After that rant I have no idea how to segue into the crazy and sad stuff March roared in with. Well, let's start with the 4,000 battery cage hens who were abandoned for two weeks without food and water and left to die in Turlock, California. Thank God, Animal Place, Peta and Harvest Home stepped in and rescued thousands. My friend Roni from the jewelry, bath and beauty shop Daisywares is one of the many volunteers who was there everyday. She was a major player in the rescue effort and continues to help with the rehabilitation of these beautiful creatures. I'm so proud of her. Sue Klapholz kind owner of jewelry/photo shop, Spritely Finch and her daughter, were part of the initial rescue. It is impossible to name all the volunteers but thank you! And a big big shout goes out to Kim Surla and Marji Beach of Animal Place. If you get a moment please check out the Animal Place site. You can see how the hens are doing a month later.
Crazy Boy and I volunteered to go up to Animal Place on the first Thursday we were off. We were excited to help with the hens and had planned to bring trays of food for the volunteers. The day before we were scheduled to go my friend Lisa called me from the ER. She had taken a terrible fall and broke her wrist on one side and her arm on the other. We opted to go help my friend in need. Cue Dionne Warwick sappy tune "that's what friends are for". Anyway,
Lisa's road to recovery would take a long time.Thank God for friends who can rally for support. Lisa and I have always had the uncanny ability to laugh through struggles and tears. Laughter is a natural healer.
Then, in a matter of weeks two friends died unexpectedly. Aaron was funny,stubborn, sweet and tragic. Kevin was spiritual, fit, vegetarian, Buddhist, funny and real. Kevin found time to help everybody. And he loved my black forest cupcakes. We had just seen Kevin. I mean WTF? He looked fine. Aaron overdosed. Too many demons, I think. Kevin's kind heart stopped.
So, our March trip to Animal Place wasn't meant to be . I am sad that we couldn't go and help because I am a big believer in doing service. Service, according to Webster's is an act of helpful activity; help; aid. There were days I felt bad that I couldn't help more with the rescue, and days I wondered why I couldn't even blog. I know I was sideswiped by sadness. I can't explain the unexplainable. In this crazy life I've learned that you do what you can do to help when and where you can. No one soul can be called to do the work of another. The thing is, you just never know when or where you are going to be called to action. Some days I could only suit up and show up for work. Some days I would just go through the motions and then stare into space and play silly FB games. Some days, I just showed up for friends. And some days yep some days I just ate french fries.
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| French Fries with mustard greens and baked tofu |
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| TJ's baked french fries |
TJ's bag of french fries
3/4 bag of Mustard greens washed
1/2 package of baked tofu (I used lemon pepper) chopped
1 C of water
1/2 C of nooch
canola spray
Tabasco/hot sauce
sea salt
Bake fries according to directions.Meanwhile spray pan with canola spray. Heat pan. Place mustard greens in pan spray again. Toss. Cover for about 8 minutes. Add water and sea salt. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Add Tabasco and nooch. Cook for another 5 minutes. Add french fries. Toss. Serve in bowls.
RIP Aaron xoxo
RIP Kevin xoxo
And the rest of you, who are still kicking around this crazy earth be kind to yourselves today. Tell somebody you love them. Have compassion for someone less fortunate.Take care of one another. And take care of the animals.
Maybe eat a french fry.
