Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Mangos and a Stupid War

Ok everyone, this is some BIG news.......

I just heard on NPR that our ever so delightful government has lifted the ban on importing Mangos from India!!!!! Apparently , the Mangos we have been getting in this country are derived from the Indian Mango , which is, by all accounts, supierer. ( which goes a long way twards explaining why , when I was in England I had the best Mango EVER )

The report went on to say, in an interview with the first importer of Indian Mangos, that when you cut one up and ate it, you hands would then smell the delightful smell of Mango for the rest of the day and they are so lovely that hostesess in India will use them for centerpieces and display. I am all for eating the little darlings. Often.

So, if you ever want anything and wish to sweeten the request, it's now Indian Mangos all the way! I love them more than BEES, gardens, pasta and Malena ( wait, scratch that last. I truly do love her more than Mangos. I just got carried away with delight for a moment . Sorry, Div!!!!! )

I am feeling a little reflective tonight. I just got a letter from a friend of mine who is, apparently, again in Iraq. She joined the Nationial Gaurd to help pay for college, and now she is over there, worried, scared, bored , and finding out more about really really weird insects than she ever wanted to know. I have always thought this war was a Bad Idea and that it was a Not Good thing, and I have seen the posters and stickers saying " Support our troops " but it never hit home before.

Now it's my friend who is a Troop. I remember her as the sweet girl who was a Morris Dancer and would go for long walks with me thru the desert at night in Arizonia, leaping cactus , coyote and all. I can't imagine what she is dealing with right now.

I sent her two boxes today , filled with comics, books, coffee, strange toys and soap and powdered Gatorade and citronella candles.

I want her to come home.

Mangos and Absent Friends,
Lorraine

19 Comments:

At 8:59 PM , Blogger Yoga Gal said...

"The subject was Mangos"
I wouldn't be so thrilled about buying mangos from India. I lived in India for a year to advance my yoga practice and whiled there I was eating more but losing weight. When I asked a very wise Indian friend why this was so, he stated that India is a very ancient land and for centuries they planted without rotating the crop or allowing the soil to rest. Therefore the soild doesn't give the plants the same nutritional value as crops that come from America. Another fact, the bigest producer of rice in the world is the United States and considered the best rice in the world. So, I'll get my mangos that were grown in Mexico. They are indeed the sweetest I've ever tatste. Namaste.

 
At 10:45 PM , Blogger kali_licious said...

Sending your friend a care package is one of the best ways to support the troops IMHO.

I do support the troops..however, the madness of King George (sic) is another thing altogether.

All this talk of mangos is making me hungry!

 
At 11:27 PM , Blogger spacedlaw said...

I feel for your concern. I am sure your package will be very well received - a comfort hug in a package.

Don't overdo the mangoes: they are a caloric bomb, with all that sweetness!

 
At 6:35 AM , Blogger Dan Guy said...

Yay for Indian mango availability! I don't groove on mangos myself, but maybe that's only because I've never tasted the Real Deal.

I do what I can to support the troops and keep them safe, which feels like very little.

 
At 11:15 AM , Blogger Yoga Gal said...

"The subject is Care Package"
I have a dear friend who just finished his tour of duty, he was very idealistic and enlisted! Your care package sounded wonderful! I would include next time, baby wipes, eye drops and saline nasal mist (sand is very fine (not like the sand you get at the beach) and gets every where) and keep those comic books and books coming; there is very little to do there! And pray for your friend! I'll send my prayers. You can adopt a U.S.A. troop person by contacting your local USO they love from hearing and getting support from their fellow Americans. A simple letter of support and kindness is one of the greatness gifts they get and love! God bless your friend and all the men and women doing a tour of duty overseas! (I don't support the war but I support our troops!) Namaste.

 
At 12:09 PM , Blogger ariandalen said...

I hope she, and all the rest of the troops, are able to come back sooner rather than later. The members of the National Guard in particular have gotten the short end of the stick. ::sigh::

I doubt I'll see too many Indian mangoes in Texas grocery stores. Mexico is just too close for Indian mangoes to be cost effective. ::shrug:: But you never know.

 
At 5:00 PM , Blogger Yoga Gal said...

Sorry to sound like I'm harping on a subject but on the mango issue, I forgot to inform you that in India they use HUMAN Wasts (you got it) as fertilizer! So buyer beware! When I was in India, I was informed not to eat ANY fresh fruit or anything fruit that had been peeled and boiled to death! But you're right Lorraine it is a STUPID WAR! Namaste.

