Daisy's Guide to Composting

I moved a few months ago, and one thing I'd been missing from my old house was my compost bins. This new(er) house had two of these decrepit barrel planters on the patio. One was significantly more decrepit, and I decided it would make a perfect compost bin, at least temporarily.

Composting epic fail.
Also, Daisy does not like onions.

So, that weekend, I cleaned out my fridge, made green juices, scrambled some eggs, etc ... and happily dumped the results into my new bin. And then Daisy discovered the bin. At first, she just raised up on her hind legs and sniffed. Then she started jumping in. Before I knew it, she had eaten an entire rotten banana (peel and all), my morning's coffee grounds (filter and all), and about a dozen egg shells.

(Coffee might be bad for dogs. I feel I should say that. Daisy is fine. She was a bit wound that evening, but she seems none the worse for the wear now.)

I tried keeping her out of it, to no avail, until one evening I let her out and heard a terrible crash. This first image is the result.

On to Plan B!

But, how do we get to the noms now, Mama?

Clearly I needed a Daisy-proof compost option. I found this one on clearance at Menards for less than $40. They had the same exact one for $10 more, only slightly cleaner. I figured, compost is supposed to be dirty, yes? And I bought the clearance one.

So far, so good. For me. Daisy isn't so happy with it.

Spiritual but not Religious

This is not Buddha.

I've recently been looking for love through an online dating site that has something to do with fish and how abundant they are. There may be plenty of them, but many of them are plenty crazy. (I'm talking about you, JoeyLovesToes and Ramrod69.)

Imagine my surprise when a seemingly normal guy, who lived in my area and could spell, wrote to me. After several intelligent emails back and forth, he asked me about my "spiritual but not religious" designation in the religion category.

I briefly explained my current beliefs, which really fit no organized religion completely, and most organized religions somewhat. I asked about his beliefs, and got back a message about how he is "very active in the atheist community."

Huh?

There is an "atheist community"?! What do they do? Meet weekly and preach about the lack of deities? Try to witness to others about how not believing in God is the answer to their prayers? Do they collect tithes to send to other countries with less fortunate atheists?

I mean, more power to you dude. (Or not, if there is no Power in which you believe?) But it hit me in that moment, reading that email, how strongly I DO believe in some kind of Power. I don't know what it is. But I know it's not me. Or maybe it is me. Or a part of me. Or I'm a part of it. Or something.

At any rate, I knew, without a doubt, that I could not have a long term, meaningful relationship with someone who didn't believe there was a Power greater than himself. I also cannot have a meaningful relationship with someone who regularly attends the local church I've dubbed "Six Flags over Jesus." (It takes up an entire city block, I swear.) And I believe there is someone out there for me who exists somewhere in between. And I'm going to find him. So help me, God.