So I finally convinced Jamie to get rid of the teflon and plastic in the trailer. Course, it wasn’t ME, I’ve been talking myself blue on this subject, it was an email from my mom. I’m sure there is a reason that I’m simply not a credible source of information; am I just too wacky in general for him? So, yesterday we got rid of the teflon pans (yes, one was brand new that he bought instead of the cast iron I asked him to buy) and purchased a new cast iron pan. I also got a Pyrex lasagne pan to replace our oven-proof plastic pans and two glass bowls to use in the microwave. Today, after explaining to the kids that plastic no longer belongs in the microwave, Pike asked if he was going to die. I told him, “of course; everyone dies sometime” but he was specifically worried he’d die as a kid from cancer. I sure hope he hasn’t been reading the cancer blogs like I was.
Yesterday we took a tour of Yuma and the surrounding area. We didn’t PLAN a tour; we normally visit the farmland area north of Yuma on the way into town but this time we were actually looking for a diesel mechanic. The ONLY one in the area, apparently. While this area swells to bursting with snowbirds driving diesel trucks in the winter, they apparently get no servicing done on them in Yuma as everyone we asked said they get servicing done before they head south. The only diesel mechanic we could find gave us such awful directions to his shop that I seriously wonder if he purposely intended to lead us astray. Still, we had a thorough tour of 
lettuce, spinach, cauliflower, and what we think might have been chard. Being a bleeding heart liberal, I took photos mainly of the farmworkers. It was 86 degrees yesterday; I can only imagine that the reason they are so bundled up is for protection.
It has slowly been getting warmer and warmer; I was not the least bit surprised to find the thermometer at 86 yesterday in Yuma. Jamie could stay here quite a bit longer, but I’ve got the itch for mango and guyaba and beaches on the Pacific and want to get rolling. We’ll probably head over the border tomorrow to pick up papers (vehicle permit and tourist cards) and head towards Nogales on Monday. We’ve got mail waiting for us along the way and will then make a run for Mazatlan. I think it will be easier for the kids to travel if they know that a week at the beach is waiting for them, so the current plan is to cross the border, take 3 days to get to Mazatlan, spend a week there (at Maravillas again) and then head south more slowly to Melaque and Ztown. Eventually I want to spend a good month at Oaxaca, but we might save it for May, 
as Oaxaca is in the highlands and May, from experience, is the hottest month in Mexico.
Pictures to come; server errors and I’ve become so dependant on the Flickr plugin that I don’t want to do it any other way.
Thanks for posting again! We were parched! Love, C
Hi, Kitty, Jamie, and kids,
Just thought you’d like to check out th site I consider as my debunking resource, Snopes.com.
Please check out this link before you throw out the Tupperware:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/cookplastic.asp
Love you,
Aunt Kathy
Re: Snopes – (generally a great resource)
When did we start trusting the FDA?
I am trying to get rid of plastic in our home too. Cast iron sounds great, and I iwll have to find a nice one.
Most of my cookware is stainless steel. But I lust after cast iron.
Can’t wait to see pics from the far south.
I know you love your Tupperware, Aunt Kathy!
I’ve actually been trying to get away from Teflon for quite a while; even before we sold the stick house and had migrated to cast iron there. We never had a microwave in the stick so it wasn’t an issue to heat food in plastic. I’m not sure that any article could convince me that cooking in plastic (teflon) is better than cast iron, so I’ll just stick my head in the sand and keep using cast iron. 
I haven’t gotten rid of any plastic; just stopped heating and cooking in plastic. I don’t have a problem putting cold food in plastic and storing it in the fridge.
Jody – I actually found that the cast iron was as heavy as 2 teflon pans. The glass pyrex lasagne pan was definitely heavier than the plastic pans I was cooking in (special plastic (shudder)) but what’s just one more 50lb item?
We’re heading down to Tuscon today but were actually in Mexico (San Luis) yesterday getting tacos and paletas and documents. I may post pictures but I’m supposed to be getting things ready to go. (snort)
Actually, one reason that the workers were “bundled up” was because it’s cold there. 86 isn’t a terribly warm temperature when you’re from there. At least it wasn’t when I lived there. And yes, they wear long shirts and long pants and hats so they can protect themselves from the damaging sun rays.