tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78785009614724576772024-03-16T00:49:41.771-05:00Buzzard's BeatBrandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.comBlogger461125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-28816932620041291002016-02-24T09:17:00.000-06:002016-02-24T09:17:00.586-06:00I've Moved!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlEemH2BGF499871bbC1iLt7ZBm5axo9FQXPDxAjGjTNGMf_ush5R8TQPq1Vt31hPsLrKG14pPZYJUT6NtYiT1oSk7-rT-41nQRALCpAshJ5LY4BuNzSqoE4UISBW_pwW83qblScDaCkB/s1600/buzzards+beat+dot+com.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlEemH2BGF499871bbC1iLt7ZBm5axo9FQXPDxAjGjTNGMf_ush5R8TQPq1Vt31hPsLrKG14pPZYJUT6NtYiT1oSk7-rT-41nQRALCpAshJ5LY4BuNzSqoE4UISBW_pwW83qblScDaCkB/s320/buzzards+beat+dot+com.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
No - not to another state. I'm just switching platforms and upping my blogging game a bit by becoming a self-hosted blog on Wordpress.com!<br />
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I made this jump primarily because Blogger's antiquated editor and lack of functionality (or maybe it's my lack of tech skills) had me at my wit's end. So I figured, no time like the present. And, after hearing a friend and fellow blogger say "It's time to treat my own brand like I do my clients'," I bit the bullet, purchased my own domain name and have moved everything over to Wordpress! You can now find me at <a href="http://www.buzzardsbeat.com/">www.buzzardsbeat.com</a> (that sounds so cool, I must admit) and after this post, all content will be over there. Starting next week, this page will redirect so instead of this Blogger site being on your Fave bar, make sure to change it to the new, improved site!<br />
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Don't worry - all your favorite posts will still be available for reading, along with my social properties, some new features and a snazzy new theme! I've got just one favor to ask of you - once you get to that new page, <em><strong>please sign up to receive email notifications of new posts</strong></em>. Those of you who already do that on this blog will likely lose that functionality due to Google's Feedburner transferability but all you have to do is put your email address in the box on the new site, push submit and you're set!<br />
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It's been great blogging here for 6+ years and I'm looking forward to continuing the chronicles of life on a Kansas ranch on a new platform. To celebrate the transfer, I've got an exciting giveaway planned for next week so don't miss out!<br />
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Thanks for reading and I hope to see you at the new and improved <a href="http://www.buzzardsbeat.com/">Buzzard's Beat</a>!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-84405519967998730012016-02-19T12:17:00.001-06:002016-02-20T00:55:24.989-06:00I'm Taking a Seat<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWmfA_g975f1GC6Z9LFWkTmWtrdECd0zJjlxc0eZBPySn0t1lvegNQL7Sffn4wG2ttrn0LFXefBLZeEqfy7C40cRrVV2Mr9jlSNpg_1npZCaAU9AtgS9QoFTJKsTCnXMo2MuIO76_Usnf/s1600/meeting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Meeting at an auction market" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWmfA_g975f1GC6Z9LFWkTmWtrdECd0zJjlxc0eZBPySn0t1lvegNQL7Sffn4wG2ttrn0LFXefBLZeEqfy7C40cRrVV2Mr9jlSNpg_1npZCaAU9AtgS9QoFTJKsTCnXMo2MuIO76_Usnf/s320/meeting.png" title="I'm Taking a Seat" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Listening in to a meeting about the Veterinary Feed Directive <br />
at our local auction market. <br />
I was the only young producer in attendance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you aren't at the table, you aren't part of the conversation.<br />
<br />
That mantra is heard often throughout society during presidential elections and debates but have you ever taken the time to consider how your voice can affect everyday activities in your community or your professional interests?<br />
<br />
Jennifer Latze, a phenomenal writer and outright awesome person, recently penned an article in the High Plains Journal titled, <a href="http://www.hpj.com/home_and_family/where-have-all-the-members-gone/article_4649c2a9-664a-5ef9-96b3-c72d503039a8.html">"Where Have All the Members Gone?"</a> in which she discusses the need for young people in agriculture to pay our dues (literally, with money) and attend industry meetings and events. After all, the discussions taking place at local, state and national agriculture organization meetings are those that will shape policies, procedures and trends for our industry for several years to come. Jennifer hits the nail right on the head when she says, <a href="http://www.hpj.com/home_and_family/where-have-all-the-members-gone/article_4649c2a9-664a-5ef9-96b3-c72d503039a8.html">"Today, the average age of the American farmer is 57 to 58 years old. We need to not only think about who’s going to take his place in the field or on the ranch, but also who’s going to take his place in the grassroots organization he’s spent a lifetime supporting."</a> It's my generation's responsibility to ensure that the time, sweat and efforts that have been devoted to improving agriculture for the past 30-40 years aren't wasted away by a lack of leadership or involvement.<br />
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Personally, I devote a lot of time to initiatives and organizations that are near and dear to my heart so I volunteer on our county fair board, county livestock association board, spend time with Kansas State University student groups and just recently was selected to the Board of Directors for the Ranchland Trust of Kansas, which is an organization that works to preserve the ranching heritage in Kansas for future generations. I'm a Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Livestock Association and NCBA member as well. Those fees add up and <a href="http://www.hpj.com/home_and_family/where-have-all-the-members-gone/article_4649c2a9-664a-5ef9-96b3-c72d503039a8.html">as Jennifer says in her article</a>, are a seemingly easy line item to cut. We are just starting out in ranching - we've got water lines to dig, pots of cattle to buy and trucks to repair. Saving a few hundred bucks would really help out in the long run.<br />
<br />
But it only takes one or two industry meetings to remind me that those dues are worth it. I recently attended the KLA legislative conference and was able to learn about legislation that will affect my ability to do business in the future. The floor was opened to comments and industry positions were voted upon. That meeting was the definition of "grassroots" - people coming together to make decisions to positively impact our industry and livelihood. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of millennials at the meeting and hope that as I continue to get involved with passion projects, I will meet more young people willing to donate their time and talents to leading our industry through the next generation.<br />
<br />
If you aren't involved in your community and industry, what right do you have to criticize the policies laid out or the direction being taken? Discussion about life-changing events starts at the local level - meet with your councilman, senator or representative. Start out by joining a county organization to get your feet wet and then take the next step to a state-level involvement. You'll be surprised at the lessons you'll learn that will not only affect your livelihood but your outlook on life in general. I'm thankful for the time I've been able to spend learning from those who have been making decisions for the past 30 years - their guidance and wisdom is unmatched and I hope to continue working with them to create a better future for my family, community and industry. <br />
<br />
What are your "passion projects?"<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~<br />
<br />Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-81621320572739313442016-02-10T09:42:00.000-06:002016-02-11T08:52:19.438-06:00How to See Rome in 2.5 DaysI posted a few weeks ago about our <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2016/01/around-world-in-35-days.html">whirlwind, trip-of-a-lifetime to Europe</a> in December. Well, I'm back with a recap on how you can see Rome and the awesome architectural attractions in only 2.5 days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3Jw5FKNd89eaoOnWbFD3JhjTeDypEgw6UzNZBwVYkDR7PNYzTayJt_knEKZ83SdvLNQ3QrcdLwoeMX9Q3cp3oQAmhEQupbVADQaFlfFCIl8MBaSOT-LEu-jIO-P8KzIJDoGDPKBefSB9/s1600/Rome+edited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3Jw5FKNd89eaoOnWbFD3JhjTeDypEgw6UzNZBwVYkDR7PNYzTayJt_knEKZ83SdvLNQ3QrcdLwoeMX9Q3cp3oQAmhEQupbVADQaFlfFCIl8MBaSOT-LEu-jIO-P8KzIJDoGDPKBefSB9/s320/Rome+edited.png" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our half day was the first day we were in Rome - we left Australia and after three long flights we landed in Rome at 12:30 pm. So, here we go!<br />
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Day 1 (half day):<br />
<ul>
<li>Arrive in Rome - find transportation to your accommodation to drop off your bags; take shower clean up and head out to explore! </li>
<li>Tour the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d254786-Reviews-Museum_and_Crypt_of_Capuchins-Rome_Lazio.html">Capuchin Crypt,</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piazza_di_Spagna">Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps</a> and stroll through the name brand shops and stores while enjoying the smells of a wide variety of foods.</li>
<li>Once you have worked up a hunger, choose one of many authentic Italian restaurants but be wary, many of those on the tourist pathways are overpriced. We dined at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187791-d2442313-Reviews-La_Barrique-Rome_Lazio.html">La Barrique</a> and I had the best meatballs of my life while the Ninja enjoyed a hefty portion of pork shank.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMvQSPB9USdcA3wWfXrv4A0xyIfX-66A1_XLaUm0cxIImiy4f63O7qaOpTjKjJe59mBXQAoB0nNOuI9wwEizMiasVik1kLyP8kztXhymugqXJQhI0TmRxncGBL8XmK1PxkQPIs1kbpEQL/s1600/IMG_0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Italian meatballs" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMvQSPB9USdcA3wWfXrv4A0xyIfX-66A1_XLaUm0cxIImiy4f63O7qaOpTjKjJe59mBXQAoB0nNOuI9wwEizMiasVik1kLyP8kztXhymugqXJQhI0TmRxncGBL8XmK1PxkQPIs1kbpEQL/s320/IMG_0201.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best meatballs in Rome at La Barrique</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Day 2 (full day):<br />
<br />
Hope you have your walking shoes ready because in order to see Rome, you're going to do a lot of walking. Thankfully, a lot of the main attractions are near each other and are nestled in among residential areas and not set off separately like a lot of sightseeing stops in the U.S. We very rarely ever had breakfast at a restaurant or in our room. We did probably 90% of our breakfasts on the entire trip by purchasing fruit and granola bars in order to save money.<br />
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We stayed in the eastern part of Rome, as near to the sightseeing places as we could get without spending too much cash - I highly recommend you do the same. We also were near a train station which was extremely valuable. We stayed at Sette A, which you can find on Air BnB.<br />
<ul>
<li>We started this day by walking west towards the Colosseum. As we were making our way there, we stumbled upon the <a href="http://www.trevifountain.net/">Trevi Fountain</a>, which was gorgeous and worth a few photos (even used our selfie stick!).</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8UUwEdGTkE1wCQdbNNAvf5k83c3tIdBeF1_g5mrRkFgNrVWh2FeFX-Laa-vb97mj6Nu70TbkkEtgVXxF9Es6JW3VfVVZv_upgG5tLNERxDGwVaXlDBIR85_klobPyDPiyRoHutkEP_Ah/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Trevi Fountain in Rome" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8UUwEdGTkE1wCQdbNNAvf5k83c3tIdBeF1_g5mrRkFgNrVWh2FeFX-Laa-vb97mj6Nu70TbkkEtgVXxF9Es6JW3VfVVZv_upgG5tLNERxDGwVaXlDBIR85_klobPyDPiyRoHutkEP_Ah/s320/IMG_0265.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Trevi Fountain - it stopped me in my track and <br />
still leaves me breathless when I think about it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We stopped at the <a href="http://basilicasanclemente.com/eng/">Basilica of San Clemente</a>, which has several layers of churches and even a pagan temple contained in it. Spend the two euro for the tour below the street level, it's very much worth it. </li>
<li>Visit the Piazza Navona which features the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, which means <a href="http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/fountainofthefourrivers.htm">Fountain of Four Rivers</a> - there are so many photo opportunities in Rome that missing one here isn't a deal breaker but it's still a beautiful piece of history and architecture.</li>
<li>Continue on your way to the <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/colosseum">Colosseum</a> and unexpectedly find the <a href="http://www.rome.info/pantheon/">Pantheon</a>. It's the first architectural dome built and it's still standing in all of its glory. You can go inside and look around - there are several important people buried inside, including world famous Italian painter <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/raphael-41051">Raphael</a>. He'll come up later, as well.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtZiL_bae5V60qXdMxcnvBgW6H76RHJkxhhpxsPLtLdw6joUbHZ58hxKkj4GR6JqXg0riSoJC_qs6Dfq0RyCxVlZBkI4dlNzDGZfDqOo3DZGC_zOv32AVvnGciDTO18GTzOvC_42vxqa8/s1600/IMG_0274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Inside the Pantheon in Rome" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtZiL_bae5V60qXdMxcnvBgW6H76RHJkxhhpxsPLtLdw6joUbHZ58hxKkj4GR6JqXg0riSoJC_qs6Dfq0RyCxVlZBkI4dlNzDGZfDqOo3DZGC_zOv32AVvnGciDTO18GTzOvC_42vxqa8/s320/IMG_0274.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dome ceiling structure of the Pantheon</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>We dined at one of the many pizza shops near the sights. We spent a bit more than we wanted but it was worth the time we saved in not having to walk a long ways off the beaten path.</li>
<li>Arrive at the <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/colosseum">Colosseum</a>, which is conveniently near the Roman Forum. Do yourself a favor and purchase the <a href="http://www.romapass.it/?l=en">Roma Pass</a>. It gets you discounted entrance into many of the major attractions and let's you skip the lines. Spend as much time as possible marveling at the architectural genius of the Colosseum and try to ignore the feeling of insignificance you'll experience. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWFuwCDyFtgQCMt2B80zun6KkhQNtJhXJqs9xbjRlG5zR0Bxv52nsfECyJXsAFIqgMHSJDQqLlGOa5AEIjZbhu8BZQRV2ASMNOnSWqPZqZjKq5-kOO8YgN7VhJHOfAM_2C6OkPhbS-26y/s1600/IMG_0407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Roman Colosseum" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWFuwCDyFtgQCMt2B80zun6KkhQNtJhXJqs9xbjRlG5zR0Bxv52nsfECyJXsAFIqgMHSJDQqLlGOa5AEIjZbhu8BZQRV2ASMNOnSWqPZqZjKq5-kOO8YgN7VhJHOfAM_2C6OkPhbS-26y/s320/IMG_0407.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not the set for Gladiator</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>After the <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/colosseum">Colosseum</a>, head on next door to the <a href="http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/rome/sights/historic/roman-forum">Roman Forum</a>. Note: to see all of the Roman Forum you will need several hours, however a lot of is remnants of buildings, temples etc., so if you don't want to read about every column, you can get through it in a few hours. Don't miss out on the original settlement of Rome, Palatine Hill. This is where Roman mythology says that Romulus and Remus were found in a cave on the hill by the she-wolf Lupa that kept them alive.</li>
<li>We rounded off the day by visiting the <a href="http://en.museicapitolini.org/">Musei Capitolini</a> - this was the only museum we visited on this day and it was specifically because we wanted to see the bronze statue of Lupa, the she-wolf that raised Romulus and Remus.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqFkiqkIPS9b7eHIjKAdSDhs-Q6B53mfEoNuKSJ3BlkqKPyB3D6o4agdW40cFexpngd3zZKd6T1Rt4K179fhRbAv1qvlaI12Uh03JmnfZZogzXIFj6rP1gO_nBZMPXyMHvrNxKe7WRjwC/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="She-wolf Lupa in the Musei Capitolini" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqFkiqkIPS9b7eHIjKAdSDhs-Q6B53mfEoNuKSJ3BlkqKPyB3D6o4agdW40cFexpngd3zZKd6T1Rt4K179fhRbAv1qvlaI12Uh03JmnfZZogzXIFj6rP1gO_nBZMPXyMHvrNxKe7WRjwC/s320/IMG_0398.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The she-wolf bronze statue with Romulus and Remus below.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We dined at a restaurant near our hostel called <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187791-d1164551-Reviews-Ristorante_Da_Giovanni-Rome_Lazio.html">Da Giovanni</a> - it wasn't the quality of La Barrique but it was good and off the beaten path.</li>
</ul>
Day 3 (full day):<br />
<br />
Again, you need your walking shoes on this day (pretty much every day in Europe that you aren't on a train, you need your walking shoes). We had to check out of our hostel that morning but were able to leave our bags in the lobby to retrieve before our train left at 10:30 pm. The whole day was about the Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica.<br />
<ul>
<li>I recommend you get up early and get to a nearby train station in order to be at the <a href="http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en.html">Vatican City</a>, which is technically a separate country, for your appointment. We wanted to tour the Vatican Museum first, because that is where the <a href="http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Storia.html">Sistine Chapel</a> is located, so we made an appointment and bought tickets in advance (highly recommend doing this as early in the day as possible to avoid the lines and crowds). When you enter the <a href="http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html">Vatican Museums</a>, you start on a path that allows you to choose different wings. We chose to take the long route to the Sistine Chapel, again to avoid the crowds. You will be mesmerized by the intricate ceilings and designs in the Papal quarters. It's immensely humbling to walk through the same halls and rooms that Popes have inhabited since the 15th or 16th century. There were thousands of Papal relics, statues and paintings. Raphael's work was highly featured and treasured.</li>
<li>When you arrive in the <a href="http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/CSN/CSN_Storia.html">Sistine Chapel</a> you will catch your breath - nothing prepares you for this experience. Due to the forbidden nature of pictures in the Chapel, I don't have any to post here (although I did get a fuzzy one of "The Creation of Adam" by Michelangelo). Here's a link to a photo if you want to see it from <a href="http://www.michelangelo.org/images/artworks/the-creation-of-adam.jpg">Michelangelo.org</a>.</li>
<li>After we finished in the Chapel, we took another route through the Vatican Museum in order to see the statue of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laoco%C3%B6n_and_His_Sons">Laocoon</a>, which the Ninja was really excited about.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZksCkNrGozQFgyfGCsMabbzwlp7rNs9ge_tbaRKSN2iX6_WPlm7DXgOe_Cc_xpRcRbaGr8lkElqRE4g_QozS7TClpTuVuqfvSHKnrt6mWTqUOYn1zkZQIbROC6t-7Wbxr2zNdkPeLLdd/s1600/IMG_0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Laocoon and his son in the Vatican Museum" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZksCkNrGozQFgyfGCsMabbzwlp7rNs9ge_tbaRKSN2iX6_WPlm7DXgOe_Cc_xpRcRbaGr8lkElqRE4g_QozS7TClpTuVuqfvSHKnrt6mWTqUOYn1zkZQIbROC6t-7Wbxr2zNdkPeLLdd/s320/IMG_0445.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The statue of Laocoon</td></tr>
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<br />
<ul>
<li>After finishing in the Vatican Museum, make your way to <a href="http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/monumenti/basilica-di-s-pietro.html">Saint Peter's Basilica</a> and the <a href="http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/monumenti/basilica-di-s-pietro/la-piazza.html">Piazza di San Pietro</a>. You can peruse around inside for as long as you want but don't leave without going up the 360+ steps to <a href="http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/vaticanstate/en/monumenti/basilica-di-s-pietro/cupola.html">Michelangelo's Dome</a>. You can take an elevator for the first 100+ steps but the last 200 or so you have to climb on your own. Consider yourself warned, it's a helluva climb. The cost of the dome is an additional bit of change (<$10) but so very much worth it and the view of Rome is unrivaled. </li>
