Today, I was so excited/inquisitive, that I forgot an “l” in this tweet;
Then I got an answer:
Tonight I Googled Honey Mustard BBQ Sauce & Honey BBQ Mustard:
I need to start looking for this stuff.
Category Archives: Inspiration
Epi-Pen Shenanigans.
I was going to write a blog about;
- How horrible Heather Bresch, the CEO of Mylan, is as far as how she got where she is and lying about her WVU education.
- Why her salary is a separate issue from the price hikes because I refuse to participate in class envy/warfare.
- Why the CEO is not the company.
- How Mylan is a large local employer that puts great local people to work, and we need the jobs in this region.
- Why coupons/vouchers/rebates are bunk, and the price should be lowered.
- How taxpayers have funded the development of the EpiPen.
- How the FDA fosters a monopoly f0r the first so many years of a drug’s existence.
- How US tax laws push corporations off-shore to maximize profits using totally legal loopholes that your tax-preparer would recommend you do with your personal finances if you were allowed.
- How the generic alternatives are more difficult to use.
- How food allergy advocacy groups have let this go so long.
- How some people are really stepping up and speaking out.
- How FARE says Mylan’s donations account for less than 5% of their annual budget.
- How to not think that Mylan used advocacy groups to push epi-pens-in-schools laws (which I was also in favor of), then provided them with later altered non-compete clauses (much like their CEO’s altered educational transcripts). Is this also why they recommend carrying two in case one fails or doesn’t take effect?
- How an appearance before the senate is a joke.
- How insurance helps those prices rise.
- How Avi-Q’s demise fed into the perfect storm.
- How it supposedly costs less than $2 to make an EpiPen.
- How many other Mylan drugs have also drastically increased in price.
- How this will possibly turn into backlash against the food allergy community.
- How for me, luckily, I recently got an EpiPen 2-pack that was covered because we met our deductible already for the year & we have great coverage with an HSA.
- How people read an article on the internet and spout-off about something which they know virtually nothing about and won’t care about again in 2 months.
But, if you’re interested (even mildly), you have already read those things and made up your own mind.
My initial reaction was to pull out of the FARE walk for Food Allergy due to Mylan’s sponsorship. But, that won’t do anyone any good. We still need research. We still need advocacy. We still need awareness. We still need a cure.
I have to trust that in the midst of public outcry, Bresch will be held to task. I can hope that the rest of the good people at Mylan don’t suffer. I currently refuse to revel in the failures of others, even if it is at their own hand.
I again would like to ask for donations to this year’s food allergy walk, and I will once again participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project this Halloween.
People like me need your help.
Don’t let Mylan’s issues prevent you from helping food allergy research, education, and advocacy.
Food Allergy Walk Pittsburgh 2016 (Asking for a $10 donation.)
It’s almost time for the FARE food allergy walk in Pittsburgh again this year. Each year, I ask for your help before the walk in raising money for food allergy research & awareness/education. This year the walk will be on Sunday October 2nd at the Pittsburgh Zoo.
I know money is tight. I know there are a million causes worth donating to. I know there are walks for everything these days. So, I understand what I’m asking when I ask you to consider a donation to FARE in support of our walk.
My shellfish allergy is pretty severe, but I have learned to navigate life successfully with it. It would be nice for people to not have to worry about these things some day. Molly has recently outgrown an allergy to eggs, greatly in part to incredible pediatricians, local allergists involved in the FARE walk, and their advice as it is informed by the latest research and techniques. There is still a chance that either of my kids could develop allergies later. My shellfish allergy didn’t really manifest until I was in 3rd or 4th grade.
My plea isn’t the standard. I know not everyone has $50 or even $25 to give to a cause that may not even affect their lives directly. I’m asking for $10 to go to FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). I’d rather get a bunch of small donations from a whole lot of people.
