Slipped and had an entire day of meat eating yesterday…..oops. Sue me, I was craving some meat in a bad way. I also splurged and ate a pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Oh well, back on it again today.
In other news, I am super excited about my trip to Ohio this weekend!
And that’s it. Exciting, huh?
Brushie!
Loki the Hedgehog, everybody!
Wednesday is as good a day as any for some hedgehog scrubbing!
(Source: lokithehedgehog)
Today marks two weeks into my vegetarianism! I haven’t even really craved meat either, I was so disgusted by what I saw/read that it hasn’t been too hard to steer clear.
Also, I’ve been trying pretty hard to just be healthier in general. I slacked over the holidays and even before that big time on exercising so I’ve been trying to make it to the gym 2-3 times per week and I’ve been keeping up with it for the most part. Due to my back surgery in 2009 I usually try to do the elliptical instead of running just to keep the impact on my joints low but man, the elliptical just doesn’t feel like a real workout. I liked it at first because I could exercise for longer without getting worn out super fast but now that my endurance is up a bit it just isn’t hacking it anymore. So this week I’ve been doing the treadmill instead. I read up about a lot of people who still run post-surgery, marathons at that, so I think running a couple miles here and there won’t kill me.
But let me tell you, I ran two miles Thursday night and two this morning with Matthew and my legs are SO sore. I can’t believe how many more muscles you use running than on the elliptical. I mean it’s obviously harder but I can barely walk. I was proud of myself though, I don’t think I’ve ran two miles straight since high school. I’m walking like I just got off of a horse but it’s a good pain, right?
The other thing I’m pretty excited about at the moment is that I finally found a gym to play volleyball at! I’ve been searching and usually you need to make up your own team for a lot of the leagues and what not and since I barely know people in NYC let alone people that play volleyball I’ve been unsuccessful. But thanks to my boss who grew up here she knows the ins and out and showed me a gym that she used to teach gymnastics at that has adult volleyball “classes.” They’re on Tuesday or Friday nights and everyone that goes has to have had previous volleyball experience before so it won’t be us standing around watching people try and bump the ball. It’s mostly peppering and then competitive play for the rest of the time. Haven’t gotten a chance to play volleyball in quite some time so I’m excited to get back into it.
To wrap this up, I didn’t mean for this to be a “healthy blog” or to just talk about being healthy and exercising, it just seems to be the only thing going on right now. So I’m sorry for this turning into an obnoxious health blog. I’ll try to do something more fun soon and talk about that instead!
Happy January 26th everybody.
Things I’ve learned this week:
1. My kitchen is seriously lacking in helpful cooking utensils/tools.
2. My kitchen skills are rudimentary at best.
3. My cat must hate me because he’s been waking me up at 4:40am on the dot.
4. I don’t know how to shop for groceries.
5. Don’t tell people you’re going vegetarian/vegan because everyone is a cynical asshole about it. e.g. “I did that, it’ll blow over”
All these things considering, I feel really great and I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job so far! I’ve eaten a couple things that involved chicken stock just because I don’t want to waste what’s in my pantry but other than that I’ve been doing well. I was so disgusted with that documentary that I’m not even craving meat so that helps.
I’ve also been doing a lot of reading and am about halfway through Eating Animals by Jonathon Safran Foer. He does a good job of laying out facts about the industry without getting preachy.
This weekend Matt and I are heading to Pennsylvania, hopefully it won’t be too bad. I’ll take any chance to get out of the city and breathe some fresh air though.
This past weekend: last weekend of eating meat ever.
Why you ask?
I watched a very scarring, albeit convincing documentary on Saturday. The premis: three New Yorkers try going Vegan for six weeks. Sounds harmless right? IT WAS NOT. Now I’m really not a fan of scaring people into going Vegan with the traumatic videos of slaughterhouses and whatnot but now I see why they do it. BECAUSE AFTER YOU SEE THEM YOU CAN’T FORGET THEM. It’s pretty much all I’ve been thinking about since, and it worked because I haven’t eaten meat since either.
