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September 3, 2008 - Wednesday
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Soy silliness
Food allergies are common. They are also dangerous.
Duh.
These statements are so obvious, it's sad that I even have to point them out. (It actually hurt my brain to type something so simple. It's like asking an orchestra to play chopsticks.)
A person can be allergic to any food or food additive. There is no allergy-safe food. However, an astounding 90% of food allergy reactions are all from 6 simple things. Milk, Soy, Eggs, Wheat, Peanuts/Tree Nuts, and Fish/Shelfish. In fact, just these I listed effect 6.9 MILLION people, just in the U.S.
In case you aren't real keen on numbers, I will point out for you... 6.9 million is a LOT.
Milk is pretty easy to watch for. Most places cook with veggie oil, not butter, so if you're allergic to milk you probably dine out all the time, just skip the milk and cheese. You pepper your business across all the various chains, most likely. Eggs are actually pretty easy to avoid, too, unless you're ordering pastries and a grand slam. So, if you're allergic to eggs, you probably dine out all the time, and at as many different places as you like. Wheat/Gluten is a LOT harder. However, even the slowest, most backward food chains have finally gotten their heads out of their *%$es and started keeping gluten-free menus on hand, so you know what is safe to eat and what isn't. So, although your beer selection is mighty limited, you can finally dine out, in most places, like your egg and milk-avoiding counterparts. (Big cheer for Celiacs and wheat-allergic people, we have finally been recognized) Nuts and shelfish are probably the easiest to avoid. Also, since these tend to be the deadliest of allergens, most places are very careful about preventing cross contamination. Killing one's patrons can be bad PR, so they tend to not dip your green beans in the lobster without warning you.
What does that leave? Soy. Every time I research lists of the most common food allergens, Soy is second or third on the list. It is, thus, one of the MOST common food allergens. High on the list, even among the top few foods that affect those aforemention 6.9 million Americans. However, every restaurant I know of uses it. (for those of you who are in the restaurant biz, and are a bit slow, let me point out that this means a huge mass of consumers with NO PLACE TO SPEND THEIR MONEY). You are lucky to find a spoonful of SALSA in a restaurant without soybean oil in it. Why add oil to salsa? I don't know, I'm guessing they WANT to distance a massive potential consumer base. None of them want to risk welcoming in the MILLIONS of soy-allergic throngs who have no where else to dine out because serving such a large consumer group, without competition, would just be too overwhelming. Either that, or these restaurants are simply freakin incompetant. One or the other.
I should be fair, though. Perhaps switching oil is just too difficult. I mean, what OTHER oil has as long a shelf life, imparts zero aftertaste, has as high or higher of a smoke point, and can be easily purchased in mass, CHEAPLY?
Oh, right... that would be canola... Probably some others too.
So... let's see...
Am I saying that, by simply having the common sense to switch from soy to canola (which would pose no real difficulty or expense), a restaurant (or chain) could cash in on litterally multi-millions of hungry patrons who are just itching to have at least one restaurant where they can finally dine out, safely?
Yes, I am.
Yet again, I am astounded by the stupidity of mankind. It's disturbing. It truly is. Aren't these people supposed to be polling markets and keeping up with basic demand and such in order to maximize profit? Or are they just sitting around wondering what cartoon animal to use as a mascot, next, while completely forgetting that the entire basis of their respective enterprises has something to do with FOOD?
I don't know. Don't ask me. All I know is that there are two restaurants in the entire Louisville metro area where I can safely eat a french fry, but I won't get anything else in either of those places. If it weren't for my beloved Richo's, I would probably NEVER get a hot meal that I hadn't cooked myself. (Even Richos doesn't have MUCH I can eat, but they have some. But then... they serve a variety of gluten-free beers, so how could any allergy-afflicted consumer not absolutely LOVE that place? -all hail Richos!!)
Ok, long story short.
Millions of hungry people, with no place to spend their money.
Millions of hungry people, who dream of the days, before diagnosis, when they could eat a meal they didn't have to cook.
