The History of Coconut Monkeys

Do you ever have those moments in life where nothing is going your way? Or when society does something really stupid and you want to disassociate yourself from mankind? These are the moments when you just want to crawl out of your life and into a new one that seems blissfully ignorant.

During these moments of frustration is when I often think about abandoning this life and heading toward a beautiful tropical island where my only concern is to make coconut monkeys for the occasional passer-by, and live a tanned bliss life. I don't have to worry about a corrupt society or life weighing me down. It's just a simple and blissful life filled with coconut monkeys in paradise. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

This past week I yearned for coconut monkeys when I read an article about Sarah Palin's appearance on the Dr. Laura show (I know, I also threw up a little in my mouth too). Palin's latest reckless comment was aimed towards the First Lady's 'Let's Move' campaign which promotes healthy eating and exercise habits for kids to help fight against childhood obesity. Palin's convinced the government is trying to tell parents how to raise their kids by 'dictating' what they should eat. According to her, the program (and insinuates it's a 'fad') is relaying the message to parents they are doing a 'bad job' and don't know how to feed and raise their own children. WTF? How do you even come up with that kind of conclusion? It's not about the government dictating to people how they should be better parents. It's about addressing a serious issue with the health of kids in today's society. Does she not know what's going on in the world? Does she not know who Jamie Oliver is and his Food Revolution? In today's society, it is not uncommon for a child to think peaches come from a 'snack-pack' and not a tree. We have become a society that is always striving to be cheaper, faster, better and have moved away from where things originate from in their organic state. This program is a tool to help society, not hurt society.

So when I hear about things like this, it just makes me want to shake my head in shame and be whisked away to my beautiful island where my coconut monkeys await.

Happy Birthday Memom

My grandmother, who all her grandkids called "Memom", recently passed away a few months ago and yesterday was her birthday. In honor of that (even though a day late) I thought I would share one of my favorite stories I have of her.

When I was about 5 years old, my mom threw out her back and became bed-ridden. My dad traveled for work at the time so Memom came to California to help out. Well, Memom couldn't do anything right as far as I was concerned. She didn't make my oatmeal right, I didn't like what she made me wear, etc. She wasn't doing things 'the way my mom did them.' Needless to say Memom was at her wits end with me, especially after one morning I put up such a fuss all the way to school. When she came to pick me up that day, I got into the car and had a very serious look on my face when I turned to her and said, "Memom, you know you're not God." And without missing a beat in her southern Texas twang she said "No I'm not but I'm next in line and you better do as I says." I sat there with a defeated and disgruntled look on my face and for the rest of Memom's visit 'I did as she says.'

Memom always got a kick out of telling this story and so I do.
Happy Birthday Memom