Monday Advice: Go Green

There’s nothing wrong with going green (unless you use the phrase regularly), and it wouldn’t hurt any of us to become more environmentally friendly.  Even though the Earth has become a wasteland due to extensive human interference, we should still try to do the right thing for our home planet, even if it’s too late.

Here’s a few tips to get you started:

• Recycle! – That’s right.  Separate all your trash from the paper, plastic, cardboard, and glass in your life.  Grease can be recycled as well, in addition to household batteries.
• Charge it! – Buy rechargeable batteries instead of one-use types to save money, time, and the gas you need to pick them up at the store (unless you shop online).
• Chill out! – Using cold water as opposed to hot or warm to wash your hands saves electricity.
• Bag it! – Bring reusable bags when shopping for grocery items, clothing, or anything else that you can get into said bags.  Not only will you be saving yourself the headache of dealing with those flimsy plastic bags, but you’ll be saving the store you shopped at some coins!  One of my local grocery stores gives shoppers credit for bringing in their own bags to bag their groceries; check to find out if your local stores do as well.

I hope these tips helped push you towards having a green life.  Happy greening (I’m done using the word green in any form now…you’re welcome)!

Smaller Is Better–Car Wise

 

For years, I’ve desired a compact car, especially after visiting France in late ’08.  I noticed in the area I was in, a lot of people drove compact cars.  Clearly, the French have the right idea when it comes to purchasing sensible vehicles for themselves and the environment.

I’m sort of a hippie, so I’m into being as green as I can be, without making my current lifestyle uncomfortable.  I recycle most of my paper, glass, and plastic products.  I properly dispose of grease and batteries.  I’ve even started using [MEN, BEWARE I'M ABOUT TO MENTION A LADY PRODUCT]:  a menstrual cup, so that I can save money and the Earth by using less disposable feminine items.  I let my armpits and legs grow hair during the colder months (though the armpit hair can get a bit gross, so I do shave it, but not so much as when it’s warm).  It’s time to green up my car, too.

Since I have two kiddies, I must have a four-door vehicle.  I definitely want to save on gas, especially since I wanted to set one of my local gas stations on fire after paying over forty dollars to fill up the tank of my sedan.  Ridiculous!  I could’ve gotten some shorties at Wawa with the unnecessary extra payment for gas.  These oil tycoons must be stopped, before we all have to sell ourselves just to get a gallon of the good stuff for our rides.  It’s all problematic.  Anyhow, I’ve always liked Hondas, so I’d like to get a Honda Fit.

After doing a little research (I plan on doing more), I’ve read that the car has had some recalls.  Should I be surprised?  Of course not, seems like every car ever made has had a recall of some sort, but does that mean it’s okay?  Car manufacturers have to do better, but that’s a whole other topic in itself.  Despite the recalls, I’d still like to own this car, because the previous defects don’t seem to take away from the car’s overall performance, and this must be somewhat factual since this particular Honda model won a few awards.

Case in point, smaller cars, mean less money on maintenance, fuel, and more space on the road.  Imagine a world without huge SUVs cluttering the highways.  Yes, I’m anti-SUV.  I’ve always believed, mostly since the early 2000s, that SUVs are just a much cooler and tougher version of a minivan.  Think about it.

 

Ode to McDonald’s Shamrock Shake

Oh, Shamrock Shake, you make my body ache.

Sipping on your green goodness,

Is something I can hardly take.

Your minty flavor,

is so refreshing,

 and hard to savor.

That sexy green dye,

is just enough,

to bring a tear to my eye.

Please stay past March,

oh cold treat of mine,

so my body won’t parch.

Shamrock Shake, you keep me alive,

with drops of blue 1,

and its partner,

yellow 5.