Fed up at the pump?

It's not pretty - just plain facts.
Better to be outraged than an ostrich.
Get hosed here.

Going to hell in a plastic bag

It's clear that laws are made for the stupid. Get this, California is about to impose a "bag tax". The EPA and other environmental groups are up in arms because idiotic ignoramuses don't know any better than to discard plastic grocery bags anywhere but the trash can. The bags drift into the gutter, then float into storm drains and out to the ocean where they strangle birds & fish, and turtles mistake them for dinner, i.e. jellyfish, which is a staple in their diet.

Assembly Bill 2058, authored by Lloyd Levine - the same incompetent who wants to banish the incandescent light bulb in favor of the mercury laden compact fluorescent energy saver bulb, reads as follows:

The bill would require a store that is not complying with the diversion rate
requirements (defined as a 70% reduction in the volume of single-use bags distributed by 2010)
to sell plastic carryout bags to customers for not less
than $0.15 per bag. A store charging customers for plastic carryout
bags would be required to demonstrate that any revenue
collected, excluding the cost of the bags and a reasonable financial
return, is used to fund specified programs. 

I agree that plastic bags are hazardous to the health of the planet. I also agree that the waste generated by grocers is egregious - we've all seen them unnecessarily double bagging or putting just one item in a bag. But paper is no better. Although biodegradable, it takes 70% more energy to produce and transport paper than plastic. And most of all we've got to get people to think about the amount of waste we create and how it gets disposed. Maybe hitting them in the pocket book is the most heavy-handed way to get results but Life Rules 101 describes how there are trade-offs to just about EVERYTHING. As usual let's get all the facts before we knee-jerk.

Who it helps: birds, fish, turtles, environmentalists, Lloyd Levine's campaign.
Who it hurts: all the poor shlubs just trying to make a living and keep some of their paltry earnings, and drug addicts because the drugs are legal in California but the bag it comes in will soon be illegal (I can't take credit for this ironic observation). Ha!

P.S. Stores are now - audaciously, disgracefully - charging for reusable bags depicting their logos. Wouldn't it behoove them to hand these out for free or a nominal fee? (The last one I bought was $5.00!) Not only is it free advertising but it sets them apart as environmentally conscious.

Shoot this, yo!

Mid-westerners are sooo uptight. If your lawn mower doesn't start, why CAN'T you shoot it? This is the best story I've heard in a long time. I laughed out loud with my mouth wide open. A Milwaukee resident (pictured), Mr. Welandowski, has been arrested and faces 6 years in the clink because the policeman has a bug up his butt and didn't buy the argument, "it's my lawn mower and my yard so I can shoot it if I want." Maybe if he were more welandowski with a few more toofies and a hairbrush they wouldn't have mistaken him for a nutbird hillbilly and overlooked the felony lawn rage.

Words from the wise

We can change the world, one person at a time. Sometimes it just takes a different perspective. No voice is too small.

"The Enemy is Ignorance"

As a voracious reader I have read the masterworks of many literary greats and been engulfed, if not transported, by the prowess of equally great, though not necessarily noteworthy, authors and storytellers. Three Cups of Tea is unequivocally the best story I've ever read (could be that this is where my head is these days). Beautifully written, it's one man's tale of a failed attempt to summit the most razorous of Himalayan peaks and how that failure lead to his benevolent efforts and selfless success as humanitarian. Greg Mortensen, Director of the Central Asia Institute established stateside, is a real American hero. His mission is to combat poverty and subjugation with education - "books not bombs". CAI has built over 50 schools, particularly for girls, in the most rugged and sequestered terrain of Northern Pakistan and Afghanistan in the last 15 years. The alliances he's forged and relationships he's built with the most unlikely cast of characters is a real testament to Greg's passion for his work and a genuine belief in the fundamental and universal human need for self-reliance.

Family Affair

When I heard the Cameron family reunion was taking place in Gananoque, the epicenter of the world famous "Thousand Islands", my cortex was flooded with fond memories of youth and jubilation. Since the town I grew up in was a big yawn I spent weekends in my early 20's with "Davey" in T.I. We traveled 5 hours away from home most summer weekends to Alex. Bay, New York where we found plenty of mischief harboring untold stories of debauchery. While the physical landscape is unchanged, I am, so my visit was vastly different from the good ol' days. The Thousand Islands are located in the St. Lawrence Seaway dividing the US and Canada east of Lake Ontario. There are 1086 islands within about a 50 mile stretch. Most are privately owned - some large enough to house a small city including a fire department and some too small for nary a tree. I've visited a fair number of places in the world and this stretch of heaven is one of the most spectacular I've seen, especially in autumn when the leaves are changing. Gan is a quaint little tourist town easily explored by mountain bike (lots of off-road trails) but don't miss the boat trip 'round the isles. There are plenty of charming B&Bs to make a holiday on the river unforgettable. I've said for a long time that T.I. is a definite contender for my retirement.

