Water Savings Tips

For this week’s Change the World Wednesday, please consider water conservation.  I’ve never lived in a house with a garbage disposal so breaking the habit of using isn’t an issue.  We are vegetarian at home so we don’t have much food waste that cannot be composted or dumped in the trash can without causing too much of a stink.  However, my favorite water saving tips are below (quite apropos with the tight economy we’re facing).

1.  Turn the water off when you are washing your hands.  In order to be effective you should rub your soapy hands for about thirty seconds after using the restroom or coughing or sneezing or whatever, and there is absolutely no need to run the water all that time.

2.  Rather than run the shower faucet to heat the water before my shower, I turn on the sink faucet (although my husband argues that it takes longer to heat up thus probably not saving much if any water).

3.  We water our houseplants with the less than fresh water in our dog and cat water dishes.

4.  Rain is the only water than our lawn receives, even if it turns brown.

5.  When I hand wash dishes, I stop the rinse sink so that I can rinse all but the largest items without running any more water.

6.  Our shower has a low flow head (which reduced our bill by about $10 or $5 a month), and when I am not rinsing I use the water pause feature, which doesn’t stop the flow but just cuts it significantly.

7.  For years we have kept three 750mL bottles in our toilet tank to reduce how much water each flush uses.

8.  We only wash full loads of laundry and dishes in our automatic machines.

9.  I only shower when I am dirty.

10.  Even when I’m sick and just want to linger under the hot spray, my showers are less than ten minutes.

 

Skiing and more local tourism

Last week our skiing trip was so much fun, that I almost forgot why I’ve been speaking so disparagingly about Southeast skiing for the past three or so years; I say almost because Sugar Mountain’s Boulder Dash was rather icy so we refrained from Whoopdedoo altogether.  However, Tom Terrific was in fine shape (even though I did lose my edge and wholly embarrass myself on the my first run down).  Even though the parking lot was packed we really didn’t have any trouble with lift lines until around 1:30 or 2p; however, Sugar was doing their best to slow the entire process down by scanning every single lift ticket at every single lift boarding (I guess this would annoy me a bit less if they had a high speed quad).

See the shiny spots on the right? Those are icy patches.

My honey enjoyed half a Frank’s NY Deli club for his lunch; it’s a bit amazing how much stuff they cram onto one hoagie roll.  As much as it costs to go skiing around here, brown bagging for lunch is the way to go as the resorts serve cafeteria (as in middle school cafeteria) fare at higher than cafeteria prices.

Other attempts to spend money throughout the week were foiled; on the way back from skiing, I was craving ice cream, but Ultimate Ice Cream is closed on Mondays.  I decided to wait until Tuesday; we drove across town only to find they had not opened due to the snow event (I guess I might be the only person who craves ice cream when highs are around freezing).  As we were so far out, I headed to Piazza, only to find they were closed on Tuesday (contrary to their website).  The only remedy I could think of was another round of mulled cider and whiskey, so off to Earth Fare for the cider.  I had also planned on buying another jar of Lusty Monk mustard, but the Co-op and then Earth Fare were both out of the original sin flavor!  We took the hint and refrained from dining or drinking out for the rest of the week.

With the weekend, I rode the bus downtown to the Y, and I was feeling so virtuous for using public transit and exercising that I decided I had to try the LAB.  I was crossing my fingers for a sampler; not only do they have a sampler, but for $5.25 you get six pours (probably 2.5 or three ounces, but a friend said surely four ounces).  Currently they have a Belgian white, a pilsner, an IPA, an American ale, a märzan, and a chocolate stout.  I enjoyed the Belgian white and the chocolate stout the most (although I think I might prefer Green Man’s stout), and the märzan was fine.  I was surprised to enjoy the American ale; of course, neither the pilsner nor IPA struck my fancy.  I perused the menu, but I decided not to order anything.  I was interested in trying their artichoke pizza, but I couldn’t think about mascarpone cheese in a savory application.  The interior is just cool; the bar is a huge glossy, amoeba shaped thing in front of the tanks, and their patio will be great for Lexington Avenue people watching come warmer temperatures.

