New Year's Eve, Berlin, 1989...

The first after the fall of the wall....now THIS was a New Year's Eve celebration.

See, Santa?

I'm not only the one concerned. You're like one gingersnap away from diabetes. Heed the doc's advice, wouldja?

Buy Some Biodegradable Poop Bags, Wouldja?

When I first saw the headline in the Seattle Times that read Seattle City Council Bans Plastic Bags, I got really excited! I was going to plant a big fat one right on Seattle's kisser but then I read on and got all disappointed. How can such an eco driven city like Seattle still allow for plastic bags in so many cases, like for produce and take-out and as the writer of the article so astutely points out, "to pick up dog poop"? (Sorry, I love that a professional writer just used "poop" in a news article. Tee hee.) But let me get back to my rant. When you are cutting out only half of those plastic bags, that's not so much of a ban now, is it?

However, it is a step in the right direction of the ole' "harm reduction" model as we ex-social workers like to call it. But twenty plastic bags in a whale's stomach? Those are twenty plastic bags that didn't have to exist in the first place. (Yes, that's right, something that probably carried someone's damn soda may have contributed to the death of that majestic animal. Read the full article here.)

So here's something to add to your Christmas list. Or better yet, go straight to the resale shop and pick up a few canvas bags instead. It will cost you a whole 75 cents and your cans of beans won't fall through them. Wait...can it be? Eco friendly AND efficient? Oh, those German roots just keep popping through...

Awww!

Who knew that old magazines could be so cute?

Twenty Percent is Suddenly a Ridiculously High Number

A friend of mine recently made a confession to me:

"I can't help it. I really like The Biggest Loser," she practically whispered to me. "I actually watch it while I'm on the treadmill because I think, for God's sake, if that 500-pound person can run a few more minutes, I should be able to!"

And I get where she's coming from. Another friend recently told me about a marathon runner who was 76 years old. Umm, yeah...maybe I can aspire to that 5K next spring after all.

Then again, different folks, different strokes. What works me might not work for you. (And what works for the marathon runner definitely doesn't work for me.) I was just lamenting that I cannot run a decent distance on the treadmill anymore, yet (if I may toot my own horn here) I can tear it up in any cardio class for an hour straight. So what gives?

Who knows? I just keep doing whatever I can because I want to keep my body and soul in the healthiest shape possible. And although I am the first to scream that SKINNY IS NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH HEALTHY, there is indeed a weight issue in this country that needs to be addressed, especially among our children.

I came across this story the other day and was mortified by the accompanying chart. Twenty percent obesity rate among our nation's 6-11 year-olds?? That's not just appalling, it's downright scary. And as I read the story about this weight loss camp, I couldn't help but feel my heart sink slightly with every success story. Of course, I'm glad that these kids are working so hard to become physically healthy but are we really seeing teens who need to lose 100 pounds? And let's not kid ourselves. It's not as if anorexia amongst teens has plummeted and the pendulum is now swinging in the other direction. No, the "successful" Americans we are, we now have extreme weight issues on both ends of the spectrum.

And now many of us find ourselves buried under ridiculous quantities of holiday cookies and candy. It's cold and snowy and the idea of a five mile walk at 7am makes me want to throw my head under the blankets and hit the snooze button thirty-seven times. I might think of those kids and rationalize that I would be more likely to get up and go for an early morning walk if I, too, lived in North Carolina, not in the tundra that is Wisconsin. Call them reasons, call them excuses but for me, the reasons to get out of bed and stay active and healthy have just sky-rocketed. It's not just about me anymore. It's also about sending an important message to our kids that how we treat our bodies really does matter. Staying active, being cognizant of the food we are putting into our bodies, repeating the mantra, all things in moderation...now that's an amazing gift we could give to our youth.

Besides, if they can get the message out, we certainly can, too.

No Place for Ponies

I am the biggest sentimental sap ever but I would shed no tears to see this tradition die. Glad to see that animal rights advocates are finally getting themselves heard in regards to this issue. Not so easy to do over those taxi horns.

Save, Spend, Save, Spend...

I love the statement in this article that it is the "civic duty" of Americans to shop. Sure feels like it, doesn't it? While the insane were stampeding their fellow Americans yesterday, I played with my niece, ate leftover pie, and took a long nap. I plan to do most of my little Christmas shopping at small shops in my city and my Christmas bonus shall go directly into my savings account. Yep, apparently my German heritage strikes again.

Sorta Kinda Good News

Yes, people are recycling more. Hallelujah. According to this article, Americans are at a 34 percent national recycling rate. Although I'm happy to see that more people are recycling, Americans are still producing 250 million tons of trash per year. Does anyone else think that this is insane? Almost four and a half pounds or garbage per person per day? I guess we need to rejoice in any steps forward but I'm also disheartened that we are producing more trash than we did thirty years ago. Haven't we learned anything? Consumption, consumption, consumption, the American way, is it? Maybe this holiday season is the time to turn that around. I really like these ideas and I especially like the first piece of advice on the list.

It may be the thought that counts, but a gift that the receiver does not use is simply wasted: not a very nice thought. Give material possessions only if you know the recipient well enough to pick out something they were on the cusp of getting for themselves, or which they really need and will certainly enjoy using.

Besides, as much as I'd like a new Ipod for Christmas (ahem), I'd pretty much freak out (in a good way, of course) if someone wrote me a poem or came up with a personalized playlist for me as a holiday gift. Who doesn't want to feel all tingly inside, knowing that a friend or family member took the time to really think about the person you are?

So yeah, feel free to write me a sonnet. Or give your friends a plant that can bloom throughout these cold, winter months. And of course, when in doubt, there are always cookies.

As Much as I Love You, New York...

...this was part of the reason I left you.

Premature births? Autism? Depression? Anxiety? Cognitive delays? ADD? Effects on intelligence and decision making?

Folks, this research is chilling. I doubt that anyone has had to make a huge leap to the "pollution is bad for us" conclusion but some of these correlations are quite amazingly frightening. Listen to this:

"...children born to mothers living with 1,000 feet of a major road or freeway in Los Angeles, San Francisco or Sacramento were twice as likely to have autism, independent of gender, ethnicity and education level as well as maternal age, exposure to tobacco smoke or other factors."

Twice as likely??

This, too, I found fascinating:

"In New Jersey, premature births, a risk factor for cognitive delays, in areas around highway toll plazas dropped 10.8% after the introduction of E-ZPass, which eased traffic congestion and reduced exhaust fumes."

Yet another reason to carpool, take the bus, ride your bike, walk more, BE INNOVATIVE AND BUILD RAIL SYSTEMS THAT CONNECT MAJOR CITIES WHICH WILL MOST CERTAINLY PAY OFF IN THE LONG RUN INSTEAD OF GIVING THE FUNDING (AND JOBS!) AWAY (ahem), and perhaps take a full inventory of the pros and cons of where you live. I love where I live but there are some transportation issues I need to rectify. Hmmm....more on this to come.

Thank Goodness For Third Graders

Amazing photo, sad story.

Ironically, I just overheard a related conversation between two 8-year-olds. In typical third grade fashion, they were in the midst of playing living room football when matters of the heart arose.

Kid #1: "Hey, if you could have one wish in the world, what would it be?"

Kids #2, without skipping a beat: "Well, I'd save all the animals from extinction...yeah, for sure...I'd save all of the animals."

Heart instantly warmed.

First Peanuts, Now Pecans...What's Next??

Dudes, pie is on the line. Now if that doesn't get you riled up about climate change, I don't know what will.

Send Me to Denmark Please

I've been arguing with some people for years about what I think can be a very real relationship between one's physical environment and one's happiness. Well, really, there's one person in particular I've been yelling at for some time about this. (You know who are you.) He thought all my moving around was a bit silly, that it didn't matter where I lived, that there was something within me that needed to be ironed out and that until that happened, I'd never find any peace. I never disagreed that I had stuff to deal with (who doesn't?) but I also knew that certain environments just did not feel right to me and that I needed to be in a place that felt stimulating, alive, and loving. Yes, loving, whether that meant being in close proximity to the people I care for most deeply or living in a community that seemed to genuinely care not only for me but my neighbor, too.

So then can I tell you how excited I am to hear about this book? Thank you, Mr. Buettner for making me feel a little less crazy about my position and for letting that friend of mine know that he's just, well, wrong. Heh heh...

Insert Giant Smiley Emoticon Here

Today is a cloudy, chilly fall day in my neck of the woods. Some might even deem it a bit depressing as they try to galvanize themselves to do a little work when all they really want to do is wrap themselves up in a blanket, drink some tea, and drift off to siesta land. (I mean, some people might feel this way.) But then you watch this and I doubt you can feel anything but warm, sunny, and cheerful. Especially when you see that little gavel dance.

Oh, if only I had singing, dancing puppets at my disposal at any given time. (Sigh.)

Apples, the Evil Food

I try to be very respectful of everyone's independence and choices in life. However, I, too, NPR often wonder whose choice it should be to eat healthy. My instant reaction to that question in your article was, don't you dare try to tell me what to put in my body! But study after study shows that the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is driving up health care costs astronomically. (Guess who's paying for the uninsured person who ends up in the ER due to a diet induced heart attack?)