Zero restaurants with the common sense to feed these people and take their money.
Where's the logic?
2:22 AM
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September 1, 2008 - Monday
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Luck rears it’s lovely head...
In the past few years, I've been through some crap. 97% of it was no fault of my own.
I lost my dream job, which I was also AWESOME at. I lost my career entirely, then my house. I lost my cat. Lost my pride. Lost some friends (death sucks!!!), etc...
Dave (a super-buddy of mine, love him for life) told me I should start playing the lottery, because as luck goes, I am REALLY DUE.
I don't beleive in luck, but if it existed, then I would have to say that every mirror-breaking (out of teen self-contempt, etc...) and every ladder-duck, and every black-cat-crossing (I owned one for 12 years, so she crossed my path many times a day), had not only come back to bite me, but had come back on me ten fold.
But now, I look at my life...
Yeah, I'm incredibly broke. I get that. But I live in a three-room apartment with A) the man of my freakin dreams, so perfect for me that I sometimes subconsciously distance myself from him because I can't even fathom, yet, that,he actually EXISTS, let alone that he actually LOVES me.... I can't even go into "A" too much because the situation is SO fortunate for me that it blows my mind... and B) a friend I adore so much, and whom is so generous and kind, that I count myself lucky to be washing his burnt dishes. and C) My dog, whom I thought I had to take to the pound. This story is the EASIEST to tell (not nearly as complicated as finding the love of my life, or living with my awesome friend) so let me go into it....
I tried to detach from my dog. I cried many nights, while staying with my incredibly generous x-brother-in-law, over the knowledge that I needed to just take Harry The Harrier back to the pound. I procrastinated. I lost sleep. I was depressed, yet in denial. And, the fact that my cat had died while probably feeling neglected and alone, while foreclosure was in process, and my dog was behind on shots, only reinforced the idea that I was unfit to care for anyone and my life would never be stable enough to even protect a small animal.
So.... I went to Eric's to pick up Harry, recently, to keep him in the apartment for one night and then take him to the pound during their open hours.
Harry was quiet in his cage that night. Good and sweet, despite months of no training, discipline, or anything. My boyfriend, being too perfect to even describe in blog, mentioned that Harry was so good that night, maybe I could try keeping Harry, if he could be trained, etc...
Again, the many joys of finding this perfect man are beyond words, so I won t even try to explain how I feel about him, or what an amazing person he is. However, Harry LOVES him (of course, since dogs know people), abnd Devin (my other roomate) is willing to give Harry a chance too.
So, long story short-ish.... My little baby doggy is here with me, safe and loved. My boyfriend has been the best gift imaginable in my life, my roomate, Devin, is perfect, and life is good. All I need now is, of course, my neices around.
If you know me at all, you know they are my life. Tori is like a daughter to me. Although I didn't get to help raise Stazi, and now the new-born Malakai, they are special to me in a way that far surpasses aunt-y love.
Harry watches the school busses every day, expecting and hoping to see Tori get off that bus. Seeing his anticipation only worsens how much I miss her, and Stazi, and even the Malakai I don't yet know.
But, I have a HOME again, I have LOVE. I have a dear friend, my puppy, and something to offer my sister's incredible children. I HAVE won the lottery. Better than 100,000,000.00 ten times over. :) I have PEOPLE in my life, the best gift ever... my sister's children, that I love as my own... my boyfriend, whom is so perfect it's freakin' scary, friends (like Devin) etc.... and even my sweet loving puppy.
LIFE is GOOD.
:D
1:01 PM
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August 26, 2008 - Tuesday
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Why Indiana bans alchohol sales on Sunday...
People complain about it all the time, but there is a reason...
See, Indiana is a predominantly Christian/Catholic area. Thus, they try to give honor to Jesus (you know, the Dude who turned water into wine).
So, in order to show respect for the one who turned water into wine, we all pretend to not approve of wine for one day, and being the logical people that we are, we pick Sunday, the day after the sabath.
