Adventurous Friends Made Breakfast Fun!

Two friends invited us to join them at Lake Tahoe, where they told me in advance to bring things for my vegan meals.

It was a lot of fun to share some of these things because the friends were appreciative of everything from the almond milk and banana shake to the fresh-herb water that had just been delivered by Farm Fresh to you.

Above you can almost see the friends Suzi and Roger toasting with the brew I made, the pluots, the pimientos de padron (which were too hot--not like the ones I had in Spain), the tomaca--a friend's fresh tomatoes served on toast rubbed with garlic, and that interesting, very subtle brew of fresh herbs!

Soy Ears at Trader Joe's!

Of course I know that this really says 50years, but I managed to see it as SOY EARS, a Summer of Love at a vegan-friendly Trader Joe's.

Of course, I Knew I was lecturing. But she silenced me at our table two days later.

When I responded with my "platform" to my friend asking me to cease and desist all the talk, I got this response:

Thanks for your apology.  When I monopolize a conversation, I’m usually unaware of it, too, unless my husband is there and reminds me with a poke in the ribs or a yawn.

I don’t know if you realize you just gave me a private lecture.  I feel that there’s a special door that says “lecture on veganism this way” and I keep entering it by mistake, somehow.  I want the other door.  

Carna xoxo  P.S.  I’m happy that you’re happy.  It’s good for the soul

Hmmm.

I wasn't apologizing, and I think she knew that.  I said I was sorry for alienating her, but I don't think that was an apology, just a feeling of regret.

Of course I knew I was giving her a private lecture.  That was so I could grant her wish and be silent on the subject the following week when we met for her birthday lunch at a place with almost nothing vegan on the menu.

I don't know how she knew I was happy although I am!

Anyway, I was pleasant but quiet (she might say quiet, therefore pleasant) at our lunch in her honor except for making sure there were no animal products in the salad.  I didn't get them to make me a hot vegan dish as they did last time.

In my birthday card to her, I didn't mention the vegan cause.

But I wonder:  If her cat were being tortured, wouldn't she  want to know so that she could put an end to the torture?  I don't think she'd want to be protected from the horror so that she could feel more comfortable while it was going on.  By knowing she could save the cat from such misery.  

When a meat-eating friends begs you to cease and desist all the talk

Here's an exchange I got from a friend--and I might more accurately say a former friend because I've so alienated her.  (I'm not using her real name to protect her privacy--even though no one ever reads this blogspot!

Hi Tina,

I wanted to ask you if you would mind terribly if our lunch conversation on Monday at the (name of restaurant heavy on meat and dairy)  did not include a lot about vegans and veganism.  I know that you are very sincere about it, and quite involved.  Me, not so much, and one of the things I love about our little birthday group is the variety of things we are interested in.  I hope you will understand and excuse me for this request.  

Love, 

Carna

Hi, Carna~

I'm really sorry that you feel this way.  I know I've made an issue of this because I think it's so important for people to be made aware--if they aren't already--of the connection between what we eat and animal suffering and climate warming. 

I feel that we do talk about a lot of different things and that if people are uncomfortable for five minutes, that's part of any movement, and this is the movement I feel the most strongly about since the Civil Rights Movement, which my Southern friends might have liked me to talk less about back in the 1960's.

I think in a few decades--if our planet lasts--people will look back on the animal suffering we accepted and supported in the same way that we now look back on slavery.  In the case of slavery we treated human beings as if they were sub-human, and in the case of factory farmed animals, we treated animals (how I wish it were past tense!) as if they were inanimate objects.

I know this may be the last time we're together as a group, and there were many years when you were such a good friend and we really enjoyed each other's company.  I've been aware that in the past year or so, when I send you messages--not about  veganism--you don't respond at all.  I'm sorry that I've alienated you.

Thank you for giving me this chance to express my thoughts.  I won't express them tomorrow. 

Love,

      Tina

 

Follow Up to "Vegans with Loose Morals Welcome" --at Peckinpah's Carolina B-B-Q

Peckinpah turns out to be what I suspected, not a vegetarian restaurant not yet vegan, but a heavy-on-the-meat restaurant.



http://www.peckinpahbbq.com/images/newestmenu.pdf

It's in Vancouver but serves Carolina-style barbecue.

Encuentro Owes My Friends, and We Owe Encuentro!

Dear Encuentro Staff,

I gave two friends, Kathy Loss and Tom Loss,  each a $100 gift certificate to Encuentro before you closed down!  I'd like to be sure both friends have the chance to enjoy a meal or two at Encuentro. 

I'm including them in this e-mail so that you can let them know how they can get a refund on the gift or use it for one or more  of your pop ups.  I don't think they get  your e-messages.

I'd really appreciate your attention to this.  We love your food and are grateful that by providing it, you are alleviating the suffering of animals in factory farms and lessening the impact of livestock on the environment.   

Tina Martin

Why isn't eating less meat emphasized more in "An Inconvenient Sequel"?

Dear Al Gore and Greenpeace,

Thank you for your email.

I have a question:  Why isn't eating less meat emphasized more in "An Inconvenient Sequel"?

At first I excused the omission because I thought Al Gore was focusing on what governments can do.  But the Minister of the Environment in Germany has said meat and dairy will not be served at official functions, and several mayors in Europe (notably Turin and Barcelona) have emphasized a plant-based diet.

Sincerely wanting to know.

Tina Martin