Thursday, December 01, 2011
You should've said Tauntaun
Everyone has a theory about how people are all separated by one thing and I have my own. I proffer it to you now.
The world is separated by people who love Star Wars and people who don't. Yes it pains me to say that there are people in this world who have never seen or hate Star Wars.
If you aren't sure about that guy/girl in your life,ask them how they feel about Star Wars. Ask follow up questions. For ex: Who lives on Dagobah? People who hate Star Wars often hide the fact that they hate it because they know that they are vastly outnumbered and that we Star Wars lovers will choose to not mate with them in the hopes of killing off their kind! Okay, that's a bit harsh but I think it perfectly explains my point.
Two weeks ago I was found myself in a unique situation. I was outnumbered by Star Wars haters! I was sitting at my local sports bar watching some game when a couple who approached the bar and landed next to me. The woman was leaning into the man and he had his arm around her and said in a sympathetic voice "you need your Tom time". What I heard was "You need your Tauntaun". Now I know that I should've said nothing since I don't know these people but I couldn't let an AWESOME saying like that just go by without being appreciated.
I turn away from my game and tell him that I think that's an excellent use of Tauntaun and they both look at me like I'm some scruffy looking nerf herder! They explain what he actually said and I apologize. There is a beat of awkward silence and then the question "What is a Tauntaun?" My response is very basic "I was referring to Star Wars". Now I understand, there are plenty of people who have seen Star Wars and enjoy it but don't necessarily know the name of a Tauntaun so when they commented not remembering that from Star Wars, I just explained that it was from Empire Strikes Back. More blank stares.
I then say the animal on the cold planet. That's as basic as you can get. They then go oh....look at each other shrug and give me two looks. From the girl, I get the pity stare. You know the one, the one that your mom gives when you're still single in your 30s. The guy looks at me like he's having trouble focusing. I think that I blew his mind by simply liking sports AND Star Wars. I don't think they've ever intersected in his mind as being interests that one person could have.
Very shortly after that they scampered out.
Star Wars is the great divide. And he should've said Tauntaun.
The world is separated by people who love Star Wars and people who don't. Yes it pains me to say that there are people in this world who have never seen or hate Star Wars.
If you aren't sure about that guy/girl in your life,ask them how they feel about Star Wars. Ask follow up questions. For ex: Who lives on Dagobah? People who hate Star Wars often hide the fact that they hate it because they know that they are vastly outnumbered and that we Star Wars lovers will choose to not mate with them in the hopes of killing off their kind! Okay, that's a bit harsh but I think it perfectly explains my point.
Two weeks ago I was found myself in a unique situation. I was outnumbered by Star Wars haters! I was sitting at my local sports bar watching some game when a couple who approached the bar and landed next to me. The woman was leaning into the man and he had his arm around her and said in a sympathetic voice "you need your Tom time". What I heard was "You need your Tauntaun". Now I know that I should've said nothing since I don't know these people but I couldn't let an AWESOME saying like that just go by without being appreciated.
I turn away from my game and tell him that I think that's an excellent use of Tauntaun and they both look at me like I'm some scruffy looking nerf herder! They explain what he actually said and I apologize. There is a beat of awkward silence and then the question "What is a Tauntaun?" My response is very basic "I was referring to Star Wars". Now I understand, there are plenty of people who have seen Star Wars and enjoy it but don't necessarily know the name of a Tauntaun so when they commented not remembering that from Star Wars, I just explained that it was from Empire Strikes Back. More blank stares. I then say the animal on the cold planet. That's as basic as you can get. They then go oh....look at each other shrug and give me two looks. From the girl, I get the pity stare. You know the one, the one that your mom gives when you're still single in your 30s. The guy looks at me like he's having trouble focusing. I think that I blew his mind by simply liking sports AND Star Wars. I don't think they've ever intersected in his mind as being interests that one person could have.
Very shortly after that they scampered out.
Star Wars is the great divide. And he should've said Tauntaun.
Labels: Dagobah, nerf herder, Star Wars, tauntaun
Carnivore's Burden....
