Sled Dog Skippy

“Individual actions we take to reduce our impact help us find the flaws in our system that need to be changed.” –Annie Leonard author & creator of The Story of Stuff

We couldn’t buy a house.

I thought going to Puerto Rico with our best friend would be a nice consolation prize.

Then a massive blizzard came to Homer for 4 DAYS and destroyed any chance of us making our flights. Since we used travelocity to save money on the tickets, we can’t move the dates of the flights without paying the difference in price (of the tickets that are now sky high). So, we are stuck here, totally fucked, and not having a vacation that we so rightly deserved and needed.

Remember all that stuff where I said that Alaska is awesome and I love it here? Well, sorry, but I take it back. I am sick of this. I am tired of this very trying, tiring, and hard life. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know–everything happens for a reason. Trust me, I’ve been saying that to myself since I got here two years ago. And it’s true, some good things have happened. Very few compared to the not-so-good, but I’ll try to ignore that math because it only makes me more depressed.

Last night, after our one chance of getting to Anchorage was squashed, Ryan and I went to the grocery store and loaded up on junk food and liquor. You know, eat and drink to cope. That’s how we roll. So I got some nutella for some croissants. I haven’t had this combo in oh, I don’t know, well over a year. I wanted something special for breakfast when I woke up and realized I wasn’t in Chicago with my best friend on the way to Puerto Rico. I got up pretty early and was toasting the croissants when I opened the nutella and realized it had already been opened and the freshness/safety seal was totally smashed. That, right there, my friends, sent me over the edge. I can’t even have a freaking nutella-filled croissant as a consolation.

So hear me, Alaska. SUCK IT.

Dear Debt,

You fucking suck. I plan to end my relationship with you. Permanently. Don’t try to win me back.

Dear Little Yellow House,

We would have made a great team. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. You will make someone very happy.

Dear Peg,

I am very glad we are friends.

Dear Homemade Bagels,

We are so hawt together. Why don’t we do it more often? The baking, I mean.

Dear Universe,

Mama needs a new cheapo rental stat! Come on, show me what ya got!

Dear Right Scapula and Upper Trapezius,

What the HELL is your problem? Don’t you know that you are part of an intricate system of bones and muscles that is supposed to work as a unit?! Don’t you realize that your selfish whining and “oh, woe is me, I’m hurty” bullshit is keeping me up at night in pain and making even sitting on the couch uncomfortable? Don’t you think I have enough problems without you being all needy and annoying? Get your act together already or no more massages for you.

I really like Sharon Astyk. She is a well-spring of information and ideas. It is truly her (original) blog that gave me a peak-oil primer and information regarding energy transition’s ramifications. I discovered more blogs and information from Sharon’s blog roll or links and I have definitely taken a trip down the peak-oil rabbit hole. It can be scary sometimes–thinking that the planet and its inhabitants are totally, well, fucked. And even scarier to think of all the things it will take to put the breaks on this demise. Change is scary. But I see it as a good change, one that is very exciting. No, I don’t plan on having a stocked bunker anytime soon for when the zombies come…yet. But there are some really valuable lifestyle changes that will work for me–and I’ve implemented some and plan to work on some more.

Sharon hosts the Independence Days Challenge, where she asks (of herself and) us to do something in each of the categories during the growing season:

1. Plant something

2. Harvest something

3. Preserve something

4. Waste Not

5. Want Not

6. Build Community Food Systems

7. Eat the food!

I know that these categories can sound daunting, but Sharon offers down-to-earth examples that can fit in to your busy, even urban, lifestyle. While I would love to be the person that screams the Led Zeppelin lyrics “PICK UP YOUR PLOW AND HOE!”, I know that the agrarian lifestyle isn’t for everyone…and once again, Sharon has amazing information and statistics to share about urban food production.

If this all sounds crazy to you, good! Read some more, investigate, think about it. It is a little crazy to think about your own food security, where your food comes from, how to grow food yourself….but crazy good. And only crazy because of what? Because we’re taught that food comes from grocery stores, not land or people who take care of that land? Because we’re so used to that system and we don’t think it will be easy to change it? Once you learn more about factory farming and food security it will seem crazy NOT to just try to grow your own herbs in a pot on your windowsill. Staring small is a great way to start! And deeeeeelicious.

Want to join me? Don’t worry, this isn’t an “all or nothing” kind of challenge. Even doing one of the categories on a regular basis could really reduce impact.

Wow, I’ve posted something here on this little ole bloggie 100 times. Most people do that in well under a year….it’s taken me 2 years. Oh well. We all travel at our own pace.

As far as The Compact goes, I assure I bought nothing new this week. I had another massage for my IT band in my leg and I bought some lunch. That was it. So no need to bore you with my run-down list because it will be very sparse and well, um, honestly, I did a REALLY bad job of tracking expenses this week. Mostly because I bought a bagel and didn’t need to track ANYTHING.

So there you go. I am still participating in The Compact. It has pretty much become a part of life and is helping me consume less. YAY!

How are your compacting efforts going? Are you interested in trying it?

