Wednesday, October 27, 2010

World Go Vegan Week


October 24-31 is World Go Vegan Week.  This is how my diet has evolved and why.

I have been a meat and dairy eater my whole life. When I was a young I lived on the fast food diet consiting of burgers and fries washed down by a copiuoius amounts of sugar filled soda nearly everynight. I was a fat kid from about the age of 9 to 14. At the age of 12 I topped out at around 165 lbs the most I have ever weighed. (I currently weigh anywhere between 138-150lbs depending on what I am training for, and I am also about 10 inches taller than when I was 12). I was always an active kid but my average american diet was killing me. I use to get excruciating stomach cramps at least once a month (PMS? no, but those are my initials, lol) Throughout my teen years my diet was still pretty bad, the only reason it was better was that I was broke most of the time and would rather spend what little money I had on alternative vices (like cigarettes). I was still pudgy but I had a growth spurt which kept me from looking obese. I played soccer throughout high school but also smoked up to 2 packs a day.

I quit smoking the day I turned 18. I started playing disc golf 5 to 7 times a week, throughout college. I was not overweight but I was far from healthy. I got into running for a few years in my early 20's which allowed me to  keep eating like crap and not gain weight. I began reading labels at the supermarket and my diet became better than average but far from perfect. I was overly concerned about getting protein, mostly from dairy. It wasn't any type of Atkin's like diet with protein intake consisting of about 40% total calories.  When I started getting serious about running at the age of 28 my goal was 200 grams of protein a day. I felt like I was in good shape I was eating about 4,000 calories a day but was still dealing with stomach issues on occasion.

I've never been much of a restaurant person.  I would always rather cook my own food than go out.  I don't feel the need to be served food and I like to know what is in it, where it came from and who has been touching it. For the past few years I try to eat out no more once or twice a week and I feel this has contributed to better overall health as well as being more cost efficient.

About 4 months ago I started reading some book's on nutrition by Michael Pollen (He's one of the main voices in the movie Food Inc.) .  His Philosophies are pretty simple and made sense to me. "Eat food, mostly plant's, not too much"  to me this meant cook my own food to avoid preservatives, and limit my meat intake to about once week. When I say meat that includes  poultry and fish in case you were wondering.  I was never a huge beef eater but cutting down my fish intake was a little difficult.  I continued to eat dairy especially cheese and yogurt.

Happy with the way my diet had been going I started to read literature about the problems with dairy on both our bodies and the environment.  What I read I found quite appalling.  I had always known that cow milk was for calfs not people.  "The China Study" really opened my eyes to the dangers of Dairy/slash beef  in respect to tumor growth and heart disease.  A lot of people debate the validity of the China Study.  Whether Casien the main protein found in milk promotes cancer I don't know, what I do know is my body has nothing to gain from animal products other than the potential for early death and disease.  I have no desire to torture animals, and by purchasing meat or dairy I am perpetuating the acceptance of it and to me that really sucks.  Just because we don't see it happen doesn't make it okay.


The most recent book I read "Mad Cowboy" really got me concerned about the destructive environmental factors that beef production has plagued are world with. a couple quotes I remember about from book.  "For every hamburger exported from Brazil 56 square feet of rain forest is cleared for cattle grazing."  Another one theat stuck in my head "The amount of water needed to raise just 10lbs of beef is equal to the amount of water used by the average family of 4. for a year!"(those cows really got to turn off the water while they brush their teeth).  Cattle  require 15 lbs of grain to to gain 1 lb of beef.  This doesn't really make sense when there is close to billion people starving in the world today.(very sad)

In an effort to increase the rate of growth of livestock including cows, chickens and pigs.  Farm animals are fed cheap protein supplements from Rendering Plants. What is Rendering plant you ask? Ever wonder what the pound does with all it's euthanized cats and dogs ? A Rendering plant is a place that takes all the left over animal parts from the slaughter house (stuff you can't make a hot dog with) along with millions former pets and stray animals put to sleep by the pound.  It is all mixed together and recycled into both pet food (yep fido is eating fido) and food for livestock as well.  Pretty freaking disgusting if you ask me.  I dare you to do a google search for rendering plant pictures


My diet is evolving and will continue get better.  I make no claims to be a perfect vegan and am still not entirely sure whats acceptable.  Currently I am still contributing to enslavement of Bee's  (honey) but will probably give it up when my bottle runs out.  If you offer to take me out to sushi I'll probably say yes and if you dangled bacon in front of me I might punch you :), eat the bacon and then apologize.  I don't expect to convince you to be a vegan, I have even had a hard time convincing myself.  I hope that I have least opened your eyes a little towards the problems with meat production and consumption.  The more the concerns are voiced out, the more acceptant our country will come towards veganism.  We are the fattest country in the world.  Changing our diets away from meat and dairy is a very simple thing to do to make the world a better place and let us live healthier lives.

