Monday, July 26, 2010
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.")
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
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?
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?
Monday, July 19, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
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?
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?
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