adventuresofandiepants

it’s not unique… it’s just spelled wrong.

26 May 2012 4 Comments

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

Hi Friends! wow, it’s been awhile! The pants have been super busy with work, life, happiness, existence, etc. and honestly just didn’t feel the urge to write. But this morning, i’ve been inspired. We’ll start with a disclaimer: I apologize if I offend anyone, but as this is my blog, I get to write about whatever I want. So if you don’t like it, please find the small x at the top of the page and close the window.

That being said, I’d like to appeal to the good people of the universe to stop naming your children ridiculous names! please!! this is getting out of control. I interact with so many people at my job (which I’m so thankful for), and some of the names I come across just make me so sad. Now, I realize and admit that I have a certain taste in names, and that it is in stark contrast with the trendy, kreatif (thats “creative”, for anyone who didn’t catch that), theme thats happening today, but I just felt the need to weigh in on the madness.

It appears my generation (those us born in the early to mid 80′s) are coming into parenthood and I have to say, friends, I have not been impressed with the vast majority of names that my fellow humans have been bestowing on these poor, innocent little ones. and I know what you’re going to say: “well, andie you don’t have to like the name, because its MY child, and if I like it thats all that matters.” and i agree… to a point. Yes, it’s your choice to name your kid whatever you want. but its also your RESPONSIBILITY not to saddle that child with a ridiculous name for the rest of his/her life! Think about the resumes these poor children will have, with a name like “Breighton” splashed across the top of the page. How many callbacks do you think little Breighton will get? If anyone ever even figures out how to pronounce his (her?) name??

Anyway, I’ve been what i call a “name nerd” for most of my life. I love names, I love discovering the meaning behind names, I love watching the trends of certain names and how they rise and fall. and watching this trend of inventing a name, or changing the spelling so that it’s “unique” (ITS NOT… ITS JUST SPELLED WRONG… AND REFLECTS POORLY ON YOU AS A PARENT), just hurts me in my name loving soul. Now! I need to clarify that just because a name has ascended wildly in popularity and become “the name of the times” does not necessarily bother me. This happens with every generation. Look at the name Mary in the 30′s and 40′s, Linda in the 50′s and 60′s, Jennifer and Amanda in the 80′s. All what i would consider “good” names who shot up in popularity during the respective decades. The following names were taken from the Social Security Administration top 10 list for 2011. check out the full list here: http://nameberry.com/blog/popular-baby-names-sophia-jacob-new-number-1s

Isabella/Isabela- The first association i make is Queen Isabella (Katherine of Aragon’s mom) and she kicked ass super hard. go queen isabella!

Sophia-gorgeous Italian name, also it’s not a bad thing to be associated with Sophia Loren

Daniel-another strong, timeless biblical name

Jacob-fantastic biblical name

Olivia-beauty personified.

William (either Will or Liam)- i don’t even think I have to say anything about this one (but of course I will anyway), it’s classic, timeless, and strong

Aiden-a beautiful Irish name steeped in history.

So I’m not just hating on super popular names. What I am (admittedly) hating on, is this trend that every child has to have a unique, super “kreativ” name that will set them apart from the rest of the world. I get it, your kid is special, but don’t saddle the little wee one with a stupid name just because you want the world to know your kid is special. my husband grew up with the name Michael in the 80′s. He was one of probably 12 Michaels in his class, and even now, living in a community of less than 1000 people we have so many “Michaels” that we are considering have a “Mike” party. and no, he’s not damaged by sharing his name with so many people. and i think he’s pretty special =).

so without further ado, I give to you the trends that annoy me the most

1.) The bastardization of poor Aiden

-Brayden/Blayden/Cayden/Hayden/Jayden/Kayden/Paedon (yes someone actually did this one!!)Rayden/Taydon/Xayden, etc- STOP IT!! just stop!! please! All of the people who have named their child “Aiden” must be watching in horror as it is bastardized in every possible form. ENOUGH!

2.) It’s not creative… It’s just spelled wrong. These parents are announcing to the world that they are unable to spell. Fantastic. I’ll give you the correct spelling first, and then the unfortunate creation after it.

Jason…. Jacyn

Elliot/Eliot…. Elleighette

Ellison…. Ellisyn

Emerson…. Emersynn

Avery….Averiee

Alexander…..AlyxZyandr

Bailey… Baileigh… for that matter, please stop tacking on “eigh” in random places (Emeleigh, Kayleigh, Courtneigh, Haileigh, Ashleigh, etc) It just makes the name look so trendy and dumb. If I see the name “Kayleigh”, i will immediately assume that this child was born between the years of 2008-2012 and that her parents are either unable to spell or are VERY concerned with “being unique.” poor child.

Chloe….Khloe/Kloe/Kllooooeeeyy (that last one was an exaggeration, but really!)

Madison…. Maddysynn

Cecelia….Saceelia 

Olivia….Alivya

Jasmine….Jazmyn

Xavier…..X’Zayveer

Alexis…. Alecsis 

Greyson/Grayson…..Gracesyn (I’m on the fence about Grayson as a name, but if you’re going to go for it, please do it correctly.)

Ryan (for either sex)….. Rhyann/Ryeann/Riiann

3.)  The invasion of the letter X 

Braxton

Brixton

Traxton

Paxton

Jaxon

Matix

Daxton

Knox

4.) the smashing together of two syllables  

to make an invented name

Baylor

Traylor (seriously)

Kyden

Ryden

Tyden

Rylan/Rylen/Rielynn

Trayton

Brayton

Kaylor

Laykin

Bryden

Brycen

Gracelyn

Gracesyn

Kason

Tayleigh (and I’m not trying to hate on “Leigh!” Its my middle name.. but this is just awful)

Jaycee

Everleigh

Rhyston

Ryker

Brevyn

Brynlee

Blakelynn

5.) Other pet peeves 

McKenna/McKenzie/McKayleigh, etc  - pretty much McK- anything

Nevaeh- so we’re just spelling things backwards now? so i can be aerdna? and i can call my husband ekim?

Payton/Peighton/Peytyn and all other variants

Ashdyn

Paisley/Paisleigh

Kenzie/Kinzie/Kinzleigh/Kinzli

Bentley/Bentlee/Bentleigh

Colton

ok… it appears my rant is over. and i’m honestly not trying to offend, but just trying to bring about awareness. bestowing a name on a precious child is one of the most wonderful things a parent will ever do. but it’s also a responsibility. though “paisleigh” might be fitting for an adorable little baby with golden ringlets, it will not fit a grown woman who is trying to get a job or be respected in the professional world.

