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What Did You Do for Earth Hour?

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Services for Real Estate Pros with Second Self Virtual Assistance

How I spent my Earth Hour 2009

With my husband out of town, it was a pretty quiet night on the old homefront anyway.  I had discussed the whole "Earth Hour" campaign with my son earlier in the day, letting him know that, in support of our Mother Earth, we would be "going dark" from 8:30pm-9:30pm.  I also let him know that this wasn't just something happening in the United States.  In fact, countries around the world would be turning off their lights to show support for energy conservation.  But, instead of just the lights being turned off, we actually made sure that everything was turned off and all the appliances that were plugged in that didn't need to be plugged in got turned off.  No TV, no radio, no charging of the various Ipods, cell phones, rechargable batteries, toothbrushes, etc.  We lit a few candles to allow light into the house.  Then, we simply climbed into my California King-sized bed, talked for a bit and read our own books.  It was a fabulous way to spend that hour.  I'm very happy we did.  It may even become a regular weekly feature in my house.  What did you do for Earth Hour last night?

Heather Chavez - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

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John Crosby
Real Property, Inc. - Marblehead, MA

Hi Heater, I did the same as you with the exception of going to bed and reading, that sounds like a much better idea than what I did.  I worked on my laptop by candle-light at my kitchen table and played with my lab retriever. 

Mar 28, 2009 05:36 PM
Travis Newton
Salem and Bend Oregon FHA, VA & USDA 503.931.4490 - Salem, OR
FHA, USDA, VA, LOAN EXPERT - Salem OR Homes For Heroes SALEM OREGON

Turned off all the lights...and played a game by the light of a few candles!

Mar 28, 2009 05:36 PM
Libby Cousins
Extraordinary Processing - Spokane, WA
Contract Mortgage Processor, licensed in WA

I hears about this but didn't know when it was and then got caught up in my day. I came home at 8:30 and had to get the kids ready for bed so it didn't dawn on me that Earth Hour was today- bummer! I will have to do a "make up" Earth Hour with the family another night.

Mar 28, 2009 05:40 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Quite frankly, I forgot about the whole thing. However, I recently invested in a hybrid HVAC system which is very energy efficient. It uses half the energy of my older system. I guess that counts doesn't it...

Your building consultant for life in Nashville, TN

Mar 28, 2009 09:22 PM
Lourdes Hoglo REALTOR® Three Village & North Shore Suffolk Co. Long Island
Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Setauket, NY

Hi Heather, we also participated. My boys wouldn't want it any other way! It is their future.

Mar 28, 2009 11:01 PM
Dan Callahan
Callahan's Home Inspections - Casper, WY

The 3 year old went to bed. The wife and I, well lets just say it was an hour well spent.........

Mar 29, 2009 04:51 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

Todd - Great minds think alike, right? :)

Mar 29, 2009 05:30 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

John - I just decided no work was going to be done during that hour either.  Playing with the dog would have been fine with us, but it's really dark in our backyard without any light and I don't have a firepit there.  We made sure she got plenty of exercise before we went "lights out".

Mar 29, 2009 05:32 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

Travis - That's an idea I toyed with as well.  My son and I both love board games.  We'll have to do that next time.

Mar 29, 2009 05:32 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

Libby - Earth Hour is a great idea to start doing every week, if possible.  Any night would be fine, I think.

Mar 29, 2009 05:33 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

Yes, Michael.  A hybrid HVAC system is a great thing to have in place. 

Mar 29, 2009 05:34 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

My son was very happy to do this as well, Lourdes, when he found out about it.  He is also very much into recycling and has absolutely no problem lugging around our own grocery bags.  It's great.  They're even talking about alternative forms of energy in school.  So, I get an earful every day on the way home from school.

Mar 29, 2009 05:35 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

Dan - While I am blushing a bit by your comment, I have to admit that that would have been my husband's idea as well if he were at home during Earth Hour.  Not only are you saving electricity, you're making your own energy, right?

Mar 29, 2009 05:36 AM
Rebecca Anne Cole
PNC Mortgage - Timonium, MD

I love the idea of sitting quietly for an hour every week with my daughter.   Turning off the TV, radio, etc and spending some quiet time is good for the environment and our relationship.  Thanks for the post.

Mar 29, 2009 10:47 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

I agree, Rebecca.  My son and I both love playing games.  I am a self-proclaimed trivia whore (absolutely LOVE trivia).  In fact, I have become such a wealth of useless knowledge, that nobody will play against me in trivia.  They all want to be on my side.  My son loves video games.  As a compromise, we bought a Harry Potter board game to be able to play together.  He has won some and I have won some.  Any game we play has been very close.  It's great.

Mar 29, 2009 10:54 AM
Midori Miller
Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals

Heather-earth hour was the best for me...I sat alone in a room...no phone..no computer...and no husband..it is very rare for us not to be using some sort of electronics.  My husband sat in another room..I was able to allow my mind to shut down and think about other things...I told my husband we should go back to practicing this everyday...my mind gets a rest and we can reduce our electric bill at the same time!  Glad you enjoyed yours as well!

Mar 29, 2009 11:02 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

I'm glad you participated, Midori.  Many moons ago, I used to try to meditate for 1/2 a day.  Then, it turned into 1/2 hour a week and then it just went away altogether.  It sounds almost like you mediated for an hour.  Shutting everything down and just relaxing your mind is a great way to spend Earth Hour.

Mar 29, 2009 02:35 PM
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Heather--Great post and I am sure that your son enjoyed it, too.  Special time with mom.  I cam home from a long day, read e-mail and saw a reminder to turn out lights.  Like everyone else I thought it was a good idea to crawl in bed early.  Unfortunately my husband was out with his hunting buddies so I was alone AND woke up feeling refreshed.  Mary

Mar 30, 2009 07:44 AM
Heather Chavez
Second Self Virtual Assistance - Caldwell, ID
Real Estate Virtual, Assistant (928) 692-3235

It was a nice, refreshing experience in our house, too, Mary.  I'm thinking about incorporating it every week in our house.

Mar 31, 2009 02:12 AM
Toula Rosebrock
Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ - Lacey Township, NJ
Broker/Sales Associate, Realtor, Lacey Township,

ToulaRosebrock.comHi Heather:

We participated and turned everything off, except for the refrigerator, of course!

 

Apr 03, 2009 01:05 AM
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