Wrong

WRONG
John Baldessari 1967-1968

Any time i see something that's just wrong - this is the image that flashes in my head - along with a buzzer sound...

I love it!

Something to Aspire to...

In my research for the Terminal Annex Post Office, I came across a blog called the Jimson Weed Gazette...

This guy ~K~ takes the most beautiful shots...

I feel shamed when i see such great pictures... Ok I must work on improving my pictures... I took photography a long time ago... I'll get better once I start taking more pictures... (i hope).

Bus Drivers Rock!

Just to clarify...

My previous gripes about the MTA do not extend to the drivers of the buses...

They have all been awesome and most are quite helpful.

I love the driver of the 217 at night (won't say which one - no stalkers please)... she is friendly and knows her regulars - she recognized me the second night i rode... I can tell she's looking out for everyone's safety.

It's the ticket sales people and the information desk people who i've seen person to person who are the lazy ones. The ones on the phone have generally been okay (if you can get someone within a few minutes - i hate waiting on hold for so long).

So the people on the streets driving the buses - they rock!

Exploring

I'm naturally inquisitive. I see something that catches my eye, I start asking questions - or get closer to inspect.

One day after visiting Union Station, I saw this interesting dome poking over the top of another building... (different angle pictured here).

I wanted to get closer.

What is it? it's so cool!

It's a Post Office!



The Terminal Annex Post Office. Built in the Spanish/Mission Revival style by Gilbert S. Underwood... (who designed over 20 post offices & many vacation lodges at various National Parks... Also did the Wilshire Tower in the Miracle Mile).

Of course I wasn't satisfied just looking at it from the outside.

I got up close - check out the doorway - This is one of its twin entrances. But just to the right of this doorway was the tablet with the engraving of the dedication date, and Gilbert Underwood's name.

I also went inside and saw some fabulous murals and marble floors. Such a gorgeous building.

Since I was there, and there was no line, I went ahead and purchased some postage stamps - featuring my new dead-actor crush - James Stewart (swoon).

I like to wander in and out of buildings. Why not? There's so much to see and if I'm on foot with no car to deal with - no parking to search for... I have the freedom to move about the city.

I thought the $12 Chicken was expensive?

I was too tired to go to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market on Wednesday... so I have no fresh food in the house...

But I'd already invited Michelangelo (my magnificent rival according to the Relationship book) and Ara for a dinner of roast chicken that night. I'd texted Mike to take a rain check but his phone was off... he called me at 5pm asking what time to be over... panic time...

So I had to go to Whole Foods... HOLY GUACAMOLE - food is getting sooooo expensive! I thought going to the Farmer's Markets was just being frivolous - but it is really a money saving thing...

Chicken: $5/pound for the "Better" organic chicken and $3.99 or so/pound for the "regular" organic chicken... The smallest bird of the expensive variety came to $20!!! the smallest of the other one came to $14. I'm only getting my chicken from the Lily's farms vendor at the SM Farmer's Market from now on!

Asparagus: $5.99/lb. Why? they are in season here! I find them ranging from $2-$3/bunch at the farmer's markets.

Artichokes: I got some huge gorgeous artichokes last week for $3.50 each... I saw puny ones at ralph's last night for $3.99 each. Puh-thetic!

And the strawberries just can't compare. Don't even bother. I loved the Chandlers that I got last week.

Dude - because I was too tired (lazy) to get up and go to Santa Monica (i should cut back on my shots at the Burgundy room) - I ended up blowing $30 on food at Whole Foods - for what would have cost me $20 and been so much better...

My handwriting - an analysis

So what did I spend my last Dollar on at the Earth Day event at Wilshire Center?

A tip to the guy who analyzed my handwriting... smart, eh?

Whatever - I thought it would be fun to see what he has to say...

I heard him basically saying mostly the same things to the people before me... apparently most of us are Passionate & Emotional not a huge stretch there...

And when he started with me, I half expected mine would start out that way:

You are passionate, emotional, and fight with words... (yes - i rant here, and i get my revenge on yelp)

You sleep on the right side of the bed (facing the bed or on the bed? - no one gets to ask that since he goes so fast... it's 50/50, and well, if i'm facing the bed, I am on the right... but on the bed, I'm on the left... so I'll toss that out the window).

