YtWH8aKstd_OB_P-gFua8AfLVSr6H0jpJ5aPevHElCDqJFt9pUOHMaswHnCDmq1NmW2ICku4Kvy812T8h_0bgy9S_8U334g9opmsbCXIVHm0/s400/blueberry+wrapper.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div><div>Yum! Do you have a favorite low-plastic treat?</div></div></div>PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-6765220884760408512009-06-15T07:08:00.002-04:002009-06-15T07:13:10.484-04:00FestivalsSummer is a time for festivals, and DC hosts one almost every weekend. This weekend, for example, was Pride. The Folklife Festival is coming up. And I'm sure we'll be celebrating almost everything under the sun, week by week.<br /><br />Festivals are plastic nightmares.<br /><br />I have some pictures of this weekend's plastic, but I can't post them yet because they are on - get this - a disposable camera. I know, I know. I forgot my camera and a friend and I picked up old school disposable ones. I feel terrible.<br /><br />A notable unnecessary use of plastic was the plastic bags a bank was passing out at the Pride festival yesterday. They were intended to hold all the random papers and (plastic) swag people would inevitably pick up from around the displays. Why not paper? Or, better yet, canvas? Or canvas made of recycled plastic? Honestly, probably because all of those things would be more expensive to produce. But the social cost of plastic (what with its never going away and all) is pretty high...PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-21549971637458041582009-06-12T06:56:00.002-04:002009-06-12T07:00:40.613-04:00RainIt's rained here pretty much every day this week. Rain always makes me think about plastic. And how sometimes I do like it.<br /><br />Seriously, a paper umbrella wouldn't work very well. A glass rain coat? No, thanks, I'll take Gore-Tex(r), please! That stuff is pretty amazing.<br /><br />BUT, rain does beg the case for planning ahead - it's best to use a reusable coat or umbrella and not one of those poncho things. But in an emergency, I'd still want a poncho.<br /><br />Afterall, this was never an all out ban on plastic. Just an effort to reduce unnecessary one-time-use plastic. Maybe this is the exception that proves the rule.<br /><br />Anyone have rainy day suggestions?PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-54409587180497403852009-06-07T22:56:00.008-04:002009-06-08T06:59:26.153-04:00The Real WorldI start a new job today. It's not just a new job - it's a new part of my life, post-grad school. It's the sort of work I hope I'll do for quite some time. Even though I've been an "adult" for awhile now, it somehow seems like the beginning of real life. The beginning of the rest of my life. Per the Grey's Anatomy episode and my previous post, <a href="http://theunplasticlife.blogspot.com/2009/05/today-my-life-begins.html">"Today, my life begins..."</a><br /><br />Accordingly, I have to take some of my anti-plastic accouterments with me to this new office. I want to take silverware, but I'm pretty sure those won't pass the metal detectors. So I'm taking plastic silverware (washed and reused from some previous event ... don't worry, we don't buy that stuff). I always take a bowl to work. Plus I'll have my fold-up reusable bag with me (love that thing!!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJTPN87pTOzymzA1DJ8EpixNAGJufRSg1TrhrHYYhHxNeFNiYilQeAxYFbLp-fu4rYCdKnO90aOIVMRE8ApY1MkzEXFhIlquoEieEhMFhC_gfwC0Vpvx57EmQKJG4DWZzJSnuo5tZuaUm/s1600-h/day+1+work+items+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJTPN87pTOzymzA1DJ8EpixNAGJufRSg1TrhrHYYhHxNeFNiYilQeAxYFbLp-fu4rYCdKnO90aOIVMRE8ApY1MkzEXFhIlquoEieEhMFhC_gfwC0Vpvx57EmQKJG4DWZzJSnuo5tZuaUm/s400/day+1+work+items+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344787109913320674" border="0" /></a><br />And the usual. The Sigg and the reusable coffee cup.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZEDjfjBlSNWaSeD8Dr5VEHoor8wykHLlM9roOCDFDPzisrvW5ExikMfWs8xLODgHoXuPLLRxPSZGlsHqxU5h1jFEC48XCS-ZBA6qqxoLz1WFnhM-JnNG01HXRiJ3n_lmWHO-lktnWEuq/s1600-h/day+1+work+items+1+cropped.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinZEDjfjBlSNWaSeD8Dr5VEHoor8wykHLlM9roOCDFDPzisrvW5ExikMfWs8xLODgHoXuPLLRxPSZGlsHqxU5h1jFEC48XCS-ZBA6qqxoLz1WFnhM-JnNG01HXRiJ3n_lmWHO-lktnWEuq/s400/day+1+work+items+1+cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344788186368684898" border="0" /></a><br />I think I'm set. Off to work!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-59302463288420920632009-06-07T11:20:00.006-04:002009-06-11T00:11:31.446-04:00Micro-AdjustmentsEvery time I do yoga, I think about how it is related to my Plastic Journey. The mindfulness I've attempted to bring to my plastic consumption is akin to the mindfulness of yoga. It's not that I never use plastic -- it's that I make a conscious choice about when to use it. And I honor the expense to the Earth when I choose so to do.<br /><br />Modifying plastic use is like yoga in another way. If you've been in a yoga class, you'll remember the frequent calls to "micro-adjustments," those tiny movements that make a pose more intense. Yoga is all about baby steps, knowing that you sometimes take backwards steps too, even when you're taking baby steps. It's about working in tiny increments and cultivating an attitude of appreciating the impact of those itty-bitty changes.<br /><br />Yesterday, I was at Baja Fresh with a friend. I used my paper chip container to hold my salsas instead of the plastic cups. And I realized that this is one of many teeny, tiny micro-adjustments that has become part of my life.PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-11083602328094959232009-06-03T13:24:00.003-04:002009-06-03T13:28:45.341-04:00Earth 2100Did you watch Earth 2100 last night?<br /><br />I did. I found it terrifying.<br /><br />Now, I'm not 100% sure how likely each of the potential plots is. But even if some of the assumptions are wrong, the show convinces me even more how important it is to reduce our use of natural resources.<br /><br />Plastic comes from petroleum. Reducing your plastic use frees up those resources to tide us over until we think of better ways to transport ourselves and heat/cool our homes.<br /><br />If nothing else, it was good un-plastic inspiration. See for yourself by clicking <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=7700651">here</a>.PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-8797187662919897342009-06-02T21:41:00.003-04:002009-06-02T22:01:16.610-04:00Relax Your Face!So, this post is more about the "plastic life" part than the reduction, reuse, and recycling part.