It's not easy being green...

Ah, the new buzzword: "Green". Also "Go Green", "it's easy being green."

For those of us who have been environmentally aware for years, it's a bit annoying. It's not that we don't want everyone to jump on the bandwagon and make some positive change, we just don't want it to be the latest fad that peters out in a couple years.

And before I climb on my soapbox, understand that I'm not convinced about global warming. A Time magazine article in 1971 touted that we would be in the midst of a new Ice Age within 50-60 years, supported by scientists. It's the same scientists that are claiming the drastic global warming effect and that Bush is dragging his feet on it.

I do believe we make an impact on our planet and there is no question in my mind that we have a responsibility to reduce, reuse and recycle. I'm not, however, buying the doom and gloom in the media, nor am I jumping on the "Go Green" bandwagon, either. As a family, we've chosen to recycle since I was a child and I've never been comfortable with the plastic bags I continually have to find a recycling home for. [We've since made an attempt to leave a set of cloth bags in the car but we're not completely in the habit yet] I thought my dad was a penny pinching old fart when he was constantly telling us to turn the lights off and stop wasting water and yet I realize now that the old adage "waste not, want not" existed for a reason.

Don't expect me to buy carbon credits to offset my carbon usage. I think the fact that Al Gore uses more energy in his one home than entire small towns and then justifies it by paying money for trees is, frankly, stupid.

"It's Not Easy Bein' Green" (lyrics by Joe Rapposo)

It's not that easy bein' green;

Having to spend each day the color of the leaves.

When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold- or something much more colorful like that.

It's not easy bein' green.

It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.

And people tend to pass you over 'cause you're not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water- or stars in the sky.

But green's the color of Spring.

And green can be cool and friendly-like.

And green can be big like an ocean, or important like a mountain, or tall like a tree.

When green is all there is to be It could make you wonder why, but why wonder why?

Wonder, I am green and it'll do fine, it's beautiful!

And I think it's what I want to be.