Ireland is GREEN

No I am not talking about the color of the land, but the attitude of the people. The stores and shoppers are embracing a environmentally friendly environment and serve as a role model for what we should be doing here in the USA.
Because we stayed at a large private villa for our stay in Ireland, we went to the local grocery store to stock up on things for our kitchen like tea, brown bread, peanut butter and jelly, fruit, cheese, beer, eggs etc. On our first trip into the village grocer, we realized there are no bags, not plastic or paper to put your items in. Instead all the shoppers used produce boxes or recyclable bags that they brought from home or purchased for a euro at the store. A couple of days later we went to the large Tesco (like a super Target or Meiers) and again every shopper had brought their own reusable bags. Every where we went, small villages or large cities like Limerick, everyone was carrying their own reusable bags. I purchased a few Tesco bags for myself and I am using them constantly for everything from groceries to laundry.

Check out this great website where you can read about the damage of using and disposing of plastic bags as well as purchase some great reusable bags.
http://www.reusablebags.com/
I use the Reisenthel Cityshopper (perfect for hauling food to Ravinia) http://www.reusablebags.com/store/reisenthel-cityshopper-artdeco-baroque-sand-p-1118.html
and I have posted before about how much I love the Envirosax bags
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/envirosax-flora-pouch-reusable-shopping-bags-p-1078.html
My goal is to completely eliminate my use of all non biodegradable plastic bags, grocery, produce, laundry etc. A great alternative to plastic trash bags are here http://www.dirtworks.net/Biodegradable-Foodservice-Ware/Biodegradable-Cup-%26-Plates.html
Watch this great video of Tesco's campaign to get shoppers to use alternatives to plastic bags, it's obviously working in Ireland!

Thanks Sheryl Crow

Saw Sheryl Crow with opening act James Blunt at Ravinia last night. It was the perfect night for an outdoor concert and picnic, breezy, no bugs and warm. Friends and I lounged around and ate and drank wine while listening to a great concert, I think both James Blunt and Sheryl are even better live than on albums. I also appreciate that a small portion of my ticket is donated to the UN World Food Program by Sheryl.
If you get a chance, see her on her 2008 tour, you won't be disappointed.

Flash Back Friday #12

Because the Olympics kick off tonight and I am an Olympic junky, here is a Friday Flash back, Mary Lou Retton's perfect 10 on the vault at the 1984 Olympics. I was a competing high school gymnast at the time and her Olympic gold changed the energy of the team that year, we all felt we could do anything. It was an exciting time.
Tonight I am hunkering down for the Opening Ceremonies, my schedule for the next 2 weeks is all about watching the Olympic coverage. Go Team USA!

Pet Nicknames

So I have a beagle, rescued from a shelter when she was 8 weeks old. I thought I was bringing Snoopy home, I got something quite different. We named her Eloise after my favorite children's book, Eloise at the Plaza, and she has definitely lived up to the spirit of her name, precocious, nosey, always in trouble, sly, silly, lovable and pretty. She even has her own website at:
http://www.talkingbeagle.com/
Eloise is a spirited rabbit/squirrel/chipmunk chaser who enjoys food, walks, food, naps, food, belly scratches, food, surveying her yard, food, sleeping in our beds and her family.
She also has a lot of nicknames which include:
Eloiser
Weezer
Moo Moo Cow (she has spots)
Moomee
Boobee
Moobee Skoobie
Weez
Beagle Dog
Lazy Poopy Dog
Ratdog
El Bell
Weezy Poo
Meemee Moomee

Funny, but she responds to them all, especially when we have food.
Do you have nicknames for your pets?

Have you seen the new Batman?

Saw it before I left for Ireland, seriously disturbing and violent but excellent film making. Chicago is the star. I love living in Gotham.
This review snippet from a London paper, I think sums up exactly how fantastic Heath Ledger is as the Joker. Don't know how they can follow with a sequel, but it would be nice to have them all back in my hometown.
"And Ledger? Although the Joker's menace is anonymous, random and impersonal, meaning this is more of a star turn than a performance, he's magnificently creepy and unhinged. His manic zest gives the film its energy. He knocks Jack Nicholson into a cocked purple hat. Even if he doesn't get that posthumous Oscar, this is enough of a tour de force to make us mourn him again."

Resident Library Cat

You will love this story of a cat who adopted a library as his home.
http://www.journalinquirer.com/articles/2008/07/18/news/doc4880acf4da30d144854074.txt
Enjoy!

Goodbye to Ireland, Hello to Reality

My home away from home, Adare Manor, County Limerick, Ireland
After saying a sad goodbye to one of my favorite travel destinations, it was a harsh reality to get back into the routine of work, grocery shopping, laundry and everything that comes with real life. In a small way it was also comforting to be back to the grind. After sleeping in 4 different beds in 1 week (Ireland, Home, Cottage in Michigan, Family beach house) which was not unlike a boisterous week during my years in college... I am still happy to be back to the familiarity of my life.
Honestly I really enjoyed stepping away from all communication. I didn't miss the instant contact of email and cell phones and definitely didn't miss turning on my computer or television to crappy sensationalist news or pictures of Brad and Angelina's twins (seriously does ANYONE care? Is this really important!)
Now if I can just figure out how to support myself in a little seaside Irish cottage...with Internet access of course for those slow rainy afternoons.