This is how my friends/followers/whatever break down on social media, and what the total would amount to if everyone managed to donate $10:
- Facebook: 1132 / $11,320.00
- Twitter: 1061 / $10,610.00
- Instagram: 370 / $3,700.00
- Google+: 154 / $1,540.oo
- WordPress: 93 / $930.00
- Tumblr: 56 / $560.00
All of those except Tumblr are well over our team goal of $600. All of them total would be $28,570.00. I know there’s some obvious overlap, so that’s not a real number if everyone only donated $10, but it’s also not ridiculous.
Donations are tax deductible, you can opt for a receipt when you donate online, and you can read about what your donation will be used for.
If you’re reading this and don’t have $10 to spare, or your donation money is going to a cause closer to your heart, that’s cool too. Just reading raises awareness and that is also extremely important. You can find all kinds of food-allergy related rants and information here on my blog. Sharing on your social media platform of choice would be really cool too.
FARE Walk For Food Allergy 2016 – Carroll Family Team Page
Thank you for your time and your consideration.
So, the beans on our #BeanHouse are sad. 🌱
Heh. We’ll have to try again next year. Maybe it was the shade, maybe it was the bugs, maybe it was the timing, maybe it was a lack of Miracle Gro. Did you see our posts about building it and hanging the sign?
This is all the growth we got:
And something ate our sunflower:
Sigh. Ha ha.
We finally hung the sign on our #BeanHouse. 🌱
Did you read about our #BeanHouse?
I was able to get some matte clear-coat spray this week and hit the sign a few times, although this stuff seemed to soak up the paint like a sponge. We just used some particleboard from an old dresser drawer. It was the perfect size. I did the marker & colored the beans, the rest was all Molly.
Molly also got a tomato plant from her Grandma BB, so we planted it right out front. We tried the fork trick there too to deter bunnies, but if I remember right they’re not huge fans of tomatoes. You never know what else is out & around either.
We also put out some organic bloodmeal to provide nutrients and hopefully deter critters. Molly reminded me to put down grass clippings because they hold moisture.
I was thinking about putting out some cinnamon to keep the rabbits away too. I just saw that coffee grounds keep away snails. Do you have any other tips & tricks that seem to have worked for you in the past? We did use garlic clips last year. They seemed to work, but we did have a few incidents of snacking on our peppers.
No beans sprouting yet, but our Spanish onions just popped from seeds we planted a while ago.
#BeanHouse Sign & Tomato 🌱
Outdoor Gardening Fun With a #BeanHouse. 🌱
So, I dig gardening. (Get it?) I have passed that on (so far) to my oldest child, and the little one really likes playing in the dirt. I also enjoy doing things with the kids that are not only fun, but that allow me to sneak in some learning.
Today we set up a Bean House. What’s a bean house? I don’t know. That’s what my daughter wanted to call it & it’s really the most appropriate title. We got the idea from a friend’s Facebook wall with instructions for a bean den and a willow den.
Basically, we built a play house that will act as a trellis for a (hopefully) vining bean plant. I started with an area that had already been cleared thanks to a pile of brush that was recently removed. Speaking of that brush that I have recently cleared form our jungle of a back yard; I grabbed 4 rather large branches with a “Y” shape, cut them to roughly the same length with the chainsaw, and sharpened the bottoms. I dug some holes with a small gardening shovel and drove the posts in as far as I could, mounding up some dirt around each pole. I used some gardening wire to secure four branches across the top for a nice little cube-ish frame.
Then, I let the munchkins “help” while I secured several smaller sticks across the top, down along the sides, and across the sides. At one point we ran low on sticks, so I used some old wooden and bamboo tomato stakes. The wooden stakes seemed to really help make the rest of the structure stable because I could really pound them into the ground well. To secure everything, I used some newly purchased garden wire, and whatever twine and garden wire that we had leftover from previous years’ gardening adventures.
The top is a thatched mess of “wonky” branches that are woven together to provide slightly more shade than the sides, but will still be open for the growing vines. My shelter would probably make Survivorman Les Stroud hang his head in shame, but it’s better than most of the shelters on Naked and Afraid.
The wife and little guy helped water the mounds so I could pack them down, and then I mounded dirt all around every post & they helped do the same. Then we mulched the mound with grass clippings & packed it down again.
