Random Dozen

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I had a rough night last night (more on that later) so today I'm going with the no-brainer post!


1. Do you prefer even or odd numbers? Any particular reason?

Really? I cannot believe this is a Random Dozen question! Didn't I just talk about this Friday?

Speaking of Friday, who is the unloyal reader smartass who unfollowed me on Friday - leaving 99 followers - after reading my rantings about having an even number of followers?? Huh?? Huh?? Don't make me search through the ISP list and find you! Fess up!

Yeah ... so ... even numbers RULE!

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "not at all" and 10 being Carly Simon-worthy, how vain are you?

I would be a -5. I am many things, vain is not one of them ... most likely because I grew up with a mother who thought leaving the house without makeup was akin to clubbing baby seals.

3. Among these Irish stereotypes, with which do you identify most closely? Talkative, Proud, Inquisitive, Love to party, Hot-tempered

Hmmm ... I'd probably have to go with inquisitive, but none of those jump out and bite me in the ass. Rumor has it there is a splash of Irish in my German blood, but I'm thinking it must be more like a drop. That or the damn Nazi blood has committed a blitzkrieg on the potato farmers.

4. How lucky do you consider yourself?

Lucky? Is anyone really lucky? I tend to think more along the lines of you get what you deserve, and I obviously pissed off the karma fairies.

5. What is the subject of your favorite post that you've written?

I don't have a favorite post that I've written ... is that weird?

6. Describe March weather where you live in three words.

Winter isn't over.

7. How apt are you at detecting blarney when you hear it? (Smooth talk, flattery)

Those of us with a cynical bend tend to be over-achievers in detecting blarney when we hear it. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that my cynical bend is a least 90 degrees thus causing me to err on the side of "that's blarney" when anyone says anything nice.

8. How "green" are you, environmentally speaking?

Mint green. I recycle (usually) cans, glass and paper. I take packaging into consideration when making purchases. I occasionally remember to bring my reusable bags to the market. I could do better, but I'm waiting for the kelly green folks to make it easier.

9. What is your favorite song this week?

Favorite? Again? I don't usually have favorites in anything. Great ... now I'm starting to get a complex because I don't have favorites!

10. You are walking along and see a coin on the ground. What denomination does it have to be before you will stop to pick it up?

It depends on which day of the week it is. Payday is Thursday, so if it's Tuesday I'll pick up a dime. Saturday? It's got to be a quarter - I do laundry on Sunday!

11. Complete the sentence: "Every time I look outside my window ...."

... I examine the ground to see if Jay has left any footprints.

12. What was the #1 song on the day you were born? See this site to find out.

Rag Doll - The Four Seasons. Egads I'm old ...

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When Food Comes From Angels

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Last week I talked about food - specifically the crappy job we do in getting food to the people who need it - the hoops we make people jump through when they are already at a low point in their life. I also mentioned my hope that Angel Food Ministries - a non-profit, non-denominational organization dedicated to providing food relief and financial support to communities throughout the United States - might fill that food gap for people like me.

I picked up my first Signature Box on Saturday. The Signature Box contains fresh and frozen foods valued at $60, for only $30 per box. Angel Food Ministries uses their national buying power, and minimal overhead expenses, to fill the food gap.

This was the contents of my Signature Box ...

Now, just in case you can't see everything, let me give you a full list of what I was able to purchase for $30:

2 lb. Top Sirloin Steaks (4 x 8 oz.)

1.5 lb. Boneless Pork Roast

2 lb. Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast

2 lb. Lasagna with Meat Sauce

1.5 lb. Fully Cooked Boneless Chicken Drumsticks

1 lb. Lean Ground Beef

1 lb. Frozen Baby Limas

1 lb. Frozen Green Beans

1 lb. Frozen Broccoli

1 lb. Pasta

1 lb. White Rice

25 oz. Pasta Sauce

3 lbs. Potatoes

1 lb. Carrots

32 oz. 2% Shelf Stable Milk

Dozen Eggs

1 Pumpkin Pie

Not only was the food high quality (there really were no second-hand items, no damaged or out-dated goods, no dented cans without labels, no day-old breads and no produce that was almost too ripe) but I was treated with the utmost dignity and respect.