<br /><br />I love yoga. One of my favorite things about yoga is the way it asks me to be conscious of movement and sensation I commonly ignore. Relaxing the face is one of those things.<br /><br />Try it:<br />Unclench your jaw.<br />Now relax your tongue. Do you feel the jaw relaxing even further?<br />Is your brow furrowed? Release it too.<br />Imagine relaxation flowing from the point between your eyebrows.<br />Relax your ears.<br />Relax your shoulders down from your ears.<br />Close your eyes.<br />Slowly allow them to open again.<br /><br />Doesn't it feel better?PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-73808078219000131632009-06-01T23:29:00.004-04:002009-06-01T23:39:14.608-04:00Not Me! Monday<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJPApFzgkKZEtx-KQhujJ9Rm-_sC3UHKZVVkXtFKoDpx0wRiYLJA9KQjpX5id3KvbbIcR_VHKoL9bqmLQrmKokf2Plf7tqaTWc69Y0wQgscOLEniZ88cxpgre2vzaNUf6Ef1AlOcb7bk_/s1600-h/NotMeMonday.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJPApFzgkKZEtx-KQhujJ9Rm-_sC3UHKZVVkXtFKoDpx0wRiYLJA9KQjpX5id3KvbbIcR_VHKoL9bqmLQrmKokf2Plf7tqaTWc69Y0wQgscOLEniZ88cxpgre2vzaNUf6Ef1AlOcb7bk_/s400/NotMeMonday.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342568459619002578" border="0" /></a><br /></div>If I work quickly, I just might get this up while it's still Monday. Although, I've clearly not let that stop me in the <a href="http://theunplasticlife.blogspot.com/2009/05/not-me-mondayer-wednesday.html">past</a>.<br /><br />So, what did I NOT do this week? Some of these are plastic-related and some, well, not so much.<br /><br />I definitely did not use the word "flummoxed" in regular conversation. And I certainly was not so flummoxed that I could literally think of no other words.<br /><br />I clearly didn't refuse to accept a pin at my college reunion (available because I made a donation to the school) because it was wrapped in plastic, but then go on to indulge in the campus-preferred sandwich, even with its plastic accoutrements.<br /><br />While traveling, I did NOT generate alllll this plastic waste! (Though, notice the lovely Sigg nestled happily in there...I did try. But I should have packed/bought food. OH SO MUCH PLASTIC!)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuPcVd7eBek752EFl5sgKc_aLAL8MwsDnZDoMWYIQKh3qzYcxSBTe8-EW58MObcV6_O7V2moiuUplnoys0kSMXZ7mMiQGhdB6dChwERhrsN6c5QavnIXeeDYVyRQWSb8WJ67_UNa2fF0z/s1600-h/plane+plastic.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuPcVd7eBek752EFl5sgKc_aLAL8MwsDnZDoMWYIQKh3qzYcxSBTe8-EW58MObcV6_O7V2moiuUplnoys0kSMXZ7mMiQGhdB6dChwERhrsN6c5QavnIXeeDYVyRQWSb8WJ67_UNa2fF0z/s400/plane+plastic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342569541219896242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And I certainly didn't wait until the very last possible "Not Me! Monday" second. Nope. Not at all. Not me!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-91242020190910171572009-06-01T22:33:00.005-04:002009-06-01T23:29:46.032-04:00When in Athens, Do as the Athenians DoYou may remember one very excited post from Day 1 in Athens. I was pumped that, as soon as we stepped off the bus and into the city center (Syntagma), we saw awesome <a href="http://theunplasticlife.blogspot.com/2009/05/recycling-in-athens.html">recycling centers.</a> And awesome Athenians using them. It was pretty great.<br /><br />Well, my parents and I carefully saved all recyclables and deposited them appropriately ourselves. Despite some eyerolling at the start of the trip, by the end of it they were almost more into this stuff than I was! They were seeing plastic everywhere, avoiding it like pro's, and hoarding recyclables with the best of them. Way to go, Mom and Dad!<br /><br />So, here we are, recycling away.<br />Dad recycles:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWdM2c61rXhZ5pTRRwCstZG8UP5dwJoD-clY9rmOtsY88LUURuqeDCXlBcyFdVmuWY0buRQrvpIPY_FqMHGm8rh5_e18B3WMHBLmrgSRWL4LRyFEXVKGuWCjgW1rqZj3F9tgQlntttlMb/s1600-h/RM+recycles.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWdM2c61rXhZ5pTRRwCstZG8UP5dwJoD-clY9rmOtsY88LUURuqeDCXlBcyFdVmuWY0buRQrvpIPY_FqMHGm8rh5_e18B3WMHBLmrgSRWL4LRyFEXVKGuWCjgW1rqZj3F9tgQlntttlMb/s400/RM+recycles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342565917327752994" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mom recycles:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6pARBAxGtyo4OwVt3E3CU2K_hx6pA1vFvuXyAuDrdPM6QTTmLtsTH-6a0BpI3_vP_p5Gmyn3MwvSz4DNjq4a4N6jBMACaKX_lOJPGt-ka-i7Pk2nI84KIVQgRtDZ6sv7oSmyjjGfWxes/s1600-h/DM+recycles+wine.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL6pARBAxGtyo4OwVt3E3CU2K_hx6pA1vFvuXyAuDrdPM6QTTmLtsTH-6a0BpI3_vP_p5Gmyn3MwvSz4DNjq4a4N6jBMACaKX_lOJPGt-ka-i7Pk2nI84KIVQgRtDZ6sv7oSmyjjGfWxes/s400/DM+recycles+wine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342566572187094530" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And I recycle:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFjJxPDNoD7cn19pDWL0NArKgTqLcXYmFafP_Xh1sSmoUV6ejwp0-qnXW7C24RcZK9FLIE3Cuop1ibVu8c48GZforPlN9RE6MWf1E6FsX1OrdLS9L4N4p1vrkygpGXG61kc_rYQ0VEb2A/s1600-h/JM+recycle.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFjJxPDNoD7cn19pDWL0NArKgTqLcXYmFafP_Xh1sSmoUV6ejwp0-qnXW7C24RcZK9FLIE3Cuop1ibVu8c48GZforPlN9RE6MWf1E6FsX1OrdLS9L4N4p1vrkygpGXG61kc_rYQ0VEb2A/s400/JM+recycle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342565910501965826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Afterall, it's what the Athenians do! Oh, and what do you get for recycling? Coupons for money off at Carrefour (a European supermarket)! The Greeks totally live right!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZadf5MjJQsrWv5zhGr3z5y_wNB3RSQV54JEh-YJncWDHBGtBqheumj3cJHZB_NzlZasXyQWu3KkKzyxkMUcYVxYWF43UAU3IyPiLof0rQmVS1Z7YG7wJASIFx4bUATI0ehv_-dbs8-S0/s1600-h/JM+with+recycling+coupons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmZadf5MjJQsrWv5zhGr3z5y_wNB3RSQV54JEh-YJncWDHBGtBqheumj3cJHZB_NzlZasXyQWu3KkKzyxkMUcYVxYWF43UAU3IyPiLof0rQmVS1Z7YG7wJASIFx4bUATI0ehv_-dbs8-S0/s400/JM+with+recycling+coupons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342565923318445330" border="0" /></a>PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-5430237059815982742009-05-30T07:37:00.003-04:002009-05-30T07:41:39.642-04:00NightmareYou know you're a plastic blogger when....<br /><br />...you wake up in a cold sweat after a dream about plastic. Yup, my nightmares apparently now involve walking down the street holding not one but TWO one-time-use plastic cups. With lids. And straws. <br /><br />Now, although this was an unpleasant dream, there is a HIGH probability I would have just gone on sleeping if someone had not decided that 7 am on Saturday is an appropriate time to jackhammer.