So, I went back over my gardening journals from last year, and I saw that by 10 April 2010 I'd already gotten the garden cleaned and tilled and I'd planted:
Sunflowers
Beets
Carrots
Potatoes
Beans
Turnips
(snow peas were planted in March!)
I'd also gotten my peppers, squash (Pumpkins, Zucchini, etc), and tomato starts into pots on the sun-porch.
Today is 13 April, how much have I gotten accomplished?
Well, the garden is cleared, but not tilled. No little pots of potential veggies are set up on the sun porch, no peas are in the ground...
Either I'm slacking or the weather has been complete shit, or maybe a bit of both.
Today, it's going to be rainy and cold, so I won't be playing dig in the dirt, but there is still a lot of work to be done in the house, so I'm going to be getting that accomplished.
For me, it's better to get the work in the house done - all my spring cleaning - THEN I can feel free to garden without guilt.
One more thing - the rooster, he's gone. No...not dead and gone, but "gone to live on a farm" - he was so noisy, there was just no way I could keep him up here without having some problems with the neighbors.
I'm glad I found him a good home.
More tomorrow -
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Lights, Camera, Action!
March 28 - Spring is officially a week old, and I'm ready to spring into action - maybe I'll have pictures at some point.
My plan today is to get the house back in order, and start taking inventory of what I have on hand, plus what I'll need to see the garden ready for planting. Seeds, starters etc.
Just as an aside, I already had peas in the ground by this time last year, but this year seems to be somewhat more normal in terms of temperatures.
I walked the blasted ruins of my garden a few days ago, and saw spring onions coming up, and my indefatigable rhubarb plant showing it's first buds as well.
I'm insanely curious to see if my strawberry plants and winter carrots made it, but don't quite dare to remove the 18" of mulch that protected them all winter. April is a winter month in Maine, so we wait - at least a little longer!
I also plan to do a household inventory - to make sure I've got a well stocked pantry - I think its going to come in handy very soon.
My medical box is severely depleted, so I need to get on that and restock - pain relievers, allergy & cold meds, bandaids, peroxide, alcohol - all the little things we use up during the winter.
As with nature, spring begins, and I feel the need to emerge from the winter hibernation - much work to be done - much cleaning to accomplish.
Saw an interesting quote this morning that's stayed with me - "The love of comfort is the death of courage."
What an awesome thought.
My plan today is to get the house back in order, and start taking inventory of what I have on hand, plus what I'll need to see the garden ready for planting. Seeds, starters etc.
Just as an aside, I already had peas in the ground by this time last year, but this year seems to be somewhat more normal in terms of temperatures.
I walked the blasted ruins of my garden a few days ago, and saw spring onions coming up, and my indefatigable rhubarb plant showing it's first buds as well.
I'm insanely curious to see if my strawberry plants and winter carrots made it, but don't quite dare to remove the 18" of mulch that protected them all winter. April is a winter month in Maine, so we wait - at least a little longer!
I also plan to do a household inventory - to make sure I've got a well stocked pantry - I think its going to come in handy very soon.
My medical box is severely depleted, so I need to get on that and restock - pain relievers, allergy & cold meds, bandaids, peroxide, alcohol - all the little things we use up during the winter.
As with nature, spring begins, and I feel the need to emerge from the winter hibernation - much work to be done - much cleaning to accomplish.
Saw an interesting quote this morning that's stayed with me - "The love of comfort is the death of courage."
What an awesome thought.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Confession
I have a confession. It's not as though it's some deep dark secret, or something I've kept hidden for years - it's actually one of those epiphany moments where you realize some deep truth about yourself, that wasn't patently obvious - then suddenly is.
I have three children. Between my kids, there is a 22 month gap from first to second - then an eight year gap from second to third.
My confession?
I wasn't a very good parent.
Okay, yes, all three of my kids are healthy, mostly well adjusted and have made it this far, so in that respect, I suppose you could say I was a good parent. My kids were never neglected.
But the little things - the bits and pieces of parenting that seem trivial, but are no less important - I wasn't very good at those.
I never chased after my boys to do homework, complete assignments, Hell, I never even really chased after them to go to school.
My excuse? Well, I have a lot of excuses - but they seem thin and meaningless when examined in the cold light of day. I was young, I was overly confident in my parenting abilities, *I* knew better! But the one that sticks out the most, the one excuse I can cling to with no reservations is the one that is the honest truth.
The schools were unresponsive to my second child's special needs. They constantly called me about every behavior issue, every hygiene issue, every tantrum, every peep the kid made - they essentially badgered me to the point where I'd physically cringe when the phone rang and the caller ID showed the school calling. I lost jobs (good jobs, with important income) over this. It stressed me, my marriage, and my family - Eventually, apathy became my catch phrase when it came to the school. I just no longer cared.
In turn, this filtered down (or up) to my eldest son. His grades were poor, his attendance was mediocre, and I just couldn't muster the strength to suck it up and force him to do homework or even go to school. Also in turn, I cared little about the "little" things - keep your room clean, brush your teeth, shower daily. My eldest child was on his own - with no guidance. Mostly because 99% of my attention was diverted to my second child's issues.
Now, one might say, I can't possibly blame those things on the school, but in a weird way, I can justify them because of the school. You see, because of their actions, I became clinically depressed - therefore, every action or in-action was a result of the way they made me feel.
When we moved, we started a new school, and things got better, even though the boys ended up in alternative schools, they did better in school, brought up grades, and became really decent young men. Young men I'm very proud to say are my sons.
So I ask myself, was it because of the school system, or did I just somehow manage to pull my shit together?
Probably a little of both.
So here I am, ten years later.
I have a third child now. She's brilliant. Does her homework the minute she comes home from school, brushes her teeth, listens, is respectful...she essentially is the child that all three of my children SHOULD have been had I been better, had I been stronger.
I have no excuses for my lack of strength. I have nothing to offer except an apology to my boys for not being the mother I could and should have been to them.
They know (at least I hope they do) that I love them with every fiber of my being, I never abused them - but I also want them to know I'm so very sorry.
They ask me sometimes why #3 gets away with more than they did, and I'm always sort of flabbergasted by the question - I don't think she does at all, my only reply is - "I'm trying to be a better parent than I was to you guys." I've learned, I've grown and I've healed.
I hope someday, they can understand.
I have three children. Between my kids, there is a 22 month gap from first to second - then an eight year gap from second to third.
My confession?
I wasn't a very good parent.
Okay, yes, all three of my kids are healthy, mostly well adjusted and have made it this far, so in that respect, I suppose you could say I was a good parent. My kids were never neglected.
But the little things - the bits and pieces of parenting that seem trivial, but are no less important - I wasn't very good at those.
I never chased after my boys to do homework, complete assignments, Hell, I never even really chased after them to go to school.
My excuse? Well, I have a lot of excuses - but they seem thin and meaningless when examined in the cold light of day. I was young, I was overly confident in my parenting abilities, *I* knew better! But the one that sticks out the most, the one excuse I can cling to with no reservations is the one that is the honest truth.
The schools were unresponsive to my second child's special needs. They constantly called me about every behavior issue, every hygiene issue, every tantrum, every peep the kid made - they essentially badgered me to the point where I'd physically cringe when the phone rang and the caller ID showed the school calling. I lost jobs (good jobs, with important income) over this. It stressed me, my marriage, and my family - Eventually, apathy became my catch phrase when it came to the school. I just no longer cared.
