poetry

when you stare death in the face
what do you think you will see
will it be your family
or someone you loved dearly
or will you find you're really all alone
as each step bring me closer
and I allow myself to look at
me
I'm not really sure it will matter
All I can see is that I am done
with this journey and ready to embark
on the next one
when the world is fresh and new
and I have new karmas to carry
I try to unload that burden now
so next time the climb won't be so high
one day I'll get there
I'll sit under my own tree
I'll find my own truth
I will know that I did right by myself
and it won't matter what is there
I hope for love
I'll take peace
but most of all I'll enjoy the rest

I'm just that tired.

Meatless Monday, Vitamin D, GOOP, and Caribbean Gingered Squash, Rice and Kale

Happy Meatless Monday! Yes, another week has flown by and here we are again exploring the world of veganism. It's a fun world and one that as mysterious as the illustrious El Dorado, and in my opinion, just as equally filled with gold.

The original term "vegetarian" was coined at the turn of the last century, but the existence of Vegetarians in the world dates back to around 6 BCE (before common era) in India and Greece. At that time being a vegetarian meant you didn't eat all things animal, including dairy and eggs. Over the years those two items seemed to be woven back into the tapestry of the Vegetarian lifestyle. So, in 1944 Donald Watson and Elsie Shrigley - the founders of the Vegan Society, coined the word "vegan".

Becoming a vegan involves more than just what you eat and not eating dairy and eggs doesn't not entitle you a vegan. Veganism is a life style that promotes not using, in any and all aspects of your life, products that were obtained in the abuse or death of an animal. Some obvious items would be: leather, silk, angora and wool. Some less known ones would be makeup, shampoo, lotions, etc.

Animal bi-products are used in a vast amount of items you would normally not realize has anything related to an animal at all. I like to call this the "ANIMAL SNEAK ATTACK!" It's fun, especially if you have allergies.

As a vegan you will come to  realize you're vocabulary will expand as you learn words like:

• albumen
• arachidyl proprionate
• caprylic triglyceride

Or ones more simple like:

• lanolin
• rennet
• "natural sources"

All of this items are derivatives of animals. "Natural Sources" which could mean the sources are animal based.

Where are these items hidden? Food, clothing, and even those "adult" items we like to buy from time to time, like lubricant.

People ask me why I would want to live like this? Why would I want to live a life that is increasingly difficult because it involves reading EVERYTHING before touching it, and it's simple. Because it's the least I can do. The very least. I wish I could do more, which is why I now blog about it.

"But your protein levels!" They're still fine. My B12s... need work.

Now I have a question for you. ALL of you. What about your Vitamin D levels? See, we live in a world that is so saturated with the idea that we have to look young forever, everyone is screaming "DON'T GO OUT IN THE SUN! WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN!!" Which is all good and dandy, but at the end of the day the human body NEEDS vitamin D and the way it gets that is by going out in the sun withOUT sunscreen. It's a big issue in this country, one that we ignore but one - especially in women - is massively important due to osteoporosis. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow recently wrote a post about it on her blog entitle GOOP. Take a moment and check it out. (it's back up with facts so don't think I'm running off for celebrity gossip as backing. But I do like Ms Paltrow. One of the few classy ones in my book.)

If you don't feel like reading the GOOP newsletter it goes on to talk about how we need vitamin D to prevent certain types of cancers. It does not suggest you go out and strip down to how god made you then lay in the sun for the next three days, but it does suggest you get some rays without the spf 75.

See - even if you eat meat you may be missing out on those important vitamins we need to keep on living well.

NOW! On to our recipe for the week. Sorry I don't have an image for you, but this recipe looked too good to pass up, plus the "Notes" made me smile. So please - EAT!

Caribbean Gingered Squash, Rice and Kale

From: fatfreevegan.com

Recipe By :adapted from Versatile Vegetarian by Weight Watchers
Serving Size : 4 

• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 onion -- chopped
• 2 pounds butternut squash -- see preparations
• 2 jalapeno peppers -- seeded and cored and minced
• 2 teaspoons grated peeled ginger root
• 3 garlic cloves -- minced
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 Pinch ground cloves
• 1 Pinch ground allspice
• 1 bunch kale -- cleaned and chopped
• 2/3 cup brown rice
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

PREPARATIONS: Butternut squash - peel, core and cut into 2-inch chunks

DIRECTIONS: In a large nonstick skillet, heat the water. Add the onion; cook, stirring as needed, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the squash, jalapenos, ginger, garlic, curry, cloves and allspice; sauté, stirring, about 1 minute.

Add the kale in handfuls, stirring as it wilts. Stir in the rice, salt, pepper and 1 1/2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the water is absorbed, 35-40 minutes. Remove from the heat; add the lime juice and fluff with a fork. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes.

PER SERVING: 211 Calories, 1 g Total Fat, 1 g Saturated Fat, 0 mg Cholesterol, 647 mg Sodium, 45 g Total Carbohydrate, 6 g Dietary Fiber, 6 g Protein, 146 mg Calcium. 

