There's a lot of distractions this time of year. The holiday seasons are approaching, there's Halloween around the corner, which can result in an overload of sugar. We always buy too much candy and always wind up eating it all. No one comes down this street except the kids that live on this street and a few strays. They all go to Piedmont for the "good" candy. Then there's the pies, cakes, cookies and desserts for the holidays, which are right around the corner.
There's an upcoming visit to Mississippi in November which could be a trip down the fried food highway if I'm not careful. All these obstacles are barriers in my way to a healthier life that have to be navigated like a sea of icebergs. My compass to navigate these icebergs is my weak will.
There's also a trip to Escalon in late October for a writing class. Escalon is famous for it's fresh baked bread that is available 24 hours a day.
I've set forth in motion a blueprint of a plan for the month of October that might not be sustainable. I hope I'm not setting myself up for failure. I have my doubts about the fasting component of my health plan. It's difficult for me to gauge how effective that element has been in talking weight off.
I weighed in one last time this morning and I won't weigh in again till Nov. 31 Halloween, but I'm dead on 210 pounds. It does't matter if I cycle 3 fucking hours or not, the scale doesn't budge,
If I stick to all the other points of my October plan I think I'll accomplish the goal of 4 measly pounds off my fat ass.
No coffee starting today. Here comes the headache.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; nothing
Lunch; nuts, andouille sausage, 1 plum
Dinner: Cannellini beans w/red onion, fresh parsley, and andouille sausage, sauteed w/olive oil, salt and peppper
Exercise; 1 hour cycling, 5.5 miles walking, 1 hour cycling
Monday, September 30, 2013
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Food Extravaganza + Cycling + The Rolling Stone Article & The Bills
There is a huge food festival down at Jack London Square today. Massive amounts of people, and maybe a hundred food trucks. There's was also the regular Sunday farmers market going on, so it was food, food, and more food, for three city blocks. Geri and I drove down there, unloaded the bikes, made our to the market bought some food, and got out of there for our weekly ride to Alameda.
We drove all along the waterfront and through the canal, and on the way back to Jack London Square we stopped at Quinn's lighthouse and got some horrible nachos. We were so hungry we didn't care. There was some amazing looking food trucks at the Jack London event, but we were too hot, too tired, and too thirsty to wait till we got back there after riding for 3 hours. Quinn's is famous for good drinks, bad food, and great views of the waterfront.
Crowds of people don't get me excited anymore. In fact it's the complete opposite, I genuinely dislike them. It's hard to navigate around all those folks. There's always someone who is rude, and many of them are so busy looking at their fucking cell phones they can't see anything that's going on around them, oblivious to their environments, HELLO.
Most of the people down there are 30 somethings, which I have no problem with most of the time, at least on a one to one basis. Sometime I yell at people to get their attention, "old man coming through", or "age before beauty". 99% of the time they just don't get it. This is why I refuse to go to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. 200 thousand people on any given day, no fucking thank you.
Lastly, if you have a pension plan, especially if you are in the public sector you owe it to yourself to read the article on the Rolling Stone appropriately titled, "Looting The Pension Funds" by Matt Taibbi. This is the issue with Miley Cyrus on the front. The poor thing is obsessed with her tongue. Every time I see a shot of her these days she has her tongue out.
As I was saying about the article in the RS, the Wall Street hedge fund boys, and the folks who we have entrusted with our money are having a field day looting it, and no one is doing anything about it. They're running it up the flag pole once again. If you thought the last recession was a doozy the next one should hit us like a Fukushima tsunami. To quote Matt Taibbi, "It's a scam of unmatched balls and cruelty, accomplished with the aide of some singularly spineless politicians."
Last night we saw the fabulous Bills from British Columbia at the 5th Ave Boathouse for 20 dollars a head. They can squeeze maybe a 100 people in there. Now that's my kind of crowd.
Go away, my head it full.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 eggs over easy, 1 piece of whole wheat toast, 1 small potato pancake, coffee 1 sugar
Lunch; plumb, chicken cheese nachos, ice tea 2 sugars,
Dinner; nothing
Exercise; 1.5 miles walking w/dogs, biking 3 hours
We drove all along the waterfront and through the canal, and on the way back to Jack London Square we stopped at Quinn's lighthouse and got some horrible nachos. We were so hungry we didn't care. There was some amazing looking food trucks at the Jack London event, but we were too hot, too tired, and too thirsty to wait till we got back there after riding for 3 hours. Quinn's is famous for good drinks, bad food, and great views of the waterfront.
Crowds of people don't get me excited anymore. In fact it's the complete opposite, I genuinely dislike them. It's hard to navigate around all those folks. There's always someone who is rude, and many of them are so busy looking at their fucking cell phones they can't see anything that's going on around them, oblivious to their environments, HELLO.
Most of the people down there are 30 somethings, which I have no problem with most of the time, at least on a one to one basis. Sometime I yell at people to get their attention, "old man coming through", or "age before beauty". 99% of the time they just don't get it. This is why I refuse to go to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass. 200 thousand people on any given day, no fucking thank you.
Lastly, if you have a pension plan, especially if you are in the public sector you owe it to yourself to read the article on the Rolling Stone appropriately titled, "Looting The Pension Funds" by Matt Taibbi. This is the issue with Miley Cyrus on the front. The poor thing is obsessed with her tongue. Every time I see a shot of her these days she has her tongue out.
As I was saying about the article in the RS, the Wall Street hedge fund boys, and the folks who we have entrusted with our money are having a field day looting it, and no one is doing anything about it. They're running it up the flag pole once again. If you thought the last recession was a doozy the next one should hit us like a Fukushima tsunami. To quote Matt Taibbi, "It's a scam of unmatched balls and cruelty, accomplished with the aide of some singularly spineless politicians."
Last night we saw the fabulous Bills from British Columbia at the 5th Ave Boathouse for 20 dollars a head. They can squeeze maybe a 100 people in there. Now that's my kind of crowd.
Go away, my head it full.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 eggs over easy, 1 piece of whole wheat toast, 1 small potato pancake, coffee 1 sugar
Lunch; plumb, chicken cheese nachos, ice tea 2 sugars,
Dinner; nothing
Exercise; 1.5 miles walking w/dogs, biking 3 hours
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Saturday Stats
Geri and I took a grueling ride today to the farmers market at Lake Merritt, then around the lake, up a couple of long hills that almost killed me, and then back home. I know fall is officially here, but the weather is no indication of that today.
I broke down and had a cup of coffee at the market. I was sluggish this morning and I needed an energy boost. It might take me a few days to ween myself off the dark master again. My legs were tired from hiking in the hills yesterday.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 eggs over easy, 1 piece of brown bread, small potato pancake
Lunch; 3 handfuls of cashew, peanut butter sandwich, cup of coffee, 1 samosa, water mellon
Dinner: going to a house concert with food, who knows?
Exercise; 2 hours cycling, 2 miles hiking
I broke down and had a cup of coffee at the market. I was sluggish this morning and I needed an energy boost. It might take me a few days to ween myself off the dark master again. My legs were tired from hiking in the hills yesterday.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 eggs over easy, 1 piece of brown bread, small potato pancake
Lunch; 3 handfuls of cashew, peanut butter sandwich, cup of coffee, 1 samosa, water mellon
Dinner: going to a house concert with food, who knows?
Exercise; 2 hours cycling, 2 miles hiking
Friday, September 27, 2013
Larry & 3 things I Learned
I forgot to congratulate Larry Ellison and team Oracle for winning the America's Cup race in SF Bay. It only cost him a quarter of a billion dollars, give or take 50 mil here or there to be the macho man that he is. Just think of all the good that could have been done with that money.
I wonder who catered the party they had for their closest 60,000 friends the other evening. What would I do if I had his money? Help people, what else. Cest la vie!
Three things I learned about loosing weight is 1) I can do it 2) I can keep the weight off and 3) you've got to burn more than you put in.
Have a lovely weekend.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 egg omelet w/broccoli & black pepper (no salt), small bowl of cereal w/bran, granola and almond milk, black tea w/lemon
Lunch; nothing
Snack; apple, 1 handful of cashews, juice
Dinner; leftover wild rice, sausage, broccoli, salad, grilled eggplant
Exercise; 8.5 miles walking, 1 hour cycling
I wonder who catered the party they had for their closest 60,000 friends the other evening. What would I do if I had his money? Help people, what else. Cest la vie!
