April 2nd, 2009
I originally started this post with only the photo in mind, for obvious reasons! The bright splash of springtime green in otherwise bleak surroundings…
Why? What were you thinking?
Anyway, I quickly realized that this was a good opportunity to push another kind of green. Seeing how spring has sprung and tourists are descending on the District of Columbia, like nobody’s business, I thought it would be a good idea to let them in on one of the coolest ways to get around the city. Not only will they be saving the air and fossil fuels, but their journey around the city truly will be the reward.
I can tell you from experience that it’s no fun trying to get around Washington, D.C., much less during the tourist season. Between trying to get from point A to point B and finding a parking space in the same zip code, it can be a nightmare. But there’s an excellent solution for all you sightseers, as well as locals. National Pedicabs, shown here, takes advantage of a similar mode of transportation that has been popular in other countries for years. National Pedicabs claims that their pedal-powered cabs are quicker than walking, more earth-friendly than other forms of public transportation and a lot more fun for customers. And the neatest thing, is that National Pedicabs doesn’t use set rates, but uses a “pay as you please” system—you pay what you feel your ride is worth! This is stated on their website, but you should probably call to confirm that this policy is still in place. So, if you’re planning a visit, check them out. There’s no downside!
Did I mention that this is another one of my drive-by photo ops? From a complete stop at a red light, of course…
January 7th, 2009
It’s just like me to come out with a holiday post, post-holiday. Flawed by procrastination (and a few other things, I’m sure), I put off tasks, often to the point of losing the moment altogether. But I digress.
I have one more week to put the Christmas tree out on the curb for Fairfax County’s pickup and recycling. Yes, as much as I care about Earth and all her creatures I still buy a fresh tree for the holidays. I know, shameful. A few weeks before Christmas I was faced with the dilemma of whether to 1. go with the usual 6-7 footer, 2. reluctantly downsize to a tabletop, 3. hold my nose and go “fake,” or 4. chuck the idea altogether. W and I needed to leave town for the holidays earlier than expected and that would leave little time to enjoy it anyway, so I was leaning heavily toward door #4. What nagged me, though, was all of those vintage ornaments and lights living in their own little Christmas village in the basement waiting for their once-a-year debut. Could I really move through the holiday season without seeing them? Uhhh, no. That said, I decided on the tabletop—it would be easier to trim and the price was right—and I wasn’t ready for an impostor. (For a fleeting moment I actually considered that killing a small tree might be less non-eco-friendly than killing a big tree—how is that for a lame rationalization? I sometimes baffle myself.) The poor 4-foot victim took only one string of lights and was trimmed with just a fraction of all our ornaments. I wondered if I had possibly offset the despicable act of choosing a live tree with the energy savings from using four less light strings. Probably not. As far as eco no-nos go, I’m pretty sure that killing a tree trumps using minimally more energy.
So, for Christmases 2009 and beyond, the vintage ornaments will stay and so will the tree—in the ground that is. I resolve to not only spare the trees, but to replace them with something cool enough to showcase the 40-year-old ornaments in a way they deserve.
Now, I have one more week to enjoy the twinklies before I put off taking the tree to the curb.
