Week Two

OK, so this week I couldn't help but think about what Alex was saying during the January intensive about voting with your purchases. I have taken that to heart for the most part. I drink mainly water now, with the occasional glass of tea (not always local, but sometimes) or coffee (not at all local: Cafe Du Monde chickory coffee from New Orleans, my favorite). I still eat my oh-so-healthy bacon and eggs breakfast. I am using free-range eggs from Kentucky, so I don't feel to bad about it! I have noticed that I am conserving more food: I don't stuff my face considering the price tag on my less-than-usual batch of groceries this month.
Here is where I really disappointed myself, and what I meant by voting through consuming. My work boots, which I have been able to depend upon for almost two years of outdoor labor, literally fell apart at the seams Tuesday morning. NOT GOOD, a foot and a half of snow (I know, New Englanders right now would scoff considering the pummeling that have received lately) and wet socks made for a miserable morning on the farm. Now, in his part of semi-rural Kentucky, you have very few choices as far as shopping. I seriously needed new work boots and on my lunch break I went to Frankfort, about 20 miles from Midway. Literally the only place that carried waterproof, steel toe work boots was UGGH, Walmart. Yes, this week I "voted" for Walmart boots. I am not a happy camper, as I have done a great job boycotting Walmart even before this semester started.
Anyhow, I have decided to take a break from the bourbon, as I spent this weekend on my "buy local soap box," preaching to all my friends about how well this local thing was going for me. I did not feel as cool the next morning as I did when I was consuming the local devil water however.
My family is being overtly supportive of my efforts: being a good southern family, I receive some new locally made dish literally every other day. Way more food than I can eat, of course. The key to a man's heart is through his stomach, and I feel the love!
I have started drinking kombucha, but have no intentions on making it. (I will leave that up to Brynn and Ben!)
Like Mel, I have struggled with the high fructose corn syrup. I have avoided it surprisingly well, but still have the Coke withdrawals. In the cafeteria today at work, I stared down the soda fountian, to the point that people were looking at me funny. I settled on water.
The last of the locally grown carrots went into the mouth of the horse my grandmother donated to the equestrian program. I don't know who she spoiled worse, me or the four-legged big baby that snatched the carrot and walked off without saying thank you! Haha
I need to start including pictures....
This week: successfully fixed breakfast and dinner, leaving lunch to the Midway College cafeteria. Supported the evil empire (just kidding for those who like Walmart). Overdrank locally.
Next week, figure out what I am going to do with all this extra food...