Does it really matter?

Today, I read my daughter's blog that has this counter on it. It constantly updates the number of animals killed for food in the world. This nags at me with a sort of uncomfortable reality. I'm sure that's the very reason it's there, but I'm trying to decide if it really matters.

We, as thinking, physical beings, need to eat protein and animal protein is readily available. We should consider that if we were a little lower on the food chain and we knew that humans were killed for food, we might have a different attitude. We probably wouldn't consider killing animals to survive much of an issue in that light. But, because we have no such threats in this society outside of wild critters in the jungle, we can choose. We can choose to eat animal protein or vegetable protein. We can choose to sleep at night even though we ate beef, pork or fish and have no qualms about it...or we can choose to feel that killing animals is not acceptable and never eat meat again.

We have all heard the horror stories of the industries. The ones about abuse to the animals while they are being raised, while they are being transported and during the killing process. We have heard about the packing plants and what they do and don't do. My thoughts are that probably all of this is true to some point. I'm sure the industry looks more to the bottom line than the cruelty issues. As for the people that are standing in line at the meat market, they are blissfully unaware of the history of the chicken they are purchasing. You could call it the ostrich syndrome, where they just stick their head and the sand and don't look. "What I don't know won't bother me." At least those plants are supposed to be regulated.

I must admit, that hunk of red tissue in the package at the market doesn't look much like a spotted black and white cow you could see munching on grass. Thankfully. If we had to butcher the cow that we raised from a calf and then had to to cut it up into those hunks of tissue, maybe we'd all take another look, because we'd be creating memories. To those that have been raised by parents that were raised by grandparents that had been doing that all their lives, it probably wouldn't seem difficult, just a chore. The rest of us are all removed in our modern lives. Maybe in some distant past there were those that didn't want to do the distasteful part of getting their meat and so they began to barter with others. That likely led to the modern day practice of packing plants and grocery stores. All I know is that if I had to kill a cow to eat, I'd probably find other food. But, since I don't, I'm not sure that I feel so close to the animal that was butchered to let it bother me. It's not like a choice to not buy that chicken will lead to fewer chickens being raised for food. It will still happen and someone else will buy that chicken. If I chose to stop buying chickens altogether, it might save some in the course of my life, but there are so many people buy them that it would be like a drip in the universe. Just check that counter on my daughters blog.

So, after all is said, does it really matter?

The Doctor visit

A while back, I had been told that my regular Dr. was going to retire. Now this isn't the best news I could have gotten, but I guess I've had worse. I had seen the other Dr. in the office there, but wasn't sure I wanted HIM to be my regular Dr. for annual exams etc. It's been a long time since I've had a male Dr..... So, I was only partly ready to go through with this when I was told that there was a PA in the practice that was very good and she would be the one I could see.
Well, maybe she would, but I never got that far because the "nurse" (witch) that I had to see first to draw blood was terrible and I never want to go back there. (PS...this was the second time she acted this way too!)

So, today I visited with a new Dr. One that might be good when I truely need a Dr. She was a little testy today; I had lots of questions and she seemed liked she wanted to move on to her next appointment. At the end she just cut me off, saying it wasn't fair to her other patients to stay and just talk to me. So, we shook hands, and I left. Hopefully, there wan't a copay because I didn't stay around long enough to ask. Also, they didn't ask to have my records forwarded.
**Sigh***...I guess I'll have to wait to see if it will work out.

On to "greener" pastures

I've been trying to shut up my house for the winter. All the little nooks and crannies that let air in are being identified and we're working to get them plugged. This will cut down on the energy we're using. I'm also experimenting with the furnace in the office. I'm keeping it really low then turning on a space heater while I'm at the keyboard. Hopefully this will also reduce energy.
I won't know until I see the bills!

As for the NEW EDUCATION....I probably will be getting more into this after the holidays. I'm spending so much energy working, finishing up with the buildings and planning my holiday tasks that it's no time to begin another project. While the winds blow in January and February I can be learning, then begin using my new skills when spring arrives. Ah yes, there will be a spring although I've heard that it will be a long hard winter, maybe harder than last year. Just look at how early it's beginning!

I would be interested in any site you might find while surfing that pertains to my NEW EDUCATION, whether it's regarding greener ways or gardening/landscaping/horticulture. I'm sure there are millions of pages out there, so just the highlights please :)

Thanks for visiting, and
Happy trails!

Nothing new

I've been busy trying to find out exactly where I'd like to study, but until now I've really not found the exact learning center. I expect to pay for the education, however some places really don't offer much for the $$ they are charging.

So, as result, there's nothing new.

On to another topic. I've also been studying retirement and ways to make sure my funds will be able to last for another couple decades after I retire. Of course, I probably won't retire early, in fact it probably won't be until I'm 65/66 because of social security rules. It's a fascinating topic and one I'm trying to understand. With the bear market, it's a perfect time to buy stocks. The prices are low for companies that are worth much more than the current stock price. It's pretty obvious that if you have extra funds you should be buying stocks. Even Warren Buffet, the stock market master is buying now. He hasn't bought stocks for many years, has had his money in bonds, but he says he'll be investing now that the markets are depressed.

So....I'm working hard at using all the calculators available to work up a viable retirement plan. Doesnt' it seem odd that I'm thinking about this? I've never planned so much in my life!
Ray says he wants to live in the south during the cold winters. I'm not sure we can save enough to do that, but it's worth a try! Especially when he wins the lottery! HA!

Okay...back to green thinking....

Happy trails!

It starts with the seeds...

When I began searching for information, of course I googled. When I put in "online gardening classes" I got www.gardeninginstitute.com and have found this to be quite useful. It offers some individualized classes on a pay-for-class schedule that could be useful. But that wasn't the one that caught my eye.

I also learned that Penn Foster offers some classes. I've received some information from them but I'm not sure they're the best for what I want.

When I found this one: http://www.scitraining.com/Courses_US/Gardening_Landscaping/Outline.htm I was very interested. I send away for some information and may decide on this program. They offer several modules for learning from the basics into landscaping.

I think that eventually I'd like to study landscape design and of course plan to do it very green!
If you'd like to get started on thinking "green", try this link: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/06/how-to-green-your-gardening.php

Until I decide on the choice for my new education, I'll be searching online for the perfect site. I'll keep you up to date on all the great stuff I find.

Until then,
Live green!