<li>If you are lucky and plan far enough in advance, you may be able to visit the Vatican Scavi or known as the Vatican Necropolis. This tomb is believed to be the final resting place (remains and all) of Saint Peter, one of Jesus' 12 Disciples. Admission is limited to 200 people per day and you have to email in advance to request an appointment. It costs 12 Euro and it's very difficult to get an appointment but if you do, congrats! Enjoy it - we weren't able to go because we didn't plan far enough in advance. To contact for an appointment, email<strong> </strong><a href="mailto:scavi@fsp.va"><strong>scavi@fsp.va</strong></a>. When you email you need to tell them all of the dates you will be in Rome and available to visit; how many of you there are; the names of everyone in your group; and in the case that you are travelling as part of a larger party, what your relation is (e.g. if it is a parish visit or a college trip). Tours are booked according to language so you need to specify this in your email too to ensure that you can understand your guide. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3eVej-jjREWN7UBTqFQj-R1vkATvEF2kfkWzdofXMPhXQV86SMByz9ON4sdj1yTqP41TM2VgcgNkTe8zNC0D0dnJ4deTB68biaSSL9w4rB3M5SJQZ8u-XxFsZl8i62te7fDO09whexfh/s1600/IMG_0456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="View from Michelangelo's Dome of Saint Peter's Square" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3eVej-jjREWN7UBTqFQj-R1vkATvEF2kfkWzdofXMPhXQV86SMByz9ON4sdj1yTqP41TM2VgcgNkTe8zNC0D0dnJ4deTB68biaSSL9w4rB3M5SJQZ8u-XxFsZl8i62te7fDO09whexfh/s320/IMG_0456.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piazza di San Pietro or St. Peter's Square from the top of Michelangelo's Dome</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Before leaving the Vatican City, be sure to get some souvenirs. You can purchase Christmas ornaments, stationary, rosary beads and so much more (buy these before going into Saint Peter's Basilica because you can dip them in Holy Water inside and make a Catholic friend very happy). The opportunities for Vatican City souvenirs are endless. Make sure to pose for a picture in front of the Basilica as well!</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_g5Y3DhgLHkYmxFaT0wQy9nhJgMWETP2N-UOYNWy48LcsFZ4kwaRbFBkwmV7ZIyOpcX-KPwHjY8DHPLT3f8wJm7C_uhr6LmJsq8Z-PjlvGPZM2mCdejes2jJLg0ZdbyG0kwIXMiZXnzA/s1600/IMG_0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Saint Peter's Basilica" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_g5Y3DhgLHkYmxFaT0wQy9nhJgMWETP2N-UOYNWy48LcsFZ4kwaRbFBkwmV7ZIyOpcX-KPwHjY8DHPLT3f8wJm7C_uhr6LmJsq8Z-PjlvGPZM2mCdejes2jJLg0ZdbyG0kwIXMiZXnzA/s320/IMG_0476.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saint Peter's Basilica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>We closed out the day by walking back to our hostel to grab our bags - since we weren't in a rush (our train didn't leave until 10:30 pm) we took our time looking at statues and old buildings around the city. We stopped to look at the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187791-d191105-Reviews-Castel_Sant_Angelo-Rome_Lazio.html">Castel Sant'Angelo</a> which was used as Papal refuge and residence and at one point was also as a prison (not for the Pope). We didn't go inside because the price didn't seem worth it but of course we got a picture. The Castel sits right in front of the Ponte Sant'Angelo which bridges the Tiber River and was completed in 134 A.D. by Roman emperor Hadrian. For those history buffs out there, Hadrian was known as one of the Five Good Emperors who ruled justly. He also built <a href="http://www.ancient.eu/wall/">Hadrian's Wall</a> in Britain.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1VYILtgauUaMTKQJSFv1WRATclZDVerZCVDs_D7l3YqWnAp0wPFX-k1LAbOa-CVNfBO5kOs3tpMHbfWdZVkyXN1wsR0_axUiwuYijRtp1D6KoC5TEQ2RdwBKT2jibPxwPznMKhWmkwfF/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ponte Sant'Angelo in Rome" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1VYILtgauUaMTKQJSFv1WRATclZDVerZCVDs_D7l3YqWnAp0wPFX-k1LAbOa-CVNfBO5kOs3tpMHbfWdZVkyXN1wsR0_axUiwuYijRtp1D6KoC5TEQ2RdwBKT2jibPxwPznMKhWmkwfF/s320/IMG_0486.JPG" title="How to See Rome in 2.5 Days" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ponte Sant'Angelo - Bridge of Hadrian over the Tiber</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Make sure you have some more great Italian food before you leave Rome - there are so many fabulous places to choose from!</li>
</ul>
Here are some general tips for Rome:<br />
<ul>
<li>Take as many photos as humanly possible. You are only there once (probably). If you didn't bring a selfie stick with you across the pond, no worries, you can buy one from a thousand different street vendors for about $5 (cheaper than you probably paid for it from Amazon).</li>
<li>Public toilets aren't free so always have change on hand.</li>
<li>Homeless people and beggars are rampant. This is both disheartening and frustrating - handle at your own discretion.</li>
<li>If you wish to hear/see the Pope speak, Wednesday is the day to do it. We were there on a Wednesday and regrettably we didn't wait around to hear him speak, as we were very focused on the Sistine Chapel. In hindsight, we should have listened to his sermon and then gone to the Chapel.</li>
<li>SOAK IT ALL IN - You will be walking on streets that are more than 1,000 years old. Churches, palaces, homes - so many structures have been around for centuries; some even 2,000+ years. Take pictures, marvel at the beauty of 2,000 year old marble, imagine what it must have been like in ancient Rome. Lose yourself in history - be a geek and take pictures of yourself in front of everything. Ask questions. ENJOY YOURSELF! Romans are very, very friendly!</li>
</ul>
I sincerely hope you can visit Rome someday - for a big history buff like myself, it was a must-see for our Europe trip. I only touched the surface in terms of the things I learned and the feelings I experienced in Rome but this is the honest-to-goodness list of things we saw. You can get all this in within 2.5 days because so many sights are not museums, you can simply look around snap some pictures and head on to the next sight.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for more Europe itinerary trips and travel advice and if you have any questions please let me know. I would LOVE to keep talking about Rome.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-10287218375092563862016-02-03T09:45:00.000-06:002016-02-03T11:29:30.753-06:005 Reasons Why Farmers Should Support Wendy's<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1IKPTqYMRhnvl1cpSG65yQGNMHp88pBMv6JUIufHmWjBLKedAKvGUZXPbQFv3i_MCj3IoXGXq9e2QvqK4d-HfbOb9P8q6QFb4qtP956ZgRiV3AEN44-Iit97xZYjUuyYFASjgK_qOnvC/s1600/wendys-baconator-large-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ1IKPTqYMRhnvl1cpSG65yQGNMHp88pBMv6JUIufHmWjBLKedAKvGUZXPbQFv3i_MCj3IoXGXq9e2QvqK4d-HfbOb9P8q6QFb4qtP956ZgRiV3AEN44-Iit97xZYjUuyYFASjgK_qOnvC/s400/wendys-baconator-large-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image courtesy: <a href="http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7VDZ/wendys-baconator">iSpot.Tv</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">More often than not, the only time we
hear from fast-food restaurants is when they are making some groundbreaking
announcement about their food safety procedures or their supply chain. In
general, neither are a welcome message for consumers or producers alike.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">However Wendy’s, the pro-ginger burger
chain, is different than Subway, Panera and Chipotle – all of which have made
headline-generating statements about their food supply. Wendy’s actually
supports agriculture and wants to work together with farmers and ranchers to
market delicious, safe and healthy food.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5
reasons why farmers and ranchers should support Wendy’s:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wendy’s wants to Work
WITH Beef Producers</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> – not take away
important technologies like antibiotics. In a <a href="http://beefmagazine.com/blog/wendy-s-addresses-antibiotic-use-beef-production"><span style="color: #0563c1;">press conference</span></a> at Cattle Industry
Convention, [reported on by BEEF Magazine], Wendy’s spokesperson Liliana
Esposito said the chain wants to collaborate with producers to refine, reduce
and replace antibiotics but they respect that when an animal is sick, it NEEDS
treatment. Esposito added, “The best beef comes from healthy well-cared for
animals. A sick animal needs to be treated and you won’t hear differently from
us.”</span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wendy’s Values Beef
Producers and What They Do</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
– “<a href="http://beefmagazine.com/blog/wendy-s-addresses-antibiotic-use-beef-production"><span style="color: #0563c1;">We truly believe we have one of the best supply chains in
the country that produces 100% fresh beef for Wendy’s.</span></a>” How often do
you hear a restaurant lauding its suppliers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dennis Hecker, senior VP of quality assurance added, “Quality starts
with the people we have partnered with to help us.” I think we can all agree that it’s great to
be appreciated!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Their Marketing Doesn’t Suck (cough, Chipotle)</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> – Liliana Esposito said during the press conference in San
Diego that Wendy’s will not make any headline-generating statements about
antibiotics. This comes as a relief because it seems these days that
restaurants are relying on ground-breaking announcements, rather than quality,
to sell food. Removing animals that have been treated for sickness from the
supply chain is not a food safety panacea; neither is removing GMOs from a
supply chain. Safe, healthy food comes from using quality, fresh ingredients
and state-of-the-art food safety procedures and technologies. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">HAVE
YOU EVER HAD A BACONATOR?!</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
– It’s a straight-up, life-changing, heavenly creation of multiple protein
sources. I didn’t have one until about eight months ago and I was immediately
sorry for not eating one sooner. The sandwich represents dairy, beef and pork
producers - a triple-whammy! Did I mention it was freaking delicious? I think
it may be on the menu this weekend during my roadtrip.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Consumers
Can Still Get a Good Deal</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
– Unlike other restaurants which have altered their dollar menu to basically
only contain children’s food, Wendy’s "Right Price, Right
Size" menu boasts items such as a small fry, jr. cheeseburger,
chicken nuggets, crispy chicken sandwich and small drink – all for under $1. If
you’re looking for something quick and tasty on the go, for not much moolah,
you can definitely find a few things at Wendy’s! When I was a young college
kiddo, Wendy's was a cheap lunch I could eat on the go between nursery
hours (that's a plant nursery, not a kid nursery), rodeo practice and classes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><strong><em>BONUS REASON</em></strong> – Wendy’s is on fire with their social media, which
is a fact I erroneously left out in the earlier draft of this post. Suffice it
to say, they’ve got some smart whips on their social management team.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Example 1: <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/keelyflaherty/burger-king-and-wendys-got-into-a-twitter-fight#.hwdVK2VL8"><span style="color: #0563c1;">this
Twitter “beef” between Wendy’s and Burger King.</span></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Example 2: My friend Kelly Rivard, who blogs at <a href="http://kellymrivard.com/"><span style="color: #0563c1;">Country Nights, City Lights</span></a>, sent them a
letter about the Baconator and the need for a smaller Baconator and they
actually replied back with their own uniquely awesome response.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXXicRjatqmCDVLkRzAdjImPfmL9VfvRSsRThH43MdzLWuYFE_ToEgz2Kw3nwzqPB0bsqSdVvjfa7vU2E-sS20FpB2ry5esMY5cUO330-9fWG3N9nFwnbT8opEw5-cjWJH_hyuu7UMyZb/s1600/wendys+baconator+convo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXXicRjatqmCDVLkRzAdjImPfmL9VfvRSsRThH43MdzLWuYFE_ToEgz2Kw3nwzqPB0bsqSdVvjfa7vU2E-sS20FpB2ry5esMY5cUO330-9fWG3N9nFwnbT8opEw5-cjWJH_hyuu7UMyZb/s400/wendys+baconator+convo.jpg" width="373" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This, my friends, is how you do social. Wendy's FTW!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">I know there are other chains out there that are very supportive of farmers and ranchers such as <a href="https://biz.dominos.com/web/public/americas-dairy-farmers">Domino's</a> and <a href="http://www.culvers.com/inside-culvers/thank-you-farmers">Culver's</a>. What others are there? As agriculture stakeholders and producers, we should be giving all of our attention to these establishments which are committed to working with, not against, producers.</span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Until
next time,</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">~
Buzzard ~<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-35015406699906452372016-01-27T10:15:00.000-06:002016-02-03T09:55:55.923-06:00Is a "Prime" Burger Really Better?After a long week in Denver and before another long week in San Diego, the Ninja and I ate at Ruby Tuesday this past Sunday before he ran off to another pork industry event. During my decision, which took awhile because the RT menu is long and complex, I saw the header by the burger section "We serve U.S.D.A. Prime burgers." Interesting.<br />
<br />
Initially, that sounds great, right?! Who wouldn't want a Prime burger? The United States Department of Agriculture <a href="http://blogs.usda.gov/2013/01/28/what%E2%80%99s-your-beef-%E2%80%93-prime-choice-or-select/" target="_blank">defines Prime</a> beef as:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"...beef that has abundant marbling (the amount of fat interspersed with lean meat), and is generally sold in restaurants and hotels. Prime roasts and steaks are excellent for dry-heat cooking such as broiling, roasting or grilling."<br />
<br /></blockquote>
For reference, this is a photo of a Prime steak compared to Choice and Select. USDA quality grades are assigned to a beef carcass based on the amount of marbling, or intramuscular fat, that is within the meat. Marbling contributes to both flavor and tenderness which is extremely evident to anyone who has ever eaten a high Choice or Prime ribeye.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedfIf9R7CZR0Ze0IH4LI8zWxOq2TltKXozH5XMeLbeMKPIVlGS0w0ElJS411_bXzyINW2zf2LiQ7f_hQsC9bATDNW0eYOBlvMdKaFnTypcBxsNUb-mZ9ENLqnmNvZ9hDgnypAaUBtw5FQ/s1600/USDA+meat+marbling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjedfIf9R7CZR0Ze0IH4LI8zWxOq2TltKXozH5XMeLbeMKPIVlGS0w0ElJS411_bXzyINW2zf2LiQ7f_hQsC9bATDNW0eYOBlvMdKaFnTypcBxsNUb-mZ9ENLqnmNvZ9hDgnypAaUBtw5FQ/s640/USDA+meat+marbling.jpg" width="412" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Image courtesy <a href="http://blogs.usda.gov/2014/05/15/beef-up-your-knowledge-meat-marbling-101/" target="_blank">USDA</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a name='more'></a><br />
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Generally, you can't go wrong in terms of flavor with a Prime cut of beef. However, these grading scales don't really affect ground beef that much, if at all. Why am I saying that a Prime burger may not actually be better?<br />
<br />
It all comes down to how ground beef is made - which is from trimming roasts and steaks. This video from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLcY4BEs5CY" target="_blank">North American Meat Institute</a> explains in detail how ground beef is made but to summarize, ground beef is made from pieces of meat that are trimmed off of larger whole muscle cuts like the chuck, loin or ribs. These 100% beef trimmings are then ground together with other trimmings from whole muscle cuts to make ground beef. Do you see where this is going?<br />
<br />
Meat processors will mix the trimmed pieces together and add beef fat in as needed to reach the right lean to fat ratio. For example, at your grocery store you may see 80/20 ground beef. That ground beef is made up of 80% lean beef and 20% beef fat and that mixture was created by using varying amounts of beef trimmings and beef fat. The well-marbled ribeye is not going into the grind of the ground beef - the outer trimmings from the rib roast are going into the grind, however they are not chock full of marbling. The resulting product of a ground beef grind is 100% pure beef and is safe, delicious and nutritious for your family. However, a Prime burger is highly unlikely to be as flavorful as the Prime ribeye you treat yourself to on Valentine's Day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ecVPEzhDJOagBgB-mvlTblaP-x6pXFrdGk6YpkoqDGt3pQbkxSZJpYH1Xpi138YjcMHP38KuxzQc5FtUf58nmveVHzuy6Td_Yz9ZMtg1h88bG3ia0ASYHrJQwmAWYIj_Fmc1lAbTTOl6/s1600/stuffed+burgers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Beef and turkey patties on the grill" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ecVPEzhDJOagBgB-mvlTblaP-x6pXFrdGk6YpkoqDGt3pQbkxSZJpYH1Xpi138YjcMHP38KuxzQc5FtUf58nmveVHzuy6Td_Yz9ZMtg1h88bG3ia0ASYHrJQwmAWYIj_Fmc1lAbTTOl6/s400/stuffed+burgers.jpeg" title="Is a "Prime" Burger Really Better?" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The burgers at the back of the grill are not Prime, but they were still delicious! <br />
(The two at the front are turkey burgers)<br />
<a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2014/03/hunk-of-meat-monday-stuffed-burgers.html" target="_blank">Recipe for stuffed burgers</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A carcass graded as Prime has been given a premium price because of its high level of marbling. This premium is given based on the whole weight of the carcass not just the middle meats, such as steaks. So, since the processor bought that beef carcass at a premium they then have to sell that whole carcass as a premium, ground beef included. This is where restaurants will try to increase their margin by increasing the price of a burger by $2 for a Prime carcass. They aren't lying, the meat really is from a Prime animal, however the Prime characteristic isn't really benefiting that cheeseburger.<br />
<br />
So next time you see a Prime burger listed for $2 more than a regular burger on the restaurant menu, don't splurge thinking your burger will melt in your mouth like a filet or ribeye. It will still be SAFE and DELICIOUS however, it's a restaurant-inspired marketing spin. Aren't we all getting tired of food being deemed something it's not (<a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2015/07/chipotle-where-guac-and-hypocrisy-cost.html" target="_blank">cough</a>: <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2013/09/chipotle-world-of-pure-imagination.html" target="_blank">CHIPOTLE</a>)? <br />
<br />
Have you had Prime beef before - do you think you could tell the difference between a Prime burger and a regular burger?<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~<br />
<br />
Disclaimer: This post is not to imply that Ruby Tuesday and Chipotle are similar because they aren't. I wouldn't throw that sort of insult around willy-nilly.</div>
Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-64258735109135636912016-01-22T10:50:00.001-06:002016-02-03T09:56:04.504-06:00Making the Choice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today I've been married to the Yak Judge for five years. A half decade that seems to have flown by more quickly than I ever could have imagined. </div>
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</div>
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And every day for the past five years, I have made a conscious choice: I can either choose to love, respect, work with and conquer the world with this man OR I can find nit-picky things to fuss about, dwell on setbacks and be a crappy wife. I hope that if asked, the Ninja/Yak Judge would say. "She chooses the former [most of the time.]" </div>
