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...