As I’ve said before I have an insatiable weekly craving for Lusty Monk’s Original Sin mustard so I walked to their downtown location in hopes of eating some pretzels and mustard, but they were closed so I walked down the stairs to Firestorm Cafe and Books.  The cafe is cozy and narrow, but they have window seating facing Commerce and Coxe Avenue.  The crowd was mostly hipster; at one point a guy at the table next to me even called someone in their circle of friends so bourgeois (at least he wasn’t talking on his iPhone)!  Even though I balked a bit the $9 price tag, I ordered their philly.  While the sandwich was good, it wasn’t quite deserving of its price, and unlike most sandwiches it comes sans sides.  Although I couldn’t be certain, the seitan looked and tasted like the seitan I buy at the Co-op, the hoagie could’ve easily come from Sam’s (that would be sadly ironic so I hope it doesn’t), and the aioli was probably garlicky nayonaise; on the other hand I did get a good portion of spinach and avocado.  Nothing about this sandwich was stellar, but it was tasty and fairly filling.  At the counter, they had day old baked goods, and I grabbed a super dark cookie for $1.  It was so rich, chocolaty, and minty; the way it tasted after a day, I know it would’ve been divine straight from the oven with the chocolate chips still gooey.  I’ll be back for their baked goods and maybe a wrap.

Do some laundry!

Petsoup and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue lost their washing machine recently so they are asking for help with laundry.  If you can help them out, just drop by their shop at 31 Glendale Avenue in Biltmore and request a bag.  They’ve promised to sub out their least stinky laundry; the bag I got was definitely of the wet dog smell but nothing worse.  If you feel like your linen closet is overflowing, they could also use any extra linens you might have.  If donating in any of the above ways doesn’t ring your bell then consider working an adoption day or spending time with the shelter dogs.

On a more selfish note, I’m so stoked to go skiing tomorrow, and although I haven’t enjoyed Southeast skiing since I skied the 2010 Olympics courses at  Whistler-Blackcomb, I just know I’m going to have a great time tomorrow.  Here’s a picture of my husband (I obtained consent before posting) as we paused while completing either the men’s or women’s Super G course (aka the Dave Murray Downhill; to see the course on the map click on advanced and the course is the trail that runs from the middle left of Whistler Mountain into Creekside).

I am thankful for snow and winter (and the man who taught me to ski).

I love snow!

Our dog loves snow too!

What’s in your trash?

This time of year is the perfect time of year to think about how much trash you produce considering most Americans are gearing up for their annual end of year spend and waste orgy.  The Change the World Challenge from Reduce Footprints this week asked to keep your trash in site; rather than carry the bag around with me I dutifully logged my trash for the week.  Although I ate out more than I typically do, I ended up using and throwing away items that have simple, reusable alternatives like tissues, napkins, paper towels, and to-go containers.  I’ve finally gotten into the habit of taking cloth bags everywhere so now I just need to remember to bring my own to go containers, napkins, and handkerchiefs.

How Many Light Bulbs Do You Need?

For this week’s Change the World challenge please remove a light bulb from a fixture with multiple bulbs.  For example, in our ceiling fans we have one out of three sockets filled (with compact fluorescents of course).  At work I am fortunate enough to have a south facing window, so on sunny days I don’t use my overhead light.  If you’re up to it, join the challenge and spread the word; for more ideas check out the honor roll.

 

10 Fun Facts

Thanks to Nicole at Forthright Fattie for the Honest Scrap Award.  Here are my ten unknown to the internet world facts:

1.  I participated in Mock Trial in high school, but I am no good at off the cuff so my attorney dreams died.

2.  Even though I’m all about reducing emissions, I love to drive fast, and I want to be able to drive fast around curves without worrying about sharing the road.

