"Meat" Me at the Steakhouse

I was once a vegetarian.  I was for many, many years.  I was the girl at the family reunion that was stuck eating sauerkraut on a bun because the hot dogs and the fried chicken grossed her out.  Even though now I am not a vegetarian, I think I am still quite sensitive to the subject.  See, I want to know what great interior designer thought "Hmmmm . . . steakhouse . . . let's put the animals they are serving up on the wall."  I know that some people . . . mostly hunters would be my guess . . . think that taxidermy is an acceptable form of art.  I'm not going to be the one to argue that.  Whatever you want to put in your home is your prerogative.  I'm the daughter of an avid hunter so  Iaccept that some people enjoy hunting.  I personally don't understand it.  I know there are arguements about keeping populations under control and I understand that but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  That said, I just don't get the appeal of having cows and such stare at you as you eat their distant cousins.  Kind of gross if you ask me.  And why is the poor cow the only one that seems to be acceptable.  There are never taxidermy specimins of pigs or chickens at these restaurants.  It's not like we hunt cows.  They meet (lol! I accidentally spelled that as "meat" at first) their end the same way the chickens and pigs do.  There is a place where we go to eat that has pictures of pigs and chickens on the shirts of the waiters and waitresses.  I still find that disgusting.  Its a tad more tolerable but not much.  When I eat meat, I prefer not to think about where it comes from.  I wish I could go vegetarian again but with all my food allergies and such, it would be so hard.  I don't need to become anemic again.  I don't want to feel like I'm offending the hostess when I don't eat at a party.  Its just too hard.  So in the meantime, I will avoid chicken and fish because they blatently state the name of the animal and that can be too tough for me.  I will ask to be seated away from the offended glare of the taxidermy cow at the steakhouse.  I will do my best to be animal friendly.  Except for beef.  And turkey on Thanksgiving.  Oooo and bacon.  Everything is better with bacon.

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is - Literally

What is it with me and people?  I have got to wash the writing off my forehead that says "If you are strange and most likely obnoxious, come, sit by me, bring your friends."  Yesterday's adventure involved a Panera, soup, me and a webcam.  <insert eyeroll here>  But that's not really what I want to focus on today.  Today I want to share our Five Weeks to Financial Betterification plan.  Yesterday was Day 2 of the plan.  FAIL!  See, this plan requires us to 1) be more financially aware, 2) create a budget, 3) track our expenses and 4) cut back on our spending.  So far, the only thing I have done is become slightly more financially aware.  I am aware that money is flying out the window.  And what do I have to show for it . . . a big, fat butt.  We are literally eating away at our savings.  My family has gotten into the habit of eating out for dinner 6 out of 7 if not 7 out of 7 days a week.  Actually make that about 11 or 12 out of 7 days a week because sometimes we eat out twice in one day!  I don't enjoy the eating out because the entire time I am thinking of depleting our savings.  I even imagine myself actually eating the bills instead of the food on my plate.  The problem here is I don't really like to cook.  I have this aversion to raw meat that rivals my aversion to puke.  I can't do it.  I just can't do it.  So that leaves Doug to come home from work and roll up his sleeves.  Now, I'm not one for traditional gender roles but there is a tiny bit of Donna Reed inside me that doesn't condone this.  He worked hard all day.  He shouldn't have to cook dinner too.  So we eat out.  The deal I have made with myself is that if the Five Week plan doesn't pan out in five weeks, I will start looking for a second job in week six - something I do not want to do.  Maybe I should look at it that way.  Cook versus work.  Raw meat versus dealing with people.  And I don't deal well with people.  Just ask those at the table next to me at Panera :)