I had a great idea for a blog entry. I thought of it as I was on my way to Safeway to use the "Spend $50, get $10 off" coupon. Poignant, pithy, interesting, short. All the elements needed for the optimal blog post.
Unfortunately, $120 and 2 hours later, I have no idea what it was. D'oh! Memory is strange--I just posted on the Facebook page of my old classmate that I just got back in touch with, Jodi, that a current photo of her (admittedly, for what was called the "polyester prom") reminded me of her 8th grade school picture where she sported Farrah Fawcett hair and wore a striped cowl neck. Now she's thinking I'm going to go all Bridget Fonda on her (as is Single White Female) since I actually recall that photo that was taken over 30 years ago. I know that but, but I can't remember what I thinking about 2 hours ago. Geez, I am getting old. Or maybe I'm already there?
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Great Christmas Tree Debate
We got our Christmas tree today. How is it that getting a tree on December 4th makes one feel behind? All the neighbors seem to have their trees already! I remember years ago, when I lived in NYC and I had a little tree for my studio apartment that I got on Dec 1 and I was so amazed that I got it that early and enjoyed it for over a month! I also loved looking at the tree all lit up while snuggled up all cozy in my bed--a benefit of a studio! I had a Murphy bed that transformed my living room into a bedroom and I decided I always wanted to have a Christmas tree in my bedroom. But alas, that hasn't happened since then.
But back to the tree. I had a hard time deciding this year where to get the tree. There are three main options: fake, supermarket parking lot, or U-cut. Now, I'm an Oregonian and for those of you outsiders, you may not know that Oregon is the largest producers of Christmas trees in the world with 8.2 million trees being harvested this year alone. That's a whole lotta needles there, Mabel. So, to not have a real tree is well, rather embarrassing for an Oregonian. Which is not to say we don't have a fake tree up in our attic. I'll admit it, we do. We bought it a few years ago when we were going to Minnesota for Christmas and didn't want a dead tree in the house for over a week while we were gone, and to take it down before Christmas, well, seems downright criminal! I gotta admit, fake trees with their built-in lights are sweet. Let's face it--fighting with the tangled web of lights is hardly the stuff of movies and sweet memories.
Of course we hear a lot these days about being "green" so I started to wonder what is really more green--a fake tree or a real one? I read an article in the Oregonian last week where a Christmas tree farmer said, "You'd have to be a pretty poor salesman if you couldn't make the case that one of my trees isn't a lot greener than a plastic Christmas tree from China."
Hmmm? Now, since we already own a fake tree (for the reason stated above), all the energy it takes is that of my husband dragging it down from the attic. Let's compare that how I got my tree this year: we drove to a Lees Farm, about 10 miles away. A worker there cut down a living tree using a chain saw. They loaded up on a flat bed pulled by a tractor and used a machine to shake it for loose needles and another to twine it up. And of course, there's all that energy that was used planting, nurturing, watering, feeding, pruning that tree for years. The tree does give back though--cleaner air for all of us!
But, the reality? A tree that just a few hours ago was live and growing, is now standing in our living room, shedding needles even as a I speak. And our fake tree is still in our attic.
Perhaps the best option is to just go to the parking lot sales--at least those trees are already dead and will be turned into mulch if they don't get bought. But where's the romance and tradition of the yearly family outing to...the parking lot at Freddies?
Oh, the conundrum! It's not easy being green. Last year we used the fake one. This year we cut our own and had a fun family outing (sans Dad who was at work--we didn't want to fight the crowds at the farms on the weekend nor did we have time to schlep out to a farm.) We bought farm-made donuts. We went through the hay mazes. Fun fun fun.
What's your tree opinion? What do you think is the greenest thing to do?
But back to the tree. I had a hard time deciding this year where to get the tree. There are three main options: fake, supermarket parking lot, or U-cut. Now, I'm an Oregonian and for those of you outsiders, you may not know that Oregon is the largest producers of Christmas trees in the world with 8.2 million trees being harvested this year alone. That's a whole lotta needles there, Mabel. So, to not have a real tree is well, rather embarrassing for an Oregonian. Which is not to say we don't have a fake tree up in our attic. I'll admit it, we do. We bought it a few years ago when we were going to Minnesota for Christmas and didn't want a dead tree in the house for over a week while we were gone, and to take it down before Christmas, well, seems downright criminal! I gotta admit, fake trees with their built-in lights are sweet. Let's face it--fighting with the tangled web of lights is hardly the stuff of movies and sweet memories.
Of course we hear a lot these days about being "green" so I started to wonder what is really more green--a fake tree or a real one? I read an article in the Oregonian last week where a Christmas tree farmer said, "You'd have to be a pretty poor salesman if you couldn't make the case that one of my trees isn't a lot greener than a plastic Christmas tree from China."
Hmmm? Now, since we already own a fake tree (for the reason stated above), all the energy it takes is that of my husband dragging it down from the attic. Let's compare that how I got my tree this year: we drove to a Lees Farm, about 10 miles away. A worker there cut down a living tree using a chain saw. They loaded up on a flat bed pulled by a tractor and used a machine to shake it for loose needles and another to twine it up. And of course, there's all that energy that was used planting, nurturing, watering, feeding, pruning that tree for years. The tree does give back though--cleaner air for all of us!
But, the reality? A tree that just a few hours ago was live and growing, is now standing in our living room, shedding needles even as a I speak. And our fake tree is still in our attic.
Perhaps the best option is to just go to the parking lot sales--at least those trees are already dead and will be turned into mulch if they don't get bought. But where's the romance and tradition of the yearly family outing to...the parking lot at Freddies?
Oh, the conundrum! It's not easy being green. Last year we used the fake one. This year we cut our own and had a fun family outing (sans Dad who was at work--we didn't want to fight the crowds at the farms on the weekend nor did we have time to schlep out to a farm.) We bought farm-made donuts. We went through the hay mazes. Fun fun fun.
What's your tree opinion? What do you think is the greenest thing to do?
I have a blog
Me--pretty far removed from being an actual Luddite, but so not a technology trendsetter, now has a blog! I hadn't really thought much about having one until my friend, Jessica, started one. Hey, if she can do it, so can I! Plus, her blog's name, Everybody's Doing It, really is almost a taunt, you know?
But what to name the blog?? Now, that's not a simple task by any means. Something catchy, funny, ironic and indicative of who I am. That's not already taken. The pressure!
So, here it is. For those of you who don't know, my company name is "Along Came Mitzi, Inc." so this is derivative of that. And no one else had it. Ha!
Thanks for reading! I promise to be more insightful/opinionated/funny on future posts, but for now, off to make dinner (spaghetti--a fall-back meal when it's 5:23 and I haven't started a thing.)
But what to name the blog?? Now, that's not a simple task by any means. Something catchy, funny, ironic and indicative of who I am. That's not already taken. The pressure!
So, here it is. For those of you who don't know, my company name is "Along Came Mitzi, Inc." so this is derivative of that. And no one else had it. Ha!
Thanks for reading! I promise to be more insightful/opinionated/funny on future posts, but for now, off to make dinner (spaghetti--a fall-back meal when it's 5:23 and I haven't started a thing.)
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