High Mileage Food or Hi, Mileage Food?

So, my pretties, you thought you had escaped the summer without hearing from me. Well, you can relax just like I did while flying recently.  Yes, yes, yes, you can thank me for keeping all those planes up in the sky. I am the one who takes the lead and employs the proper technique to ensure they stay aloft because there is no other way those big things arrive a mile high and propel themselves forward. It is a miracle.

Jimmy Morrison, of The Doors fame and a former resident of my community, used to sing that "You cannot petition the Lord with prayer." What a fool. He never did understand that three Hail Marys, three Our Fathers, and three "Glory Be's" are the absolute guaranty underscoring safety when flying. It isn't all that simple. Add to that the added spin of closing my eyes and resting my head back during take off and landing, and you have most of the magic. Feel free to help me and the airline industry by employing these steps when you fly. I'm keeping track and so far, it is working. Come to think of it, although I am not sure if this method can shift industries, but I just might see if I can apply it to deep ocean oil well caps. I'll keep you posted.

A few of you probably may think that protocol flirts with marginal behavior. I say to you that you have joined the ranks of Mr. Morrison.
People displaying hard-core aberrant actions abound and your thoughts need to be directed toward them. For this, I am just the person to help you.

Twisted Behavior Example 1: Last week, a 19 year old, Michael Jackson (no relative to the gloved one), somehow obtained (stole) a Metro Bus driver's uniform, hi-jacked a bus and wrecked it after collecting passengers. What should have indicated a red-flag to bus officials and consumers was that he reported on-time to the bus garage and drove the route courteously. More normal actions included him crashing the bus into a tree, inspecting the damage, and running into the sunset.

Example 2: Back in the day, Brian Highland had the slow-dance hit High on The Hill (song title and article on this topic)
He was early in a pronouncement of other actions here in DC. Now, my posse, who the hell would subject themselves to a high security search in order to enter "Our Nation's Capitol" seat of Government AND TAKE THEIR STASH OF DOPE WITH THEM? Yup, there is an entire list of folks who say, Please Bust ME! while entering the U.S. Capitol Building. Here is a helpful hint from Heloise: "Blowing smoke" is merely an expression referring to our Federal leaders and not a functional address. Yikes.

Example 3: Drilling deep water off-shore wells without a clue as to how to cap it. Happy Tar Balls, BP. Nuff said.  Oh, wait, can I add in LeBron James and Roman Polansky here without giving them the dignity of their own example number?

 One of the books I am reading is Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. It is by Barbara Kingsolver at her non-fictional best.

In this book, she weaves her family's tale of how they abandoned their Arizona life of siphoned water sources and trucked in food stores in favor of a smaller carbon foot print in rural Virginia on a farm inherited from family. It begs many questions and makes a reader wonder how the hell America has managed to arrive in the situation we are in with regard to food.

The oil crisis is magnified by the incredible amount of oil, required to truck food around the country. There are many sources for food far more localized than cross-country or another continent. Have a farmer's market nearby? Then there is a great place to buy what is probably fresher and healthier food than the genetically modified stuff (technical term) available at major grocery stores. Participating in a "CSA" or a community supported agriculture program is another path to travel. Here, for a modest money contribution, a nearby farmer will ensure delivery of his produce, eggs, and additional "farmerish" products to you on a weekly basis. Of course, as my friend, and occasional relative, Jazzy-Jenn says that she has "read Animal, Vegetable, Mineral. It is a good book. That life style does require becoming good friends with your kitchen."  Perhaps that is the location of the rub for yours truly. Although I am a good (not great, just good) cook, I neglect that skill whenever possible.

Even though I love having tangerines in June, there was something to say for them being a substantial treat in the cold weather months.  When I was a wee tiny Scoop, they would actually appear in my Christmas morning stocking treasure inventory along with walnuts. I loved it. Seasonal food was, well, to turn a phrase, SEASONAL FOOD. That used to mean that certain things were only available during selected times of the year. They also tasted better because artificial scientific parlor tricks weren't being enforced to produce or store them. The raw flavor came through rather than the diluted variety associated with forced growth and production.  How do you structure a policy of delayed sexual activity with youth when we can't live without blueberries all year? It is all about more immediate gratification now with regard to everything. Food is just emblematic.

Can we return to a base of fewer chemicals on our plates and more nutrition and increased taste at the cost of having seasonal, local selections? You be the judge. Just go to your local web browser and do a Boolean search with the terms:  community sponsored agriculture AND (enter your geographic location here). One of my results was Graceland Farms in Midland, VA . They support Northern Virginia delivery. There are many others. As a matter of fact, I bet if Jazzy-Jenn reads this, she'll email me the link of the one she uses.


Meanwhile, it is time for this gal to prepare for the rest of my day. WARNING: Later this week I will be traveling. Oddly enough, BREEZEWOOD, PA will NOT benefit from my carbon footprint abuse this time. No, no, no. Nashville is the destination of choice. It is the home of loved ones AND country music. I am hoping to get my fill of both and maybe some Tennessee produce.

Permit me to leave you with a "puzzlement" for reflection: What is the difference between a GEEK and a NERD?  Many find them interchangeable terms and I say a resounding NO! They have definite differences in their application.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Stay cool, my friends. I wish you the best in your attempts to obtain and maintain air-conditioning. I'm in good straights, but financially impoverished from ensuring my home's internal temperature. It is a preferred status, believe me. Meanwhile, I'll be praying the Sorrowful Mysteries as I hit Interstate-81 South and wish you the best in safety as you traverse that ribbon o'highway in your search for Nirvana this summer. Stop at a roadside veggie stand and ask the people where they obtained their produce. Ask if those peaches, tomatoes, eggplants, and squash have high-mileage or not. Think local as you hit the road.  J'reviens and Happy Bastille Day and Morgan Brannigan's Birthday. Miss you, Dad. Hope you are having that Banana Cream Pie with Kathy.

Anonymous commented with the following:
        Great Country Farms, Bluemont VA (above Leesburg) does a coop program where you subscribe and they deliver out of their own fields. Also, nice field trip out to them (through Middleburg Wine Country) to pick your own on a hay ride...

        That said, just know some "roadside stands" are going down to the terminal in the a.m. and picking up trucked in produce... know your "farmer!"
       As for keeping planes in the air, my personal approach is to pray for "safe, scheduled landings" on the premise that it's the unscheduled, sudden stops that are the problem. (This all purpose approach covers the take off and landing in one convenient, all-purpose package!

------------------Lady Em from the Greek Islands writes:

Even this German can be creative!

Love you and as always inspired by you.  You are AMAZING!!  

Em

----------------------And this from "Tuck Everlasting"

Loved this one as much as the others and it is true that the rosary is one of my most treasured items that I carry in my purse everyday.  It belonged to my mother and now I carry it and say it as well.

 

Loved your comments about road side stands.  Whenever Tom and I would go for rides we would stop at a stand and get whatever he felt we needed (since he was the cook for an while anyway) and we would enjoy and apple etc. going down the road.  Your ideas are great and I wish more people would listen and do just some of the things you have suggested.

 

Thanks for keeping me in your very special group of friends as you will always be in mine.

Love,

Tuck