Finding Your Eat, Pray and Love

I recently rewatched the charming Julia Roberts movie, Eat Pray Love based on the best selling novel Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert. When the movie came out in 2010 I was in the midst of a divorce and I deeply related to the story of a woman who leaves an unhappy marriage and travels for a year to find her passion and purpose. The book and movie were widely popular, both for the women who wish they could do what the author had done and by those who related to her wanderlust.

In the past 3 years I have experienced unforgettable travel experiences (France, Spain, NOLA) and met people who changed my life but as I rewatched the movie I realized my connection to the story has changed. I found my Eat (travel and indulge in the culture you are in) and my Love (my true love) but I haven't experienced nor am I looking for my Pray. Instead I am looking for my balance. Where Gilbert (and in the movie Roberts) went to India and found balance through prayer and meditation, I'm trying something else.

Due to repetitive movement (work, painting my house) and other factors I have cervical and lumbar sprains in my back and neck. I am receiving physical therapy twice a week and as part of the treatment I am doing yoga. Besides relieving the pain I'm finding it incredibly soothing to do directly after work to release the tension in my shoulders and increase my mood. When I leave for California in a week, I am hoping to find a place to do yoga each day, my version of finding a church to pray in.

Home Sick in Narnia

Chicago is Narnia, thanks to the White Witch weather effect the City is a land of ice and snow. Figures in the midst of all the winter misery I am fighting a cold. Honestly I would welcome some rain, anything but more snow.

So on my 3rd day hopping from my bed to the sofa and back again I thought I would venture back on the web to reconnect with the world. Apparently I am not the only one fighting illness right now according to the status updates by dozens of my friends on Facebook. So readers when you are sick do you hunker down at home and hibernate or do you push through and get on with the daily grind?

I'm a hibernator and here are my creature comforts:

• Chamomile tea or Earl Grey tea with soy milk (so soothing and mild)
• My Nook Color (I LOVE this e-reader/tablet. I have over 630 books on mine and when I'm not reading in bed I'm browsing my favorite websites or reading magazines on the fantastic color screen)
• Indian food (I don't have much of an appetite, 1 meal a day is about all I could do until today but my go-to food when I have a cold is spicy Indian food. Hot, delicious and perfect food for a cold night)
• Gatorade (Red-fruit punch Gatorade is my fav drink when I am tired, sick or dehydrated. I enjoy it so much that when I was in labor with my son 18 years ago a bottle of Gatorade was my focal point during contractions since all I could have was ice chips)
• My new iPhone from Verizon. (Yes I was one of the crazy people who pre-ordered the phone in the middle of the night last week, mine arrived on Monday. I have given up my beloved Blackberry for the iPhone and the last 2 days in bed have been the perfect time to play with this amazing little phone)
• Budget Travel Magazine (Great destinations and travel tips, I've booked more than 1 vacation after falling in love with a locale featured in this magazine)
• HGTV and the Travel Channel (love me some House Hunters International, Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and The Antonio Project. That is pretty much all I ever watch on TV except late night reruns of South Park or Sex and the City, I don't watch any sitcoms or reality TV)
• The Daily Mail (not much is better for a mindless read than London news and gossip)
• Realtor.com (I'm looking for my next nest and this site is addictive)
  
• My beagle (She is the perfect companion and keeps my feet warm in bed)
• My Kid (He knows just how I like my cup of tea)
• Vitamin C, Echinacea, Ibuprofen. (I hate taking medicine)

Stay healthy readers!

Must See Movie: Farmageddon

What are your rights as a consumer when choosing where your food comes from? What is happening to the rights of the farmer? If you are interested in sustainable, organic framing, your health and the rights of consumers and producers, check this out. Add this documentary to your Library's collection.
For more information, visit the Facebook and Twitter pages.


Farmageddon Trailer from Kristin Canty on Vimeo.

Learning to Cook By Book and Blog

Regular readers of this blog know that I have a wee addiction to cook books. Yes it's true...I read them like fiction. So a couple of years ago one of my New Years Resolutions was to FINALLY learn how to cook. Well it's probably one of the only NYR I have ever kept, not only am I still learning but I'm enjoying the process!