For those of you who don't know about the sabath, which was originally Saturday, it is a day in which the jews were supposed to not work. They were supposed to enjoy the day thinking on spiritual things, rather than accumulating wealth/salt/food. This rule was part of a covenant (an agreement) made between God and the Jews. If you are Christian, then you are part of the group who considers Jesus the fulfillment of this agreement, the promised savior. He fulfilled the old covenant and started a new one. The new one never included a sabath, of course, but hey... this is Indiana, logic is not cool.
So, anyway.... you cannot buy alchohol here on Sunday because we believe in Jesus, and Sunday is the day after a day that would still be sacred to us if we didn't beleive Jesus was our savior, so we show respect for that day by not drinking wine, you know, the stuff that Jesus made out of water.
Now you know. But hey, it's probably a good thing. I'm so freakin sleep deprived that I bet I'm not making sense at all already. Can you imagine how idiotic I'd sound if I added liqour to the equation?
Ugh... insomnia sucks.
6:38 AM
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August 23, 2008 - Saturday
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Will be missed
Took me a while to write this, and I'm still not quite sure what to say.....
John, you will be missed. I wish you hadn't thrown in the towel on life, wish I could have said something to give you strength, but I understand the feelings that brought you there.
If my readers (should I have any) care to check out some photos, John had his work up on Hillimages.com
There's even at least one of me up there, from way back in 95 or so, whenever it was that I first met John.
Actually, kind of a nice story... he expected a model, or at least a regular vain girl who'd practiced poses in front of the mirror, and got stuck with a me, a shy little nerd who prefered her nose kept in books, not lenses or mirrors. He managed to take some great shots anyway, after setting me at ease with his warm personality and some good music. (John had great taste in music, after all).
I'll toast to you at Richo's, my friend. Especially each time I hear Etta James played.
7:54 PM
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August 2, 2008 - Saturday
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Dresden Files - The BOOKS
I saw a few of the TV shows.... cute... a bit different. Fun little shows.
But, my boyfriend said the books were much better, as he excitedly
dove into the first issue of the new comic books by the same name. I read the comic. Nice, I liked it.
Well, my boyfriend being the incredible genius that he is, I couldn't really doubt his opinion. After all, I have carefully watched him for months seeking any opportunity to correct him on so much as a minor tidbit of ANYTHING, being that he is simply TOO smart, sometimes. So far, in all these months, there has been one extremely minor gramatical error made in the wee hours of the morning, and one tiny slight misquote, basically, regarding Ceasar/Brutus/Shakespeare, given during a game of drunken taboo. (I hate to say it, but I think the man has to be drunk or sleep deprived to even get closed to being intellectually imperfect, I'm actually intimidated... ME! Really!) Like I said, the man's a freakin' genius. (have I mentioned how brilliant nerdy men turn me on? Wow! - anyway...)
So no, he was not at all wrong about the Dresden Files books. Now, those of you who know me know that I love brainy literature, quirky Japanese short stories, verbose Russian naratives, insightful charater-and/or-socialogical parallel-driven fiction, AND campy fun fiction. I LOVE to read. But, if you want the perfect escape, a fun read with an eclectic variety of charicters, all bubbling with verisimilitude despite being all born of fantasy, along with the comedy naturally born of setting fantasy in a modern landscape (as well as the comedy of a main character who is SUCH a smartass, and we all know I LOVE smartass humor), then you should read these books.
I have not yet read the first two in the series. They all stand alone perfectly, so start wherever you like (although it might be even better starting from the beginning, building the awesome histories of each wonderful character). But if you need some fun escapist fiction, read them. You'll love them. :)
I started with book three, a couple days ago, and have devoured 4 and 5 since then.
