Consumer Reports: Buy American

Saw this in the recent issue of Consumer Reports and thought I'd share.  It shows that other folks in the US are thinking the way I am about supporting products made in America.  Yes, in other words, I have the validation, now, that I so desperately crave.

New Glasses and Blog Update

My frames sans the tinted lenses

Hello blog!  Long time no see!  I've been absent for a few weeks, mainly because I started a new job that takes me on fabulous adventures in librarianship during the graveyard shift at UF's main library.  As you can probably guess, I both love my new job and am always busy so no blogging for me (I still manage to fit in some FB time to record my nightly observations).  So, no, haven't abandoned the blog - just taking a break while I keep my head above water with masters program #2, family, and getting enough sleep.

I need new glasses.  Before I started going to grad school at UF it became painfully apparent that I had gotten to that age where things like eyesight start to fail.  So, I ended up getting a pair of retro frames on Etsy and had Gainesville Opticians fill the prescription.  They did it with the understanding that they weren't responsible if the frames broke because they were dang old frames.  The frames lasted me about three years before they started falling apart - this is the only argument I've found so far for not buying used with everything.  Eyeglass frames are just one of those exceptions, I guess - that and iron lungs, I think!

Anyway, I was having no luck on ebay trying to get a new pair of old frames and had just about given up when I remembered something the eye tech at Gainesville Opticians told me, that the people who manufactured my glasses are still in business.  So I looked them up and lo and behold not only do they still make frames (since 1865) but they make the exact frame that I have! 

The name of the manufacturer is Shuron, and they advertise on their website that you can "see SHURON FRAMES in almost every Major Motion Picture or TV Series where "RETRO" frames are worn."  I emailed briefly with one of the sales associates who emailed me back on a weekend within an hour of my original email.  He was very helpful and finding my exact frames has been a freakin miracle.  Shuron frames are made in South Carolina and, get this, the company also makes steering wheel covers!  Really?  Yes!

I'll be ordering my frames this week and have Gainesville Opticians fill them, even though Shuron also fills prescriptions.  I'm kind of mad at Gainesville Opticians for not special ordering me the frames, but they are just so darn nice in their refusal that I can't help continuing to like them.

Happy New Year!

Oh God.  Please, no.

Aw crap, I forgot to do my new year's post about resolutions and such!  Okay, here's my short list of eco resolutions for 2012:

• Not let my compost rot in my kitchen and then in my carport (I was being so good and then got lazy again)
• Find a composting system that works - like getting something that won't spawn anaerobic gas monsters in my kitchen
• Lose more stuff so I have less stuff
• Go to the Co-op and Ward's more and shop at Publix less

...and a bunch of other stuff I haven't come up with but will in the coming months.

Did anyone watch Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's?  I refuse to acknowledge Ryan Seacrest as the Dick Clark of the New Millennium.

Anyway, thanks for continuing to read and friend and comment and follow this blog - I really do enjoy your input and hope we can continue the great conversation for 2012!

Got the photo of Dick Clark and his nemesis from Shopping Blog.

Clean the World

When I was at the Florida Democratic Convention this past October we were supposed to have a soap drive for Clean the World, where delegates could bring their leftover soap and shampoo to donate to this organization--which recycles and sanitizes the soap to give to folks in third world countries where personal hygiene is an issue--but I never did find the collection center (I also forgot to bring the leftover shampoo).  As you know, I've been washing my hair pretty consistently with apple cider vinegar and baking soda, so have not had need for shampoo.  I was also given some expensive Body Shop shampoo by a friend but decided that it didn't do much for my hair so I still have that sitting around. 

Anyway, I had kind of forgotten about Clean the World until I was at The Body Shop to use a Groupon (went during a sale and cleaned up!) and while I was talking to the sales clerks I suddenly remembered Clean the World.  They were excited and intrigued by the idea and maybe The Body Shop will partner with Clean the World.  Hey, maybe I should write them a letter.  I am kind of curious about if they would support this type of effort.  Who wouldn't?  It seems like a great idea; recycling soap and shampoo to help people with basic hygiene to prevent communicable diseases that are possibly fatal.  Here's a chart from the website:

Global Health Statistics

Major Causes of Death in Neonates and Children Under Five in the World

Of course, since clean water is also an issue in many third world countries, doesn't this defeat the purpose?  I just don't know.  I'm going to think on this a little more and might even try to get Gators for a Sustainable Campus on board with doing a drive for these folks.  Not sure, because I have lots going on right now with a new job (!) and need to put whatever extra energy and time I have into keeping family ties and concentrating on school.