Thanksgiving is over and we are careening toward Christmas at breakneck speed. Now that the season of overindulgence in all things is officially upon us and accepted as the best way to celebrate, I find myself looking over various recipes and discussing different ways to jazz up the standard foods. Long gone are the days when I would write letters to Santa for toys, beg family members shamelessly for money to purchase clothes that only a teenager could love, or make travel plans to some new exotic location that young adults and pre-grandchildren empty nesters are fond of taking during the "free" time off work to squeeze in an extra vacation. I am turning into a bit of a foodie.
Mind you, I am not CHOOSING to turn into one. It simply happens when one lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and begin to show an interest in food/cooking. If you don't gain a base level of understanding, you can't even have a conversation without knowing some basic buzzwords and have some formulated opinions about cuisine and food movements (TIP: keep your mouth shut about wine until you've at least attended one sommelier led class, just trust me on this). For the record my official stance is that local is always a better and more sustainable way to eat. I go to farmer's markets and small local grocery stores at least twice a month in my slow conversion to walking the talk.
Meat however is a different topic. I love meat. No I mean it, I LOVE MEAT. It is not unreasonable to assume that I could come home to an intervention based on my love of meat.
While I believe that free range and grass fed are best, I simply cannot afford this diet on my non-profit salary. Thus the carnivore's burden. I believe that many people face the same problem and it has become the dirty little secret where we purchase most of our meat from large grocery stores that get their meats from factories while turning a blind eye to if there is any humanity for the animals who line our tummies. Of course we throw in some easy organic fixes like sausage or chicken but beef? BEEF? As long as it's USDA approved, we have a winner. The burden was most recently re-introduced when I came across this picture.
Now I know that I should be disgusted that a very large turkey that has clearly been given steroids to feed our overindulgent selves this holiday season has been wrapped with bacon but the love of meat have overridden that thought and all I can say is DELICOUSNESS!!!
So, I am opening the floor to people who may have tips to share on where one can purchase meats that are a step above just USDA approved. Of course, I am also opening the floor to anyone who is brave enough to admit if you have eaten something similar to this before as I am planning to make this for a Christmas Eve dinner party. If I have to carry the carnivore's burden, I may as well eat the yummy foods for strength :-)
Mind you, I am not CHOOSING to turn into one. It simply happens when one lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and begin to show an interest in food/cooking. If you don't gain a base level of understanding, you can't even have a conversation without knowing some basic buzzwords and have some formulated opinions about cuisine and food movements (TIP: keep your mouth shut about wine until you've at least attended one sommelier led class, just trust me on this). For the record my official stance is that local is always a better and more sustainable way to eat. I go to farmer's markets and small local grocery stores at least twice a month in my slow conversion to walking the talk.
Meat however is a different topic. I love meat. No I mean it, I LOVE MEAT. It is not unreasonable to assume that I could come home to an intervention based on my love of meat.
While I believe that free range and grass fed are best, I simply cannot afford this diet on my non-profit salary. Thus the carnivore's burden. I believe that many people face the same problem and it has become the dirty little secret where we purchase most of our meat from large grocery stores that get their meats from factories while turning a blind eye to if there is any humanity for the animals who line our tummies. Of course we throw in some easy organic fixes like sausage or chicken but beef? BEEF? As long as it's USDA approved, we have a winner. The burden was most recently re-introduced when I came across this picture. Now I know that I should be disgusted that a very large turkey that has clearly been given steroids to feed our overindulgent selves this holiday season has been wrapped with bacon but the love of meat have overridden that thought and all I can say is DELICOUSNESS!!!
So, I am opening the floor to people who may have tips to share on where one can purchase meats that are a step above just USDA approved. Of course, I am also opening the floor to anyone who is brave enough to admit if you have eaten something similar to this before as I am planning to make this for a Christmas Eve dinner party. If I have to carry the carnivore's burden, I may as well eat the yummy foods for strength :-)
Labels: beef, carnivore, Christmas, foodie, holidays, Thanksgiving, turkey
