Day 215

Tomorrow is a day of giving thanks here in the US by tucking it away like we’re in training for the big leagues—The MLE (Major League Eating), which sadly, is an actual organization that oversees all professional eating contests, of which there are 80 sanctioned.  And while, unsanctioned, Thanksgiving does provide valuable farm team experience to the masses.

The Simple Year aside, it is an unusual year for us.  For the first time ever (I think), my family has chosen to go to a restaurant for our holiday meal.  On the up side, I am hoping the presence of strangers will shame me into reasonable turkey consumption.

So, in honor of the holiday, I thought it fitting to voice my thanks to a group of friends; never mind that I haven’t met most of them.  For the last few months, there have been quite a few people that have commented, emailed, offered advice, cheered me on and helped me rationalize.  I also think their voices are interesting and add to the discussion.

I imagine not everyone reads the comments, so I would like to share a couple of them here with you.  But, I love them all…

 

Why didn’t I think of that?

“I take my own travel mug into places with paper cups (notably, Chipotle, where I typically go when I “treat myself”) and just fill it with water instead of wasting a disposable cup. I hope to be free of disposable items soon”

–Caitlin

Seeing is believing

“… I have spent time in Nepal (and Cambodia and Laos…and India) and had many, many hiking boots moments. And the flip flops!? What did these people do before flip flops? And weren’t you amazed at how much people can stack on bicycles and scooters. Why have a car? (I once saw a WATER BUFFALO, deceased, on the back of a very small scooter.)”

–Susan

Plastics…run don’t walk

“Run, don’t walk, to your local thrift shops and buy glassware! Pyrex, Anchor Hocking, Ball/Mason jars are all far greener, last forever and are made in the USA and generally easy enough to find in thrift shops. No more plastic!”

–Heather H

Poetic comments

“i am alive, so there is something i want.
i just need to sit with it for awhile.
i like the comment about doing something for a bit, before buying the paraphernalia and gadgets.”

–eema

True family confessions

“When we were young, we took a 3 week camping trip across the USA. Mt. Rushmore, the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, SF & Mt. Hood to name a few spots on our itinerary. With 5 kids, a dog and pulling a pop-up camper, space was at a premium for packing. My parents had a portable kitchen they thought was well equipped until one night mom made spaghetti on the Coleman camp stove. As the pasta was ready to come off the heat, she realized we didn’t have a strainer. She opened a pair of panty hose she had brought to wear to church, (this was ’69 and no one went to church with bare legs!) and proceeded to strain the spaghetti through them! Us kids though that was genius, dad thought it was funny & mom told us never to tell anyone.”

–Julie

Spam comment

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–Computer Hacker/w Google Translate?

(The above comment doesn’t exactly add to the conversation, but it makes me laugh)