Finally I dug some holes for the pre-soaked Kentucky Wonder green bean seeds (beans?) around the base of the entire structure, and the whole family helped put in the seed-starter potting soil mix, the seeds, and some more dirt & mulch in place. We placed some plastic forks facing outward all around the seeds at the base of the thing to hopefully help ward off the local overpopulation of rabbits. I may try some additional deterrent like bloodmeal.
Later indoors, we found some other stuff and made a sign to hang once I get a coat or two of clear coat on it.
While we put it up, we talked about enjoying outside, building things, growing things, recycling and up-cycling, sunshine, water, and everything. We talked about how grass clippings act like a mulch that holds moisture for the plants. We talked about how the fertilizer and Miracle-Gro in the water acts like vitamins for the plants… vitamins like the one’s we’ll get from eating the beans. I’m sure we’ll have discussions in the future about patience, including our little brother, and not knocking the bean house over.
My wife and I have always tried to talk to the kids with the same respect we’d give other adults. We don’t use small words. We explain things as best we can, encourage and answer questions. I’m continually amazed at the observations that our daughter makes in conversation, and through our son’s actions that show an understanding of exactly what is going on.
If you’re reading this and are a parent, I ask you to narrate to your kids what you’re doing & why when you do an activity together. You may think they’re too little to get it, but they’re constantly absorbing what you’re doing.
This is a great way to get into all kinds of stuff like gardening, up-cycling/recycling, food not lawns, urban farming, and striving to pass on the importance of such things as knowing how to grow food to your kids. I’m excited to plant some tomatoes, peppers, and try a few new things this year. I love going outside and seeing vegetable plants in the summer. I love the smell of the dirt and growing plants. I hope to pass this on and that the kids love it too.
All-in, I paid around $10 for the seeds, wire, & fertilizer. Everything else we had here on hand or could have probably found easily for free.
Please, enjoy some photos and share some in the comments if you build your own!
Kyle Dine and Friends | DVD Review
I posted a review of Kyle Dine’s DVD on Amazon, and wanted to share it here…
Kyle Dine is an incredibly talented and extremely creative children’s entertainer. He also wields the utmost authority on living life while coping with food allergies as he has multiple food allergies himself and is a successful world-travelled musical educator.
These expertly crafted videos are full of incredibly fun and catchy age-appropriate songs and lessons about having food allergies. How to avoid your trigger foods, hand washing, always carrying your auto-injector, and how to quickly reach out for help if necessary are just some of the topics not only touched upon but driven home by Kyle and his puppet friends.
As an adult with a severe food allergy I am so glad that this type of resource is available for the ever-growing “club” of the food allergic. As a parent of a child with food allergies, this is an invaluable tool to help teach a toddler turning into a pre-schooler about the importance of not eating food unless it’s OK’d by mommy or daddy, and for her to let us know immediately if she is having a reaction. Luckily she loves to wash her hands, so we’ve got that covered. These lessons are delivered in the fine tradition of children’s programming like Sesame Street or Mr. Rogers, and they work. Both of my kids were moving to the music upon our first viewing!
I not only recommend this for food allergy families, but I would say that extended family who may not understand food allergies, your child’s friends and their parents, and organizations like schools, churches, camps, & clubs could all benefit from the knowledge and entertainment provided by this set of DVD’s. This programming ought to play on constant rotation in your family’s pediatric allergist’s office waiting room.
This can and will serve as an incredibly fun way to open the door to creating a fun, safe, and confident approach to living with food allergies.
Kyle Dine & Friends
Parenting Tact.
I’m certainly far from a perfect parent, and I realize everyone learns on the go, but I may have found something specific to work on over the weekend.
The wife and I have always said from the time the first one was in the womb that we would strive to answer questions with real answers, no baby talk, and to not unnecessarily dumb things down. Certainly some situations call for a simplified answer, but we feel no reason to squash an inquisitive nature with short answers.
You may know I can be a little sarcasic and opnionated. You may know that two-and-a-half year olds are great with absorb > imitate > repeat.