And now, if I may, I'm going to vent a bit.

Is it just me or is Ms. Coleman's comment absolutely infuriating? Who on earth is complaining about apple slices? And what exactly is the message here? That if your children are "picky" eaters, let them eat all the french fries they want? Come on now, Ms. Coleman. You're not doing your boys any favors. And I doubt you are helping out the rest of us down the road either.

Maybe try a pear instead?

Let's Stay Out of Crazy Town, Shall We?

When people try to tell me that animals don't have emotions, I proceed to go to Crazy Town in about...oh...0.8 seconds. It's photos like this one where the facial expression is so indicative of something so very real and raw (an expression that I unfortunately saw on the faces of many a traumatized client in my past work) that makes me want to shove it in the faces of any non-believer. Emotionless creatures? Are you kidding me?

Take THAT, Big Oil!

I really like the phrase, "closing in on oil". After a less than ideal morning, this is a pretty great bit to stumble upon.

How About the Working to Live Option?

It was right before I moved to Madrid that I heard the statement, "Americans live to work; the Spanish work to live." Since then, I've heard "the Spanish" replaced by "the French" or "the Europeans" or "the Mexicans", pretty much all people of any country outside of my own.

As I get older, I've realized a 40 hour work week is really not my idea of a fun time. I dare say it's unhealthy for a whole lot of people. And don't even get me started on overtime. My last professional, full-time job left me clocking at least 45 hours a week. I realize that this is normal for a lot of Americans but I hated that for almost ten hours a day (don't forget the commute!), I was away from my home, my family, my friends, my hobbies, pretty much everything that made me feel happy and alive. So I vowed never to do it again. Nothing above 35 hours, I told myself. Now, I must admit that 25 seems like a fine number.

I'm not lazy. Anyone who knows me will concur. I just believe that most Americans spend a ridiculous amount of waking hours working. And I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that most of this work is unfulfilling, joyless, perhaps even soul killing stuff. My God, what kind of life is this? Let me tell you. It's a very tired, cranky one where all sorts of relationships suffer, where partners feel unappreciated, parents feel guilty, kids are longing, and singletons feel pressure to work even longer hours because, well, "they don't have families to go home to". (Umm, right.)

On top of this, as this awesome article points out, the busier we are, the more we rely on services like tailoring and fast food when in actuality, we would probably feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment if we sewed that hem or cooked that sauce from scratch ourselves. In an age of butts attached to chairs and eyeballs glued to screens, is it really any mystery that more and more of us are craving time in gardens and kitchens and workshops? I believe that people do ache to be productive but what about a productivity derived from the creativity most of us don't get to use on the job?

Not only do we feel some sense of self-worth when sanding that table or potting that plant, we also might happen to feel (brace yourself) happy along the way. So what would happen if instead of the normal 40 hour work week, a person pulled a "mere" 30 hours in the office and then 5 caring for animals at the local shelter,and another 5 playing with family and friends? Call me crazy but I think some might call this balance. Too bad that American work culture seldom allows for it. Not only are there bills to pay but when jobs are already scarce, who's going to give their employer any reason to shop around? Forty (or so) hours it is.

It's a pity on so many levels, too. As Juliet Schor, the author of this article points out, not only does this kind of balance nourish our souls, it slows down the destruction of our planet. In general, the more people work, the messier lives they lead in many respects. Of course, you can certainly lead a very messy life without working a ton but something tells me that you and I are less likely to get take-out or pick a fight with someone if we walk through the door before 5pm.

I'm all about de-cluttering my life in every sense these days. Working less for me means less stuff which translates into less cleaning, less car maintenance, less dry cleaning, and maybe less vacations but also more book reading, more coffee dates, and more walks in the park on a crisp autumn day. More worthwhile time, more valuable experiences, and more treasured connections. I think I'm quite happy to make the trade.

Nooooooo!

America, this picture alone should remind you that we must indeed continue to be really, really, REALLY concerned about where our food is coming from!

P.S. I love Gene K's comment at the end of the article:

"Only being able to afford beans, rice and ramen greatly reduces the potential sources of tainted food in your diet".

Beauty from Tragedy

Best line of this article?

"The sustainable features in the design were intended to be viewed as a sign of hope."

In every sense.

Waste Not in Thine Cafeteria

So here I go again, talking about the documentary, No Impact Man. But just for a second, okay? There is one particular scene that is so engrained in my brain, I must share. It's when Colin shows us the family's waste from the first week of their project. Do you remember this? There's like two little papery slivers in the entire waste basket. Although I am highly cognizant of my trash output and am moderately okay about the little bag that leaves my house on a weekly basis, I still feel bad knowing that I will never get close to what this guy is doing.

And then I go shopping, say at the grocery store or the local toy shop and every single time, I get really upset, seeing all of the ridiculous excess packaging slapped on pretty much everything from yogurt covered pretzels to Star Wars action figures. I also have very mixed feelings about those 100 calorie snack pouches. On one hand, I'm glad to know that people are beginning to actually see what 100 calories (basically, a decent sized afternoon snack) looks like. However, all of the plastic that goes around what is basically a handful of nuts or granola makes me a bit insane. Some time ago, I bought a few little plastic containers to ease my burgeoning insanity, which I now regularly use for those types of small snacks. (Of course, glass containers would be even more eco-friendly but I'm pretty darn klutzy.) These containers work particularly well for yogurt, considering that most of the cities I've lived in don't seem to recycle the single serving yogurt containers. Ugh.

So now that I'm in the habit of buying the big container/jar/jug of whatever foods to ration myself, it's not a big deal. However, for families, I do realize that this adds precious time to what is already a hectic day. Yet in the long run, those pre-packaged foods are not only Satan to the environment, the mere costs of them add up.

In preparation of the school year, I happened upon this website which details some of these issues. Get this, they say that "...on average, a school-age child using a disposable lunch generates 67 pounds of waste per school year. That equates to 18,76 pounds of lunch waste for just one average-size elementary school". And the price tag of disposing this school trash in my city? Approximately $81, 000 annually! When our educational system is already suffering immensely, this seems like a problem most families could tackle to ease some of the financial burden of their schools.

So what can you do? (I'm so glad you asked!) Well, first off, even though I'm focusing on meals at school, we all need to realize that a waste free lunch applies to all of us who eat lunch outside of the home, assuming of course, that you aren't eating on a paper plate at the dining room table.

Secondly, check out http://wastefreelunches.org/. And if looking at yet another website makes your head hurt, simply make an attempt to keep plastic baggies, aluminum foil, and wax paper out of the equation as often as possible. Consider buying a couple of reusable containers including one of those handy sandwich sized guys. Immediately, you are doing good for the environment while saving money. Win win! And funnily enough, when you start minimizing the pre-packaged stuff, you will notice your child's lunch becoming healthier and healthier. Makes sense, doesn't it, that all of that preserved/wrapped up/sitting-on-store-shelves-for-months-at-a-time stuff probably isn't too darn healthy?

However, it's a hard transition to make. I get it. As I've said before, I'm no saint. Part of the reason I write these posts is to remind myself of what I (single, childless, non-crazy/hectic household dwelling person) could be doing. And I'm still a sucker for granola bars, despite all of the stupid packaging that comes along with them. So I assure you, we are in this together. Need help coming up with new lunchbox ideas? Check out http://www.laptoplunches.com/ for some healthy recipes. I'm looking at them, too.

And of course, the bigger question is:

Is this all worth the time and hassle?

I definitely think so. The other great aspect of a waste-free lunch is that contrary to all of the messages crashing into our kids' brains, taking steps to reduce and re-use shows them that we do not have to live in such a disposable world. I mean, we do have some say in the matter, don't we? Soon enough, instead of emptying the remnants of their lunch boxes into the cafeteria wastebasket, they will bring silverware and perhaps a cloth napkin back home to clean. Caring for every day things is a great way to build on the all-encompassing message of taking care of our planet and of course, one another.

But back to that granola bar conundrum. It's easy, fast, and the sugar rush I "need" in the afternoon. Well, look at me, I just turned around and made my very own. (Well, maybe it was a few days ago but whatever.) Adapted from a Whole Living magazine recipe, here's my own take:

1 1/4 cups slow cooking oatmeal

1/2 cup dried fruit

1/4 cup ground flaxseed (optional)

1/4 cup nuts, coarsely chopped nuts (pistachios, pecans, walnuts, or almonds)

1/4 tsp. salt

*1/2 cup honey

*1/4 cup natural creamy peanut butter

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Sprinkling of chocolate chips

*Since I am a peanut butter addict, I use equal parts of honey and peanut butter, basically 1/3 cup and 1/3 cup.

Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease an 8-by-8 inch baking pan with canola or walnut oil. In a bowl, combine oatmeal, dried fruit, flaxseed, nuts, and salt. In a small stovetop pan, combine the honey, peanut butter, and vanilla. Cook over low to medium heat until melted. Pour over dry ingredients and stir to combine. Pat mixture into baking pan. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top. (Gee, wonder who came up with that step.) Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until edges pull away from sides of pan. Cool in pan. Ta da!