You might be wondering how I've managed to raise a 17 year old, 6'5, 170 pound son without learning to cook until recently. Early on I mastered simple meals such as sandwiches, tacos, salads, homemade mac and cheese, omelets, rice dishes, pasta and soup. Plus as a vegetarian I've always prepared a lot of fresh fruit and veggies. In fact I made my own baby food for my son when he was small! I've very proud to say he never ate anything Gerber, EVER. Now that my son is older and usually grabbing a bite with his friends, I'm entertaining more than ever. For my family, myself and my guests I really wanted to learn how to cook healthy, delicious, sustainable, locally grown meals without using processed foods that included microwave instructions. (In our house we've been happily microwave free for almost 4 years).

Thanks to my cook book obsession I've cultivated a few recipes, tweaked a couple to make them my own and regularly experiment with fresh local ingredients. I also follow a few excellent cooking blogs including:

Dragon's Kitchen
Elle's New England Kitchen
Great Depression Cooking With Clara
He Cooks, She Cooks (by one of my bestest friends Heather!)
The Left Over Queen
Pioneer Woman
Poor Girl Eats Well
Recipe Girl
Tamra Davis Cooking Show

A few months ago I took an Italian cooking class and while we were sampling what we made, I was more interested in the chef's cooking tips. My favorites:

1. Buy fresh Italian parsley in bulk, wash it, chop it and store it in a canning jar in the fridge with a bit of oil to keep it moist. I have it on hand to toss in homemade tomato sauce, eggs etc...

2. Ditto with fresh onion and garlic. I find throwing together a quick pico de gallo, omelet, couscous, etc is so much easier now that I have fresh chopped ingredients ready to go.

3. Keep stocked with pantry staples like olive oil, cans of diced tomatoes, jar of chipotle peppers, chickpeas, whole wheat pasta, canned pineapple, dried or canned beans, tuna, brown rice, etc...

Last night I made a quick meal for my son and I. Here is the recipe:

Shannon's Miso Tilapia with Couscous and Lemon Parmesan Asparagus

Fish:

2 pieces fresh or thawed tilapia or other mild white fish

1/4 cup mirin sauce

1/2 cup mild yellow miso paste

Couscous

I use whole wheat couscous from Trader Joe's.

I added some fresh pico de gallo I had in the fridge to the cooked couscous.

Fresh Asparagus (a large bundle, approximately 20 stalks)

1 large lemon
3-4 tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese (grate your own, don't waste your time with the junk that is made by Kraft)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Whisk the mirin and the miso paste together. Wash and pat dry the fish fillets. Spray a small glass baking dish with non stick cooking spray. Coat the fish with a thin layer of the mirin/miso mixture. I brush it on both sides. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. The sauce will slightly caramelize on the fish.

While the fish is cooking prepare your couscous. (The Trader Joe's whole wheat couscous takes about 5 minutes once the water has boiled) While couscous is cooking, wash and pat dry your asparagus. In a large skillet add a few tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over medium heat (I drizzle 3 times around to coat the bottom). Add the asparagus and toss to combine in the olive oil. Cover and let simmer until the asparagus starts to soften slightly. While cooking, wash and dry the lemon and grate the peel (carefully, not the bitter white pith beneath, just the yellow peel). Slice the lemon after grating the peel. Check on asparagus, it should be slightly browned but not overly limp. (How I test my asparagus, grab a piece at the bottom of the stem, if it still stands up fully it's not done enough, slightly drooping at the top is how I like it). Toss in the grated lemon peel, squeeze in the lemon juice from the entire lemon and add the Parmesan cheese. Toss to combine flavors before you turn off the heat.

Remove fish from oven and serve with a large scoop of the couscous (with what ever you have added in to flavor the couscous like pico de gallo, fresh herbs, peppers, spinach etc. Although my son prefers his couscous plain) and the asparagus. I also heat up fresh pita bread which is a handy and yummy way to scoop up the leftover caramelized miso paste and couscous off your plate.

Enjoy!

P.S. The miso fish recipe was adapted from a recipe I saw Gwyneth Paltrow make on Oprah. You can buy mirin sauce in the Asian aisle of larger grocery stores or at stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Miso paste is usually in the refrigerated section of specialty food stores. I purchase from my local Mitsuwa Market.

