Anyone who reads this blog knows that Lauren and I love to share the fun and foibles of eating a lot of vegetables…but we also like to digress into issues a little outside the tofu talk. That said, this particular blog is kudos to a person I think has made a positive step in terms of changing behavior. To you, Phyllis Swebilius, goes what Vegging Out will call its Golden Carrot Award. This coveted award goes to those who use a carrot rather than a stick to encourage thought about how actions – big and small - make a difference. When not stalking those who run vehicle engines for hours at a time, picking up trash on the beaches in Milford (or the parks and playgrounds for that matter) and teaching her young nephew about the joys of nature, Phyllis is thinking up other ways to save the planet, one reusable grocery bag at a time. Yes, Phyllis did purchase a bunch of colorful reusable bags, then passed them out in the newsroom to those who had matching ensembles…just kidding about that part, the matching was a coincidence…the bags really went to people whom she knew would use them. Phyllis also purchased (or dredged up from the back of her kitchen cabinets) a bunch of delightfully mismatched cutlery and dishes that she toted into the newsroom for any or all to use. The idea? Use and then wash the dishes, cut down on the waste of paper and plastic plates and other goods. Lauren, yes, Vegging Out’s own Lauren, reportedly brought in dish soap and a scrubby sponge to assist in this aforementioned washing. Well done, Lauren. To top all this off, Phyllis - yes that is her at right and she is not kidding about those trash bags - has placed a container near her own desk, into which she has invited anyone and everyone to place recyclable items. She will make sure they are recycled. Rick Sandella already has such a recycling receptacle, but Phyllis claims she has more friends than he does, so hers will fill faster. Stay tuned.

Breaking news update: Well, not really, as I found out about this a couple of days ago. But the news is that a detente has been reached in which Phyllis brings the recyclables she collects to Rick Sandella, and he takes care of getting them to the recycling genies. What magic is this? Cooperation (yes, we know that means Rick does the heavy work) makes the newsroom a place where many take little steps to make a difference, one Vitamin Water at a time. Everyone should give it a try.