A Salute to a Good Man

I am unexpectedly back in West Texas today.  I drove the 8 1/2 hours over here yesterday and am going back to Houston tomorrow.  I'm here for the funeral of a good man.  I know most of you didn't know King Terry but the beauty of this venue is that I can write about whatever I want and today I want to remember King.

I received a copy of his obituary in an email a couple of days ago and I'm reprinting it here as it expresses his life so well.  

On Friday, May 20, 2011 King Terry, Jr. passed away peacefully at home surrounded by people he loved.

King was born in Alpine, Texas on May 30, 1924 to King and Lady Terry.  After graduating from Alpine High School, King attended Texas A&M University and later graduated from Rutgers University.

Following graduation, King served his country during World War II in the European Theater with the Army’s 104^th Division.  King received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, expert rifleman medal and was awarded the WWII Veteran Honor and Remembrance Medallion by the Non-commissioned Officer Association.

After his military service, King returned to West Texas to ranch in Sterling, Schleicher and Brewster counties.  He raised registered Hereford cattle, Rambouillet sheep and Angora goats.

King served as Director and Honorable Director of the Texas and Southwestern Cattleraisers, Chairman of the Agriculture Stabilization Commission (ASC) for Terrell and Brewster counties, Honorable Director of the Highland Hereford Association, and was an honorable lifetime member of the Texas Cattlewomen.

Like the West Texas mountains he loved, there was a timeless quality to King Terry.  His character and his principles were true and did not bend.  He had a sense of right and wrong that guided him through his relationships, his business and the way he lived his life each day.  King had a spark in his eye and a wicked sense of humor.  He had a way of telling a story that was wonderful and very uniquely his own.  He kept history alive, and colorful, and very real for all those who knew him.

For all his ruggedness, he had a most unexpected soft spot for all the creatures who graced the Terry home.  From a multitude of very lucky cats to one rambunctious little raccoon named Socrates.

King married Becky Bird Terry on May 23, 1949.  For 62 years, King and Becky faced all that life brought to them side by side.  There were easy years of abundance, good health and rain.  And there were lean years when the obstacles were many.  Through all that life brought to their door, Becky and King laughed, loved and persevered.  Through that process, they found friends far and wide who brought joy and richness to their lives.

King was an amazing man, a real West Texas rancher and something of a legend in our part of the country.  His wife Becky is a dear friend and one of the most gracious women it's been my honor to know.  Generous and kind, they stepped up to help so many people over the years, myself amongst them.

Although I knew there would be hundreds of people at this funeral I needed to come and pay my respects.  There are only a few of his generation left out here and we mourn the loss of each of them.  I know King was ready to go but I'm sad that I'll have no more conversations with him in this world.  Here's to you King Terry, I'll miss you.

How Old is TOO Old to Have a Baby?

 That biological clock is ticking away and doesn’t seem to be slowing down! If you are in your forties, want kids and don’t have any, you’ve thought about it. The one thing that keeps crossing my mind is how old is TOO old to have kids?

People are obviously living longer than ever and are healthier as well, but do I want to be in my 60’s when my son graduates? Will it bother me when the time comes that people start thinking I’m his grandma? Am I okay with the chance that I probably won’t see my grandkids grow up? Will my children have to take care of me when they are in their 20’s or 30’s? These are all scenarios that you have to consider for yourself, but what about the kids?

Will THEY be okay with knowing that they have the oldest parents in the their class? How will they cope with losing their parents earlier in life than other kids? Will they be even more embarrassed about introducing their mom and dad to their friends? As hurtful as these questions are, at some point, they will come up.

Weighing the pros and cons of having kids later in life can drive you crazy. If you are healthy, young at heart and financially well off, then your decision is much easier to make, but what if you aren’t?

Life is short and there is nothing like having kids, but part of being a grown-up is making grown-up choices that we sometimes don’t want to make. Whether you decide to go for it and get pregnant or even consider an alternate route of adoption, ask yourself the hard questions. Honest answers will help you figure out what road is the right one to take.

Your Body; What To Do With It After You Die

My parents plan to donate their bodies to science after they die.  All their organs will be up for grabs and afterwards their bodies will go to a med school or wherever they're needed.  The body donation is a little freaky to me but it's what they want.  When I signed up to be an organ donor the woman at the DMV said it won't really matter what's on my driver's license if my family's wishes diverged from my own.  She recommended discussing my wishes well in advance so they'd know how I feel.  My son said he was good with organ donation but was unwilling to let my eyes go.  It's funny how different people feel squeamish about different things.

