If you had any doubts about the arrival of spring in Michigan, let me assure you, it's here. After weekend temps in the mid-80's, the trees have exploded with blossoms and the summer birds have returned to visit. Bluebirds and tree swallows are busy fighting over nesting boxes in my yard and hummers and orioles have come looking for their sweet treats. Just seeing them makes me feel like winter is really gone for good, even though the calendar indicated that over a month ago.
Apparently, the swine flu has also arrived for the season. Wow, how'd that happen so fast? I'm still astounded, after watching a segment on how the flu travels from person to person, that a sneeze comes out of your body at 100 miles per hour! I'm impressed that tissues hold up as well as they do when you sneeze into them.
When you sneeze, fluid goes flying out of your nose and mouth anywhere from three feet up to 150 feet. I saw a funny picture in the paper (technically, it was online in the e-edition of the paper) today of a guy in Mexico carrying a statue of St. Jude (the patron saint of lost causes). The guy AND St. Jude were both wearing face masks.
What I want to know is, how come pigs aren't wearing these masks? I also wonder why they couldn't they come up with a different name. It has such a negative connotation. It's like saying "I've got pig disease." It's like the founder of "The Dress Barn" named the flu. Who names a store The Dress Barn? Do they think women like admitting they bought their outfit at a "barn?" It makes you feel like a farm animal.
The pork industry is scurrying to make sure that consumers are aware that it is still safe to eat pork and you can not get the swine flu from eating bacon. It is not a food-borne illness. These days, however, it's hard to know what to eat. Peanuts and alfalfa sprouts have had salmonella outbreaks. Pork means pig, pig means swine, swine means flu--that's just guilt by association. Domino's pizza employees are doing disgusting things to the pizza they make and posting it on You Tube for the world to see.
No wonder Mia Farrow has chosen this moment to go on a hunger strike. Actually, she's so skinny, it looks like she's been on a food strike her whole life. She is not eating to protest and raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis present in Darfur and is doing this as a sign of solidarity with the people of Africa. Personally, I don't see how starving yourself is helping others, unless you're actually giving them your food to eat, but whatever works for you. Oh, by the way, Mia is only going to go hungry for about three weeks, or until her health is in danger. Apparently solidarity only goes so far. Once I start feeling weak, you people are on your own.
There is also an American journalist who has been jailed in Iran on charges of allegedly spying for the U.S. She too has decided to go on a hunger strike until she is released. What I don't understand is why she thinks Iran cares. She's a prisoner in their jail! I can't imagine they are feeding her fabulous food as it is, so how much of a sacrifice is this? It's like giving up cooked spinach for lent.
And why do they call it a hunger strike? You don't stop being hungry, you stop eating. They should call it an "eating strike." Marketing 101, people.
Well, that's enough for me today. I've got to go grocery shopping at Kroger--no, I'm not buying more butter. I'm off to stock my fridge and pantry for my boys. Too bad hunger strike isn't their method of protest. I'd have less shopping and cooking to do!
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