It's been a rough week here with Robbie getting sick early in the week and missing three days of school, then Cub catching his bug and having a rough couple of days, too. I saw this little bit in the latest Hawaii edition of the AAA (Auto Club) member magazine and literally laughed out loud. It's a bit cruel to laugh, but I needed it.
"We at AAA Hawai'i want to help mature motorists drive safely. To further that goal, we sponsored Hawai'i's first CarFit event in January. Said one 70-year-old participant, "I loved it. When I drove into the parking lot, they checked to make sure I was wearing my seatbelt. They showed me how to adjust my steering wheel and explained that I need to be able to see over it."
Folks, I couldn't make this up if I wanted to! Driving for 45-50 years (and that's a conservative estimate) without being able to see over the steering wheel!? My apologies to all the shorties, but I'm still cracking myself up over here.
If we can get the kids' noses to stop running for about five minutes this weekend, we're hoping to take some pictures to include with upcoming Mother's Day cards. That's about it for us. Hope your weekend is as ambitious as you want it to be!
Friday, April 25, 2008
And the preaching continues...
While a few people are still talking about Earth Day, thought I would share one more thing with you...
Ever wanted to be an early adopter? Here's your chance! So it's not a tech gadget or a fashion trend, but you will still be making a statement. Most of us are now adopting the use of resusable bags for shopping, but we're still putting produce in plastic and those bags are also filling up the landfills and spilling into our oceans. So I started using resusable cloth produce bags at the supermarket and Farmers' Markets, too.
I saw Ecobags.com spotlighted on Oprah's Earth Day show last year, and finally got around to ordering these bags late last fall. They're great and definitely cut down on the plastic. I have to be the only one using them in Hawaii - or at least at the Barber's Point and Pearl Harbor commissaries - but the cashiers are slowly getting used to me! I have a half dozen in mixed sizes and I throw them into the wash with the whites every couple of weeks.
That's it from me on the subject...really! Thanks all.
Ever wanted to be an early adopter? Here's your chance! So it's not a tech gadget or a fashion trend, but you will still be making a statement. Most of us are now adopting the use of resusable bags for shopping, but we're still putting produce in plastic and those bags are also filling up the landfills and spilling into our oceans. So I started using resusable cloth produce bags at the supermarket and Farmers' Markets, too.
I saw Ecobags.com spotlighted on Oprah's Earth Day show last year, and finally got around to ordering these bags late last fall. They're great and definitely cut down on the plastic. I have to be the only one using them in Hawaii - or at least at the Barber's Point and Pearl Harbor commissaries - but the cashiers are slowly getting used to me! I have a half dozen in mixed sizes and I throw them into the wash with the whites every couple of weeks.
That's it from me on the subject...really! Thanks all.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Stop that junk mail! And recycle because you probably live in a civilized state.
It’s Earth Day everyone! My turn to hit you over the head with earth-friendly ideas. These tips for stopping junk mail may look familiar; they were provided in USA Weekend over a month ago and I saved the page. I think the site www.greendimes.com will do these for you for a fee, but here’s a helpful list for all of you do-it-yourselfers.
1. Get off the lists. Go to dmachoice.org and click on "Remove my name from those lists." That lets you register with the Mail Preference Service of the Direct Marketing Association to get off mailing lists. Online registration is free (or $1 through the mail) and is good for three years. This move alone should stop 80% of unsolicited mail within four months.
2. Don't register products. Your proof of purchase of a new product serves as a guarantee of warranty for that item, so you don't need to fill out questionnaire-style product registration forms (unless you're concerned about recall alerts). They're used for mailing lists. And never sign up for contests and sweepstakes.
3. Squash the offers. To stop preapproved credit offers, have your name removed from lists supplied by the major consumer credit reporting companies. Visit optoutprescreen.com or call the toll-free number 888-567-8688; with both methods, you're covered for five years. You also can opt out permanently by phone or by mail using a form found on the website.
4. Remain anonymous. Supermarket loyalty cards enable marketers to track buying habits and can generate unsolicited mail. Sign up for cards using a pseudonym like Jane or Joe Shopper, with no address, to preserve your anonymity.
5. Stay vigilant. Buying online is the main culprit for catalog overload. When you make a purchase, immediately send an e-mail to the company or call its toll-free number and ask that your name be removed from the mailing list. And the new catalogchoice.org lets you choose which catalogs to refuse.