No packaging to speak of, especially when they go directly from the pan into my mouth. But my sugar addiction is a whole other topic. Enjoy, my friends, and waste not!

But We Still Hate Your Football Team

I gotta admit...I often feel quite negative about the slow pace of progress. However, I am completely heartened anytime I see that the times are indeed a'changing. This action by my friendly southern neighbor might seem like common sense to many but I think it is SO HUGE! Way to go, Chicago!

Adventures in Dogland

You see, I'm not so much a dog person.

And before you jump to the conclusion that I fall onto the cat side of things, well, you're actually totally right. But despite my ongoing stories about Baxter the Cat, I'm not some crazy cat lady. Let's be clear. I just happen to thoroughly enjoy the fact that Bax may or may not get off his duff to greet me at the door. I love that I can leave two days worth of food and water out for him while I head out of town for the weekend. And I really dig the fact that he has a little box tucked away in which he can pee and poo whenever he darn pleases.

So dog-sitting is always a bit of a challenge for me. Mostly, because I really do not get dogs. It's actually quite embarrassing. I mean, unless you've been living in a cave, we've all had a ridiculous amount of exposure to our canine friends. I mean, it's not like I'm trying to take care of my friend's pet chinchilla for God's sake. So why am I so stupid when it comes to this?? And before you assume that I am being hard on myself, consider the evidence of the past years:

Situation #1:

Watching dogs come in, filthy with muddy paws. Friend (thank you, Lord) there to assist:

Me: So they're going to clean themselves up, right?

Her: What do you mean?

Me: Like lick themselves off a bit?

Her: Umm, no, that would be a cat that does that.

Me: Sooooo...you're saying that I have to clean them off myself??

Her: Well, yeah. (Points to towel which owners had quite logically left next to the door).

Me: Oh. (Thoughts of Bax licking his paws proceed to dance through my head.)

Situation #2:

Dog approaches me with rubber bone thing. Wants to play, I assume? Trying to take it from him, he proceeds to make a scary, growling noise. I quickly determine that he wants to play tug of war. (So clever of me!) However, after about five seconds of this, the scary, guttural noise deepens. I try not to be a complete wimp and continue to play "rough" with him. (This would be the wussy pants version of anyone else's play with any sort of canine.) I very soon ascertain that hyped up, playful dog = scaring the bejesus out of me. I assume he is about to eat my hand off and give up. Then, I find myself actually trying to verbalize my phobia to this two-year-old pup.

"You see, I used to be a social worker and there were all sorts of scary dogs that would come to the door and make those kinds of noises. And even worse. I mean, they were often there to protect...stuff, ya know what I'm saying'? I'm sorry, this is just sort of PTSD-like for me. I'm just gonna have to stop now."

Non-crazy cat lady turns just plain crazy?

Situation #3

Am I really picking up poop at 6:50 in the morning before an ounce of caffeine has entered my system? And did Dog #1 actually just pee on Dog #2? I can't wrap my head around any of this and want desperately to return to bed. Instead, I go to work in a fog of oblivion.

Situation #4

I have clearly been working with young children for too long. As I try to put a collar and leash on an incredibly excited barely adult Lab, I find myself once again trying to explain how his misbehavior is not going to allow us to reach our mutual goal. Naturally, things get ramped up when I have a large creature jumping about and slobbering on me.

"WE CAN'T GO FOR A WALK IF THIS IS THE WAY YOU ARE GOING TO ACT!"

Again, the sun is barely up. I wonder if God hates me.

Situation #5:

Does anyone ever feel that their shoulder is honest to God about to be dislocated while "walking" the dog? I hate running and I'm not coordinated enough to bike while taking the dog out so my only option is to power walk, short of a jog. Undoubtedly, I've become the neighborhood morning entertainment. If it's not me getting dragged by their living room window that makes them chuckle, I'm sure that my expression of utter disgust each time my newspaper sleeve encased hand dips down to retrieve poop will give them a good laugh over their morning cup of joe. Your welcome.

Situation #6

Last night as I was in the process of getting my arm ripped off, my energizer bunny friend and I suddenly heard a child crying across the street. It sounded as though someone was simply over-tired and protesting bed time. Having taken care of a ton of cranky kids in my life, it barely even registered in my brain. Yet my canine friend stopped in his tracks, cocking his head in the child's direction. Those big brown eyes showed such care and concern for someone he didn't even know but so dearly wanted to protect that my heart just melted right there on the sidewalk. I realized once again that I truly don't understand dogs one bit. And sometimes, I guess, that's a-okay.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream About Fried Butter

I was all set to write some sort of sarcastic bit about the fried butter "treat" (yes, you heard me) that was apparently all the rage at the Wisconsin State Fair this year. I was going to point out how the organizers of the state fair apparently don't think Wisconsin's got enough obesity related health problems to contend with. I was then going to assure you that I'm no rigid health nut and can most definitely appreciate deep fried goodness (as in the delectable fried cheese curd) once in a while but that it doesn't seem especially wise to encourage such highly and deeply (as in deeply fried) unhealthy foods. For me, it's on par with those twenty ounce porterhouse steaks. Just, blech.

I was about to write all sorts of things about mass consumption in some of its ugliest forms when I chose to check in with the news first. I opened NPR's home page and this is what I saw. Now granted, I was already sort of on a rampage about our culture's constant demand for excess everything but this image about put me over the edge.

And yes, I get it. Fried butter. Ha ha, those crazy fair go-ers. Rachael, lighten up, it's all in ridiculous fun. But sometimes, I just can't find the humor in the absurdity of it all. While some people actually scout out ways to treat their bodies to the most ridiculous forms of excess, there are those on the other side of the globe, searching for the bare minimum to simply keep their bodies functioning.

So yes, famine in Somalia? Rather important. Fried fat? Not so much.

Oh, Nuts!

So it all started with the peanuts.

I am my father's child. Like a little squirrel, how I love nuts. Almonds, cashews, walnuts, peanuts, the whole lot of them. If I follow in my dad's footsteps, people will start giving me those neatly divided plastic trays of assorted nuts as Christmas gifts and I will be just tickled with that. Did you hear that? I'd be really happy with that.

Anyway, as protein packed and heart healthy as they are, nuts also pack a significant calorie punch. I was thinking about this the other day as I reached for yet another handful of peanuts, definitely the least healthy of them all. Considering I got them from the bulk goods section of the co-op, I didn't have that little square of nutritional information handy. (And I should add that I really have no business buying anything in bulk since I can never judge quantity which results in checking out with $14 worth of peanuts. For the love of God).

Maybe I should see how many calories I'm actually ingesting with these little buggers, I thought. I hopped online, did some searching and found this wonderful website, calorie100.com. I'm a super visual person so the cantaloupe to remote/Sun Chips to IPhone (7.5 chips equals 100 calories??) photos are very useful. Plus, I realized that I wasn't doing too bad with the ole' peanut intake. Hooray!

Yes, pictures are good, no? Even when the visual is just mentioned, it can really have an impact. A while back, I had read that your protein at a meal (for most people, this means meat) should be no bigger than a deck of cards. Well, la-di-da, that queen of diamonds visual has really stuck with me. It's also a good reminder just how out of control the American food industry has gotten with its portion sizes. Hard to blame the typical American for gaining weight when "normal" eating habits and food portions have been so horrifically skewed. I will now NOT talk about how Europeans really seem to have it together when it comes to forming a perfectly satiating, one scoop ice cream cone or a respectfully caffeinated, yet non-Venti cup of coffee.

But I will stop. You and I know better. But of course, engraining that image of your IPhone or TV remote into your brain can't hurt either.

Thank You, Mr. President

I've got to admit that I've been pretty disappointed by Obama's lack of aggressiveness in regards to environmental issues. However, this is pretty darn great.

Come On, Wisconsin! REALLY??

I thought Wisconsinites were too frugal to fall into this trap. Must be all those darn UW students.

I Am Totally Justified in Feeling Sorry for Myself

Act of Torture #1: Here in the Midwest, Mother Earth has decided to give us a good five day stretch of record breaking heat. Tomorrow's heat index is predicted to reach 110 degrees. We are only winding down Day Two. However, by some wild stroke of luck, a relative gave me an extra window a/c unit which is now churning out enough cool air to make me stop sweating. (Trust me, my environmentally guilt ridden self will assure you that it's on the absolute lowest setting, "cooling" my entire apartment.)

Act of Torture #2: Due to the insane humidity, I cannot hang my clothes to dry like I usually do. I must use the despised dryer. Do you know what it's like to take hot, piping clothes out of the dryer when you are already covered in sweat in your claustrophobic basement?

Act of Torture #3: There is no ice cream in the house.

Act of Torture #4: Hot laptop on well...lap.

Act of Torture #5: I already need a haircut. Now we have a dew point of 70. Guess what my hair looks like. Baxter the Cat's mane is looking better than mine. And he licks his.

Act of Torture #6: I cannot bake that rhubarb pie. Well, I could but I might as well just light myself on fire.

Act of Torture #7: My summer long ice cream addiction (all in the name of cooling off, mind you) has now resulted in me only being able to fit into a quarter of my summer wardrobe. Thank God for skirts with elastic waistbands.