In turn, this filtered down (or up) to my eldest son. His grades were poor, his attendance was mediocre, and I just couldn't muster the strength to suck it up and force him to do homework or even go to school. Also in turn, I cared little about the "little" things - keep your room clean, brush your teeth, shower daily. My eldest child was on his own - with no guidance. Mostly because 99% of my attention was diverted to my second child's issues.
Now, one might say, I can't possibly blame those things on the school, but in a weird way, I can justify them because of the school. You see, because of their actions, I became clinically depressed - therefore, every action or in-action was a result of the way they made me feel.
When we moved, we started a new school, and things got better, even though the boys ended up in alternative schools, they did better in school, brought up grades, and became really decent young men. Young men I'm very proud to say are my sons.
So I ask myself, was it because of the school system, or did I just somehow manage to pull my shit together?
Probably a little of both.
So here I am, ten years later.
I have a third child now. She's brilliant. Does her homework the minute she comes home from school, brushes her teeth, listens, is respectful...she essentially is the child that all three of my children SHOULD have been had I been better, had I been stronger.
I have no excuses for my lack of strength. I have nothing to offer except an apology to my boys for not being the mother I could and should have been to them.
They know (at least I hope they do) that I love them with every fiber of my being, I never abused them - but I also want them to know I'm so very sorry.
They ask me sometimes why #3 gets away with more than they did, and I'm always sort of flabbergasted by the question - I don't think she does at all, my only reply is - "I'm trying to be a better parent than I was to you guys." I've learned, I've grown and I've healed.
I hope someday, they can understand.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Say Cheese!
So, we made cheese. Mozzarella to be exact.
Let me start by saying a few things:
First of all, making Mozzarella cheese is not difficult. It takes less than an hour, and you can actually eat that cheese as soon as you're finished.
However - if cost is an issue, or you're doing this to avoid spending money on cheese - this is not the cheapest way to go about it.
You need Rennet, Citric Acid, salt, and Whole Milk.
You have to be very choosy about the milk because some dairy's now ultra pasteurize their product to preserve it longer. Ultra pasteurizing means the milk has been super-heated. Great news for supermarkets, bad news for cheese makers.
Ideally, the best milk to use is fresh unpasteurized product from your own dairy cows (HAHA) or same from a local farmer. Know your farmer - be their friend.
The site - cheesemaking dot com has a "Good Milk" list on where to find un-ultrapasteurized milk, as well as many recipes and products for sale. I recommend them. They also have an excellent tutorial on "30 minute Mozzarella" which is what we used.
Our cheese came out really good - after a few bumps in the road (ie - the whey and the curd didn't separate properly - causing me some concern, however, the impact was only lower yield, not trashing the whole project as I'd feared), we came up with 2 (roughly) pounds of delicious mozzarella which we used on rustic pizza for supper.
Total cost for this project was about $20.00 - far more than buying processed, shredded cheese from the store, but worth it to us, because we know exactly what went into that cheese, how old it was and where it came from.
If those reasons are as important to you as they are to us, this is the way to go.
Let me start by saying a few things:
First of all, making Mozzarella cheese is not difficult. It takes less than an hour, and you can actually eat that cheese as soon as you're finished.
However - if cost is an issue, or you're doing this to avoid spending money on cheese - this is not the cheapest way to go about it.
You need Rennet, Citric Acid, salt, and Whole Milk.
You have to be very choosy about the milk because some dairy's now ultra pasteurize their product to preserve it longer. Ultra pasteurizing means the milk has been super-heated. Great news for supermarkets, bad news for cheese makers.
Ideally, the best milk to use is fresh unpasteurized product from your own dairy cows (HAHA) or same from a local farmer. Know your farmer - be their friend.
The site - cheesemaking dot com has a "Good Milk" list on where to find un-ultrapasteurized milk, as well as many recipes and products for sale. I recommend them. They also have an excellent tutorial on "30 minute Mozzarella" which is what we used.
Our cheese came out really good - after a few bumps in the road (ie - the whey and the curd didn't separate properly - causing me some concern, however, the impact was only lower yield, not trashing the whole project as I'd feared), we came up with 2 (roughly) pounds of delicious mozzarella which we used on rustic pizza for supper.
Total cost for this project was about $20.00 - far more than buying processed, shredded cheese from the store, but worth it to us, because we know exactly what went into that cheese, how old it was and where it came from.
If those reasons are as important to you as they are to us, this is the way to go.
Change in tag line
Due to the recent issues regarding the Devraes family and their copyright claims on the term "Urban Homesteading", I've changed the tag line on this blog to "Townie" homesteading. I'm saddened by this action by the Devraes, as I've considered them a guiding light towards self sufficiency - however, I also cannot risk legal action based on my use of their now copyrighted term. http://cryptogon.com/?p=20923
I feel "Townie" homesteading presents a clearer picture of what I'm trying to accomplish here in my neck of the woods, since we're not exactly urban anyway.
Obviously, this change will not effect my goals in any way, because if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, there's a good chance it's a duck.
I feel "Townie" homesteading presents a clearer picture of what I'm trying to accomplish here in my neck of the woods, since we're not exactly urban anyway.
Obviously, this change will not effect my goals in any way, because if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, there's a good chance it's a duck.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Groundhogs day
20 years ago today, my boyfriend proposed to me. We got married a little over a month later, I've never regretted it.
Kevin, I love you as much today (probably more) than I did then.
Kevin, I love you as much today (probably more) than I did then.
Friday, January 28, 2011
I have no words
'Please don't shoot me:' Girl, nine, begged for her life before she and her father were shot dead by 'anti-immigrant vigilantes'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350721/Girl-9-father-shot-dead-anti-immigrant-vigilantes-begged-life.html#ixzz1CDQptFBU
I'm just so sickened and shocked by this, I have no words.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350721/Girl-9-father-shot-dead-anti-immigrant-vigilantes-begged-life.html#ixzz1CDQptFBU
I'm just so sickened and shocked by this, I have no words.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
kerfuffle
Irritated at the school board this morning for not calling AT LEAST a 2 hour delay. The snow wasn't that bad, not for Maine standards, but the timing was. The roads and sidewalks were still treacherous, and they still didn't postpone school. It makes me angry that the schools have so little concern for kids (and yet are the first to make sure DHHS is called if your kid so much as loses a mitten on the bus).
Anyway, that ticked me off, I'm over it now.
Hoping to do some writing today, since all the housework is finished - laundry got done yesterday.
Also trying to come up with something different that the kids can have for dinner since it's dart night.
I'm tempted to drag out every left-over in the freezer and call it good, but I'm more than likely going to order a pizza...
Good mommy.
Yesterday I found some really cool sites dedicated to making cheese - something I've always wanted to try (well, that and beekeeping), so I asked Kevin if he thought he could make a cheese press. I'm sure he can.
I'll keep you posted on how that project goes. I may even rope my brother in, since he's expressed some interest in learning how to make cheese. Maybe I'll trade him - he teaches me to brew beer, I teach him to make cheese!
Anyway, that ticked me off, I'm over it now.
Hoping to do some writing today, since all the housework is finished - laundry got done yesterday.
Also trying to come up with something different that the kids can have for dinner since it's dart night.
I'm tempted to drag out every left-over in the freezer and call it good, but I'm more than likely going to order a pizza...
Good mommy.
Yesterday I found some really cool sites dedicated to making cheese - something I've always wanted to try (well, that and beekeeping), so I asked Kevin if he thought he could make a cheese press. I'm sure he can.
I'll keep you posted on how that project goes. I may even rope my brother in, since he's expressed some interest in learning how to make cheese. Maybe I'll trade him - he teaches me to brew beer, I teach him to make cheese!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
One last post from the past
Okay, this post was my first ever blog post. I didn't realize you weren't supposed to write a novel, just the stuff on your mind. Of course BEING a novelist, I just did what came naturally!