Last fall CNN Health published an article on various options for your body after you die.  Read the entire article here.   Some of the ideas overlap like organ donation, tissue donation and willing your body to a university.  Some are a little more novel to most of us.  If you watch any of the many Law & Order shows you are probably familiar with body farms, which are used to train pathologists to recognize time of death.  Did you know you can will your body to the Forensic Anthropology Center in Knoxville, Tennessee?  If you live in the area they'll even cover the costs.

How about becoming a real crash test dummy?  Evidently plastic only goes so far and then cadavers are needed.  Have you seen the Body Worlds exhibit?  You can be part of it!  How about helping train cadaver dogs?  Or letting your skeleton be used in medical schools?   Maybe a museum would like to display you.

Not crazy about spending eternity six feet under?  There are a lot of options out there.  They aren't all free to the family so if you're interested be sure and do your research.  As for me I prefer to give up what's of use, excluding my recognizable body and then cremation.  Not sure where that fits in with my son's plans or if he'll thwart me after I'm gone but hopefully at least part of me can be of use to someone else.

Have you made your plans?  Have you discussed them with your family?  Do they agree with you?

Quinoa Salad

If you haven't tried quinoa, perhaps this salad will entice you!  Make sure you rinse the quinoa at least three times before you cook it to remove the bitter saponins.  If you replace the quinoa, which is a grain-like pseudo-cereal with couscous, which is pasta you'll lose a lot of the nutritional value (although it will still taste good!).

Servings: 8

4 cups cooked quinoa (or whole-grain couscous if you can’t find quinoa)
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1 cup bell peppers (use red, orange or yellow), chopped
1 cup cucumber (leave skin on for green color), chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup black beans
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Juice of one lime (zest is optional)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup parsley (or cilantro), chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl and serve. That’s it!

Mosquito Control

Insect control is at least as old as agriculture. Many different insect control methods have been used and modified throughout the centuries.  The Sumerians sprinkled sulfur compounds on their crops, and poisonous plants were used by other ancient civilizations to keep harmful insects at bay.  During the 15th century chemicals such as lead, arsenic and mercury were applied to crops.

Insect adaptation and the need to maximize food production continue to drive the invention of new methods.  In addition to our crops we also protect our homes from harmful bugs. Insects such as mosquitoes can carry serious diseases, including malaria and dengue fever. Insect nets are made to keep these bugs from entering living spaces and are sometimes treated with insecticide.

Breeding Ground Elimination

Water drainage and trash disposal eliminate breeding grounds for many insects such as mosquito and fly larvae. Wetland drainage is effective for eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, but destroys the eco system for many other species. Garbage provides food and shelter for cockroaches. Underdeveloped sewage systems, especially those in third-world countries, attract insects. Maintaining or upgrading these sewage systems has cut down on many insect infestation problems.

Traps

Traps for insects, such as mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies, and ladybugs, can be purchased at most hardware or gardening stores. Traps typically use chemical attractants, visual lures, or food.

Chemical attractant traps release active components over a series of days or weeks to lure insects into a funnel-shaped entrance or adhesive surface, which traps them.

Advanced mosquito traps can be used in large, outdoor areas. These traps lure mosquitoes by mimicking human presence. A steady stream of CO2, in addition to an attractant, lures mosquitoes to the trap. The mosquitoes are then vacuumed into a net where they dehydrate and die.  These advanced mosquito traps are scientifically proven to disrupt the breeding cycle and can virtually eliminate mosquitoes in your yard all season long.

Visual lures are also used to trap insects. Fly strips work in enclosed areas because house flies enjoy landing on vertical, narrow objects.

Light traps, another visual lure, attract nighttime insects, such as moths and certain beetles like ladybugs. “Bug zappers” are an inefficient light trap because although they attract insects, most fly in the immediate area without ever being electrocuted. Moreover the majority of insects killed by bug zappers are non-biting and harmless. These types of traps have little to no effect on reducing mosquito populations.

Food traps lure insects into a reservoir from which they cannot escape. Fruit flies are trapped by filling a glass with sugar water. Their bodies are so light that once they land in the cup, the water on their wings makes it impossible to escape.

Some things to consider when purchasing traps are the size of the area that needs protection from insects, the type of insect you need to target and the effectiveness of the trap.  You should research the effectiveness of the trap before you buy. The most effective traps have independent testing results to prove they work. This is an unbiased approach to gauging a trap’s effectiveness instead of just trusting a product description. An effective trap should not only kill a large amount of insects, but also reduce the surrounding population.

