CDT Dreamin’

Its time to start reading gear reviews, ordering planning guides, dusting off the dehydrator to experiment with new menu options, and step up the training.  In June we plan to fly out to the Canada end of the Continental Divide Trail and  start walking to Mexico.  Crazy? Maybe… but when this guy finished the 3000+ mile hike, he turned around and went all the way back.  Now that’s what I call crazy! Excellent short video – Francis Tapon definitely has good juju!

In Defense of Food

Dan and I both just finished this book – In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. It was one of those books that captured much of what I’d already been thinking about food, eating and life in general for years. But much of the research and evidence he provides go far beyond merely suggesting yet another fad diet.  Reading this book has helped solidify my new obsession:  providing an alternative to the the Western lifestyle and mindset.

I have so many thoughts swirling around about this book. One of the fascinating things Pollan says is that fine white flour was the original fast food.  And that food is more than the sum of its nutrient parts.

But first:

a) Read In Defense of Food for yourself

b) Join me in investigating more on the subject (I hope to Jonathan Safran Foer & Wendell Barry’s view on the subject pronto).

c) Ask yourself, “What is food?” and “What is eating?” They may seem like stupid questions, until you realize the revolution that’s occurred in recent times regarding these basic and fundamental aspects of daily life.

Snowmageddon

Can you find the car in this photo?

Yes, that’s right folks. My trust in the weathermen is increasing daily as Snowmageddon continues as predicted. I think it’s likely to top the biggest DC snow storm of recorded history – the 1922 Knickerbocker blizzard where 28 inches of snow were recorded.  Here in Reston I think we’re already at 2 feet!

It’s times like this I’m thankful to be in a house, rather than on the trail (or on the streets).  But we’re running dangerously low on our rich Italian sipping chocolate.

happy birthday dan!

I really do love you despite moments like this:

quality reality tv

Yes, I know… three words you thought you’d never see together. But you don’t have to take my word for it. Check out Mogan Spurlock’s continued 30 day-long “experiments” (his first was eating only McDonald’s for a month in Super Size Me).  The show tackles topics ranging from disabilities to Native Americans to minimum wage. And you can watch it for free here.

a peak inside your fridge…

This Picture show from Good is fascinating….. and disturbing!

Photos by Mark Menjivar

The content of many of these fridges was too unpleasant to post!

So how about you, what’s in your fridge?

mlk jr

Racial equality in the US has come a long way… but there’s still much to be done. This is over 10 years old, but still has an interesting analysis of blacks in America 30+ years after Martin Luther King Jr’s death.

mykonos

The 20th day of Christmas…

Ok, ok, so I know even the 12th day of Christmas was over a week ago AND we finally put away all the Christmas decorations (not an easy feat in this house!) but I’m still singing along to my Motown Christmas Album and thought you’d enjoy this pic of “The Papa”!  Don’t worry kids, as the Beach Boys would say, “He’s not really Santa… he’s just helping Santa Claus…”

American Woman Girl

Ok, so it’s true I was hit with rush of emotions earlier this fall when I discovered that the Samantha American Girl doll had retired and the Pleasant Company was soon to retire Kirsten as well!  I was stunned, then overjoyed I’d bought Samantha, but heartbroken at the prospect of never owning Kirsten… the lovely Swedish immigrant. If you are a girl from age 2 to 32 you should know exactly what I’m talking about.

For the rest of you…. American Girl dolls now include a ridiculous array of baby and girl dolls, but they started as a line of dolls from different time periods in America’s history.  They even come with little volumes of historical fiction. Samantha, who I bought at age five nickel-by-nickel from doing choirs  (child labour? yes), is a wealthy orphan growing up in New York in 1904. She was my pride and joy.  But later I did fall for the cute blond braided loops of Kirsten… and our similar Swedish heritage, but never got her….

Until this Christmas. Yes, over two decades later, I am the proud owner of both Samantha and Kirsten.  But it’s a good thing I’m no longer a little girl, because she was back-ordered and won’t arrive till the spring!