I’ve told some of you this story alread but when I was little I read a book and one scene described this boy, who was dying in the desert, eating a raw bird. Ever since then I have a hard time with poultry. Boneless meat is better, but definitely can’t eat meat on the bone. Maybe I just have a problem forgetting traumatic imagery? Who knows.
So I already didn’t eat a whole lot of meat anyway because a lot of it kind of grosses me out, and I also have a hard time preparing raw meat. But I still ate some kind of meat on a regular basis. But I really think after seeing this documentary that I’ll definitely be going vegetarian/vegan.
Besides the traumatic videos they did talk a lot about how the meat industry is terrible for the environment, which somewhere in my mind I knew but hadn’t really thought about or realized HOW BAD it is. I’ve been doing some research since watching the documentary and it seems to be backed up by other sources on this point. There were a lot of factors I had never really thought of before: water pollution from animal waste, deforestation/land degradation for “grazing” purposes, greenhouse gas emissions are produced (more than all automobiles on earth), methane/nitrous oxide production, how much water it takes to raise the crops to feed the animals on top of how much water the animals drink (FYI cows drink A LOT of water), and the list goes on. It’s just eye-opening now that I’m really looking into the facts.
My last post was about how I’m finally going back to school in the fall and I didn’t say this in the post but I plan on going for Atmospheric/Environmental Sciences and after reading about all of this I’m even more convinced that’s what I should go for. And because of that I really feel like I need to be proactive on the situation and if a simple fix in my diet helps the environment, well then that’s what I’m going to do. Now I haven’t backed up this fact but the documentary said that going meat free for a year has a bigger impact than going from a regular car to an electric/hybrid car. Something to make you go hmmmm.
Sidenote- I’m trying not to preach about animal rights in this post because everyone in the back of their mind knows how those animals are treated when they’re killed. However, one of the guys in the documentary made a good point: you can tell when animals are happy and you can tell when they’re terrified and those animals in the slaughterhouses were TERRIFIED and it really made me sick to my stomach. What more so made me sick to my stomach is that actual PEOPLE are doing those things. I know, I know, people need those jobs, most of them don’t have a choice, I don’t care what the argument for it is, it’s horrific. I don’t care how much you don’t care about animals, anyone with a heart can see those faces. Which I’m guessing is why people stay in the dark and don’t watch the videos, so they don’t have to feel bad.
Another point that I thought was interesting and hadn’t thought of before was when they were talking about how things are labeled “organic” and how that has no effect (affect? I still don’t know how to properly use those words) on how well animals are treated it just means they don’t use chemicals in the process. So woohoo no chemicals but don’t feel too good about yourself because that chicken was still treated like shit in the process.
All I have to say is this: helping the environment is really “trendy” right now and a lot of people are using reusable bags and recycling and all of these different things. If you are doing those things because you really care about the environment I urge you to at least look into it. People know about the animal rights side of the situation but I think the environmental side is just as convincing and urgent. And for those who know me know that I’m not a huge environmental activist or anything but seeing this movie really lit a fire under me for some reason.
Alright, climbing off my soap box. This by no means is me trying to guilt you into going vegatarian/vegan. I was honestly just so taken aback by this documentary I had to share the information.
And not giving up animal products just because it’s inconvenient and you’ve just always eaten meat is not a good reason. I’m not perfect either, I’ll probably slip up and give in on occasion. No one is perfect obviously but I think we all realize and see the consequences of the selfishness of human nature these days and feel the need to change that.
Although 2013 began to a pretty somber tone, it seems like this year might actually end relatively well.
