Boo!

Fine, don't take my word for it. Let this scare the pants off you instead.

Cawfee Tawk

I'm running really low on time today, but I did want to get this out there before days pass and guilt mounts for not doing the only thing I think might be of some help to the earth (that being sitting on my butt and blabing to whoever wants to listen). Anyway, given my rush, I thought I would pull a Mike Myers' Cawfee Tawk (hilarious as ever!). And just say - in my best New Yawk accent - "The water bond is neither water nor a bond. Discuss..." (But before you do, read about Prop 18, No On Prop 18 and see which side gets you a little "fahklempt.")

What the Heck?

My son is saying "What the Heck?" all the time. I don't know where he gets it from. I know what you're thinking, but anyone who knows me knows that any time I start a phrase with "What the..." believe me that the last word is not "heck." So I refrain from that set-up altogether. It's funny when he says it, not because he has absolutely no idea why he's saying it, but because there's really nothing I can do about it. I said to him, "I don't like that phrase." and he asked "why?" Ummm... well, I don't know why. It's not like he's cursing. And he's not being defiant or bratty. So, "What the heck, son. Go ahead!"

Perhaps you will understand why I've shared this little piece of information about my kid once you see this link. I figure it might serve as a cleaner example of what to say as you reading the article, as your reactions will likely include some phrase beginning with "what the..." Perhaps you've seen the article already or caught this news. It's not a recent news story, but it's nevertheless exhausting to hear. Isn't there enough "heck" going on with our water right now?

I AM BP

Am I the only one who is tired of hearing about BP screwing up? (I didn't think so). So tired... and angry. So angry! But what am I doing? No matter how mad I get, I'm doing about as much good as reenacting some drama queen moment from Gone With The Wind. I'm nowhere near the Gulf and do not have the ability to travel there for any length of time. So I'm doing what many people are doing. I'm very busy hating BP. I know I'm in good company... Just go to Ihatebp.com or google your choice of epithets + bp as I did and poof! You will find a cyber-mob of haters are just as fed up with this 90-day heartache as we watch yet more destruction of this planet literally grow before our eyes.

Wasn't it nice for us optimists (hello... are you even still out there?) on Thursday when we had a glimmer of hope that they were finally putting a stop to it with a cap? Of course now it's looking like more bad news because of a possible "seep." Usually it's a pleasure to watch people who make a lot more money than any of us clunk their heads together while looking stupid. Not this time. It's most infuriating when I think about it in terms of my kids. What the hell are they doing wrecking the planet I want my kids to enjoy? The nerve of BP handing my children YEARS of repercussions thanks to their neglect, stupidity and greed. Of course, while I'm growling inside, on the outside I'm likely singing itsy bitsy spider or clapping about someone pooping on the potty. Maybe one of these days when it comes to mind I'll actually ask my son what he thinks BP should do, since it seems to me he's a lot smarter than any of the people they have working on this losing battle.

Then recently one evening I was draining my son's bathwater and taking a moment to breathe as my son did a naked lap around his room. For those who know me, what you're thinking is exactly right. What? You were draining the what from the what? Of course, those of you who know me also know my constant admissions of being a seriously flawed person who isn't always perfect. But as I was watching the water drain, knowing that it's all just going to waste - knowing that I was doing the wrong thing, knowing that I was part of the problem, knowing that I was living in a state with a water shortage on it's hands, knowing that there was something I could have done to prevent waste - I had a thought. I am BP.

Okay, so I'm not an oil company. I'm a mom who lives in a rented apartment with her family and blabs on a blog occasionally and writes silly articles and at times eats more ice cream than she should. But all this energy I'm expending to be mad at BP (unless I head to the gulf and get my hands dirty which is not going to happen because of my obligations at home) is not doing anything. I may not be an oil company, but if I'm not doing what I can to prevent the next disaster, than aren't I a little mini microscopic version of BP? I know the risk I'm taking every time I am too lazy to recycle or waste water just like BP knew the risks they were taking. Hell, I hate them, right? So don't I want to be better than them?