Three things I learned about loosing weight is 1) I can do it 2) I can keep the weight off and 3) you've got to burn more than you put in.
Have a lovely weekend.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 egg omelet w/broccoli & black pepper (no salt), small bowl of cereal w/bran, granola and almond milk, black tea w/lemon
Lunch; nothing
Snack; apple, 1 handful of cashews, juice
Dinner; leftover wild rice, sausage, broccoli, salad, grilled eggplant
Exercise; 8.5 miles walking, 1 hour cycling
Thursday, September 26, 2013
BMI - Over Weight V.S. Obese
Today was the BIG yearly physical with my doctor. I have gone from obese to over weight and that is actually pretty good news considering I'm kinda stalled at this juncture in my quest to be physically "normal", and I need to kick my ass in high gear.
My BMI is 29.7, which is a mere .3 off of obese. My other stats, BP, pulse etc., were actually phenomenal. I had the usual probes, a shot for the shingles virus, blood tests to be done, cholesterol levels to be analyzed, but overall I'm pleased.
This is my agenda for the month of October.
It's back to the basics for me. a) I need to cut back on my sugar, salt, fat intake i.e., reduce my processed sugar intake, animal fat, lighten up on the salt, b) no eating in between meals with the occasional healthy snack. c) seriously curtail my obsession w/milk chocolate, at least two hours of walking or cycling a day, continue the little weight lifting and resistance work I been doing. d) maybe a bowl of cereal with almond milk and some fruit for breakfast. e) watch the carbs, the dairy, and the bread, the wheat, the gluten. Cut back on the potato pancakes. f) portion control g) no alcohol for me for a while. I like waking in the morning as clear as an old man can be, and then party with Alice in the afternoon and early evening. I haven't had a drink since my birthday on Sept. 8th. January 1st is my dot date to have a drink again. h) I need cut out the coffee, period. i) I need to work on the mind as much as the body.
On the entree side of it I want to eat more legumes, and whole grains. It's fall so it's time for soup. The time is ripe, the crops are in, and there's lots of healthy fresh food to eat.
I am hosting 2 pizza parties this month. Now that is temptation for me. So, I'm going to limit myself to 1/2 or 2/3's of a pie at each gathering.
I'm going to check my weight at the end of October and hopefully be at 206 pounds. Four measly pounds is all I'm looking to lose, one pound a week. The battle never ends, never. I actually did a lot today, but I was wiped out. October isn't going to be a cake walk.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption; 2 eggs over easy w/potato pancake, tea w/local honey, pistachios
Lunch, 2 chicken apple sausage
Dinner; wild rice, sausage, large salad w/a lot of great fresh stuff
Exercise; 3 miles walking
My BMI is 29.7, which is a mere .3 off of obese. My other stats, BP, pulse etc., were actually phenomenal. I had the usual probes, a shot for the shingles virus, blood tests to be done, cholesterol levels to be analyzed, but overall I'm pleased.
This is my agenda for the month of October.
It's back to the basics for me. a) I need to cut back on my sugar, salt, fat intake i.e., reduce my processed sugar intake, animal fat, lighten up on the salt, b) no eating in between meals with the occasional healthy snack. c) seriously curtail my obsession w/milk chocolate, at least two hours of walking or cycling a day, continue the little weight lifting and resistance work I been doing. d) maybe a bowl of cereal with almond milk and some fruit for breakfast. e) watch the carbs, the dairy, and the bread, the wheat, the gluten. Cut back on the potato pancakes. f) portion control g) no alcohol for me for a while. I like waking in the morning as clear as an old man can be, and then party with Alice in the afternoon and early evening. I haven't had a drink since my birthday on Sept. 8th. January 1st is my dot date to have a drink again. h) I need cut out the coffee, period. i) I need to work on the mind as much as the body.
On the entree side of it I want to eat more legumes, and whole grains. It's fall so it's time for soup. The time is ripe, the crops are in, and there's lots of healthy fresh food to eat.
I am hosting 2 pizza parties this month. Now that is temptation for me. So, I'm going to limit myself to 1/2 or 2/3's of a pie at each gathering.
I'm going to check my weight at the end of October and hopefully be at 206 pounds. Four measly pounds is all I'm looking to lose, one pound a week. The battle never ends, never. I actually did a lot today, but I was wiped out. October isn't going to be a cake walk.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption; 2 eggs over easy w/potato pancake, tea w/local honey, pistachios
Lunch, 2 chicken apple sausage
Dinner; wild rice, sausage, large salad w/a lot of great fresh stuff
Exercise; 3 miles walking
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Chestnuts, Fall, Squirrels, and Stats
I have these two dogs, Hattie and Hank, that I walk in Piedmont everyday. They're both wonderful little dogs. The streets where I walk them are lined with old growth chestnuts, beautiful golden brown chestnuts. You an tell when fall is here because the leaves turn yellow and the chestnuts are on the ground.
The problem in Piedmont is everything is manicured. The people, mostly Mexicans, who keep the homes groomed and looking beautiful, sweep up the leaves and chestnuts before you can even get a chance to gather them. The squirrels barely have any luck getting any, let alone us dog walkers.
If you go down to Chinatown in Oakland you'll see the very same chestnuts selling for ten dollars a pound at the produce stands. Chestnuts are high in dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin C to name just a few health benefits.
It was still common to see hot chestnuts sold on the streets in New York when we were growing up. When we were in Italy our friends served hot chestnuts after dinner. My father loved chestnuts, and my cousins had several trees down the street from us. We used then to have chestnuts fight when we were kids. They have a prickly outer layer that hurt like hell when you got hit, kids. A fungus wiped out most of the mighty American chestnut trees in the early part of the 20th century, too bad.
If you decide to serve them after dinner you can put them into the oven to heat them. Make sure you score them first or they'll blow up. It will sound like a gun went off when that happens. I've done this so I know. They go nicely with fresh fruit and grappa.
That's it today.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food Consumption;
Breakfast; potato pancake w/Irish cheddar, 2 poached eggs, 1 piece of brown bread
Lunch; Turkey cheese burger on brown bread
Dinner; salad w/cucumber, feta, beets, olive oil, s & p, fresh lemon, single chocolate ice cream
cone
Exercise; 5 miles walking
The problem in Piedmont is everything is manicured. The people, mostly Mexicans, who keep the homes groomed and looking beautiful, sweep up the leaves and chestnuts before you can even get a chance to gather them. The squirrels barely have any luck getting any, let alone us dog walkers.
If you go down to Chinatown in Oakland you'll see the very same chestnuts selling for ten dollars a pound at the produce stands. Chestnuts are high in dietary fiber, folate, and vitamin C to name just a few health benefits.
It was still common to see hot chestnuts sold on the streets in New York when we were growing up. When we were in Italy our friends served hot chestnuts after dinner. My father loved chestnuts, and my cousins had several trees down the street from us. We used then to have chestnuts fight when we were kids. They have a prickly outer layer that hurt like hell when you got hit, kids. A fungus wiped out most of the mighty American chestnut trees in the early part of the 20th century, too bad.
If you decide to serve them after dinner you can put them into the oven to heat them. Make sure you score them first or they'll blow up. It will sound like a gun went off when that happens. I've done this so I know. They go nicely with fresh fruit and grappa.
That's it today.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food Consumption;
Breakfast; potato pancake w/Irish cheddar, 2 poached eggs, 1 piece of brown bread
Lunch; Turkey cheese burger on brown bread
Dinner; salad w/cucumber, feta, beets, olive oil, s & p, fresh lemon, single chocolate ice cream
cone
Exercise; 5 miles walking
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
A 16 + Daily Stats
I've said this over and over, add nausea, that I am not a food critic. I'm not getting paid to be a food critic. I'm not going to go into great detail about this restaurant. A 16 is at the site of the old Girabaldi's on 5356 College Ave. in Oakland.
It's expensive, so bring your cards. This was not a loud room. In fact if they had a stereo it was not turned on, or someone forgot to turn it on. We were the loudest people in the house for sure. There was 6 of us total. We had 3 or 4 appetizer. Most worthy of description was a large anchovies, the size of a 6 month old trout from the hatchery, poached in balsamic vinegar, raisins, deep fried encrusted walnuts, a little lemon, and wine. It was delicious.
