Stuff and Things

Clearing out some of what's in my brain.

[randomandshinythings-blog]

Assumption of Truth

I’m a trusting person for the most part, but I’m also a “prove it to me” person. When I read something posted on the internet, I always assume it is NOT true. Unless, of course, it’s something written (not posted or shared) by someone I know, or a trusted source. It only takes a moment to do a little research to find out whether something is outdated, true or false, opinion or propaganda. Heck, you’re already on the internet if you’re reading it, so why not open another window or app and look it up? 

I am constantly amazed at what people believe and comment on or share on social media or emails. There are a lot of people who believe anything that is online must be true. I also think that there are a lot of posts that people want to believe, so therefore they assume they are true. This is the case for some politically motivated posts, but also posts that are intended to tug at your heart strings in some way. Just because a story makes your heart swell, doesn’t make it true. 

A post recently shared by a friend of mine showed a photo of a group of people standing with their hands over their hearts, supposedly during the National Anthem. In the group, there was a woman with long, straight black hair, looking down at her cell phone rather than standing at attention. The original post claimed it was the First Lady, and that she was disrespecting our nation at a particular fund raising event. My friend shared this post, because it confirms her opinion of Mrs. Obama. The picture did not show the woman’s face, just her hair and some of her dress; the original post claimed to be Mrs. Obama. A quick search online confirmed that it is not Mrs. Obama in the photo, but another woman with similar hairstyle at the same event. A photo of Mrs. Obama at that event revealed that her hair was curled that evening, and her dress was a different color. Whatever my friend’s opinion of the First Lady, sharing this photo and claiming that it is evidence of her disrespect for our Nation is unnecessary. I simply commented on the post referencing the accurate photo of Mrs. Obama at that event. 

Does it hurt anyone for such posts to be shared? I suppose not. It certainly does not accomplish anything productive, and clogs our social media with erroneous information, not to mention fueling negativity that is sadly a part of our world. Do I comment on and verify every post that I see that has the potential to be inaccurate? Of course not, that would be a full time job. I don’t want to be known as “the internet police” and cause extra drama with my friends and family. There are posts that get under my skin as clear propaganda, but there are other posts which, if unverified, could potentially cause harm to people. 

Two posts that have made the rounds over the last few years showed up in my news feed recently, because a family member or friend shared them. One claims that when you are in need of emergency assistance and only have access to a cellular phone, you should dial 112 instead of 911. The other claims that if you are ever forced to withdraw money from the ATM, you should enter your PIN backwards, which will automatically and secretly alert the police. Both of these posts are completely untrue, and if someone who believes them remembers seeing them when faced with the situations they reference, it could result in precious time being lost and an increased risk of harm. These are the posts on which I will most certainly comment.

Isn’t it interesting that people are so trusting and gullible, rather than skeptical? If only people would take a moment to verify before sharing or believing things they see. Yet there are so many people who doubt the validity of climate change. Go figure. That’s a topic for another time and place... 

[randomandshinythings-blog]

Drafts, Where Did You Go? grrr

I’m still learning my way around Tumblr. I wrote a fairly long post a few days ago and saved it as a draft, because I wanted to go back and edit. Now I can’t find Drafts. I think Tumblr could be a little more user-friendly. 

Of course it’s not user error, it’s Tumblr’s fault. Haha.

[randomandshinythings-blog]

Zucchini Apocalypse

Some people are preparing for a zombie apocalypse. Here in New England, we have a zucchini apocalypse every summer. It’s wonderful to be part of a community where everything is organic, where locally grown food is plentiful, and people love to share with their neighbors. In fact, there’s an old saying around here - don’t leave your car door unlocked, or you will find it full of zucchini. Well, if they can’t get in your car, they will just leave it on the front porch. 

It’s of course in the grocery stores, and all the local farmers’ markets. There are farm stands on almost every road with piles of zucchini for sale. There is a local county-run farm in our town which puts out huge boxes of it marked “FREE” even after they provide to the local jails and food banks. Home gardeners do the same thing. There is so much zucchini, people literally can’t give it away.

