On my myspace page, I got this bulletin from Support Alternative Energy. Here are some ideas to help lessen your impact on the Earth. I put my two cents in CAPS.

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Visit the Support Alternative Energy Online Store: Make a Purchase that Makes a Difference!

With thanks to ecofabulous.com --

1. Bring your own bags to the grocery store, department store -- and every store: Each year billions of bags end up as ugly (toxic) litter (it is now estimated that there is 6 times as much plastic in our oceans as there is plankton)... good thing there are plenty of sustainable bags on the market to take to the store! They are far more attractive than plastic/paper bags and go a long way when it comes to eliminating waste. Put a few in your purse, in your trunk, in your glove compartment or even on your key chain! Before you know it, bringing your own bags will become part of the automatic: "keys, wallet, phone, sunglasses, bags" check before you leave the house.

WEGMANS, MEIJERS, TARGET, AND WALMART ALL OFFER REUSABLE BAGS FOR ABOUT A DOLLAR EACH. I USE MINE AS I SHOP AND THEN REBAG MY ITEMS. YOU CAN ALSO GET CANVAS BAGS AT GOODWILL THAT ARE REUSABLE AND WASHABLE. PLUS, BUYING ITEMS AT GOODWILL IS A GREAT FORM OF RECYCLING!

2. Use a re-usable bottle and/or travel mug for beverages: On average Americans use enough disposable hot beverage containers to circle the earth 55 times! You can feel great about using your own mug at your favorite coffee shop (and most offer a 5 to 10 cent discount if you bring your own!). Along with using a commuter mug, toting a re-usable water bottle will become second nature when you get in the swing (and swig) of it. Sigg and Klean Kanteen filled with filtered water are non-leeching, recyclable thirst quenchers.

I HAVE ALWAYS CARRIED AROUND MY NALGENE BOTTLE AND NOW DRINK TAPWATER. PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES ARE FILLING UP OUR LANDFILLS. YOU CAN BUY WATERBOTTLES WITH A FILTER IN THEM SO REFILLING ON THE GO IS EASY.

3. Use paper goods that are made from recycled post consumer waste: From the bathroom to your office, paper is a household and work-wide staple; so look for products that contain 100% recycled post consumer waste or are tree-free.

NO IMPACT MAN (GOOGLE HIM) CARRIES AROUND A CLOTH NAPKIN WITH HIM WHEN HE EATS OUT. HOW IS THAT FOR DEDICATION?

4. Use eco-friendly cleaning products and eliminate chlorine bleach: Bleach and some of your favorite conventional detergents can be tough to leave behind - but a little easier when you think you're also saying bye-bye to dioxin and other toxic chemicals. Thankfully, there are many effective new products that make cleaning easy, healthy and eco-friendly. Shaklee and Method are some of the best products to green your new year with!

5. Eliminate the energy vampires and unplug or turn off idling electronics: Some of the biggest energy wasters in the home are cell phone chargers, computers, printers, Ipod chargers, and the likes. If you walk around your home or office, you'll start to notice the proliferation of appliances and chargers that are idling, poised and just waiting to be used. Energy vampires or phantom energy loads can be avoided by making sure you unplug your chargers and appliances when not needed. Or better yet - use a power strip and make sure you flip the switch when not in use.


UNPLUGGING MAY SEEM INCONVENIENT, BUT YOUR ELECTRIC BILL WILL REFLECT YOUR EFFORTS. THE POWER STRIP TIP IS A GREAT ONE!

6. Eat organic food: Pesticides and chemicals are not good for us and they are certainly not good for the planet or the other animals that live on it. Organic food is becoming more readily available and most stores have sections that contain the organic variety of everything you need - from cereals to ketchup to fruits and veggies...

MY FRIEND COURTNEY SAYS EATING ORGANIC MAKES HER FEEL BETTER BECAUSE OF THE GOOD ENERGY PUT INTO ORGANIC CROPS, ALONG WITH THE LACK OF CHEMICALS.

7. Use Organic beauty supplies: We absorb 60-70 per cent of what we put on our skin. Like the food we eat, the products we put on our skin are unquestionably important for maintaining and supporting personal and environmental health.

8. Purchase sustainable clothing: As I mentioned, this is one that I'm committing to this year. Consuming less is the name of the game of course... but when a new frock is called for, luckily eco innovations in fashion will indeed be friendly this year! Sustainable, innovative lines of clothing will continually hit the market in 2008...from organic cotton to bamboo to Ingeo, there is much to celebrate.