<br /><br />But still. Cold sweat. Nightmare. About two cups. Had to laugh at that!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-542086741841868672009-05-28T08:26:00.006-04:002009-05-28T08:58:22.330-04:00Find it! Episode 1 answers and Congratulations, Leah!Thanks for your hard work! Congrats to <a href="http://www.sillylittlesparrow.com/">Leah </a>(and her son) who won this contest! Leah, I'll be in touch about getting your prize to you.<br /><br />Here are the ANSWERS. If you have trouble seeing any answer, click on the picture and it will expand:<br />1.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WLXTiw9Fz0gTWQy-3TtchnZVqVoBHR9WPYf0grR9RNTylmwT1oeAz9sgaEuSqxNPFBnXtOYaFV-hMZdmi5mB8UKJRHgdTyyQwpk53cf0iy8at1rukl4phtYXg1EG2MXNhGjb3tJ-HZKK/s1600-h/Find+it%21+3+easy+answer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WLXTiw9Fz0gTWQy-3TtchnZVqVoBHR9WPYf0grR9RNTylmwT1oeAz9sgaEuSqxNPFBnXtOYaFV-hMZdmi5mB8UKJRHgdTyyQwpk53cf0iy8at1rukl4phtYXg1EG2MXNhGjb3tJ-HZKK/s400/Find+it%21+3+easy+answer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340853607170826786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />2.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfGbqd-WeBzKugH2r_Vdh5mqfWJQhMskJOLKcMv2IMWHX3ZhSHjCQ8pWSJEqwHpavN1JOPSREqS_yJ7Y_qwqEAxceu2VX-uB0SkR-lIvESayFxqqSeP4DqLSQFIHIRV_W5TJ2N_o50Ulb/s1600-h/Find+it%21+5+easy+answer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfGbqd-WeBzKugH2r_Vdh5mqfWJQhMskJOLKcMv2IMWHX3ZhSHjCQ8pWSJEqwHpavN1JOPSREqS_yJ7Y_qwqEAxceu2VX-uB0SkR-lIvESayFxqqSeP4DqLSQFIHIRV_W5TJ2N_o50Ulb/s400/Find+it%21+5+easy+answer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340853614798926002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3apEHJTDtr0OxhbbB5TK3WbRHQ8QprUy3fhf39Z0Q0NMMfUkE90AQ0fDemdjqkOUNyEki-3L6dRPsPVev_Z1B6bl24N6n1UH6BUjqHBkjgLtMU92ybklfpfLWmL0oM5vS5-iN0S9pUcKb/s1600-h/Find+it%21+8+answer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3apEHJTDtr0OxhbbB5TK3WbRHQ8QprUy3fhf39Z0Q0NMMfUkE90AQ0fDemdjqkOUNyEki-3L6dRPsPVev_Z1B6bl24N6n1UH6BUjqHBkjgLtMU92ybklfpfLWmL0oM5vS5-iN0S9pUcKb/s400/Find+it%21+8+answer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340853617688633410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />4.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOljuLad_SJraiRJABmLZApKUoWTNFrgQ8htQThFNvi2EJmSppwU3Oy5H_EtNHlMlC2Rr2vzP7RF8-3n6FhZld0sxapnO_vjWogKTUAa373NsWoQGsHWkVBNwLQdBfpNQRvYImhvoXbrUG/s1600-h/Find+it%21+7+answer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOljuLad_SJraiRJABmLZApKUoWTNFrgQ8htQThFNvi2EJmSppwU3Oy5H_EtNHlMlC2Rr2vzP7RF8-3n6FhZld0sxapnO_vjWogKTUAa373NsWoQGsHWkVBNwLQdBfpNQRvYImhvoXbrUG/s400/Find+it%21+7+answer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340857982029028354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7DFzXWaBQp6l7qEvVeIKNpYfiDxb1oRHtYM1H2zOp0Rk-tAsiJ3gNrcG8GFtIurU_klROCyAFow_bYpZuM6ZqaJl9p4FnSMD75V2Ot7kXCnummiAOW9cMvfSkvaPK30nMKJMSKcV6pdf/s1600-h/Find+it%21+2+answer.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7DFzXWaBQp6l7qEvVeIKNpYfiDxb1oRHtYM1H2zOp0Rk-tAsiJ3gNrcG8GFtIurU_klROCyAFow_bYpZuM6ZqaJl9p4FnSMD75V2Ot7kXCnummiAOW9cMvfSkvaPK30nMKJMSKcV6pdf/s400/Find+it%21+2+answer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340853620046852978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />More exciting Greece trip stories coming soon. Including my very own recycling adventures and in-flight plastic issues.<br /><br />Have a delightful, un-plastic day!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-5259147875155371212009-05-27T10:15:00.012-04:002009-06-11T00:14:34.986-04:00Find it! Episode 1This post is a game -- AND a contest. I know some of you readers are parents, and this game can be played with your children too! It's pretty simple:<br /><br />I'm going to post some pictures, each of which has plastic in it somewhere. These are all photos from Spetses, one of the beautiful places I visited in Greece. Your job is to find that plastic. To enter the contest, copy the photo into Painter or whatever program you like and put a big red circle around the plastic item in the picture. Then, email it to me at theunplasticlife@gmail.com. The first correct email will win a gift card to Target, where you can purchase one of these adorable <a href="http://www.terracycle.net/bags.htm">Terracycle CapriSun bags</a> (or some other UNPLASTIC item for your family). See my <a href="http://theunplasticlife.blogspot.com/2009/05/congrats-brooke-thanks-for-terracycle.html">post</a> on Terracycle for more.<br /><br />Let's try an easy one for example:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99QC2nJQ7HAfkcIS5nuMHz_Wrt6Nh4Xvh71fuSrnkBIwc37_qWuswL45B1R035JkjpZMIk4YBuPqq8N74sUUqF5_sIxZgMWDQ4mUoAKP-I57uDrGGXTb_JUgsr3ROWfCH2znV9BrhvuO9/s1600-h/Find+it%21+10+edited.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340510171935169730" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99QC2nJQ7HAfkcIS5nuMHz_Wrt6Nh4Xvh71fuSrnkBIwc37_qWuswL45B1R035JkjpZMIk4YBuPqq8N74sUUqF5_sIxZgMWDQ4mUoAKP-I57uDrGGXTb_JUgsr3ROWfCH2znV9BrhvuO9/s400/Find+it%21+10+edited.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Do you see it?<br /><br />What in this picture just doesn't belong?<br /><br />What plastic is messing up this beautiful picture of nature?<br /><br />I bet you've got it!<br /><br />ANSWER:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVg1qBmrZIuqUgz9WvdFcwvyHMUlYGsCisFmnR-w6buw5ofgf2FzQYxpj6hUwsvwnRjn-mjz5nWM8RdQMb2RnJsvCpL4Hd7fu7LdvjtC7hXyyIGreCTLt6j8zd9kMi-YvpPizzoDTQoTsK/s1600-h/Find+it%21+10+answer.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340510442101732514" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVg1qBmrZIuqUgz9WvdFcwvyHMUlYGsCisFmnR-w6buw5ofgf2FzQYxpj6hUwsvwnRjn-mjz5nWM8RdQMb2RnJsvCpL4Hd7fu7LdvjtC7hXyyIGreCTLt6j8zd9kMi-YvpPizzoDTQoTsK/s320/Find+it%21+10+answer.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />There it is!<br /><br />Here's a close-up:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m9TcrmPajdMep7QKv0br6MP2b5wS4YZnHBsjwyXaRmfK661dL9he8pYIdUHrX5Gkzz6WlKBGkYPnGIB51sFoWe_fslt4S1DlnwY5GpozYFd5RtN3HiqqfV3gHX7tgFRF5haqoGYwREZK/s1600-h/Find+it%21+10+close+up.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340510179268386210" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7m9TcrmPajdMep7QKv0br6MP2b5wS4YZnHBsjwyXaRmfK661dL9he8pYIdUHrX5Gkzz6WlKBGkYPnGIB51sFoWe_fslt4S1DlnwY5GpozYFd5RtN3HiqqfV3gHX7tgFRF5haqoGYwREZK/s400/Find+it%21+10+close+up.