Recycling - why is it so hard?

At home I am referred to as the "recycle police". If someone (that being my husband, daughter or cat) puts something in the trash that's recyclable, they'll hear about it from me. They do try.

What gets me is the people who don't even try!

For example at work. We have several recycle bins on our office floor, for plastic and glass cans and bottles, and it astounds me that people still just pitch them in their regular office/cubicle trash bins. Similarly, each office/cubicle has a cardboard bin for paper. I can't believe how often I see regular paper or newspaper (stuff that's not even debatable, ie. is it plastic coated?)in the regular trash bin. Hello? Have you heard? Recycling is good. Why do you not care? It makes me wonder if they know something I don't. I have heard at times that the recycling facilities are so overwhelmed that they can't keep up. I have no idea if that is true. But the more there is the more ideas industry will come up with, like the countertops made of paper (with hardeners). I saw this on Good Morning America, but I can't find the link.

Then there's the Metro (the DC subway). Some people apparently intentionally leave their papers on the train thinking that they save paper by "passing it along", but I have my doubts. A certain number of papers are printed already. If someone picks up your used paper, they most likely weren't going to buy one or pick up the free Express anyway. But if they are certain they'll find one each morning well, hmmmm, maybe that does work. I personally would not rely on finding a paper in the car I get on.

Then there are the really egregious people. At Metro Center, the biggest Metro stop, if I'm done with my paper I often drop it in the NEWSPAPER recycle bin on the platform. This is a big bin, and apparently so many people drop their papers in during rush hour that often there is a Metro employeee standing there with an even bigger open bin to collect all of the papers. I thank them. But I am SHOCKED at the number of people that just bypass the big bin, AND the recycle bin, and JUST toss their paper in the TRASH. I DON'T GET IT.

Believe me I'm no earthy crunchy or bark chewer type person. I wear vintage fur (sometimes), and leather, but I somehow have been sucked into this recycling thing. How are others so nonchalant about it? How can one care so little?

Don't we want to help our beautiful world:



if we can at all?

Ieva

Traveling from O'Hare and Stacy London

Yesterday we returned from Chicago. I wasn't as daring as Saturday to ask to take someone's photo. So, just to keep myself honest, here is a picture of my travel outfit. I think in general I was a little worse for wear. I do not give myself an A. It looks more like a C.



I saw two people to be exact that I would've asked for a photo, but I was tired and they were moving fast.

Below, as promised, is my photo from the event with Stacy London. This is after she had me remove my bright pink beads. I might say, her dress isn't the most flattering. But she's so awesome, nobody even notices!



Ieva

Thin wallets and Chicago Street Fare

In Chicago, our friends took us to Market Days. It is an annual street fair on Halstead Avenue, in an area known as Boys Town. The place was packed with people and vendors. There were some vendors just selling clothes and jewelry (and wallets), but most of the vendors were groups with specific goals and interests like pet adoption, Hepatitis awareness, supporting marriage among non-heterosexual couples, stuff like that. I found one booth with just exactly the wallet I had been looking for. I wanted to replace a leather one I had bought about 5 years ago at Nordstrom, made by Lodis (http://www.lodis.com/leather/shop-womens/shop-by-style/accessories/audrey-mini-id-card-case/4699). I wasn't seeing them at Nordstrom and hadn't thought of looking online, where it still obviously is available. It was perfect for carrying a few cards around and my license. I really preferred the plastic window so I didn't need to pull the license out frequently. Here is what my old one looked like:

One vendor was selling these washable, water resistant small wallets. They weren't leather, but after some time looking at leather Prada and otherhigh end wallets, I knew this was my best bet for now. http://www.bigskinny.net/ I've now put my stuff in it and like it better than the prior one, because it has space for bills and coins. See the picture. I got a pink one instead of black, because the vendor said it would be easier to find in my handbag. Black maybe would be more chic. Here is a picture of my new one:

As for Market Days, it is a huge gay and lesbian event in Chicago. It was a fun event. Kind of a specatator thing, for me and my friends, but really upbeat, good music and drinks, and everyone was really friendly, so what's not to like?

So anyway, now I have my new cheap super efficient tiny wallet.

Ieva

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Travelers at Reagan National

I observed travelers at Reagan National yesterday, and not much caught my eye as great or terrible. A lot of women were wearing shorts or capris. Capris are probably safe (with respect to getting rashes from the seat or making it down the escape slid). But I focused on women in pants. First I saw one example of what NOT to wear. I figure these people I don't need to ask permission to take their photograph since I'll be cutting their head off (in the photo).


Here is the what not to wear. Because I cut off the head you aren't seeing the cowboy hat:

This was kind of fun. I was waiting for someone that looked great enough to warrant getting up my courage to ask to take their photo. I had even brought some personal cards on which I could write the address of the website.

This woman caught my eye, she looked great and comforatble. I was looking at what she was wearing and I thought she noticed I kept looking at her, so I went up and told her about my blog topic and she gave me permission to post the photo with the head. I've got two shots. One ypu can see her handbag better and the other shows her rolly carry-on bag. She was very nice and posed for several shots so I could get the right light:

She is wearing simple black pants, and very cute peachy high heeled sandals. Her gray bag is great too.

My yoga pants turned out to be extremely comfortable, but my step daughter (Katie) asked me if I was wearing pajama pants. So I'm not sure that I've really gone beyond sweatpants. But my husband liked them, and they were VERY comfortable. I think Katie may have been getting back at me for the crack the other night that she used to wear pajama pants.


ieva