Upcountry + Art + Wine + Beef + Photos

We rented bikes again and drove in a traffic jam, road work, to the upcountry and rode on the Kula Highway,  from Rice Park in Makawao, to the winery near Ulupalakua.

The interaction here with other drivers weather it be in a car or on a bike is much more courteous  than in the 48 states. We stopped at a famous local place called, Grandma's Coffee Shop in Kula. We had a coffee cake that must have been 6,000 calories, and sucked down more calories with some fruit juice. All the locals go to Grandma's. 

We stopped at the Keokea art studio owned by a wonderful man named Sheldon and his dog who's Hawaiian name I can't pronounce. The dog looked like quite a bit like Che. That was the hook. Shelodn's art is wonderful and free. Coincidentally he just happened to grow up in Connecticut like your's truly.  Another hook.  

Geri and I both zoned in on one painting in particular. We have very similar tastes in art. We know what we like, what we don't like, and we both like the same thing. I spent a goodly amount of my time with the dog. We left to finish the first leg our of leisurely cycle ride for the day down to the winery.

The weather was sunny with pillow case clouds shrouding the top of the Mt. Haleakala.  The same mountain we cycled down yesterday. The view on the  north-west side ride was breath taking.  At the  Ulupalakua Winery, and ranch we tasted their white wines, one sweeter, one dryer and one sparkling. I liked all three. A nice crisp fruity wine on a sunny day can't be beat. But, can't drive and drink. There is no shoulder to speak of on this road. One slip of the wrist and you're road toast.

The Ulupalakua Winery has a 5000 head of beef cattle ranch further upcountry than where the winery is located. They sell the beef exclusively on the Island of Maui. They refer to it as, Maui's winery and Maui's beef. 

Their Jersey cows are raised on local grasses, no chemicals, no drugs. I was going to buy some jerky, but it was ten dollars for 3 ounces. They sell their very own BBQ beef burgers there. Locals were eating there. There's a couple of pictures of the neighborhood boys down below.

The humidity was high today, close to 75 degrees with a east-west wind. It cushioned us on our way down so I didn't have to use my breaks to often. Well, what goes down must go back up. That's always the fun part of the cycling.  We were also upcountry, 3,000 feet above sea level, and I was feeling it.  The hills weren't steep, they just never stopped. But, we did have the wind at out back.

By the time we got back up to Grandma's we were beat. Geri had said to herself all the way back, "If I make it back up there I'm buying that picture."  I was thinking the same thing.

We made a deal with Sheldon, and the deal was done. Our Hawaiian original will replace my ugly nude above the headboard of our bed, and I think we burnt off that coffee cake from Grandma's cycling back up the .

Leftover pasta for dinner tonight, and if the weather holds I'm going for another ride in the morning before I have to turn the bike back in. Tomorrow is our last full day in Maui. Dining out. 

If I was going to live in Maui I'd live up country.

That's it.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

  

  

Photos from Maui

Food is an aside on vacation. We were driven up here on this mountain and then we biked down. Maybe we peddled about 15 minutes. Tomorrow we rent  bikes a really ride. 

Peace….

Crater the size of the city of San Francisco

Rain + Cycling + Cafe Cafe + Photo's By Geri

Well, it's early and we are going up a 10,000 foot mountain, and it's raining. The worst that could happen is I could get wet, freeze, catch pneumonia, and die. The cycle touring company has rain gear for people. I wonder if it's snowing up there? That would put the kibosh on our  grand excursion for sure. I'll let the world know later. Cancelled…too rough up on the mountain…rescheduled for Thursday, which could rain.

If you are in Lahaina and you crave your European acquired taste for coffee i.e., espresso, cappuccino etc. Cafe Cafe on Lahainaluna street, right Front Street is the place for you. Run by a former resident of the former Czech Republic the food and hot drink can't be beat. He also rents Vespas by the day or the week. We walk down there everyday and it's a nice round trip hike about 3 miles and back from our little apartment. Heather makes a great ham and steamed egg, yes, my favorite method for scrambled eggs,  on a fresh croissant. The breakfast bagel dishes are great also as you can see by the photo.

