Joan Qazi

Now it feels like it went very quickly!  But there were days that I would forget to check in...

I'm learning how to keep reusable bags in my purse so I always have them with me, not just in my car.  Yesterday on my drive home from Seattle (in my hybrid car, wishing it was a plug-in electric), we stopped at the Twin Falls hike just off I-90.  It was lovely even though it was a little muddy but the views are spectacular for being so accessible.  Then, I got to tick off that one time action (hike in nature) for the Challenge!

The challenge to not use disposable bags is a great one.  While I was already pretty good about using canvas bags at the grocery store, I didn't always think about it at places like Target or Macys.  Yesterday, I was at Target picking up just a few things and when I was in the line to pay, I realized I didn't have a bag with me.  I thought about just saying that I didn't need any bag, but it was raining outside so I really did need a bag.  I had to leave the items inside, go to my car and get my reusable bag.  That's what the challenge is all about--taking responsibility and being OK with taking a little longer with perhaps a little more inconvenience in order to meet your goal.  I now carry two small reusable bags in my purse so wherever I go, I will have a bag with me.

Had the chance to talk with another retailer about not using their plastic bags because of my Eco Challenge. 

Forgot about short showers until it was too late today.  Oh well, will do better tomorrow!

When I was at the farmer's market this morning, I went to buy the delicious sweet corn that is still available, but they had it all pre-bagged in plastic.  I had to ask them to please take it out of the bag and dump it into my canvas bag to meet my action item of no plastic bags.  I think before the challenge, I may not have bothered to ask for special treatment but in so doing, I was able to talk to the farmers about the Eco-challenge!

One of my challenges is to take a 5 minute shower.  I used an egg timer (the kind you flip over and the sand falls through it) which goes for 3 minutes to have a visual of the time.  I thought it was going to be like the do-it-yourself car wash where I am rushing to get the car clean while the time ticks down, but because I didn't have to wash my hair today, it was fine.  I finished within the 3 minutes that the sand was falling in the timer.  Let's see how it goes tomorrow when I have to wash my hair!

It is gratifying to already being doing many of the activities suggested, but I hope that I can manage the three challenges that I chose!

I have invited my students to join our team for the Eco-Challenge.  Thanks to Abbey Fenhaus for signing up!