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Although I like to think that I’m pretty healthy, I was never completely sold on the organic pitch. The concept of it is great, and it would seem to follow that organic products are worth the extra money. But a little article in the Nutrition Action Health Letter is starting to make me rethink the importance of going all out organic.

Quoting from the July/August 2007 issue, here’s a quick rundown of when organic is worth it and when it’s just another pointless claim on a package of eggs:

“Are organic foods likely to have fewer pesticides?” – “Yes. About 3/4 of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables contain tiny amounts of pesticides.” However, just because something is organic, that doesn’t mean it’s 100% pesticide free. Soil can still contain amounts of previously used pesticides, and pesticides can travel from non-organic facilities and contaminate organic products from organic farms.

“Are organic fruits and vegetables less likely to have E. coli or other bugs?” – “Probably not.” We all remember the E. coli scare contained in bags of spinach. Although the affect product wasn’t touted as being organic, it was grown using organic methods.

“Are organic fruits and vegetables more nutritious?” – “There’s no good evidence.” Studies currently out don’t show any significant difference between the nutrients in organic versus conventionally grown produce. However, studies may soon be released showing that organic fruits and veggies may have higher levels of vitamin C in addition to other nutrients.

On the whole, the most important thing is eating your fruits and veggies regardless of whether they’re organic or not. But here’s another thing to keep in mind: the items with the highest percentage of pesticide contamination are apples, peaches, nectarines, strawberries, pears, and spinach.

Peachy keen? Maybe not so much.

While I’ve been organic brained, my ears have been tuned to the ’80s. It has been an ’80s music marathon here until the wee hours of morning, getting songs like Mike and the Mechanic’s “Take These Broken Wings” and “All I Need is a Miracle” and more obscure tunes like Jack Wagner’s “All I Need.” If they don’t ring a bell, look them up, you’ll laugh your buns off when a rush of other favored ’80s tunes start flooding your brain.  One of my recent favorites is “Never” by Moving Pictures.  Yes, that is another “Footloose” reference.  Man, I need to be owning that movie.

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Today has been another day of calling on previously mailed resumes, looking for other jobs to apply for, and filling out more applications.  The whole process just ups my anxiety about having a job at all.  They really make it easy for you to want to stay in a field that you have experience in, even if you want to break out and do something different.  But I’m keeping strong - can’t let the man get me down.

The past few nights we’ve been lining up the movies, updating roomie #3 on the cinematic wonders that he’s be missing over the past 3 years.  Going down the line, here’s what the line up has been:

Friday         Saturday         Sunday         Tuesday

It’s an all star show, really.  If you haven’t seen any one of theses movies, I highly recommend them to you.  It’s a mix of off beat, outright, bizarre humor with some interesting situations and consequences.  For all of the junky movies that are released, there are really some gems out there.

While we’re on the subject of movies, has anyone asked you what you’re favorite one is?  Did you have an answer without even thinking or did you have to ponder that one for a while?  Here’s a hint on what mine is:

Can you name that movie?  Who will be the first to answer that little bit of trivia?

The other night I was up til 2:00 in the morning watching a Discovery Channel special about Queen Hatshepsut, “Secrets of Egypt’s Lost Queen.”  It was the most amazing story about a young queen who turns the ancient world upside down by coronating herself Egypt’s next pharaoh at a time when men ruled without question.  She was only 22 when she sat on the throne as the first female pharaoh and she ruled over an incredibly prosperous time in Egypt, even grooming her daughter to become the next in line (that didn’t happen, her step son King Tuthmose III took the throne after her).  The special wasn’t just about her life, though, it was about identifying her mummy from 4 possible bodies.  And they identified her!  If they show it again, I recommend that you watch it.  It will blow your mind, even if you’re not into archaeology. 

Stories like that can really make you look at yourself and what you’re doing: none of us may be queens or kings of a wealthy nation, but how much are we changing the world around us for the better?  Along the lines of personal goals…

I really want to run a 5k, 10k, half marathon and marathon.  I’ve been an on again off again runner for yeras and I’ve just recently started to get back on the trail and let me tell you, it feels good.  Taking a little trip around Sycamore Park, I’m really looking forward to the leaves turning and running down those nice Midwestern paths.  There are plenty of races and events going on around Madison and I really want to sign up, but I’m waiting to see what my schedule will look like once I have a job to take up some time.

We had a nice little day at Home Depot today (can I sound any more domesticated?  Yikes), utilizing our Home Depot card by pimping out our deck with this little number. 

Just imagine what that table would look like with some freshly mixed margaritas on it.  Oh, or some bloody marys on a Sunday morning.  I like where this is heading.  I especially like the feel that the little pot of begonias adds. 

 So besides this and spending some time by the pool, I dropped off a resume at Barriques Market today.  I have a good feeling about this one kids, I really do.

Today was a much needed day.  It’s a little funny saying that since for the past week I haven’t been on the clock, although I have spent my time updating resumes, submitting resumes, and looking for places that could benefit from my resumes.  Taht in itself is work. 

But today we got out of the home office and went downtown.  (Does the song “Downtown” by Petula Clark run through anyone else’s head when I write that?  Anyway…)  We walked with the tourist and college crowds, winding down State Street and the open market where, if only I had a few dollars in my pocket, I’m sure I could’ve come away with some real finds.  Although I didn’t walk away with any purchases I did get my bearings in my new city, got a good feel for the atmosphere of Madtown, and generally boosted my belief in being at peace with my surroundings, as moneyless and bored as I have been lately.

So in an effort to keep those good vibes flowing, I picked a dusty book off of my shelf,

did a little crosswording, and am trying to keep my heads above the clouds. 

As mundane a task as it may be, filling out resumes and rehearsing answers for interviews really can make you take another look at yourself.  Do I know myself well enough to know my strengths and weaknesses without rehearsing my answers beforehand?  Am I a team player or do I enjoy my solitude too much to be much of an asset in a customer oriented field?  Is my self esteem so low that lame resumes and interviews can truly make me question myself?  I’m afraid of the answer to that last one.  So the goal now is to make the answer to that last question a resounding “No” instead of a weak “I don’t think so, but…”