Sure why not

My Diet

Quicker than excel for me
I've eaten everything on this pyramid in the last week other than Bacon and sushi

In order to properly function my body requires between 3500 and 5000 calories a day. I consider myself a pretty active person and would guess I burn anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 calories from cardio vascular exercise on an average day, usually in the form of a 2 to 4 hour soft sand run.  I eat a lot of food and burn a lot of caolories my protein intake is between 10% and 20% of food consumed and probally ranges between 50 and 100 grams a day.

Breakfast

I like to get at least 1,000 calories in in the morning. On a normal day make a pot of coffee about 24oz while the coffee is brewing I eat a piece of citrus fruit (tangellos are my favorite) and a Banana. I then either make a peanut butter or almond butter sandwich on whole grain bread. I'll also am a big fan of toast especially Cinnomin toast but I'm trying to consume less refined sugar. If I am planning a long run afterwards It is common for me to have 10 and up to 20 pieces of toast. When I feel I need a little more energy I ill mix up a couple ounces of ground chia and water for a few more calories.

Lunch

Fresh and easy is the cheapest place I have found for Quinoa
Brussell Sprouts ( I never new this was how they grew)

The rice cooker is the cooking utnesil I use most. Funny thing is I almost never cook rice. At least every other day I cook up a batch of either Quinoa both red and yellow or Lentils both green or red.  My particular rice cooker has a steamer that goes on top.  I really like this feature because it allows my to cook my vegetables (usually Brussell sprouts or Bok Choy) at the same time while the nutrients taken away by the steam are absorbed by the food cooking below. I usually cook up enough food to last me about 2 and a half meal's of   of between 500-1000 calories each.  Depending on the day I usually add  Ponzu and hot sauce or salsa for extra flavor.

Dinner

Avocado taco's ingredients (tomatoes and pepper from my garden)

To me almost nothing tastes better than an Avocado.  When they are in season and are affordable it's common for me to eat 10  or as many as 20 in a week.  Intead of making quacamole and eating it with  deep fried tortilla chips I have been making Avocado taco's on a soft corn or cactus tortilla.  Avocado's were on sale this week for $.68 and I have been eating at least 2 a day, while at the same time eating at least one home grown habanero,  jalepeno, serano, and almost all of my tomatoes left growing in my garden.

My main staple for dinner for the last 2 years has been pizza.  At least 2 nights a week sometimes 4 I like to cook one up. (Not sure if it's really considered Pizza anymore because I don't use sauce or cheese).  I start out by rolling a really thin whole wheat crust.  I then add a little olive oil followed by a layer of tomatoes preferably  from my garden.  Any type of tomato will do but I prefer smaller sweeter varieties.  I then add any mixture of the following vegetables onion, garlic, spinach, carrots, arugula, habanero, jalpeno, serano, thai chili, green pepper, avocado, basil, artichoke, olive, mushroom, or just about anything else I have sitting around.  I cook it on a pizza stone at somewhere above 450f .  I have been wanting to try out this quinoa crust recipe for awhile but have not got around to it.

The other thing I have been cooking for dinner on a pretty regular basis.  Is stir fry.  I always have tofu in my fridge and bags of frozen vegetables in the freezer (I know fresh would be better).  I'll throw both in the wok along with a bit of water ( I add my sauce afterwards to cut back on the amount needed) and I have a cheap healthy dinner in a few minutes. I usually top it with a bit of Ponzu and Sriracha.



Hot sauce
As you can probably tell by now I eat a lot of hot sauce about 1/3 a bottle a day.  At any given time I have between 15 and 40 different types to choose from.  This what I currently have in my pantry.  At the end of each year I  take all my left over bottles and mix them together for a batch of Hot wings.  I'll have to try something different this year 
Current Favorite
I bought 8 bottles last night from cost plus $2.99 a piece but I had a $10 off $30 coupon. Made in Belize it has no preservatives ingredients: Habanero peppers, carrots, onions, lime juice, vinegar, garlic, salt & nothing else. It's spicier than your normal red pepper or jalepeno sauce but pretty tame for a Habanero one. It's perfect for avocado taco's or pizza.  I finished 2 bottles of the stuff last week and am showing no sign of slowing down and will most likely need more before the year ends. 


