"clothes are on the line"

It's a sunny day in Londontown,
and my clothes are on the line.

I'm thinkin', I sound like Bobby Dylan
but I won't get paid a dime.

["Hit the road, Jack"]

At least I'm in a really good mood. Pass me the fried chicken.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to view favourite photo of the week

Austerity without Anxiety: “$21 later, I’m set for summer”

Socks. I’ve got lots of socks, I said to myself recently. But I could use a couple more T-shirts.

Frequent readers of this blog know I don’t rush off to buy new clothes very often. (I’m in my third year of “no new clothes.”) But I will buy used clothing on occasion.

And, yesterday, it was that time again.

Several of my old T-shirts were ready for the workshop, i.e., as stain rags. My “shop” shorts were ripped in several places. I felt I needed one more button-down shirt for fancy dress parties.

Frequent readers know where I usually head to renew supplies. The Village of Values is right, with 20 bucks in my pocket.

Years ago, after I showed off a new ‘used’ sweater during a meal with a dozen fellow hikers at a nice restaurant in Waterloo, a friend said - somewhat in shock - “You don’t wear other people’s clothing, do you?”


["Gord's all set for this summer, next year too": photos GH]

I was embarrassed for several seconds.

Then I realized, I like saving money. I don’t mind ‘hand-me-downs’ because I grew up in the 1950s wearing them and so did a lot of my friends at the time.


["Do the math. I had to borrow a buck from my wife."]

Guess what? So did a few of my friends around that dinner table in Waterloo. It was a good lesson for me. No need to feel like I’d broken some kind of immutable law, or feel shame. I wasn’t alone. Never will be. Some of the finest people I know grew up wearing their older brother’s pants.

Today I shop for new ‘used’ without a second’s thought. (Sorry, I lied. I do wonder if I’m just the second person to wear my new ‘used’ summer shorts!) Just about everything we touch and wear ends up at the dump. By the time I’m through with things, e.g., as a paint rag, they’re good and ready.

Admittedly, no one will ever call me a fashion plate.

***

Do you buy second-hand clothes? New ‘used’? Hand-me-downs? Feel any shame? (You shouldn’t.)

Please click here to read more Austerity without Anxiety.

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Clotheslines, clothes pins, and deep thoughts

If it had been raining this morning I would have hung my clothes on the wooden racks and clotheslines in the basement. But it wasn’t. While pouring my first cup of coffee I noticed it seemed a perfect drying day. Sunny.

Shortly thereafter I took my newly-washed, damp clothes out the back door and reached for a bag of wooden pins hanging on the closest of two lines that stretch across the deck. Wet T-shirt in one hand, two pins in the other and one in my mouth, I started to hang up my wash. My mind wandered, followed familiar paths, moved sideways on occasion.

Hanging the wash immediately connected me more closely to my natural surroundings. Though standing in the shade of the house and a maple tree, I knew the sun would soon be bathing my T-shirts, hockey equipment and underwear - the ones in the basket - in warmth and light. A light breeze brushed the back of my neck. Sparrows chattered in the branches above and, based on some kind of pecking order, organized their forays onto my bird feeders. My gosh, I thought, my shin pads sure smell better.


I hung underwear on the line farthest from a neighbour’s back window and door. If they peeked or walked out back they would only see a line of assorted shirts, socks and one shin pad. They wouldn’t wonder, first thing in the morning, why Gord owns only black or gray unmentionables. My mother would have been proud.


["For sure, I'm a pin-up guy!": photos GH]

With all laundry on the lines, I stepped onto the wet, cool grass and spread birdseed onto a bench and porch roof of a birdhouse.

More sparrows chattered. Two sat upon the rain gutters admiring my wash. The sun rose slowly over the roof behind them.

***

I love a slow start to the day and how nature awakens the senses.

And a second cup of coffee ain’t bad either!

Please click here for thoughts about a recent ‘great find.’

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It Strikes Me Funny: The mighty clothesline is still a mystery to some

After writing about my use of clotheslines in a column in The Londoner (a few years ago, though memories are fresh : ) because of the post below) I received a veritable flood of emails from - as always - interested and interesting readers.

A woman suggested a way to hang underwear outside without offending neighbours: Hang them under a sheet or behind a towel.

Good idea. Sure, I don’t care if my saggy, soggy pants flap so loudly in the breeze that they turn heads, but some people do.