On the car ride home from a day-trip yesterday, I told my husband that I want to recommit ourselves to saving water and anything else we can to do not just save the environment, but also not pull a BP. (Here's where I'm starting) Sure, I would say that we have been doing a lot in this house, but every now and then, it's time to take it up a notch just like BP should have a long long long long time ago. When the next disaster happens, I would really feel terrible if the one I was hating was myself.

Milking Your Independence

It's the Fourth of July! For a lot of people, this means parties, hot dogs, and fireworks. But when you have three year old it means, well, that you'll probably be doing the same stuff you usually do. We are having some friends over this evening for a casual dinner and then it's bedtime like any other night. Sure we could keep him up past his bedtime, but then there's the noise factor, the bathroom factor, and the over-exhausted temper tantrum factor. I think that's more fun than I actually want to have.

Now that I am on hiatus from the Forth of July, I found myself focused more on the fact that it's not just the Forth of July. It's actually Independence Day. (I know... can you handle this level of deep thinking?) While I might be a bit out of practice when it comes to the 4th of July, I am very in-touch with the concept of independence. My kid is constantly redefining and reminding me of how important independence is. And at the same time, I'm constantly reminding him of the responsibilities that come with it. He wants to pour his own milk, fine, but he's got to watch what he's doing or it's going to spill. Before I know it, pouring his milk will be driving the car and the stakes will be even higher. But it has to happen. Lord knows, I don't want to be pouring his milk at his wedding reception.

On this blog, I've suggested that people should only be allowed a certain amount of water to use each day and if you go over... well actually I don't remember what I suggested the consequence be, but I assume it had something to do with paying big bucks. But there is an opportunity that we all have as we exercise our independence and perhaps today think more closely about what independence means. As independent people, we have the ability to use as much water as we want in our homes. Hell, we could just leave the water running all day long. But like I tell my son, being independent comes with responsibility.

I know that it may be a very unpopular opinion to think that people should have limitations on their daily water use. But I'm willing to lose that debate if I can be convinced that people are not just exercising their independence, but exercising it wisely. Are you going to look at what you're doing? Or are you going to spill the milk?

Ohmygoshimasama!

Oh Lordy. So, I've decided to get skinny and have no time to exercise, so I've been doing Bikram Yoga at some god awful hour that doesn't even deserve a spot on the clock because it's so miserably early. I love it! (Can't you tell). In case you aren't up on your Yoga-types (Believe me, I'm not) Bikram is the kind of yoga where your in a room that's so hot your skin melts off of your face. Up side: even when you're lying flat on the ground wishing you were dead, you're still sweating the pounds away. Down side: all you want to do is lie on the ground wishing you were dead while letting the pounds melt away. Unfortunately, they also make you do stuff. Like hold your food over your head... BEHIND you. All kidding aside, I've been really happy doing it and hope that I can keep this up. I've NEVER been an early riser, but this seems to be the only way to add anything more to my already hectic schedule.

The yoga studio I go to has water conscious signs everywhere. Signs about how you're only allowed two towels because they don't want to do too much laundry and waste water. Low flow shower heads. They do sell bottled water, but encourage you to bring your own water (which most people do). I have to say, it's nice living in a place where there are such water conscious businesses. I'm proud to be twisting my body like a pretzel in their name.

The only disappointing thing is how ridiculously long the other yogi's showers are. Now, let's forget that there is a line of gross, sweaty, smelly people in need of a good hose down (me included) waiting outside the shower stalls. But the amount of water that is wasted made my heart pound faster then when I do that half-hippopotamasama or whatever you call it where I'm half of my body is upsidedown while the other half is right side up. Is this what's going on around the world while I'm not looking? I mean, one girl even took the time to wring out her saturated yoga wear - and you know that mound of stink is going in the washing machine anyway.

Look people, a shower is for getting clean. That's it. Get in, get clean and get out. This takes five minutes at the MOST. If it takes you longer, you're doing it wrong. And even if you want the extra couple of minutes to massage your head full of shampoo, or loofa your legs (Loufa? I can't spell) or act out a scene from Singin in the Rain, just shut the water off! Because someday it won't just be a line of stinky pretzel people looming. It will be one heck of a dried up world.

Got 8?

