This post started out a little differently.....

I'm in a snit. Not because of a huge injustice inflicted upon me or I feel moved by the terrible suffering in the world (although I do feel those emotions too, just not right now). It's because of cheese.

I had the joy of going to a year end Christmas party today. 300 women contributed to the brunch, surely there would be at least 5 different entrees to suit every one's taste buds and dietary restrictions. Not so, you would have thought we live in Wisconsin as much cheese was mounded into every casserole, salad, bread, and dessert. There were dishes that weren't improved by the addition of cheese yet still had cheese smothered upon the plate.

No doubt I would feel less intense hatred of the cheeses if I could consume cheese without symptoms. But since symptoms abound, I've looked high and low for recipes, Yahoo Groups, cheese replacement websites, magazines (Vegan Times) to survive in a dairy entrenched society. While participating in this subculture I've been educated and here's just a sampling of what I've learned:

1. Yes, cheese is addictive because it contains opiates.Go here to read the full article
2. Well meaning people often question me about my dairy abstinence claiming I get 'no calcium in my diet. Aren't you concerned about osteoporosis?" My response: I sure would be concerned if I were consuming dairy.Click here to educate yourself
3. Dairy cows lead the most difficult lives and die horrible, torturing deaths.
Click here to know how your milk, cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, and yogurt gets to you
While I'm on the subject of foodstuffs I'll add in these tidbits:

1. A pound of beef costs $35 to produce but costs $2.50 in the supermarket. A conservative water per pound estimate of 250 gallons. Ask your government why. I won't go into the way these cows live and are slaughtered because this is a kid friendly forum....but be responsible and educate yourself. Beware! clicking on this link is gruesome and hard to watch....but then again slaughter and mistreatment of animals is never neat and nice. Even if you are an entrenched meat eater watch the video and be educated...know what you eat.

2. I've got several friends who are jumping on the discount grocery shopping bandwagon and while most of their finds are news worthy and enviable I do have one bone to pick. Eggs. Consider the lives and treatment of laying hens knowing they will never see a ray of sunshine, forge like God intended, smell fresh air, stretch their wings, or have their feet touch a blade green grass but yet experiencing their beaks sheared from their faces with a smoldering hot knife as a chick. They'll be lucky if they live a year. I'm not willing to save 67 cents at the expense of another living creature. Buy free range organic eggs,  at least those hens will have a marginally better life or better yet get your own chickens. Learn how to raise your own here.

I believe that we as humans were given a responsibility by God to care for the planet we were given  Go here and read what the Bible says about creation.  Don't let ignorance be your excuse. Factory farming is not a humane, intelligent,or a responsible institution. Need I remind you where Swine Flu was born?swine flu

All that from a luncheon....