I wanted to share a link to
No Impact Man's blog. I read an article about his experiment some time ago in the NY Times, but I just started reading his blog this weekend. He offers great ideas on life, environmentalism, and living simply. There are many posts I've enjoyed, but this post was struck a chord with me: World's easiest-ever green living tip.He writes:
"So here is one radical solution I came to. If I didn’t have time to sit down and drink a coffee out of a real cup, I didn’t have it. If I couldn’t eat food from a real plate, I didn’t eat it. There was no need to buy a full table setting of portable cups and bowls to be green. Instead, I finally learned to either do without or wait until later."
A guilty pleasure of mine is watching the TV show Wife Swap. I can't tell you how many times, week after week, I see families routinely eating off of disposable tableware, even when the food is prepared at home. I've often remarked that I think disposable tableware is a symptom of bigger problems, and I like No Impact Man's credo that if you don't have the time to sit down and enjoy a meal properly, then you need to re-evaluate. (Yes, this is coming from the same woman who just admitted to the internet that she loves Wife Swap. We all have room for improvement).
In other news, my roommate moved in 1 week ago. After 2 years of living on my own, followed by 3 years of living with my spouse, having a roommate feels a little bit like retrograding. However, my roommate is a wonderful person and I just need to get used to this being the state of my life. I have to say focusing on the money saving part of having a roommate helps me stay positive (for those new to my life, my spouse moved 250 miles away for work. I'm in the final year of my graduate program and plan to join him once I graduate in ~10 months).
August 18th, 2007 at 04:48 pm 1187455725
August 18th, 2007 at 05:48 pm 1187459312
I personally avoid using them and only use up what has been given, even with all the company we have I use my own tableware..and I don't mind washing between dinner and desert if needed.
Though on the other hand I take a disposable knife with me when we make pb out...course it is one of three rotating disposables that we have used for several years...
August 18th, 2007 at 10:02 pm 1187474565
Good luck with your roommate!