Zero at the Bone

"Organic" produce has frankly always been a pretty fuzzy concept to me. I mean, it sounds good, and I am all about supporting the local farmers and all of that (as the eight pounds of butternut squash left over from the CSA on my counter confirm). So I happily shop at my local organic markets.

Last night I learned a lesson about what no herbicide really means. I was putting together a salad and pulled a bunch of organic cilantro from the fridge. I wasn't really paying attention as I ripped off a hunk to rise and chop. Suddenly I felt this sharp pain in my grabbin' hand. I looked down at the bunch I'd pulled off and saw this.

Weed

What is that thing? A stinging nettle? Sorry to say that we didn't cover noxious weeds in the Horticulture class I took as a science credit in college. My hand got red and numb, and today my whole arm is sore. Thanks a lot, Earth.

In other news, Daisy went to the vet last week. What was remarkable about that visit was not her weight (stunning) or the progress of her rapidly multiplying old lady warts. Most amazing was how she stared down a big pitbull named Chopper from her perch on my lap. Chopper's owner said, "she's scary." 

Happy 10th birthday, Daisy!

I signed up for Vox so that I could comment on such far-flung topics as pug emissions, deadly furniture, and underpants, I guess? But as often happens, one tires of being Statler and/or Waldorf and needs to actually contribute to the conversation.

So what is this lil’ section of the tubes going to be about? I am tossing around a couple of ideas. Possibly the domestication of two fairly feral creatures (interesting only to us, I know, but if you tried what I made for dinner last night you would totally be on board). Maybe what I am making or what I am reading, but there are people in the Voxosphere doing that much better than I could. Certainly not music, I know when I am outclassed. Politics? Do not want. So we shall see.

Oh, one more thing. I was home in the cornbelt this weekend, and while the trip was overall tense and kind of weird, one good thing is that my mom got one of these. I have never volunteered for so many runs to the Co-op in my life. Just unbelievably fun to drive.