March 2009

There were 3 posts published in March 2009 (this is page 1 of 1).

Salt of the Earth

“Why did you buy a bag of potato chips?” Kris asked me the other day. “You shouldn’t be eating those.”

“I know,” I said, “but I was craving salt.” It’s true. I was craving salt — although “craving” puts it mildly. I was driving home from running errands when I felt an urge to eat raw salt in large quantities. I stopped for a bag of the best chips on earth: Kettle-brand salt & fresh ground pepper potato chips. These things are salt bombs.

My love for salt is nothing new. Many of you have sat with me in restaurants or at fancy dinner parties and marveled as I ate raw salt. I do it even more when you’re not looking. One reason I have a variety of salts in the cupboard (seasoned salt, garlic salt, herb salt, sea salt, bacon salt) is that I eat a lot of it and therefor want a variety on hand.

Why is this? Why do I love salt so much? Why do I need it? I’m not sure. But I’m very glad that, so far, I am not salt-sensitive. I would hate to have to reduce my sodium intake.

This morning I had a grapefruit for breakfast. But that wasn’t enough. When I’d finished both halves, I felt my longing for salt coming on strong. I spied the bag of potato chips on the counter. I poured myself an ounce of them, and then threw in an ounce of smokehouse almonds for good measure.

Ah, salt, how I love you.

Apology

Hello, my friends. How are you? I know that it’s been a while since I’ve been here for you. I know that you’ve probably given up on me, and I don’t blame you. Deep in my heart, I have not abandoned foldedspace; I’m only on hiatus. Again.

Still, I can foresee a time when I return. A time Real Soon.

If it’s any consolation, my entire life has been on hold for six weeks. I’m not joking, either. My entire life has been Get Rich Slowly. This may seem absurd, but I do think that ultimately the sacrifice will have been worth it.

In any event, I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately.

Just today, for example, I was reading the Countryside magazine. My first issue arrived in the mailbox today, and I spent two hours soaking in the tub, devouring the reader-submitted stories of modern homesteading. I read about people raising rabbits and chickens and goats. I read about people growing carrots and pears and zucchini. I read about people with no electricity, no plumbing, no cars. I read stories from radical Republicans and from die-hard Democrats. I loved every minute of it. And every minute of it reminded me of you.

You amy not know it, but I talk about you all of the time. I realize that only a few of you read Get Rich Slowly, but rest assured that your stories color the site and inform every article. More than that, when I speak with reporters, I often cite your actions as examples:

  • “Well, my friends Craig and Lisa have an enormous food-producing garden on a standard city lot. They even grow hops!”
  • “My friends Ron and Steve have goats. They love their goats.”
  • “Believe it or not, many of my friends have chickens. Mary and Steve, Mac and Pam, Jeremy and Jennifer.” [Note: I know the latter have “volunteer” chickens, but whatever.]
  • “My friends Rhonda and Mike tore out their front lawn and put in a vegetable garden.”
  • “Kristin and Roger have tons of grapes! Paul and Amy Jo just planted eight apple trees.” [Or was it six?]
  • “My sister-in-law prides herself in frugal fashion. She dresses well, but buys her clothes at thrift stores.”

Countryside magazine makes me long to live, well, in the country. The first page contains real estate ads. “20+ acres in West Virginia, 3BR 2BA. $50,000.” $50,000? Sign me up! (“But then you’d have to live in West Virginia,” says Kris.)

Anyhow — my life for the past three years has been like a runaway train. It picked up speed gradually at first, but before I realized it, it was careening out of control. Now, however, I’ve put the brakes on, and things seem to be slowing. Hell, I even got to go see a movie with Andrew and Dave recently. Can you believe it? Neither can I.

So, I’ve missed you, dear friends. But I look forward to making your acquaintance once again…

10 Top Motivational Ads from Nike

I don’t like advertising. Marketing is more powerful than the average person suspects. Marketers are armed with million-dollar budgets and decades of research. We defend ourselves only with our experience. It’s not a fair fight. I wince every time I hear somebody brag that ads don’t affect them; it’s my guess that ads affect these people most of all.

Still, I can’t help but love certain ads. For example, there’s an entire series of Nike commercials that make me want to get off my ass and do something. In a lot of ways, I don’t care if these make me buy more Nike products. They make me motivated to improve myself. In fact, I have an entire playlist at YouTube composed entirely of Nike commercials. When I’m feeling sorry for myself, when I’m feeling lazy, when I’m feeling uninspired, I watch these. When I’m done, I’m ready to go do stuff.

Here are my ten favorite motivational Nike commercials. I suspect that if you watch even a few of them, you’ll have a more productive day.


Awake (how to start your day)


Move (one of my faves)


Training (motivation to keep going)


Courage (dare to pursue your dreams)


No excuses (there’s no reason not to try)


Leave nothing (good if you like American football)


Take it to the next level (good if you like real football)


Failure (Michael Jordan explains success)


A little less hurt (wow — just wow)

After watching these commercials, I’m ready to take on the world. (And the funny thing is: I don’t own a pair of Nike shoes. I have a couple of Nike shirts for running, but that’s about it!)