Hydrogen, Vodka and the Bus

So much to think about today. I finally conquered my fear of the bus here in King County today! I mean, I usually just didn’t go anywhere that wasn’t within walking distance, because I’m afraid to drive with so much traffic, but today I went to Redmond! And I didn’t get lost!
I am now back home, laying in bed trying to get over the head cold I’ve contracted. I have to admit, I am taking DayQuil, probably not so green with all the chemicals or whatever, but it works. Even a cold is helping me on my mission, though. I found, when I went to buy the DayQuil, organic coughdrops!!! So you’re probably saying, “yeah, yeah, what else is new?” But I didn’t know they existed. Or that they were made in America. Or that tasted great and worked! If you didn’t know either, they are called Organix, and they cost about twice as much as the store-brand conventional drops, but they were worth it. I mean, regular cough drops just taste like… I want to say terpentine but I’ve never tasted it. And I didn’t add more unnatural chemicals to my body.

So whenever I get sick though, I clean the bathroom and take a long, hot shower. I know, long hot showers are definitely not eco-friendly. But the steam helps clear your sinuses, and feels good. But back to cleaning the bathroom. I looked up some better ways to do so, and I found on Broomhuggers, a list of homemade, non-toxic cleaners. Since hydrogen peroxide was what I had on hand, I mixed it with a lot of water and used it to clean my john. They list it as a disinfectant, to be used with vinegar as well. I didn’t have vinegar, but the hydrogen peroxide mix seemed to do a fine job on its own, at least whitening (my bathroom is creepily all white).

During my surfing today, I learned of another, common household cleaner: vodka. Yes, vodka. Included in the Top 10 Weird Uses for Vodka, is using it to kill the mold in your shower, and to shine chrome, glass and porcelain. It also is supposed to cure poison ivy. I have yet to try vodka on our shower, but it could use some mold/ mildew control, along with some new caulking altogether.

That blue bin…

Has anyone else had this happen? I keep going to put something in our recycling bin, to see used paper towels, plastic cupcake wrappers etc…! *rawr* My roommate, I am sure, has set out to destroy as much as the planet as possible!!! I know I should be glad that at least he is recycling. His response when I asked him not to throw trash in the recycle before was something like “but its paper so its recyclable.”

While I appreciate his gesture, this is driving me crazy. I have read, quite a few times, the list of what is and is not recyclable in our town. Greasy, wet, nasty paper towels are trash. Unused paper towels are okay, but why wouldn’t you use it? Clear plastic is also trash and that includes hostess wrappers and cake domes. The list also states that if too many unrecyclable items are in the recycle bin, the whole bin is considered tainted and thrown out.

Just think, all that scrubbing out of jars and bottles, just to have them thrown in the trash anyway, where the damn paper towel should’ve been in the first place.

With all this in mind, I encourage everyone to look up exactly what is and is not recyclable in their neighborhood, as it can differ though generally all types of glass, aluminum and newspaper are accepted.

At the starting line.

The first sentence is always the hardest to write. It’s supposed to grab your audience’s attention, and make them excited to read your writing! Like omg! I can never think of just one sentence to introduce a topic and generate enthusiasm all at once. I’ve heard the key is to start slightly off topic, as I have here, because I am actually going to write about going green. Did it work?
This is actually my first blog and at the moment I feel a bit like a nerdy virgin about to lose his virginity, at least how tv portrays it. I’m just going to clumsily make my way from here.
I want to echo the words of politicians in saying that I am just like every other American. I am not a politician, however, and I realize that would be mostly a lie. We’re all different, unique, “special in our own way” if you will. We have however, common experiences, beliefs, needs, goals, and most importantly a common Earth. And this Earth has been loved, just like that teddy bear that’s missing an eye. We need to take better care of it if we are going to continue to live on it.
Most people who know me would say that I’ve always been a bit of a hippie. And it’s funny ’cause it’s true. I’ve also tried to fit in with the mainstream and go along with massive consumerism, but it’s just too overwhelming for me. I don’t know why or when exactly I got this idea in my head to do something about the environmental crisis instead of just caring about it, but I recently acquired much more time in my day due to the economical crisis. I started looking up how to go green, how to do…whatever it is I’m supposed to do about this all. At first all I found were generic lists of use CFL lightbulbs, turn the heat off when you’re not home, blah, blah, etc., etc.
I thought there just weren’t any good resources out there, until I started looking for resources for this blog, when I found… a plethora! So, while this isn’t going to be the first on the topic, at least I’ll have some idea of what I’m writing about.
These are my adventures on my journey to save the planet. I will dodge obstacles, fight battles against the unseen, and even myself. I’m just like Frodo! Probably even just as short.
Tune in next time for… The blue basket of reincarnation! (cue suspenseful music)