Comments on: Cross Country Trip: Part 1 http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/ Learn to live life with less plastic... for the health of our bodies, our oceans, our planet. I don't buy new plastic. Join me on my plastic-free journey. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:55:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Pheas http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-16027 Pheas Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:31:16 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-16027 Aw, sorry you're sick, Beth. I'm surprised you don't have a tougher immune system, since you use public transportation regularly and seem to do okay with it. The subway made me sick all the time, so I switched to carpooling and part-time working from home, and ultimately full-time working from home. Anyway, as you say, yet another reason to fly less. Hope you're feeling better soon. Bed rest is my go-to treatment. Aw, sorry you’re sick, Beth. I’m surprised you don’t have a tougher immune system, since you use public transportation regularly and seem to do okay with it. The subway made me sick all the time, so I switched to carpooling and part-time working from home, and ultimately full-time working from home. Anyway, as you say, yet another reason to fly less. Hope you’re feeling better soon. Bed rest is my go-to treatment.

]]> By: Beth Terry http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15871 Beth Terry Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:45:05 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15871 Josefine, wow. You have persistence. And no, not crass at all. I always need encouragement! Pheas, I'd love to learn how not to get sick on a plane. I came home with a head cold yesterday after airports and sitting with coughing passengers, not to mention the guy sitting next to me doused in so much cologne I could barely breathe. Guys, as I mentioned on my Facebook page yesterday, you smell fine without it! Anyway, I guess avoiding colds is just one more reason not to fly (besides the obvious environmental reasons.) Josefine, wow. You have persistence. And no, not crass at all. I always need encouragement!

Pheas, I’d love to learn how not to get sick on a plane. I came home with a head cold yesterday after airports and sitting with coughing passengers, not to mention the guy sitting next to me doused in so much cologne I could barely breathe. Guys, as I mentioned on my Facebook page yesterday, you smell fine without it! Anyway, I guess avoiding colds is just one more reason not to fly (besides the obvious environmental reasons.)
Beth Terry´s last [type] ..Will You Drink From A Public Water Fountain

]]> By: Sue http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15816 Sue Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:30:44 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15816 I used to work at different hotels and condo rental places when I lived in the Tahoe area and we always had to re-fill any little shampoo bottles if they were left at check out. This saved the boss' money as they didn't have to buy new ones every time. If the bottle was too damaged or the logo looked bad we could take it home for ourselves or throw it out. We would take the bad looking bottles and pour them into a still good looking one. I no longer take these bottles from hotels as they end up cluttering up my bathroom-not to mention the landfills if they aren't recycled. I used to work at different hotels and condo rental places when I lived in the Tahoe area and we always had to re-fill any little shampoo bottles if they were left at check out. This saved the boss’ money as they didn’t have to buy new ones every time. If the bottle was too damaged or the logo looked bad we could take it home for ourselves or throw it out. We would take the bad looking bottles and pour them into a still good looking one. I no longer take these bottles from hotels as they end up cluttering up my bathroom-not to mention the landfills if they aren’t recycled.

]]> By: Suzanne http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15814 Suzanne Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:27:41 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15814 Trying to be green while traveling is a tough one, but sounds like you are doing great. I hope you get lots of great bonding talks with your dad. Happy Trails! Trying to be green while traveling is a tough one, but sounds like you are doing great.
I hope you get lots of great bonding talks with your dad.