Have I really not talked to you guys since the 13th! What a slacker! Tune in tomorrow when I will be talking about my new affair with 6am Bikram Yoga. Yes, it will still focus on water issues. Lord knows, I don't want to talk about the sorry state of my flexibility. Who knew pulling on my big toe could be painful enough to make me want to scream obscenities!

For today, I wanted to share this great little video. Fun to watch, informative. Oh, for goodness sakes, just watch it! Then read the comments to know about all the pinheads out there who watched it and worry more about the state of capitalism than they do the environment, our children's future and well, the fact that well, we're getting the pants scammed off of us! Watch.

Retreat!

I'm on a writers retreat. Notice I said writers retreat and not "writing" retreat. Haven't done much writing as of yet, though there has been quite a bit of discussion that has been helpful. Lots of eating too, which is always welcome. Lots of running the water too. The water here is bloody freezing! Like the pipe it in straight off a penguin's ass. Yes, I'm in a cabin. Yes I'm in the woods. But can a girl get a luke warm drip of water? Anyway, without a watering can or bucket that I trust to be clean, I am watching lots of water go down the drain without a useful moment on this planet. My poor housemates are looking over their shoulders constantly trying to read my mind - as if I am thinking less of them for wanting to have feeling left in their hands after washing the dishes. I waited for the shower to heat up, making myself feel better by sticking my toothbursh under the showerhead instead of running the sink. Hey, it's something. Meanwhile, I think I saw a squirrel watching me through the window. He looked pissed. Sorry nature. Maybe I will put in the suggestion box that they should have buckets and watering cans for just this purpose. Might make the owners say, "hmmm." Might make them say, "what kind of UnAmerican crazies rented the cabin this weekend, anyway." Either way, it cant hurt. And at least now I can call this a "writing" retreat!

Silver Jewels

I was going to look up more about the eBay lady who is running for Governor when I came across the California Water Service website and their FREE water saving accessories! Now I can don my apartment in the silver jewels it deserves all for the price of 0.00! Conservation never looked this good! (This entry is now dubbing as my audition piece for the home shopping network.) Don't wait! Order now!

Well, wait a minute... there's a snag.

They want an account number and the name of the person on the account. Ummm... first of all, I don't have that information. I'm a RENTER. I'm assuming it's my landlord. I know her name but the account number. I'm lucky enough to have a landlord that does not charge us for water, so I have absolutely no idea. Um, Cal Water Service, can I ask a question. WHY are you asking for this stuff. If you're sending this stuff to a CAL address, then why of why do you care what my account number is? I'm trying to save water. Why you gotta give me a hard time?

Yes, I will ask my landlord. I hate to bother her with this, but I will do it.

But the way, this all came out of my son's new obsession with running the water at FULL BLAST. He's now old enough to tell me that the soap doesn't all come off when we only run it at half the power. So whenever it's time for him to wash his hands, you hear us bickering. "You're waisting water." "There's more soap!" "You have to rub your hands together." "I am!" Poor kid. Washing your hands should not be stressful with everything else that can stress a kid out these days. This should be on the list of soothing, calming, easy peasy no-brainers. Sorry baby. Mama's fixin to make everything right again. Don't you worry. CWS, you better come through!

Backed Up

I'm alive, I just have been buried. Mostly under a calendar. How does that happen. Well, you know all of those comprehensive magazine calendars you see with a roundup of every friggin thing there is to do in an area. Well, someone has to write that. In the case of a certain publication in my area, that's me. I actually asked the editor to take it off my plate because I'm really not getting much else done. Anyway, it's not an excuse, but I'm having to store all of my water news in my head until I actually get a chance to sit here and write it. Now, of course, the only thing going through my head is how I forgot to pack a pillow case for my son this morning in his school back for nap time. My kid's well-being trumps all, my friends...

I will say that I have been seeing many MANY commercials plugging the eBay woman for governor, and I have been doing a lot of wondering about what her stance is on the whole levy issue. I don't know if you remember a few bloggies back when I posted that 60 minutes segment about the levy's here in CA and how we are less than one earthquake away from them collapsing into oblivion - causing the salt water to mix in with the water in the reservoir. So, I'm going to vote for the person who pledges to fix that as a top three priority - equal to healthcare and education. Anyone who doesn't see it as a top priority is, frankly, a moron. More on this in later episodes. But for now, speaking of earthquakes...

