Environmentally Friendly?

Before we moved, we decided that we were going to give these newfangled "environmentally friendly light bulbs" a shot. We justified the additional expense because they are supposed to outlast traditional light bulbs by several years, a savings for the environment and my wallet! How win-win!

I imagine this is the reason must people switch to these light bulbs, as it seems unlikely to me that friends and neighbors actually inquire about the types of light bulbs one uses; and until light bulbs come brandished with some easy to identify label, symbol or one word logo, only the really curious or really nosey visitors will be able to identify what is illuminating your living space.

I installed the light bulb and was instantly converted by the indoor sunshine radiating from our hallway lamp. It was like a rare sunny day in Chicago in the midst of winter! I wanted to buy dozens of them and give them as gifts to everyone who suffers from lack of sun or joy in their lives. Luke, who was nearly blinded by the new light source, was less enthusiastic.

For some ridiculous reason, I made a flippant remark about how it was a good thing we did not check where these bulbs were made. Perhaps it was out of curiosity (or spite) Luke leaped to the kitchen garbage can and eagerly scanned the discarded packaging.

Back to Walgreens went the light bulbs.

I've been on a vendetta, er, mission, ever since, to find "environmentally friendly light bulbs" which are made anywhere but in China. Visits to Lowe's, Home Depot, grocery stores, pharmacies, all have proved a failure.

Will someone, anyone, please explain to me how it is "environmentally friendly" to produce light bulbs halfway around the world and then consume massive amounts of fossil fuels and other natural resources to ship them to retailers all across America?

Will someone please explain to me why it is only the "environmentally friendly" light bulbs that are made in China? Regular light bulbs are still made somewhere in America.

What, exactly, does the term, "environmentally friendly" mean, anyway? Whose environment are we being friendly to in the first place? China does not have the environmental protection laws that we have here, so is there a chance that we are unwittingly buy a "green product" that blackens the Chinese environment?

Why else aren't these light bulbs made in America? It would seem the most "green" to me to make products as close to home as possible.

While I wait for answers, I dwell in a basement which would be far more invigorating if it were illuminated by the "environmentally friendly" natural sunshine in a light bulb!

The Pleasure Chest

In an act of desperation, due to the sudden and untimely death of my Silver Bullet, Luke and I went to The Pleasure Chest in Chicago (this was before we moved...I'm a bit behind here) in hopes of finding a comparable source of pleasure.

I was hoping to be able to buy myself a memorable, "Turning 30 is not so bad" gift.

If you've never been to The Pleasure Chest, I highly recommend a trip to one of their three locations or to the website, or both. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, the store is a delight to shop in, unlike many "adult stores" and the dominant color theme is red, my favorite color. Furthermore, the salespeople did not laugh at me when I asked if they had anything comparable to the Silver Bullet which was not made in China.

The person who assisted me searched the store trying to find a suitable alternative. He certainly understands that people are attached to their objects of pleasure!

Unfortunately we were unable to find any vibrators even remotely resembling the Silver Bullet. The salesperson told me that almost all of the inexpensive toys are made in China and are not designed to last very long. I've had, and used mine for about 5 years and more than delighted in the $20 I spent on it, but he did have a valid point when comparing the quality of vibes made in China, or even Japan as they are starting to be made, versus those made in Germany or America.

The price difference between the vibes made in China or Japan and those made in Germany or America helped illustrate why outsourcing is occurring on such a grand scale. It's a difficult sell to convince someone to spend $50-$200 on a toy that you can't try out in the store or return if you are unhappy with it. That is part of why it is so much more appealing to lay out $10-$40, or the cost of dinner (and maybe less hassle) for a made in China toy. Even if you don't like your new toy, there wasn't much of an investment, financial or emotional, on your part.

And so, as I stated in The Ultimate Test of My Willpower, I will be looking forward to 2008 when I can stock up on the Silver Bullet. The only things currently interfering with my future enjoyment are my frustration and guilt that this great product is not made here and a lingering curiosity to see what it would take to develop my very own line of sex positive, made in America toys.

Would it be easier than this boycott?

Surely my readers would consider buying these products, right?

Moving is HELL!

Dear Readers,

Please accept my sincere apologies for not writing sooner. The past month has been filled with the unique kind of hell that is moving.

I still can't find most of the things I own and I can't remember what it is I think I'm missing, so that makes me wonder why we put so much time and effort into acquiring "stuff" in the first place.

We moved in with a family member and most of our stuff is in storage or en route to storage once we figure out what lurks in the depths of the moving boxes. We rented a truck that was too big for all of our stuff and have argued quite a bit about what to keep and what to store and why the heck we have so much of it in the first place.

In keeping with the spirit of the boycott, we were able to re-use boxes from Timeless Toys in Chicago as well as from my former co-workers. People gave us packing tape and the tape gun as well as packing paper and so on.

The one thing we were unable to buy? Moving pads. The only moving pads Penske sold were made in China. Some fate must have been on our side however, because when we opened up the truck outside of our apartment, the previous renters had left 13 grey, scratchy, made in China moving pads behind.

What a blessing that was!