Mission: Possible

Greetings from San Francisco!

 

This isn’t any trip to San Francisco.  True, I want to see the Mission murals, eat a Mission burrito and plan a mission to Alcatraz.  But my real mission – which I’ve chosen to accept – is to train with Nobel Laureate and Former Vice President of the United States, Al Gore. 

 

In conjunction with his organization, The Climate Reality Project, I and several hundred other eco-minded individuals, will be trained to give the slideshow presentation Mr. Gore gave in the Academy Award-winning movie, “An Inconvenient Truth.”

 

That's the film that inspired this blog, so to come full circle, where I will be the one actually giving the slide show, is more surreal than San Francisco's murals.   

The slide show is meant to bring the facts about climate change to people in order to ignite action.  The objective is to get the conversation going.  In the words of The Climate Reality Project:  “The climate crisis is real and we know how to solve it.” 

 

What does that mean to me?  Watch out world…this blog is about to explode!

 

Thanks to Facebook, I’ve already been able to connect with some of my fellow trainees.  People are attending from literally all over the world and I get to meet them today!

The Climate Reality Project has chosen me, along with four others, to live tweet on my experience during the training.

I couldn't be more excited about my Mission: Possible!  So stay tuned…this blog will self-destruct in 5 seconds.

 

You can follow my live tweets on @MeredithForbes and @ClimateReality from Tuesday, August 21 - Thursday, August 23.  

The Thrill of Victory - The Agony of De-feet

If my weekly Weight Watchers meetings were the Olympics, and the sport was Going Green, the coverage would go something like this:


Bob Costas
These women have been counting points all week.  Let's see how they do on the scale.  Stepping up now is the woman from the Upper East Side.  She's worked out hard this week and we should see some good results.

Al Gore
Because it's summer and so hot, these women are stepping on the scale without shoes.  It's a requirement by the Weight Watchers Committee to lay down a piece of paper towel before they step on to remove all possibilities of athlete's foot.

Bob Costas


That's right, Al.  However, that towel is no friend to the environment.
Al Gore
It certainly isn't and we will be adding pounds to their weigh-in based on how many towels they take.

Bob Costas
Here is the UES woman.

Al Gore
She's taking two towels. That's a .4 gain.

Bob Costas 
Absolutely. She doesn't look happy.

Al Gore
With these games you work hard all week and something so careless is going to cost you.  Approaching the deck is the woman from Yorkville.  Here she goes for the grab!

Bob Costas 
Four towels!

Al Gore 
This is unheard of.  One is standard, two is stretching it, but four!

Bob Costas 
This is going to cost her, no doubt.  Let's see what the leader adds on...

Al Gore
It's a full pound!  She's adding a full 16 ounces to her weight loss.

Bob Costas 
Unbelievable but deserved.  Watch as she bunches the towels and throws them away.

Al Gore
Coming up next is the visitor from SoHo.

Bob Costas 
She should be very familiar with this practice as they crack down hard over there.  And after seeing what just happened, I'm confident she's going to use just one.

Al GoreShe's looking in her purse.  What is she doing?

Bob Costas 
I can't believe it!  She is using her own socks.  This is unheard of!

Al Gore
She's absolutely losing this week.  Gold medal.  I've never seen anything so perfect.

Bob CostasShe's in it to win it.


This is what went through my head as I waited for my turn at the scale.  Woman after women grabbing paper towels by the handful.

I took my turn – with socks – and headed back to my seat.

The meeting began and our leader announced that this week's meeting topic would focus on the phrase “If only…” because people say, "If only ___________, then my weight loss would be successful."

Still steaming from all the paper towels, the first thought that popped into my head was, “If only we all brought socks to the meeting and eliminated the need to step on paper towels for two tenths of a second.”

The first woman's "if only" was “If only I had someone to clean up after me, I’d save more time.”

To which the leader replied, “You can always get disposable things!”

Before I had time to get mad, another woman said, “I line all my pans with tin foil and then when I’m done cooking, I just throw it away so I don’t have to scrub!”

It was too much...like a green Sanya Richards Ross, I sprinted into action, waving my hand frantically in the air.

The leader nodded to me.

“I’m a huge environmentalist and when you talk about disposable and throwing things away, it makes me want to rip my head off!”

The leader looked horrified and the entire room of women was staring back at me.

"If you do your own dishes," I continued, "and give that pan a little elbow grease, you can earn Weight Watchers activity points.”

The leader did say "Good point," but it was clear I wasn't winning any medals.

I didn't even get the usual smile and a nod when someone leaves early, which I had to do (I couldn't miss the synchronized swimming finals!).


When I got home, I made an Olympic size dinner - used my own plates and scrubbed my own pans.

And I imagined the coverage went like this . . .

Bob Costas
She's going . . . she's going . . . she's won the Green Medal!

