The Environmental Working Group tracks the amount of pesticides in popular fruits and vegetables, and publishes the list (currently 49 items) every year. They also create a guide (on a wallet-sized piece of paper, in an iPhone app, and probably other formats) that lists the top worst (that you should always buy organic) and the top best (that you don't have to buy organic if you're trying to save money). These are currently called the "Dirty Dozen" and the "Clean 15," although those numbers change from year to year (whether because of actual scientific testing or requests from the marketing group isn't clear [oh I am so cynical these days]).

I usually follow these guides for the humans in the family, but the birds get special preference, since the general consensus is that their bodies have less of a tolerance for nasty chemicals. For example, cucumbers are currently around the middle of the 49 items, but since Harley gets a slice almost every day, I always buy them organic. Lettuce currently appears at what would be #13 on the list of the Dirty Dozen, which is awfully close to dirty, and since the Finsters get it every day, I always buy it organic. Which leads to what should be the actual title of this blog entry:

Ginger died on Monday, May 16, 2011.

Or maybe:
The Last of a Thousand Finsters.

For some time now, and certainly since Cinnamon died, I've been focusing on the fact that no Finsters means less work for me. But it isn't really working. It's the end of an era, for sure, and all the humans in the house are having a hard time with it. We really miss having tiny, feathered activity in the house. Interestingly, Harley hasn't been as bothered by Ginger's death as he was by Cinnamon's death.

I have only just started cleaning up and clearing up everything. Partly because I am a lazy slug, partly because I'm busy taking a class, and partly because it's too sad to actually remove things. Bruce thinks having the cage in its usual spot is too harsh a reminder that all the Finsters are dead, I think cleaning things up slowly will make it easier. I guess we're both right (although I know the laziness levels in this household: I bet I'll win). Current ideas to use that space are comfy chairs and a little cafe table, and/or another play gym space for Harley. (Harley will win this one, in either case.)