The service is OK, but I found myself looking for a new plate and folk often. Speaking of forks, Geri dropped hers, and no one came over to retrieve it. It made a hell of a racket too. I don't see how you couldn't hear it. There were wait staff 10 feet away from us, hello. No one ever asked if I wanted fresh pepper for my salad, which was a little to saturated with dressing, but tasty none the less. No bread or olives were served before dinner.
We shared everything with each other, because we wanted to taste everything and get the whole experience. Some of the entree' items were great. There was a fresh pasta dish that was almost like a gnocchi with a hot oil sauce that I could eaten an entire plate of, no problem.
The pizza was fair to good, but not great. The tomato sauce on one of the pies was sweet as can be, as was the mozzarella di bufala, very nice.
Of the 3 desserts we had the apple turnovers were the best, and the fresh gelato ice cream was very good as well. The cappuccino was heated to the perfect temperature, but they only brought one sugar with it, no chocolate, no cinnamon.
We brought our own wine and I think the corkage fee was $25.00. No big deal.
I found this restaurant lacking something, but I couldn't put my finger on it, and then I realized the two words I was looking for was excitement and details. Besides the fact that I was excited to see my friends, I didn't feel any excitement from the wait staff. They completely missed the little details that make a decent restaurant a great restaurant. There was not a festive atmosphere, and a restaurant should be festive. I don't need or want bubbly service, but dour service is worse. There was no show of enthusiasm. It was a low energy atmosphere and it should be a high energy. SHOW TIME PEOPLE.
Maybe it was an off night. Monday's are tough on a restaurant staff, and I usually don't go out to restaurants on a Monday. The food often times lack imagination and again, attention to detail. Everyone is burnt out from the weekend. As Elvis Costello said, "I don't like Monday's, I want to shoot, oh oh oh, the whole day down."
This west coast 24/7 bullshit burns people out. If I owned a restaurant it would be closed, without question, Sunday and Monday.
This restaurant doesn't have enough for me to go back again.
I give the food 1 and a half joints, and the service 1 joint.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; potato pancake w/Irish cheddar, 2 eggs over easy, 1 piece of olive bread (no butter), black coffee 1 sugar
Lunch; nuts
Dinner: brussel sprouts, chicken cheese ravioli w/cherry tomatoes, fresh garlic, and artichokes, Romano cheese, small salad
Exercise; 6 miles walking
It's expensive, so bring your cards. This was not a loud room. In fact if they had a stereo it was not turned on, or someone forgot to turn it on. We were the loudest people in the house for sure. There was 6 of us total. We had 3 or 4 appetizer. Most worthy of description was a large anchovies, the size of a 6 month old trout from the hatchery, poached in balsamic vinegar, raisins, deep fried encrusted walnuts, a little lemon, and wine. It was delicious.
The service is OK, but I found myself looking for a new plate and folk often. Speaking of forks, Geri dropped hers, and no one came over to retrieve it. It made a hell of a racket too. I don't see how you couldn't hear it. There were wait staff 10 feet away from us, hello. No one ever asked if I wanted fresh pepper for my salad, which was a little to saturated with dressing, but tasty none the less. No bread or olives were served before dinner.
We shared everything with each other, because we wanted to taste everything and get the whole experience. Some of the entree' items were great. There was a fresh pasta dish that was almost like a gnocchi with a hot oil sauce that I could eaten an entire plate of, no problem.
The pizza was fair to good, but not great. The tomato sauce on one of the pies was sweet as can be, as was the mozzarella di bufala, very nice.
Of the 3 desserts we had the apple turnovers were the best, and the fresh gelato ice cream was very good as well. The cappuccino was heated to the perfect temperature, but they only brought one sugar with it, no chocolate, no cinnamon.
We brought our own wine and I think the corkage fee was $25.00. No big deal.
I found this restaurant lacking something, but I couldn't put my finger on it, and then I realized the two words I was looking for was excitement and details. Besides the fact that I was excited to see my friends, I didn't feel any excitement from the wait staff. They completely missed the little details that make a decent restaurant a great restaurant. There was not a festive atmosphere, and a restaurant should be festive. I don't need or want bubbly service, but dour service is worse. There was no show of enthusiasm. It was a low energy atmosphere and it should be a high energy. SHOW TIME PEOPLE.
Maybe it was an off night. Monday's are tough on a restaurant staff, and I usually don't go out to restaurants on a Monday. The food often times lack imagination and again, attention to detail. Everyone is burnt out from the weekend. As Elvis Costello said, "I don't like Monday's, I want to shoot, oh oh oh, the whole day down."
This west coast 24/7 bullshit burns people out. If I owned a restaurant it would be closed, without question, Sunday and Monday.
This restaurant doesn't have enough for me to go back again.
I give the food 1 and a half joints, and the service 1 joint.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; potato pancake w/Irish cheddar, 2 eggs over easy, 1 piece of olive bread (no butter), black coffee 1 sugar
Lunch; nuts
Dinner: brussel sprouts, chicken cheese ravioli w/cherry tomatoes, fresh garlic, and artichokes, Romano cheese, small salad
Exercise; 6 miles walking
Monday, September 23, 2013
Monday 3-23-13
There may be more Virgos that any other sign in the universe because of the New Year's eve. People get drunk on New Year's eve, really drunk and when people get drunk they often do stupid things, or their inhibitions are lowered and they have sex. Sex lead to pregnancy and and that leads to more babies. Our friend Buzz, like myself, my wife Geraldine and millions of other people are one of these creations.
Our friend Buzz has his birthday today. He' a wonderful, kind, gentle person, with a great sense of humor. Buzz can make me laugh like no other person in this world. The three of us were roommates for several years back in the late 80's, early 90's. Buzz has had me laughing on the floor, holding my stomach, begging for mercy, more than once. One time I had to crawl out of the house to stop.
Geri and I called him this morning, sang happy birthday to him, and invited him and his wife Chris to dinner. He accepted and chose a place called A16 on College Ave. in Oakland, which makes southern Italian cuisine. I've been wanting to go to this place for a long time now, and this is a great excuse to try it.
I'll do a review of this restaurant tomorrow. That is my stupid blog for today.
Today is a fast day.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 cups of black tea w/local honey
Lunch: nothing
Snacks; nuts, 1/2 peach
DInner; TBD later
Exercise; 6.5 miles walking/hiking
Our friend Buzz has his birthday today. He' a wonderful, kind, gentle person, with a great sense of humor. Buzz can make me laugh like no other person in this world. The three of us were roommates for several years back in the late 80's, early 90's. Buzz has had me laughing on the floor, holding my stomach, begging for mercy, more than once. One time I had to crawl out of the house to stop.
Geri and I called him this morning, sang happy birthday to him, and invited him and his wife Chris to dinner. He accepted and chose a place called A16 on College Ave. in Oakland, which makes southern Italian cuisine. I've been wanting to go to this place for a long time now, and this is a great excuse to try it.
I'll do a review of this restaurant tomorrow. That is my stupid blog for today.
Today is a fast day.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 cups of black tea w/local honey
Lunch: nothing
Snacks; nuts, 1/2 peach
DInner; TBD later
Exercise; 6.5 miles walking/hiking
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Sunday 9-22-13
Geri and I biked across the eastern span of the Bay Bridge, which is not named for Willie Brown Jr.
It's quite the scene out there, and a more beautiful fall day you won't find anywhere. All I could think of was the Talking Heads song, Where On The Road To Nowhere.
We continued our cycling journey down to Jack London Square to the Sunday farmer's market had a nice piece of fruit for a snack, then back to the Temescal area to the Tip Top bike shop where I left my bike for a tune up.
There is nothing else to report today.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 1 egg sandwich w/brown bread, coffee 1/sugar, walnut, raspberry scone
Lunch; 1 plum, chocolate chip cliff bar
Dinner; turkey burger w/Irish cheddar, small salad w/apple, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, lemon, black pepper, salt
Exercise; cycling 3 hours, 3 miles walking
It's quite the scene out there, and a more beautiful fall day you won't find anywhere. All I could think of was the Talking Heads song, Where On The Road To Nowhere.
We continued our cycling journey down to Jack London Square to the Sunday farmer's market had a nice piece of fruit for a snack, then back to the Temescal area to the Tip Top bike shop where I left my bike for a tune up.
