80 percent water.

Our bodies are 80 percent water. Skin and toenails just floating on the top. "Unwanted pounds simply evaporate away!" Children coming up missing after a bedtime bath.

Our earth is 80 percent water. Scuba divers just wading in the shallow end. King Titan's real estate molding on the market . Algae and plankton planning a new world order.

Life is water. Seems obvious, right? So tell me this: what brilliant settler, hauling family hopes and dreams, got to the unforgiving red desert without even a trace of stream or vegetation, and said, "Honey, we're home!". Ironically, Las Vegas is now the fastest growing city in the United States (algae and plankton take note) and on a recent road trip last week, I learned that the local population is in alarm over an apparent "water shortage". Oh, life's confounding paradoxes.

My friend Heidi grew up in the desert, scaling red rock wall, hiking canyon and cliff, and calling lizards by their secret names - says the green of Oregon makes her feel claustrophobic when compared to all this open, inviting beauty. I would have to agree when watching a storm shape in the east, morphing, collecting, blurring the horizon's boundries - a gypsy wandering across flatlands that 2 days later finally arrives without a drop of water to her cracked lips - it is a sight unparalleled in my memory. Or watching the sun set in the west, leaving Picasso searching for color, covering your entire vision with fire neon gold in a sky laughing at your insignificance - another miracle only Joshua trees and the arid adventurous can appreciate.

Still it is difficult for this raw foodist to watch flowers wilt in relentless sun, or my fresh spinach become cooked spinach in the back of my car and not wonder what implications that holds for my 80 percent liquid self. Unlike those brave settlers of American history, I need examples of thriving green life or else my survival mechanism kicks in. But on my recent trip to Las Vegas, in the midst of my subconscious fight or flight, on hands and knees dragging scaly skin through sand and sage, uttering a cartoonist's "agua...agua", I found it - the oasis, the lake in the desert, a drink of cool water: Go Raw Cafe.

Opening doors west of the strip in March 2003, Go Raw Cafe started as a response to the Las Vegas's need for a living food central community. The response was so overwhelming that in November 2003, only 7 months later, a second location was added for the east-of-the-strip health conscious as well.

The huge, square west side space feels very clean and pragmatic, almost cafeteria like - perfect for the quick grab and go. While the original east side location, with its bright colors, comfy seats and odd architectural angels seems to scream, "order an aloe shot, bring your guitar and stay for a while". Although the atmosphere evoke quite different responses, the menu, featuring all organic recipes with widely varied tastes, is affordable and identical in either location. Which is a relief, since you won't want to miss out on the Young Blood House Special (wheatgrass, beet juice and coconut water) whether you are picking up an order or making a fine evening of it.

Other exceptional and original items unique to Go Raw Cafe's cuisine are "french fries" (thick avocado slices rolled in a spiced, seed batter), the Carob Delight Pie (avocado, dates, and carob base), and a delight for the advanced raw foodist who can not quite stomach many of today's nut heavy gourmet recipes, the "take your pick" Mono Menu - market price.

And if any of you fellow water worshipers aren't convinced yet, perhaps dining outdoors at Go Raw Cafe's west side location, as the setting sun dances technicolor over the man made Lake Sahara, while contemplating how nothing in the desert is local or in season….except dates….will ease you desert doubts as it certainly did mine.

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