Other foods Iv'e been trying out this week

I never had soy Ice cream Until last week .I figured it would probably suck. Nutritionally it's no health food, but at least it doesn't have that stuff that drips out a cow tit. Anyhow It was pretty damn good. It's not somthing I plan to buy on regular basis but it's nice to know the option is there.

I had never had almond milk until very recently.  I've tried about 15 different soy milks, some were horrible some okay and only one I actually enjoy is Pearl Vanilla.  I thought I would give almond  milk a try, almonds are among my favorite nuts. I was hoping It would not require as much added flavoring or sugar.  This is the only Almond milk I have tried so far and I must say it taste way better than any soy milk I have ever had.  It's flavor is pretty mellow almost comparable to a non fat milk when poured on cereal.  It will be a regular staple in my diet for a long time to come.

99% cacao
I'm becoming a chocolate snob.  I've been trying various percentages of cacao.  At 99% it's no Hershey bar.  High in calories and high in fat it has a flavor that stays on your toungue.  Another one of those foods that's pretty grose when your expecting a different flavor.  Once you accept  it as a unique taste from the chocolate you grew up with it's really quite enjoyable and a great compliment to red wine, coffee or bourbon.  This particular bar had 210 calories a serving with 200 coming from fat.  Often times while training I find myself in need calorie dense fuel that pack small and I will keep this in mind as an option.

My garden

Summer is over and my garden only has another month or so of producing.  Almost all my tomato's and strawberries are gone.  No more beets, radishes, corn, pumpkin, green pepper or lettuce.  I've still got quite a few hot peppers going and enough basil to eat a few times a week.  Growing my own food is very rewarding to me and something I very much enjoy.

Pics from last week

I did not plant any watermelon in my Topsy Turvy yet somehow I have one growing out of it.  I don't think the topsy turvy is big enough for the root system needed to collect enough water for a large watermelon. At only about 2 inches in length I believe it is fully grown.  I think I might be able to scoop the whole inside with one swipe of the melon baller.
As I was picking the last of my tomatoes this little guy nearly crawled onto my hand.  The plant was pretty bare so I decided let him stay and even left a nice tomato to eat.  He's stuck around the last few days.  We like to discuss our philosophies on love life and women as I water the rest garden each morning.


I know this blog post is missing the usual running barefoot and getting drunk along the way banter.  I've taken a brief hiatus from running for the past few weeks and probably the next few as well.  I've been on the bike for about 20 miles a day.  I'm on my 6th book in the last 3 weeks and the cogs in my brain have been spinning in strange directions. Eventually my lunacy will be back to abnormal as usual.  In the mean time

Have a happy Halloween


Thursday, October 14, 2010

Sports Kilt Day 1 Disc Golf at El Dorado.

Yesterday I had the privilege to meet up with founder of Sport Kilt at their headquarters in Signal Hill California.  I have been intrigued with owning a kilt for years but spending upwards of $600 for an authentic one was out of the question.

A Tri-athlete/ Ultra runner friend mine turned on to Sports Kilt a few months ago.  He was using their base model  to change into and lounge around in after the race.  I thought it was pretty cool and I instantly wanted one especially since they started at a reasonable $50.

It turns out Sports Kilt makes a hiking model, that's made to be light weight and wick moisture.  Recently a few of my Barefoot running friends have taken to running in them.  It seemed like a perfect match for me.  I think I'm the only Sandal sponsored runner in the world, so I guess it makes perfect sense to be racing in a kilt, right?  It's hard to find a good loin cloth and if I raced in the buff I may not get an invite back the following year. (I am trying to fit a nudist run into my schedule for next year)

Seamus the owner of Sport Kilt was a real nice guy, he showed around  the factory and all the different styles and designs he was working with.  They all seemed well designed and I was very excited to try out the the Hiking Kilt and I also picked a Comfy Kilt for lounging around in at home.