Thanks, BJ! Right again.... as usual. Just wait, though. I plan on keeping you around for a VERY long time, my love. So I WILL catch you wrong again on something... even if I have to get you drunk before it happens. lol
10:15 PM
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June 7, 2008 - Saturday
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Fit or Flight
anxiety sucks
Woke up this morning feeling like my heart was trying to rival a humingbird's. I tried to ignore it, especially since my stomach is still very angry at me (possibly because I ate a bunch of ham that expired 4 months ago), but I felt like I had to run for the hills. So, I did. I was staying with friends, but I rushed "home". I took an herbal calming/thyroid-supressing thing before taking off, made the long drive to the Georgetown house, and my heart is still thumping out at least a couple beats per second.
It's probably just 'cause of my moody half of a thyroid. Or the fact that I'm stressed about a lot of stuff and was pissed at myself for multiple reasons. Dunno. Hope it slows down, soon.
Anyway, on a better note... I found an apartment I'd like which allows dogs. It has a nice little front porch and I would know my neighbors. Dunno if I'll be able to afford it soon enough, but keep your fingers crossed.
6:39 AM
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June 2, 2008 - Monday
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Progress!!!
Current mood:  optimistic
I got the OK from my Doc... I can WORK again!!!
I can't really LIFT anything with my left arm, but I can take it out of the sling and use it, so long as I'm not hoisting trays with my left. Woohoo!!!!
I can't WAIT to get back on the schedule and earn some $$$!! I might not make much at Don Pablo's, but it's a whole lot better than nothing!
:D
12:20 PM
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May 26, 2008 - Monday
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WoW, I kick@$$ heh heh heh
Current mood:  nerdy
Here's a pic of my latest armor and stuff. It matches my tabard, and has awesome stats. :) Much fun!
7:13 PM
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Antisocial
Current mood:  guilty
Ok, so I suck. I know. I flake out and lose touch and don't keep proper tabs on people. I'm not going to gripe about my current situation, but I was probably the only gradeschool kid to spend her allowance on household items at yard sales, because having my own place has always been crucial to me. My safe retreat... sanctuary... shelter.... a roof and, hopefully, a bit of food to eat. A place that I owed to no one, and where I was safe from the weight of submission to any other person. Safety. Home. Shelter.
It's a big deal, trust me. I love my friends for all the ways they help to strengthen me. But PLEASE be patient if I seem a little flighty. I get that way when I have no place to land.
Even when I can't get things together enough to see you, knowing you're out there gives me something. And, if you actually need something from me, just let me know. I'll still find a way to be there.
Love ya'll,
Kat
6:49 PM
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the sweet security blanket of denial
Current mood:  hungry
I've seen it before with the health issues....
When people haven't known me long enough to know how I push myself, expecting mind-over-matter to kick in eventually (Daddy always said to just run through the pain), they leap to judgments about my health issues. Even when I had a toxic thyroid nodule (the lump that wanted to kill me back in 2004, by cranking up my heartrate like a constant IV of natural crack cocaine), I had people tell me it was all in my head, or that it was my fault. That I was just weak. I ate too much health food, not enough health food, drank too much beer, was too uptight to just drink life's troubles away, etc... etc... 101 contradicting B.S. excuses to blame me rather than chance. Why?
Because people are COWARDS. So long as they can blame me for having endometriosis, thyroid disease, food allergies, etc.... then they never have to fear any such nuisance assulting their precious bodies. They want it to be because I'm somehow weak or wrong. Well, people. I'm not only weak, I can kick your healthy asses with thyroid out of whack, one arm in a sling, and a migraine in progress. I've got more determination and will than you can understand. In other words... bite me.
Chance happens. One should always work hard at all things they can control, but many fear what they can't control so desperately that they can't even accept it exists. You can live a healthy life and still die of cancer, just like my mom. You can be good to everyone and some people will still hate you. You can pay nearly everything in cash, never spend foolishly, and work your heart out at work, and STILL end up foreclosed on.
Plan your best, and chances are you wont get foreclosed on. Live smart, and you reduce your chances to minute percentage. But, there is ALWAYS a random factor out there. There is always a possible unforseen chain of unlikely events that, together, can leave you totally screwed.
