Bowlful of Crickets

Don’t wait up for me. But I’m going to try to write here a little more. See you soon, I hope.

So in response to my previous post, Deanna asked why I decided to become a vegetarian.  Rather than reply directly to her, I’d thought I’d share my reasons here so any one who stumbles across this page can read them. There’s a few reasons (and I’m using bold type to allow folks to skim)…for the first, let me paraphrase Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) from Pulp Fiction…

My wife’s a vegetarian so that pretty much makes me a vegetarian, too. This totally over simplifies it and isn’t the main/only reason, but I’m a guy, it’s cool to quote Pulp Fiction. But in reality, Debbie decided to become vegetarian, we discussed it, and I was pretty quickly on board. I thought I was going to be 85-95% vegetarian at first, but wound up being about 99% over the last three months. More on that in a minute…

So, Deb was a vegetarian for a while a few years ago, and we have both been very concious about what our family has been eating over the past year or so. With two special needs kids, we’ve been trying to cut out the junk and eat organic, first for the kids and then for ourselves. We started down that path and then when we went almost organic, Deb read Skinny Bitch, then I did too (see review). The book is pretty much a vegan manifesto, and a little bit heavy handed for me, but what I took from it is that all of the bad stuff that we were trying to avoid in mass-produced food existed in most meats. We considered going hormone-free, free range, etc.- but what gets us is that all of the “healthy” meat winds up at the same slaughterhouses (a USDA requirement) as the high-density feedlot animals. So while I’m not a card carrying PETA member nor plan to become one, animal treatment and health does play a part.

Another reason is that overall, I’m trying to eat better/lose weight. I’m 40 and can stand to lose 20 pounds. I figured trying a vegetarian diet would help. What I didn’t anticipate is that while my meat intake went down, my pizza intake went up considerably. Nevertheless, I’ve lost a few pounds and my clothes fit a little better.

I’d also thought I’d try it out to see if it made me feel any better. And it does. While I have enjoyed a few Burger King veggie burgers, for the most part this keeps me out of the fast food joints. I have swayed back to the meat side a couple of times- mot recently for hot wings and a kosher dog at a baseball game.  We do eat the occasional seaood item too, which makes it more bearable to dine out - there’s only so much pizza, pasta and salads you can order, and the choices at many places can be limited. We’re also less concerned about the humanity of “aquaculture” (catchy, no?), although I have a book on the topic I’m about to read.  But in all, being almost 100% meatless has made me feel healthier and generally be in a better mood.

So there’s my long answer to a short question I’m happy I’m doing it and will likely keep it going for a while, but I think I will still have a steak at my annual holiday outing with the guys from work.  Ultimately, I feel that any lifestyle choice- including diet- is up to the individual to find what works best for them.  I’d never thought I’d live a life without bacon, but I am, and I really like it.

No, I’m not ignoring the blog again, not yet, anyway. Digging my way through The Power Makers by Maury Klein. A really fascinating (and throrough) account of the history of power- steam and electricity in particular- and the people behind it. It’s fascinating but slow-going, so I may through another book in there in the interim. At any rate, another book review coming soon.

I’ve got more jackass soda to get to, hope to get that on the site. Saw a new (to me) concept at Pierogi Fest in Whiting, IN that I’ll write about- could be the next big thing to hit fairs/fests- it may already be there…

Speaking of Pierogi Fest, it’s in July in Whiting each year. If you can go next year, do so. Kitschy doesn’t start to cover it. Plus, lots of great pierogis. You can’t go wrong.

The White Mary by Kira Salak

This is the first novel by adventurer/journalist Kira Salak. The author’s note states the much of the book is based on personal experiences. This is the story of adventurer/journalist Marika Veccera, her travels around the world and her journeys to find her writing idol- and while she’s at it, herself.

Salak has been to Papua New Guinea herself and wrote a non-fiction book about it. This came through in vivid colors, as the sections that took place in the jungle were believable and fascinating. When Marika was in PNG, it was hard for me to put the book down. Other visits to far off locales were not as riveting, but still interesting.

Unfortunately, part of the book takes place in Boston, and involves a love interest that seems fairly unbelievable as a character to me. The dialogue between the two main characters seems forced at times, and occasionally caused me to chuckle in disbelief. A few other of the stateside characters seemed forced as well, although her visits to Missouri were interesting and well done.

In all, this was a decent book that definitely kept my interest. It succeded with flying colors as an adventure story, did a decent job with its religious and philosophical overtones, and missed the mark (for me, at least) when it came to romance. If adventure is what you seek, The White Mary may be worth your time- for me, I plan on seeking out Salak’s non-fiction work- her eye for detail in exotic lands is apparent here, and likely works well in that context. ()

reblogging allgrownsup: The “Why I’m voting Republican” video. (Click on the link, it will bring up the video. I had it embedded, but 3 months later, it was preventing my page from loading. Jerks.)

A virtual tour of the Moscow Metro:

reblogging bg5000:

I had no idea Moscow had such beautifully decorated Metro stations. And considering it’s a former Communist country, it makes ours in Chicago look even worse.

TV:  Some of these stations are amazing

‘What will your obituary say?’ at QuizGalaxy.com

Well, I guess the good news is by the time I’m gone, I will have depleted all my creativity, as evidenced by the fact I’m ripping off Citizen Kane in my last words.

And as for you, shady guy in the toll booth, the feeling is mutual.

Roll out the red carpet, the big day is here.

The 2005 Timmy Awards, my top 25 album list, is now complete.

Check it out.

The way one walks is all part of one’s image. Would-be models come on to America’s Next Top Model and either have a crazy walk they’ve invented for themselves, or they need Miss Jay to break them of their bad runway for (or both). George Jefferson had a signature walk- it added to the comedy before Florence ever complained about how cheap he was.

My walk is a slightly slouched, full speed ahead rumble. At 6′4" and hopefully no more than 245 lbs. (I haven’t stepped on a scale for a while and the holidays is no time to change this), I am by no means graceful, but I can move down a busy sidewalk quickly and weave in and out with next to no trouble.

A few things were in alignment a few weeks ago that altered my walk:

1) I was in my black Cole Hahn Shoes (apologies to Patrick Bateman for the product placement) which I don’t wear a ton- they’re a bit sturdier and heavier than my regular shoes, altering the way I take a step.

2) My lower back was a little sore, so I pulled my shoulders back a bit more than usual.

3) My left knee and left ankle were taking turns being tender, slowing me down a little.

4) Work, while extremely busy, was going pretty well. I had my head held a little higher than most days, and an increased level of confidence.

With these four issues combined, I realized as I walked from the train that I was walking differently. I had the early stages of a swagger.

If attitude is everything, the swagger is a way to show others that you have confidence in yourself, even if you are really walking like an extra in a western or a sailor on leave in 1941. The moment you doubt your own swagger is the moment you look like an idiot. Or at least realize you may look like an idiot.

My swagger was cool, I’m sure of it. I didn’t overdo it- just a little slower, a little bit of a strut with my head held high. I may have looked like Foghorn Leghorn in reality, but in my mind, I was confident, cool and perfect for an after-shave commercial.

I soon was in my old shoes again, the joints felt better, work got a little nuttier, and I was back to rumbling in and out of the crowd, shoulders pointing inward. But while I had my swagger, I looked pretty cool, at least in my own mind…

Yes! White Sox!!! Yes!