Food for Thoughts (II)

Recently, I rediscovered a perfect snack in popcorn. For years, I have deprived myself of this simple pleasure. In addition to its nutritional value, the puffed up corn kernels are delicious and are very low in calories. No matter how the cloud-like popcorn is seasoned, it is always a welcoming treat. Moreover, a cup of plain corn kernels has only *27 calories. Corn is also a good source of fibers and many other beneficial nutrients including protein and Vitamins.

The other day, I decided to get some new crunchy snacks. So this armchair-golfer would have something different to munch on while watching the PGA competition on television. A bag of white cheddar cheese popcorn seemed to fit the bill. I do realize store-bought ones may contain too much salt and extra fats. But I am certain this healthy snack will not harm my body and spirit if I choose carefully for what I buy and I do not overindulge myself on them. Since corn is a veggie, consuming some popcorn now and then will definitely help me add more vegetables in my simple diet.

Popcorn is an inexpensive treat too. It does not break our piggy bank when we decide to pop a batch of the crunchy morsels ourselves. A half cup of corn kernels in a few tablespoons of cooking oil can yield a bucketful of the fluffed up goodies. This perfect snack has also being used in making cakes, granola bars and even Christmas decorations.

Now let us get ourselves some tasty popcorns and be aMAIZEd - Ayee

* From Frances Towner Giedt’s POPCORN!,1995

Doggie Story ( l )

This is about my neighbor’s two gentle dogs.

Skipper, a Keeshound, is the older one. His pal, Bear is a cream-color Samoyed. Their dear owners tethered them to a sail boat berthed in front of their garage. The lengthy ropes on the dog’s collar allowed the pair to wonder around the unfenced yard. There was also a homemade dog house in the yard. But their favorite spot appeared to be a cement block in the shade of the sail boat.

During the summer months, the retired couple would pitch a tent on the north side of their bungalow. To escape the stuffy heat, they lounged there with Skipper and Bear by their side. A portrait of a happy and content family never failed to bring smiles from the neighbors passing by.

Both Skipper and Bear looked very healthy and were well adjusted to each others. They, like many other dogs, barked perfunctorily when neighbors walked by. Now and then when I knew I would be passing by their house, I always remembered having a few dog biscuits for them. They seemed to know I was their friend. And our milk bones fortified relationship flourished for many years until one day I saw Skip, with Bear next to him, in great pain at the pair’s favorite spot.

On that day I was on my way to run a few errands. When I was near Skip’s house, I heard him howling. I found part of Skip’s body was covered in his own blood. Without hesitation, I alerted Skip’s owners of their pet's desperate call for help. Extremely unfortunate for Skip, because of the hefty vet bills, my elderly neighbors decided to let Skip go in peace.

Of course, I was saddened by the loss of an otherwise healthy dog. And Bear lost his long time pal. Not long after Skip died, I went by to visit Bear one day. It was hot and muggy. I saw Bear, the gentle giant, lied on his side napping on the lawn in the shadow of a camper. This time he growled at me when I pet him. I did not know if Bear was upset by the fact that I was the one caused Skip to disappear or the fact that I woke him up from his afternoon nap. I thought memory of the tasty treats would make bad feeling more tolerable. But there was a clear message from this wooly doggie that suggested "LEAVE ME ALONG OR ELSE." Tell me animals have no feelings!

I have not returned to visit Bear and his elderly owners since I moved a few years ago. But the fond memory of being friends with Skip, Bear and their dear owners always made me feel blessed for having neighbors like them. - Ayee

A Curmudgeon's Cat

Last year, I got to read a few books on cats and their people. Four of them are by the late TV Guide critic, Cleveland Amory. He, a Harvard graduate and self-proclaimed curmudgeon, had certainly ruffled many feathers as a relentless advocate for animal rights. He was not kind to his prestigious alma mater either. A few practices at this Ivy League school had appalled him.

This former newspaper editor is best known for his book about an irresistible white kitten he rescued from a New York City alley on Christmas Eve. The Cat Who Came for Christmas* made Polar Bear, the curmudgeon’s cat, an instant celebrity.

Mr. Amory’s uncle and aunt taught him be kind to animals. Black Beauty was his favorite book when he was a lad. Years later, he founded "Funds for Animals" for which he was the unpaid president until his death in 1998. He also co-founded the Humane Society of the United States, one of the most powerful animal welfare lobbies in the States. Through these establishments, they airlifted more than three hundreds burros from the Nevada desert. They exposed the corrupted and cruel practices at a government agency that rounded up wild horses. Among many other animal rescue missions, they also financed the effort of Sea Shepard, an anti-whaling ship, to disrupt a seal hunt in Canada.

In The Cat Who Came for Christmas, this best seller author chronicled what was like living with a stubborn cat. To satisfy a stray cat’s appetite, he had to keep Tender Vittles in his night stand so Polar Bear could have a quick snack in the wee hours of the day. To prevent his Christmas kitty from falling off from the balcony when birdwatching, he cordoned off half of his Park Avenue apartment balcony. He even resorted to animal psychics so he could understand sometime very disagreeable Polar Bear better. Obviously, he, like many other pet owners, would do anything to please his furry friend.

It is also noted in this best seller book that cats can jump as high as seven times of their body length. This explains why the normal six-foot fence can never keep a cat in the yard for long. In addition, according to the professions the author conferred, left-pawed cats are more perceptive than their right-winged peers.

In any case, I am sure Polar Bear would agree with his extremely accommodating human friend that all animals, great and small, deserve to be treated with respect and kindness. To do what he preached, Mr. Amory built an animal sanctuary in Texas. The Black Beauty Ranch is now home to many retired, displaced and injury animals.

Once I wrote to a newspaper reporter on the benefits of pet ownership. One of the many we agreed upon was the enjoyment we got out from reading the books on pets and animals. - Ayee

* The other three Cleveland Amory’s books are:
- Cat and The Curmudgeon
- The Best Cat Ever
- Ranch of Dreams