There is nothing else to report today.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 1 egg sandwich w/brown bread, coffee 1/sugar, walnut, raspberry scone
Lunch; 1 plum, chocolate chip cliff bar
Dinner; turkey burger w/Irish cheddar, small salad w/apple, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, lemon, black pepper, salt
Exercise; cycling 3 hours, 3 miles walking
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Weekend Stats, No Bike Today
Sure enough we had rain today. Just enough to keep me from riding my bike the streets of Oakland. The rain created instant depression for me. Usually when there's depression there is food abuse. See the stats.
My neighbor, dear friend, and client Deborah had to put her dog to sleep today. I cared for Puppy, most of her life. I'm so sorry Deborah. I know life won't be the same without her. She was a wonderful companion.
Tomorrow is a new life. We begin again.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; potato pancake w/Asiago cheese, 2 eggs over easy, black coffee 1 sugar
Lunch; 1 1/2 peanut butter sandwiches
Dinner; pepperoni pizza, salad w/honey mustard dressing
Exercise; 2.5 miles walking (pitiful)
My neighbor, dear friend, and client Deborah had to put her dog to sleep today. I cared for Puppy, most of her life. I'm so sorry Deborah. I know life won't be the same without her. She was a wonderful companion.
Tomorrow is a new life. We begin again.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; potato pancake w/Asiago cheese, 2 eggs over easy, black coffee 1 sugar
Lunch; 1 1/2 peanut butter sandwiches
Dinner; pepperoni pizza, salad w/honey mustard dressing
Exercise; 2.5 miles walking (pitiful)
Friday, September 20, 2013
Friday 9-20-13
I'm over the gumbo. I had my last bowl this evening, and the little that is left I'm going to freeze for another day. I gave away more than 1/2 of what I made.
I love andouille sausage. I know it's full of saturated fat, but if you cut into 3/4 inch strips, fry it, drain the oil, and rinse it in hot water, you'll get most of that fat off. You can't beat the taste.
This was a week of getting back to basics. I got in a good hike today with the dogs and my friend Darren, and I got a couple of more miles to do tonight.
I have my yearly physical scheduled next Thursday. I still doubt my ability to shed another 30 pounds before the end of the year. I'd almost have to starve myself to death, but I think I can get off half that amount, which would put me at 195 pounds. I haven't been under 200 pounds for 20 years.
It ain't gold, but I'd be overjoyed with silver.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; cup of coffee, 1 sugar
Lunch; nothing
Dinner; Small sandwich, 3 slices of prosciutto de Parma, 4 slices Asiago cheese, olive bread, medium bowl of gumbo w/rice.
Exercise; 8.5 miles walking
I love andouille sausage. I know it's full of saturated fat, but if you cut into 3/4 inch strips, fry it, drain the oil, and rinse it in hot water, you'll get most of that fat off. You can't beat the taste.
This was a week of getting back to basics. I got in a good hike today with the dogs and my friend Darren, and I got a couple of more miles to do tonight.
I have my yearly physical scheduled next Thursday. I still doubt my ability to shed another 30 pounds before the end of the year. I'd almost have to starve myself to death, but I think I can get off half that amount, which would put me at 195 pounds. I haven't been under 200 pounds for 20 years.
It ain't gold, but I'd be overjoyed with silver.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; cup of coffee, 1 sugar
Lunch; nothing
Dinner; Small sandwich, 3 slices of prosciutto de Parma, 4 slices Asiago cheese, olive bread, medium bowl of gumbo w/rice.
Exercise; 8.5 miles walking
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Gumbo Again
I had to have a bowl of gumbo this morning even though I had a big breakfast. I'll have to work this off today. I was dying to try it. I hate to toot my own horn, but what can I say, "This gumbo rocks." If you like a nice thick green swamp goulash of a food, this is for you.
Now I have to give it away because I've made a shit load of it, and there's only so much space in our freezer. Till then that's what I'll be eating.
I've got nothing else today, no worldly insights, and the last thing anyone else needs to read is about my boring life, where I went, what I did there, and bla bla bla. That's what Facebook was designed to do, and quite affectively. Bye bye.
Fasting tomorrow.
That's it.
Peace,
Marcel Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 eggs over easy, potato pancake w/cheese, small bowl of gumbo w/one cup of rice, black tea local honey
Lunch; 1/2 peanut butter sandwich
Dinner; big bowl of gumbo, 2 cups rice (I know), olive bread, salad w/olive oil, lemon, tomatoes,
salt and pepper
Exercise; 3.5 miles walking
Now I have to give it away because I've made a shit load of it, and there's only so much space in our freezer. Till then that's what I'll be eating.
I've got nothing else today, no worldly insights, and the last thing anyone else needs to read is about my boring life, where I went, what I did there, and bla bla bla. That's what Facebook was designed to do, and quite affectively. Bye bye.
Fasting tomorrow.
That's it.
Peace,
Marcel Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 eggs over easy, potato pancake w/cheese, small bowl of gumbo w/one cup of rice, black tea local honey
Lunch; 1/2 peanut butter sandwich
Dinner; big bowl of gumbo, 2 cups rice (I know), olive bread, salad w/olive oil, lemon, tomatoes,
salt and pepper
Exercise; 3.5 miles walking
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Back to normal + Gumbo
I'm starting to feel back to normal, whatever that is, after two weeks of being off the health grid, so to speak. I haven't gotten the exercise that my body now craves. I did some cycling today, and Geri and I are planning to do much more over the weekend. In fact, we are planning on doing the new span of the Bay Bridge this Sunday, and our usual Alameda run on Saturday.
So today I'm doing gumbo, basically the same recipe that myself, Erwin, Hans and Andreas made for the birthday bash. If you make this have a party, invite a bunch of friends, get some Abita beer, or Red Stripe, rice, and corn bread and have a party. Play some Meters and Fat's Domino records, and you can't go wrong.
I love gumbo. You can beat it, but it is a labor intensive dish. Just writing it up was a pain in the ass.
Enjoy.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food Consumption;
Breakfast; small bowl of grape nuts, half banana, almond milk, 1 cup coffee
Lunch; peach
Dinner; 1/2 quesadilla leftover, salad w/lots of good stuff
Exercise; 1 hour biking, 3.5 miles walking
Gumbo Recipe (total cooking time 7 hours)
Ingredients;
12 oz. roux
4 quarts. chicken stock
1 1/2 pints okra
2.5 pounds andouille sausage cut in 1/2 pieces on the bias
1.5 pounds shrimps peeled and devained
1 pint shrimp stock
2 tbs file gumbo
3 tbs cayenne
1 large onion diced 1/8"
3 1/2 chicken breasts deboned cut 1/2 pieces
3 green bell peppers
14 large garlic cloves chopped fine
8 stalks celery 1/4 inch cut on the bias
1 celery root rough cut for mirepoix
1 large carrot rough cut " "
1 large yellow onion rough cut " "
1 bunch parsley cut fine
long grain
1) Make a chicken stock with the with a mirepoix using the bones from the chicken you deboned. This is enough for two quarts. You'll need 2 more quarts. Place in the fridge till cooled and shim the fat from the top. Discard fat. Place in a 10 quart pot on medium heat.
2) Wash the okra, cut the stems and ends, and cut in 1/2 pieces. Fry in an iron skillet with some olive oil, salt and pepper and put aside.
3) Once the chicken has been deboned cut into 3/4 inch pieces and fry in a skillet till browned on each side with olive oil, s & p, and put aside.
4) Make a small stock with the shells of the shrimp and add to the chicken stock.
5) Cut the andouille sausage and fry in a pan. Let the fat drain and rinse the sausage in hot water to remove the rest of the fat.
6) Make a brown roux with the 6 ounces of non salted butter and 6 ounces of flour.
7) In the gumbo pot add the diced onions, parsley, celery, garlic, onion, green bell pepper, cayenne, file' gumbo, okra, and then add the roux cook until 1/4 of the contents has been reduced. I add the shrimp right at the end. Serve over long grain white rice or brown rice.
8) Rapid cool and refrigerate overnight and re-skim any fat that might rise to the surface from being in the fridge overnight.
Note: This will need constant stirring to keep from sticking and shimming. Fat and smegma will rise to the top, just shim it off and throw it away.
So today I'm doing gumbo, basically the same recipe that myself, Erwin, Hans and Andreas made for the birthday bash. If you make this have a party, invite a bunch of friends, get some Abita beer, or Red Stripe, rice, and corn bread and have a party. Play some Meters and Fat's Domino records, and you can't go wrong.