The Stepford Cashier

As I stood in line at Key Foods waiting for my turn at the check out, the girl in front of me put her groceries on the conveyor belt. Then I watched in horror as the cashier double bagged them:  two frozen dinners (double bag), a 12-pack of ginger ale – with an easy-carry handle (double bag), and the bounty to end all bounties, paper towels (double bag!!).



Most of the time when I'm shopping, I watch this process in utter amazement and annoyance.  But double bagging paper towels threw me over the edge.  I found myself wishing the Brawny guy would stick his big hand out and slap the cashier.


The girl left and it was my turn.  I tried to remain calm.  All of a sudden, the words came rushing out of my mouth.  “Do you think this store will ever ban the plastic bag?”


He chuckled…nervously…and replied, “That’s not in our power. That has to come from the Federal government.”


This poor kid had no idea how things worked.  How many people thought this?  Or thought about it at all?


“Well, that’s not true," I said.  "The city has the power to ban the bag and I’m working to help that process.” I said trying not to be preachy, when I really just wanted to grab the stand holding the bags and run out the door.


“The Surfrider Foundation where I volunteer is working hard to get the plastic bag banned in New York.  Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland have already banned them!”


“Really?  Wow,” he said as he started to put my items in a plastic bag.  I waved my reusable one at him.  “Oh!  Sorry.  Right.”  He started putting my items in a plastic bag again, then caught himself.


I realized that these poor cashiers are programmed like Stepford wives to automatically reach for plastic.


“I think our store would never be able to do it," he said.  “People would get mad.”


“Doesn’t it matter if the people who don't want plastic get mad?”


He pondered the thought, agreed and then pointed out that the store sold reusable bags for 99 cents and showed them to me.  He said that when someone says they forgot their bag, they offer those.


I thanked him, took my reusable bag, and headed out the door past all the people grabbing their plastic bags.  And as I approached the final cashier station, I saw someone’s Brawny paper towels sitting there waiting to be bagged.  And I swear the Brawny guy gave me a wink of approval.

Jones Beach Ball Boys!

For the second time in a month, I saw one of my favorite groups…the Beach Boys!

This wasn’t just any concert…it was the 50th Anniversary Tour.  And what better way to see the Beach Boys than at a beach -- Jones Beach!  Hearing "California Girls" with the ocean breeze blowing my sun-kissed locks was like catching a wave and sitting on top of the world.

And if ocean breezes, tiki drinks and my high school anthem, "Kokomo," weren’t enough, the group was introduced (and then later joined) by my teen idol, John Stamos.

When the still ever-so-handsome guy appeared on stage, I started hitting John’s leg and screamed, “Oh my God, that’s Blackie Parrish!”  Could this night get any better? 

Well…at one point, I wished I could get in my little deuce coupe and drive away.

There was the guy sitting next to me tapping his chair incessantly. And the kid in front of me buried in a game of Connect Four on his father's iTouch. While I wanted to scream help me, Rhonda, I realized that while they were distracting, it was not tragic.

There was a problem with the show.  And it wasn't the Beach Boys.

It was the beach balls.

They were everywhere.

At first the stupid things just kept getting in my sightline.  Then the crowd would erupt in screams as it came near us as if John Stamos himself were batting the ball.

But the real reason I hated the damn things is because the brainiacs hitting the balls kept knocking them into the water. They are floating in the Atlantic now, just waiting for some poor whale or dolphin to think it's food.

I found myself getting more and more annoyed as the evening went on... especially when one pegged me in the head.

I wish the Beach Boys could get rid of the beach balls.

I know some would say that if I'm not giving off good vibrations, that it'd be fun fun fun 'til the greenie took the plastic away.

But God only knows I'd like to send the beach balls on a surfin’ safari so there’s no alley oop into the surfer moon.

Wouldn't it be nice?

The Stingray Shuffle

Florida is full of dangers.  Sting rays.  Bull sharks.  Republicans.

Thankfully, when I was in Florida last week, I survived them all.

The biggest thing I survived was Stand Up Paddle surfing.

I had my first SUP lesson on the Intercoastal Waterway in Jupiter, where my friend took me for one of the greatest, coolest experiences of my life.


There were things I needed to watch out for.  Drifting into the middle of the Intercoastal and falling off my board were my biggest concerns.


But there was a more immediate obstacle as I entered the warm waters…stingrays.


Finally my television watching had paid off.

I had recently seen an episode of Lifeguard where the topic was stingray stings. To avoid them, you have to do the “sting ray shuffle.”  Instead of walking, you shuffle, moving the little buggers along so as not to accidentally step on them.  The scuffling scares them and they swim away, keeping your feet out of harm’s way.


When we were deep enough, I climbed onto my board and after a little while of getting the feel of it, I graduated to the standing position.

I felt so at peace searching for manatees and watching fish jump.  And I got to see some rays scurrying below me.

I was stunned when I lost my balance and fell into the water, but I kept calm and hoisted myself back onto my board.

I’m actually more sturdy and confident in the water than on land.  I’m famous for bumping into furniture, banging into walls, and tripping over things that shouldn’t be tripped over.

