Living is Easy with Eyes Closed, Misunderstanding All You See

I had an epiphany today. 2 days after our poem anthology is due and after practically a month poem searching, I know what I should have done my anthology about. Strawberries. Then I could have made a neat Strawberry Fields Forever video. What a sad lost opportunity. Across the Universe is also a beautifully lyrical song. But, I don't know what umbrella theme I could have for that. I don't even know why I'm thinking about this since it's all in the past. Val's presentation was just really cool so now I feel bland.

Although this has absolutely no correlation with the above paragraph, I absolutely loved the chapter I read of Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. Mainly because it restored my idealistic view of Europe. Barbara Kingsolver and husband travel to Italy and obviously, eat there. And practically all of the food is freshly grown, animals freshly slaughtered (after living a nice, free life) and the people just sound so darn nice. I hope Europe doesn't get too Americanized before I make it over there. Although unable to speak Italian (she can, however speak French and Spanish), she attempts to converse with Italian farmers and restaurant owners about their food, and how great it tastes. I always hear that food in Europe tastes so much better than food here. I wouldn't know since I've practically never left the Midwest. But anyway, it would make sense. Also, I'm entranced by the food mentioned in the book. "Nose Fish" or "Pizza with fungus" or "Polyps, baked or grilled." Very intriguing. What really surprised me though, is that Kingsolver says Italian food is so great because it's "simple" though not sparse. I guess living in the United States, I expect almost everything to be complex and flavorful to the extreme. My freshman Spanish teacher told me that when she first went to Spain and ate Doritos, they tasted so bland because the Spanish and apparently the Europeans in general, don't need flavor to the extreme, or food to the extreme. Just a thought. Luckily reading this chapter has reignited my desire to travel to Europe. Better start saving now.

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: 53 pgs