Green Richland: Tonya

Yesterday I got a call from our local ABC station. They wanted to know if they could interview me about Going Green. However, their angle was more of the ‘I’m broke because of gas so now I’m riding the bus.’

Umm, I think I’ll opt out of that one. I don’t want to give people the impression I’ve been forced to make this decision — I’m happy to do it. I’m contemplating getting a new car (so I can take care of my dogs in an emergency).

I was afraid if I did the interview people at work would send me anonymous gifts of money with a note that says, ‘here’s a little something to brighten your day’. What am I thinking I need to call that guy back

I got an email from DART. They just finished putting together an article for their new magazine Motion. I’m being featured as a DART riding crusader. Next week they’re going to follow me to work. This time a photographer is going to ride with me. The media coverage never stops. For those of you who know me, I’m kind of a shy kid. Although, I am happy to tell my story, I’m getting recognized on the street and on the bus. If I don’t have my bike people comment, “Hey where’s your bike?” It’s fun and little nerve racking at the same time. I hope gas prices go down soon.

where’s your bike?

tm

Filed under: Entertainment, Uncategorized on July 1st, 2008 | No Comments »

Yesterday, my 8 month old puppy Smokey, was neutered. He only had one descended testicle so they opened his abdomen to get the other one. Since the surgery was invasive he stayed overnight at the Vet’s.

Today, I wanted to pick him up before the clinic closed. I needed to be there by 5:30p (they close at 6pm). I also made plans to meet with a woman at work to give her a tour of our state of the art radio station at 1pm. I thought I was going to make it home with enough time to clean the house and get Smokey’s crate ready for him.

I left work and biked to the Spring Valley station. As I’m hauling my bike up the stairs the train leaves without me (this doesn’t worry me because it’s typical). I know the train runs frequently so I take off my helmet, park my bike and wait.

I get off the train at the Parker Road Station and I check to see what time the 451 bus arrives. The next time the bus pulls up to the train station is at 4:52pm. This is a little under an hour for me to wait. I can’t wait, I have to pick up Smokey. I decided to chance it on my bike and ride to the West Plano Transfer Center. Can I tell you riding a mountain bike over Central Expressway, Coit Road, and Custer Road may not be the safest way to travel?

I started riding a bike when I was five years old. I know my bike. I know what’s going to happen if I take a curb sideways (the back tire drags, if you don’t compensate for the drag you’ll tip over). What I don’t know is whether Dallas drivers are used to seeing a cyclist. I see more “almost” car accidents than you could believe. I know it sounds macabre, but as I was cycling up these busy streets I thought — is this the car that’s going to kill me?

Needless to say I made it home. (Oh it’s 5 miles from Parker Road Station to the West Plano Transfer Center — in case you ever want to bike it).

Before I made it home I stopped in front of the Plano Medical Center bus stop. I was exhausted. I thought I would just wait for my bus. I didn’t know what time it would arrive, but my legs stopped working. Five minutes into my wait I got antsy. I figured I would go all the way to the Transfer Center and wait in the shade. As I got to the major cross streets I saw my bus coming my way. Oh man, I was about 1500 meters from the next bus stop and the bus was traveling Northbound and I was Southbound. I signaled to the bus driver to stop (they’re not allowed to stop, but I thought I’d try). He didn’t stop, but I thought I could out bike the bus to the next stop.

You’ve never seen a girl so fast on her bike. I felt like I was in an urban Tour de France — jumping curbs, dodging cars, and pedaling in grass (felt like sand). I made it. I made it to the stop 0.000009 seconds before the bus. I checked my odometer to see how fast I was going. I topped 22 miles an hour on a MOUNTAIN BIKE.

I’m home now and very tired, but I made it to the clinic in time to pick up Smokey and as I type he’s fighting with his brother Bandit without a care in the world.

life is good.

Filed under: Green Information, Uncategorized on July 1st, 2008 | No Comments »

Have you ever looked up the definition of time?  I never thought to, but this week I thought — what the heck.

Time (n).  Every moment that has been and every moment that will be

I find the definition incredibly poetic every moment that has been… Lately time has been on my mind.  Because I cam commuting I have more time to think.  Honestly, I’m not thinking about world peace or global warming.  It’s more like – do I really want to work out today?

Although, one idea keeps drifting across my consciousness.  Does time really matter?  Is it important to be on time?  I had a few friends who scheduled an important meeting with me at 1pm.  Around 1:45pm they showed up individually (meaning they didn’t ride together — they just happened to show up around the same time– late).  I was mad — needless to say– probably a little more than mad.