I'm not telling you to fret about it. The way to deal with life is just plan your best, so that you need not worry about those things within your control, and then don't worry about what's not under your control because that would be pointless. However, not worrying about it does not mean acting like ostriches and blaming the unfortunate because it's easier than facing life.
So now I'm at the bottom of another annoying pit. Instead of people looking down on me like a broken, sickly puppy. I now get to be the broke, beggerly homeless person.
And yes, looking back I can spot moments in which choices I've made were less than perfect, when I was less than 100% strong. But most of you manage to coast by on 30% strong, so again.... bite me. Chance happens. Bad luck (in health, money, life, etc....) CAN happen. I live my life better than most people would even consider attempting, so take your fear-laden responses of assuming it's 100% my fault, and shove them up your lazy arses.
Obviously, this letter addresses the idiots who annoy me, not my wonderful friends whom I love dearly.
6:18 PM
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April 18, 2008 - Friday
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Thoughts
Concentric and stacked, your views pack tight
In one egocentric wall to blot out the light
And where is this supposed space for me?
I will not lay out like a slab for you to found your castle on,
I'm no footstool for your kingdom of shut eyes and plugged ears.
12:09 PM
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April 11, 2008 - Friday
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a note about modern Hip Hop, R&B, rap, etc...
Yes, I do like some of it. Heck, I actually have dreams about Chalie 2na teaming up with OzoMatli again. (SO awesome). But, MOST of the people I know who listen to this kind of stuff scoff at my love of old school funk, soul, blues, jazz, etc....
So, let me put it simply for ya....
Hip hop, etc..., is an adorable little musical baby that can occassional do some really cool shit. Funk and Soul, however, is the heavy, dirty, sweaty musical sex that conceived it. You'll understand when you grow up and puberty gives you some soul. ;P
8:33 AM
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March 16, 2008 - Sunday
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You will be missed, Dale
We love you and will miss you, Dale. You were 6’ 6" of pure goodness. I’ll miss your hugs, emails, smiles, and silly text messages. Knowing you brightened my life, and I was blessed to have met you.
10:19 AM
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March 13, 2008 - Thursday
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And she’d JUST hit retirement age...
Aint that the way? All those years, and then once you hit your 60’s, ready to retire, you kick before you ever take that trip to Bermuda. Sucks, don’t it?
Well, maybe it’s not the same for cats. She never punched a clock, and I doubt she had any desire to wear tacky tourist shirts in Bermuda. But still...
I wasn’t going to tell anyone. Didn’t want anyone trying to comfort me, thus setting off my emotions. I’ve had more than I can deal with already. So, I was just not going to say anything at all. That method of dealing with stress does admittedly tend to backfire on me, though. If you hold something in, it grows faster than dust bunnies breed under a couch. But, on the way home, I found myself singing the Nellie McKay song I just added to my playlist. I listened to the song when I got home and I realized how I was going to handle this latest pill. Sing a silly song, and not hold on to bad feelings.
She lived a pretty long life, for a cat. I will miss her, but she will never feel another ache or pain. I’ve dealt with the deaths of so many humans I’ve loved dearly. I should be an old pro at this greiving thing anyway.
You should listen to that song, though. It’s called Ding Dong and is the first Nellie McKay song I ever heard. It’s a cool song. Kinda funny. Kinda weird.
Anyway, anyone can read this who feels like doing so, but I would ask that you not try and say something "consoling" next time you see me walking around. I would greatly appreciate it if you just avoid that whole subject.
Take care.
5:25 PM
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February 27, 2008 - Wednesday
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You’re never to old to spin till you fall down...
I want to learn ken-do
I love to climb trees
I had every banister at IUS rated on which was best for sliding down
Sometimes I'm a skill-less ninja... sometimes an intellectual... sometimes a goofball... sometimes a seductress....
But even when life sucks, I never forget how to have fun. :P
11:41 AM
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Gender: Female
State: Indiana
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