A Trap for Mosquito Control

Predatory Animals

Certain bats and birds eat vast quantities of insects daily. Ladybugs enjoy eating aphids, and praying mantises feed on a variety of insect pests, such as flies. Gardeners and homeowners attract these predators by building bird and bat houses. Homeowners may purchase beneficial insects to release in their yards or gardens as a form of natural pest control.

Pesticide Chemicals

Agricultural corporations utilize chemicals to kill insects because of effectiveness and low cost. Although efficient, pesticides have come under scrutiny because of their harmful effects on the environment through runoff, and on living creatures when ingested.

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, utilizes multi-faceted insect control tactics. This method, requiring several steps, has gained in popularity after people realized the dangers of most chemical pesticides.

The steps required for IPM -

1.Identification - Detecting the presence of a pest and identifying it to a species. Closely related species may be very similar in appearance, but have significantly different pest potential.

2.Quantification - Sampling to measure population density. How is population density changing with time?

3.Determination - Finding out where the population stands relative to economic injury levels. How much more growth potential is left in the population?

4.Specification - What type of control is warranted? What tools or resources are needed to implement a control operation?

5.Application - Taking whatever steps are necessary to suppress the pest population.

6.Evaluation - Confirm efficacy of control tactics by taking an additional test sample. Re-evaluate the situation and take appropriate actions if needed. (Meyer)

The Future of Insect Control

More advanced methods of insect control are being developed. Genetically altered, flightless mosquitoes are being bred to quell the spread of malaria and other diseases. Lasers are also being developed that kill insect pests with extreme accuracy. Chemicals can be introduced into an area to disrupt breeding. These chemicals release false pheromones, which make it almost impossible for male insects to locate females because of sensory overload.

Works Cited

Meyer, John R. Integrated Control. 3 November 2003. 22 March 2010 .

Post Sponsored by Mosquito Magnet®

Link Love 5.19.11

My friend Rene Creasy took this lovely picture of blue birds returning to her bird house.  I know the luck they are reputed to bring will be with her this year and always because she is just that sort of person!

What caught my eye around the web this week -

@AnnDaly, who I follow on Twitter, wrote an excellent memoir and salute to her mother on Maria Shriver's blog.  It's lovely and I hope you'll read it.  You might consider following her on Twitter too!

If you watch the Discovery Channel you know Mike Rowe.  He's become the voice of the channel.  He narrates Deadliest Catch, one of my secret favorite shows, has his own show Dirty Jobs and is currently the front man for Ford trucks, among other things.  If you watch him you'll feel like he's a pretty nice guy with whom you'd like to drink a beer.  Mike Rowe recently appeared before the Senate Commerce Committee to testify on behalf of manual laborers in this country.  It's an homage to the working man.  Here's a short bit of what he said -

"In a hundred different ways, we have slowly marginalized an entire category of critical professions, reshaping our expectations of a “good job” into something that no longer looks like work. A few years from now, an hour with a good plumber – if you can find one – is going to cost more than an hour with a good psychiatrist. At which point we’ll all be in need of both."


I hope you'll go read the rest because he's right, we no longer value manual labor in this country and we're suffering for it.


Are you a writer of song or poetry?  This might just be the opportunity you need.  A friend of mine has just finished her novel except she needs some song lyrics.  Think you've got the stuff?  She's paying $50 to whomsoever can write the song she needs.  Check it out and let me know if you win so I can bask in reflected glory!


I am a bad blog reader.  I subscribe to several blogs but frequently am playing catch-up trying to read them all.  One of my favorites is The Fabulous Geezersisters, written by Ruth Pennebaker.  A while back she wrote an article about the other Ruth Pennebaker, a maiden aunt who recently passed away.  It made me cry.  Not because I knew her aunt but because it reminded me of an old aunt of my family.  I loved my Great Aunt Dixie but I really only knew her when I was young.  She made a strong impact on me and yet decades passed without my being in touch with her.  After having been single for a dozen years now, I'd like to ask her why she was single.  Did she have a love that didn't work out?  Was she lonely?  I think she had a neat job but right now I can't think what it was.  I never spoke with her as an adult and I miss her.  I didn't get to hear her stories. In this beautifully written article Ruth is talking about her aunt but I'm thinking about mine.  She's right, "whole lives get lost every day and we never even notice."  Better ask your questions while you still have the chance.


Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

The Best Midlife Credit Cards

This is a guest post by Katrina Robinson, a writer who covers topics ranging from personal finance to credit cards.

So you're looking for the best credit card, and you're having a hard time deciding which one is best for you. You likely have a good credit history, so you want something more sophisticated, but you still want to be financially responsible. In short, you want a credit card that will give loads of perks that busy people like you can enjoy—and that your families can enjoy, too! Following, find the top four midlife credit cards.

