A Side Of Truth

Do you know where your meat comes from? And do you even care?





I am not trying to convert anyone to vegetarianism. But no one can deny that letting go of at least some meat would do the body good. My daughters best friend tried to go meatless a while back just for one day and she couldn't do it...what does that say about us.

First off, we are led to believe that we 'need' animal protein in order to get stronger. 'NOT'
Secondly, we are told that if we do not consume dairy products that we will develop osteoporosis.'NOT'

It is nothing short of brainwashing to get you to buy their products. You notice I did not call it food. Trust me when I tell you anything that comes in a Styrofoam box and you can get delivered through your car window is not food. It is edible food like substance. And if you don't have thee ingredients on the container in your cupboard, then why are you eating them?

It's big business to sell you 'stuff' that resembles food, or things that you have called food your entire life. But this is not food. Or at least the the food your great grand mother knew as food. What would she say and do if she came back and saw us eating this way. She would kick our backsides all the way to the fresh market and not leave until we purchased fresh fruit and vegetables and if you chose to eat meat, you went to the butcher and got it from him, not the local drive-thru.

Think long and hard if this is the stuff you want floating around and 'staying' in your gut. I know I don't. I care what goes into my body, so should you.

We Can... But Should We?

This is also my 100th post. Hooray!

There are times when I shake my head. And I wonder if it is because I am getting older or that the news that is making me shake my head is that outlandish. Maybe a bit of both. I recently read an article that reminded me that our food is not what it appears to be.

Did you know that 60-70% of all corn and cotton has been modified and that 90% of all soybeans have been modified as well. Read the article Here . What are we doing to our food people? And why are we letting it happen? You want to know why. Because most of us are fooled into thinking that what we it is natural. And for the most part it is, but this proves us wrong.

Why do wacko scientists feel the need to push things that far. Just because they can? I find that a rape of the natural world. Just because we have the knowledge, does not mean we should use it. That is how problems begin. Take the H bomb for instance. The man who invented that regretted the minute he did it. So, again I ask, why do we do what we do in the world of science.

And hybrids! Unless you are talking about a car, it should not be done...end of discussion. And what is ti with scientists and fiddling with species. Whether it be animals, plants, DNA or anything else man has manipulated. I found this I get it that they are both from the equine species. So just because I am the same Geno as a chimpanzee does not mean I want our DNA spliced with it, just to see if it can be done.

Where does it end? We already are cloning. I mean we have Dolly the lovely sheep. And couldn't cloning head in the direction of a race or slaves. Sounds far fetched, but think about it. We clone the best of the best to do whatever it is we need done, without a care tho who or what they are, what is that saying about us as humans? Not much in my book.

She Fawted

Well this is most likely going to be one of those stories that is funnier if you were there, but here goes.

My daughter has a new interest in her life, and it ain't a new puppy. So thee other day Mr. Interested came over so she could let him watch the first installment of X-Men. this poor lad has yet to see any of them (freak that he is), so Savanah asked if he could come over and hang out to see the first movie. I was home, dad was home (gulp) so all was cool.

The movie was going grandly, I was surfing the web (mom never being unable to see junior) so I would scoot to see the movie then do something in the kitchen. Dad was at his parents, but had come home. So all four of us were sitting in the living room watching the movie.

We bring in our 55 pound pit-bull mix, /she does the usual meet and greet then plops herself down squarely on the carpet in the TV Room. All is well until we hear this very loud Faaaaaarrrrrrtttt!

All four of us cracked up. the dog never missed a beat and she could have cared less who was watching or listening. She did what she had to do and was done with it. Us, on the other hand could not believe what she had done. And just what had she done. A very natural act, to a dog at least, but to us, it is a sign of being ill-mannered. Well then I guess our home is the top of the line when to comes to being ill mannered. At least among our own family that is.

We, meaning the four that live here (5 if you count stinky...I mean Tippy) are all comfortable with our, how would you call it? Our ability to alleviate our bodies of extra hot air. And yet, if the dog does one of thee most natural acts in the world, we all blush and carry on like a house full of hens with a fox running loose.

We actually have dinner table discussions about this topic. If you can't be comfortable with your own family talking about this, who can you be comfortable around. Needless to say it made for an interesting story, and obviously one worth enough to blog about.