While we’re in the vicinity of the subject of recycling, allow me to gripe about so-called (not by me) paradise. I was truly shocked when we moved here three years ago to discover Hawaii didn’t have a curbside recycling program. Anywhere. They have some large recycling dumpsters, but not too many people use them and therefore, surprise! The landfills are filling up fast. I tried to use the dumpsters, but discovered recently that I had been illegally dumping. True story – so used to being able to recycle cereal boxes and other light cardboard packaging with other paper items, I diligently saved all my recyclables in a corner of my garage, loaded the back of the car every month or so, and drove to the drop-off station. The dumpsters have recently had a paint job and with that, new signage that read, “No cereal boxes” next to the paper window. Huh? What am I supposed to do with them then? I guess I’m forced to put them in the landfill??
A curbside recycling pilot program rolled out in two areas last year (not where we live) and is scheduled to be expanded to more parts of Oahu. But don’t hold your breath. The headline screams, “Recycling to expand,” but the fine print states Kapolei/Makakilo program to start in May, 2010. And that only includes cans, bottles, some (not all) plastics, and newspapers. That is no typo people. We will not have a functional recycling program for over two years and it won’t even be comprehensive. Bring me the Governator! I never thought I’d ask to borrow him, but he would whip these morons into shape in a week or two, I’m sure. Want a battery recycling program? Give us about 50 years, please, before we figure that one out!
And what also strikes me as un-earthy, it was noted in today’s paper that Oahu will be getting its first Steve & Barry’s store in the Waikele shops. I’ve never been in one, but not being much of a fashionista, they don’t strike me that great. Maybe I’ll check it out sometime in the next few weeks.
1. Get off the lists. Go to dmachoice.org and click on "Remove my name from those lists." That lets you register with the Mail Preference Service of the Direct Marketing Association to get off mailing lists. Online registration is free (or $1 through the mail) and is good for three years. This move alone should stop 80% of unsolicited mail within four months.
2. Don't register products. Your proof of purchase of a new product serves as a guarantee of warranty for that item, so you don't need to fill out questionnaire-style product registration forms (unless you're concerned about recall alerts). They're used for mailing lists. And never sign up for contests and sweepstakes.
3. Squash the offers. To stop preapproved credit offers, have your name removed from lists supplied by the major consumer credit reporting companies. Visit optoutprescreen.com or call the toll-free number 888-567-8688; with both methods, you're covered for five years. You also can opt out permanently by phone or by mail using a form found on the website.
4. Remain anonymous. Supermarket loyalty cards enable marketers to track buying habits and can generate unsolicited mail. Sign up for cards using a pseudonym like Jane or Joe Shopper, with no address, to preserve your anonymity.
5. Stay vigilant. Buying online is the main culprit for catalog overload. When you make a purchase, immediately send an e-mail to the company or call its toll-free number and ask that your name be removed from the mailing list. And the new catalogchoice.org lets you choose which catalogs to refuse.
While we’re in the vicinity of the subject of recycling, allow me to gripe about so-called (not by me) paradise. I was truly shocked when we moved here three years ago to discover Hawaii didn’t have a curbside recycling program. Anywhere. They have some large recycling dumpsters, but not too many people use them and therefore, surprise! The landfills are filling up fast. I tried to use the dumpsters, but discovered recently that I had been illegally dumping. True story – so used to being able to recycle cereal boxes and other light cardboard packaging with other paper items, I diligently saved all my recyclables in a corner of my garage, loaded the back of the car every month or so, and drove to the drop-off station. The dumpsters have recently had a paint job and with that, new signage that read, “No cereal boxes” next to the paper window. Huh? What am I supposed to do with them then? I guess I’m forced to put them in the landfill??
A curbside recycling pilot program rolled out in two areas last year (not where we live) and is scheduled to be expanded to more parts of Oahu. But don’t hold your breath. The headline screams, “Recycling to expand,” but the fine print states Kapolei/Makakilo program to start in May, 2010. And that only includes cans, bottles, some (not all) plastics, and newspapers. That is no typo people. We will not have a functional recycling program for over two years and it won’t even be comprehensive. Bring me the Governator! I never thought I’d ask to borrow him, but he would whip these morons into shape in a week or two, I’m sure. Want a battery recycling program? Give us about 50 years, please, before we figure that one out!
And what also strikes me as un-earthy, it was noted in today’s paper that Oahu will be getting its first Steve & Barry’s store in the Waikele shops. I’ve never been in one, but not being much of a fashionista, they don’t strike me that great. Maybe I’ll check it out sometime in the next few weeks.
Friday, April 18, 2008
For Dad
If my Dad were alive, he’d be turning 65 today. Although we lost him suddenly when I was in my late 20s, I’ll always be grateful that as a girl the best person I’ll ever know is my father. Even if the day comes when I discover I’ve lived more than half my life without him, he’ll always remain the person I aspire to be and who continues to inspire me.
Words still don't describe how much we miss you, Dad. Happy Birthday.
Words still don't describe how much we miss you, Dad. Happy Birthday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)