Happy Monday night in November

Ok. So I usually try not to stand on a soapbox and tell the world what they should be doing, but I cannot bite my tongue on this.

I've started to look at labels again. Generally I do look at labels, but once I deem something is suitable to purchase, I don't look at them anymore. This is where my mistake came to light. We buy apple juice. 100% no sugar added. From concentrate mostly because hey, let's face it-we have 5 out of 6 children who like apple juice and generally it's cheaper. We don't drink more than a small cup full each day, but you can see with just 5 it's bound to be a high demand item.

So I start noticing the "country of origin" which is now required to be printed on all juices (and on many of our food items). I'm not really picky, however truth be told, I'd prefer to purchase things produced in my own country or the neighboring country to the north of us. I about DIED when I saw China. Really? We need to get our apple concentrate from CHINA? WHY? Well, I figure there are two reasons and neither are making me feel any better. One reason - because it is cheaper. Cheaper does not equal better when it comes to many things. Apple concentrate is one of them. Second reason - we don't have enough concentrate in our own country to meet the demand. Still not diggin' it. So just cut production. If we don't have it, we don't have it. China? Really?

This is the same country who repeatedly sends toys to us with lead in their paint. Plastic crap toys that break because they are so cheap. Really? We want to get our FOOD products from there? Color me xenophobic I guess - I don't want their crap here. I don't want their food or their toys or any of their cheap crap in my house anymore. I've decided that even if I have to pay $15 for something that is made here (ie, a locally made coffee cup from a potter instead of a $5 coffee mug made in China) then I will just have fewer items. LESS is more in this case. My family isn't worth hurting over a few pennies, or a few dollars, or a few hundred dollars or even a few thousand dollars.

On a totally unrelated note, I've been noticing the traffic feed on my blog. Interesting to see where people come from to read my dribble and the fact that I have hits from other countries (other than the ones to the north and east of me). More interesting is the fact that at least one person who hits every week or so is someone I don't speak to anymore. I don't get the fascination on what is happening in my life...It boggles my brain really. I haven't changed any. I'm still me and I'm still not a fan of using people, but I'm not about to take this private again just for that one person. I guess this little blurb is just to let that person know that they are not going unnoticed...I know you're here, but I wonder why.

Other than those two things, I have nothing else...hard to believe, isn't it?

Where did that come from?

Just a minute ago I received a totally unexpected comment on FB. It was from a guy I knew in high school. He graduated a year ahead of me. We had one English class together and he was what you would call an "outsider". He had plenty of friends, but I wouldn't have called him "mainstream". I enjoyed getting to know him during our class time, but we never hung out or anything. With the magic of FB, I was happy to find & friend him. My favorite memories of him were during Halloween when he would dress up as Gumby (he was like 6 feet tall and didn't have a small frame) and during our English class when we produced a short film (a horror flick where our teacher killed us all with Barry Manilow music...hahaha). Just random memories that make me smile.

Anyway, he told me that I was smart, observant and thoughtful. I was embarrassed at first because I don't like compliments (ok, so I am still a bit embarrassed). I am ever mindful of never wanting to sound like I am "all that" because I see so many things I would love to change about myself. I then started to think about it...while I certainly feel uncomfortable with the compliments, I am also happy that people think that about me. I am happy that is what I am showing through my interactions on FB and frankly, in life. I had a cousin tell me just a few months ago that I reminded her of her Mom. That particular comment brought me to tears and still does just thinking of it. My aunt was the most loving, empathetic and compassionate person I knew. To be even compared to her was mind blowing, but it also made me want to be better. To forgive even easier. To show others love more. To heal others' hurts.

I don't think my uncomfortableness of receiving compliments will ever stop, but I hope they continue to make me strive to be a better person.