Act of Torture #8: The mass quantities of water I am consuming is now resulting in pee breaks every 30 seconds opposed to the usual ten minute intervals.

Torture #9: Heat like this makes me crabby and sort of hate people. You gotta problem with that?

Torture #10: Heat also makes me incredibly lazy. I am literally staring at a to-do list a mile long. Yet, all I do is stare at it. It is an absolute wonder that I am typing.

And a Masochistic Act of Torture: Back to the hair subject. Is there anything worse than a hair dryer? Wait...I'm not quite hot enough, let me blow hot air directly onto my scalp. And let me do this while I sip my morning coffee. I am so, so stupid sometimes.

I may not be justified in being stupid but I am in feeling sorry for myself, right? This, coming from a girl who slept with a bag of (initially frozen) peas the other night. You are welcome to feel sorry for me, too. I never turn sympathy away. Or a turtle sundae. Just sayin'.

Brooklyn, Don't Make Me Miss You Any More Please

Ick.

It's something like 91 degrees outside right now and my hair has been doing crazy things, mostly laying very unattractively flat to my head. 'Tis the season for people to either be holed up in their homes in front of the A/C or sitting on a patio somewhere, sucking down a few. I live in Wisconsin where beer is regularly consumed no matter what the season. However, I'm thinking that it's probably on the rise on a day like today. So have you ever wondered which breweries are doing the best on the sustainable front? Me neither. (I know, for shame.) But I came across this article and I will give a major "WOOT, WOOT!" to Brooklyn. I never knew that the Brooklyn Brewing Company operated a 100% wind operated facility. How cool is that? And there are several other companies doing awesome things. Click, learn, and drive safely, my friends.

Good Lord...

I understand how the financial challenges of taking the environmentally friendly route can sometimes cause one to hesitate before making that decision. But who in the world is seriously against doing good for the environment while also saving money? Well, apparently there are those proposing the BULB bill. Again, I shake my head..

Hot Damn, Do I Love the Internet!

I've had a hair dryer in the trunk of my car for about six months now. Of course, I keep forgetting about it until I do some massive Target run and then as I'm throwing all my crap into the back, I scream to myself, "For the love of God, just DEAL with this!"

So I don't normally play taxi for my small electronic friends. After having my super handy, engineer/carpenter/electrician father look at it and deem it dead, I've been trying to figure out where I can recycle the darn thing. I refuse to put anything electronic into my regular garbage. After watching No Impact Man months ago, I still feel immense guilt for the teeny bag of trash that leaves my house every week.

But anyway, I was just hopping around some of my favorite eco websites and look what happens when you jump on earth911.org. You're instantly greeted by a "Find Recycling Center For..." tab! I almost smooched my screen. (I have the feeling that the folks in this coffee shop wouldn't even notice either). Unfortunately, my friends at www.earth911.org didn't have an exact match for my hair dryer situation but they kindly offered me other possible solutions which I play to explore.

Oh, internet, how I love thee.

But I Love Mashed Potatoes!

Bummer. I knew they weren't great for us but soooo bad? Luckily, I love me some almonds.

A Wal-Mart Precedent I Can Get Behind

Do you ever get to the point where you feel like your city, state, country, or planet for that matter is going to hell in a handbasket right before your very eyes? Well, that's sort of how I was feeling earlier this week so I purposely began to avoid the headlines. (Regardless, it's rather difficult not to hear about a certain local court justice who just couldn't keep his hands off of his colleague's neck.)

But at the moment, I am sitting down with a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper in front of me and feeling kind of all right about things. New York's recent decision to allow all consenting adults who are in love to marry? Awesome. And on a more local front, I was pleased to come across this article about what area retailers are doing to reduce their carbon footprint. What's especially pleasing to me is knowing that these steps are no doubt driven at least partially by consumers who are beginning to demand that their retailers be more environmentally sustainable. Just when you begin to think, but I'm only one person, what can it possibly matter, you realize that it really does.

How Long Can $45 Possibly Last?

A friend recently wrote this as her Facebook status:

HolyMarymotherofGod. $60?!? To fill up a Civic? I need smelling salts and/or a paper bag to breathe into - STAT.

I had to laugh because just moments before, I was having a similar pump-side freak out with my little Ford Focus. With the way gas prices have been steadily increasing the past few years, you'd think we'd be used to the "shock" by now. But no.

Clearly, I don't wish financial strife upon anyone, myself included. However, I can't help but see the positive side of this bank breaking situation. People may admit to a problem (in this case, the ongoing reliance of Americans on their cars) but until they feel it on the wallet, they may not actually do anything about it. There are always too many other things to worry about. However, I think that the tide is turning.

I am thrilled that some of those non-lumber/machinery toting, truck driving Americans are trading in their F150s for smaller, more fuel efficient cars. Others are beginning to realize that they don't need a bus to transport their two children. And how about those folks who are getting more serious about carpools, mass transit, and actually making their kids walk a few blocks? Hello, insta-response to the child obesity epidemic! Besides, don't we love killing two birds with one stone?

Even I, who believe me, has NO room for increased spending in the budget can't help but see the advantages of paying $45 at the gas pump. Always challenging myself to live more efficiently and healthfully, I find myself challenged by these numbers. How long can I last on one tank of gas? What can I do to drive as little as possible? I've been lucky that most of my work takes place at home. I might drive to a work place twice a week. Could I take the bus there? I actually don't think so which makes me very sad. Could I bike there? Well, that is a distance to aspire to. Plus, there's that small matter of not actually having a bike yet. (Another goal for this year.)

Already pretty darn organized when it comes to running errands, I'm now super duper organized. If I'm heading to the west side to visit a friend, I think about everything I can possibly accomplish along the way. If I end up forgetting about a stop, I think about the actual necessity of that errand. Can it wait a few weeks until the next big run? Usually, it can. And then there are the things I can accomplish locally. I'm so glad that among other places, I can walk to the bank, the library, my favorite coffee shop, and the grocery store. (Again, two birds with one stone. I love when a simple errand can result in getting crap done while also burning a few calories!)

But I'm no saint. Sometimes, I don't love walking everywhere, especially in the harsh elements of Wisconsin weather. Other times, I can only think about the time I am "wasting", knowing that a 20 minute walk could also be a quick, five minute drive. But in my world of ALWAYS HAVING TO BE PRODUCTIVE, I am the person who needs a kick in the pants to slow down and literally stop and smell and the roses. This, you can't do so well when going 40 mph. But during a leisurely stroll to the grocery store, I have literally found myself doing this. Oh, and another advantage of leaving the car at home? No annoying parking issues, hooray!

Now don't get me wrong. I used to live in the middle of rural American. I know that a car is a necessity for many. Unfortunately for most Americans, it really is, especially when government officials decide to pass up amazing mass transit opportunities. But I digress.

Now that summer is upon us, I am reminded that I adore nothing more than short road trips with the windows down. But guess what? There will be very little of that happening this summer. Friends, if I can't walk to your place, we will have to take turns visiting one another. Fam? Same goes for you.

Speaking of travel, I've realized that as much as I love to travel around the world, I have contributed to some major fuel usage and I feel sort of guilty and hypocritical about that. I'm not saying that everyone should stay home for the rest of their lives. In fact, I feel pretty strongly that people should get out and see how different parts of the world work. However, there is something to be said about taking stock of what's happening in your own region, your city, your neighborhood, maybe even your backyard. My sisters and I spent our summers catching toads and making mud pies in the backyard. And if we weren't mucking around in the dirt, we were still together. We jumped rope, played Barbies, watched re-runs of Gilligan's Island, and quite frankly, got to know one another pretty darn well which I'm afraid some kids today aren't doing.

Wait, is it possible to kill four birds with one stone? Could cutting back on our fuel intake mean more money in the wallet, a cleaner environment, healthier bodies, and more opportunities to actually sit down and get to know one another? Oh, and then there's that little matter of decreasing our reliance on foreign fuel sources. Five birds?? Score!

So on this Father's Day, I will make a phone call instead of a visit. And that's okay. As someone who helped teach me much about being practical and efficient, he will be the first to understand. Plus, I think he'd be pretty darn impressed that I made one tank of gas last over three weeks. I know I am.

Nice, Google!

I love it when a dollar is well spent. Thanks, Google.

Something to Tuck Inside Your Grocery Bag

I totally understand that eating a completely organic diet is not feasible during tight times. BELIEVE ME, I get it. But just the phrase, "dirty dozen", makes me shiver. So it's nice to know which fruits and veggies are more of an organic buying priority and which might be okay to buy in the ole', run of the mill produce section.

And seriously, who knew that apples were so darn dirty?

Box O'Goodness

I have to admit that part of the reason I haven't jumped on the CSA bandwagon is due to my fear of wasting glorious, fresh food. Thank goodness for guides like this. Plus, I never realized how good a box of food could look! Seriously, all of the recipes listed here sound wonderful and nothing seems crazy, difficult to make although I really could do without pickled carrots (or pickled anything for that matter). But Maple-Oatmeal Fruit Crisp? Believe me, once the thermometer in my apartment tells me it's not completely masochistic to turn the oven on again, I will be putting together this crispy goodness.

