LET'S TALK: Tune up
Billy Joel, John Cougar Mellencamp, wild turkeys -- there's music in the posts these days!
Perhaps we've been inspired by the changing soundscape of spring. The peepers have retired their song for the year, but the birds greet us now with a morning chorus that rivals anything you'd hear in a concert hall or cathedral.
The long evenings are punctuated now by the buzz of lawn mowers and weed whackers. The price of gas jumped suddenly late last week, in some places climbing as much as 15 cents per gallon, causing us to join a chorus of outraged howls as we filled our tanks. In the discussion of saving gas, we are urged to trade in our SUVs, to drive less, to slow down, and to keep our tires inflated properly and our engines tuned. We're now beginning to look at ways to reduce our green house gas emissions, too. But what about all those gas-fueled lawn mowers and other machines around the house? Would it really offend our landscape esthetic if the grass and trimming were done a little less frequently? Just think -- if we mowed every ten days instead of every week, over the course of the summer, we could knock off about 8 grasscutting sessions. Not only would you save gas, but you'd free up a couple of hours each week.
If you found yourself with two more hours each week, how would you spend that time?
- Storytrax's Stories
- Login or register to post comments
Comments
Turn off the ridiculous TV!!!
I used to be an avid television watcher. I would watch a million reruns of corny game shows just to have the tv on. As I got into my mid-20's I grew up a bit and had the news channel on all the time- not that I would ever get too much that was actually news! Then, my kids started getting to an age of understanding and all the sexual based stuff on the news channels made me turn it off during the day. But, boy the second they were in bed- I'd reach for that remote. Then it was prime time. The networks saved the best for last... right? Well, my husband and I were talking about trying to get some time to read more. We both realized the habit we had created by turning the tv on as soon as we didn't have to worry about the kids. We decided to make an effort to keep the TV off. It took a couple of nights to quit reaching for the remote- but what a joy it's been to talk and read and just enjoy silence sometimes in the evenings now. We still enjoy corny game shows- (who are you pulling for on this American Idol or Amazing Race?- Melinda and the Blondes are my picks!) and sometimes a good Criminal Minds. But, cutting back has given us a lot more than two hours a week. It's amazing when you quit watching stories- you can make your own!!!
Amazing Race rocks!
Yes, I too have been bitten by the Amazing Race bug. Wow, the places they go to are just spectacular! I think you're right - the blondes could just pull it out. As the race has evolved, they don't seem to be as evil as their fellow competitors think they are. Instead, just by being there, they have inspired the others to new lows. And, I'm really tired of Charla and Mirna. I've been hoping they'd lose for about the last six weeks!
I like the idea of making time by turning off the TV, but I have discovered a major flaw in that plan for me, anyway. I work here at my home, and when I turn off the TV, I tend to drift back into work. Now don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy most of what I'm doing these days, but I'm still working on the discipline that will let me walk away from both the TV (well, maybe after the May sweeps!) and the home office.
Si senora!
My biggest complaint against Charla and Mirna is their attempt to communicate with people using those ridiculous accents! They speak to a person from China sometimes with a Russian accent - sometimes a Spanish accent! Drives me nuts!
Could you imagine traveling to all those places and experiencing all the cultures???!!! I can't remember what season it was but they went to the Great Wall and did an activity on the Great Wall!! Could you just imagine??!!!
I have the time
I actually love to mow the lawn. I use to do it with a walk behind push mower. That was with a very large yard, complete with hills. Then I was given a riding lawn mower and that cut my time in half. Then I borrowed a new riding lawn mower from my father. A new powerful John Deere and I never mow grass. My father likes using his John Deere on my lawn which has opened up more time.
Clay hardens by immobility – men's minds by standing pat. Both lose the power to take new impressions. (Pinchot 1910: 138)