Home for the Holidays (and other special events)

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From November 19 – December 26 I will have traveled from San Diego to the Bay Area four times.

FOUR TIMES.

Three of the four times will for sure be by flight. I may drive the last trip.

I know what you’re thinking: “Why!?!?” Well, I went to home (the Bay Area) last weekend to celebrate S2‘s graduation from her master’s program, I’m in the airport tonight for Thanksgiving, in a couple of weeks I’ll be going home for Buddy‘s first birthday (Can you believe it has already been a year?!?! Buddy will be one year old. Seriously, so amazingly exciting). Then, for Christmas. I may drive home for the Christmas trip, but it has yet to be decided.

I got a late flight out of San Diego today. I did this for two fold: 1) I didn’t know what time I would be off work and I didn’t want to risk missing my flight. 2) I didn’t know what the traffic would be like and I didn’t want to miss my flight.

Even though I was home um, TWO AND 1/2 DAYS AGO, I didn’t want to miss a single second at home.

And although my sleeping situation this Thanksgiving is a little, well I guess I’ll say nomadic, (Of the four nights I’m home I’ll be sleeping in four different beds in two houses. It’s complicated. Never mind) I am thrilled to be on my way home.

Again.

Last weekend was sort of a blur and I imagine this weekend will be too. I try to see so many different people, and spend lots of time with this special girl:

Oh, Tahn

She is just as sweet as I remembered.

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I hope everyone has a great, Happy Thanksgiving!

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The Road to Pescatarianism

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*Below is a rather serious post about why I am no longer eating meat. If it’s not your thing, feel free to skip this post 🙂

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I’ve been thinking about giving up meat for over three years now. I’m not sure where the idea exactly came from; I believe that I started learning about meat today and how it’s packed with antibiotics, the cows/chickens/pigs are fed with corn and I started re-thinking my consumption of meat. Michael Pollan also was very popular at the time, and everyone was reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma. From watching Pollan on Oprah, I found that I could buy free-range, grass fed meat. Wolia! Problem solved.

Right?

Well. No…

In 2010, I decided I was giving up pork for the year. (Unless – this is a big unless – it was free range and not corn fed. Free range, corn fed pork is actually really challenging to find). In fact, it was my New Year’s Resolution. Except for an occasional free range pork meal, or when I didn’t have the heart to tell someone I didn’t eat pork, I didn’t eat it for the entire year.

It. Was. Hard.

I was so happy when 2011 started and I could eat pork again. Hello, pork roast, ham, bacon. YUM. I missed you, my friends.

So I ate meat again. Visa-Vi, my non pork experiment was good. Right?

Wait.

Okay, the purpose of my not-eating-pork-that-isn’t-humanly-raised experiment wasn’t just to see if I couldn’t eat pork. It was 2 fold.

1) I read somewhere that pigs are similar to dogs. And you know how much I LOVEMYDOG.

2) I thought (and still do) that if we (AMERICANS) support animal farmers who treat their animals humanely should be supported; not those who treat their animals poorly, don’t let them exercise and have their animals lead a confined life.

So, my “year-free-of-pork” was to make (more than anything) an economical statement; I was not going to financially support animal farmers who did not treat their pigs humanely.

Okay.

How did I go from not eating pigs for a year (to make an economical statement) to no longer eating meat, ever?*

Reality? The truth? Again, it was 2 fold:

1) I read Lauren‘s post on Oprah’s Vegan episode. Then I watched the video – at a slaughter house. (WARNING. It’s graphic).

2) I came to terms with what I already knew. I knew that I am, and have always been a grocery store meat eater. What does that mean? That means that I could easily buy, prepare and eat meat I bought at the grocery store. But, I could never, ever (unless I was starving) kill an animal and eat it. I think it’s revolting. Bleh. I would sooner eat a handful of bugs than eat a cow, pig, chicken, or any other livestock that I killed. Just to kill the animal would be devastating to me, let alone skin it, cook it, and eat it. The idea is overwhelmingly upsetting to me.

So. As of the endish** of September, I have tried to no longer eat meat.

Wait. Why fish, then? (A Pescatarian is a person who eats fish but no other meat).

Um. Because I could (and have) fished, filleted, and eaten fish. While it’s slimy and gross, I could do it. I can do it. I don’t have a problem with it.

Why fish and not chickens? I don’t know. I really don’t. Maybe because fish don’t appear to have the same personality/ intelligence as an flesh animal. I don’t know. Maybe they do. But, really, the Can-I-Kill-This-With-My-Own-Bare-Hands question is my rule of measure when eating meat.

Having said all of this, I have really missed meat. OMG. One of my roommates grilled a steak Sunday night. OMG. I wanted one so badly it hurt. Can I mention that beef is my favorite meat? I could take or leave chicken, I do enjoy pork, but I LOVE BEEF.

