my day at youtube

snickerdoodle, anyone?

it all started with a gut reaction

Yeah, I'm gonna go vegan. No, I'm not going to barrage you with all kinds of factoids from my soapbox. In a nutshell, here's my reasons why I'm making this choice:

When I was about ten, I was eating a piece of ham. I noticed that it has a hole in it, which I then recognized as being an artery or vein. It was the first time I truly realized that the meat we put in our mouths was at one point a living, breathing, (dare I say it) sentient being.

In the twenty years since then, I have been an on again off again vegetarian. I had trouble figuring out how to do so healthfully, so I would end up feeling ill and decide that eating animal protein was the answer.

More recently, I have been thinking about my eating, and think that one of the roots of my weight issues and disordered eating are linked to the feelings I have around animal products as food. I have felt for years that I "had " to eat this objectionable stuff in order to live, and in an unconscious response, decided I would eat whatever other crap I felt like eating as well. (i.e. "If I eat these eggs, I can follow it with a box of cookies.")

This realization led me to do more research on vegetarianism and how to do live in a healthy manner. In this exploration, I learned about the atrocities that are inflicted upon the creatures in the dairy and egg industries. (I won't go into it here; if you want to know, ask me later.) So I began to research veganism, which is a form of vegetarianism that excludes dairy, eggs, and other animal-derived products.

What I found was that it is completely possible to eat in a fashion that doesn't make me feel sick. And so I'm going to give it a go. No, I don't have all the answers. No, I won't force it down your throat. Yes, I am taking a multivitamin just in case. Yes, I will still eat with you and visit you. It will just be a little more complicated for me. This is my choice, and so I will be responsible for making sure I have something to eat.

So there. Thanks for listening.

wha???

So I was doing a little grocery shopping today at whole foods, and I guess I had enough stuff that was marked "vegan" that the checker decided to ask me about why I'm vegan. I explained that I'm newly converted, to which he asked why. I explained that it is an emotional thing for me, that I don't like eating dead versions of otherwise cute animals, or something like that. So he asks why I don't eat dairy, etc. I explained that there is a lot of abuse, violence, and premature death even in those products, so I have chosen not to eat them. I told him that I understand that others don't necessarily feel the same way, but I do. He paused then said, (I have to switch format here)

HIM: But if there was human breast milk cheese, would you eat that?

ME: Um, no.

HIM: Why not?

ME: Cuz I'm not a baby and breast milk is for babies.

HIM: Really, cuz it would prolly be good for everyone.

ME: (Dumbfounded shock)

HIM: Well have a nice day!


How weird is that?

Oren Lavie

is featured in a new car commercial. I loved him before!!! It is a cute commercial, too. I guess.

freeganism?

Freeganism is an anti-consumerism lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed."
The lifestyle involves salvaging discarded, unspoiled food from supermarket dumpsters that have passed their sell by date, but are still edible and nutritious. They salvage the food not because they are poor or homeless, but as a political statement. (thank you wikipedia)

Weird. Oprah has a story coming up on this topic. Go Oprah.

vegan freak radio

Not that you're interested in veganism, but you might be entertained by Bob and Jenna Torres as they rant and rave about the issues facing vegans in Vegan Freak Radio. You can subscribe free through the iTunes store if you're totally into it, too.

I like when they rant about Mitt Romney being abusive to animals. I mean, how he may actually be the Antichrist. Check it out.

****oh yeah, they use lots of bad language. don't listen if you're easily offended****

food for thought

~VS~

"People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we should not try to prevent people from murdering other people, since this has been done since the earliest of times." --Isaac Bashevis Singer

What are your thoughts on eating animals/animal products? I have long felt an aversion to animal products (just ask my mom!), but have never taken a real stand against it. Mostly, this was because I would just cut out the proteins without replacing them, then feel ill after a while and begin eating poor dead animal flesh again. I've been working lately at preparing and eating more healthful foods that include vegetable proteins, and feel better overall than I have in a while. Now, don't worry, I won't be pounding anyone on the head for eating meat (I hope). This is a personal choice rooted in the fact that eating dead animals turns my stomach. You go ahead and eat that steak, but I think for now I'll eat seitan instead.

Update: After some research, I'm thinking that it wasn't really an issue of lacking protien as much as being anemic from lack of iron. I think.

another game of name that craft!

guesses?