1. Capital One® VentureOne(SM) Rewards Credit Card

This credit card is ideal for those of you who have excellent credit and are frequent travelers. This card rewards you with 1.25 miles per dollar you spend on every purchase, every day. These miles can be redeemed for airline tickets, car rentals, hotel rooms, and other travelling expenses. The even better news is that there's no limit on the miles you can earn, and they never expire. Furthermore, this card comes with a 0% APR on purchases until February 2012. Find yourself travelling all the time, whether for business or pleasure? Then look to this card for the ultimate travelling rewards.

2. Discover® More(SM) Card - $100 Cashback Bonus®

If cashback rewards are more your style, then this card is for you. When you make $500 worth of purchases within your first three months, you can earn a $100 cashback bonus! During the holiday season, you are rewarded with a 5% cashback bonus on department store, clothing store, and restaurant purchases. During the rest of the year, earn a 1% cashback bonus on all your purchases. Furthermore, enjoy 0% APR on balance transfers for twelve full months as well as 0% APR on purchases for six full months when you sign on with this Discover card.

3. Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express

This is another credit card perfect for frequent travelers, particularly those that tend to stay in Starwood hotels such as the Sheraton. For every dollar you spend at Starwood Preferred Guest Hotels and Resorts, you earn four to give Starpoints. You're given the opportunity to earn up to 25,000 Starpoints through this credit card. Starpoints can be redeemed for free nights at more than 1,000 hotels in approximately 100 countries as well as free flights on more than 350 airlines. And this is all with no blackout dates!

 

4. Citi® Forward® Card

This credit card is a different kind of rewards card—it rewards cardholders for staying within their credit limit and paying on time. After you sign up for paperless statements and spend $250 in purchases within the first three months of your account opening, you can earn up to 8,500 bonus points! You also earn five ThankYou point for every dollar you spend on entertainment and restaurants as well as one reward point for every dollar you spend on other purchases. These reward points can be redeemed through the ThankYou network for gift cards, cash, and more. If you're a responsible cardholder, then this is the rewards card for you.

 

These are the four best midlife credit cards. Depending on your lifestyle and the needs of your family, you're sure to find a winner amongst these cards!

Good programs to consider for all of us, mid-life or not!

  

(Picture Credit: CreditCards.com, Secured Business Credit Card)

Aging, it's different for everyone

I'm turning 50 this year and aging has been on mind quite a bit lately.  Everyone's experience with aging is different.  Here are some thoughts on the subject from some women I admire:

"Forty always sounded so important. The big four-oh. Well, after all, it is halfway, or more. But I've always wanted to be older. So I find actually being 40 very appealing." Elizabeth Taylor (From the February 25, 1972, issue of Life magazine.)

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. – Audrey Hepburn

That I won't be able to handle aging better than I am now. At 85, I am technically old and, while being intellectually grateful I made it this far, I don't like being old and dread being older. – Helen Gurley Brown in answer to the question “What is your greatest fear?” in an interview in Vanity Fair magazine.

But I definitely am embracing aging.  I also have never spent a lot of time in front of the mirror. So as far as I know, I look like I’m 24, which is how I feel. – Sheryl Crow

You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give. – Eleanor Roosevelt

“As I look back over my life, as my mind wanders freely over how I’ve lived and loved and protested and questioned, I realize that aging well isn’t about the search for happiness, but more about quietly feeling content with what I’ve experienced. Loving without caring too much, you might say. And more than anything, I’ve come to appreciate the value of conflict. Everything isn’t always meant to be light and love. The dark times, the conflicts, that’s where real learning can happen.” – Shirley MacLaine

I've found that the process of aging is, to a large degree, negotiable. The point we all need to grasp, finally is that we have considerable room to modify our experience of aging. – Jane Fonda

That's it, just thought I'd share!

Job Search - Playtime is Over!

When I started on my adventure I was working as an offsite paralegal.  Thanks mostly to the struggling economy, that work has dried up so much that I’ve come to terms with the reality of re-entering the regular workforce.

I have a friend who is a little older than I am who just entered the Foreign Service.  I did a little research and was excited to try and follow in her footsteps.  Then I remembered the left-behind pug and realized it wasn’t the right time for me to go overseas.  As long as he is with me, I’ll have to stay in this country.

I’ve polished up my resume and Friday I applied for my first “real” job in several years.  A local estate-planning firm needs a legal assistant with computer skills, which is right up my alley.  We’ll see what happens.  I also plan to send my resume to a temporary staffing service.  I worked for a temp service years ago and every company to which I was posted offered me a job.  I don’t know if that will be the case this time around but it may help to get me by until a full-time job materializes.