Thank You Oprah

I am not an Oprah watcher. That is not to say that I will not watch her, that is unless she has a show that interests me, or a guest I am interested in. Well, Tuesday October 14ths show was just such a show. I was getting ready to take a little afternoon siesta when my phone rang. It was a good friend and she said in a hurried breath, "Turn on Oprah, you will want to see this." Now, you have to know that my friend does not watch much frivolous TV, so if she said watch it, then it must be of some interest to me. And right she was.

The episode was about Factory Farming. If you do not know what factory farming is, then may I make a suggestion and do some research and see for yourself. Now, there are those in the industry that will say there is nothing wrong with how we raise our animals for slaughter. I have a tendency to disagree. Isn't that like someone form Phillip Morris(a cigarette company) telling us that it is OK to smoke, or someone from Budweiser(a beer brewery) telling us that consuming alcohol is fine and dandy?

I am a vegetarian and I will not stand on a soapbox and try to convert anyone over. You all know that consuming less meat is a plus, but do you really make that extra effort? How many of you can say that you could plan a dinner with no meat involved and have plenty of dishes. I did not for quite a long time. When I was a vegetarian the first time around I think I lived on macaroni and cheese and that was the boxed version. So it took many quite a long time to fill my recipe book with meatless meals. I got so good at it that I put on a vegan Christmas and trust me when I tell you there was no lack of food on that table.

What Oprah's show was trying to tell you...and she did it in an extremely diplomatic way(probably due to her incident with the beef industry with the Mad Cow thing) was that we as educated Americans, was to make ethical and moral choices about where your meat comes from. Most children have no idea that there is such a thing as a 'Farm'. they think their food comes from the grocery store. And it does, but many children cannot trace their food back to its origin.

I think people need to be in formed about what choices are out there and see what battles you want to choose. I myself am in such a financial way that free range, cage free, and organic are out of my reach...for now. I would give my eye teeth to be able to put better quality food on my family's table. Do not misunderstand me, I am an extremely good and healthy cook. there is no boxed food on our table or in our pantry. I do keep an occasional can of canned beans in the pantry for emergencies. Luckily those are few and far between.

I am not asking people to give up meat. But just know where your dollars are going. Can you afford to go all organic, or all cage free? If you are like most Americans right now...probably not, but how about a dozen eggs that are hormone free this week. And maybe next week your milk is organic(and do you really need to drink all that milk) and the week after that it is a free range chicken. The more we let the factory farmers know we will not put up with the conditions these animals are kept in, our animals will still live in horrid conditions(and Oprah's show did not show the more graphic version of how many, if not most of our animals are treated.

Do the research and make your own call. Is meat, pumped up on hormones, steroids and heaven knows what else, something you want going into your body? Would you put that stuff into your body without the middle man of the meat itself? I think not. But you have to make that call all on your own. And if these animals are willing to have their lives taken for us, then I think they deserve the best treatment possible while they are here.

You are what you eat. All I am asking is to keep that in ,mind when making choices for your dinner table tonight.

I'm Not Vengeful

Well, it is just possible that I may be just a smidgen. And if any one of us would truly admit it, we all are a bit glad when someone gets what is due them. I am referring to Michael Vick. Now, you have to understand that I grew up in a home with dogs, all my life. And I had dogs and cats when I became married. But in the end, my preference, for the most part is dogs. Yes, it can be annoying when they greet you, even if you just went to the mailbox. And it can be a bit embarrassing when they smell your private area, when they live with you. I don't say hello to my husband or children 5 to 6 times a day, and yet, my canine feels the undesirable need to put her nose in my groin area. Odd little creatures.

But there are times where I look into those big brown eyes and I could just squish her to pieces. She asks little and gives everything. She lives simply...no Coach hand bags are in her foreseeable future. When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy. Take naps. Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily. Thrive on attention and let people touch you. Avoid biting when a simple growl will do. On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass. On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree. When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body. Delight in the simple joy of a long walk (or run). Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough. Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not. If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently. Be always grateful for each new day. (I borrowed this from a fellow Blogger, Thoughts Out Loud and it suited this post.)

