Monday, October 26, 2009

I'm living dangerously

At least that's what my coworkers think. And that's what you think of when you think of me right? That wild woman living close to the edge? Yeah right. Perhaps an explanation of why they think I'm living dangerously is in order.

Reason 1. I don't keep my lunch in the refrigerator at work and (gasp!) it may contain meat or other ingredients that can spoil.

Hmmmm, first of all, 99% of the time, my lunch consists of leftovers that have been refrigerated overnight. Leftovers means cooked food people! My lunch goes from the fridge at home into my insulated lunch bag and then sits on my desk for a few hours until I heat it in the microwave at lunchtime. I don't think I need to worry about bacterial growth in that amount of time. Beside, the office is so d@mn cold, it is almost as good as a fridge.

Reason 2. When I go out to lunch and bring back leftovers, I don't put them in the fridge.

What? More bacterial growth?? I don't worry about it, obviously. Anyway, I'm more grossed out by the shared fridge than a little bacterial growth. Since there's a problem with people sampling other people's food without asking permission, I think the work fridge offers even more opportunity for a bacterial cesspool.

Reason 3. I use plastic when microwaving my lunch.

The manufacturer says the containers are microwave safe and they wouldn't lie, would they? Okay, okay, maybe they would lie, but somehow, I think the BPA hoopla is the hoopla du jour and next month, I will have something else to worry about.

Reason 4. I eat leftovers that are more than two days old.

I grew up eating leftovers. In fact, we used to fight over the leftovers (Mom was a great cook). And I don't know how to cook in small quantities (and who wants to cook every night anyways?). I usually cook a couple times on the weekend and then once during the week. So that means leftovers for a couple of days or (gasp!) even longer! Interestingly, my tolerance for leftovers has gone down. I used to be able to eat the same thing 8 meals in a week (4 lunches, 4 dinners). Now I'm down to around 5.

Reason 5. I don't use paper towels.

Sorry, that's an exaggeration. I do use paper towels, just not as many as some people. In the bathroom (sorry), I don't get a paper towel to turn on the faucet, then several more to dry my hands, then another one to turn off the faucet (all while the water is running...very eco unfriendly), and finally another to open the bathroom door. I don't do that at work and I certainly don't do that at home.

And at home, we go through a roll of paper towels every 5-6 weeks (and we used to be better, it used to take us two months to use up a roll). How in the heck does a family use a roll every day or two?

So whaddya think? Is it safe to be around me? Don't worry, if you come over for dinner, the house will the thoroughly cleaned (but it still might be messy), you don't be eating my leftovers, and there will be a fresh roll of paper towels in the kitchen, and fresh hand towels in the bathroom.

3 comments:

Kristie said...

Eh, I couldn't eat leftovers as often as you do but I don't think you're living dangerously. I mean, you are still alive, right? lol

Now, my MIL grosses me out. The woman buys Hellman's mayo which is made of LOTS of eggs and she does not refrigerate it at all. From the time she brings it home from the store until she tosses the empty jar...it just sits out on her kitchen counter. YUCK! Even in the dead of summer when it's sweltering! And she has no AC either.

Richard Hellinga said...

You've made it this far (many years young), I'd say you're living just fine. I've sometimes eaten leftovers a week old. It really depends on the food. I hate eating fish as a leftover. It always tastes horrible. but certain kinds of meat (chicken, pork) seem to hold up well i the refrigerator.

Leftovers were a regular part of my diet growing up, too.

Miwa said...

Well... I agree with Rich who said if you've made it this far, you must be doing okay, but as a biologist, I've got to disagree with you on the microwaving of plastics! On the bright side, I'm glad to know you aren't one of THOSE people who worry about every little thing in the world that might possibly end up killing you. We all know THOSE KINDS OF PEOPLE, don't we? ;)