this is a supergood article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/19/opinion/sunday/for-the-love-of-money.html
i ran into a professional looking young woman at our local courthouse several months ago who recognized me from the post office. as we chatted a bit while we walked to our vehicles, it came to light that i had used my USPS employment status in the past tense.
she inquired about the particulars of my leaving that position,
she stopped, looked at me like i was growing tentacles and said
"you LEFT a federal job?!"
she shook her head in dismay and slight disgust.
obviously i was a crazyperson.
suddenly i felt a panicky the need to justify my decision to leave my "good paying federal" job for a "oh, you're one of the low class slobs who works food service" job.
i explained to her that i had no control or flexibility in my schedule, the benefits weren't really that great, my position was technically temporary/part time (despite the fact that i was working more than most of my "full time/career" coworkers, and making less) and my opportunities for advancement or even a better schedule was pretty nil.
i told her about how i never had time to spend with my family, how i didn't have the freedom to plan a trip, to even make any kind of a long-term commitment; how i couldn't do thing things i loved, i couldn't plan my life because my job owned me.
i explained this to the best of my ability while walking across a small parking lot, and she still shook her head like i was an idiot.
and i kind of felt like an idiot for a couple seconds.
then she climbed into her shiny, black, $40,000+ SUV and i climbed onto my shiny, olive green $400 bicycle,
and i understood....and felt even more foolish.
i didn't need to justify myself at all. not to a stranger; not to anyone.
her interpretations and reactions to my situation reflected her own values and fears. it had little to do with me.
i'm not addicted to money.
my time is more valuable to me than money.
yes, i need to work, i need to pay for heat and electricity, my house, food...things people need.
and i like to watch movies and i like to go out with my friends and see a band play from time to time.
i do not, however, need to work to make a payment on a new SUV. or a huge house.
or a fancy new suit. or a purse. or a phone.
because those things don't define a person.
they don't MAKE you.
and suddenly,
as i felt the fresh air on my face as i pedaled through town on my day off (not just my lunch break),
i felt free.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
cuban beans and rice meditation
hey.
it's been a while since i posted. i figured it was about time.
my inspiration for writing came about while making dinner.
(cuban beans and rice. recipe to follow!)
i'm hacking and chopping...it's my meditation time.
i was thinking about the simplicity of beans and rice, a staple the world wide, and how economical and versatile is.
i'm making my batch tonight in a large quantity; some to eat for dinner with sour cream, some to have tomorrow morning with an egg, some for later in a tortilla, a base for a salad, even added to soup.
i've also used this meal as an opportunity to use some veggies lurking around the fridge and freezer; fresh (cellared) squash from last years harvest, frozen corn and peppers we purchased last year in bulk form our natural food store and froze. and cilantro i bought fresh today because... i WANTED IT! mwahaha!!
this meal, and the collection of meals to follow it, is costing us ridiculously little,not only in the cost of the collective ingredients but in the labor involved. i'll cook a little while today and have easy meal options for the rest of the week (or longer if i freeze some!) and the quality and flavor is as awesome as any pricy gourmet convenience food.
hello, win!
so as i'm patting myself on the back for my glorious and thrifty accomplishment, i also took notice of my cooking implements.
the carbon steel knife i scored for $2 at an estate sale, the cast iron griddle and pressure cooker passed down by family, even the butcherblock topped cabinet picked up at a roadside antique store sale (literally, it was sitting outside by the side of the road and cost me $15)...these things are the work-horses of my little kitchen.
but i'll take the time and devote more love and attention to my beloved kitchen appliacces in a separate post later.
i think the time has come to throw the recipe at you and get back in the kitchen so i can eat.
because i'm hungry.
cuban beans and rice(no amounts given. make as much or as little as you want.)
rice (mine is a brown and wild mix)
beans (any)
onion, garlic, squash, corn, pepper -all chopped. (except the corn. don't chop the corn, that's dumb)
salt, cumin, oregano, ground hot pepper to taste
. . . .
cook the beans and rice. i use the pressure cooker because it's fast and awesome. and fast. which makes it awesome.
while that's cooking saute the veggies
when your bean/rice blend is done mix it with the veggies and season to taste
serve with grated cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, salsa, grilled meat, chips, tortillas, avacado...serve it as a main dish, a side dish... whatever the heck you want.
revel in your magnificence
it's been a while since i posted. i figured it was about time.
my inspiration for writing came about while making dinner.
(cuban beans and rice. recipe to follow!)
i'm hacking and chopping...it's my meditation time.
i was thinking about the simplicity of beans and rice, a staple the world wide, and how economical and versatile is.
i'm making my batch tonight in a large quantity; some to eat for dinner with sour cream, some to have tomorrow morning with an egg, some for later in a tortilla, a base for a salad, even added to soup.
i've also used this meal as an opportunity to use some veggies lurking around the fridge and freezer; fresh (cellared) squash from last years harvest, frozen corn and peppers we purchased last year in bulk form our natural food store and froze. and cilantro i bought fresh today because... i WANTED IT! mwahaha!!
this meal, and the collection of meals to follow it, is costing us ridiculously little,not only in the cost of the collective ingredients but in the labor involved. i'll cook a little while today and have easy meal options for the rest of the week (or longer if i freeze some!) and the quality and flavor is as awesome as any pricy gourmet convenience food.
hello, win!
so as i'm patting myself on the back for my glorious and thrifty accomplishment, i also took notice of my cooking implements.
the carbon steel knife i scored for $2 at an estate sale, the cast iron griddle and pressure cooker passed down by family, even the butcherblock topped cabinet picked up at a roadside antique store sale (literally, it was sitting outside by the side of the road and cost me $15)...these things are the work-horses of my little kitchen.
but i'll take the time and devote more love and attention to my beloved kitchen appliacces in a separate post later.
i think the time has come to throw the recipe at you and get back in the kitchen so i can eat.
because i'm hungry.
cuban beans and rice(no amounts given. make as much or as little as you want.)
rice (mine is a brown and wild mix)
beans (any)
onion, garlic, squash, corn, pepper -all chopped. (except the corn. don't chop the corn, that's dumb)
salt, cumin, oregano, ground hot pepper to taste
. . . .
cook the beans and rice. i use the pressure cooker because it's fast and awesome. and fast. which makes it awesome.
while that's cooking saute the veggies
when your bean/rice blend is done mix it with the veggies and season to taste
serve with grated cheese, sour cream, fresh cilantro, salsa, grilled meat, chips, tortillas, avacado...serve it as a main dish, a side dish... whatever the heck you want.
revel in your magnificence
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