Convenient, for whom? My view is the sellers of such material sell it for their own benefit and profit. Their propaganda tell us it is convenient for us as well.

Recurring waste items should be our prime target since Zero Waste will be that bit closer.

I agree with your loose tea comments. After teabags were needlessly wrapped in foil bags, here in the UK, loose became the preferred option.

I live in Argentina and we don't have bottled tea here, which I think is great. We have a smaller variety of convenience foods (frozen, canned, etc) mostly because they're more expensive and money is less available for unnecessary things like that here. This summer, though, I saw at the grocery store that they're selling iced tea in plastic envelopes, as they've always done with juices. I was shocked that anyone could buy that, it sounds ridiculous.

There has been an increment of convenience foods over the years; mostly rice or dry pasta which come together in a bag with condiments and artificial flavors. They have a bigger impact on the environment, I think, because instead of coming in a regular plastic bag, this one is lined with aluminum, so it's a heavier package, it's not recyclable and it's a waste of metal besides a waste of plastic. They're not nearly as bad as canned or frozen food, though.

Most people who regularly eat convenience foods like that actually think they taste great, and while it is a completely personal thing I am sure they'd prefer to eat homemade food instead, if they even remembered what it tastes like.

Flavor enhancers like monosodium glutamate (which are abundant in that kind of foods as well as others) actually lessen your ability to taste!! So a food without any flavor enhancer might taste dull to people who regularly consume them.

Stay away of flavor enhancers!! They're bad for you!!

Yes, convenience is a luxury, and not only can the earth not afford it, but neither can the economy really currently. With the obesity epidemic sweeping across the country, our bodies can't afford the luxury of convenience either.

I've been canning and otherwise making my own stuff lately, I justify by saying it will save money, but it also saves plastic which is my real goal. I also get to make sure there is no excessive sugar, HFCS, or other additives in what I make as well. I made granola bars last week, canned peaches and berries this last weekend, and I'm making Ketchup next weekend!

As my husband says "It's way less work to put a rag in the washing machine than it is to remember to buy paper towels!"

Oh, and my time was actually 6 hours and 10 minutes, which I can confess after hearing what your time was.

Oh, and I also forgot to mention that while the second half of the marathon was nearly all walking, spontaneous bouts of running would occur every time there was a photo op. Can't imagine why.

My sisters were with me and put me in a bathtub full of ice immediately afterwards. It sucked, but really, really helped. And so did the bottle of champagne I had in there with me. My sister also massaged my legs. These techniques worked so well, that I danced all night at the celebration party later that evening.

Okay, these comments have nothing whatsoever to do with Linda's awesome post. Perhaps we should continue this conversation via email, lest other readers become annoyed.

I thought of carrying my stainless steel drinking bottle for the run, but thought it would be weird or something. Now I know better. I carried my first cup and just had it refilled the entire time (the volunteers had jugs of water to refill a glass or bottle). I had my husband do the same as well. He eventually got a plastic cup of Bud from one of the unofficial volunteers so he carried that for the rest of the run.

And I hate that I have to sell being green by saying how easy it is, how it doesn't take much time. Because saving the planet should be important. But I know that is what we have to do . . .