Monday, December 1, 2008

Valued...and not so valued.

Linda asked me to list six things that I value and six things that I don't support, and because I love reading Linda’s blog, Remote Treechanger (in Australia!) I thought I'd oblige. She posts about her plans for her meals and her garden, her 5 kids and what she’s reading and throws in lots of nice photos and videos, too. I think she had something deeper than this in mind, but here goes…

Six things I value…

1) The Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sponge – let’s just say that a box of these is cheaper than a paint job and almost as effective.

2) Aunt Jemima Complete Pancake mix and my Chantal mixing/pouring bowl. With enough coffee, pancakes on a weekday just might be possible! But don't ask for bacon.

3) My scotch tape dispenser – mostly because it is missing….again…. But it looks like this one. Have ya seen it?

4) My handwritten, non-virtual monthly event planning calendar, which is, for once, not missing (thank god!)

5) Stories Children Need – this is a book that my grandmother used to teach from in a one-room schoolhouse in the 1930s.
6) Reading aloud together. My kids are 8 and 10 and able to read on their own, but I love the fact that they still like to do this, even though they probably aren't curling up together this cozily anymore and might end up bickering after 10 minutes or so..




Six things I don’t support….

1) Detergent that claims to wash more loads than it really does. Purex claims 32. I counted 14. Purex, I will no longer support you!

2) Walmart -watch the documentary "The High Cost of Low Prices" and you'll know why.


3) Proposition 8- or any other legislation limiting any couples' right to marry.

4) “Eco-friendly” plastic bottles that actually make the product more frail and harder to re-use. (Why re-use, when they're so fun to crush and stick in the recycling?)

5) Any product which advertises itself as being “lower in sugar,” but is actually replacing the sugar with Splenda! Get a clue people. This is not the way to wean our kids off sugar. The only way to do it is to stop giving our kids super-sweet tasting things all the time. Please, please just concentrate on making a product with less sugar that still tastes good.

6) School “Holiday Gift Boutiques” for students. I know that it’s a nice way for kids to do their holiday shopping for their family members. But what about kids who aren’t celebrating Christmas (this is a rather diverse public school, folks)? What about kids who don’t get $20 bills as a matter of course from their parents because it’s their grocery money, and feel left out as a result? What about the kids whose parents are trying to create alternative holiday traditions where the giving of stuff (especially plastic junk made in China) is less emphasized?

Well, I just got rantier and rantier, didn't I? This is the part where I’m supposed to tag 6 people - but since I would consider myself lucky if 6 people read my blog today, I’ll just say that I would love to hear about what you value, and what you don’t, in the comment section, on your blog, or whenever we next run into each other!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Loved this post! I agree pretty much 100%, except I use foofy health food store pancake mix and a metal bowl. :) Is that a Roly Poly Ollie board book they are not fighting over? My daughter doesn't read yet and although I am excited for her to discover this new world, if it means less time spent reading together it will be sad for her parents. Great to hear yours still like to do it.

Anonymous said...

You are so well spoken and I enjoy reading your post too. I respect you a great deal and sometimes I even get a bit educated as I stroll through your blog. I like the erasers as they are great for rubs from black heel marks.

Joanne said...

It seems like since the detergents went to 2X, no way are there as many loads in a bottle, even using the smaller, concentrated amounts. And as for Splenda, if I see it anywhere on the package, I don't buy it. I'm so with you on those! Things I value? Okay, the computer has to be there. It's amazing the tool it has become. Books, of course. All kinds. And let's throw a few coffee mugs in there for good cheer!

tina said...

Your children are so cute! And reading too, even better.

tut-tut said...

Great lists! I concur on all, except mixes . . . I make my own bisquickish thing.

Squirrel said...

but it was a nice elegant rant.

I have to try those erasers.

Diverse is right, according to one blog I read this morning, only Christians deserve to be in America-- now THAT was a sickening rant I read this morning. Won't be going back to that blog.

screw purex!

Mayberry said...

I very much enjoyed the rantiness, actually!

Today I value caramel spice cider. And I don't value canned fruit packed in syrup. Why is it impossible to find it packed in water anymore??

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the pancake mix tip, I'll have to try this brand. I always use the Bisquick brand.

JGH said...

Karen, I'd be open to foofier (healthier?) health food store brand mix - which one do you use?
You'll have lots of great times reading with your daughter soon, I'm sure.

Anna, thanks for the compliments! And thanks for educating me about the black heel marks!

Joanne, the favorite coffee mug topic would be great for your blog.

Aw, Tina- thanks. This photo was taken some years ago. But they're still cute ;-)

Tut- I also aspire to make my own mix someday. I'm sure it would be much cheaper.

Squirrel, sounds like a blog I DON'T want to see. People like that must be really unhappy in today's diverse world.

Mayberry - I know what you mean about the canned fruit. Having any strange cravings?

Nice to see you Louise! I find the bisquick makes fatter pancakes. These tend to be a little thinner. I sometimes switch back and forth.

Anonymous said...

Hi again - OK, I just went and looked in my cabinet, and the pancake mix we like is made by Arrowhead Mills and is called Organic Buckwheat Pancake & Waffle mix. I started buying another mix when my daughter had to be on a gluten-free diet, and was grateful for their palatability so stuck with the brand. There are probably better ones out there, or, as someone else mentioned, make your own is good too if you have the time! I just like that this one has only 5 ingredients, and I'm lazy. :)

Garden State Kate said...

I somehow.."lost" you temporarily,
but I am happy I "found" you again.
I make my own mix, and laundry detergent...Purex ticks me off too.
I'm still chuckling, cause my dh says I am the only crazy person who puts tick marks on the containers to see how many loads I get out of it.

JGH said...

Hi Kate - great to "see" you again. I never thought about counting loads until recently when I began to suspect that I wasn't getting my money's worth. I'm trying Arm & Hammer this week.