Reducing Water Consumption and Saving Money With Homemade Rain Barrels!

According to an article in the Winnipeg Free Press, Winnipeg's water use was down 12% last summer. The drop in consumption is being attributed to a decrease in people watering their yards.

They just let the rain do it.

What a novel idea! Conserve water by letting nature do it's thing!

For almost half a decade now, I've been collecting rainwater and using that to water the vegetable garden and flower beds on our property. While I'd love to say I did it to be a knight in shining armor, rescuing mother nature from the excesses of resource consumption, I was really motivated by being cheap and wanting to save a few bucks. I'm not going to post how much I pay for my water bill, but trust me when I say it made a difference! Now, it just kills me to see people watering their plants with a hose or sprinkler!

In the last five years, I've only had to pull my hose out THREE TIMES.

(insert "That's what SHE said" joke here!)
Ahem...

Now, I know, this seems like collecting rain water is either going to be a lot of work, or really expensive. Well, it is if you want it to be! "Real" rain barrels at Home Depot will run you anywhere from $100 - $300!

Mine cost me around $20.

Wait, that's not true. $40 is more accurate. It was so cheap to build, I made two of them. You'll need:

• Rubbermaid Garbage Can
• Utility Knife
• Screen Door mesh
  

All that's missing is some tin foil and a bit of chewed bubble gum, and there would be a rain barrel MacGyver would be proud of!

Garbage cans without wheels are best, but if yours does have wheels, I recommend facing the side of the can with the wheels with the house so that it has something to lean against.

Instructions
1. Cut a large square of screen mesh, approximately 3'x3'.
2. Lay it over the open garbage can. Placing this mesh layer not only filters garbage and leaves and keeps them from getting into your barrel, it should also help prevent mosquitoes from using your water supply as a nursery.
3. Cut a half moon shape out of the top lid of your plastic garbage can. The water from your eavestroughs will be directed through here!
4. Secure the lid and place your garbage can rain barrel under your downspout to collect water!It's just that simple! No more rolling up hoses every night, wasting tap water!

Give it a go! And if you've got any improvements on my MacGyver Rain Barrel, let me know!

Currently playing: The Shaggs - Who Are Parents
Currently colouring: Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 13!
Proudly in my sixth Cola free year!

Job Opportunity: U2 Proofreader

I think I'm going to put my résumé in to become u2's Proofreader. Note the spelling of "Winipeg" that appeared on their incredible video screen at tonight's show!

Whoops!
Currently playing: U2 - Until the End of the World
Currently colouring: Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 13!
Proudly in my sixth Cola free year!

Bono kissed my wife!

My wife, Cat, camped outside of the Burton Cummings Theatre today and got to meet U2 frontman and world famous rock legend, Bono.

He kissed her. No biggie!
One of the first things Cat and I did together when we met was watch a U2 concert. Our mutual love of the band was one of the things that connected us. As much as I love the band, Cat is a fanatic. By the end of 2011, she'll have seen them 5 times in 4 different cities.

It's long been her dream to be kissed by Bono. And it wasn't one of those fluff dreams like "I wish I had a million dollars", or "I wish I could fly". This was a serious dream, and let's be honest - it had little chance of coming true.

Still, she has long been determined to see it come to true. And today, she stood in the freezing rain in extreme physical discomfort, her cane in one hand, and hope in the other, and saw that dream come to fruition.

She met Bono.

He kissed her.

And hugged her. And probably did some other things that she's not telling me.

It's not every day that seemingly impossible dreams come true. I'm currently riding the wave of her excitement. I'm so happy for her!

As for me, I'm sick as a dog, and wasn't there! No kisses for this guy!

Currently playing: U2 - Bad
Currently colouring: Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 13!
Proudly in my sixth Cola free year!

Thanks for a great 15 years, Ottawa Senators!

Well, this looks to be it.

Stephen Brunt, one of Canada's most respected sports journalists put out an article tonight announcing the return of the NHL to Winnipeg.

If it was the Dauphin Herald announcing it, I'd show a bit more caution. But the Globe and Mail is actually owned by David Thomson, one of the partners in True North Sports and Entertainment who are buying the team, so I think it's a pretty credible source.

I promptly got to work getting rid of all my Ottawa Senators gear. (Throwing them into a Senators garbage can of all things!)
When I had to pick a new team to cheer for after the Jets left, I had 2 criteria.

1. They had to be Canadian
2. I couldn't hate them.
   

Let's see, going through the list...

• Vancouver - still bitter that the Canucks came back from a 3-1 series deficit in 1992 to win in 7 games
• Calgary - better dead than red.
• Edmonton - after the Oiler's dominance over the Jets in the 80's? Fat chance.
• Toronto - are you kidding me? Never.
• Montreal - still bitter that every time they visited Winnipeg, the arena was louder when the Habs scored.
  

That left the Ottawa Senators.

In the few years they co-existed, the Sens had only beaten the Jets once, so I didn't hate them.

Their sole victory occurred on the infamous "Free Peanut Butter Night" of November 5, 1993. I don't remember who sponsored the promotion, but everyone in attendance that night got a free jar of peanut butter. The Jets score 6 unanswered goals to lead the game 6-3, only to allow the Senators to tie it in the last 10 minutes of the game. Bob Kudelski completed a hat trick in overtime to win the game for the Sens.

After witnessing such a stunning collapse, you can guess what happened to the free peanut butter. Apparently many jars were thrown onto the ice in disgust.



I wasn't there, but I talked to some who were over the years, and it was apparently a night to remember.

Anyhow, while I won't really be putting my Senators gear in the trash, it will get packed up and put away.

And so it goes. A long 15 year fling is over, and I'm sorry to say I'm dumping you for an older love who also happens to be my first - a Winnipeg NHL team.

No matter what they end up being called.

Thanks for the great memories over the last 15 years, Senators!

Currently playing: Kenny Loggins - Highway to the Danger Zone
Currently colouring: Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 13!
Proudly in my sixth Cola free year!