I walked into a "casual" part of the church (looked like a small gymnasium) where I was greeted by an "appropriately" friendly woman. She had me initial my order and got me started on the pick-up process. A trip around a series of tables with a laundry basket and I moved over to the packaging area where two more people loaded my groceries into two eco-friendly reusable bags, and I was on my way.

Everyone I came in contact with treated me as if I were their neighbor. There were no high-pressure God sales. In fact, the only "religious" component of the program was the pick-up at a church and the flier left in the bottom of one of the bags.

This program is EXACTLY what I needed and the kind of program I feel really meets the needs of many in our country. It allowed me the dignity to purchase (they also accept SNAP - food stamps - to purchase items) good quality, healthy food for my family at a reasonable cost. There are no qualifications, minimums, income restrictions, or applications. There are no embarrassing "client interviews." This program allows you to walk in with your head held high, and walk out in the same manner.

Life sometimes brings us unexpected circumstances, and during those times it's not a hand out we need, but a reasonable help up. Angel Food Ministries has managed to find that balance.

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Happy Birthday Boo-Bear!

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Today my Boo-Bear turns 14. It's been a rough year for him and my greatest hope is that this coming year, he'll have the opportunity to focus on being 14 and not have his mind and heart clouded by all of the nonsense he's had to deal with in the past.

In honor of Cam's birthday, I'd like to share with all of you 14 things you might not know about him.
*EDIT* Updates at 16 are in BOLD italics

1. Cam was a 9 lb-12 oz, 24 inch baby. Throughout his first two years his pediatrician kept telling me his growth would slow down. It never did. As of yesterday, Cam is 6'-2", 220 lbs ... and STILL growing.
*EDIT* At 16, he is 6'-4" and 270 lbs

2. At 3, Cam would walk through parking lots and name (correctly) the make and model of every car. This is still one of his favorite road trip games. It's not unusual to hear hours of "Toyota Carola, Ford Focus, Dodge Challenger ..." while in the car.

3. When Cam was 4, he rode his bike to a park 2 miles from our house ... alone. I was in a panic and called the police. When they found him at the park they explained that I was worried about him because he was lost. His response? "I'm not lost! I know exactly where I am!" This was a hint of things to come.

4. Cam has attended 5 different schools since kindergarten. He has been in his current school 3 years - the longest stretch he's ever been in any one school.
*EDIT* He is currently on his 7th (and hopefully last) school

5. Cam plays the oboe and has for 4 years. Oboe was his first choice in musical instruments when band was offered in fifth grade, but oboe was not the first instrument he learned to play. He started playing piano (by ear) at 4 and is also a self-taught guitar player.
*EDIT* Cam continues to play the oboe (6 years now), plays the bass drum in marching band and has a new musical love, the bass guitar

6. Cam has hundreds of Hot Wheels. Although he did it much more when he was younger, he will still spend hours lining the Hot Wheels up from end to end and from one end of the house to the other.

7. Cam always sticks up for the underdog and God help you if you say something - or do something - against one of his family members or "friends"

8. Cam's best subject in school is math, but his favorite subject is Social Studies.

9. Cam orders only one meal from each of the fast food restaurants we go to. A #1 (Big Mac) with extra onions, large fries and large Hi-C Orange if we are at McDonald's, or a Steak Grilled Stuff Burrito and a large Mountain Dew if we go to Taco Bell. He won't order anything but a drink if he is "forced" to go to any other fast food restaurant.

10. Cam's iPod contains every genre of music, from classical to hip-hop and everything in between.

11. Cam has spent more time in the Principal's office for being honest than he has for any other reason. It is not unusual for a teacher to ask him, "Would you like to read these pages, out loud, to the class?" only to have Cam respond, "No" (he doesn't have social filters). This then turns into a trip to the Principal's office for defiance/disobedience.

12. Cam's favorite color is orange and he prefers orange clothes, orange cars, and orange food.

13. Cam is still upset with me for lying about Santa Clause, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy ... very upset!

14. Cam is an amazing kid with amazing talents, unfortunately most people see his behaviors (autism) before they see him. My hope for him, and for other kids like him, is that this will not always be the case.

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