Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Making a Fuss
After a conversation last night about cross contamination/food allergies/making a fuss, I found myself both incredibly angry and puzzled as to how some people can be so uncaring about people who have really severe allergies/intolerances. The issue came up because we were talking about a burrito restaurant where it's not at all uncommon for cheese and other dairy products to fall into the tubs of ingredients like lettuce, salsa, and guacamole. For someone who is very lactose intolerant, this is a problem. I am one of those people. You know how some foods have a warning on the label, something like "made on shared equipment with dairy..." - those trace amounts are more than enough to make me very sick for days. Gut wrenchingly, disgustingly sick. We're not talking tummy ache, we're talking seriously sick.
So it always amazes me how careless people can be at restaurants when it comes to cross-contamination, especially when such a huge percentage of the world population cannot process things like lactose. The argument of "oh, it's so hard to make food fast, so cross-contamination is bound to happen" just doesn't cut it with me. I've seen people who are very good at their job, who clean off areas that have been contaminated with dairy, who are very careful about keeping their station clean. I've also had people making burritos offer to bring out a fresh tub of ingredients because of contamination. So it is indeed possible to be really good at your job and to do your best to not make people sick!
The other part of this issue is the idea that you shouldn't make a fuss, that you should just take what you're given because it would be horrible to inconvenience the person you're giving money to in exchange for food. God forbid you should send food back! I've sent back more meals than I can count because of carelessness - I've had noodle dishes that had ricotta dropped in it for example (and no, just picking it off is not an option). When you have insane allergies, food becomes complicated. I have to look through the entire dish when I get my food to make sure it doesn't have anything in it that it shouldn't have. And often, it does, and it goes back. Am I worried that the staff will talk about me, will think I'm being difficult? No. I could care less in general what people think about me, but especially when it comes to me protecting my health. The key, as always, is to be as nice as possible about it. It never pays to be unkind, and it's just, well, rude!
I think the point I'm trying to make (in my own rambling sort of way) is never ever be afraid to make a fuss, especially if you're trying to protect your health. Don't be afraid that you're "being a bother" at restaurants. You don't have to be demure and take what you're given if you're given something unacceptable. Make a fuss! But try to be nice about it :)
Do any of you guys have experiences with food allergies or other issues that require an occasional fuss?
-kala
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
The thing about yoga...
So part of the yoga deal is clearing your mind and letting go of your thoughts, right? Well, for me it's more like, sort of not thinking about worries but instead thinking about random things like:
"hey, the girl next to me has the same nail polish on her toes as I do!"
"is this real grass...it doesn't feel like real grass..."
"whoa, that guy is hopping up the bleachers, crazy!"
"whoa, that girl's butt is getting really close to my face!"
"hey, that lady is just as bad at this as I am, yay!"
"I hope I don't fall asleep lying here on the mat"
"ah, my leg is falling asleep!"
So to any of you who can namaste your way to inner peace and meditate your way through Gumby-worthy positions, I salute you, but I don't think I will ever join your ranks! Honestly, I'm able to get rid of my worries and feel the most at peace during really intense cardio or weight training.
What are your thoughts on yoga?
-kala
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Pinterest Win: Regrowing Green Onions
These are green onions that I regrew from scraps! I simply took the bits (including the roots) of green onions that we used for a meal, stuck them in a canning jar (a glass would work too), and they grew after just a few days in the window! I also change the water every 1 or 2 days. I've already harvested one batch of regrown green onions this way, and I think these guys are destined for tonight's dinner.
If you want to read more about regrowing green onions, just search "regrowing green onions" on Pinterest and a bunch of pins will pop up. I don't remember which was the original pin that inspired me, oops!
Have you guys every grown veggies from supermarket scraps?
-kala
Monday, May 20, 2013
Return of the Parking Lot Garden!
This is the motley collection of pots that I have set up in our building's parking lot. In this picture we have radishes, cilantro, chocolate habanero, mini bell pepper, tomato, kale, chocolate mint, oregano, and more. But the thing I'm most excited about this year is that other neighbors are joining in on the gardening fun! It's been great to see pots of all sorts of edibles and flowers popping up in the parking lot.
Do you guys garden? What are you growing this year?
-kala
Monday, April 29, 2013
Goodale
At a crafty get-together this past weekend, my friend Trinity had a couple of her beautiful handknit sweaters to destash because they were too big for her. I'm super psyched because I've admired the pattern (Goodale) for quite a while, but as you guys probably know, I'm not really a sweater knitter. So yay, and thanks again to Trinity!
What do you guys do with handknit items that don't quite work for you?
-kala
Monday, March 18, 2013
Hue Shift
Of course, anything I put on the dining table, Ritz has to investigate. The yarn was a gift from my husband for Christmas, it's a kit for the rainbow version of the blanket. This will be one of my twelve stash projects for the year and my very first knit blanket, yay!
have you knit or crocheted a blanket before?
-kala
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Come on, weave me!
Three skeins of Origami, a Berroco yarn. I just had to buy these guys, the yarn is super pretty and it was half off! You know I can't pass up a yarn deal. I'm not sure what I'll make with it, but I think it will be used for my very first weaving project. I bought a Cricket loom the other day and I'm just itching to learn how to weave!
Do any of you guys weave? Does yarn speak to you in the store?
-kala
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