I totally snickered the whole time I was reading this. We were living in Arundel then, Katie was still a baby, and we still had our dog Thunder who was a 170 pound Husky-Akita-Wolf hybrid.
11-04-04
Some Days Are Hard.
Some days are particularly hard, today isn't the worst, but its right up there in the top 50.
6:15am
It started off with the dog getting loose and me having to:
a) run to the end of my driveway like a damn fool trying to catch the dog. (he runs like he’s a refugee from Seabrook)
b)walk back to the house vowing dog-i-cide the entire way. (Have I mentioned its 28 degrees?)
c) find clothes, which naturally aren't folded and I have to dig through the laundry basket PRAYING I have clean underwear at the bottom of the basket, but not being so lucky and having to check the dryer... voila!(Crap, they're the ones that ride up ... screw it)
d) grab the dogs 18 inch lead (which I'm thinking would make an excellent beating strap)that’s buried under the molding which is leaning up against the wall and hasn’t been re-hung since we put the door in back in September.
e) go to my car to start it and drive around looking for the animal
Now, all of this time, I'm rushing because I'm thinking "Oh shit its hunting season, and he's going to get shot and OMG what if he bites someone!"
So, I finally get dressed get out the door, get to my car, scraper in hand and realize....
I don't have my keys.
Lovely
Then I get a light bulb moment and realize Kevin always leaves his keys in his car!
I get in his car and get it started, and realize that his defrost doesn't work... wonderful.
Ya Know... This is a good time to add that I started the day with the best of intentions.
I had nothing planned on my calendar, and I fully intended to do a lot of things around the house, I'd even spent the first hour after I'd gotten up, making a list of chores that needed to be done so I'd be all hyper-organized. i was so proud of myself! Now this stupid friggin dog had thrown a wrench in my day.
Sooooo, I scrape a 3x5 spot clear on Kevin’s windshield, and drive out passenger side and driver’s side windows open and turn down the road beside my house... and I use the word "road" loosely, and only meaning a space to drive where there aren't any trees.
After bumping and bottoming out along this road for about a quarter mile thinking maybe he went the other way I spot the fugitive standing in the road looking ultra wolf-like.
His hackles are all up in a ridge along his back, and his tail is bushed out like something feral, even though he's my dog, to see him like that made ME scared.
So anyway, he sees me coming and decides he’s going to be "good doggie" and comes trotting to the car. I throw open the door, and in he jumps, THRILLED to be getting a ride!!
My neighbor Butch was standing by his car, brandishing one of those wooden handled scraper/windshield brush thingies like a weapon. He ALSO spotted me and hollered "Is that your dog?!" I could hear his voice was kinda shaky.
Let me tell you about Butch.
He's one of those guys you can tell life has never given a break to.
He's got that permanent dark tan of a man who's worked outside nearly all of his life and he’s built like those men you see pictured in 1920's and 30's Oklahoma Dust Bowl documentaries. He's the living image of what Pa Joad would look like. Thin body, almost to the point of being emaciated but with those muscles that look like ropes tied to his bones. He favors those strappy tee shirts and denim jackets, he’s got a beard and that kind of white hair that has to be wet down and slicked into place, and looks blown away and stringy by noon.
He IS however a very nice man.
He’s had to use our phone a few times, because his goes out when it rains (this sounds weird but I knew exactly what he meant because it happened to us as well)
I also gave him all kinds of stuff from our garden this year because, well shit he looks like he doesn't eat much. lol
Anyway, poor Butch is just trying to get his car scraped so he can get to work (he sells cars at a local buy here pay here) and here comes this wolf running at him barking and snarling. The poor guy.
He came over to the car and said, "Oh I thought that was your dog, he tried to bite me!"
I said "HE DID? "Oh Butch I'm so sorry, he's not normally vicious at all" (and he isn't normally like that at all)
So now I've got the dog stepping on me trying to be "nice doggy" and sticking his nose out the window so Butch can see he's not vicious at all (heh heh heh)
Well, I apologized profusely and I still feel really bad, but i DO try to make sure the dog is secured, because I never know what he's going to do. Thank God it wasn't a child.
So.. I get the dog back to the house, leave the car running (nice wife) and tie Houdini out on his run, I also MIGHTILY resist the urge to kick him until he’s dead, and continue into the house.
The boys are fighting, surprise surprise.
I go into my bedroom and relate the entire episode to my husband who, after 14 years of marriage, has learned to block out 90% of what I say and to make appropriate noises of agreement or negation at the proper intervals.
Nonplussed, I return to the fighting brothers Grimm.
Big Kevin by this time, is just about ready to leave, so I walk him out and shoot dirty looks at the dog, who thinks I want to play and starts running around and laying in that "lets PLAY!" position that dogs do, you know? with his butt in the air?
Kevin and I kiss, he says Have a good day, I say thanks you too, I love you, he leaves.
I go back in to the DMZ where apparently détente has been achieved for a few minutes.
Its now 7:30am. Number One Son makes it outside with his appallingly heavy backpack, in his big Columbia jacket, he kinda looks like a Sherpa with that bag lol. Mercifully the bus is right there when he gets to the side of the road.
Finally, I get to sit down, have a cup and talk to the girls in the chat room.
Except, I don't
Because the husband has forgotten his uniforms, and today is uniform day, and do I feel like brining them down???
I agree but only because I'd end up washing his work clothes and they're gross.
So I bring him his uniforms, then I drop Konnor at school because he couldn't catch the bus.
Finally home.
Step through the door set the baby down, I carried her in because she was still in her jammies.
I fall into my chair, hoping the girls are still in the room... AH they are!
Say BACK... grab my now cold coffee cup and put it in the microwave, turn around and there’s Katie barfing.
Oh my God... have I offended someone on a cosmic level?
Get the kid cleaned up, sit down to chat then am overwhelmed with guilt because I haven’t gotten ONE thing on my wonderful list done yet and its... HOLY SHIT 8:45~!
The rest of the day kind of goes the same way,
I went to make a cup of tea at 3:00 Ahh tea...
So, I pour the boiling hot water into the teapot, annnnnd......the kettle is FULL of cooked macaroni.
Apparently at some point when I wasn't being very observant, my daughter the climber, figured the hole in my teakettle was for inserting macaroni. Yeah I laughed too.
She’s also done a thousand little things which have stopped me in my tracks today, annoying but ultimately harmless.
Well, except when she bit me on the ass earlier, that hurt... I didn't laugh that time (it IS pretty funny now).
Right after that Konnor’s therapeutic mentor called me, Now, he'd had to skip Konnor yesterday because of his son having to go to the ER, understandable, shit happens.
Today he called again, he couldn't come (I wasn’t really expecting him to) but could he come tomorrow?
Now Friday is the biggest sucky day of the week for me. I run around doing errands, I do my shopping, basically very busy.
Tomorrow I have Jen, (Konnor’s clinician) Dave, (Kevin’s clinician) and Chad coming. Too bad I don't play poker, I've always got at least a full house... (ha-ha lame 10:15pm Joke folks)
Now, my son apparently didn't get the memo that Chad wasn't coming today because he decided to pull a FIT about getting on the bus.
Ultimately he didn't I had to go and pick him up. Fortunately, he'd managed to calm himself down and he wasn't the evil spawn he can be when I got there.
We're home, everything is pretty good, I do some laundry, Cook some supper get the kids fed, and the baby in the tub, and apparently, I've done my penance for the day because so far so good.
