Tuesday, June 10, 2008

My green experiences

Am I obsessed? I have been bitten by the environment bug and since then I havent been thinking of anything else. I have been massively reading and researching and cant find anything else to talk about either. I have started this another blog http://theonlygreenplanet.blogspot.com/ for my family and friends and obsessed with this too. God save me!
I have been applying some green practices to my routine also. First thing I have stoppedusing hot water. Its either luke warm or cold water. Im training my hands not to go onto the left tap while at the bathroom and the kitchen sinks. Im using the used soap water after washing my laundry for flushing whenever its possible.
Got to try this trick I read somewhere about tying a weight in the water tank of the toilet so that it uses less water next time.
Tried my hand at li'l of growing plants in the apartment. Thanks to the Arizona sun, my hopes have been shattered. Cant keep the plants on the patio. If I keep them in, I have this problem with insects and pests that my roommate has started complaining about. I managed to buy 13 plants of which 7 have survived, 2 dead coz of the heat, the rest are not sure about living. Well, Dunno if I should go about it anymore. Dad says this is how it happens in the beginning, but I should not lose heart.
Did I say I have been drying my laundry on the patio. Well, I live on the topmost level, so they are never seen. But I spoke to the apartment guy who says nothing should be visble from the balconies as per the rule of the management. Even balcony shades!!I asked him "how are my planst going to survive then; you can hardly expect the sun to be nice!". Well, but they are rules and you cant meddle.
But I dont care. I have been drying clothes saving 2 loads per week. Jeans!!Yeah, got to wash them in the washer, but I dry them outside on this rope I tied in the balcony. Dryers are beasts in terms of energy.
I just began to think about recycling at home. Even scheduled an appointment at a local recycling center for a tour. I began to think, just because you can recycle it doesnt mean that you can buy any amount of plastic or aluminum. I need to reduce my consumption of pepsi and gatorade. Didnt realise till some time ago that 3fl oz is required to make a plastic bottle. Its actually a compound from oil that is necessary to make plastic. No wonder prices are high.
But what about my detergent, milk, shampoo bottles. They are plastic too. And I dont know if there is an alternative? What do I do with them? All these plastics are of a different grade and cannot be melted together.
I reduced my going to walmart for veggies. Foodcity is more of a local market here. Though Im still looking for an organic market. 'Encourage local markets for local economy'.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

For the Phoenix.com: Nov 21, 2007

For the Phoenix.com: Nov 21, 2007

I can imagine what it feels like when you can't have that moment of solitude when you need it. Nobody has the freedom to do what he wants coz we arent born with it in the first place. Freedom itself is a responsibilty- to be free. But we have the freedom to think whatever, if not the freedom to do whatever. Thats what makes us unique.

Do I really have a goal?

One of the most irritating questions I ever get asked! Do I really need one? Perhaps! Perhaps not!!

Okay! So I just finished living 25 summers. What does it mean? What does it mean to me? That I have managed to(if not religiously) take the path of an average Indian of finishing 16 years of education and still continue to study until I reach this age and then take a job that pays a 5 figure salary or maybe if I get lucky to find a partner who can think he loves me enough to spend the rest of his years with. Now if I play my cards right, I should be able to pay off my loans just in time to get a home mortgage, a car loan etc and work for the next 15 years repaying them. Did I mention any people here? Coz my parents have so willingly endured me and those pains I have given them in this process, I stay by them and see them through. And my husband? Ofcourse I extend the above pains to him as long as he thinks he can bear and in return bear him few(?) children and then bear with them for the rest of my mundane life. That could be me!

But then, I beg to differ! I dont agree with Tarun's "inthakanna variety evari life lo anna emuntundi" philosophy.

When you are fed up with the way you see things around you, you would want a little 'variety'. In an average life, we could affect the lives of our family, friends, colleagues ad if you get lucky few more. You might want to think about it on a global scale. Have you done enough? Did I serve my purpose here? Hell no! Im not into preaching! But isnt that preaching the philosphy of life on which things are supposed to depend on?

I want to do my bit for all those people who directly or indirectly have touched my life. I want to be more responsible for the life I was given.