Learning from our European/Mediterranian friends

Sometimes I get frustrated with the way we do things in America.

I went to go see Alice Waters speak the other day...She was great.She talked about how folks in Europe make eating a very pleasant event.Much of the food comes from farmers markets...the making of the meal can be a great family gathering time.Most of the food does not travel more than 100 miles from farm to table.It would be so great to live this way more.But in America,we are so darned busy that it becomes hard to spend the time needed to prepare the meal or go to the farmers market.Instead it is take out and grocery stores with food traveling half the globe to get to my table.

Don't get me wrong....I like take out and Harris Teeter makes my life much easier....but I would love to slow down and actually read a recipe.This is something done in America but most likely with some effort.But in Italy it's a way of life.The trick will be how to make it happen here,in my life...in my kitchen....a desire and a challenge.

Before I went to see Waters,I stopped at Black Sheep Bikes to buy a new seat for my bike.We love that store!!As I was talking to the technician who worked on the bikes that day,he told me about how he use to build websites for a living.Working on bikes was how he got through school.Now he works on bikes again.He loves the problem solving and the process.He said if he lived in Europe he would be making the bucks as a bicycle technician.Over there they actually have a guild for people who work on bikes.Building bikes is quite the art form.Of course over there alot more people ride bikes...once again,don't get me wrong....I am as lazy as the next person and growing up in suburbia never offered the opportunity to ride my bike for transportation except when in college and I could not park my car on campus.We have recently gotten into riding bikes at my house.It must be kind of funny to watch 2 women pushing 50 huffing and puffing through the neighborhood.We rode to the nearby cemetery where my parents are buried to say hi....I thought I was going to bust a gusset trying to go back up the hill to my neighborhood.Yesterday I did not ride and missed it.Today I am meeting a co-worker at Belmont Abbey for coffee and I am trying to plan on when I can ride.I have to admit,it does make me feel better.I hope this enthusiasm stays even when it gets cold(if it ever gets cold).I must admit that my doctor mentioned the fact that for my health it would be good to lose 35 pounds.Also as someone who suffers with arthritis in both knees,she mentioned that I would need to be active for the rest of my life.OK I can take a hint.