Green Chicago and Family Farmed Expo

I had a "Green Chicago" weekend, here's the skinny...

Friday night: I attended an Italian wine & food pairing and olive oil tasting hosted by a local Winestyles. Mario Rizzotti, the Academia Barilla's Italian Culinary Specialist and judge on the Food Network series Iron Chef America demonstrated how to professionally taste olive oil. I have a new appreciation for the production and taste of this delicious oil and left with a large bottle of organic evoo from Italy and a few new recipes to try at home.

Saturday AM: I shopped at Chicago's Green City Market, held inside the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park. This was my first visit to a farmer's market this year and definitely won't be my last. The market was open from 8 am to 1 pm and although I got there a bit late in the morning I was still able to purchase fresh eggs, bread and cheese. I was hoping to buy fresh bacon cuts for my son who is a BLT addict but the meat for sale at the market was limited. Overall prices were good at the Green City market, volunteers were extremely friendly and helpful and the market was well organized and staffed. Tip: arrive as early as possible, by the time I arrived around 11 am some of the produce and dairy had already sold out.

Saturday PM: I attended the Family Farmed Expo held at the UIC Forum in downtown Chicago. I follow @FamilyFarmed on Twitter and happily won 2 free tickets to the event by tweeting. I was already planning on attending the event but winning free tickets was a delightful surprise. I've been looking for local Illinois CSA's (community supported agriculture) and met numerous farmers at the Expo who offer a seasonal share from their farm. Being unsuccessful in my pork shopping earlier in the morning I was also happy to find an Illinois farmer (Hasselmann Family Farm) selling numerous cuts of bacon at the Expo. I left late in the day with a bag full of information, a freezer bag full of food and a new membership to Chicago Fair Trade. The Expo was inspiring, educational and just plain fun. It was great to be surrounded by farmers, foodies, chefs and others like myself who are passionate about sustainable, organic and humane farming.

Chicago was full of St. Patrick's Day celebrations on Saturday so after the river was dyed green, the parade was over and my Green shopping complete I headed to a local Irish pub in my old hood for a Guinness before spending the evening at the Irish American Heritage Center on Chicago's northwest side. Friends and I enjoyed a rousing show by The Sullivan Brother's and numerous glasses of goodness while surrounded by Irish dancers and their crazy curly locks. If you haven't been to the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago, it's worth a visit. Home is a former school converted into one of the nation's most important Irish cultural organizations featuring music rooms, dance studio space, a library, museum, theater, ballroom and pubs.

Sunday: I spent the afternoon at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier. This was my first, and likely last visit to the show. Big names, little bang for your buck. About $30 dollars just to walk in the door ($14 parking, discounted with admission from a whopping $24 at Navy Pier) and $15 admission ticket. I sat in on 1 seminar and 1 cooking demonstration and walked the vendor aisles but was not impressed. I find it hard to enjoy gardens in a windowless conference hall even with the creativity of the designs (The Lookinglass Theater "actors" portraying characters from Alice in Wonderland in 1 garden were so annoying as to make me run away). I also have little tolerance for the infomercial spokesman selling everything from mops to vegetable mandolins. As I was leaving I realized, "I never smelled one flower in the entire place".

Chicago...with all of her faults, scandal, crime and history is truly a great metropolis. And when the world views our city-by-the-lake for something besides corruption, a failed Olympic bid, gun toting mobsters and politics we all benefit. When Chicago opens her arms to the small farmer, the windowbox and rooftop gardener, the innovative chef and the entrepreneur... and when you can sit down in a neighborhood pub, drink a cold beer and meet new friends while listening to culturally rich music, it's a great city indeed.

Best and Worst Cookbooks

My regular readers know I love cookbooks. I read them like fiction.
Here is a link to an article about the best and worst cookbooks of the past decade. I don't think anyone will be surprised tv chef/celebrity Paula Deen is on the worst list.

Here are 3 books I am reading now and can recommend. I'm addicted to juicing and learning a lot about nutrition and health. I wouldn't consider any of the books below to be the best or the worst, just worth a look if you are interested in juicing.