But you tend to sleep toward the middle and take up 80% of the surface... (hey! are you saying I need to diet?)

You're a non-conformist and don't follow any religion... (alright - you're coming onto something - he didn't say that to any of the others that I listened to)

You don't change your opinions based on what your friends say (well, I listen to everything, process it, and take things into consideration - and if I agree, I will change my mind... but I do hold strong to my principles...)

He said some other stuff, that I don't really remember - he talks so fast... but at the end he said:

You're lactose intolerant. (TRUE! absolutely dead on - BUT - no one should be drinking cow's milk anyways... so really, how much of the population is that true for... but he didn't say that for anyone else - just me - and that's been one of my most annoying issues that i've been dealing with lately).

Now do you have a question for me?

Yes!

Will I ever get married?

No.

HEY! he said that so matter-of-factly - just like he said i was lactose intolerant.

HMPF! Oh yeah? I'll show you - I'll go and get married just to spite you - prove you wrong...

Apparently the girl after me and the guy before me both have butt fetishes... he didn't say that to me... I have issues with my "ghetto-bootie" but no, I don't have a butt-fetish...

So how much of it is true? who knows - but hey, it was entertaining... so i tipped him with the last of the money I had with me... (i left the house with only $6 - $5 went to the day pass for riding the MTA).

MTA - Making Transportation Arduous

I'm convinced - the Metropolitan Transit Authority here in L.A. DOESN'T WANT YOU TAKING THE BUS!

Seriously - It is the worst system! So difficult to use. I'm trying to love it. Honest, I am... In order to conquer your enemy, you must love it, so you understand how it thinks...

But I don't think they do much thinking around there... so there really is nothing to understand or love about it.

• There are NO humans at any of the Metro stations to assist if you have questions.
• There are NO maps or timetables at most bus stops (really only at the Rapid lines).
• The Metro Customer Center at La Brea & Wilshire only has 1 window for sales. No Info!
• The website is not laid out right! I would change it around so much...
  
• What's the deal with the purple line ending at western?
• The person at the information desk at the MTA headquarters - yes, i went there - didn't want to help me!!! It was like pulling teeth to get anything from her. Like I was bothering her??? Jeez - isn't this your JOB???This is the Metro Customer Center - Wilshire & La Brea... They close for Lunch from 1pm - 2pm. You can't get into the building to get maps or anything when they close for their 1 hour lunch.
  

And this is what was hanging at the bus stop, right there at Wilshire & La Brea. nice.

Funny thing - I feel safer riding the bus at 1am going from Hollywood to the Miracle Mile than I did yesterday in Gardena - which is south of South Central - in broad daylight!

Do those guys honking and making kissy sounds really think that's gonna make me swoon??? c'mon give me a break.

In my attempts to get to a live human for information about the MTA - I took the subway to Union Station - I really need to take that Union Station tour that the L.A. Conservancy gives

Gorgeous building, no?

There's so much to see... they just don't build 'em like that anymore, do they... actually, this was the last Grand Train Station built in the U.S.

I went to the MTA ticket sales booth, and asked where I could get information.

The lady told me that she doesn't give information, but that I could use the phone around the corner. A phone? seriously?

So I pick up the phone (I really need to get some alcohol wipes or hand sanitizers - but not the anti-bacterial stuff - just alcohol wipes) and after waiting for 2 minutes for a live human -to voice a complaint on the lack of available information, she puts me on hold with the complaint line... hold...
hold...
hold...
see a crazy cat lady come by - the cat was on a leash on this lady's shoulder and she was muttering - either to the cat, or to anyone who may listen...
hold...
hold...
HUMAN picks up!

She then tells me that from where I'm standing, all I need to do is go up the escalators to the MTA building which will be on my left once i exit the building - and they can give me information.

WHAT????

That's what I'm seeking, and no one told me to go straight there?

I'm well-spoken, I form my questions correctly... are we speaking the same language here? Why didn't anyone tell me this sooner?

