I'd like a Diet Coke with Vanilla and extra ice. Hold the cancer, please.

Around 2 PM every afternoon, I get sooo sleepy (I believe these are called the "sleepies"?). Definitely nap time for Tracie. I head on over to the Sonic around the corner and get a Large Diet Coke with Vanilla, extra ice, which comes to a total of $2.03 (woot woot).


However, I am somewhat slightly obsessed with what I put in my body, thanks to "Fast Food Nation", which sparred my moment of enlightenment (EW MCDONALDS... NEVER AGAIN!!) and started the snowball rolling down the Nutritional/ Ethical/ Moral Information Mountain. I was baptized into the Church of Healthy Food Freaks in March 2008. I didn't realize how much crap there is in the grocery store/fast food places/restaurants. I try to eat raw foods only--unprocessed, clean, pure, fresh, no chemicals or preservatives.


And yeah, okay, I KNOW Diet Coke does not qualify as a "raw food". But I get really tired, ok??


Diet Coke may not have any calories, but it is chock full'o artificial sweeteners, mostly ASPARTAME. Warning: For those of you who like diet colas and other low-calorie snacks or drinks: Don't read the following excerpt. Continue on in ignorant bliss 'til your insides start rotting from the chemical crap storm you put in there.

"When aspartame was put before the FDA for approval, it was denied eight times... Aspartame has been blamed for a slew of scary maladies, like arthritis, birth defects, fibromyalgia, Alzheimers, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. When methly alcohol, a component of aspartame, enters your body, it turns into formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is toxic and carcinogenic. Laboratory scientists use formaldehyde as a disinfectant or preservative. They don't f-ing DRINK it... When aspartame is combined with carbs, it causes your brain to slow down its production of serotonin. A healthy level of serotonin is needed to be happy and well balanced. So drinking soda can make you fat, sick and unhappy." (Skinny B, 14, 32)


Ok, so, do I want to die "unhappily" being happy, sipping my vanilla Diet Coke with extra ice, rotting my insides with FORMALDEHYDE, and dance the Dance of Hypocrites as I spout off to friends and family about how red meat/any processed meat has an unquantifiable amount of carcinogens and toxins and partially hydrogenated oils ruin the digestive system?


Or do I give up EVERYTHING that is bad for me, including Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Diet Coke (the very thought hurts my heart), and practice what I preach?


I don't know! I don't know! The moral tug-of-war in my head is exhausting. It's so hard when those "sleepies" hit and I need my legal upper.


Countdown to Moment of Truth: Will I or Won't I Stand Up For What I Believe in? What do you think?: One hour, 39 minutes.

You Really Don't Want to Put This On Your Skin!/Life Update

Friends and Family of Me/Consumers: Be on high alert for the following ingredients in your beauty-related/hygiene products:

1. COAL TAR: Used in dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams. Is a known carcinogen (any substance or agent that tends to produce a cancer ). Coal-tar based dyes such as FD&C Blue 1, used in toothpastes, and FD&C Green 3, used in mouthwash, should be avoided.

2. FRAGRANCE: used to conceal hundreds of ingredients, including phthlatates, which harm the endocrine system.

3. HYDROQUINONE: Found in skin lighteners and facial moisturizers, it's a neurotoxin (A toxin that damages or destroys nerve tissue) and is allergenic (A substance, such as pollen, that causes an allergy).

4. ALUMINUM: Used in eye shadows as a color additive. Also used in deodorants. Listed as carcinogenic, toxic, and mutagenic [capable of inducing mutation (used mainly of extracellular factors such as X-rays or chemical pollution)].

5. TRICLOSAN: Used in almost all anti-bacterical products, including soap, toothpaste, cosmetics. Often contaminated with dioxins, which are highly carcinogenic.

6. P-PHENYLENEDIAMINE: Found in regular hair dye. Can damage nervous system, cause lung irritation and severe allergic reactions. Listed as: 1,4-Benzenediamine; p-Phenyldiamine; 4-Phenylenediamine.

7. LEAD AND MERCURY: Lead can appear in toothpaste as a naturally occurring contaminant of hydrated silica. Is a neurotoxin. Mercury is found in cosmetic preservative thimerosol.

If in doubt about a particular product you own, visit www.safecosmetics.org which has a database you can search by typing in your product.