The Peanut Has Now Left the Building

My sis and three-year-old peanut niece came to visit me over the holiday weekend. When they arrived, my niece threw her arms around my neck and gave me such a tight squeeze that I literally started to lose oxygen.

"Okay, honey," I gasped, never thinking I'd actually have to peel her arms from my body. "What do you think you'd like to do today?"

She grinned and her eyes crinkled with excitement. "You wanna go to da pawk wid me??" she squealed.

My sister, already exhausted from the drive alone, said to me, "Yes indeed, we drove all the way here to go to a park," and then laughed and shook her head.

I convinced my niece to hit the park later and soon, we were off an running. Despite a few hours of crappy weather, the weekend went off without a hitch. There was the zoo, pizza and ice cream, the children's museum, and a general wandering around in the "big" city streets which my niece found fascinating. At one point, she took off running on a patio, got caught up on her darling new flip flops and completely wiped out. Considering that this kid can walk into a brick wall without crying, we knew we were in trouble when the wailing erupted. Sure enough, a bloody knee.

Two minutes later, when the knee had gotten mommy's kiss and the tears had subsided, she was off again. Unfortunately, the same exact thing happened again. My poor sweet girl.

Shortly after in the car, my always observant niece caught the reflection of my face in the rearview mirror.

"Why you got a sad face, Waitzel?" she asked from the back seat.

"Well, I guess I feel sad that you hurt yourself," I said.

"Don't be sad," she said. (Did I detect a sing-songy motherly tone?) "I not sad. I happy so you be happy, too, k?"

In the front seat, my sister and I looked at one another with the same exact look on our faces. How did we get so lucky to have this kid in our lives?

"Okay, honey," I said, smiling. "'I'm happy. You're right. There's so much for us to be happy about."

An hour later, I was waving goodbye to them, trying not to feel crushed about their departure. Instead, I focused on the peanut's sweet face in her car seat and her exclamation of, "LOOK! I WEAR MY PRINCESS JAMMIES HOME!"

After all, if she's happy, I'm happy. Before she came into my life, I never knew that aunties could feel such a bond with their nieces and nephews. I'm not talking about the stereotypical I adore this kid so much that I'm gonna spoil the crap out of her every time I see her kind of love. I'm talking about the I'm gonna move back to Wisconsin to see her grow up kind of love.

The past year has been really, really crazy but also incredibly enlightening. It wasn't easy for me to leave New York or Berlin but my decision is reinforced every day. I am indeed learning what is really important to me and that little blonde girl with the bloody knee might just top the list. Not only is she an absolute joy to be around but her simple words of wisdom are completely inspiring to me.

Can't wait for visit #2. Stay tuned for The Return of the Peanut.

Playing in the Dirt

"I came home soaking wet and covered in dirt," I giggled to my sister on the phone.

As country girls who often spent summer days picking peas and summer nights playing with the garden hose, my sissies and I know all about being wet and dirty. And I must admit that I was having flashbacks of all of this during yesterday's volunteer event. I was helping install garden beds for a local environmental group. As part of the wood chip team, with pitch fork in hand, I dug from a steaming heap of wood chips, throwing piles of the stuff in wheelbarrows, and then carting it over to be placed in garden beds alongside heaps of compost. Did I mention that it rained most of the time?

I only did this for an hour and a half but within that time, I managed to get drenched by rain and come away awfully dirty. I honestly don't remember the last time I got into the dirt like that. I was only slightly embarrassed later when I stepped out of the car in front of my apartment, hair slicked to my head, boots caked with mud, and streaks of dirt all over clothes.

I've done a whole of volunteer work in my life but never did I feel such a back-to-basics sort of appreciation for what I was doing. The whole project is geared toward getting kids engaged in horticulture and environmental work so I can't help but think if I felt this appreciation in a couple hours of work, it will become engrained in them, too. I was also ecstatic to see all the kids that parents brought along to help in our endeavor. One little girl picked up a shovel next to me and announced, "I love to dig!" and then she got right to work, literally digging in.

Can't wait to see her reaction once the plants start to bloom. And I can't help but admit that I'm pretty darn excited to see that, too. And maybe play with the worms. Ahh, summer....

Don't Freak!

I first shuddered to hear this topic on NPR's Fresh Air but once I got into the story, I had to agree with the writer on several points. What's grosser? Meat grown from a few cells in a lab or that which is grown under horrible factory farm conditions, only to eventually end up in our mouths?

And the Results...

So the week didn't go exactly as planned. Here's why.

I think if I had followed the cleanse more strictly with no cheats at all, it may have been a different story. My cheats, as I mentioned previously, were dried fruit and gum. Oh, and soy sauce. (The whole plain veggies and rice thing for dinner makes one want to poke her eyes out with a fork by night #3.) Although these don't sound like terrible additions, I think that the added salt and sweets gave my palate a taste of what it was really missing and made things worse. This was exactly what I was trying to avoid and I seemed to instead, really have sabotaged myself.

Diet wise, I can't say that the week was a roaring success and I'm not just talking about giving in to my sugar cravings the past two nights. I'm disappointed that two of the five days, I felt extreme fatigue during the afternoons, something I had completely avoided when I initially enacted this cleanse a few years ago. I'm a bit confused as to why this hit me just a few of the five days. Was it even food related? Did my cheats get the best of my body? Or had I just not gotten a good night's sleep before? Was I particularly stressed those days? It's hard to tell.

Although I did end up missing sugar, I found giving up bread quite easy. This is probably because I've already been slowly decreasing its existence in my diet throughout the years. And last night as I thought about what I wanted to eat once I was off the cleanse, I was surprised that my brain wasn't dreaming of chocolate croissants. No, more than anything I was craving orange juice, my Kashi cereal, and milk. (And of course, pizza.) I think this is pretty good for a girl who just six days ago managed to get a decent amount of chocolate in with every meal.

But more than anything, I missed the ability to taste different flavors. I love to cook and experiment, especially at the end of the day and having to trade that in every night for a standard meal of rice and veggies about made me crazy. On the flip side, having a strict diet obviously helps you stay on course. During times of stress, it's easy to reach for a bag of Skittles but when you remind yourself that you've had your cup of protein, your cup of rice, and your cup of veggies for lunch and that there is absolutely no need for afternoon snacking, it can get you back on track. You might instead walk to your co-worker's office and chat about what is actually stressing you out.

I also found it mighty handy to actually remove all the sugary snacks from the house. I know that sounds painfully obvious but it wasn't to me. Yet sometimes just opening my pantry and seeing those cookies sends a message to my brain that seconds ago, was not even there. I currently have a bag of goodies stashed in my car trunk. Amazingly, aside from last night, I didn't think about those snacks at all this week. Truly out of sight and out of mind.

However, I'm not sure that it's good to hit the point of really feeling like you are denying yourself. Perhaps the other night if I had given in and eaten a cup of sorbet, I would've actually ingested less calories than all of that stupid dried fruit I munched on. Plus, maybe I would have actually felt satiated. I'm not sure.

Today, with everything fair game, I ended up not having the healthiest of days. (Shocking). What is surprising, however, is that first and foremost, I was craving savory things. I had farm fresh eggs for breakfast and for lunch, I wanted nothing more than fake meat tacos. (??) However, my taste buds could barely handle the salt of them. As for the sweets, I had my remaining Trader Joe's chocolate sorbet (a half cup at only 120 calories, hooray!) and later, a Snickers "egg" from my easter basket. Oh, and a couple spoonfuls of peanut butter. Man, have I missed my peanut butter. Not quite the same as my organic apples but I do feel satisfied.

And now I just got back from the co-op with next week's load of veggies and fruit. I know we all lament about the expense of eating healthy foods but my grocery bill for the past week was ridiculously low. Yes, I bought organic fruit and veggies. However, when the rest of your meals are based on rice, beans, and oatmeal, you can get by on $20 for the week. Not bad. It's amazing how much you can cut from your grocery bill by simply cutting out meat.

So I have to admit that chronicling my experiences this week really did spur me to make the right choices (for the most part). Oh, the power of shame! But seriously, there's a reason all those health gurus tell you to enlist a partner. We might not always be able to tell ourselves that we are worth it but we can certainly encourage one another and maybe somewhere along the way, we'll start to believe it for ourselves.

I can tell you this. Even though I didn't do as well as I had hoped to this week, I have given myself credit for what I did accomplish. And as I was jamming out to my tunes on the treadmill this afternoon, I caught myself smiling. This week, I took steps to make myself both physically and spiritually healthier and today, I could actually feel the results in every ounce of my being. Everything was going to be okay. I was good. And despite it being a cold, rainy day, the whole world seemed pretty okay to me, too. And you know what? Tomorrow looks even better.

I Want a Snickers Blizzard!!

Okay, now I'm starting to get to Crazyland.

Again, the whole day was fine (although after five days straight of oatmeal with blueberries, I don't think I'll ever eat it again) until the post-dinner hour. First off, after a long week, I really enjoy cooking a nice meal for myself once Friday night rolls around. So of course, I was irritated by my boring-as-hell veggie/rice combo again.

Then, there was the package in the mail. I received a care package from my sweet auntie that included some nice house warming type goodies along with the requisite candy stash. (If you came from this family, you'd understand.) I immediately put it away, thinking, tomorrow.

