Cemeteries Make Great Arboretums

Cemeteries make great arboretums. I learned that the other day at work. Apparently it is quite common to find new varieties of trees and shrubs growing at cemeteries, such as a variegated Ginkgo biloba to name one. The reason for these unique specimens? Embalming chemicals. All the embalming chemicals from ones used in days past, to the varnish used in coffins today eventually leach into the soil causing genetic mutations in plants, and incidentally higher cancer rates among nearby residents. Now just to make sure this claim was true I did a little research. Sure enough the University of Toledo in Toledo Ohio did a study on the topic and concluded that cemeteries have high levels of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and zinc due to embalming chemicals and coffin varnish in the soil and the groundwater.
So to all out there who may have a hand in my funeral when the time comes, let it be known: Iwould like to be cremated. I rather like the idea of going out in a blaze of glory anyway. As fun as it may be to know that my remains could be the basis of a new tree specimen, I would prefer to forgo the honor.

A Bunch of Random Things That Have Been On My Mind

Here are a few thoughts that have been rambling through my mind this weekend while I have been at death's door with Montezuma's Revenge. I feel obligated to respond to Jay's comment about on me in his 'Crazy Cat Lady' blog. Yes, I did really say that "they aren't people, they're cats". Callous? Possibly. Yet I find it interesting how much we like to humanize our pets. Need an example? Look at any fancy feast commercial. While I do think it is sad that some animals have to be put down, I also think that's life, tough cookies for them. I find it amusing that some bleeding heart animal advocates talk about how cruel it is to do that to an cat/dog, and then go eat a Big Mac. I am more morally outraged by the treatment of livestock then by kitties who get three square meals, and then get to sleep the big sleep. Believe me, its a lot easier way to go. You want to hear an even more callous remark from me? I told Jay the cat who has been boarding with us for awhile needed to go and he asked "so which cat do you want to have put down so there is room for him?" My reply " I don't care, whichever one is at the bottom of the totem pole."
As I was lying around on the couch bemoaning my state on Saturday, Jay took to cleaning the entire house. This surprised me. He said he was going to clean the entire house, but I guess I figured he would quite once the downstairs was clean. I would have. I lack the attention span needed to do a full day's cleaning. Anyway, whilst cleaning up kitty stuff, he discovered ants in the utility closet where we keep the kitty food. Jay was properly horrified and kind of panicky cause the ants were crawling on him. I am over the whole "ants everywhere" scene since living in California. Occasionally we would wake up to find the counters in our kitchen absolutely black with ants. Then would proceed a day of spraying ammonia and cleaning up little dead ant bodies and chucking whatever food they got into. Once after such a day, I found a bag of raisins on the counter. Thinking nothing of it, and having the munchies I grabbed a handful and popped them in my mouth. It was after the fact that I saw ants all over my hand and the raisin bag. Apparently Mom had intended to throw the bag away but hadn't gotten around to it yet. I couldn't eat raisins for many years after that.
After an experience like that I hardly blinked an eye at the ants in our house. I merely brushed the ants off my feet and grabbed the ammonia.

Pagan Origins

Easter, a Christian festival, embodies many pre-Christian traditions. The origin of its name is unknown. Scholars, however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe it probably comes from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April. Her festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts.

Such festivals, and the stories and legends that explain their origin, were common in ancient religions. A Greek legend tells of the return of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the earth, from the underworld to the light of day; her return symbolized to the ancient Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolation of winter. Many ancient peoples shared similar legends. The Phrygians believed that their omnipotent deity went to sleep at the time of the winter solstice, and they performed ceremonies with music and dancing at the spring equinox

You Are Jelly Beans

For you, Easter is all about fun and sweet treats. None of that Jesus dying on a cross stuff!

What Easter Candy Are You?

I Make a Very Wet Souffle

I made a souffle today for the first time ever. Actual it was probably also the first time I had ever eaten one as well. Every time I hear the word souffle Carol Burnett comes to mind and the song she sings on the musical Annie where she says "I make a very dry martini, I make a very wet souffle." I think I have my father to thank for my ability to remember song lyrics appropriate for any occasion. Anyway back to souffle making. I think it turned out well. It was like eating cheese flavored air. Since souffles are supposed to be light and fluffy I think that is a good sign. It was also an important lesson in patience. When one is cooking a souffle the most important thing to remember is NOT TO OPEN THE OVEN. Easy enough huh? Not for Miss Impatient. I open the oven for everything I cook at least half a dozen times. I caught myself in the act at least twice this time. Finally I went upstairs and just ignored it. Overall I liked it, James didn't, which was surprising and the verdict is still out for Jay. Of course since he didn't come home until an hour after it came out of the oven I am not sure his opinion counts.
I love experimenting with food, especially the stuff that no one really ever cooks. I taught myself how to bake bread in college. I had a friend of Hispanic heritage teach me how to make tamales. I have dabbled in Moroccan cuisine, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indian. Having recently reentered the carnivorous scene, I am pretty darned good at cooking tofu too. I think most people enjoy my cooking although there have been some doozies in the past. It occurred to me a week or two ago that I had never tried to make a souffle before. Obviously my curiosity had to be satisfied. I called up my cooking guru Nancy and asked for the lowdown on souffle making. (I think Nancy could make some good money giving cooking lessons).
I can confidently say I am a good cook. The only thing that has been giving me fits lately is my baking skills. I am not terribly good at baking. Most cakes and brownies for me come from a box. Some of you reading this may remember a certain Easter cake a few years ago. I blame that mistake on being pregnant at the time. I think the problem comes from being impatient. Cooking is a little more instant gratification. Baking takes longer, involves more pans usually, and makes me feel fat. But lately I have been craving the perfect cookie. The one that tastes good, and is soft and gooey on the inside. Mine have been less than sweet and terribly crunchy or just plain burned. I guess I will keep working on that.
I think my next cooking experiment will be chocolate molaise. For those who don't know, molaise is a type of Mexican sauce used for enchiladas and other dishes and sometimes it is made with cocoa. That is my kind of meal.