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So, you get the idea. You get to look at some of my pictures from Greece AND think about plastic! You can thank me later.<br /><br />Ok, now for the rest. I'll post the answers tomorrow at 9 am. Hopefully, I'll also have a winner to announce. If you're really lucky, we might even get to play again. The title of this post does say "Episode 1," afterall. Some are easy and others are harder. AND there is one trick -- one of these photos has <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">two </span>pieces of plastic in it. Be sure to find both. Good luck!<br />1.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUfCkh2vz4S1C5yGeVEw5YTIqYGl0H_tZ420wAQ7F6qym34vRoL675yKdlgbg5dsv21zB79-dD55yFI41YE2DGzitbsJ3naugE4rIIgotdtgg3oo-2o8HGUvSlsWhh9lDMYfxFUTteed6/s1600-h/Find+it%21+3+easy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340516041191524738" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUfCkh2vz4S1C5yGeVEw5YTIqYGl0H_tZ420wAQ7F6qym34vRoL675yKdlgbg5dsv21zB79-dD55yFI41YE2DGzitbsJ3naugE4rIIgotdtgg3oo-2o8HGUvSlsWhh9lDMYfxFUTteed6/s400/Find+it%21+3+easy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />2.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUO664Da-t_r0DlsSeKtX7UqtL9_kHdh1zVI9zS4rnVokXlMPoIPBzb1VMRwELzoMSNNPe8f1Oin4NgAYNOtwVyRxJz82IlCSGD5C6a8TS5QGc9s0rW3t-LDaPlBCGQcaDh4GCp-K7cW9T/s1600-h/Find+it%21+5+easy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340518415739780338" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 276px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUO664Da-t_r0DlsSeKtX7UqtL9_kHdh1zVI9zS4rnVokXlMPoIPBzb1VMRwELzoMSNNPe8f1Oin4NgAYNOtwVyRxJz82IlCSGD5C6a8TS5QGc9s0rW3t-LDaPlBCGQcaDh4GCp-K7cW9T/s400/Find+it%21+5+easy.jpg" border="0" /> </a><br /><br />3.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSlM7Eye-eFlJTKGgo9PfMTEI1vBssuOUjLSC6TB0OZ0OUyhGTKEnk80BeVTYA3WiW4yuEEYC0T0XkZslY8FtRYP7gD7FuDoY1Sdc-rwHCs7RTHoGmTa6icddCWUdPfaUbJ54hd4MDMhF/s1600-h/Find+it%21+8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340521743514045826" style="WIDTH: 268px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSlM7Eye-eFlJTKGgo9PfMTEI1vBssuOUjLSC6TB0OZ0OUyhGTKEnk80BeVTYA3WiW4yuEEYC0T0XkZslY8FtRYP7gD7FuDoY1Sdc-rwHCs7RTHoGmTa6icddCWUdPfaUbJ54hd4MDMhF/s400/Find+it%21+8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />4.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMC4WicH1FxvP_UIayflQQUG6OSxWkT-0uFpnJfYn_lLqFq3Y6oeH_it_U27PVp23gtUYRZeImGwxPYQ-lvJNg9cii_Sdy3OtyFGld1h668qgv23b1U9-HvZP0k4oElz_b92SjkIqZnPGp/s1600-h/Find+it%21+7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340524099718390210" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMC4WicH1FxvP_UIayflQQUG6OSxWkT-0uFpnJfYn_lLqFq3Y6oeH_it_U27PVp23gtUYRZeImGwxPYQ-lvJNg9cii_Sdy3OtyFGld1h668qgv23b1U9-HvZP0k4oElz_b92SjkIqZnPGp/s400/Find+it%21+7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />5.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7_zTTnbC0aLqpkDyoj81ED_KZ65icvYdLCfvtsADj05GBYJxynlyPxL3OhAsc-EatvVgcgL5qPEexaMCKloAFTKAB1y1tRM6fgY9hjoqx_TbVlqRzRw6NUPT8OwdatvZMvkhi66R0WuR/s1600-h/Find+it%21+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340524092422073682" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 268px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq7_zTTnbC0aLqpkDyoj81ED_KZ65icvYdLCfvtsADj05GBYJxynlyPxL3OhAsc-EatvVgcgL5qPEexaMCKloAFTKAB1y1tRM6fgY9hjoqx_TbVlqRzRw6NUPT8OwdatvZMvkhi66R0WuR/s400/Find+it%21+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />See, the thing is, that this POST is a game, but this IDEA is not. Plastic is everywhere. And that's why it's important to use less!<br /><br />**Just to be clear, this post isn't meant to make Greece seem extra-plastic-y. And don't imagine that I missed the beauty of the place looking for plastic. It's just that, once you start noticing plastic, you see it wherever you go. Plus, this makes for a fun game, right? :)PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-50979794118237362962009-05-26T11:24:00.010-04:002009-06-11T00:16:59.975-04:00There is no Planet BGreece. Is. Beautiful. Don't believe me? Check out these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohpE61gWV7wn-aFclraoIN4ehU_Z7Bn4cBgescmCf0rCvVRxIte_oImiRzmc9yoaMtxM_BGi4OMRaH8SxJj5NIb8KomyhyEgNHLXlkodhSUG4ZqhWnfpB98_vR-8wuiyayOhygmvW1NT0/s1600-h/DSC_0632_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340174329068458178" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgohpE61gWV7wn-aFclraoIN4ehU_Z7Bn4cBgescmCf0rCvVRxIte_oImiRzmc9yoaMtxM_BGi4OMRaH8SxJj5NIb8KomyhyEgNHLXlkodhSUG4ZqhWnfpB98_vR-8wuiyayOhygmvW1NT0/s320/DSC_0632_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzLCfnNvNlk57MW63jumIwYxZvzYPAkwTfYNUoU1HgDdY__ZGPooDdN5bew-GYUpEhncmvKyYsX09JnBW_Jzgzn4sJmykhnU28lbm85d5fY0ygUtOuD3141i_ywj8FDz-ohyphenhyphenH60oJsHyE/s1600-h/DSC_0010_edited.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340174321313517842" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixzLCfnNvNlk57MW63jumIwYxZvzYPAkwTfYNUoU1HgDdY__ZGPooDdN5bew-GYUpEhncmvKyYsX09JnBW_Jzgzn4sJmykhnU28lbm85d5fY0ygUtOuD3141i_ywj8FDz-ohyphenhyphenH60oJsHyE/s320/DSC_0010_edited.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I literally don't even know where to start with Greece. I seriously have so much to say! I'll spread it out over a few blog posts so that you don't get bored. But I can sum it up in just a few words: Greece was incredible! If you've never been there, put it high on your bucket list. No one should die without seeing it.<br /><br />The trip to Greece went a long way on the "unplastic life" thing. You know, the existential part of my anti-plastic campaign. Life is definitely NOT plastic in Greece. And, despite our initial inclination to serially sight-see (run from important place to important place like headless chickens), we managed to chill out and adopt Greek speed.<br /><br />I spent a lot of time doing this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDkGfcZ8N2sfRG-V0RAm_IbBXpuUz1KLhFabwo9TCCXB6INnMAkyLgIqrlGZb4bZuekO3L43nusQEFswmiROnymaeN2EsNOF7X-SaqZlsrOOtQRjVsO7hVtSVz1AXMoBAeqr0GLZc7WbP/s1600-h/DSC_0089_edited.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340168441276092610" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDkGfcZ8N2sfRG-V0RAm_IbBXpuUz1KLhFabwo9TCCXB6INnMAkyLgIqrlGZb4bZuekO3L43nusQEFswmiROnymaeN2EsNOF7X-SaqZlsrOOtQRjVsO7hVtSVz1AXMoBAeqr0GLZc7WbP/s320/DSC_0089_edited.