After dinner, I immediately shoved gum in my mouth. I had made some tea but that was annoying me, too. I considered completely blowing the five day goal I had set for myself and throwing myself into the chocolate sorbet in the freezer. I didn't but I did have another handful of granola. I opened the fridge to see if there was any fruit left but there wasn't. I saw the carton of orange juice and almost cried. I had never seen anything so appealing in my life. But I passed.

Tomorrow.

Damn Pizza

Today I woke up with every intention of having a better day. For the most part, I did. I was very busy and didn't have time to think about my cravings all that much. But when I finally collapsed on the couch tonight with my my pile of mail, I found a stack of ads and coupons for every single pizza joint within a ten mile radius. I should also mention that both yesterday and today, I again found myself in off-site work settings where the employees at each place happened to be having pizza parties. Suddenly, I wanted nothing more than to ditch my rice and beans for that greasy cheesy, tomatoey bread. But I didn't. I was pretty darn good actually.

But for some reason, after dinner tonight, my sweet tooth really started to whimper. The boredom I was feeling about the dried fruit was starting to make me insane and wreak havoc on my digestive system. I found that it wasn't so hard for me to get past it during the day. I could finish my lunch with no huge desire to round out the meal with a piece of chocolate. By mid afternoon when the sugar levels were falling, I'd crave an apple immensely but nothing more. And quite frankly, I'm amazed by how satisfying that crisp apple has been.

Yet for some reason, the end of today was different. I broke and tossed a handful of granola in my mouth. I had made the granola myself the week before so I knew there wasn't a ton of sugar in it but still, I cheated and gave myself he sugar I was trying so very hard to avoid. I'm beginning to wonder if the sugar in the dried fruit is enough to get me going. Hmmm....

One more day. I've already decided to order pizza Saturday.

Wednesday

So this proved to be perhaps the worst week to do this "cleanse". Yet again, I ended up working away from home which made lunch difficult. I didn't know exactly where I was going to be during the lunch hour so once again, I left the tupperware of rice and beans at home. Then, a colleague who so graciously wanted to thank me for my help asked if she could take me out for lunch.

"Sure!" (I never, ever refuse lunch). "Where?"

"Do you like curry?" she asked.

How could I refuse? Again, curry isn't exactly following the plain rice/beans/veggie formula I'm supposed to have for lunch, nor is it on my cheat list. However, I rationalized that it could be much worse. So off we went.

My colleague ended up ordering for us and I was only half listening when she asked if I wanted Thai sweet tea. I honestly just heard "tea" so I agreed.

Holy sweetness. How have I missed this my life and when can I have more? Even she remarked how I was sucking that glass of sweet tea down.

Needless to say, the whole lunch was delicious but I knew that I was screwing up my day. To make up for it, I grabbed my grubby clothes after work and headed straight to the gym. An hour later, on some sort of endorphin induced high, I rejoiced in the realization that I wasn't really craving any sweets at all. Yah! Having just had a good work out, however, I was very much craving salt. Normally, I go straight for the Wheat-Thins. (I know, I know but it's my one super processed addiction.) Instead of the crackers, I just added a bit more soy sauce to my veggies and rice. Almost immediately following my dinner, I regretted my choice. I wanted nothing more than to balance the taste of salt with a dose of something sweet. Oh, oh.

I went to my usual stash of apricots and almonds. I'm not sure if it was due to my work out or due to my boredom with this snack but I ended up munching on way more of those buggers before bed than I had intended. Oops.

Can tomorrow be a do-over please? (Sigh.)

Day #2, No Gum!

But a beer instead.

Okay, I'm not totally proud of that but let me tell you, this is way more about cutting out sugary foods than anything else. One measly PBR doesn't really bother me.

So the day went pretty well. This, despite being in an office environment for part of the day where a loaf of homemade cinnamon raisin bread and chocolate cake taunted me in the break room down the hall. I had a commitment over the lunch hour which meant eating out, something I hated to do. However, I was able to find a salad with tuna to at least meet the veggie and protein requirement. Despite a non gluten lunch, I still got pretty tired in the afternoon. I'm not sure what this was about.

Snacks were again, a few dried apricots, almonds and an apple. For dinner, the standard one cup of rice, two cups of veggies. Then there was that late evening beer. (Spring has finally sprung in Wisconsin, people. It was a perfect night for a beer with friends!)

Amazingly, I don't feel the urge to tear open into that box of Thin Mints in the cupboard. Maybe that will hit me tomorrow? I'm not sure but I'm happy with this one day at a time thing. Here's hoping to another successful day!

Operation Sugarless, Day #1

So not a total failure. Actually, I didn't go beyond my cheats so I guess I'll consider it a quasi-successful day. Here's how the day went:

Woke up with terrific shoulder pain due to sleeping on the couch. (Not sure what I am more obsessed with at the moment, this diet or the cat pee issue. Furthermore, I hate that the I just used the words "diet" and "cat pee" in the same sentence. Ick.)

7am: Oatmeal with blueberries along with coffee for breakfast. (Coffee is supposed to be a no-no but quite frankly, if there is one thing in this world I will proclaim a steadfast allegiance to, it's my morning dark roast. Just try to pry it out of my hands.)

10:00am: Pear with a few almonds.

11:30am: I decide that the weather's crap, my diet's painfully boring already, and that I therefore, deserve to go out for lunch. I pick a neighborhood cafe I've been meaning to try. I check out the menu online first and decide that their veggie chili will be perfect.

12:30pm: Arrive at cute, local lunch joint and am greeted by a mercilessly packed pastry case as soon as I walk in. When the waitress asks me what I'd like to try, I consider bashing my head against the glass case. Instead, I sit down, eat my chili and later walk out without crying. I am so proud. But then I realize two hours later, the chili wasn't enough.

1:30pm: Gum. (Sigh.)

3:00pm. See, the chili wasn't beany enough. Delicious but more veg than bean and a person needs protein to get through the day. So I have some carrots and hummus. Oh, and my ginger tea.

5:00pm: More gum. With sugar or sugarless, afternoons are rough.

6:30pm: Rice and veggies. Ginger tea afterward.

9:00pm: Handful of dried apricots and a couple of almonds.

So not so bad really. I really wish I could've done without the gum but maybe I can make that tomorrow's goal. Speaking of, tomorrow will be a bit rough because I have a commitment over the lunch hour. What's a girl to do? Not sure yet. Will report back.

Oh, and another part of this "cleanse" involves getting adequate sleep so off...I...go. Zzzz...

Leaving Sugarland

Okay, I have to say it so I actually do it. Sometimes we have to make grand announcements about our goals just so we feel somewhat accountable, right? I really doubt that anyone's going to give a damn whether I ingest sugar this week but come on, I need to know that you will shame me if I fail, okay??

So every once in a while, I do a baby cleanse. I refer to it as "baby" because it's pretty darn mild compared to those juice or raw diet only deals. I mean, it's basically fruits, vegetables, rice, and beans. A whole lot of people sustain on only this all the time. So why is it SO HARD for me?

Well, because, as I mentioned in my recent cookie post, I've got a serious sugar issue. I may not sit down with a bag of sweet tarts (in fact, I hate that kind of sugar) but it is such a challenge for me to end a meal without popping something sweet (and preferably rich) into my mouth. In the past, I thought that one little Hershey Kiss was all I needed. However, I'm now realizing that this tiny bit of sweetness just ramps my palate up and then I spend the rest of the day, trying to stave off the continual sweet tooth cravings. That, my friend, can mess with one's concentration, especially when one works a just few feet from the pantry door. And if you think I'm exaggerating, just know that as a kid, I would sneak into the kitchen, snatch the bottle of Hershey's syrup from the fridge, and squirt that chocolatey goodness straight into my mouth.

You get me now? Something has got to give.

My goal is small to many but gigantic to me. No sweets for five days. Why five days? Because the work week is one thing, the weekend is another for God's sake.

The other reason I am getting off the sweets is to experiment with my fatigue issues once again. I'm quite certain that gluten does me bad but I'm now wondering how much sugar plays into the mix as well. Best example: the post-brunch/maple syrup pancake coma. Yikes!

Therefore, for the next five days, my diet will consist of oatmeal with berries for breakfast, beans, rice, and veggies for lunch, and rice and veggies only for dinner. In between, I'll have snacks of fruit, nuts, veggies, and hummus. After lunch and dinner, I digest with ginger tea. For a girl who ate popcorn, onion rings, and half a cheese board for dinner the other night, you can see the challenge.

Before any type of cleanse, I seem to enjoy completely putting my body through the wringer the day before. A last hurrah of sorts because, you know, I'm never going to eat again. And let me remind you that I started my day at the crack of dawn with the cat-pee-on-the-new-mattress situation so I pretty much decided with the rising sun that this was going to be a day of as much comfort food as necessary.

I started off with a healthy bowl of oatmeal and berries but by the time I hit the co-op mid-morning and walked by the bakery case, I quickly veered off track. A handsome chocolate croissant winked at me, I swear. I took that little guy home, cut him in half and sat down with him and a cup of my coffee. Two seconds later, I went back for the second half. Later, I did have a sensible lunch but now I'm gearing up for dinner which will consist of a big fat bowl of some sort of pasta (after this beer). I might top things off with that leftover chocolate ice cream sprinkled with some nuts and Hershey's syrup. (Yep, still an addict.) But we'll see.