I have probably eaten zucchini in one form or another each day for the last four to six weeks, and we didn’t even grow any. We planted some, hoping for our own zucchini blossoms, but the deer ate them before we could get to them. Why the deer picked on our two little plants when the entire area is saturated with zucchini fields is beyond me, but we forgive them - it’s not like we don’t have access to as much zucchini as we could ever want or need... 

We’ve had: zucchini pancakes; zucchini “crab cakes”; sauteed zucchini with onions and/or garlic; shredded into a scampi-like pasta sauce; thinly sliced and rolled around herbed goat cheese; breaded and fried; zucchini lasagna; zucchini bread; grilled zucchini with balsamic and garlic; chunked up and added to marinara sauce and chili; and the list goes on. I’ve even used it as a decoration on shelves. Zucchini is such a versatile vegetable, the options are almost endless - and it’s a good thing, because so is the supply.

I like zucchini, don’t get me wrong. But if I don’t have another zucchini dish until next summer, that would be alright with me! 

[randomandshinythings-blog]

My puppy is an old man.

Just over 15 years ago, I got a new job out West. I left my family and friends on the East Coast and moved myself to a city where I knew no one. I had a distant cousin whom I had met once. Once. It was difficult, but so exciting. After about a year on my own, I decided I was settled enough to get a dog. We always had a dog in the house, so being without one didn’t feel right. 

The next thing I knew, I had a puppy. The puppy was my baby since I don’t have any human children. Don’t worry, I’m not one of those people who overdoes it; he’s still a dog. But he was my sole companion through missing my family, to traveling with me on the plane to spend holidays at home. He sat with me while I cried over this guy, or on my lap with me and that guy. He knew when I was upset or sick. Coming home to that wagging tail made my day, every day. He was my constant. I tell him he’s my one true love, the only guy I could ever truly count on not to break my heart or lie to me, the one who would always be there for me. He’s my everything. 

He grew up in apartments, so he is very well socialized to strangers and other dogs. He’s a great watch dog, but would never, ever bite. He’s my shadow - when I’m in the shower, he’s right outside the door waiting for me; when I’m in the kitchen, he’s right there in case some tidbit of food drops. I’ve never been fond of dogs sleeping in or on my bed so he’s got his own bed right next to me on the floor. He knows, however, that if I’m sick or just taking an afternoon nap, that he is allowed to cuddle with me, and he’ll beg at the side of the bed until I pick him up. Funny how he knows the difference. And if he’s not next to me on the couch, he’s right at my feet. 

He’s never had any major health issues, thankfully. But now he’s over 14 years old. In dog years, that’s practically ancient. He is a bit overweight, he only hears very loud noises and not all the time, his eyes have the beginnings of cataracts. He walks slowly most of the time. He now has what we think is arthritis, so he has good days and bad days; it seems to depend on the weather. I’ve started him on some new medication which we think will help. His teeth are bad, which means his breath could stop a train. We’ve got medicine for that now too; he’s not a good candidate for anesthesia so we can’t have his teeth cleaned or removed right now. His heart is good, though. 

I am trying to prepare myself for the inevitable. Every now and then I don’t hear him (he has a snorty breath, if he’s not flat out snoring), I pause to watch to be sure he’s still breathing. I know that one day it will happen - it could be tomorrow or it could be in several years. There really is no way to know. But I do see a change in him over the last year or so. He’s no longer my puppy, he’s an old man. It seems to have happened all of a sudden, although I’m sure it was gradual and I just didn’t realize it. It must be similar to what a human parent feels when all of a sudden their baby is driving. How did that happen? 

Basically, we are trying to keep him as comfortable as we can in his senior years. I give him extra treats, while keeping his weight in mind. He no longer plays with toys, and doesn’t chew on chew toys anymore either. I just pet him and tell him how much I love him. I let him lick my feet or whatever skin he can reach, because that seems to make him happy. I know he will not be with me forever, and I know I will be devastated when the time comes for him to leave me. But at the same time, I know what a gift he was (is!) to me, and I couldn’t possibly love him more. 

