Looking for ideas...and my view on changing what you eat

Dear Readers,

I love those blogs that tell about how to do stuff related to country life, farming, homemaking and so on and so forth.  I would love to write about those things too.  There are so many topics to cover, I don't know where to begin.  So I will ask you, my readers, to share with me what you would like to read about.  I don't want to be just another country bumkin blog - I would like to put a different spin on it.  So offer up your ideas and I will see what kind of twist I can put on them.

One thing I think is very important is knowing about what you eat and where it comes from.  I haven't always been that way.  It wasn't until that last few years that I really started learning about the hazards of GMO's, toxic plastic, sugar overload, gluten problems, added hormones and antibiotics, etc.  I have even gotten my family to open their eyes to the peril that the American people are in regarding their food.  Stop and take a look at what the ingredients are in the foods that you buy.  Do you really want to put something in your body that you can't even pronounce?  I don't.
All those fun, sugary cereals and sodas that we consumed growing up are now related to obesity, diabetes and scores of other problems.  I am dealing with my own health problems related to this as well. I know its not just cereal and soda, its chemicals, fast food, lack of strenuous exercise and basically - not being aware of what's going on.  I am trying to change that.  No, my cupboards are not full of organic this and organic that, but we are trying - one product at a time, to make sure we are eating better.
I've said before that we are trying to grow our own food and we shop at farmer's markets.  We have almost completely quit eating out - especially fast food.  Every now and then, I look forward to someone else cooking the meal and doing the dishes, though.  I think Chipotle's has the right idea by showing on their menu what is GMO and what is not - that way the consumer can decide what they want.  I wish more places would do that so when we go on vacation or something, we know that we are doing the best we can to eat right.
One thing I am tired of is when I post/share something on Facebook about the dangers of GMO's and pesticides/herbicides and artificial crap, the cynics who have to have a smart ass comment back about how yummy it is.  Listen, dork, I put the information out there for people who really want to change how and what they eat.  I put the information out there so people who want to be GOOD parents can read and educate themselves and not poison their children.  If you don't like what I post, unfriend me, don't read it and keep you stupid ass comments to yourself.  I am doing this as a public service for people who really care.
     I care about my friends and family and if I can help just one person change their eating habits, then my goal has been accomplished.  If they choose to share what they have learned, even better.  I know for a fact that I have helped two of my friends become more aware.  One friend told me she reads everything I post, but was so overwhelmed with all the information, she didn't know where to start.
Start with just one thing.  For her, it was cutting out soda - diet and regular.  Huge step for anyone, especially if you have been drinking it for years.  Take a look at what is in your fridge and pantry.  What are you about out of?  When you make your shopping list, pick one or two things that you normally purchase and choose organic instead.  This is especially important with veggies and fruits.  Work this into your budget.  Next trip, pick a couple more things and so on and so forth.  Pretty soon, you will realize that you aren't eating as much 'filler' and you are getting way more fiber and nutrition.  Keep going.  You are doing great!        Choose meat that is grass-fed, free range, cage-free, hormone and antibiotic free.  Don't like your choices in the supermarket, find a farmer that will sell you a side of beef or pork or some chickens.
Ready to make a huge change? Try going vegetarian or vegan.  I, myself, am not that far yet.  We do eat more vegetarian meals, but (Sorry Jason!) I still like chicken and beef.  I was raised that way.  On a good note, though, we have a huge bowl of fresh fruit salad in our fridge and I have started a vitamin water jar in the fridge.
In closing, I just want to say that what you eat is up to you. Educate  yourself.  Do the research.  If you can see through the garbage and realize that most food in the supermarket is, well, artificial crap, then you can make better choices.  You can tell the grocer that you want better choices.  If you can grow something, do it.
If you get stuck and need help - ask someone.  We are all here to help each other.

Saying Good-bye...

As my last day at my current job draws near, I have had some time to reflect on my time here.  When I started here in 2011, I knew very little about coins.  In nearly two years, I have learned so much more than I ever thought I would.  My boss calls me the foreign coin expert, though I don't think I know all that much.  I can look at most foreign coins and tell you if they have been devalued or if they contain any silver, but there is still so much more out there.
I am really kind of glad to be leaving here.  It seems to me that with the turmoil in the stock market and the fact that gold prices are lower than when I started here, the stores can't stay open if people aren't selling scrap jewelry.  I heard the boss saying just this morning that he was probably going to close the Pendleton store because it has been so dead for over a month.  He also closed his booth in the nearby flea market.  I had to pull all the jewelry out of it today and reprice it for the other two booths he has.  He also claims he is going to keep me on part time to keep those two booths filled with jewelry and other miscellaneous items he gets in now and then.  I'm not holding my breath, but the extra cash would come in very handy.
As far as the rest of the company goes, Tony is going to work out of the Fishers' store after I leave.  In my opinion, he'll pull his hair out trying to answer questions about coins as it seems those folks are a little more educated about collecting coins and Tony is not.
Bad Billy is going to continue to work out of the Anderson and Fishers (maybe some Pendleton until he closes it).  Weave will still work at Anderson and maybe Pendleton until closed.  Boss is going to work out of the Indy store mostly since he's putting Tony in Fishers and I won't be around.  Sherry is going to continue to work out of the Anderson store and do running for the company like I used to.  The last employee, whom I won't name, is looking at jail time for a past crime.  I also found out he's on the sex offender registry list for sexual misconduct.  Nice.  That would be the 3rd one Boss hired.  I am glad to be going.
Boss is going to sell the car that he let me drive for the last year and a half.  He thought is was worth way more than it really is.  Of course when you think it is one model with features it doesn't really have, that kinda changes things.  It's still a decent car that will make someone a nice ride, but has some issues like no dash lights at night, an odometer that can't be read, it uses oil, it's been wrecked (NOT by me), it has lots of rattles and vibrations, cigarette burns all over the place (again NOT by me), but it runs and will get you where you need to go.  I thought about buying it just for a fuel efficient option over my big white truck, but I really can't justify another payment and added insurance costs especially since I only have 2 more years left on my truck.
Do I feel bad that because I am leaving, Boss is having to completely re-evaluate his operations?  A little bit. Why?  Well, he let me in on his dream and because I essentially changed my mind about participating in his dream, he's not going to be able to go forward.  He's already talking about selling out this business and revisiting the cigar store/smoke shop business.  He's a smart guy, he'll figure it out without me.
It's been a trip, sometimes fun and sometimes sad and a lot of bizarre, but it was worth it.  I've learned a lot about myself, coins and buying scrap gold.  And no, I would probably not ever open this kind of business especially since the powers that be are constantly changing the rules that govern buying scrap metal.  I'll still sell whatever I find at garage sales though.

And now, on to my future....