3.5 ww winning points

CAUTION: When handling chile peppers, wear gloves to prevent irritation.

NOTES : "Squash and kale are winter vegetables, so try this recipe when the thermometer drops. Let the fragrant spices of Caribbean cooking transport you to white-sand beaches and azure lagoons."

This very lovely recipe was found on the International Vegetarian Union website. It's an awesome resource and I suggest you take a moment to check it out.

Remember, taking one day a week to be a vegetarian or a vegan is a nice way to lend a hand to your health and to the world. Reducing your carbon foot print. Lowering your chances of heart disease. And seeing how its just not that hard to be a vegan or a vegetarian.

I hope you have a great week! Thanks for stopping by. Next week will probably be a bit longer, but with my meditation coming to a close, I'm probably going to be a bit more quiet than normal.

Lots of love to you all.
-A

I'm a little bit behind...

I was in a bit of a rut this weekend, nothing bad, just a bad moment the dimmed an other wise wonderful weekend.

Regardless.

This moment has delayed me on life and now I'm behind. (I'm always behind)

Tonight I'm going to sleep on "it" and tomorrow I'll write my new post.

Please have a lovely night.

A

The end draws near.

My head hurts and I'm rather tired. I should go to sleep but after this I plan on writing for a bit. It's the only time I have.

I come to this moment with six things I need to do and I've chosen writing my book. Why? Because "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift that's why it's called the present." I tell my students to look at this moment, not last week, not next week - but just like most other teachers (or parents for that matter) I find that I'm on the "do as I say, not as I do" part of my week.

I realized that before I can on here.
I miss here.

My death meditation is coming to a close. I think about it daily at this point. I'm pretty much happy with myself these days. My son is so perfect. My husband and I are getting along. Yes, there are some frustration - but since I committed to this in a way I didn't have to uproot my family, those frustrations can't be avoided.

for now.

I think what I've learned by doing this meditation is being more present in my own life. Playing with crayons with my son instead of making 30 phone calls while he plays, or just doing what I love and knowing it may be hard but it will be better soon.

Speaking to a dear old friend of mine earlier I told him that money was tight but I've now become a whiz at pinching every penny and stay uber skinny.
He said I sounded like Scarlett O'Hara. I've never seen or read Gone with the Wind, but after the conversation I looked up the famous speech. I supposed I feel the same, just not as dramatic.

Life is merely a perception - there is no perfect slotted place for all things to lie - just the way we look at it. Hate is easy, loving people, loving the world is hard. Being open to that kind of pain is scary. Knowing that if you love you will hurt is reality.

I will keep trying to adjust my perception. To keep opening new windows and doors. I will use what time I have to color with my son and to live like I don't care what people think.

But for now I'm going to write before this head ache gets the better of me.
good night

Meatless Monday, Harvey Pekar, Cleveland, Vegan French Toast & an Awesome Blog post from The Daddy Files

Well its been a busy time in my here city over the past few weeks. First we make national news for the more inept PR stunt so far this century and then we lost Harvey Pekar. I'd like to pretend I give a crap about the whole Basket Ball upheaval but I don't. I think the man's a spoiled brat, fine, he can run up and down a plank of wood, jump into the air and then we all get smiles - but I don't care.

Larry Bird. He was a cool ass b-ball player. Was told he was a no one, worked his butt off to get to the NBA.
Michael Jordan. Fine the baseball thing may have not been the best idea, but at least he has class.

Not old what's his face and his rude behavior. Him I won't be missing.

But Harvey Pekar... that made me sad.
I wanted to come on here earlier this week and talk about how important to Cleveland Ohio Harvey Pekar was and is but I ran out of time. Now that I have the time I've been beat to the punch by someone who writes how a stream of water weaves its way across a stony river bed. Anthony Bourdain.
I couldn't possible put into words what is expressed in this blog - so I say go read it, because Harvey Pekar made this city something special. July 14th is the real day Cleveland lost out.

(By the way. I love to read peoples blogs and from time to time I happen upon one that I compare to love making. It's how I feel about some poets. It's how I feel about a few choice authors. I'm not talking about erotica here, just the pure spirit of the written word and the composure that reigns them into the right cadence. Pushing and pulling me to and fro. Bourdain is one of those people.
I think people should make love how they speak. It be much easier to find great lovers if that were the case.)

If you don't know who Harvey Pekar is he is a writer who's underground comic book American Splendor was turned into a movie back in '03. Part of the film was shot at one of my favorite comic shops, Carol and John's at Kamms Corner. He changed the perspective of writing, bringing it down the blue collar life style of the working class Clevelander. He will be missed. He should be missed. He should have been the one being paid millions.

I was honored to live in the same county as you.

Moving on... I posted another article about local Vegetarian/Vegan foods in CTown. If you're interested in checking it out, please go here. And if you like it - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO ME! (thank you)
The review is on The Happy Dog, a bar in Cleveland that serves Hot Dogs with lots and lots of different toppings! Very good. The tots are to die for.