9. Purchase offsets: As we always say, offsets are not a panacea, but it is a good way to invest in organizations that support alternative energy solutions and production. It is also important to understand and account for your own personal footprint when reduction is not enough. Many people start to use offsets when flying, but you can easily offset a party, road trip - or your whole house for a year! Check out TerraPass and Carbon Fund for the different options that might best suit your lifestyle.


OR TRY TO DRIVE LESS, CARPOOL, USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, OR RIDE A BIKE.

10. Recycle, compost and re-use: This one is an old eco-standby, but it's amazing how many people only recycle when there is a designated bin on the street, at a venue, at a friends house - or sometimes only in the "kitchen" because that's where the receptacle is. If you don't have a recycling bin where you need one - put one there. Use a pretty basket or container that fits with your decor. Composting is another one that takes some getting used to; some people don't care for dealing with food scraps. However, I have some friends that started using compostable bags for their food scraps and they found the process is simple, clean and fly-less.

RECYCLING IS SO IMPORTANT! I AM AMAZED AT HOW MANY BOTTLES, CANS, AND NEWSPAPERS I ACCUMULATE IN A SINLGE HOUSEHOLD. IMAGINE THE LANDFILL REDUCTION YOUR FAMILY CAN MAKE BY RECYCLING.

Sorry it has been so long. School started up and I already feel like I am behind. We are only in week 3! This semester I am taking Advanced Statistics, Systematics, and Analysis of Wildlife Populations. My assistanceship is still 20 hours a week. I tried to become involved with MI fish hatchery inspections with a lab on campus, but I don't have enough availability. So, to keep busy and gain some skills for the job market, I am volunteering a few hours a week at the Potter Park Zoo doing data entry with a special database called ARKS. Hopefully, I can also learn MedARKS, which is used in the veterinary hospital. Because of the position, I will probably won't have much time to go to the shelter anymore. (BTW- Little T got adopted. YEAH!)

So what have I been up to? Well, I went to my first Big Ten basketball game. MSU played Minnesotta the weekend before school started (The MN coach's name is Tubby Smith. I really wanted to get a pic with him). About 20 of my friends went to the game. Afterwards we hit up a few local bars. Here are pix from the game.


Breslin Stadium, home of the Spartans


Kate and I at our first basketball game


Sparty, the MSU mascot. Unfortunately, he wouldn't let me take a picture from the front.

New this semester is Tuesday night Pub Trivia. Seth, Kate and I formed a team, which we named The Chinooks, after our soccer team. Two of my other friends have their own team, Better Late Than Never. The first week, The Chinooks took 2nd place. The following week, 3rd. We rock.


The Chinooks!


Better Late Than Never (my friends are Jon and James, the 2 gentlemen on the right)

I also joined a co-ed indoor soccer league. Seth has a team that plays on Friday nights. My friends Leslie and James were already on the team. Jon, Dan, and I joined too. Unfortunately, playing again really confirmed that soccer aggrevates my achilles tendinitis. So on the way to our first game last night, I decided I would retire after this session. But then I scored a goal! I actually scored a goal during a game. And I never score. Partially because I play defense, and partially because I can't finish. The way the subbing worked out, I was playing up front. On a corner kick, usually I would play deep to pick up the garbage that comes through the goal. But I decided to stand by the goalie and distract him. My teammate, Barrett, kicked the ball right to me on the ground, and I hook it in front of me and the goalie with my right foot. WOW!

Now I can't decide if God is telling me not to retire or letting me have the goal so I can end on a high note. What do you think?

Lastly, I am trying to workout more this semester. My mom got my cycling shoes for my birthday (Thanks Mom!). I can't wait to try them out. The 5K I am training for is next weekend. I am trying to run an 8 minute mile and finish in about 24 mintues. My friend Jamie has been helping me train. I feel in better shape already and it shows at soccer (I have better stamina). There is an indoor triathelon in March that I think I will try. It is 20 mintues of swimming, biking, and running. The distance you go in the time is measured. I probably won't do that well, but it will be a start.

Phew! That is it for now. I will try to post more regulary. Hope you are having a good weekend!

I know I owe you a real post, where I talk about my first Big 10 basketball game and playing trivia on Tuesdays, but.......... BIG NEWS!!



I admit it has been a while since I have looked at U2.com. This evening, I was looking up job postings on the New England Aquarium's website, and saw an ad for U23D, a new Imax eperience. So I hauled my cookies over to U2.com to see it was true! Out on Wednesday January 23 and even playing here in Lansing MI. HOLY CRAP!!! I will be going opening night and probably buying tickets ahead of time.

Having seen U2 three times in concert, I cannot wait for this movie. 84 minutes of Bono large and in charge. And in 3D.

can. not. wait.