(One of my favorite things in life is bagpipes. I can hear the faintest note in the distance and will bear through almost anything to find and listen to them - poison ivy in every nook and cranny when I was 6).

Gan is not too far outside of Canada's beautiful capitol city, Ottawa. I had never been even though I grew up in the vicinity. These images do not depict how looming the Parliament building truly is. And it's setting against the Rideau backdrop is breathtaking. In winter the canal freezes over and skaters replace boats. This photo shows working mechanical locks that join the canal with the river.


A train trip west connects me to the rest of my family where I got to spend time with the whole brood including my grandparents. While not at all restful it was a relaxing week of much needed family time.

Thanksgiving

Well, more thanks than giving. It's not quite a cornucopia but my garden bounty has been satisfying nonetheless. So far we've enjoyed an arugula salad, spinach, greens beans, tomatoes, turnip and beets. I reside amongst a small percentage of the population who love beets. I found a simple and delicious recipe for beet salad. (see below) I eat it alone but I'm sure you could put it with some greens or use your imagination to create your own delicious concoctions. Still waiting on the carrots, eggplant, squash and corn. We have one ear of corn so far. If I remember correctly it should be ready for harvest in August.





Roast 4 washed beets (stems & roots removed) wrapped in tin foil in 400 oven for 1 hour
Cool a bit; peel & cut into bite sized wedges
Mix in 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Add 1/3 c chopped walnuts
Toss with 1 tbsp sunflower oil (or whatever you prefer)
Serve chilled crumbled with goat cheese

You can use the greens too. They are a little bitter to use in a salad but I sauteed them with garlic and shallots for a yummy and flavorful side with beef tenderloin and sweet potato/turnip mash. Substitute the beet for turnip greens, add sardines to the skillet and you've made a classic Siicilian dish. Bellissimo!

Another favorite is turnip gratin. We love root vegetables and there are lots of extraordinary ways to use them.





Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in middle.
Melt 2 tbsp butter in an ovenproof heavy skillet, cool.
Slice well-washed turnip paper thin (skins on), layer 1/3 into skillet overlapping tightly.
Keep remaining slices covered with dampened paper towel.
Sprinkle with a little thyme, savory, kosher salt, and cayenne.
Make 2 more layers just the same.
Cook, covered, over medium heat until underside is browned, about 10 min.
Add 1 c heavy cream and cook, covered, until center is tender, 20 to 25 min.
Sprinkle evenly with 1 c grated Parmigiano cheese.
Bake, uncovered, until golden and bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes.
Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

I am so thankful for and to my grandparents who as city folks had the gumption to become farmers in mid-life. Their adventure rendered us kids the beneficiaries of many years of unforgettable memories. Those were truly the best days of my life and I often think that after we've sown our proverbial seeds we are impelled to return to our roots. I love the vibrancy, diversity, activity and most of all the anonimity of city life but more and more I feel the pull of peace and open space. Who doesn't want their veggies and eat them too?

Over the Moon

I'm going to Africa!!!.....And beyond.

I HIGHLY recommend Jim Harlan at Uncommon Adventures to unleash the adventurer in you. I cannot say enough about his passion and willingness to make dreams come true. Everyone I've talked to who's traveled under Jim's direction has said it was the best trip of their life. He customizes trips based on who you are, what you like to do, how you like to travel and (importantly) what your budget is. I was agonizing when I thought there was a chance I wouldn't be making this trip but Jim knew how important is was to us and made it happen. I hope to be able to afford to make a really snazzy trip every other year since there's so much world to cover and traveling is my passion. Jim is so knowledgeable and has personally been everywhere he suggests so he knows just how to make your experience ultimate.

Under the Big Top

The last couple of days have been like walking the high wire. As you know, I am planning a trip to Africa in December with a group of avid adventurers. The itinerary is robust tackling 3 countries in just under 2 weeks including visits to Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. We will be on safari in the Okavango Delta and game driving in Kruger National Park. Highlights also include white water rafting on the Zambezi River, elephant back safari, & a helicopter tour of Victoria Falls. As you can guess this adventure is not cheap. But relish my surprise when I opened my inbox the other day to find that I needed to pony up an additional $2000. on top of the twice previously revised pricing scheme. YYEOWZA! Between the weak dollar and rising fuel costs this trip is rapidly constricting my blood flow. I don't recall the last time I felt so depressed. I talked it over with my "camp-mates" and we all agreed that we just couldn't stretch our budget. As one last consoling measure I offered to see how flexible this trip was and if we couldn't customize it a bit to rein the price in some. The most accommodating tour director at Uncommon Adventures thinks he can make it work for us so at least for the time being the dream is still alive.