I was up way to late the other night working on, you guessed it, the friggin calendar, when I tuned into CNN. There's nothing like watching a little bit of the boob tube just before I go to bed to shut off my brain and lul me into sleepyland. Now, I should mention that I HATE CNN because I think that all news should be publicly funded. I want to know NEWS, not the version that Gold Bond Medicated Ointment or Viagara or whatever the heck other sponsor thinks is news. I plan on pounding this into my son's consciousness so that he never thinks that the sensationalist crap is news. It's not. It's the new MTV. It's the alternate ESPN. Anyway, I'm flipping through and they are covering the earthquake in Chile. What a nightmare. First Haiti and now this. So powerful that they were saying the rotation of the earth actually sped up a fraction of a second because of the magnitude.

I've never been through a major earthquake. I remember one when I was living in NYC. I remember knowing exactly what it was and going back to sleep. (This was in the late 90's, I believe.) But now that I live here in the Bay Area, I know I'm going to face one. Especially since epicenters have been ping ponging around the globe. I want to have a water supply and thought I would just buy a case of bottled water. Turns out, emergency water supplies come in bags, not bottles. Not sure why. I think it's the responsible thing to do, but is it a little crazy? Am I doing the smart thing or am I doing the Ted Kazinski thing?

My time is up. More tomorrow...

Parched

Well, I haven't written for a few days as you may have noticed. The official reason is that I have been quite busy and a few things changed in my schedule last week that made it difficult to fit blogging in. You know how it goes. But there is something else that has made sitting down and writing this blog even more difficult. I bought a bottle of water. Yes, after I went on and on about how we just have to stop buying this stuff, what did I do? I bought a bottle of water.

It was at a theater. As usual, I hadn't been anywhere close to the daily requirement of water and I was parched. Here's the conversation between me and the guy at the snack table.
Me: "Do you have any juice?"
Him: "No"
Me: (Pointing to a bottle I didn't recognize) "What is that?"
Him: Water. (He gets one from the fridge)
Me: Oh. Do you guys have a water fountain?
Him: No (He opens the bottle of water) If we had a water fountain, we couldn't sell bottled water.
Me: (Awkward laugh)
Him: I know. We're a bunch of dirty capitalists here. (He hands me the opened bottle of water) That will be three dollars.

Then next thing I knew, I was crouched in a corner drinking this bottle of water with my cookie, hoping I could finish it before my friend (who reads this blog) came out of the ladies room. As you know, I mess up. My only penance is transparency on this blog and the promise that I will continue to try and not mess up, especially after I get really preachy!

Is this a bad time to give an assignment? Probably, but I'll do it anyway. I have been given the task of writing about conserving water at work. Now, much of what I have in mind has to do with transferring what I do at home to the work place. As you may or may not know, I work from home. Sure, I've had plenty of office jobs, but that workplace mentality kind of goes out the window when you spend some days working in pajamas while doing a mud mask. So, I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for conserving water as it applies to the workplace. Any thoughts???

The New Styrofoam

I've had this bottle of Fiji water sitting on my desk for the last few weeks. It's just sitting there. I almost caved one day and brought it in the car with me to drink. It was sitting in my cupboard since before starting this blog (there are a couple more from the six pack I had bought way back when). But I couldn't open it because I didn't want to go back to this blog and have to write about how I broke my own rule. So, it's sitting there. And being a writer, I spend a lot of time at my desk not writing (any writer can explain that one). So the other day I actually read the back of the bottle.

"The purest water comes from the purest clouds. Our rainfall is purified by trade winds as it travels across the Pacific Ocean to the islands of Fiji. A continent away from acid rain and other polutants, Fiji Water is preserved and protected by one of the last virgin ecosystems on Earth."

So I went to Fijigreen.com to learn more about their water and about the company going green. Their goals sound great. Reducing CO2 emissions, 50% renewable energy sources by 2010, and setting goals to be "carbon negative." Awesome, right? But just as I was about to crack open the bottle and toast to a brighter, more convenient future where I don't have to remember to keep refilling the pitcher of water in my refrigerator, I thought about something. We're talking about water. WATER! You know, the stuff that comes out of the sink. How much CO2 does a sink give off? Anyone, anyone...?