At 49 years of age I didn’t think I’d be trying to get back into the workforce.  Of course I never thought I’d be single and "homeless" either but that has worked out pretty well!  I believe in closing doors and opening windows.  I believe that things work out.  I believe this is just the next step in my life’s adventure and I’m looking forward to it.

Are you midlife and looking for a job?  I’d love to hear (and publish) your story!

Tomato, Goat Cheese and Onion Tart

Last week my mah jong group took a little overnight girl's trip to Brenham, Texas.  It was lots of fun.  We left Houston around 9:00 a.m. and drove to Round Top where we planned to have lunch at Royers, an interesting, eclectic little cafe.  Unfortunately bad weather had knocked out their power so we ended up re-routing to JW's Steakhouse in Carmine.  The heavens opened while we were eating so we brought our mah jong sets in and played the afternoon away!

When the rain finally let up we headed to the Ingleside Bed & Breakfast in Brenham, with a detour to the Blue Bell Creamery.  We were too late for the tour but did enjoy some delicious Blue Bell ice cream!  After a little downtime at the B&B we had a delicious dinner at Volare and then finished out the evening with a few more rounds of mah jong.

Wearing our Blue Bell Creamery hats!

We were booked for a tour of Ellisons Greenhouses in Brenham on Friday morning so, after enjoying a lovely breakfast and checking out, we met P.J. Ellison, who showed us around.  What a neat place!  Amongst many other things, in one greenhouse Ellisons has pick-your-own tomatoes.  It was hard to limit myself to just a few!  I also bought some beautiful spring onions.

After touring Ellisons we returned to Houston.  It was a fun trip!  Back home I found myself with a lot of beautiful, fresh tomatoes at the peak of ripeness and decided to make an onion, tomato and goat cheese tart.  It was absolutely delicious.  I made it off the top of my head and haven't "trued up" the recipe so bear with me, make any changes you like and enjoy!

Tomato, Goat Cheese and Onion Tart

I make my own crust using Julia Child's recipe but you can certainly use a refrigerated crust from the store.

2 medium onions, sliced thin

1 tablespoon of olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

4 medium tomatoes

4 oz. goat cheese (I used an herbed goat cheese)

2 tablespoons fresh, chopped basil

2 cloves garlic, diced

salt and pepper to taste

1 egg

I like a rustic tart but if you want to use a tart pan then I recommend that you pre-bake your crust.

Slice tomatoes at the beginning and set aside so they'll give up some of their water.  Heat olive oil in a shallow saute pan over medium heat and add onions and salt and pepper.  Stirring occasionally cook the onions until they are brown and caramelized, about 20 minutes.  When the onions are caramelized, add balsamic vinegar and stir through, remove onions from heat.

If you're making your own crust or using a store-bought crust, roll it out and transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet.  If you have pre-baked your crust, you're ready to fill!  Spread the caramelized onions on the crust.

Add the tomatoes and the goat cheese, sprinkle the basil on the top.  For a rustic tart, bring the edges up and around the filling, tucking and pleating to make a nice shape.

Beat an egg and brush the pastry with the egg wash for better browning.  Bake the tart in a 375 degree oven for 40 minutes or until the crust is baked through.

Cut and serve!  Makes four entree-sized portion or eight appetizers.  

Enjoy!

Keratin Hair Smoothing Treatment: Favorite Thing

I first heard about keratin smoothing treatments when I was living in east Tennessee.   Moving to a humid climate hadn't really enhanced my "do" and I guess my stylist felt that my tumbleweed head of hair needed a little help. Her salon had just been trained in the Coppola Keratin Treatment and she felt like it might be just the thing for me. I was intrigued and did a little research.

The Brazilian Blowout and the Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy by Coppola are two of the more popular keratin hair smoothing treatments available in hair salons these days but there are several others.  The idea of these treatments is that keratin, a naturally occurring protein, is bonded to your hair using a hot flat iron.  The keratin fills in the "cracks" in your hair, smoothing out frizz.

If you get the Coppola treatment you can't wash your hair and you're not supposed to "kink" your hair in any way;  no pony tails, no pushing your hair behind your ears, etc., for 72 hours.  I'm not sure what you do about sleeping on your hair for those first few days.  The Brazilian Blow Out does not have any such restrictions.  If you have the keratin treatment you have to use sulfate-free shampoo products and many salons have created an additional revenue stream by insisting you buy their accompanying products.