We try to stay off Front Street as much as we can, but if you live in Lahaina it's almost impossible.
There are some wonderful surprises, but you have to search them out.

Photos of the scenery are by Geraldine.

That's it.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Lahaina Bay

1/2 bagel sandwich at Cafe Cafe

Vespas under wraps

Great Pizza In Maui

One place to get great pizza in Maui is find out where Outrigger Pizza Company is setting up their mobile pizza unit that day. And I did find out by calling their toll free number: 808 870-7133.

They are set up in a parking lot at the Azeka shopping center in Kihei, Maui, which was quite a drive from where we are staying.  The traffic on Maui moves slow, very slow. Learn to live Aloha. Outrigger sets up there each Tue. and Friday from noon to 8:00 PM. I must stress that it was well worth the drive. I'd do it again.

The guy working the pizza oven today was Shawn. It just so happens he worked for people I know in San Francisco. I ordered two pizzas. The one I ate there was a plain NY 3 cheese pie, and the other pie was  a pesto, garlic, cherry tomato pizza. I was going to save the pesto pie for tomorrow, but I have to admit that I ate it when we got back to the apartment, after we had some gelato. It was my dessert, after dessert. Thank you Shawn, great job. This pizza company gets 3 fat joints rating from the Old Hippie Chef. That's as good as it gets. I love to write in the 3rd person.

Another fellow Italian east coaster I met from Buffalo told me about another place to get good NY pie only 3 blocks from out apartment, so maybe I can get over there and do a review about it.

Tomorrow we get driven 10,000 feet of a mountain, look into a crater,  and then get to coast all the way downhill like real tourists on bicycles. It's not quite like being on a cruise line, but sort of moving in that direction. Someone shoot me if that happens, or I'll just do it myself.

That's it for today. I rained all day, in memory of Pete.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Outrigger Pizza Co. Maui, Hawaii

Chef Shawn…the dough man

The Sky Is Crying (Pete Seeger) Nudity In Lahaina

Pete Seeger is gone from this earth, and today, here in Maui the earth is showing it's respect by raining.

This is the man who stood up to the US government and the House on Un-American Activities. The man who was banned from television for 17 years because he was branded a communist.  The man who cleaned up the Hudson River. The man who taught our children how to sing, and a whole generation how to believe in hope. Pete was the man.

He was a force of nature, and a spirit that comes along not often in one's lifetime. Ride on Pete.

Nudity is outlawed in Hawaii yet Geri caught these somber figures in a shop window in Lahaina flaunting the conventions of society and the state statutes. How dare they? A young boy went right up, and defiled these poor mannequins. What is happening to the youth of today I ask you?

That's it.

Life is what happens in between meals

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Trade Winds and Barbara (Not Phyllis Diller)

The trade winds in Maui blow east to west and north. The locals say that it is particularly rare for these winds to blow in the opposite direction. The storm they had last week blew west to east. If you look at the palm trees in the reproduction below you can see they are bowed in the line headed due west.

They also say it stirred up a load of crap at the bottom of the ocean, and there is now staph on the beaches. That didn't stop us from sitting on the beach today for a couple of lazy hours reading, actually reading a book, not a magazine. I finished a book yesterday, and I started another small one today. I also had the binoculars on today and I saw a ton of whales breaching out in the harbor. It was quite a matting show.

No, that's not Phyllis Diller in the photograph down under. On our way home last night from our evening stroll I said to Geri, "Get a shot of the bay." Just as she was taking the photo the woman shown here stepped into the frame.  Geri got a great shot of Barbara,  now a resident of Maui, formally of Australia.

In the words of Phyllis Diller, "My photographs don't do me justice, they look like me." I know how you feel honey.

That's it.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Maui...Cycling + Meals + Jimmy and Dustin + Ma'La

We are settled into our little apartment here in Maui. It takes a while to get use to the constant sound of ocean at your door. The humidity in Hawaii reminds me of growing up back east, and I miss it. I love to sweat. Even living close to the ocean in Oakland the air is dry. California is mostly a dessert.