I don't mean to pick on Fiji. Sorry cute little Fiji with those adorable little post-it drawings on your website, illustrating all the different CO2 emitting steps it took to get this bottle of water to sit on my desk and stare at me. The truth is, that it's not their fault. It's ours. We're buying it.

I was at someone's house for dinner (no, I'm not going to mention names) and the person had set the table with styrofoam (spelling???) plates. Yes, stirofoam (another attempt at spelling). Is it more accurate to say polystyrene? Anyway, everyone sitting at the table said something (the relationships at the table were too close knit to let a little thing like disposable dinnerware ruin them). The host was embarrassed even before the ridicule, but kept saying, "I've had these plates for so long, what am I supposed to do with them?" Good point, but she will likely never buy them again. I want this to happen with bottled water. I want there to come a day where someone is drinking bottled water and everyone around them says, "what the heck are you doing???" First things first - stop buying bottled water.

A Little Bubbly

I keep forgetting to write about this, but I saw the coolest thing. I'm so not a gadget person, so many many things I see are cool to me, but as one who thinks about water all the time, this was a winner. I usually don't drink sparkling water because I don't want to buy a lot of bottled drinks. But when I went to this friends house, she asked me if I wanted some and proceeded to go to this little appliance with a container full of water from her tap. She just lifted a whatsit, pressed a thingy, waited about 5 seconds and wah-la! (pardon my French) Sparkling water!

Now, don't tell my dad, but I think I'm going to get one of these things for him for his birthday (His birthday was in the beginning of January - better late than never). Like I said, I don't buy sparkling water, and I don't recommend many products on this blog because I don't believe you should have to spend oodles of money to save water. But my parents buy so much sparkling water and my father drinks it by the gallon right out of the bottles. If you like sparkling water, I highly recommend it. Here are some links to these gadgets:
Soda Stream
Penguin Water Carbonator
Sparkling Water Kit

Bottoms Up

Do you drink enough water? I don't. There, I said it. I am constantly behind on my water drinking, along with a million other things. Why is that? I don't always remember the world being after me to drink so much water. When did this start anyway. And who started it? My husband calls me "The Camel" because I seem to need so little of it. The truth is, it feels like a job to keep track of how many darn glasses I'm drinking. And hard as I tried to look for a reputable site to tell me all that 8 glasses of water a day stuff is for the birds (you know, all those birds who think they know everything), it looks like I'm out of luck. I just have to accept that I'm in the wrong. I have to do better...

As I try to turn over this new leaf, I do want to make a note for people like me who also are challenged in this area. Whenever I face this challenge by getting the biggest cup I have and filling it to the brim with water, I end up wasting it. It's nice for me to believe in myself to that extent, but I have to say, it doesn't work. Inevitably, the water sits there for a while, gets warm and unappealing and ends up getting tossed. Now, you know me, when I say tossed, that usually means the watering can or in a pot that needs to be soaked. But as much as I hate to admit it, it does sometimes end up in a place close to the sink that rhymes with pain.

So, the best thing to do, for those of you who are water challenged with me, is to pour smaller cups for yourself (or a smaller amount in a big cup, whatever...) and drink it all down before filling it back up. There's nothing like successfully finishing a glass of water, or knowing that you have put that water to good use... giving you the perfect excuse to ditch work for a much needed bathroom break!

What You Can Do

A little cross promotion here... check out What You Can Do and click on water conservation for ideas that I never thought of!

Rinse!

I think we can officially say that all of you who read this blog, friends and strangers alike, know way more than you'd probably care to about my daily habits (and worries). Well, just when you thought I couldn't drag you in any further... here's one for you:

Last night, before bed, my husband was leaving the bathroom as I was going in and I started spraying my toothbrush with... gosh, I think my spray bottle needs a name - any suggestions? So I'm wetting the toothbrush and I said to Aaron, "Um, have you been using the spray bottle?" I knew he hadn't because, well, because of the way he looks at me when I do it!" He looks at me like a deer in the headlights (a look I don't see on his face that often), "I ration water when I do it. I ration it. I'm very careful. I really don't use that much." And the door closed with me standing there, spray bottle in one hand, toothbrush in the other. Looks like I have a new goal - Husband - meet spray bottle!

