This is an old clip (note the reference to Earth Day) over at Momversation that I’ve been meaning to write about. It deals with one of the key issues for me in that how “green” (I am starting to hate that word–and it’s my favorite color) you are is heavily influenced by where you live and your economic circumstances.
Half-Assed Housewife
This is not your beautiful house, this is not your beautiful wife…
When we start getting all worked up over the financial crisis and economic “suffering” this country is going through, it’s sometimes helpful to gain some perspective by looking at the past.
That was my reaction to viewing selections from the Library of Congress’ collection of photos taken during the Great Depression.
Bud Fields and his family at their home in Alabama, 1935.
A project of the Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information, the federal government employed photographers to document the everyday lives of people across the country. The photo above was taken by Walker Evans.
I’m not saying that there aren’t people suffering in this country, now. But there is simply not a large number of us facing the forced migration, hunger and homelessness or deprivation of that period. Many people who considered themselves the fortunate ones made do with a lot less than most of us are currently used to today. (Not all of the photos depict poverty. Many, if not most, are just a glimpse into everyday life during that time. This one, with it’s pointed reference to “square dealings” was my favorite.)
It’s a good reality check, as well as an interesting look at history, to give the archive a glance.
History geeks take note: Matt Raymond, the Library’s Director of Communication writes a really awesome blog if you like this kind of thing. I am a history junkie and could spend hours looking at this kind of stuff.
Really enjoying reading the website Green Clean (there’s also a book), about using non-toxic everyday substances (mostly baking soda, vinegar, and liquid soap) to make your own household cleaners.
I was already a fan of distilled white vinegar because we use cloth diapers and using vinegar in the rinse cycle (key word there: rinse) helps get out all the residual detergent, prolonging the life of the diapers and keeping them from getting stinky.
I had no idea it could be used to clean my windows and mirrors and declog a drain. I also like the recipes are simple enough for even me to put together without tearing my hair out. No mean feat. Another bonus: fewer products means fewer crap I have to find room for under my sink. Hallelujah!
Also looking for Linda Mason Hunter’s article (from the August 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens) on building a Green Supply Closet, if anyone has it.
So, not that anyone asked, but today I just feel like doling out some relationship advice.
There are a lot of times and places where I’ve complained (and probably will complain) about The Spouse’s tendency to accumulate electronic equipment, and his enduring loyalty to same. (Examples: the two tons of stereo surround-sound that are attached to our television; the eleventy thousand pieces of computer paraphernalia—working and not—crammed in the home office…See, I told you!).
So, we are now in the market for a second car. The Spouse’s boss nixed the idea of telecommuting one full day or two half-days a week, and it’s just not feasible for us to continue to try to get by here with a single automobile.
When we moved back from Korea, we deliberately chose this neighborhood for its relative pedestrian-friendliness. There are two grocery stores, lots of restaurants, dry cleaners’, drug store, package store (!!) and coffee shops within reasonable walking distance. Playgrounds, preschools, and other things for The Kid are a different story and I’d planned to schedule some of these options one or two mornings and get by with hanging out in the ‘hood the rest of the time.
That’s not to be. Since we really like that The Spouse has a job that pays our bills and puts a roof over our head, I’ll refrain from expounding on the irony that this particular company in this particular industry does not support telecommuting.*
Or, actually, I should say it does support it in certain situations.
When he needs to be on a conference call with colleagues in East Asia at 10 p.m. local time (a regular occurrence), telecommuting works just fine. Or, working a full day at the office and then being on call for Asia-Pac technical support issues from 6 p.m. to midnight. They’re all, ‘Isn’t technology wonderful?!‘ Don’t get me started on the Blackberry.
They also have no issue with people working from home if they’re expecting an important package from FedEx (say, the latest edition of City of Heroes) or having work done on the house. But, raise the issue of a regular schedule and they start hemming and hawing and getting all twitchy, channeling Boomhauer (“didn’t used to need no dingdang telecommunistating…” mumble, mumble) and it’s just not worth it.
So yeah, why did we even go there?
For what it’s worth, we’re hoping to acquire another diesel, this one a few years’ old, that will run on biodiesel. Before we moved overseas, we had a primarily biodiesel-fueled 2005 VW Beetle TDI that worked like a dream. We hope to do the same with our new Jetta once the issues with the new 50-state compliant VW TDI engine are better understood.
*For anyone wondering, I’ll be answering the ‘Why can’t we just take MARTA?’ question in a whole other post.
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