I'm going to bitch about some things

Fuck you, fake food

I used to have a crush on George Duran (warning: Flash).  This started back when he had his own show on the Food Network back when the Food Network was somewhat watchable.  He introduced me to Venezuelan hot dogs and I haven't looked back since.  He's cute, has an interesting story, and I liked his personality.

In the years since his show got cancelled he's become a shill for ConAgra's family of pseudo-food.  I'll admit that I'll take Hunts (HFCS-free) ketchup over Heinz any day when I'm not eating my own homemade ketchup -- oh yeah, I'm that homemade ketchup making girl -- but a quick glance at their product list is enough to harden your arteries and send your blood pressure straight up to the ISS.

So that's pretty bad in and of itself.  I understand that a man's got to put money in the bank.  But this latest PR nightmare blogger ridiculousness?  What little respect I had for the guy is completely gone.  Nothing says integrity like lying directly to people's faces and trying to make a buck off of hidden camera footage.  It's enough to turn a person off ConAgra products forever.  Phew -- looks like I don't buy any of that shit anyway.

Note that I still buy processed food from time to time (usually spaghetti sauce).  I'm not on any kind of high horse on that front.  But it'll be a cold August day in Death Valley before I slop a can of Chef Boyardee onto Lily's plate or fire up any Marie Callender's sodium pot pies.

Here's some more on that particular issue.  I'm not even going to go back over blogger-corporate relationships.

Do I regret participating in a local event that benefited ConAgra's Child Hunger Ends Here?  Yes on the ConAgra thing, no on the meeting other local people thing.  My money's going directly to Second Harvest Heartland and United Way from here on out.

Fat and unhappy

In other news, I have gained five pounds and I'm almost back at my record high non-pregnant weight.  I've been eating, oh, everything.  And beer... oh, the beer.  So much beer.  It's time to stop.  Good thing September is Abstinence Month for me.  So this month it'll be no bird, no mammal, no alcohol, and no sweets.  I put myself on a strict 1200 calorie diet and I'm back on the Couch to 5K horse.  I'm on Fitocracy (hit me up if you want an invite) and Loseit.  I'm skating once a week and trying to squeeze in yoga and exercise videos when Husband is out of the house.

BREATHE

I discovered yesterday that even though I'm in the most painful throes of allergy season and 99% of the time I can't breathe through the left side of my nose, my sinuses clear out when I'm exercising.  If that isn't the serious motivation I need to get up off my ass, I don't know what is.

I'm currently on Claritin but that's just not working anymore.  I'm going to finish out this bottle like an idiot but until the pills run out or we get a hard frost I'm also forced to take either Benadryl (protip: Sominex is the exact same thing and three times less expensive) plus Afrin or two Sudafed on top of the Claritin.

I'm so going to end up with liver failure.  Haven't turned yellow yet, though.  And I can sort of breathe!

I love my Baron

Another thing I can bitch about today is the anti-Asian scooter sentiment amongst scooter enthusiasts.  The instant you mention you ride a Geely, Linhai, Roketa, Baron, Quinqzi, Kymco, or anything other than an Italian or American brand (except for the revered Honda), they immediately throw their nose into the air and dismiss anything you have to say.  Need a part?  Walk into a bike or scooter shop and see how fast they drawl, "We don't do Chinese scooters here."

Seriously, I just need a lightbulb.

It's extra hilarious considering the GY6 engine that almost every single Asian 125cc or 150cc scooter has are the exact same GY6 engines in Honda scooters that have been made in the exact same factories for decades.

OK, enough bitching for now.