My Big Fat Orange Cat

I’ve been trying to think of ways to add more vegetables to my diet. I can eat them, but my husband, like so many isn’t really into them.  I’m tired of feeling like I have to come up with two separate diets or eat them on the sly, as if vegetables are wrong to be eaten.   He needs to stay healthy as well!

So last week I made lasagna.  I didn’t use meat. I used spinach and zucchini.  He wasn’t thrilled with the zucchini slices, but I’m thinking grated zucchini might not even be noticed.   And over all he enjoyed the meal. Today I did something similar with enchiladas.  I used rice and beans for the filling but I grated zucchini into the beans.   Additionally I made my own pico de gallo, given that the tomatos are growing beautifully this fall.

I love grated zucchini. I can be added to almost anything and it just makes things so moist.  A few years ago when one of my zucchinis got a bit overgrown because I didn’t notice that there was a hidden squash, I figured I’d just grate it up in everything. I added it to potato salad and about anything else I could think of.  Most things were just moister and probably had a bit more fiber and nutrition!

It’s vegetarian so will be healthful (and has only a little cheese).  Also it has a couple of servings of vegetables that he can get without really knowing it.  I did purchase one of those heat and eat trays from Safeway with broccoli and cheese and rice.  That was lunch and it was good.

I can always hope that by doing this I’ll loose a bit of the extra weight I’ve gained too!

I was forced to watch the debates last night. My husband is a big fan of seeing things as they are and not the commentary. I’m far more addicted to commentary. Besides, I know that I will just get mad at John McCain.

One thing I noticed was something that frustrated my husband. Obama kept pointing out places where McCain was correct or where he made a good point.   He always stated that this point is right and then went on to say where he differed.   I think that was a valuable thing.

McCain, it was noticed by almost everyone, didn’t even look at Obama.  He said Obama “doesn’t understand” or “is naive” in spite of logical comebacks and very thorough responses to every question.  McCain scowled and hunched and looked mean.

It makes me wonder in the long run, will people vote for the guy who seems to focus on our greatest strengths as human beings, compassion, unity, equanimity, and understanding or for the guy who seems to focus on our basest impulses–aggression, derision, and scorn.  Who do we admire?  Who do we want as a leader?

I can only hope that it’s the former.  We’ve had enough hatred and need more compassion.

Sometimes veterinary medicine makes me feel older than anything else. I feel like some old lady always screeching about “I remember when…” rather than living in the now.  All I need is a cane.

For instance, I remember when Amoxicillan, you know, the pink stuff that you keep in the fridge when your cat gets sick, cost $6.00 plus tax.  Yes really. Now it’s $20 something.  It’s the same stuff.   There’s no research into this.  It’s not a new antibiotic that’s oh so much more effective. No it’s Amoxi.  And it’s expensive.  Whatever happened?

I understand that costs can be outside the veterinarians ability to change. I mean if the pharmaceutical companies are charging you so much, you have to pass that on.  I get that.  But what happened? How did medical costs suddenly go up so much?

I take out my cane, “I remember when it cost $18 for an examination at the veterinarian…” my voice shakes.

Now it’s closer to $50 for a basic exam.

No wonder there are pet insurers out there. Of course if you’ve missed the boat and your pet has a pre-exisiting condition, they are worse off than you are with one!  Well, maybe not. I mean at least the vet insurance just says they won’t cover you for it–end of line.  No other double talk.

Still…

I have to wonder about some of those low income people who adore there pets.  How do they take care of them, even minimally?  I am saddened to think of that because after all pets can help us live longer, healthier lives.   They make us happy.   Not being able to care for them has to be one of the most powerless feelings in the world.

My husband insisted upon watching the Republican National Convention. I saw much of Sarah Palin’s speech.  So much of what she said was blatantly untrue.

For instance, Palin says that Obama will raise taxes on individuals. In fact, Obama will lower taxes if you make less than $250,000.  Yes he will raise taxes on interest income and dividend income. He will also raise taxes if you are wealthy.  I do not hear the mainstream media saying anything about the blatancy of such lies.  We can never know what a politician will actually do, but Obama is on record about his tax breaks.

Palin claims, “I told the Congress “thanks, but no thanks,” for that Bridge to Nowhere.”  However before that Palin had been FOR the Bridge to Nowhere.  She had in fact been for it for more time than she was against it.

Palin claims that Obama has never written any legislative reform. Apparently she missed the work he did on improving Walter Reed, and Senate Bill 2349 in which he and Russ Feingold for ethics reform.   In the Illinois Senate  Obama was chief sponsor of bill creating the Health Care Justice Act.  At his fact check site, you’ll find a list of legislation that Obama has either personally written or sponsored or worked closely on getting passed.

Palin says “Victory in Iraq is finally in sight… He wants to forfeit.”

In fact, it’s tough to win an occupation.  In fact, even George Bush has already declared victory in Iraq so I don’t know how Obama can be forfeiting something we clearly have already won.

Palin says, “Al-Qeida terrorists still plot to inflict catastrophic harm to America… He’s worried that someone won’t read them their rights.”

Strictly speaking, perhaps this is truthful. What she doesn’t say is that to believe otherwise is to operate outside the current laws of the land. As a potential Vice President, Palin should legally hold no other stance as the job of the Vice President and President is to uphold the current laws.

Why is no one talking about this?  Why does no one care that the rhetoric of the Republicans is no longer just spin but outright lies?  Why doesn’t the media cover this?

Sadly, the media is now corporate owned.

In high school I stood up and was passionate about a Free Press.  If Corporations own the press, it is no longer free. It is held hostage to money making.   In that situation, you see our country falling apart, our constitution being eroded and you see people who think they are standing by freedom giving free reign to those would take away even more rights.  These people do this because they don’t know.  The press isn’t doing it’s job.