My new goal: health care reform

My new personal goal is to learn as much about health care reform as possible. I've found a lot of interesting perspectives on NPR. Here is a series from Talk of the Nation and I think that everyone who gets a chance should listen to the podcasts.

Are Health Insurance Companies The Problem?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106853465

Are Patients The Problem?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106550388

Are Doctors The Problem with Health Care?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105481744

Here is a link to many stories that have been on NPR about Health Care Reform:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106180134

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Reform page:
http://www.rwjf.org/healthreform/

Here is something that you should know-insurance companies can cancel your insurance at any time-if you have an individual policy (this doesn't affect people who have insurance through their employer or in group policies). It's called recision. Even though this might not affect you, it could affect someone you care about and it will happen when they need their coverage the most. At least 19,000 people's policies were rescinded between 2005 and 2007. This is not the only reason that I think that private insurance isn't the best system for our country, but it's one of them.

I really encourage everyone to find out more about the situation of health care in our country before making rash judgements based on what you hear on TV news soundbytes. It's everyone's responsibility to weigh in on the debate. It's clear that we need change in our system. If you're unwilling to learn about the current situation and the options for moving forward, you shouldn't complain about the system that gets put in place!

Once you form an opinion, you need to contact your legislators and let them know what you think. Here's a link that will help you find out who your representative is: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
You just need to click on your state to find Reps for your state. Click on their names to go to their websites, then contact them and tell them your opinion. It's a small responsibility people and it's a part of living in a democracy! I also urge you to think compassionately about this issue. Good health and insurance coverage shouldn't be just for the rich and middle class.

I hope that you take my challenge and learn more about health care reform and voice your opinion now while it really matters!

Remember, your health won't last forever. I hope you have insurance or a huge savings account when that happens.

Trying new things

While in Maine, I did something that I haven’t done in a long time, I tried a new food! I ate a lobster roll! My previous experience with lobster has always been limited to a nibble and then the thought of, “Eww, I don’t like it.”

Since I was in Maine, I couldn’t have forgiven myself if I didn’t try lobster. I decided to just go for it,-and I LIKED IT! This was totally life-altering for me, I realized that most of the reason that I didn't like lobster before was that I thought that I didn't like it. I made a resolution to try things that I've previously written off as gross.


In addition, it got me to think about how important trying new foods is in the quest to eat healthy (especially in the vegetable department). There are many foods I hated as a kid that are now some of my favorites. If I wouldn’t have given asparagus or green beans another chance, I would have never discovered how delicious they are! Eating the lobster roll inspired me to try raw kale at the farmer’s market. It’s not something that I would normally have purchased at the grocery store, but I started talking to the farmer and he told me how to prepare it. Then, he asked, “Would you like to try it?” I thought, “Why not?” and took a bite and it wasn’t bad.


Here are a few other foods that I've tried this summer (with more or less taste success). Korean BBQ-see the picture, the bowl on the right was my dish and the meat on the grill was Sean's dish. I wish that I could remember their names.

However, I will share one thing that I learned from our Korean BBQ experiment. It might be a good idea when trying new ethnic foods to google it beforehand or bring along someone who knows about it. If you happen to go to a restaurant that has few pictures and even fewer English descriptions, you're in trouble. This can be even more complicated if your waiter doesn't speak much English and can't explain what's in the dish or how to eat it. Then, if you go home and google your food, you won't feel stupid when you find out that you ate it in the way that everyone makes fun of on the internet.

Frog legs-I've had plenty of opportunities to eat frog legs, but never partook. Here's a picture of my cousin, Eric, eating the frogs that he caught the night before with my brother and my dad.
Not that I condone killing poor little frogs, but it wasn't nearly as disturbing to eat as I'd previously imagined. I mean I guess they were deep-fried, so how bad could they taste, right? But, honestly, I'd steal some meat from Sean the next time my family has them. Maybe, I'll even get my own frog (doubtful, but maybe).

The lesson I've learned is that I really have to give things a chance. I have to make a commitment to trying new foods, the first bite isn't usually spectacular, but it's worth it to take a second and a third. I really want my kids to grow up healthy and strong and being a good example of how and what to eat is a really important piece of that. So, cheers to all the new foods that I'm going to try!

More Travels with Angie

I recently went to Portland, ME (by recently, I mean about a month ago, but that's all relative, right?). Unfortunately, it was rainy and chilly when I got to Portland, so I didn’t explore the Old Port area as much as I would have liked! But, I did get the to see the a beautiful light house, th Portland Head Lamp. I was told it is one of the most photographed light houses in the United States. I had never been to Maine before and it was a much different coastline than the beaches that I am used to visiting. It was really quite beautiful. It's too bad that it was so foggy, because on the shoreline in the background of this picture were houses that backed up to the ocean. Wouldn't it be amazing if that were the view from your back porch! Wow! You couldn't help but recognize the wonder and beauty of the world every single day. In the Kansas City suburbs, it's easy for me to forget how amazing our planet is and that I need to do more to protect it.

I really like to travel and see new things. I am totally the type of person who bought 1000 Things to See Before You Die and looks up what things I can see out of the book before I go somewhere. Considering the book covers the entire world, I know for certain that I won't hit them all, but I like trying. Unfortunately, I have not travelled internationally very often, so I have about 995 things more to see. I should have gotten 1000 Things to See in the U.S., oh well, at least now I have a better shot of crossing the U.S. sites off my list.

I'm also the type of person who bought a map of the U.S. about 7 years ago just so that I could mark where I had been. I still have a significant number of states to visit, so I really need to get cracking. I think that a good road trip would help out here, but not right now, it would entail too many bathroom breaks:)

Road trips probably aren't as glamourous as they are in my mind, but I think that travelling across the country would be one amazing experience. I really wish I would have done it when I had no responsibilities. In high school, I read a book called, The Majic Bus, about a college course that took a 6 week bus trip across the U.S. and became enamored with the idea. I've been seriously thinking about taking the baby (once she's older) on an educational road trip and stopping at important sites across the country, just like in the book, but I haven't talked to Sean about this yet. I figure I have about 10 years to get him to say yes. In the meantime, I should start doing my research about what places my kids NEED to see. I'll probably start with the ones I need to see before I die.

Gosh, I'm tired

Hello again blog and faithful readers,
It's been almost a month since I posted anything and I am going to blame my classes again! I'm halfway done with this session, so I only have 3 more weeks to go! Thank goodness. Cramming a semester's worth of work into 6 weeks is pretty daunting. It's hard to keep up, but I try my best to keep my eye on the prize!

Needless to say, I am pretty exhausted. I fell asleep on the couch today and missed my first evening water aerobics class. I was pretty disappointed but I guess I needed the sleep. As soon as I have a little more time, I have an excellent blog topic to discuss! It's been brewing in my brain for a couple weeks. Stay tuned...I'm off to bed.