Maybe I'll get some tonight, ... the day can't be a total wash.
Oh yeah, I've GOT to get out of these underwear, they're killing me.
I totally snickered the whole time I was reading this. We were living in Arundel then, Katie was still a baby, and we still had our dog Thunder who was a 170 pound Husky-Akita-Wolf hybrid.
11-04-04
Some Days Are Hard.
Some days are particularly hard, today isn't the worst, but its right up there in the top 50.
6:15am
It started off with the dog getting loose and me having to:
a) run to the end of my driveway like a damn fool trying to catch the dog. (he runs like he’s a refugee from Seabrook)
b)walk back to the house vowing dog-i-cide the entire way. (Have I mentioned its 28 degrees?)
c) find clothes, which naturally aren't folded and I have to dig through the laundry basket PRAYING I have clean underwear at the bottom of the basket, but not being so lucky and having to check the dryer... voila!(Crap, they're the ones that ride up ... screw it)
d) grab the dogs 18 inch lead (which I'm thinking would make an excellent beating strap)that’s buried under the molding which is leaning up against the wall and hasn’t been re-hung since we put the door in back in September.
e) go to my car to start it and drive around looking for the animal
Now, all of this time, I'm rushing because I'm thinking "Oh shit its hunting season, and he's going to get shot and OMG what if he bites someone!"
So, I finally get dressed get out the door, get to my car, scraper in hand and realize....
I don't have my keys.
Lovely
Then I get a light bulb moment and realize Kevin always leaves his keys in his car!
I get in his car and get it started, and realize that his defrost doesn't work... wonderful.
Ya Know... This is a good time to add that I started the day with the best of intentions.
I had nothing planned on my calendar, and I fully intended to do a lot of things around the house, I'd even spent the first hour after I'd gotten up, making a list of chores that needed to be done so I'd be all hyper-organized. i was so proud of myself! Now this stupid friggin dog had thrown a wrench in my day.
Sooooo, I scrape a 3x5 spot clear on Kevin’s windshield, and drive out passenger side and driver’s side windows open and turn down the road beside my house... and I use the word "road" loosely, and only meaning a space to drive where there aren't any trees.
After bumping and bottoming out along this road for about a quarter mile thinking maybe he went the other way I spot the fugitive standing in the road looking ultra wolf-like.
His hackles are all up in a ridge along his back, and his tail is bushed out like something feral, even though he's my dog, to see him like that made ME scared.
So anyway, he sees me coming and decides he’s going to be "good doggie" and comes trotting to the car. I throw open the door, and in he jumps, THRILLED to be getting a ride!!
My neighbor Butch was standing by his car, brandishing one of those wooden handled scraper/windshield brush thingies like a weapon. He ALSO spotted me and hollered "Is that your dog?!" I could hear his voice was kinda shaky.
Let me tell you about Butch.
He's one of those guys you can tell life has never given a break to.
He's got that permanent dark tan of a man who's worked outside nearly all of his life and he’s built like those men you see pictured in 1920's and 30's Oklahoma Dust Bowl documentaries. He's the living image of what Pa Joad would look like. Thin body, almost to the point of being emaciated but with those muscles that look like ropes tied to his bones. He favors those strappy tee shirts and denim jackets, he’s got a beard and that kind of white hair that has to be wet down and slicked into place, and looks blown away and stringy by noon.
He IS however a very nice man.
He’s had to use our phone a few times, because his goes out when it rains (this sounds weird but I knew exactly what he meant because it happened to us as well)
I also gave him all kinds of stuff from our garden this year because, well shit he looks like he doesn't eat much. lol
Anyway, poor Butch is just trying to get his car scraped so he can get to work (he sells cars at a local buy here pay here) and here comes this wolf running at him barking and snarling. The poor guy.
He came over to the car and said, "Oh I thought that was your dog, he tried to bite me!"
I said "HE DID? "Oh Butch I'm so sorry, he's not normally vicious at all" (and he isn't normally like that at all)
So now I've got the dog stepping on me trying to be "nice doggy" and sticking his nose out the window so Butch can see he's not vicious at all (heh heh heh)
Well, I apologized profusely and I still feel really bad, but i DO try to make sure the dog is secured, because I never know what he's going to do. Thank God it wasn't a child.
So.. I get the dog back to the house, leave the car running (nice wife) and tie Houdini out on his run, I also MIGHTILY resist the urge to kick him until he’s dead, and continue into the house.
The boys are fighting, surprise surprise.
I go into my bedroom and relate the entire episode to my husband who, after 14 years of marriage, has learned to block out 90% of what I say and to make appropriate noises of agreement or negation at the proper intervals.
Nonplussed, I return to the fighting brothers Grimm.
Big Kevin by this time, is just about ready to leave, so I walk him out and shoot dirty looks at the dog, who thinks I want to play and starts running around and laying in that "lets PLAY!" position that dogs do, you know? with his butt in the air?
Kevin and I kiss, he says Have a good day, I say thanks you too, I love you, he leaves.
I go back in to the DMZ where apparently détente has been achieved for a few minutes.
Its now 7:30am. Number One Son makes it outside with his appallingly heavy backpack, in his big Columbia jacket, he kinda looks like a Sherpa with that bag lol. Mercifully the bus is right there when he gets to the side of the road.
Finally, I get to sit down, have a cup and talk to the girls in the chat room.
Except, I don't
Because the husband has forgotten his uniforms, and today is uniform day, and do I feel like brining them down???
I agree but only because I'd end up washing his work clothes and they're gross.
So I bring him his uniforms, then I drop Konnor at school because he couldn't catch the bus.
Finally home.
Step through the door set the baby down, I carried her in because she was still in her jammies.
I fall into my chair, hoping the girls are still in the room... AH they are!
Say BACK... grab my now cold coffee cup and put it in the microwave, turn around and there’s Katie barfing.
Oh my God... have I offended someone on a cosmic level?
Get the kid cleaned up, sit down to chat then am overwhelmed with guilt because I haven’t gotten ONE thing on my wonderful list done yet and its... HOLY SHIT 8:45~!
The rest of the day kind of goes the same way,
I went to make a cup of tea at 3:00 Ahh tea...
So, I pour the boiling hot water into the teapot, annnnnd......the kettle is FULL of cooked macaroni.
Apparently at some point when I wasn't being very observant, my daughter the climber, figured the hole in my teakettle was for inserting macaroni. Yeah I laughed too.
She’s also done a thousand little things which have stopped me in my tracks today, annoying but ultimately harmless.
Well, except when she bit me on the ass earlier, that hurt... I didn't laugh that time (it IS pretty funny now).
Right after that Konnor’s therapeutic mentor called me, Now, he'd had to skip Konnor yesterday because of his son having to go to the ER, understandable, shit happens.
Today he called again, he couldn't come (I wasn’t really expecting him to) but could he come tomorrow?
Now Friday is the biggest sucky day of the week for me. I run around doing errands, I do my shopping, basically very busy.
Tomorrow I have Jen, (Konnor’s clinician) Dave, (Kevin’s clinician) and Chad coming. Too bad I don't play poker, I've always got at least a full house... (ha-ha lame 10:15pm Joke folks)
Now, my son apparently didn't get the memo that Chad wasn't coming today because he decided to pull a FIT about getting on the bus.
Ultimately he didn't I had to go and pick him up. Fortunately, he'd managed to calm himself down and he wasn't the evil spawn he can be when I got there.
We're home, everything is pretty good, I do some laundry, Cook some supper get the kids fed, and the baby in the tub, and apparently, I've done my penance for the day because so far so good.
Maybe I'll get some tonight, ... the day can't be a total wash.
