I was over at Neil Gaiman's Journal and read that he sometimes wonders if he'll meet his characters when he dies. I've often thought about that myself, but unlike Neil, who thinks about being confronted by those he never gave life to, I wonder if I'll suddenly find myself outside a set of tall gates thinking, "Gee, these look kind of familiar," only to realize I'm at Chadwicke Park. That would be pretty cool, actually, because I'd love to spend a few hundred years partying with Tuppence and their friends. Better than spending eternity in church singing "Holy, Holy, Holy".
Oh, no! Look! A bullet list!
- Ever since Google updated Chrome earlier in the month, my browser freezes up on me a few times a day. This pisses me off because I didn't consent to the upgrade and I can't go get the previous version. I mean, I did, but when I tried to install it, it wouldn't let me. I hate to go back to Fire Fox, which is so much slower, so I'll probably just
whine and moandeal with it until they sort out yet another fix.
- I wish I could be one of those people who like gluten-free wheat products and tofurkey. I really do. Whenever my vegetarian friends post pictures of their food on Facebook, they look so blissful, smiling up at the heavens and twirling under a blue sky. And the comments they leave for each other—you can almost hear the lip-smacking and salivation. It's like they get high off of it. Do they really like it as much as they tell each other they do, or do they go to the supermarket at 3 am and buy, say, an evil loaf of white bread, or Frosted Flakes? Most of them can afford that kind of diet because they're single, or are single parents of one child, or are married with no kids. I'm not judging. I really wish I could be like that, but even if I could afford it, I doubt that I'd be happy eating what looks basically to me like bird seed and field weeds slathered in tile grout. I've tried several times to like that kind of diet, but I have to face it: I just don't.
- Ever since I was forced to put my comments on moderate, they've suffered a sharp decline. If this goes on, I'll be forced to open up this blog again to flying monkeys and marauding trolls. Please don't make me do this.
- I see that since I changed the template for this blog, the pictures I select oh, so carefully to grab your interest when they show up on your bloglist, aren't showing up there. WTF?
- Now, back to that photo up there. It was composed by a woman named Cynthia. Here's what she says about it: "My entry for MEgolddust contest. The contest is to listen to the song spark by Tori Amos (You Say You Don't Want It) and create a piece of art inspired by it. To me this song spoke of addiction... wanting something you don't want to want." Great photo, Cynthia!
About the food things:
ReplyDeleteIt's so unfortunate that healthy foods are more expensive in some countries than unhealthy foods.
I'm not vegan or anything myself, but vegan food doesn't have to be terrible.
Try some traditional Asian dishes. For example, there are some Indian dishes that are purely vegan, but they taste awesome!
I used to feel the same way about "healthy eating" thinking it was too expensive or just too tasteless. Then... I wrote my own cookbook. I converted all the fattening favorites to healthier versions.
ReplyDeleteI've been editing the book which I will sell off the website that I will have you build for me once I write a few more articles for a paycheck.
Gluten free can be horrible. I found the best gluten free bread that you can purchase is Udi. A gluten free bread that even my mother loves. She is Italian and bread is important to her - gluten causes her to be a little more crazy.
My cookbook is written for the Care Giver. Typically we are financially challenged and need to eat "cheap." I've learned how to eat healthy and not spend a lot of money doing it.
Anyway... I will share with you what I've discovered if you are interested. There's more to eating inexpensively than just Ramen Noodles.
I love Neil Gaiman's blog. I didn't realize you are a fan. I met him once at a comic-book convention. And not just a "Hi, will you please sign this?" meeting. We chatted for about 15 minutes. I was waiting for a friend so I sat down at an semi-empty table and Neil was sitting next to me. I thought it was him, but I just made small talk for a minute or two. I finally asked him if he was Neil Gaiman, and he lit up. He didn't think anyone would recognize him as this was around 1990 and his Sandman series was just starting to generate a buzz. He was really cool. He asked if I wanted anything signed, but I didn't have anything with me. I did get him to sign some stuff a year or two later though.
ReplyDeleteDo you read his wife's blog? Amanda Palmer?
I tend to eat a vegan meal once or twice a week, although never by design; I'm thinking about what I've eaten later on and realize, "Huh. That meal was vegan. Cool."
ReplyDeleteRE: Food, I was trying to make a tongue-in-cheek statement about the people more than the food. I know how to eat well for less, but this is Oklahoma. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find healthy food here, cheap OR expensive.
ReplyDeleteFor instance, one day recently, when Ville and I were shopping together, she said, "Look at this. There are four doors of frozen vegetables in this long-assed aisle while the other side--the whole damn side--is all ice cream and desserts."
The produce sections are shockingly bereft of vegetables and what is there isn't fresh.
When I lived in California and Colorado I had a huge selection of healthy food. It's very different here. We don't have the selection that people on the coasts or in the big city centers have. We have a weekly farmers market, but it's seasonal and pricey. Even if we had a whole foods store here, it would be hugely expensive.
@Earl: I'll check out her blog!
In addition, we live in an area where Van's Pig Stand is considered 5-star dining.
ReplyDelete"It's no wonder Oklahomans are all fat!" LOL Remember that lady that came around the corner just as I was saying that....."Yeah, you are right! This whole case if full of fat and sugar!"
ReplyDeleteLOL, right in the middle of the frozen pizza and french fries are the sad lonely frozen veg. Even then, it's nothing but sugary starchy veg like peas and corn (which isn't a vegetable at all).
Asparagus season is almost upon us. I am going to get a LOT when it's cheap, blanche and freeze it myself.
Oh, and about the comment moderation. I don't find it a big deal, and I totally get why you do it, but one has to click preview, then click post comment. Which isn't a deal, but if you don't know the steps, you think you have posted when you haven't. :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up on that.
ReplyDeleteBTW Earl, that's one of the coolest stories I've heard in a while! Glad to hear he's a nice guy. I kind of figured he was.
I love all that weird Tofurky stuff. But I wouldn't post it on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI have no word verification and no comment moderation on new posts, Works beautifully. Blogger's spam protection works very well this side of the pond.
ReplyDeleteOlder than 24 hours, comment moderation shows up (I like it that way because I do not miss any new comments on posts older than a day).
I don't mind frozen vegetables. I always have a few bags in the freezer, frozen fish too. Saves me from starving on busy days. From the fresh food aisle, humble roots, like onions, rotabaga, parsnips, carrots, and/or cabbage make very good soups. I am not a vegetarian, but I love a reheated bowl of soup with lots of (frozen or freeze dried) herbs and a few spoonfuls of silken tofu. Don't let me start talking of canned tomatoes .... ;-)
B.E. Earl,
ReplyDeleteI met Neil Gaiman at the National Book Festival (I think it was the second one in 2002), and while waiting to talk to him, I observed him handling about half a dozen kids who where there to have their books signed. He took his time to chat and laugh with them, it was a heartwarming scene.
Spam isn't the problem.
ReplyDelete