What's Wrong With This Picture

Yesterday we took James to the Urgent Care Center for a sinus infection. It was a not a trip we were looking forward to, seeing as how we don't have any health insurance. Here is what happened: We went in, filled out a few forms and proceeded to then wait for 1 1/2 hours. During this time, James of course became very tired, bored, frustrated and began to scream. I told Jay maybe it was better if he screamed because they might get so sick of us maybe we would get a room sooner. Sensing that we had been cooling our heels long enough the staff showed us into a room where we waited for another hour. FINALLY a doctor showed up, looked at James for five minutes and spent most of that time telling us to put vaseline on the rash on his face. (DUH!) But we did get the prescription we needed. This whole process cost us about $100.
The point of this story is to illustrate the massive problems in our healthcare system. Our evening was very typical, especially for those who do not have healthcare. The real kicker is, James doesn't even have a regular doctor I could make an appointment with because I can't find a doctor who will take kids without health insurance. The health care system in this country makes me so mad I just want to kick and scream. Our family and millions of other families in America are in this situation. Fortunately for us we do not have to choose between going to the doctor and paying the heating bill or putting food on the table. Even so, we couldn't really afford it. Yet another bill on the credit card.
I just can't believe people pay that kind of money to talk to a doctor for FIVE MINUTES!! Especially since I knew what was wrong with him, and I knew exactly what would be prescribed. Jay seemed especially irritated by the doctor's diamond watch ;)
All the Republicans seem to think that the idea of free-enterprise medicine is what makes this country great and medicine so innovative. Republican politicians also by and large come from wealthy patrician families and have never gone a day in their lives without healthcare. I could not believe Bush vetoed the bill to extend Medicaid to more children, claiming it was a step toward socialized medicine. Boo to socialized medicine!!! (Incidentally I think the socialized medicine is a great idea) James could have health insurance right now if that bill had passed.
Ok, I realize this blog is a little rambling, but I am just venting my frustration on how out of touch with reality Republican politicians are and how totally f**cked up the healthcare system is. Pardon the language but aren't you glad I edited it?
(Pardon to the doctors out there reading this. No, I don't hate doctors specifically and I don't think they are grossly overpaid, (maybe just a little overpaid) I really blame the insurance and pharmaceutical companies and general corporate greed)

Today is binky weaning day and that is a not a good day. James has run around with a bright red moustache for the better part of two months now and it is due to teething and excessive binky use. Thus far we have only given the obnoxious germy thing to him at bedtime, but with no improvement in his skin. So finally, today I took his binky, cut it up so it was 'broken' and let him play with it. Kind of heartbreaking to watch his tearful reaction whenever he looked at it, but such is life. So now Jay and I are in various parts of the house with head phones on so we cannot hear him crying. I am giving him two hours. Its already been 1 and 1/2 and he is still going strong. But as many family members can attest to, he's got nothing on me and my ability to scream as a child...

A Bit About Me To Get Started

All the mad bloggers in my family have inspired me to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard... or whatever. I suppose it is a good way to keep in touch, and a way of venting my strange and sometimes radical thoughts.
I think the Beatles had it right when they sang "All You Need Is Love." A little more love and understanding in people's hearts could go a long long way to solving some of the world's biggest problems. But more on that later...
Just a few random tidbits about me to get us started. My ultimate dream in life is to someday go surfing. More than once would even be better. I have heard its similar to snowboarding which is wicked fun, but surfing would not be as cold nor would I hit the ground on my backside if I fell. (Its also a helluvalot cheaper;) Unfortunately my worst fear is deep water and drowning. So I think I have a long way to go towards accomplishing that goal, but I do plan on surfing before I die. I love trees, spiders, apple juice, and driving through really big puddles. I don't like Jay's cold feet in bed, vacuuming, and cooked button mushrooms- ewwwww. I have no patience with slow computers, bigotry in all its disguises, and bad drivers.
My goal for this year is to lose a good portion of this baby weight I have been dragging around since James came along. I have started running again and hope to complete a 5K race in September without coming in last. Now for those of you who can knock off a 5k without even breaking a sweat keep in mind I am REALLY out of shape.
I am fairly liberal in my political leanings, and a feminist to the core but I don't believe one should push one's beliefs on someone else.. I am sure I will talk more about that later as well.
So that's me in a nutshell. I hope my readers find this blog at least mildly entertaining and informative!