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Happy Tummy
lallaw, well put! I also want to say ditto, for your comment on my story, and your wishes for health. I think we should collaborate on some form of gopher story together--it is only right! I'm sure that at this point we could all use some 'bruschetta to moan by,' and your democratic recipe could be just what the doctor ordered, if you are up for sharing here. Seems like a great way to take this thread out, if not with an actual meal ;) Josh, thank you too for taking the time to contact, and funny you should mention, I don't have a story about Leonard Cohen, but do have a sort of amusing one about a 'brush' with Lou Reed in the East Village (NYC, not SD). Tell me where I should post it, and I'd be happy to do it.— April 16, 2009 12:42 p.m.
Should Call Him Khem
As the priggish English teacher I am, I never use texting terms to indicate laughter, Lisa (lallaw), but you seriously had me rolling with your reaction to the gopher bashing, replete with crickets, and the suggestion that bashing a gopher (metaphorically, of course) wins the Reader prize. Incidentally, they will choose a winner for 2nd and 3rd. They do in quick succession, each week after 1st place is chosen--a "stay tuned" situation for those hungry, expectant entrants. And speaking of hunger, hope to see you at Barbarella's, should the whole potluck/dinner pan out. Gotta hand it to her for her good natured consideration of the idea. :) -Suzanne D.— April 15, 2009 11:31 a.m.
Happy Tummy
I was kidding, Josh, and hey--it's a compliment! Means someone has sincerely on the fly retained something from reading your column. Candidate for the funkiest vegan meal *ever* made has to be one I prepared for a vegan couple, back when as an undergrad who didn't yet cook either. To my very poor estimation at the time, all dishes simply had to be adapted to vegan requirements. And coincidentally, eggplant lasagne was the dish of choice! Only--probably UNLIKE the McCartneys, I made liberal use of a foul-tasting array of soy cheeses: soy ricotta, soy jack, and soy cheddar, with the whole bubbling mess topped off with a foul-tasting grated soy parmesan that had to be the worst of the bunch. It tasted like rancid rubber or plastic--anyone who has ever been five years old with fingers might remember that taste. The couple was extremely polite, and praised the dish. After they left my then-boyfriend and I collapsed onto the floor in tension-relieving giggles. What a mess! But they told me the next day that it was rare for anyone to go to such trouble, and they enjoyed the wine and company. Sometimes it really is the thought (and I'm sure we all wish it had remained a thought) that counts :) Suzanne D.— April 14, 2009 10:50 p.m.
Happy Tummy
We've been to many a potluck and enjoyed them immensely--nothing like a marvelous spread of a variety of foods reflecting everyone's tastes, and even personalities-- as long as you aren't confined to weenies and Ro-Tel dip. refriedgringo, with some of the comments you've made here, I'm most surprised, but also pleased at your understanding and thoughtful suggestion. True, and there really are many dishes we all make that are vegan, without really thinking about it. I am a passionate cook myself, and do make use of dairy and seafood products in my recipes (trying for microbial or vegetable rennet for cheese, and dairy from compassionate sources) --though if my new GI doctor has her way, I will soon be embarking upon a solely vegan existence--but that's another story, and my particular cross to bear (yikes! did I just invite in another religious analogy?!) I think we should let Barbarella decide what she and David are up for--if she is serious--but I agree that a potluck again, can be an excellent opportunity to learn about people and how they eat--unless they arrive and plunk down the kinds of horrific store-bought stuff I seem to recall Josh B. bringing to some of his "Crasher" events. What was it, green dye #7 cupcakes? Fritos? :)— April 14, 2009 4:26 p.m.
Happy Tummy
Right on, Barbarella. I'm sure David is a fabulous cook, and my partner Greg and I would for two be happy to accept. If nothing else, it would make for a very interesting column, no? If you are serious, just let us know when, where, and what kind of wine to bring :)— April 14, 2009 3:31 p.m.
Happy Tummy
Then there is this matter of "creative license" you invoke, Barbarella. In my first post, I mentioned a lazy, easy, sensationalist categorization of people. Others have indirectly brought up English 101. I remember long ago taking Gwyn Enright's English 101 at City College, and one of our very first essay (essai=attempt) assignments: Write 250-500 words placing persons or things into 3-4 categories. Justify your categories. If you are going to adopt such a form, do something CLEVER with it. Enough said about writing and baby steps. I think the only way to settle this, Barbarella, is to invite myself, stuntdouble, mike1, and all meat-eating commenters to a nice, home-cooked meal ;)— April 14, 2009 1:54 p.m.