Maybe because they don't want to help! They probably all had chips in their ears telling each other "shhhhh don't tell her to come here - give her the runaround until she gives up - they all give up eventually"

Oh no - you won't get rid of me that easily! You're just fueling my fire.

And I will attend the Westside Extension Transit Corridor Update Meeting at LACMA west - 5th floor Monday May 5th from 6-8pm. Now that I'm using the system and seeing what works and what doesn't... I will speak my voice - and I will be heard!

I'm an opinionated little snot, and I've only just begun.
(rubs hands in a menacing way)

Oh - and the gas station right outside Union Station had 87 octane at $4.23/gallon... (April 22, 2008)

I put $20 worth last week - that lasted from Wednesday to Wednesday, 123 miles, and I only drove 4 days! Ouch!

I put in another $20 this Wednesday, but so far I've only driven about 20 miles...

I'm getting a bus pass for the month of May. I'm so over this gas price explosion... I protest!

And here's a novel idea: Make the buses FREE! that would get more people out of their cars, and get the traffic flowing if the bus didn't have to wait for everyone to feed the money into the collection box thing-y.

Earth Day at Wilshire Center - a review

Yay - new plants on Wilshire Blvd.

I didn't plan on attending "Earth Day" given my disdain for these so called events... but I stumbled upon it, and like a magpie to a shiny glittery bracelet... i just walked right into the event.

School children "Greening" the Median Strip on Wilshire Blvd.
yeah - short attention span... that's why my mother had me tethered to her when i was a child - i have a tendency to just wander off...


As I suspected, there were tons of people selling their so-called "Green" products... It was a merchandising gimmicky thing... but I did learn some worthwhile info.

I signed a petition to get a High-Speed train proposal on the ballot... I could change my mind later.

I found out about some public meetings regarding the MTA to attend (I'll do a separate posting on that issue).

But seeing as I'm not a homeowner, I can't do much to change my living situation in terms of adding solar panels or changing the plumbing... or plant a garden or raise chickens... But I do reduce my trash output by re-using my bags & recycling what I can. Baby steps.

Earth Day?

So today is so-called Earth Day.

My disdain for these quasi holidays is because they become so gimmick-y. I mean - shouldn't we be mindful of our planet and surroundings everyday anyways?

And don't get me started on Valentine's Day...

But I digress... today is also a "No Car Day" in L.A.

I'll participate - I'll take the bus to wherever I end up going as I figure out what I'm doing... I'll see how the streets will look...

But if it takes some event to get a few extra people to learn about energy saving techniques and create some awareness about the environment - fine, I'll take it... but seriously - do we really need this "holiday"?

Through South Central via MetroLink

I'm gonna try it...

It's friday - and traffic is always hellacious anywhere you go here in L.A.

But I'm going to my dad's in Gardena - and I'm in the Miracle Mile... and the only way to get there from here via bus is to go thru South Central.

Since I don't have laundry to tote, may as well take the bus. perhaps i'll take my knitting with me...

My Twelve-Dollar Chicken

Yesterday's venture to the Santa Monica Farmer's Market was bountiful expedition...

I finally got there in time to get at Chicken from the vendor from Lily's farms. This chicken was supposedly a forager... ate bugs and grasses and whatever was on the ground in its encampment...

It cost $12. and it was only 3-lbs. That's $4 a pound... My dad gets his rotisserie chickens from Costco for about $5. And it's for a bigger bird - fully cooked - ready to eat.

Is it worth the difference?

If I listen to the Foraged meat propaganda (i'm growing increasingly cynical in general now - thanks Chomsky) this chicken will be more nutritious since it's eating a variety of foods... and if you are what you eat, then this chicken that ate bugs and grasses and seeds will have more omega-3s and such. It also didn't have any added hormones or antibiotics... so that's why it wasn't as plump and fatty as the Costco chicken.

How was the flavor?

Well - it was excellent...