[Photo link]

One reader also suggested a whole generation is growing up without knowing what a clothesline looks like or why it is beneficial. Her daughter had a young friend over one day and the friend saw laundry on an outdoor line and wondered what the heck it was. Yipes.

Raise your hand if you don’t know about clotheslines or their benefits. Hmmm... the number appears to be growing.

That strikes me funny, but not in a ‘haha’ kind of way.

***

Please click here to read more It Strikes Me Funny.

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Green Ideas 2010: Under construction but almost done

I think it's only fair to say I took the easy way out when faced with making new resolutions for 2010 related to green ideas.

The first thing I did (my gosh, a brilliant idea) - and everyone should carefully follow my example - was review my goals for 2009, to not only evaluate how I did (it's only fair), but see if there was any chance I could just continue on doing some of the same things in 2010 and not strain my brain too badly.

The second thing: I added one or two new items in order to strain the brain a bit.

Though the following list is under construction (and in side margin) it now contains a few of my goals for the current year.

1. No New Clothing

For the second year in a row...

I will buy no new clothes

2. Victory Garden

2009 was a bad year for my Victory Garden, however...

I will plant a garden in Spring 2010 and call it a 'Worthy Attempt Plot'

3. Bicycle

I will ride my used but lovely Miele bicycle on crowded city streets until I bend or break a rim


["Birdhouse by unknown maker, on way to Port Bruce": photo GAH]

4. Vacation

I will walk to Port Bruce (65 km.) and push my gear in a baby-jogger. I just need one week of good weather.

5. re Preserving Food

I will hang onto my used canning gear and put up beans and tomatoes if my 'worthy attempt plot' produces sufficient quantities of produce

6. Solar Cooker

I will build a solar oven out of recycled materials, including a bulky wool sweater for insulation.


["A GH model behind New Sarum Diner": photo GAH]

7. Birdhouses

I will attempt to build 3 - 4 dozen birdhouses from rescued lumber, photograph them all and bore readers to death with all the brilliant details

8. Haiti Relief

I will make two financial donations to the Red Cross (for Haiti relief) and work hard to repay my savings account by reducing restaurant meals and increasing meatless meals.

So far, so good, but the year is young.

***

I want to add a goal re exercise but will think about how best to frame it and get back.

Do you keep lists of resolutions? Do they help keep you on track?

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I will not buy a cardigan or ‘Going Rogue’ by Sarah Palin

I will never buy another cardigan.

I had a red cardigan in high school. It would be untruthful to say I looked cool. Or hot. Because I don’t really know.


[“Circa 1965; the man doesn’t lie”: photo of photo GAH]

I was gifted another while in my forties. I wore it once or twice only.

It got more wear from my brother-in-law. Whenever he visited (before I insulated the house) he always asked for it, and I think he owns it now - and I don’t want it back.

As well, though I wrote a short (but brilliant) post entitled ‘Iceberg B17B is going rogue faster than Sarah Palin’ I will never purchase her book.


[“You decide. Cool, warm, hot, neutral”: photo GAH]

Though an iceberg from the Ross Ice Shelf that has travelled about 4,500 kms in the last ten years - all by its lonesome - is definitely a bit of a rogue, Sarah Palin has nothing to say to me.

Sorry, Sarah. I’d rather plug an iceberg than buy your book. That’s all I can say.

***

If you bought the book, that’s OK.

I just think the story told by iceberg B17B about global warming is more important.

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Newspaper Clippings: Hang your clothes outside all winter, I say

And if anybody complains, fire off a frozen puck in their direction.

That’s my advice, at any rate, to those people across America who are facing a rising tide of housing associations who oppose the practice of hanging laundry on clotheslines.

I’m not joking about the fact there are still North Americans who oppose seeing clothes on clotheslines because they find it unsightly.


(I’m not joking either about the frozen pucks. Let ‘em rip).

One fellow in Pennsylvania “said he was fined $100 by the (housing) association for putting up a clothesline in a common area.”

There are many benefits related to clotheslines as long as you remember to duck on your way to the garden shed.

Fresh air, exercise, hydro savings (not as much as Carin suggests in the article, in my opinion, unless you’re doing tonnes of laundry), lower GHG emissions etc.

So, hang your laundry all winter if you like, and keep a bucket of pucks and an old hockey stick nearby, in case you notice someone wagging their finger.