I’ve just realized that I’ve gone this entire entry without mentioning my favorite names. In no particular order:

Silas, Theodore, Brendan (my nephews name), Thomas, Gavin, Evan, Lila, Leah, Genevieve, Aniela (my great grandmothers name, its the Polish form of “Angela”), Aurora, Jackson, Asher, Atticus, Owen, Kira, and Fiona.

my beautifully named (and insanely adorable) nephew- Brendan Thomas.

readers, what do you think? am i being too harsh? or does anyone else agree?

have a beautiful and joyful memorial day weekend and please remember the reason we are celebrating!

andie.

feelings are delicious

17 Mar 2012 5 Comments

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

Happy saturday, friends! I’m writing today because I’m confused and I’d like to appeal to my faithful and knowledgeable readers to help me out. I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed and lost on what path to take in terms of my nutrition. The amount of different opinions, and doctrines, and plans, and cycles and GAH! I’m overwhelmed. But before I start asking questions, I should provide a little background information about what’s going on health wise for the Pants.

For the last five years or so, I’ve been slooooowwwly, and painstakingly, trying to improve my health. In 2007, I went to my doctor and was verbally chastised for my poor health. At age 21, I was overweight, had high cholesterol, and just wasn’t taking care of myself. So between January 2008 and June 2010, I overhauled my diet and kicked up the throttle on exercise.  I went from eating fast food 3 or 4 times a week (Wendy’s combo #1 with cheese please!) and drinking nothing but soda (mmmm dr. pepper) to eating whole foods and drinking water like a fishy. I used to eat out for the majority of my meals but began to make most of my meals (or have my fantastic husband make them). I used to view food as a treat, as a reward, and my eating regimen was irregular and chaotic.

After making some really positive changes, I lost 45 pounds over 2.5 years. I felt fantastic, I felt amazing, and I felt on top of the world. I was happy with my body, happy the way I looked in clothes, happy with my energy, my endurance, etc. My cholesterol was down, my health was up! Woooo Happy Pants!

Me in the beginning of 2008 on our New Orleans trip. I had just started to lose weight, but was still unhealthy.

me in October 2010 (45 pounds down!) one month after moving to New Mexico

And then it happened. I became lazy and complacent. I moved to New Mexico and the Mexican cuisine tantalized my taste buds. I was at my ideal weight, so what harm would one little enchilada do? Well, the problem was it wasn’t one little enchilada, but several enchiladas, and tacos, and rellenos, and other fried, fatty slices of deliciousness. Green chili cheeseburgers became a regular thing for Mrs. Pants.

Things got much worse after my wedding. For one, I didn’t have my wedding to worry about anymore, so exercise went right out the window. Also, the cold weather was upon us, so rather than taking walks outside with scoutydoodles, I was cuddling up on the couch with a blanket and a burrito. Finally, the depression was worsening. I was so frustrated and upset that I wasn’t able to find a job. I felt worthless, hopeless, and anxious, and like so many other people when faced with these struggles, I ate my feelings (I know it’s not a funny issue, but that phrase, “I ate my feelings”, makes me giggle every time I hear it. It conjures up a picture of a woman eating a cookie with “sadness” written on it in icing. “mmmm.. sadness is so delicious…” Giggle.). Anyway! By October, I had steadily put on 10 pounds.

And then Boom! The holidays hit with a smash.Turkey, stuffing, pie, beer, cake, wine, cookies, you name it. They were being stuffed in the andie face with carefree abandon. I got a rude awakening when I began to pack for my honeymoon in mid January. I was going to Mexico, so I needed warm weather clothing, “summer clothes”, if you will. I tried to put on my shorts from last summer.. and they didn’t fit. Not even close. And forget about bathing suits! I had to go to Kohls and request that they bring out bathing suits (in January) so that I could buy a new, larger one so that I could swim on my honeymoon. Crap.

Even though I was uncomfortable with my body, and still feeling a bit depressed, I was determined to have fun on my honeymoon. I’m happy to report that I certainly did. And one lovely morning in Cancun, I figured I’d check my email and almost jumped out of my chair when I saw I had an email, inviting me for a job interview. The rest is history. I began working on February 3^rd, and two days later, I went to the Ruidoso Athletic Club and got a membership.

All in all I’ve gained back about 20 pounds from the original 45 I’ve lost. I’m frustrated with myself because I know how hard it is to take off weight, and I wish I would have been more vigilant. I know the struggle I’m in for, and I know that it will be an uphill battle. I’m in a pretty consistent and positive exercise routine. I get up at 5am (!!!), to get to the gym by 6am (!!!!!!) which is horrible, but I much prefer it to doing if after work and not getting home til 7 or 8pm. And I’m happy to report that I’ve lost 6 pounds, which isn’t a huge thing, but it shows that I’m making progress.

me in 2012 on my honeymoon.

All of this brings me to my question for you, beloved readers. Nutrition. I’m having such a hard time finding my way through the overwhelming sea of “diets”, “eating plans”, “cleanses”, etc. I feel like I eat pretty “heathfully” already, so now that I’m looking for more ways to clean up my diet, I’m at a bit of a loss. What I would like to do is to find a system of eating that I will maintain for the rest of my life. So no crash diets, or 28 day plans, or cycles of carbs, then proteins, then whatever. I also need something that’s realistic, something that I can subscribe to somewhat easily, and be able to make a lot of my own meals with.

Another big requirement for me is that it needs to agree with my stomach. In the past 5 years, I’ve discovered the andie-stomach to be quite temperamental and delicate. I know there are certain offenders that I can’t pollute the andie-temple with. Numero uno on my stomach hit list? Milk. I said goodbye to cows milk years ago, because it destroys my stomach. Oh the cramps from milk! And now I think I also have to say so long to other forms of dairy, like butter and regrettably, cheese.

I also have a hard time with meat. While I don’t have much of a reaction to poultry or fish, beef and other red meat seems to sit in my stomach like a brick, and jab me from the inside out. Now that I don’t eat meat very often, if I sit down to a small steak, I am in legitimate pain for at least 24 hours afterward.

I’ve been doing my research on different ways of eating and have found two contenders to be adopted as the new andie-way of eating.

 Contestant number 1-Veganism.

Veganism is defined as “eliminating all animal products from ones diet, and in the case of ethical vegans, from ones life.” This wouldn’t be much of a stretch for me, to be honest. I don’t drink milk, I hardly eat butter. I do have a torrid love affair with cheese, but it really is an abusive relationship. Cheese keeps hurting me, but I keep on loving it. Anyway, I could eliminate dairy pretty easily. And red meat has been few and far between in my diet for years. I would miss turkey, chicken and fish (no more sushi!! What!!) if I went strict vegan, but I doubt I could realistically do that. I can see myself becoming a somewhat lazy vegan, an adulterous vegan if you will, and still eating some form of poultry or fish about once per week. I’m not crazy about tofu, and processed soy isn’t very healthy for the system, so I would probably stay away from soy burgers, soy dogs, tofu, tempeh, and the like. But I’d be content to use beans and nuts for my protein, and good fats like avocado to thicken up a salad. I’m also a really big fan of smoothies (which some vegans use for meal replacements) and I’ve found they are an excellent way to get your servings of fruits and veggies in a fun and delish way.

I have a few concerns about veganism. I would definitely have to make sure I was getting enough protein because I’d eliminating most animal products. And I’m also concerned that if I don’t eat meat regularly, I’m going to have a hell of time with my stomach every time I go back to it. Am I ready to say goodbye to meat forever? I’d also have to keep an eye on my calcium and magnesium levels because I’d be saying farewell to dairy. And what about when I eventually become pregnant? The jury is still out whether or not it is safe or healthy for an expecting lady to keep a vegan diet. Will I just fall off the vegan train during that time? Finally, I’m concerned that it would be nearly impossible to eat out at a restaurant without violating this plan. Most prepared meals, even if they are vegetarian, are stealthily soaked in butter, ratcheting up the calories and providing me with unwanted dairy.

Contestant number 2- The Paleo Nutritional Plan.

This one has gotten a lot of buzz recently. Its tag line is “eat like a cave man/woman.” The main idea of this plan is to eat as our ancestors did. A blog I recently stumbled upon called Bacon and Skinny Jeans (http://baconandskinnyjeans.blogspot.com) defines it like this:

“The concept of being Paleo or Primal: To avoid all things that aren’t from or by this earth. aka: processed sugar, grains, dairy, legumes… because the way they are made today, our tummies just cannot handle. Don’t avoid things from this earth: good meats, coconuts, veggies, nuts, fruits” (by the way, the you might recognize the lovely lady who writes this blog as Emily from MTV’s The Real World Washington DC and The Challenge-Battle of the Exes).

I do dig the organic, natural feel of this plan and I’m totally on the same page with the idea of avoiding processed food with nine million ingredients that you can’t pronounce. I’m even on board with the not eating grains idea…to a point. I agree that white rice, white flour, white bread, etc have the nutritional value of saw dust and are just empty calories. They are broken down in the body extremely quickly, making your blood sugar spike and plummet, and then just causing you to feel hungry again. But! I do have to make a case for my friends whole wheat grains, brown rice, quinoa, millet, and their compadres. These are good foods! Yes, they are carbs (which has become such a “bad word” in the paleo world), but they are complex carbs which allow your body to process, break down slowly and utilize as energy.

The other thing that makes me weary of the Paleo plan is their elimination of beans and legumes, but the inclusion of animal protein. I’m sorry, friends, but this just makes no sense to me. I have the Paleo book, and I’ve read it, and I understand the argument that our bodies need a certain amount of protein and that lean cuts of animal protein can be very beneficial (I’m looking at you, turkey, chicken and fish!). But cutting out the wealth of nutritional value one can get from beans and legumes and replacing that with animal protein just seems completely backwards to me. Beans bad, bacon good? I’m giving that one the confused dog look.

Anyway, the reason for this post is an attempt to gain knowledge from my readers. So here are my questions for you: Do you have a healthy eating plan? If so, what do you subscribe to? What do you think of the diametrically opposed views of veganism and Paleo living? What works for you and your body? How do you handle eating out at restaurants? I’m still continuing my journey on the path of healthy eating, so I’d love some feedback from all of you.

Lastly, friends, make sure you’re food is working FOR you not AGAINST you. Think about if your food is giving you energy, vitamins, and nutrients, or if it’s giving you fat thighs and constipation (I’ve always wanted to end a post with the word “constipation”).

Be happy (and healthy!),

Andie.

more ideas from fat, white men…

12 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

evenin’, friends. i’m sure you’ve all heard about this hoopla with a certain radio commentator. ah, yes. mr limbaugh has once again shown us his true nature, as a vile, villainous, vociferous (i love v words, don’t you..?) creature. i’m totally on board the Rush-hatin’ train. I bought my ticket a long time ago and have been enjoying the ride. but friends, i honestly don’t understand why everyone is so shocked at his comments. i mean, it’s not like rush-a-doodle was all flowers and sunshine before this happened. it’s not like he was on his radio show reading poetry,  hugging gay people and meditating (which would have been AWESOME).

but no! he was lambasting every group you can think of! women, homosexuals, different ethnic/racial groups, liberals, unicorns, feminists, anyone even remotely pro-Obama, sea lions, teachers, unions, and anyone receiving government assistance have all felt the wrath of this paunchy politico. that’s his thing, his schtick, to try and be “shocking”, to try and “say what the others won’t say.” Listen, friends, I agree that his rant on Sandra Fluke was particularly venomous (ah! another great v word), and if I were her, I’d be infuriated. as a woman, i can feel her rage and understand her frustration. to have an inflated, whale-like, dumpy denizen such as Mr. Limbaugh degrade her (and women) in that way is truly horrible. But friends, consider the source. This man has been spewing vile garbage for years, and every word, every single syllable only reinforces his image as one of the most disrespectful people on earth. so don’t fret, friends. as mama gump used to say, stupid is as stupid does.

but what i do not agree with is this battle cry to have him taken off the air. I just think this is the wrong way to handle this, to have the government come in and play word police. i had a visceral (ah! i hoped i could find another v word!) reaction to his comments, but begrudgingly have to defer to the first amendment. it’s his show, he can say whatever he wants, and if listeners don’t like it, they can shut the damn thing off. friends, all too often i hear people giving up their control and power over the lives by saying things like “oh i had to watch it.. it was like a train wreck..” or “i had to listen to it.. everyone was talking about it.” no you didn’t and no you didn’t. if you’re a big rush limbaugh fan that’s one thing, but if you’re not, protect your sacred mind and soul and don’t pollute your ears and eyes with this horrible garbage. its a free country. and that means rush has the freedom to verbally vomit all over this radio program, but it also means you have the freedom to completely and utterly ignore him. no friends, it’s not the governments responsibility to make sure cretins like rush play nice. its our responsibility to exert power and control over our own lives.

and if we set this precedent of governmental word police, then whats next? i happen to love programs such as Jon Stewart’s Daily Show or Real Time with Bill Maher, and the opinions expressed on both of these shows could be considered offensive or insensitive. Should they be shut down? One of my favorite comedians ever was Mr. George Carlin (RIP). Remember his brutal rant about god and religion and how stupid he found the whole thing? what if i weren’t allowed to expressed my opinions as an atheist, a liberal, a woman? which brings me back to…

in the event that you are enraged and infuriated not only by mr. limbaugh’s audacity, but by the attitude that has arisen toward women in the more conservative crowd, remember this: thousands of courageous women fought tirelessly so that ladies such as mrs. pants could have the right to vote. i suggest we use that hard earned right and put people in charge who don’t think birth control is “evil”, who aren’t openly misogynistic, and who will recognize women as equal partners in this society. I’ll give you a hint. Their names do NOT rhyme with Smomney, Mantorum or Zingrich. I think you can take it from here….

be happy,

andie.

peaceful sunday

11 Mar 2012 Leave a Comment

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

hi friends! happy sunday. i don’t have any original material today, but happened upon a passage that really resonated with me, so i thought i’d share. unfortunately, I don’t know who wrote it, but i found it on Gaiam.com. So check it out:

“There comes a time in life when the old ways begin to peel and shed away.

This happens when you start to notice one too many undesirable patterns recurring in your life. You vow to change things, but the patterns keep reemerging with renewed force. The wise thing to do, one hears, is to step back, take a deep breath and reaffirm your intent to break away from the pattern. To stop doing that which repeatedly gives birth to an environment that accentuates the gray and uncertain hues of life in the core of your existence. This is where courage comes in. Lots of it.

We set out wanting to change others, but no such thing exists. It’s true what the sages say: All we can really do is attempt to change ourselves. Once we embark on that path, and work diligently and with mindfulness, those around us immediately begin to respond to us differently. Because now, what we are putting out to others is different from what we have offered up in the past. A new approach results in a new response. A new sequence of events unfolds. This is inevitable. But this is where all the courage, all the strength and all the faith within yourself is called upon.”

peace and beauty... inner and outer..

be happy,

andie.

back in the saddle again…

03 Mar 2012 1 Comment

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

Wow, andiepants entries have been getting a little …. angry, huh? First Ranty pants and then Political pants (are you noticing a theme about the titles of my posts? haha, i guess i need to be more creative..) Anywho, sorry about that, friends. I try not to be an angry person, but writing is one way for me to blow off some steam and release the yickiness. Contrary to how those last 2 entries may have seemed, I’m a pretty happy Pants these days. I began work at my new job at the beginning of last month and must admit that I really love it. I’m excited to wake up in the morning and go to work. That hasn’t happened in a long time. There are so many good things about this job, I’m not sure where to start. I work in a small mountain town that’s about 35 miles away from home, so the commute isn’t too long and it’s gorgeous! I know I wrote about my former commute a long time ago, and friends, this commute kicks that other commutes ass. I start by driving about 10 miles along a flat open highway, and then I hang a sharp right and start the ascent into the mountains. I gain about 2000 feet in 20 miles, so some parts of the drive are steep and twisty switchbacks up the mountain. Others are gentle curving hills and dips with magnificent views of the lovely Ms. Sierra Blanca (elevation approximately 12,000 feet). She looks beautiful these days with her peaks covered in pristine white snow. The mountain has gotten something like 90 inches of snow this year so it’s been a great season of skiers (which your illustrious author is NOT.. my husband keeps trying to lure me up the mountain and I’ve resisted thus far… ). I like to imagine that I can see little tiny skiers coming down the mountain during my drive. It’s unlikely that that’s what I’m seeing, because I think most of the ski runs are on the other side of the mountain.. I’m probably just seeing trees and rocks, but oh well.

The town that I work in is beautiful. It has a bustling main street, filled with shops, eateries, bars, and the like. I’ve just joined the gym which is right off of the main drag, so on the mornings I visit the gym before work (yes I’m actually doing that! Can you believe it? I’m waking up at 5am to go to the gym BEFORE work… college andiepants would be horrified, but adult andiepants is totally loving it), I get to take a little ride through the downtown area.

The ride back down the mountain might be even more beautiful. As I descend down the mountain, the trees and vegetation thin out to the high desert environment that I live in. Picture this, friends: Andiepants and Howie are driving down the mountain, on a twisty mountain road lined by tall pine trees and thick grasses. Around one curve, on the left side of the road, the mountain drops away, and I can see the valley down below for miles. And I mean miles. Carrizo Mountain (for whom Carrizozo is named) stands alone in the high desert, a modest little guy at about 8000 feet. In the evenings, on my drive home from work, the sun throws a golden and violet wash across Carrizo and causes the sky to explode with color. I round that bend, take a look at the scene before me, and thank the universe that I have not only the fortune to be alive, but to behold nature’s majesty in all her glory.

Ok, I’ll stop my nature nerdiness for a minutes to talk about my job, which is super great. I’m at a small not for profit mental health agency as a mental health therapist. I just started working with clients a couple weeks ago and am already feeling exhilarated and fulfilled. I love working and interacting with people and this job continues to reinforce that I made the right decision by going into social work. Working one on one with people ensures that you’ll encounter something different every day. Sure, there are common mental health issues and problems that I see more than others, but each person has a unique story and I find it so interesting figuring out ways I can help in their particular situation.

I also really like the building I work in. It’s small, which is really nice because it allows me to interact and get to know my coworkers more. There are beautiful oil paintings lining the hallway, and each office as a window (which is really important! I never realized how great a window is until I worked in an office without one). I’ve been working on sprucing my office up with some personal things to make it “homier” for me and inviting and welcoming for my clients.

Check out my office with its very own window!

The difficult part is that because of the nature of our work, it’s kind of frowned upon to release personal information about yourself and that can be reflected in the pictures and other items you display. I never realized how difficult it would be to fill my office with pictures and not have one of mike. The only “personal” item I have is a framed photo of my scooter doodles on my desk.

Oh scooter doodles.. you're my favorite doodles.. you're the only doodles for me!

Since I couldn’t throw an 8 by 10 of my wedding photos up on my wall, I tried to express my personality through other ways. For example, my love of flowers is represented in some of my wall hangings. Instead of using the harsh overhead lights, I have soft lights from several lamps. And of course, my love of nature is represented by having photos of my favorite places hung on the walls. I have a collage of nature photos which all have special meaning to me. Carrizo mountain is shown twice, in different seasons and time of day. Another photo shows beautiful winter trees in Caumsett State Park on Long Island which holds so many memories for mike and I. Another is a close up photo of hundred of spring crocuses which used to pop up in our backyard at our apartment on Long Island.

flowers!

The people at my job are really great. My coworkers and supervisor were very welcoming and encouraging and I feel pretty comfortable around them already. Most of them have been in the field for longer than I have so I feel like this is going to be a great learning environment. They also have a sense of humor, which I think is a necessity in a profession like social work.

Another great thing about my job? There’s a really cool health foods store right down the street with a deli during lunch hours. Awesome! This is really important since there is a Sonic Drive Thru practically next door to my office. Yes, Sonic is delish, but I am so trying to get back on the healthy track that it’s a temptation I just don’t need. So off I go to the health food store to get salads, organic wraps, veggie sandwiches and the like. And you know what? I feel great. Over the last year or so, I’ve been making the transition to a vegetarian diet and I can say with complete and utter confidence that it’s the way my body wants to be. I still eat meat occasionally (like the sausage on top of the pizza i had last night… yeahhhhh) but it’s typically incorporated into a meal, and not the main event. And of course, I eat meat by itself every now and again (I ate chicken wings on superbowl like it was my job), but for the most part, I’ve gone veg and the andiebody is pretty pleased.

Anyway, I’m happy to be a working lady again, but there is one member of my family who is not pleased by this recent transition. Scouty McPants gives me the “Sarah McLachlan Puppy Eyes” (come on.. I know you’ve seen that commercial… the one where her song “Angel” is play in the background, and all of these sad abused puppies are giving you the “rescue me eyes.” it ruins my whole day after i see it). Yeah, Scout is not too happy that his mama is back to work. I’m not able to take him to the park every day like I used to, but I make sure I spend some quality time with him in the evenings and weekends. While my coffee brews in the morning, I spend a good few minutes belly scratching while he makes his morning noises. I know, I’m pretty obsessed with my dog, it’s probably not normal, but hey, I love him. and even though I’m not there all day every day, he does have his friend, Daisy (Evan’s dog) to keep him company and for some quality dog cuddles.

how cute are these two?

Be happy and enjoy your weekend!

Andie.

political pants.

23 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

Hi friends. Is it really the end of February? Wow, time flies when you FINALLY GET A JOB! Hooray for andiepants! I’m back in the saddle again, readers, and working my tail off as a mental health therapist at a small agency. I love it, however, my endless amounts of free time have been stolen away, so please bear with me while I adjust to an actual schedule again. I promise to blog whenever two requirements are met: 1. when I have the time, which might be more difficult these days and 2. when I feel inspired. Both of these criteria have been met tonight, in a literary perfect storm that has resulted in this post.

Last night, I spent two hours of my precious andielife watching the Republican presidential candidate debate and I have some thoughts I’d like to share with all of you… many…many….many thoughts. I’ll start with my standard disclaimer. Obviously, the thoughts/opinions/ideas expressed herein are solely mine and are not intended to represent anyone else. I apologize in advance if anyone is offended by my words, but I’m expressing my personal opinions… and if you’re reading this blog, you already know I have many… many.. many.. opinions.

Onward!

To start, I’ll clearly, plainly and readily admit that I am not overly knowledgeable or experienced in the political arena. I don’t claim to be a political analyst or pundit who understands the intricacies of our political process. I am, however, an educated and involved woman who thinks it’s important to know who our potential leaders could be, what they stand for, how they differ from each other, and so forth and so on. I guess before I start discussing politics, I should shed some light on my own views. The political views of the Pants, you ask? I am a democrat and a card carrying liberal. Just kidding, I don’t have a card. But come on, people, I’m a social worker. I’m pretty sure all social workers are liberal. It’d be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to be a socially conservative social worker…probably not the right field for someone like Rick Santorum, but more on him later.

I voted for Kerry in 2004, Obama in 2008 and will vote for Obama again this year. However, I’m not some brainless, mindless liberal who follows Obama like a zombie follows brains. I’m not voting for Obama because it’s the cool thing to do, or because I saw some girl dancing on Youtube wearing an Obama t-shirt, or because I like the rap song “My President is Black” (it’s a catchy song… but not the motivator behind my political beliefs), or because I’m some angsty twenty something who thinks that “nobody else understands me.” I don’t think Obama is the best thing to happen to America since sliced bread nor do I think he can single handedly mend our economy and healthcare systems.

Contrary to popular belief, I’m not dogmatically or rigidly liberal. Back in 2008 during the early days of the general election, I was, for brief while, on the fence about who to vote for. John McCain was (and still is) a knowledgeable and experienced politician and I respected his dedication and service with the military (I’m an Air Force sister, it’s in my blood). I agreed with a good many of his policies and ideas, and think he would have made a fine president..until he sunk his own ship with Sarah Palin. I won’t rehash that debacle because that’s four years in the past, but I sincerely think that if he had chosen a different, less polarizing vice president, he may have won. Or even if he hadn’t won, I very much doubt that it would have been the torrential landslide that we saw in 2008.

But I’m digressing… like usual. The point is that in the interest of remaining educated and aware, and rejecting dogmatic and rigid beliefs which only serve to close our minds, hearts and ears, I was ready to take a good look at the Republican field this year and see if any of them could change my mind about Obama. Let’s face it, Obama has done a great job, but times are still tough. The economy is slowly clawing its way back, but is not yet mended and may not be for years to come. Foreign policies with “hostile” nations need to be delicately, yet firmly in place, thousands of people are still out of work, and the state of our healthcare system makes me want to cry… I could go on, but I think you get the point. And while I think that Obama can (and certainly already has) accomplish much and be a positive leader, I also believe it’s prudent to consider all the options in such a delicate time. So yes, I will readily admit that I was ready to take a long hard look at who the republicans have offered up as a possible nominee so that I would be able to make the best choice possible on my 27th birthday… I mean Election Day (having your birthday on election day was never really that cool when I was younger, but now I think it’s pretty neat).

So I looked. I really did. I’ve been watching the debates, and reading the news, and looking into the possible nominees. And I have to tell you, readers, I am horrified. Absolutely horrified. After considering the current state of the GOP potential nominees there is no way I’m voting for anyone other than Obama. None. Nada. Zip. Honestly, considering the current potential republican nominees, I’m not sure I understand how anyone could vote Republican this year unless Ronald Reagan posthumously rises from the dead to complete his 3^rd term in office. Zombie Reagan is the only person (…or zombie) that can take this election away from Obama. Republican Party, I ask you: are you serious? Is this some kind of sick joke? Part of me thinks that the Republicans will, at the 11^th hour, throw process and tradition out the window, and just randomly nominate someone of their choosing who hasn’t campaigned or debated for the last year and a half (zombie Reagan, that’s your cue!). I can see the Republican National Convention now.. “and here we are at the Republican National Convention, where we’d like to announce our nominee for the 2012 general election…. David Hasselhoff!! Hooray!” and the Hoff would come jogging out on stage in his red trunks and carrying the official Baywatch life raft, just in time to save the Republican party.

Friends, I’m not quite sure I understand the motives of the GOP. Do they want Obama to win in another landslide this fall? Are they just throwing in the towel this year and regrouping for 2016? Because, honestly, the choices you have put before me and the rest of the country are so vile, polarizing, dishonest, pandering, flip flopping, extremist, and terrifying that I have no choice but to vote for the President Obama. But wait! What fun would it be to just lump them all under the umbrella of “disastrous” and call it a day? Let us examine these creatures one by one, shall we?

First on the docket- Ron Paul. Let me preface this by saying that it’s a shame Ron Paul has been lumped into the current Republican cesspool with the other three cretins. I do not know much about his past (though I’ve read articles and heard rumors of his supposed racism and bigotry and would obviously condemn it), but have observed him throughout the debates and have agreed heartily with many of his positions. Ironically enough, he is the MOST conservative out of the current republican nominees regarding the economy, yet the one that I agree with the most. And I am on board with some (most) of his foreign policies. Get the hell out of other countries and adopt a somewhat isolationist position? GOOD GOD YES. Our obsession with being the world police has led us down the road we’re in now with a flailing economy and a world who hates us. The rest of the candidates are practically foaming at the mouth with desire to go to war with Iran, and Ron Paul is the only one who seems to take a smarter, less rash approach. He was also the only republican presidential candidate to vote against the Iraq War in 2002, which I find refreshing. I very much enjoyed the way he verbally face-punched Rick Santorum at the debate last night, when he detailed how fake Tricky Ricky is and how he is just putting on a show because it’s election season. Ron and I tend to disagree on a great many policies and ideas, mostly social issues, but I respect his experience and he, out of the current four still in the race, causes me the least amount of psychic pain.

Next up- Mitt Romney. Oh, mittens. I disliked him in 2008, and I continue to do so. He’s a slick, polished, corporate, billionaire who is so out of touch with the real world and how actual Americans live that it’s impossible to even fathom him leading our nation. To be fair, he’s done some positive things while governor of Massachusetts (I’m looking at you, healthcare) but is now apologizing for them because they were (gasp, sputter) “things liberals would approve of.” He’s spending so much time trying to pander to all types of Republicans that no one actually knows who he is or what he stands for. Does anyone actually know what his political positions are? Hey, here’s a funny joke for you, readers. A liberal, a conservative and a moderate all walk into a bar.. the bartender looks up and says “hey mitt, what’ll it be?” Hah! and yes, mittens, you were a fantastic CEO and made an obscene amount of money, but I submit that being a fantastic CEO is NOT a good stepping stone for being our next president. And a lot of people want to say that voters don’t like him just because he’s rich. I submit that that’s not necessarily true. There are a lot of rich people that the American public can’t get enough of. Here’s the difference. My father always taught me that if you work hard and you’re successful and make a lot of money, that’s great. But don’t make it off the backs of other people. Make sure you retain your integrity and are able to look yourself in the mirror each morning. And friends, I’m not sure our pal mittens is able to do that. One last thing- how awesome would it be for Mitt Romney to have a pair of mittens as his “election symbol”? I might just vote for him if I saw a cute, cuddly pair of mittens every time his face or name popped up. No, just kidding, I wouldn’t actually vote for him, but I do like mittens.

We move onward to our third contestant – Newt Gingrich. To this point I can only say… really? No… but really? Newt Gingrich makes me look at the Republican party with the confused puppy look (you know the one.. when you say something absurd to your dog, like “toaster” instead of “sit”, and they just cock their head, furl their cute little eyebrows, raise their ears, and you can actually see them saying ‘what the hell?’). Ok, so let’s break it down. Here is a man who spouts beliefs about traditional marriage but has been married three times….”traditionally”. He’s a man who believes homosexual marriage is disgusting and immoral but committed adultery on his first wife while she was ill with who would later become his second wife and then cheated on his second wife with who would later become his third wife (get all that?). I feel that cheating on two of your wives (especially while one was hospitalized and ill) is disgusting and immoral, but maybe that’s just me… crazy liberal andiepants. That’s just his personal life… maybe his political career will be less horrible. Nope. It appears that eighty four ethics charges were filed against him while he served as Speaker of the House before he finally resigned his position. OK, but that’s in the past. What about current issues? Well, it seems he’d like to establish a colony on the moon.. in his second term. The arrogance of this man! In the words of Jon Stewart, Newt has discovered that the Earth is sick, so he’s leaving it for a younger, healthier planet (yes, I realize the moon is technically not a planet, but it works for the joke… stop judging me). He also doesn’t feel women are able to serve on the front lines because of “physical and emotional issues.” Yes, Newt, thanks for bringing that up. Because really everyone should know that women’s menstruation attracts terrorists…and bears… and terrorist bears. We’re doing a disservice to our country and military by letting these fragile, emotional, tender creatures (I mean women, not bears) attempt to serve. All joking aside, I can’t make a judgment on what it’s like to be a woman serving in the military, let alone in a war zone, because I never have. But I’m sure Newt is able to use his extensive military experience to enlighten us. Wait, what? He’s never served in the military? Nor been a woman? Whoops..

And finally, readers, it appears that Jesus himself has entered the political race. Rick “the savior” Santorum. I admit that I haven’t been around for very many presidential races, however, never before have I been so offended, horrified, and just plain sickened by the possibility of a candidate winning the presidency. I don’t even know where to start with tricky ricky. If I were to sit here and list all of the things that horrify me about this man, I’d be typing till October so I’ve chosen to discuss the top two things that enrage me about Rick Santorum.

1. Women (an issue close to my heart). Rick has all kinds of ridiculous ideas and archaic policies regarding “my kind.” Here are the highlights: Apparently we (women) are supposed to remain barefoot and pregnant with neither career nor ambition. Our place is in the home, cooking dinner and making babies. Oh, and we shouldn’t be allowed contraception because it’s evil and wrong, NOR are we able to access and engage in our right to choose should we want to end an unwanted pregnancy. Guess what, Ricky Bananas… no access to contraception + no access to safe and legal abortion = thousands of unwanted babies born to unprepared mothers who will be placed on the welfare rolls, raise uneducated and ill prepared children, who will then go out into society and become… unprepared mothers who bear unwanted babies. HELLO! am I the only one getting this? In the words of my Aunt Sharon, jeez oh man! And then of course, Santorum talks about “those people” who flood our welfare rolls, and cost “regular hard working taxpayers” millions of dollars each year. Well, Richard, maybe if they had access to affordable contraception, they wouldn’t have to get abortions. And maybe, Richard, if they had access to safe and legal abortions, they wouldn’t have to have unwanted babies who are neglected, abused, and uncared for. And then maybe, Richard, our welfare system wouldn’t look the way it does. Oh, but wait! It gets better. Slicky Ricky reminds us that providing contraception would “give people license to do inappropriate things in the sexual realm.” I’m sorry, what? The sexual realm? Is that a new nightclub in New York City? Cue the scary music. This is a declaration that bears repeating. He stated that contraception would give people license to do inappropriate things in the sexual realm. You mean, like have sex between two consenting adults? Right, because that would be horribly inappropriate and offensive. You know what, Rick? You’re right. Maybe Americans do need you to moderate their behavior in the bedroom. Let’s look to the models and icons of morality and guidance so that we might learn appropriate and prudent behavior in the sexual realm. How about the Catholic Church that you so vehemently and dogmatically subscribe to? I’m sure we can look to that iconic religious institution to for morality and guidance relating to the sexual realm… oh, wait. Never mind.

2. Religion. Long term followers of andiepants might remember that I wrote a post regarding religion several months ago (http://adventuresofandiepants.tumblr.com/post/8055086997/awakenings-of-an-atheist)where I “came out” as an atheist, so it should not come as a surprise to you that Ricky’s view on religion grinds the andiegears something fierce. Let me explain. I feel like I have great tolerance and respect for religion and religious beliefs. I recognize and accept that there are a great many people in this country who are deeply religious. My problem, my issue, my major malfunction, if you will, is when an individual’s religion pushes its way into government, into the laws, and into my personal life. I’m not sure why this is so hard to grasp. I hear all this statement all the time: “Well andie, America is a Christian nation so you should expect that some major tenants of Christianity will be incorporated into the public realm”. First, America is not a christian nation and that’s what makes this country so fantastic. We were founded on freedom of religion, as a way to escape religious tyranny, and as a place for citizens to practice whatever religion they subscribe to, be it Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, etc.  Second, there’s this funny little idea called separation of church and state that I happen to believe in. So no, I don’t accept that argument. But let’s put it in even plainer terms.  To use a salient, and somewhat inflammatory example, lets consider the act of abortion. I realize that abortion is against God’s law in some religions and therefore strongly discouraged. However, since I do not believe in that religion, or in your God,  I shouldn’t have to subscribe to that rule. am i asking too much? and why are certain religions getting preferential treatment in regards to how much they’re represented in policy? The orthodox Jewish faith abhors and disallows the marking of one’s body (tattoos), yet we still see tattoo parlors up and down the streets of America.  Consider this readers: If by some happening, Islam became the religion of the majority in America, and there was a law passed corresponding to Islamic beliefs, the Christian sect would rise up in vehement rebellion and we would not hear the end of it until it was soundly repealed. But I digress… AGAIN. The bottom line is this: Rick Santorum, however resolute in his spiritual and religious beliefs is trying to cram those beliefs down the throat of every American regardless of their religious preference because apparently in Santorum’s eyes, if you’re not Catholic, you’re wrong. I thought the GOP operated on a platform of LESS government involvement, but here Ricky is, involving himself in our sex lives, in our reproductive health, in access to medical care… all of these deeply personal and individual decisions solely based on his opinion of his holy book. If i believed in god, I would offer a million thanks to him/her that there is NO WAY rick santorum will win this election. If it was the year 1612, maybe he’d have a shot, but I believe that his archaic, outdated, racist, sexist, inflammatory, short sighted views won’t fly with the America of 2012.

Let’s hope I’m right.

be happy,

andie.

never trust a man in a red poofy hat…

26 Jan 2012 1 Comment

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

I wrote this in the middle of December and never got around to posting it. Hope you enjoy!

Sorry I have been absent, readers, but I am enthralled with a new gadget and have dedicating all of my time to my little slice of technological heaven. I am the incredibly proud and mildly confused owner of an iPhone 4. Not the 4s, which is the one that speaks to you. I told the salesperson that I already have enough people talking to me, I don’t need my phone talking back as well. Nope, Mrs. Pants has the regular iPhone 4. But I am completely smitten and mystified by its many bells and whistles. It boasts a complete touch screen, 3G connection, email and twitter uploaded instantly and the imessage feature which i LOVE.  but my favorite part of my new phone? Angry Birds, of course. Oh, i love that game. While waiting in the verizon store for my name to be called, I commandeered the display Ipad2 and played Angry Birds for about 30 minutes. I got to level 27 before I noticed an annoyed line of people behind me, wanting to check out the features on the new Ipad. Hey, they could have said something. silly passive aggressive people. staring and clearing your throat will get you no where.

anywho, i acquired my new technological gem whilst in Albuquerque on my way home from the midwest. I had been in St. Lou visiting my sister in law and nephew for just under a week and a had fabulous time! My sweet little tiny baby smush face nephew, Brendan, is totally not a little tiny baby anymore (he still is, however, a sweet smush face). He has morphed into a little boy, a toddler with a personality, a will of his own, a stubborn streak, and a smile that could melt Frosty the Snow Man. He now has 6 teeth, which he brushes all by himself (well, as his mom will tell you, he likes to suck on the toothpaste, but hey, at least she’s getting him into the habit of brushing, right?). He is also a professional at running.. except when something gets in his way. He’s not so good at quickstepping to avoid obstacles and crashes down around things like the Hulk. Brendan Smash! but he quickly jumps back up and toddles to the next thing.

the little dude watching his favorite movie "Toy Story"

He has been learning to clap his hands and while I was there, began to learn how to wave hello and goodbye. Adorable! Unfortuantely, he is entering his barnacle stage, where no one can soothe him but mama. My sister in law warned me that he might be a bit clingy, but nothing prepared me for the first morning we woke up together. HIs mother had gone to work early, and upon hearing his little baby mumbles, I went into his room to get the day started. To be honest, I was a bit nervous. I mean, I had watched him before, when he was about 9 months, but at that point, he was crawling and took several naps a day. now he was a mobile toddler who was awake for the majority of the day, and needed to be played with, stimulated, and watched for fear of hurting himself.

anywho, i marched into his room, armed with a plan. i murmured a gentle “good morning” and prepared to be the best aunt EVER. well. Mr. Brendan took one look at me, ascertained that i was not his mother, and began screaming. ah, crap. i tried to soldier on, insisting that we get out of the crib, get the pj’s off, change the diaper, and such. however, that was as far as we got. he was kicking and screaming so hard that he was shaking, his little tiny fists balled up in fury. i set him down for a minute on the floor and he proceeded to run away from me, screaming. well, this is going well. i chased after him, and decided we both needed to be flexible that morning. i wrapped him up in a soft blankie, clad only in his diaper and rocked him until he calmed down. the rest of the week went MUCH better, but that was my intro to Auntie Duty.

hanging out with his buddy, Buddy.

Brendan, my sister in law and Auntie Pants also went to see Santa. My sister in law and I both had a feeling that it might not go so well. I mean, to be fair, a toddler does not understand why he is being placed on some strange man’s lap who probably smells of old person and has other children’s snot wiped on his suit. Throw into the mix a giant beard, a crazy red suit and a really scary elf and i’d be screaming too. But i’m getting ahead of myself.

We arrived at a local park where Santa-sitting was free, provided one took their own pictures. We waited in line for about 20 minutes on a crisp, but lovely, winter afternoon and observed all the other children waiting to see the man in charge. One little girl, who looked to be about 8, was toting a catalogue, that she proudly brandished to Santa, flipping through the dog eared pages to point out the EXACT ITEMS that she required. now THAT’s preparation. We made conversation with the other parents and finally it was our turn. We entered the little Santa house, and I took my position across from Santa, armed with the camera to capture the magic. Courtney gently set Brendan down on Santa’s lap, and remained right next to him, kneeling next to Santa’s boot, holding her son’s little hand, as he opened his mouth and let out the first terrified scream. He had the quintessential terrified child face on for the entire duration of the Santa visit. Readers, pictures this: Brendan, red faced and screaming on Santa’s lap, Santa looking uncomfortable but tolerating it, and my sister in law and I laughing hysterically, as she knelt next to him and I snapped photos. that will be one for the scrapbooks.

hanging out with mom, waiting to meet this Santa guy.

who is this man!!!

it made me think of the christmas photo featuring Danny, around age 7, and a terrified 2 year old Andiepants, looking suspiciously at this bearded man who was holding me. and the ONLY REASON i wasn’t doing the open mouthed Brendan scream was because Danny was holding my hand, silently communicating to me that I was ok, and that if this Santa guy tried anything fishy, he would take him out.

it was a fantastic trip and i cannot wait to see the little guy again. but now, back to my iphone!

be happy

andie.

snowizozo

03 Dec 2011 3 Comments

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

mornin’, friends! i never thought i would see the day, but we received approximately 8 inches of snow last night in zozo town. amazing! mike and i were relaxing last night when i happened to glance out the window and see a curtain of white descending to the ground. i obviously had to grab my outerwear, and my pup, and go play.

snowy abode.

mike teaching Scout the art of snow ball making

me and my little fur kid.

mike and i had a snowball fight with Scout, which obviously we won. we did enjoy throwing snow at our dog, and he didn’t seem to mind. i awoke this morning half expecting the snow to be gone (hey, this is the desert, crazier things have happened), but it was still very much present.

snowy husband!

Scouty dunking his little dog face into the snow

snowy cacti

i also took a few short videos to capture the moment. hey, readers, i know some of you might think this is overkill, especially if you’re from the east, but think about it. i live 3 hours north of Mexico, the country. I’m surrounded by cacti and rattlesnakes. There is so little precipitation here that we barely have grass and we got this much snow. I’m fairly certain this will be the ONLY time it happens. so YES i took videos. i have a hard time uploading vids on this platform, so check them out on my facebook. i’ll leave you with the cutest dog in the world with snow on his nose. cue “awwww” now.

Snowy Nose McGee.

stay warm, friends

andie.

the Pants at La Brewja.

02 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment

by andiecagg in Uncategorized

hola and happy friday! i’m sure my east coast friends must be sick of my incessant gloating about how gorgeous the weather is here in zozo town. and though i feel for you, i really do, i must continue. it is AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL here right now. It’s about 10:30 am, the sun is shining providing warmth and glow, and there is a gentle breeze picking up gold and bronze colored leaves and making them dance down the street. oh, autumn. i am so in love with you.

i’m writing to you from La Brewja coeffee shop in zozo town. i am so thankful for this place and for the lovely ladies who operate it. it is quite possibly my favorite place in town. we all know how much Mrs. Pants loves COLOR! so i’d like to give a big shout out to whoever decorated La Brewja because it is amazing. The walls are covered in warm, positive colors and bold, colorful artwork hangs on nearly every wall.

for your reading pleasure

love these COLORS

It features pieces of art placed throughout the shop, including painted burros (it’s kind of a thing here in zozo town), maps, globes, etc. even the napkin holders are artful, beautifully shaped molds of hands. La brewja is filled with seating, both inside and out, which quickly gets filled up around lunch time. the shop is filled with period pieces reminiscent of the 50′s and 60′s. there is one table in particular that always makes me smile. it is a bright and festive turquoise color surrounded by comfy little turquoise chairs. it makes me think of a similar table my family has at our cottage in canada.

carrizozo burro

one room of the shop houses a public computer and the entire place is outfitted with Wifi. hooray! it also has a chess set and puzzle, for those who would like to come and play for a bit. and i haven’t even touched on the food! La Brewja offers a full breakfast and lunch menu with delicious selections. If you’re here for breakfast, might i recommend the Bongo Burrito. it is fantastic! a perfectly sized breakfast burrito filled with avocado, eggs, cheese and sweet potatoes. yum. can’t get here in the morning? no worries. my personal favorite at lunch time is the turkey witch (get it? like sandwich? ha). anywho, its turkey, cheese, and avocado pilled high on bread with some lettuce and tomato. and the best part about lunch at La Brewja is not the sandwich itself, but the sides that come with. Sometimes, sliced fruit will accompany your sandwich, snuggled together on the plate like old friends. sometimes, it might be tortilla chips and a few grapes. but what will always be present is little circle of carrot cake, topped with a swirl of cream. Delish! it is such a good idea to put a treat at the end of the meal. it makes me feel like my mom made this lunch for me. that she wanted to brighten up my day after my turkey sandwich and snacks with a little unexpected tasty treat. it reminds me of when my mom used to pack my lunch. i know you remember that, right? you sit down at the table, start pulling out your sandwich… apple slices… juice…. and wait! wait a minute! something else! something unexpected! what is it.. what is it.. ITS PUDDING! YES! TODAY IS AWESOME! thats how i feel about that little piece of cake.

now onto my absolute favorite thing about La Brewja, the coffee, of course. Brewja offers a few different selections of delicious brews, and has a full array of flavors if thats what your palate desires. they also feature a complete line of teas and offer treats such as espresso and lattes. my personal favorite, besides a regular cup of joe, is the hot spiced chai latte. oh the flavors! amazing.

blog within a blog. INCEPTION.

i wish i could just drink coffee all the time without turning into a dehydrated, over caffienated freakazoid. if that could be my sole intake of fluid, i would be so pleased. but alas, i cannot.

have a lovely friday, friends and be happy,

andie.