11 Reasons Why My Summer is Stressful:

11 Reasons Why my Summer is Stressful, or,

11 Reasons Why I can't wait 'til September 5th!

1. I work 10-14 hour days.

2. I have one job to pay the bills.

3. I have my internship go to after the paying-job.

4. I have to work out 5 times a week.

5. My church calling keeps me super busy.

6. I have to plan a wedding.

7. I am making my own invitations.

8. Wedding dresses are ridiculous.

9. Engagement photos are ridiculous.

10. I have to complete one online religion class by the end of August.

11. I don't have time to watch The Bachelorette or So, You Think You Can Dance?

Genetically Engineered Foods and Stuff

I've become somewhat of pescatarian in the past year--- I really only like to eat fish. And fish that is uncooked, as well (Sushi, anyone?). I have major issues with the United States Department of Agriculture and the food company conglomerates that are controlling the marketplace (Sources: Fast Food Nation, The Way We Eat, Documentary: Super Size Me, Documentary: The Future of Food, The Fatland of America)

I have the information available to make a smart decision when it comes to what I eat, yet I still buy my groceries at Albertson's or Smith's, and I still eat out at *gasp* fast food restaurants. And all these stores and restaurants are full of foods that have been genetically modified. U.S. food regulation agencies turn their head the other way for the right price, and so far, there has only been ONE human study of G.E. food effects. These scientists and laboratories are creating seeds that can only grow when certain pesticides are sprayed on them. Ironically, the pesticide industry has bought out the seed industry. So farmers who grow G.E. corn MUST also use the company's pesticide.

I am taking a stand against this evil and corrupt industry. I hereby promise to only eat Organic Consumers Association Organic-Certified products. I will not eat out unless I know the food is organic. I will not eat meat unless I know the farms have grass-fed their animals and let them roam free in a pasture instead of piled on top of each other on a stock farm. Seriously you guys... this is for real! I already know which grocery stores I can shop at. Take a stand with me and vote with your dollar! Don't buy fast food or non-organic products! Your health (and your future/current children's health) is at risk.

P.S. I really don't care if YOU buy organic. So we can still be friends.

P.P.S. I'm not trying to attack any of my friend-moms.

I think eating breakfast makes me hungrier during the day.

I think I'm stuck in a food rut. I have this mental block that prevents me from preparing and eating healthy foods because I think it's too difficult/long/hard/ toilsome/irritating/painful. And I'm too hungry at the time to wait longer than 1 minute to satisfy my famishment. So here comes the fast food, which provides a fleeting moment of tangible ecstasy, only to be followed by hours of internal distress as my organs try to digest the many-times processed "food". And fast food also goes against EVERY moral I hold dear in regards to eating unprocessed foods. So now I'm a hypocrite. That has also gained 8 pounds since January. Gross, gross, gross.

Oh, The Eternal Ravenousness Desires of My Abominable Abdomen. Which is aided by my big breakfast habits, which is SUPPOSED to be healthy! Yes, I know, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But it leaves me starving at 10 a.m., starving at 12 p.m.,. starving at 2 p.m., starving at 4 p.m., starving at 6 p.m., and so on. And when I DON'T eat breakfast, I only get hungry at about 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at night. Which is the lesser of the two evils?

So I'm finally breaking this late night Papa Johns-ish habit by finding easy-to-make healthy recipes that don't take longer than 30 minutes to make (Thank you, Yahoo! Foods). There are bounteous amounts of recipes out there that fit my particular demands. BOTTOM LINE: my (future) kids are NOT going eat Happy Meals three times a week. I refuse. It's fresh chicken or die (... of processed foods and chemicals and toxins)!! (Organic and non-caged chicken ONLY. After all, I'm a member of Omnivores for the Ethical Treatment and Humane Slaughter of Animals, better known as OETHSA).

[organic] Chicken or die!!

[organic] CHICKEN OR DIE!!!!

2 Word/ Phrases that Irk Me

1. "lol". I cannot STAND this. Can't you just say, "That makes me laugh?". Or, "Haha". Or, "Funny!". Or "Hmmm". Or something other than "lol" which reminds me of a lollipop which reminds me not to take you more seriously than a 13 year old on AOL Instant Messenger circa 2000 A.D.

2. Saying or typing "Your" when you mean "You're". This is probably the most used grammatic error in the entire world. I see it all the time on facebook and twitter. Just today, Miley Cyrus tweeted "If your not already my friend then add me!". I was not amused. Get it in your head: YOUR does not = YOU'RE. Use the freaking apostrophe!

Anything I missed?

GLEE: Don't Stop Believin'

I think I just found !!My new favorite show!!, most favorite out of anything I have ever watched in my entire life, inlcuding seasons 1 and 2 of The O.C., seasons 1, 2, and 5 of Desperate Housewives, season 4 of 24, and ANY of my reality TV or crime TV shows.

