zgirll's New Writeups

I Like Worms (idea)

2006-04-14T17:00:45Z

I Like Worms

You know what makes me really, really happy? When I dig into the ground in my garden and the soil comes up just wiggling with lots and lots of worms. That just tickles me pink. You see, I come from a family of worm connoisseurs. My grandma and grandpa used to have a long-standing argument over which were best: red wigglers or night crawlers. They each had separate bins where they raised their own particular breed of worms. Grandpa had an old buried sink that he kept full of coffee grounds, cabbage leafs, kitchen scraps and of course oodles of obscenely fat, slimy night crawlers. Grandma, on the other hand, built a quite large above-ground structure where she kept her smaller, but equally glutinous red wigglers well fed on grapefruit halves, egg shells and torn up newspapers. It was a much-competed for honor among us grandkids to be the one who got to go out and get the worms before a fishing trip. We'd take out two old coffee cans with…

Third Step prayer (thing)

2004-09-09T22:47:59Z

The Third Step Prayer is found on page 63 of The Big Book, the Basic Text for Alcoholics Anonymous. The text is as follows:
"God, I offer myself to Thee-to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!"

This prayer is recited by a person who is working on their recovery from alcoholism after they have completed Step One and Step Two of the Twelve Step Program. Steps one and two consist of an alcoholic admitting to herself that she is powerless over alcohol and can't manage her own life, and that a higher power could restore her to sanity. When those two beliefs are reached, the alcoholic is ready for Step Three, which consists of turning her life over to the care of that higher power. That's what the prayer is all…

Hayduke (person)

2004-09-09T20:49:30Z

The character of Hayduke in Edward Abbey's books is reportedly based on the real-life environmental warrior Doug Peacock. Peacock's life is no less fascinating than that of George Washington Hayduke. Peacock returned from The Vietnam War and discovered that he both couldn't and didn't want to re-enter society so he withdrew to the wilderness, where bears became his closest allies and teachers. Later, Peacock did return to society, to become one of the Grizzly Bear's greatest advocates. Doug deserves to, and will soon (as soon as I get back from lunch) have his own writeup, as he is a dynamic and interesting person.

March 11, 2004 (idea)

2004-03-11T22:36:04Z

How do you grieve for someone who you didn't really like? I'm struggling with that issue right now, and strangely enough, I'm truly grieving. I'm finding out that agreeing with and always liking someone are entirely different things than valuing and respecting that person.

Jack was hit by a car about a month ago. Jack died a week ago. I can't believe I'm even thinking this, but the world is a lesser place with Jack gone.

I knew Jack through Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. Jack was known as one of the AA Nazis, a term we used for those who were very zealous about interpreting AA principles in their narrowest sense. In real life, that meant that Jack didn't like to talk about anything in AA meetings except drinking alcohol or the AA program. Jack didn't like people in the meetings talking about addictions other than alcohol, life problems that only tangentally related to alcoholism, or and beliefs that weren't specifically addressed in the AA program.

Jack was…

Millie-Christine McKoy, The Two-Headed Nightingale (person)

2004-02-06T01:30:07Z

On July 11, 1851 two baby girls were born to slaves Monemia and Jacob McCoy. Well, some considered them two baby girls. You see, these two babies were joined; connected to each other at the base of the spine, where they had remained fused in the womb. They shared two upper bodies, four legs, and one pelvis. Twins joined in this manner are known as pyopagus twins. Other than being joined, the two girls were normally shaped, and grew to be quite attractive. As toddlers they had problems learning to walk in sync with each other, but eventually developed a graceful sideways walk, and even danced in their later stage shows.

The parents feared for their girls and tried to stem the flow of curious onlookers who came to the farm to see the "strange curiosity". Indeed, the public interest in the two girls caused the parents' owner to sell the entire family for $200. The girls were soon resold for $1000, then again for $30,000 to showman J.P. Smith. One of Smith's rivals stole the twins and…

Crockpot chili (thing)

2004-02-05T00:01:28Z

It's one of my favorite things in life to walk into my house on a cold, rainy winter day after work and be greeted by the warm scent of well seasoned chili. If I've thought ahead and picked up some sourdough bread bowls, grated sharp cheddar cheese, and sour cream I'm in for a real treat and a relaxing evening. Here's my recipe.

Crockpot Chili - No Beans
1 Pound beef stew meat (1 inch cubes)
1 pound pork (1 inch cubes)
1 yellow onion (diced)
1 small can chopped green chilies
2 cups beef broth (1 can)
3 cans diced tomatoes
2 TBS diced garlic
a bunch of chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and oregano

Put it all in the crockpot before you leave for work, turn it on low, and eat it when you get home.