Although I’m super stressed about money at the moment (what else is new, and I think it’s literally making me gray, I’ve found SIX gray hairs) I am feeling pretty optimistic. And for all who know me, you probably just gasped and said to yourself “Leanne? Optimistic? SINCE WHEN?!” Well let me tell you! This year since I’m finally turning 24 I am FINALLY eligible to be listed as an independent for school which means my FAFSA is no longer based off of my parents income which means I FINALLY get financial aid. I filled out the FAFSA the other day and I’m eligible for a pell grant that should cover almost all of my tuition. I cannot tell you how relieved and happy I am to have seen those two words: pell grant. Which might as well mean NO MORE LOANS. I have been eagerly waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Because as most of you who know me know that I’ve been on a hiatus from school because well….I can’t afford it and I REFUSE to take out more school loans. REFUSE.
So now, I’m in New York. I’m eligible for in-state tuition. I’m eligible for a PELL GRANT (still amazing to see those words) and I’m so ready and excited to get back. Watching everyone graduate from college and start exciting careers has been reallly hard to watch and made me feel like such a slacker that I’m so behind but recently I’ve decided to stop feeling shameful about it because that doesn’t help anything and just get focused to get it all done! And to be honest, I just wasn’t the person who knew what to go to college for at 18. I just wasn’t ready and I’ve decided that I’m totally okay with that. I’m not even really sure now but now at least it’s not putting me in the hole $15-$20k every year to “not know.”
Oh and I think going through hard times really proves whether two people should be together or not and I have to say I still think Matthew and I are pretty great.
My new thing is also writing reviews on Yelp.
Happy 2013, I hope everyone is as optimistic about this year as I am for a change!
Well as Christmas is approaching yet again I can’t seem to fathom how incredibly fast this past year has gone. I know I’ve stayed relatively busy with work but it just seems to have gone by faster than usual. Which means that mine and Matt’s 2 year anniversary is coming up! This Sunday to be exact. He always teases me but I like to reminisce about the early days quite often. “Remember when we drove around Dayton when we first started dating and you sang that song to me?” “Remember when the only time we saw each other was when we could FaceTime and how that seems like SO long ago but at the time it felt like it would always be that way?” etc. and just yesterday I was thinking how much I still enjoy spending time with him. We only really get one day a week to spend time with each other because of our differing schedules and yesterday was nothing special in particular we just did some shopping for a new tv and a new toilet seat (weird, I know) and wandered around Ikea and I still had such a great time. I think it has a lot to do with not expecting too much out of your partner. You have to accept them how they are or else you will be continually disappointed.
For example, I’ll be honest, Matt isn’t the most romantic of guys. He’s not really one to surprise me with flowers every week or anything like that and I have to accept that. I have learned to appreciate him for how he is and have realized that even though he doesn’t do big things for me every now and then he does amazing little things for me everyday like make dinner when I’ve had a long day or meet me at the subway every night that I work so I don’t have to walk home alone or wake up with the cat at 6am when he’s causing a ruckus. Those things mean so much more to me than flowers which die and then are a pain to throw away and clean up.
Matt and I are celebrating our anniversary/Christmas with a little “stay-cation.” We’re staying at a hotel in the financial district from the 24-26. The plan is to simply relax. We have nothing planned besides eating good food and drinking good wine for two whole days. And maybe seeing a movie. And let me tell you, even though it’s only two days it will be amazing. Recently my days off more than one day at a time have been filled with travelling and while I loved seeing our families it’s not the most relaxing of ways to spend a weekend.
Although it’s almost a year off I’m excited to finally get back in school. I will FINALLY be 24 and considered financially independent and hopefully be eligible for more financial aid than I am currently which is pretty much nothing. Luckily, NYC has a really great network of state schools (2 year & 4 year) that are awesome and SO affordable. Why every state doesn’t have something like this I don’t know. The only problem is that of course I still have no idea what to actually go to school for. However, putting it off more will not help. Most would say it’s a waste of time if you don’t know what to study but I would have to disagree. After not being in school for a little while now I can tell you that you don’t find inspiration for what to study at your crappy hourly job any more so than in class. Might as well take classes and feel out the different subjects.
And I am more so than ever fed up with my job but I’m so sick of work I can’t even talk about it on here. I refuse to waste anymore of my energy even thinking about it.