IT'S ALMOST MONDAY!! Can you EVEN believe it? (I sure as hell can't)

So... how's your giving up meat ONE day a week coming along? Hopefully well. But for those out there that are looking at me thinking "Aryn. I get it. You're vegan. Well I don't want to be." I found this link for you. It's to a place in Virginia that sell organic and humanely raised livestock. Ayrshir Farm. 

Does this mean I advocate killing animals? No.
What this means is I know this battle can't be one in my obsessing over my opinion and attempting to push that opinion on you. This country we live in is built on a unity of the people and the diversity within - no on one person brow beating the other because OBVIOUSLY their opinion MUST be the right one.

If you're going to consume animal products be conscious of what is really happening, if not for the animals then for your own health because what they do to these creatures, how poorly they're treated, or taken care of, etc - that ends up in your belly. a.k.a. Mad Cow or the other slew of items that have to be taken off the shelf because of some sort of contaminated meat product.

Be responsible. No it's not cheap. (trust me. I know. I'm vegan.)
But you're going to pay sooner or later. Either now with fresh and healthy food or later when you're in the hospital medical issues.

Now that brings us to the recipe of the week! Last week I hit you up with a delicious dip suitable for parties or nights in with a movie. Today I give you my biggest BIGGEST breakfast love.... French Toast. Something I missed after my decision to be vegan stuck.

(if you're looking for vegan "bacon" and don't want to make your own. Smart Life's bacon is vegan.)

Vegan French Toast

Ingredients (use vegan versions):

    2 cups vanilla soy milk
    4-5 tablespoons flour
    3 teaspoons sugar
    dash cinnamon
    bread slices (your choice)
    sugar to taste

Directions:

Mix flour, soy milk, vegan sugar and cinnamon to form a batter. Dip bread and fry in lightly greased pan until golden brown. Sprinkle with vegan powdered sugar.


(recipe curiosity of vegweb.com)

AND EAT UP! If you want to kick this up a notch - make sure the bread is organic, vegan and wheat or some other whole grain. Be sure the powder sugar is vegan (because most sugar is whitened with charcoal made from animal bones) and buy honest to god REAL Maple Syrup, because all that imitation stuff is created with... HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP - which is just plain gross. <- look I'm 12! What I mean by gross is that it's not good for you - most processed food in abundance is NOT good for you, that includes tofu. So if you're out there working towards vegetarian or a vegan state of mind, realize that beans, legumes, dark green leafy vegetables are just a FEW sources of protein for your diet. Don't rely alone on tofu or other soy based products. This can be a bad thing. I totally recommend speaking with a nutritionist or a dietitian if you have any questions about a healthy diet - what ever you like to eat.

Now that I've said all of that there are two things I'd like to bring your attention to - first, my little hippy trippy meditation to save the world. Actually this isn't my meditation, but I will be taking part in it. I'm not sure if this link will work - it's a facebook link - but give it a try. If it doesn't work, on July 22nd, which is this up coming Thursday, from 8:30-11 my lovely teacher Marni Task is helping to stage a world wide meditation for the Oil Spill and Gulf Efforts to help fix this tragedy. All you have to do is sit down and meditate in that time period. Maybe five minutes, maybe you love to meditate and you can make it the whole 2.5 hours - but take a moment on that day during those times to stop and think about the severity of the issues. Just like how I keep coming back to animal cruelty, veganism and factory farms - the gulf is a big ass deal.

bigger than all of us.

So please just lend your thoughts for a few moments.

The second thing I want to comment on is a post from a blog called The Daddy Files. I read this off my friends Facebook page today (that would be the Beeze) and I loved this post. I've made underhanded comments about "Pro-Lifers" before on here (at least I think I have) but I feel this blog post (with video) show you why I feel how I feel.

So take a moment and go here - The Daddy Files - and please read/watch and then join in the comments.

I honestly don't mean to push my views down your throat. My decision to begin writing this "Meatless Monday" rant on here is because I'm very passionate about how and what people don't know or realize is going on around us.

I attack Pro-Lifers because I don't feel the term meets their views. In the strictest sense of that term "pro-life" I'm so overly flipping "PRO-LIFE" it's bordering insanity! I don't wear anything that was produced from an animal including leather, wool, silk, etc. I don't eat things that used an animal to make them - like the sure issues I told you about before or how pigs stomach acid is used to make cheese (rennet) or even your favorite marshmallows come baring bone marrow.

I don't kills spiders, ants, flies. I don't because all life is precious to me. From babies to doctors to soldiers to animals and even those bugs and everything else in between. But you know what? That's my PERSONAL belief. If you agree with me - GREAT! If you don't... we should get a beer. I love a good debate, you never know what you're going to learn.

I have to be up tomorrow before dawn so I'm signing off, but if you made it to the end here I just want to say thank you for reading. I hope you have a wonderful week. I hope you come back. I hope you subscribe to my blog.

But most of all, I hope you give yourself a hug every now and then. I'm going to bed. Goodnight.