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</div>
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I'd like to think that both of us have come a long way from the young, naïve kids we were so many years ago. I know that we've learned a helluva lot through trials, failures, successes, new jobs, moving, loss and everyday life.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99tMzt4TCztNNGICxcFKCqTh5295I6PrbetnDQlXJsuVIquGcXcRDGNN5A8BRGFI67MZVUIP6iGzs6InvquJYwYyGx1wUn0QLAh55eCw8sRPMx-I5rBa4h3szFCbmtU7Y06UBFL9a6HsX/s1600/392149_10100268476732441_210385335_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj99tMzt4TCztNNGICxcFKCqTh5295I6PrbetnDQlXJsuVIquGcXcRDGNN5A8BRGFI67MZVUIP6iGzs6InvquJYwYyGx1wUn0QLAh55eCw8sRPMx-I5rBa4h3szFCbmtU7Y06UBFL9a6HsX/s320/392149_10100268476732441_210385335_n.jpg" title="Making the Choice" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">“I didn't fall in love with you. I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way. I do believe in fate and destiny, but I also believe we are only fated to do the things that we'd choose anyway. And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you”<br />
Kiersten White, The Chaos of Stars</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a name='more'></a>I have come to learn that marriage is not about one choice on your wedding day. Anyone can say "yes" to another person when you're both gussied up and high on life surrounded by your friends and family at a huge party. It takes dedication, love, self-sacrifice and humility to say "yes" every single day. The latter of those is a huge part of a successful, cohesive marriage - swallowing my pride, admitting I'm wrong and apologizing is crazy difficult for this headstrong cowgirl. However, I know in the big picture that I've got to make conscious choices to be a great teammate to the Ninja/Yak Judge. <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2014/01/six-spectacular-reasons-to-ignore-all.html" target="_blank">Marriage isn't easy</a>, as I've said multiple times, and it's a lot harder if you've got selfishness in the center.<br />
<br />
It would be super easy to go through a marriage and choose to put yourself first or not choose to support your spouse. Hence, here are real-life examples of how couples should choose their partner:<br />
<ul>
<li><em><strong>Choose to engage in concerted prayer and pursuit of faith with your partner.</strong></em> I can't stress this one enough - we pray before almost every meal and we constantly talk about who is on our prayer list. We are constantly striving to become better Christians and have a stronger marriage through our faith. " What God has joined together, let no one separate." -- Mark 10:9</li>
<li><strong><em>Choose to put your partner as the first priority in your life.</em></strong> Not behind your career, parents or hobbies. That person chose to spend the rest of his/her life hitched to your caboose, respect that decision and expect the same respect in return. When I am done for the day at work - that's it, I'm done. I put the computer away and settle in for a night of banter, sports, planning, outdoor work etc. with the Ninja and leave work in the office. Try it!</li>
<li><strong><em>Choose to put down the damn phone and just be with each other.</em></strong> I had no idea how easily social media, email and sports scores can detract from our relationship until we <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2016/01/around-world-in-35-days.html" target="_blank">went to Europe</a> and didn't have wi-fi or cell service all the time. We talked at every meal, we didn't spend the trip snapchatting to our friends, we weren't constantly checking Facebook. We were 100% focused on having fun with each other and it was GLORIOUS. I can't think of another 5-week span of time in our marriage where we have been so in sync. The outside world can pull you apart - don't let it. Choose to <em>put down the damn phone.</em><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRfTGCSe5zQAeJdHbsp-QcCs2cSe2oSEOlSTgSh_7t4ayCbQykSzOuIxzYju5A6OiinG7Nkx_TV_zRvAD9wl754_MTvARxKSMRRu2H-PW4eBydpiR4HQ_qrbw9C9q1E0lQxaIXrOK4p58/s1600/IMG_1201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmRfTGCSe5zQAeJdHbsp-QcCs2cSe2oSEOlSTgSh_7t4ayCbQykSzOuIxzYju5A6OiinG7Nkx_TV_zRvAD9wl754_MTvARxKSMRRu2H-PW4eBydpiR4HQ_qrbw9C9q1E0lQxaIXrOK4p58/s320/IMG_1201.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have so much fun with this man</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
</ul>
<strong><em>Choose to be positive with each other.</em></strong> It's really easy to complain about your day or start ranting about the most recent idiotic thing that Donald Trump said immediately when the other one walks in the door at the end of the day. But you can't just use your partner as a sounding board or rant fielder. You've got to choose to share positive things with each other or at least limit yourself to only talking about work or the negative things for 10 minutes and then moving on with your day.<br />
<ul>
<li><strong><em>Choose to be the supporting actor [occasionally] and expect the same in return.</em></strong> The Ninja/Yak Judge and I are both very goal-driven, headstrong and enterprising people and that requires letting him be the lead role every once in a while and vice versa. For example, I am spending our anniversary at the National Western Stock Show yak show [again] this year. And that's fine - I get to be with him, go out to a great steak dinner and talk to some really great yak owners. However, next week the Yak Judge will be joining me at the annual Cattle Industry Convention in San Diego, even though he has tons of work to do with his company. Give and take. Compromise. </li>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN96U9Ah2ApchEIR4CfA6-c_Tpsa6ZF6CWlG5Gqp7T8QOsUft2_ysd2IveYxJjh22s-KS2PAPnBO_NSPjB0uZNAGFIruF3s-SYQ4hKig50adn89L92zScpx6VoqFVweOOYsxf5Mxsirdh/s1600/IMG_1306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioN96U9Ah2ApchEIR4CfA6-c_Tpsa6ZF6CWlG5Gqp7T8QOsUft2_ysd2IveYxJjh22s-KS2PAPnBO_NSPjB0uZNAGFIruF3s-SYQ4hKig50adn89L92zScpx6VoqFVweOOYsxf5Mxsirdh/s320/IMG_1306.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying each other's company in London</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<li><strong><em>Choose yourself. </em></strong>I'm sure this one raises a flag considering the whole article is about choosing your partner but hear me out. Every once in awhile I have a crappy day or even week. Something breaks at the ranch, I screw up a project or plans go awry. When that happens I need to get on a horse and be left alone. I need to not worry about what I'm cooking for supper, whether the laundry is ready for the Ninja's next work trip or if I remembered to buy dog food. I have to choose to engage in some "me" time so that I can not be a cranky heifer towards my husband. In order to avoid high temperatures and an unnecessary blow up, I've got to blow off some steam. In a way I am choosing to improve our daily demeanor by giving myself some free time.</li>
</ul>
I'm not perfect. Neither is the Yak Judge. But we have had a fantastic five years - even as I write this I am overwhelmed at how truly kick-ass our life is, which I won't apologize for at all. I have occasionally seen a falling star across our pasture and when prompted by superstition to selfishly wish for something: <strong><em>I cannot think of anything. </em></strong>We are at a place where we have our faith, a strong marriage, our dream ranch, great careers and loving, supportive friends and family. And most importantly, we have each other. That's all I need and that is such a tremendous feeling. To wake up and spend every day achieving life goals with the one I have chosen for life and be so truly happy about our lives. Is it stupid to be this happy? I don't even care.<br />
<br />
Today, I chose to be a mushy wife who is spending her anniversary at a yak show. Which is not a bad way to spend an anniversary, since it makes for a good story. So when I told the Ninja I was leaving for work, happy anniversary and that he was my favorite person, I also made a choice not to smother him when he said "You're in my top five."<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-85801914792197922972016-01-18T09:50:00.000-06:002016-02-03T09:55:34.754-06:00Meaty Monday: Taco Spiced Turkey<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5OuqEctX8HsVmPhg7unT74HJ2nbklUfRdIB7D5CcsBPlKSCA2AuNC82628VgB0JHpjzj5Zw8OoloCSUO2Sfd8XsOjfivJheMuDy4VFDYxuO3bbM5zzzeR9OTezL0QmKsboosMfPZCWKy/s1600/taco+spiced+turkey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Meaty Monday: Taco Spiced Turkey" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5OuqEctX8HsVmPhg7unT74HJ2nbklUfRdIB7D5CcsBPlKSCA2AuNC82628VgB0JHpjzj5Zw8OoloCSUO2Sfd8XsOjfivJheMuDy4VFDYxuO3bbM5zzzeR9OTezL0QmKsboosMfPZCWKy/s400/taco+spiced+turkey.JPG" title="Meaty Monday: Taco Spiced Turkey" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was sick a while back and really craving hot comfort food - a soup or a crockpot meal really sounded tasty. However, of course I waited until mid afternoon to think about what to make for supper and was therefore limited in my choices. Hello, Google.<br />
<br />
I found a recipe for the one large hunk of meat I knew I had in my freezer: a 2-pound turkey breast that I hadn't used during Thanksgiving. I had no idea how special my taste buds would feel after this meal! It was so simple to prepare and super delicious. The Ninja is stingy with his "this is delicious" compliments so when I get one, I put that recipe on a pedestal. This one will be in my rotation much more often.<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<u>Taco Spiced Turkey</u><br />
<br />
1 pkg taco seasoning<br />
1/4 c. honey<br />
2 T butter, melted<br />
1 turkey breast half (~2 lbs)<br />
1 can chicken broth<br />
<br />
1. Stir taco seasoning mix and honey into the melted butter. Rub under and over the skin of the turkey breast. <br />
2. Pour chicken broth into crockpot and place turkey in cooker.<br />
3. Cook on high 2-2 1/2 hours on high or 5 hours on low - make sure to cook to 165F! Let stand for 10 minutes.<br />
<br />
I served ours with white rice and pepper strips but a Spanish-style rice would probably be great as well!<br />
<br />
* Important note: I used a frozen turkey breast but you could use a thawed one as well. Also, if you wish to let the turkey marinate with the rub, you can set it in the fridge for a few hours on a foil-lined sheet before putting it in the crockpot, however I was short on time so I chose to go straight to the pot.<br />
<br />
Hope you like it - and to make sure you never miss a post, sign up for posts in your inbox at the top of the page!<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-33046858093694843922016-01-14T09:30:00.000-06:002016-01-14T09:30:15.084-06:00 10 Things a Cowgirl Would Do If She Won the Powerball Lotto<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2lxe3v46YpUrDasxHb2ANzwITmJjjqDqm7ftv5OVopw55-7iILoqL__f_dkrap5yK3Z7bhVp3k9WCLcwFfWd9WMDA-eePjOrbRyMnJtB1ucLpJHKNbr6agsZWat8twmamln6GCVYWTCq/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2lxe3v46YpUrDasxHb2ANzwITmJjjqDqm7ftv5OVopw55-7iILoqL__f_dkrap5yK3Z7bhVp3k9WCLcwFfWd9WMDA-eePjOrbRyMnJtB1ucLpJHKNbr6agsZWat8twmamln6GCVYWTCq/s400/IMG_3888.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd have a barn full of roping horses and pastures full of cows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A billion dollars. Actually, $1.5 billion. That’s a lot of
clamshells.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A friend of mine purchased a Powerball ticket for last
night’s big jackpot and inquired whether I had as well. Negatory, I replied.
Not because I have anything against Powerball – I have purchased tickets in the
past and am a fan of scratch-off lottery tickets. I honestly never gave thought
to buying one because winning the lottery is not something that would happen to
me, I’m fairly certain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But her question prompted the conversation of “What would I
do if I won?” One and a half billion dollars could
really have a monumental impact of my ranching and rodeoing aspirations and that
conversation sparked this blog post.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If this cowgirl won the lotto, I’d first pay off my
student loans and the ranch mortgage. Equipment, land, cows – those are all
expensive pawns in the ranching game and not having the burden of those
payments would be a huge relief. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would buy more land and stock it with cows!
Paying in cash is a no-brainer and I don’t know a single cowboy or cowgirl who
would say “no” to more land, if the opportunity presented itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">3.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Seeing as I’m from the rodeo side of things, I
would be filling the barn with two solid, FAST barrel horses and several roping
horse prospects to keep me occupied. Who am I kidding, I’d build a bigger barn,
too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">4.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since I have all those horses, I would obviously
need a new truck and a much larger trailer to roll down the rodeo trail. Oh and a new outdoor arena with lights and an indoor arena (with heat).</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What’s the point of having all that money if you
aren’t going to share? I would definitely be showing love to my family, friends and my community. Family members would receive large monetary gifts, new school gymnasiums would
be built, band uniforms purchased. Actually I’m thinking a very large donation
to educational grants is going to be in order as well as a large lump to my
alma maters; K-State and FSCC. And my girlfriends are all getting new boots and a trip to Vegas for the NFR!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">6.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">INVEST! I don’t want to have to juggle the 8-5
anymore so investing that money to get me through the next 70 years, in
addition to setting up trusts for my future children and grandchildren, is an absolute must.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">7.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Large donations to the leading organizations for
breast cancer and Alzheimer’s research. Too many people have suffered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">8.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two words: Owner’s box (of the Kansas City
Chiefs)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9.</span><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t know how I would do it but I want to
help solve the world’s food waste and hunger problem – so I would invest money
in research and technology to address these highly critical issues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10. There's a whole wide world out there and I've only seen a fraction of it - I would like to set my boots on the ground in several more countries.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Those would be my Top 10 priorities if this cowgirl won the Powerball lotto
last night. What would you do with all that money?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next time,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">~ Buzzard ~<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-86316814307221780572016-01-12T10:04:00.000-06:002016-01-12T10:04:00.143-06:00Grocery Markets Around the World<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5d0XiWLnzUlW1UJltiMKAPlvV7IHdpzvjlPyJ8L9vHmSNHf4rbHFlYxKwuprrtCecfEOnbouVCX_Iayev5fXzrhbjjc0leXrGZdhCVRT8JaCCtsJECMn6adPKXCfzvt67Sws-xwp9Tkg/s1600/IMG_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5d0XiWLnzUlW1UJltiMKAPlvV7IHdpzvjlPyJ8L9vHmSNHf4rbHFlYxKwuprrtCecfEOnbouVCX_Iayev5fXzrhbjjc0leXrGZdhCVRT8JaCCtsJECMn6adPKXCfzvt67Sws-xwp9Tkg/s320/IMG_0088.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ninja admiring all the dried meats and fancy cheeses at<br />
the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, Australia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One of my favorite things to do while traveling abroad is visiting grocery stores and food markets. Not only are markets a great venue for people watching and experiencing culture, they also provide me with a valuable lesson in food diversity, value and, most importantly, they remind me to be ever-so-thankful for our American food supply.<br />
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It's always fun to peruse a foreign grocery store to see what kinds of different products are available that we don't have in the U.S. For example, I was in Poland for a short time in December and saw many unique things in the store. Live carp were available in the fish section and the produce section featured a wide variety of pickles and sauerkraut.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaivu2dEnSxxJmH8ax1-b5r0pt8USzNs03nMnH0YJtf3AIxUzls9-nCizfj3q8HgApf4t7xCVMTneJRy98M2gUFaGQrum42sO1BuuTJnit4Cd2HmfwKEHAR5V-hFDU8YVvae5vMWvBhxkG/s1600/IMG_0776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaivu2dEnSxxJmH8ax1-b5r0pt8USzNs03nMnH0YJtf3AIxUzls9-nCizfj3q8HgApf4t7xCVMTneJRy98M2gUFaGQrum42sO1BuuTJnit4Cd2HmfwKEHAR5V-hFDU8YVvae5vMWvBhxkG/s320/IMG_0776.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKKaquLIPXVhXspWF4rfFR3F4fMaNNaVvRiBZ9NWfmURHUwkX0hsSBVRZoYtBQza33PIHNnosZ31rH_movCdZi2DLFBAEasYyB99Z4Y4syi2H0-Pp_x_cWPAlDknKMruInyWqwFMyM70y/s1600/IMG_0774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKKaquLIPXVhXspWF4rfFR3F4fMaNNaVvRiBZ9NWfmURHUwkX0hsSBVRZoYtBQza33PIHNnosZ31rH_movCdZi2DLFBAEasYyB99Z4Y4syi2H0-Pp_x_cWPAlDknKMruInyWqwFMyM70y/s320/IMG_0774.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Aside from this section of the grocery store smelling quite odd (imagine live fish and sauerkraut wafting together), the Polish grocery store seemed fairly normal. Apples, oranges, chocolates, soda, breads etc - many of the same brands and products existed. Although they were much, much cheaper - the Polish currency is the zloty and one zloty is worth about $0.25. So, if a product was advertised for 2.69zl such as this individual bottle of Strongbow Cider, it would actually only be about $0.68! What a steal, right?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Y3zJaV83i6pBRKRF0rwUt8FyUqxNZHwTs7M2JjoidzDbfBlJvgyFyhIPABKiqGuDV1510Z8mZ47AtMLna9poQLbPcx6dbR_m0_BcvtV6LmVFfr7cFor8WQwn2eOxul0bHp_KcXVmLGm/s1600/IMG_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Y3zJaV83i6pBRKRF0rwUt8FyUqxNZHwTs7M2JjoidzDbfBlJvgyFyhIPABKiqGuDV1510Z8mZ47AtMLna9poQLbPcx6dbR_m0_BcvtV6LmVFfr7cFor8WQwn2eOxul0bHp_KcXVmLGm/s320/IMG_0777.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$0.57/pound</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmHmO7nJSF0-7mMp1FKWoNIPm7bZj35zbTVGhtqEt2GRfBwcSZFpYezmMo6EyesLLTbLdE4NOyOlwUquwgP6Mmnyz1kmUJCzaYefOT0j5XkZdCzDaOPmtlIAB9ixw9_fb3aeqy3LZEwto/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMmHmO7nJSF0-7mMp1FKWoNIPm7bZj35zbTVGhtqEt2GRfBwcSZFpYezmMo6EyesLLTbLdE4NOyOlwUquwgP6Mmnyz1kmUJCzaYefOT0j5XkZdCzDaOPmtlIAB9ixw9_fb3aeqy3LZEwto/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheap cider!</td></tr>
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Also in Poland were several bins of premade pierogi, which is a sort of dumpling from Eastern Europe, and they were cheap too. As you can see, one variety was 4.49 zl/kg which factors out to $0.51/lb! Whole chickens were similar in price - only $0.57 per pound!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_9tqHi_xVFtCqYpUeCn1N01HpR850h4RuBojTE1IHQnsF8jEv0Tsh0F_XpRYmMlM09gJGeTQlnOWax1wtirxj-4oRGRbVXx9v9IHjHzMIvxUBAAay1oCCT5weWhDTLp2Is0hFnN0NJvY/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_9tqHi_xVFtCqYpUeCn1N01HpR850h4RuBojTE1IHQnsF8jEv0Tsh0F_XpRYmMlM09gJGeTQlnOWax1wtirxj-4oRGRbVXx9v9IHjHzMIvxUBAAay1oCCT5weWhDTLp2Is0hFnN0NJvY/s320/IMG_0773.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Premade pierogis</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had heard that everything was super cheap in Poland but we didn't really believe it until we visited. The prices made us want to fill up both of our bags with goodies but since we were backpacking we settled for the haul below to get us through snacks and breakfasts for a few days. The whole caboodle was only about $10 USD.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4mLykyCKccaO961aDwWCYkXWCM31n_Qr1CnWN_1HQ1f85wo1n0Uvh_egRJ7cQ7DeD2Dw2OM1tE5vAOv_PlwMqIv_LCZB39HwiAJlG-1TZryf7eNJGsruXTsiyTmR9Jpc1wQe-Z2gm83d/s1600/IMG_0795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu4mLykyCKccaO961aDwWCYkXWCM31n_Qr1CnWN_1HQ1f85wo1n0Uvh_egRJ7cQ7DeD2Dw2OM1tE5vAOv_PlwMqIv_LCZB39HwiAJlG-1TZryf7eNJGsruXTsiyTmR9Jpc1wQe-Z2gm83d/s320/IMG_0795.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candy, cookies, dried fruit, beef jerky and nuts for only $10</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Elsewhere in the world, food is not so cheap. Take for example this meat market in France. As you can see, whole chickens come with heads and feet attached in France and are a lot more expensive! These birds were 21.80 euro/kg which is about $10.80/lb. Far more pricey than in the US.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5c-RnKmjU3C1jxLsmDLn5-AThVR8tNKle2zHu91-ATyvHG4CIbAJMaBjH5nk2ugIzW3JgPiPxUug_OCa4G3fjQ-ej6jzjKF1kWs5O7ynBWj-tRjBAHjMwHOFZ6brVnaP-Okut8TO9ary/s1600/IMG_1135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5c-RnKmjU3C1jxLsmDLn5-AThVR8tNKle2zHu91-ATyvHG4CIbAJMaBjH5nk2ugIzW3JgPiPxUug_OCa4G3fjQ-ej6jzjKF1kWs5O7ynBWj-tRjBAHjMwHOFZ6brVnaP-Okut8TO9ary/s320/IMG_1135.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Know how to carve a chicken?</td></tr>
