Josh Anastasia

I recently started a new job, last Thursday to be precise. I really love my job and the people that I work with. It’s very laid-back and the people there are easy to get along with. It’s great because I work with so many people that I get to cover all my conversational topics; computers, politics, education, 80’s music and pop culture, and going green. The only thing that I hate about the job is the commute.

From Monday to Friday, I drive about two hours, round trip, each day. I’m no stranger to driving long distances, however, this is the most boring commute ever. I drive straight through the boonies. There are about ten houses along the whole stretch of road, some horses, some cows, lots of curves and hills, and about two gas stations. The one perk about driving this way is the scenery, which is completely beautiful. However, I can’t spend too long staring at all of nature’s beauty while I’m driving. It’s not very safe.

The drive to work isn’t bad. I wake up around 6am, sometimes earlier, make my lunch, shower, grab a cup of coffee (black), a peice of fruit, and I’m usually out the door by twenty to seven. I feel refreshed and energized, helped by the coffee of course, and I don’t feel tired at all. On the way home however, I feel tired as hell.

Lately, it’s been very hot and humid, and that just makes me want to sleep even more. On the drive home, I turn my radio all the way up and sing along to it.

Today I was driving home, stopped for gas, and headed off into the wonderful world of nothing. As usual, I had a mixtape in. This time it was Mandy’s May mixtape, although I put in Lisa’s mixtape when I got into New York. I could barely keep my eyes open, let alone drive, when I got really into the mixtape and started singing (I’m not very good) and dancing (I’m not good at that either). If it hadn’t been for that, I would have crashed after falling asleep at the wheel.

Starting a new job has made me realize how much of a bum I am. My whole wardrobe is completely shorts and t-shirts. I have some striped polos, which I’m obsessed with, and I have one pair of jeans that I can wear to work and only one pair of khakis. Needless to say, I’ve had to start planning for buying a new wardrobe. In my effort to go green, which I’ll write more about soon, I’ve been doing a lot of research about buying organic and environmentally friendly clothes. Granted, I won’t be able to buy all of my clothes like this right now, but eventually, I hope that I’ll be able to have a completely green wardrobe. So far, I’m in love with this shirt.

Since I drive so much now, my eco footprint has risen tremendously. Before you start assuming that I’m one of those crazy, green people, think again. I’m not. I just happen to care about what I do, what I buy, what I eat, and how it impacts what’s around me. I’m trying to live a healthier life, not because it’s so much good for the environment, but because it’s good for me.

My garden this year is going to be completely organic, including a compost pile which will fertilize the entire garden. Whatever is left, I can sell. I’m no longer eating red meat, pork, or chicken. I sometimes eat turkey and I often eat fish. I make sure that the meat I use is either organic, is locally raised, and generally healthy. Granted, with the fish, I can’t worry too much about it being locally raised unless I want to eat nothing but trout, but at least it’s organic so I’m not putting a bunch of god knows what into my body.

I’ve stopped buying bottled water and I drink tap water. Granted, it’s filtered, because our tap water is the most disgusting water I’ve ever tasted. I don’t use paper towels or plates, but my family does. I’m trying to change that though.

I walk when I can. Or I ride my bike. I’ve been doing a lot of both lately, which not only saves my gas for driving to work, but I’ve been losing weight like crazy, in a healthy way unlike a couple of months ago where I lost a lot of weight in an unhealthy way. In total, I’ve lost about 40-50 pounds since I’ve moved back to New York, but I’ve gained a lot of muscle.

I’ve never felt better and a huge part of me thinks it is the food I’m eating. I don’t eat like crap anymore, and what I do eat, I make sure it’s free of pesticides and chemicals. It’s not just the food however. I’ve been using a lot of products that are organic, like this Herban Cowboy Dusk deodorant.

Enough of the product placements though. Ok, one last plug, but it’s not so much a product as it is great music. Check out Coldplay’s new album, Vida la Vida.