What I love

I love walking in my side door and seeing a pair of tiny little shoes
black, red and blue with flashers on them
I love my dinning room
Torn apart - table against the wall
there is more room to run
more room to be free
more room to be
markings of crayon on the floors
windows
chairs
walls
I love the bits of cheerios broken down
smashed into our one good rug

I love to wake up super early
when the world is still hitting snooze
the coffee filling my house with a fragrance so fine
most perfumes lose to its basic allure
it yells perfection
as it bid me a hello

I love the sky as it transforms into something new
a new day
a new meaning
something that is beyond everything else
the slate wiped clean
begging you onwards
forward
Until you come to another night
the moon
the stars
the thoughts that make you
you

I love...
Oh how I love

I love chalk marks
giggles
crying
diapers
bananas
oatmeal
crayons
sunshine
the moon
shedding cats
barking dogs
gardens fill with squash

I love it all
and I love this song
me and the devil
by gil scott-heron

me and the devil
walking side by side....

good night.

I'm over opinionated, but still Oil Spills & Vegan Dips are more important than spoiled Basketball Players HANDS DOWN!

The world has come to a raging halt.
We stopped and looked at the travesty that has pooled around us, yes, BP had killed part of our world. What they have accomplished in this short amount of time is set on a scale of biblical proportions, ruining the lives of millions of humans, killing millions of animals, destroying the economy and the lively hood of thousands - creating the biggest and most destructive catastrophe known to man...

...and all people will talk about is some jerk of a Basketball star that is such a spoiled brat he, just like the oil spill, decided to put power and fame in the fore front of his life helping to destroy the economy of a city all because of ego.

I'm still not sure what I'm more angry about - the fact the world stood still to hear what we already knew about the worlds most boring sport, or the fact people are pretending the oil spill is over?

Maybe I'm exaggerating about the amount of people not paying attention to the spill, as I wrote this my friend IM'd me about a Jimmy Buffet concert on CMT being held in support of cleaning up the spill, but at the end of the day I tend to feel irritated when I hear people talking about celebrity and gossiping about them rather than doing things... (...that I feel they should be doing... lol.)

Well, I'm happy that I cleared that up as I was writing this. What it comes down to is this, my lovely friends, life is too short and you are too great to sit there - so please get up. I hate when I hear people putting so much into celebrity because you are so great and I feel you're wasting your time.

I've been known to be wrongs, which is fine. BUT if you have decided you want to help, here are some links for you:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/30/impact.oil.spill/index.html
http://www.takepart.com/news/2010/04/30/the-gulf-coast-oil-leak-how-to-help
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/04/bp-oil-spill-aftermath-help/

If you can't just go there, and you're on Facebook... you can join this page:
http://www.facebook.com/BoycottBP?ref=ts

And please DO Boycott BP. Let them know that we, as a people, are worth more than death for "black gold" - because that's what this comes down to - MONEY.
Life is more important than money.
It just is.

Moving on... In HAPPY VEGAN NEWS! I'm now writing for www.Examiner.com as the Cleveland Vegetarian Restaurant Examiner - That means I'm going to be talking about Vegan/Vegetarian things in the Cleveland, Ohio area. And I don't just mean reviews, I want to use this as a platform to let people know of the places they can go and find delicious food that is animal friendly and good for you, plus events too. (so if you hear of anything... you should email me!)

And please don't think that I've forgotten what tomorrow is...

I'm assuming by this point I've spoke about the success of Ohioans for Humane Farms and the changed laws in this state. If I haven't or you haven't had the chance to read/hear about it, please follow this link. It breaks down and explains what was worked out. I know that a few days after everything went down they had a conference call Town Meeting (but I didn't pick up my phone when the call came - go me) to discuss it, which excites me to the Nth degree.
It's a small step, but it's a step in the right direction!

[the Ohioans for Humane Farms on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/ohiohumane?ref=ts]

Besides saving the animals, please remember that this is about saving you too. Reducing your intake of animal products and bi-products is a GOOD THING! It's good for your heart, your general health and most things in between. If you're worried about your protein intake there are tons of books you can read that will help you understand, plus talk to your doctor, nutritionist or fanatical friend that would love nothing more than to see you give up meat (aka - me).
Yes, at times it can be a little harder than just going with the stream of things but it's not that hard and it's worth it. And just remember, in the words of the great Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) "When you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to sit back and reflect" - why do you do what you do? Do you even know or are you just moving in the stream of things because it's easier to turn against the current? Living against the stream... it's just a wonderful thing (and a wonderful book! Against the Stream, by Noah Levine)

You're recipe for this week is a party favorite - 6 (or 7) LAYER DIP!!

"First, you’ll want to soak 2 cups of dried beans 4-6 hours. I used pinto beans this time, but black bean are delicious too. You can also use 3 cans of beans but I much prefer to make them from scratch with my pressure cooker and a 1 inch piece of kombu. After the beans are done, drain and mix with one package of Soyrizo.

While the beans are cooking, I get the rest of the ingredients for the layers ready. I mix one tub of vegan sour cream with one jar of salsa. Chiffonade 1 head of romaine lettuce, and cut up 1 small carton of cherry tomatoes.

