Unless you are living under a rock, your social sites and favorite news stations have been flooded with people doing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. And it’s not just your friends and family that are doing the challenge; its celebrities, news anchors, and former presidents of the United States of America. Some are being doused in cold water, some are giving money, and others are doing both. I cheer them all.
Yes I openly admit I think the promotion of this challenge is a good thing. Not because I enjoy watching blooper reels of people attempting to dump ice water from high places on their friends’ heads (OK I do enjoy those) but really it’s because someone has found a unique and creative way to educate people who otherwise would not be aware of the disease. Hands up if you really had no idea what ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease was… go ahead raise your hand, I am.  Of course I am fully aware that not everyone is taking the time to educate themselves or their family about what the disease is but some are and that’s what’s important.
My kids were challenged by their cousins, which was of course totally cute.  They wanted to do the challenge back but really had no idea what it was, my son even asked how he could win the challenge. Easy I thought… he could educate himself. That surely was winning! So I made my kids sit in front of a computer and spend some time educating themselves about the disease. We talked about it together afterwards, it was one of my better Dad moments. It shouldn’t end there I thought, so I had them give me some of the money they had each saved, which I added to some of mine and as a family we donated some money to a worthy cause. Afterwards we had some fun, which I encourage you to do as well.
NO WATER WAS WASTED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS FILM!
Most of you reading this live here in Fresno County or California so you are well aware that we are in a drought. This isn’t just a ‘put a brick in your toilet kind of drought’, it’s a ‘don’t water your lawns more than twice a week, our lakes are disappearing, and we are running out of water kind of drought!’ So before you partake in a challenge that pours water over your head, consider doing it over a garden or in a pool with pool water that was chilled with ice packs (that’s what we did). Rumor is that some have done the challenge with dirt instead… maybe there is a viral campaign for the conservation of water in there somewhere!
That’s right, the owners of that house you have been eyeing and considering to make an offer on didn’t just decide to let their lawn die.
Instead they are following the cities new water regulations. Have you seen them?
Fresno has gradually been reducing its per-capita water use, down to an estimated 235 gallons this year from 306 back in 2008. This is great news but we all know we can do better. Here are some great tips I found on ways you can conserve water.
Turn off water when brushing teeth – 2 gallons per minute
Take shorter showers – 2.5 gallons per minute
Replace older, high-volume flushing toilets – 2.2-3.8 gallons per flush
Run the dishwasher only when full – 2-4.5 gallons per load
Turn off water when washing dishes – 2.5 gallons per minute
Fix leaky faucets – 15-20 gallons per day per leak
Replace older, inefficient washing machines – 20-30 gallons per load
Repair leaking hose bibs – 15-20 gallons per day per leak
Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks – 8-18 gallons per minute
Of course, if you are looking for a home – one that already has drought friendly landscaping, you know that’s not something you can search online for. Â You’ll need someone who knows the properties currently for sale in the area. Give me a call (559 708-8768) or email and we’ll find that perfect home for you!
I love where I live, and I also love what I do. I'm lucky to be able to work in a profession in which I get to build relationships; one that has me meeting new people each and every day and helping them to build new lives in my beloved city. I'm lucky enough to work in a profession in which I can marry cutting-edge technologies and marketing techniques to good, old-fashioned, nose-to-the-grindstone work. I am lucky enough to work in a profession that allows me to work as an advocate for my clients; to use every tool at my disposal to get a job done well for them, and with as little stress and expense as possible.
I love my city. I love my job. One inspires my excellence for the other.
Fresno? I say FresYES
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