I love gumbo. You can beat it, but it is a labor intensive dish. Just writing it up was a pain in the ass.
Enjoy.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food Consumption;
Breakfast; small bowl of grape nuts, half banana, almond milk, 1 cup coffee
Lunch; peach
Dinner; 1/2 quesadilla leftover, salad w/lots of good stuff
Exercise; 1 hour biking, 3.5 miles walking
Gumbo Recipe (total cooking time 7 hours)
Ingredients;
12 oz. roux
4 quarts. chicken stock
1 1/2 pints okra
2.5 pounds andouille sausage cut in 1/2 pieces on the bias
1.5 pounds shrimps peeled and devained
1 pint shrimp stock
2 tbs file gumbo
3 tbs cayenne
1 large onion diced 1/8"
3 1/2 chicken breasts deboned cut 1/2 pieces
3 green bell peppers
14 large garlic cloves chopped fine
8 stalks celery 1/4 inch cut on the bias
1 celery root rough cut for mirepoix
1 large carrot rough cut " "
1 large yellow onion rough cut " "
1 bunch parsley cut fine
long grain
1) Make a chicken stock with the with a mirepoix using the bones from the chicken you deboned. This is enough for two quarts. You'll need 2 more quarts. Place in the fridge till cooled and shim the fat from the top. Discard fat. Place in a 10 quart pot on medium heat.
2) Wash the okra, cut the stems and ends, and cut in 1/2 pieces. Fry in an iron skillet with some olive oil, salt and pepper and put aside.
3) Once the chicken has been deboned cut into 3/4 inch pieces and fry in a skillet till browned on each side with olive oil, s & p, and put aside.
4) Make a small stock with the shells of the shrimp and add to the chicken stock.
5) Cut the andouille sausage and fry in a pan. Let the fat drain and rinse the sausage in hot water to remove the rest of the fat.
6) Make a brown roux with the 6 ounces of non salted butter and 6 ounces of flour.
7) In the gumbo pot add the diced onions, parsley, celery, garlic, onion, green bell pepper, cayenne, file' gumbo, okra, and then add the roux cook until 1/4 of the contents has been reduced. I add the shrimp right at the end. Serve over long grain white rice or brown rice.
8) Rapid cool and refrigerate overnight and re-skim any fat that might rise to the surface from being in the fridge overnight.
Note: This will need constant stirring to keep from sticking and shimming. Fat and smegma will rise to the top, just shim it off and throw it away.
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Bumper Sticker + Antibiotics +
I saw a great bumper sticker by some libertarian this weekend up in Lake Tahoe. It said, "You pray, we'll think."
There was a story on the nightly news last evening that said people are taking too many antibiotics and are dying because they can't ward off infections, and it's killing people. Antibiotics are in our foods in America, especially red me. Why is no one talking about this issue? Why is there no legislation to rid us of bad food?
The western span of the Bay Bridge named after slick WIllie Brown? Bend the rules once again for another idiot politician. You can have him San Francisco. Leave him out of the east side.
Gumbo tomorrow.
That's all I got today.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 egg sandwich on 9 grain bread
Lunch; handful of nuts
Dinner; chicken quesadilla, beans/rice
Exercise; 6.5 miles walking
There was a story on the nightly news last evening that said people are taking too many antibiotics and are dying because they can't ward off infections, and it's killing people. Antibiotics are in our foods in America, especially red me. Why is no one talking about this issue? Why is there no legislation to rid us of bad food?
The western span of the Bay Bridge named after slick WIllie Brown? Bend the rules once again for another idiot politician. You can have him San Francisco. Leave him out of the east side.
Gumbo tomorrow.
That's all I got today.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 egg sandwich on 9 grain bread
Lunch; handful of nuts
Dinner; chicken quesadilla, beans/rice
Exercise; 6.5 miles walking
Monday, September 16, 2013
Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is beautiful. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know right. What I hate about Tahoe is basically two things, the casinos and the food.
Let's start with the casinos. I wouldn't mind the casinos if there was no smoking in the them. It's unhealthy and just down right disgusting. Why the people who work in there haven't brought a class action suit against the casinos is beyond me. I can't imagine having to work in that environment every day for 8 hours. The toll that would take on your health isn't worth whatever you're making in wages. I quit playing music in bars back in the late 80 because of this very same reason. I would come home at 3:00 AM and my clothes would stink of cigarette smoke. If people want to smoke let then go outside or provide a room for them like they do at airports. Why are the rest of us subjected to this bullshit? Only in Nevada.
The other problem I have with Tahoe is the lack of fancy food. One good restaurant we have found over the 26 years of our group going up is the dining room at the Edgewood Country Club. Saturday night is our big night out. The food at the Edgewood is inventive, and well presented. It's the one place in Tahoe I'll eat fish. The service is beyond reproach. Do not eat in the casinos, do not. That's not what the casinos do. They do gambling, food is just an afterthought. The same can generally be said for the hotels as well.
It's always great to see my old friends. None of us had any luck at the tables this year. I dropped about $200.00 and that's about my limit.
The weather last weekend was great. There is so much outdoor activities to do in Lake Tahoe, hiking biking, rock climbing, water sports, horseback riding, and skiing just to name a few. It's an outdoor lovers paradise. I saw a coyote at the Edgewood.
Gambling, whoring, drunkenness, doesn't bother me. I haven't got any moral position on that crap. It's human nature to be stupid, and lord knows I've done my share of stupid shit. You can't stop these young people from having what they consider to be fun, but please stay away from the cigarettes and the bad food.
No photos this weekend. These trips exhaust me.
I'm going to do a gumbo recipe this week. You won't be disappointed.
It's crunch time. I got 3 and a half months to get this lard off and I start today.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food Consumption;
Breakfast; nothing
Lunch; potato pancake and 2 eggs over easy
Dinner; Ravioli w/olive oil, Romano cheese, fresh basil
Exercise; 2 miles walking (wipe out)
Let's start with the casinos. I wouldn't mind the casinos if there was no smoking in the them. It's unhealthy and just down right disgusting. Why the people who work in there haven't brought a class action suit against the casinos is beyond me. I can't imagine having to work in that environment every day for 8 hours. The toll that would take on your health isn't worth whatever you're making in wages. I quit playing music in bars back in the late 80 because of this very same reason. I would come home at 3:00 AM and my clothes would stink of cigarette smoke. If people want to smoke let then go outside or provide a room for them like they do at airports. Why are the rest of us subjected to this bullshit? Only in Nevada.
The other problem I have with Tahoe is the lack of fancy food. One good restaurant we have found over the 26 years of our group going up is the dining room at the Edgewood Country Club. Saturday night is our big night out. The food at the Edgewood is inventive, and well presented. It's the one place in Tahoe I'll eat fish. The service is beyond reproach. Do not eat in the casinos, do not. That's not what the casinos do. They do gambling, food is just an afterthought. The same can generally be said for the hotels as well.
It's always great to see my old friends. None of us had any luck at the tables this year. I dropped about $200.00 and that's about my limit.
The weather last weekend was great. There is so much outdoor activities to do in Lake Tahoe, hiking biking, rock climbing, water sports, horseback riding, and skiing just to name a few. It's an outdoor lovers paradise. I saw a coyote at the Edgewood.
Gambling, whoring, drunkenness, doesn't bother me. I haven't got any moral position on that crap. It's human nature to be stupid, and lord knows I've done my share of stupid shit. You can't stop these young people from having what they consider to be fun, but please stay away from the cigarettes and the bad food.
No photos this weekend. These trips exhaust me.
I'm going to do a gumbo recipe this week. You won't be disappointed.
It's crunch time. I got 3 and a half months to get this lard off and I start today.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food Consumption;
Breakfast; nothing
Lunch; potato pancake and 2 eggs over easy
Dinner; Ravioli w/olive oil, Romano cheese, fresh basil
Exercise; 2 miles walking (wipe out)
Friday, September 13, 2013
Off To Tahoe
I'm off to the land of the deep blue water. Have a wonderful weekend.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Imperialism + Mom's Birthday
Yesterday was 911 and I didn't acknowledge it on purpose. I know this is going to sound terribly unpatriotic, but the US has been playing dirty little games in the Mid-East for over a century now, and 911 is a direct reaction to OUR actions. I feel sorry for the innocent people who lost their lives, and their loved ones who will never be the same because of the terrorist attack on the twin towers. But, if we're looking to blame someone we should look internally at our politicians who have led us down the path of imperialism and continue to pursue a strategy of nation building.