Borrowed from a friend, I am reading The Juiceman's Power of Juicing by Jay Kordich. Good book about remedies for common ailments and illnesses by the power of juice.

Juice Alive: The Ultimate Guide to Juicing Remedies by Steven Bailey. A good selection of recipes but better for the information on the antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and enzymes in fruits and vegetables.

The Juice Lady's Guide to Juicing for Health by Cherie Calbom. A terrific guide to recipes and nutrition and the prevention and treatment of health disorders by drinking juice.

My New Juicer

After years of reading about the benefits of juicing I finally committed and bought my first juicer this month. I bought a Breville BJE200XL 700 Watt Compact Juice Fountain on Amazon for $99 including free shipping. (It is currently listed at $90). I decided on this juicer because of the excellent ratings and reviews and suggestions by friends over on the Crazy, Sexy, Cancer site. It is really one of the best purchases I've ever made for preparing food. I've posted some pictures below.













This morning I juiced 2 pears, an apple and a handful of grapes










The juicer is stainless steel and plastic and can juice fruit whole, no slicing or peeling required. Cleaning is easy with 5 removable parts for a quick cleanup.













Ingredients listed above made about 1 1/2 cups of pure juice.













The leftover pulp is as dry as sand. There is zero pulp in the juice.










Every morning I experiment with a new combination of fruits and vegetables. Tomorrow I am trying a recipe for a cucumber, spinach, apple and mint juice. I'm also going to start adding some fresh wheat grass. Honestly I can't think of an easier or faster way to get your needed dose of fruits and veggies. If you don't juice, I highly recommend you start.

How Do You Manage Stress?

This morning I attended a meeting on stress management. Presented by a "Life Coach" the focus was on reducing stress levels personally and professionally. I walked away with a few good ideas. I thought I'd share a few.

1. Stress management is mind management. I liked the way he explained this. Picture a garden, you plant seeds, water them, weed them and good things grow. You nourish. Ok, now picture your mind is like a garden. You plant ideas, you build them, they grow. However if you are not nurturing yourself, nothing grows. For example, if you walk into work everyday with an attitude of "Ugh today is going to suck. I hate my job. I hate the commute. I don't like what I'm doing." Well then, you are self talking your way into nothing. You are not nurturing yourself. You will literally talk your way out of growth.

2. One of the best ways to communicate is with questions. If you question, you inquire. You think. You get answers or you ask more questions. Try it, see what happens if you ask more questions and make fewer statements.

3. Develop systems for organization. One I particularly liked was the Time File System. Take 31 file folders, number them 1-31. Or if you are pressed for space, take 12 and label them January through December. Now start filling them. Use post its, flyers, postcards for upcoming events, pieces of scrap paper. Anything that has a reminder on it, a date, an invitation, a card. Slip it into the file for the corresponding date/month and plan ahead. Then update your date book, your Outlook calendar, your task list, your goals, etc with the upcoming dates and tasks you need to do. Easy and efficient.

4. Learn to say "No" or at least, "Yes, but...". Great advice! Especially the "Yes, but..." such as "Yes I can do that, BUT what will we need to do to make that Yes happen. More staff, more time, more money?" Or, "If you want me to focus my efforts there, something else needs to change/go/decrease."

5. The how-to-eat-a-frog theory. If you have to eat a frog, get it done as soon as possible. Have a big project, present it first thing in the morning. Don't leave your don't-want-to-do's until the end of the day. You'll worry or stress or over think all day.

6. Stimulus---------->Response. What is in the middle is maturity. Longer time to response=more maturity.

7. Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we react to it.

