Do you know HOW to think?

    I love my Facebook, I use it for so many things.  Originally it was to keep in touch with people I wouldn't normally be able to.  At one point I used it to play games.  But lately with all that is going on in the world I use it for news. I now have many "friends" from around the globe. It is exciting to go on there and see posts from people that I have to use a translator to read.  

     Today a friend posted a comment to a page that I used to get posts from and curiosity got me so I popped over for a visit. I also posted my opinion of the post using the reply under his comment. While he and many others understood me perfectly the Admin. from the page refused to even acknowledge that my opinion could have any merit.  I only pointed out that in the end things could backfire and what they look at as the answer to the problem could be used against their cause.  Which by the way is something I care Very Deeply about.  And that got me thinking...

    I was raised by a single mother who I personally think did an awesome job.  I think the best lesson she ever taught me was to THINK for myself.  I remember having many discussions with her where she took the opposite opinion.  She made me explain my reasons and then she would explain hers. What I didn't realize at the time was that she was teaching me HOW to think!  She used every opportunity to make me use my brain.  But there was another lesson in there that until recently I didn't see. Tolerance of others, see when we won't listen we lose an opportunity to learn. Sometimes we even alienate people who agree with us. We are so blinded by our personal opinions that there is no room for honest debate. 

      

     

Peace Rallies, Labels, and Intolerance

    I am against the US involvement in the Syrian Civil War. For many reasons and I'm sure that I will post about that another time.  Today I want talk about my experience of going to a protest, and how the people I met helped me understand that labels only serve to make us intolerant of others. 

     My husband and I took our 11y/o to the protest, it's not his first and won't be his last. He has a passion for it, he learns the facts, and he wants to change the world.  It was a wonderful mix of people from the ages of 11 to a gentleman I would estimate to be in his 60's and all ages in between. We were a diversified group getting together to AGREE on this one thing. It is an amazing feeling when you stand up for what you believe in. 

     

We met some really great people that we of course added to our Facebook.  Which leads me to "Labels and Intolerance".  As I mentioned we were a diversified group and if you have a Facebook you know how it's basically a look at who you are.  My Facebook friends have always been a mix of faiths, political beliefs, and alternative lifestyle kind of people. If I had to label myself I'd be an earth loving, tree-hugging, liberal, vegan, hippie.

     I feel like knowing and getting information from such a wide range people gives me a unique perspective, along with a well rounded view. I respect others opinions, and sometimes we realize that we have more in common with those who label themselves in a different way. 

     So WHY do we need those labels, aren't they at this point dividing us further?  At the risk of sounding like a "Conspiracy Theorist" (ya I forgot that one for my label list)  isn't that Exactly what "they" want?  You have heard it all your life "divide an conquer" but you never knew they were talking about you and I did you?  I saw this quite clearly looking at the posts of my new FB friends.  I saw how different we all are and how some of our views will put us on opposing sides in the future. I can accept that, I won't even be surprised if one or two decide that our views are to different to keep me as a friend. But just maybe they won't by into labels anymore either. 

     I hope your not fooled into labeling yourself, or the people around you. I hope that you can find some common ground with people who seem to be completely different from you. After all, we all come into and go out of this world in the same way, and in between all we really want is to be happy.  

Mom's Could Change the World

   Like Aerosmith says "there's something wrong with the world today"  but I know what it is Steve, it's called the Military-Industrial Complex!  

   I don't care what country your from, or who you worship, I don't care what color your skin is, or who you choose to love.  It doesn't matter how much money you make, or what kind of car you drive. What I care about most is leaving a Healthy, Clean, Peaceful Planet for  All Our Children!  

    Some of our children were born in this time of war, and have never known a single day of peace. My heart breaks for the mothers in the Middle East, the mothers living with the Fukushima fallout, and the mothers in Africa who worry if their children will be stolen and forced into an army of children! It hard enough to care for a child in the best of circumstances, but I can only imagine what these women are going through. I want their children to be able to go to sleep at night with a full belly and clean water. To listen to lullabies instead of gun fire. To play in the sunshine instead of hiding in bombed out  abandoned buildings. 

   Do you know how many of us Mom's there are in the world?  If WE want the world to change it WILL change.  I know that a lot of people will think I'm reaching a bit but last I checked women outnumbered men. 

Dehydrating Watermelon

     I'm my quest to help my son deal with  his Aspergers without pharmaceuticals I have gotten us off of processed, and GMO foods.  This includes most candy and for an 11 y/o that's a little rough.  Luckily he loves fruit, having fresh fruit right now is easy it's a good time of the year and I have been  freezing some but even with two freezers I only have so much space. 

