Reduce....

There are so many ways to REDUCE in my life:

• REDUCE, re-use, recycle

• REDUCE my BMI (lose weigh, for the skinny folk who don't know what a BMI is)

• REDUCE my carbon footprint (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=carbon+footprint+calculator)

• REDUCE my monthly expenses

• REDUCE my stress levels

As you can see, there are so many ways to REDUCE in my life.

A friend of mine has a blog about reducing her energy consumption by 50% right now (http://50now.blogspot.com/). I pilfered the carbon footprint calculator from her blog (sorry, Jen!)

Anyway, I love the idea of her commitment to make the world a better place for the future generation (in her case, a darling daughter). I am always looking for ways to save money or energy so I re-committed myself to my own REDUCTION goals.

In a move of pure insanity, I have been riding my little scooter to work each and every day this summer.

Let me clarify little: a 49cc Honda Metropolitan moped that (with my fat ass on it) may hit forty mph on a downhill slope with a tailwind.

Let me also clarify drive to work: I live in Salt Lake City. As in, the City. I work in another city called Draper City. Other slickers (folks from slc) are likely gasping at this moment.

Here's why: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=s&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google%20maps

As shown on the Google Maps link above, Draper is 24.6 miles from Salt Lake City. Let me further clarify, If I were to put in my actual home address (which I will not, due to the inordinate amount of stalking that I already endure. Ah, the price of fame) and my corresponding work location, Goggle maps would inform me that my commute is 26.2 miles each way.

Now, a fifty-two mile round trip is not that big of a deal for anyone in a car (or in my crazy brother-in-law's case: on a bike- don' even get me started), it's a pretty big deal for a fat girl on a tiny pink-flowered (forgot to mention that, huh?) scooter that she likely exceeds the weight limit on by at least 300 pounds.

(this isn't actually my scooter but it looks identical. I just don't want any of you to think I have such hideous taste in decoration. Who parks a moped in their living room, I ask you?)

**A short aside: I have actually picked up a papasan chair at a garage sale on this scooter and carried it home. I looked like I was being slowly consumed by a giant, navy-blue slug as I tried to escape. The poor old lady in the white Explorer thought she was hallucinating.**

That, coupled with the fact that someone has doubtless placed a bounty on my head since that's the only reason to explain why every driver on my daily commute is trying to kill me! I can literally see them aiming their steering wheel cross-hairs for me...

49cc's are just not enough power to move my generous mass as fast as I would like it to.

However, in my commitment to a healthier life and planet, I will continue to putter my way to work each day, as long as the weather lasts.

Hell, since my round trip fuel costs are around $1.25 each day, you may well see the abominable snow woman this winter in an effort to REDUCE my winter commuting costs, as well. Do they make chains for mopeds?