a small rubber penguin

Had a really great visit from a dear friend and her family. I shared my new years goal with her and she was intrigued. She is really smart and already far more environmentally sound than I am so we discussed things like "zero-net" gains for buying things that we need, and the ridiculous nature of most single use items-like that egg separator that I already talked about. Turns out it doesn't even work that well so it went into the trash along with a bowl that had a chipped rim, multiple bags of spices that were no longer identifiable by thier smell or texture and a pair of running shoes that even a homeless nomad in the northern tundra would not wear because the sole was so flat. Temptations are everywhere though. I already wish that I had a new flat screen tv for my bedroom because I have this big old clunker that takes up the entire top of the dresser. (yeah I know that there are kids in darfur who only watch tv by drawing pictures of tv characters in the dirt and that I should be grateful that I even have any tv at all) I also feel this impulse to get some speakers for my kitchen because I can hardly hear the radio in there when i am cooking because the sizzling of my organic onions in my all clad pan make too much noise-anybody feeling sorry for me yet? so clearly my mission isn't about need it's about the modern dilema of confusing need with want and desire. So if I think about the zero net gain concept (any new thing that comes into the house must replace something that goes out of the house) that only accounts for one part of my process-it will stop the clutter from increasing but won't address the idea that I really don't need most of the stuff that I have. Let me do a zero net gain analysis here for today-what left the house: the aforementioned items that were trashed, plus a nearly dead house plant that I had given up on and was planning to put on the curb tomorrow night where it clearly would have frozen off its final leaf and caused me guilt all night-but my friend took it because surely someone in her garden club would rescue it, nurture it back to full greenery, and later recieve compliments about it and if i ever see it again i will be jealous. The plant left in a wicker basket, and some plastic tupperware containers left filled with food that we made together...a star wars comic book is also gone-into the hands of a new fan. I feel pretty good after this weekend's visit (obviously it is because of the love of good friends but you knew that already. Then when i came upstairs to type, I found a small rubber penguin sitting on my desk-he looked purposely place there right next to a photo of dear friend's children.but maybe he's a message? what are you trying to say boy? should i go out and get a flat screen tv so i can watch the animal planet and learn how to save your habitat? what if i find another small rubber penguin standing on the table, on top of the Best Buy circular, pointing to the flat screen tvs? how could i ignore that?