The "Life Coach" showed us a short movie, Learning to Dance in the Rain which you can find with other inspirational short videos here. Kinda cheesy but thought provoking, find one that inspires you.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

A couple of days ago my friend Heather posted on Facebook a link to an article about a magazine photograph that has sparked some heated discussions. In a recent issue of Glamour magazine there is a photograph of a model, a very beautiful model who is casually seated and smiling, and naked. Now it's not the naked part that has got people talking...it's her body. Her very natural, healthy body. At this point you need to see the picture and read the article the photo has inspired here.
YA. Pretty. Damn. Amazing. The model's picture is featured in an article titled, What Everyone But You Sees About Your Body and really for an article about one's own body image it's the perfect photo. Now after viewing the photo you might have had one of the following reactions, "Ewwww" or perhaps, "Wow" or even, "Oh my God, why is that picture in that magazine?". Whatever your reaction was is, it's a reaction and that is a Good Thing. If we don't challenge society's force-fed image of what constitutes a beautiful model in a magazine than we don't appreciate the beauty in this very healthy, lovely, comfortable-in-her-own skin young woman. Sure, some people might not be comfortable looking at her stomach rolls, so what, it's more fascinating to realize that this woman, in her nakedness is breaking the "rules" and making people talk about what a real woman looks like, fat and all.

Must see show-Jose Made in Spain

Over the New Years weekend it was cold and nasty here in Chicago so I bundled up in front of our fireplace and happily watched my latest food show addiction. The first season of Jose-Made in Spain is out on DVD and in my opinion is one of the freshest and best food shows on television. During each episode chef Jose Andres takes the viewer to a different region throughout Spain and then back to his home kitchen in Washington D.C. to create Spanish dishes. If Jose is cooking squid, he hops on the boat with the fisherman catches a large squid and then takes it to a friends beach side restaurant on the coast of Spain and cooks it! Ever heard of gooseneck barnacles? I hadn't either until Jose throws on a wetsuit and goes diving for them before preparing them. After watching the first episode I made his very easy dish of tomatoes, soft Spanish cheese, greens and a delicious dressing of extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar and honey. It was devoured quickly when I had friends over this weekend.
Jose has an easy demeanor with the camera and is charming and fun to watch, and his accent is lovely to listen to. If you are not a television watcher than definitely check out Jose's new book:
Made in Spain: Spanish Dishes for the American Kitchen
If your New Year's resolution includes healthy eating than Jose's delicious Spanish dishes are excellent. I'm a fan of the Mediterranean diet and Jose combines the freshest ingredients in simple and tasty ways.

Happy for Thanks and Giving

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving.
I heard on television someone refer to the holiday as a time for Thanks and Giving and I couldn't agree more.
I'm thankful for so much and blessed to be in a position to give my time and money to causes I believe in. Here's to remembering what each of us is thankful for.

A Green Must Read-The Green Beauty Guide

A new book came across my desk this weekend that should be a must read for everyone concerned with their health and the environment.
The Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel is an excellent source for information on organic and natural "beauty" products.
Gabriel debunks the myths and gets scientific but in friendly reader terms. She mixes in homemade recipes for everything from mosquito repellent, to baby wipes to face scrubs. A nice touch is the inclusion of a Green Product Guide and Green Tips.
I've passed the book around in my office and a few of us are going to try the Green Liver Flush. This well written book is definitely a must read.
For more information check out the website at:
http://thegreenbeautyguide.com/

Read Your Insurance Coverage Papers Lately?

I recommend doing so. My husband's best friend is also our insurance agent and thankfully we have excellent coverage. After I was involved in a car accident on Friday I went back through my car insurance documents and read through my coverage. I'm confident in my insurance (State Farm)and also extremely happy to have rental car coverage since my car is undrivable.
This wake up call also made me read through all of my insurance coverage including car, home, health and my life insurance as well as my Will.
Gave me some piece of mind that in the unexpected not only am I protected but so are my loved ones.

Whatchya Reading?

Went to Michigan this weekend to relax and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather. Saturday we went apple picking and Sunday my son and I spent the afternoon at an art barn happily creating gifts for my new niece.
Whenever I pack for a trip I always take a stack of magazines. I prefer to take back issues from the library, a small way to be green, I hate buying and reading a magazine only to throw it away. I have favorites, some trashy tabloids that are completely mindless and some healthier options. This weekend I happily flipped through issues of Body+Soul, Real Simple and Cooking Light. To me magazines are the perfect mix of good writing and excellent photography.
Support your local library by checking out back issues of their magazines and save a forest by not renewing your magazine subscriptions.

Are You Aware of the Dead Zone?

