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Idle Hands

Powering down for an evening means no TV, no stereo, no Nintendo Wii. No bread baking. But just as necessity breeds ingenuity, so does boredom, and a no-lights night is just the time to cultivate a few unusual talents you can use to later spice up dull parties or impress some hunk a burnin' love: Practice imitating famous voices (Grant, Hepburn, Hitchcock), preferably in the context of a drinking game; tell ghost stories or read some E. A. Poe; or, my new favorite, try your hand at hand shadowography (that's the technical term).

My last no-lights night main event was inspired by the amazing new German Volkswagen commercial I heard about through VSL-maybe I'm a moron (no need to chime in there), but a coupla candles, a blank wall, and a few idle hands gave way to an hour of brilliant absurdist entertainment. Learn how to form different animal shadows here.

- Jenifer Morgan... off to see if I can manage the Lochness Monster...
Posted by: tmeronek on 06/01/2007
related tip
When turning it off means getting it on. A no-lights night is a simple way to save your energy for, um, more satisfying endeavors, so turn off the lights, and turn on your partner.
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Brook  on June 01, 2007 at 08:56 AM 1
My son runs a lawn mowing business in Bozeman/Belgrade in Valley Grove and other subdivisions. He's a great kid who is raising funds for his many outdoor and sport activities. He will bag and weed eat and can do any size lawn. Jen not sure where your place is but my son would be willing to mow your lawn, keep your yard looking great, and take care of animals if needed! Not exactly the response you were asking for as he is 14 going on 15 but helping out your local responsible youth could probably be just as satisfying. Send me an email if interested and I'll get you our home number. brook@pcengineeringllc.com
Healing Frog  on June 01, 2007 at 09:51 AM 2
No lights means going to bed earlier, getting more sleep and feeling much more grounded and happy! When I was younger my dad lived for 17 1/2 yrs. with kerosene lamps. We went to bed earlier because the low lighting wasn't good for reading or doing much. Americans are over worked, running around ragged,and half asleep every day, get some more sleep, turn off your lights a couple nights a wk. America! The simpler life is yours for the taking.
SDelamore  on June 01, 2007 at 01:22 PM 3
Some of us would love to turn off the lights but have no one to share the dark with. For the time being I am stuck watching TV and Net Flicks movies both of which take electricity. Sigh.
Arousiak and Sacha  on June 01, 2007 at 03:50 PM 4
We're a group in NYC called Plug It Out!. We have a collective unplugged evening one day every month and it's a wonderful way to spend the evening. As much about saving energy as saving the mind and soul. We've gotten fantastic feedback and have hosted a pot luck unplugged dinner featuring only local foods, and illuminated by hand poured soy candles . It was a great success and we filmed some footage for a an upcoming documentary. Please join us and spread the word. Our next Plug It Out! is on Saturday, June 16, from 6:30-10:30 pm, but you can do it for longer if you like. It's all about enrichment, not deprivation... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PlugItOut/ http://www.myspace.com/plugitout
BlueMoon  on June 04, 2007 at 04:52 AM 5
Why not give up driving one day a month! You know how every so often we get emails and notices from "friends" that tells us not to buy gas on a specific day? My husband and I were talking recently and he said that what would really help our planet as well as possibly give a wakeup to the "powers that be" is set aside a day a month, all on the same day, that no one drives! I know that it would not go over nationally that there are those who would say, "Oh I cannot do that, I have to go to work, or the store etc." However, I feel that if we could get it started that enough of us like-minded people would really embrace it and do it for our planet as well as our wallets. Just think, walk, bike, public transportation. What a kick it might start? www.bluemoonnl.com Shanti
michelle  on June 06, 2007 at 11:17 AM 6
I love the idea of "give up driving one day a month" my husband and i also got the same email last month and did our part not to buy gas that day...but still saw the gas stations full. We had the same thought, one day without any driving...for our family maybe a sunday, i know we could bike to church by just getting up a little earlier. Everyone could personalize there day and choose what worked for them...lets spread the word...my family will give it a try! I'll let you all know how it goes...
Lou  on November 13, 2007 at 12:23 PM 7
How do you get neighbors to turn off their outside lights? The lights on my neighbors garage light up my whole house at night. A 747 could land in their driveway. There are many others who leave outdoor lights on all night long. If security is the issue, then use motion sensors. Unfortunately, if you say something to them about it, they just get angry. I understand it's their electric bill but it's everyone's natural resources that are being wasted.
jen  on March 27, 2009 at 11:39 AM 8
In the town we used to live in you could count on a couple of power outages every winter when storms or snow took down power lines. I remember those days as being wonderful times of quiet- there was nothing to do but light a few candles and take some time for quiet conversation or contemplation and enjoy the silence of no appliances humming! We don't get these same "inconveniences" in the city we now live in, but I often miss those opportunities for tranquility!
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