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One of my favorite places to visit when we lived in Australia was the Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne. I would go once a week to get the fruit, veggies and cheese we wanted to supplement the meals we got from the university college we lived in. In 2011, during our stay, the US dollar wasn't very strong and we thought everything was super expensive! But now, the dollar has strengthened a bit so I wasn't so taken aback during our recent visit to the land down under.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsGmCJb-8NZRMiChtKb8eeOWtYcPQxAt-VF4qW4M4MBsdB8empELAm5P-HvCKFPPBVEZSfrtBI5Fk77_gznGyFo2kESFsfhc-yz9H-Fz423RMXbznwihBZ8Jb2NHMLWRuBBkpfzPS4jJ4/s1600/IMG_0083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsGmCJb-8NZRMiChtKb8eeOWtYcPQxAt-VF4qW4M4MBsdB8empELAm5P-HvCKFPPBVEZSfrtBI5Fk77_gznGyFo2kESFsfhc-yz9H-Fz423RMXbznwihBZ8Jb2NHMLWRuBBkpfzPS4jJ4/s320/IMG_0083.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd4xx-FU63oZiK_yL98EB9KZa13FQ86kIWeCaAm9OmlUxaRGBgyVxQprTN4V9GqzM91WTkIgUquo6wjzR-Ebj78ZZ0q-plP9F0eIUQ43OL1DBATrTeIjYGK4Tdvdw472OtzSJMmvV2cY7/s1600/IMG_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd4xx-FU63oZiK_yL98EB9KZa13FQ86kIWeCaAm9OmlUxaRGBgyVxQprTN4V9GqzM91WTkIgUquo6wjzR-Ebj78ZZ0q-plP9F0eIUQ43OL1DBATrTeIjYGK4Tdvdw472OtzSJMmvV2cY7/s320/IMG_0082.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBCtoLiUFMpeEb5D8_BIr7Vq8ypen1YiDpXHnWUG9fzHNXKj0H8hyLM13uklXW5PzhmUQZgEtoxagoWLpaBF9rQmDv2iu71_0zFJbcCa4ag5XwtwWpx767mzTbe6W7AXXwVtouiYv5aHI/s1600/IMG_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBCtoLiUFMpeEb5D8_BIr7Vq8ypen1YiDpXHnWUG9fzHNXKj0H8hyLM13uklXW5PzhmUQZgEtoxagoWLpaBF9rQmDv2iu71_0zFJbcCa4ag5XwtwWpx767mzTbe6W7AXXwVtouiYv5aHI/s320/IMG_0084.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many fancy cheeses, so little time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Whenever I travel abroad, I always return home feeling very thankful to have access to the safest, more affordable food supply in the world. A lot of folks would say "Well we don't care how much food cost if it's not healthy." However, if good, healthy food becomes too expensive, your level of concern for price will increase greatly. Always be thankful for what we have here in the U.S., we are very blessed! <br />
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If you want ensure you never miss a new post, especially the travel series that I recently started, be sure to add your email address to the box in the right side pane!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~<br />
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<br />Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-11269932242452595832016-01-06T11:00:00.000-06:002016-01-08T17:22:39.114-06:00Around the World in 35 Days<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4cJUS-xD2yQFN7RIRcVUenOWNpimIPJ8QudgbnT27ansKFXcSqPhDCJrJIIThV1RLSKVlAUffx0xaSLwT3Wy_7DHRkI8UN4_0VT4ExZYTTdKpGg_aJEyETuh3UQLsr89EkFPWR9Hl8Kc/s1600/image2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Backpackers of Europe" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4cJUS-xD2yQFN7RIRcVUenOWNpimIPJ8QudgbnT27ansKFXcSqPhDCJrJIIThV1RLSKVlAUffx0xaSLwT3Wy_7DHRkI8UN4_0VT4ExZYTTdKpGg_aJEyETuh3UQLsr89EkFPWR9Hl8Kc/s400/image2.JPG" title="Around the World in 35 Days" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backpacking was quite the adventure!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have just returned from a whirlwind trip that took my boots to eight countries and 10 cities in 35 days. And I did it with a single backpack (mostly) and only three pairs of shoes. No hot air balloon involved.<br />
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How? Why? Where? Great questions!<br />
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As you may have noticed in my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brandibuzzard/" target="_blank">Instagram feed</a>, the Ninja finished his PhD in September 2015 - a goal that he has been working towards for 10 years. Ever since we went to Australia for 10 months in 2011, he has wanted to go on a backpacking trip around Europe to celebrate the completion of his PhD. So when May rolled around and the end was in sight, we started talking about bringing the dream to fruition.<br />
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Fruition turned out to be the trip of a lifetime with an equally adventurous, flexible and fun-loving husband! I cannot adequately convey the magnitude of fun we had on this trip, but I will try. It was so relieving to be away from the stress of our daily lives and just be with each other while soaking up as much history, fun and food as we could. I affectionately call this trip the "Art and Carbs Tour of 2015." <br />
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Now that you know why we took off - it's time to talk about where we went! The trip started in Australia, which I know sounds really weird but the Ninja was presenting at a conference in Australia and we wanted to attend some close friends' wedding in Melbourne so we rolled an Australian visit into our European travels. Over the course of the trip, we traveled 27,000 miles and actually did complete a trip around the world! Additionally, we walked more than 235 miles in 31 days, averaging 7.6 miles per day while visiting some amazing European hot spots including London, Dublin and Paris. But for the whole trip, here is a brief timeline:<br />
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Nov 20: The Ninja departs for Australia<br />
Nov 29: I depart for Australia<br />
Dec 1: Arrive in Melbourne and reunite with soul sisters<br />
Dec 1 - 5: Soak up the Australian sun, visit favorite restaurants and attend best pals' wedding<br />
Dec 6: Depart Melbourne for Rome (via Singapore and Dubai)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvnPwERWO7U1KWoYfzoMPEqvf4g1oEc4DFtels6rhEy9A9RXDzUOlu0h1seZraJc4_eWLDWuTBqcQimIUqSTXX2kYZDcVXPq_Ck9Cn6BBGLTRVK7t-qgRQVW36wDTJOowfY0J-345nlb6/s1600/image1%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Group picture at friend wedding" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvnPwERWO7U1KWoYfzoMPEqvf4g1oEc4DFtels6rhEy9A9RXDzUOlu0h1seZraJc4_eWLDWuTBqcQimIUqSTXX2kYZDcVXPq_Ck9Cn6BBGLTRVK7t-qgRQVW36wDTJOowfY0J-345nlb6/s400/image1%255B1%255D.JPG" title="Around the World in 35 Days" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our awesome group of friends in Australia</td></tr>
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Dec 7 - 9: History, art & carbs in Rome; depart for Venice via night train<br />
Dec 9-11: Art, carbs, gondola ride & shopping; depart for Vienna, Austria via night train <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAEHt7PRbR59CxN-oJPhHut6WVsD1ur8uuFO2xYEbR4ljsuyiwm-t-cHUHhzkXYrAFYS6OJfEc26rvtMb27VhvgzeazkWnh8VMPVwM3ICJD4l8jj5USILmnd8hGE6NDySJmN6joIYKHR7/s1600/image2%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ceiling in the Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAEHt7PRbR59CxN-oJPhHut6WVsD1ur8uuFO2xYEbR4ljsuyiwm-t-cHUHhzkXYrAFYS6OJfEc26rvtMb27VhvgzeazkWnh8VMPVwM3ICJD4l8jj5USILmnd8hGE6NDySJmN6joIYKHR7/s400/image2%255B1%255D.JPG" title="Around the World in 35 Days" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling in the Vatican Museum, Rome, Italy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dec 12-13: Arrive in Vienna. Spanish Riding School & art; depart for Poland via night train <br />
Dec 14: Arrive in Oswiecim, Poland. Tour Auschwitz; depart via night train to Prague <br />
Dec 15: Quick train layover in Prague - board train to Berlin<br />
Dec 15: Arrive in Berlin. History tour extravaganza and lots of meat/potatoes. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6uwB_koV67KrafhsbrSykMrcM6Bo_VviSha8zjYlpaaR44BhQS8luYgkqtMXtglEgXdZeynlzY54uKONPHR9EMumuOmk3Pw8bUJYrSMK9Yw50rFW56FI2PWxRHlMiLx59_PadYj59ZC5/s1600/image5%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Steak dinner in London" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6uwB_koV67KrafhsbrSykMrcM6Bo_VviSha8zjYlpaaR44BhQS8luYgkqtMXtglEgXdZeynlzY54uKONPHR9EMumuOmk3Pw8bUJYrSMK9Yw50rFW56FI2PWxRHlMiLx59_PadYj59ZC5/s400/image5%255B1%255D.JPG" title="Around the World in 35 Days" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious steak dinner at JW Steakhouse in London, England</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Dec18: Depart for NW Germany via train to spend time with Hyatt's family<br />
Dec 18-20: Explore agricultural areas with Hyatt's family in rural NW Germany<br />
Dec 20: Drive to Paris - experience fear on the AutoBahn<br />
Dec 21- Dec 24: Eat baguettes, visit museums & shop; depart for London via ferry<br />
Dec 24 - Dec 28: Fall head over heels in love with London; depart for Dublin via plane<br />
Dec 28 - Jan 1: Alcohol tasting tours, learn about Irish history, ring in the New Year<br />
Jan 1: Return to Kansas via flight from Dublin to London, London to Chicago, Chicago to KC<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0sixJmS2OskAHFowdJqZT8PDcGjy6HverfCoaZFm3RoGqLEcC5QqhPP1z23KvkmFJ-Koqfqfm3wnKtlMUHFRvtW-evXmBKDmN5uS0ZZJMs-m-RamNlhREBUT1zLM6MC8JD21j2WOsS18/s1600/image6%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Paris skyline by night" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0sixJmS2OskAHFowdJqZT8PDcGjy6HverfCoaZFm3RoGqLEcC5QqhPP1z23KvkmFJ-Koqfqfm3wnKtlMUHFRvtW-evXmBKDmN5uS0ZZJMs-m-RamNlhREBUT1zLM6MC8JD21j2WOsS18/s400/image6%255B1%255D.JPG" title="Around the World in 35 Days" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paris skyline by night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Now don't freak out about the brevity of this itinerary. This isn't a travel blog but it is about this cowgirl's life so I will be sharing the in-depth details of each country and also tips that we learned in subsequent posts. <br />
<br />
Ok, so that's the 'where' and 'why' but the 'how' is probably the most important part. A lot of people asked us "how did you do it?" or expressed their desire to pick up and leave for five weeks. In addition to saving vacation time and money for several months, the truth is that we had a very supportive group of family and friends that helped us make this happen.<br />
<br />
- First off, my father took care of our horses and land for the full five weeks we were gone. And in winter, that's no small task considering the snow and rain that occurred in our absence.<br />
- Secondly, the Ninja's family took care of our puppies, Rooster and Cricket, while we were gone. In fact, they will have had the dogs for nine weeks by the time we get them back.<br />
- Last, but not least by any means, our colleagues and supervisors were willing to let us take this trip and cover our responsibilities for us. Without their support and flexibility we couldn't have gone!<br />
- We also had a massive group of prayer warriors behind us praying for safe travel and smooth sailing.<br />
<br />
So that's the basic How? Where? Why? of the trip. Come back next week for agriculture experiences abroad and more travel tips. To ensure you don't miss a post, add Buzzard's Beat to your email inbox by putting your email address in that little box up there in the right hand corner. And, if you don't already follow me on Instagram and want to see some of the sites we visited, you can visit my stream and see them right now!<br />
<br />
Would love to hear your impressions, comments and most importantly, questions! What travel posts do you want to see?<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
BuzzardBrandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-59503080769559633512015-11-20T09:16:00.000-06:002016-01-08T16:47:55.197-06:00What You Need to Know About "Frankenfish" aka: GMO Salmon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HQinaxXow-38UDR_zpOgQqD4K1SHMSp2h_QvXUJ07xzN2EMKHY7l__FPuXlJ55wF-wuYqOOBetr18nvlbaW9ZC658T-vtof6vESO_LcQl8nVoanYG5SXmh48d6hoPTAuYJvOYDlT8XC1/s1600/GMO-salmon1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A GMO salmon compared to an Atlantic salmon in size." border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HQinaxXow-38UDR_zpOgQqD4K1SHMSp2h_QvXUJ07xzN2EMKHY7l__FPuXlJ55wF-wuYqOOBetr18nvlbaW9ZC658T-vtof6vESO_LcQl8nVoanYG5SXmh48d6hoPTAuYJvOYDlT8XC1/s400/GMO-salmon1.png" title="What You Need to Know About "Frankenfish" aka: GMO Salmon" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A GMO salmon from AquaBounty in the background,<br />
alongside a non-GMO Atlantic salmon.<br />
Image courtesy <a href="http://www.alaskafishradio.com/">www.alaskafishradio.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In a <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/11/19/genetically-modified-salmon-fda-approval-aquaadvantage-column/76077702/" target="_blank">historic move by the FDA</a>, the first-ever genetically engineered animal was approved safe for human consumption this week: the GMO salmon, which some people have unlovingly deemed "Frankenfish." #notnice. I've actually <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-not-nice-to-call-them-frankenfish.html" target="_blank">blogged</a> about this before, and my feelings about GMO salmon, which are officially called AquAdvantage salmon, are the same. However, before we all get up in hackles about this scientific breakthrough that has been <a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/11/in-a-first-the-fda-clears-genetically-modified-salmon-for-eating-it-just-took-20-years/" target="_blank">20 years in the making</a>, let's take a minute to review some common, proven knowledge about GMOs or genetically engineered foods.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<strong>Q: What is a GMO?</strong><br />
A: It stands for genetically modified organism, which is a common term for genetically engineered food.<br />
<br />
<strong>Q: Ok - what is genetically engineered food?</strong><br />
A: These are organisms that have had genes altered to give the plant (and now salmon) an ability it didn't have before. For example, herbicide tolerance in soybeans. The GMO salmon have been altered so that the fish can continue to grow in colder months whereas non-GMO salmon shut down the growth process when the water gets cold. <br />
<br />
<strong>Q: Why do we use GMOs?</strong><br />
A: Farmers are able to save time and inputs (i.e. insecticides and pesticides) by using GMO seeds. Farmers select GMO seeds to reduce yield loss or crop damage from weeds, diseases, insects and extreme weather conditions. Essentially, <strong><em>GMOs allow farmers to <a href="http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Biotechnology-infographic_7.29.13-clean.pdf" target="_blank">produce more food using fewer inputs or resources.</a></em></strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>Q: Are GMOs safe?</strong><br />
A: <strong><em>Absolutely</em></strong>. Today's genetically engineered products are the<a href="https://gmoanswers.com/studies/infographic-how-does-gmo-get-market-gmo-regulation-review-and-research-process" target="_blank"> most researched and tested agricultural products</a> in history. On average, GMOs take 13 years and $130 million of research and development before they are introduced to the market. <em><strong>The regulatory process alone can take 5-7 years.</strong></em><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
<strong>Q: What genetically engineered foods are on the market now?</strong><br />
A: There are currently nine crops commercially available in the U.S. - alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton, papaya, potatoes, soybeans, squash and sugarbeets. GMO apples have been approved and are coming to market soon. And of course, there is our newest GMO success story, the GMO salmon which will be coming to market at some point in the future.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to the subject of genetically engineered salmon. There are many pros to genetically engineering fish and of course, there a potential cons. Here's an easy list to break it down:<br />
<br />
<strong><u>Pros</u></strong><br />
<ul>
<li>The GMO salmon, also called AquAdvantage, has been modified for fast growth during colder temperatures. A wild salmon's growth cycle slows down when water is cold in the winter, however by using a promoter gene from an ocean pout, the salmon continue to grow. Larger fish, more quickly equals more food, quickly.</li>
<li>The GMO salmon requires no antibiotics, unlike non-GMO salmon.</li>
<li>AquAdvantage salmon reach adult size twice as fast and require <strong><em>20% less feed </em></strong>than today's Atlantic salmon.</li>
<li>The food from <strong><em>GMO salmon is just as safe</em></strong> as food from any other Atlantic salmon.</li>
<li>The development and approval of GMO salmon will help address a food problem in the world.</li>
<li>Global demand of fish is expected to double by 2050 and farmed fish (GMO salmon and Atlantic salmon are both farmed) can help meet that need.</li>
</ul>
<strong><u>Cons</u></strong><br />
<ul>
<li>A big red flag to critics is the chance of GMO salmon interbreeding with wild salmon. However, the FDA has only allowed the fish to be raised in one penned-off lake in the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps?rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&rlz=1I7GUEA_enUS643&q=panamanian+mountains&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.&bvm=bv.108194040,d.eWE&biw=1728&bih=983&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjE6rbWnZ_JAhXKFx4KHQdiAyoQ_AUIBygC" target="_blank">Panamanian mountains</a>. To escape, the salmon would have to get out of the lake, swim down river and then continue in to the ocean where they would swim thousands of miles to arrive in the North Pacific or North Atlantic. Not impossible, but highly unlikely. If by chance, the escape proved successful, there would still be the issue of interbreeding, which scientists have taken care of by making <em>all of the fish female AND sterile</em>. </li>
</ul>
There you have it - the fast facts on GMO salmon. I can honestly say that I have no fear of my food in regards to genetically engineered organisms. If GMOs help us feed a hungry world, reduce our environmental impact and use fewer resources, I am all for them. Bravo to the FDA for approving this awesome GMO food that can help the world food problem. What's next?<br />
<br />
To learn more about other GMO foods such as the <a href="http://www.arcticapples.com/" target="_blank">arctic apple</a>, visit GMOAnswers.com.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-20470808834257763372015-11-12T08:38:00.000-06:002016-01-08T17:17:43.757-06:00A Love Story That Breaks Veggie Hearts<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRD1hGke6Fauru-vbs55LrEqvLfF1rNzJvu0nWNiCVep_w9B4lLYYuddsjha2Hc5XOpIvzjSB4L4Z738jXn0svzDw7Hoj3Gkgn8yEAdrGSnWQhlGcrXHbq5oBTmG-Apav_HxHPc0H-qtL/s1600/IMG_9563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Food: A Love Story" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbRD1hGke6Fauru-vbs55LrEqvLfF1rNzJvu0nWNiCVep_w9B4lLYYuddsjha2Hc5XOpIvzjSB4L4Z738jXn0svzDw7Hoj3Gkgn8yEAdrGSnWQhlGcrXHbq5oBTmG-Apav_HxHPc0H-qtL/s320/IMG_9563.JPG" title="A Love Story That Breaks Veggie Hearts" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Absolutely hilarious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/p/book-list.html" target="_blank">I try to read a lot. </a> Sometimes I am successful and other times, I will let days slip by me without ever cracking a binding. So, while enduring a long layover in an airport recently (I honestly can't remember where I was) I spied <a href="http://www.jimgaffigan.com/books/food-a-love-story" target="_blank">Food: A Love Story</a> on the shelf, which has been on my "to read" list for quite some time. <br />
