Spending Thanksgiving in the Mid-West, the land of meat and dairy, I did fairly well without having to consume animal products or getting testy over the lack of quality vegan foods.
On the road with my dad getting to my sister's home, I did have a moment of frustration at a diner somewhere in the MidWest. After analyzing the menu for nearly 10 minutes and finding NOTHING vegan, I thought I'd appeal to the waitress.
Me: I don't eat anything with meat, dairy, eggs or fish.I ended up ordering french fries. I ate them believing in the illusion that they were gently cooked in 100% vegetable oil that never had anything but other veggie friendly items in them.
Waitress: What DO you eat?
Me: Apparently nothing on your menu.
My sister and her family have their own small farm with 12 head of Scottish Highland Cattle and seven Fainting Goats, (yes, they really faint if they are spooked). Persephone had babies the same day I arrived and I got to hold one. They also have a GIANT St. Bernard dog and a bunch of cats. (Cally slept on top of me last night.)
At dinner on Wednesday night at Applebees (where I ordered sweet potato fries since EVERYTHING was slathered in meat and dairy), one of my nieces asked my I am a vegan. I told her I have three reasons.
- I think it is better for my health long-term (since over 70% of diseases in the US come from poor diets)
- I believe it is better for the environment.
- Finally, I am pro-life. I don't want to partake in a culture of death, be it war, abortion or killing and using animals. Of course I respect a persons right to self-determination (even young people), so I don't feel it is my place to tell anyone how to live their lives, and I understand the world is a complex place where people sometimes need to make difficult choices.
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We have tried to buy a few farms to have highland cattle, goats and rabbits but life thought we had to wait a while. So we still live in a apartment and now I guess that it is going to be that way for a few years because of my plans to get a degree.
I love baby goats. My uncle and his girlfriend have a farm in New York State, and they had a little trio of them last year when we went out there to see them. But now they're big ol' adult goaties. They used to love to run down the hill from the barn to the backyard and leap onto the plastic lawn chairs. They were adorable. But usually, baby anythings are pretty cute.
Oh, I must say this, because it's something a friend told me when I told him that my TC proposal was accepted: "Live long and prosper, Workshop Man!"
I will also be at True Colors, volunteering as the Presenter’s Liaison and was at the planning committee meeting on last Tuesday.
Now I am on the road driving towards Chicago. My dad just switched from the classical station to Justin Timberlake, wait now Morning Edition on NPR.
Elliot, the workshop propsal is titled, Dragged Out of the Spiritual Closet. Can't wait to see you and Diana there. EVERYONE come to True Colors for Elliot's workshop and mine.
nonseq-yeah adorable, I could just eat them up, affectionately speaking that is.
...oh, and the baby goat's cute, too ;)