So, it may have not been my best moment when I provided an answer to a perfectly innocent question that was probably tinged a little too heavily with personal opinion and social commentary.
We were sitting in unusually heavy traffic headed into the Liberty tubes when my daughter asked her 493rd question for the car ride; “What’s that… what’s that white thing hanging from that lady’s mouth?” (She’s got a pretty damn good vocabulary for a 2yo if I do say so myself.)
My answer was “That’s a cigarette, she’s white trash.” Immidately I got the “Eric!” along with an arm smack from the wife.
I did follow it up with an “Oh, that’s not nice. I’m sorry. We shouldn’t call people things like that, but cigarettes are bad for you. Daddy doesn’t like them. People are silly for smoking, it makes them sick.”
I find it hard to temper my opinions on such things. Look, smoking is fine if you’re an adult and make your own decisions and are curteous of where you choose to partake. I just have my own reasons for not being a fan and I never once needed the “don’t smoke” presentations in elementary school or Jr. High health class.
I want both of my kids to eventually make their own informed decisions about things. I get that it’s part of my deal to help inform them. They’ll get my opinions over time, no doubt. I don’t want my opinions to be forced on to them, or so strong that they get a case of “wow, dad’s an asshole.”
I just need to pace myself. Temper the quick observation and judgement. I’m still learning.
This is most likely more awesome than anything you will do today.
Thanks to Farcebook, these two articles about Finnish band Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät came on to my radar:
- Sputnik News | The Punk Syndrome: Band With Down Syndrome Applies for Eurovision
- DeathAndTaxes | Punk band with Down Syndrome looks to raise awareness in Eurovision Song Contest
Besides being awesome new (to me) enjoyable punk rock, I feel like it served as some sort of cosmic reminder, warning, or inspiration. Not only to me, but to everyone who happens to read this.
Not feeling a bunch of paragraphs today, so I will hit you with a bulleted list.
- Don’t ever let anyone tell you “no.” Don’t let anyone else set your limits. You can do whatever you set your mind to, and tell them to shove it.
- Don’t let anyone put you in a category. If you feel like you’re different because of your gender, race, orientation, religion, or a disability… own it, don’t let it own you.
- A little railing against convention, society, or any set standard is good for everybody. Punk rock can be all about a healthy expression of primal aggression.
- Learning about the lives of others who have things differently than you is incredibly enlightening.
- Someone with special needs like Down Syndrome or Autism with different abilities ought not be an object of derision. They have thoughts, feelings, and aspirations just like you. They get pissed off just like you. They rock just like yo
- Shattering expectations is the most badass thing you can do.
I’m sure there’s more, but you get my point. Notice little things like this in life. Be thankful for your insight. Be thankful that there are others out there reminding you to put forth your best effort. Learn something or learn about something often. Make some noise that gets heard.
Check out these videos.
…and more.
I need to get my hands on some music & get a peep at this documentary. Anyone already have these cats on their radar? Tell me more!
∞ Magical Musical Split? @Dethlehem & @TheBloodySeamen should do this…
Oprah Money & Dick Cheney Power – This could be the cover, because… Why not?
OK, so if I had Oprah money and Dick Cheney power, and could treat other human beings like my own personal play things… I would commission two local Pittsburgh metal bands to do an epic cover split. Do bands that aren’t punk bands do splits? Well, they will if they’re my playthings.
I’d want Dethlehem to cover Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” (with the original “Walpurgis” lyrics of course), and The Bloody Seamen to cover the Beastie Boys’ “Rhymin’ and Stealin'” (which music nerds know features another Sabbath riff from “Sweet Leaf”).
Why? Why not? I love obscure and nonsensical covers. I like these bands. They would probably not want any part of this. I mean, guys in bands LOVE it when you go up to them and spew out “You know what song you guys should cover?” then ramble off dumb ideas like this.