Oh yeah, I've GOT to get out of these underwear, they're killing me.
A few random thoughts
January/February is downtime here.
If we've done everything correctly, and after all of these years, I'm confident we have, all that has to be done during the deep winter is mind the chickens, order our seeds, plan the garden, and wait until the ground is soft enough to drop in the peas.
So, in the next few weeks, I'll start talking about the 'very exciting' business of ordering seeds and all of that stuff, but for now, I'm posting some random stuff, some old archived posts from a now-defunct blog I used to have, and talking about things that seem funny, interesting or unusual.
I hope you enjoy it.
What is it about cats?
They have the incredible ability to make themselves longer and heavier, in direct relation to how much you want them to get off of you. So you find yourself, dragging this 40 pound, five foot long, dead-weight, sack of fur off of you just to get up! You're lifting and pulling at full extension of your arms and theres STILL another foot of cat curled up on you - like some weird furry snake... when bare minutes ago, it was a nice, little, fluffy two pound thing curled up and purring.
And while we're on the subject of their weird abilities, why is it they also have the ability to sit on your lap (chest, back, head) and lull you into a coma-like sleep, almost immediately.
I swear I can get up and drink three pots of coffee in the morning, have the cat sit on me for ten minutes and BOOM I'm out.
It's uncanny.
I found out today that the majority of Celts (Irish, Scot, Welch) in the British Isles are direct descendants of Spanish fishermen who ended up there over 6000 years ago. Genetically, they (the Celts) are closer to their Iberian relatives than they are to their Norse relatives.
If you have the time (about 3.5 uninterrupted hours) and the interest, theres a fascinating documentary called
Victorian Farm on YouTube .YouTube - Victorian Farm 14/36
Broken down into 36 10-11 minute segments, it covers a year in the lives of 3 historical archivists, historians, archaeologists who move into a Victorian farm and run it. VERY GOOD program, great for kids and adults who enjoy that sort of educational programming.
If we've done everything correctly, and after all of these years, I'm confident we have, all that has to be done during the deep winter is mind the chickens, order our seeds, plan the garden, and wait until the ground is soft enough to drop in the peas.
So, in the next few weeks, I'll start talking about the 'very exciting' business of ordering seeds and all of that stuff, but for now, I'm posting some random stuff, some old archived posts from a now-defunct blog I used to have, and talking about things that seem funny, interesting or unusual.
I hope you enjoy it.
What is it about cats?
They have the incredible ability to make themselves longer and heavier, in direct relation to how much you want them to get off of you. So you find yourself, dragging this 40 pound, five foot long, dead-weight, sack of fur off of you just to get up! You're lifting and pulling at full extension of your arms and theres STILL another foot of cat curled up on you - like some weird furry snake... when bare minutes ago, it was a nice, little, fluffy two pound thing curled up and purring.
And while we're on the subject of their weird abilities, why is it they also have the ability to sit on your lap (chest, back, head) and lull you into a coma-like sleep, almost immediately.
I swear I can get up and drink three pots of coffee in the morning, have the cat sit on me for ten minutes and BOOM I'm out.
It's uncanny.
I found out today that the majority of Celts (Irish, Scot, Welch) in the British Isles are direct descendants of Spanish fishermen who ended up there over 6000 years ago. Genetically, they (the Celts) are closer to their Iberian relatives than they are to their Norse relatives.
If you have the time (about 3.5 uninterrupted hours) and the interest, theres a fascinating documentary called
Victorian Farm on YouTube .YouTube - Victorian Farm 14/36
Broken down into 36 10-11 minute segments, it covers a year in the lives of 3 historical archivists, historians, archaeologists who move into a Victorian farm and run it. VERY GOOD program, great for kids and adults who enjoy that sort of educational programming.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
More rants from the past
I wrote this almost two years ago, intending to post it - but obviously didn't.
Thought I'd post it now - it's dated - Late November to Christmas Time) but only at the beginning and it has some relevance.
Sunday.
It's 2:10pm. I'm at work (yes it's a sweet job) and I'm watching the Colts vs the Panthers.
Now I probably ought to qualify this and state in the interests of full disclosure:
I am an unapologetic New England Patriots fan. I may bleed Red Sox Red, but my heart belongs to Belichick.
So anyway...This has nothing to do with football, aside from the fact that I saw this ad while watching today and it got me thinking (because that's what I do)just how far removed we are from each other.
Okay, broad statement, so let me narrow it down.
Our world has become so convenient, so "easy" and "One Click" that we no longer have to bother interacting with others at all.
The commercial I'm referring to is for a GPS device, I don't recall the brand. It shows this man, stereotypically geeky looking, driving aimlessly in a snowstorm, with a gift beside him. Frightening people seem to menace him at every turn, and The Carol Of The Bells plays in the background, although the words and music are different and dark.
The idea I assume they're trying to convey is "This poor schmuck wouldn't be lost and scared if he only had been smart enough to buy this miracle GPS system."
OK.
I have several issues with this.
First - The music
The Carol of The Bells is my personal favorite Christmas Carol- especially the Transiberian Orchestra version.
Primarily because it's one of only a very few non-secular carols. There aren't any overt references to Christ, aside from the word "Christmas" and it's the perfect song for those of us who love the sentiment of Christmas or Yule - the peaceful wishes, the glad tidings, etc., but reject "Christmas" as a Christian holiday.
Secondly: What's with the stereotypical actor?
They chose someone whose appearance screams "LOSER!" and worse, they have him driving a crap car.
The implication is: "This guy isn't very rich, or good looking or...(pick your adjective) therefore he can't be very smart...BE SMARTER THAN THIS LOSER - (and by extension Better looking and Richer) - Buy our product!"
Lastly: When did we stop talking to others?
Why couldn't this guy just pull over and ask for directions?
Oh yeah! The scary denizens of Lostville.
You just know if this guy pulls over and asks for directions, something "REALLY BAD" will happen.
It reinforces the sterotype that if someone looks different or acts differently, then they are not to be trusted.
Plain and simple, this ad panders to fear.
So fear (in what is rapidly becoming a lengthy diatribe) is one reason that Americans don't communicate with each other.
1. Fear of the unknown.
2. Fear of being misunderstood
3. Fear of being judged somewhat inferior to others or seen as an outsider.
4. Fear of not "keeping up with the Joneses."
Now I know there are those who cry, "Whaddayamean we don't communicate? There are more ways to talk to others now than ever before."
My answer is, Yes. There are more ways than ever...but effective use of them is optional, and I'm sorry, but there is no substitute for face to face interaction.
This opinion has prevailed in some circles since the early days of the telephone and telegraph.
Before anyone screams "Luddite" I feel it's necessary to mention, I love my gadgets.
I love my cellphone with it's ability to call anyone anywhere anytime, and text whenever I choose. No camera though - I mean, it IS a phone for crying out loud.
I'm VERY fond of my PDA, which makes writing and jotting notes and story ideas so simple. I no longer have fifty pieces of scrap paper in my pockets.
It has a voice recorder so I can talk into it and not lose a story idea that comes to me while I'm hurtling down the turnpike at 70mph.
It also has a calendar which keeps my days organized.
But by far I have a mad, all consuming, passionate love affair with my laptop.
So much so that it makes my husband jealous (seriously). So no, I'm not a technophobe.
It just seems that things are now designed to be so simple that social interaction is optional and unnecessary.
I know there are those who embrace that...but I mourn it.
The ability to communicate, effectively or not, is what makes us human - what elevates us above the lesser creatures.
When communication becomes optional, most people will choose not to.
