i wanna be captain planet.

Yesterday afternoon John and I went to see Ralph Nader speak at GSU. He spoke only about the environment, as he was participating in the 2004 Georgia Environment Organization Summit, and said nothing about his campaign.* Like I told my mom, it made me want to go clean something. John and I already want to buy a hybrid, but we won't be able to do that for years. Years. I was sitting there listening, thinking about someday having a house with huge solar energy panels on the roof. And maybe a windmill in the backyard, just for good measure.

It's hard to explain. I remember when I was little there was this organization called Kids F.A.C.E. that was all about saving the planet. It got really big. I had the bed sheets and the comforter. My family recycled. I still cut up those plastic things that hold six-packs of soft drink cans together because I get this image of a fish tangled up in them every time I go to throw one away. But then, why is it I automatically assume that my garbage still has any chance of ever getting near a live fish?

I don't know where I'm going with this. I just want things to be cleaner. I dunno, maybe I just want to feel cleaner. This country makes me feel dirty. This city makes me feel claustrophobic. I need to get to the ocean and feel salt and wind and something bigger than myself before the whole place gets too gunked up to swim in.

*For the record, I still have not drawn loyalties to any presidential candidate. John has. I pretty much just know who I'm not voting for.