***

A frozen puck - too drastic a measure?

Is a nerf ball okay?

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Live Small & Prosper: Clotheslines don’t get me off the hook

“One thing that would take some of the heat out of all the talk (re energy from wind turbines, coal, nuclear plants etc.) is public education about the benefits of energy conservation,” I said during the ride home from the Bruce Peninsula on Sunday.

Lower energy use would lower the need for projects with so many pros and cons and endless debate attached.

I’m partly right, but public education isn’t enough. Public participation is needed too. And much more.

Sure, I stopped using the dryer several years ago, hang my wet clothes beside my hockey equipment from three clotheslines in the basement or for the birds to use as target practice on the two lines over the back deck - but I’m not off the hook. I’m sure, when it comes to carbon emissions, I haven’t made much of a dent in the per capita numbers in Canada that will surely lead to more climate change and instability.


["Sorry about the underwear shot but they'll be dry soon": photo GAH]

And my resolve to never buy a leaf blower, though making my neighbours very happy, is a drop in the bucket.

According to The Suicidal Planet, “a wide gap exists between public understanding of climate change and the adequacy of the response to it.

“This gap reflects a disturbing failure of government to communicate the significance and urgency of the issue.

“It also reflects an unclear and confusing picture painted by the media, large parts of which are not accountable to the long-term public interest.”

And concerning the general public? We’re generally addicted to energy-intensive lifestyles.

I recommend you look for The Suicidal Planet (even though I think it sounds more like homicide to me) and read what the author says about the role of government, the media, business and the general public.

Hint: None of us has got it fully right just yet.

***

Tired of experts? There are worse things than being tired.

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It Strikes Me Funny: Men are from Mars and I'm liking it

Yesterday I mentioned a recent trip to Value Village where I snagged a great pair of well-worn Levis for $14.99 that fit like a glove, or a very comfortable pair of jeans.


[My home planet: GAH]

Happy days. Sure, I can’t buy new in 2009 (iron-clad contract avec moi) but anytime I can score big on the reduce-reuse-recycle program of life I win. (And so does the Village of Values and the local environment in some small way).

These comments followed:

Jane at Gaston Studio said... "29L vs 30L! We women have to worry about other measurements like do they fit around the thighs or do they squeeze the life out of you; or, if they fit in the hips, the waist stands up out like a flag!

"


["I love being a 'regular' guy"; photo GAH]

Jessica said... "I wish it was as easy to buy clothes in the right sizes for women. Here in Canada, I'm a different size in different shops!"

Sometimes it dawns on me that I love being a guy.

***

And I had to ask myself, do we men (in my case, wee) have an easier time shopping because we’re from another planet?

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It Strikes Me Funny Part 1: Will my ‘no clothes’ challenge affect the economy?

To tell you the naked truth, I hope my recent column does affect the North American economy. I’d sleep easier at night if it did, even if my RRSPs stay in the toilet.

John L. emailed the following yesterday morning:

Hi Gord,

I have been reading your musings about the no clothes challenge and somewhat agree and somewhat disagree with the concept.  

I wonder about the ramifications for other people if we all decided not to buy anything new (barring undies, sockies) for a couple of years.  There always are spinoffs when one makes a decision. 


If an automotive plant closes down, then many other spin off industries close down and that affects jobs. 

I haven't really looked into the ramifications re: homeless, Goodwill Industries, Salvation Army Men's Mission, Diabetes Foundation,  Womens’ shelter, retail business in London, and so on.  

Have you thoughts on this? 

(When I buy something new, I give something away and usually to one of the charitable outlets mentioned above).
 
Have a good day and keep the undies clean.
 
John

***

I’m not kidding. John is concerned re my affect on the the economy.

And my underwear. What gives?

Stay tuned. I’ll compose a reply.

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No Clothing Day Part 3

A recent email from a reader struck a chord.

Renee L. said after reading in a fashion magazine that a woman wasn’t going to buy new clothing for a full year (I expressed a similar plan in the Nov. 19 issue of The Londoner) she decided to change her own spending habits.

(She confessed to me she was spending about 50% of some pay cheques on clothing. And more. Crikee!)

