Hobo stew - What is it? Some may know it as Cowboy Stew. Simply put, it is a bunch of vegetables thrown in aluminum foil and cooked in a fire. We decided the vegetarian version could be "Hobo Stew" and the kind with meat could be "cowboy stew". It just seemed to fit.
I am now wondering about the political correctness of our terminology. Am I trying to say that hobo's can't afford meat? Should I try to put cowboys in a box by calling them all meat eaters? Didn't Brokeback Mountain break all the stereotypes about cowboys? They can be sensitive, why can't they be vegetarians? I did some research and found that cowboy is not PC (politically correct). So in an attempt to not anger any cowboy organizations that read my web log, I will refer to them as cowpunchers. Wait, PETA might be angry with that so I will now call them herders.
What about hobos? I guess its wrong to even label someone a hobo. I checked the thesaurus, so I will use the term migrant worker. Wait, people of latino descent might take offense at that, so I will call them wanderers. What about people that wander that have homes? They might take offense at that. So to end the debate I will refer to both herders and wanders as carnivorous nomads and vegetarian nomads. In summary, carnivorous nomadic stew and vegetarian nomadic stew are good.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
1st web log: special shoes required
Well, I've been inspired by my father-in-law to start my own blog. I figure our family does so many things that somebody might be interested in some of it. Well, I hope I take the time to actually write web logs in here. We'll see!
Why does everything require special shoes? When I 1st started backpacking I discovered that I needed "something sturdy with ankle support" on rough terrain. Later I learned that it was better to go lightweight with something that dries quickly. My ankles haven't forgiven me.
Next I began Civil War re-enacting. In order to look like a soldier I got Federal issue Brogans. These things are murder on your feet. All leather, including soles, and no outside grip. Exactly what you want on a long campaign march. Later I learned that the shoes I had weren't all that authentic after looking at museum examples. Thus I had to get a new hand built shoes to make my impression more authentic, because when you go to a re-enactment the first thing you notice is the shoes.
Recently I went on a canoe trip. I thought sandals would be great. Wrong! Rocks get in your sandals and don't come out until you remove your shoes. So I got a pair of wading shoes with drain vents in the bottom and closed toes. Now I can canoe in blissful foot comfort without rocks or money in my wallet.
Next I took up duck hunting. Rubber boots will work just fine, right? Wrong again. I now own a pair of camouflage chest waders. These things are so tall, who needs a boat! Until you trip on a stump, fall, and fill them up with ice cold water in the middle of winter. Yes it is as much fun as it sounds.
I started bicycling to get in shape. I love riding my bike on the road for pleasure. I also love backpacking, why not combine the two and start Mountain biking? Makes perfect sense until you start screaming down a rocky hill trying to hold on for dear life. Your feet fly in every direction and the pedals keep ripping up your shins (and your toes if you're my wife). Guess what the answer is? That's right! I now own a pair of mountain biking shoes equipped with Shimano pedaling devices (SPD) and replaceable cleats. These up the ante by forcing you to buy new pedals for your bicycle as well. Now I can scream like a little girl while flying off a cliff because I'm locked into my bike. What a great idea!
Scuba diving is another hobby of mine. Everyone knows you need flippers for that. Wrong again! My dive instructor jumped down my throat for calling them "flippers". Evidently they are fins, and evidently they are very expensive.
Now for just some other hobbies I have bought shoes for in the past:
Tennis - Which surface? Clay, Grass, Concrete - Why not a different shoe for each?
Running - because less is more - but more doesn't cost less.
Walking - for when you realize how dumb running is
Football - a guy has to have cleats to be cool
Soccer - you think football cleats would work here until you try to repetitively kick a soccer ball off the ground and realize that a toe cleat isn't as cool as you thought
Waterproof "breathable" hiking boots - *see above but waterproof. Imagine walking for miles with your foot wrapped in a garbage bag. At least no water gets in!
Waterproof "breathable" hiking shoes - because they made the materials more breathable and they are lighter weight. Result: see above entry
Hiking Sandals - Just the opposite of waterproof. You realize why Jesus washed the disciples feet.
Shoes I plan on buying:
Bowling - simply because the ones you rent gross me out
Rock climbing - Because there are so many rocks in baton rouge
Call me Imelda Marcos if you want, but I'm willing to bet you have spent more than your fair share on shoes as well. Just take a peek in your closet sometime before you point the finger. Ain't marketing wonderful!
Why does everything require special shoes? When I 1st started backpacking I discovered that I needed "something sturdy with ankle support" on rough terrain. Later I learned that it was better to go lightweight with something that dries quickly. My ankles haven't forgiven me.
Next I began Civil War re-enacting. In order to look like a soldier I got Federal issue Brogans. These things are murder on your feet. All leather, including soles, and no outside grip. Exactly what you want on a long campaign march. Later I learned that the shoes I had weren't all that authentic after looking at museum examples. Thus I had to get a new hand built shoes to make my impression more authentic, because when you go to a re-enactment the first thing you notice is the shoes.
Recently I went on a canoe trip. I thought sandals would be great. Wrong! Rocks get in your sandals and don't come out until you remove your shoes. So I got a pair of wading shoes with drain vents in the bottom and closed toes. Now I can canoe in blissful foot comfort without rocks or money in my wallet.
Next I took up duck hunting. Rubber boots will work just fine, right? Wrong again. I now own a pair of camouflage chest waders. These things are so tall, who needs a boat! Until you trip on a stump, fall, and fill them up with ice cold water in the middle of winter. Yes it is as much fun as it sounds.
I started bicycling to get in shape. I love riding my bike on the road for pleasure. I also love backpacking, why not combine the two and start Mountain biking? Makes perfect sense until you start screaming down a rocky hill trying to hold on for dear life. Your feet fly in every direction and the pedals keep ripping up your shins (and your toes if you're my wife). Guess what the answer is? That's right! I now own a pair of mountain biking shoes equipped with Shimano pedaling devices (SPD) and replaceable cleats. These up the ante by forcing you to buy new pedals for your bicycle as well. Now I can scream like a little girl while flying off a cliff because I'm locked into my bike. What a great idea!
Scuba diving is another hobby of mine. Everyone knows you need flippers for that. Wrong again! My dive instructor jumped down my throat for calling them "flippers". Evidently they are fins, and evidently they are very expensive.
Now for just some other hobbies I have bought shoes for in the past:
Tennis - Which surface? Clay, Grass, Concrete - Why not a different shoe for each?
Running - because less is more - but more doesn't cost less.
Walking - for when you realize how dumb running is
Football - a guy has to have cleats to be cool
Soccer - you think football cleats would work here until you try to repetitively kick a soccer ball off the ground and realize that a toe cleat isn't as cool as you thought
Waterproof "breathable" hiking boots - *see above but waterproof. Imagine walking for miles with your foot wrapped in a garbage bag. At least no water gets in!
Waterproof "breathable" hiking shoes - because they made the materials more breathable and they are lighter weight. Result: see above entry
Hiking Sandals - Just the opposite of waterproof. You realize why Jesus washed the disciples feet.
Shoes I plan on buying:
Bowling - simply because the ones you rent gross me out
Rock climbing - Because there are so many rocks in baton rouge
Call me Imelda Marcos if you want, but I'm willing to bet you have spent more than your fair share on shoes as well. Just take a peek in your closet sometime before you point the finger. Ain't marketing wonderful!
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