Eat less meat

Global warming (free clip art)
Global warming (free clip art)
A UN scientist said that we should eat less meat to tackle global warming. HUH? The report stated, and I quote:

Pachuari said that “the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has estimated that direct emissions from meat production account for about 18% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions,” when explaining the reasons behind his comment. “So I want to highlight the fact that among options for mitigating climate change, changing diets is something one should consider.”

Then the story goes on to say:

The National Farmers Union said that people should find ways of environmental farming instead of giving up meat. “The NFU is committed to ensuring farming is part of the solution to climate change, rather than being part of the problem,” said a spokesperson for the organization. “We strongly support research aimed at reducing methane emissions from livestock farming by, for example, changing diets and using anaerobic digestion.”

Now I’ve been around cows a time or two and  I know they ’emit methane gas’ quite often. So what is he saying, that if you eat less meat, there will be less cows to emit this gas or the processing of the cows is what emits methane gas? I’m just a bit confused. I guess next they’ll suggest we don’t eat so many beans and broccoli so we won’t emit so much gas either? Am I looking at that wrong or what?

Meeting Charlie for pizza

Pizza Hut (free clip art)
Pizza Hut (free clip art)

Charlie had invited the kids and I to Pizza Hut for dinner tonight. At first I wasn’t sure but since I did check him out pretty good, I thought we might enjoy a night out so I accepted his invitation. I have talked to him a couple times over the past couple of weeks and so far, he seems harmless. I just hope it stays that way.

He says he has a surprise for the kids. I have no idea what to expect but I’m not going to accept much from him until I’m sure he’s just what he seems to be and that’s a nice older man looking to share a moment or two with kids to help make his life fuller since he’s all alone. I feel sorry for anyone that is alone because I know how that feels.

Need a new guitar bag

guitar bag (free clip art)
guitar bag (free clip art)

I am so angry at Shawn’s dog right now I could just scream! I have asked Shawn repeatedly to not let that dog roam around the house un-supervised when I am not at home. Do you think he would listen to me and honor my request? Yeah, right! That stupid dog has chewed up my guitar bag, so now I need to go online to see MF and try to get a new one delivered by the weekend. I don’t have the time to run into town to pick one up. I’m going to make Shawn pay for the new bag and the expedited delivery charge, too! I guess I should just be glad that the stupid dog didn’t ruin the guitar, too!

Well I checked him out

I found a web site that tells you if there is a child molester in what ever radius you choose. There was no Charlie Benson listed which was a relief to me. I even looked up the number he gave me and it is registered to a Charles Benson so I think he’s okay so far.

Then I found a web site that lets you check criminal records. Again, no Charlie Benson. This seems so far to be just a nice older man who is lonely and wants a family to love. I’m going to take it slow and easy and see if I can learn more so I can really make sure my kids are safe with him. You just can’t be too careful these days with yourself and especially your children.

Time to find a pumpkin

jack-o-lantern (free clip art)
jack-o-lantern (free clip art)
Today the kids and I went to a local pumpkin patch to find the perfect pumpkin to make a Jack-o- lantern from.  We found it and the darn thing cost $25 dollars. Needless to say, I couldn’t afford it. As we were walking away with one screaming and crying “I want THAT pumpkin” and the other two with long faces, a kind older man heard what was going on.

As I was getting everyone in the car, someone tapped me on my shoulder. It was the gentleman that had been near enough us to hear the children cry and me say “I just can’t afford $25 for a pumpkin.”  There he stood with that pumpkin in his hands saying “Here, this pumpkin really needed to go home with your kids. It was crying when you left it so I had to get it for the kids so they all could be happy.” My children started hooting and hollering and each one gave the kind man a big hug and said thank you.

There I stood with tears in my eyes. This kind soul was my guardian angel at that moment and I could plainly see it in his eyes. I gave him a hug and told him that he had no idea how much I appreciated his selfless kindness. He told me his name was Charlie Benson, gave me his phone number and told me that if I needed anything to help with the children for Christmas, to please let him know. He didn’t have any family to spoil and would love to adopt my children as his grandchildren if that was okay. He then asked if he could call from time to time to just speak with them and hear how their day or week had been.

I’m a bit nervous about giving him my number and I hate to say it but I will check him out before I allow him to be much of a part of my children’s lives. You can’t be too careful in this day in time but my heart tells me he is what he appears to be, just a kind old man with no one who wants to help. I sure hope so because my children would love to have a ‘Grandpa’ to spoil them all.