(Kind of) free fruit in your neighborhood

People who know me well, know that I love to eat fruit.  I prefer fruit over sweets such as ice cream and chocolate. (not that I would necessarily turn the other two down if offered!)  So when I found out that there was a website called Falling Fruit that listed the locations of "public" fruit trees for the (considerate) taking, I was so excited!  I found blackberries, plums, persimmons and even fig trees in town.  Expanding the search area, I found other interesting varieties such as apricot and loquat.  Nut trees are also listed.  I haven't visited the locations yet but it was comforting to know that if I was strapped for cash, I could forage.  The database isn't comprehensive; it depends on people's contributions and willingness to share locations to the public.  For example, I went to check for trees in Hawaii, as Kaleb and I had found mango trees growing wild on the hiking trails, but not very many were listed.

picking mangoes from trees in Maui

Of course, just because the fruit is free for the taking, doesn't mean that it's good for you.  There could be chemicals, pollution or pesticides depending on the tree location, so use your good judgement.  Don't forget to wash fruit and peel the skin (if possible) before consuming.

You can read about good etiquette on public foraging at the Urban Edibles website based in Portland, OR.

Happy gathering!

#TBT - Old memories found in boxes

I recently had some time to go through two boxes filled with old possessions that I had left at my parents' house (which they gladly packed up for me), some dating back to my elementary school days.  It was funny to read that I was "a bit chatty" on my 4th grade handwritten report card along with multiple "a pleasure to have in class" printed in dot-matrix on several of my middle school report cards.  I also was reminded of the one B+ I received in high school PE which dropped my GPA to 3.96, spoiling my chance to be one of the valedictorians at graduation. (we had 7!)

Perhaps the following items will trigger memories in your head?

does anyone use Pee Chees anymore?

I couldn't afford a Trapper Keeper so I just got a folder

Duran Duran centerfolds from Bop magazine

I don't think I referenced crib sheets much for tests even though it took me hours to create them

more stuff I don't remember, such as this work in chemistry

I don't use calculus at work

I didn't pursue any of these professions

5.25" floppy disk

I saw that most of my notebooks from class were half filled with information, half with doodles of things like "I heart Don/Eric/etc.", signing my first name with a crush's last name, bands I liked, random drawings of whatever was on my mind that day.

I found a shoebox full of handwritten notes, folded in many different styles, which were entertaining to read since they talked about the "problems" we had in our middle and high school years:  the standard question of "How's your love life?", crushes on guys, friend stealing other friend's crushes, interpreting some guy's actions as him noticing or liking us, guys making moves on us, girls being mean to others, how much homework we had to do, how we were "so bored", exchanging locker combinations, etc.  I still can remember how to fold a few intricate designs.  I also have a collection of snail mail.  Kids nowadays probably can't comprehend waiting for a letter from a friend every week or two in this age of texting and email.  I also remember getting sore ears while talking on the (corded) phone for two hours straight in the evenings.  With no call waiting at the time, my parents would constantly tell me to get off the phone as someone might be trying to get through.

Going through my junior high yearbook was entertaining, reading messages such as "KIT!" (keep in touch), which most of the time, we did not.  Comments like "You're such a sweet person!  I'm so glad we were in English class together!" meant either, "I have no idea why you want me to sign your yearbook as I don't know you very well but I'll think of something nice to say" or "I'm signing all the yearbooks I can get my hands on".  In the end, I still am in contact with a small group of people from middle school and high school.  Facebook is great for "keeping in touch".

we look so young

Other memorabilia:  School awards, including "Perfect Attendance" (is that still given out nowadays?).  Embarrassing school photos.  College acceptance letters.  Paystubs from summer jobs.  My driver's education certification and permit.  I'll always remember the first time my dad took me on a practice drive, him grabbing the passenger seat and door handle in a death grip as the vehicle moved forward.  Really, he had nothing to worry about because I learned all of my slick driving skills on the Atari and in the arcade:  Pole Position, Enduro, Outrun, Spy Hunter, and my favorite, RoadBlasters.

I gladly recycled all of my old class notes and homework, but I saved the sentimental items to remind myself of what it was like during those years, especially when my future children get to that age and have "problems" or get into mischief.  However, Kaleb can have the honor of taking the kids out for driver training!