the little worm that could

funny thing happened on the way home from the city...

so, im walking along, looking at the trees and flowers and dirt, and i see this worm moving around on the sidewalk. i stop to get a closer look, asking db "where do you think it's trying to go?"

db replies, "i think it wants to be in the dirt."

"but which dirt?" noting there is dirt on the left and dirt on the right of the sidewalk. so many options.

im looking at the worm trying to decifer it's movements... is it moving more toward the dirt on the left or on the right? i notice only one end is moving while the other end stays stationary... is it slightly squished? i see that it's flatter and not moving.

now im wondering if the little thing is half squished and can't move itself and will just die if left. so, i make the executive decision, picking up the worm and moving it to the dirt on the left.

as i pick it up, it's flatter end puffs up and begins moving.

now, you're thinking this is when i realize it's a king cobra and get my face bit off. but the truth is even more shocking than that. this wiggly creature douped me with its greatest con.

flashback to moments before my arrival:

a little worm on the sidewalk is thinking to itself... "im tired. how the fck will i make it all the way across this sidewalk and onto the dirt before being squished or burned up by the sun??? it's not like i can call a worm taxi. what i really need is some human to come by and carry my ass... holy crap, here's one now! im gonna play the 'injured worm' card and see if...."

it wiggles out a quiet cough "oh, whoa is me, my little end has been squished and im oh so tired and in pain, won't some sweet soul save me?"

and just like that i was conned into thinking i was looking at a suffering little worm who needed help making it to the dirt.

i can see the little worm now doing a victory wiggle and singing "we'll make all your dreams come true..."

gourmet vous

Kitchen Brigade is a highly informative site for chefs, serious home cooks and for fine food & wine connoisseurs - like me.

You'll be delighted to find culinary advice, tips, and recipes shared by chefs. For example, you'll find...

• proper storage, presentation and serving of cheese - a must know for anyone serving cheese at a gathering
• the life and times of a cocoa bean
• the recipes for Lobster creme brulee hors d'oeuvre, and Shrimp crepes on sundried tomato lobster sauce. YUM!

Plus, an international restaurant and hotel guide (Blue Ginger in Wellesley, MA is the first listed), photos of trend setting chefs (do you think any of them have been on Iron Chef America?), and vendors of fine foods and equipment (in case you want to open your own restaurant).

By the way...

Store your cheese wrapped in parchment and in an airtight container in the upper portion of the refrigerator. These keeps the cheese from gaining any flavors or odors from other foods, and prevents your cheese from drying out.

On a cheese platter, make a circular design, placing larger pieces in the middle with smaller pieces closer to the plate edge. And never, ever remove the skin or rind from a cheese for your guests - it's offensive.

Bunnies, Bikes and MicroLoans

During "down time" at my temp job (a blood research lab), I get to read about various organizations doing good deeds on our very own Earth. See, my boss is not only a doctor, but she is also a brilliant scientist, humanitarian, and the co-founder of a health organization. So, while reading magazine articles featuring her organization and browsing her organization's website, I've found a plethora of interesting stuff.

The first thing I came across which tickled my fancy, was a Time Magazine article mentioning Heifer. Across the globe, Heifer provides families in need with cattle, sheep, chickens, rabbits, bees, agricultural training, and more to help them produce their own food and often earn income from what they are able to produce. Through the website, you are able to volunteer locally, or buy animals for people in need. Instead of the usual $50 sunhat you buy Aunt Zelda each year for her birthday, how bout a batch of chicks to an Armenian family, or a hive of bees for a family in Vermont. Aunt Zelda can rest easier at night knowing she wont have to tote that damn hat around when you visit, and that people everywhere are hitting the hay nourished by the honey and milk provided by your gift.

Another cool organization is Grameen Bank which provides no-collaterol loans mostly to poor women in Bangladesh, allowing them to open their own small businesses and generate their own income. This incredible opportunity gives women more economic power in their households and communities, which is often life-saving. Living in poverty often means malnutrition, domestic violence, substandard living conditions, disease and inability to access health care. Bank loans like these also help to diversify the economy which can mean increased wages in formerly oversaturated markets.

Idealist.org is a great resource for news, jobs, and volunteer opportunities both in the US and abroad. And BackDoorJobs.com is another fantastic resource for short-term, out of the ordinary jobs and internships in the US and abroad.

And for bicycle lovers, International Bicycle Fund is a non-governmental, nonprofit, advocacy organization, promoting sustainable transport and international understanding.

What an interesting world we live in!

Amazing Discovery #8421

So, I'm back in Boston and temping full time for the month of April. And after 3 full days of work (I started Friday) it occurred to me... part of the design of the 40 hour work week is to keep working people so exhausted they don't have enough energy, time or motivation to be politically or socially active or conscious. With everyone too tired and without adequate time to do much about their circumstances, the people in power stay in power and also enjoy thier month-long holidays at the ranch, in the Bahamas, etc.

sunshine in the key of B

a warm rainy afternoon
eating the sky
i arrive home to find
not you
but roses with
daffodils entwined