I make guacamole by mashing together 4 avocados with 1 tablespoon lime juice, dash of black pepper, cumin, chili powder and sea salt to taste, with a handful of cilantro. Those are your layers with Daiya cheese.

This makes a very large, 9×13 size dip. You can always half the recipe to make a smaller version. So get all your dip layers together and start layering!

Bottom layer is the bean/soyrizo mix.
Next is the sour cream/salsa mix, spread evenly across the beans.
Next smooth over the guacamole, then sprinkle the lettuce and tomatoes evenly over the top, and sprinkle Daiya cheese over all the layers. If you’d like to make this a 7 Layer dip you can sprinkle black olives on top (I can’t stand olives so I leave them out)."

If you have never checked out The Blissful Chef's website, you really should. Besides being jammed packed with awesome info, Christy Morgan is by far one of the nicest people you'll meet. Friendly and responsive, she's the whole package and I'm happy I found her on twitter months back.

(by the way - I just copy and pasted the recipe on here. If you want to see this recipe or more of the Blissful Chef's recipes please visit her blog here, and you can buy her Cookbooks here)

I wish you all a wonderful week! May it be cooler than last week and more fun than you ever thought you'd have! Please enjoy all the links I've posted for you and tell people about me!

Live long and prosper and all that jazz!

find a solution, don't just point out the problem

I should be a sleep
I shouldn't be online
Maybe I should be writing
but I know I should be relaxing

I was reading earlier about how we like to take things and change them into what we need to see. People, places - every noun out there. We bully and manipulate them into the object needed to believe what we need to or to feel validated about what we want.

Words are a good example. We hear discipline and think of harsh punishment or ambitious leads towards manipulative. These are negative stereotypes of two words that are really positive things. To be honest, I lead a very disciplined lifestyle and I'm an over ambitious person - I like these things about me.

I need the structured discipline in my life to have the strength and will to move forward, achieving my dreams and goals - the ambitions I was meant to have.

Life is for living and you are either alive or you're taking up space. I took up space for a long time. Running after my need to feel accepted I would do nearly anything in order to have someone at my side - I didn't even have to like them much, and I sure as hell didn't have to like me at all.
I now look back at that person and I find I'm so confused by why I would be like that, and every now and then I'll find myself falling into that way of thinking, "Of if only this or that." Making myself a victim of my own life instead of owning it.

It's you life, do with it as you must.

It's my life and I have too many plans, too many objectives, too many goals that I want to reach and obtain that wasting one moment of time playing the victim, being an obsessive enabler, pleading, begging and praying that someone will like me is no longer an option.

I just don't have the time.

These are some of the thoughts that keep me awake at night. I lay in bed thinking about people I feel I've hurt, or things I need to do - this isn't that bad. I used to lay in bed at night and think of the people I wanted to hurt and whine about all the things I wish I hadn't done in my life.

Being human means you make mistakes. It means every now an then you're going to be embarrassed because you didn't know something [gasp!] or you were wrong [double gasp]. Is it bad that I like being wrong? In a way I really do, because when I'm wrong I learn something new. I love to learn new things.

That's one of the millions of reason being wrong is ok. (to all of you who feel the need to be right all the time)

I can't say I have regrets. I wish I would have handled things differently from time to time, but mostly I won't call them "regrets" for that implies I'm laying up at night thinking about those situations in a bad light. They're just thoughts - they come and go as clouds, some light and fluffy, some moist and juciy and some violent - but they all pass.

Wrong. Embaressed. Whatever else you can think of - being human is a gift and a blessing. Have this chance is a gift and a blessing. Complaining because you felt the need to plan out every step is a waste of time.

Let life come to you. Celebrate what you need to. Morn what you must. Be fearless, even when you're afraid and know that tomorrow will be here sooner than later so you may as well love yourself enough to do more with your life than make excuses on why you haven't started to live yet.

But like I said, I should be asleep.
I worked late
Today was long
And I busted up my knee (ran into a coffee table)

Time to sleep
Time to pray
Time to dream for tomorrow.

good night beautiful world
I love you too.

War & Racism

In the past few months (or maybe it's been longer and I've chosen not to pay attention) I've had people make some comments to me that were overly racist. Most days I just shrug it off. I'm not racist, I'm just not.
I don't give a rats ass where you're from, I just care you treat me right - if you don't, then we'll have issues. Otherwise... *shrug* whatever.

I don't think like that. This has brought many issues to my plate, because I make off handed comments like, "I really think this government needs an overhaul." Which I do and I have since about 2000 when I started hearing people tell me they were voting for George W. Bush (by far one of the WORSE presidents in American history) solely on one issue. <- this pisses me off. It pisses me off even more when I hear it's because of abortion. "I'm pro-life!" No you're not, you're "pro-baby." Don't talk out both sides of your face and tell me you're pro-life but we should be in Afghanistan killing "THOSE" kind of people. What kind? The ones with families? Or the once just trying to get by, just like you.

George W. Bush was about as Pro-Life as Genghis Khan, but at least Genghis Khan didn't hid behind some political curtain and pretend he was something he wasn't.

Like most politicians do.