But that's because I know how to roast a chicken. I soaked it in a Saltwater bath (a koshering/cleaning technique)... rinsed and patted it dry... drizzled it with Olive Oil & fresh Lemon, Seasoned it with salt & pepper, fresh thyme & stuffed the cavity with the lemon wedges and more thyme. Popped it into an oven heated to 425 and after 15 minutes i reduced it to 375 for the rest of the cooking time.

But any chicken that I roast like that will come out tasting good...

so what's the difference?

well - they didn't pack any giblets (boo!), but there was less fat (yay!).

So is it worth the luxury? well - it's still cheaper than eating at a restaurant... and I feel good about my purchase... I don't want to eat meat or poultry at restaurants anymore... I feel so guilty about it... Like I'm betraying my cause... Where did this guilt come from?

I'm sure at the next bbq i'll just say "Fuck it - pass the chicken my way"

balance... i must find the right balance.

I also bought some ground Bison... It's in the freezer - I'll let you know how that comes out when i get around to cooking it. I'm gonna let this chicken feed me for a few days... can't eat it in just 2 or 3 sittings since i'm tightening my belt...

S.O.S! Save Our State Parks!

Apparently our Governator finds in that our state parks are not worth keeping open.

Our state budget is not going to provide for our infrastructure any more... is nothing sacred?

Please visit this site and click here to sign the online petition to show that we value our parks and value our access to hiking trails and nature...

Once Will Rogers State park gets shut down, ownership will revert to the family - and then they will be free to sell it to developers. It was a gift to the state so that all of us could enjoy the land - and now our current governor is giving OUR park back???

Ok - i'll back off from my soapbox... I'm just fuming though... I signed the petition Wednesday at the Santa Monica Farmer's Market - and now I'm passing the word on...

Imagine if Griffith Park was on that list!!!! wouldn't you be livid too?

is it OCD, a fetish, or am I just plain Anal?

From the looks of it, one would never think that my dad owns one of these at his office... But he does... several in fact!

Sometimes I pick up a bunch of papers, and they have 3, 5, sometimes as many as 10 staples within the single collated stack.

It drives me nuts... so I have a compulsion to grab the staple remover and remove all the excessive staples. I can't help myself... It's just so satisfying to feel that big giant mess get reduced to just one single staple holding the batch of paper together.

ahhhhhh....

One Month Later...

It's been exactly one month since I started this blog... what has happened since then...

I've taken the bus/metro on 3 different occasions (more than my previous 10 years combined here in Los Angeles).

I've spent only $25 at Trader Joes, $15 at Ralph's - the rest of my grocery money was spent at Farmers Markets, Santa Monica Seafood, Santa Monica Co-Op, & Erewhon.

I now only purchase Local, Seasonal, Organic (or transitional/pesticide-free) fruits & veggies & eggs from grass-fed forging free range chickens (and they do look and taste different - better, in fact!).

Quandaries:

I need to buy new shoes - both daytime & nighttime...
I need new tops including plain white v-neck tees.
but I refuse to buy from a company that outsources... I'm also kinda broke, so i guess I'll have to do with what i have for now.

Urgent new purchases to be made:
I need a new facial cleanser - I'll try something organic perhaps.
I need a new tube of toothpaste... Tom's of Maine perhaps - they have one without flouride, right?

I also picked up a Noam Chomsky book to learn about politics and propaganda...

I saw "To Kill a Mockingbird" again last night... I love Gregory Peck/Atticus Finch... I also love Jimmy Stewart and his characters... where are today's Gregory Pecks & Jimmy Stewarts? Hmmm... George Clooney'll have to do, i suppose ;)

Proactiv vs. Aspirin...

I developed the most terrible allergy to dairy products (cow only) 2 years ago.

Even lactaid can't help.

No - it's not just my stomach that revolts... My body whole-heartedly rejects any bit of cow-dairy. The rejection of said products emerges on my face...

I get the most horrid cystic pimples - the large ones under the skin that hurt. Without going into details - I've tested even the tiniest amounts - and still I'll get an instant result - within 10 hours.

