Unfortunate Statements and a wish for something different

I work with a subset of the population which experiences discrimination on multiple fronts every single day.  Today was a doozy with stupid statements from well-meaning people who have no clue.

AND PLEASE UNDERSTAND - I am not sure I am even aware of all the bias and inaccurate information.  I do not LIVE the same life as do the people with whom I work.  I am blessed to have a life that has had different challenges and different lessons.  It is slowly that I am learning how very blessed I was and am.

But I am very much learning people's lives are neither simple nor easy.  There are no easy answers to "fix" problems which are society-wide and systemic.  There are no demons in this story.


Statements that make me clench my teeth and want to scream:

"I don't know why they can't just make better choices.  That's why they have food stamps to make sure they have food"

"We only let people come to the food pantry once a month cause it should be enough to get them through if they are really using their food stamps"

"People are only homeless because they are too lazy to work"

"If you pray enough, you won't have problems with mental illness"

"Those people are just abusing the system"

"Medicaid should not exist.  My taxes should not pay for people who can't be bothered to get a job"

"You can choose not to have mental illness"

"Only criminals go to jail"

"There are safety nets for people.  No one has to be homeless or hungry.  They just don't want help."


I just so very dearly wish that people would look past labels and preconceived ideas to see the PERSON on the other side of that neat little box.  Maybe if we could have honest and caring conversations, instead of taking the convenient short-cuts of incomplete labels, we might start seeing what can be done.

If you use Epi Pens and have a copay: A coupon

Link for EPI-PEN COPAY COUPON.
Good for up to $100.00 per 2-pack.
Expires 12-31-14.

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Thanks to a friend who published the link on facebook!

If I paid you $5000, would you let someone use your restroom?

If I paid you $5000, would you let someone use your restroom?

That is the question that was asked yesterday.  One of you got it right.  One of you did not.  Let me explain.

I buy gas for my car each week.  Due to the job I have, I am on the road a lot.  I spend between $100.00 and $150.00 most weeks.  One busy weeks, I buy $300.00 worth of gas.  But, hey - to make the math easy, lets assume I only spend $100.00 a week on gas.  Let's talk minimums!

I work most weeks.  So, let's assume I have 2 weeks I do not work.

That means 100x50 = 5000.

So, I spend about $5000.00 per year on gas.

I had been buying gas at the Marathon station (Speedy Mart) between Fairlawn and Dublin.  The gas there costs approximately $0.10 less than other locations.  And it is a local vendor.

BUT, yesterday while I was buying gas, my friend went into the store to ask to use the bathroom.  There was no sign up saying "no public restroom".  My friend was told, "We don't let customers use the bathroom." Uhmmm, OKAY.

So let's check - female person, no specific triggers for biases (not that this would be an excuse), acknowledgement of being a customer (person spending money), middle of the day (could maybe understand if this were midnight... or maybe not)....  And no bathroom access...

We drove down the road about 3 miles to Cougar Xpress.  Having already bought gas, I did not need to purchase anything.  My friend walked into the store and asked to use the bathroom.  "Sure thing."  And it was no problem.  Customer service was provided - even though we were not purchasing anything.

But guess what!  Remember that $5000.00 I spend in gas each year?  Want to know who is going to benefit from that money?  Surely is not Speedy Mart.

And, I did the math about that $0.10.  Going to Cougar Xpress will cost me another $120.00 per year.  I am willing to pay $10.00 per month for the purpose of supporting a business which will let a friend use the bathroom.

So next time you (business owner or employee) are asked by a community member if your bathroom is available for use, please consider that there are those of us who vote with our feet, our wallets, and our blogs.  That simple question might cost you $5000.00 or it might win you $5000.00.  You choose.

Irony - Letter from Montgomery County, VA

Irony:
Montgomery county sends to my home a notice that I have not registered Chai for his dog tag. Per letter, if I no longer own the dog or have moved out of Montgomery County, please note it on the bottom of the letter and return to the office. If I do not comply, I will receive a visit from Animal Control.

THE LETTER WAS SENT TO MY ADDRESS IN PULASKI COUNTY!

I am almost tempted to not respond just to see if they come to Pulaski to tell me about it.

RECIPE: Curried potato salad

For people with allergies - USE SAFE FOR YOU INGREDIENTS:

1 teaspoon curry powder (get individual spices and mix your own is safest!)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 cups large diced left over baked potatoes (Skinned)
1/2 cup sour cream or sour cream substitute

mix all ingredients well.  Place in GLASS (not plastic or metal cause it taints the flavors) dish and cover.  Let sit in refrigerator for at least 4 hours.

Tastes like a light potato salad with curried flavors.

Gluten-free, corn-free DUMP AND BAKE bread. Takes about 10 minutes of work to get it done.

USE SAFE FOR YOU INGREDIENTS

Frittatas are done.  Had all the pans and stuff out, so thought I would make bread.  Dump and bake bread in the oven.

Today's recipe -
DRY:
10 cups 50% starches (sweet potato, potato, tapioca) 50% chickpea (besan) Flour
4 tablespoons baking powder (make your own for safety)
Salt to taste

WET:
16 oz sour cream (can use any somewhat greasy/milky sub)
1 cup oil
1 cup melted butter (or GHEE) (can use any oil or sub a liquid)
a couple cups of water (to thin it all out to thickness of thick pancake batter)
6 eggs (prob would work with some sort of egg-replacer, but you gotta have enough to puff up the stuff or you will end up with hockey pucks!)


step 1 - Mix dry.  (2 minutes to measure and mix)

Step 2 - Whisk eggs, add wet stuff, mix well. (3 minutes to break eggs, whisk and mix)

Step 3 - Pour wet into dry.  Stir until thoroughly mixed. (3 minutes)

Step 4 - Dump into 2 cake pans (greased) (1 minute).

Put into COLD OVEN (no preheating necessary).  Bake at 375 for 90 minutes.

Check after 60 minutes.  Done when thumps hollow and is cracked on top.

Dump and Bake - squash frittata and salmon frittata

cooking for the day is done.

Used ninja to blend cheese (10 oz), eggs (5), garden scallions (1/4 cup), garlic (4 cloves), onion (1/4 cup), milk (1 cup) and salmon (1 pound).  Poured into very large casserole dish (cake pan size or bigger).

Used ninja to blend  blend cheese (10 oz), eggs (5), garden scallions (1/4 cup), garlic (4 cloves), onion (1/4 cup),  milk (1 cup) and 5 large yellow squash.  Poured into very large casserole dish (cake pan size or bigger).

10 minutes prep time.  5 minutes rinsing and putting dishes in dishwasher.

Cheeses - asiago, feta, cheddar, parmesan, farmer - but you can use whatever you like.

Now the oven is baking 2 very large casseroles/fritattas at 350 for about an hour

...and lunch is baked for the week.  YAY.