Toxic

When I was a kid and living in southern Florida in the 60's they had these trucks that would drive slowly through the neighborhoods. They had big tanks contraptions on the back and emitted these huge clouds of white smoke. Apparently, it was something to kill the mosquitoes. An alarm of kids screaming and running for their houses would alert the adults it was coming. Everybody tried to get their windows closed before it got to their house. It smelled like.....well, poison. And it was. I sometimes wonder what mutant cell is lurking in my body and will someday rear its ugly head as some sort of cancer. My aunt, who was the same age as me, died is her 40's from cancer and my uncle died at 59. They believe it was environmental. I remember a little girl that lived across the street during that time and she had cancer. I wonder now if she was a victim of that deadly fog that would roll through in the early summer evenings. 

I am happy I never liked the taste of artificial sweetners so I never embraced the diet sodas and other products that so many others did. Now we are finding out just how deadly that can be for you. You aren't even safe growing your own vegetables from seed because even they are genetically modified. 

Fortunately we moved from Florida to a small town in New Mexico when I was 8 and even though we visited Florida every year on vacation I wasn't exposed to that toxic fog like my aunt was. We bought our beef from a local rancher and it was grass fed and no hormones like stuff today. Can we reverse this toxic buildup in our bodies?

Galumpki

My grandma used to make galumpki when I was a kid.  I have been searching for a recipe that tastes like hers, well as least as best as I can remember.  I have tried a couple recipes and the first one I tried was just not it!  The second one much better, but I made some changes with a few nontraditional tweaks.

Filling
1 cup cooked rice
1 pounds uncooked ground beef
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/3-1/2 cup milk
MIX TOGETHER

Sauce
1 can crushed tomatoes
3/4 cup tomato sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tsp shiracha-or to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Cabbage
Dischard tough outer leaves and trim bottom
submerge whole head of cabbage in boiling water and peel off leaves as they cook, become soft  and pull off easily
With a sharp knife trim the the center rib even with leaf, so it is not so thick

Assembly
The amount of filling you put on each leaf with vary with the size of the leaf.  Put filling at large stem end of leaf and roll up like a burrito, tucking in edges.
Put seam side down in a baking pan.
Mix together sauce ingredients and pour over cabbage rolls.
Dot with butter and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Cover with foil

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 40-45 minutes

Adventures in Dating

Dating at age 59 is not easy.  Seems like most men my age are looking for, and dating, women in their 30's and 40's.  Geez, what chance do I have. The only place for people my age to really meet single people of the opposite sex is online dating sites. Kind of like catalog shopping.  I have ruled out anyone that doesn't live within 20 miles of me.  Even though Canadian is just a few miles away, the whole border crossing thing is a pain in the arse.  

 I recently had a couple dates with a very sweet man, who was actually a few years younger than me.  On the first date I was very hopeful.  It was pleasant, although I carried and directed the conversational ball.  Other than sitting there and smiling he really didn't have much to say or talk about.  Except his gardens.  Period.  High on his plus points was the fact that he seemed to think I was great.  

I highly suspect he hadn't had a date since his wife died 10 years ago.  He had no idea what to do.  We went to a movie the second date.  I was terrified he would try to hold my hand, so I kept my Coke in my hand closest to him.  I was terrified he would try and hold my hand.  I haven't been that nervous since 6th grade when my first love took me to the movies for the first time.   He did suggest dinner after the movie, but I made a lame excuse that I had eaten just before the movie and wasn't hungry.  Bad, huh?

One of the guys I had a few online conversations with actually came into work last week.  I didn't realize it was him until just as he was leaving and he made some comments about what he did for a living and I saw his name on a document.  He looked completely different than his pictures.  Actually better.  I had never told him where I worked so it was a complete coincidence.  I am not sure if he knew who I was.  I suspect he recognized me, but did not know where he had seen me before.  Or, maybe it dawned on him at the end of our interaction like it did me.  Haven't heard from him, so guess he wasn't impressed.

I don't know how some women are able to date and/or marry a man they don't love just so they have a partner or for companionship or money.  When someone doesn't float my boat I can in no one pretend or hide my true feelings from them.  

The reason I am single is becoming increasingly clear, but I will continue until I overcome my terror of a date.

My Favorite Photos

Ft Casey Washington

Edison Washington

Samish Island Washington

Chuckanut Drive Washington

Road to City of Rocks New Mexico

Manners

I took this picture at the rodeo Saturday night.  The object in the lower right hand corner is my shoulder.  These kids had their feet against the back of my seat and keep them moving, bouncing me around.  Their mother's feet were on the other side of me.  At one point I turned around and told them to keep their feet still and they just stared at me and continued to do it.  Their mother did finally tell them to stop it.  But why can't you just put your feet on the floor where they belong?  Then a young couple sat down close by and both were snapping and popping their gum as loud as they could, trying to outdo each other.

I am so sick of  people propping their feet up the seats in front of them in public places.  Happens at the movies all the time.  Speaking of the movies......fine bring your own snacks, they are expensive, but don't proceed to have to open all the noisey packaging during the movie and then every time you stick your big fat paw in the bag it starts all over again.  Oh, and you are not in your living room, so don't appreciate your full volume commentary all during the movie either.

Cell phones, really people.  At work today a customer came up to me and put his paperwork on the counter just as his phone was ringing.  He answered it of course and proceeded to have a lengthy loud conversation.  I got started on his transaction, but came to a part where I had to ask him a question, so I did.  He had the nerve to put his hand up to me to be quiet.  Lucky he still has that hand.  So I walked away and did not come back until he had been off the phone for a minute.  He proceeded to try and tell me how the call was about his car insurance.  I didn't acknowledge what he was saying at all and just asked him what I needed to know to complete his transaction.  

Yep, I am a bit bitchy today!