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />while staring out at this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdUpfQiIDIhq4dgePcW2slfF7rXFhprb8B6EM54Tk43poABj9cBC8t2r4dXW1IoVojCXMyMhKCDx6Usqh8ZunBN7Fujs115NhnCb1eUYaCxkhitwBBGQcyKXg_7jjz7strS9eAGIuT_C0/s1600-h/staring+out+at+this.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340168446754604834" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdUpfQiIDIhq4dgePcW2slfF7rXFhprb8B6EM54Tk43poABj9cBC8t2r4dXW1IoVojCXMyMhKCDx6Usqh8ZunBN7Fujs115NhnCb1eUYaCxkhitwBBGQcyKXg_7jjz7strS9eAGIuT_C0/s320/staring+out+at+this.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Mom and I even fell asleep, lulled by the perfect weather, amazing view, and relaxed pace.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pcMxWC4dr01uvepGlJNxKmWfdzwCwEx3LJTiJ0WR_ph-ai81VcHc9ssKKWn2VFLpv6pinS59e9XuzUUQ31-dwhIwtk1hCNSUy5FH9S73FQ_iC4wz9pziBFo33Dr0PtXj971LOm0cI9hz/s1600-h/DSC_0122_edited.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340171152612686482" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pcMxWC4dr01uvepGlJNxKmWfdzwCwEx3LJTiJ0WR_ph-ai81VcHc9ssKKWn2VFLpv6pinS59e9XuzUUQ31-dwhIwtk1hCNSUy5FH9S73FQ_iC4wz9pziBFo33Dr0PtXj971LOm0cI9hz/s320/DSC_0122_edited.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Granted, while I was there, there was some kind of spat that resulted in police walking around in riot gear with tear gas, but fortunately the actual "incident" happened when I was blissfully off on Spetses.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiAIg88_368n73_bEFu3k8qUY77QppgTWlPHq2Dvd8VFjbztnzUlik9KwbbT6OaDVEVeFdQywVi_VK79JLwPZZVawTJWcTF5MtGQ5hp3skToKDL4dnw2gOFMxy8nWAstR2cgq1RYT0cpr/s1600-h/DSC_0116_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340171146642204322" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQiAIg88_368n73_bEFu3k8qUY77QppgTWlPHq2Dvd8VFjbztnzUlik9KwbbT6OaDVEVeFdQywVi_VK79JLwPZZVawTJWcTF5MtGQ5hp3skToKDL4dnw2gOFMxy8nWAstR2cgq1RYT0cpr/s320/DSC_0116_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />And Greek drivers aren't exactly relaxed, given that they tend to park like this:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ol0Us7N1NiA8C4Cbvw6tnEtsIaAuAuWncrIpFrhs4lkL5po_4Te_Neg1kjJjLA7EUF1wp5UFQYvIejajhQ6kdsBnP1j24-hB_L7Cj15nmK8RNza5cjyVZUtAsJjKjISuIblpwLXbK524/s1600-h/DSC_0130_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340171154021612066" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ol0Us7N1NiA8C4Cbvw6tnEtsIaAuAuWncrIpFrhs4lkL5po_4Te_Neg1kjJjLA7EUF1wp5UFQYvIejajhQ6kdsBnP1j24-hB_L7Cj15nmK8RNza5cjyVZUtAsJjKjISuIblpwLXbK524/s320/DSC_0130_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />But I didn't have to drive, so I just found it amusing.<br /><br />Afterall, when you're literally wandering around where Socrates walked<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNDNEyNUt9XT01Nqk_XutKQPR_dDgZtLD4VkZ62fuBgJfUA40W_74L1BfPFPOLWm2ET_Dc6cZourFZAL7rPLSr6EXIIP-HOH_GjGMnOsVL42uvNTulVndbSEQQ0IVibPPnavlqGyrcjR6/s1600-h/DSC_0706_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340171167284842978" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNDNEyNUt9XT01Nqk_XutKQPR_dDgZtLD4VkZ62fuBgJfUA40W_74L1BfPFPOLWm2ET_Dc6cZourFZAL7rPLSr6EXIIP-HOH_GjGMnOsVL42uvNTulVndbSEQQ0IVibPPnavlqGyrcjR6/s320/DSC_0706_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />it's harder to worry about the little things. Something about the history of a place like that makes me feel like, whatever the concern, it will melt away eventually. Plus, I took lots of time to look at and smell these (it really does help!):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aVV8cWyp8lCEwi7pEj_zyBMGmM8n85uDmuKiDA8T6jbWqyifdHAen-iIl5YdV1kI7AqIM9xB3UMJ_qMXjUXAVN86gnC4wdKnNGOca8OMlA-jVXWDuh12I0wUv5Kdkv6FT5Y4Y14cqEo7/s1600-h/DSC_0167_edited.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340171163211816706" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aVV8cWyp8lCEwi7pEj_zyBMGmM8n85uDmuKiDA8T6jbWqyifdHAen-iIl5YdV1kI7AqIM9xB3UMJ_qMXjUXAVN86gnC4wdKnNGOca8OMlA-jVXWDuh12I0wUv5Kdkv6FT5Y4Y14cqEo7/s320/DSC_0167_edited.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Greeks, like many Europeans, take the time to enjoy life. They walk a little more slowly. They savor meals. They make things look pretty. They prioritize things other than expedience, so often the culprit of plastic in American life.<br /><br />That said, I did see plastic everywhere. I mean, I see plastic everywhere HERE, so it's no special issue with Greece. Though it is somehow more jarring when you're at ruins of buildings that have been around for 3,000 years and see plastic lying around. More posts on the ubiquity of the plastic later.<br /><br />For now, I want to introduce you to two people I met in Greece.<br /><br />1. Meet Olga Kaertidou. She's an Athenian who was on weekend holiday to Spetses on Saturday. When she walked by us carrying this awesome bag, my dad kindly chased her down and photographed the great message. We chatted with Olga and her friends for a bit and learned that they were wandering around the island collecting recyclables! That made me smile a lot!! Thanks, Olga, for putting up with us and allowing me to post you and your bag on my blog!<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeBMrJtMC0W6FHYGD9Nb5bEWA83QP4jXn3ZHWhOAx7hC71SUobp5_3a7NY6QxwKszjvqdb25je1YI0Z6Wh2_QUMT48NYqFsQFC074K5H2aj4SwXe6JhJlGyAh0QCbvuA7VE_-tAmR-y2U/s1600-h/DSC_0141_edited.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340168450417341490" style="WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeBMrJtMC0W6FHYGD9Nb5bEWA83QP4jXn3ZHWhOAx7hC71SUobp5_3a7NY6QxwKszjvqdb25je1YI0Z6Wh2_QUMT48NYqFsQFC074K5H2aj4SwXe6JhJlGyAh0QCbvuA7VE_-tAmR-y2U/s320/DSC_0141_edited.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div>2. On Friday night, we had dinner at this fantastic little restaurant called Hatzi's on Spetses. The chef's daughter is an economics Ph.D. student at George Washington University, so we bonded over studying in DC. And the food was delightful.<br /><br />But the best part of the night came when we started chatting with the French family seated at the table behind us. They had adorable twin three-year-olds, which started the conversation. Eventually, it wound its way around to occupations. It turned out that the father <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">makes recycling centers that are used all around Europe, including in Greece!</span></span> You know, like <a href="http://theunplasticlife.blogspot.com/2009/05/recycling-in-athens.html">these</a>. I felt like I was in the presence of a celebrity. I was so star-struck (and the kids were so sleepy) that I didn't manage to ask for a picture. But I was pretty thrilled.