Violet Gin: May 2012

I realize part of my job is to find mistakes, and then have them corrected. And I realize people aren't perfect, myself included. But I try to do my job well, and I try to fix my mistakes quickly. Others....sometimes....not so much. In that spirit.....

When I say "this is a friendly reminder" it is usually a follow-up to something I have already asked you to do. The "friendly reminder" part though, is worded nicely because I'm a professional and shit.

But in case you didn’t know, a street translation of "friendly reminder" actually means.....

· What the fuck is your problem and why haven't you handled this yet?

· Do you think you're special and can get away with not doing your job?

· If I could remind you with an electric shock to the groin, I would.

· I hate you right now.

· You just stole another 30 seconds of my life, now give it back.

· If I have to send another reminder, it’s not going to be friendly.

· There are many people in our history who seemed friendly, but were actually lunatic murderers. Remember that.

So far spring hasn't been too brutal here temp-wise, and I've put a real effort into growing some things in our backyard. Been a busy busy bee! I have three 8' x 4' raised beds that I grow various fruits and veggies in, and then a few other places in the yard that I have planted up as well. Made my first jar of homemade pickles about a week ago, now safely stashed in the fridge, and I have 3 days before I can bust it open and try them. I made them with garlic, sugar, salt, vinegar, dill weed/seed, and a homegrown jalepeno for spice. Someone at work asked, "when are you bringing those pickles?" and I'm thinking, bitch, deys mine. Gardening isn't exactly easy work, and I am eating that whole first jar on my own thankyouverymuch. I might share with Dr. B. *MIGHT* If we have a really good crop, I'm going to make pickled things for Christmas gifts, so fingers-crossed.

I come from families of farmers, and Gardner is a family name. It's in my blood, I love.LOVE.LOVE playing outside in the dirt. I did it when I was a kid, and I do it as an adult probably even more. As soon as it starts to get warm outside - which, in Texas, is pretty early - I'm out there as much as I can be. There are very few things as rewarding to me as growing my own food. Sure, nature does a lot of the grunt work, so I'm not trying to take all the credit here. But I do make sure the bugs don't eat the shit out of the plants, and I keep the cats from pissing in the beds - both of which can ruin a plant in a day - so when I'm enjoying my home-grown foods, I feel pretty good about myself knowing that I helped make it happen.

AND!

Dr. B told about a study that indicates there are several health benefits to working in the dirt and being outside....here's one I came across that says it can help with asthma, allergies, and depression: http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/raw-data-is-dirt-the-new-prozac.

So yeah, outside FTW. I am looking forward to a season filled with lots of home-grown/made foods!