Saturday, April 26, 2008

Hair to dye for

I have been dying my hair forever. I have not gone au natural, since grade seven. Given that I am going to be 40 this year, that's a long time. Over the years I have had almost every hair color under the rainbow, in addition to the more moderate colours, I have gone pretty extreme, at one point I have platinum blond hair only to be replaced with the blackest of black hair. Obviously some of these colors have required more effort and upkeep than others.

I am getting older and my color choices are not nearly as dramatic as they used to be, nowadays I color more to cover the grey than anything else. I have no issues stating my age, but I am not a fan of my grey hairs. However I also wish to minimize my impact on the environment. As I have not found a truly sustainable, earth friendly hair dye that covers my grey, I have decided that I will not be using hair dye any more. This is big for me and I am not sure if I will be able to keep it up. But at least for now, I'm going grey.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Happy Earth Day

Happy Earth Day to everyone. I hope that you were able to spend some time with Mother Nature. If, but for a brief moment, today in North America we celebrated the beauty the earth has to offer. While the celebrations allow for the inclusion of a number of persons, they also allowed for the inclusion of product sales. I certainly happy that more people are becoming aware of the issues related to climate change and the steps that individually and collectively we can take to minimize our footprint, however I do not believe that this is an issue that we can buy our way out of. I believe that the only way we are going to make the difference is by changing our habits and our actions. It is when we stop carelessly wasting resources in search of the latest and greatest and start thoughtfully preserving our resources we will be able to make the changes we imagine and desire.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

I'm sick

Once again I am sick. As usual I have the latest cold/chest infection. I'm coughing, stuffed up, head achy, exhausted, in short I feel like cr*p. While I certainly do not enjoy getting sick, at least some of the time, it is a fact of life. I have to confess, I am a pathetic sick person. It is day three of me hacking up my lungs, I have run out of handkerchiefs and started on the toilet paper (I do not have any tissues), and while I would normally be doing my laundry, I am just too tired.

Initially, I was using the chicken noodle soup remedy, but I kept coughing so hard that I was unable to sleep so I bought some cough syrup. I doubt the cough syrup I bought is 'green', but at least I am able to sleep, which will hopefully lead me to health again. I know I could have gotten some herbal medicine, which I guess would have been better. I'm just not sure.

I'm sorry, but in the end I have not been very green for the last few days. When I am better I need to look into remedies that are less harmful to environment. For now I off to bed again.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Big and Small Changes

I started this blog to document my progress as I live a more sustainable life. My theory is that if I can do, really anyone in North America can. At this point I have made a number of small changes. These include simple things like carrying a hankerchief (or two or three) with me at all times, vastly limiting my spending (which of course has the added benefit of making my bank balance happier), and buying as much local food as possible directly from the farmer. I have also participated in what some may consider more daring challenges. For example, with the exception of a few times, there was no heat in my place for the entire winter, and while I do live in Southwest BC where the weather is relatively moderate, it is still Canada.

This got me thinking about what I should be focusing on, big or small changes. Both have benefits and drawbacks and it is not always easy to determine which change is going to be big or small.

When I first start a big challenge, there is an amazing amount of excitement and before the actual change anticipation. Like deciding to eat nothing but food grown within a 100 mile radius of my place (I have modified this slightly since then), not turning on the heat during the winter, or perhaps even giving up the car. When I talk about either what I plan to do or how it is progressing, I get a variety of responses. They range from genuine amazement, a belief that I am going or gone to far, or that I am showing off and looking down on others. It might seem logical that through trial and error I would only tell those who look at the changes in a positive manner. But it is difficult to figure out how someone is going to respond prior to my telling them I have to admit that usually the htere are a number the plan or how it is going, people look at me as though I am forging new ground, even though I explain that what I am doing is something that many These types of changes are not always easy to do, often require a degree of planning, and or skills, may not be socially acceptable or trendy, and usually there is no 'corporate support'.

For example eating only food that is grown within a 100 mile radius, can at times present as challenging. I am fortunate that I live in an area that has a number of farms, however choosing to eat local food required me to learn new skills (canning and preserving foods) and to work on Nature's schedule not mine. When the corn was ready, I had to buy lots and learn very quickly how to preserve it for later because once the corn was gone, I was not going to buy anymore. This is certainly very rewarding in that I discovered foods that I did not know that I liked. However, with the exception of a couple of my friends, no one was willing to make this sort of change, so I learned how to can foods on my own (not everything worked out), and because growning seasons can be quite short, there were a number of social engagments that I could not attend.

In contrast when I first decide to take on a smaller change, like using a non plastic water bottle, using cloth grocery bags or using a hankerchief rather than a tissue, at times it almost seems anti-climatic. I know I am making a change, and that this change has an effect, but it is not nearly as exciting as a big change. There is no sort of drum roll if you will. Usually the changes are easy, do not demand too much from myself and others, are socially acceptable, and may even have 'corporate support'.

Using the cloth shopping bag is relatively easy, many stores sell cloth them, so you do not even have to make one, and if you forget your bag at home, you can always buy another one at the store. It is easy, and right now quite trendy. Friends and aquaintences see celebs (and me) carrying the bag and now they have one too. The good news is that there are a few less plastic bags, but the bad news is that this becomes another thing to buy and our continual consumption habit does not change. It is a change, and it is a change that people are easily able to incorporate into their lives.