It's (at least in my opinion) a startling laziness on the part of society as a whole, and it's not a peculiarly American trait either.
Don't like Christmas Shopping? - Shop online!
Don't want to deal with traffic or annoying co-workers? - Telecommute!
Don't want to endure going to your car, driving to a restaurant and being served? - No problem, we Deliver!
If you can't bear actually looking at others once you've gone out? - No problem, We have WIFI!
Our incredible technology makes it simple to invert and the most frightening aspect of that inversion is that people seem content to let it happen.
Karl Marx said "Religion is the opiate of the masses."
With apologies to the old Socialist, my corollary to that is "Technology is the opiate of the Twenty-first Century."
So... here I am, presenting a problem, is there a solution?
Well, that's difficult. We are a society in decline. A society so dumbed down and numbed by "info-tainment" that we have very little knowledge of what goes on in our world.
So long as we have our weekly dose of "Brittney, Paris, Lindsey" (pick your brainless celebrity), we're happy.
And don't for a minute think I'm an ivory tower observer.
I'm a junkie for celebrity news. I surf the internet and read "news" stories about people I don't know, or otherwise care about, simply because I want to know.
It's not that I really care about them... it's that there is such a paucity of actual news, I'm pacified with the opiate of entertainment.
The cynical - tinfoily voice in me whispers "That's how "they" want it."
The ever present "they".
"They" want the American public to be dumb sheep, drugged to complacency by the ease and abundance of technology...Satellite television, game consoles, flat screen tv, iPods, Cellphones, cable, internet...keep the people happy and content and they'll be good worker drones, ever increasing the supply of honey to the richer section of the hive.
I'm not what I'd consider a fan of television. I watch sports. I watch Law and Order and Discovery Channel - aside from that I couldn't care less if the television is on or off.
I prefer the internet (with it's own issues) and it's multitude of information - good and bad.
I've only watched one episode of American Idol, I've never seen Lost or Survivor. The idea of people being trashed verbally and humiliated for entertainment is abhorrent to me (too close to the Roman Gladiatorial contests). Admittedly, I'm out of the loop when it comes to pop culture icons, and I sometimes (but only briefly) regret that.
Increasingly, I inhabit a cerebral world of my own creation, and I like it that way.
But I also know that it does me absolutely no good to withdraw. It would be the ideal situation to me to be able to do nothing but write and think all day. Unfortunately I'm not able to do that, nor should I.
I have 3 kids and a wonderful husband and that was my choice...but the beautiful siren of solitude is very enticing.
So I guess my suggestion is try to talk with others, but listen even more. Open that channel of communication with those around you.
Oh yeah, two more things:
Shut down the computer & Turn off the TV.
Peace.
Thought I'd post it now - it's dated - Late November to Christmas Time) but only at the beginning and it has some relevance.
Sunday.
It's 2:10pm. I'm at work (yes it's a sweet job) and I'm watching the Colts vs the Panthers.
Now I probably ought to qualify this and state in the interests of full disclosure:
I am an unapologetic New England Patriots fan. I may bleed Red Sox Red, but my heart belongs to Belichick.
So anyway...This has nothing to do with football, aside from the fact that I saw this ad while watching today and it got me thinking (because that's what I do)just how far removed we are from each other.
Okay, broad statement, so let me narrow it down.
Our world has become so convenient, so "easy" and "One Click" that we no longer have to bother interacting with others at all.
The commercial I'm referring to is for a GPS device, I don't recall the brand. It shows this man, stereotypically geeky looking, driving aimlessly in a snowstorm, with a gift beside him. Frightening people seem to menace him at every turn, and The Carol Of The Bells plays in the background, although the words and music are different and dark.
The idea I assume they're trying to convey is "This poor schmuck wouldn't be lost and scared if he only had been smart enough to buy this miracle GPS system."
OK.
I have several issues with this.
First - The music
The Carol of The Bells is my personal favorite Christmas Carol- especially the Transiberian Orchestra version.
Primarily because it's one of only a very few non-secular carols. There aren't any overt references to Christ, aside from the word "Christmas" and it's the perfect song for those of us who love the sentiment of Christmas or Yule - the peaceful wishes, the glad tidings, etc., but reject "Christmas" as a Christian holiday.
Secondly: What's with the stereotypical actor?
They chose someone whose appearance screams "LOSER!" and worse, they have him driving a crap car.
The implication is: "This guy isn't very rich, or good looking or...(pick your adjective) therefore he can't be very smart...BE SMARTER THAN THIS LOSER - (and by extension Better looking and Richer) - Buy our product!"
Lastly: When did we stop talking to others?
Why couldn't this guy just pull over and ask for directions?
Oh yeah! The scary denizens of Lostville.
You just know if this guy pulls over and asks for directions, something "REALLY BAD" will happen.
It reinforces the sterotype that if someone looks different or acts differently, then they are not to be trusted.
Plain and simple, this ad panders to fear.
So fear (in what is rapidly becoming a lengthy diatribe) is one reason that Americans don't communicate with each other.
1. Fear of the unknown.
2. Fear of being misunderstood
3. Fear of being judged somewhat inferior to others or seen as an outsider.
4. Fear of not "keeping up with the Joneses."
Now I know there are those who cry, "Whaddayamean we don't communicate? There are more ways to talk to others now than ever before."
My answer is, Yes. There are more ways than ever...but effective use of them is optional, and I'm sorry, but there is no substitute for face to face interaction.
This opinion has prevailed in some circles since the early days of the telephone and telegraph.
Before anyone screams "Luddite" I feel it's necessary to mention, I love my gadgets.
I love my cellphone with it's ability to call anyone anywhere anytime, and text whenever I choose. No camera though - I mean, it IS a phone for crying out loud.
I'm VERY fond of my PDA, which makes writing and jotting notes and story ideas so simple. I no longer have fifty pieces of scrap paper in my pockets.
It has a voice recorder so I can talk into it and not lose a story idea that comes to me while I'm hurtling down the turnpike at 70mph.
It also has a calendar which keeps my days organized.
But by far I have a mad, all consuming, passionate love affair with my laptop.
So much so that it makes my husband jealous (seriously). So no, I'm not a technophobe.
It just seems that things are now designed to be so simple that social interaction is optional and unnecessary.
I know there are those who embrace that...but I mourn it.
The ability to communicate, effectively or not, is what makes us human - what elevates us above the lesser creatures.
When communication becomes optional, most people will choose not to.
It's (at least in my opinion) a startling laziness on the part of society as a whole, and it's not a peculiarly American trait either.
Don't like Christmas Shopping? - Shop online!
Don't want to deal with traffic or annoying co-workers? - Telecommute!
Don't want to endure going to your car, driving to a restaurant and being served? - No problem, we Deliver!
If you can't bear actually looking at others once you've gone out? - No problem, We have WIFI!
Our incredible technology makes it simple to invert and the most frightening aspect of that inversion is that people seem content to let it happen.
Karl Marx said "Religion is the opiate of the masses."
With apologies to the old Socialist, my corollary to that is "Technology is the opiate of the Twenty-first Century."
So... here I am, presenting a problem, is there a solution?
Well, that's difficult. We are a society in decline. A society so dumbed down and numbed by "info-tainment" that we have very little knowledge of what goes on in our world.
So long as we have our weekly dose of "Brittney, Paris, Lindsey" (pick your brainless celebrity), we're happy.
And don't for a minute think I'm an ivory tower observer.
I'm a junkie for celebrity news. I surf the internet and read "news" stories about people I don't know, or otherwise care about, simply because I want to know.