SOURCES:"Gorgeously Green" by Sophie Uliano, Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), dictionary.com


UPDATE:

The Knabe side had a family reunion/Memorial service for my Grandpa Knabe over Memorial Day weekend. It was great to see everyone and I think it was the first time the whole family has been together since Christmas '94. My sister Kellie and I were able to sing "Be Still, My Soul" without any complications at the Memorial service. Good thing, since we only started practicing about 12 hours before we performed.

I had the privilege of playing lifeguard for the family BBQ at Uncle Don's house (Good luck Don at elections tomorrow for LA County Supervisor! You'll kick butt on that 19 year old girl and "Dr. J"), where I bonded with Drew, 4 yrs. (who is my favorite EVER and who I owe a movie night with!!!), who invited me to his 5th birthday party next year, Christy, 4 yrs, the most adorable little girl ever!, and Olivia, 2 yrs (sister of Chloe). And I had to keep an eye on Chloe, the most enthusiastic little 4 year old I have ever met, who was NOT afraid of the water slide or the deep end, kept giving Don and her mom minor heart attacks and who I had to dive after many a time to keep her from the deep end/getting smashed by other swimmers at the bottom of the slide.

For Memorial Day, I went out on a family friend's boat with Curt, Svea, Matt, Briana, Chris, Steph and the kids around the canals in Long Beach... beautiful day, beautiful water! Pictures to follow soon.

As for now, I am just working at Victoria's Secret and about to start as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and water aerobics teacher... at least I'll get my tan back this summer!

I can't wait to go to the dog beach with Diane, Carol, and the girls, Nora and Peanut. It's very therapeutic.

I need a girls weekend at the beach with Tawnie again ASAP.

Going Green, My Dream Car

I used to roll my eyes at the people who were "going green" to save the earth. Why live up to an unrealistic ideal when you can't really make a difference? I thought to myself, who cares? I'm going to eat at McDonalds when I want to. I'm going to buy that red Mercedes CLK convertible when I can. I'm going to use as much energy as it takes to make my house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

It all started when my dad bought a Toyota Prius. He wanted to buy a new car, but also save gas. I came home during Christmas break this past year and learned how to drive the Prius and fell in LOVE with it. I love it. It's absolutely amazing. You save so much gas and the car runs really well. The car switches running on the battery and the electric engine. When one is going, the other is charging. It has a Aluminum double overhead cam (DOHC) 16-valve VVT-i 4-cylinder engine, and even though it's 4-cylinder, it still has a lot of power. The next time I buy a car, it will be a red Toyota Prius. It's my DREAM CAR.



Look at how pretty it is!

I didn't care at first that I was using less gas and therefore creating less pollution until I read the best book in the world, Fast Food Nation. I will EXPRESS (Thank you James for informing me that my use of "promote" was incorrect) my thoughts on that book later, but it triggered my "Recycle-Save-the-World-Use-Less-Energy-Use-Less-Gas" way of life.

I just helped to recycle over 250 pounds of garbage from my parent's house (most of it was in the garage and backyard). {I actually felt like a better person as I was flinging wooden boards and metal from the back of the truck.} I bought an organic-cotton t-shirt and feel so proud every time I wear it. I buy organic milk. I don't eat fast food anymore (FFN did away with my fast food cravings... it now makes me gag).

I'm not an extremist. I'm not unreasonable. I'll drive my mom's gas-guzzler across town without complaining. I don't use just one sheet of T.P. like Sheryl Crow says. I accidentally leave lights on in the house. I don't recycle everything. But every now and then I want to fill a truck, take it to the dump, and hurl recyclable objects into the designated recycle pile.


Future plans: Donating to the S.P.C.A. and recycling my parents newspaper.

Side note: I'm SO HAPPY Kristy Lee Cook is off American Idol!!!! I couldn't stand her. And I want Anya to win ANTM.

Yeah, yeah, I watch too much T.V.

WORD OF THE DAY:
Inveigle (Verb)
1. to entice, lure, or ensnare by flattery or artful talk or inducements (usually fol. by into): to inveigle a person into playing bridge.
2. to acquire, win, or obtain by beguiling talk or methods (usually fol. by from or away): to inveigle a theater pass from a person.