Nowadays, I’m not sure I care as much.  Of course I could be rationalizing the fact that I can’t show up anywhere on time — I’m at the mercy of my bike and public transportation.

Time is arbitrary.  Sure, it’s a way to organize actions and people, but still it’s meaningless.  The more I spend time thinking about time — the less I am concerned with it.  Lately, I think more about quality, passion, life and love.

What about you?

tm

Filed under: Musings on July 1st, 2008 | No Comments »

Sorry I’ve been gone for awhile. My water heater flooded my home and I’ve been trying to deal with that (who knew it was such a hassle?). Alas, as I was watching the men put in my new heater I realized I have a chance to be eco-friendly.

My carpet looks, well, waterlogged. My insurance will pay to have my carpet replaced. I’m wondering what is the most eco-friendly flooring? I have not done extensive research, but in the little reading I have done (hgtv.com/home depot) bamboo and linoleum are my choices. I’m not crazy about linoleum so I’m looking into bamboo.

I want to replace my appliances with Energy Star rated stuff. Is it just me, or have you noticed when you’re trying to help the universe it is EXPENSIVE?

If I want to eat at McDonald’s it costs me… $5 for a whole meal. If I go to Whole Foods for: fruit, vegetables, juice, and rice, I’m at around $30-$40.

It’s not easy being green,

tm

Filed under: Musings, Uncategorized on June 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »

I was at Kroger yesterday and noticed a frozen food entree sale.  Each entree was on sale for $1.00.  Underneath the sale item it said, “Bringing Hope to the Dinner Table.”  What the heck?  Hope?  To the Dinner table?  Is the economy so bad we have to eat hope?  

What is going on?

tm

Filed under: Economy on June 13th, 2008 | No Comments »

Today I witnessed an action that sung to my heart.  I was riding the bus and an elderly woman bogged down with groceries attempted to board in a dignified manner.  She just couldn’t do it.  

A woman sitting in the back of the bus came flying up and carried all of the elderly woman’s groceries to a bus seat.  The elderly woman didn’t say thank you — she didn’t say anything at all.  (I’ll freely admit I dropped the ball and didn’t do anything — I get wrapped up in the argument of will she be offended if I help?)

I wondered, is that a penny in the karma well or is that the way we should all be acting?  Does “going  green” not only mean helping the environment, but also our neighbors?

think green

tm

Filed under: Kindness on June 9th, 2008 | No Comments »

Welcome to my blog.  I am a teacher at Richland College and I’ve recently decided to give up my car (no it’s not in the garage, it’s gone, my garage contains 2 bikes and the requisite junk everyone stores in their garage).

I decided to get rid of my car for numerous reasons (yep, got in a car accident), but the main reason was the outrageous gas prices!  It cost me, in my little 11 year old Honda, $44 to fill up.  I remember when it only cost $16 (what is going on????).

So, to get to work, or anywhere for that matter, I take DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit).  This means I take two buses, the rail and my bike to get to work.  I know it sounds like a lot, but think about the benefits… I save more than $100 in gas, I can talk on my cell phone to my heart’s content without hitting someone (or something), and if I want to apply make up, I don’t have to wait for the next stop sign (uh, okay, that’s not so important, but you get what I’m sayin’).

Today, Channel 11 (our local CBS station) followed me to work.  Oh man, I was so nervous.  I have a tendency (actually a bad habit) of taking the wrong bus to get to and from work.  I was sure that I was going to take the cameraman on a convoluted tour of Dallas — but alas, my planning (and doing a bus dance last night) prevailed and I got on the right bus and rail.

When I hit the Spring Valley stop I got off the rail and biked to work.  The camera guys got into their (air conditioned) van and followed me on my 2.5 mile trek to work.  It was a riot and incredibly strange all at the same time.

The only cool part (well okay, being on TV is cool) about the whole experince was my chance to show off my new found ability to go down stairs on my bike.  I begged the camera guy to shoot it.  I have no idea if they’ll use it, but hey, I thought it was cool.

Look for the story tonight at 10pm on Channel 11 (unless a fire breaks out and Godzilla truly exists — pretty sure they’d bump me for that).

I’ll be updating you on my trek to work and my adventures of trying to go green.

Think green,
tonya

Filed under: Entertainment, Uncategorized on June 4th, 2008 | No Comments »