Today is my mother Mary's birthday. This is always a sad day for me, but a happy day to remember what it is to have someone who loves you unconditionally. Her devotion and wisdom still inspire me to this day.
I have a great picture of her from dated 1939 on the shelf over the computer in her waitress uniform with one of her best friends, Dottie Padilka's arm around her shoulder.They looked liek they were having fun. Dot and Mary worked at the Hotel Green in Danbury, CT. She went to work there when she was 16. Mom was a high school drop out like me. She wanted to be a concert pianist, but her stern Polish parents were afraid that the depression wolf would return. "Go to work, make money, fuck dreams", they said. My grandparents owned a bar in the Polish district of town, one street. I have photos of Mary all over the house.
She is the one who taught me how to cook among other things. She loved food so much, and she loved to cook and eat her own food more than anyone else's cuisine. She did it all when it came to the restaurant. When my old lady was on duty you didn't have to worry if things were going to run smoothly.
If I didn't dally after my studies at St. Greg's I could catch her before she went to work. Many times she would make me polish her white waitress shoes, and I'd smell the polish to cop a little buzz. Man, the things you think about. Love you Ma.
I need to get in some good exercise today because I'll be in a car driving all day tomorrow, same Sunday. Next week is no bullshit, serious exercise, and serious considerations when it comes to food intake. I'm getting this fucking extra 30 pounds of lard off my ass, or I'll be a hell of a lot closer to 180 than I am now by Jan. 1st.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 poached eggs, potato pancake w/gouda cheese, 1 piece of wheat toast, coffee, soy and 1 sugar
Lunch; nothing
Dinner; 1/2 pizza w/anchovies, 3 pickles, and a turkey sandwich
Exercise; 6.5 miles walking
Today is my mother Mary's birthday. This is always a sad day for me, but a happy day to remember what it is to have someone who loves you unconditionally. Her devotion and wisdom still inspire me to this day.
I have a great picture of her from dated 1939 on the shelf over the computer in her waitress uniform with one of her best friends, Dottie Padilka's arm around her shoulder.They looked liek they were having fun. Dot and Mary worked at the Hotel Green in Danbury, CT. She went to work there when she was 16. Mom was a high school drop out like me. She wanted to be a concert pianist, but her stern Polish parents were afraid that the depression wolf would return. "Go to work, make money, fuck dreams", they said. My grandparents owned a bar in the Polish district of town, one street. I have photos of Mary all over the house.
She is the one who taught me how to cook among other things. She loved food so much, and she loved to cook and eat her own food more than anyone else's cuisine. She did it all when it came to the restaurant. When my old lady was on duty you didn't have to worry if things were going to run smoothly.
If I didn't dally after my studies at St. Greg's I could catch her before she went to work. Many times she would make me polish her white waitress shoes, and I'd smell the polish to cop a little buzz. Man, the things you think about. Love you Ma.
I need to get in some good exercise today because I'll be in a car driving all day tomorrow, same Sunday. Next week is no bullshit, serious exercise, and serious considerations when it comes to food intake. I'm getting this fucking extra 30 pounds of lard off my ass, or I'll be a hell of a lot closer to 180 than I am now by Jan. 1st.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 poached eggs, potato pancake w/gouda cheese, 1 piece of wheat toast, coffee, soy and 1 sugar
Lunch; nothing
Dinner; 1/2 pizza w/anchovies, 3 pickles, and a turkey sandwich
Exercise; 6.5 miles walking
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Wednesday 9-11-13
As I mentioned in my blog yesterday I have serious doubts that I can accomplish my weight loss goals by the end of the year, but I'm going to give it the good old high school drop out try.
I have to get through this weekend of debauchery w/my friends on our yearly gambling junket to S. Shore Lake Tahoe. Once that's been accomplished then I need to figure out how I can do it or at least come close.
I know the answer of course, work harder, eat less. A part of my strategy is to not drink alcohol till the first of the year. I have that great bottle of champagne that my buddy Jack McDurmit gave me and that is gong to be my reward, my carrot on a stick, my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Tonight was the perfect night to test my resolve, and I made it through the night without any drinks.
I don't need booze. I always have Alice.
We had the Germans over for pizza tonight, which means the house got clean. Victoria and Geri were running around saying, "The Germans are coming, clear the bathroom, clean the stove, the German's are coming." Poor Erwin was just wiped out from all the work he did for our birthday bash.
Shout out to my old friend Dave from St. Greg's/ James Street. Great to reconnect with you Dave. Thanks for getting in touch with me.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Breakfast; coffee, sugar, cream, 2 poached eggs, wheat toast w/butter, 1 small potato pancake
Lunch; nothing
Dinner; pizza, salad, water
Exercise; 3.5 miles walking
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Breaking Rules + Mt. Diablo, Tahoe, Trailers and More, Obama v.s.
I'm breaking all my rules, sugar, fat, salt, no fasting. It's just what it is right now. Tomorrow Erwin and his family from Switzerland are coming over for pizza, so it looks like the party isn't stopping till at least next Monday and Lord knows how much damage will be done by then. It can't be helped, and I'll have to work harder than ever to fight the bulge. I have serious doubts about loosing 30 pounds in less than 4 months. I haven't done anything like that yet, even when the pounds were falling off.
The heat wave continues as Mt. Diablo burns. It was 80 degrees in Oakland yesterday, and I don't do well in the this climate. In fact I become physically disabled, and when that happens little to nothing gets done. That's the way it was Monday.
Last night the fog rolled into Oakland. We went up to into the hills this morning to try and see Mt. Diablo but it was shrouded in a thick marine layer. As I was coming back down to our neck of the woods I could see the fog burning off on the other side of the Bay already. Today will be another hot one.
I am going to do a gumbo recipe based on my experience with the Swiss/Austrian chefs, Hans, Andres, and Erwin, but it won't be this week. It in my head.
Speaking of heads, I'm headed off to Tahoe for my yearly gambling junket with my friends. We do this every year. People are coming from NY and LA, so it' a big deal. It's the one time of year that I gamble. I pray to my father Rocco to bring me luck and sometimes it actually works. Win or loose it's always a good time. I think I'm going to take Frida this year, so it will be better than ever.
I'll be going over to my brother-in-law Brian's In Carson City, Nevada this Saturday and talking to him about putting in a solar unit for our Airstream trailer. Then I'm going to haul it back up to the desert, and I'll be spending more time there, starting next year, if not sooner. Just me, Frida, food supplies, and as little technology as possible. Leave me alone, no trespassing, keep the fuck out.
Of course, we're never alone. You think hey, I'm a thousand miles from nowhere, like a Dwight Yoakam song, then you wake up in the middle of the night and five Blackhawk helicopters
fly 200 feet right over your cabin with lights blazing on a full moon going about 75 miles an hour. They can see the color of your boots. Now mind you, we're in the middle of nowhere, or are we?
On the way back Sunday I'm stopping at my friend Joey and Shelly's house outside of Sacramento. Dinner, football, and catching up are on the agenda. This is one those items on my things to do list for 2013.
Putin 1/Obama 0. Looks like our boy got out of this one for now with the help of Vladimir. Is this an alliance? Obama has more support from the Russians than he does from his own party. Who use the nerve gas on those poor people?
I must leave, my head is full.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; cereal w/almond milk, strawberries, peach fruit...1 Italian sausage
Lunch; 2 shortbread cookies, chocolate cake, handful of cashews
Dinner; pasta, Brussels sprouts, red beats, butter, Romano cheese
Walking; 3.5 miles walking...tomorrow I bike.
The heat wave continues as Mt. Diablo burns. It was 80 degrees in Oakland yesterday, and I don't do well in the this climate. In fact I become physically disabled, and when that happens little to nothing gets done. That's the way it was Monday.
Last night the fog rolled into Oakland. We went up to into the hills this morning to try and see Mt. Diablo but it was shrouded in a thick marine layer. As I was coming back down to our neck of the woods I could see the fog burning off on the other side of the Bay already. Today will be another hot one.
I am going to do a gumbo recipe based on my experience with the Swiss/Austrian chefs, Hans, Andres, and Erwin, but it won't be this week. It in my head.