When I left Florida, I expected to leave the heat and humidity behind but New York was just as balmy.

Unfortunately, I knew what was coming next.  The dreaded, vampire-energy-sucking air conditioner.

I do not like the A/C.  The noise.  The fake air.  The menace to the environment.  Every year I wait longer and longer to install ours.  But the time had come upon us early this year.


I was just about finished tightening the last screw.  I was ready to settle in with a glass of wine to watch another Lifeguard episode, when I stepped off the two-step stool, lost my footing and came crashing down.

I had three punctures in the bottom of my foot.

I had managed not to be wounded not by a stingray's tail, but by an air conditioner's plug.


Later, as I lay in my hospital bed waiting for the doctor to stitch me up, I hummed new lyrics to a Rolling Stones song:

Hitch hitch hike baby
Across the floor
I can't stand it no more
Now come on baby
Now get into your slide
Just ride ride ride
Little 3-prong plug, ride!
Yeah yeah yeah do the A/C shuffle

Air conditioners aren't just bad for the environment - they're bad for your foot.  I'm heading back to my paddle board where the shuffle is safer.

Earth Day 2012 - A Billion Acts of Green

This Sunday, April 22nd, is the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day!  Join in the Earth Day “Billion Acts of Green” celebration this weekend! Here are just a couple of events happening in Manhattan but if you check out Earth Day’s site, you will find hundreds of events all across our great nation!





Earth Day New York
April 19-21st
Grand Central Terminal
Join in the fun at GCS where there will be exhibits, activities for adults and kids as well as entertainment! Best of all…it’s FREE!


Green Festival
April 21-22
Javits Center North
Saturday – 10-7
Sunday – 11-6
This is an amazing weekend packed with “green” vendors, amazing speakers and sustainable food.
Tickets are $10 for the day or $15 for the weekend if you buy online (a bit more at the door)


In celebration of Earth Day - I thought I'd give you some "green" tips.  Unfortunately I don’t have enough room here to give you a billion tips, so how about 10?


1.  Use a reusable water bottle to keep plastic out of our landfills and oceans.


2.  Keep your own utensils at work and avoid plastic ones.


3.  Change out your light bulbs for LED or CFL bulbs.


4.  Unplug those “vampire” energy suckers like hair dryers and coffee makers.


5.  Use an eco-friendly power strip if you need to keep things plugged in.


6.  Use non-toxic, biodegradable household cleaners.


7.  Eat local, organic and sustainable foods.


8.  Use reusable shopping bags.


9.  Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth or while drying your hands.


10.  Pledge your act of green on the Earth Day website and tell all your friends to get on board!




One person’s actions can make a difference.

World Water Day

I love water.


I love to drink it, swim in it, bathe in it, surf in it (or wish I could surf), brush my teeth with it, clean my clothes with it, cook with it, listen to it and watch it.


Maybe it's because I grew up going to the beach all the time...Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, New Smyrna.

Or maybe it's because I have webbed toes like Ashton Kutcher and Patrick Duffy in The Man From Atlantis.

John often tells me I'm part fish despite the fact that he's grossly intrigued by my twin toes.

I like to think that this unique trait of mine has empowered me to defend and protect our waters.


That could be why today is one of my favorite days...World Water Day.


World Water Day was conceived to "focus attention on the importance of freshwater and advocate for the sustainable management of freshwater resources."


But with the world weighing in at a whopping 7 billion people and another 2 billion expected by 2050, we have to do all we can to ensure there is enough water for everyone.


So since today is the 22nd...and the 22nd happens to be one of my favorite numbers (seeing as I was born on the 22nd), I thought I'd give you 22 ways to conserve water!


Happy H2O Day!


1. Turn the faucet off when you brush your teeth.
2. Limit your shower to 5 minutes.
3. Don't water your lawn if you know it's going to rain.
4. Reuse water from your shower or cooking to water your plants.
5. Reduce your food waste - most food is made with, you guessed it, water!
6. If you're not going to drink it, ask the waiter to stop filling your water glass with it.
7. Don't use your toilet as your trash can - less flushing.
8. Use a water aerator on your sinks.
9. Install a water saving shower head.
10. Check your toilet for leaks.
11. Rinse your fruits and veggies in a basin as opposed to under the running water.
12. Wash full loads of dishes and laundry.
13. Buy high-efficiency appliances.
14. Use your garbage disposal sparingly and compost.
15. Soak your pots and pans to get the dried food off instead of running them under the water.
16. Use a commercial car wash that recycles water.
17. Bathe young children together.
18. When you change your pet's water, use the old water to water your plants and shrubs.
19. Throw the leftover ice from your drinks into plants.
20. Keep up with your car maintenance to reduce leaking of oil and such that seep into our environment and pollute the drinking water.
21. Sweep your driveway or sidewalk instead of watering it.
22. And finally...my biggest pet peeve...PLEASE turn the water off while you dry your hands!