Dear Sasha the Corgi Puppy,

While you have thoroughly convinced Ryan that you are the breed of choice, I’m on to you. I spend more time with you and know how TRULY crafty and stubborn you are. You can’t deceive me with your cuteness!

Dear Work in Progress,

You are a most excellent band and I would like to see you again.

Dear Kirin Ichiban Lager,

Oh, how I have missed you! How could I have gone so long without you? We are truly in love, aren’t we?

Dear Legs,

Thanks for hanging in there, doing your leg thing. Cooperation and support is key to our relationship. Remember that. I won’t take you for granted, I promise. Look at all the massages I’ve been enduring for you! That’s true love.

Dear Spring,

Where are you? I miss you.

No way. Get out!

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/02/when-it-comes-to-green-we-are-hypocrites.php

fungible.

Hello, Compactors or People who like to read about Compacting!

This was a good week. While Ryan and I strayed a little from our food and entertainment budget, we still managed to keep our money on lock-down. Again, we have to reserve a lot of our pay for our vacation next month. So apart from bills and groceries we are trying to save so that we can ensure that we have money for: vacation, renting a new place next month, repairs to Ryan’s car, and taxes. Bleh. That’s a lot to save for in a short time, but we are making it work.

We are renting a new place next month as my management of Tails by the Bay is coming to a close! I am very sad to be leaving but it is inevitable, as the owner is returning for the summer. Karen agreed to come back a little early so that I could take a position with Era Aviation. Yes, I get to be around planes again! In a professional environment! With insurance and benefits and travel! Wheeeee!

So, it has been a good week for the Skipper. Things are looking good, even though a very fun and profitable chapter of living in Homer is coming to a close. The new chapter looks very exciting!

Here are the numbers…

Day 15
Grocery: $27.50

Misc: $2.00
This was for some fancy pants linen paper to print my resume. In what category would you put that purchase? Miscellaneous seems pretty apt.

Day 16
Entertainment: $7.73
This was for lunch for me. I can’t say no to an everything bagel with Mediterranean schmear and a de-caf Americano. I’ve tried.

Grocery: $9.48

Day 17
Massage therapy: $80.00
Another excellent massage. And by excellent I mean that I thought I was going to die several times. It was a good pain.

Grocery: $17.77
This, I remember, was for a box (plastic! ARRRRRGH!) of organic salad, some Annie’s dressing, some organic PB and some apples. Wow. Pricey.

Misc: $.70
I’m a big spender, I know. This was for a color copy of my license and social security card for my new job.

Clothing (?): $28.00
This was for a new swimsuit for my vacation. Not that I want others to be blinded by my translucent Alaskan whiteness….but I need some sun. This included shipping. Sorry, but buying a thrifted swimming suit/bikini just seems un-hygenic. I wish that we had a budget category for clothes & shoes because we never make one.

Day 18
Grocery: $28.32

Day 19
Entertainment: $50.00
This was another big splurge. Not cooking at home is bad, people. It makes you buy overpriced pizza, beer, and dessert. This was for a 12″ pizza (and mind you, I think it was really only like 9″ in diameter, and I’m being generous), 4 pints of local beer, and a freaking piece of cheesecake. Outrageous.

Day 20
Household: $11.00

Entertainment: $12.00
This was for 2 large bottles of Alaskan Smoked Porter beer. I went to a party. With new people! I am growing, as a person. I even shared my beer.

Day 21
Nada

So, I am almost at the end of month two of The Compact. I’ve certainly not done a perfect job, but that’s not really what I’ve been aiming for. I want to greatly reduce my consumer-y ways, save money, and buy consciously so that I and others can have a better way of life. Again, I know that The Compact is not for everyone, forever. It’s also working for me because I am on a pretty tight budget so buying superfulous items CAN’T happen. I think The Compact would be a greater challenge if one was in a really good financial position and had to really restrain oneself. But then think of all the money that could be given to great causes….or all that money that could be used to enhance one’s life with more education, travel, changing jobs. Something to chew on.

Well, I don’t have much to report here. Ryan and I are in Super Saver Mode since we are going on vacation next month. The dog sitting business also slowed a bit this month so we cleared out our pantry and did a good job of not purchasing silly things. Here are the rather boring numbers.

Day 8
Wood: $175
This is for a cord of cut wood, delivered. A cord is A LOT of wood. Which means it has to be stacked and that takes forever.

Grocery: $21.65

House essentials: $25.76
This is for things like TP, paper towel, cleaning supplies.

Electricity: $107.50
I don’t know if I’ve documented bills before. I’m too lazy to look at the other posts, so here. Now you know.

Day 9
Massage therapy: $80.00
This was for a massage prescribed by my physical therapist for my knee injury. Beth almost made me fall off the table–I had to wear my strong pants. This was not a fun, relaxing massage. But I’ve still been able to run and am feeling great, so it is worth every cent (and worth the initial pain, too).

Snow plowing: $40.00
Yay for random snow storms!

Days 10-13
Nada

Day 14
Entertainment: $25.00
Ryan and I went out for a champagne brunch for Valentine’s Day! We don’t usually do stuff for Valentine’s Day, so it was nice to go and eat a delicious breakfast.

That’s it. Riveting stuff, I know! How is your Compact coming along?