Again with the bags - and more morons

The ¨'we are earth-friendly therefore we do not supply bags' attitude is catching on fast in the corporate world.

Our grocery stores used to give us a big 0.05 cents off for every bag we brought in. Of course now that so many people bring their own bags, they stop giving it. It was a good policy when only 1 out of every 100 person did it.

And you know what excuse the moron at the cash tell me for this new policy? Not that it was getting too expensive and since people were doing it why not save the money. Oh No!

The cashier says: 'We are doing this to be green and encourage people to buy a reusable bag.'

Me: 'OK so let me get this straight. You remove an incentive to bring our own bag and this will convince us to buy a bag'

Cashier: 'That's right'

Me: 'Gosh - so give me 3 plastic bags I am not using mine'

Cashier: 'You can't do that'

Me: 'Why not?' (OK so I like making fun of people sometimes)

Cashier : 'heinh, well, hum,...'

Me thinking: Lordy lordy where do they find those people? 'Never mind just trying to prove a point'

Dear IGA: Do you think we really are as stupid as your employees?

oxymorons and other morons

Oxymoron:

People keep saying that «thin is in» yet 1 out of 5 people are obese.

There are entire channels devoted to cooking yet the prepackaged food industry is worth billions. Have a look at what people are eating in an office cafeteria. Most eat out of little plastic bowls coming out of little carboard boxes. And we used to make fun of TV dinners...

We are obsessed with diets yet most of us eat at least 3 times a week at the restaurant.

We eat Japanese, Thai, Indian, Middle Eastern and all kinds of food from around the world but I am told 50% of people under 30 never baked a pie from scratch never mind cut up a chicken.

We are obsessed with fitness and buy 300$ running shoes yet we have never watched more TV (including sitting in front of a computer screen)

We buy $1000 flat screen TV's, have cinema rooms in our house, buy 2000$ german washing machines and yet we complain that the cost of living is going up.



And now to morons:

Again on the radio a reporter claimed that obesity is a self imposed illness so we should not be treated by our famous healthcare system.

So is anorexia, suicide attempts and smoke related illnesses, tennis elbow, sports injury. Should we stop treating them also?

Goodnight,

May your grandchildren visit Italy one day.

greetings

And may your week-ends be filled with your grandkids

jo.

food and health oxymorons and morons

So in a world obsessed with being thin and the skinnier the better --- why is there so much obesity?

So in a world where we have TV channels devoted to food preparation why do so few people know how to cook from scratch?

In a world obsessed with health why do so many people still smoke? Take drugs?

We have universal healthcare - not free healthcare as we pay though our noses in taxes - but universal as in for everyone. If you have private insurance you might get a test 6 months before others who don't but eventually everyone gets treated - if you don't die first as it is known to happen once in a while.

So here is my story for the day: I am in the hospital getting a pre-operation check-up. The cardiologist takes my blood pressure.
- "Wait here a minute" he says. "Your blood pressure is over 180"
-"That strange" I answer. “I have low blood pressure normally".
-"Well it's very high. I'll have the nurse may a few appointments for you and I won't give the go for your surgery until I have all the results" he adds. "Your blood pressure is dangerously high so we have to get your tests done and fix the problem ASAP"

So the nurse calls here and there "I have your tests scheduled for this week and next" she says. "Except the MAPA, that one you have to go to another hospital as we do not have the machine here. The appointment is for May 5th "

Now we are February 19th … To me May 5th that looks pretty far away for and "urgent" test. (whatever a MAPA is) Being who I am I tell her so.

- " I thought it was urgent. May 5th looks pretty far to me" I tell her "and I don't understand the blood pressure results. What were my results in January " I ask?

- "115 " she says

- 'what were they went you first took them this morning" I continue. "I don't remember you looking worried"

So she checks my file and surprise it was 11o. (I always forget the over what) She tells the doctor and they take my pressure again. This time with another machine....

-" 116 over something" the nurse says. "I guess we need to check the machine in the office..."

- "No wonder all my patients had high blood pressure today" the genius cardiologist answers. "I guess I will correct the patient's chart and allow the surgery..."

REALLY? YOU THINK??

And in a nutshell that's Universal Healthcare for you...

of birhday cakes

As I eat my forbidden desert I am quite happy.

Strangers where very impressed with the birthday cake I prepared for my friend's 50th birthday. - OK not strangers but not family either.

To tell the truth I almost did not go. Sometimes we get comfortable in our little day to day activities and we just find excuses not to do things. - OK in my case I gave the whole surprise party away so I was embarrassed to go. But no one even mentioned it.

I have the best friends in the world; I might as well enjoy them.

So remember to get out of your comfort zone once in a while. It won't always turn out right but most of the time you will come out feeling good about it.

- May you have the pleasure of taking trips alone with your grandkids

11:11 pm and I am making granola

11:11 pm and I am making granola and oatmeal bars.

Wonder why I have a little extra weight? LOL

My husband thinks I am the only one in the world who makes these. Don't let him on the secret and maybe someday I'll tell you how I make my cakes.

May your granddaughter be the pride of your life,

Ciao and good night,
Joanne

Homemade granola
.
I mix some of everything I find. Cook it until it's crunchy. I eat it with or without milk, over yogurt or ice cream.

Yield: a lot.

I often bake it in 2 shots. Just prepare half the liquid mixture and store 1/2 of the oat mixture away in a huge plastic container

Ingredients:
8 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (a mix and match your leftovers will work also)
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup wheat or oat germ
1 cup shredded coconut (your choice sweetened or not)
1 cup pine nuts (or sunflower seed or esame seed or any other seed like nut you like)
2 cup nuts (sliced almonds, or pecans or walnuts or peanuts or a mixture)


3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup honey (maple syrup work well too - just boil 1 minute)
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Grease 2 large cookie sheets with vegetable spray. The ones with sides work best - Jelly roll pans???Or only one if you are not feeding a family of 18,

Mix your dry ingredients in the biggest bowl you have. Mine is about 14 inches diameter.


Mix together the oil and honey in a small saucepan until just bubbly.

Pour the liquids over the oat mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until all the oats and nuts are coated.

Bake, stirring occasionally with a spatula, until the mixture turns golden brown, 30 to 45 minutes.

Remove the granola from the oven and allow to cool,

Keep in an airtight container. They should be gone in a week.

another hot and cold night

So I did not sleep too well again.
One minute I am sweating bullets the next I am freezing.
Since this make me kind of miserable I would like to share this week's

Most Miserable Survey/Research Award

These days every news item is backed by a 'new research has found' or 'recent surveys show' statement. How many millions were spent on research that everyone with an ounce of brain already knows the answer to. Here are a few I heard this week on the radio.

1. 'Obesity surgery reduces Type 2 diabetes.' Da... Correct me if I am stupid but I thought most Type 2 diabetes starts with bad eating habits and can be much improved with good eating habits. And since obesity surgery primarily stops you from eating then to me the results are obvious
2. 'Research shows that the taser guns are safe' Well maybe if they did their tests on excited and mentally ill or drugged people whose heart was already pounding at 100 miles an hour the results would not be so good... These are the people the cops use the guns on not the calm and relaxed people getting paid for tests.
3. There was a third one but I forgot it so I'll make up my own: People who don't sleep well have trouble remembering things...

Ciao and good night

May your grandson's team win.. .

;-)
Joanne