Toilet Train Your Cat

One of the benefits of having cats (over dogs) is that they basically are come litter trained. No worrying about coming hope fast after work to avoid cleaning up a mess. But I admit I can't stand cleaning the litterbox, or the fact that it seems to end up EVERYWHERE. Plus, it seems really wasteful. So, I dream of this...

citikitty.com

I really want to try toilet training the kitties. Actually I tried before but with only one bathroom in the apartment, it was hard to share with them during the training so I got impatient. Come Texas, I am totally trying again!

Ready for Change

Obama promised it to the country, now I promise for myself. In less than a month I will be a Texan! Ok legally the government considers me a Texas right now, and my heart is there, but the rest of me has been in Ohio. For my personal life, I couldn't be happier. After four years of seriously long distance relationship, Charlie and I will be in the same zip code permanently, a change that is long overdue. Professionally, I'm a little freaked about leaving my lab and being somewhat on my own while writing my dissertation, but I'm glad to see the projects that I have invested my blood, sweat and tears winding down. More scary so is deciding what to do after I graduate, and that is a far less certain step. I am hoping the down time while writing my dissertation will give me time to contemplate those next steps.

Food Win!

Check out my loot from the farmer's market! Best of all, everything was chemical free! Though not everything was certified organic. The blueberries are so delicious. I made a salad the way my mom taught me. And nothing beats fresh cucumbers and cherry tomatoes, I don't know why the grocery store even tries.

The trick my mom taught me for salad is cut up the cucumbers and slide the onions really thin (can you even see them in the picture?). Then add salt, and let set for an hour or so. The salt causes the juice to come out of the veggies and also mellows the onion, and it makes for a great dressing. Later I ended up adding oil, vinegar, and herbs, but it's great on its own too.

Finally, I'm trying to clean out my cupboard before I move, and found that a lemon-lime meringue pie was using everything I already had. My first meringue pie! Hope it tastes as good as it looks, it is setting in the fridge right now. I think whipped egg whites are just the coolest thing. Yep I'm a dork.

What is your carbon footprint?

So, I've been thinking about my monstrous carbon footprint and decided I need to calculate it. On average, Americans emit 27 tons of carbon just for their food and energy use. That doesn't even include other extras, such as pets, energy use away from home (e.g. movies), or buying clothes/furniture/electronics. Europeans emit about half the amount we do, and the average world citizen emits 5.5 tons. The only country that emits more carbon dioxide than the U.S. is China, and our population is much lower. Our emissions account for about 20% of the world emissions, while our population is only 4.5%. If everyone in the world used as many resources as Americans, we'd need nine worlds to keep up (clearly carbon dioxide isn't the only thing going into this estimate). While the European Union may have already decreased their emissions by 11% since signing the Kyoto protocol, emissions in the U.S. have increased by 15%.

So for the American wanting to reduce their carbon footprint, the best thing to do is following the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Of course, carbon is not the only pollutant out there. For example, electricity from coal plants also emits sulfur and mercury into the air, and nuclear plants generate nuclear waste. So while it is possible to buy carbon offsets, it is better to reduce overall pollution and work down to needing just one earth for our demands.

I have found a few carbon calculators. None of them seem to have everything and some of the numbers vary, but here are a few numbers:

The minimalist: You live in a two bedroom apartment with another person, and eat vegetarian organic food. You take measures to conserve energy in the apartment. No pets, and you walk or bike everywhere. Sometimes you go out to eat or to movies. Your impact is 13 1/2 tons of carbon dioxide each year, half the American average.

If this doesn't describe you, add the following:

If you live by yourself in a 1 bedroom apartment, add 4 tons

If you live by yourself in a 2 bedroom apartment, add 9 tons

If you live in an energy efficient 2 bedroom house with someone, add 6 tons

If you live in an energy efficient 2 bedroom house by yourself, add 24 tons

If you don’t use conservation settings for heating/cooling, add 3 tons

If you don’t use energy saver bulbs, add 1 ton

If you don’t use energy efficient appliances, add 2 tons

If you don’t use a water heater blanket and don’t use a low flow shower, add 2 tons

If you are not vegetarian, add 3 tons

If you do not eat organic, add 2 tons

If you do not recycle, add ½ ton

If you drive 12000 miles, add 5 tons for a hybrid, 7 for compact, 9 for sedan, and 10 SUV

If you fly, add 1 ton for every 1200 miles

If you have a cat, add 4 tons

If you have a dog, add 5 tons for a medium dog (e.g. collie), 10 tons for a large dog (e.g. German shepherd) and increase/decrease based on the amount of food comparatively

If you enjoy having the latest in fashion, add ½ ton

If you enjoy having new furniture and electronics, add 1 ton

If you own a car, add 1 ton

If you commute by train, add 1 ton for every 10,000 miles

If you commute by bus, add 1 ton for every 6000 miles

If you commute by subway, add 1 ton for every 8000 miles

To figure out your carbon footprint, try these calculators:

http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/calculator/

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

My carbon footprint is 39 tons this year, half of which is from flying...I estimate next years will be average (for an American that is). To offset your carbon footprint, you can go to terrapass.com and buy carbon offsets at $11/ton.

Michigan Beach Vacation

Over July 4th, Charlie and I went to South Haven, Michigan. When we planned this trip, I thought I had not been to Michigan but my mom later told me otherwise. We had a great time, checking out the sand dunes, going to the beach, walking around the town, doing too much shopping, and some cherry picking to boot! As Charlie pointed out, the great thing about going to the Great Lakes is that it feels like the ocean, real sand and all, except for when you jump in it isn't saltwater. It's large enough that there are tides and waves (not just those caused by motor boats). I accidentally kept calling it the ocean. Yay sand dunes! Where we stayed, The Last Resort B&B in South Haven Hiding from the sun, I gotta keep my vampire look going. The last bits of sunset on July 3. Sunset in Michigan btw, is around 10 pm in July. Awesome!