(Source: dysxelia, via plasticpiranhas)
I decided to delete my last venting post because I feel like it was way too negative and makes me sound like a brat.
I’m feeling much better today.
One thing that amazes me about my job is that when I worked in Brooklyn my customers were much more rude than where I work in the Upper East Side now. The neighborhood in Brooklyn was relatively wealthy which is what I attributed the rudeness to but where I’m at now is MUCH more wealthy of a neighborhood (like Bentley’s and private drivers wealthy) and the people here are SO much nicer. Needless to say I was very pleasantly surprised.
Tomorrow Matt and I are heading to the Queens County Farm where we will partake in a corn maze, pumpkin patching and in general enjoying the open space and fresh air!
My job now wants me to help with merchandising and whatnot in the housewares section of the store ontop of working at the wine shop. At first I was only doing it to fill my hours since the wine shop isn’t busy enough to give me 40 hours/week and I didn’t really want to do it because that’s not what I was hired to do but it turns out that I actually like it more than working in the wine shop. The wine shop gets a little boring and tedious but doing housewares/gifts stuff and general aesthetic things around the store (displays/signs/etc) is pretty fun and I can work on my own and not have to “man a post” just waiting for customers to come in. It definitely breaks up the monotony of doing the same thing everyday. My boss on that side is getting to go to Europe on the company’s dime next week so I’m hoping if I stick it out long enough maybe I’ll get a chance to go someday since I’m pretty much her assistant now.
For the past few weeks all I’ve wanted to do when I’m not at work is play with my cat and read books. I haven’t really had the energy or desire to do anything more than that and I’m becoming okay with this. I like being a homebody and never have been one for going out all the time. I usually don’t enjoy myself very much when I do. Sometimes I’ll get in the mood to get out and be “lively” but usually it sounds pretty terrible to me. I like the idea of hanging at home, drinking my own wine, petting my cat and hanging out with Matt. He’s the only other person that doesn’t like going out as much as I do.
I decided to re-read The Great Gatsby. I haven’t read it since my junior year of high school and even then I sat down and read it in one day so I didn’t remember too much of it. I’m about half way now and I’m really enjoying it, I really had forgotten a lot of the story.
One nice thing about an hour subway ride to work: I get serious reading done. That’s two or more hours a day designated specifically to reading. I’ve gone through so many books since starting this job, I love it. I still do not love how annoying people are on the subway though. It is not okay to yell across the subway car an ENTIRE conversation. It is not okay to let your kid walk and climb around all over the place, this is not your home and I can only imagine what you let them do at home if you let them do whatever in public.
What should I read next? I have a huge list of books I want to read but whenever I need a new book none of them seem to fit the mood I’m in. I guess I need to spend some time in a bookstore and see what comes to me.
I’m SO excited for Thanksgiving. We’re heading to Chicago to spend it with Matt’s family and I’m really looking forward to it feeling like a real holiday. First of all, I’m just excited to finally meet his sister Kathleen and her fiance Jason and see his brother Michael and wife Dawn. We spent time with them in March (or was it April?) and I had a lot of fun and I’m really looking forward to spending time with them again. And I’m really hoping to see some of my Miami friends while I’m there!
I booked my ticket to Michigan yesterday for the beginning of December! I haven’t been to Michigan since my cousins wedding a year ago so I’m very excited to be heading back! Also, I haven’t seen my sister Lisa or my little nephew Henry since January, it’s been too long! I can’t believe how fast time goes by, it continually blows my mind.
I have lots of things to look forward to (this is by far my FAVORITE time of year) so hopefully that’ll keep my head up and keep me busy for awhile. I just hope my job stays decent because that is by far what turns me into a giant angry curmudgeon the most.
- I don’t want to get up
- I wish there was a way to buy wine without having to talk to a human
I wish everyone that came into my wine shop didn’t want to talk to me, my life would be much easier! My favorite customers are the ones who ignore me.
(Source: alllthebaconandeggs)