Speaking of heads, I'm headed off to Tahoe for my yearly gambling junket with my friends. We do this every year. People are coming from NY and LA, so it' a big deal. It's the one time of year that I gamble. I pray to my father Rocco to bring me luck and sometimes it actually works. Win or loose it's always a good time. I think I'm going to take Frida this year, so it will be better than ever.
I'll be going over to my brother-in-law Brian's In Carson City, Nevada this Saturday and talking to him about putting in a solar unit for our Airstream trailer. Then I'm going to haul it back up to the desert, and I'll be spending more time there, starting next year, if not sooner. Just me, Frida, food supplies, and as little technology as possible. Leave me alone, no trespassing, keep the fuck out.
Of course, we're never alone. You think hey, I'm a thousand miles from nowhere, like a Dwight Yoakam song, then you wake up in the middle of the night and five Blackhawk helicopters
fly 200 feet right over your cabin with lights blazing on a full moon going about 75 miles an hour. They can see the color of your boots. Now mind you, we're in the middle of nowhere, or are we?
On the way back Sunday I'm stopping at my friend Joey and Shelly's house outside of Sacramento. Dinner, football, and catching up are on the agenda. This is one those items on my things to do list for 2013.
Putin 1/Obama 0. Looks like our boy got out of this one for now with the help of Vladimir. Is this an alliance? Obama has more support from the Russians than he does from his own party. Who use the nerve gas on those poor people?
I must leave, my head is full.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; cereal w/almond milk, strawberries, peach fruit...1 Italian sausage
Lunch; 2 shortbread cookies, chocolate cake, handful of cashews
Dinner; pasta, Brussels sprouts, red beats, butter, Romano cheese
Walking; 3.5 miles walking...tomorrow I bike.
Monday, September 9, 2013
60/70, Party
I have to say it was one hell of a party. I actually don't like being the center of attention, and I hung out most of the day with Hans and Andres. They all had a restaurant together in New Hampshire 45 years ago. For chef Hans go to; www.chefhansgourmetfoods.com for more info on him.
Chef Hanns finished off the gumbo, all 12 gallons of it. Andres cooked the sausages, and I grilled the chicken I marinated in lemon, garlic and herbs. When I wasn't grilling I was taking orders from Erwin, do this, do that, sous chef stuff. The gumbo was electric. Chef Hans knocked it out of the park.
As is usual at parties that one throws for themselves you don't get much chance to mingle because you're so busy working, and that was the case Saturday. I tried to do some video work, and I had an idea for interviewing people, but you can only wear so many hats at one time.
There was no cutting the cake or birthday songs and that was just fine with me. People came, we fed them. Our friend Julio Reyes, julioreyesguitarist.com, did two set of classical guitar. I actually got to sit and listen to him. I could hear him while I was grilling outside also, and I was thinking to myself, my god I'm listening to one of the worlds best classic guitar players here, playing for me and my friends. My friend Mike Shaffer and I got to do a set later in the evening ourselves.
I had my family and friends around me all day and I was blessed beyond belief. My dear friend Jack sent me a bottle of champagne from NY, and I'm going to save it till I see him again. My friend Buzz gave me a beautiful pair of boots.
To top it all off the weather was phenomenal, 80 degrees in Bodega Bay. All the people from Europe kept saying that every time they come to Bodega Bay they freeze their asses off. I had a pretty good buzz on and I smoked a couple of cigarettes. I hardly ate anything at the party. I drank all my calories.
Sunday Geri and I went back to Bodega Bay helped clean up, and we all had mimosas and leftovers. Then we sang happy birthday to ourselves, just the 7 of us. We split up the food and made it home, exhausted. I also brought home a nice little sunburn on my back.
Now the hard work begins. I got 30 pounds to get off my ass before the 1st of January, and it's not going to be easy. I'm stuck at that 210 pound mark and I have to figure out "how to break on through to the other side" to quote Jim Morrison. So, to my 6 faithful readers, some who were at the party Saturday, thanks again for turning on and please stay tuned in.
Diane and Ron thanks for honey. I had some this morning, magical Marin bees.
Also, shout out to Diane and Arthur. Thanks so much for reading.
Thanks to Guy, my old friend from high school. When we got home Sunday we had a beautiful chocolate cake, an Iris Dement cd, and some edibles waiting for us.
Alice was at the party also and she made several people very happy.
No stats today, I'm still in recovery mode.
Now the hard work begins. I got 30 pounds to get off my ass before the 1st of January, and it's not going to be easy. I'm stuck at that 210 pound mark and I have to figure out "how to break on through to the other side" to quote Jim Morrison. So, to my 6 faithful readers, some who were at the party Saturday, thanks again for turning on and please stay tuned in.
Diane and Ron thanks for honey. I had some this morning, magical Marin bees.
Also, shout out to Diane and Arthur. Thanks so much for reading.
Thanks to Guy, my old friend from high school. When we got home Sunday we had a beautiful chocolate cake, an Iris Dement cd, and some edibles waiting for us.
Alice was at the party also and she made several people very happy.
No stats today, I'm still in recovery mode.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
 |
| The Chefs |
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| Hans, Marcel, Adres, Erwin, Franz, Margret |
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| Geraldine |
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Didn't Reach Goal (Oh Well) + Work or Blog
First of all I didn't reach my goal of 200 pounds for my 60th. I knocked off 46 pounds in 9 months. Not the biggest loser, but I've always been ok with second place. It's right next to first. It's either to the right or the lest depending on weather you're looking at from the insides looking out or the outside looking in. Either way you're in good company. Right in the middle. You're also not far right or far left. Wouldn't you rather have silver than bronze?
I'll make it up those 10 pounds in the next four months. You have to move on. It's been an amazing journey, and I'm learning more about myself and the world around me all the time. How can you go wrong I ask you?
This is why I don't like to throw big parties for myself, it's too much work. So, no blog today, tomorrow is most likely out, as well is the rest of the week. This is my vacation from my blog. Now I focus on being a good host to my and Erwin's guests. To bring people together to break bread and give thanks for a good life.
Today was all about food, procurement and preparation. I will return next Monday, a year and a day older, but no wiser I'm sure. If anything my brain will be further water logged than it is already. I am not going to log miles walked, cycling, recipes, hikes to the beach, food consumption etc. Nothing, nada, zip. Please return again. Hopefully there will be photos next week.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;;
Breakfast; 2 fried egg sandwich, s & p, olive oil, toasted whole wheat
Lunch; $1.59 hot dog at Costco w/relish/mustard (not bad actually)
Dinner; turkey sandwich w/tomato, lettuce, mustard, 3 chocolate truffles, 1 beer IPA, Alice will be at the party
I'll make it up those 10 pounds in the next four months. You have to move on. It's been an amazing journey, and I'm learning more about myself and the world around me all the time. How can you go wrong I ask you?
This is why I don't like to throw big parties for myself, it's too much work. So, no blog today, tomorrow is most likely out, as well is the rest of the week. This is my vacation from my blog. Now I focus on being a good host to my and Erwin's guests. To bring people together to break bread and give thanks for a good life.
Today was all about food, procurement and preparation. I will return next Monday, a year and a day older, but no wiser I'm sure. If anything my brain will be further water logged than it is already. I am not going to log miles walked, cycling, recipes, hikes to the beach, food consumption etc. Nothing, nada, zip. Please return again. Hopefully there will be photos next week.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;;
Breakfast; 2 fried egg sandwich, s & p, olive oil, toasted whole wheat
Lunch; $1.59 hot dog at Costco w/relish/mustard (not bad actually)
Dinner; turkey sandwich w/tomato, lettuce, mustard, 3 chocolate truffles, 1 beer IPA, Alice will be at the party
Monday, September 2, 2013
Blood + Sweat and Labor + Cameras + Flat Tire + Broken Dish Washer
Today, this holiday is brought to you by LABOR. Everything the "middle class" has today is because millions of people before us fought for it. Capital never gave labor anything. Labor won it through battle.
Today there is a movement to organize fast food workers for a decent wage. I urge people to not eat at fast food restaurants, the fallen arches, burger queens, taco hell, etc. that are on strike. There's plenty of places to eat. Support these workers in their fight to attain a better life for themselves and their families. Feeding people is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, and it's also one of the most physically demanding.
This would include supporting the BART workers, and all working peoples here at home and around the globe, people fighting for a living wage. There are millions of people still living in servitude.
We're all doomed, but at least we can go down with a fight, and support the people who are fighting.