All of the keratin treatments use formaldehyde as a bonding agent.  Although it bonds better, the higher the level of formaldehyde the worse the smell and the greater the health risks.   If you Google the process you'll find a huge range of stories both happy and horrifying, which muddies the waters even more!  You'll also see lots of before and after pictures.

If you color your hair you should get the keratin treatment at the same time as your color.  Otherwise you have to wait two weeks after coloring to have it done.  Prices average around $300.

I ended up not getting the process done in Tennessee but did have it done when I got to Houston.  I love it!  My stylist, who has a shop in a small town nearby does it for $150 so it pays to shop around.  I buy Loreal branded sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner for about $5 each at the grocery store.  I've had it done once and it has lasted about 3 months.  I plan to do it again in June.  As long as I am in Houston my intention is to only have it done during the more humid summer months, as opposed to year-round.  My hair is smoother and shinier and much less prone to humidity frizz than it used to be.  It's much quicker to dry and only needs a touch with the flat-iron to turn the ends under.

I think the effectiveness of the process depends upon how curly your hair is.  This is more of a smoother than a straightener.  If you're a curly-girl, don't expect that this treatment will take all the curl out.  If your hair is wavy and frizzy, like mine, and you don't like that look, this may be something you want to check out.  Talk to your stylist and do your homework.

Have you had one of these keratin smoothing treatments?  What do you think?  Love it or hate it?

Old Books and Other Musings

Picking up some pointers.

Last week I made a run to my little West Texas hometown of Alpine, seven and a half hours west of Houston.  Officially I was picking up some furniture for the friend in whose house I’m living.  Unofficially I was having a great time with all my old friends.  Much fun ensued and I’ll be writing about some of it, including a great visit with author Katie Arnoldi.

As a strange counterpoint to meeting Katie and hearing about her work, one of my friends had a little get-together during which we tore up books.  I never could get my head around exactly what we were going to be doing and kept referring to it as a book burning, which it wasn’t.  For many years while I lived in Alpine I volunteered weekly at the library bookstore.  A project of the Friends of the Library, Re-Reads sells books that are donated as well as those no longer needed in the library.  A valuable source of income, Re-Read brings in about $1,000 a month.

Books wend their way through the system, first on the library shelves, then on the shelves at Re-Reads and finally on the table at periodic “buy ‘em by the bag” book sales.  If a book makes it through the cycle without finding a new home, it has to go to the recycling center.

Destroying books is a touchy subject.  One of our friends refused to participate, saying she just didn’t think she could tear up a book.  Once years ago I was doing some work in an old high school whose library had closed and whose books, although still on the shelves at the time, were being thrown out.  I was aghast and, unable to rescue them all, snuck one copy of P.C. Wren’s Beau Geste out the door under my coat.  I’ve since become more realistic and, fast-forward to last week, agreed to join in this task of book destruction.

Along with some eating and drinking, at this gathering we were prepping the rejected books for recycling.  The covers had to be torn off and thick books reduced to 1” sections. It was hot, sweaty, filthy work made somewhat better with grapefruit margaritas and lots of laughing over romance novels, relationship advice books and scholarly tomes, all being consigned to the paper pulp pile.

While we were demolishing these books I was considering the end game of the author’s work.  Someone poured their energy, their creativity, their time and their spirit into these words that we were laughingly mocking and tearing apart. It’s a little sad.  Whether we’re William Shakespeare or Barbara Cartland, all those words we’re churning out have a finite shelf life.  Some last longer than others but at some point no one cares anymore and all those words go into the hopper.

As a huge, symbolic analogy of the arc of anyone’s life’s work, what’s the lesson?  Not to take ourselves so seriously?  To stop and smell the roses?  Don’t leave clearing out our junk to our children?  I’m not sure.  I’d hate it if the lesson was, “stop trying so hard or caring so much, it’s all going to be trash eventually anyway”.  I think we have to do the best we can for ourselves, regardless of whether or not anyone else cares or for how long.

On another note, I was struck by the thought that if someone came along and took a picture of all of us out in my friend’s backyard laughing and drinking and tearing up books they could slap a nasty caption on it and do some damage.  Makes you wonder about certain other pictures out there in the world with reality-stretching captions that we’re sometimes too eager to believe.

5 Ways to Cut Back on Red Meat

This is a guest post by Lauren Bailey who is a freelance writer and blog junkie.  Lauren blogs about online colleges. She especially loves hearing back from her readers. Questions or comments can be sent to: blauren99 @gmail.com. 