<br /><br />So, yes, wandering around ancient ruins and staring out at the Mediterranean Sea did me good. Deep-in-the-bones good. I love Greece! And my generally peaceful attitude as a result of visiting a beautiful place just makes me that much more committed to ensuring that these beautiful places survive. Because, you know, there is no Planet B.<br /><br />(Photo credits to my awesome parents.)PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-38431322881788508032009-05-20T19:51:00.019-04:002009-06-11T00:18:45.627-04:00Not Me! Monday...er, Wednesday -- All the way from ATHENS!<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D3cNHmPlLEf5hC7jydASqF_bGwSlxE1lg3hRnhT-HlLcqPYJ9ADyJgBEuYiKFe81qvOeXnUD9Yf1y28pakgfZmlw7lY46RjILDRdiE2Pbpi7Ut-U4FwUwH508vSOuKYf5CgxNaIn4OfZ/s1600-h/NotMeMonday.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338074591054404290" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D3cNHmPlLEf5hC7jydASqF_bGwSlxE1lg3hRnhT-HlLcqPYJ9ADyJgBEuYiKFe81qvOeXnUD9Yf1y28pakgfZmlw7lY46RjILDRdiE2Pbpi7Ut-U4FwUwH508vSOuKYf5CgxNaIn4OfZ/s320/NotMeMonday.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />Ok, so it's not Monday.<br /><br />But, to be fair, I spent most of Monday in airports and/or wandering the truly delicious streets of Athens. (Well, they are mostly delicious. My beloved parents somehow booked a hotel in the drug/prostitute section of Athens. Seriously, sketched me out more than the area where I volunteer does. Actual hair-standing-on-end kind of sketched out. The hotel was totally fine, but the neighborhood was not. We checked out after one night. But other than that, the streets are delicious. You are very likely to look over your shoulder and see ruins that are several thousands of years old. It's, um, kind of amazing.)<br /><br />Tuesday was spent racing around Athens until we found a MUCH NICER (albeit more expensive) hotel. After we found the hotel, we went to the Acropolis and then dinner. I was waaaayyyyy too exhausted for blogging!<br /><br />Then Wednesday included a very early morning trip to the Ancient Agora (seriously, the actual place where Socrates hung out and where, much later, St. Paul tried to convert people. SO COOL) followed by a bus trip up to Delphi (aka, my favorite place in the universe). So, you can understand that it took me awhile to get to my Not Me! Monday post.<br /><br />So, anyway, this is my Not Me! Wednesday post (if you must know, yes, it is THURSDAY in Athens, and yes it is the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT in Athens, but here I am. um, yeah).<br /><br />I definitely DID NOT purchase lots of travel plastic.<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3FtmNrilR39Ig9GiNgHN-n37gMtfmXZzuM3lRwYYhGZdCqQLWvgLa0l2E9SOBXOwaG_FWUyF-e3aB5S9WiumKQbCvb9isu-CFprmxlC50d3zbL05f60E3iOddeqO6VytcD8EteX-lFD5/s1600-h/DSC_0845_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338073751633068530" style="WIDTH: 353px; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3FtmNrilR39Ig9GiNgHN-n37gMtfmXZzuM3lRwYYhGZdCqQLWvgLa0l2E9SOBXOwaG_FWUyF-e3aB5S9WiumKQbCvb9isu-CFprmxlC50d3zbL05f60E3iOddeqO6VytcD8EteX-lFD5/s320/DSC_0845_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a></p>I definitely did NOT pause to locate all the plastic in the Ancient Ruins sites. Like the Ancient Agora. Or Delphi. Even if it WAS in trash cans, I obviously would NEVER be repulsed!<br /><br />(Seen here: Amazing Delphi. Close-up of the trash can and its plastic contents.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QEUIofZjN_8Ymzo5VAwhSaSy0eQYA-2JzsNNYwy9bbq3ROVRm4JTsuhK-oIMxvaQ6SfP6BPZ-bRThpFXVGm8IwFfdiH5xWxarCNEEj_tByNVN8w9CRJggcDxWCkbhym1XMKghAlMmNN2/s1600-h/DSC_0801_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338071309011939586" style="WIDTH: 213px; HEIGHT: 192px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QEUIofZjN_8Ymzo5VAwhSaSy0eQYA-2JzsNNYwy9bbq3ROVRm4JTsuhK-oIMxvaQ6SfP6BPZ-bRThpFXVGm8IwFfdiH5xWxarCNEEj_tByNVN8w9CRJggcDxWCkbhym1XMKghAlMmNN2/s320/DSC_0801_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJVvm2MZALp6IebbmEDgP0FdkoZK_DIQSCnRWm7VhAMlE21D4DCHsT7dOCnv4bmOCtsObkfMm6Kcj1vc95Q3EKG1xouCXmPqSeg3KpGK-pM9n5JZIqc5k1hgvZXtDZ5fsOQlbDPZacSTO/s1600-h/DSC_0798_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338070943779272930" style="WIDTH: 191px; HEIGHT: 193px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJVvm2MZALp6IebbmEDgP0FdkoZK_DIQSCnRWm7VhAMlE21D4DCHsT7dOCnv4bmOCtsObkfMm6Kcj1vc95Q3EKG1xouCXmPqSeg3KpGK-pM9n5JZIqc5k1hgvZXtDZ5fsOQlbDPZacSTO/s320/DSC_0798_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(Seen here: A trash can STUFFED full of plastic. Next to, you know, the most well-preserved temple in all of Greece.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YIRETEyhtJYLaojMk1-Hg-aXwDWsk1xfZSRGnxLKeJoKLwOJiEqER9EdfL7ox6lk4OfRf4HTK4zfDbqENfWYWfEYPlVLxdsE5gqOZ0exLcoay0lDR2-I-97SqFUyjdYYgRIwPZDgorUw/s1600-h/DSC_0712_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338070932881241186" style="WIDTH: 212px; HEIGHT: 147px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YIRETEyhtJYLaojMk1-Hg-aXwDWsk1xfZSRGnxLKeJoKLwOJiEqER9EdfL7ox6lk4OfRf4HTK4zfDbqENfWYWfEYPlVLxdsE5gqOZ0exLcoay0lDR2-I-97SqFUyjdYYgRIwPZDgorUw/s320/DSC_0712_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GRVzrpJzpEVnZ5UXjc7PQBSptfKCyKUk1-Lpbg0DRo4KdQm0jNw0-y1h9OPDQmJsJ3BvdOyLeK5mYaj-i2kNeADUMEiZIyjdjoRmfNN8-oWRDU1MZDowhZeaKa2i9SvmaKZ2jC8Sy-NC/s1600-h/DSC_0701_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338070925858180322" style="WIDTH: 195px; HEIGHT: 152px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GRVzrpJzpEVnZ5UXjc7PQBSptfKCyKUk1-Lpbg0DRo4KdQm0jNw0-y1h9OPDQmJsJ3BvdOyLeK5mYaj-i2kNeADUMEiZIyjdjoRmfNN8-oWRDU1MZDowhZeaKa2i9SvmaKZ2jC8Sy-NC/s320/DSC_0701_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I absolutely, positively would NEVER use silverware wrapped in plastic at a nice! restaurant. (I am weak. I wanted the napkin.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnafzDj9w0VevrBj2J1-XT48quW96X3iS7oPAZBmfhZVFZW9lnbt6jNFtdxTSrPy8avTVf1peNug58MmsuzFR20M-ZMvnodfkVfO1IU6s7gvCHj_sIEvsFJFvNrgHoqhhTctkAXYCjxhT/s1600-h/DSC_0595_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338070920030599842" style="WIDTH: 232px; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnafzDj9w0VevrBj2J1-XT48quW96X3iS7oPAZBmfhZVFZW9lnbt6jNFtdxTSrPy8avTVf1peNug58MmsuzFR20M-ZMvnodfkVfO1IU6s7gvCHj_sIEvsFJFvNrgHoqhhTctkAXYCjxhT/s320/DSC_0595_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I definitely did NOT covertly snap this photo of a man carrying plastic silverware in his pocket. My dad was definitely NOT chatting him up (as he does most strangers) at the archaelogical site in Delphi. I was definitely totally UN-impressed by his anti-plastic precision.