<br />
I'm not going to give a lengthy review here - I honestly laughed OUT LOUD about every other page of this book. Most of the time spent reading this book was on a plane, so just imagine me busting a gut next to some random stranger trying to sleep. Whoops! It was so outlandishly funny that I could pick it up and read it again, right now. Instead of a review, here are my favorite jokes, which mostly happen to bash vegetables.<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
- Why are we surprised when vegetables taste good? "Oh my God, this beet is delicious." <br />
- Vegetables are sidekicks. The opening band you didn't come to see at the concert. The asparagus next to the steak. The expectation is that the entrée is so good you won't notice the mutant blades of grass.<br />
- When you are at a party and see a tray of vegetables, aren't you a little surprised? I always think "Wow, that's a waste of money."<br />
<br />
Honestly, I think my favorite part of the whole book is the page where he defines different vegetables.<br />
<br />
- Brussels sprouts: Clearly some kind of cruel joke by God.<br />
- Celery: Celery better get buffalo wings a great holiday present every year.<br />
- Cauliflower: The unpainted broccoli imposter.<br />
- Cucumber: The cucumber is just a pickle before it started drinking.<br />
<br />
Again, these are just a few short excerpts from a book that is hilarious for a full 300 pages. I strongly suggest you<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Food-Love-Story-Jim-Gaffigan/dp/0804140413" target="_blank"> read this book</a> - you will crack up the entire time. Let me know if you loved it too!<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-62910407183359700042015-11-04T22:23:00.000-06:002016-01-08T17:18:08.121-06:007 Things Leaders Can Learn From the Kansas City Royals<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4_5tAPFc2fYdmEFwFBW4BBk0AuzEY_S9Ciudv2Ee0llgy_pZloxvb67TGXzr1orqunKXh9p0XsYllimzu4fEEgYWaAs_uVmHYBDYpj9uFrWN4ISkhsMSZ3Qrip-Srfo_Jidr8RJvHJzZ/s1600/world-series-sized3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Kansas City Royals -World Series Champs - Kansas City Star" border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4_5tAPFc2fYdmEFwFBW4BBk0AuzEY_S9Ciudv2Ee0llgy_pZloxvb67TGXzr1orqunKXh9p0XsYllimzu4fEEgYWaAs_uVmHYBDYpj9uFrWN4ISkhsMSZ3Qrip-Srfo_Jidr8RJvHJzZ/s400/world-series-sized3.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World Series Champions - 2015 Royals<br />
Photo courtesy: <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/" target="_blank">Kansas City Star</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I am one of those sports fan who had, until this year, never had a team, college or professional, win a league-wide championship. I have enjoyed several seasons of KSU Big12 conference success (GO CATS!) and a few brief shining moments of Kansas City Chiefs football success. However, for 27 of the 29 years of my life, I had been a Royals fan waiting for something magical to happen. Lightning to strike. God to intervene.<br />
<br />
Well, Kansas City Royals fans all over this nation are rejoicing at a World Series Championship 30 years in the making. On Sunday night, the Royals won Game 5 of the World Series and became the 111th World Series Champions in the 12th inning over the New York Mets. We have been crowned. A fandom rejuvenated. A dream come true.<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
There is a legion of reasons this team came back to win in 2015 after losing in the 7th game of the 2014 World Series. This is a team of many strengths, which are applicable in life, jobs and relationships, not just baseball. So I give you 7 Things Leaders Can Learn From the Kansas City Royals.<br />
<br />
1. <strong>Expect to Win </strong>- The Royals go into their games expecting to win. Don't mistake this confidence for cockiness. They aren't loudly parading their talents for all to see or talking smack to other teams - but they are also aren't feebly going into games hanging their heads. They are going into every game mentally prepared to win. <br />
<strong><em>Bottom line -- If you don't expect to win, are you expecting the alternative?</em></strong><br />
<br />
2. <strong>Set Goals </strong>- From day one of spring training camp, the team's goal was to get back to the World Series and address their unfinished business. Their team goal wasn't to win the AL Central or to have seven players on the All-Star game AL roster. The goal was to get back to the World Series and win it all. Take the Crown. There is a plethora of research indicating that a source of motivation is the desire to reach a goal and if you aren't setting goals, you're setting yourself up for failure.<br />
<strong><em>Bottom line --</em></strong> <strong><em>You're more likely to be successful if you are setting measurable and attainable goals</em></strong>. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDq7YcvDzn3jPkq6ykYgWQBIHnaiZCcWVAbD8MYOepoUxMHpCfAupiGUUoJA8ydUMmiXdi0f6DWM9uDAppvkZTUKzdLnG5lFrRaeiXcnSP_8xHxwR1X5GZLRXszYKXJcw57bzcysKpJr1z/s1600/IMG_9255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Kansas City Royals celebrate their ALCS Championship on Oct 23 in Kauffman Stadium" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDq7YcvDzn3jPkq6ykYgWQBIHnaiZCcWVAbD8MYOepoUxMHpCfAupiGUUoJA8ydUMmiXdi0f6DWM9uDAppvkZTUKzdLnG5lFrRaeiXcnSP_8xHxwR1X5GZLRXszYKXJcw57bzcysKpJr1z/s400/IMG_9255.JPG" title="7 Things Leaders Can Learn From the Kansas City Royals" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Royals celebrate their ALCS Championship on Oct 23 in Kauffman Stadium</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
3. <strong>Execute</strong> - The Royals' game plan is to keep the line moving. Get on base, push runners home. Don't make mistakes and be unbeatable defensively. Lots of teams have plans, but very few carry out those plans. True to form, the 2015 Royals made their dreams come true by sticking to the plan - get on base and play excellent defense. In the 2015 post season, the Royals made only three errors. The three teams the Royals played in the post season made a combined <strong><em>16 errors</em></strong> (Astros - 2, Blue Jays - 5, Mets - 9). Talk about some damn good defense. Additionally, the Royals had an OBP (on-base percentage) of .322 in the postseason, which was higher than all three of their postseason opponents. They were #1 in postseason OBP and #11 in regular season. The Royals play as team, keep the line moving, get on base and don't make mistakes.<br />
<strong><em>Bottom line -- Make a plan that culminates with success and put every ounce of energy into attaining that success. Take the steps needed to be successful.</em></strong><br />
<br />
4. <strong>Be Aggressive and Take Risks </strong>- One of the many strengths of the Royals is their aggressive base running. It's risky, yes, but they end up winning big because of big risks. In Game 5 of the World Series, Mets player David Wright threw from third base to first to get Salvador Perez out but he left just a nickel of time for Eric Hosmer to score. It was a risk on the part of Hosmer but one that paid off big with the tying run. <br />
<strong><em>Bottom line -- If you aren't aggressive and don't take risks, you miss out on some big rewards. Go for the unknown, swing for the fence and hang on for dear life.</em></strong><br />
<br />
5. <strong>Make the Most of The Situation - </strong>In 2010, Zach Greinke, the best player in the Royals franchise at the time, demanded to be traded to a team that had a chance at winning - so off he went to the Milwaukee Brewers. That trade brought in Lorenzo Cain and Alcides Escobar who happen to be the 2014 and 2015 ALCS MVPs, respectively. Other teams would have hung their heads at losing their best player but the Royals rallied together and grew as a team. <br />
<strong><em>Bottom line -- Work with what you have to improve your situation. You never know where the next diamond in the rough will come from.</em></strong><br />
<br />
6. <strong>Believe</strong> - The Royals believed that they would win. Wholeheartedly, they came to take the crown and bring a World Series Championship back to Kauffman Stadium. They firewalled the <a href="http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/03/24/season-preview-kansas-city-royals" target="_blank">negative media</a> saying that they couldn't return to the series and went about their business. They believed in themselves and got an entire fan base to believe in the dream. Look where it got them? Crowned.<br />
<strong><em>Bottom line -- If you don't believe in yourself, nobody else will either.</em></strong><br />
<br />
7. <strong>NEVER Quit </strong>- Lorenzo Cain said it best in his post game interview and it was a big theme during the World Series parade and pep rally - <em>the Royals have a don't quit attitude</em>. Even when you are down in the 8th or 9th inning, don't give up. The Royals scored 40 runs in the 8th or 9th inning during the 2015 post season. Forty runs. No other team had more than five. That's playing until to the last strike and staying focused on the goal. Additionally, this post season the Royals came from behind to win eight times and seven of those times were deficits of two runs. Even if you don't watch baseball, it's easy to wrap your mind around the magnitude of eight come-from-behind wins. <br />
<strong><em>Bottom line -- Never give up. Never give in. Keep pushing, scratching and climbing to you get to the top.</em></strong> <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3PBuwssMSmurSj2Q7IMwpgyo2182Z3MAaXLxiYjnh9IlzmrQMW81H5zOq6sBfFGqRv_6gu_1iBdoUiEJLTBUMz01qYZgE0eR6qx7VOTreYuF7xLPv_rGfCgAUjiggo_9D42wePnPMRIA/s1600/IMG_9432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="View of Pep Raly in Kansas City for Royals " border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3PBuwssMSmurSj2Q7IMwpgyo2182Z3MAaXLxiYjnh9IlzmrQMW81H5zOq6sBfFGqRv_6gu_1iBdoUiEJLTBUMz01qYZgE0eR6qx7VOTreYuF7xLPv_rGfCgAUjiggo_9D42wePnPMRIA/s400/IMG_9432.JPG" title="7 Things Leaders Can Learn From the Kansas City Royals" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">800,000+ Kansas City Royals fans converged in front of Union Station and along the World Series parade route to celebrate the newly crowned 2015 World Series Champs. I was not super close, as you can see, but I could see the stage and the parade from my bird's eye view!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
If you are a Royals fan, and by now you should be, you can relive the 2015 season by reading <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/the-epic-story-of-the-2015-royals-and-their-world-series-championship-150143613.html" target="_blank">these</a> <a href="http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article42185334.html" target="_blank">great stories</a>. Also, get your World Series Champions gear - I'm going to spend a pretty penny to outfit myself in advance of the parade today and opening day in April!<br />
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Be Royal!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-47689698822824585202015-10-26T10:30:00.000-05:002015-10-26T10:30:01.064-05:00Meaty Monday: Apple Spice Pork ChopsThe Ninja's new colleague had supper with us one night a few weeks ago so I was looking for a recipe that had two things: 1) pork as the main ingredient and 2) some sort of fall implement. I am trying to beckon colder weather with fall aspects; home décor, apple pie etc. I may even drink a <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2015/09/food-babe-and-pumpkin-spice-latte.html" target="_blank">pumpkin spice latte</a>.<br />
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I found this recipe on Pinterest and it looked so easy and delicious I couldn't pass it up. The key thing to remember about this, and any pork chop recipe, is <strong>DON'T OVERCOOK YOUR PORK. </strong>You're doing yourself a disservice by cooking pork chops and roasts until they are dry as a bone. Pork is best served at 145 F and it is ok to have a little pink in there. Trust me - I'm married to a doctor ;)<br />
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I hope you enjoy this meal - if you try it and like it, shout it out below in the comments!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkR72R7dSl-lVAp8mtmhc0WXAXBeJL1OFSZRY5QRj-qh6XWt6wV90qrdxlWSYriAbUP2o0WthMtEY3RJb2IvVMCsm8gXvtNuERmPHyM0hNiPGF-5815cOs20Sqy7rWahuS1n0HdKgDhd0/s1600/image3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Necessary ingredients for apple spice pork chops" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihkR72R7dSl-lVAp8mtmhc0WXAXBeJL1OFSZRY5QRj-qh6XWt6wV90qrdxlWSYriAbUP2o0WthMtEY3RJb2IvVMCsm8gXvtNuERmPHyM0hNiPGF-5815cOs20Sqy7rWahuS1n0HdKgDhd0/s320/image3.JPG" title="Meaty Monday: Apple Spice Pork Chops" width="320" /></a>Ingredients:</div>
- 4 or 5 pork chops (ours were about 1" thick)<br />
- 2 T vegetable oil<br />
- salt and pepper<br />
- 1 medium onion<br />
- 2 medium apples <br />
- 2 T butter<br />
- 1 T brown sugar<br />
- 1/2 t cinnamon<br />
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg<br />
- 1 t chicken bouillon<br />
- 1 cup water<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-67TZuqU5SLZfo8CjJKxkcR83aCHcneg4WAJFTH2-nUPj0KewoQL9VhXu0JjLKw84PbpLds7Rh-z9szS6EYIUG97XPXAwLfQpO5lff4_5ULgvX1V3ah6Tee4DWXyHzIMBd-llYFWwZcc/s1600/image5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Apples and onions sliced up" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9-67TZuqU5SLZfo8CjJKxkcR83aCHcneg4WAJFTH2-nUPj0KewoQL9VhXu0JjLKw84PbpLds7Rh-z9szS6EYIUG97XPXAwLfQpO5lff4_5ULgvX1V3ah6Tee4DWXyHzIMBd-llYFWwZcc/s320/image5.JPG" title="Meaty Monday: Apple Spice Pork Chops" width="320" /></a></div>
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. While the oil is heating, season chops with salt and pepper (I use heavy salt and pepper because we like spiced up food). Once the oil is hot, place the chops in the pan and let the bottoms get a nice brown crust (2-3 minutes). While the chops are browning slice up your onions and apples (you don't have to peel the apples). Flip the chops and brown the other side for 2-3 minutes, then remove them from the pan.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; height: 250px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left; width: 332px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9xm1S54FiIph5pmChQI2f26cx7lv0JWO28wBp4wAP2lxoR1QtSpeW2JWaCoCfWqkbjWv2jyEwiZwolXzU4-g-SV0lH2mo6WMdMTuXMof161HbvZB3RYDo2m-0qtVbho7YxtRY_A-SIVz/s1600/image6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Browning pork chops" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9xm1S54FiIph5pmChQI2f26cx7lv0JWO28wBp4wAP2lxoR1QtSpeW2JWaCoCfWqkbjWv2jyEwiZwolXzU4-g-SV0lH2mo6WMdMTuXMof161HbvZB3RYDo2m-0qtVbho7YxtRY_A-SIVz/s320/image6.JPG" title="Meaty Monday: Apple Spice Pork Chops" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Give the chops a few minutes to get a good crust on one side; then flip and repeat with the other.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
Now put the apples, onions and butter in the pan so that they can soften (approximately 5 minutes), then add in the bouillon, water, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir everything together well and ensure that the apples and onions are softened, then add the chops back to the pan. Make sure there are apples and onions on the chops so that the flavors can collide.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQWG0t9Wrwq2otFkNvEWVV9YjChUku5dMHtZSEcQp8iFc29mQBizu5-lq7Z1MxaI1fJS4B-uByq2w7w9IUHHIwSF1WzCUeFiN7yXrIu2zdC70JDBiWE_JiIksBWTndlE-S4pWlBGPpOxq/s1600/image8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pork chops, apples and onion simmering" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQWG0t9Wrwq2otFkNvEWVV9YjChUku5dMHtZSEcQp8iFc29mQBizu5-lq7Z1MxaI1fJS4B-uByq2w7w9IUHHIwSF1WzCUeFiN7yXrIu2zdC70JDBiWE_JiIksBWTndlE-S4pWlBGPpOxq/s320/image8.JPG" title="Meaty Monday: Apple Spice Pork Chops" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They taste better than they smell - and they smell DELICIOUS!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Simmer the whole mess until the sauce is reduced by half and the chops are 145 degrees F. Serve chops with apples and onions served on top, with your favorite starch or veggie.<br />
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I hope you enjoy these as much as we did - fall weather is here and this is great recipe for those chilly nights! What are your favorite fall recipes?<br />
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Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-59053080371123355712015-10-07T11:11:00.000-05:002015-10-07T11:11:00.273-05:00When Big Business Comes to Rural America<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7DCL3K8IvbhwcJ1syLJ6-hPI3ulA-TS0M2Xk2TRt-uGiPqAQKgtfmxz5tpvicsA_7qmV1Sxfl05QayeOhvo5uhyphenhyphenJqvLfLcNBxFtCsXnuZiy67HgdfhpPTWiIW7E01-7n6yi_hoosU1uF/s1600/orscheln+edited.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Orscheln's Coming to Garnett, KS" border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7DCL3K8IvbhwcJ1syLJ6-hPI3ulA-TS0M2Xk2TRt-uGiPqAQKgtfmxz5tpvicsA_7qmV1Sxfl05QayeOhvo5uhyphenhyphenJqvLfLcNBxFtCsXnuZiy67HgdfhpPTWiIW7E01-7n6yi_hoosU1uF/s640/orscheln+edited.png" title="When Big Business Comes to Rural America" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not yet open for business, but soon the Orschelns in Garnett, KS will be fully functional</td></tr>
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We recently moved to the county I grew up in - a county in which the largest town has 3,300 people and the nearest Wal-Mart is 25 miles away. Since we live in rural paradise, most of our shopping occurs in this town, which is the county seat. There are not a lot of large chain businesses around us; there is a chain grocery store (Country Mart) and a handful of fast food restaurants -- that's about it for "Big Biz." </div>
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For example, here's a sampling of the locally owned businesses in the town. Small businesses account for probably 80-90% of the town's economy:<br />
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- 4-5 beauty salons<br />
- 4 insurance companies (2 chain; 2 local)<br />
- A bar/grill <br />
- A Mexican restaurant (which changes hands every few years)<br />
- 2 auto parts stores<br />
- Furniture store<br />
- 2 hardware stores<br />
- Car dealership<br />
- Feed/livestock supply store<br />
- 2 liquor stores<br />
- 2 women's clothing/gift shops<br />
- 2 floral shops<br />
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Most of these businesses have been around since I was in elementary school and there is a delicate balance of shopping local vs. occasionally traveling to "the city" (aka KC Metro) for big purchases like electronics, TVs or other specialty items. The Ninja and I shop local because as part of the community we recognize we need to support our fellow rural dwellers or our county seat may fail to thrive.<br />
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Enter, Orschelns.<br />
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You see, we used to have an Alco but it recently went out of business and the building was purchased by Orschelns. Yes! Orschelns is coming to Garnett, KS. Most people see this as an step up in rural life, myself included. The ability to purchase fence posts, baby chicks in the spring (!!!) and have an expanded selection of ranch supplies is invaluable. However, another part of me is pained because I know that "Big Biz" is going to take business away from the hardware stores and maybe some from the feed supply business. In all honesty, Orschelns is likely going to put one of the hardware stores out of business.<br />
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And that sucks.<br />
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It sucks because a business that's been around for more than a decade will likely be shuttered. It sucks because a little piece of the community will break. It sucks that convenience and affordability come at the expense of empty aisles and a "going out of business" sign. <br />
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I'm not a fortune teller - I'm not positive that one of the hardware stores will close. I'm pretty sure the feed/livestock supply store will be fine because they deal with a lot of products that Orschelns doesn't carry plus they have a very loyal customer base. But this situation is always going to be a challenge for those of us in rural communities. Shop local is a movement that is alive and well, and for good reason. But when does it become acceptable to save money and shop at Big Biz? What is the percentage of savings that must occur in order for the stigma of shopping at Big Biz to dissipate? I'm predicting that judgment will be cast on those Orschelns patrons who will "abandon" the local hardware stores.<br />
