Exploration 1: It's a Good Thing I Left Room for Fish
I wanted to extend a huge apology for the delay in my last entry. After I discovered Blogspot's scheduled posts, to avoid leaving you hanging all together, I've been writing my blogs about 2-4 days in advance to when they are published. Up until yesterday, I found myself to publish the blog myself opposed to relying on technology to do it for me.
Well Wednesday I relied on technology and technology failed me. It was partially user error. All my accounts, including email account switched from Pacific to Eastern time zone. All of them except for Blogspot. Who knew there were separate controls for it? Since it's supported by Google, I fully expected it to sync to my email account. Wrong!
Sometime after 4 p.m. I went to grab the link to post on my Facebook account and I realized it hadn't been published; my phone wouldn't let me publish from the app. It wasn't until late last night, when I got home, I was able to see where the problem was. So I am sorry, but hopefully my adjustment will be effective come this blog (which I'm actually writing on Thursday morning. I know...WHAT'S REAL ANYMORE!!! lol)
Remember a few posts ago when I said my traditional breakfast consisted of toast, 2 over-hard eggs and bacon? Well I've been working on phasing bacon out. As much as I do miss the salty-goodness of the protein, it isn't as hard as I thought.
I mean, breakfast is still breakfast. This morning I enjoyed oatmeal with toast, the other morning I had my traditional breakfast sans bacon. Some mornings I still just resort to good ol' cold cereal. We also reloaded our fruit supply which was missing for a few days, so that's nice. We have tangerines for days. Well, since I'm here, they will probably last about a week - so for at least seven days. :-)
I had hoped to write about Black Bean Chili today, however, we are detouring a bit. After I wrote the last entry it dawned upon me my sister and her boyfriend just cooked a huge pot of Deer Chili the night I made Vegetable Linguine. I know it came off as rude to cook a seperate meal after he had spent a generous amount of time over dinner. Honestly, had I not picked up a couple of meat-friendly meals over the weekend, I may have relaxed and had some with them.
But beyond veering off track from my dietary ambitions. Without the Linguine, I would have had nothing to post yesterday.
What's more rude than not eating food that was cooked for you (it was actually cooked for my sister because, really...he's not trying to impress me)? Cooking the same thing right after it was prepared for you. Asshole move royally.
So, we'll hold off on the chili for a few days.
Last night my sister and I attended our nieces school function, "Family Night." I wish we had got there sooner because after my nieces choir performance when ended in small drama and after the drama was attended to - we literally had 20 minutes before the function ended.
The classrooms were themed with different activities (i.e. popsicle stick making, finger painting, photo-booth, cookie decorating, etc.) and we each were given three tickets. Every room cost one ticket and we were free to choose from the 20 or so rooms participating. We managed to squeeze in some finger painting and a couple rounds of a cupcake walk before being ushered out of the school.
The drama...I'm such an asshole. My nieces choir were stacked on a three level riser against the stage. It's a good thing it was against the stage. During the final song of the 20 minute performance, one of the girls toppled over from locking her knees. She didn't collapse forward or backwards, but rather to the side taking out three or four of her peers with her so it looked something like a domino effect. At first I couldn't figure out what was happening, then when I realized the commotion what did I do? I laughed!
Before you flip off your computer (or phone) intending it for me and my assholi-ness, let me explain my background. Not only am I Native American, I am a reservation Indian. What does that mean? Native Americans laugh, a lot...at least, until we're not laughing. If something is actually funny, we laugh. If it's something stupid, we laugh. If it's something embarrassing, we laugh. Honestly, we can probably find anything to laugh over. Even during our ceremonies, there are times in those long moments of somberness when people just start laughing. So not only is that already etched onto the fine details of my DNA, I grew up where that's what everyone did.
Once when I started my 7th grade year, a proud transition for any child, I tripped. It wasn't just a trip, it was a TRIP...so much so it was practically a journey! My cousin, Heidi, gone all her life to a city school. Her senior year, she moved to the reservation and started school at my school. Instantly she was the "it" girl. People just flocked to her.
Back then we had these old-school wood bleachers that probably went up about 20-25 feet at the top level and could fit a shit-ton of people. I'm surprised nobody died on those things. As a kid I remember playing under them as the area by the feet were open; it wasn't uncommon to see kids swinging around under them like a huge jungle gym during school functions.
So there I was sitting somewhere between midway and top level when my cousin comes walking in. Excited about being included in on the first assembly of the school year (my school was combined, so 7-12 were grouped together.) I tried to come off as "cool" for not only knowing her, but being related to her. I jumped off my seat and started to run down the bleachers while shouting, "Heidi!" Well, as you can predict, in my excitement I tripped and slid down a few rows before being awkwardly stopped in some weird position that is somewhere between upside down and sideways.
Everyone laughed, even the teachers who came to my rescue - including Heidi who was more embarrassed by what just happened that I was.
The only time a Native doesn't laugh when something happens is when it's real, real bad. If something happens and a Native doesn't laugh, you just know things aren't good. In fact, it's really, really bad.