 
At 7:51 PM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Here's the NPR report on the Mangos http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10057780 and this from Slashfood http://www.slashfood.com/2007/05/04/indian-mangoes-have-come-to-the-us/

I can't wait!!!!!

 
At 9:11 PM , Blogger Emily said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 9:13 PM , Blogger Emily said...

I had a friend in Afganistan that wrote to me. I arranged to send him a huge box of tootsie rolls, among other things. After a year of writing, he is gone. He got shot when he had two weeks left. He was recovering ok, then NOTHING. No letters, no myspace profile, nothing. It breaks my heart.

As for mangos, evreything is picked green so we don't get any nutrients of vine riped fruit anyway. Let's eat any and all types of mangos, before we go to the "soylent green" stage in a few years, if the big dogs have their way. If you haven't seen that movie, watch it. That phase will come if we don't change our ways. That and Arnie for President, sad but true. I think it will be Hillary then Arnold. I hope I'm wrong.

 
At 9:13 PM , Blogger Emily said...

I had a friend in Afganistan that wrote to me. I arranged to send him a huge box of tootsie rolls, among other things. After a year of writing, he is gone. He got shot when he had two weeks left. He was recovering ok, then NOTHING. No letters, no myspace profile, nothing. It breaks my heart.

As for mangos, evreything is picked green so we don't get any nutrients of vine riped fruit anyway. Let's eat any and all types of mangos, before we go to the "soylent green" stage in a few years, if the big dogs have their way. If you haven't seen that movie, watch it. That phase will come if we don't change our ways. That and Arnie for President, sad but true. I think it will be Hillary then Arnold. I hope I'm wrong.

 
At 9:48 PM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Hi Emily,

I feel for you and send you sympathy. One of the things my friend wrote to me was how she was feeling about the deaths of some of her friends. I can't imagine what this feels like.

My friend read the post and loved it, I am not sure if she can post here or not, but one hopes so....

I think too that it will be Hillary then Arnie, but I do have hopes Hillary will change some things.

Dark Horse? Al Gore, he doesn't want it but may have to....

 
At 9:53 PM , Blogger FabulousLorraine said...

Oh, and sympathies to Gretchen, our new friend...She is not coming to do gardens at the Spooky House this weekend, ahe and her daughter are going to be recovering from Strep Throat.....

Which is just as good, tho I am very sorry for the sickness, I have to do Bee Things with the Birdchik and my Boss is gone so I have Dog to tend......

 
At 10:31 PM , Blogger spacedlaw said...

Best wishes for a prompt recovery, Gretchen.
And some as well to you, Lorraine since you'll be doing bees and dog duty AND a gig...

 
At 4:53 PM , Blogger Yoga Gal said...

Emily, so sorry to read about your friend , my heart is breaking too!
As for the mango issue the subject gets more interesting, so you realize the deal our commander and chief made for getting India's produce? We gave them some of our nukes! Now who do you think made out better; India with new nukes or we with our MANGOS! HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM? Oh, and we all know how well India gets along with Pakisian! Oh what times we live in! Well, Lorraine best wishes for you with bee and dog duty. Namaste.

 
At 7:14 PM , Blogger Malena said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 7:17 PM , Blogger Malena said...

Well, I assure you Yoga Gal, I have friends in India. Good Friends. We don't have anything to fear with India.

And BTW, most food we eat is GMO and from cloned seeds. We have no idea the chemical makeup of our food. In Cambodia they eat fried Scorpions. So in the big picture, I'll take mangos made of Poo. (Miles loves the jungle trips. NO I don't go with him,) Can you imagine?...Oh look at that pretty snake.....Thump! "Malena's DEAD and it only took 10 minutes and we're not in the jungle yet!" That would be what Miles would be saying.

And about the food thing. You buy the best you can and realize we only know the tip of the iceberg of genetic engineering anyway.

Wink Hug
Malena the Mandrake Gardener

 
At 10:31 PM , Blogger Yoga Gal said...

I have friends in India as well. I also lived there and I know my history. Pakistan was born in a bloodbath. Kashmir i sin rocky ground. No we (USA) has nothing to worry from India but another Holy War is brewing between the two countries and now they have Nukes! What kind of world are we handing to our chrildren? I try to be an idealist but the future isn't looking too bright. Sweet dreams!

 
At 12:12 AM , Blogger Jenn said...

Arizona, eh?

I'm learning about living and gardening in the desert. Just moved here from Michigan. I think I am going to miss spring the most.

 

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