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I love filling up the recycle basket. At one time I kept a bag by my chair. As I went through the mail I chucked the paper into the recycle bag.

Yes, we definitely recycle every thing that we can. We only have one planet and it is struggling right now. If we destroy it, then we all die. It's as simple as that.

We did a lot of recycling when I was a child. We scouted around for bottles and turned them in for money (that was when soda bottles were in glass and they were reused). My mom would pack my red wagon with rags, newspapers, etc. and we would take it to the rag man. He weighed the wagon loaded, then empty, and gave us $$ for the junk. We often heard from Woodsy Owl, "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute."

When Al Jazeera America was on they had a great ad hoc commercial. A plastic bottle is being blown around the city streets, in the country, the forest... The bottle says it always wanted to be at the shore overlooking the sea. Finally, after many travels, someone picks up the bottle and puts it in the recycle can and in the next scene, the voice says, it is exactly where it always wanted to be, a bench overlooking the sea. What a great message.

I think when people only had a little, every item was precious. They reused every item they could.

Now that people aren't in that kind of super-tight financial situation that they just toss stuff away without thinking about it.

I remember hearing people say that we became a "throw away" society" when plastic came into use. It couldn't be repaired so just toss it. The days of "MacGyver" (remember that show), the man who could make something out of nothing, are long gone. My parents grew up during the depression so I'm a child of that age too - save and reuse, re-purpose everything.

I know when I go into the grocery store, the clerks probably groan because I bring in 3 or 4 tote bags for my groceries. It's so much easier and faster for them to pack a couple of groceries in the plastic bags and me leave with 20 bags.

Fortunately, the plastic bags are recyclable too.

I wouldn't think they would groan - most places I go to are happy that people bring their own bags. Heck, it saves them money. Some stores even pay you to bring your own bags because of that.

A lot of the younger cashiers look for speed. One store does give a credit when you bring your own bags.

I finally got my email inbox down below 10,000 messages. It's still quite a lot, but it's a start. One step at a time! Now to work on Mused final proofing, now that I can find things a bit better. What are you guys up to today?

Lisa, you are as bad as I am -----

My email inbox is now under 4,000 messages! Huge progress from when it was up over 10,000. Every little step adds up! How are you doing today?