Tuesday, January 20, 2009

An Historic Day...For Southpaws

Being unemployed I watched more than my fair share of inaguration coverage today. What a proud day in our nation's history. How great would it be to be among the millions in Washington celebrating right now?

Think of the weight of history on President Obama's shoulders. All those years of trial, persecution and discrimination. Think of all the heroes...those champions of equality that have come before him and made this dream a reality. I'm so proud of our nation. We have overcome so much. We have elected out fifth consecutive left-handed president. A great step towards equality in our nation.

The universe is saying something. Are you listening?

Left-handers rule. Literally.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Apples to apples

I'm fully aware that of all the things that I could or should share with family and friends right now this should be at the bottom of the barrel. But this is important to me so I want to write about it:

Today, I made a break-through concerning my apple allergy.

When I was about seven years old I remember being in the car with my dad on the long road to Flaming Gorge. We had a few travel snacks and among them were a pair of apples. I ate mine and enjoyed it until my throat began to itch, then my mouth, then my tongue. There might have been some swelling too. It was extremely uncomfortable and I wondered if I would die.

I didn't.

But I kind of wanted to.

After that I noticed that it wasn't just apples that caused this reaction. To my dismay eating peaches, plums, nectarines, and pears became uncomfortable. I have a vivid memory of getting a Jamba (I think back then it was Zuka) Juice with some friends in middle school. I chose one that had fresh peaches in it and my top lip was cracked in the center. Well that angry little peach got in there and made the point at the center of my top lip swell to the size of a marble. Gross and embarassing.

So I've been annoyed and upset for a good amount of years over all this fruit I can't consume. Every once in awhile I would try one of these forbidden fruits to see if maybe, just maybe I've grown out of the allergy or that maybe it was just THAT apple or just THAT peach. But to no avail. Until recent years. Some of the fruit I've tried, mostly home grown stuff I've been ok with. That made me think it was a pesticides thing. So I tried organic apples at the grocery store. No good. Today though I made a break through. I've realilzed at least where apples are concerned that green apples are fine, red ones are the ones that do it to me. I'm like Snow White. Weird right? But now I can eat apples again! Can anyone figure this out? If you tell me its all in my head or that I'm faking it, we aren't friends anymore.

More on Cleveland OH later. I'm jobless thus have plenty of time to write.