It's not that I really care about them... it's that there is such a paucity of actual news, I'm pacified with the opiate of entertainment.
The cynical - tinfoily voice in me whispers "That's how "they" want it."
The ever present "they".
"They" want the American public to be dumb sheep, drugged to complacency by the ease and abundance of technology...Satellite television, game consoles, flat screen tv, iPods, Cellphones, cable, internet...keep the people happy and content and they'll be good worker drones, ever increasing the supply of honey to the richer section of the hive.
I'm not what I'd consider a fan of television. I watch sports. I watch Law and Order and Discovery Channel - aside from that I couldn't care less if the television is on or off.
I prefer the internet (with it's own issues) and it's multitude of information - good and bad.
I've only watched one episode of American Idol, I've never seen Lost or Survivor. The idea of people being trashed verbally and humiliated for entertainment is abhorrent to me (too close to the Roman Gladiatorial contests). Admittedly, I'm out of the loop when it comes to pop culture icons, and I sometimes (but only briefly) regret that.
Increasingly, I inhabit a cerebral world of my own creation, and I like it that way.
But I also know that it does me absolutely no good to withdraw. It would be the ideal situation to me to be able to do nothing but write and think all day. Unfortunately I'm not able to do that, nor should I.
I have 3 kids and a wonderful husband and that was my choice...but the beautiful siren of solitude is very enticing.
So I guess my suggestion is try to talk with others, but listen even more. Open that channel of communication with those around you.
Oh yeah, two more things:
Shut down the computer & Turn off the TV.
Peace.
Can't put my finger on it
There's something wrong with us.
Our culture - American Culture - (go ahead laugh, I'll wait) - American Culture is so screwed up, I'm struggling for words to define what I mean.
Let me explain.
People who know me, know I really don't like TV very much. I think Television was an incredible tool, designed to bring information and knowledge to the masses in a way not seen since Gutenberg invented the mass printing press.
And, that tool was (at least at first) used very effectively, until someone, somewhere decided television was also the perfect way to advance an agenda. Then slowly, so very, very slowly, we hardly noticed, TV was manipulated to convey messages to us about everything, from food purchases, to clothing styles, to social behavior. Now, I'm not so naive to think that social manipulation never occurred prior to the idiot box being in every American home. My point is, it's become so prevalent in our culture that we go to that box for our very thoughts on how we're "supposed" to live.
What we should buy, what we should wear, how we should interact with our spouses and children are all very artfully portrayed for us right there on TV.
Leaving aside the interpersonal aspects (because that's a whole 'nother blog post), the fact that we've been turned into a society of consumers rather than citizens ought to scare the hell out of you.
Ever notice that people aren't called PEOPLE anymore? We're called CONSUMERS.
Because that's what we are. It's what we DO. We CONSUME.
We consume everything - so much so, that I can't help but equate CONSUMER with Glutton or Scavenger...
The American public is no longer a group of citizens who live in the same country under the same flag, working towards a brighter future, we're a group of consumers, hell bent on getting anything and everything we want (whether we need it or not) and fuck the rest of the world, we're Americans, we're ENTITLED to the best.
The problem with a consumer society, is it requires constant infusions of money to make it survive. The damage that cult of consumerism creates is horrifying.
People always after the next best thing, throwing out what is still useful, but outdated. Discarding perfectly good things, simply because a "better one" is available. Filling up landfills and disregarding the cost to humanity and the environment at the true cost of producing all of this "stuff"...
Wastefully spending on stupid, trivial, shit, simply because they can - except now, they can't.
Job losses, housing values dropping, price increases, credit limitations - all of these things are effectively encroaching on our "God given right to consume!"
But we've been so well conditioned, that we still want everything newer and better, even when we can make do with older and maybe not so bright and shiny.
What we've done is consumed ourselves into abject poverty. We've been manipulated through media to believe we need newer, better, faster, even if it means digging yourself into a lifetime of debt to achieve it, and the really sinister thing about that is, it will never end. There will always be something new to buy.
There is no such thing as perpetual growth, eventually something somewhere has to fail - we're at the dawn of that failure.
And for that you can thank the stupidity box (or maybe flatpanel/LCD) in your livingroom.
Our culture - American Culture - (go ahead laugh, I'll wait) - American Culture is so screwed up, I'm struggling for words to define what I mean.
Let me explain.
People who know me, know I really don't like TV very much. I think Television was an incredible tool, designed to bring information and knowledge to the masses in a way not seen since Gutenberg invented the mass printing press.
And, that tool was (at least at first) used very effectively, until someone, somewhere decided television was also the perfect way to advance an agenda. Then slowly, so very, very slowly, we hardly noticed, TV was manipulated to convey messages to us about everything, from food purchases, to clothing styles, to social behavior. Now, I'm not so naive to think that social manipulation never occurred prior to the idiot box being in every American home. My point is, it's become so prevalent in our culture that we go to that box for our very thoughts on how we're "supposed" to live.
What we should buy, what we should wear, how we should interact with our spouses and children are all very artfully portrayed for us right there on TV.
Leaving aside the interpersonal aspects (because that's a whole 'nother blog post), the fact that we've been turned into a society of consumers rather than citizens ought to scare the hell out of you.
Ever notice that people aren't called PEOPLE anymore? We're called CONSUMERS.
Because that's what we are. It's what we DO. We CONSUME.
We consume everything - so much so, that I can't help but equate CONSUMER with Glutton or Scavenger...
The American public is no longer a group of citizens who live in the same country under the same flag, working towards a brighter future, we're a group of consumers, hell bent on getting anything and everything we want (whether we need it or not) and fuck the rest of the world, we're Americans, we're ENTITLED to the best.
The problem with a consumer society, is it requires constant infusions of money to make it survive. The damage that cult of consumerism creates is horrifying.
People always after the next best thing, throwing out what is still useful, but outdated. Discarding perfectly good things, simply because a "better one" is available. Filling up landfills and disregarding the cost to humanity and the environment at the true cost of producing all of this "stuff"...
Wastefully spending on stupid, trivial, shit, simply because they can - except now, they can't.
Job losses, housing values dropping, price increases, credit limitations - all of these things are effectively encroaching on our "God given right to consume!"
But we've been so well conditioned, that we still want everything newer and better, even when we can make do with older and maybe not so bright and shiny.
What we've done is consumed ourselves into abject poverty. We've been manipulated through media to believe we need newer, better, faster, even if it means digging yourself into a lifetime of debt to achieve it, and the really sinister thing about that is, it will never end. There will always be something new to buy.
There is no such thing as perpetual growth, eventually something somewhere has to fail - we're at the dawn of that failure.
And for that you can thank the stupidity box (or maybe flatpanel/LCD) in your livingroom.
Food&Plenty&Stuff
Written in August 2009
I just ate a bowl of soup..
As I ate, I watched my son prepare a tray of meat he's making into beef jerky.
My office is my kitchen, so I'm therefore surrounded by food. It's pervasive in my house... but also in our country, it's common to have plenty of food to eat.
Even for the less fortunate around us, there is usually plenty to eat, whether it's through food supplement programs such as SNAP (formerly the food stamp assistance program) - or through food pantries.
Its strange that in our nation of plenty, there are those who are starving...so starving that they must eat cast off food.
And I'm not sure what's worse, the fact that there are people so hungry, or that there are people who actually prefer eating this way.
SIDE RANT: The Freegan movement consists of people who survive almost exclusively from what the rest of us consider garbage.
Google FREEGANS and you'll find a wealth of information on it.
Now being cynical, I can't help but think that if these people can afford a computer and can take the time to set up accounts in forums, they probably could find some money to purchase food. SO, what is the purpose of this?
