I hate plastic!!!

Well I don't hate all of it as some things just aren't available in something other than plastic. And some plastic things work well if they are good quality. Yes there are dangers to plastics as they off-gas into our air and foods. If they melt, watch out!

But living here is INSANE! It is the land of cheap cheap plastics.

1) Buy a bag of pens. Each one wrapped individually in plastic. Those pens in a pretty plastic wrap. Then wrapped in thicker nicely labeled package. 3 layers of plastic per pen. I avoid buying things in bulk just because of this! Yes I know I could even avoid buying the PLASTIC pens to begin with.

2) Grocery shopping. I should take a picture of what it looks like when I forget my cloth bags (which is more often than I care to confess). Never is a bag more than 1/2 full. Some items which could be bagged together (like a pair of socks and a snack) are not. And then there is the double bagging of things that don't need double bagging. We have never NEVER bought trashbags here because as much as we try (and there is no "paper or plastic" option) we end up with stupid bags so they are the trashbags. They don't fit our (plastic) trashcans but I don't care.

3) I got made fun of today. The pasta which of course comes in a plastic bag was cooked last night. I carefully cut open the bag, dumped the noodles in the pot, shook out the crumbs and put it in my "baggie" drawer. When I went to playgroup I decided to put my grapes in that bag. Recycling at its best as that was a nice thick bag that will take a lot of wash and wear before it finally gets trashed (as in too many holes).

4) We had a shelf installed in the kids' room for more storage space. I wanted to put in baskets that are labeled, such as "Barbies" (yes I know plastic), "Blocks," etc. So I went to look for baskets. Not a single useful wooden/wicker basket to be found unless I go to the touristy markets. Only plastics of every shape and color. So I think, maybe I'll just get plastic as at least I can wash them out and I need something now. Nevermind. Half are cracked sitting there on the shelf. Note to self, only ever buy quality if I'm going to buy plastic! I explain all of this today to a friend and she says, you want some of our plastic baskets? NOOOOOO, didn't understand it at all I guess.

So yes, this is a rant, and a big one.