Witches gather at black masses
Bodies burning in red ashes
On the hill the church in ruin
Is the scene of evil doings
It’s a place for all bad sinners
Watch them eating dead rats’ innards
I guess it’s the same wherever you may go
Oh Lord yeahCarry banners which denounce the lord
See me rocking in my grave
See them anoint my head with dead rat’s blood
See them stick the stake through me
OhDon’t hold me back cause I’ve just gotta go
They’ve got a hold of my soul now
Lords got my brain instinct with blood obscene
Look in my eyes I’m there enough
YeahOn the scene a priest appears
Sinners falling at his knees
Satan sends out funeral pyre
Casts the priest into the fire
It’s the place for all bad sinners
Watch them eating dead rats’ innards
I guess it’s the same wherever you may go
Oh lord yeah
Because Mutiny on the Bounty’s what we’re all about
I’m gonna board your ship and turn it on out
No soft sucker with a parrot on his shoulder
‘Cause I’m bad gettin’ bolder, cold cold gettin’ colderTerrorizin’ suckers on the seven seas
And if you’ve got beef, you get capped in the knees
We got sixteen men on a dead man’s chest
And I shot those suckers and I’ll shoot the restMost illingest b-boy, I got that feelin’
‘Cause I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’Shh! Snatchin’ gold chains, vikin’ pieces of eight
I got your money and your honey and the fly name plate
We got wenches on the benches and bitties with titties
Housin’ all girlies from city to cityOne for all and all for one
Takin’ out MC’s with a big shotgun
All for one and one for all
Because the Beastie Boys have gone A.W.O.LFriggin’ in the riggin’, man, cuttin’ your throat
Big bitin’ suckers gettin’ thrown in the moat
We got maidens and wenches, man they’re on the ace
Captain Bligh’s gonna die when we break his faceMost illingest b-boy, I got that feelin’
I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’Ali Baba and the forty thieves
Ali Baba and the forty thieves
Ali Baba and the forty thieves
Ali Baba and the forty thievesAli Baba and the forty thieves
Ali Baba and the forty thieves
Ali Baba and the forty thieves
Ali Baba and the forty thievesTorchin’ and crackin’ and rhymin’ and stealin’
Robbin’ and rapin’, bustin’ two in the ceilin’
I’m wheelin’, I’m dealin’, I’m drinkin’, not thinkin’
Never cower, never shower and I’m always stinkin’Yo ho ho and a pint of Brass Monkey
And when my girlie shakes her hips she sure gets funky
Skirt chasin’, free basin’, killin’ every village
We drink and rob and rhyme and pillageMost illingest b-boy, I got that feelin’
I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’I was drinkin’ my rum, a deaf son of a gun
I fought the law and I cold won
Black Beard’s weak, Moby Dick’s on the tick
‘Cause I pull out the jammy and I squeeze off sixMy pistol is loaded, I shot Betty Crocker
Deliver Colonel Sanders down to Davey Jones’ locker
Rhymin’ and stealin’ in a drunken state
And I’ll be rockin’ my rhymes all the way to hell’s gateMost illingest b-boy, I got that feelin’
I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’
Most illingest b-boy, I got that feelin’
I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’Most illingest b-boy, I got that feelin’
‘Cause I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’
Most illingest b-boy, I got that feelin’
I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’Most chillinest b-boy
I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’
Most killingest b-boy
I am most ill and I’m rhymin’ and stealin’Most dustin’ out b-boy, I’m tossin’ my dust
Most finkinest b-boy, I’m doin’ that finkin’
Most rhyminest b-boy, I’m stretchin’ my shade
Most shootinest b-boy, I think you’re shitMost rhyminest b-boy, I’ll steal your shit homeboy
Most taxinest b-boy, I’ll tax you boy
Most illingest illingest illingest b-boy
Taxin’ all y’all squares, yeah!
Maybe change “b-boy” to “pirate” or something? Bandit? Looter? Outlaw? Maybe the line “Because the Beastie Boys have gone A.W.O.L” to “‘Cause the Bloody Seamen have gone A.W.O.L”? I’d pee my pants if I heard you all rapping.
So what would it take, guys? Can we get a Kickstarter going, or what?
The Bloody Seamen
Dethlehem
World (and Lunar) Domination 