Is it some kind of stupidity to prove how much they identify with an ecologically sound form of post-consumer consumption?
Are they pointing out the gross wastefulness of our society?
Are they making a statement? Somehow pointing out how individual and unique they are, by doing what everyone else in their clique is doing?
I mean honestly, do these people think that the guy pulling open trash bags behind Publix or Meijers or Food Lion is thinking, "oh I can't wait to get home and google some blog to tell me how to cook up this incredible Arugula and Portabella mushroom I found (I'll just wipe off the slime).":SIDE RANT OVER
Let's get real, okay?
There is an epidemic of waste in our country that is so pervasive and disgusting it pains me to think about it for too long (And don't even get me started on so-called "Competitive Eating Contests" - there aren't words for how repulsive that is to me).
A perfect example (just to point out that I'm not above it) the other day, I picked almost 10 pounds of radishes from my garden. We ate a lot of them, but the rest languished in the refridgerator until I threw them away.
I talk big about preserving food and not wasting, but they turned to garbage.
Waste like that is a luxury we really can't afford, and I'm trying to do better.
In the very near future, I fully expect to see shortages of food in our country, like those we've been witnessing in less developed nations for the last half century.
In Haiti, they're eating mud for Christ's sake! MUD.
We're only at the tip of the iceberg here. Just the recent increases in food prices at grocery stores have had a negative effect on the common consumer.
I'm of the opinion that farmers aren't compensated appropriately for their efforts, but at the same time, I'm a mom with 3 kids on a budget and spending an extra 50 - 60 dollars on the same (or less) groceries every week really makes a huge dent in the budget.
I grow my own food to supplement what I buy. I buy bulk and bake from scratch (more from the fact that I hate processed food than cost savings). I prefer to spend my money locally and I shop at neighborhood stores and shops which tends to cost more, but leaves me feeling better - especially knowing my money isn't enriching any mega corporations (cough:walmart:cough).
And still, I don't think I'm doing enough to provide for my family. I'm making a concerted effort to try and save and stockpile what I can while it's still relatively cheap. Call me a doomer I guess, but I don't see a downside here...if it comes down to being considered a whack-job, or seeing my children go hungry, I guess you know what my decision is going to be.
It's strange and unsettling to try and imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly reduced to hanging around behind the Hannaford waiting for closing time to pick up whatever they throw away.
Unfortunately, I think it's entirely plausible that you, or I, or people in our near acquaintance could indeed be thrust into that scenario.
Maybe I ought to download some portabella/arugula recipes...
As I ate, I watched my son prepare a tray of meat he's making into beef jerky.
My office is my kitchen, so I'm therefore surrounded by food. It's pervasive in my house... but also in our country, it's common to have plenty of food to eat.
Even for the less fortunate around us, there is usually plenty to eat, whether it's through food supplement programs such as SNAP (formerly the food stamp assistance program) - or through food pantries.
Its strange that in our nation of plenty, there are those who are starving...so starving that they must eat cast off food.
And I'm not sure what's worse, the fact that there are people so hungry, or that there are people who actually prefer eating this way.
SIDE RANT: The Freegan movement consists of people who survive almost exclusively from what the rest of us consider garbage.
Google FREEGANS and you'll find a wealth of information on it.
Now being cynical, I can't help but think that if these people can afford a computer and can take the time to set up accounts in forums, they probably could find some money to purchase food. SO, what is the purpose of this?
Is it some kind of stupidity to prove how much they identify with an ecologically sound form of post-consumer consumption?
Are they pointing out the gross wastefulness of our society?
Are they making a statement? Somehow pointing out how individual and unique they are, by doing what everyone else in their clique is doing?
I mean honestly, do these people think that the guy pulling open trash bags behind Publix or Meijers or Food Lion is thinking, "oh I can't wait to get home and google some blog to tell me how to cook up this incredible Arugula and Portabella mushroom I found (I'll just wipe off the slime).":SIDE RANT OVER
Let's get real, okay?
There is an epidemic of waste in our country that is so pervasive and disgusting it pains me to think about it for too long (And don't even get me started on so-called "Competitive Eating Contests" - there aren't words for how repulsive that is to me).
A perfect example (just to point out that I'm not above it) the other day, I picked almost 10 pounds of radishes from my garden. We ate a lot of them, but the rest languished in the refridgerator until I threw them away.
I talk big about preserving food and not wasting, but they turned to garbage.
Waste like that is a luxury we really can't afford, and I'm trying to do better.
In the very near future, I fully expect to see shortages of food in our country, like those we've been witnessing in less developed nations for the last half century.
In Haiti, they're eating mud for Christ's sake! MUD.
We're only at the tip of the iceberg here. Just the recent increases in food prices at grocery stores have had a negative effect on the common consumer.
I'm of the opinion that farmers aren't compensated appropriately for their efforts, but at the same time, I'm a mom with 3 kids on a budget and spending an extra 50 - 60 dollars on the same (or less) groceries every week really makes a huge dent in the budget.
I grow my own food to supplement what I buy. I buy bulk and bake from scratch (more from the fact that I hate processed food than cost savings). I prefer to spend my money locally and I shop at neighborhood stores and shops which tends to cost more, but leaves me feeling better - especially knowing my money isn't enriching any mega corporations (cough:walmart:cough).
And still, I don't think I'm doing enough to provide for my family. I'm making a concerted effort to try and save and stockpile what I can while it's still relatively cheap. Call me a doomer I guess, but I don't see a downside here...if it comes down to being considered a whack-job, or seeing my children go hungry, I guess you know what my decision is going to be.
It's strange and unsettling to try and imagine how you would feel if you were suddenly reduced to hanging around behind the Hannaford waiting for closing time to pick up whatever they throw away.
Unfortunately, I think it's entirely plausible that you, or I, or people in our near acquaintance could indeed be thrust into that scenario.
Maybe I ought to download some portabella/arugula recipes...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Homestead on the Hill
Although I've been blogging in various forms over the years, I've never tackled the true topics that mean the most to me.
Homesteading, self sufficiency, growing and producing food in a responsible and sustainable way, and buying locally.
With this blog, and some of the links I'm going to add, I hope to begin that journey - and possibly enlighten others who are perched on the fence - regarding the value of those choices.
I'd like to start off with a few ground rules, and expand a little on what I hope to accomplish.
What this blog is:
This blog is a place for me to post my thoughts on what really impacts us. For example:
A) the "new" economy,
B) learning how to stretch my budget for food and other items through gardening and "backyard farming",
C) environmental concerns - covering weather, climate change, toxins and pollutants,
D) current events
What this blog is not:
A) a forum to debate global warming - the name doesn't matter, I think we can all agree the climate is changing.
B) a forum to debunk Peak Oil or resource depletion - I've already made my mind up on these issues and spent years researching them. I won't be diverted, so don't bother.
C) a political arena - although I reserve the right to call bullshit on any political creature that shows their ass in regards to the above topics. Let's face it, it really doesn't matter if theres a (dem) or (rep) after their name, they all go by the same play book.
D) a call to arms for survivalists or Mad Max'ers - there are already enough sites and blogs dedicated to THAT particular flavor of insanity, and I want NO part of it.
As an addendum, I'm going to add that I'm not opposed or biased against the occasional "tinfoil hat" theory - as we're finding out daily, things we thought were "woo-woo" (Big Brother, TSA, surveillance society, ad nauseum) are all too real as we move into the future.
So that's my first post - I'll most likely be adding things during the day and hopefully I'll be able to include some links to pertinent sites soon.
Thanks for reading.
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