She also said the following: “I decided that Labour Day 2008 would be my day for reinvention. I thought the adjustment would be hard, but I learned that I can restyle things I've worn a million times with simple change. I am allowing myself to buy vintage items; e.g., mostly scarves and jewelry to give new life to clothing I've had for a while, but it doesn't come with the guilt of buying something made in a sweatshop with a 300% markup.”

“I've begun to repair things instead of replacing them.”

“It’s freeing. I have more time to relax and just enjoy the important things in life.”

Well done, Renee.

As of last count, there are 3,897 things more important than spending hours shopping in the mall in a vain effort to keep up with the ever-changing face of fashion.

And the list keeps growing.

***

If you have a word or two for or about Renee or a similar experience drop it off here. I’ll give her the link to the posts about her email to me.

I’ve also used her email as an important part of next week’s Pulitzer Prize winning column.

(If I do win the Pulitzer will I have to share it? Crikee!)

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No Clothing Day: What are you doing on Jan. 1, 2010?

I can’t blame you if you don’t plan that far ahead.

Usually I don’t even know what I’ll be doing the next day let alone a year in advance.

Last Saturday, however, was No Clothing Day at my house and I made a hard and fast decision, after counting and listing almost every item of clothing I own (and it became a longer list than I imagined), that I would buy no new clothing until New Years Day, 2010.

So I know two things I’ll be doing on that day.


[The weakest links in an abundant supply: Photo GAH]

First, I’ll give the livingroom carpet a quick vac (I’ll likely have my sister and brother over for New Years and we like our snacks).

Then I’ll drive to the closest clothing store for new socks and underwear.

(Wouldn't you agree that they're the weakest links in an abundant clothing supply?)

***

Read more about the No Clothing Day adventure in The Londoner on Wednesday.

Online version

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It Strikes Me Funny: Questions based on a glimmer of recognition

The third favourite question I am asked is, Do you know what you should write about? (I’ve got something for you.)

After six years as a weekly columnist with my picture in the paper I am still greatly surprised when anyone on the street or even another regular at the Roaster in Wortley Village connects me to a recent article, and am usually stuck for a reasonable answer to a reader’s offer of help.

My typical brilliant response: I take another sip of coffee, blink once or twice if it’s before 10 o’clock in the morning, fumble for a pen as if I’m lost without one and mumble something like, yeah, what are you thinking, or, really, or, thanks for the tip, good one.

My second favourite question: You’re that guy, right?

I love that one. And at my age (I’m at the beginning of a long, healthy, youthful stage of retirement called guaranteed freedom), since I can understand it’s hard to keep track of the names of everyone who has written a column that fits neatly into the bottom of a budgie cage, I simply answer, yup, that’s me.

Number two used to be my number one because it always makes me laugh inside.

As of last week, however, I now have an all new numero uno.

After a column concerning conservation measures was published I was asked the following: Do you believe in clotheslines?


I could have mentioned I always use one but said the first thing that popped into my head: You mean, as a higher power?

Good one, eh?

What would you have said?

[Visit another cartoon in progress by G. Harrison at Four Mugs]

Next column: Do I go with two emails or a possible threat to national security?

Two days ago I mentioned an email from Alex L. and yesterday my reply.

I think I handled things pretty well, didn’t blow my stack or tear a strip off the guy etc., though for a second or two I really wanted to... just once!

I think I might use the little back and forth as fodder for my next column because there are a couple of things Alex said about me that still stick in my craw.

First, he mentioned that at the age of 10 he “knew the adults were crazy [and] willfully blind to what was obvious to any child 40 or 50 years ago, that the path our society was on was unsustainable.” 

His words stung.

When I was 10, not only did I not know an unsustainable path from a hole in the ground, if someone had asked me about the path society was on I would have pointed to Highway 59, the main route out of town.

And I was way too busy playing catch, delivering papers or cutting our huge lawn with a stupid push mower to look up ‘unsustainable’ in the dictionary.


I did know, however, that adults were crazy. The clothes they wore were not rad at all. Not even neato.

Second, Alex laid one on me about the title of the piece, that in it I was “telling everyone else NOW we should get ready to act ("get ready" to act - ?!).”

Hey, my editor picked that title, not me.

The original was something like “Got five minutes and seven bucks? Have I got a deal for you.”

Not too exciting, I admit.

Maybe I should go with a completely different story.

If I can prove Tim Horton’s recent decision to use self-serve coffee machines is a threat to national security, maybe even mass insecurity, I may have a winner.

gah