<br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO-u3nwgSz5w4j5Odr2JPayJiE8j8tCHBo5cLJRXfvv1n_5742n3s1iVanVYnP401ZMLt_ZacKEl_5lwQCz8f8_gXeOqNovsITwofjE7rDPoEbeB9nIaIskeUi1DYAofRTSpwn-HJ5CrI/s1600-h/DSC_0770_edited.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338073743262598194" style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 261px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYO-u3nwgSz5w4j5Odr2JPayJiE8j8tCHBo5cLJRXfvv1n_5742n3s1iVanVYnP401ZMLt_ZacKEl_5lwQCz8f8_gXeOqNovsITwofjE7rDPoEbeB9nIaIskeUi1DYAofRTSpwn-HJ5CrI/s320/DSC_0770_edited.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I absolutely did NOT dive into the drink-the-Athens-tap-water phenomenon. The books definitely DIDN'T say it's ok. So I certainly did NOT fill up my Sigg. </div><br /><div></div><div>Today, I certainly DIDN'T purchase a can of Pringles for the trip back from Delphi to Athens. It definitely WASN'T because we utterly failed to find a single open restaurant (our timing was off -- we needed food at a time they don't really serve it). Pringles don't have a ton of plastic on them, but they are by NO MEANS an un-plastic treat.<br /></div><br /><div>And I absolutely, positively didn't write a Not Me! Monday post on Wednesday (Thursday). No! Not me! Never.</div>PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-81375619953650575502009-05-19T06:38:00.003-04:002009-05-19T06:43:43.462-04:00Recycling in AthensI'm in Athens, where plastic does abound. More on that later. However, I do have good news about recycling. Athenians have these lovely recycling centers around the city. It seems like they get paid for this recycling. LOVE IT!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx78l7Ey2vJJmaJouTusqVTNveNeF8B09Ylf6NAFnUGlRDCHbjuFL8q0lenLvW3mGHe-b3D5Czi1SMe1bICiXWxB2Bx8wKa6vTFErWU7GLQ_e04fKX59hasLJUd60spgSCrMFHrSWOY6F3/s1600-h/DSC_0587_edited.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx78l7Ey2vJJmaJouTusqVTNveNeF8B09Ylf6NAFnUGlRDCHbjuFL8q0lenLvW3mGHe-b3D5Czi1SMe1bICiXWxB2Bx8wKa6vTFErWU7GLQ_e04fKX59hasLJUd60spgSCrMFHrSWOY6F3/s320/DSC_0587_edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337483594133003026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRglYiVyl3_Lk8yBI1VrbgqDv8znYkJSNcZT_jKxq8b8FiSfRS9A5Jdig3SPrjGL4gXe-knRCyx_L8WwD55qA0fjQF1m91VWS33bOPH5mXa7aTde9ddB-2aJw9huxuFuNiMYXPzw11Exg/s1600-h/DSC_0588_edited.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRglYiVyl3_Lk8yBI1VrbgqDv8znYkJSNcZT_jKxq8b8FiSfRS9A5Jdig3SPrjGL4gXe-knRCyx_L8WwD55qA0fjQF1m91VWS33bOPH5mXa7aTde9ddB-2aJw9huxuFuNiMYXPzw11Exg/s320/DSC_0588_edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337483596113662722" border="0" /></a><br />We had a great evening last night with delicious Greek food at a taverna just under the Acropolis. It was beautiful! We're off to explore now, but I'll update when I can (or when I get back).PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-68685024100523771812009-05-17T15:42:00.002-04:002009-06-11T00:19:45.540-04:00Off to Greece!I'm heading off to Greece now. I may not be able to post as often over there. I'll be trying to avoid plastic, but travel always makes that hard. I have my trusty Sigg, but I can't take my own silverware since I'm carrying on. Wish me luck!<br /><br />Catch you on the flip side (if not before)!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-69748384958814077522009-05-17T15:34:00.002-04:002009-05-17T15:42:45.733-04:00Graduation :) Plastic :(I graduated from my Master's program this weekend! yay! But I had to use a lot of plastic to do so...booo...<br /><br />Here are some pictures of my gown and hood which are mostly made of plastic and came wrapped in...you guessed it...plastic!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBZoAK4FDWRTbjFYpBwBso2BByoctpxaCqHVwG6R6hlwv2p8jGUMWHb-wUB5Xh0H3w5UhI8ApCroJRt9n8zgao_W4kW4MlTTbiJFiRw91zrQe212bmVPXpby-U5WCCOjw1d52oOq-3hKb/s1600-h/IMGP0505.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBZoAK4FDWRTbjFYpBwBso2BByoctpxaCqHVwG6R6hlwv2p8jGUMWHb-wUB5Xh0H3w5UhI8ApCroJRt9n8zgao_W4kW4MlTTbiJFiRw91zrQe212bmVPXpby-U5WCCOjw1d52oOq-3hKb/s320/IMGP0505.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336880501779885858" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a-FQu1XtfqMUOT7yw_vXxQM5n2kQn25AWHBeJanxuEXghNljGP2oOq6fLdOlTm4CgaVACOl3-PGKiXmJu8u5Qd6xKjosU-64Mz4abXGsWg7AdWZA93CgR90iDWCrHY0SNry57U-pD6KE/s1600-h/IMGP0504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_a-FQu1XtfqMUOT7yw_vXxQM5n2kQn25AWHBeJanxuEXghNljGP2oOq6fLdOlTm4CgaVACOl3-PGKiXmJu8u5Qd6xKjosU-64Mz4abXGsWg7AdWZA93CgR90iDWCrHY0SNry57U-pD6KE/s320/IMGP0504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336880499186761266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCVMZPvhb8T1T91MMDm5fwMP6SKqb22t_CSY3X4F9neHsVJMtIQXeoTjdebrxwhvgs87wegFEPrBaDx03KY9MEUNYZS0waQ5abSsmrY1vceNWxckx8cluwoDEOpCsbs8yG7kioUIGCTkT/s1600-h/IMGP0503.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCVMZPvhb8T1T91MMDm5fwMP6SKqb22t_CSY3X4F9neHsVJMtIQXeoTjdebrxwhvgs87wegFEPrBaDx03KY9MEUNYZS0waQ5abSsmrY1vceNWxckx8cluwoDEOpCsbs8yG7kioUIGCTkT/s320/IMGP0503.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336880494742993154" border="0" /></a><br />I was a graduation speaker, and I took a lot of pride in avoiding the plastic bottles of water on the stage (no matter how much I wanted a sip!). I also passed on a plastic poncho this morning. It wasn't THAT rainy. But for more on rain and plastic, see an upcoming post!<br /><br />So...some wins, some losses in graduation. But lots of plastic!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-39757575822541255552009-05-15T22:17:00.004-04:002009-05-16T08:12:21.501-04:00Three Cheers for Un-plastic Toothpicks at Neisha<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqkCUQRJU1EeGWHTsQbz4wBfgMAjkliVJQJhZxqjHn9CpmffjqgbUi-KOWJ-xLzeeDLFpjWs1zYGBvUssX-Loy9l9RNQpNfHZJA0URfsR1fLD_bhpH6UevCAQit5lOgzQhLQgyIFbCFGj/s1600-h/IMGP0501_edited.