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… from this past weekend’s Eat Local food expo. Thanks to the Kansas City Food Circle for putting this on!
1. All of the people!
Mike and I both were amazed at how many people, and different types of people, were at the food expo. It was awesome to feel like we were part of a larger community who valued the same thing – local, quality food. It was awesome!
2. Cranberry bushes!
We had no idea that you can grow cranberry bushes in the area. As we walked around, we learned all kinds of new things about what can be grown locally. While we don’t have our backyard ready to go for it yet, it gave us great ideas for the future! (and opened our eyes to how much fun this can be…)
3. Familiar faces … sort of.
We learned about the expo thanks to our pals at Fresh Connect. Not only did we see them there, but we also saw some of the people who work at Wells Family Farm and Schenker Family Farm, the two places where most of our meat comes from these days. So fun to put faces to the name, or package of hamburger in our case.
4. Breakfast… yummmmmmm.
We arrived hungry, and I was praying that there would be something we could eat for breakfast. Thanks to the Bread of Life’s table, we were in luck. We shared some awesome vegan zucchini bread and then drooled over all of their other selections. So good.
5. New Date Night Ideas!
If you know Mike & I very well, you know we try to have a weekly date night. Walking through the expo gave us some great new ideas, with our favorite being the New Earth Gardens in Bates City, MO. When you visit, they have a “U-Pick it” program where you go through the farm and pick what you want. They are growing so much stuff right now, it’s crazy cool. We can’t wait to try it out!
April 5, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Helping put the word out there for fellow local food connoisseurs … or those thinking about making the dive…..
April 2, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Reason #31
You just don’t.
Good reason, huh? Sorry for the tardiness of my last post. I didn’t quite get to it by the 31st, and the last thing I wanted was for it to be an April Fools joke!
For my last reason though, I thought I’d take the liberty and ask everyone to take me seriously for a second and just trust me on this one. I’ve had a blast shedding some light and humor on what some of us who’ve been through the colon cancer ringer go through. Instead of sounding like whiney babies all of the time, most of us make the most out of it and find a way to laugh about some of the things we go through… most days. Hopefully you’ve been able to laugh with me and get a new perspective about life without colon!
But on the serious side, I ask that you also take to heart some of the pleas to prevent colon cancer if you can. I’ve said it before, but being a cancer survivor is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s given me a passion for life and health that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I’ve got a perspective that’s unique, and I would not trade it for anything.
But, with that being said — I would absolutely go back and prevent getting the disease if I knew I was going to get it. Living without a colon isn’t always fun, and pretty annoying some days. I’ve given 31 reasons why it’s often inconvenient, and there could be many, many more. And these are the ones that are post-able.
My plea today is this: if you can, prevent getting colon cancer. It’s one of the most preventable, beatable, and treatable diseases out there. If it runs in your family, keep an eye on your poo and your body. If you’re over 50, get a colonoscopy – just do it. If you see blood or anything suspicious in your stool, get it checked out. You may be 17, or you may be 60 — but my story shows that regardless of your age — it’s beatable, and especially if you catch it early. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Take it from me.
April 2, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Reason #30
You will think talking about colon stuff is the coolest thing ever.
I don’t know if the facial expressions of others when they hear you talking about farts, poop, colons or toilets will ever get old. They’re classic.
March 30, 2010 at 11:05 pm
Reason #29
Your favorite doctor is #1 in the #2 business
Not that this is a negative in my life, but when you’re a colon gal, you see the colon doc a lot. I thought this would be a good opportunity to do a shameless plug for my GI doc, Dr. Taormina at Midwest Gastroenterology. Midwest GI saved me the pains that many of my fellow survivor friends have gone through in that I was not misdiagnosed. Although I was a young, 17-year-old with braces on my teeth who entered their office with some rectal bleeding, they still gave me the full colonoscopy and found my cancer as early as they had the chance. I’d recommend them to anyone in the area needing help with all GI-related issues. They are definitely my go-to place.
Ask Dr. T!
Speaking of Midwest GI and “issues,” Dr. T is actually going to become a feature on the Semicolon Stories blog. I’m often asked bowel-related questions since colon stuff seems to be my “thing.” Well, instead of me trying to give medical advice, Dr. T has agreed to answer questions that you guys have. If anything is looking funny, feeling funny or just not right, ask away! Curious about the latest trends, vitamins and what’s safe? Ask away! He’ll know the real answers rather than me just relating to your bloating problems and trying to diagnose you, or give you my opinions! We’ll send him a list of questions a few times each month, and he’ll give his doctor’s advice about what you should do!
If you have a question, you can submit a comment. It will not be posted on the blog (I have control over what is posted) and it will be kept anonymous. For example if you’re wondering why you can’t stop farting, the question will look like this:
Dear Dr. T,
Please help! I cannot stop farting, especially after eating lettuce and teriyaki! Yikes!
Sincerely,
Gassy Girl
So… let the games begin and start sending in your questions! Send us questions about anything and everything, and we’ll have an “Ask Dr. T.” post every few weeks. This should be fun!
March 29, 2010 at 11:06 pm
Reason #27
Emergency Stops
On a walk, in the car, a semicolon does not discriminate. Thank goodness not on plane (yet).
Reason #28
Some days you feel like a ticking time bomb
In church today, wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Thank goodness it was defused and I made it through the sermon.
March 28, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Reason #26
The *as well as my colon cooperates* clause
For example, I had a long list of things to do today other than sit on the couch with a heating pad on my belly and run to the restroom every 15 minutes or so for most of the day. But oh well. Those $1 margaritas were well worth it last night. And if truth be told, I probably needed a slower day today.
March 26, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Reason #25
You’re the butt of the jokes.
Haha, get it? It’s actually pretty fun when you play along, but once you become a colon cancer survivor, be prepared for the harASSing that follows. Haha, get it again? Man I’m on a roll today.
March 25, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Reason #23
You’ll have to take it easy on the cheese
I’ve never really considered myself a cheese connoisseur, but lately I’ve realized how much I love it … but not its impact on the GI track. Too much cheese will equal too much gas, or bathroom time, or both, guaranteed.
Reason #24
Coffee-only mornings make you blow up like a blimp
Maybe it was just my day today, but I learned the hard way that I probably shouldn’t start my mornings off with black coffee and neglect to eat anything with it. I felt like the Good Air Blimp was inside of my stomach all day.
March 24, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Reason #22
Your pre-existing condition.
Yep people, I’ll touch on it a little bit. But for the sake of harmony and getting to the point rather than my preferences, I’ll keep my opinions to a minimum. Regardless on what side of the health care line you are on, anyone else who can relate to having a pre-existing condition knows the sigh of relief that comes with hearing that someone is noticing our dilemma. Right now, it happens to be our government. I’m not going to get into a debate whether or not the legislation passed last night was the right or wrong step, but I will put it out there that I’m happy that there IS now a step and that we’re actually talking about it. To be someone who has been treated for a medical condition (especially one I had NO control over) and then told that I cannot get the one thing I need now because of it (health insurance free from a group plan) is the sinful nature at it’s finest. Whether it’s the church, our communities, small business owners or our government that is working to fix this problem that impacts our time on Earth, at least we’re getting somewhere.
March 22, 2010 at 9:14 pm
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