The more small changes I make the more likely I am to have my community come along with me, making this journey a less lonely one. However it is the larger, more life altering changes that make me feel as though I am making a difference.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Hanging out with the cool kids

Her Crunchiness has set up a fund raiser stating that she will shave her head if $10 000 is raised for the Muliple Myelona Research Foundation. Unfortunately her husband has been diagnosed with this incurrable cancer. Many of her readers are donating and I certainly encourage people to do so. One of her readers, Sharon Astyk from Casabon's Book spoke about her postive feelings towards Crunchy Chicken and Shasha Cedar and other bloggers. She also admitted that after thinking, of course I will help Crunchy and what can I do to, she thought that while Crunchy may still be prettier than she is, "baldness will definately close the gap a little."



I read and look at Crunchy Chicken and I am in awe of the changes and challenges she has accomplished. She is a beautiful woman who is smart talented and very funny (when you read her blog you will know exactly what I am talking about). Sharon's blog while not usually what I would consider funny is a constant source of information and inspiration. I confess that when I read Crunchy, or Sharon's or some other bloggers, I feel at times (not a lot and mainly when I am struggling with my own blog) like I am the dork waiting for an invite.


I grew up with the perfect brother: he's smart, funny, athletic, good looking, and tall, in short perfect. Really, I am none of these things. Please do not get me wrong, I have a number of other talents and gifts if you will that I would not trade, and I really do love my brother. In fact, I believe that we have a great relationship. When I was in high school there were the cool girls, who were athletic, beautiful and very popular; trust me, I was not part of their crowd. By time I had move onto college and university, it was the artisic and very intellectual girls who I wanted to be a part of but, was not. Before anyone starts thinking that I am in a funk and really down on myself, I'm not. I have a wonderful family, amazing friends, and in general a life that I would not change.


I think that as we progress throughout our lives, our definitions of who is cool and who is not changes. Maturation seems to bring about a recognition and appreciation of our own talents and beauty, and the talents and beauty of others. However, occassionally, my inner dorky wannabe rears its ugly head. Sharon's post reminds me that not only am I not alone, but the cool kids also have the same kinds of feelings I have.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Buy Nothing confession

As I mentioned previously I am participating in Crunchy Chicken's Buy Nothing Challenge. This week I have managed to buy nothing. Before anyone thinks that I am too virtuous, I purposely avoided all stores yesterday so that I would not be tempted and as I did not buy some groceries yesterday, I will need to do this today. Here's hoping that I am able to avoid the magazine rack.

The other thing that I will need to purchase this month is a nail clipping (or as I keep calling it a mani and pedi) for both cats. I have one cat who despite many scratching post options, chooses the couch. I cannot clip her myself; the last time I tried that I had to go to emergency. She is cute, but at times a little vicious. I suppose that I could try to clip the other cat, but I've been kinda nervous ever since the other cat took a few chunks out of me when I tried to clip her. So I guess that this is my pre-confession. In an effort to save the couch both will be getting the mani and pedi. I think that I will try to set up the appointment this week.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Home Cooking

A few of my friends have asked why I am doing this. I have to admit that I have also asked that question. I've never been one to keep a diary or journal and while lightening my impact on the environment is of importance to me, there are a number of great blogs that deal with this subject. Some of which I read on a regular basis. These blogs have inspired me and given me a number of tips and ideas. Many of which I have adopted to varying degrees of success.



One of the changes I made, which I did not think I was going to be able to do, was limiting my consumption of heavily processed or convenience foods. I have focused on making my own food. Rather than buying a frozen dinner, or box of macaroni and cheese, frozen chicken fillets, I make the meal myself. So if I want macaroni and cheese, I cook the macaroni, make the cheese sauce, put them together with a sprinkling of cheese on top for good measure, and in the oven it goes. When I make my own foods I control everything, so if the recipe calls for something I do not like, it never makes it into the pot so to speak. On the other hand, if there is something I really like, then there may be extra.


Most recipes feed three or four and as I am only one, I usually have enough for dinner, lunch the next day at work and dinner again if I can deal with having the same thing three times in a row. However some times I will put the leftovers into the freezer for later use, usually when I am feeling especially lazy, or if I have scheduled myself too much. Extra meals in the freezer have turned into a real bonus and time saver.



All of this is to say that while I thought giving up convenience and processed food would be difficult if not impossible for me, thus far it has proven to be relatively painless. I still go out for meals once in a while with friends, but no longer is this routine and if I have more than two days of meals out, I start to miss home cooked food and the process of cooking.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Crunchy Chicken's Buy Nothing Challenge.

Myself and many others have accepted Crunchy Chicken's challenge to buy nothing for the month of April. This means with the exception of groceries and other necessities, I will not be shopping. While I do not normally do a lot of shopping, I expect that this challenge will force me to really examine my spending habits and how they do or do not reflect my values.


This said...I think it will be a challenge. I love to read, and have what I am sure, is an addiction to books. To me one of the great pleasures of life is to curl up in the winter and stretch out in the summer with a book. Somehow I suspect, that for the month of April I will be using my public library much more than I have previously as I am unwilling to give up my addiction.

I've always supported public libraries, and when I was a poor university student, pretty much lived in them. I believe libraries provide so much more than books. For me, the library was (and is) a place to meet people and to make discoveries, in essence become connected with my community. When I started working I stopped going to the library all the time, convincing myself that I just did not have the time. Later when I started to make some money, I began to buy books rather than borrowing them. While I do not intend to stop buying books all together, for this month at least, there will be no new books on my shelf. In future months, I will have to be more judicious about which books I buy. In the meantime, I'd better get going...the library closes in less than two hours.

I have to apologize to Crunchy Chicken for not posting a link, but not only am I new to the blogging thing, I still have problems figuring out technology.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Hello, I've finally started

I decided to start a blog as a way to record my efforts to reduce my impact on the earth. To live a more sustainable life, while still maintaining some level of sanity.

Thank you for visiting.