A storm blew in yesterday afternoon, and as of 9:00 am this morning it's still raining. If we came all this way for the rain it was worth it because it's been about 10 months since we've seen any amount of rain in the Bay Area.

We had our first home cooked meal last night of pasta with tomatoes, roasted garlic, broccoli,  olive oil, Italian chicken sausage, and Romano cheese.

Geri and I rented hybrid cycles yesterday then rode up the coast to this small private beach we went to last year. It's a 35 miles trip up and back. These bikes have 27 gears which makes it a lot easier than my single sprocket steel 10 speed.We picked up a head wind coming home, but it was manageable. The words Hawaii and wind are synonymous with one another..

We've seen whale breaching,  toucans toucing, and tons of turtles humping each other. The photo below is of Dustin and his dad Jimmy, the owners of the beach we go to up north. Jimmy's family has owned this land forever. He lives out there with his son Dustin who took up wood carving to stay out of trouble. Jimmy's so cool. He told us he's been divorced for 17 years, and raised his four kids by himself. He said, "Being divorced is the best thing that ever happened to me."

One last entry. We had our first meal at our favorite restaurant MaLa on Front Street in Lahaina. I got the Kobe beef burger, and it was cooked to perfection as usual, BUT whoever cooked it didn't let it rest. One bite into the burger and my plate looked like someone had poured beef stock into it.
We will go back and when we do I'm going to 1) complain 2) tell them how to cook  it.

Jimmy & Me

Dustin the carver

That's it.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Maui Bound...Aloha

It's time to follow the trade winds west to Hawaii again with the Humpbacks.  Off to adventure in a land called Honilli. I wish Pete Seeger was there. My mind is full and I need to empty it. It is not on blogging.

I have been off my food game since the bloody holidays, and I need to get more intimate with vegetables. Thankfully, I'm going to the right place. I know a great market in Maui that we can cycle to where we can pick up all sorts of fresh organic fruits and veggies.  Our motel has a little kitchen, and our favorite food hangout in Lahaina is a short lazy stroll down the road, smack dab on the water of the Asian Pacific. Whales will be breaching, and there won't be no need, for no preaching.

I did succumb to bringing the laptop. I have to admit it that I too have caved to the beast of the 2100 century. That means I might put up a blog or a couple of photos while we are there if I feel ambitious, yeah.

I hear that people rob folks when they blog about their vacations on the internet. That's why we hire a house-sitter whenever were on holiday.

My old hillbilly buddy from my first, and only, year in high school will be camping here bouts with the critters. Oh yeah, and he's armed, and he's unpredictable. You'd be much luckier if the dogs got you first.

That's it.

Life is what happen in between meals.

Aloha,

Make Food/Not War

Mind On Maui + Springtime In Oaktown + Mint & Movies

My mind is on Maui and resting my weary bones by the warm trade winds of the Pacific. Of course we have plans of cycling, hiking, walking, and  snorkeling to name just a few.  I am going to take two days and do nothing but watch the wind blow, and a palms sway, while I read a book. What a fucking concept.

We're staying directly across from Larry Ellison's island, which always seems to be shrouded in clouds. No man is an island Lar. Sorry, could help myself.

There is an abundance of plant matter sprouting up all over the East Bay. Just in our little patch of the planet the Rosemary bushes are in full azure bloom. The pink jasmine is budding, Iris are popping out of the ground, and it's not even February yet. Nature is acutely confused right now, and rightfully so. This is Palm Springs California weather, not Northern California.

We have a bucket in the bathtub to catch shower water. And we have a bowl, and a two gallon Kelly Moore bucket in the kitchen to catch water for the plants out back. Just doing this alone will ensure that we have our green leaf garden in the spring. All the plants in the  front of our home are drought tolerant, mostly succulents.

The mint is back in season also. Mint tea at 3:00.

Two recent foodie movies I watched were: Toast, and Today's Special. Toast is the better of the two, but I like Today's Special also. It tugs at the heart strings. Toast is based in a true story. Both are worth checking out.