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I don't know the answer, but I am guessing I'll know it within a few years. So, readers, how would you deal with this situation? Do you continue to frequent the small hardware stores? Do you run to Orschelns for the things that they offer exclusively? Do you alternate? <br />
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How would you handle this retail change up if you lived in rural southeast Kansas?<br />
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Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~<br />
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<br />Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-45878178713536948762015-09-30T14:00:00.000-05:002015-09-30T14:00:03.361-05:00To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTR4VuxjTVApTRXDsDrb9hU7oegCyg04FI68C8KD0BGZoAMld4SvMylHGcFxGnT8b6OLKd6Z9hPxsWHq5MBn9B396ne2DAa8p2mvV1-Q529JhiPX5Y1bGgXLtVmSyGbg9YIjjjDOUUFGj/s1600/strong+women.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="running photo" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTR4VuxjTVApTRXDsDrb9hU7oegCyg04FI68C8KD0BGZoAMld4SvMylHGcFxGnT8b6OLKd6Z9hPxsWHq5MBn9B396ne2DAa8p2mvV1-Q529JhiPX5Y1bGgXLtVmSyGbg9YIjjjDOUUFGj/s320/strong+women.JPG" title="To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's time to have a serious talk about girl power. Don't worry, I won't be discussing abortion, birth control, gay marriage or any similar topics. This is about being a woman in a male-dominated industry: agriculture. I am not the only woman talking about this topic and I better not be the last. Every woman in agriculture should be talking about this. I read a post by Kate at <a href="http://www.uptownsheep.com/uptown-girl---a-working-farm-wifes-blog/to-the-woman-riding-in-my-husbands-combine" target="_blank">Uptown Farms</a> yesterday which led me to attempt to organize my thoughts on the topic of being a woman in agriculture. To be honest, I'm mad that I even have to address this because it's 2015 for cripes sake!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiZD_f6r48-22bKkb_z-ghmBeG8TBe_dUJoD177HUvmjuQsSa_NgutUUC2QgLqxy87GoCM_wvvGwgAMlkjzTMcIO4Kc7r_1ofGJl2ZZeCQzFyLrDrKrd-bGOz6gsd6jg9ZgilZ3rEuZf7/s1600/1383088_10201686770949515_6006148_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="friends" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiZD_f6r48-22bKkb_z-ghmBeG8TBe_dUJoD177HUvmjuQsSa_NgutUUC2QgLqxy87GoCM_wvvGwgAMlkjzTMcIO4Kc7r_1ofGJl2ZZeCQzFyLrDrKrd-bGOz6gsd6jg9ZgilZ3rEuZf7/s320/1383088_10201686770949515_6006148_n.jpg" title="To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have been involved in agriculture my entire life. As a child, I was raised to be seen and not heard, which is something I have struggled to break since entering the professional world. As I headed off to college and later, the real world, I realized that if you are seen and not heard, you are not part of the discussion and you are often not seen as valuable. This is especially true for women. Ladies, how many times have you had a great idea you were afraid to share because it might be deemed "stupid" only to hear another colleague suggest the same thing and have it be met with adoring cheers and applause? There goes another missed opportunity. Or, how many times have you been snarked on by other women in your office/class/community because you are successful, outgoing, doing a "man's" job, a stay-at-home mom or any other ridiculous reason for resentment and animosity? While one of the aforementioned actions can be blamed on ourselves (Speak up! Lean in!), the other is what I am ticked off about today. Stop with the snark, ladies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pkwQHbV-V_Ktd05AWjGqdy1yTWdnZbH354s2lFkiuGQmsapNcGpMyTrgcDbNN89r8O4t01V261PIPN-CjUcBlijeofBcDGtT5P08p83K8DIvZcxI1BwJBz4fYJTdFT7cXCPlZenhRjrK/s1600/941064_4072208982332_1609900458_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Buzzard ladies - all strong women" border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pkwQHbV-V_Ktd05AWjGqdy1yTWdnZbH354s2lFkiuGQmsapNcGpMyTrgcDbNN89r8O4t01V261PIPN-CjUcBlijeofBcDGtT5P08p83K8DIvZcxI1BwJBz4fYJTdFT7cXCPlZenhRjrK/s320/941064_4072208982332_1609900458_n.jpg" title="To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's time to stop talking about how men hold women back in the workplace and start focusing on how women tear each other down. This conversation stems from a thread I was reading in a private Facebook group where a farmer's wife/farmer/farm wife was upset and had taken to her peers to vent. She was frustrated because a young female seed representative with a "bouncy ponytail" rode in the combine with the farmer husband for 45 minutes or so talking about seed, yields, harvest etc. This woman was upset that the seed rep didn't check with her before having a meeting with her husband and generally, the passenger seat of the combine is reserved for the wife.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclKHXlT_jsmWnUrBaXvkh4QiqRiCn3NRo0dVgctiUB1JIyJOZwTabOCR1pf49fsBaV3EuEaH1w19db0Bx7jH3Nj_ZkEqE5dgqJjWi8x2ValvmXFqPBZswd2Sgegh2iZVc0e6H-eVTWfWt/s1600/IMG_6420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="beef industry women" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclKHXlT_jsmWnUrBaXvkh4QiqRiCn3NRo0dVgctiUB1JIyJOZwTabOCR1pf49fsBaV3EuEaH1w19db0Bx7jH3Nj_ZkEqE5dgqJjWi8x2ValvmXFqPBZswd2Sgegh2iZVc0e6H-eVTWfWt/s320/IMG_6420.JPG" title="To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies" width="320" /></a></div>
Had I not known better, I would have thought I was living in the 50s due to the blatant criticism thrown on the seed rep who was just <strong><em>doing her job.</em></strong> Would this wife be criticizing a male seed rep for getting in the combine for a few trips around the field? No. Not at all. Would the wife be frustrated that a male seed rep hadn't first checked with her before meeting her husband. Absolutely not. One person even commented that she hadn't had a date night with her husband in forever yet a female seed rep gets 45 minutes with the farmer. Did I miss something? Did the seed rep break your date session? Were you riding in the combine and your husband kicked you out in favor of the seed rep? No. That is not the case. What happened is a pure and simple case of jealousy that turned into a stream of scornful statements towards a woman doing her job in a man's industry. I certainly hope the ponytail bedecked seed rep isn't a member of that group on Facebook so that she can't see all the nasty things women were saying about her. I was absolutely sickened by some of the comments.<br />
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Would those women want that harsh criticism thrown on their daughters, nieces, sisters, mothers or granddaughters for doing her job? Doubtful. Social media makes it easy to sit behind a screen, from the safety of our home and criticize the crap out of each other and say things we wouldn't say to anyone's face. Well, come to my house and I'll tell you the same things I'm writing: <br />
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<em><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Grow the hell up, folks.</span></strong></em> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2fMhn0HLCMJiqsOxvO666bANCUiTfSVNSncwVmXG5eoL9vfxQRAa4zJBrHChV-1Vtqieh9ElOYI0iO4_kpor7TM05lurCBr11UL9t5z9Auc3NsKWj7JgyF4zBMF32j7WeRH_XVL1KQ-l/s1600/10454450_937036849644977_3956695789030399017_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="strong women!" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl2fMhn0HLCMJiqsOxvO666bANCUiTfSVNSncwVmXG5eoL9vfxQRAa4zJBrHChV-1Vtqieh9ElOYI0iO4_kpor7TM05lurCBr11UL9t5z9Auc3NsKWj7JgyF4zBMF32j7WeRH_XVL1KQ-l/s200/10454450_937036849644977_3956695789030399017_n.jpg" title="To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies" width="200" /></a> Women in agriculture have a right to be involved in conversations that affect our ranches, farms and livelihood. It's been a decades-long struggle for women to climb out of the kitchen and into the workplace, to get those top leadership spots and to become seen as industry leaders, while also juggling family roles and responsibilities. We had to earn our power and fight for equality with men in feed companies, trade organizations, the sale barn, the pasture - I mean, we <a href="https://www.ffa.org/about/what-is-ffa/ffa-history" target="_blank">weren't even allowed to be members of FFA until 1969</a>. How many ag leaders were overlooked in that 41 year span because they were women?! Are we really going to turn on each other while doing the jobs and filling the roles we have fought so hard to earn?<br />
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I am a woman in the male-dominated beef industry. I wear boots and a blazer when I speak at conventions and to groups, I have one-on-one meetings with men all the time and I can carry on a conversation about corn harvest, fat cattle prices and policy regulatio<span data-reactid=".ho.1:5.0.0.0.1:$comment10153271446363040_10153272924523040/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".ho.1:5.0.0.0.1:$comment10153271446363040_10153272924523040/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".ho.1:5.0.0.0.1:$comment10153271446363040_10153272924523040/=10.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$end/=1$text0/=010">ns affecting the beef business. Then I turn right around and am the traditional wife that cooks, cleans and plays an equal role on our own ranch. It is possible to do both and be respected by women and men for the variety of roles that we play. My husband doesn't question the business trips I take, and I don't question his. Because we trust each other. Plain and simple. My recommendation to the original jealous farmer's wife would be to talk to your husband, not the internet. My recommendation to the seed rep is to keep rocking that ponytail, get in the combine and earn that promotion. </span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW47vD3EXv7nsYHi3BmKX9y6kI4sBUi1mcpTxsyv_P0eEEEaewY-MC-gGJiwnx_cRaC9qZVmwo6pmRGRX9Q-gDW-6EdJV6CFtfhmkN11QqhXiBfe_2R-fE1NMXwCeNK-O20zqFL97EYdL/s1600/IMG_7232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beef industry friends!" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNW47vD3EXv7nsYHi3BmKX9y6kI4sBUi1mcpTxsyv_P0eEEEaewY-MC-gGJiwnx_cRaC9qZVmwo6pmRGRX9Q-gDW-6EdJV6CFtfhmkN11QqhXiBfe_2R-fE1NMXwCeNK-O20zqFL97EYdL/s320/IMG_7232.JPG" title="To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies" width="240" /></a></div>
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It stops now. Stop putting down other women because of your own insecurities. If you're feeling jealous, insecure, uncomfortable etc. ask for help. Talk to a friend. Talk to your partner. Don't blame your feelings on another woman. You don't know what path she walked to get to where she is and you don't know her story. Like my friend Janice says, <a href="http://janiceperson.com/cotton/looking-for-builders-instead-of-demolition-teams/" target="_blank">be a builder and not a destroyer</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fdnGEyMikNHw6EPJ46Zg0jpFR9JCsoq9P75afYiErEscVsMHXbUiCXzjQSQcZMj_rrtDfF3u2gwifjVy0b6Lleo_8cbS3cN4Jma3L0XK4r08mFRpFOCDxGY9wxh-71AWbr52roet7aFS/s1600/10805709_10102045167973951_3259824665813713103_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="strong women running together!" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fdnGEyMikNHw6EPJ46Zg0jpFR9JCsoq9P75afYiErEscVsMHXbUiCXzjQSQcZMj_rrtDfF3u2gwifjVy0b6Lleo_8cbS3cN4Jma3L0XK4r08mFRpFOCDxGY9wxh-71AWbr52roet7aFS/s320/10805709_10102045167973951_3259824665813713103_n.jpg" title="To My Fellow Women in Agriculture: Be Better, Ladies" width="180" /></a></div>
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An interesting thing about women: we have the ability to say some really empowering things but also say some very hurtful things. Both the kindest and nastiest things that have ever been said to me came from a woman. Have I criticized women? Yes. I recognize and own this. Clearly I am criticizing several right now in this post for their antiquated viewpoints and sexist comments. However, I can work at being better every day. I can choose to continue complimenting, encouraging, inspiring and invigorating my fellow women in ag. I can choose to engage in positive conversations rather than tear each other down. I can CHOOSE to be a better person. So can you.<br />
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Be better, ladies. <br />
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Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~<br />
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This post has featured a multitude of strong women who I am proud to have as friends and family!Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-4905879895046823682015-09-24T12:10:00.000-05:002015-09-24T12:10:00.320-05:00Food Babe and the Pumpkin Spice Latte<span style="font-family: inherit;">Time for some real talk about a really annoying issue: the Pumpkin Spice Latte, more commonly known as the PSL, from Starbucks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Last year, the Food Babe and her fan girls caused a big ruckus because there wasn't any pumpkin in the PSL and there were two doses of caramel coloring which contains the chemical 4-Methylimidazole (4-MEI). The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has found that 4-MEI is a level <a href="http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/latest_classif.php" target="_blank">2B carcinogenic</a> which means that this chemical is <em>possibly</em> carcinogenic to humans. Do you know what else is a level 2B carcinogen? <a href="http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/latest_classif.php" target="_blank"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Freaking coffee</span></em></strong></a>. So let's not split hairs over which <em>possible</em> carcinogens we may be guzzling. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Well, instead of deciding to purchase coffee elsewhere and leave the rest of the world alone, the Food Babe decides she has to fix the problem for EVERYONE, regardless of the fact that really no one else gave a flying flip about the ingredients in the PSL. To sum it up, I'm sick of this woman and the effects her fear-based marketing and ignorance have on society. Here are four truth bombs about the sigil of fall, the Pumpkin Spice Latte.</span><br />
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<em><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disclaimer: I have never tried a PSL however, I don’t believe that I have to try something to determine that the marketing behind it is ridiculous or that the Food Babe is not a reliable source for food information</span>. Furthermore, the nearest Starbucks is about a half hour away and I don't drink coffee. This post is not about coffee, it's about common sense and how restaurants have started a very bad habit of catering to a vocal, uneducated minority.</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">1 – <span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>There is no pumpkin in pumpkin spice</em></strong>,</span> more commonly
known as “pumpkin pie spice” (I will use these interchangeably for the rest of
the post). Don't believe me? Look on the back of your pumpkin pie spice canister. Don't have one? Here's a <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/food-and-friends/how-to-make-pumpkin-pie-spice/" target="_blank">recipe</a>, endorsed by <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/food-and-friends/how-to-make-pumpkin-pie-spice/" target="_blank">The Pioneer Woman</a>, for pumpkin pie spice. Thinking that pumpkin is actually in pumpkin pie spice is a common misconception and I have called out several trolls on a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FoxNews/videos/10152466586451336/?comment_id=10152467286476336&notif_t=like" target="_blank">recently revived Facebook post</a> that the only ingredients in pumpkin spice are cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves etc. Things that taste like fall. No pumpkin
whatsoever. Get off that horse.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3WG3mhLxvzUv2wGbZvRVAr31QsPMvxFnyHOCzZqXGX4fE0CBR2zapzPX0up5Sy8VzRPN42Z1ArrNUbaAI1t0Z3KHj_KFxgPQfHI5E3MNQWdWqhSg_1Bm1aPqVgAtdYGKS-xuq-iblTHV/s1600/pumpkin+spice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="a jar of pumpkin pie spice" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3WG3mhLxvzUv2wGbZvRVAr31QsPMvxFnyHOCzZqXGX4fE0CBR2zapzPX0up5Sy8VzRPN42Z1ArrNUbaAI1t0Z3KHj_KFxgPQfHI5E3MNQWdWqhSg_1Bm1aPqVgAtdYGKS-xuq-iblTHV/s400/pumpkin+spice.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do they get the pumpkin in there?!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-f5_5t3wxz-8i_SzBEo8pOs2u2qtXxq96bHfMBnSHZ30TBtwcUBwoUixEUrDo-J1v17fOAUwcHuK4EAbvMh6sBs3FgL6UeBL7XZz4LNMKK6mpCNUwvS9loxiU7d2P_GcOKHnKmfwSNMN/s1600/pumpkin+spice+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="a jar of pumpkin pie spice" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-f5_5t3wxz-8i_SzBEo8pOs2u2qtXxq96bHfMBnSHZ30TBtwcUBwoUixEUrDo-J1v17fOAUwcHuK4EAbvMh6sBs3FgL6UeBL7XZz4LNMKK6mpCNUwvS9loxiU7d2P_GcOKHnKmfwSNMN/s400/pumpkin+spice+2.jpg" title="" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Answer: They don't. There is zero pumpkin in pumpkin spice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2 – Building off of the first bullet, <strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Starbucks never
claimed to have pumpkin in the PSL</span></em></strong>. Never. Food Babe just assumed that because the word pumpkin was in the product, it should have that ingredient in it. False. Another example: fly spray for livestock. There are no flies in fly spray. Yet another example: key lime pie yogurt? Is there actually key lime pie in a Yoplait key lime pie yogurt. Nope. Grapes in grape soda? Nein. C'mon folks, common sense. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">3 – Lattes and other drinks should not contain solids that
are not easily converted into a melty-ish liquid. Example: whipped cream on hot
chocolate is acceptable because that melts and contributes to the flavor of the
drink. Pumpkin doesn’t melt, to my knowledge, and therefore the PSL now
contains a random floater of pumpkin. Mmmmm, appetizing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">4 – Plain pumpkin* is not delicious to eat by itself. Anyone who has ever eaten plain ole pumpkin will tell you that it’s not the most flavorful food and that
in order to make it palatable for a pie, cookies, cake, bread etc. you need pumpkin pie spice. Reminder, we have
already ascertained that there is precisely zero pumpkin in a pumpkin spice
container. Adding straight pumpkin does nothing to the flavor of the drink but
only momentarily satisfies ignorant food activists such as the Food Babe. A PSL
without the pumpkin spice but with pumpkin would taste quite bland, I imagine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong>Real product review from my Starbucks loving (anti-Food Babe) PhD friend:</strong> "<em>The difference in flavor is hard to describe. The PSL is still good but not as good."</em></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am sure there are a lot of folks that are wondering why I care so much about a latte that I have never tried however, the action taken by Starbucks due to fear-based promotion by the Food Babe is a very sad example of the "I don't like it and neither should you" transition our food supply is experiencing. There is a new wave of activists who have the elitist attitude that if a product doesn't fit their picture-perfect ideals, then it should be changed or snuffed out of the market. The simple solution to that problem is to buy something else or make your own. However, food elitists like Food Babe feel as though it's their duty to drag restaurants through the mud and force them to abandon science and FDA-approved ingredients in order to calm a spastic, screaming minority. </span><br />
