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Everything Broad Ripple HomearrowRandom Ripplings Homearrow2008 02 29arrowColumn

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v05n05)
Beats from a Broad Ripple Rat - by Lisa Battiston
posted: Feb. 29, 2008

Beats from a Broad Ripple Rat header

Last week, when I submitted my column to your fearless Editor in Chief, he replied back to me, saying, "By the way - did you know that it's the year of the Rat in the Chinese New Year? That's your year, too! Maybe this'll be your year!" And then he suggested I write a column about it. And, considering my life has gotten significantly less interesting since the cessation of alcohol consumption (I could write about the interesting experience I had while the slightly and literally mentally and physically handicapped man filed my taxes but - please - how interesting could taxes really be, right?), I'm taking him up on his suggestion.
I have no idea what being born during the year of the rat means. I can remember going to semi-classy Chinese food places with placemats that had the Chinese zodiac printed on them - that was really my only association. So I googled the whole thing and was brought to a Wikipedia page about the topic. And while I didn't agree with a lot of the personality traits I'm supposed to have as a Rat, apparently that's kind of a trait in itself. It was also interesting to read that Rats would make good writers - halleluiah, the stars are smiling down on my writing career.
But Alan Hague telling me this would be my year actually wasn't the first time I heard that. A friend of mine told me 2008 is supposed to come with many changes because the number 8 is supposedly some kind of crazy, magical number. Or something. I don't know if I buy into that kind of thing, but whatever. I'm a little skeptical, but the problem is that, so far, 2008 actually has been a full of change for me. I mentioned the whole non-drinking thing, but I also decided to give up meat.
Again.
Well, I've given up meat twice before, always succumbing to something my mother makes. Like my grandmother's recipe for veal scaloppini that's been passed down from generation to generation. I know veal's the mother of all evil meat products, but my grandmother's recipe is kind of the most amazing thing you'll ever have the luxury of tasting. Generally, when I decide to give up meat, my mother makes veal and I give in to it and then start eating meat again.
But hah! I'm doing really well this time! I've been meatless for a lot longer than I held out last time. Beyond that, I've given up a lot of animal products like eggs and dairy products. Well. Except cheese.
I don't care what vegans tell you - "No, it wasn't hard to give up cheese at all! I don't miss it one bit!" Y'know what? I love cheese. Like, a lot. I eat cottage cheese as a side dish. Asiago paired with red grapes makes a yummy snack. Parmesan can go on any pasta dish. Mozzarella is delectable. Goat cheese and crackers are often something I eat at midnight. Cheddar can go on anything. The cheese I'd really like to try is this delicacy you only find in Italy and apparently it's illegal to purchase it because live maggots burrow through it to give it this creamy texture. Sounds weird, but I'd totally try it.
So beyond my love affair with cheese, I've found it pretty easy to just substitute meatless options for what I'd normally use meat for. They even have a veggie burger at Burger King. Holla.
So these changes I've been going through? I don't think they're due to some magic number or a rodent. I made these changes because I wanted to. I made these changes as the self-governing adult that I am. Y'know, independence and hard work and sticking to my guns.
All of which, by the way? Are traits of those born during the Year of the Rat.



lisa@broadripplegazette.com
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