I've Been Killing The Earth and I Didn't Even Realize It.

Yesterday was our first adventure shopping with reusable grocery bags. I purchased 3 grocery bags for a little less than $3 each (including shipping) from eBay where there are many different options. These are larger and sturdier than the $0.99 bags that some grocery stores are now offering (at least IMO).

About 2 weeks ago a Green-iphany (a Green epiphany ; ) struck me: I've been voluntarily harming the Earth without even realizing it! Okay, maybe that's a bit extreme, but I did realize that my "recycling" of plastic grocery store bags wasn't really enough.

In the past, we have used the plastic grocery bags as lunch bags. Each week, we save the bags instead of throwing them out and then reuse them to carry our lunches. However, once lunch is over each day, the plastic bags get tossed into the trash anyway. It just occurred after 2 uses instead of one.

I realized, with my Green-iphany, that this isn't really an excellent practice in trying to eliminate waste. Plastic bags are still being thrown in the trash. So, I hopped on the reusable grocery bag bandwagon (much to H's chagrin ; ). When I told H about my plans, he was not thrilled, which seems to be a common thread with any of my attempts at Green Living ideas.

Truly, I'm not asking him to cut off his arm to donate to the effort (although he acts as if I am). I'm asking to make very minor, barely noticeable, life "realignments" (as opposed to "changes"). Not only does he just have to go along with the minor things I'm proposing, but he doesn't even have to think of the ideas on his own. I do all the research. I have all the ideas. I'm trying to save the world in my own little way! He's going behind me and trying to make the Earth implode on itself.

Okay, maybe not quite that extreme, but my ideas are usually met with resistance and an inexplicable unhappy face where I can hear him thinking, "Seriously? Where does she come up with these crazy ideas? I hope that she doesn't turn into some dirty hippie."

::eye roll::

Of course I'm no where near heading toward a life of dreadlocks, smelling of Patchouli while rocking out to Phish. ::shudders:: This would not make me happy at all.

Anyway, I'm very pleased with the reusable grocery bags. Magically, the baggers who usually like to put an average of 2 items per grocery bag (which drives me crazy!) were able to fit all of our groceries (minus the TP, and Diet Coke, which of course didn't need to be in a bag) into 2 of the large reusable grocery bags. Very refreshing.

I do believe that the reusable bags have won out based on convenience.

Take that Mark!

Now all you can complain about is the "dirty hippie" smell, known to the rest of the world as new material smell. I think it shall fade away into oblivion along with the rest of your Green-related complaints ; )