I've become the annoying person at the dinner table asking "does that have any dairy in it?". I hate hearing myself have to ask that all the time. I used to love going to restaurants and checking out the dessert menu first to see what they offered so I'd base my food order around the dessert. If the dessert was uninspired, I'd get a good entree. If the dessert sounded scrumptious, I'd get a soup or appetizer.

Now, more often than not - I just get a good entree (but only after my process of dairy elimination leaves me with 2 or 3 options).

Friends try to convince me to use Proactive as a remedy... but I find that to be silly... Like putting aloe vera over sunburnt skin. Sure, it might help - but if I know how to prevent the condition - then why use some product after the fact to treat it.

I read about Proactiv and it contains harsh ingredients which may bleach clothes or towels... and may dry skin out or cause irritation. If my skin is mostly good except for the occasional spots due to minor (or major) transgressions (I do indulge sometimes)... why buy some expensive and potentially harmful product?

Here's my salvation - thanks Lisa for turning me on to this:

The Aspirin Mask

• 6-7 Aspirin tablets
• enough water to just disolve the tablets
• Honey - to bind the ingredients

Make a paste, and apply as a mask over the face (or spot treat the sections). Leave on for 5 minutes - then exfoliate & wash off.

What does this do? The aspirin removes/reduces the redness, & shrinks the puffiness. The honey keeps the skin from getting too dried out, and the resulting exfoliation leaves the skin baby soft! And it's CHEAP!

I used to bake all the time - always made desserts for special occasions. Now I can't have 95% of what I used to make. It hurts.

I just can't use goat or sheep based dairy products as replacements all the time...

Good thing my favorite cheese (manchego - pictured right) is sheep-based.

Laura's Lean Beef

I've been seeing this brand of beef at Ralph's and I've been wondering about it. I just visited their website just to find out more.

This is the part i was looking for:

Feed may contain GMO-grains (there is currently no way for them to know as farmers mix their grains).

Other than that, they have a lot of interesting (chilling even) information on their website about how their practices differ from the traditional cattle processing (check out the FAQ section). For the most part, it seems to me that they are moving in the right direction, however it's not enough for me and what i'm looking for. That being said, if I don't have access to the grass-fed meats that I've been seeking out, I'll probably select Laura's Lean Beef over the traditional (totally unlabeled) meats sold at Ralph's or any other supermarket.

It really makes me want to stop eating meats when i go to restaurants.

And I don't want to be a pain in the ass when I go to friends' houses for lunch or dinner... But you know - since for the most part, I don't eat certain foods at my house since I'm refusing to buy them, I end up totally indulging when a guest... it's like I've deprived myself so much at home, that when out - i go nuts with all the options...

I doubled my net worth today by taking the MTA

Ok - well maybe not my net worth... but i had no cash on hand... i grabbed $2.50 worth in quarters for my round-trip bus fare... and got compensated $5.00 for my transportation costs!

One of my pet projects is that I am a docent for the L.A. Conservancy (yes, I'm over-educated, under-employed AND I take on gigs that don't pay). They needed an extra Art Deco docent so I signed up...

Such a hot day... 85 degrees - and I'm walking around downtown for 2.5 hours in the hot sun with my group of 10 tourgoers. I placed them in the shade as much as possible while i (unfortunately) stood in the sun talking about what makes the Sun Realty building Art Deco...

Again - taking the bus was so liberating! And now i have $5 for gas since the tank's been empty for so long... woot!

Can I tell you how much I love the library? well, they didn't have the books i wanted - so they put them on order to be sent to my local branch. I also got a different Noam Chomsky book from what i was recommended - something about propaganda and politics... I figure i may as well read up on this since both issues are at play in this blog... but wow - not paying for a book and being able to avoid the accumulation of more clutter... what a concept... why did it take me so long to come around?

saw a 3 car pile-up at the intersection of Highland and Wilshire... real ugly and sad... i saw it from the bus. I'm really liking this not-driving thing. I always take the bus/subway in NYC... why not here?

Stuff we Like

Carrington introduced me to something new - and I like it!

I'm looking for new ways to tote around drinking water without using plastic bottles. She found something new at Whole Foods and bought one bottle for each member of her family. It's all aluminum, light-weight and safe (until we find out that it's bad for us).

