Vent

Ok, so I have to vent! Being a organic-neurotic mom is really time and thought-consuming. There are so many toxic additives that seem to surround us that really didn't bother me before and now seem to take up all my energy. Let's see, the in-between spaces in our trip that I have not blogged about:
1. The impetus of this tirade. I found my yummy organic almond butter today at a small little healthy food store where it was very overpriced, and I have been eating it happily all day. I happened to google something about raw almonds just now, and found out that ALL raw almonds in the US are actually pasteurized - and if they are not "organic" they are chemically pasteurized. WHAT? Like treated with some chemical that I can't pronounce. I almost had a panic attack, with my spoon and banana in the almond butter. Lucky I spend the extra ___$ per jar and buy organic or i would have had a panic attack. I can't believe this! and can't believe I didn't know it.
2. Let's see, since I barely got out of the car between Austin and Santa Fe (except to pee, in the woods) I didn't use any gas station hand soap or antibacterial hand soap. But I have been reading about the chemicals in most "antibacterial" hand soaps lately and they are super-sketchy. I am glad we use the Eo organic kinds, or just tea-tree oil soap. Creepy. You can read more about what is in your cosmetics, sunscreens, and soaps here. What a resource.
3. Ugh, I am getting tired of myself already. I will push on for two more. Walking around Santa Fe, little kitschy turquoise shops, and... a person smoking out in front of every other one. Really? I pretty much had to walk down the middle of the street. So it was time to retreat back to the room in the cute B&B. Where the (sweet, friendly) maid was walking out when we got back with a pail of chemicals she had just used to polish and shine our quaint bathroom. Ugh, I would much rather it stay a little less shiny! So I have been more diligent in finding "green-friendly" hotels by using this resource - www.greenhotels.com. And here (in Basalt) I just call the housekeeping service and tell them no thanks!
4. I miss Austin Whole Foods, where it seems like even the employees give a crap about the quality of the food. Today I made a journey to El Jebel, again in search of some organic veggies (in the freezer section) and when I reached in to grab them, I am not exaggerating it was like someone had poured Drain-O in the bottom of the organic freezer section. No joke. And thinking about it some more (as I then did, obsessively), at a big box grocery store, what incentive do the employees have to care? Maybe someone did pour Drain-O down there -- why would they bother to clean it up? It's not like they have a vested interest in the quality of the food going out -- at least I would imagine most don't, necessarily, unless they have personal or financial incentives.
5. I can't get started about cell phone towers -- help, I am turning into a nutjob! Find out for yourself at www.antennasearch.com. Poor Marc - I am checking how close everywhere we are staying is to the nearest cell phone tower :)!! So far, we have been OK -- though he does not know, but a few places we might have stayed were conveniently forgotten about (in downtown Boulder!)
6. Can this be my last rant for the evening - I sound like an ingrate. But these manicured lawns, so perfect -- pllleease! Today Sky was taking a nap on our bed, and I was chilling doing some work, when along comes the whole mowing crew. Frankly, the noise I can totally handle - but the stink drove us running (well, me, with her in my hands) for the door. Honestly, it made me think alot. We had a manual-powered mower in New Hampshire, and our next door neighbors use one in Austin. I never thought too much about the issue, though I had heard it brought up in the "environmental" discussions before. Now it hits home why. Lucky Marc will have another way to get some good exercise!