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Use your heads, my friends!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>* For my non-US readers, I am referring to the big orange squash that is associated with fall, Thanksgiving and Halloween over here in the U.S. I realize that "pumpkin" means any type of squash in many other countries, but over here in the good ole USA it is specifically reserved for this.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-32939568318142001962015-09-23T10:24:00.000-05:002015-09-23T10:24:00.172-05:00Wordless Wednesday: HomeWe moved into our new ranch property this past weekend - here are few pictures of our slice of paradise.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIgQ17TRZYaXZV6sOzs9QZLb2tlyucnYUbPrS8NRlwwWByMAMeUxSUgW32DD1Bryq3zR3_RnDGZ66dHnWKZVIiUwiv-kMwkE201vtKTJR0ZLFDtqJ185_QZnszZwuf29APwb66XEqavsQ/s1600/ranch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIgQ17TRZYaXZV6sOzs9QZLb2tlyucnYUbPrS8NRlwwWByMAMeUxSUgW32DD1Bryq3zR3_RnDGZ66dHnWKZVIiUwiv-kMwkE201vtKTJR0ZLFDtqJ185_QZnszZwuf29APwb66XEqavsQ/s400/ranch.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxrnRbfqhl2izDvFQAKdFECajrhefTU6itPwUPX5SW5ss9l_3HaN6-Q8O6mNAtj8v9ZpkYniiXNirMtq5FWsalN3gvkOjmS3m5r5J90zhT0rjchjfSmAsLx2JG-fMAY2uRLoN0qfH84DV/s1600/blacony+view.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxrnRbfqhl2izDvFQAKdFECajrhefTU6itPwUPX5SW5ss9l_3HaN6-Q8O6mNAtj8v9ZpkYniiXNirMtq5FWsalN3gvkOjmS3m5r5J90zhT0rjchjfSmAsLx2JG-fMAY2uRLoN0qfH84DV/s400/blacony+view.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJMAeIvqpAVGehoS5gL2CAN6v5OTznC8V_MKXVeWhwvkc30OxQvUh20MJ3F8v4zFRoJnwPkpev1naLKRwBl6l4DBy8ezEBMOUrDTIGYEiKlPbodwY0Qlmx44dFyv1uGS5kAETT2-kNhrW/s1600/ranch+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJMAeIvqpAVGehoS5gL2CAN6v5OTznC8V_MKXVeWhwvkc30OxQvUh20MJ3F8v4zFRoJnwPkpev1naLKRwBl6l4DBy8ezEBMOUrDTIGYEiKlPbodwY0Qlmx44dFyv1uGS5kAETT2-kNhrW/s400/ranch+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In order from top to bottom: us in front of our new house on closing day, the view from our balcony overlooking the turn out pens, a view of the housed and one of the pastures while I was riding, the horse barn with tack room and stalls, a new pasture to explore with Friday, overlooking a pasture, barn and the house, and the sunrise this morning.<br />
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We are thrilled to say the least. God is good.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-30778216989158165182015-08-05T19:52:00.000-05:002015-08-05T19:52:00.410-05:009 Things You Learn While Living in a College Town for 9 YearsAs I mentioned last week, we have just moved back to the county where I was born and raised. We are in the final stages of purchasing a small ranch property, which I am absolutely ecstatic about, but until we close we are living with my father [so I won't be sharing pictures or saying it's "our place" because it's not yet and I don't want to jinx it]. I've had lots of people ask me how I'm feeling, and to those folks I say, "thank you." Thanks for caring that my nostalgic heart is letting go of "<em><a href="http://www.k-state.com/s/1173/social.aspx?sid=1173&gid=1&pgid=411" target="_blank">a spot that I love full well</a></em>" while moving back to another place that has a significant chunk of my heart. <br />
<br />
The move has come with mixed emotions so below I share with you <strong><em>9 Things You Learn While Living in a College Town for 9 Years.</em></strong><br />
<br />
1. Do NOT go to Wal-Mart, Target, Dillon's, Hyvee etc. the weekend before fall or spring semesters start. There will be a shortage of three-ring binders, frozen pizzas, Sterilite containers, bread, Spaghettios and bean bag chairs. Either go in early August or hold off until early September. You will be forever scarred and bitter if you go grocery shopping in the first two weeks that students are back in town.<br />
<br />
2. After you live there post-graduation, you will notice differences between yourself and the students that are enrolled. When this happens, you are immediately known as a "townie." This is not a derogatory term - it implies that you are a resident year-round and have certain rights. Such as the right to complain about road construction that ONLY HAPPENS DURING SUMMER!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkibtkJroNPjQuAifuqNMkv4zb9w18Oty2swwhynGaMsCbE6mKjlbiXkdwXIXwKtw0oINPkhl-HqlHjDsm1Eyv3hyLGaX143gzlLhycGu8lRDtm-8ydaKn0Ab5hp-Ga7utVDhZkGD50hPB/s1600/traffic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkibtkJroNPjQuAifuqNMkv4zb9w18Oty2swwhynGaMsCbE6mKjlbiXkdwXIXwKtw0oINPkhl-HqlHjDsm1Eyv3hyLGaX143gzlLhycGu8lRDtm-8ydaKn0Ab5hp-Ga7utVDhZkGD50hPB/s320/traffic+2.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh look, another road closed. Now there is only one lone<br />
street on campus that is navigable.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
3. Those professors you had during undergrad will gradually become your mentors and if you are supernaturally blessed, they will become your friends. It's pretty cool to become friends with people who have far more life experience, wisdom and insight than you do as a twenty-something. In some instances, you may even end up helping them with some aspect of their life, like babysitting or social media insight.<br />
<br />
4. You will discover all the cool cultural haunts and restaurants that the college crowd doesn't frequent that often. In Manhattan, Kansas, it's the Konza Prairie and the Little Grill, among others.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvZ6ilghNra14xFKaSLOUviwL-cl71geZ7gyjdi9HR0Upn-7rllvXKIkQNsYuYlXEvCup1EpJFNj4P0_Cc0OVARVNdcWWo4Z8G2A-YKI2kSxOOOxcEx8K8YtaGMII5s3N5aOUlL_i5S0L/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A view of Aggieville in Manhattan, KS" border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIvZ6ilghNra14xFKaSLOUviwL-cl71geZ7gyjdi9HR0Upn-7rllvXKIkQNsYuYlXEvCup1EpJFNj4P0_Cc0OVARVNdcWWo4Z8G2A-YKI2kSxOOOxcEx8K8YtaGMII5s3N5aOUlL_i5S0L/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" title="9 Things I Learned While Living in a College Town for 9 Years" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slow summer in Manhattan, KS.<br />
<em>@brandibuzzard</em> on Instagram</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
5. When you go out to the bars with your townie friends, you'll reminisce about what the bars <strong><em>used to </em></strong>be like. "When I was in school, that was Next Door and when you walked in on a Thursday, you probably knew everyone, including the bartender, who promptly poured you a Lindsay Special."<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xheTIMJ2XzSQnm8_9Y5NMxVhLMzqAoEQc9U3cJby0t95BzAJKLnAnICUMbuVfpmpcklTiDRGIi2CTSUZMdIanbolVeyV7Duskcz3d5_NtKssJ4tXIXsH3WtaAG19SOrkg8baZj_kys_V/s1600/1930089_1092769357965_3527301_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xheTIMJ2XzSQnm8_9Y5NMxVhLMzqAoEQc9U3cJby0t95BzAJKLnAnICUMbuVfpmpcklTiDRGIi2CTSUZMdIanbolVeyV7Duskcz3d5_NtKssJ4tXIXsH3WtaAG19SOrkg8baZj_kys_V/s320/1930089_1092769357965_3527301_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of my favorite ladies at Rusty's. <br />
That chica on the right is responsible for the always delicious "Lindsay Special"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
6. You will eventually think of this college town as home, rather than "where I go to school." For example, if you go to some young professionals mixer and have to introduce yourself and say where you're from, you'll answer with "Manhattan" rather than your hometown.<br />
<br />
7. Your place becomes the home base for new memories because when people come to town for weddings, football games, livestock sales etc., your place is where they want to crash. It's like a grown-up slumber party, with wine.<br />
<br />
8. You inadvertently become part of the community. It may be becoming a member of a church, joining a civic group, playing on a town softball team or helping coordinate a city-wide event, but you will be woven into the community's activities and have a phenomenal opportunity to meet an even broader group of cool people.<br />
<br />
and probably the most true and difficult learning...<br />
<br />
9. When you move away, possibly to your hometown, it will be bittersweet. You'll be ecstatic to be living closer to family however, leaving behind the place that shaped who you are, helped you develop into a young professional and fostered some of the best relationships you'll ever have will make even the most stone-cold hardass shed a tear.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUav6XUjex7Qjut8UIn0oCukZCi1ZhLKOSDGnx4ON4FydmYWQeZIwbm_K1HH5aZVYXvnB2epflibOgpZB_prpgxPQ5CQ91zKkSMwTrZknCL3dqQEtLYzYrXnJFOzK3cUTFdzHel6GcMhkL/s1600/bye+manhttan.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUav6XUjex7Qjut8UIn0oCukZCi1ZhLKOSDGnx4ON4FydmYWQeZIwbm_K1HH5aZVYXvnB2epflibOgpZB_prpgxPQ5CQ91zKkSMwTrZknCL3dqQEtLYzYrXnJFOzK3cUTFdzHel6GcMhkL/s320/bye+manhttan.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adios, Manhattan. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Don't worry though, you can always plan reunion tailgate parties and cram several awesome memories into two or three days. The best friends remain that way across the miles.<br />
<br />
What did you learn while living in your college town?<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-36864951577267344972015-07-29T13:00:00.000-05:002015-07-29T13:00:03.432-05:00Goodbye Little Trailer on the PrairieLife has been happening at breakneck speed in our little slice of Heaven. As a blogger I have failed you, dear readers, by not updating y'all regarding our life changes, issues updates or even pictures of my adorable dog. I apologize.<br />
<br />
So I shall start at the beginning, because where else could I start? Here's what's going down with our family and if you make it through this update there is a <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/p/101-things-for-buzzard-to-do-in-1001.html" target="_blank">101 in 1001</a> checklist at the bottom.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gJxmg0bqGdZK__LADXfPAJL1rXHed0JOrhIxCE_ZvK0kCZHsIFr-nXjMA8A20s5ZXse3Jiar3Y27bl9pWHoECaRIJjUv12E42wbu63f7EfJa8BT0n_borMGPYKGKl3CgCDI_kTLCq6Rd/s1600/cricket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The trailer house on the prairie" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gJxmg0bqGdZK__LADXfPAJL1rXHed0JOrhIxCE_ZvK0kCZHsIFr-nXjMA8A20s5ZXse3Jiar3Y27bl9pWHoECaRIJjUv12E42wbu63f7EfJa8BT0n_borMGPYKGKl3CgCDI_kTLCq6Rd/s320/cricket.JPG" title="Goodbye Little Trailer on the Prairie" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye bye Little Trailer on the Prairie - you've been good to us!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
1. We're moving.<br />
<br />
Yep - after living in Manhattan for almost a decade we are moving to southeast Kansas to the county where I was born and raised. We are in the final stages of purchasing a small ranch property there and are moving tomorrow. As in, 24 hours from now. Unfortunately, we haven't closed yet on the house so we are living with my dad for a few weeks until the house is ready. Brings back memories of summer breaks from college...<br />
<br />
2. The Ninja is almost a PhD. He is wrapping up his doctoral dissertation which he will defend in early September. He has accepted a position with a swine technology and nutrition company and will start shortly after his dissertation. Real world, here he comes!<br />
<br />
3. For some time now, this blog has addressed more than just agriculture, K-State and rodeo and it's really weighed on me because I haven't felt like I have been adhering to my rules for blogging or giving my goals any justice. However, I realize that blogging is about life and life is made up of more than advocacy - as it turns out, people like to know what is going on in our personal lives! So, going forward, I will continue to post about marriage, agriculture, rodeo, K-State, running, livestock and other topics I find interesting. In fact, in the next few months I'll even have real life ranch updates. The difference between now and the past is not the content, it's how I feel about my content. I am going to stop being ashamed of talking about the ins and outs of my life that aren't agriculture related. I may even change the blog logo and header, who knows!<br />
<br />
And now for the <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/p/101-things-for-buzzard-to-do-in-1001.html" target="_blank">101 in 1001 update</a>, as promised. These days are just flying by and I am needing to jump on it and get some more things accomplished!<br />
<br />
To date, I have completed 30 goals and my challenge ends on October 26, 2016. So not halfway done but I also have a lot of goals that are in progress (21 to be exact) so I am confident I can get that number much higher. A few of the goals I have completed since the last update are below.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong><span style="color: #674ea7;">- Run 3 - half marathons (yes, you read that correctly) 1 - Glass City Half Marathon 4/27/14; 2 - Sioux Falls Half Marathon 9/7/14 (PR! 1:59:02); 3 - Garmin Wickedly Fast Half Marathon 4/18/15 (2:04:05); 4 - Bill Snyder Highway Half 5/23/15 (2:18:01)</span></strong></span><br />
I had no idea that I would complete this goal within a year! But am so glad I did - I feel great!<br />
<strong><span style="color: #674ea7;">- <span style="color: #674ea7;">Learn basic sewing machine skills</span><br /><span style="color: #674ea7;">- Make a set of curtains using the sewing machine</span></span></strong><br />
I made my dad some curtains so that our dogs can't look in the window and give me sad eyes while we are living at his house.<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong>- Travel internationally - Belize 2015</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">And we are on track to keep this one going because we are going to spend the month of December abroad!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: black;">- </span><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong>Organize and clean office so that it's functional for two people</strong></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong> </strong></span><span style="color: black;">Just in time for us to leave, ha!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">So there you have it - a mini life update on Buzzard and the Ninja. Anyone have any foolproof packing tips to share with me? I loathe packing, especially kitchen items and things that don't have a specific category!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">Oh, and just for good measure, here's a picture of my adorable dog.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Empjps_Ym3InxkFlUYKyKf3SKUc3UK1F7rOitObC9S8yC-83fFfyjZeMy7mKyVaa8KHL_MKUPEAKtakdFyxwm7ohey32iRNEZp0Jvu0GL9jtjsTW3R_Ijm6PvVgGt9qEnWvHidnzo0by/s1600/LHOP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cricket, an adorable border collie" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Empjps_Ym3InxkFlUYKyKf3SKUc3UK1F7rOitObC9S8yC-83fFfyjZeMy7mKyVaa8KHL_MKUPEAKtakdFyxwm7ohey32iRNEZp0Jvu0GL9jtjsTW3R_Ijm6PvVgGt9qEnWvHidnzo0by/s320/LHOP.JPG" title="Goodbye Little Trailer on the Prairie" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vicious Cricket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">Until next time,</span></span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="color: black;">~ Buzzard ~</span></span>Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-32305773099880362162015-07-22T11:09:00.002-05:002015-07-23T15:29:36.243-05:00Chipotle: Where Guac and Hypocrisy Cost You Extra<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Maybe it’s the crushing heat we’re experiencing here in
Kansas that has me so easily annoyed but upon reading the </span><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/07/13/chipotle-finds-solution-to-its-pork-shortage-with-uk-supplier/"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">latest
stupidity-driven marketing decision from Chipotle</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, I felt I needed to bring
the blog out of dormancy and share my two dollars (two cents won’t cut it this
time).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3p78UzC3KI3pipM2JZ12e9b7G3k_-eBvYNUbP7-F5wdE3Pc-ry9mHn2I5KUMEF7MY8mTBw9rrQX90ODZ-MtqiL2tyhkJUlkPKWB5d0YB_SU_h2CK7VpIzrlxKD8XOgLAveJW3cvMHBUo/s1600/chipotle+chance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chipotle restaurant storefront" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA3p78UzC3KI3pipM2JZ12e9b7G3k_-eBvYNUbP7-F5wdE3Pc-ry9mHn2I5KUMEF7MY8mTBw9rrQX90ODZ-MtqiL2tyhkJUlkPKWB5d0YB_SU_h2CK7VpIzrlxKD8XOgLAveJW3cvMHBUo/s320/chipotle+chance.JPG" title="Chipotle: Where Guac and Hypocrisy Cost You Extra" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evil-looking, no?<br />
Photo courtesy: Chance Hunley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A lot of my close friends and family will joke with me
occasionally and say, "Hey let's go to Chipotle for lunch!" They do
this because a) they know Chipotle’s marketing and business practices make my
blood boil b) they like to see me get riled up c) they know very few people who
despise Chipotle as much as I do and d) they are in agreement that the burrito
giant is off its rocker when it comes to marketing and how it sources product.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you need further reminding of why I despise this
restaurant, you can add “</span><a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2013/08/chipotle-hypocrites-no-more-to-use.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">hypocrisy
runs rampant</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">” to the long list of reasons I haven't eaten there since 2007.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I were an American pig producer, I’d be ticked – I
mean, I’m ticked already and I don’t even have a stake in this game. You may
remember way back in January of this year, Chipotle said that carnitas would
not be offered in all stores because one of their suppliers wasn’t adhering to
the company’s holier-than-thou animal welfare standards. They made it out to be
a pork “shortage.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you know what those standards actually say? Let
me tell you. Chipotle wanted a farmer, who had been raising pigs for 30 years,
to cut a hole in the side of his barn so that the pigs inside could go outside <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in
the snow and single digit temperatures</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i></span><a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2012/04/pigs-raised-outdoors-have-lots-of-room.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">There
are several reasons that pigs are raised indoors, which I’ve discussed before</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
They don’t have fur coats, they aren’t very hardy – they will get sick and die,
or get eaten by a coyote. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Raising pigs inside is safer and better for
their wellbeing. </i></b>Additionally, Chipotle has a “never-ever” policy on
antibiotic use which gives a farmer two options, essentially. If a pig is sick
the farmer can give the animal antibiotics and wait for the proper withdrawal
time before sending the animal to slaughter, which ensures that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no
antibiotics enter the food supply</i></b> (thousands upon thousands of
responsible pig farmers do this to ensure safe pork products every day). In
doing so and raising their animals humanely by providing health care, they are
removing their animals from Chipotle’s supply chain. However, they can choose not
to treat the animal and sell a sick pig (if it lives through the disease) to
Chipotle for a supposed premium. You don’t need an advanced degree in animal
science to realize that it’s whacko to deny health treatment to a sick animal.
I wouldn’t do that to my dog or horses and I damn sure wouldn’t do it to an
animal that I hope to be selling or would be using to feed my family.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTFmBXyhC0dQnpe5WmYMED7if1KsuK3nUGcX1SqeMmKt3oZ-N2Ln0AjBBw9SaBSuhMPBFDo51Avnli6iozc1W_1d13718uZvYI9rmoIWTjmIoL318LNBGk9cCVCMNrwtV7gKBT8DoW_qz/s1600/306211_10100501182632951_17024510_47552857_1668938579_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A weanling piglet raised indoors" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTFmBXyhC0dQnpe5WmYMED7if1KsuK3nUGcX1SqeMmKt3oZ-N2Ln0AjBBw9SaBSuhMPBFDo51Avnli6iozc1W_1d13718uZvYI9rmoIWTjmIoL318LNBGk9cCVCMNrwtV7gKBT8DoW_qz/s320/306211_10100501182632951_17024510_47552857_1668938579_n.jpg" title="Chipotle: Where Guac and Hypocrisy Cost You Extra" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pig, like so many others, is raised indoors to protect it from the elements and predators.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The thing with antibiotics is that they are a necessary
tool that farmers need to help their animals in fighting off nasty bacteria.