I've always been a steak and burgers kind of person. These sorts of red meats informally represented "American cuisine" to me. If someone ever asked me to describe American food, I would undoubtedly say chicken fried steak, pot roast, steak and potatoes, burgers and fries, etc. Perhaps some of you agree with me. However the older we get the more our metabolism slows and the more we've had to take a long hard look at the foods we're in the habit of eating.  We have to ask ourselves how our food choices might be affecting our health.

According to an article in CNN Health, a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2009 showed that people who eat red meat every day have a higher risk of dying over a 10-year period than those who don't. The article noted that the excess mortality was most often due to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Numerous other studies have indicated that eating red meat in high quantities is linked to various kinds of cancers. So how to cut back?

1)    Substitute fish

While fish has its own set of hazards, among them the risk of consuming mercury and the environmental impact of the fishing industry, it's still a healthy alternative to red meat.  Those fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids are even better. According to the American Heart Association, who recommends eating two servings of fish a week, not only are fish a good source of protein, but they are lower in saturated fat than many other meats.  You may want to avoid some of the larger fish higher on the food chain including king mackerel, swordfish, tilefish and shark because they can contain elevated levels of mercury (which is a pity, because shark and swordfish are delicious!)  Salmon, mahi-mahi, tilapia, trout and snapper are some of my favorites.

2) Substitute chicken

Chicken is also lower in saturated fat than red meat and a great source of protein.  There are a zillion different ways to cook it. You can buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts in bulk to save money and learn to prepare it in numerous ways.

3) Substitute turkey

As with chicken, turkey is a great alternative to red meat. Ground turkey is especially useful. You can use ground turkey in almost every recipe that calls for ground beef, from casseroles to pastas to burgers to chilis.

4) Substitute legumes (aka beans!)

Beans are a wonderful source of protein and the go-to food for vegetarians and vegans who forgo meat entirely. Instead of meat, you can substitute a large portion of beans in meals. If you don't like certain types of beans, there are numerous other options. There are kidney beans, navy beans, black beans, fava beans, white beans, black-eyed peas, soy beans, chickpeas and lentils, just to name a few. They're loaded with protein and fiber and have enough heft to replace a red meat meal every now and then.

5) When you do eat red meat, limit your portion size

Portion control is everything when it comes to eating healthy, but all too many of us savor the sight of a steak that takes up the lion's share of our plate. When you do eat red meat, limit the portion to approximately the size of a deck of cards. You’ll get to enjoy the taste of beef and all of the benefits of the iron while avoiding the consumption of too much saturated fat.


I have a lot of friends who make their living in the beef industry and I have to say, although I don't eat a lot of meat anymore, I love a good steak now and again.  As this poster says, the key with any food is portion control and moderation!

Local Food Wake-up Call

This just came across a "foodie" email list to which I belong called the Houston Chowhounds and I felt it was important enough to share.  Although this call to action relates to Texas state bills, it is not unique to Texas.  In December of 2010 the federal Food Safety Modernization Act was passed.  I believe the Food Safety Modernization Act is "good" legislation but because it does not differentiate between large scale commercial operations and small farms and backyard gardeners selling at the farmer's market, the "safe food" act has the potential to destroy small scale local food producers.  HB 2084 is proposed in the Texas legislature in response to the economically crippling requirements of the new federal law.  If you live in Texas and like going to the farmer's market or buying produce at a corner stand or if you are a small food producer, I urge you to contact your representatives and voice your support for HB 2084.  If you don't live in Texas I suspect your state is working on or has already passed similar "corrective" legislation.  A little searching on the Internet should help you find what's going on in your state and I hope you'll support your local food industry.


Right now, anyone in Texas who wants to bake a few pies or make a few jars of jam to sell to their friends and neighbors must have a commercial kitchen and be inspected by the state.  The regulatory requirements can cost over ten thousand dollars, hurting small businesses and preventing start-ups from having a chance.

HB 2084, the local and "cottage foods" bill, would allow small-scale producers to sell low-risk foods - baked goods, jams, and dried herbs - directly to consumers without these expenses.  The bill benefits local economies and small businesses by removing unnecessary regulatory burdens and promoting local food production.  HB 2084 recognizes that food produced on a small-scale and sold directly to consumers is different than food produced by the massive industrialized system in which the major food safety problems have occurred.

Additionally, HB 2084 helps local foods even more by calling for legislative hearings on issues such as the regulatory fees imposed on artisan cheesemakers, the barriers to food stamp beneficiaries being able to buy fresh produce at farmers markets, and the property tax problems faced by community gardens, urban farms, and sustainable farmers.

