Water Conservation

The dream was vivid. I was attempting to style my hair with a blow dryer, but my hair, which was hanging in long, sticky strings down my back, refused to yield to the heat and round brush. The long hair definitely says dream because when my hair reaches the nape of my neck it’s time for a haircut.

I blame this dream, or maybe it qualifies as a nightmare, on our condo association’s newly formed Water Committee. Water is at a premium in Colorado and, as the population grows, finding new sources of water is an ongoing issue. However, that is not the kind of issue with which our committee deals. The mandate for our water committee is to come up with ideas and tips for saving water here in our little corner of the world.

I recognize the importance of this committee and applaud them for their research efforts and the seriousness with which they perform their duties. A few weeks ago the committee started researching ways to conserve water and invited residents to submit suggestions. Then they met and adopted some of the ideas. Subsequently they published water conserving “hints” in the Villa newsletter. Most were good tips:
• Having more xeroscaping in the commons areas
• Installation of water meters in each phase of the complex to monitor water use
• Using two hands to brush teeth (one to hold the brush and the other to turn off the water during brushing)
• Taking baths in ½ tub of water in place of showering
• Taking short showers, three minutes or less

Since reading the suggestions in the newsletter, some of the showers taken in our household have been timed. Do you know how long a three minute shower lasts? Three minutes! But the second suggestion was probably the reason for my dream. In my dream the installation of water meters in each phase of the community apparently got mixed up in my mind with the installation of an automatic shut-off valve on my showerhead. It was this valve that terminated my shower just as conditioner was applied to my hair. A source close to committee business laughed at my dream and assures me that there will be no takeover of my privacy.

I have been told that one suggestion did not make it through committee. Reasoning that our showers could do double duty and, thus, save some water, one concerned citizen suggested showering with a friend. Hmmm . . . We often have friends over for coffee and dessert, but how many friends do I have who might like to come over for a shower?

Maybe I’ll just stick to attempting to beat the clock! Meanwhile I should probably consider getting the door lock changed, just as insurance that no one installs an automatic shut-off valve in my shower.

Clipart: National Association Conservation Districts

Caution, Charlie May Cause Swearing

CHARLIE  (Photo by Merrill Powers)

Charlie is a resident in our condo complex. While he came to the complex without a name, he became affectionately known as Charlie after he adopted my neighbor as his best friend (BF) and said neighbor named him, Charlie. Most people think that a dog is man’s BF, but Charlie has set out to disprove this and show everyone in our community that a deer is actually man’s BF.

Probably my neighbor’s gardening talent is the reason this beautiful buck made his choice concerning who he wants as a pal.  While most of us are content with the minimal and not very colorful landscaping provided by the association, our neighbor has a big commons area around his condo, and that space has become his private flower garden.

My neighbor is a great guy, but Charlie’s choice to make him his BF is probably less a rebuff of the rest of us than it is an attraction to the beautiful flowers growing all over the commons area surrounding his condo.  You see, Charlie thinks the best snacks in the world are geraniums and other colorful flowers. 

My neighbor is quite patient.  Anyone who observes him putting up his Christmas decorations and tending his flowers knows that.  Neighbors often go over to visit with him while he is working, and we all get the same broad smile and welcome.  But following the first round of geranium consumption, Charlie needs to stay his distance. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to get that, and this is the root of the problem.

A summer day scenario in my neighbor’s yard might be played out as follows:

Neighbor is planting and tending flowers and shrubs.

Charlie walks up behind neighbor and stops. 

Neighbor looks up and commands, “Charlie, get out of here!”

Charlie turns and retreats a short distance, probably five feet. 

Neighbor turns and continues to care for the plants.

Charlie again sneaks quietly up behind neighbor. 

I’m not sure how many times I saw this scenario replayed before I learned that we must avoid Charlie at all costs.  He really might cause swearing!

Clip Art: arthursclipart.org & Dan’s Free Clip Art Library