I think Sport Kilt has a good future ahead of them in the running world.  The owner wants feedback on how to make a better running kilt if possible.  I plan to work with him to make something that is already pretty great even better.  Anyway I headed straight from the factory to El Dorado Park in Long Beach CA, to take my Hiking Kilt out for a spin  (don't worry I didn't spin too fast)

The  Air-Flow adds to the fluidity of the putting motion and helps with accurately judging the wind.
It's all about confidence.  If you have the game to back it up The Sport Kilt will give you a psychological advantage over your competition 
I even got the river dance form holding my right arm behind my back
It's amazing I don't fall over after every drive.
step dancing my way up the teepad




I got to the course put on my kilt and dropped my shorts.  I decided to keep my boxers on at first just in case of some sort of wardrobe malfunction.  I quickly realized the Kilt was well designed and that this was not gonna happen.  After the first hole I felt like was cheating myself and was ready to go Commando, and that I did for my next 4 rounds of golf.

It was a pretty windy day  and I was digging the air-flow.  The fabric of the Hiking Kilt is very similar to that of your modern Board Shorts, it's very light weight yet stayed in place enough to keep my willie covered.    The weather was only about 70 degree's and I think where the Hiking Kilt will excel is under extreme heat.  I look forward to running in the kilt and will post my opinions after I log some miles.

The initial test of the Sports Kilt was quite a success  and I found it very comfortable to wear while playing Disc golf.  The only potential problem occurred on my last hole.  My disc got stuck in a tree and my friends were begging my not to climb up and get it :) lucky for them I got it down before it resulted to that.  I got some interesting reaction's from the other golfers,  ranging from "what the f**k to "rad" I also got few smiles from the ladies at the course and got honked at by some college girl's driving by.  Nobody beat me up and I was even able to win a few bucks while golfing in it.  All in all it was just another good day.

Sweeney Tartan

As of now Sport Kilt does not make a version with the Sweeney Tartan (maybe in the future).  If you have any idea's about how to make a better Running Kilt or Ideas on future fabric's  send me an email, and I'll do my best to have them implemented in a future model.  Sport Kilts are made in USA and the people behind them are excited to adapt to their designs for the running community for both men and women.  Sport Kilt hooked me up with a discount code for my blog readers valid till Nov 15.  If your interested send me an email  or text and I'll get it out to you.

bourbonfeet@gmail.com
(424)571-3338


Wednesday, October 13, 2010

21 century Satyr In search of the Dionysian Principle


  The roads been a bit bumpy the last week and I'm  taking advantage of it.  Rather than settling in on my normal rhythm.  I'm trying to expand my horizons.  Each day is a completely unique adventure and I'm making an effort  to try new things, blaze new paths, meet new people and learn new facts about the people I already know. Anyway this is what's going on.

I found an old pic from High School

Caution: the thoughts a reviews expressed in this blog may be dangerous to your mental health, do not let yourself get brainwashed by my idiocracy


Eat


For years I've been intrigued with Vegimite.  I have ran into numerous aussies who loved the damn stuff but I has never pulled the trigger and bought my own.   My American friends who have tried it, all looked at me like  I was crazy for desiring this discusting product.  It turns out Vegimtie is owned by the Kraft coporation, a conglomerate I do not like to support.  Solution I bought the British version of Vegimite  "Marmite"

Processing my first taste
Marmites motto is "Love it or Hate it."
"mmm Deeeeelicious" lol
I have a strong stomach and after the first few bites I was a bit nauseous.  I'm currently  on day 6 of eating marmite. It tastes like a vegetarian anchovy  paste would, if such a product existed.  (I haven't tried it yet on pizza but probably will someday).  My feelings towards it are closer to hate than love, yet the flavor compels me to keep coming back.


(the national drink of Argentina)

I've been drinking Mate off and on for the past ten years and every day for the last week.  The stuff looks, smells and tastes exactly how imagine rabbit food to be like.  (Rabbits are pretty fast and they like to procreate, if it's good enough for them maybe its good enough for me, lol) Traditionally it is drank out of cured gourd.  I tried cureing my own gourd once and it was a miserable failure.  For that reason I usually drink it out of a coffee cup. How to make? Fill  acup maybe 2/3 of the way with mate and add steaming hot water (not boiling).  It is steeped like a tea however instead  of sipiing from the cup as you would with a tea that has already been strained.
It's impossible for a dude to look cool sipping through a straw

Mate is sipped through a metal straw called a bombilla that has a screen at the end of it. The taste is pretty earthy and enjoyable. I buy the stuff at my local Argentian market for a very ressaonable $4.49 a kilo.  Mate is added to some sports drinks as a buzz word (marketing mumbo jumbo) and there is even a Mate soda that I enjoy but only drink every couple of years (too much sugar). Mate can be bought in tea bag form under the brand Guayaki at most Supermarkets or  at Trader Joe's ,  I dont care for much and it costs more than I want to pay but if your curious about the taste of Yerba mate it might be a good way to start.
Tastes nothing like Chocolate or mate

I bought this whim the other day.  It's a nice tea to drink late at night.  I have almost no will power when It comes to dessert foods.  I don't buy them that often because when I do I eat them all at once my logic being "the sooner I eat it the sooner I can start burning the calories." Pretty sad that I resorted into tricking myself into  thinking this is some sort of decadent food. Which is more pathetic, that I try and fool myself or that I can succeed at doing so?


