“Ask and you shall receive,” my dad used to say. I have to laugh now thinking about that phrase and what a great sense of humor my father had. My dad worked for the government most of his adult life in one capacity or another. Because of his keen intellect and grasp of irony, working in a large bureaucracy afforded him many opportunities to see the ridiculousness in a lot of situations. A recent interpretation of ORS 471.403 by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission comes into play now for homebrewers whose hands have been tied simply because a brewery asked a simple question that should have returned a simple (and logical) answer. Ask and you shall receive-but probably not what you wanted or were anticipating.
The question was simple enough. Deschutes Brewery asked if homebrewers could bring their beers to an event at their brewery. (Source: Keep handcrafter beer and wine at home, Oregon state officials say by Jessical Van Berkel, The Oregonian) Now, being a restaurant owner, I understand why they asked the question-the LAST thing any bar, restaurant, or brewery wants to do is get on the wrong side of any liquor regulatory agency. When we ask questions of these agencies, it’s because we are all acutely aware of the need to follow the letter of the law or risk our license and our livelihood. We do, however, expect a level of intelligence in interpretation of the intent of the laws in place. Unfortunately for the agents interpreting these laws and the people affected by them, the laws in place are not always intelligent. Many laws were put into place so long ago that their intent no longer represents the intent of the state. For homebrewers and winemakers in the state of Oregon, this was the case. The answer they got was that no, they couldn’t by law take their craft creations anywhere outside of their own homes. This puts a terrible crimp on many summer competitions where homebrewing and winemaking afficionados go show off their abilities. In Portland particularly, a city known worldwide as the birthplace of many world-class brews, that’s a BIG deal. The law, obviously, needs to be changed. But we all know that getting a law changed is easier said than done.
We have similarly silly liquor laws here in Washington, but I won’t bore you with the details here. Let it suffice to say that all states have silly laws in place that the legislature, with budget shortages and problems spilling out of their ears, aren’t about to deal with anytime soon. However, the Oregon legislature should deal with this one, as their very lucrative beer and wine industry was built by the very people whose hands they have now bound. I can hear my father laughing his ass off at this from wherever he is up in the great beyond.
At the age of 70, my mom found a lump and proactively went to the doctor and luckily, caught her breast cancer at a very early stage. Unfortunately, the doctors did two lumpectomies and couldn’t get “clean margins” and so we were given several options. It’s hard on someone at 70 going through multiple treatments that require anesthesia, so she chose a mastectomy over more attempts at a lumpectomy. The lumpectomy, even if successful, would have required radiation at the least. Not a savory option at her age.
We assumed that the surgery itself would be the most traumatic part of this. We were wrong. My mom had great difficulty waking up after anesthesia, and was very tired and sore after the surgery. It was 8PM, and they would not let her stay in the hospital overnight.
“Pardon me?” You are probably saying to yourself right now. Until you experience this yourself or with a family member, it is completely unbelievable. It left me literally dumbfounded and speechless. So I had to take my very upset, exhausted post-surgery mother home, and practically carry her up the stairs to get her into bed, drains and all. By anyone’s standards except those of the insurance company, brutally unneccessary.
My understanding now is that this is common practice. It is completely inhumane. The “why” is predictably always money when it concerns insurance companies. The “what the…” is why laws haven’t been passed before now to stop this cruel practice which is in obvious contradiction to the “do no harm” credo to which the medical community is supposed to be in harmony.
Please sign the petition below to let your representatives know your feelings on this matter. THANK YOU, from all the women in your life.
So, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is upset with the American Veterinary Medical Association. Why? Because they are holding their annual convention in Seattle this year, and they’ve asked the world famous Pike Place fish throwers to do a demo for the vets’ entertainment.
Can't we all just get along???
Now, I used to be a vegetarian. My cholesterol, however, couldn’t take it. My body is carnivorous, and it does better when I feed it high quality animal protein, like oh, say, salmon, for example. It doesn’t mean that I don’t care about animals or feel that animals should be abused. However, THESE FISH ARE DEAD. These fish throwers have been doing this for I don’t know how long, but a long, long time. They’re a major Seattle tourist attraction, they are not killing them just to throw them around and then throw them away, so where’s the harm? Does PETA really not have any place better to put their efforts?
Is it wrong of me to find this humorous? I sympathize with PETA’s mission to protect all animals, but this is, well, a little silly to me. Click on the link below and view the video for yourself and see if my sense of humor is becoming a bit bizarre.
I know many of you have probably seen this video multiple times, but every time I see it, it makes me happy. Hope it does the same for you.
An elderly couple had dinner at another couple’s house, and after eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen. The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, “Last night we went out to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very highly.”
The other man said, “What is the name of the restaurant?”
