Health Up North
2005-10-07
I have discovered an entirely new world here in Alaska. Health is much more important to people here and there is evidence of that in the vast natural food sections in stores. Not just a single aisle, or single side of an aisle, these sections are serious portions of the store, taking 5-6 full aisles plus a refrigerated case. I see myself making the food choices I prefer.
I have never been one to enjoy “junk food,” but it is so convenient and easy, not to mention cheap. But with the abundance of healthy choices, enormous vegetables, and stores that encourage natural foods, I know I will be moving towards that way of life.
I really expected the loons to have migrated by now, but they are still around. They are quite creepy to hear, especially when they call at night. It just doesn’t sound like a bird. Lucille, the 86 year old woman upstairs, said they will leave just when it is about to freeze. No freezing in the immediate forecast, so my time here should be full of loon creepiness.
Sometimes, people are just plain nice, which is always unexpected. I called the Oklahoma Unemployment offices for some help. I am required to attend a work rehabilitation meeting this Friday with Workforce Oklahoma. Although I am required to attend in order to receive my unemployment check, they are not actually the same agency. However, the number for Workforce Oklahoma may not be dialed from Alaska. Expecting resistance, I called the only number I knew, the one to file a claim, and spoke to a claims representative. To my surprise, she not only was attentive to what my issue, but offered to call the number for me. When she received no answer, she then offered to fax over the information I had given. It was so nice to speak to somebody who genuinely wanted to help.
On the job front, speaking of unemployment, I did attend a screening session for Fred Meyer yesterday. It was rather strange, but I imagine it will result in an interview. I also have an interview with Wal-Mart this morning. I am not sure what kind of position that will be for, but I think I really need to focus on finding a management position. Not that I will limit my search to that or refuse work, but at some point I need to get back into retail management because I just love it. And I am good at it. I am really interested in positions I found online at some other companies. We will see how those go.
I am trying to find a new church home. I think I will be attending MCC in Anchorage today, so we will see how I like it. I did take several of the denomination selectors online. I always come out as Quaker and Unitarian Universalist. But, United Churches of Christ is on there too and I generally like them. I am welcome to advice on this.
So, I apparently had the flu. Not that I went to a doctor or anything smart like that. But I am pretty sure based on symptoms that it was the flu. That pretty much killed my whole week. I had a fever that I couldn’t break for several days, body aches, and I was so congested. I finally started feeling better on Friday, but by then I was so exhausted! And the days have all melded together and seem to be flying by rapidly. Not at all a fun way to spend my time.
We had just come home from the dinner and I was really feeling ill from my cold. I decided (or, I was convinced) to go to bed. Delisa needed to work on her lesson for today anyhow. I watched some Ellen and then retired to the guest bedroom, where I took a book to read. I settled on Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You To Know About by Kevin Trudeau. You may have seen this moron on television, proclaiming the horrors of everything from fast food to prescription drugs. To this guy, everything is “toxic.”
I think it is worth reading. I have never been so angry as I was after reading it. I kept thinking, this chapter would have made a brilliant book if he had spent more time explaining and supporting the arguments. Mostly over prescription drugs. I want to see the proof, as anyone should. I refuse to take him at his word for two reasons. Freedom of speech allows for such books to be written, regardless of consequence, and this is the same person who so heavily promoted the Atkins diet on television. He has a lot to say in the book about the world being about money and how obviously evil that is, but he himself is profiting from a product designed to scare you. That is all about the money.
So, I have been in Alaska for two weeks! Considering I have spent the past 4 days mostly sick in bed, I have not found a job yet. I did get the paper this morning and it should be helpful as I am starting to get over my cold.
What I have found weird is the almost militant veganism they subscribe to. It is somewhat subtle, but borders on bitter and nasty. I attended the first meeting (potluck) of the Alaska Vegetarian Society as a guest last night. In and of itself, the dinner was nice and the people were so friendly. It was one of the happiest places on Earth. But I found that an underlying theme in the evening was how wasteful the planet is and how cruel we are to the “very intelligent” livestock we eat on a regular basis. I absolutely appreciate the argument, but I don’t agree. Mind you, I fully support vegetarianism for its many benefits, but this type of over-the-top veganism doesn’t sit well with me.