So now it has been approved to build some super sized Mosque on the sight of Ground Zero in NYC. I'm for this. Why? Because labeling an ENTIRE CULTURE for what a handful of people did is ignorant and down right insulting to human beings everywhere.

This annoys me to no end. It pisses me off that people would rather be living in hate than realizing the picture may be, in fact, a lot bigger then the scared little person you have chosen to be.

I'd apologize, but you know what? I'm not sorry.

I'm not sorry for feeling like this. I'm not sorry for not agreeing with you. I'm not sorry one little bit. Places like the Middle East and Afghanistan are rich with history and beauty that we may never see again because of our hell bound need to go over there and "make them like us."

What the hell is so special about us? Every American I know tells me they're "nationality" is of another country. Bad new folks, if you were born here you're American. You're not Irish, Italian, German, Polish - your ancestors CAME from there, but if you have garage sales and lemonade stands you're 100% American.

So, please, tell me why you think living in fear of everyone else on the planet because they don't look like you, act like you or talk like you - makes you so special that we should model the rest of the world after you?

I'm me, I like being me and I don't want you to be me - in any way shape or form.

I still think this government needs an overhaul, and why? Because it's run by people who think this attitude and behavior is ok. Just look at AZ and Palin. This isn't the land of the free, this is the land of capitalistic pigs who think it's better to spread hate as long as it makes them richer than take the time to educate our youth into understanding diversity is a beautiful thing.

This is what anger gets you - nothing but more hate and anger.

Want to be a real hero? Go help out the millions of Americans who are dying of starvation because we have no money due to the long stupid wars were in.

Want to be a real hero?
Stop thinking your shit doesn't smell.
cuz it does.

the silent mind of me

i'd much rather be alone

in the still of the night

the darkest hours before dawn

wrapped inside my head

flittering about

knowing that I don't know

enjoying the mechanics 

of my 

own

brain

yes, you see it is grand

years of fear of

my unknown mind

and thoughts

have finally be revealed 

as the source of 

all my joy

in the end there is a

certain amount of truth

wrapped up in the idea

you have the answers inside 

you

most people don't see 

them because

they're afraid they'll 

hate themselves for 

falsehoods

that's like hating yourself

for being alive

oh the burden of life

that we call living

i'll take that burden

because me

you see

i'm the one that 

really

love to be

alone.

it's when my 

truth is 

revealed

in the silent

mind of me

Apple crisps, writing and another week down...

Happy Meatless Monday! (And a happy belated 4th of July for all you Americans out there) This weekend has brought me to a new stage in my life, one that is overly stuffed on delicious pot-luck goodness and let me say, I'm so not complaining.

We had a little BBQ on Saturday and it went well (outside of on minor skull injury, a few scraped knees, asthma treatment and some glorious drama) - but the food! A little bit of curry, some wonderful grape leaves, an Asian inspired chickpea cabbage salad and even tofu salad sandwiches. (I ate so many left overs today I feel sick... that was before the dinner I prepared of tofu dogs - on whole wheat vegan buns with spicy mustard, mayo and a pickle spear - a side salad and a big old pile of french fries. Then for dessert - because today screamed dessert to me - I made this Apple Crisp and it was so freaking good it is the recipe I'm using for this post.)

Apple Crisp
(adjusted to fit my life style by me, but the recipe is from here.)

Ingredients

• 10 cups all-purpose apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup water
•  
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup packed brown sugar  (I make my own brown sugar. It's super easy. Non-refined sugar and molasses. Its so worth the extra step)
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup Earth Balance, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).
2. Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.
3. Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.

This, sadly, is going to be another short post for I am tired and ready for sleep! Tomorrow is a new day and I'm going to try to write my butt off this week so I need to catch my zzzz's so I can do just that. I've fallen behind on my writing schedule - hence the massive neglect of this lovely, lovely blog - but in do time I will be back.

My creative juices have been on high this past week so I've sketched out a few more book ideas plus worked on this one here and there, just when I can. Moving between writing long hand (which is suicidal because my handwriting is terrible), to working on my laptop, desk top and my phone - I want this darn thing done yesterday so I can get started on the editing and rewrite.

Now, I have a question for you, my beautiful readers. I was nosing around on the old internet earlier trying to find an editing service (that I can afford) and I was wondering if anyone had suggestions (or wanted to edit my book for free, or a smile. Nothing beats a good smile.) Any help would be greatly appreciate.

That said, I'm off to sleep! I hope you had a wonderful and fun weekend and I wish you a wonderful week. And if you're in my area, I hope to god you have A/C because it's supposed to be in the 90's tomorrow....

Good night!

Woopsie! Life moved to fast this week!

Look at me dropping the ball on Meatless Monday... Don't I feel like a dork!

SO - MEATLESS TUESDAY! (brought to you by me - Ms. Weekly Adventures)

I found this great article I thought I should pass on. It's all about how to "veganize" your FAVORITE recipes. It gives you substitutes to use for different dishes and desserts, which is always nice. You can read about it here...