I got the tail-end of an Animal Planet Special on the Michael Vick Dogs. And let me tell you, I firmly believe that that man did not get what he deserved. So there it is, my vengeful streak. I am a firm believer in the Law of Attraction. You evoke negativity, you will receive it directly back to you. How can anyone take advantage of such innocence? I know that there are abused children and the same goes for them. But, I have heard from experts over the years that people who have that mentality, cannot be retrained, rehabilitated. They have a completely different methodology as to how the order of the world runs. They are superior and everything and everyone else is beneath them and they have total control over them, no matter what that control may be.

Truth be told, I do not have much sympathy for those who choose to do these things to animals or children. It has been shown that serial killers start their careers by torturing, mutilating small animals and then progress to humans. But I am guessing that Michael Vick got enough arousal to stop there. Those poor dogs. I can only imagine what those who died went through before they met their maker. And yes, I believe there is a place for animals in the after life. I just can't believe that they give us so much and then all that is left is a pack of bones to turn to dust. Sorry, I don't buy into the whole, "Animals don't have souls." Gee, I don't know if I have a soul, so how can I condemn these loving creatures to eternal damnation if I can't prove.

If there is some credence to the adage 'What goes around comes around.' Then Michael is living proof those words do fall upon those who break the rules. And man did he step way over the line. First and foremost he lost his NFL contract(Big shocker there). Then his endorsers dropped him like a hot potato. He is serving jail time (Not enough in my opinion) and he had to pay for the sheltering and care of the animals that had resided on his property(For that definitely was not living). He also was ordered to donate monies to other animal shelters. I saw the public apology, but I am not buying into it. The saving grace to all of this is that when he gets out he will have to start all over and none of his old stomping grounds will be welcoming him with open arms.

Even though he has declared bankruptcy, I seriously doubt he will be living on beans and franks. So my concern for him does not run very deep. I know this post is coming off as if I am really mad. I guess I am. And what I am more mad at is that there are hundreds of other rings like this doing thee exact same thing. And who will speak for those animals.

To disprove what people have been ushered to believe, all of the pit bulls rescued from Vick's property, except for two(Who had to be put to sleep for injuries they received during their stay at Vick's), have been rehabilitated and adopted out, and many to homes with children...imagine that. One has even become a comfort dog for cancer patients and for a assisted living homes for senior citizens...who knew.

I just want people to realize that these dogs are not the monsters you have been led to believe they are. Anyone ever come across a chihuahua. Those little creatures are wicked. Can you imagine a 75 pound chihuahua? And there are many a dog bites going on, but thee only ones being reported or making headlines are the ones being delivered by pit bulls. Where's the bite(Pun completely intended) in reporting, 'Child gets 10 stitches by 5 pound chihuahua.', there is no sensationalism in that, so they scour hospitals, or where ever it is they find their information and plug it into the hungry public.

Who wants to see volunteer of the year, when we can see the gory dog bite inflicted by the neighborhood pit bull. We have a pit bull mix, and I will be the first to admit, that I was scared of her for the first few months we had her. And I was even tempted to return her to the pound, but due to the fact that she had been returned once already, I decided against it and kept her. She is now a 55 pound mass of baby.

I do not believe that our children and animals are protected enough or that the people who harm them are punished enough. I know we should turn thee other cheek, but what about that animal or child who did not have anyone there for them, should they have turned thee other cheek while they were being abused? I know thee answer is 'No', they should defend themselves as best possible, but that is not always an option. So again I say, who speaks for those poor children and animals? And when someone or some group does come to the defense of animals, they are seen as fanatics. Why is that? If someone or some group defends a child we are all behind them, but you let PETA say something and they are labeled as radicals. Well, I'd rather been viewed as a radical than as a bystander, who complacently stood by, watching or listening to the news and just nodded my head.

I applaud those who do come to the defense of those who cannot defend themselves, mostly children and animals. Yay to those who stick their necks out and put themselves in the line of fire or in harms way, for it is a risky business stepping on the toes of the 'defendants'...puh-leaze. Again, I apologize for dragging out my soapbox, but if you had seen the Animal Planet Special I saw and knew what had been purposely done to these unsuspecting, innocent animals, well, it would have made your stomach turn. I know it did mine.

In closing, I hope that people think about what they have been spoon-fed about certain animals and to go a step further, think about what you are being fed by 'Thee Authorities'. Don't get me started, you might get a longer post. Thanks for sticking around long enough to read this massive post, for this is a matter dear to my heart...fighting for the underdogs(Pun intended once again).