    Enter the dehydrator my second favorite appliance in my kitchen in fact it Is always on my counter.  I tried to dry cantaloupe once I don't know what I did wrong but it just didn't work for me. So I was a bit hesitant to try another melon. But everything I read said it was easy. 1/4 inch (or less) slices at 135• for 8 - 12 hrs mine were in for about 8 hrs. Most of my slices were thinner. 

They came out  (mostly) perfect. A couple stuck to the tray. And they are AWESOME! The second tray is in already! Tastes like a piece of candy! My Hubby an oldest have already tried them both approved! Blaze is still sleeping so I will have to wait to see if he like them.  

    

Do you like juice?

    They say you eat with your eyes first, having worked in the restaurant business I know this is true. I think that is why I have resisted juicing for so long. They don't look very good to me, and I'm not gonna lie I like chewing my food.                

    I guess the main reason I decided to try it  is because I am one of the most picky eaters you will ever find. For example,  My MIL started to use chia seeds in her morning smoothie, she told me all about how healthy they are and offered to let me try them. now she had them in water and when they get wet they "gel" , but to my eyes they looked like they were "slimy". There was NO WAY I was gonna put that in my mouth! Texture and smell can stop me dead in my tracks. 

    It's only been a couple weeks since I started but I think I have my daily smoothie down to a science and it cost me less than a dollar to make!  I have found that I like a little texture but not to much so here's how I do it.

    My frozen fruit mix is made of 

Cantaloupe 

Blueberries 

Strawberries

Mango 

Peaches 

Pineapple 

(All of which I got fresh at the farmers market, cut up and portioned out into 14 servings of about 1 1/2 cups with enough pineapple left over I won't have to get one next time) 

Apple

Pear 

( not as easy to freeze so I didn't bother but when the weather changes I might try it) 

A large handful of spinach

1/2 a cucumber

1teaspoon chia seed 

Water 

So I pull the frozen fruit the night before and leave it on the top shelf of the fridge. I use a Bullet with the blender attachment  and add water to make a smoothie. I put it in the glass then put the juicer screen in  and juice the rest with a little more water and put the juice in the smoothie. Delicious even if it is greenish brown.  

My big three

What is important to you? For me I have three things that cause me sleepless nights.
One is GMO's anyone who eats needs to be concerned. I can't understand the apathy for what we put in our bodies. If you were to buy a big ticket item most likely you would do research. You would want to know that you were getting the best item for the best price. But when I comes to the food that we eat cheaper is better. Easy is better. Companies put out coupons so you will try their product, and so you do. But have you ever wondered why they will practically give it to you to try? I have. It's like when a heroine dealer gives you that first hit,you know so you can try it before you buy. You might think that analogy is a bit far fetched but I assure you it is not. Do a little research!

Two the Keystone pipeline and fracking . Anyone who thinks this is a good idea is an idiot! Not a word I use lightly it is worse than swearing in my home. But if you can't get your head out of your a$$ long enough to know that if you are not ACTIVELY protesting this then you ARE THE PROBLEM! If you don't know why then again you are the problem!
And third YOUR Apathy. If you think that someone else should stand up for your rights you deserve what you get. It's hard for me to see so many people I know live life in ignorance. Only caring about themselves and their own problems. I am watching the world spiral out of control and people are worried about wether or not their shoes match their shirts.
So ya those are the things that keep me awake at night it's enough to make you lose hope.

When the right thing is the hard thing

Sometimes doing what you know is right is hard. This is the time when you have to put the world before yourself. This is one of those times for me.

I have a responsibility to make this world a better place. Due to circumstances we went from a two income home to a single income home making less than half of what we were making. That was 6 years ago. We adapted and I think in a lot of ways it made us better people.
Recently an opportunity presented itself that would put us right back in the old income bracket with only one of us working. It would be nice to not worry about money again. The problem is we can not take advantage of it. It would be in the fracking industry. If you know me at all you know that I HATE our addiction to fossil fuels. I think that we can and MUST find another way. I am ashamed to say that for a moment I considered telling him to take it.
So this is us walking the walk. Along with planting our garden, and conserving our resources. I know that there will be moments when I will think, did we make the right choice?And maybe even try to rationalize that someone is going to do it anyway why shouldn't we be the ones to benefit. But I know that is only a selfish thought and money isn't everything.