Cactus Pear?

I was at the asian market the other day buying the usual assortment of pears and plums, when this baby caught my eye.  Cactus pear, huh?  I really had no idea what to expect so I decided to cut it open and take a bite.  It had almost a cucumber like texture in the inside with some large crunchy seeds. I try to always eat the seeds of a fruit when possible and am still waiting for the watermelons to grow out of my stomach (at least that will be the excuse if a beer belly ever catches up with me)  The flesh had a really sweet taste almost comparable to guava and the skin had a texture similar to aloe vera.


 All in all the Cactus pear was a pleasant surprise and I look forward to foraging this delicious fruit on my next spirit quest through the desert (My next one would be my first)

Drink
Sweet Mead
Iv'e been drinking some sweet mead latley.  It's got a nice taste.  If you can Imagine a white wine made from Honey that's what it taste like.  I prefer it at room temperature.  I'm not really a port drinker and this provides a nice after dinner alternative.  It cost about $15 a bottle, it's got a nice flavor but I would rather have some Wild Turkey Honey liqueur if I had the choice

Fighting cock 103 proof
If you ever see me at BevMo standing in the Bourbon isle it will look as if I'm trying to decide what kind of car to buy.  The options I'm usually looking for are, aged at least 5 years, must be straight bourbon (none of that sour mash or blended crap) and most important it should be at least 90 proof perferably over 100.  I stay in that isle for way to long trying to make the right choice. I always look first in top shelf case at my favorite Bourbon "Bookers" it's the strongest Bourbon I ever had and fluctuates between 121-128 proof depending on the batch (I've heard rumors of it hitting over 130 but I've never seen it but if I do I will buy it) .  It cost around $50-60 a bottle, and I only buy it once a year, if that.  This week I bought a bottle of Fighting Cock 103 proof bourbon aged for 6 years for $17.99.  I drink my bourbon straight sometimes with water if I need to make it last.  On scale of 1 to 10 I give Fighting Cock a 7 out of 10, not bad but I don't think I'll buy it again.

Exercise


Every once in awhile I listen to my body, usually because something is broken down.  For the last week and maybe the next one as well I am giving up running.  The body needs a change and so does the brain.  I have become too psychologically dependent on it, and need to broaden my horizons.  For the first time in months I climbed the stairs up from my familiar stomping ground in the Sauna to the gym up above.  I  go to the gym between 5 and 7 days a week and yet it feels very foreign to actually work out there.  It's a very image contious place and vanity seems to be main reason why people are there.  Half the time I spend laughing at the meat market going on around me. I go about my business nonchalantly lifting less weights than the girl who uses the machine before me and spinning the recumbent bike for hours at a time while I usually read.


"Me and my Sole Brothers"
Runners World November 2010 article link w/out pics

I got a few emails last week from friends saying they saw me in Runner's World magazine.  Apparently I'm "Sole Brothers" with Matthew Mcconaughey Channing Tatum and Eddie George.  My mom was pretty excited  and bought me a copy of the magazine.  It's kind of funny that the article is using me as an endorsement for Vibram a product I rarely use anymore.  Any press is good press I guess. (last sentence kind of rolls off the tongue nicely)

Got this in the mail yesterday.  From a race I ran back in August.  It wasn't my best race but I guess it pays to be  old.

Entertainment



Last week the premiere event in disc golf was held at the Withrop Gold course in North Carolina.  The event was streamed live over the internet from Wednesday to Saturaday.  I know about 30 to 40 guys playing in the tourament and found myself glued to my computer for hours at a time.  It's funny how different people act when they know the camera is on them.  One thing that spoiled playing professional disc golf for me was the lack of fun players were having at the higher levels.  Lot's of cussing and adults acting like spoiled children when things didn't go their way.  Most of the top players are great guys outside the game but can be complete opposites to compete with.   Watching some of these same players try to censor themselves (mom could be watching)  I found absolutely hysterical.  The coverage of the event was pretty good and getting better each year.

