Redneck Neighbors

David and I went out for a quick dinner last night. On our way into the driveway, we noticed the Redneck Neighbors were having a party on their front lawn. We rushed inside to avoid an invite.

I woke up this morning and peered out the window into their yard. I see:

• An old oil barrel cut in half (clearly for the bonfire)
• Two lawn chairs
• Three broken lawn chairs
• A child's plastic bike
• 40 or 50 beers
• A wire dog crate
• A tire
• A pile of towels
• A strange figuration of CDs on the ground
• A frying pan full of cigarette butts

Needless to say, I'm sorry we missed the party.

Smokers

(When did this turn into a health blog?!)

I honestly cannot figure out why people are still smoking. Smoking increases risk of almost all types of cancer, heart disease, lung disease, skin disease, and takes between 5 and 10 years off of your life! How are people still doing this?!
I only ask because, to be honest, I encountered far fewer smokers in L.A. than I have in Florida. Even the smokers I did see in L.A. were more polite about their smoke than people have been here. Granted, it is harder to find a place to smoke in L.A.; but wouldn't you think the bible belt covered in families would be healthier than a bunch of Hollywood yahoos? I sat down to an outdoor lunch the other day and was shocked at the amount of people who sat outside just so they could smoke before and after their meal (which in turn meant that I was inhaling smoke before and after my meal). They didn't stand up and move away from people eating; they didn't even seem to mind that passers-by were coughing and waving their hands. They just kept right on smoking.
I think I'm going to make it my goal this year to help someone stop smoking. I don't know anyone offhand that smokes, but I am going to find one!

Why I Love my Husband

Last night we went to the Downtown ArtWalk. We walked through the MOCA, lots of local artists' work, a copeira demonstration, and a drum circle! It was a lot of cultural fun.
As we finished walking through the top floor of the MOCA, we started discussing the exhibit. The latest set of photographs were all about animals. Some artists captured road kill, some captured people dressed up as animals, some created collections of families with their dogs dating as far back as the 1910s. Waiters walked around with trays collecting used glasses and bottles, as the bar downstairs was open and serving during the event. As we headed for the exit, I was reminded why I love my husband.

David: I think the way the exhibit was laid out was confusing to me.
Erin: Oh yeah? Why?
David: Well, I think I prefer to see organization or patterns among the art. The through line was obviously animals, but I didn't really see how any of it related beyond that.
Erin: Right, well, it's a contemporary rather than an historical look at things.
David: Yes, and the reason I enjoy historical museums...
(We pass by a discard tray with a nearly full Corona bottle, abandoned)
David: ...awww. That's sad.
(pause)
David: The reason I like historical museums is because I am better able to see the overall message than in a contemporary museum, though I appreciate contemporary art a little more.
Erin: Right. I understand that.
David: That bottle was full.What a waste.

The State of Food

Everyone knows that 80% of the food in grocery stores is not really food. But usually we can stick to the outermost sections of the store; refrigerated sections, freezer sections, and produce. But when companies like Yoplait get their dirty little paws into these sections of the store, we can easily be fooled if we're not careful.

Yoplait had this great idea to put yogurt in a tube and market it to kids. No spoons necessary. You don't even have to sit down to eat it. Well, to begin with, Yoplait yogurt is not exactly yogurt. It contains 3 added sweeteners, including sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and fruit. When we read that it is a 99% fat free food with only 150 calories in a whole cup, we fail to see through to the fact that over half of the calories in a serving of Yoplait come from sugar. It also has two different preservatives and Carmine. What's carmine? Look away if you're squeamish. Carmine is carminic acid that comes from...boiled bugs. Yep. They use this acid to color foods. Is it bad for you? Probably not too bad. Is it necessary? I don't know about you, but I'm fine with plain colored yogurt.
To think we're putting something in our body that is giving us a very small percentage of worthwhile food is bad enough. What in the world are we giving our children? Gogurt. We're giving them a plastic tube filled with "food" they can eat as they walk around, using only their little hands. And we think to ourselves, "Look! I'm feeding my kid yogurt and they love it!" Gogurt has more sugar in it than the regular Yoplait yogurt per serving. There is more sugar in an ounce of Gogurt than there is in an ounce of Coca-Cola! Would you sit down and give your kid a few ounces of Coke in a tube as a snack?!
I get sad and frustrated when I read what is really in "food." It is so sad to think that enough people exist who care not for the well-being of consumers but for their own pocketbooks. They create and sell the cheapest version of "food" that in the past 50 years has caused the West to see the sharpest increase in disease, obesity, and mental illness ever.
So, I guess I challenge any readers today to take a look at one label in the pantry and see what's actually in there. Get real and hang on tight, because you're going to see more words you can't pronounce than you have since grade school. And consider those labels you can't read no longer worthy of being in your home. Don't throw food away (no one can afford to do that right now). Instead, make better choices next time you're at the store.

We Moved to Florida

And I watched the news...

Click

Not for Men

The Bachelor

Tonight was the single most dramatic episode EVER.

What a douche bag.

Sunday

When we moved in together in California, Sundays were my favorite day. In our little one-bedroom apartment we rolled out of bed and laid on the couch to watch the morning news and drink coffee. One of us got up and made a breakfast that took too long to make on a weekday. The other made a list of things to do. Together we ate breakfast, planned our day, and got to work. Usually there was plenty of laundry and a good bit of cleaning. Sometimes one or both of us went to the grocery store to get the week's goodies. It was overall a relaxing, productive, and wonderful day.
When David and I moved into a bigger apartment beneath Jesse and Crystal, our Sundays became a little more friend-filled. We usually did something fun all together. It was a different kind of great - less productive but full of laughs and fun. And when football season came, look out. Those Sundays were some of my favorite memories.
Today, Sunday, it rained. We opened up all the windows early this morning and laid in bed listening to the rain. When we got up, we laid on the couch with Charlie and some coffee just listening and talking. David made oatmeal, I made a list. We started the laundry and got ready for the day.

Sundays are going to be different; but history seems to repeat itself. Maybe after some time here we'll begin spending time with the neighbors or friends for football and beers. But in the mean time, I'm enjoying the Sunday I'm in.