Jessica Wells

It's the last day of the ecochallenge month.

Honestly, I could have done better. Obviously, I am not nearly as hydrated as I should be. I walked and bussed a lot, but Bertha rarely was taken out for a spin. There were days I was caught without enough reusable bags, so I had to get a couple from the store.

But.

I didn't too shabby for the circumstances I am currently in and all that jazz. And I have room for improvement. Next year I'm not going to tell the ecochallenge categories that I already bus and bike everywhere because while I know I do it often, I'd like to track (even for only one month) how many times I ride the bus or my bike.

I'll probably still be dehydrated next year, though (I love me my Mt. Dew too much!)!!!

As most people, I have a "bag of bags" from the grocery/convenience/gas station store. We've been folding then rolling them up to take up less space. Well, I did my big grocery shop (using my reusable bags) and when I got home, I grabbed some of the little rolls and rebagged my groceries to see how many I saved.

THIS WAS JUST A WEEKLY SHOP!

But, because it was some heavy cans, a jar of pasta sauce... Keep the refrigerated items in a group...

It was over the 10 bags saved that I could claim. I technically fit everything in a foldable box (it's a reusable bag that is sturdier), 2 average shopping totes, and a small shopping tote. I could have ditched the small shopping tote, but I bought bread and didn't want to squish it.

The me of about a decade ago would likely have been a bit embarrassed because I used a small foldable dolly to stack the box and totes on to get on and off the bus, but then I think back to in the early Aughts, when I'd be on public transit with over a dozen plastic grocery bags taking up so much room, and I'm embarrassed for her, that she would rather cut off the circulation to her fingers than have some sort of personal cart. Or using the car to go 4 blocks to the grocery store because I was hankering something, and didn't do a full grocery shop, just grab a couple of small things.

I have been quiet on here, because my main goals are hydrate without using one time use bottles and remember to use my reusable grocery bags. I have cute bags, but they're kind of dirty, so I won't take pictures of them, and I have my starbies tumbler with the micro dice in the lid. I use them and guess how many things I replaced. I round down, really, since so many places automatically double bag your stuff, and I probably don't drink enough water.

The eclipse yesterday was cool. I found out that there's an agency that is recycling the glasses and sending them to kids in South America because their total eclipse this year is in August. So, I think I will get a little box, decorate it and put it in our office for those who didn't throw their glasses away to drop it in and us to mail off.

Recycling the glasses is great. Did you know that the filters only last about 3 years? I am planning to go to Iceland for the 2026 eclipse, and was thinking I could reuse the ones I bought for this eclipse, but nope, too close for comfort on the expiration for me. Playing it safe and getting new ones. And it's a good thing I couldn't find my polarized film from the 2017 eclipse, since that's way past its expiration.

I had a filter for my phone, so this is one of the best images I personally took of yesterday's partial eclipse (we got to about 97%)

Bertha did not get cleaned up yesterday, and she won't be cleaned today.

*glares at rainclouds*

We need the rain. And at least it is warm, and not frigid.

You'll be seeing me walking to the bus stop cursing the rain after work if it doesn't let up like it did this morning.

I've got water bottle game down. The office water cup has been scrubbed and put on the desk (full of sweet tea... Science says it's more hydrating than plain water and I'm sticking with it) and when I'm at home, the fancy water bottle of cuteness.

I used to be so good about keeping at least one or two reusable bags in my purse or backpack, I don't know what happened. But this month, I'm going to get back in that habit of having my own bag for when I need to grab one or two items at the store on my way home. Also, the reusable bags I have are so sturdy, I don't have to worry about the plastic bags being weak, or if it's raining on my paper bag.

In addition to reusable bags, my bicycle, Bertha (yes, I named my bicycle.) needs her spring clean up and chain oiling. Being within walking distance of stores is handy, but it takes so much longer to walk, so I just forgo the trip altogether. Biking is faster, easier on my hips and knees, and putting bags on my handle bars means I can carry more than when just walking. I don't own a car, so it's just Bertha, my feet, or my bus pass get me where I'm going. Rarely I'll use a ride share service if it's somewhere that it is not feasible to use a combo of those three.