So I will be posting my progress this week. Of course, the fatigue issue might be hard to measure considering I will be sleeping on the couch while my mattress expels the pee odor. Oh, and I almost forgot, so I don't look like a total failure from the get-go, I'm allowing myself some cheats! I know, I know, already? But seriously, I've got to have a teeny weeny out if I start going crazy from withdrawal or something. I've already gotten rid of all the candy/cookie type stuff in the house, which are now in the trunk of my car (!) but I am allowing myself dried fruit and if totally necessary, gum. But I have to admit, the gum addiction is another one I'm trying to break. Between my night time jaw clenching and my nerve calming gum chewing, I've wreaked absolute havoc on my teeth and gums. Ask my dentist.

So wish me luck, kids. I remember hearing about those people who gave up sweets for lent and I was absolutely green with envy. I mean, how long is lent? A lifetime??

Okay, I'm done with the drama. Time to make the last supper. Report #1 coming up tomorrow night.

All Sorts of Mommies!

Even though I've changed a ton of diapers, wiped many a snotty nose, and refereed more sibling arguments over who's got the legos now than I care to remember, I will not pretend to know what it's like to have children of my own. And now let me take the time to give a shout out to the mothers out there: Happy, Happy Mother's Day to you! May a day of complete adoration be coming your way.

But this morning, at approximately 6:17, I got thinking about other kinds of mommies. Like, you know, pet mommies. We may not be cleaning up snotty noses (although some of us have), but I can guarantee we've cleaned up our share of pee and poop and given lots of cuddles along the way.

I'm not sure if I made a grand announcement of it but a few months ago, Baxter the Cat and I were reunited. Hooray! Although under somewhat stressful conditions, it all worked out and I was thrilled to get my baby back. Bax and I have been through a lot together and I definitely continue to feel badly for everything I've put him the old guy through: three different foster homes while I traveled, several unfriendly cat (and some dog) roommates, and a long drive out to NYC. Oh, and there was also that traumatic plane ride. Like a lot of mommies out there, I have my guilt issues.

But this morning, Baxter certainly gave it back to me. I woke up feeling a bit, um, moist. Considering that I have some pretty whacked out dreams that literally wake me up in a cold sweat, I assumed this was what had happened. But then I thought, wow, my back is really sweaty. That's odd. And then I noticed that my blankets were wet, too. And within seconds, I caught a whiff.

Pee. And let me be clear here, cat pee.

Never have I jumped out of bed at 6:17 in the morning like this. I tore off the covers and started patting my bed (which, of course, is the fun about pee issues. You get to feel it all out). Cursing under my breath, I couldn't believe my fantastic luck. After years of sleeping on beds handed down from family members, I finally purchased the first bed of my entire life just two months ago. Brand, spanking new.

To add insult to injury, just a few nights ago, I had whipped the mattress cover off, deeming it too lumpy and uncomfortable. The man's voice from the furniture voice went through my head: Can I suggest a mattress cover? These are especially great for any pet accidents. I held my head high and said, "My cat never, ever has those kind of accidents. No thank you."

And until this morning, he hadn't. Bax isn't even a typical pee-outside-the-box-cuz-I'm-mad-at-you cat. That's what makes Baxter so cool. He's atypical.

But as I poured Nature's Miracle (which by the way, is the most amazing stain remover ever and also goes under the name Petastic) over a third of my brand new bed, madder at myself than at him, I suddenly felt very scared.

Oh my God, is he sick? I wondered. Isn't this one of those typical first signs of a pet being terminally ill? All week, I had noticed that he was acting a bit strange. Clingy, actually, and I started having flashbacks to my nanny days when the little ones I cared for went through those very trying stages of wanting to physically attach to you at all times. Even though I do a lot of work from home, Bax has been my shadow. I can't pet him enough. I can't rub that belly enough. I can't offer my lap enough. All of this made me wonder, am I losing my baby?

Two hours later with the washer whirring, I can't say that the idea isn't out of my mind. However, after getting out of the shower, I noticed the litter box under the bathroom sink. Due to Baxter's ability to scatter cat litter like no one's business, I recently changed brands. Well, and also because I'm not a fan of the clay litter. When we lived in Brooklyn, I had made the switch to the pine pellet litter and it worked just fine. Plus I felt a lot better, knowing that I was using something that so much better for the environment.

So just last night, the old litter went out and the new stuff went in. Since Bax is a lot like his mama, running to the bathroom every five minutes, I should have noticed last night that he hadn't used it at all. And he still hasn't even after I locked him in there for ten minutes when I had my early dawn cat pee clean-up related tantrum. Apparently he's no longer used the pine and I need to adjust.

Now as I sip my coffee and wait for the pet supply store to open, Bax is sleeping across from me like a little angel on his favorite rocking chair. In a few minutes, I'll have to go down to change the laundry. I can't help but think about the many times I've changed crib sheets late at night or plunked kids directly in the bath tub due to those messes made. As un-fun as that all was, part of me smiles to think about it. Not only is there something so rewarding about taking care of others, I also learned that my abilities sometimes know no bounds. I'd always known that I was good with children but it wasn't until recent years that I realized the extent of my patience and joy when interacting with little ones. I guess this applies to my fuzzy little friends, too.

So many of us spend an exorbitant amount of time taking care of others. Mothers tend to be on some astronomical level where this is concerned. This is due to love, to instinct, and sometimes, sheer social expectations. But I hope that today, all of the mommies out there can do a little something special to take care of themselves. And I really, really hope none of you have to start your day cleaning up bodily fluids of any kind. Here's hoping!

Happy Mother's Day!

Damn, I Make Some Good Cookies

Yes, indeed I do.

Some of you darlings already know this, having been on the receiving end of my baking frenzy ways. (You may now begin to count your lucky stars). You've gotten the gamut, haven't you? Peanut butter, molasses, short bread, double chocolate chunk, and oatmeal raisin, just to name a few. Some of you have even gotten a wee bit demanding through the years. I recently got crap from a friend who after receiving a lovely gift from me said, "I really just wanted you to make me those ginger cookies."

So yes, I will toot my own horn here. I don't give myself a lot of credit for much although in addition to my cookie baking skills, I am an awesome parallel parker. (That's what a high school career with an '81 Chevette without power steering will do you.) But before I get even more off track, my point in writing this post is not to go on about what an awesome cookie maker I am. Rather, I'd just like to share a little bit of good news on the Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie front.

First off, let me just say that the recipe on that yellow bag has been engrained into my brain since my round tummy 4th grader days. My mom had an alarming amount in faith that her daughters wouldn't burn the house down so oftentimes when she wasn't around, I would whip up a batch of my favorite cookies if I so desired. Years later, when I lived in Madrid, I introduced my host family to this little baked dollop of heaven, only to discover that I had truly unleashed something. Spain has got a whole lot of awesome food to offer but cookies are not this nation's strong point. So while I let my host mother stick to her amazing croqueta making ways, I ended up baking an incredible number of cookies on a regular basis for a family that much to my chagrin, remained amazingly fit.

However, it wasn't until a few years ago, as I dumped all that sugar over those two sticks of butter that it occurred to me how crazy unhealthy these little blobs of chocolately goodness really are. So I began to experiment.

First, I tried to decrease the amount of butter by combining it with a bit of that fake butter/ yogurt spread stuff. WRONG! Yes, any baker with half a brain would know not to do this. I mean, the cookies were okay but they came out cake-like. Unable to go back to the regular recipe, however, I stopped making them altogether. For years, people. It was a dark chapter in Rachael's cookie making history.

Then recently, while visiting my parents, I found a jar of chocolate chunk cookies (yes, my mom prefers the chunks, bless her heart) that she and my niece made together. As I bit into one, I swore I heard angels singing. How had I forgotten that my mom is the ultimate master of the chocolate chip cookie? I voiced this thought to her at which point, she let me in on her secret: "Sometimes along with the butter, I use a little lard."

Some things, you just do not want to know.

So I'm not sure what came over me the other day while I was grocery shopping but I inexplicably grabbed a bag of chocolate chips and threw them in the cart. A few days later, I decided in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon that it was the most opportune time to whip up a batch of my ultimate favorite food.

Out came the bag of chips. Then out came the butter. (I wasn't even going to mess around with that ingredient this time around.) Then I checked my cupboards for sugar. I barely ever use refined white sugar anymore. However, the recipe calls for 3/4 cup of the stuff along with 3/4 cup of brown sugar. One and a half cups of sugar for 40 dinky cookies?? I started to compute the amount of sugar I've probably consumed throughout the years in all sorts of foods. No wonder I can't finish any meal without wanting to shove a chunk of chocolate into my mouth or at the very least, a stick of gum. I've practically been shooting sugar into my veins for years.

While rummaging thorugh the pantry, I found white sugar, raw sugar, and brown sugar. (That's right, I may not have milk or bread in the house but I have three kinds of sugar sitting around.) I decided to wing it: 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup raw sugar, and 1/2 cup brown sugar.

