waste not...want not


I take my learnin’ anywhere I can get it….books…internet….word of mouth….Oprah.

“Freegans.” This is the new term I learned from the O show yesterday. Wikipedia defines this lifestyle as follows:

Freeganism is an anti-consumerism lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.” The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters that have passed their sell by date, but are still edible and nutritious. They salvage the food not because they are poor or homeless, but as a political statement.

Interesting huh? There was a young couple from Nashville on the show. He’s a doctor and she’s a civil engineer. They could purchase anything they want easily, but choose to “dumpster dive” at grocery stores for food and anything else salvageable. Let me tell you, it blew my mind. Their refrigerator was full of produce….beautiful produce. They had frozen pizzas in their freezer and a cabinet full of canned goods. They had a case of cereal in their pantry…name brand cereal. They had salvaged an ab roller and several tables. Their philosophy was that it’s better to use everything that you can or find someone that can use it, than fill up a land fill with it. I tend to agree with them. Another lady on the show had hit the mother load of coffee…..100 1lb bags of premium coffee beans. Her freezer was full and she’d shared with many friends. Her question? “Do coffee beans ever really go bad??????” Good point. What do you think happens to the egg cartons that have a broken egg? Yup...off to the dumpster they go.

I must admit, I got a little angry when I saw all the “good” food that had been pitched by the grocery stores. I realize that they have to abide by regulations, etc. but it still gave me the red ass. That food could all be taken to shelter to help feed the homeless. We have hungry people in every city in the United States yet we’d rather send food to rot in a land fill than feed them. Sad isn’t it?

I think the Freegans just may be on to something. Am I going to start dumpster diving? One never knows……

tinnnnnnnnnnnn roooof.....rusted

My little place of heaven in the country sports a green tin roof. When it rains, I say "ahhhhh" and snuggle down deeper in the covers (if I'm in bed that is.) The funny thing with a tin roof...it's difficult to discern whether it's simply sprinkling or "coming a gulley washer" as my grandpa used to say. It all basically sounds the same.

My abode also has 2 skylights just outside of the loft area. The other day the weather was beautiful and a little windy. The sky was filled with billowy clouds of cotton. I sat down on my sofa for a minute and laid my head back. The wind was herding the clouds like sheep across the sky view. It was lovely to watch and addicting to the point that I ended up getting rather loopy. Of course, this cracked me up. If you can't laugh at yourself, you need to work on that....

another one bites the dust....

I've almost made it through another one. I'm on the downward side of the day celebrated by lovers all over the world...Valentine's Day.

This was my grandmother and great aunt's birthday. A special day for two special ladies who are now walking with the Father.

When I was a kid, this was such an exciting time at school. We'd make our special boxes and fill out our Valentines and make a day of it. As I got older, there were cards or flowers from someone special.

These days it's "Let's get this day over with already!" It can be a difficult day for single guys and gals. We see others smile as flowers arrive and hear excited chatter about what the night ahead may bring. Don't get me wrong...I get very excited right along with them and delight in their joy. It really does give me pleasure.

Yet, there's an emptiness in the pit of my stomach that my sandwich from Subway did not fill. HOWEVER....there are two sweeties at home that may let me love on them and fill that void a bit. They have the biggest brown, soulful eyes, a whimsical spirit, and 4 hooves :)

Happy Valentine's Day to all. If you don't have a significant other, hopefully you have a four legged friend.

arghhhhhhhhhh.....

I'm moving. I've been a Boro dweller for 16 years. I've lived through the metamorphasis of a sleepy little laid back town to a booming Nashville suburb. When we first moved here, the closest grocery store to our home was too far away to buy ice cream and make it back home without it melting (unless it was winter.) Now it seems there's a Kroger or Publix on every corner. After commuting 45 minutes 1 way for the past 4 years, I'm going to have a 15 minute commute. This makes Bendy very happy. Even better...my new home is in the country. My neighbors are..... (ready for this?) neighhhhhhhhhhhbors (of the equine variety.) Sweet peace. This is delicious.

However, there is one problem. I hate moving. I settle in and do not want to budge. There's another problem. I'm an avid procrastinator. A laid back, type B that never gets in a hurry to do anything. This is just a well known factor of my life. The last box will be taped shut Saturday morning before I leave to get the UHaul. I've been informed that bets are being taken that there will be lots still left to pack when the crew arrives. (SHUT YO' MOUTH!)

Thankfully, I'm blessed with good friends that are going to spare some of their sacred Saturday to help me move my gaggle of belongings from Rutherford to Williamson County. Maximus is lending a hand, although I think he's secretly hoping to procure some major blogging material (wink). All I know is I will just be thankful when the move is completed and I can begin this new part of the journey in Bendy's World....

prioritize....

As long as I have my basic needs met (food, clothes, shelter), I’m a happy camper. I’m every man’s dream. I hate to shop and I want for nothing. (yup, still single.) A divorced mother of two, learned to live on a shoestring due to unwise spending of my ex. Another story for another day.

For several weeks, as I drove to work, I’ve noticed a new Hummer sitting in the drive of a residence. This residence is a dated, but well kept duplex. The first time I spotted the Hummer, I thought someone must be visiting. Nope…it’s parked in the drive every day.

Call me crazy, but if I had the bucks to pay the payment on a Hummer, I’d much rather buy a home and downsize the ride. I don’t “get” it. Overcompensation perhaps? Little Man Syndrome? Or, to be fair…possibly a babysitter. However, if one could afford a Hummer, would one babysit? Methinks not ;)