Its called "Glee". Don't prejudge this based on YOUR prejudices of Glee Club Geeks. Please watch this show. It will leave you feeling happy, ecstatic, elated, on cloud nine, sparkling, sunny, and jubilant. Excellent cast, excellent music, excellent writing... can you really ask for more?



Or, if the video doesn't work, go here.

Day 1 of Life Without Preservatives

Dear World/Blog/Journal/Followers:

It's been less than 24 hours since I have let a trans fat pass through my lips. Wait... I take that back. I went 14 hours without eating anything containing preservatives. However, after a minor mouth incident involving grapefruit and water, I had to eat something that would get the gross grapefruit aftertaste out of my mouth. And what is available at my workplace? Chex Mix Bars. I partook of the forbidden fruit at approximately 4:23 p.m. MST. And now I have a rumbly in my tumbly as my body tries to process the artificially made chemicals found in partially hydrogenated soybean oil.

In conclusion, I will stick to my fruit and veggie and homemade bread and sushi way of life from this hour forward.

xoxo - tracie girl

Am I Doomed to Endless Misery and Woe? (At least for 4 months)

It's only been a week since E left. And already I am BORED out of my FREAKING MIND.

I work from 10-1 and 2-8 every day except Wednesdays when I have the afternoon off. I come home exhausted at night. One job I enjoy-- the other is mindless work I do to pay the bills. My 2 p.m. resolve to hit the gym after work dramatically dwindles to little more than a fleeting thought by 8:00 p.m that sounds hilarious to my now crazed mind. Answering phone calls for 6 hours can do that do a person.

Even the thought of dragging myself to the grocery store sounds worse than the eternal doom of Sisyphus.

Where did all my energy go? Why can't I get up at 6 every morning and go for a 3 mile run? Why can't I cook dinner every night without tiring myself out at merely the thought?

All I want to do when I come home is sit on my bed, have the Lakers/ESPN/House on in the background, and Skype with E, which is slightly better than just a phone call.

Ugh. Any suggestions for getting some semblance of an invidious life?? Can I just move to Texas now??

Swine Flu, Lakers, and Top 3 Un-alive U.S. President's I'd Like to Meet

What is this swine flu? I'm scared! Sort of. I mean, It's just the flu, right? What's the big deal? I haven't read too much about it, 'cuz it's never gonna happen to me. Except E is going to Houston and I am moving to Houston at the end of the summer, and that is where the first person died in the US from Swine Flu!! Maybe we should rethink our location....

I LOVE THE LAKERS! THE LAKERS ARE GOING TO WIN IT ALL!! I HEART KOBE ('s basketball playing skills)!!! (But not like I love you, E). I want a Lakers hat to go with my Kobe jersey and Lakers Reusable Bag.

TOP 3 Un-alive PRESIDENTS I'D LIKE TO MEET:

1. James K. Polk
2. Franklin D. Roosevelt
3. Dwight D. Eisenhower

Reasons why to come later...

The Other Guy in My Life...

This is Eric. He is my fiance who is leaving me in less than 2 weeks to move to Houston to get a job (He graduates Thursday, yay!!!).
What does this mean? Tracie is dateless for the summer... OR IS SHE????

This is William Brian Nolte. The one single guy Eric says I am allowed to be alone with this summer. Eric says he won't even mind if I take his pants off-- (OKAY, people, we're talking poopy diapers here!) Woot Woot. I hope he pays when we go to the movies... or at least refrains from spitting up on me...

Which one is cuter? Which one is cuter? I don't know, I don't know, but I have 4 months to make up my mind!

The Susan Boyle-Wonder

When I first saw the video clip of Susan Boyle, my heart went out to her-- she's 47, unemployed, and has never been kissed. She lives in a small village in Scotland, in the same house she grew up in. And since the death of both her parents, her only house companion is her cat, Pebbles.

Before she started singing, there was an air of superiority from the judges and audience--there was no way this woman had any talent at all--it appeared to be another William Hung media set-up.

She started singing on Britain's Got Talent (my most favorite song from my most favorite musical), I could not believe the voice I was hearing. I watched a modern day fairytale unfold in front of my eyes. I wasn't the only one who was floored---Simon Cowell was too. (See the video here and take a peek at the look on Simon's face and laugh, cry, be amazed, wowed, at her performance.) All 3 judges gave her an enthusiastic "Yes" to go to the next round.

What makes Susan an internet and media phenomenon? There are many people out there who can sing and who can sing well-- thus, Susan Boyle must contain something extra that speaks to the hearts of millions around the world. Susan is special because she's the commoner's heroine. The middle class of Britain cheer for the woman who is one of them-- and finally finding the spotlight at age 47.

Hear her sing on a charity CD released over 10 years ago:



It just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


And don't worry--she's already gotten plenty of offers for her first kiss--most notably from Talent judge Piers Morgan.

Susan- I'm cheering for you in Utah, and I hope you achieve everything you more than deserve!!