Happy Trails!
Suzanne´s last [type] ..What we put on our bodies is so important

]]> By: claire http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15696 claire Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:55:22 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15696 I had the same concern with the plastic shampoo bottles in the hotel I just stayed in (the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City). I made sure not to touch any of them (though my boyfriend used the soap bar and I later found out the wrapper had a plastic film on it, but he likes it so no big deal), and I even thought about writing a note explaining that I didn't use them and would prefer that they not be thrown away (but of course I didn't). it didn't even occur to me to ask someone who worked at the hotel whether they have to throw them out, next time I'll do that. but the hotel used real glasses, covered with a disposable plastic dust-cover, which I think is much better than those plastic cups wrapped in plastic that I've seen in motels. I made a big stink about how they had a card that said "help us help the environment" which was printed on plastic (I think it was a door hanger?). but the sentiment was a good one (it was about not washing linens every day if you requested it-- we just kept the do not disturb sign up the whole time so they didn't need to clean our room every day), and there was a similar paper card which was waterlogged and gross, so I can see why they made the other out of plastic. someone mentioned emergency water storage a while ago and I believe there are steel tanks you can use? You can get 5gal glass ones shaped like the water cooler jugs. and there are always the refillable polycarbonate ones (you can usually get them at home depot). It's tough when you're faced with a situation like that where you need to make a quick or last-minute decision. I always end up beating myself up over it because I immediately think of a better solution after the fact (most of my plastic errs come down to lack of communication though). my sister uses those water jugs for refilling her fish tank, so if you end up using them and have no use for the empty containers, maybe you know someone with fish who could use them. or if you don't use them, you could give them to someone who normally buys them and get some plastic-free emergency water storage for next time. anyway, sounds like you're having a good time. a road trip is always fun, even under less-than-fun circumstances. (and the dog is adorable.) I had the same concern with the plastic shampoo bottles in the hotel I just stayed in (the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City). I made sure not to touch any of them (though my boyfriend used the soap bar and I later found out the wrapper had a plastic film on it, but he likes it so no big deal), and I even thought about writing a note explaining that I didn’t use them and would prefer that they not be thrown away (but of course I didn’t). it didn’t even occur to me to ask someone who worked at the hotel whether they have to throw them out, next time I’ll do that. but the hotel used real glasses, covered with a disposable plastic dust-cover, which I think is much better than those plastic cups wrapped in plastic that I’ve seen in motels. I made a big stink about how they had a card that said “help us help the environment” which was printed on plastic (I think it was a door hanger?). but the sentiment was a good one (it was about not washing linens every day if you requested it– we just kept the do not disturb sign up the whole time so they didn’t need to clean our room every day), and there was a similar paper card which was waterlogged and gross, so I can see why they made the other out of plastic.

someone mentioned emergency water storage a while ago and I believe there are steel tanks you can use? You can get 5gal glass ones shaped like the water cooler jugs. and there are always the refillable polycarbonate ones (you can usually get them at home depot). It’s tough when you’re faced with a situation like that where you need to make a quick or last-minute decision. I always end up beating myself up over it because I immediately think of a better solution after the fact (most of my plastic errs come down to lack of communication though). my sister uses those water jugs for refilling her fish tank, so if you end up using them and have no use for the empty containers, maybe you know someone with fish who could use them. or if you don’t use them, you could give them to someone who normally buys them and get some plastic-free emergency water storage for next time.

anyway, sounds like you’re having a good time. a road trip is always fun, even under less-than-fun circumstances.

(and the dog is adorable.)

]]> By: Pheas http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15692 Pheas Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:40:06 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15692 @"other" Beth Terry, I was confused about your airport water plan. If you bring a glass bottle, you should be able to fill that at the airport after you get through security. Or is the tap water unsafe where you fly from? If it's just a matter of taste, you might try adding some flavoring. I usually travel with Airborne or Emergen-C or something like that because I so often get sick after flying. It does double-duty at covering up bad tap water taste. (Not plastic-free, but staying healthy is important.) @”other” Beth Terry, I was confused about your airport water plan. If you bring a glass bottle, you should be able to fill that at the airport after you get through security. Or is the tap water unsafe where you fly from? If it’s just a matter of taste, you might try adding some flavoring. I usually travel with Airborne or Emergen-C or something like that because I so often get sick after flying. It does double-duty at covering up bad tap water taste. (Not plastic-free, but staying healthy is important.)

]]> By: Josefine http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15683 Josefine Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:07:41 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15683 Hello Beth, I just finished reading all of your posts on this blog, a project that has ben going on for almost a year. I might not have read much in every sitting, but I've read often. You have been an epic and never-ending source of inspiration for me and my environmentalism, and even though it feels kind of crass speaking of this whilst you are, on a personal level, mourning for so many things, I hope you will see this as encouragement and help to continue being as strong as you are. :) Hello Beth,

I just finished reading all of your posts on this blog, a project that has ben going on for almost a year. I might not have read much in every sitting, but I’ve read often. You have been an epic and never-ending source of inspiration for me and my environmentalism, and even though it feels kind of crass speaking of this whilst you are, on a personal level, mourning for so many things, I hope you will see this as encouragement and help to continue being as strong as you are. :)
Josefine´s last [type] ..Redovisning vecka 44