In total, I decreased the sugar by a half cup, using 2/3 of what the recipe calls for. I also added less than a cup of chocolate chips. (The recipe calls for two!) When I tested the batter, I thought, not bad. However, the smell that wafted from my kitchen ten minutes later helped me realize that I had definitely done something right. It was such a delicious aroma that when I whipped open the oven door a few minutes later, my self-control left back in the other room, I blew on one of those babies for half a second before throwing it into my mouth.

Su-PERB. Just like the cookies of my pre-high school/who-gives-a-crap-about-my-figure days.

Now I'm not going to say I can trump my mom's cookies. In my book, she is the number one cookie maker and I am her lowly apprentice. However, considering that I didn't use lard and that I barely used any refined sugar at all makes me feel pretty good. Granted, I'm not suggesting that you trade in your broccoli for these butter bits but isn't it great to see the small steps we can take to healthier living by just experimenting a bit?

And P.S. It's not just me who thought the cookies were divine. I packaged some up and mailed them to a friend. I think the word she used to describe them was "amazing." Kind of like my parallel parking skills.

Caffeinate Me Up!

See? What was I just telling you about bringing in your own cup?!? Good things happen! All right, all right, I've got to give Starbucks some credit. And you betcha I'm heading there before my long drive tonight. Gulp, gulp. (Because I don't know the appropriate sound effect for teeth staining.)

Happy, Happy Earth Day!

We all know what Kermit said. However, as wise as The Frog is, I don't think that being green is really that difficult. Of course, what constitutes being green for one can be completely different for another, right? Never using plastic bags versus living without electricity are a wee bit different. But let's face it, unless you're No Impact Man, we all have quite a bit of work ahead of us. So today, on this dreary Earth Day (is Mother Earth actually crying???), let's all try to take some steps in a greener direction, shall we?

Some simple tips:

- Make a real, concerted effort to say "no" to the plastic bag.

Okay, this is an ongoing rant for me. Yet, ironically (and hypocritically of me), I occasionally find myself making an unplanned stop at Target and needing one of those damn bags. (Other times, I have punished myself for my shortsightedness and gone bag-less which has resulted in a juggling act of toothpaste, cat litter, and a bunch of other crap I undoubtedly dropped on the way to the parking lot.) My point is, I think we all know that these things darn bags are bad for the earth. If you have a car, it's pretty easy to throw a few canvas bags in the trunk for those regular trips to the store. There is also this marvelous little guy. Tragically, I recently lost mine and need to get myself a new one ASAP. (P.S. My birthday is coming up). This thing takes up very little room in my purse and is great for vegetables from the farmer's market. Barely weighs a thing.

- Get yourself a thermos or travel mug pronto.

Again, especially easy if you travel by car but also not a big deal to link onto your backpack or messenger bag if you walk/bike/mass transit yourself to work. Plus, a lot of coffee places are now giving you a few cents back if you bring your own mug and why wouldn't they? Saves them money at the end of the day, too.

- Give the dryer a rest.

Dryers use a crazy amount of energy and they certainly add to the electric bill. For $30, you can get a couple of drying racks and save some cash in the long run. Or think about installing an outdoor clothesline. There is nothing better than snuggling into bed on a summer's night and smelling your clean, fresh, line dried sheets. And the other awesome thing about drying racks? If you live in a climate like Wisconsin's which is insanely cold and dry in the winters, you will be adding moisture to the air. (Plus, your clothes will dry LIKE THAT.) So let me recap: saving energy, saving money, and no need for a humidifier. Ta da!

- Wash your clothes in cold.

Cut down on using warm and hot water. It is rarely ever necessary. And of course, don't run the washer unless you've got a full load.

- Ditch the harsh chemicals and befriend vinegar and baking soda.

There are a ton of ways you can clean with these two agents alone. Check it out. Plus it's so cheap!

- Stop eating Bessie.

As I write these very words, I know there is a good chance that over the Easter weekend, I will attend a cook-out and partake in meat consumption because God knows I love a juicy burger now and then. However, 99% of the time, I don't. Not only do I no longer feel good about eating animals whose origins and treatment are unknown to me, the environmental damage of our meat industry is monstrous. I would add a link here to back up my claim but there are about a bajillion out there so do a little google search if you'd like to learn more. Cutting back on your meat intake will not only do wonders for your health, it will undoubtedly do good for the earth. Trust me.

And there are, of course, many others things that we need to remind ourselves of. Turn off the lights! Unplug! Buy in bulk! Buy locally and seasonally! Use your reusable containers instead of buying teeny individual sized anything! Stop at St. Vinny's or Goodwill before Target to see if they've got what you need! Set up clothing exchanges between friends and families! Start asking your local cafes and shops where their recyclable bins are located so they'll start to get the hint that you care! And if you want more ideas, check out this link.

It's all about taking steps. We all have to start somewhere. Even though I feel pretty good about the way I treat the earth, I wonder why it is that I still don't have a bike. (Sigh.) Yes, steps. And if your first step is making a hippie move and hugging a tree, go for it. I hear they still like that, too.

I'm All About Toxic Love Stories

Ah, don't you just love it when your hormones are messed with in a non-natural I-NEED-CHOCOLATE-RIGHT-NOW kind of way? And aside from what plastics might be doing to our bodies, I absolutely cringe when I think about the environmental effects of all that unnecessary packaging and those godforsaken grocery bags.

So of course, in my completely nerdy way, I absolutely cannot wait to read this book. Because of course, as you know, I'm all for the uplifting stuff.

Wasn't I JUST Wearing My Flannel?

Yes, it's been a while, hasn't it? What can I say? With weddings and birthday parties and the like, I guess I've been busy feeling a little old.

Birthday are one thing. Do I love the fact that my dear friends are now hitting those really significant numbers? Not so much but it's a fact of life. I can deal. But weddings? They're not necessarily in the cards for everyone and I'm fine with that, especially when it comes to people I helped raise.

It's strange enough when your friends start getting married but when a person you used to buy Play-Doh for suddenly shoots you a glossy, purple and white wedding invitation in the mail one day, it kind of makes you want to wrap up the most giant Play-Doh pack you can find (maybe even the prized hair salon kit) instead of actually going off of the registry and buying them that Cuisinart juicer. Because really, all you can you think is, how can she be heading off to the altar when I've still yet to buy a piece of brand new furniture in my life?

Sigh.

And I thought I had hit rock bottom a few months ago when I had heard that Pearl Jam's Ten album turns twenty this year. (Ironically, their album was released a mere two weeks after this girl was born.)

Double sigh.

I mean, do I really have to deal with the fact that my beloved grunge band (who caused my dear friend and I to waste hours of Physics class time figuring out the words to "Even Flow" instead of trying to determine when those two damn trains traveling at different speeds would actually meet) and my beloved girl are getting kind of old themselves?

What really kills me though is that I'm just on the cusp. I know that in the next few years, all of my "little" cousins will start with these invitations, too and I will suddenly turn into that relative who can't help but make reference to the day when I used to change their diapers because quite honestly, it really does feel like just yesterday.

On the bright side, it feels pretty wonderful to see a beautiful, beaming bride make her way down the aisle and know you had a little something to do with here she is today. I guess that's the trade-off for feeling like a dinosaur. I think I can take it. And maybe the next time I'm dealing with a bridal gift registry, I'll go ahead and buy one of those juicers for myself, too. After all, if they're becoming real deal adults, I guess I can be one, too.

Give Others Clean Water, Eat Out!

Okay, you never have to twist my arm to go out for dinner. Now here's an even better reason to get out and stimulate the economy. Quick, you only have until March 26th! But of course, you can donate directly to UNICEF at any time. Glug, glug, glug....

Save Tovan!

I've sort of just had it. I know, I know, it's hard to know what exactly is making one crazy these days with so many options to choose from but today I'm going to holler about the recent rash of animal cruelty cases in Wisconsin.

Despite my background in social work and psychology, I still sometimes find myself wanting to scream, "What is WRONG with people??" For example, while I was visiting my family over the weekend, I learned about a current court case involving a group of teens who had met online for the sole purpose of running around the north woods, shooting and torturing small animals for sport. Really, guys? And in the same area, flyers have been posted for some sicko who is wanted by the authorities for torturing two cats. (In both scenarios, however, I am heartened to learn that the authorities are involved).

As a former child welfare social worker who often found myself freaking out when trying to protect children from future abuse and neglect ("How can the law not be on their side?!"), you can probably see why I eventually had to leave the field. I mean, a person's emotional capacity is only so big. However, I, like most human beings do care about my fellow man as well as all of the other amazing creatures of our world. So when I was made aware of Tovan, the Great Dane, I felt compelled to pass the word along.

Clearly abused, a couple found Tovan in their yard and took him in. Soon after contacting the authorities, his owners came forward and he was returned "home." (I use that term loosely since "home", in my opinion, is a place where one is loved and nurtured but I digress.) Anyway, the people who found him are now circulating a petition to force an investigation in regards to Tovan's "care." So please take a moment and check out this link. Perhaps you can help to protect one of our creatures. "Great" or small, they all need our help.