That all said, true to form, I laughed. It took me a quick second to realize nobody else was responding the way I was and I had to use everything I had to rein in my chuckles. The room was dead silent. Everyone was super concerned. Everyone that is except for me who expect the emergency personnel to walk the girl to the side of the stage to slap around, wake up or whatever it is they do in those situations while the choir direction said, "Sorry about that! From the top." And the choir to resume, finishing off their performance.
Instead, the choir director yelled from side of the stage, "Thank you for coming!" The school personnel emptied out the room the performance was in before calling 9-1-1.
She's fine.
Granted it was late and we still had some grocery shopping to do and 30 minutes of a drive ahead of us, we ended up eating out.
It's been a decent while since I ate out, fast food or otherwise. When I started this transition, I didn't plan for eating out. As we approached the restaurant, I was frantically trying to figure out what in the hell I was going to do. What were the odds they would have vegetarian options? I realized that push come to shove, I'd probably have to be content with a large salad.
For a brief moment, I thought about allowing myself a vegetarian-free meal since it was "eating out." But considering I am trying to make this a lifestyle change, this would happen again and again so I better start learning now how to handle these moments without alarm.
We ate at probably the most Southern chain restaurant you could imagine. Even their side vegetable options all had ham! I don't even remember seeing a salad. I felt at such dismay. I didn't know what to do.
It wasn't until I asked my sister what she was having when I realized, in my stress, I completely overlooked a sound option, remembering my dietary restrictions have a small loop hole - fish is allowed.
Catfish it was!
Besides from the server who wasn't on his A-game, the meal was rather enjoyable. Considering for lunch I had mac-n-cheese with a side salad, yesterday was a win. Slowly but surely meat is falling out of my requirements when it comes to eating and I'm still feeling good about this decision.
Just real quick about the compost. We're still doing it, but I can see the reason we need a cover. My dog, Shopai, has found the compost and realized she likes eating some vegetables. I kid you not, she riffled through it every night and finds things she likes. Currently she's outside chewing on the thick stem of broccoli. The other morning she made such a mess, I ended up cleaning the entire yard.
I'm thinking my Christmas present to myself this year will be a composter. I suppose I could build onto the one I started, but frankly - I'm feeling lazy right now. Maybe before I make the online purchase I'll be feeling more creative and excited about the hammer and nails, but right now - I'm thinking buying one.
Truthfully, I can see why people give up on the compost idea. It's been over a month and it just looks like kitchen trash. I keep reminding myself though that I'm not looking to get anything out of it. It's simply social responsibility. If I get some good dirt out of it, then yes! Win! But if not, it still better off than being stuck in a landfill, forever seal in its tomb for whatever, whoever comes after us to uncover and think we were the filthiest living things to ever walk this Earth.
We covered a lot today: blog technical issues, choir performance drama, childhood trauma, breakfast, dinner, and composting. High five!
We'll see you back here come Monday and I promise, I'll have some good recipes to read about and then try for yourself. Enjoy you weekend and wherever you are, stay warm!
Well Wednesday I relied on technology and technology failed me. It was partially user error. All my accounts, including email account switched from Pacific to Eastern time zone. All of them except for Blogspot. Who knew there were separate controls for it? Since it's supported by Google, I fully expected it to sync to my email account. Wrong!
Sometime after 4 p.m. I went to grab the link to post on my Facebook account and I realized it hadn't been published; my phone wouldn't let me publish from the app. It wasn't until late last night, when I got home, I was able to see where the problem was. So I am sorry, but hopefully my adjustment will be effective come this blog (which I'm actually writing on Thursday morning. I know...WHAT'S REAL ANYMORE!!! lol)
I mean, breakfast is still breakfast. This morning I enjoyed oatmeal with toast, the other morning I had my traditional breakfast sans bacon. Some mornings I still just resort to good ol' cold cereal. We also reloaded our fruit supply which was missing for a few days, so that's nice. We have tangerines for days. Well, since I'm here, they will probably last about a week - so for at least seven days. :-)
I had hoped to write about Black Bean Chili today, however, we are detouring a bit. After I wrote the last entry it dawned upon me my sister and her boyfriend just cooked a huge pot of Deer Chili the night I made Vegetable Linguine. I know it came off as rude to cook a seperate meal after he had spent a generous amount of time over dinner. Honestly, had I not picked up a couple of meat-friendly meals over the weekend, I may have relaxed and had some with them.
But beyond veering off track from my dietary ambitions. Without the Linguine, I would have had nothing to post yesterday.
What's more rude than not eating food that was cooked for you (it was actually cooked for my sister because, really...he's not trying to impress me)? Cooking the same thing right after it was prepared for you. Asshole move royally.
So, we'll hold off on the chili for a few days.
Last night my sister and I attended our nieces school function, "Family Night." I wish we had got there sooner because after my nieces choir performance when ended in small drama and after the drama was attended to - we literally had 20 minutes before the function ended.
The classrooms were themed with different activities (i.e. popsicle stick making, finger painting, photo-booth, cookie decorating, etc.) and we each were given three tickets. Every room cost one ticket and we were free to choose from the 20 or so rooms participating. We managed to squeeze in some finger painting and a couple rounds of a cupcake walk before being ushered out of the school.