That's it.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

49ers + Wk. End Update + Smog + Drought

I hate to say another grim prediction of mine came true, but it's a fact. The 49ers blew it again. I can't say more about the game because we don't have television set, and typing in Seattle Seahawks v.s. 49ers playoff game gave me no results at all. If you watched the game you know the details. The 49ers are not as good as they think they are, obviously.

I broke the alcohol fast I've been on since my birthday, almost 5 months this time. I'm back on the wagon again. I don't like it. I had 2 and half glasses of IPA beer. I think me and alcohol are done for good. I almost got sick to my stomach when I decided to complete the experience by smoke a cigarette. Another brilliant life decision on my part.

Geri, myself and our good friend Charlie went to the De Young museum to see the David Hockney exhibit. It's an amazing body of his recent work which included: water colors, still lifes, landscapes, portraits, and self portraits in all sorts of mediums. The work he did with video was my favorite. It closes today, so seeing it in San Francisco is out of the question.

The drought is offical. The water reserves are at their lowest levels since 1977. You youngsters won't remember way back when because you weren't even born. It wasn't good. I was living up north in Redding California, and lake Shasta reservoir was down to 100 feet. As the water receded dead bodies kept appearing all over the place. Dexter or the Mafia?

My plea to you is to conserve water. Put a bucket in the shower. If it's yellow it's mellow. If it's brown flush it down. If you've got small leaks in the faucet put a bucket under them, or call the plumber. Please conserve. No water, no food, no life. It's really that simple. We have no idea how long this drought will last.

The smog and pollution are insane. You can't see the hills of San Francisco from the hills of Oakland.

Maui this Saturday, and it comes just in time. I am burnt out, and need to recharge my batteries, and start anew.

I will not bore you anymore with the details of my daily existence.
You're welcome.

That's it.

Life is what happens in between meals

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Fried Bologna + High Winds + Guy's Grocery Games

It's that time of year again, fried Bologna time. Every year at the beginning of the year I buy myself some Bologna, this time Bore's Head, cut thick, and I make myself a couple of sandwiches. It's a yearly indulgence that I don't deny myself. I used Rudy's spelt bread for the sandwiches.

I once did I video on fried Bologna. When we grew up these were a staple in our home. I've seen a bunch of videos on this sandwich. I use Rudy's white bread and fried Bologna, that's it. The meat has to be cooked so that it's charred black around the edges. If the Bologna doesn't bubble up in the middle you got yourself some inferior Bologna.  There's no mustard, mayo, celery salt, you read right, cheese wiz, goat cheese, lettuce or tomato, god forbid. Just Bologna and white bread. It's one of my top ten best sandwiches of all time. Hey, it's only once a year, moderation.

High winds hit Oakland today again with a vengeance. I decided not to ride my bike to work for fear of getting blown into traffic. As the day progressed the gusts died down. So, my ride got skunked by the wind.

I got an email from a producer working with Guy Fieri at the Food Network. She was chumming the internet looking for contestants, and came across my web site, and thought I would be a good candidate for his show, Guy's Grocery Games.

First of all I hate contests. I'm not good at them, I never win. So, why play? Why would I get my knickers all in a twist so I could go on TV, and look like an idiot? I can do that just fine right here, and with a lot less people looking at me.

I'd have to go to LA, which I don't mind actually, but I'd lose work, which means it would cost me money. That's assuming they chose me in the first place. I'm sure they have a screening process. You get all jacked up excited that you're going to be on the Howdy Fucking Doody show, then they tell you to fuck off. Some suit might not like the beard, of the cut of your jib, and there you have it. You're out before you were ever in. As Chuck Berry said, "Too much monkey business for me to be involved in."

If I had the money I'd start an alternative food network. One that taught people how to eat right and exercise. Of course there's no money in that, is there? Is someone already doing this? The internet is the future of entertainment.

That's it for today. Keep the faith.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

  

Wednesday Jan. 15th Cycling + Bette's Diner + Gluten....the enemy?

