Mother Nature's Revenge

We are now used to living from one disaster to another; whether it’s terrorism, crazy shooters or natural disasters, there is always a relief effort going on and a lot of rebuilding.  Maybe it’s not much different than it’s been for years but it sure seems that way.  Massive hurricane in NYC?  Mile-wide tornado in Oklahoma?  Louisiana has still not fully recovered from Katrina, people in the NYC area are just beginning to return to their homes and parts of Oklahoma flattened to the ground.  It’s so overwhelming that the right wing has taken to blaming natural disasters on the POTUS.  His powers are increasing on a daily basis.

It’s natural to try to find a logical cause for everything.  If horrific events are random, than we can’t prevent them.  If we can’t prevent them, we are helpless.  Americans really hate being helpless.  We blame terrorists, especially Muslims, whenever possible.  When a teenager attacks a school and kills a bunch of innocent children, we try to blame the parents, the education system, video games and violent movies.  Who do we blame (other than President Obama) when it’s an act of nature?

From a religious perspective, some can blame the sins of man.  Depending on your particular persuasion, that can be a variety of things:  war, hate, abortion or homosexuality.  Then, of course, the perpetrator is the supreme being of your choice.  Personally, I have issues with a higher power that is that violent and vengeful.

My choice is to go back to that old margarine commercial.  The one where the margarine tastes so much like butter that this crazy woman, in front of a background of thunder and lightning, says “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!”  Maybe that’s the problem in a nutshell: we have been “fooling” with Mother Nature for entirely too long.  Of course, I am no kind of scientist, but I do believe that the majority of those who research and write on the topic are correct in saying the humans have greatly influenced all areas of our environment, including the weather.

Those who choose not to believe the data state that the rest are crying “wolf” and exaggerating to further liberal agendas.  They worry the most about the possibility of curtailing the growth of polluting industry.  Logically, it is not in the interest of those that pollute the environment to change their processes or even express concern about the environment.  Personally, I can’t say that the recent hurricanes, tornadoes, dramatic temperature variations and even earthquakes are due to unnatural additions to the world, but as Mr. Spock would say, it’s logical.  If you are in a heavily industrialized area and smell the air, see the smoke and tons of trash generate, it is logical the see some connection. 

So just maybe, maybe, it is possible to do something about the weather and not just talk about it  This probably won’t happen during my lifetime, maybe not in yours either, but it can start at any time.  The auto industry has a mandate to begin to help clear the air by decreasing the gas consumptions of new vehicles.  In other areas, too much has been compromised in serve of placating corporate America.  All I have is a soapbox, which I am more than willing to share.  We can start by opening our eyes.

A Series of Events, Unfortunate and Un

 

So what to write about?  That I haven’t beaten to death already, of course.  Politics?  Stupidity of “sequestration” while the Dow soars, unemployment drops and more jobs are created, Donald Trump takes on Jon Stewart.  Sums up the week, unless you want to talk about Syria of the series of disasters across the globe, and I really don’t.  I could also speak about the unwanted and abandoned pets that fill our shelters and all too frequently are killed because no one claims them. 

In older news, yesterday was Pete Seeger’s 94^th birthday.  If you don’t know him and love him, I assume you’re very young or have been living in a cave.  I grew up with his music and had the opportunity to see him in person several times over the years.  He has never stopped fighting the good fight—for peace, the environment and justice.  Most people have grown up with his music without even knowing it. 

On a darker note, today is the 43^rd anniversary of the Kent State shooting of 4 students by the National Guard.  The students were protesting the Viet Nam War, which many did in that time, including yours truly.  The fact of innocents being killed by our own soldiers was a shock—we should never forget that this can happen in our own US of A. 

If you choose not to dwell on disaster and death, you can celebrate both Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day in the upcoming week.  This is permissible even if you are not Mexican and neither have or are a mother.  I’m all for celebrating anything that you can; it is a good excuse for immoderate eating and/or drinking.  I’m also for anything that necessitates the giving of gifts to me. 

Should you get gifts just because you’re a mother?  I would like to believe that the majority of mothers love their children and work hard to give them the best lives possible.  There are exceptions:  abusive, self-centered, neglectful mothers.  What about mothers who have given up their biological children?  Are they still mothers, or does all the glory go to the mother that has actually taken on the responsibility? I’ll leave that to the individuals involved to decide.  I guess I don’t believe that the biological fact of creating a human life entitles you to glory, but making a good decision might.  Actually, the fact of loving and caring for a child shouldn’t either—that’s the way it’s supposed to be.  Americans are just all about creating Hallmark holidays to bolster retail purchases.

Today I will celebrate Saturday and the birthday of a friend.  I will rejoice in my 4 rescued dogs that have found their forever happy homes with us.  Monday, with all the reality of sadness that is my daily job, will be here soon enough.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 

To Eat or Not to Eat, Is That a Question?

 

Fellow (and way more ambitious) blogger Tom Strait recently wrote about Waycross Restaurants, particularly those beginning with the letter W.  Interesting concept, but dear Tom seems particularly enamored of fast food. 

In my never ending and rarely successful quest to improve the quality of my consumption while decreasing the quantity, I would like to share my impressions of eating out in our fair city.  They are significantly different from Tom’s.  First, I mostly eschew “fast food” (not that I really have the patience for slow food….).  The only exception is Chic-Fil-A because I really like their waffle fries and diet lemonade, and Firehouse Subs, which isn’t really in the same category.  They have really good sandwiches and Matt, the manager, is an all- around really good guy.

After considerable research and taking all things into consideration (price, ambience and really liking the people that own them), for me, the best places to eat in Waycross are the ones that were born and bred right here.  That includes Wong’s of course, and there should be at least a ticker tape parade on the day that Paul Tang’s establishment re-opens—as of today, the building is looking good! 

It just occurred to me that I’ve been in Waycross long enough to actually know a lot of the business owners in town, like them as well, and that adds a lot of flavor to the food I eat.  I am a big fan of Plant Café.  In addition to having a sandwich named for me, Steve, Marla and Leigh are friends I always enjoy seeing.  Their  “wine-thirty” on Thursday nights is a great place to meet with friends while Scott Wilson accompanies our conversation on his guitar.  K.Ds is another local and comfortable place to enjoy a good, fresh cooked meal.  Jeanette’s Sandwich Shop (and Jeanette’s cakes) is definitely a unique Waycross institution.  I was quite pleased that my daughter chose Jeanette to make her wedding cake and that Jeanette transported it all the way to Savannah. 

I also want to offer a special commendation to “Pancho Villa-The Mexican Trailer”.  It started small and grew by word of mouth until they were able to afford a big trailer.  In the spirit of community, the owner adopted the name that everyone had begun to use and placed it on his new sign.  The food is fresh, tasty and the staff very friendly (I hope the owner forgives me for not knowing his name—but he’s a really nice guy!).

I know everyone was excited when all the big chain restaurants opened here; apparently they still are because the newest one always has a line so I hardly ever go.  They’re safe; you know what it will look like and what the food will taste like.  But the staff turns over at a dizzying pace and you’re just another customer when you eat there.

I’ll probably try the new, exciting Wendy’s when it opens just to check it out—but upscale or not—it’s still fast food.