They have so many varieties to choose from. click here to find out more. Now which style(s) should i pick... hmmm... so many options

Strawberries!

It's strawberry season!

And there are so many varieties to choose from... and the prices are great too. But some are more flavorful than others - and some are outright bland.

The Wednesday Santa Monica Farmer's Market had these varieties:

Camarosa - $2/basket $5/3-pack
Those are the best priced ones, and the ones i see most at the farmer's markets around town. They are large and plump, but sometimes they are flavorless. One vendor from Oxnard said his are best because of the milder weather...

But some are much more expensive. Why? I decided to find out for myself.

I started talking to Thomas at this one stand that was selling Ranunculus (one of my faves) and strawberries. He had two varieties both at the same price:

Seascape & Gaviota - $4/basket $11/3-pack
I tried one of each - they were both good - but i think i liked the Gaviota better... they were all mixed in together, but some baskets had more Gaviotas than Seascapes... He could tell the difference since he knows what to look for... I'm still a novice so i deferred to the expert - I asked him to put together a nice basket for me... He grabbed a basket - but then proceeded to hand-pick some strawberries from other baskets to the point that the basket overflowed!

Yay! I like Thomas... I'll get my strawberries from him again next time I go to SM.

Another variety that I saw at only one stand was the Chandler - ($4/basket $11/3-pack). Apparently, they aren't very hardy or long lasting. They must be consumed within 2 days. I'll try them next time just for the sake of experimenting.

However - at the Hollywood farmer's market on Ivar (sundays) there's this one vendor that sells a hybrid that they haven't named yet - it goes by the number 269. They told me it's a cross between a Seascape and Chandler. A few years ago, I'd bought a basket of these strawberries on Larchmont - and they were the best I'd ever had. I will try them again this Sunday... again - for the sake of experimenting.

but i'm really just waiting for Boysenberries to come back - they are my absolute favorite berries in the world (such a short season).

Have day pass, will travel...

I'm finally discovering how liberating it is to travel via public transport.

Mission: to explore downtown (and return some books on tape to the library).

Partner in crime: Tim
Topics of discussion: the city at large, buildings, architects, tours.

Destinations:

1. L.A. Central Public Library
2. Union Station (i took that picture with my treo)
3. Phillipe's for lunch
   

Detours:

1. Ace Gallery in the Wilshire Tower
2. Another Wilshire Art Deco building
3. Casey's
4. Library Bar

Now we would have never been able to do all these stops if we took a car... unless we were willing to pay thru the nose for parking everywhere... and the cost of gas? we saw a gas station across from Union Station offering 87 octane (the cheapest) at $4.19!!! wow!

And with that all day $5 pass/each, we explored the Pershing Square station (to go to the Library), Union Station (to see the Station & to get to Phillipe's), 7th & Figueroa (Casey's & Library Bar), and Wilshire/Western (the end of the line - thus our switchover to the bus).

Tim & I did discuss politics... we both agree that the war must end... but he disagrees with my position on how manufacturing should be localized... he asserts that we're part of a global community. I agree to a degree... I'm all for importing and exporting top quality specialty trades... but what i'm against is the exporting of entire industries just to push down wages and increase profits at the corporate level.

What the Chuck?

I've nearly completely destroyed my Chuck Taylors... They're my favorite type of casual shoes... and I love my blue ones which are fading in the most interesting way...

yet they are almost out the door and into the trash... i've been afraid to look - but i checked it out anyways... yup, made in China.

I went online to check out the website - they do custom shoes as well... I figured perhaps these custom shoes were manufactured in workshops here in the United States...

I called the toll-free number and spoke to someone in customer service. I asked where the shoes were made - the custom ones...

