Blackout Sabbath, a night unplugged.

[parrishsky]

So yesterday was our 2nd Annual Blackout Sabbath, they day we unplug everything and enjoy each other without distractions. At noon we all walked from room to room unplugging..... the microwave, computers, tv, lamps and radios. We unscrewed light bulbs in case someone forgot and flipped the light switch on the wall... We placed candles both fire and battery powered throughout the house. All was set.

The hardest part for me was not running a load of laundry. We are going to the beach today and ALL our towels are dirty !! Im running a load now.

You may think this odd and wtf but we really enjoyed ourselves. Our night consisted of eating cold pizza, taking turns reading from my current book "Lullaby" by Chuck Palahniuk - you know the guy that wrote "Choke" and "Fight Club".......Chuck wrote Choke... lol~

That in itself was very interesting to read considering chapter 3 talks about people addicted to noise. Those people who can't live without a tv blaring... Game shows, or sitcoms with the old laugh tracks, did you know most of them were recorded in the 50's? That means many of those people you hear laughing are dead now! Some of my favorite lines in the book are... Without noise silence would not be golden, and big brother is not watching you he's distracting you with sitcoms and noise. Another great point is that in ancient Greece, Greek gods were once the "thoughts" of the people... They were told by Apollo to be brave or by Athena to fall in love. Today we watch a sour cream potato chip commercial and we rush out to buy some, but today that's called free will....

After reading several chapters we listened to my son play music on the acoustic bass. We also made shadow puppets and guessed movies by taking turns reciting a line.... You know, "We need a bigger boat" - Jaws, which was ad-libed by the way...

We ate candy and I had an appletini. Mike wandered about the house with a flashlight attached to a headband on his head. Our solar garden lights came on and it was a cooler night than last year so we stayed indoors.

We talked about how people back in the day would eat dinner by 5, dessert by 6:30, then they would read or listen to a radio broadcast and in bed by 8:30. No distractions of television, just a warm bed and togetherness.

My kids asked questions about life when we were little. I told them how my  brother and I would climb inside the mattress and box spring and announce what sandwich we were "I'm peanut butter and jelly", LOL!!  I told them how we only had soda when company was coming or someone had a sour stomach. I told them how cartoons only played on Saturday mornings til like 11 then we went outside for the entire day only to return when dinner was ready... My dad would call us with his VERY loud whistle. I could hear him 12 blocks away!!

We laughed and at one point I peed a little in my pj's. I'm not ashamed, my son's pillow looked like a ginormous afro! trust me, it was funny!!!

Hubs and I went to bed at 10:30. My oldest waited til midnight, reading by lantern light.

What did we gain from all this? Well for one we connected as a family, we sent a message to pge who is now wondering why our house was off the grid for 12+ hrs. We also made a contribution back to the earth, we let it rest just a teensy bit. No harm in NOT producing noise, NOT running all power, NOT using resources. We gave the earth a break.

Part of all this and what Rupert Wainwright suggests is to make a list of what I can do better this coming year. So here's my list...

I will continue to break my husband of his water bottle consumption, I will unplug what I am not using, I will grow more of my own food, I will can and freeze my own concoctions, I will share the wealth of my jams and pickles, I will only use energy efficient light bulbs (minus the Edison in my bedroom-still burning for 20+ years for us) -that man was a genius!!, I promise to wash my car on the lawn with environmentally safe soap, I promise to keep air in my tires to use less gas, I promise to ride my bike to work in summer thru fall at least once a week, I promise to read more, turn off the tube more and enjoy the great outdoors (that's a duh).... My promises are posted on the fridge for all to see.

Til next year when we do it all again...

HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE EVERYONE !

We're heading to the coast to celebrate the Sun AND Father's Day!!

[smokeyjo]

Jun. 21, 2009 at 1:22 PM

Can I just say, I love you- you are such an inspiration to me.  I do what I can but you give me something to insipre to.

Enjoy the beach and the day.

[carnivalday]

Jun. 22, 2009 at 11:03 AM

Ok...that is so cool.  I like it. I'll do it.  Yay!

[Ttime]

Jun. 22, 2009 at 8:53 PM

This is why I love you so much!  I loved hearing about your commitment to the earth, family, and fun!!!