I'm not going to go into a long Marxist diatribe today because those of you who read this blog know I'm philosophically apposed to the current ruling elite. There is a growing gap in this world, and in this country, between the rich and the poor. If you don't think it can't happen here, you should consider it again. The chasm is deep and wide. As our power worldwide diminishes capital will come home to roost. Capital constantly needs new markets, it needs to feed, and when it don't eat it gets mean. This is the food part of the blog, short, but sweet.
Think of it like this. We are living in a country which is in a state of moribund capitalism, and what it will evolve or devolve into is any one's guess. We may still have some good or great years ahead of us, so party on. I've said this before and I mean it, "Someone tell me a solution that makes fucking sense." Lord knows I ain't got anything.
Till then please support your sons and daughter, brothers, and sisters in their fight for economic justice. Don't eat where people are striking. It's that simple. Go on to the next joint. And when that one's on strike go back to the won their strike because no one would cross it. Crossing a picket line is called scabbing, and that's just what it is. I always thought it should have been called stabbing, because that's what you're doing to your brothers and sisters, stabbing them in the back.
Check out the story in the East Bay Express 8-28/9-3 edition by; Darwin BondGraham and Ali Winston titled; Oakland's Surveillance Contractor Has A History Of Fraud. That's where our money's going babies. Someone to watch over us.
Today is a fast day, but it didn't take. I hit the pre-birthday binge, as I'll call it, right after the flat rear tire of my new bike blew out about a 1/2 mile south of old Jack London Square. Our friend Janet and myself huffed it to this bar right at the main entrance. The pizza was very good, service attentive, outdoor roomy scene, good tap beer, while Geri peddled her skinny ass back to the house, got the Subaru, came back downtown. We got the bikes and Janet back home beat up and worn out, and here I am now, not really.
The day started when Geri, at 5:15 am, decided to be super productive and crank up the dish washer, and do a load when it starting overflowing on the kitchen tile. Woke up, got the water off, we saved the ship from flooding, and it was all magic, all of it. The flood, the flat, livin' and lovin'.
Speaking of living. Long live the working class.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food Consumption;
Breakfast; black coffee w/sugar
Lunch; Turkey/cheese paninni sandwich, single cappuccino cream, sugar, chocolate, cinnamon
Dinner; 1 Bloody Mary, 3 beers, Alice, 1/2 pizza, peanuts, lots of water
Exercise; 1mile walking, 3.5 hrs cycling something like 25 miles
I feel like I worked off that Puerto Rican meal the other night, the bloody Mary, and the beers I had today, but I'm still back at square one, aka 210, the calories just might discount the workout. You gotta laugh, and you gotta have fun. I'm living in the Mediterranean of the West. Tomorrow I walk the line.
Today there is a movement to organize fast food workers for a decent wage. I urge people to not eat at fast food restaurants, the fallen arches, burger queens, taco hell, etc. that are on strike. There's plenty of places to eat. Support these workers in their fight to attain a better life for themselves and their families. Feeding people is one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, and it's also one of the most physically demanding.
This would include supporting the BART workers, and all working peoples here at home and around the globe, people fighting for a living wage. There are millions of people still living in servitude.
We're all doomed, but at least we can go down with a fight, and support the people who are fighting.
I'm not going to go into a long Marxist diatribe today because those of you who read this blog know I'm philosophically apposed to the current ruling elite. There is a growing gap in this world, and in this country, between the rich and the poor. If you don't think it can't happen here, you should consider it again. The chasm is deep and wide. As our power worldwide diminishes capital will come home to roost. Capital constantly needs new markets, it needs to feed, and when it don't eat it gets mean. This is the food part of the blog, short, but sweet.
Think of it like this. We are living in a country which is in a state of moribund capitalism, and what it will evolve or devolve into is any one's guess. We may still have some good or great years ahead of us, so party on. I've said this before and I mean it, "Someone tell me a solution that makes fucking sense." Lord knows I ain't got anything.
Till then please support your sons and daughter, brothers, and sisters in their fight for economic justice. Don't eat where people are striking. It's that simple. Go on to the next joint. And when that one's on strike go back to the won their strike because no one would cross it. Crossing a picket line is called scabbing, and that's just what it is. I always thought it should have been called stabbing, because that's what you're doing to your brothers and sisters, stabbing them in the back.
Check out the story in the East Bay Express 8-28/9-3 edition by; Darwin BondGraham and Ali Winston titled; Oakland's Surveillance Contractor Has A History Of Fraud. That's where our money's going babies. Someone to watch over us.
Today is a fast day, but it didn't take. I hit the pre-birthday binge, as I'll call it, right after the flat rear tire of my new bike blew out about a 1/2 mile south of old Jack London Square. Our friend Janet and myself huffed it to this bar right at the main entrance. The pizza was very good, service attentive, outdoor roomy scene, good tap beer, while Geri peddled her skinny ass back to the house, got the Subaru, came back downtown. We got the bikes and Janet back home beat up and worn out, and here I am now, not really.
The day started when Geri, at 5:15 am, decided to be super productive and crank up the dish washer, and do a load when it starting overflowing on the kitchen tile. Woke up, got the water off, we saved the ship from flooding, and it was all magic, all of it. The flood, the flat, livin' and lovin'.
Speaking of living. Long live the working class.
That's it.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food Consumption;
Breakfast; black coffee w/sugar
Lunch; Turkey/cheese paninni sandwich, single cappuccino cream, sugar, chocolate, cinnamon
Dinner; 1 Bloody Mary, 3 beers, Alice, 1/2 pizza, peanuts, lots of water
Exercise; 1mile walking, 3.5 hrs cycling something like 25 miles
I feel like I worked off that Puerto Rican meal the other night, the bloody Mary, and the beers I had today, but I'm still back at square one, aka 210, the calories just might discount the workout. You gotta laugh, and you gotta have fun. I'm living in the Mediterranean of the West. Tomorrow I walk the line.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Puerto Rico USA, Coffee
Well, our friends Brendan and Mabel are getting married in Puerto Rico next year, so that will be out big trip for 2014. I have always wanted to go there, and now we've got the perfect excuse. Last night we got the big wedding news, and Geri is already looking at accommodations in PR.
I'll have coffee on the weekend, but during the week I don't usually drink anything in the morning now. After dinner last evening, which was fantastic, Mabel made PR coffee. PR coffee is roasted beans ground, and then they are strained with boiling water in a bag that look like a sock or a condom for a big fat penis that has a little handle on it. You just pour the water in the bag with the ground coffee beans and the suspend the bag over the coffee cup. Add a little leche and asugar, milk and sugar, and you got it. Delicious.
Mabel is one of my 6 readers, so thank you from us for a fabulous meal of PR lasagna w/masa and plantains. Geri and I were eating it in the car on the way home. Brendan's desert, upside/down peach cake, bravo my brother. Great night.
Puerto Ricans can do things with pig that no other culture can, not even the Asians, and I can't wait to go there.
That's it. Sorry, no photos.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 pieces of whole wheat raisin toast w/butter, coffee, sugar, milk
Lunch; Indian samosa and lamb wrap
Dinner; big salad lemon/evoo, pasta w/chicken apple sausage, basil, dried herbs, cherry tomatoes, salt, Romano cheese
Exercise; 4 miles walking
I'll have coffee on the weekend, but during the week I don't usually drink anything in the morning now. After dinner last evening, which was fantastic, Mabel made PR coffee. PR coffee is roasted beans ground, and then they are strained with boiling water in a bag that look like a sock or a condom for a big fat penis that has a little handle on it. You just pour the water in the bag with the ground coffee beans and the suspend the bag over the coffee cup. Add a little leche and asugar, milk and sugar, and you got it. Delicious.
Mabel is one of my 6 readers, so thank you from us for a fabulous meal of PR lasagna w/masa and plantains. Geri and I were eating it in the car on the way home. Brendan's desert, upside/down peach cake, bravo my brother. Great night.
Puerto Ricans can do things with pig that no other culture can, not even the Asians, and I can't wait to go there.
That's it. Sorry, no photos.
Peace,
Make Food/Not War
Food consumption;
Breakfast; 2 pieces of whole wheat raisin toast w/butter, coffee, sugar, milk
Lunch; Indian samosa and lamb wrap
Dinner; big salad lemon/evoo, pasta w/chicken apple sausage, basil, dried herbs, cherry tomatoes, salt, Romano cheese
Exercise; 4 miles walking
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