Rain, Stupid Rain

I honestly don't know how many days of rain we've been having here in Central Texas, but it seems to me that it's been raining for like the last two months--maybe even the last three. Sure, when it started, I, along with everyone else, was relieved that it wasn't blazingly hot like the Texas summers usually are. But now I miss the summer sun like a pouting 4-year-old begging to go to the playground, the pool, or just outside to ride my bike. I feel as though I have some sort of off-season S.A.D. It's like we've had more of an extended Texas spring than any sort of proper summer really. There's been confused snails, crickets, and everybody's favorite, mosquitoes everywhere.

It's also been inconvenient for your favorite baby even-toed ungulate, whose complaints are not that far-off from that bratty 4-year-old. I have decided, along with D (of DM), that one of our goals for the summer would be to ride our bikes from our house to Barton Springs Pool, roughly 8 miles. 8 miles is nothing to the many hard core bikers here in Austin, but since I've never done anything like that before, it's kind of a big deal to me. On one particularly inspired day I think maybe a month ago now, we rode what I estimated to be nearly 6 miles, just goofing off around the neighborhood. It was on that day that D came up with this goal, and I agreed to it. I am eager to, if not complete this goal, then at least to practice getting there gradually. I can't even do that because I don't want to catch pneumonia. I may be a brat, but I'm not an idiot. There have been a few days here and there that have been clear, wonderfully sunny and not too hot, that I've been able get out on the bike. However, lately even if I were to brave going all the way, there won't be much of a reward for me there at the end.

Oh, and just in case I forget to mention roads and flooding everywhere, here it is.

I never thought I would miss the ridiculously hot and humid seemingly endless Southern summers, and I'm not advocating for that exactly, but it would be really nice for those clouds to let up for more than just a brief period now. Mommy Nature, please please please, I just want to go outside and play.

Is your Asshole Green?

If so, you gotta call him or her on it.

I admit to watching some of the "Live Earth" concert on Saturday. Of course, I watched it on my electricity-guzzling television while sitting under a lamp that did not sport a compact fluorescent bulb. (Gasp!)

Did I feel guilty? Not enough to buy a $25 pencil set.

Ironic? Maybe just a little. (Um, NBC, the network that broadcast the concerts is owned by GE, a not-so-environmentally friendly company.)

I always have to laugh when I see celebrities, especially musicians, telling me to "go green" or "save the planet" or whatever while they sip their $300.00 martinis in the comfort of their million-dollar homes. Politicians are worse. Fuck you, Al Gore. I know people love you and your movie. Recycling is great. Driving a hybrid is great. Your hypocrisy? Not so great. I don't have anything against Gore personally, but the man owns tons of stock in oil and he likes to leave the lights on. All the lights.

Anyhoo, I'm really ranting because now that "green" is hip, it's become a consumerist nightmare. Really, are people so dumb that they need designer grocery bags? Wait, don't answer that.

Being green is actually pretty simple. Recycle what you can, don't buy products with a lot of packaging, don't drive when you can walk, don't leave the lights/tv/radio/computer on when you're not using them. Don't take 30 minute showers. Use a push lawnmower, not a gas or electric-powered one. Buy used furniture. Etc... See? No mass amounts of money required. No souls sold.

Now if only the Administration would do their part... I'm not holding my breath.

Too little, too late

Dubya is just now talking about stopping global warming! (Um, for the past 6 1/2 years, you've been dissing it, as I recall, Mr President.) I'm glad he's finally doing something about it, but I still think he's the worst prez ever. Hell, I'd take that drunk, Grant, over Bush any day. At least he could hold his liquor.

A year without toilet paper?!

An NY family has decided to "go green" in a very intense way. I like to think I'm a responsible citizen of the planet (I recycle glass, paper & plastic, I turn off lights I'm not using, I buy products with the least packaging...) but to go without toilet paper...I don't know about that. I happen to like being clean. Especially in that area.

Of course, this family isn't doing this for nothing. Oh, no. They're getting a book deal and a documentary made of them. A book deal that will use many many trees to produce. I guess it evens out since they're doing without TP. I think there are many ways to live simply without going to extremes like this.