]]> By: Beth Terry (the other one) http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15675 Beth Terry (the other one) Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:37:27 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15675 Beth - are you still in Elko? It would be fun for my brother to meet you. He's up in that neck of the woods. I feel your pain on the water issue. I get too dried out on airplane trips and can't wait the hour and a half for the flight attendants to get around to giving me water. So i bring an empty glass bottle in a carrier, then buy the biggest plastic bottle i can find in the airport to fill it. When i get to my destination, if the tap water there is palatable, i refill the giant bottle and the glass bottle and use it the whole time I'm there. Then i find a way to recycle the bit plastic bottle. Like I told you in Hawaii - I always say, "Sorry Beth!" ;-D On the road it's easier. I fill up several glass bottles with water and freeze them. They go in my hard plastic cooler that I've had for 15 years. Those frozen bottles keep food cold for the drive, so i don't have to use plastic bags of ice. I try and use several wide mouth bottles so i can refill them in the ice machines. On the road food is tougher. After reading Fast Food Nation, i pretty much swore off all fast food restaurants. But they are preferable to starvation if I run out of food on the way... Fortunately most of them are doling their junk food out in paper now, and that's easy to recycle. I just don't buy sodas or anything they would give me straws for. I have my water in the car, and Celestial Seasonings has this new Ice tea product - you can put a bag into ice water and you have tea in about 10 minutes. So i take that with me. I try to find grocery stores and buy fruit and other healthy snacks - and bring my own bags. Travel safely and give my best to your Dad!! Hug your mom for me, too. Beth Beth – are you still in Elko? It would be fun for my brother to meet you. He’s up in that neck of the woods.

I feel your pain on the water issue. I get too dried out on airplane trips and can’t wait the hour and a half for the flight attendants to get around to giving me water. So i bring an empty glass bottle in a carrier, then buy the biggest plastic bottle i can find in the airport to fill it. When i get to my destination, if the tap water there is palatable, i refill the giant bottle and the glass bottle and use it the whole time I’m there. Then i find a way to recycle the bit plastic bottle. Like I told you in Hawaii – I always say, “Sorry Beth!” ;-D

On the road it’s easier. I fill up several glass bottles with water and freeze them. They go in my hard plastic cooler that I’ve had for 15 years. Those frozen bottles keep food cold for the drive, so i don’t have to use plastic bags of ice. I try and use several wide mouth bottles so i can refill them in the ice machines.

On the road food is tougher. After reading Fast Food Nation, i pretty much swore off all fast food restaurants. But they are preferable to starvation if I run out of food on the way… Fortunately most of them are doling their junk food out in paper now, and that’s easy to recycle. I just don’t buy sodas or anything they would give me straws for. I have my water in the car, and Celestial Seasonings has this new Ice tea product – you can put a bag into ice water and you have tea in about 10 minutes. So i take that with me. I try to find grocery stores and buy fruit and other healthy snacks – and bring my own bags.

Travel safely and give my best to your Dad!!
Hug your mom for me, too.
Beth
Beth Terry (the other one)´s last [type] ..The Wonder of Social Media

]]> By: Condo Blues http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15674 Condo Blues Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:12:29 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15674 I think it's good to shake things up a bit and live outside of our green comfort zones. I guess that's why they say travels broadens the mind :) On the little soap, shampoos, et.c it really depends upon the individual hotel. If you're concerned you can call the front desk and they'll tell you. If you find that you are in a hotel that will toss unopened toiletries there are many food pantries and shelters that will take them. I think it’s good to shake things up a bit and live outside of our green comfort zones. I guess that’s why they say travels broadens the mind :)

On the little soap, shampoos, et.c it really depends upon the individual hotel. If you’re concerned you can call the front desk and they’ll tell you. If you find that you are in a hotel that will toss unopened toiletries there are many food pantries and shelters that will take them.
Condo Blues´s last [type] ..CSN Stores Gift Certificate Giveaway

]]> By: Fun with Dad http://myplasticfreelife.com/2010/07/cross-country-trip-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-15673 Fun with Dad Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:29:50 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/?p=2577#comment-15673 It's so funny that you are posting from Elko, Nevada. I stayed there with my Dad during a road trip aimed at moving me out to Colorado. Dads are wonderful. I like the ice bag idea. Another big travel challenge is ziplocs, which are as important to travel gear as zippers and velcro. I've been using the same one for over a year now, hoping I don't get holes. (When I do, I recycle them.) Have fun on the road and be safe! It’s so funny that you are posting from Elko, Nevada. I stayed there with my Dad during a road trip aimed at moving me out to Colorado. Dads are wonderful.

I like the ice bag idea. Another big travel challenge is ziplocs, which are as important to travel gear as zippers and velcro. I’ve been using the same one for over a year now, hoping I don’t get holes. (When I do, I recycle them.)

Have fun on the road and be safe!

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