It's What I Want to Talk About, OKAY?!

So, I'm home from Germany. It was a really good trip, and I am extremely grateful I was able to afford/schedule it. I had a lot of fun. The trip meant a lot to me because I got to see my dad's old military base and some places my sister visited in high school. It was rad. Here are two pictures of like the most famous castle in the world and Heidelberg.





Okay, now I want to talk about being a vegetarian on airplanes. BEING A VEGETARIAN ON AIRPLANES IS THE LAMEST.

I special ordered veggie meals for my dad, sister, and me almost two weeks ago. On the plane tonight they each got their special meals delivered to them. I waited a bit then realized mine wasn't coming because the average meals were starting to be passed out. I buzzed a stewardess (which I HATE doing) to ask about my meal. She said, no I needed to order it in advance. I told her I did. She went to "check" and came back saying there must have been a mix-up--no veggie meal was ordered for me, but, she said, she wasn't going to eat her dinner so I could have it. Great. Eating my flight attendant's dinner and looking like a bum who didn't order things properly.

So, another attendant comes and asks me "Chicken or beef?" and I explain I have the veggie meal--
No, she interrupts, you have to order those special. I explain I did and that--
No, another interrupts, we have a list, and you're not on the list. To make a point, she shows me the list.
I am on the list. I point to my name, she takes it back mumbling to herself.
The original flight attendant shows up and begrudgingly hands me a little veggie meal.

All this for some not amazing spicy rice.

A. This whole thing would have been a lot less sketchy had I been able to just check a BOX that was PROVIDED when I bought my tickets. Instead I had to like call in to the airline and talk to a customer service person and be annoying and waste people's time. I mean, what if I had forgotten? I bet a lot of vegetarians don't even know you can do that.
B. Look. Being a vegetarian is good for the environment, animal rights, human rights, and political justice. Don't get fussy because someone is trying to the the right thing.
C. WHY ON EARTH CAN'T THE QUESTION BE "Chicken or Vegetarian?" instead of beef? I promise you, no matter which meat you get on an AIRPLANE it's not going to taste phenomenal, and I guarantee you the meat quality is less than the best. I mean, even if I ate meat, I'd feel skeptical of the frozen into little foil tins version of food that very easily goes bad. Can't airlines just not serve meat? Then no one would have to be stuck with the blame about who didn't count how many meals etc. etc. etc.

More stuff on Germany later. Hugs 'n' Kisses, Misses.

Add the Good Stuff (A Soapbox)

Currently, I'm watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, and I am lah-ovvvvvvv-ing it. Right now I'm watching him argue with the owner of a burger joint in L.A.

The owner has agreed to let Jamie "take over" for a couple days and help make the restaurant more healthy. Immediately, the owner was like, "Well, you can't take anything off the menu" and Jamie was, of course, like "So...how am I supposed to make this place healthier...?" And the owner was like, "Look, man, I have regulars who get every single thing on this menu. So take away any one thing and you get at the very least someone who orders it three times a week not coming back."

And I'M LIKE, "Say what!"

YOU HAVE TO ADD THE GOOD STUFF TO GET RID OF THE OLD CRUMMY STUFF!

Maybe some of the regulars wouldn't come back anymore if the nasty dog-food infused burgers weren't available, but maybe they would be happy to eat the alternative sandwich, or maybe there would just be a new clientele. Who wants to be the person giving someone bad food three times a week because customers will eat it?

The guy who made up the fake Twitter for Rahm Emanuel got so crazy popular that the real Rahm let him donate to any charity of his choice. The guy, a journalism professor, picked a program that encourages kids to write. I remember hearing that and, of course, being happy, but then kind of wondering if a dinko writing club is really the best place to pour a pile of money. And the answer is YES. YES. Because all the world's problems can't be solved by throwing money at bad stuff defensively. But, even if they COULD be solved that way (for a moment) they won't go away unless we've got back-up. Unless we've got the good stuff safety netting the trapeze.


Japan Ladies, Fukoi 2008

Like, maybe it seems better to donate that money to inner-city gang clean-up, but actually, no. A writing group provides kids the outreach, thought, and passion to deter themselves from joining gangs (ideally) PLUS a plan or program for other kids trying to get out! PLUS love and joy and spirit to others uninvolved in gangs to pump the universe with more positivity!

This realization makes me really happy because it proves that the teeny attempts at Good we make aren't overthrown by the bigger badder fanged evils that sometimes seem invincible. We can be pre-emptive by supporting the good stuff--even the little good stuff. I know people SAY that, but I finally really do get it.

Ladies and gentlemen, here's exhibit "A." Didn't I try again, and did the effort pay?