When Pigs Fly..or at least their Livers

Pigs and their kin have been worshiped, despised, and otherwise referred to throughout human history. Some societies have set them upon a high and decorated pedistol, while others preferred to hurl them deep within the bowels of the earth to keep their master company.

The Jews regarded them as unclean and were forbidden to eath them. The Celts had a god of swine dubbed Moccus, who in Roman mytholigy was entitled Mercury. In Germany, they were known as good luck charms. In England, they were said to be the bringers of bad luck.

Odysseus' crew was turned into pigs in The Oddesy. Soviet leaders are represented as pigs in Animail Farm. Pigs were used as symbols of the dark side of human nature in Saw and it's following sequels.

"When Pigs Fly"
"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig."
"Sweating like a pig"
"In a pig's eye."
Economical sausage-makers were said to use "everything but the squeal."

Presently, many people make their living from pigs. Pigs are kept as pets, sold for meat, and taken to the fair. And you may be asking yourself about now: Why this random dialogue on pigs? The answer, my friends, is that I picked up fresh pig livers from the butcher yesterday for my mom to make liversausage. The butcher cut them out of the pig, put them in a bag and then we took them to the house to soak in our sink for several hours. I do not envy the nose that must smell that stench.

Return of the Writer

Eight months. That's a long time to be away from a blog. And now, sitting here watching Shark Week on Discovery Channel, I am suddenly inspired to pick up my 'long-lost' hobby and grace you all with my presence once more, feeling somewhat compunctious for my abandonment.

And so with that - my friends - I have returned, with dozens of new stories to share with you - new experiances to bring to the table - a brand new layout, just for the heck of it - and perhaps, new photos to bestow.

Thanks, Shark....

Examining The Serious Side

Having Celiac's Disease is tough. Having a combination of Celiac's Disease and Lactose Intollerance is even tougher. I sit in this coffee shop, smelling the beautiful aromas of hazelnut lattes and almond mochas. People walk by me carying plates stacked with scones and turnovers. Flakey, buttery crust sizzling from just having spent twenty minutes in the oven. The scent of fresh blueberry muffins reaches my nose and I can almost remember the taste. Almost.

Let's take a break and define this widely unknown disease. According to a source far more eloquent than I am:

"Celiac disease is an autoimmune digestive disease that damages the villi of the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food. What does this mean?
Celiac disease is triggered by consumption of the protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye.

When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the fingerlike villi of the small intestine. When the villi become damaged, the body is unable to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream, which can lead to malnourishment. "

There was a time in my life, only a year ago, when I could have indulged in whatever my heart desired. A sundried tomato scone and a hazelnut milkyway would have been a regular treat for me as I worked on homework here at one of my favorite haunts. Now, however, it would throw me into intense pain for several days - occasionally even up to a week - after the initial indulgence.

I ate a piece of pizza last night. It was the first in months. I nearly did not go to class this morning because of the pain. Was it worth it? Not really.

There are worse things in this world to live with. I keep reminding myself of that. A dear friend of mine is going in for heart surgery, one of several, this month. She is 22 years old and has had health problems all of her life. Another friend of mine had a brain tumor. My disease limits the foods I can enjoy, but is not terminal. I enjoy a wonderful life in spite of having to avoid many foods.

And now it is time to take another Alka-Seltzer and count my blessings instead of crying over those things I don't have.

Cheers!

Velcro

Today is a velcro day.

Velcro...as in "everything sticks to me today."

I walk by the kitchen island, and I get stapped in the leg by the corner. That will leave a bruise. I walk by a pile of papers on the end table, and I knock all of them over. Now I have to clean that up. I reach over the desk to pick up a piece of paper and knock over my coffee, spilling it onto my new jeans. Now I can't wear them tomorrow.

Today is a velcro day.

Taking the Plunge

Blogging.

When I think of blogging, I think of a fourty year old man in his parents' basement, pretending he has a life. Orange Cheeto stains cover his shirt and his keyboard. He thinks that the life he's created for himself is real - he forgets that he is a pathetic, overweight man still mooching off of his parents' income.

Maybe I'm wrong.

I've decided to take the plunge, though. Maybe blogging isn't just for the deadbeat in his parents' basement. Maybe it's for people like me, people struggling to get their foot in the writing industry.

So here it goes.
Hope you enjoy.