The Dead Zone is an area in the Gulf of Mexico that cannot support life. Located where the Mississippi River empties into the Gulf and varying in size each year, the Dead Zone is an area of low oxygen caused by nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizer which kills algae. With no oxygen fish either leave the area or die and the eco chain is destroyed. Check out this great website on the Dead Zone http://www.smm.org/deadzone/top.html
Think it doesn't matter what you use to grow your lawn, kill your weeds or feed livestock, think again. Be smart, get educated and support local responsible farmers.

The Vitamin Shoppe

One of my new favorite shops is the local Vitamin Shoppe which is conveniently located a few stores down from my neighborhood Trader Joes. Quick and healthy shopping without having to drive all over town. Last night I went in looking for a new multivitamin (one without gelatin) and ended up happily browsing for 30 minutes. Not only does The Vitamin Shoppe have a mind boggling selection of vitamins and supplements but they also have a great selection of healthy snacks and bath and body products. The Burt's Bees items were cheaper than my local Target and Walgreen's so I stocked up on the items I haven't been able to find elsewhere like the Burt's Bees Radiance Night Creme with Royal Jelly (from honeybee's!).
Check out The Vitamin Shoppe's website here:

Books for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Thanks to an excellent article in the September 1 issue of Library Journal by Bette-Lee Fox, here is a list of books on the topic of breast cancer. Cancer touches us all so during the month of October be aware of the ongoing fight against breast cancer.
With more than 7 women on my mother's side of the family having been diagnosed with breast cancer including my Mom, it's more likely a question of "when" than "if" I will be diagnosed in the future. So in October remind yourself or the women you love that if you are over 40 or with a history of breast cancer in the family, schedule your mammogram. And read!
After the Cure: The Untold Stories of Breast Cancer Survivors by Saskia K. Subramanian and Emily K. Abel.
Cancer is a Bitch (or, I'd Rather Be Having a Midlife Crisis) by Gail Konop Baker.
A Cup of Comfort for Breast Cancer Survivors: Inspiring Stories of Courage and Triumph by Colleen Sell.
Swimming on My Wedding Day: My Cancer Journey Through the Seasons by Laura Fitzpatrick-Nager.
From Oncology Nursing to Coping With Breast Cancer: My Journey There and Back by Kate Hayward.
What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope by the American Cancer Society.
The 10 Best Questions for Surviving Breast Cancer: The Script You Need To Take Control of Your Health by Dede Bonner.
100 Questions & Answers About Breast Cancer by Karl Boatman M.D. and Zora Brown.
100 Questions & Answers About Advanced Metastatic Breast Cancer by Lillie Shockney R.N.
Breast Cancer the Complete Guide by Peter I. Pressman M.D. and Yashar Hirshaut M.D.
Black Smoke: A Woman's Journey of Healing, Wild Love, and Transformation in the Amazon by Margaret De Wys.
Unraveling the Ribbon by Maureen White and Mary Kelly.
Don't Bet Against Me! Beating the Odds Against Breast Cancer and in Life by Deanna Favre with Angela Hunt.
Understanding the Mammography and Controversy: Science, Politics and Breast Cancer Screening by Madelon L. Finkel.
I am Not My Breast Cancer: Women Talk Openly About Love and Sex, Hair Loss and Weight Gain, Mothers and Daughters and Being a Women with Breast Cancer by Ruth A. Peltason.

Sicko

I just finished watching Michael Moore's controversial documentary about the US health care system Sicko. The film received a 20 minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2007 and for good reason. It's everything a documentary should be. At times I was laughing hysterically (sexy Hillary), crying (families denied medical treatments) and pissed off (patients who can't pay their hospital bills getting forced into cabs and dropped off at homeless shelters). Is everything in the documentary absolute? I doubt it. Is is appalling, shocking, upsetting and just sad that anything in this film is accurate? Absolutely. At times I was so angry at what I was watching that I wanted to grab my family and my passport and move to France or England. But then I also wanted to pick up the phone and call every Senator in my state and find out who is in the pockets of the insurance companies.
Watch it. Get angry. Try and protect yourself and your family from the health care system. Before I went to bed last night I made sure my life insurance policies were in order and fell asleep thankful I do have insurance with a respected PPO (fingers crossed).
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/dvd/