love this man!

Hearing Jamie Oliver talk about this stuff makes makes me so excited. It motivates me to make changes in my life and it also makes me want to grow this idea as far and as wide as possible. Take a look. You won't be sorry...and if you are....WHO ARE YOU????

that don't impress me much

Tonight after I finished with the gym I entered my building, closely followed by another tenant.  He was young, probably in his early twenties, and upon seeing me his face lit up as if he had just had the most brilliant idea pop into his head.  I fumbled around for my keys but wasn't quick enough to prevent the show.

"Have you heard of the Incredible Hulk?" he said with a smile.

"I'm sorry, what?" 

"Have you heard of the Incredible Hulk?" he repeated.

"The Incredible Hulk?  Yes."

He then proceeded to forcefully yank the door open without the use of the front entrance key.  The door popped open with a loud click.  Clearly it wasn't made to do that.  He seemed proud of his latest feat and was surprised, I'm sure, by my response.

"You shouldn't do that.  That breaks the door.  That's why the super won't fix this place up.  It's because people keep breaking things."

He was silent as I continued on.   He looked at me with wide, vulnerable eyes as I proceeded to kindly "berate" him for damaging property and essentially contributing to the dilapidated state of the building.  I think he was dumbfounded, to tell you the truth.  His plan to wow me or come to my rescue completely backfired.  When I could see that he was finally starting to make the connection between his actions and the effect that it has on the rest of us living here, I started to ease up on him.  I ended the conversation civilly and then casually and got off the elevator.  

Who knows if my calling him out will have a lasting effect on him.  I hope it does.  Or it may just mean that there is yet another person that I should avoid in this crappy building, but oh well.  I'm glad that I said something.  Hopefully the next time he wants to make an impression on a girl he won't try to use vandalism as a means to do so.  Because...that don't impress me much.

bronte sisters, power up!

A friend of mine posted this to her Facebook page.  I thought I would share.  It totally made me laugh...

give me revolution!

Yes, I know that Jamie Oliver is not the first chef to use fresh, whole foods.  He is not the first to educate and to give back to the community.  He is not the first to use his celebrity status to move an idea forward.  And he is not the first to make monumental, positive changes happen.  But I’ll tell you what…Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is inspiring and it is making a difference.  And it is happening because one person decided that he cared enough to use his resources, his know-how, and his status to do something.  And for that, I admire him tremendously.

Recently, I have been reading Fast Food Nation:  The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser.  It is a frightening account of the “evolution” of the American diet and business of fast food.  It details everything from marketing strategies targeting children, the horrors of feeding lots & slaughtering houses, the injustices found within the fast food system including poor wage, dangerous working conditions, lack of training & benefits, to the exploitation and eventual demise of hardworking and honest cattleman and farmers all for the benefit of the fast food giants that have become more popular than about any other thing that you could possibly think of.

What I love about Jamie Oliver or people like Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan, or Wendell Berry is that they appreciate and understand the importance of our relationship with food, with the earth, and with our communities.  They understand that health and well-being comes from a holistic and natural approach and that it is vital to understand where we are, where we have been, and where we are headed if we continue down the same path.  But not only do they strive to understand, they strive to educate and involve others to promote positive and lasting change.  They understand that revolutions such as these do not happen if one is silent, but rather, they happen when one person takes a stand and says, “No more.”

Change is difficult and slow-moving sometimes.  But I find comfort in the fact that there are others out there who espouse to the same beliefs and actually motivate me to make those changes in my own life and to then look outward in order to be of help to someone else. 

There will certainly be more posts on this subject as I have rediscovered my interest in this.  But for now, check out Jamie Oliver’s show and let the beginnings of revolution stir within.

1 part bobby + 2 parts flay = crushing, happy, smiling girl

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Start with Friday, April 16, 2010.

2.  Add in 6:45pm.

3.  Combine with 23rd Street & 6th Avenue, New York, NY (heading East).

4.  Combine with Bobby Flay + wife (optional)

5.  Mix in a completely discombobulated, blushing, having-trouble-breathing, so close you could reach out and touch him, crushing fan (me).

THE RESULT:

crushing, happy, smiling girl!

(Make sure to watch the video above from :15 to :25.  This is how I felt when Bobby crossed my path.)




P.S.  While I do have a huge crush on Mr. Flay, I'm not as crazy as I might seem right now.  Promise!  (Don't worry, Bobby.  I won't be stalking you or your lovely wife.)