The Late Bird May Get A Better Deal On The Worm

That’s right.

The early bird may get the worm, but -- by being too early -- the early bird may miss out on a better, later deal.

We’ve all heard about the early bird. We’re bombarded with early bird specials and encouraged to be an early bird to get discounts on major purchases, to save money on travel plans, or even to find more success in life.

But today I stumbled upon an exception to this general rule.

And it might just open up a whole new can of worms for all of us birds.

See, I’m attending a conference this summer in DC. Two months ago, when I decided to go to the conference, I researched hotel options for the best rates and deals.

I was trying to be a good little early bird, even though I’m not.

The hotel where I wanted to stay cost a hundred dollars more per night than the Westin a few blocks over. So I was planning to make my reservations at the Westin instead. But, just today, I happened to search hotels again and discovered that the hotel where I originally wanted to stay has now dropped its nightly rate to a few dollars below the Westin’s rate.

Had I booked my hotel reservations two months ago, I would have missed the best deal on the hotel I really wanted. If I’d been the early bird, sure I’d get the worm – the hotel – but I would have paid a hundred dollars more per night for the same worm. By being the late bird, I not only get the worm I want, but I get a better deal on it!

I’m the late bird most of the time so today’s discovery is thrilling to me.

It appears, at least in this instance, the late bird gets a better deal on the worm.

I really hope this becomes the rule instead of the exception!

Hugs,
Late Bird

P.S. When did you get a better deal by being the late bird?

Baby Bear Day

Today is Saturday.

Saturday is my favorite day of the week.

But, besides that, today is one of those days when everything seems to be just right, which reminds me of The Story of the Three Bears, where Goldilocks describes each of the Baby Bear’s things as being just right.

Today is a Baby Bear Day.

Taylor woke up around 8:30 this morning. Not too early, not too late, but just right.

We took a walk to Starbucks in the mid-morning sun. Not too hot, not too cold, but just right.

We went to see Taylor’s cousins play Little League Baseball. Not too long, not too short, but just right.

Taylor swam at the tennis club baby pool. Not too dirty, not too clean, but just right.

And so the day has gone.

My new favorite day of the week is any day that is a Baby Bear Day.

Bluesday Tip #3: Bag Plastic Bags

Today is Bluesday! On the first Tuesday of each month, I share a tip for How To Be Blue. Being blue is about caring for the ocean - what we put into it, and what we take out of it.

This month's Bluesday tip: Bag Plastic Bags.

If you’re like me, you may not have noticed how many plastic bags you use in a given day - one for your deli lunch, one for toothpaste and hand soap at the drug store, several more for groceries, maybe another one at the mall. I started to pay attention and realized that I ended up with a plastic bag in my hands after almost any routine purchase.

Everything seems to get stuffed into plastic bags.

Worst of all, plastic bags have an extremely short useful life – the few minutes it takes to carry items from the store to the car to the house.

And then what?

We (cringe) throw the plastic bag away…

And where exactly is away?

Well, away may start out as the trash can or landfill, but often away ends up to be the beach or the ocean.

Each year, thousands of seabirds and marine mammals die from ingestion of or entanglement in plastics such as single-use plastic bags. Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for food (jellyfish), a mistake that can be fatal.

The problem with plastic is that it doesn’t biodegrade, it photodegrades. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces with exposure to the sun’s UV light. As a result, virtually every piece of plastic that has ever been produced still exists in some shape or form. Millions of plastic bags are sitting in landfills and garbage cans, or caught in drains or around animals’ bodies.

The good news is that there are so many ways to reduce plastic bag use!

Buy a reusable fabric bag. Bags made from canvas or cotton can be used repeatedly and are usually washable. Most grocery stores offer such bags for sale in their stores right near the check out. Try reusable bags for all purchases, not just groceries. (The most difficult thing about reusable bags is to remember to bring them with you!)

Ask for paper, not plastic. Although it is best to use a fabric bag, paper is recyclable and decomposes faster.

Reuse plastic bags that you already have. Be creative! Plastic bags can be used to stuff a giant pet pillow, to line paint trays or baseboards for painting, or they can be stored in the car for wet clothes and shoes. The possibilities are endless. Search the internet for helpful ideas.

Encourage your local stores to charge for plastic bags (IKEA started charging for plastic bags in mid-March). Most people would rather carry their own purchases by hand than pay for a bag.

Stuff the stuff. If you must use plastic bags, be sure to completely fill up each bag to reduce the total number used. Don’t bag items like laundry detergent and drink cartons that have their own handles.

Find biodegradable plastic bags (try pet stores, pet shelters, environmental agencies, and chambers of commerce). Some bags decompose in around 15 days.

It takes time to change any habit. I’ve been trying to Bag Plastic Bags for months now. Some days, I walk out of the grocery store with two fabric bags full of food, feeling good, definitely being blue. Other days, I forget my fabric bag at a store that doesn’t offer paper with too many items to carry in my hands. And I end up with a plastic bag. But I try to keep it for later use instead of throwing it to the dreaded away.

Being blue takes time.

Just do the best you can to Bag Plastic Bags. The ocean creatures will thank you!

May you turn a deeper shade of blue with each passing month.

P.S. An interesting website for more information: http://www.riseaboveplastics.org/