There are many times throughout a pig’s life that they are more susceptible to
disease such as when a few groups of pigs that have never been around each
other start buddying up. Think of it as kindergarten for piglets – all those
little piggies hanging out on the monkey bars, sharing each other’s boogers and
coughing on their hooves. Another example is if the weather turns nasty or
chilly and some pigs get the swine equivalent of a sinus infection. These
ailments call for treatment and it’s downright cruel to deny treatment to a
sick animal.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chipotle doesn’t care. Use antibiotics and those pigs
can’t be marketed through their supply chain. To hell with animal welfare, they
have to keep those $10/1000 calorie burritos pumping out the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now that you have an idea of the bizarre thought
process behind Chipotle’s animal welfare standards, let me get back to the
hypocrite part. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Because there was a “shortage” of pork here in the U.S. (Lie.
No shortage of responsibly raised pork or beef in the U.S.) good ole Chip
jumped the pond and started sourcing pork from Karro Food, a U.K. based
company. And guess what?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong><em>Karro Food is allowed to use antibiotics in the event of
illness in the swine herd. <o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When asked why the restaurant tyrant decided to let Karro
Food, a foreign company, use antibiotics on sick animals but refused to extend
that same standard to American producers, this is what Chipotle replied with:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“Our decision to source pork from this new supplier does
not mean that Chipotle’s animal welfare protocols are changing at this time.
While we prefer to buy pork raised entirely without antibiotics, we are proud
to be serving pork from Karro because the responsible way Karro uses
antibiotics is consistent with their extremely high animal welfare standards.”<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Chipotle also did a nice job of explaining how
antibiotics are used responsibly by farmers, but apparently only on U.K. pork
farms. Too bad they couldn’t just allow all farmers this necessary technology
instead of continually weaving a web of consumer misinformation. They stated:</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">“This does not mean that antibiotics are present in the
meat. All animals treated with antibiotics (both in Europe and the U.S.) must
undergo a withdrawal period before they are slaughtered, which means that meat
from a pig treated with antibiotics will not contain antibiotic residue, just
like meat from an animal that was never given antibiotics.” <o:p></o:p></span></blockquote>
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">
</span></div>
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This befuddles me. I have no idea why they would actually
move to use reasonable science messages to defend antibiotics use in one
country but not in another, when both are comparable in their animal welfare
protocols. Hey Chipotle, here’s a #TruthBomb, pull your nose down out of the
air long enough to take a look around fly-over country and you’ll find that
American farmers use antibiotics responsibly too.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I honestly don’t even know how to explain how I feel about
this. Even more</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10.5pt; letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">so, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I cannot fathom what it must be like to be so unabashedly
hypocritical. My best guess is that Chipotle needs a large supplier and Karro
can accommodate their needs; however, Karro isn’t willing to back down from
responsible antibiotic use because they have a good handle on common sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So there you go – another slap to the American farmer’s
face from an unhealthy burrito kingpin. The good news is that people are
starting to wake up to the vicious scheming of Chipotle. If you have spare
time, read a few of these recent links.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Business Insider – </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/chipotles-gmo-ban-criticisms-2015-5"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">Chipotle’s
Flashy Ban on GMOs is Totally Backfiring</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eater – </span><a href="http://www.eater.com/2015/5/5/8524043/chipotle-non-gmo-what-does-that-really-mean"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">Chipotle’s
Non-GMO Push is Based on Bad Science</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">NPR – </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/04/30/403249551/why-we-cant-take-chipotles-gmo-announcement-all-that-seriously"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">Why
We Can’t Take Chipotle’s GMO Announcement All That Seriously</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eleven Warriors – </span><a href="http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football-recruiting/2015/07/55665/ohioan-ohio-state-commit-todd-sibley-jr-claims-hes-never-eaten-chipotle-probably"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">Ohioan
Ohio State Commit Todd Sibley Jr. Says He’s Never Eaten Chipotle, Probably
Never Will</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Delish -- <a href="http://www.delish.com/food-news/a43177/chipotle-carnitas-backlash-american-pig-farmers/" target="_blank">Chipotle is Taking Serious Heat for its New Carnitas Supplier</a> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the meantime, I’ll continue to be a loyal patron of
Qdoba. It’s more fun to pronounce and the food isn’t soured with the taste of
guilt and farmer’s tears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next time,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Buzzard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">**<em>Point of clarification: This post is not me saying that organic or natural pork production is wrong, cruel or unnecessary. This post is about Chipotle's BLATANT hypocrisy regarding their double standards for pork production between U.S. and U.K. producers. Agriculture needs all kinds of people and all kinds of production; there is room for everyone. I have mentioned in comments below that instead of convention aland organic getting up in arms against each other, we need to link arms and fight against these animal rights extremists and anti-technology advocates. If you have further comments regarding organic/natural and conventional, feel free to contact me (email is on About Me page). As always, civil discourse is appropriate and I appreciate your comments and feedback.</em></span>Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-31334811953550876612015-04-30T11:38:00.000-05:002015-07-23T13:44:04.482-05:00Protein Challenge - Let Me Eat Steak...and Pork and ChickenThe past few weeks of the <a href="http://bit.ly/1aj6FiG" target="_blank">Protein Challenge</a> have sort of gone by in a blur. Actually, April in general went by in a flash! How is tomorrow the first day of May?!<br />
<br />
So over the past two weeks, I've really tried to step up my protein game. Here are some of the awesome protein-rich meals I've had in the past 1-2 weeks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7veLq4MCckzNC97kMGe25y3f_WIB-0ZvnhMzd-7vJLJYCcNbB56iXjfRn4ikvgoLITc93F4fYbIPVVBqUD2ICV62Cblsvi5KKOQWVsbBdSAr4eKZ-A2KK6t5y_2Gtssb5ys8TasekKF5/s1600/medium+rare.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Medium rare steak with gravy" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7veLq4MCckzNC97kMGe25y3f_WIB-0ZvnhMzd-7vJLJYCcNbB56iXjfRn4ikvgoLITc93F4fYbIPVVBqUD2ICV62Cblsvi5KKOQWVsbBdSAr4eKZ-A2KK6t5y_2Gtssb5ys8TasekKF5/s1600/medium+rare.png" title="Protein Challenge - Let Me Eat Steak...and Pork and Chicken" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Medium rare top sirloin at Medium Rare in Washington DC</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Did you know that 3 oz of lean beef has an average of 154 calories? I have been able to eat 6-8 oz of beef at many meals and not have to worry about going over my caloric max for the day. I have eaten a lot of pork and chicken as well, but the photos in my kitchen don't look near as great as the plated restaurant meals!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L2uCpMmwLhYPeEU866ftEAxeSx2B3Ytwzc5AfVBZhUfQeo_rgc-DNiLM5PV1DH2b5WG31rNHRaEm8iYMbvNAE206sXGNXfMIxStGtS0a39uKrn1twCzCx7ZLx0ytLEKrVE3pR2Kkfq7Z/s1600/breakfast+sandwich.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Breakfast sandwich full of protein" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5L2uCpMmwLhYPeEU866ftEAxeSx2B3Ytwzc5AfVBZhUfQeo_rgc-DNiLM5PV1DH2b5WG31rNHRaEm8iYMbvNAE206sXGNXfMIxStGtS0a39uKrn1twCzCx7ZLx0ytLEKrVE3pR2Kkfq7Z/s1600/breakfast+sandwich.png" title="Protein Challenge - Let Me Eat Steak...and Pork and Chicken" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bacon, egg and cheese on whole wheat English muffin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In addition to these delicious meals, I had a lot of string cheese, eggs and yogurt for breakfast and utilized beef jerky as my snack for the afternoon. For dinner, I focused on subbing out a dinner roll and instead eating cottage cheese as a side.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSOORHBewHQLBmqrKlLs-WQvUW1D4EniLxFYHWk_CUxf9KWW-dI0APj-dRb05dlVxecJRmHpaiOfAlPeMbbrLzq7Nws3hLBqLXfEGE2-IlZ3rqkX9ZH0iqzIcrXgTYhIjfoeJYP4YdEji/s1600/11204970_10102290431748381_8460576673354728951_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sirloin steak with green beans and rice" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSOORHBewHQLBmqrKlLs-WQvUW1D4EniLxFYHWk_CUxf9KWW-dI0APj-dRb05dlVxecJRmHpaiOfAlPeMbbrLzq7Nws3hLBqLXfEGE2-IlZ3rqkX9ZH0iqzIcrXgTYhIjfoeJYP4YdEji/s1600/11204970_10102290431748381_8460576673354728951_n.jpg" title="Protein Challenge - Let Me Eat Steak...and Pork and Chicken" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">8 oz sirloin for my birthday - medium rare of course!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The results of this challenge have been phenomenal for me - I have noticed a significant decline in my desire for afternoon snacks, I have increased energy (not as tired at night) and I my average mile time improved by 4-8 seconds overall.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I will most definitely keep the increased protein intake going in my life - I have no reason to go back! Why would I stop a dietary pattern that has given me more energy, improved quality of life while helping me stay fit? I would be insane to stop!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All the more reason to keep chowing down on pork chops, steaks and chicken wings!</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So now I hope with all my heart that <a href="http://bit.ly/1aj6FiG" target="_blank">you will sign up for the Protein Challenge</a> yourself and start down the path to a healthier, more energetic lifestyle. You have absolutely nothing to lose (except a few pounds if you do it right)!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
~ Buzzard ~</div>
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Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-78391116006169391572015-04-23T10:14:00.001-05:002015-04-23T10:14:30.150-05:00HSUS Whistleblower Sheds Light on Shady TacticsIt's no secret that I'm not a HSUS super-fan. For evidence, <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2013/01/hsus-donates-goose-eggs.html" target="_blank">look </a>no <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2013/01/hsus-donates-goose-eggs.html" target="_blank">further</a>. Their gross interpretation of animal welfare and the haughty assumption that all farmers and ranchers are animal abusers is enough to make me gag.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOZHBuRAjFqAO_bsVGTecHiewXanH3Rd24ACHqGkhDMxpxtJkS381Jpki1__E2jpMQ54HuPTj1rjhDCDMoRhBmeN7hWhI4w9l1sLP7nEKtGWaJCCEFbUQiftjAvUdGTh4k-kzHOc-EGSV/s1600/4731-32303-012-sows-under-observation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOOZHBuRAjFqAO_bsVGTecHiewXanH3Rd24ACHqGkhDMxpxtJkS381Jpki1__E2jpMQ54HuPTj1rjhDCDMoRhBmeN7hWhI4w9l1sLP7nEKtGWaJCCEFbUQiftjAvUdGTh4k-kzHOc-EGSV/s1600/4731-32303-012-sows-under-observation.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="http://nationalhogfarmer.com/animal-well-being/anesthesia-treatment-studied-sows" target="_blank">National Hog Farmer</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well, apparently I'm not the only person who is tired of HSUS' bullcrap tactics - a former undercover videographer for the animal rights group is coming forward to speak the truth and share what really happens at HSUS.<br />
<br />
According to an interview with <a href="http://www.humanewatch.org/" target="_blank">HumaneWatch, </a>directors at HSUS were guilty of lying, encouraging undercover videographers to ignore animal welfare and even accusing all farmers/ranchers of being animal abusers.<br />
<br />
Here is an excerpt of the interview, courtesy of <a href="http://www.cattlenetwork.com/news/hsus-whistleblower-tells-all" target="_blank">Drovers CattleNetwork</a>:<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Guilty of <em>something</em></strong>: “Day one of training, I was basically told every single farm is doing something illegal.”</li>
<li><strong>Twisting words, splitting hairs and downright lying</strong>: “Let’s say that I went to a livestock auction and there’s a small calf running around. And let’s say this calf falls over. If I’m filming this and send this in a report, I would say, “Calf fell over due to its own momentum.” Mary Beth [Sweetland, HSUS Director of Investigations,] would correct that and say, “Could be malnourished or kept in hobbles the whole time.” I wouldn’t be allowed to draw something that I could see plain as day in context.”</li>
<li><strong>Recording more important than reporting:</strong> “I was never told to contact law enforcement. If you see a crime, stop that crime. Don’t wait. How many other animals must be abused down the line to accomplish this? That seems like basic, common sense.”</li>
</ul>
I'm not really surprised by any of this - are you?!<br />
<br />
If you want to see the full video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmXoYF36uAg" target="_blank">click here</a>. You can also <a href="http://www.porknetwork.com/news/industry/former-hsus-undercover-investigator-gestation-stalls-good-sows" target="_blank">read more of the interview</a> where this whistleblower explains how his eyes were truly opened to HSUS' tactics and motives and how he has changed his mind on gestation stalls.<br />
<br />
No bones about it folks, HSUS doesn't care about animal welfare. The massive lobbyist organization cares about $$ and abolishing animal agriculture. <br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-5563235767927211312015-04-17T10:02:00.001-05:002015-04-17T10:02:52.479-05:00PETA Uses Kids as PawnsI think we can all agree that exploiting children to get ahead is pretty low-down and dirty. I figure only the most conniving, manipulative organizations would be willing to target children with propaganda in an effort to create a whole generation of like-minded individuals. <br />
<br />
Would you be surprised to find out that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has been targeting children with animal rights propaganda for more than a decade? I didn't think so.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zSbhyphenhyphenceYG2dJCUuQZYTc5EGooJK6TAYcJZPaOZ98tqIAlfeaNVUtTILCAlWM9S02v3Pd93VH8DRNysmGtsF0pcRD-Bv0rTmCIJ3XseUYiBc-e2xKe_-LHzzjxc5AFAla7j2y7kWZyqWj/s1600/peta+ad.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A graphic image usedby PETA to target children " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zSbhyphenhyphenceYG2dJCUuQZYTc5EGooJK6TAYcJZPaOZ98tqIAlfeaNVUtTILCAlWM9S02v3Pd93VH8DRNysmGtsF0pcRD-Bv0rTmCIJ3XseUYiBc-e2xKe_-LHzzjxc5AFAla7j2y7kWZyqWj/s1600/peta+ad.png" height="252" title="PETA Uses Kids as Pawns" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PETA is targeting their kids and they don't care if you like it or not<br />
Source: <a href="http://www.consumerfreedom.com/" target="_blank">Center for Consumer Freedom</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The second edition of the Center for Consumer Freedom's (CCF) report, "<a href="https://www.consumerfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PETA_kids_report.pdf" target="_blank">Your Kids, PETA's Pawns</a>," explores the tactics that extreme animal rights groups use to indoctrinate children using <strong><em>violent</em></strong> and <strong><em>sexualized </em></strong>animal-rights propaganda and protests outside of elementary schools.</div>
<br />
Additionally, and this is probably the most sickening, is the blatant use of children as props for their shocking campaigns. The runny icing on this burnt cake is that psychologists and school officials have denounced PETA's actions as <em><strong>"despicable," "traumatizing," "beyond insensitive," and "an absolute atrocity."</strong></em> Does that stop PETA from exploiting children? Not at all. You may recall, <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2012/12/peta-targets-kids-with-christmas.html" target="_blank">I have blogged</a> about their atrocious actions in the past and they appear to have no remorse.<br />
<br />
Picture this - you're an average height adult viewing an ad on the side of a bus. All appears normal until your five-year old starts crying saying that the images on the bus are scary. You can't imagine why your child is upset, until you lean down to his/her point of view and find that the imaging on the bus at a child's height level is violent, graphic images of animal abuse. Not cool, PETA. Not freaking cool.<br />
<br />
I'm not a parent and I'm furious that PETA is doing this to kids. I can't imagine how parents of children who have encountered this propaganda may feel.<br />
<br />
If you want to read the whole report, <a href="https://www.consumerfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/PETA_kids_report.pdf" target="_blank">feel free to check it out here</a>. Thanks to the Center for Consumer Freedom for investigating the shady dealings of manipulative animal rights organizations.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7878500961472457677.post-65486761583145162922015-04-10T15:01:00.000-05:002015-04-10T15:01:12.999-05:00Protein Challenge: Week 1 Update<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszoFLgD2A1Zq9xS-t6GuCXKoftZ1tb2eso-yZDSY5NC-UReioM5eFMFp3WohAl7VSJDtSl7pkNAW6B9zuxESz976IOLn-aW8q0FcmOWtsXXjXNgHvrURDlOtl4f2AYFNM_EUcj0DQk-VY/s1600/flank+steak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Flank steak " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszoFLgD2A1Zq9xS-t6GuCXKoftZ1tb2eso-yZDSY5NC-UReioM5eFMFp3WohAl7VSJDtSl7pkNAW6B9zuxESz976IOLn-aW8q0FcmOWtsXXjXNgHvrURDlOtl4f2AYFNM_EUcj0DQk-VY/s1600/flank+steak.jpg" height="320" title="Protein Challenge: Week 1 Update" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a lot more of this in my future. #eatbeef</td></tr>
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So for the past 7+ days I have been journaling my food intake to keep track of how much protein I consume on a daily basis. I thought as a <a href="http://buzzardsbeat.blogspot.com/2013/10/im-meatatarian.html" target="_blank">meatatarian</a>, I would have absolutely no problem eating 30 grams of protein at every meal, for a total of 90 grams daily.</div>
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Boy, was I wrong.<br />
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Turns out, breakfast is difficult. Like, really difficult. Even on a protein-heavy day I may only be getting about 20 grams at breakfast, another 15-20 at lunch and then I am trying to amp it up at dinner to meet the 90 (and I'm falling short, often). But I have come to some cool conclusions, thus far:<br />
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1 - I am not craving snacks in the middle of the afternoon like I used to before starting the #proteinchallenge. I chalk this up to my increased protein keeping me feeling fuller, longer.<br />
2 - I have gone running seven times since I started the challenge and I can honestly say that I'm running faster than normal. To be clear, I'm not cutting 30 seconds off of my average mile pace but I am noticing that my usual average of 8:45 per mile is now a lot closer to 8:37. I know, you're saying "whoopty do - 8 seconds/mile no big deal." But if you stretch that 8 seconds out over 13 miles it comes out to almost two minutes off of a half marathon! And I even ran at that faster pace while I was in Denver this week, where it was MUCH hillier and the air is a lot thinner (i.e. less oxygen) than in Kansas.<br />
3 - We are running out of yogurt, string cheese and eggs a LOT more quickly than normal. <br />
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So, I'm really looking forward to the next 20 days of the challenge and I hope to be able to keep this lifestyle and diet change going long after the challenge is over.<br />
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If you want to sign up, you can EASILY do so by <a href="http://bit.ly/1aj6FiG" target="_blank">clicking here</a>. The challenge is 30 days, starting from the day you sign up. So you could start today, next Thursday or even in mid-May and it would run for the following 30 days.<br />
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Who out there is also doing the <a href="http://bit.ly/1aj6FiG" target="_blank">Protein Challenge</a>? How are you feeling?<br />
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Until next time,<br />
~ Buzzard ~Brandi Buzzard Frobosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07335067831358688328noreply@blogger.com0