I will say, he's a little bit right, the spray bottle is a tough one (Don't tell him I said that!) Ever notice that if you don't use lots of water to rinse your mouth when you brush your teeth, your mouth feels even more disgusting than it did when you woke up? Well, I tried using the spray bottle to rinse my mouth instead of the sink. The spray bottle doesn't cut it.

I don't usually keep a cup in my bathroom for rinsing because inevitably, it gets really toothpasty, and I really don't want to use it more than once. I don't know why I can't bring myself to do it. Lord knows I use the same water glass for days on end to use fewer dishes and save water. But somehow, I always go back to either cupping my hand or putting my mouth right under the faucet (yes, I'm a lady). I know it's only a few drops, but I run the water so little in the bathroom now that I feel like the Thelma and Louise of water savers. "Keep Going!"

I do actually rinse my mouth with all natural mouthwash after I brush my teeth... so, when I run out this time, instead of recycling, I'm just going to fill it with water and use the cap to pour the bit of water that I need to rinse. No run off... no waste.

The person that I probably am going to be able to count on to get on board with this is the other man in my life: my son. I still have not used the spray bottle on him because of, once again, my worst enemy in all of this, HABIT! Two things I know about this... 1. The kid's gonna think this is hysterical, fun and a very important job (so important, I know he's going to insist on doing it himself) 2. This will become second nature to him.

Field Trip

As much as I would like to ramble on and on about how my spray bottle is still half full after a couple of weeks of use, I have lots of work to do today and must attend to it immediately. So, I thought I would send you over to a site that lists 100 Ways to Conserve Water, some of which I have talked about on this here blogitty-blog-blog. But what this list has that I don't really cover is water conservation in your yard. For example:

* Water your lawn and garden in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize evaporation.

* If water runs off your lawn easily, split your watering time into shorter periods to allow for better absorption.

* Adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.

Why haven't I covered this stuff? Well, I live in an apartment, for one thing. So, no sprinklers here. The management company has landscapers come in and water the backyard, so I really have absolutely no idea about this stuff. But for all you homeowners out there, I would check this site out. I know I'm passing the buck today, but it's healthy to assert your independence from Mama sometimes. Just come back home!

Frenemy

Last night, I was getting ready for bed and my husband walked in on me in the bathroom doing the most embarrassing thing ever! Drum roll please... I was spraying my face with the water from the spray bottle! Did you fall out of your chair in shock? Perhaps you fell out of your chair from shock at what a boring life I must lead. Hey! I'm sure someone more exciting is writing a blog out there! Who needs you! (No, no, come back! ) Anyway, when my husband passed the bathroom, he heard me laughing at myself. He opened the door and said, "Are you spraying your face to save water?" "Yes." Of course! Why do I do anything anymore?

I was thinking... I thought, you know, I really don't have to wet my face with water before I put my cleanser on. I could just give it a couple of sprays and I'm in business. I have two things to say. First, it worked. my face was wet enough to give it a good sudsy wash. Second, it was miserable! Please, someone tell me it's okay to use a whole pint of water to wash my face instead of a half a teaspoon from the spray bottle! Hello? Okay, fine! Perhaps I will actually get used to this. The navy shower has become second nature, why not this. But while everyone loves water: swimming in it, drinking it, gazing at it, bathing in it - no one, but no one likes it coming at them in little misty drips. No one! That's why umbrellas were invented!

When my husband walked in, I was actually laughing at myself for doing this miserable thing, cursing about this spray bottle while voluntarily misting my face. But the point is, I have discovered that the spray bottle can do a lot more than wet the toothbrush and save TONS of water. This morning I went to wet my hair the usual way - by turning on the sink. But then I remembered... Spray bottle!

You know what should be invented (not by me, by someone smart) is a warmer for the water in the spray bottle. Maybe it would be a little less, well, shocking if it were warm water hitting my face. The thing is, when the water sits in the spray bottle, it just gets to room temp, which is not hot enough for me! Oh spray bottle... my new frenemy. You could be just the thing to save the world... and irritate the hell out of me.