Customer Service: "they're manufactured overseas"
me: "in China?"
CS: "yes"
me: "even the custom ones? isn't Converse an American company?"
CS: "Converse is an International company with offices in many countries"
me: "but what is the history of Converse? where is it from?"
CS: "it was created in and originated in Massachusetts"
me: "so it was American in origin - but now nothing is made here in the U.S."
CS: "all manufacturing is done overseas"
me: "sigh. I'm not going to be able to purchase them anymore - I'm trying to stick with purchasing from companies that don't outsource american jobs."
CS: "there are many Americans employed at these factories overseas"
me: "but they are not here"
CS: "no"
me: "thank you for your time and for clearing this up for me. Unfortunately for me, I won't be able to buy any more of my favorite shoes."
CS: "i'm sorry about that too"

she was friendly and all - the conversation was mostly matter-of-fact in tone... what can you do?

i'm afraid to check out Vans now... though it'll probably be more of the same... anyone know of any brands that are made here in the US that are somewhat like Chuck Taylor low-top Converse All-Stars?

Why does there seem to be so much about Food?

I just returned from a road trip with a group of friends. I have an eclectic group - and we do get into pretty interesting conversations.

Michelangelo & Carlos always seem to be talking about politics and economics and world affairs. And while i can follow, and sometimes actually participate - I usually just sit back and listen because if I can't personally participate or have a hand in any part of the discussion, why talk? Mike & Carlos are perpetual students... don't really seem interested in holding any jobs... like me, they are over-educated and under-employed. Mike even considers himself to be a part of the "idle class" and while it's said partially in jest, there is more truth to it than one would really believe.

But I mentioned my new blog - about my political idealism and this little movement i'm trying to create awareness in. Mike seemed interested and promised to check it out. He did. He came up to me the next morning and told me how he read it - but asked me why so much of it had to do with food? Where's the politics in it all?

I considered it for a while and when i realized why - I returned to him...

So many of our political discussions are regarding such lofty ideas - like where is the United States heading? What is the biggest crisis we as a nation are facing? What about the war?

While these are big issues and the sharing of ideas is a good thing - what of it all? He's great at philosophizing but when it comes to putting ideas into action, what are any of us doing? I get it - I see the big picture and how so many things affect other things and snowball... and when i start thinking so big, i get paralyzed! Where am I to start? I'm just me - a 30-something woman living in Los Angeles - not born into any great wealth or power... certainly not a self-made millionaire... single... what voice do I have? What can I do?

Well, I am a consumer. I eat. daily. multiple times even. and, well - so do most people. So i'm putting my money where my mouth is. literally. and my discoveries have opened my eyes to some interesting information. well, i thought they were interesting.

i discovered that shopping at various farmer's markets can be quite enjoyable. prices are competitive, if not better than those in supermarkets. and the quality is vastly superior... though they don't have the pre-washed bagged produce that i've grown accustomed to using... It really gets me to focus on my purchases when i bring them home, wash them and store them. and then i get excited about experimenting with new recipes using this new produce.

in speaking with some vendors, i've learned a lot about the farming techniques, and about the availability of different crops during different seasons. though i'm no Huell Howser, i do ask questions here and there.

what i'm doing is shifting my support from Big Industry Supermarkets using Traditional Farming Techniques (pesticides) to small, local, organic farms. And in sharing my experiences with others, perhaps an additional shift will follow suit.

I've heard from some friends who said they're interested in hearing more - but please, if you have any input or things to share, please add comments to my posts... i'd like to hear what moves you - have you been prompted into action? do you have any recommendations? talk to me - i'd like to open this up to discussion and this is at least a forum in which everyone can participate in both verbally & financially.

As for Mike... he shared an article written by Jared Diamond (author of Guns,Germs & Steel) regarding how agrarian cultures leads to the general population being worse off than those in hunter/gatherer cultures... he's following a "cave-man" diet... He likes to stir the pot with radical ideas pulled from way out in left field... but seriously... how "cave-man-like" is going to Ralph's and purchasing steak & eating it rare?

my date with the MTA.

I had 2 main locations to visit today... 2 places downtown, and one place in the valley... so why not get out of my car and take public transportation?

due to my bad planning - my timing was slightly off - i should have allowed more time... but for a $5 day pass, I saved about $10-$20 in parking downtown, another $1 in the valley, and not to mention all the traffic to deal with...

but as i mentioned, my timing was off, and i'm running late for my night time gig -

to be continued...