HB 2084 provides vital support for the local foods movement in Texas.  Please help us get this wonderful bill by Representative Kolkhorst passed!  The deadline for the Texas House to approve House Bills is this week, so we need your calls in support as soon as possible.

TAKE ACTION

1) Call your State Representative and urge him or her to vote YES on HB 2084.

You can call the Capitol Switchboard at 512-463-4630 and ask to be connected to your Representative's office, or you can look up who represents you online at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us

The legislators are working long hours, so you can call at any time of the day.  If you get their voice mail, leave a message saying: "Hi, my name is ____.   I am a constituent.  I urge Representative ______ to vote Yes on HB 2084.  Thank you."

2) Call your State Senator and ask him or her to sponsor HB 2084 and support it in the Senate.

3)  Bonus action:  The farmers' market bill, HB 3387, might also be voted on this week.  This bill would establish clear, reasonable standards for farmers' markets and protect against some unduly burdensome regulations.   When you call your Representative and Senator, ask them to also vote Yes on HB 3387.

MORE INFORMATION

You can read the full text of HB 2084 on the Texas legislative website: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/html/HB02084H.htm 

At least eighteen other states have similar laws already on the books: Alabama, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. 

HB 2084 was unanimously approved by the Public Health Committee. Over 150 people and organizations registered in support, including the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance, Sustainable Food Center, Texas Impact, and Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. 

HB 2084 also helps local foods by calling for legislative hearings on the following issues:

*  Helping small-scale cheesemakers: Due to a 2007 bill, fees on small-scale cheesemakers and dairy producers have gone up from as little as $52/yr to as much as $600/yr, depending on the size of the producer and their source of milk.  These fees threaten to drive small producers out of business.

*  Improving access to healthy, local foods for low-income individuals: The SNAP program (formerly Food Stamps) is administered at the state level using Electronic Benefits Transfer ("EBT"), similar to debit cards. The state provides EBT terminals to retailers, but these wired terminals are not practical for outdoor farmers' markets. Farmers markets provide access to fresh fruits and vegetables in "food deserts" and underserved communities with less overhead expense and construction time as compared to establishing a supermarket or grocery store. 

*  Providing for fair property tax treatment: Under Section 23.51 of the Tax Code, "qualified open space land" includes land "devoted principally to agricultural use to the degree of intensity generally accepted in the area." But community gardens, urban farms, family farms raising fruits and vegetables, and sustainable livestock farms have often been denied fair property tax valuations under the claim that they are not truly "agricultural" uses.  If the land is being used primarily to produce food to feed people, it should be valued as such.


For more information, go to OCA's Texas State page: http://www.organicconsumers.org/state/TX.cfm or visit the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance at www.FarmAndRanchFreedom.org

Bargain Clothes Shopping

I don’t really like to shop and I admit I’ve become a little lazy and selective about buying clothes in the last few years.  I prefer going to stores where I can easily find a number of things that suit me.  I swoop through, gather them all up and take them into the dressing room where I can try them all on and make my selections.  I like having a store clerk check on me and bring me different sizes or colors if I need them.  I’m not restricted as to number of items and she’ll even bring me bottled water.  The last few years I’ve mostly shopped at Ann Taylor or Talbots for precisely that reason.

One of my friends who is a champion shopper came to stay with me in Houston for a week back in February and we spent some time exploring a few of Houston’s numerous shopping venues.  I learned that buying things without trying them on, her method, doesn’t work for me.  She has no trouble taking things back but I hate it and the stuff ends up going straight to Goodwill if it doesn’t fit me.  Although we didn’t go there, she mentioned that she finds great deals at stores like Ross and TJ Maxx.  When I was a kid we used to go to Loehmanns but I haven’t been to any of those stores in a long time.

As I understand it, TJ Maxx, Ross and Loehmanns all buy clothes from other stores, mark them down and resell them.  They have lots of familiar brands, both high-end and mass market and the price cuts are impressive.

Now that I’m not working as much as I used to I need to be a little more careful about my spending.  Remembering my friend’s recommendation I went by Ross and TJ Maxx last week before heading out on my trip to west Texas. 

I found the stores to be big and messy and it was hard work shopping there.  The clothes are jammed on racks, not necessarily in the right order.  You have to get in there and dig.  It was sort of like shopping at a nicer smelling Goodwill store.

I found a pair of slacks from Talbots, which were originally $66, marked down to $35 before they went to TJ Maxx where I bought them for $14.99.  I can’t say I enjoyed the experience but I saved a lot of money and I’m sure I’ll be back.

Do you shop at discount clothing stores?  Do you like it or hate it?  What’s your best strategy?