Swirly Girl

Is anyone washing dishes the way I recommended? (It took me a long time to write that sentence in a way that didn't make me sound like my three year old. At one point, I had written, "Is anyone doing what I said?") Look back and somewhere on this blog you'll find my instructions on how to wash the dishes if you have to do them by hand. (Of course! No one would ever WANT to to them by hand). You know, keep another pot or pan underneath to catch all the water you'll end up using half of the water you would normally use (well, I'm not measuring, but giving how little I have to put the sink on to wash dishes by doing it this way, I think I'm being fair). The problem is rinsing all of the soap off. But the other night, I was noticing that I swirl a lot. You know, like, what you do with a glass of wine when you pretend that you know what you're doing? Except, I do it with a pot or pan and then pour the water out into the next pot I'm going to wash. Swirl, girls! (And boys... I'm not old fashioned, it's just that "boys" didn't rhyme.)

Am I really going to post this on facebook for the world to see. I can't imagine what the people I knew in High School think of me... "Hey, Karen, what are you doing now?" "Well... I'm telling people to swirl water around while they wash dishes!" Cue the crickets...

Rain Rain Go Away... No, Come Back!

I wish there was some mechanism to alert people when I post, because on an off week like this, I know it's annoying to keep looking and find nothing there but the dusty old post on how I can't remember to spray my toothbrush instead of running the faucet. I mean, how many times to you have to be told already?

It's been raining here. Like torrential. Jeez, I don't even know how to spell that word it's been so long since I used it. Usually it makes me laugh at how people freak out here when it rains heavier than a drizzle, but this time the frenzy was warranted. It makes me wonder how much rain we need in order to get out of this drought pickle we're in. According to reports we need two more weeks just like it to get out of the pit we're in.

I have to admit, I had to stop myself from being a bit more free wheeling with the faucet this week. And I didn't feel my usual pang of guilt when I ran the faucet to wash one single spoon just so that my son could eat his ice cream. After reading that we're not in the clear just yet, I think I'll refrain from doing that again.

Spray

The spray bottle is there... it's right by the sink, and yet I keep forgetting to use it for my toothbrush. For those of you just joining us, I heard this idea on the video I posted a few days ago that you could use a spray bottle to wet your toothbrush instead of running the sink. Hence using much less water than you normally would. Of course, in doing all of this water-saving stuff, I have to say that half the battle is always getting into the right habit. I mean, the intention is always there, but for 37 years I have been running the darn sink when I brush my teeth. It's going to take at least a couple of weeks to wash that out of me (no pun intended). But it is possible. I think twice now before I flush, and that was not an easy thing to do. Of course, I also learned that if you clean your toilet more often, like I do, and leave your cleaner in there (an all natural one of course!) it's a much more sanitary way of saving water by not flushing.

I know, I'm rattling this one off, but I've got so much to do today. But I FINALLY used the spray bottle and I thought I should share my honest opinion. Like most of these new habits, I'm not crazy about this new technique. The toothbrush is not as soggy as usual and that's a little weird. But really, my teeth are nice and clean and my mouth feels fresh. What the heck else do I want, huh? I'll get used to it! It's worth all the water I saved!

Moonstruck

Moonstruck is one of my favorite movies of all time. Not a single bad moment in that film. I think I've seen it a thousand times. If you haven't seen it - SEE IT. Okay, okay, I said my piece. There is actually a reason I was thinking of Moonstruck today. It started with me buying the spray bottles for my bathroom. (Pop Quiz! Did you see the last entry? If you did, you would know why I was buying the spray bottles. No? Watch the short video and find out why!) Then, I had a dozen people here last night for a reading of this play I just finished (Curtsie) and didn't have time to wash all the pots and pans right after I finished (Cone of shame) so I filled everything with at least a little bit of water. Well, as I was doing it, I felt kind of guilty. Filling pans with water, filling the spray bottle, filling the soap dispenser. Aren't I supposed to be SAVING water? But sometimes you have to use water to save it. When I finally got around to washing the pots and pans, that gunk came off with no problem. I just took a sponge, using the water that was already in there and just wiped stuff away. I probably used a lot less water than I would have if I had let all the sauce (lasagna... mmmm) harden. Just like that spray bottle, that some of you still have no idea about - filling it with water is actually going to save water in the long run.

