Hey, turtle fans, it's me, Bob, wishing you a very happy Earth day today. I'm sure it's no surprise that I am a big proponent of Earth Day. I was, after all, quite tight with Mother Earth for many months last year while I hibernated during Museum construction! So here, in honor of Earth Day, I give you...

"Bob's Top 10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day 2009"

	Plant a tree. Not only do they provide great shade from our hot Texas sun, trees absorb carbon dioxide and create oxygen for us to breath. And they're fun to climb. Or so they tell me.
	Recycle. Yeah, that’s an easy one. Everyone's recycling these days so there's no excuse for pitching that bottle, drink can or paper into the landfill.
	Use energy-efficient materials in your home. My home is about as energy-efficient as it gets! But since it probably isn't practical for you to live in a shell, your best bet is to use energy-efficient appliances, insulation and windows in your house.
	Compost it. It's easy to make a compost bin, and food scraps and kitchen waste make great compost. Trust me on this one. If there's one thing I know, it's dirt!
	Don't be idle. Funny coming from a turtle, eh? What I mean is if you’re waiting in a pickup line at school, or perhaps waiting to get out of a crowded parking lot, turn your engine off. Constant idling wastes fuel and money.
	Reuse. You know what they say: One turtle's trash is another turtle’s treasure. (Isn't that how it goes?) Give cardboard tubes to pet hamsters. Make a tire swing out of an old tire. Plant seeds in old egg cartons. Find creative ways to reuse things instead of throwing them away.
	Use recyclable grocery bags! Paper or plastic? You don't need either these days.
	Walk, don't drive. Yeah, I know, another humorous tip coming from a turtle. But, really, I'd walk everywhere if I could! I just don't have that kind of time. Leaving your car at home twice a week can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1,600 per year. If you're not close enough to walk, consider taking public transportation.
	Enjoy nature. Earth Day isn't just about protecting the Earth, it’s about celebrating it! Get out there today and fly a kite, ride a bike or, better yet, clean up trash in the local park.
	Use water efficiently. Is there any doubt what's most important to me? I love, love, love water. Almost as much as minnows. So we have to use it wisely or we may not have enough. My friends at the Tarrant Regional Water District have lots of great tips at their new conservation Web site, www.savetarrantwater.com. You can learn more, too, in the wet and wild IMAX film, Grand Canyon Adventure, now showing in the Omni Theater. (What I wouldn't give to raft down that river!) Check out the film and find more water conservation tips on the film Web site. Tell 'em Bob sent you.

Hey, I have one more tip for you. It’s not for Earth Day, but rather for the day after. (A post-Earth Day celebration!) You're invited to a Blessing of the River at the Trinity River at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday April 23. Streams and Valleys, along with the Tarrant Regional Water District and Museum of Science and History, will be celebrating everything the river gives us with a Native American blessing featuring ceremonial dancers and Intertribal Elder Eugene Brown. It will be fun to watch and it's FREE!

Get directions and find more information about it on our Web site. Come on out and join us. It will be at the end of River Road, in the shadow of the Lancaster Bridge overpass. If you see my Trinity River turtle friends, tell them I said "hello."

Until next time, turtle-loo, friends!

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