The drama...I'm such an asshole. My nieces choir were stacked on a three level riser against the stage. It's a good thing it was against the stage. During the final song of the 20 minute performance, one of the girls toppled over from locking her knees. She didn't collapse forward or backwards, but rather to the side taking out three or four of her peers with her so it looked something like a domino effect. At first I couldn't figure out what was happening, then when I realized the commotion what did I do? I laughed!
Before you flip off your computer (or phone) intending it for me and my assholi-ness, let me explain my background. Not only am I Native American, I am a reservation Indian. What does that mean? Native Americans laugh, a lot...at least, until we're not laughing. If something is actually funny, we laugh. If it's something stupid, we laugh. If it's something embarrassing, we laugh. Honestly, we can probably find anything to laugh over. Even during our ceremonies, there are times in those long moments of somberness when people just start laughing. So not only is that already etched onto the fine details of my DNA, I grew up where that's what everyone did.
Once when I started my 7th grade year, a proud transition for any child, I tripped. It wasn't just a trip, it was a TRIP...so much so it was practically a journey! My cousin, Heidi, gone all her life to a city school. Her senior year, she moved to the reservation and started school at my school. Instantly she was the "it" girl. People just flocked to her.
Back then we had these old-school wood bleachers that probably went up about 20-25 feet at the top level and could fit a shit-ton of people. I'm surprised nobody died on those things. As a kid I remember playing under them as the area by the feet were open; it wasn't uncommon to see kids swinging around under them like a huge jungle gym during school functions.
So there I was sitting somewhere between midway and top level when my cousin comes walking in. Excited about being included in on the first assembly of the school year (my school was combined, so 7-12 were grouped together.) I tried to come off as "cool" for not only knowing her, but being related to her. I jumped off my seat and started to run down the bleachers while shouting, "Heidi!" Well, as you can predict, in my excitement I tripped and slid down a few rows before being awkwardly stopped in some weird position that is somewhere between upside down and sideways.
Everyone laughed, even the teachers who came to my rescue - including Heidi who was more embarrassed by what just happened that I was.
The only time a Native doesn't laugh when something happens is when it's real, real bad. If something happens and a Native doesn't laugh, you just know things aren't good. In fact, it's really, really bad.
That all said, true to form, I laughed. It took me a quick second to realize nobody else was responding the way I was and I had to use everything I had to rein in my chuckles. The room was dead silent. Everyone was super concerned. Everyone that is except for me who expect the emergency personnel to walk the girl to the side of the stage to slap around, wake up or whatever it is they do in those situations while the choir direction said, "Sorry about that! From the top." And the choir to resume, finishing off their performance.
Instead, the choir director yelled from side of the stage, "Thank you for coming!" The school personnel emptied out the room the performance was in before calling 9-1-1.
She's fine.
Granted it was late and we still had some grocery shopping to do and 30 minutes of a drive ahead of us, we ended up eating out.
It's been a decent while since I ate out, fast food or otherwise. When I started this transition, I didn't plan for eating out. As we approached the restaurant, I was frantically trying to figure out what in the hell I was going to do. What were the odds they would have vegetarian options? I realized that push come to shove, I'd probably have to be content with a large salad.
We ate at probably the most Southern chain restaurant you could imagine. Even their side vegetable options all had ham! I don't even remember seeing a salad. I felt at such dismay. I didn't know what to do.
It wasn't until I asked my sister what she was having when I realized, in my stress, I completely overlooked a sound option, remembering my dietary restrictions have a small loop hole - fish is allowed.
Catfish it was!
Besides from the server who wasn't on his A-game, the meal was rather enjoyable. Considering for lunch I had mac-n-cheese with a side salad, yesterday was a win. Slowly but surely meat is falling out of my requirements when it comes to eating and I'm still feeling good about this decision.
Just real quick about the compost. We're still doing it, but I can see the reason we need a cover. My dog, Shopai, has found the compost and realized she likes eating some vegetables. I kid you not, she riffled through it every night and finds things she likes. Currently she's outside chewing on the thick stem of broccoli. The other morning she made such a mess, I ended up cleaning the entire yard.I'm thinking my Christmas present to myself this year will be a composter. I suppose I could build onto the one I started, but frankly - I'm feeling lazy right now. Maybe before I make the online purchase I'll be feeling more creative and excited about the hammer and nails, but right now - I'm thinking buying one.
Truthfully, I can see why people give up on the compost idea. It's been over a month and it just looks like kitchen trash. I keep reminding myself though that I'm not looking to get anything out of it. It's simply social responsibility. If I get some good dirt out of it, then yes! Win! But if not, it still better off than being stuck in a landfill, forever seal in its tomb for whatever, whoever comes after us to uncover and think we were the filthiest living things to ever walk this Earth.
We covered a lot today: blog technical issues, choir performance drama, childhood trauma, breakfast, dinner, and composting. High five!
We'll see you back here come Monday and I promise, I'll have some good recipes to read about and then try for yourself. Enjoy you weekend and wherever you are, stay warm!
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