Geraldine and I cycled over to Bette's Diner in Berkeley for lunch today. I got the Reuben sandwich and Geri ordered the Cobb salad, minus the bacon which I had them put on the side, for me or course. I did a whole review on Bette's Diner which I've been to many times. Go early, it's always slammed.

We stopped over at Book Inc. when we were over there. Our friend Jerry Wyman had a show there recently in the back hallway of the book store. He does a show there every year, and then invites his friends. Then we can all  choose a photo that we like.  Jerry orders a print to be made, has it framed, and it's our present.

While at Books Inc. we spotted a book we have been talking about getting titled; Grain Brain, by David Perlmutter MD. The general premise of the book seems to be a) anti gluten, b) high fat, which is very popular these days. Of course, who's doesn't want better brain function?

Dr. Perlmutter lays out the hard facts that gluten creates inflammation in the body, including the brain. I can affirm this. When I started my weight loss program/ life style change in November of 2012 I cut out bread completely, and the pain in my legs and feet went away almost immediately.

The other claim he makes is one we already know also which is that cholesterol is necessary for the function of the brain. The brain uses 25% of all the cholesterol in the body, which is essential for cell reproduction.

I have only begun to read this book, but I like it already. Gluten turns to sugar, and I believe that sugar is the enemy of the body. I also believe in Mr. Traccaro's, my nutrition teacher from culinary school, theory of all things in moderation. A Mediterranean diet, and lots of exercise, and how can you go wrong?

A visit from Alice B., and lots of sex couldn't hurt a body either. Is sex good for the brain? Maybe that's further along in the book.

After our vacation to Maui  at the end of the month Geri and I are going to try out his theory for one month. My score on the test in Dr. Perlmutter's book was higher than Geri's, so apparently I'm in better shape than her. And she wanted to add that I can make it up hills faster on my 10 speed steel frame bike than she can on her 24 speed aluminum cycle.

That's it today.

Life is what happen in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Brooklyn v.s. Oakland + 49 ers v.s. Seahawks

My sister-in-law Victoria is in Brooklyn for an art showing she had last week. She called this morning raving about Williamsburg, and how everyone is so friendly and life is so "easy" in NYC. Right.

Give me this weather anytime over living with 10 million people.  Five minutes from here and I can be in the redwoods. Today it will be in the 70's in Oakland. It brought to mind a saying we had when we were growing up, "It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there."

Everyone knows the East Bay is the best place to live  in the USA. I want to move to every place I visit also, but I don't. They do have Tony's pizza now.  Oh  right, Tony's is a S.F. transplant too.

Speaking of SF, the 49ers have been kicking ass. I'm going to go out on a limb again, and make one of my predictions. Remember I said it would be a dry winter in California. Remember I predicted the 49ers would lose the Superbowl 2 weeks before it was played.  I'm predicting that the 49ers will lose to the Seahawks this Sunday ending their bid for another Superbowl appearance. As always I hope my prediction is wrong.

If was a betting man, which I'm not,  that's where I'd put my money. In order for the 49ers to win Sunday against the Seahawks, which has become a big rivalry over recent years, they have to clean up their act. Watch those penalties boys.

They can do it, but I don't think they will. Some odds makers are giving the Seahawks only a 2 and half point spread advantage. Should be a great game, and a good day to take a bike ride while everyone is watching it.

That's it for today.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Windy City + Restaurant Workers Organize Article + Pot Pie Review

I took off riding this morning with the intention of huffing it over to Piedmont, but it was so windy I peddled back home. I almost got blown off the bike several times. The wind gusts that were hitting me had to be 70 miles an hour. Debris was all over the road. Trees were down.

There was a great article in the SF Chronicle by Joe Garofoli about organizing restaurant workers.  This article tells the story of Saru Jayaraman, the principle organizer behind the movement for better working conditions, wages,  and benefits of food service workers.

Last year, Jayaraman wrote a book on racism and sexism in the restaurant workplace. "Behind the Kitchen Door" has received national attention. The organization she formed is called Restaurant Opportunity Centers United.  There is a branch of ROC right here in Oakland. "Hell hath no furry like a woman's scorn", as my mother always said. Ride on sister. Read this article people. Support the workers.