My nephews and I at the our last Angel game of the year. my team sucked pretty bad this year, but that doesn't mean I wasn't gonna have a good time especially when the tickets cost Under $1.  The last few years I have have made and spent some good money buying and selling Playoff tickets.  This year I'll be sitting on my excercise bike watching the playoffs from home. I'm hoping for a Rangers Giants world Series but if I had to bet I'd say Phillies Yankees, Phillies in 6.


Music
I just stumbled across an artist named Nouvelle Vague,  and shes been on my brain for the past 48 hours


Dead Kennedy's cover
I think I'm in love with her voice.  I've also been listening to a bunch Kimya Dawson's music lately I really dig her vibe and it turn's out her and her husband are both Luna Sandal wearer's.  Yesterday I  bribed my 6 and 8 year old nephews by letting them listen too one of her songs if they were good.

Alphabutt
Now it's stuck in my head.
I've also been listening to a lot Blue grass radio stations when I go to sleep each night.  If anyone has some good music to recommended me please do.

Reading
I love to read but am too much of a spaz to sit down and focus on just one thing.  Because I have been riding The exercise bike  for the last week at home and at the gym I have had plenty of time to flip some pages (while watching the mlb playoffs)  I've been on a Bukowski fix of late.  I own about 8 of his books and thumbed through 3 of them this week.  For better or for worse it's pretty easy for me to get on the same wave length as him.  (what a surprise huh) I really dig his honesty. His writing is simple and straight forward, beautiful people come from all walks of life, race, socio economic status, and class mean nothing. He found bewilderment in individuals from the homeless to the elite.We all have almost the same dna and why not share a little love with one another .  Bukowski may not be the prototypical beacon of love for humanity, but I think he understood the world  better than most people.

Spookiness 

It's that time of year again.  The time of year where Target and CVS  compell me to towards buying crap just because it's demonic or has a skull on it.  I already own to much stuff and don't need a zombie snow globe or the bamboo skeleton wind chime, which I almost spent 20 bucks on. (it's still calling for me but I think my will power is strong  enough to resist at least till it's clearenced $5 after Halloween. I think I might make my own.   Rumor has it that the morbid pulse can cause buried skeletons to climb out of the ground and dance under the dark of night.

  Skeletons make the best barefoot runners.

I've got about 10 different sheets of paper with scribbles on them.  Nothing I ever draw is finished, it always seems to progress into something else until there is no room left on the page.  This is what's with in arms reach of the scanner right now.  Most of my drawing comes while I'm on the phone.

Sweeney
Add caption
Almost every single piece of Homework I ever turned in had some sort scribble like this on it.  
How much should a picture of the Devil cost?

I bought this about 5 years ago.  It's usually up somewhere in my room but this time of year it gets moved to the living room.  Anyway I could not resist the price, Originally $9.99 it was on sale 33% off  which translates to 
$6.66
Even scarier than my pic of the devil is that the creepy dude from Boogie Nights is running for Governor in California. Boo Meg Whitman
(I know this has nothing to do with my blog, but my blog doesn't really make any sense anyway)



Every year Innova Champion Discs comes out with a frisbee that has a new Jackolantern stamp on it, I've bought a few in the past but after years of playing Disc golf I own way too many disc's (my guess around 500) and don't need anymore.  About 5 years ago I was contemplating buying that years design, when I got the idea to carve my own.  I hadn't carved a pumpkin in years and thought it would be fun.  I ended up carving 2 Jackolaterns from old orange discs I did not throw anymore.  That year and every year since all October I put them in my back window of my car alongside of Ratty Mc Rat Rat (clever name huh)  a black rubber rat (my theft deterrent system ) that stays there year round. I ususlly carve one new disc each year and keep one from the year prior.

Final Thoughts


It seems like every time I get what I want I realize the foolishness of my desires.  Whether it's love, lust material gains or notoriety my visions of the Utopian future never quite add up the way they do my brain.   Optimism is one of my greatest strengths and I don't plan on giving it up anytime soon.  What I  need to do is be more in tune with the present.  Every day is an opportunity to take a new path, try something new, and open my eyes to discover new beauty I have never noticed before.  I find myself a little too complacent with the everyday routine.  It's a world of possibility and I don't want to set limits on what  I can experience.  A structured path is not the life for me.  I'm a 21 century satyr in search of the Dionysian Principle and maybe the occasional nymph. 

 Let the exploration begin. It's a wonderful world we live  in, it's beauty surrounds us everyday and I am compelled  to embrace it.