Happy Tummy
I agree with ageorgi0621 about the root issues bothering most of us about this column, but would disagree that Barbarella set out to write a thoughtful piece. She perhaps thought it would entertain some, but that shows a naivete beyond belief, in terms of the social milieu within which she tries hard to portray herself as belonging (not just upper-middle class monied, educated, aware of the finer things in life and partaking of them, but also a proud liberal stance and awareness of current issues and lifestyles). Unless the piece was say, written for a sympathetic, largely meat-eating audience. Let's take for example the instance of the quiet, unassuming "good" vegetarian, according to Barbarella: "My friend Jessica is a full-on vegetarian, but, like a quietly confident Catholic, she doesn’t make a big deal of it. Low-maintenance at dinner parties, Jessica will eat what she can and is so polite she wouldn’t think of uttering a word of displeasure or disdain when her options are limited." Barbarella seems to be either just so out of it etiquette-wise, or simply smug in her dominant right to comfort that she sees this person's degree of satisfaction as a guest as commensurate only with the degree of dignity with which she comports herself. This vegetarian isn't 'uppity' and demanding that she also be fed at a gathering. How thoughtful and dignified! By asking to be fed, she isn't trying to push her agenda on the rest of us! Newsflash: Anyone not providing a solid square for ALL of their guests shouldn't invite them to dinner parties where you provide the food and host. The idea is to make ALL of your guests comfortable, and not just expect some to graze at the perimeters of a salad (should the prosciutto or bacon bits be mercifully withheld) or a plate of raw veggies. How many picnics and dinner parties have you all been to, where those who ate meat sit back, sigh, and slap their happy tummies before they remember to ask you how your carrot sticks were? "Oh good, good. Well, again, we're sure sorry. Next time we'll try to have something for you. You sure missed out on that pork, though. Heh heh." Slap. Another helpful tip: If the situation calls for potluck, you should also make sure that the vegetarian or vegan's food is set aside, so that meat (and/or dairy) spoons don't get shoved into the dishes they otherwise would have been able to eat. I extend this analogy only in terms of dietary needs and restrictions: You wouldn't dream of doing this to Jewish persons at a kosher seder, so why disrespect vegetarians?— April 14, 2009 1:54 p.m.
None
Hey RD, Thanks for taking the time to notify via email! It was my pleasure to read and comment on your story. Again, I don't have much of an idea what kind of system the editors have in place, but am pretty sure that whatever they do use as criteria for choosing monthly winners, it involves keeping us all guessing as to what criteria they are using! A character portrait such as you used can be a window onto the feel and flavor of an area of our city and county; for some of us, this window may be a small one, looking out onto only a portion of a neighborhood street. I tried to at least adhere to this myself for a March entry; but alas, first prize went to a retired engineer who (with no apparent literary message)likes to bludgeon gophers. Well, ok. The idea was apparently to present the ironic picture of an older gent living the gelding's life of rowdy grandkids and Spongebob on the set, who is given new vim and vigor, a weapon of choice, and "Avant ye!" a mock battle with innocent yard vermin. But it failed its own premise. Sorry lallaw, I still disagree that the second place story had any merit whatsoever--a snooze fest with nothing for the reader to do. Yeah, I'm a lit crit head, but good writing is good writing. They are obviously not interested in that for itself. Ah well. Maybe 2nd or 3rd for me, if anything? At any rate, I'd be proud if my entry had lost to yours. I too would love to see more of your work, and am glad to have helped stoke the fires of vanity--fuel for more good penmanship? They so need better writers for 99.9% of this paper. Hire her, people! :) Suzanne— April 14, 2009 1:12 p.m.
Happy Tummy
I have enjoyed this column now and again, finding some worthwhile content and shared joys, and that is why I am surprised at this week's column, for many of the reasons described by others, but mostly because it falls prey to the lazy, sensationalist practice of dividing everyone into easy categories--I really would expect more from Barbarella, who gives the impression that she thinks more deeply about current topics in general. If I had a weekly blog-style column read by at least hundreds, I think I'd feel it best to treat this kind of topic with more depth and care, as well as humor and anecdote. It is possible to write intellectually worthwhile yet humorous content, and Barb has shown that she can, with this week being a glaring exception. I suppose I fall into your category of a hypocritical leather-wearing (sometimes, but one vintage article is enough, I'm sure) pescatarian (or vegaquarian, as friends like to call it, for a variety reasons, to do with health, a global moral sense, and the environment--but it isn't the category that so much matters, as the actions we take. If this sounds like proselytizing, so be it. Our flippant eating and shopping habits, whether we like it or not, are not just a matter of preference, pose, or proselytizing, but one of real environmental and social crisis. As individuals, the responsible steps we consistently take, large or small, to ease the current and future toxic load on this planet of ours should be applauded, not met with derision or criticism. Not being an all-or-nothing thinker, I'll continue with the open-minded occasional read of Diary of a Diva--however, I will just have to cut bait on this particular entry :)— April 10, 2009 8:56 p.m.
Should Call Him Khem
I agree with shizzyfin, and would like to add that this is one of the best neighborhood blog entries, if not the best, I've read. The mini character portrait, with themes of food, cooking, sex, relations of gender and ethnicity, and observational humor, make this a truly literary piece to be savored. It makes one wonder what the editors were smoking in February; while understandable that a journalistic ideal of actually effecting positive change in what is being reported would lead them to praise the short piece about ballpark prices, but it is not really a neighborhood story, and it should not have won first prize. The second place piece about City Heights just didn't capture my interest as a reader. RD Vaughn's piece, in my opinion, is the real winner for February. Brava!— March 26, 2009 11:58 a.m.