Random bits of non-pork

[hummingwolf]

Sometimes it isn't the things scumbags do when they're being scumbags that bother me as much as the things some men do when they think they're being nice'n'friendly. When people are busy trying to diminish the worth of someone else and think not just that it's right but that it's kind and don't know why anyone would object... this disturbs me. Of course, the fact that the guy who prompted this bit o'babble was already thoroughly inebriated before noon probably had some effect on his social skills.

And then I get online later and see what the scumbags are doing when they know they're being scumbags and I wonder why I ever joined this human species in the first place.

And then I look at my friends and think it might be worth it after all.

In other news, today the "Specialty Meats" section of the grocery store was filled, not just with pork ears, but with pork tails, pork feet, and pork stomachs. One lonely package of ox tails whimpered in the corner of the refrigerator case, wondering what it had done to deserve being trapped in the country of random pork parts. I'm guessing there must be some weird New Year's tradition involving these assorted pig pieces, but I'm not convinced I ever need to know.

Speaking of New Year's traditions--if the custom of eating collard greens on New Year's began because green leafy vegetables bear some resemblance to dollar bills and therefore should by sympathetic magic bring prosperity in the new year, what will become traditional once all our currency has become multicolored? Will people fight over those fancy assortments of red and purple lettuces instead?

For the curious: My New Year's meal will include green leafies in the form of mustard greens & a little bit of kale (today's kale selection was looking a little worn around the edges--otherwise the ratios would be reversed), black-eyed peas, brown rice, and kielbasa. Also blue corn tortilla chips & way too much guacamole & hummus. Mmm... hummus.

I considered going into DC to see if any good celebrations were going on tonight, but it's just not as much fun if I don't have an almanac to carry around with me. I think somebody should organize a National Almanac-Carrying Day. Wouldn't that be fun? (If you for some reason haven't yet read about the almanac thing, the short version is this: "The FBI is warning police across the U.S. to be alert for people carrying almanacs, cautioning that the popular reference books covering everything from abbreviations to weather trends could be used for terrorist planning." I really, really want an almanac now.)

There was more I wanted to say, but I think I'll go eat some more hummus instead. Mmmm... hummmmus.

Comments

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

That whole thing was cool.

I did the same shopping trip, but I ended up with collard greens(no deeper meaning).

There are lots of Latin celebrations between the 23 and the 1st, thus the pork prevalence.

This is from Steve H. at littletinylies.com'

"Last night I was privileged to be invited to Noche Buena--a Christmas Eve celebration--by Babalublog proprietor Val Prieto. I don't know if you're familiar with Noche Buena; it's just one in a series of holidays in which Hispanics appear to be missing the point of Christmas. It's sort of like Boxing day, when drunken Canadians (redundant) gather outside their homes to exchange gifts and engage in UFC-style submission matches over the last bottle of Labatt's Blue. We normal Americans have the crazy idea that Christmas itself is the big day, but Hispanics have Noche Buena and Three Kings day and the feast of Fernando Lamas and Ramahanukwanzmas, and there is just no reasoning with them."

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Heh. Cute quote--thanks for sharing!

Ox Tails

[a3hourtour.livejournal.com]

Although I am nobody's idea of a cook I can actually solve the ox tail mystery for you: Ox Tail Vegetable Beef Soup. Yummy.
You put the ox tails in the soup as it cooks. It makes the stock. And is very rich and meaty. Makes an OUTSTANDING vegetable beef soup. One I would walk a great distance for- over broken glass, I think.

Re: Ox Tails

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

The ox tails weren't a mystery to me--I've seen them in Latin markets before, and almost ate ox-tail soup once at a Jamaican place (I went with curried goat instead). What boggles my mind was the fact that that one package of ox tails was the only non-pork product in the Specialty Meats section of the grocery store. Usually there'll be lamb chops & things like that there, and usually there will not be large quantities of pig ears and pig stomachs. Those pig ears in particular look out of place.

Re: Ox Tails

[a3hourtour.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Pigs ears- I thought those were just dog treats.

[whitelinefever.livejournal.com]

There is the reason I'm not partying tonight.You've got all the pig products.I always say it just isn't new years without pork.
Nice menu you had.Happy new years

[hummingwolf.livejournal.com]

Well, I didn't buy all those pig products, mind you. All I bought in the pork line yesterday was some polska kielbasa. You could have had all the pig ears you wanted. Sure, the sausage surely had pig ears in it too, but I couldn't see them and so can forget that they were there.

Here's hoping you have a happy new year yourself. Welcome, 2004!