Chicken Legs

Poor Albert, the Little General, he of upright stature and Viciously Protective Tendencies, is crippled. Like a wounded soldier, he bears the humility, immobility, and pain with a clenched mouth (beak) muttered '2' when considering his own pain on a scale of 1 to 10 (unlike the flip '10' offered by the twenty-something broken wrist who is eating pudding and watching 'The Kardasians'). Like a WWII vet.

I took Albert on the road trip to Reno for my brother's 70th birthday party (said bro is WAAAY older than I...just so you know...). In a clear plastic tote, so he could see me and not be cut off from stimulation. So I could give him his IM (intramuscular) injections of the third antibiotic in recent weeks. I also provide electrolytes and vitamins via his water supply, and will give oral antibiotics via his drinking water beginning tomorrow. I massage the frozen joint, and perform 'tissue mobilization', taking care to give an oral pain medication first.

Then, my son e-mails me from his home in Mexico, where he is playing professional soccer. Seems his contact 'family' has chickens. One is a wanderer, and they don't want him to escape. They don't want to build a coop. So, they laid out a little wooden/stick-type perimeter for him to stay in, and broke his legs so he couldn't get out.

'OMG!!!' I texted back. 'Even my dad in his worst moments of rage would never do that...' But, unfortunately, I get it. It is a reality in a third world country. Animals are 'things', people are all. The animals exist at the pleasure and use of the humans. And, often, that sucks.

But, it stands in stark contrast to what my son has known in his life, in his reality. I am glad that he is shocked and repulsed by the barbaric practices that often define animal husbandry in foreign places. It breaks my heart that my kid (he still is, you know...) has to learn about this lack of development in kindness, but I am proud that he is so impressed and sickened. He is the better, more fully evolved human.

I am proud of you, my son...

Eating ourselves into illness

We are fortunate in our culture and place in society that, as comparatively affluent Americans, we can choose carefully what and when we eat.  It would seem that, for many of us, that means 'a lot' and 'anytime'.  I mean, look at the size of us.  

It seems that from the time the phrase 'Supersize it' came into our nomenclature, it has gone from referring to food portions to our asses.  Not just sad, but dangerous to our health and devastating to our economy.  We are being eaten alive by medical costs related to obesity; cardiovascular disease, diabetes and all the complications thereof,  arthritis, joint deterioration, reproductive problems, accidents and cancer.

When I look at the children of today, I am often looking at overweight kids who have never spent a full day outside, children who view television and computer games as main hobbies, kids who have limited proprioception, and young folks with distorted and negative body images.  I remember when common sights at high schools were trim adolescents with sleek bodies that hinted at the men and women they would become.  Now, more and more often, I see overweight kids bulging in too tight clothing.  We have even coined a phrase to describe the phenomenon; 'muffin top'.  That makes me sad, as a mom, as a nurse, and as a child loving person.

ROR (raugh out roud)

google image/bumper stickers

Your dog maybe, 

but not your cat...

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

google images

The holiday of Cinco de Mayo, or fifth of May, commemorates the victory of a small poorly equipped Mexican militia over the Napolean-backed larger French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862.  In Mexico, it is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla and it's capital city of the same name.  It is especially celebrated in the cities of the United States with a large Mexican population.  It is not Mexican Independence Day, as many people think.  That day is celebrated September 10.

It has become a huge commercial success in the U.S., and food and beverage vendors now promote it as vigorously as other holidays.  The food, music and dance of the Mexican culture is on display at festivals.  It is a great opportunity to sample the culture and enjoy the pride of an ever-growing part of our community.  I think it helps those Mexicans who are away from their cultural homes to remain connected.  The celebrations are colorful, happy, sensory bombardments that are a delight to behold.  I love especially seeing the little boys in embroidered black pants and white shirts, hair gleaming and slicked into place, dancing with colorfully outfitted tiny girls with huge paper flowers in their hair.  

Cultural pride, great food, and dancing children; these need no interpretation.  It is international language.