Currently I'm Reading....

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver

I've only completed the first chapter and already I'm wanting to move. Not out of this city, or this state; more like out of this country. Kingsolver writes a "year of food life" in where her family moves from Arizona to Virginia where things like growing your own food and eating within your region are possible without such drastic measures as in the Southwest. She mentions something that really peaks my interest called the French Paradox (which funny enough I just read about in Julie and Julia, also a great read): the French can eat and eat rich and heavy foods and yet stay slim without 24hr gyms and detox diets. Why? Well the claim is, according to Kingsolver, the French "consume many courses in a meal...portions of the fatty ones tend to be tiny...and they draw out meals sociably." She also discusses the freshness of their ingredients and the skimping on quality they refuse to do. I've never been to France (sad face) but I have been to Greece, and I find the same theory applies there as well. When we ate "out" in Greece, it was always with friends, the main course being coffee and tobacco with a little food thrown in. When eating at home, there seemed to be just enough food for everyone, which didn't tempt us into overeating. Snacks consisted of fruit from the trees outside, a piece of bread (bought or baked daily) with feta, or olives. My favorite indulgence was fresh chocolate milk, which came in a very small container like a delicacy. Even the soda, one liter bottles only, came as carbonated orange juice. And as I read this book, I wonder, why did I ever leave?

It makes me sad to think that not only could my poor eating habits be making me unhealthy (chubby), but maybe my government, my country, are contributing as well. It is very unsettling; a feeling that you cannot escape it. I'm hoping this read has a happy ending because the last thing my husband needs to hear is: "I changed my mind about the east coast, let's just hop the ocean while we're at it!"

Tuning into Reality: A Look at TV Families

Yesterday while surfing the net I came across a story about a well-known TV family who had purchased a reported $1 million home for their brood. Having watched this family for a few years, noting their tips for living on a budget, I felt somewhat cheated. This whole time I thought they were "just getting by". But who am I to look down on people doing good for themselves right? Well, I felt like the image that this TV network portrayed was one of an average American family just trying to make ends meet. And here they were, living in an estate! I just couldn't shake it, knowing that all this time I felt inadequate thinking "well if they can manage to feed that whole family for $xx.xx and healthy, why can't I do it for two?" Then, it hit me. DUH! It's TV! It is not "reality"! These people are paid to do a program so that in itself makes them different from the average family.

There are other TV families that many Americans have become enthralled with. We watch their shows, follow their stories, and learn from their experiences. But we have to remember that it is just TV: no two families or situations are the same. Frugality for some of the nation has become the new fad, but television is a tricky business where not everything is as it seems.

A Frugal Bit from Paul Harvey

I'm not sure what Paul Harvey's reasoning was for this piece, but it is definitely applicable to frugality here. Enjoy!

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, Id like better.
I'd really like for them to know about hand-me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches.
I really would hope you learn humility by being humiliated and that you learn honesty by being cheated.
I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.
It would be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your dog put to sleep.
I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.
I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.
When you see a movie and your little sister wants to tag along, I hope you let her.
I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town were you can do it safely. I
f you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.
I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.
When you learn how to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.
I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a girl, and you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.
May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove, and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.
I dont care if you try a beer once, but I hope you dont like it. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.
I sure hope you make time to sit on the porch with your Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.
May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holiday.
These things I wish for you- tough times and disappointments, hard work and happiness. To me its the only way to appreciate life.
Good Day!

Paul Harvey

Rock the Vote

Well tomorrow is Election Day, the one day where we all get to go out as Americans and take part in "the process." If you haven't already voted I hope you go out and do so. I am really happy for this election because I feel very informed. The last election was my first eligible election, and I watched the debates but I felt like I didn't know enough. I ended up not voting on that fact. This election, though, I have read and listened to everything that has come across me. I am very confident in my decision. Whether or not you are voting for McCain or Obama, get out there and let your voice be heard!



And don't forget to get your FREE BEN & JERRY'S ice cream between 5 and 8 just for voting! Check your local Ben & Jerry's to see if they are participating. We don't have one here, so I will be living vicariously through the rest of you!

Starbucks is also offering a FREE TALL BREWED COFFEE between 8am and 10 pm. So, if Starbucks is encouraging us, then I guess it's a must!