They just threw the cookies away 🍪

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Free stuff or the dumpster is the choice that seems all to often to be put forward to me.

It was the end of the work picnic and there was a bunch of left overs including several unopened boxes of oatmeal and macadamia nut cookies. I was told they’re going into the dumpster if I didn’t take them. I guess they were right.

I’m sure they were delicious cookies now buried in the landfill with tons of other garbage. But I just didn’t want to bring them home, lest I feel the pressure to eat them before they went stale, loaded with tons of sugar, calories and saturated fats. I am so over those days in my thirties and twenties when I was chubby – and my body shouldn’t be the world’s garbage disposal. I guess the empty calories would have saved me on groceries and they would have tasted good but whatever.

Honestly, if I had been smart I would have grab them, taken them into the office the next day for people less health conscience or just wanting a single cookie. But I was worried about the temptation to eat them over night, and honestly wasn’t thinking that far advance about tomorrow and sharing in the office, after the hottest day of the summer, drinking beer and cooking burgers and sweet corn over charcoal and camp grill. Maybe I should have been.

Same thing happened the next day with the left over hot dogs and burgers that were saved from the picnic. They offered them to everybody and they had a ton of uncooked burgers they were giving away. While I will occasionally eat a burger like the one I had at the picnic, I didn’t want a freezer full of red meat loaded with saturated fats. Maybe I should have taken some home and froze the meat for future use but I did not.

It’s not my job to save the world from waste. I rarely waste food at home, it’s rare I have spoiled food as I will cut off soft parts and even mold for compost. But I’m no longer stuffing my face at receptions and events I go to prevent food waste. I do my part in my own life but I can’t control the bad wasteful practices of others and I’m not going to ruin my health just to avoid waste. Free isn’t free if it’s cost is your health.

Ruffled Grouse in New York State

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The ruffled grouse, often referred to as the partridge, is a medium-sized game bird native to North America. Its name, “ruffled,” aptly describes its appearance, characterized by a tuft of feathers on its neck that can be raised and fanned out during displays of courtship or when the bird feels threatened. These grouse are renowned for their remarkable camouflage, allowing them to blend seamlessly into their woodland habitats. They are primarily found in mature forests with a mix of hardwoods, conifers, and dense underbrush, as these environments offer them protection, food, and suitable nesting sites.

Ruffled grouse are omnivorous birds with a varied diet. They consume plant matter such as berries, buds, leaves, and seeds, as well as insects and small invertebrates. They are most active during the day and spend their time foraging on the forest floor. Their unique drumming display during the breeding season, produced by beating their wings against the air, is an auditory spectacle that resonates through the woods and is integral to their courtship ritual.

The ruffled grouse serves as a symbol of New York State’s natural beauty and biodiversity. Their existence is closely tied to the health of our forests, making their conservation essential. Through restoration efforts, like those undertaken by the CCC during the 1930s, and ongoing initiatives focused on sustainable forestry and habitat preservation, we can ensure that future generations have the opportunity to appreciate the unique charm of the ruffled grouse in New York State’s woodlands.