I was at the Temescal farmers market this Sunday and I purchased three pot pies by Pot Pie Paradise and Deli's owner and chef, Theresia Gunawan. These are the best pot pies I've ever had,  besides mine and Geri's of course. I was going to say, "That goes without saying", but it doesn't. If I don't promote me, who will? You. I don't think so.

My friend Darren was making his daughter Riley one of these pot pies last week when I stopped over, and that's how I came to meet Theresia. Simply wonderful. The crust is flakey and covers the entire pie, top and bottom. The insides are succulent and all natural ingredients.I'll see you again, Theresia, and thank you.

You can find these delightful creations at the Temescal Framers Market each Sunday or 3522 Arden Rd. in Hayward, Ca 94545 or
tele. 510 781-4994.

That's it today.

Life is what happen in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Geri's Bike + Rocky Road (true food junkie confessions)

Geri bought a new bike that I've been riding during the week while she's at work. It's the old marriage vow I took a quarter of a century ago that went something like,  "What's mine is mine and what's yours is ours." It is works both ways, for both partners.

I love this bike, which is made by Giant. It has a lightweight aluminum frame, Shimano gears, disk brakes, big tires that grip the road well, and I sit up higher than on my steel street bike. This bike is an on/off road bike.  Best of it  has two lower gears than my street bike. It just sail along smoothly.

I was riding up a hill next to a school in our hood. This young Arab girl, with a headdress, maybe 10 years old, was watching me the whole time. When I finally reached to where she was standing she said, "Yeah, yeah, I like what I see." I saw her again this morning, and we gave each other high fives.

I climbed a long hill I had scaled before. It's maybe a half mile gradual slope. The first time I tackled this hill I had to stop twice before I made it to the top. This time I did it without stopping. Having those extra three lower gears makes a world of a difference to me. I still have a long way to go before I'll be in peak shape.

I have a new 2014 Cannondale 24 gear touring bike coming that's on back order. It won't be here till late March, and it will be a bad ass cruiser. In fact the bike is called, the Bad Boy. You try to get away, but you keep getting sucked back in.

I had a sugar jones last night after our evening walk. To quell the overwhelming desire to saturate my body with sweetness I bought a pint of Hagen Das Rock Road, and a chocolate bar with nuts and sea salt.

I finished the chocolate bar first, and then told myself I'd just have a little of the ice cream.  My sweet tooth was not yet completely satisfied yet, just a couple of bites. Right. The next thing I knew I was tipping the container, and scraping the bottom with my spoon.

I can't seem to kick this sugar jones I picked up over the holidays.
I'm going to ride over to the farmer's market this Sunday, and buy a huge bag of organic carrots and that's going to be my sugar treat for next week. When I get the urge for a glucose rush that will be my go to treat along with some nuts. We'll see how that shakes out.

I don't even want to calculate the amount of calories. Junkie guilt fills my brain.

That's all for this week.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Thursday Jan. 9th

I have a craving for pasta. What else is new right? Specifically spaghetti. I'm going to get some Brussels sprouts, and dried tomatoes and make a simple sauce using olive oil parsley, fresh garlic, crushed red pepper,  kosher salt and Pecorino cheese. I can taste it now.

I'm going to make a nice salad with red bell pepper, kale, cucumber, avocado, lemon and olive oil or maybe I'll make a yogurt based dressing for a little variety.

So, that was the plan early this morning and I went to lunch with my friend Buzz, Ohgane Korean BBQ at 3915 Broadway,  510 594-8300. Rocking bad ass Korean food, and a full bar. Lunch is very laid back. No dinner tonight.

That's my tip for the day.  No pasta this week.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Tue. Jan. 7th

I forgot to blog Monday and I forgot to post this last night . The weekend was as predicted, lots of cycling and Friday night dinner at Piasano's in West Berkeley.

The service was a little slow at Piasano's in the beginning, but improved to the point of being very good.  The food was well prepared. We got kale salad and Brussels sprouts for an appetizer. The entree's were excellent, and the desserts as well. The cappuccino was prepared perfectly.

