Labels are for soup

Pick one. And one only.
Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Omnivore, Slow Food, Whole Food, Organic, or Walmart.
We have created a society where decisions are made, and forever and always you are deemed "pork salad, no rice, extra cilantro".
But that's not how life works. We make changes.
For example, I now eat green peppers. Yep. Chopped up and cooked! Even on pizza.
So when someone makes defiant and loud proclamations about something they do or do not eat (raw tomatoes, black olives, green onions etc.) I get irritated.
Years ago, I would plan dinner parties around every single guests peculiar taste buds. Now, if you have a problem with mushrooms or skin on your chicken, I will probably ask you to try it. (This stemming from the fact that my children only eat things that are white or that come from a kids meal sack). OR I just won't invite you over. I do remember throwing a very large FIT over black beans. But that's my point... I'm changing!
But much like decisions on which reality tv show you must watch... trying a raw tomato or a black olive from time to time may just make you realize you like it. You MIGHT even stumble upon Rock of Love, or Bad Girls Club and realize it's intensely amusing. (Don't even get me started on Real Housewives... I love 'em all)
This, somehow, defines my struggles of late. I won't pick just one. If I pick vegan, I will crave steak.
How do I know if I now like Ethiopian cuisine and that it was just a bad date? or bad ordering? that ruined it for me.
I'm not saying al Labels are flexible... but most are. And, most are incorrect ways for us to categorize everything into little tiny boxes.

And, like Nip/Tuck, labels are not for everyone.

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond

somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond
by E. E. Cummings
somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond any experience,your eyes have their silence: in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, or which i cannot touch because they are too near your slightest look easily will unclose me though i have closed myself as fingers, you open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens (touching skilfully,mysteriously)her first rose or if your wish be to close me, i and my life will shut very beautifully ,suddenly, as when the heart of this flower imagines the snow carefully everywhere descending; nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals the power of your intense fragility:whose texture compels me with the color of its countries, rendering death and forever with each breathing (i do not know what it is about you that closes and opens;only something in me understands the voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses) nobody,not even the rain,has such small hands http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15401

House Sitter Available

I enjoy it. I like sitting on the couch pretending my life is like their life. The glamour and the crap. Looking at the mess, and thinking, wow at least I'm not this messy. I admit to snooping just a tad. Doing the dishes, the laundry and sweeping the floor just doesn't seem so awful when you know you only have to do it this one time. Junk mail. I thought I was the only one! And, when they received more than one mortgage bill in the mail for their many houses, I sighed a huge sigh of relief. At least I only have one (technically) I can barely afford.

But the dogs THE DOGS! Sophie has three legs, and then there is Scout, who Z said "where are the doggie's eyes?, and then Ace. Little Effer Ace. All muscle and likes to lick you. Ew. They are used to having someone home all the time... so a working mommy with two kids, two dogs, one cat, and three other houses is kind of depriving them of love. And they sure can show me!

They managed to get to the third highest shelf in the living room and have since destroyed:

One fancy snowmobiling glove
Two Uggs
One Panda
An entire box of unopened diapers
One bag of christmas bows
A plastic monkey
They tried to get into a packaged gift but the duct tape fooled them
A stuffed aligator
One rug - (yuck!)
My sense of purpose and well-being

But seriously, I can house sit for you. Anytime!

IRON CHEF CITRUS

I am so upset that my sisters will be leaving the land of salt soon...
but some of the lusciousness has been:
Halibut Ceviche
Roasted Red Pepper Bisque with tangerine cream
Grilled Shrimp with Mango Salad
Vegan Rice with chicken wings
Lemon Cappelini with Caviar
Seared Duck Breast with Lemon Mashed Potatoes
We also had time for:
Prime Rib
Roasted Turkey Breast
Clam Chowder
Spaghetti and Meatballs
We also had time for:
Salads and Appetizers and Wine and Manhattans

Happy New Year!