Seeing that I dropped the ball I'm going to give you a delicious homemade BBQ sauce recipe you can whip up right quick for this lovely 4th of July holiday weekend and then take the time to work on a decent "Meatless Monday" post that will be posted on (or before) next Monday.

DE-lish BBQ SAUCE

1 Cup Ketchup

1/2 Cup Molasses

1/4 Cup Vinegar

1/4 Cup Dijon Mustard

2 TBSP (vegan) Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1/4 tsp Tabasco

Combined. Let it sit for at least 24 hours (the longer the better) then EAT IT! 

NOW... If you're me and you really want BBQ Sauce and you don't have any in the house an you look at that recipe and you don't have exactly what they list - you can do this:

1 Cup Chili Sauce

1/2 Cup Molasses

1/4 Balsamic Vinegar

1/4 Cup Spicy Brown Mustard

2 TBSP (vegan) Worcestershire Sauce

1 tsp Onion Powder

1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper

1/4 tsp Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce

And you know what...?? It's still darn delicious! Next time I think I'm going to use Apple Cider Vinegar and we'll see about the other ingredients. My cupboards are rather bare... (seriously, but an eye pillow already)

Outside of that I've been distracted lately. Too much on the table has ran me thin and I'm behind on regular tasks (and annoying people I've promised that I'd do things for them that I haven't done because I never have the time to do things because I'm doing too many things... does any of this make sense?)

Today I was attuned to the first level of Reiki, this means I can now heal you besides coax you into a lifestyle of meditation, contemplation and exercise. (I'm weighing my options on a few other things but we'll see... I'm not even ready to reveal it to you... my dearest confidants... all those millions of you out there.)

I've been working hard on my book but every time I find a moment to write life comes at me fast and not in a funny commercial way - no, in a "suck all my spare time out of the day" way. I'm headed there after this. But it's hard because no matter how many times I say, "This is important" I'm made to feel guilty that I'm neglecting things in my life and then I feel torn.

Torn between this reality that I'm not 100% fond of an my dreams I refuse to give up on.

This has been coming up a lot as of late. "Dreams v Reality" I pick dreams every day of the week. I want it to be my reality. I want to hold my book in my hands and say to myself, "Go you. You did it, sweetheart."

That said, I bit you adieu. I need to write, before it's too late.

Good Night

-A

Gossip

Gossip.
We've all done it.
Some of us build our lives on it.
In general I hate it.

I chose the above picture because it was the only one I could find (not that I look super hard) that had both a man and a woman, because in my life, I know more men that gossip than woman.

It is what it is.

But this is me barking at the crowd for tonight. I think when you get to a point in your life when the only thing you have to talk about is someone else's life you should really take a moment to sit down and look at your own. Obviously you don't have much going on to have that kind of spare time.

Gossip.

It seems harmless but let's be honest, if you have to say something in a hushed tone because you're afraid someone may hear what you're saying - you probably shouldn't be saying it in the first place. People's lives, especially when they're in a spot that is going to hell in a hand basket lite on fire, are their own and the last thing they need is to show up somewhere and hear people whisper and point.

I've been trying to stay out of gossip. Most days I'm good. Some days I'm not and then I feel terrible for the rest of the night because what if it was me who was being discussed. Because it has been me before. Rumors and lies build up on gossip about things no one could possibly have understood.

So the next time someone passes you a juicy tidbit stop for a moment and put yourself in their shoes, or if that doesn't work, put someone you love in their shoes and then be the bigger person that doesn't pass it on. And, by the way, that applies to the "I can tell my spouse" rule. Because it doesn't change what it is, it's still gossip.

And I'm pretty darn sure you can find better things to do with your spouse when you two are alone in your bedroom at night. And if not, maybe that's the real problem.

Meatless Monday, Oil Spill news, & some things that just erk me!

Welcome to my next edition of Meatless Mondays here on "Weekly Adventures of an Ordinary Girl."

[If you follow this here link it will take you to the actual Meatless Monday website! **Note: The views I hold and the topics I discuss are solely mine and mine alone and shouldn't be reflected on anyone else, like the people on Meatlessmonday.com.**]

Starting the week off with no meat is just the way to go!

"But I love meat!" That is great. I'm not sitting here judging you. You may think I am, but alas - I judge you, you judge me and then everyone hates everyone - which is a waste of time.
All I'm saying it take ONE DAY - no need to make it Monday, I mean, Mondays stink in general, but maybe you're is Meatless Tuesday or Wednesday, I think you get the picture. Because ONE day a week laying off animal products is actually good for YOU. Good for your heart and your over all health.

Besides the things we know, "red meat is bad for my heart" there are also some recent studies that have found a possible link between the prion proteins (which are found in Mad Cow disease) and the onset of Alzheimer's Disease.

So if you're not one of those people who want to look at it from the animals point of view, fine, look at your husband, wife, girl/boyfriend, lover, child, mother/father, neighbor, friend and then look in the mirror and ask yourself this... am I worth it? Because I think you probably are.

The recipe I chose for today is an Ethiopian Spicy Tomato Lentil Stew that should look a little like this:

(a.k.a. - DElicious!)

