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Christi Diggs
on May 23 2013 - 06:00 AM
A drop of spin, a cup of deception and tsp. politics=Apathy
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Lindsay Metcalf
on May 22 2013 - 06:00 AM
When that tornado siren sounds, I'm in the basement
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mara williams
on May 21 2013 - 06:00 AM
Summer break has this mom on a house upkeep war path.
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Yesterday I went to Aldi’s to pick up a few groceries. The kids must have frozen waffles and it is always the cheapest place to buy them. Of course, I can not get out of that store without buying more than I should. I was getting close to the checkout and I noticed there was some commotion with their fresh flowers. It appeared they were taking them away. A lady had her arms full of flowers taking them through the checkout. I questioned the staff where they were going….they were going in the trash! The trash I say! “How much?” I ask. Free she said. FREE! I can not give up anything that is free. These flowers were rejects, they were in their final days. There were roses and carnations and other pretties that I can not name. The sucker that I am, I took home the best four bouquets I could find. I could not let these go in the trash.
I went home and picked through them, trying to salvage what I could. I was able to make three smaller bouquets out of them, in my makeshift vases that come from the glass spaghetti sauce jars I wash and save for a rainy day. They are not the most exciting looking arrangements but their bright cheeriness made my day. It was cold and cloudy and they added some light to my day. The kids were excited, who sent flowers they wondered. Nobody, I just saved them before they were vanquished to the garbage. I gave them a little more life. I look at the ones on the kitchen table now and the roses are already drooping more than they were yesterday. The carnations will live longer I know, hardy that they are. I liken them to myself really. Once, my life was crazy and someone who looked at me might have thought I wasn’t much more than trash. I didn’t treat myself very well. The loved ones in my life though did not put me out to squander, but showered me with “tough love” and here I am today.
Later when I took Grace and Gabe to get their hair cut we stopped at the bread store. My eyes searched for any great bargain they might have and I noticed a cart that was full of bags of bread that was labeled “Bird Bread, Not Fit for Human Consumption”. I wondered about this for a long time into the evening. I give the heels to the birds and sometimes the crumbs out of the potato chip bags. They are fit for my consumption, I just don’t particularly like crumbs or heels. If I find moldy bread, I do not give it to anyone, birds or my family, I throw them away. If I don’t want to eat moldy food, I shouldn’t give it to the animals. I read somewhere once where you shouldn’t give the birds rotten food and that stuck with me. I make homemade bird food and I only put in good foods and seeds.
I am not a raging animal activist but this did anger me some. It just seems surreal to me that we would give to birds something that can not be eaten by us. I don’t know, some might think I am nuts and I could resemble that somewhat. But if it isn’t fit for my consumption I will not offer it to my feathered friends!
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