Update:
It's a fabulous clutch purse for JennyRose! Not done yet, but getting there!

whatchamacallit

Anyone know what these flowers are called? I want to say bluebells, but that botany class i took was many years ago...

Update:
These flowers are actually a kind of grape hyacinth. Interesting... Here's a better picture:

the white whale

a purse for miss ella

If you were four, you'd love it.

Gustavo the Great

I expect all of you to enrich yourselves by watching the following video about Gustavo Dudamel. He is a conductor from Venezuela who is soon to be the musical director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He is only 27. I love his face while he conducts, as well as his sweet interview skills. I hope that The Venezuelan System comes to the States along with him.

Watch it! You will say, "Now we have blood; a lot."

Gustavo the Great as seen on 60 Minutes.

mom update

She's doing great!

i burned the cupcakes

but they're still good!

winter?

While I'm enjoying the gorgeous weather, I understand that sometimes people actually like the cold weather. Crazy.

Sarah makes a snow angel.
And Ben just looks so handsome!

tatts anyone?

Want a tattoo, but not sure what you want? Join in with Skin. Shelley Jackson is writing a story that will be published, you got it, on the skin of participants. Awesome.

mom's home!

It's so nice to visit at the house instead of at the hospital!

yay!!

Mom's going home tonight!

mom update

Mom's doing great after surgery! She is up and about already, and was not hooked to any i.v.s today when I visited. This meant we got to go on a field trip to the chapel (she rode in a wheelchair, but still). She is eating regular food already, also. If all goes well, she will be released in the next few days. Thanks again for all your thoughts, prayers, and Care Bear Stares!

finished

listen up

Marshall wants a mute savior. Just thought I'd share.

meme from hell

Thanks, Mister C. Here's the list:

anon
harpist
courtroom
assassin
hubbub
caning
delicacy
glitter
tempest
niche

And here's my vignette:

"I wish you wouldn't make a tempest in a teapot about it!" Margaret yelled as applied her lipstick. Lily had be being a regular harpist about her being on time today. "I come anon," she said, mimicking her favorite line from Romeo and Juliet. Margaret was in much the same state as she was at this moment; late, but not particularly caring. Before she left her room to meet Lily downstairs, she reached into the secret niche of her wardrobe to pull out a tiny wrapped package.

"One would think you would be on time on a day like this," Lily murmured when Margaret reached the bottom of the stairs. They left the house together to go to the car; Lily drove, Margaret begrudgingly sat in the front seat. When they reached the courthouse, the parking lot a hubbub of photographers and reporters. The glitter of their camera flashes annoyed Margaret, but still she stepped out of the car with delicacy that seemed to mock her stature.

"It's a shame caning has gone out of style, or I would press charges against each and every one of them," Margaret muttered to herself as she walked into the courtroom. "I'd be a regular assassin."

.....

I tag Lulu, Heather, and Justin (not that he'll even see this in a timely manner)

yummae!

I've been experimenting with tempeh, which is basically a cake of fermented soybeans. It has a wonderful aged flavor, almost like a cheese, but is really a flavor all its own. I don't cook meat in my house, mostly because I get so grossed out by it that when the time comes to eat it, I feel ill. It something to do with playing with the muscle of a dead animal that used to have a face and be cute that turns me off to it.

As a consequence, I have been working at finding protein replacement foods so that I don't get sick, etc. from lack of good protein, and in that pursuit discovered tempeh. If you've never had it (or heard of it), you should really try it sometime. It doesn't replace a good steak (yes, I still eat meat when it's prepared somewhere else and I don't think too hard about it) but it is really very tasty. Here is a great recipe to try it out if you're interested:


Ginger-Garlic Tempeh with greens

1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce or Bragg's Liquid Amino Acids
1/4 cup orange juice
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/8 tsp. crushed red peppers
10-in. segment ginger root
8-oz package tempeh, cut in cubes
1 T sesame or olive oil
1 onion, diced
greens (like kale or chard)

1) Grate ginger root, then squeeze the juice off into a bowl and discard the pulp
2) Add tamari, oj, garlic, peppers, and tempeh to the juice; marinate for 1 hour at room temp.
3) Prepare greens and onion
4) Heat oil in skillet, then add onion and tempeh. Cook until the onion is tender.
5) Add greens and cook 3-4 more minutes
6) Enjoy! Put it on rice if you feel like it. I like it plain, but whatever.

(The tempeh pictured has flax seed added; that's what the black specky things are.)