Thoughtful Thursday - try different

he usual mantra is to 'try harder'. Trying harder is impossible when you're already trying as hard as you can.

But, you can always try different.

If it's not working, harder might not be the answer."

Try different.

Conversation by Seth Godin, Tape Lust by Jen Menard

Whining Wednesday or a bad gag reflex, a cracker barrel funeral and when you can't trust your dog who can you trust

So, I took a week off from my blog to get caught up and instead I caught something and have been feeling lousy (Whine 1)... again - yes, I have been sick three times in the last six months after not even catching a cold last year ...

some people say that when life gives you lemons you make lemonade

but, I think, these are the same people who have one of those "Hang In There" posters of a kitten clinging to a branch in their bedroom and collect Precious Moments figurines.

(so obviously we should ignore them)

Whine 2 - Now, because hubby had been waiting on me hand and foot

(sort of)

and because we were in the area and because I was feeling and looking terrible and didn't want to see anyone I knew and because we really like to party I agreed to eat dinner at ...

(Jaws soundtrack)

the Cracker Barrel.

Hubby loves the Cracker Barrel. I hate the Cracker Barrel.

Now, I have to admit there is a little bit of marketing genius in the way they manage to get us to wander around their 'store' while we wait for them to call us to the table

(I would actually like to try this at my next family gathering, maybe make a few bucks off my jewelry as the relatives wait for the dinner bell)

But, I am terrified to eat there because in the case of any kind of natural disaster, the antique pitch forks, hand saws, and pick axes that cover the walls could fall and impale me, and I'm thinking that would be one totally undignified way to die.

I mean could you imagine how embarassing it would be to have your obituary read -"Catherine died at her favorite table, facedown in the baked country casserole. In lieu of flowers, her family is requesting donations to the NRA."

I spent the entire meal praying that my life wouldn't end within 20 feet of a bin packed with Statue of Liberty music boxes, John Deere snow globes and a clearance priced Big Mouth Billy Bass.

Whine 3 - I am a terrible pill taker. Actually I am a terrible medicine of any kind taker. I hold my nose when I swallow the airborne fizzy water and then need to take a bite of a cookie before I let go.

I used to have a co-worker we’ll call Cindy Bennis

(because that was her name)

and every day at lunch Cindy would make a huge production out of taking her birth control pill, chomping it down like the Cookie Monster.

Tacky (but also reassuring that she wasn't trying to reproduce).

Anyhoo, I always think of Cindy when I have to take a pill and like Cindy, I like to make a big production out of it.

"I GUESS IT'S TIME TO TAKE MY MUCCINEX ... FOR MY CHEST COLD ... BECAUSE I'M SICK ... "

mostly because if I choke on the pill I want someone around me alert enough to do a quick heimlich maneuver on me

Actually, Olive is the only one who comes running when I holler out like this, but she is pretty smart ...

and speaking of Olive Whine 4 - my daughter found a picture online of a chihuahua/beagle who looked exactly like Olive (I would post the picture, but now we can't find it) and since Olive has always led us to believe she was a boston terrier/beagle we have been a bit upset about this.

Not that we have any special fondness for boston terriers or problems with chihuahuas, but we just feel like we've been lied to you know.

(stares Olive down)

it's kind of like if your grandparents told you that you were related to Woodrow Wilson and you spent your whole childhood telling people you were related to Woodrow Wilson and then along came the internet and you discover that you are not related to Woodrow Wilson and not even to Woodrow Wilson's wife's sister-in-law's second cousin.

(not that this has happened to me- dammit grandma)

so, we've been looking at Olive a little suspiciously lately and wondering what else she has been hiding from us

we're going to keep her around anyway, obviously

(because she knows too much about us)

and we love her and all that .. plus she's the only one I can count on to heimlich me if I choke on these damn muccinex...

Take Action TODAY or alfalfa is not just the kid on the little rascals with the bad hair

A few years back, Monsanto illegally won USDA approval for its genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa by convincing regulators to bypass a mandatory environmental review.

In response to a lawsuit by consumer groups, the courts then stepped in and banned GE alfalfa until the USDA followed the law.

In December, the USDA finally released its review of Monsanto's GE alfalfa seed and determined that Monsanto's alfalfa met government standards, despite the risk of organic contamination.

This conclusion came despite the acknowledgment by USDA researchers that GE alfalfa is virtually certain to "contaminate" normal seeds. Cross-contamination is the number one concern with genetically engineered crops!

Organic contamination is devastating for organic farmers, especially organic dairy farmers, most of whom use organic alfalfa for feed. The presence of even the smallest amount of GE material can cause a farm to lose its organic certification.

And court documents indicate that early plantings of GE alfalfa did contaminate conventional alfalfa. Yet the USDA maintains that Monsanto's existing safety protocols are good enough which is ridiculous.

The USDA also concluded that the possibility of contamination of organic fields is of no concern, since consumers won't care if their organic food or milk contains genetically engineered components. (!!!!)

The USDA is accepting public comments on Monsanto's application through Wednesday, March 3.

If you have a few seconds to take some action on this here is some possible wording:

"I am writing in regard to Docket APHIS-2007-0044, and I demand that the USDA reject Monsanto's application to market genetically engineered alfalfa. The USDA may not believe it matters if GE alfalfa contaminates organic and other non-GE crops, but I certainly do.

Consumers must be able to avoid genetically engineered products. Farmers must be free of the threat of contamination and the USDA must not put organic farmers' livelihoods at risk. The USDA admits that approval of GE alfalfa will make transgenic contamination inevitable. This is unacceptable.

Therefore, I urge you to reject Monsanto's application to sell genetically engineered alfalfa."

Here is the USDA link.

GIVEAWAY - Inkling Prints GORGEOUS Cushion Cover CLOSED

CLOSED- AND THE WINNER IS HOLLY AKA GOLLY! Chosen by Random.org True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 571
Result:
14

Inkling Prints is a new shop from the United Kingdom with beautiful hand printed pillows and bags. Each design is hand printed onto fabric.

Kiran creates and carves her designs on lino and individually prints each item in her Leicester studio. She also just discovered she is expecting a new baby and she is busy moving and moving her studio, so she is one busy lady!


We are so luck to have one of her gorgeous pillow covers for our giveaway this week!

WHAT YOU GET:

One lucky winner will receive this gorgeous hand printed Inkling Prints oblong pillow color in red!




HOW TO WIN:

Check out Inkling Print's amazing shop and let Kiran know which item is your favorite!

For additional entries:

(5) Twitter this post
(5) Blog about this contest; linking to this post
(5) Follow my blog

Let me know if you have done these things so I can give you additional entries. This contest is open to everyone.

DRAWING:

MIDNIGHT on Sunday, March 14th! Good luck!! CLOSED