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pinkleader
pinkleader
12 February 2008 @ 11:01 pm
voting and going greener  
The one good thing about the icky weather this afternoon/evening is that there was no horde waiting outside the polling place to accost you to vote for their guy. I even bought a magazine at CVS this morning (when getting another antibiotic Rx filled) to have reading material for the wait. I didn't even get the chance to crack it open as I had no wait, and walked right in and voted in less than ten minutes.

BTW, the local politicians are pissing me off. For the MD 4th congressional district, I have received so much junk mail from the two (assumed) leading democratic candidates full of negative (and some positive) BS that it makes my hippie heart want to scream for the trees. I literally got 5 in the mail from the two candidates today only. Seriously, five huge multiple page pamphlets, 3 from one and 2 from another. I actually got so pissed off, I sent a note to Donna Edwards' campaign site contact regarding the shame that someone who calls herself an environmentally friendly candidate should feel at the pile of junk mail I have to recycle in her name. And Albert Wynn? Oy vey. 

So I did my research on the democratic candidates, visiting each of their websites and reading up on their stance on the issues, etc. On the whole Jason Jennings really spoke to me, so he got my vote. I was glad that Edwards and Wynn didn't appeal to me on the issue level since they appall me on an advertising level. Sadly, JJ probably won't get the nomination since he didn't advertise and, let's be real, not everyone takes the time to look up everything themselves.

~~~~~~~~

Speaking of being green, I've taken some small steps towards being more environmentally friendly myself where I can. Yes, I still love and drive my SUV. But we have not been heating the house as toasty to save a bit on the energy usage and bills. I've also taken to buying more organic in products, except when the packaging is so outrageous to make it not worth it. (Quaker Oatmeal, what is with you packing the simple harvest stuff in plastic instead of the nice waxed paper packages of your regular oatmeal? Ditto with you free-range egg folks putting eggs in plastic containers vs. the recyclable cardboard ones?) But my biggest step has been to take and use reusable bags to the grocery store and other shopping outages. I've been doing this for months now, and it warms my heart, and I can carry more in each bag. It really costs me so little, just keep the canvas bags in the truck and take them in shopping when I do. I've done this at Giant, CVS, Trader Joe's, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, and even DSW. The noticeably thinner pile of plastic bags that need recycling is what makes me really happy.

So Green is the new Pink, and has been for a little while. Wish more folks would make the small changes.
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Mood: aggravated
 
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dragonazure: Ignatius[info]dragonazure on February 13th, 2008 06:01 am (UTC)
Talk to [info]ealdthryth about "Green Steps". We managed to make a conscious choice about at least one thing a month to do things in a more environmentally-friendly way. Last month, I invested in a travel mug so I'll quit using the styrofoam ones at work.
pinkleader[info]pinkleader on February 13th, 2008 06:48 pm (UTC)
Yeah, I like Ealdthryth's green steps each month. Some were a little too hippie for me, but some are just right. :) Luckily I don't use disposible cups in my world much outside of parties.
Hrothny[info]stitchwhich on February 13th, 2008 07:09 am (UTC)
Our eggs come in a clear container (they're "free-range" eggs but right now I can't remember the brand) that is recyclable. I like the design of the container almost as much as I like the fact it won't end up in a landfill.

I've been shopping with my own bags for a while now and my only complaint is that I have to tell the baggers at the store, over and over again, that the bags are stronger than plastic ones. I've got the speech down to a patter at this point. :)

Although it did make me snort when I was grabbing plastic shopping bags from my little 'recycle them' tube for garbage bags at the event and realised that we didn't have very many of the things. That's a nice change!
pinkleader[info]pinkleader on February 13th, 2008 06:52 pm (UTC)
Sadly our county recycling program is going away from the number system and only to bottles with necks, so lots of plastic stuff isn't recyclable any more. :(

Luckily, I bought two of the bags from Giant, so I put them at the top/front of the pile and baggers now know to use them first. Also, Giant gives a 3-cent credit per reusable bag that you bring in and use, which is a small amount but a little hooray.
Letters Worth the Postage[info]chargirlgenius on February 13th, 2008 11:56 am (UTC)
I bought a bunch of the green bags at Whole Foods, but damn me I cannot ever remember to take them along. That's my step, remembering the things!
pinkleader: Bubbles[info]pinkleader on February 13th, 2008 07:08 pm (UTC)
I store my reusable bags in my truck, so they are right there when I go shopping. After shopping and unloading, I place the bags immediately back in the truck for the next trip. Once the pattern was established, it's been easy to keep up with. I still do occasionally go into the pharmacy to get an Rx and forget a bag, but that's one every other week compared to the 10 or so I used to bring home weekly from the grocery store.
Letters Worth the Postage[info]chargirlgenius on February 13th, 2008 07:30 pm (UTC)
They're usually *in* the mini reenactor van, it's also a matter of taking them into the store. I'm working on it. We do have fewer bags, but we still get them.

I'm thrilled that even safeway is selling bags! (and Ikea won't give you bags now either)
theodorad[info]theodorad on February 13th, 2008 01:39 pm (UTC)
That! explains why you're morphing into wearing so much green!
Hee hee hee.
pinkleader: chi chi chi[info]pinkleader on February 13th, 2008 07:09 pm (UTC)
Perhaps I just want to be feared... :)
alchemist_9327: alchemist[info]alchemist_9327 on February 13th, 2008 02:55 pm (UTC)
Thank you for voting !
belfebe: Silver Screen-Loren[info]belfebe on February 13th, 2008 03:41 pm (UTC)
You voted, therefore you are! Yay!

And regarding junk mail from candidates, yeah, I hear you. I have repeatedly told them to a) Please do not phone me, and b) Please do not send me crap. If you want anything from me, be either my vote or my money, send me an email. It's less annoying, more effective, and environmentally friendly. :-)
pinkleader: Angry Bubbles[info]pinkleader on February 13th, 2008 06:54 pm (UTC)
I'm thinking of pulling all Donna Edwards' ads from my paper recycling and mailing them back to her with a note of displeasure.
belfebe[info]belfebe on February 13th, 2008 06:58 pm (UTC)
That would be awesome.