3.   I always thought I would die before I turned 27.

4.  Until I started sleeping with my husband, I had never used the snooze button.

5.  My first car, Tilly, was in Patch Adams.  They used it for two or three weeks, and I got $800.  My parents and I purchased the car for $900.

6.  Over Thanksgiving break traveling through SC on 85, I received two speeding tickets (one on the way home and the other on the way back).

7.  I love dystopian novels and movies (The Handmaid’s Tale, 1984, Brave New World, V for Vendetta).

8.  If I weren’t so cheap, I would have a coffee habit.

9.  The traffic in Atlanta drove me to smoke the entire time I (kinda) lived there.

10.  Although I’ve never really lived anywhere aside from AVL (even when I lived in the ATL, I was back home about once a month) and it feels so much like home, I think anywhere that my honey and kitties and doggy and good food are could be home.

If you’re so inclined, leave a link in the comments with your ten unknowns.

Recycled or Reclaimed

This week’s Change the World Challenge from Reduce Footprints is to purchase the recycled option of a product you don’t normally buy the recycled version of, or if you don’t have an item that fits the bill discuss using reclaimed materials.

I have no problem with recycled paper towels or sandwich/bulk item bags, but I do not like recycled paper toilet paper.  It irks me because its manufacturers have the audacity to make it less soft and cost more than conventional toilet paper.  However, I will succumb to peer pressure and give it another go.  Which brands are cushier?

Fog

Our last day in San Francisco, we awoke to fog.  The weather punished me for being so grumpy on Sunday morning and not riding across the Golden Gate Bridge.  My wonderful husband optimistically suggested that we run up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower so we could we get a good view and see if the fog might lift so we could ride across the bridge.  Rather than head down to Union Square, we walked up Leavenworth a few blocks then over to Hyde where we caught the cable car and rode it to the waterfront.  We got to ride past Lombard, but we opted not to walk down it.  We tried to catch a bus up Telegraph Hill, but much like the rest of our trip we failed to note where we to catch the bus and which number so we hoofed it.  Unlike the forced march down the Embarcadero, the chilly weather was in our favor.

From Coit Tower, our chances didn’t look good for biking across the bridge.  We took the Greenwich Steps down, and although the picture I took at the top of stairs looks lush, the Filbert Steps have much better scenery.

We meandered around trying to decide what to do in lieu of our bike trek.  Ina Coolbrith Park and Macondary Lane and the Octagon houses were on my wish list so we set off for Ina Coolbrith based on my shorthand notes but without the benefit of a map (no free wi-fi!).  We ended up finding Macondary Lane and walking through it, and then realizing that we had missed the park by a block.  The park has nice views, but for the hike I preferred Buena Vista.  After walking in circles to find the park, I forgot about the Octagon houses that were only blocks away (although most likely steep uphill blocks away) so we caught the cable car that runs on Mason and took it back to home base for much deserved shower.

On our last San Francisco night we dined at Le Colonial; it is a very lovely Michelin starred restaurant with elegant decor.  Of course we were underdressed, but our server didn’t seem to mind.  He did, however, seemed determined to sell us the most expensive items on the menu even though we did not request his opinion.  Our entire meal was delicious and eclipsed by the superiority of The Slanted Door.  I enjoyed an ahi tuna tartare with taro chips for my appetizer and spring roll dish that I was instructed to eat like the bánh xéo from earlier in the week.  Le Colonial provided the best service of any of the restaurants we dined at, and their food was good (if not divine).

Sunday at The Slanted Door

Our Sunday was a could’ve, should’ve day.  First we slept in a bit later than we should’ve, second we could’ve gotten bagels for breakfast the night before.  We strolled down to Union Square to catch a bus to the Fisherman’s Wharf where we going to rent bikes to ride through the Presidio and across the Golden Gate Bridge down into Sausalito to enjoy a mid afternoon lunch and catch the ferry back; however, it was my lack of food and general bitchiness that threw a wrench into our plans this time.  I think I was worried about whether my out of shape body would be able to bike the few miles.  So instead we walked down the Embarcadero in the blazing sun and against the flow of pedestrian traffic away from the gapping tourist trap of Fisherman’s Wharf.  At the Ferry Building, things suddenly looked much brighter (figuratively as I don’t think it could’ve gotten much brighter literally).

