Let's Help JAPAN!!!!!!

JPRI Japan Relief Fund w/ Give2Asia

JPRI (Japan Policy Research Institute) in collaboration with Give2Asia (a highly respected organization that works DIRECTLY with locally-based NGOs) has created a fund which will go directly to locally-based aid efforts on the ground in Japan.

Unlike many other aid organizations, one of the awesome criteria of Give2Asia is that relief supplies must be bought in the LOCAL COMMUNITY. that's right--->supporting retailers, groceries, doctors, hospitals, etc. who are in the effected disaster zone. by utilizing this approach, not only are immediate needs being met, but the local economy is strengthen, providing for the future.

twentyten

here's to a prosperous new year to all!


i have never been one for making resolutions. but this year/this decade feels auspiciously perfect for new beginnings. so, while i would hesitate to call the below "resolutions", i will think of them as steps/guidelines for living abundantly in this new year.

1. nurture my creative spirit (even if it's only on the small scale): i managed  to score a copy of "the artists way" for $1 at the creative reuse depot. while i can't guarantee that i will follow it religiously, i think using it as a tool may be helpful. the part about artist dates in particular. i have no "goal" of finishing it in the 12-week manner it proponents but i will be working my way through it.

2. make better choices in taking care of myself: this one will require lots of baby steps and covers a range of issues. from making sure that i eat when i feel hungry (and not just ignore it) to staying properly hydrated. also things like following through on regular or semi-regular acupuncture, learning to like/accept myself/ compliment myself/ get my mojo back, consuming less (in the consumerism sense) and consuming less of things that are bad for me.

3. re-find my faith. in myself. in g_d. in humanity. in the greater good. in optimism. this on is also a tall order. it helps that, when the semester begins, my main class will be on asian philosophy and religion. what a great place to start! as for the others, with all the other work i'll be doing, i can only hope they will fall into place---but i'm not expecting miracles. it's hard to have any amount of faith in humanity as a whole--the minute something amazing and awe inspiring happens, giving me hope that people *don't* suck, i get reminded of the fact that people close to me believe any of the following: that sarah palin would make a great vicepresidential candidate; that our current president is a secret muslim terrorist because he won't 'support' the national day of prayer; that there is NO SUCH THING as global warming, etc. etc. etc.

here is to new beginnings!

food, glorious food!

i MEGAheart farmer's markets! they are a grad student's dream- well, at least this ones. where else can you stock up on amazingly fresh fruits, veggies, occasionally eggs, cheese and other asundry-ed items? and the best part? at student friendly, doesn't burn a hole in your pocket prices!!!

three cheers for market day!

here is a total list of my bounty this week: (*=organic)
- medium head of broccoli*
- medium head of cauliflower*
- large bundle of baby bok choy (pesticide-free)
- 4 sweet peppers of various colors*
- a bittermelon (pestitcide-free)
- 1/4 pound fresh shittake mushroom*
- 4 "dapple dandy" pluots*
- 4 persimmons*
- 2 "chojiro" asian pears* (they taste like butterscotch)
- 2 "shinseki" asian pears* (crispy and apple-like)
- 2 heads of garlic*
- 2 small eggplant*
- bundle of "tokyo" turnips*
- spicy cheese curds* (free-range, grass-fed happy cows!)
- 1/2 gallon of gravenstein apple cider*

and the grand total for this veritable feast?? $38.00!!!!!!

yay!

eat real food...

i am officially APPALLED at the food choices on campus! yes, it has been 6 years since undergrad, but i had hoped that dining choices had been expanded...or if nothing else, at least stayed the same.

backing up, let me give you some context- at my undergrad college (a student body of approx. 4000) there were 3 main dining choices (there are now at least 4): 2 dining halls and a cafe style/grab-and-go place. The dining halls had multiple options/sections: hot food (meat/fish, starch, veggies), a salad bar, a "themed" section (ethnic cuisine), a sandwich/panini bar, desserts, and of course, the cereal section. There were definitely options if you were a vegetarian but not really if you were vegan. the cafe/grab-and-go had more 'crappy' options: burgers, fries, pizza, nachos, candy, chips, ice cream and some healthier stuff: granola bars, yogurt, fresh fruit/fruit cups, veggies and dip/hummus. you didn't *HAVE* to eat well, but if you preferred healthy food, there was plenty of it to choose from.

fast forward to now: i attend a university in a area of the US that has an infinite growing season (sure from oct- feb it;s only kale, leeks and oranges) with tons of fresh, organic produce available not only at every grocery store, but there is pretty much a neighborhood farmer's market every day of the week. you would think that, given that the undergraduate student body is required to a) live on campus and b)have a meal plan and that there are graduate students commuting for evening classes, that the variety would be plentiful and healthy.

NOPE. there are only 2 dining halls on the entire campus (one at the top of a ridiculously steep hill) but the one that's open late basically only serves crap!!! my "healthy choices" are fresh fruit (but only some of it is organic, and the bananas are NOT fair trade even though all the coffee is both organic and fair trade) and sushi...which isn't vegetarian. i'm okay eating fish occasionally but only when i know for a fact that it's not farm raised and is sustainable. everything else is deep-fried, burgers, fries, pizza, taco salad, warm pretzels, ice cream, candy bars, soda....junkJUNKJUNK!!! with tons of high fructose corn syrup.

what's a girl to do? more importantly, what about the undergrads who ARE vegetarian/vegan/ allergic to gluten, etc.?????