(The following Recipe was found on the Post Punk Kitchen website - www.theppk.com)

Equipment:
Large heavey soup pot
Another pot with lid for boiling the lentils

Ingredients
1 cup brown lentils
1 large yellow onion, diced small
2 carrots, peeled and diced
4 cloves garlic, miced
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
1/4 cup peanut oil (vegetable oil will do)
10 plum tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 cup vegetable stock or 1 cup water + 2 veg boullion cubes
1 cup frozen green peas

Spice Blend:
2 tsp ground cumin
2 teaspoons hungarian paprika
1 teaspoon ground fenugreek
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground cardomom
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)

Directions
Boil the lentils for about 45 minutes or until tender.

In a large pot, over med heat saute the onions and carrots for 10 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger and spice blend. Saute 5 more minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, cook 5 more minutes. Add tomato paste and mix, then add the water. Simmer Until bubbling. Add the cooked lentils and green peas, simmer 15 more minutes.

Bet you'll never guess what I'm having for dinner... ;)

If you are at all interested in the "Green Movement" or Learning more about becoming Vegetarian or Vegan here are some likes for you:

• Green Mom's Carnival - Talk about her time turning green and advocating an organic lifestyle. 
• Vegan Show and Tell - this blog is pretty rad. You should see it on my blogroll, because once I found her I decided I just needed to keep reading. The blog is dedicated to the lifestyle of a decade long vegan. With lots of tid-bits and fun recipes, it's totally worth a look.
• Bit of Raw - this is also a blogspot blog. Filled with little things that will make your life simpler as a vegan, vegetarian or someone who is looking to go Raw in their diet.
• Vegan Health [dot] org - A very good resource if you're starting out or need a reminder of how to be healthy and a vegan/vegetarian. It's very easy to eat crap when you don't know what you're doing. Remember: Being Vegan doesn't mean being healthy. You need to be sure you're getting all the nutrients you need and before you take the plunge you should talk to your primary doctor (or if you're me, your ob/gyn) for guidance. 

Other news:

BP has put aside a few billion dollars just to pay off people who will be getting sick and dying from the record breaking oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. (sounds a bit to me like "And the Band Played On" - if you're not familiar. When the AIDS outbreak happened it made more sense to some to just pay off people that were infected from HIV/AIDS blood transfusion than test the blood. No joke. Oh, capitalism.) 

BP had to shut down their attempt to fix this travesty they created last last week when one of their ships was struck by lightening. (God - 1, Humans - billions and billions of dead animals and wild life)

If you're looking for more information - Al.com (Alabama's website) published an bunch of articles on their site and they're all worth the look. 

Also, tonight on CNN, Larry King will be hosting a 2 hour marathon in order to raise money for the victims of the Gulf Oil Disaster. (go here for more info.)

Isn't she cute?

Moving back to the animal thing that I love to talk about so much. This past week The Cleveland Scene printed an article called "Having a Cow" the reason I'm bringing it to light is because I'm not a fan of the tone. The article opened up speaking about Middle Age Women "swooing" over Wayne Pacelle, the CEO of the Human Society. I'm not sure what Mr. Pacelle's appearance has to do with animal cruelity but hey, I will openly admit half way through the article I began to nod off. 

Yes, it's rude, but let me just say this - WTF? The whole article (or what I've read of it) centers around the appearance of the people who are trying to tell you that the animals we (a generic we) are consuming are ill treated and abused.

"They're gonna die anyway! Who cares?"

You should, because you are consuming poorly treated animals, which means what they do or don't eat, what is shoved into their body's will be ingested into your body.

Drink Milk? You're drinking pus. This is not something made up to make you angry - it's a fact. 

Your side of beef look fresh? Chances are it's because there is dye in it. 

Someone commented on the Scene's website that people just don't understand farming. I say we haven't farmed in this country for years. We turned our animals into machines and when they don't do what we want any longer we toss them aside. 

Yes - there are some animal rights organizations that feel the need to get all up in your face to tell you how wrong you are and how you need to listen to them. 

I'm asking YOU to dig deeper. You tell me. You go out there and tell me what you find. I'd love to hear from you. Hell, send me pictures of what you find! I mean, I already threw up in my mouth from going to the pus site. 

There's more to life than knee jerk reactions to ideas that don't fit the life you're familiar with. You're a lot smarter than you give yourself credit for - go out there and look for the truth, because it's not going to be handed to you. The media hands you ratings - and if the truth won't get those ratings... *shrug*

Moving on to news about my life -

(the picture just made me laugh so I thought I'd share...)

Surprisingly we didn't with the www.pitch.co contest. Seems when you enter only the day before the voting closes you don't receive enough votes! LOL. Next time! But now we (my friend "M" & I) have this great idea pretty much planned out. So when we have a chance to get to getting we can start looking for investors to get MyHealth off the ground.

I'm also working on my own Yoga website which, I hope, will be up soon, but right now I've been concentrating my time on writing. I'm over 250 pages and I'm going to go write some more.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and that you will, for your own self, give up meat for one day. Trust me. It's worth it.