Think Outside The Piggy Bank

earth hour

Don't forget that this Saturday, March 28, cities around the world will turn off their non-essential lights during Earth Hour (8:30 - 9:30pm) to raise awareness about climate change, and to show that it is possible to take action against global warming. I think it's a great idea because it demonstrates that every individual can make a difference, and that a whole group of individuals (say, a billion) acting together can have a huge impact. It gives me hope that we can use the same momentum for other issues as well.

I think we all need to start realizing the cost of our mass behaviour in terms of the sustainability of this planet, and of the creatures living on it. There's lots of other stuff you can do besides turning off the lights during this hour, hopefully on a regular basis as well, such as:

• install energy-saving light bulbs
• only run the dishwasher when it's full
• better yet, do them by hand!  
• unplug devices you're not using in addition to turning them off
• get a more energy-efficient fridge or freezer

So, this Saturday do your part and be in the dark! Snort. Because unfortunately there are enough people out there who still think that global warming is a bunch of hooey (which frankly, boggles my mind), and we need to counteract those naysayers.

giving it up

If you have a job without aggravation, you don't have a job.    --MALCOLM FORBES

Pretty much says it all I suppose. And of course in this economy there are many unemployed people who would love to have the problem of an aggravating job, so who am I to give mine up? But that's exactly what I'm about to do. Although I haven't blogged about it, some of you know the issues involved, the work conditions I've put up with, and the attitudes I've had to endure from both staff and residents. In short I would say that over the past year I have felt increasingly overworked, underpaid, and worst of all, unappreciated. So I have made the decision to chuck it all in by the end of April at the latest. I gave my employer lots of advance warning that I'll be giving formal notice at some point, and a few days ago, she gleefully told me that she's already found a replacement! So I guess I don't have to worry about leaving her in the lurch, snort. The residents already know as well about my upcoming departure, and I have to admit that when some of them expressed genuine regret and sadness at the news, it made me feel a bit better.

So what will I be doing instead? I'm moving back to the hometown of my childhood in order to be closer to my elderly and ailing parents. They'll be turning 93 and 82 later this year, and they're starting to require more help (even if they don't always think they do). There are a number of retirement homes in the area, and I'm assuming/hoping I'll be able to find a part-time position with one of them. Thus, a new adventure will be beginning soon! This also means that I'm feeling even less able to keep up with three blogs, a Flickr site, and some other online places where I participate. What I'll do instead in the meantime is post links to interesting articles so that I don't feel overly guilty about not contributing original content, and so that this blog doesn't lose steam entirely. I'll always be interested in personal finance (although admittedly animal welfare/rights is what I feel most passionate about these days), and I'm not prepared to give up this blog/baby yet. ;)