Can you say ramen?
06 May 2011 Leave a Comment
in Food and drink, My life Tags: childhood, family, food
There are many words I have mispronounced. But there’s only one that continues to crack me up.
Growing up my mother mispronounced ramen noodles. It was my go-to meal as a child. And for the longest time I never really paid my attention to the package. As long as it was orange and said chicken I could care less about the rest.
Most nights my mother would ask me what I was in the mood to have for dinner. I would drift into my thoughts and she would suggest Romanian noodles. Yes, of course that’s what I was about to say.
Years go by and my friends would say “ray-men” noodles or “raw-men” noodles. To me it was like poe-tay-toe, pa-tah-toe. Whatever, right?
Then I had eureka moment. The label has five letters, r-a-m-e-n. Where on Earth did I get a four-syllable word such as Romanian? … Mom.
She is notorious for butchering and filling in words. I love catching them too.
My mom definitely taught me to never take life too seriously and as well as many other things.
She taught me how to two step, but I’m out of practice. And according to some, I try to lead. Guess that’s a trait I gained from my mother.
She taught me to think of others before myself. Her selflessness provided me with more than enough when times were hard and bills pass due.
Thank you Mom, I love you.
Other mothers in my life, such as my Nanny and Gramma, have helped me appreciate conversation with people I love, what patience can bring, how to forgive and much more.
Thank you so much ladies, Happy Mother’s Day.
For those fathers in my life, here’s a Happy Father’s Day, thank you as well. And for the late Raymond E. “Butch” Robbins, Jr., I miss you greatly.
Food for thought
22 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Food and drink, Garden, My life Tags: earth day, green, greenhouse, mint, mojito, restaurant, sustainable
A few weeks ago, a thought came to mind when I was waiting at Applebee’s for three hours for my car to be serviced new brake pads and rotors at the Hibdon Tires Plus across the street on Air Depot in Midwest City.
I ordered a Mojito and was told they were out of mint and they are waiting for the shipment today. I said, no problem. I would have it without.
As time passed I heard a conversation between the bartender and the shift manager about the mint situation. When they order mint they only use three-fourths of it before it goes bad. Then, that thought came to mind.
Well if you grew your own mint you wouldn’t have these problems.
While I enjoyed my mint-less Mojito and read the book that was lent to me, I couldn’t help but concentrate on this self-sustaining restaurant idea.
What if restaurants had greenhouses in the back that supplied their never-ending need of produce?
It reminds me of when I had a vegetable garden and had more tomatoes and cucumbers than I knew what to do with.
Today is the 40th year of celebrating Earth Day and for some reason there isn’t enough being done to solve the un-sustaining problem America has developed.
I tried to find examples of restaurants sustaining their own vegetables online and nothing like what I was thinking came up. The meaning of a sustainable restaurant isn’t bad, but I want to imagine a step further — or should I say closer.
Let’s get real. What strides in green living have we taken that are really just baby steps? I know Oklahoma is slacking in green dining. I went to a website and Oklahoma wasn’t listed. I did some more digging online and one restaurant appears frequently, 105degrees 5820 North Classen Boulevard, Suite 1 Oklahoma City, Okla. Come on Oklahoma let’s pick up the pace.
I admit my carbon footprint isn’t something to hold as a standard, but I try. I don’t litter, pick up others’ trash, recycle paper and cardboard, reuse plastic bags and recycle the others, own — and frequently use — a non-disposable cup for tea and coffee and never buy bottled water because I carry a Klean Kanteen everywhere I go.
My Klean Kanteen is a brushed stainless steel Classic with a loop cap. I would really like to order a sport cap for easy drinking while running.
I took the quiz at www.earthday.org. It wasn’t pretty, but I blame my commute.
When I once lived in the same town I worked I rode my bike everywhere, even in the rain!
I suggest we all take a look at the way we live our lives.
Do you throw trash out your car window? Why can’t you wait until you find a trashcan?
Do you buy packaged, pre-cut fruits and vegetables? Why can’t you buy fresh without packaging and cut them yourself?
There are so many ways to change your lifestyle for the sake of a better tomorrow. I urge everyone to learn more and teach their children.