[randomandshinythings-blog]

Church Suppah

In rural Maine, the church supper is a tradition. The community comes together, donates a little cash to their local church(es) and makes an evening of enjoying tasty home cooking and catching up with neighbors. Tried and true dishes that have been handed down for generations are served, like baked beans, ham, turkey, boiled dinner, even Hunters’ Breakfast in the fall. There are many cookbooks available of these cherished recipes. Some suppers are pot luck, some have all the food provided in a buffet.

Monroe Community Church is locally famous for its non-traditional church suppers. Every six weeks, a group of church members and community volunteers serve a four course, plated, sit-down meal. The church basement is transformed into a nice restaurant, complete with cloth napkins and tablecloths, dimly lit by white, twinkly lights strung from the ceiling. Most guests bring a bottle of wine or other beverage of choice. The community spirit can be felt with the atmosphere, the chit-chat and laughter. 

There are no signs posted on Main Street or at town hall advertising these suppers, as you will often see in other towns, yet every single one of Monroe’s suppers sells out well in advance. If you’re late making a reservation, you can be put on the waiting list; there are always a few last minute cancellations. When I said the suppers were locally famous, I wasn’t kidding. 

The suppers seat approximately 85 people, give or take a few. In summer months, the suppers are held outside under big white tents, weather permitting of course. In the last couple of years, the church raised funds to expand its kitchen, which was just like one you’d find in a normal house. A new kitchen was added, including a ten-burner stove, two ovens, two large double sinks and a high-powered dishwasher - all professional equipment - to accommodate the suppers, as well as other church and community functions held at the church. Monroe takes these suppers seriously. 

Each supper has a different theme, chosen by the committee and published to the church and community at the beginning of the year. Most suppers focus on a different ethnicity, with a few standard themes that are typically repeated each year - though the menu is never the same or ordinary. If there is an Italian supper, you will not find spaghetti and meatballs, more likely some homemade cannelloni or gnocchi. Lebanese is a favorite, at which supper you may or may not encounter a belly dancer. The Acadie supper is held each December, celebrating local heritage. 

The most recent supper, “Local Fare” (a theme held each summer) highlights the abundant local farms and gardens. To tempt your taste buds, this was the menu on August 21st: 

Appetizer: two zucchini “crab cakes”, made with local zucchini, served with homemade remoulade sauce and served on a bed of shredded local red cabbage.

Soup: curried summer squash soup, made with local squash, served room temperature with a dollop of sour cream and cilantro.

Entree: Gyro burger, consisting of local beef, pork and venison, served in a homemade pita with feta cheese and tzatziki sauce made with local yogurt and herbs. Summer vegetable chopped salad of local corn, kale, cucumbers, red onions and cherry tomatoes, with a tahini and tamari vinaigrette. 

Dessert: Ice cream sandwich of Stone Fox peach ice cream, made with local milk and cream, between two homemade oatmeal, chocolate chunk cookie bars.

The crew has quite an impressive system in place to prepare and clean up the suppers. The menu is prepared by the committee several weeks in advance so there is time to test out any new recipes and to create a cohesive menu. There are calculations to be worked out, ensuring sufficient and successful dishes for 100, the target number which includes the 85-ish guests and 15 workers. A task list is put up in the church so people can volunteer to help with serving, set up, clean up, and other tasks. The ingredient list is also put in the church, and most ingredients are donated by church members. Some of the larger costs are reimbursed by the church if requested. It’s a real community effort. 

The cost of the supper is a suggested donation of $15 per person. After many requests for recipes, the church has published a cookbook, and with each supper, new recipes are printed and available for purchase for a small donation. New recipes are printed on pages that can be added to the existing cookbook.

I would post the telephone number or email address so you can make a reservation for the next supper, but it’s already selling out...