I love hamburgers. Ugh. To think I will never eat a hamburger again for the rest of my life really is sad to me. I will miss them.

I really like ham. And bacon. And pork chops. I have fond memories with my family around pork products.

But, I am so happy with my decision. I haven’t regretted it, not only for a second. Many times I have seen meat (raw or cooked) and been disgusted. I see it for what it is, animal flesh. I hope it continues to motivate me to refrain from meat eating.

*After I dropped the “meat is animal flesh” bomb, I will tell you my exceptions to my new lifestyle.

1) Politeness. I will eat meat if someone invites me to their home to eat a meal and does not know I don’t eat meat. If they aren’t serving any food sans meat, I will partake in eating said meat. I personally find it rude when people are offered food and decline it – especially when they aren’t allergic. So, I will eat it.

2) Marshmallows. Sooooooo sad. Last time this year (via Facebook) I learned marshmallows (um, my FAVORITE THING EVER) aren’t vegetarian. They are made with gelatin, which is an animal by product, blah, blah, blah. Of course, at Whole Foods or your local Co-Op you can find vegan marshmallows for like $6. And I’m not quite ready to drop $6 on marshmallows yet…

3) Thanksgiving. Yeah, I’m not ready to give up turkey this year. I am really not a fan of tofu (even deliciously flavored tofurky) so I can’t give it up quite yet. And no, I couldn’t kill a damn Turkey. I’m doing my best.

4) Meals made for me with a meat product in it. Like, if you make me soup and use chicken broth (because you forgot). I will eat it. But, now that you know I don’t eat meat so you won’t do that! 🙂

So, why am I telling you this? To change you? To convince you to give up meat too? Nope. Honestly, I am telling you this not only to keep myself accountable, but also tell you now so I don’t have to explain it later.***

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** I was going to give up eating meat October 1, but I went to a wedding where meat was served and I was so hungry that I couldn’t pass up. I haven’t eat meat since that weekend.

*** The social expectation to eat meat is HUGE. It makes people uncomfortable and sad when I mention I don’t eat meat. (I actually try not to mention it to avoid the conversation). Of course, everyone asks “Why?” which is super awkward, especially when we’re eating and they’re eating meat. I stumble over my words, and barely answer the question. After people know I’m not eating meat and we’re eating out and sharing a meal they are always sad when they realize I won’t split chicken tacos with them or sliders. I know. I’m sad too. I love sliders.

A Thankful Heart

I am truly thankful.

This week was Thanksgiving, known for Turkey, friends and family. For many, Thanksgiving can be very stressful. Family can be tough. Although you love each other, spending time with family can be quite challenging.

I’ve a few stressful and challenging holidays in my life (especially since my parents got divorced). And holidays tend to be a nerve-racking event for me. “How will this one go?” I wonder. “Maybe this year will be really great” I hope. But, sometimes, the holiday seems to be less than desired. I’ve tried to lower my expectations for all family holidays, and just try to have a good attitude. Every year, the planning of which parent we see when can also be very stressful for my siblings and me.

To be honest, I really wasn’t looking forward to Thanksgiving. I have had a lot on my plate, and I just didn’t want to have a stressful holiday. Often, when I predict the holiday will be good, it tends to be bad, so I tried not to make any predictions.

Tahn and I saddled up and drove home to celebrate the weekend. I had two Thanksgiving dinners planned- one with my dad and one with my mom. And this year, both Thanksgiving dinners were fantastic. Not only was the food unbelievable at both, but, I really enjoyed myself.

Then, last night, I was invited to a third Thanksgiving dinner hosted by some of my wonderful friends – and it was also a blast and the food was delicious.

Here I am thinking, how many people get to go to three great, fun, and delicious Thanksgiving dinners? How many people have great (and sometimes flawed) loving families as well as amazing friends?

Although my immediate family is far from perfect, they are pretty fantastic. I had a moment this weekend of being extremely grateful for each of them:

-My dad: always my best friend and dedicated, devoted supporter. He bends over backwards to make my siblings and me happy. I had so much fun cooking with him and just “being”.

-My brother and sister-in-law: wonderfully supportive, loving and inspiring. Also, they are expecting their first child to arrive very soon, which bring so much joy and happiness to our family.

-My mom: always supports and loves me unconditionally.  This Thanksgiving, I really enjoyed talking with her about my life and hearing her thoughts.

-My sister: although she lives further away and did not make the trip this year, I feel so much closer to her than I have in a long while and it is so incredibly wonderful.

Often I think, “The main reason I have such a fantastic life is because of the parents and family I was born into”. And this year, I have to say that I am even more grateful than ever.
I am truly thankful.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year, too.