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqkCUQRJU1EeGWHTsQbz4wBfgMAjkliVJQJhZxqjHn9CpmffjqgbUi-KOWJ-xLzeeDLFpjWs1zYGBvUssX-Loy9l9RNQpNfHZJA0URfsR1fLD_bhpH6UevCAQit5lOgzQhLQgyIFbCFGj/s320/IMGP0501_edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336244173769621490" border="0" /></a>I went to dinner with my parents at Neisha last night. It's a lovely Thai place in Tenleytown. My father, a toothpick afficionado, showed me that they were using PAPER wrapping instead of plastic! Fabulous! I'm not a toothpick user myself, but I always grimace on my way in and out of restaurants whose toothpicks are wrapped in that vile stuff. Way to go Neisha.PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-79215544639279001832009-05-15T22:05:00.008-04:002009-06-17T00:11:53.625-04:00My Local CVS Stores and Plastic Bags<span style="font-weight: bold;">Update:</span> A kind reader, <a href="http://potholderswap.blogspot.com/">Debbie</a>, has let me know that not all CVS stores implement this policy. Therefore, I'll probably be able to work with just the two locations where this has happened recently. Nonetheless, a frustrating evening. Read on for details:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Original Post:</span><br />You may have read my post titled <a href="http://theunplasticlife.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-dont-need-bag-but-thanks-anyway.html">"I don't need a bag but thanks anyway."</a> Well, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">exact same thing </span>happened to me tonight at CVS. I was breezy and pleasant. I requested no bag just as the person ringing me up tossed my items into a bag. She removed them. She crumpled up the bag. I stared in horror. As calmly as possible, I tried to explain that the reason I was requesting no bag was so that she would <span style="font-weight: bold;">RE-USE</span> the bag. "Re-use it for what?" she asked. "For the next customer," I replied.<br /><br />This woman proceeded to tell me that she was the manager, and it is OFFICIAL STORE POLICY to throw away bags that touch ANY CUSTOMER ITEMS. While I might understand if this were food service, the items I was purchasing were not gooey or messy at all. I cannot understand the possible explanation for such a policy.<br /><br />The manager this evening wound up saying that she "respected my beliefs" and would reuse the bag. However, my choices are not based on beliefs. They are based on these FACTS.<br /><br />*<strong>14 plastic bags</strong> contain enough petroleum to <strong>drive a car a mile.</strong><br /><strong>*380 BILLION</strong> plastic bags or wraps are thrown away in America each year.<br />*Cities spend up to <strong>17 cents per bag in disposal costs</strong>.PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7754040092197657858.post-81345710918211200212009-05-14T23:51:00.013-04:002009-05-15T02:32:07.889-04:00"Recycled" Cups and Policy Perspectives<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TA0A3wd40tD12CwaDHaZiVof6e1C_bu8mG2Oce6XGOV6QhLYBoFmdeyZljciDRCWliga5C3jhXPmzeBWLHyHI4zrq_EdZMKdlI0ewXv-tfPvTs__gI7epDiG5gVR2oX16Ytk7oJm2n5C/s1600-h/IMGP0500_edited.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TA0A3wd40tD12CwaDHaZiVof6e1C_bu8mG2Oce6XGOV6QhLYBoFmdeyZljciDRCWliga5C3jhXPmzeBWLHyHI4zrq_EdZMKdlI0ewXv-tfPvTs__gI7epDiG5gVR2oX16Ytk7oJm2n5C/s320/IMGP0500_edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335901236859055266" border="0" /></a><br />I was in the graduate department office today, tying up some loose ends. I was thirsty. Somehow, I had left my Sigg at home. So I used a disposable paper cup to get some water.<br /><br />I noticed that the department is trying -- they are using the "bare" line of the Solo cups. "Bringing Alternative Resources for the Environment," the brand uses 10% post-consumer recycled paper. Really? 10%? Plus there's the plastic lining...ugh.<br /><br />What I really don't understand is why these cups are made with so little post-consumer paper when you can print on 100% post-consumer paper that looks perfectly great. For example, the student journal <a href="http://policy-perspectives.org/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Policy Perspectives</span></a> (which features an article by yours truly!) uses lots of eco-friendly methods. The editors didn't stop with that awesome-looking 100% post-consumer paper. They also made sure the paper was created using renewable energy, printed with soy-based ink, used chlorine-free processing, and purchased carbon offsets for the printing and editorial processes. That means they basically produced the journal at <span style="font-weight: bold;">social </span>cost (not just at the cheapest cost they could do from an organizational, budgetary standpoint). And did you know that using soy-based inks means they consumed "less than 1 percent of the energy required by traditional, petroleum-based inks" (<span style="font-style: italic;">Policy Perspectives 2009. </span>Design Note)? Want more about the journal? Check out the website (linked above) or the <a href="http://policyhippo.blogspot.com/">blog</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKUi6k2CohOIgIZ67XHZySDN6WinmBfvtnN7K-a_GTRtMEANDiEWeRvBdfM5ELc30MnYQKpfrRRtTeP1WyQ0GznO0h3ewHb1T5betKUMxOl-O0viHdJh8BhgohOIUX3rEeu1BHF-66bZg/s1600-h/IMGP0505_edited.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpKUi6k2CohOIgIZ67XHZySDN6WinmBfvtnN7K-a_GTRtMEANDiEWeRvBdfM5ELc30MnYQKpfrRRtTeP1WyQ0GznO0h3ewHb1T5betKUMxOl-O0viHdJh8BhgohOIUX3rEeu1BHF-66bZg/s320/IMGP0505_edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335902748754718642" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2rT8mDpyoUQ0wyjuBsrYjCPVRVcPRZfH4PvxD_Ynx0Ip8xVnyZ0IT-zD7nnpHMLeIG0kWJicCcdSawX4Rpj3vSaaBKvDzddcD1_ZcfYsJiKOmykuqLWS5suwXhAGt2sIbD9fkmPj2uXL/s1600-h/IMGP0506_edited.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 204px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2rT8mDpyoUQ0wyjuBsrYjCPVRVcPRZfH4PvxD_Ynx0Ip8xVnyZ0IT-zD7nnpHMLeIG0kWJicCcdSawX4Rpj3vSaaBKvDzddcD1_ZcfYsJiKOmykuqLWS5suwXhAGt2sIbD9fkmPj2uXL/s320/IMGP0506_edited.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335902753965223282" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Is it the fact that cups are going to affect food/beverage intake? Is it a health thing? Because the cup is also going to get lined with something to make it waterproof, so how much does it matter where the recycled paper has been? Anyway, I feel bad about my one-time use cup experience.<br /><br />On the plus side, I was strong tonight. I refused a cookie wrapped in plastic. Fortunately, I could get an ice cream cone instead. Ahh, ice cream, my treat of perfection. Love how you eat the container!PlasticFreeForMe,please!http://www.blogger.com/profile/15522917382763308840noreply@blogger.com0