The Slanted Door beckoned our empty bellies, but the thirty minute wait directed us to the bar.  I began with a kir royale to quench my thirst, and my husband went with an unfamiliar wheat beer.  Our seat at the bar was directly in front of the raw prep station so we both ordered a half dozen raw oysters; I opted for West Coast options which were all quite delicious, and my husband ordered the plate as is and also enjoyed it thoroughly.  With our fortune at the raw bar, we decided to share a live scallop; it was absolutely heavenly with its fresh creamy saltiness.  If I could regularly eat raw animal this tasty, I would never dream of giving up flesh.  Following with the Bay Area obsession, my next drink was Summer on the Danube which consisted of sparkling wine and elderberry liqueur; I do now love elderberry liqueur.  For my next dish I moved to the hot side and ordered the bánh xèo (Vietnamese egg crepe); the food runner was kind enough to tell me how it is normally eaten as I most likely would’ve skipped the leaf lettuce completely which would have greatly taken away from the dish.  The crepe is sliced then wrapped in the leaf lettuce then dipped in the sauce then eaten.  All of the flavors came together to make this dish my favorite from the trip, from the slight bitterness of the lettuce to the earthiness of the mung bean sprouts to the clean crispness of the mint and basil leaves to the sweet, spicy ginger of the dipping sauce to the greasiness of the cooked crispy egg.  I have not stopped craving this, even after I attempted to make a vegan alternative that was less than awesome.  The ginger pushed me into a dark and stormy, which is a drink that has sentimental value; I first enjoyed it the week before we married in Key West, and this trip to our friends’ wedding doubled as a big three (legal) years anniversary celebration for us (albeit a couple of weeks before the actual date).  This version is the epitome of a dark and stormy.  Their house made ginger syrup is the secret; it has such a powerful ginger punch that cuts through and combines with the sweetness of the dark rum and the soda to make bliss in a cup.  After the dark and stormy and the egg crepe, my tofu entree was good, but I really only remember the exotic sweetness of the lemongrass.  Our service was slow with many long moments of trying to get our bartender/server’s attention to order the next drink or dish or get the check; however, the food was wonderful.

We slowly strolled out of the Ferry Building into the bright sunshine and decided since we were in the Financial District we might as well hit the SFMoMA.  Much like the MoMA, the SFMoMA was overwhelming at times.  I enjoyed many of the pieces, but others annoyed me.  One piece was a short Airstream style travel trailer; another was a colorful painting that I initially liked, so I read the placard for it to discover the protrusion was a piece of elephant dung.  The photography exhibits were the highlight and made the admission (twenty dollars including the five dollar surcharge for the Richard Avedon exhibit) worth it.  Unlike many museums, the SFMoMA allows non flash photography.

Exhausted from all the walking and alcohol, we walked through the Yerba Buena Gardens but decided to skip through it.  We caught the F line back to the Embarcadero so I could check out the Diego Rivera murals in the Rincon Center (another example of us backtracking).  We then rode the California car up to Nob Hill so we could see the Fountain of the Turtles and Grace Cathedral.  The cathedral was amazing and humbling; I respect churches that spend all their money on doing good works, but I love and cherish the magnificent buildings that religious congregations build.  I took photos of the doors called The Gates of Paradise, but I felt disrespectful taking photos of the interior.

After the cathedral, we returned to the apartment for a refreshing 7 and ginger and showers.  For dinner we decided that nothing could possibly top our lunch plus we were reeling from the cost; Uncle Vito’s on Powell St seemed like a good place for cheap eats.  Cheap they were, but even so the service and food left much to be desired.  The service I can forgive, because it was cheap.  The food, however, was bland, boring, and not even worth repeating.  If ever in San Francisco, avoid Uncle Vito’s.