Back to Moonstruck... Remember the part when the dad - a plumber - meets with his clients and tells them that their pipes are garbage? He recommends that they get "Copper... which is the only pipe I use." Of course, the frugal wife scoffs at the amount of money the will have to spend. But Cosmo explains to her that it costs money because it SAVES money.

I think the best thing to do around the house is to not just NOT use water, but use it in a way that SAVES water in the long run. Thanks Cosmo! Of course, I think if we asked him what his attitude about water is, he would say "I don't wanna talk about it!" Haha... Oh will you just see the movie already???

Hug a Jug

This is great! (Okay, yes, hugging a milk jug is a little weird, but the rest of it is good stuff!) Don't worry it's brief! Click here. Then pass it on!

We Are Here!

I've entitled this entry "blah blah" because, I really don't know what I'm about to say. I know that I don't want to neglect the blog, but frankly, my family has been coasting for a while. We are all sticking to our better water habits, without much thought. It's funny how you think something is gong to be such a big deal and then poof, it's not. It's just life. So really, I'm just going to blah and see if it amounts to anything. I did set aside the time to talk to you guys. So I might as well see what comes out of my brain. Maybe I'll give this another title once I find out what this is about.

After watching that 60 Minutes interview with the Governator (I'm new to Cal, so saying that still makes me chuckle...) there is something I really don't understand. He's talking about building levies and spending billions of dollars, and yes - yes, he should be doing all of that to protect our water. But I will never understand why he does not talk directly to the people and tell us - hey! Stop using so much water. Here's how - and then tell us all of the little things that we could be doing. I mean, how many stupid "The More You Know" psa's have I watched, and you can't put something on about how to wash your dishes in a way that uses less water.

Didn't they ask people to make sacrifices during world war II? Yeah...rationing. Here's what the American History Society nerds say about it:

During the Second World War, you couldn't just walk into a shop and buy as much sugar or butter or meat as you wanted, nor could you fill up your car with gasoline whenever you liked. All these things were rationed, which meant you were only allowed to buy a small amount (even if you could afford more). The government introduced rationing because certain things were in short supply during the war, and rationing was the only way to make sure everyone got their fair share.

So, why are we not being asked to ration water? I mean, Arnie said (nope, not as fun to say as Governator. Darn!) that we are in a crisis. Okay, sure they are telling us, save water save water. But honestly, I understand why people are going to stand here and say... uh, what does that mean, exactly. To me, saving water means shutting off the shower while massaging my head with shampoo. But to my father, who lets the sink run and run while he's on the other side of the kitchen scraping the dinner plates into the garbage, it might mean something totally different. Like... uh... freakin' simply not turning on the sink for absolutely no reason at all.

Has the US population grown into such babies that we can't do something for the good of the state, the country and frankly the planet? I say no! But, Schwartzy! (Still no fun) Tell us what we should be doing to fix this problem, exactly. We're tough. We can take it.

I recently watched the animated version of Horton Hears A Who - my son LOVES that book. There's this part where the Mayor of the town tells the council that weird things have been happening around Whoville and that maybe they should cancel the Who Centennial. Well, there is no such thing as bad news in whoville, so as soon as the mayor says these words, a big glass dome lowers over his head and they "discuss" (lots of chasing, arguing and funny funny stuff) as the citizens of whoville listen to nice calming music on the outside of the dome. Of course, while it was "decided" that the Centennial should go on, who was right? The Mayor of course. Their world was on a dust speck being carried around by a feckless elephant for goodness sakes!

Govvy (actually I like Govvy), we are being carried around by a feckless elephant right now. Stop making this your problem. The fact is that it's our problem. I know that you never asked for help in your movies, but this is the real world. Even if you get the 11 bazillion dollars your asking for, we the every day citizens are going to have to make serious changes. And guess what? I bet people would be willing to do it if you just tell everyone what exactly to do.

The fact is that we come from the tough stock of people that made it though World War II. Even the Who's knew when the time came to pull together. Now we're saying what they said when crisis hit: We are here! We are here! We are here!

The Govenator

Make some popcorn, dim the lights and hope that Schwarzenegger saves the world in this 60 minutes interview like he did in most of his movies.