T-10: At the Car Wash, Whoa-oh-oh-oh!

Who washes the car wash?

That song goes through my head every time I'm in a car wash. I even see Richard Pryor in a white suit. I love that movie, it reminds me of growing up in LA and the Valley in the '70s. I miss the old fashioned car washes like that. I remember riding through them with my dad when I was a wee girl.

I'm THIS many! It kind of looks like I'm making a "0" with my left hand.

After my errands, aqua aerobics and more errands, I made a meatless dinner -- Gardein Tuscan Chicken, spinach and brown rice. The texture was better than other chicken substitutes I've tried. I was fortunate to be exposed to a lot of different foods since I was little, so it's not unusual for me to have a meatless meal (burrito, beans and cornbread, veggie lasagna) or one that's mostly vegetables (stir fry) that isn't even pretending to have or focus on meat.

I've been more surprised at how easy it's been to substitute turkey for beef in chili, bolognese sauce, meat lasagna and even meat loaf. I don't miss beef in most recipes at all. I do like to have a steak now and then. I figure, if I'm only going to have beef once every month or two, I'm going to make the most of it.

I'm glad meat subsituting hasn't felt like a big sacrifice or drastic change. I don't think I'll ever be a vegetarian, let alone a vegan, but eating low on the food chain is a good thing. These are things one must start considering in their 30s and 40s.