Observations From Recycling Day

The first Friday of every month is recycling pick-up day in my part of town. Newspapers are tied up in neat bundles and a month's worth of glass and plastics are piled high in extra trash cans or similar receptacles. Many of these bins are placed on the curb without covers so it's easy to peek in if you're out walking the dog, heading work, or like me, out on a run. Let's just say you can learn a lot about the people around you by peeking into their recycling bins. Here is what I learned:

• The wine drinkers: I was amazed how many bins were filled just with wine bottles. I know red wine has it's health benefits but people are knocking off  1 - 2 bottles per day.
• The aluminum can beer drinkers: REALLY? I had no idea folks in my 'hood drank Keystone Light.
• The soda and juice drinkers: maybe it's me, but I find soda disgusting. Even when I was younger, I was never much of a soda drinker. I just never liked the taste. I see so many bins filled with empty soda (not all diet) bottles. Then there are the bins that are filled with huge jugs of juice drinks. I enjoy a glass of 100% pure orange juice with my breakfast but that is not what I'm seeing the bins. I'm seeing drinks such as Tropicana Twister. According to Men's Health, one 20oz. bottle has 340 calories and 60g of sugars. I'm not a fan of drinking your calories and the sugar content is just nauseating. .

As for what's in my recycling bin, there's the occasional bottle of wine and scotch but for the most part, mine is filled with water bottles, Gatorade (used only by me for running related activities), canned vegetables (beans, mushrooms, etc..), and tomato sauce jars.

Observations From the Movie Theater

 I just came back from seeing "Toy Story 3" with Lil Ansky and a friend. The purpose of this post is not to review the movie (we all enjoyed it), rather I wanted to share a few observations with regards to movie theater food.

• When I bought the tickets, I was told that I had accumulated enough rewards points for a medium drink. I handed the coupon to the cashier and she started to fill what looked like a pretty big cup. I asked "that's a medium?" She replied with "yes." I then saw an even larger cup next to it, which must have been the large. Thankfully, without any arm twisting from me, Lil Ansky and her friend agreed on the iced tea. I still felt it was a lot for them drink between the 2 of them so I took a 3rd straw and they let me share.
• We usually share a small popcorn as a special treat when we go to the movies. Today, her friend did not want  popcorn so she decided on candy as well. Lil Ansky currently has a palatal expander in her mouth so sticky candies such as Twizzlers are off limits. As my luck would have it she chose one of the better candies, a Kit Kat Bar.
• I saw plenty of children walking in with a large bucket of movie theater popcorn. I can't believe parents get that for their children. A large buttered popcorn has approximately 1,200 - 1,600 calories. Even if they share it with a sibling, that's still 600 - 800 calories per child.

Even the healthiest of eaters have their indulgences. Mine are ice cream and baked goods. Personally, movie theater concessions are not something I like to indulge in. Every time eat movie theater popcorn, I leave the theater feeling sick to my stomach.




What are your indulgences?