I don't like doing restaurant reviews. Do I feel qualified enough to be a restaurant critic? Yes, but I think reviews are stupid.  Got to a place. If you like it, go back. Would I go back Piasano's?  Maybe, but most likely not. It's not a destination spot for me, but the experience was well worth it.

Piasano's gets 1 1/2 joints.

That's it. I've got nothing else to say today.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Friday + Weeeknd + Movie review + Pisano's + Storyboard P.

Tonight our good friend, Jerry Wyman, a photographer,  is having an art opening in Berkeley at Book Inc., and then we are going to dinner at Pisanos's restaurant. I've never been there, but I'll do a short review on Monday of how we liked it. It's some dribble to write about.

This weekend will be more of the usual. Running around on wheels and heels, be it the case, two or 4. I'm going to take a shot at climbing Lincoln Ave. hill today, but on Geri's 21 speed. We'll see. It's supposed to be 70 degrees here in Oakland today.

Hope you are all  having fun in the snow back east. If you want to know why I live out West I think the contrast between the weather back there today, and the climate here today says it all.

We saw the Martin Scorsese movie Wolf of Wall Street on new year's day. If you have no idea that your money is being managed by greedy white collar scumbags who have absolutely no conscious or moral compass, you should see this film. The cinematography, the soundtrack, and the editing are amazing even if the outcome is rather predictable. Leonardo is just brilliant.

It is educational if you are naive enough to believe that the people who are in control of these institutions are anything but incompetent
criminals in $2,000.00 suits. If you somehow trust these people you need to check your brain for grey matter, or lack of it. Why anyone would aspire to work in the world that is portrayed in this film is beyond me. America's finest?

Last but not least, there is a great article in the latest New Yorker about an artist named Salim Muslim, who goes by the street name of Storyboard P. He is a street dancer and choreographer. Read the article and watch the videos/ interviews of him on YouTube. This cat really is one of America's finest. Wow.

That's it for this week.

Write back at you on Monday.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War





 

2014 Goals

It's a busy year already, and it's only just begun. Of course there is no guarantee I'll survive this year. I'm hoping I do, and if I accomplish everything on this list it will be a great year indeed.

Yesterday I outlined those goals, and today I'm going briefly to focus on one specific goal, that of losing 20 pounds by May 1st, also known as May Day.

I say briefly because why waste so much time on it? Either I do it or I don't. It's time to put this away for good, and move on to the next big thing, whatever the hell that may be.

If we break it down it's one and one quarter pounds of fat a week. That's no different than the plan I had before. the same plan that got me to lose 45 pounds.

I will weigh myself at the beginning of each month, and assess my progress or lack of progress. I'll be eating lots of veggies, cutting down on sugars, saturated fat and starch, plus exercising my pants off. Right now I'm still 210 pounds.

I cycled 20 miles today so that might help a little bit.

I'm going to take a nap.

That's it today.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food.Not War

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

January One Two Thousand Fourteen

We had a lovely meal last night to ring in the new year. I bought a lobster for our friend Guy and he came over. I steamed the  lobsters, and they were delicious. I used the leftover water to boil the the shells to make a batch of lobster stock.

We were in bed before 9:30, and I was woke up at 11:00 PM by gunfire, cherry bombs, M80's, and all manner of noise making possible.

Frida slept with me all night, shaking from the noise.

So, the list below are my goals for 2014. I'm going to leave it at that.
Good luck with your next ride around the sun.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War

Goals for 2014
-Maui in January
-lose 20 more pounds by May 1st. More on this later.
-finish the two books I'm working on
-finish the two screen plays I'm working on
-visit Rod and my hillbilly friends in Seattle in May
-Italian family reunion in Connecticut July
-attend the Sun writing seminar again in Oct.
-paint the  teardrop trailer
-do the Dispy again
-do at least one small bike tour
-climb Lincoln Ave/Joaquin Miller/Skyline Blvd on my bike
-take photo class in fall semester

Those are my goals. If I can accomplish these I'm be overjoyed.

That's it.

Life is what happens in between meals.

Peace,

Make Food/Not War