A Morally Superior Turkey

Because this is my blog, I get to be on my soapbox for a little while. My topic today: Thanksgiving and the plight of the factory turkey. Earlier this year Ryan and I read a book called "Farm Sanctuary." I recommend it to everyone. It's a great conversation starter and is - no pun intended - truly "food" for thought. The author is a vegan, but reading the book didn't make us want to be vegans. Gene Bauer runs two animal sanctuary farms - one in upstate New York and one in Southern California - for abused factory farm animals. His coverage of the treatment of animals on factory farms was enlightening and alarming. I have probably just been naive, but I was truly horrified to learn about the conditions in which factory farm animals live -- many in boxes or crates that don't allow them to sit, lie down, or turn around - ever. While I believe God has set us over the animals, I also think he expects us to protect them and treat them humanely. So while I still enjoy eating them (sorry little guys!) I want to know that the animals I'm eating had a safe, healthy life and weren't tortured for my access to cheap food. And that's basically what it comes down to -- the more animals a factory farm can cram in, the faster they can fatten them up, the cheaper the food is on the grocery shelf. Chickens are bred to have such large breasts (better for the shopper, right?) that they can't walk properly and often become crippled. Male chicks are thrown into mulchers because they aren't profitable for egg laying. Dying and dead animals are ground up to make feed for other animals. And the list goes on. As a family, we haven't come as far as we'd like to yet - that would mean buying our meat, eggs, and milk only from family farms, but we're making small strides. And this year, that includes buying what I like to call a "morally superior turkey." A turkey to eat - yes - but one that has been allowed to roam and peck and roost and all the things that birds naturally do. It costs a lot more than a Butterball, but it feels good to tell the kids that there are better ways to save money than supporting the cruel treatment of animals. It's good to be reminded that our food doesn't just magically appear on the grocery shelves -- we are accountable for what we buy at the market. So if you haven't purchased your Thanksgiving turkey, try Googling "Eat Local". And have a very happy Thanksgiving!

Veteran's/Remembrance Day

Even though I'm a day late (and a dollar short, but I won't get into that...) I need to give a hearty salute to my grandfathers, my aunts and uncles, my "dads", my sister, Stacy, her husband, Jeff, my brothers-in-law, countless friends, and my own sweet husband, for the sacrifices they've made in the defense of our country and the fact that although they may not literally have laid their lives on the line on a daily basis, they are willing to. Thanks guys! And a special treat - from 12 year old Patrick, who, to my dismay, often expresses a desire to be a tank commander - here is a Veteran's Day poem:

Never Again

Remember, remember,
That morn of November,
When enemies signed for the killing to cease.

For most it was blessed,
For many overdue,
But many already rested in peace.

The firing has stopped,
The dead have been buried,
And we hope for it never again.

For the truth about war is
The blood and the gore
That we saw in those swampy mud fields.

And now many years later
Neither friends nor long haters
Can forget that peace was the goal

When soldiers one and each
Threw themselves in the breach
To protect their loved ones back home.

“Never again”, we say,
“Never again
Shall we relive those gory four years”.

Remember, we shall,
For we should not forget
That war only brings us tears

On this day we remember
That morn of November
And our friends and loved ones who rest.

The Money Ghost and Hannah Montana

The only child I have who will pose for shots like this.

Autumn Shots (or "Amy finally learned how to post photos!")

Aidan apple-picking

Musings and Wanderings...

That's a nice way of saying that I don't have anything in particular to talk about, but felt guilty that I had neglected the blog for so long. I have friends who are such faithful bloggers - but, then again, I have friends who are good singers, great scrapbookers, incredible athletes, perfect hostesses, and snappy interior decorators. I need to come to grips with the fact that I will never be any of those things, either. Hmm... where to begin?

I took a sick day yesterday. This is remarkable only because I have never, ever, taken a sick day. Not during student teaching or real teaching or at Briercrest, or really, at any time when I've been in the workforce. I think it's because, growing up, you didn't stay home unless you were REALLY sick. My current boss, though, is a firm believer that you do everyone else in the office a favor by staying home - so as not to infect the otherwise healthy work population. I wasn't crawling-across-the-floor-to-the-bathroom-sick (sans Mom and Dad and the dark Burger King episode of 1977), but I was fatigued and coughing and congested. So, I stayed. At first it was incredibly dull. When I really started getting into it (as evidenced by still being in a bathrobe at 1PM watching "What Not to Wear") I started to think that I hadn't been productive enough. What is that about? Is that a Protestant work ethic thing? Who needs to be productive when they're home sick? Anyway, I did read, cover to cover, a fabulous novel. It's called "Mudbound" by Hillary Jordan. Not complex, but thoughtful and enjoyable. And now, recommended by me.

As I was sitting at home yesterday, a strange thought popped into my head. I can't say from where, exactly, but I started wondering why, when arriving home from a variety of destinations, people in my family always say "Home again, home again, jiggety jig!" Where does that come from? Are we the only ones who say it? So, I did what anyone living in the 21st century would do - I Googled it. And it turns out that there are TONS of families who say this when they arrive home and I could not find a single reference to its origin. I'd love to hear from you if YOUR family says this too. (Next time I will discuss "Happy Nappy Time" and"Off like a herd of turtles", both of which, in fact, may actually be familiar only to the Gunter family.)

I was mocked at work the other day for saying "trash" when I should have said "garbage." This was interesting to me as I have always believed the words to be totally interchangeable. In Canada, apparently, they are not. "Garbage" is what is in your house in a little pail. Trash would be piled in a landfill. You can still "trash talk" or be "trashy", but in the house, it's just garbage. You truly do learn something new every day.

The election -- I can't resist saying something about it. If you're one of my sisters, don't close the browser window just yet - it's not what you think. In fact, I am feeling a little defensive of Sarah Palin these days. Don't get me wrong - I'm no fan, but I think she is being dumped on now by people who previously supported her and touted her charms and abilities. Some of the things being said about her, by her own party (and her own campaign) are cruel and petty. Why do people have to do that? She was plucked from obscurity and put on a national stage and then she gets blamed for not being polished enough or prepared enough - and by her own people? That's madness. Interesting fact - in Australia, you get fined for NOT voting. Not sure what I think about that. I think everyone should exercise their right to vote - particularly women, who haven't always had the option - but I think we should at least have the FREEDOM not to vote.

I think that's it for now. I'm starting to get nervous about Christmas (the season which starts in Canada the day after Halloween, since Thanksgiving is in early October) already -- I haven't managed to get cards out in 2 or 3 years, last year I did no Christmas baking, and I've already been invited to two parties for which I have no babysitters. Sigh. Maybe I will take another sick day and contemplate it all.