The first man thought and thought and finally said, “What is the name of that flower you give to someone you love? You know…the one that’s red and has thorns.”
“Do you mean a rose?”
“Yes, that’s the one,” replied the man. He then turned towards the kitchen and yelled, “Rose, what’s the name of that restaurant we went to last night?”
* * * * * * *
An older gentleman was telling his neighbor, “I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it’s state of the art. It’s perfect.”
“Really,” answered the neighbor. “What kind is it?”
“‘Twelve thirty.”
* * * * * * *
Three silver foxes are out walking. First one says, “Windy, isn’t it?”
Second one says, “No, it’s Thursday!”
Third one says, “So am I. Let’s go get a beer.”
* * * * * * *
Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical.
A few days later, the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young woman on his arm. Later on that day, the doctor called Morris and said, “You’re really doing great, aren’t you?”
Morris replied, “Just doing what you said, doc: ‘Get a hot mama and be cheerful.”’
“I didn’t say that. I said, ‘You’ve got a heart murmur. Be careful.’”
Time is a funny thing. When you’re a kid, it seems a bottomless supply of hours and days, moving so slowly you wonder if you’ll ever grow up. In your early adult life, you can’t wait for time to pass quickly so you can get to the next landmark date–the day you can get your driver’s license, your graduation day, turning 21…it all seems to pass at a turtle’s pace and you wonder if you’ll ever get to where you want to be.
As you move into life’s more serious pursuits–career and family–time moves so fast, you feel like Einstein is playing some horrible physics joke that you are somehow too dense to understand. Why does an hour suddenly pass in a matter of seconds, days like minutes, weeks like hours. What kind of evil cosmic joke is this? Why can you suddenly never get the time to have a quiet evening at home with your significant other, take a walk in the woods, or just sleep for a whole, glorious day?
I think that this must somehow go in reverse once you get to retirement age, or at least I hope it does. Hopefully, time will go at that glorious turtle’s pace again where it seems like time stands still almost. Is this where we get to fingerpaint again, take a barefoot walk through a stream, and shriek at its fresh, amazing cold? Spend hours laughing at stories that we’ve heard from our loved ones a hundred times before, but the retelling and the time spent together in the retelling makes them all the more precious? Is there a way we can steal a little of this “slow time” for today and spend some of these ever so important moments now? I hope so. I’d like to try. I bet so many of you would give your pinky toe to spend some slow time with your family, friends, and maybe even just some “me” time for yourselves.
I love the quote I headed this post with–it brings our time home to us in a concrete way that makes us understand just how valuable our time is, and how it is a waste to spend it in ways that do not make us shiver, smile, laugh, cry, or hug someone just to let them know they are not alone. Spend some of that time today telling the people you love just how important they are to you. Smile and wave at a neighbor who you’ve never spoken to before. Tell the person behind you in line at the grocery store a funny joke you just heard. Help someone today…just for the good feeling it leaves you with. Tell your kids how amazing and wonderful they are, even if you’re going through a bumpy ride with them right now. It will matter later. All these things will. It is these coins of compassion, love, and laughter that we give by which we will eventually measure our lives.
I am lucky enough to know someone who can put a smile on almost anyone’s face at any time, no matter how awful or stressful the situation. What an amazing gift to have, and what a gift to be able to give to others. Give those gifts that you know you have within you. It matters. And people do appreciate it, whether they express that appreciation or not. Know that when you give those things, it makes you, and the world, a better place. (And I think it adds to your “coin bank” too.)
Well, we’ve not been blogging because I updated the website and lost the blog. Frankly, the loss of technological confidence had me frazzled and skittish. But we’re back up and running now, and ready to tackle all things virtual and real.
We’re coming up on another beautiful summer here in the PNW, and this Memorial Day weekend has been nothing less than spectacular. If the rest of the summer would remain this beautifully moderate, I’d be smiling from ear to ear. Have yourselves a drink out on your patio, take a deep breath of fresh air, and take in how lucky we are to live in one of the most spectacular places in the world (IMHO).
Here’s a pic of Abbey, our faithful companion and friend, enjoying a little outdoor fun today. Have you ever seen a dog laugh??? After our trek on the Sandy River Delta, we headed over to the Lucky Labrador where your pooch can hang out with you while you enjoy a frosty cool brew. Then, a little frozen yogurt at Sheridan’s. She’s not spoiled or anything.
Time is a funny thing. When you’re a kid, it seems a bottomless supply of hours and days, moving so slowly you wonder if you’ll ever grow up. In your early adult life, you can’t wait for time to pass quickly so you can get to the next landmark date–the day you can get your driver’s license, your graduation day, turning 21…it all seems to pass at a turtle’s pace and you wonder if you’ll ever get to where you want to be.