Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Today must be a writing day...

I think I have a lot on my mind today.

I fell victim to the pull of watching really really lame internet TV reality shows and I saw one that takes the cake on "Lame-ness".

"More to Love."
Yup - that is the name of the reality show I have only watched 2 episodes (2 too many) and I think I am done. The premise is good: the idea that you do not have to be model thin to find love and joy. It's "The Bachelor" meets, "the Biggest Loser" except no-one is interested in losing weight.

If you are not aware - I am a personal trainer and nutrition and fitness is kinda my thang. sooooo.... I watched.
I started with a very open mind that I would not judge these people based on their size. I am all about loving people no matter what.

But as I watched the horror story started to unfold...
here is what I learned from the women on this show according to their words:
1 - "Fat girls are more fun than skinny girls" - (my thoughts - even though most of the time they are just sitting around eating and back stabbing each other)
2 - "I'm so glad we get to prove that we are smarter and have more personality than skinny girls" (even though almost every conversation either turns to food or a make out session instead of anything of substance)
3 - "*Sob, sob, sob* I am so glad I have finally met someone that treats me as a princess and I am so in love finally for the first time. *sob*" (and get ready for rejection once again as he dumps you for the other 19 girls he is treating as a princess, having shallow conversations with and kissing like a fox in a chicken coop)
4 - (girl looks doe-eyed at boy and stares brainlessly at his eyes)"thank you for accepting me as I am and not wanting me to change." Boy: "Can I kiss you?" and then they make out for a while. - repeat with next chick...
5 - "I figure life is short, may as well just enjoy it and eat without worrying." (Life is shorter for overweight people. I plan on making my life last a little longer so I can enjoy it for more years than the average american)

nice...
how funny. ummmm.... not sure what to say more. but sorry ladies on this show, you have just given an insanely bad name for plump ladies everywhere!
at least on the other version of the Bachelor the men and women are not so desperate (usually) as to all of them making out in the first episode. I was sooooo turned off by your lack of self-esteem and the pretense that you tried to put out there that you all felt fine with your body image. and yet, so desperate for a man's affection as to give up your physicality all too quickly. what a shame.

yeah, I am done with that show and will go kayaking or bike riding or hiking or play at the park while those ladies talk about how much more fun it is to be overweight. I will also eat my steak and potatoes too... so I can continue to enjoy the time I have to play hard on this earth without wondering if hiking is going to give me a heart attack.

the joy of gardening?????

My entire life I have been taught the importance of having a garden. As a kid I resented having to move rocks, pull weeds and work in the garden. It was not fun - it was a chore. I hated it! I was thrilled when we didn't have a garden to work anymore.
As a married woman and mother, I just never wanted to have a garden. (I take that back, I have wanted one - just never wanted to do the work).

I loved eating fresh veggies straight out of the ground as a kid. there are few things tastier than eating that fresh carrot, or peas right out of the pod. I loved being able to do that as a kid. But I hate the work.

Now I have the space, the land and everything ready and I am cringing at the idea of all the work that is needed for me to start a garden. My neighbor Christy, is always bringing over fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, etc... from her lovely garden and it is oh so yummy. I want to have that too!

not only that but as the economy gets more and more fiercely unpleasant, the necessity of a garden becomes more apparent. In order to save money on shopping - I really SHOULD get my garden going.

I have been lucky enough to have purchased a home that the previous owners have been gardening fanatics. it was part of the reason we bought the home. Fruit trees are everywhere. The yard is already planned and had things growing in it waiting for us. Our first year here we had lettuce, garlice, cilantro, grapes, peaches, plums, apples, figs, pears, jujubee, persimmon, and some things I have no idea what they were growing everywhere. We were so excited! we love the yard and all the hard work the Jensen's had done to make it amazing. But we have come to the conclusion that they indeed did a lot of HARD WORK!
so today 3 1/2 years later - we do not have any more lettuce, some of the fruit trees are dying and the garden area has 6 foot weeds all over it.
It's depressing.

we felt impressed that this was the right home for us and we bought it. But we have had to work hard to keep up with the bills. between 3 businesses, 5 crazy kids and other responsibilities - we wonder, how does one have the time for a garden. no really, I want to know. do you have a garden and how do you keep up with it if you also have other businesses you run in order to pay the bills.

We have given a few attempts at it. we get out there and weed and think we are ready to plant and then we go out a week later to see all our work was for nothing. I am so depressed. I had pulled and pulled weeds like mad for a few weeks and we took a little break. I was thinking it was time to prep the soil and went out to see the weeds had all come back.

I will admit - we do not have a ton of money to purchase gallons of weed control and such. the reason we need a garden is because it is getting tough to buy produce. anyway - I am just overwhelmed about the idea of doing this garden. i wish I could afford to hire someone else to come and take care of it for us. I am exploring many options on how to care for a garden on limited time. but everything I read says - get ready to spend a lot of time and effort in getting your garden ready for planting. ouch...

still looking for the joy!

ideas anyone?