Environment
saving the world? and reducing my costs?
I haven’t put my air conditioner on yet this summer. So far it hasn’t been too bad – the highest it’s gotten to inside has been 28 C and to me, that’s not bad.
At first I thought, in my enhanced environmental awareness, that I would just not turn it on to try to save the energy with all of this climate change speak that’s floating around these days. And sure, that feels great — especially when it angers me that other people in my condo have their units running 24/7 which, for 500 square feet surely isn’t necessary.
But, in reality, I absolutely cannot afford to turn it on. People may claim that it’s worth it or that it’s not really that expensive, but if something is currently more expensive than zero dollars, I can’t afford it.
This often makes me think about waste. I hate waste and wasteful people. I cannot fathom wasting money, time, energy, anything really. It’s not in me to live beyond my means or to purchase somethign just because I feel like it then toss it out in a couple of weeks. It frustrates me that so many people seem to be heading this way — even watching those TV shows where a consultant comes and helps you get out of debt drive me crazy because the people seem so absolutely clueless, stressed, and selfish.
So, my mission for the summer is to see if I can get through without the air conditioner at all. And, secondarily, to see if I can find a way to raise more funds — things are just far too ridiculously tight (and trust me, if you couldn’t tell by now, I’m not a frivilous person — everything possible — eating out, travelling, new clothes, etc.) has been cut out of the budget. But I would like to have heat in the winter. That is non negociable 🙂
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )rapid transit in toronto
I am SO excited at the potential prospect of my dream come through — rapid transit and more subways in the GTA! Here’s hoping it actually happens.
I am constantly frustrated with public transit (especially when I come home from London and wish that the tube could be superimposed over the GTA). (I’ve talked about taking the train before) Not only does it take over an hour to get from the outer lines of the GO train into the downtown core, but most of the lines only run a few trains in the morning (4 usually) and in the rush-hour time. This is not acceptable. Also, I still have to drive to the station and, in Mississauga, there are no spots by 7:30. That’s right, all 770 spots are full by the time the second train has pulled out — what happens to those who want to take the next 3 trains? Ridiculous!
Everyone should live within 10 minutes walking distance from a train or subway station and trains should run all day and frequently.
I do take the train and subway as much as I can. I still have a 20 minute drive to the subway but only a 7 minute trip to the train station. I don’t take the busses, however, because I can drive anywhere they’re going to take me faster, so why would I?
This is one great step and I have my fingers crossed!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )wiarton willy or punxsutawney phil
I haven’t found any reference yet as to what Wiarton Willy said in terms of how long winter will be around for this year (his 51st year of decision making). Last year he said we were in the clear, but I can’t remember if he was right.
Punxsutawney Phil I saw on the news this morning and the official document read (was quite cute) and said that spring is coming in 6 weeks!
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )working from home
Today is the first time I’ve ever tried to work from home. The weather outside was frightful this morning and there were over 100 accidents in between where I live and work. The best part!? I started to work at 7:30 — an hour earlier than normal because I didn’t have to drive to work. So I’ve already almost worked for 4 hours and it’s only 11! (I’m on a bit of a break).
The best part is that I can use my brand new, fun laptop to do work.
Kevin has a day off school too — the busses were cancelled.
I remember snow days. I ALWAYS had to still go and I lived out in the country. I was always there on time and for the whole day while the kids who could have walked didn’t even make it in. The worst was when I could drive to highschool. I drove every day, so I didn’t think to look at if the busses were cancelled or not and I would get to school and learn that they had been cancelled.
So, usually I do risk life and limb to get in, but today it was just TOO bad.
How are you spending your snow day?
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )almost christmas
Well, it’s almost Christmas and it looks like it’ll be a green one this year. I’ve just about finished overspending yet again, but I guess that’s okay. There may be a day when I can’t afford to do it, so I might as well spoil everyone while I can.
I went to see my cousin and her new baby again today. He is just so cute! Then hit the mall for some last minute realization gifts. When I started running into everyone I knew, I figured it was time to head home before I was trapped there for hours.
Brian and I are having our Christmas tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to finally having time to spend together — and more than just a few hours here scattered here and there. I’m not sure, but I feel like other people in relationships might see one another and do things together a heck of a lot more often than he and I do.
I’m looking forward to spending time off work and at home too.
Happy Holidays to everyone! Do you have anything special planned?
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )if what they say is true, i’m on track for cancer
How, may I ask, am I to take every report on causes of cancer seriously when I partake in so many of the behaviours that likely will contribute to my having it at some point. Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head:
1. I have candida, which can turn into cancer if you don’t change your diet
2. I heat lunch up in plastic containers
3. I have a genetic pre-disposition to breast cancer
4. I eat salmon often (including all that evil mercury)
5. I have been on the pill for 10 years (roughly)
6. I sometimes have chewing gum and fake chocolate with sorbitol in it
7. I hung out in many a second-hand smoking environment in my youth
8. I likely don’t eat enough of those “cancer fighting” vegetables, though I do eat enough garlic to kill off anything
So I ask you, how dangerous are these things, really? Not that I’m saying I won’t get it, but I’m tired of people reminding me that I shouldn’t do all of the above every time it comes up.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )sarah harmer’s escarpment tour
Last year Brent and I went to see Sarah Harmer play in Georgetown. Brian and Alex came too — but got seats after us, so sat behind us somewhere. I could still drink beer at this time and I was a little drunk before the show…but it was fantastic, especially because it was so close to home.
She is working with a group called PERL to help raise awareness and to protect the Niagara Escarpment. She was back yesterday to wrap up with a docu-concert that she had created with Andy Keen about the tour, which started up in Tobermory and ended in Burlington last year. The DVD is called The Escarpment Blues and I’d say it’s a must-see, especially for people living anywhere along the escarpment. It opened my eyes to a few things and by the sounds of it, it’s also really opening Sarah’s eyes to a whole new world and process of getting things done. I hope that she sticks with it and that more people become involved with her organization, PERL. Their main opponent right now, Nelson Aggregates was charged with transplanting an endangered tree (the butternut tree) and altering a waterway. You can read more about this on their site, and sign the petition too while you’re there.
Brian and I went to see this docu-concert yesterday as part of our date for our 10-month anniversary. Then we went to the new Thai place down the street and ended the night with Kinsey (the only previously-viewed VHS tape at the store that we could purchase for less than $4 — no, I don’t own a DVD player yet, and the fam was watching hockey, so we were banned to my room).
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )let it snow?
Um, it snowed today…as in it snowed a lot for the middle of the day in mid-October! I can’t ever remember having snow this early on! I’m definitely not ready for winter, but really hope that a cold snap will kill all of these stupid germs that keep infesting my body.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( 1 so far )crazy storm last night
There was the craziest storm last night. I was on the phone with Brian and all of a sudden, it went dead.
The power was out.
He calls back and I try, in the dark, to find the non-cordless phone. After 8 or so rings there was success.
“Sorry hon, power went out. I think there might be a tornado. Gotta go downstairs. Apparently to the basement. I love you. I love you. I love you.”
We don’t go into the basement, but the trees outside are perfectly sideways and the eye of the storm is above. We manage to find the few candles that aren’t packed and watch the most lightening at once that I have ever seen.
This morning there was power, but branches down EVERYWHERE and I even saw a tree uprooted.
I guess the reality of the GTA turning into the next Tornado alley as the globe heats up, and climate and weather patterns change is really starting to come true. We had a few minor touch downs last year, but it looks like we’re dead set to be the ones who get the brunt of the storms for the next few years at least.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )