Gag me with a pitchfork!

Have you ever seen Food, Inc.? I watched it for the first time a few weeks ago and was thoroughly horrified at the conditions of the animals that we rely on for food. This documentary is shocking and motivating to find out where our food comes from, how the animals are treated and to take an active part in voting with our dollars about what changes we want to occur in the food industry. You will feel both disgusted and smarter after you watch. And we'll have something more to talk about!

Click here to watch the film. Part 2 and subsequent parts should auto pop up after you finish the first segment.

"You can solve all the world's problems in a garden." Geoff Lawton

Do you remember my 'Obsessions-I Have Many' post from a while back? Well, I have a new obsession. As of the last six months or so, I am obsessed with learning about how to become more self reliant-It really started when I was little-maybe seven- and tried to grow my own garden in the 'river system' (for those not original members of the Michaelson clan-this was a dirt patch at the Reno house that got the name river system because we created little rivers and ponds using our hose and played with our GI Joes all the day long there). Anyway, I would regularly save up my quarters and dimes and trade them in for seeds at the store. I talked many times with my Uncle Jim who had a beautiful thriving vegetable garden in Alpine about how to grow things. I would plant the seeds in egg cartons and watch the little seedlings shoot up. Once they were big enough, I would transplant these seeds to the river system. I remember feeling such satisfaction at watching something grow from such a tiny seed. And although my garden never amounted to much, it taught me a few things:

1. Gardening gives me peace

2. It IS possible to grow vegetables in Vegas

3. Anything worth while takes time and needs to be nourished in order to grow-and many other things.

This remembrance and my new obsession with being self reliant has galvanized me into creating another garden here in dry, hot Las Vegas. Morgan found a little vacant patch of ground, about 450 square feet that he received permission from the owner to use for a garden. And so the process of staring seeds indoors in small containers has started all over again. I anticipate with my previous resume of gardening experience, his fourth generation farming genes and a little book learnin' that we've been doing, that we will be able to eat vegetables from our garden in the next three months. Stay tuned for updates on our gorilla gardening effort.

What new obsessions do you have?

Shameless Promotion For M&A

Hey all you blog readers! I've been on blog-sabbatical for the last year. But I think I am ready to join the blogging world again. (I'm sure you've missed my witty anecdotes) I have some great things that I have been doing and studying, and been inspired by that I want to share with anyone who cares to read my blog. So get ready for some cool posts.

First thing that I want to talk about is work. Did you know I was recently promoted? I am now Michaelson & Associates' Development Coordinator. This basically means that I am focusing less

on office management/administrative issues and more on development and marketing for our firm. One of the first things I have done as our DC is to

create a blog for our firm. The purpose of the blog is to promote M&A to prospective clients, active clients and referral sources by providing useful legal tid-bits, anno

uncements about workshops and services, spotlighting some of our best resources and whatever other fun and useful things I can throw on there! I hope you will stop by our blog frequently to see what we're up to at M&A and maybe consider being a "follower" as I understand that helps to establish your "presence on the web". The address for those of you who didn't click on the link above is legalcentsandsensibility.blogspot.com Thank you for allowing me some shameless promotion for M&A! Keep checking here-I'm going to blow your minds with cool stuff.

Reading is Fun

I would not typically classify myself as a great reader like many of my friends/family who commonly ready 3-4 books a month. I've always known that I like to read, but I'm not passionate about it. I'm passionate about Movies. Painting. Eating. Horseback riding. TV Shows. Hiking. I would start a movie club LONG before I would start a book club. Anyway, I'm starting a metamorphasis to becoming a great reader-or at least a reader. I have read, count them nearly 5 books in the last month! Well, I haven't finished five. I've finished three and am in the middle of two. But, wow, I think that's a record for me. Here are the books I have read/am reading and LOVING. I would love to discuss any of these at any time with you.

The Hunger Games Trilogy-FANTASTIC. Thrilling. Well written. Unique, thought provoking political/social themes that are applicable to world today. Romantic. I heart Peeta Mellark. I know, it's a horrible name.

Jane Eyre-SLOW MOVING. Although I think she is a brilliant writer, she is a bit like James Fenimore Cooper, who wrote Last of the Mohicans. It is VERY slow. Very detail oriented. So much so that it's often cumbersome to read. After 1.5 years of bathtime reading, I am finally getting to the part where she goes to work as a governess. I'm hoping it will speed up now.

Eragon-EXCITING. Author really knows how to transport you into another world. I love the connection between Eragon and Saphira his dragon. I love seeing the progression of Eragon from boy to warrior. You really want him to succeed and are all the way on his side. Can't wait to finish and keep reading the series.

Imagine Dragons

I am going to introduce you to a new band that I am in love with. It's been in my cd player non-stop for about three weeks. About a month and a half ago, my friend Dianna told me about a show at the Hard Rock Cafe. There were about four bands there and ID was not the headlining band. However, I thought they were the best performers and had amazing songs. They are catchy enough to be mainstream, but have lots of funky keyboards and synthesizers that make them unique. Their sound is the Killers meets Coldplay, meets...can't think of someone w/ keyboards like them. Help me out...Anyway, they are a local band and some of the members, including lead singer are in Dianna's ward. Love to see lds people succeed in our community.

http://www.myspace.com/imaginedragons

GO TO THEIR MYSPACE TO HEAR SOME OF THEIR SONGS

**I recommend watching the America music video. Thought it was really cool.

No Time

Sorry, haven't made time to do a proper post, but I wanted to put up some recent pics from my life and especially say thank you to the Dryden clan for making my stay utterly delightful! (remember these are very random, and in random order)

Twist, my horse, not a great pic of him, he is actually quite muscular and gorgeous

Lucky, their calf w/ a broken leg, so cute!

Ok, here are the pics from Phili-I LOVED all of the old doors there-yes I am wearing stretchy pants too. Laura told me it was ok to show off my assets, b/c "you're not in the land of skinny any more"

Valley Forge, This (and the Drydens) is what made me want to immediately pack my bags and move to Phili

So peaceful

Fashion Show, courtesy of the younger Drydens, check out the book title and lip ring :)

Thomas ?? (thought he looked like a Taliban hostage)

The girls recital

Just about the cutest thing I've ever seen

Accidentally took the bridge to Jersey-we came back w/ Jersey accents

Me and Faith in front of Christ's Church

Scarlett Alley-so fitting for our Ms. Scarlett

AND, Sassafrass Market, we had to stop for a photo opp

Got a cheesesteak from the cheesesteak Nazi-I hesitated when I had to pay and I swear he almost sent me to the back of the line

Thomas' baseball game

Buggy ride in Amish country

Beautiful Laura

Took a tour of a historic mansion and their English gardens

Ok, back to random-I helped Gracie get ready for her first formal dance-doesn't she look beautiful?!

Anyway, thanks for looking. I'll post somethin good soon!

Look What I Have

I finally got one! After months and months of plotting and planning and finally just deciding that didn't have the man power and couldn't afford the materials, my friends and I decided to use the extra pavers on my retaining wall to make one. And so a fire pit was built in about five minutes. I have had two successful bon-fires in it since then. Yay!