girl, disconnected...day 3

I accomplished one of my goals today. If you'll remember I blogged a few days ago my VERY lofty goals on WHY this disconnect was important to me. One of my to-do's is to ensure I start my family on a healthier lifestyle. I watched "Food, Inc" and I must say. If you've NOT seen this movie. You absolutely must. No, it didn't make me a vegetarian but it did make me ANGRY. Now if you read this, you KNOW I am a big fan of capitalism, business and personal responsibility. However, what the food industry has done to us is shameful, horrifying and disgusting.

I wonder am I powerless to change anything? But as the end of the movie points out, you CAN make a change...with every bite you put in your mouth. Every time you buy groceries you are voting...you are making a difference by shopping. If you only purchase Twinkies and YooHoo's, that's what the industry is going to provide.

I've been on a lifelong battle to eat better. I was raised on high fat, high sugar, cheap, "low income" kind of foods. Food shouldn't be based on a class system. Just because you make more money you shouldn't be able to feed your kids healthier food than others. So how do I, a middle class stay at home mother cause change?

By re-examining our diet. It will be a sloooooooooow process, I know that. I am a big fan of couponing and saving money...and it's said you CAN'T coupon on a natural/organic diet. Well, that sounds like a challenge to me. And I am INCREDIBLY hard-headed and stubborn. I want to see if that's really true.

What I have to remember, every time I go shopping, is at what price is it worth my kids health? I've been a 'natural' or "crunchy" kinda gal for some time now...which is hard for people to understand because I do so love my sugary treats, and I am at heart a libertarian....which means I'm all for keeping the government OUT of my life.

But what infuriates me more, is that there are government agencies (the FDA, the USDA) that are FAILING us. Every day. Every meal. I am not a fan of government, you know that. But for those of you who ARE....how does this not infuriate you?? How does this not make you angry? How do you support such institutations that are KILLING people? I hear much talk about how many politicians are in bed with the meat industry, the corn industry, etc....what about those in bed with Monsanto? What about those who turn a blind eye to high fructose corn syrup? It's NOT just Republicans and you are niave if you think so.

I, for one, never had much faith in our government. Not since I've been alive. So it's up to me and my faith in God that we stay healthy. So I have to do MY part. I have to purchase responsible foods. Even if it's at a cost. Maybe this means we eat a little bit less. Maybe this means I coupon and donate the foods we don't use to food banks. Maybe this means I help my friend with her garden and NEXT year I try it myself??

I don't know ALL the changes I will be able to make. Massive change always starts with one small step. So my challenge for this month is simple.

*Grocery shop only at a local store and Whole Foods. Conciously examine WHERE the food is coming from and how the meat is fed and cared for. Let's see JUST how much more costly eating better is. And how can I save money in other ways to MAKE this happen??

I have a Whole Foods gift card burning a hole in my pocket. Let's just see how much of my normal groceries I can get there and at our locally owned grocery store and for HOW much more money??

And if you're brave enough, consider checking out Millions Against Monsanto. If there ever has been an evil corporation...they are it. And this is me...the girl who's a big fan of personal responsibility and business....saying this. Pure evil.

Thus ends day 3 of my disconnect. We're off to meet our dog tomorrow and hopefully tomorrow I can introduce you to Maxwell the dog!!
~~Amy

girl, disconnected....day 2

i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.




It's been a long day. I miss venting with my online friends.

I've not heard any updates on Mrs. Jo Ann....I hope to go visit her tomorrow afternoon. She did start the chemo at 3:45 am Wednesday, June 2nd.

We're scheduled to go see the doggy on Sunday!! If we adopt him, I've already got his name picked out.....

 Stay tuned to see if children survive....how much Mommy drinks....and if we become Doggy Parents.

~~amy

girl, disconnected....the beginning

Well, it's been a hard first day of being disconnected. I've already broken my rules. Confession Time:

Within the first hour yesterday, I googled something for my son....but that was ALL I googled. (by the way you CAN fix a Leapster 2 if the screen freezes.)

Within the first few hours I went on Facebook...however I did NOT check anything, I was looking up information on this animal rescue site I'm trying to get in touch with. (I am desperately trying to adopt this SUPER adorable pug mix!!!) Likewise, I checked my email multiple times more than planned, because I'm waiting to hear a reply from the foster mom of the pug!! Seriously...how cute is he?

So, I have checked my email more than I should've because of his cuteness.

I also broke my no Plurk rule because I needed to ask for prayers. I'm asking them of you now as well (and dear Facebook friends who will see this via Auto-Post.) A good friend of the family, Mrs Jo Ann, is gravely ill. She's battling cancer, and they've started chemo. She is extremely sick and the cancer has spread throughout her body. She is my "mama from another grandmama" I say. She and my mother were best of friends for the last 20 years of my mom's life. Mrs. Jo Ann is one of the sweetest, kindest, loveliest people I've ever known. She will do for others far beyond what she SHOULD do, and will give and give til it takes all from herself. Not that anyone deserves the pain and agony of cancer, but Mrs. Jo Ann has done nothing but serve God her entire life. She is extremely important to me, one of my mother figures. She has always been proud of me, believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. I was able to visit her last night and made sure to let her know just how very much she means to me.

So I did cheat. I got on plurk and asked my friends there for prayers. Because I know they will do it. I know they care about me and know that she is important to me, so I know they (and you) will pray. I just pray she does not suffer and just as she asks, God's will to be done.

So I was not as disconnected yesterday as I should have been, particularly since it was shipping day so I had to spend 1 hour shipping packages. But normally, in between printing shipping labels I'd have been surfing the net, playing on facebook or plurk...but instead I just printed labels, convo'd customers, and got WORK done. It was nice to get it done in a timely fashion instead of being constantly distracted.

I've also perused the net a tad more than I planned today because we are on the crunch to schedule our plans for our yearly church trip in mid October. I've been emailing potential condo owners and waiting to hear back. (Sidebar: VRBO.com is a fabulous way to find great vacation rentals if you ever need such a service.) And that is the ONLY site I used to make these plans, so I was not endlessly searching!!

But once this blog is done, I shall turn it off! I've checked the shops for the day, and will not be shipping again until Monday, so I can get back to relative disconnect (other than obsessive checking about the dog....)

What I have accomplished during my semi-disconnect....I finished reading a book (which probably auto posted to facebook and twitter...) I took the boys to play with friends today, and cleaned up the house.

So, I'm making it! I am jonesing to check facebook, but I'm starting to realize the world will NOT spin off it's axis if I don't get on these sites!

Tomorrow will be running errands with my dad, cleaning and working on my son's attitude. (why did no one tell me age 5 is baaaaaaaaaaaaaad?)

I wonder how my friend Heather is doing on her girl, disconnected?

Please remember to leave me comments if anything earth shattering happens whilst I'm disconnected. And please pray for Mrs. Jo Ann. I do appreciate it.

~~Amy