Sunday, December 25, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Handmade local goodness
Made by my friend Gregory Crichlow at Chocolate Spokes Bike Studio. It's not only gorgeous, it rides like buttah.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Why, yes, thank you
Ran across this on the Fixed Gear Gallery Forum (the source of all worthy information in my life):
I recently spent a week (my first time) in The Netherlands. I got to see a fairly broad swath of the country, from cities like Amsterdam and Eindhoven to the fruit growing farm villages of Betuwe. EVERYWHERE I went, bicyles are just part of the landscape. It's just how people get around. Yes there are cars, lots of them. Plenty of them are big and there are even SUVs. But the roads have bike lanes (that seem to work) and the people riding aren't making statements, they're just going to work/school/etc.
So what in the actual fuck is wrong with people in this country? No one's freedoms are being trampled in Amsterdam. No one's capitalism is limited. Please give me a society with some REALLY BIG FUCKING GOVENMENT, big enough to tell people who don't want bikes to get in the way of their Jag to fuck off, suck it up and just be happy they even have a road to drive on at all.
So, sign me up for some really big fucking government. I will be there with my bike. Thanks for the sentiment, nothingpop, you said it well.
I recently spent a week (my first time) in The Netherlands. I got to see a fairly broad swath of the country, from cities like Amsterdam and Eindhoven to the fruit growing farm villages of Betuwe. EVERYWHERE I went, bicyles are just part of the landscape. It's just how people get around. Yes there are cars, lots of them. Plenty of them are big and there are even SUVs. But the roads have bike lanes (that seem to work) and the people riding aren't making statements, they're just going to work/school/etc.
So what in the actual fuck is wrong with people in this country? No one's freedoms are being trampled in Amsterdam. No one's capitalism is limited. Please give me a society with some REALLY BIG FUCKING GOVENMENT, big enough to tell people who don't want bikes to get in the way of their Jag to fuck off, suck it up and just be happy they even have a road to drive on at all.
So, sign me up for some really big fucking government. I will be there with my bike. Thanks for the sentiment, nothingpop, you said it well.
Friday, December 16, 2011
A little something
The Windward Shore by Jerry Dennis - Book Trailer from Stone Hut Studios on Vimeo.
I am just starting this book and am loving it so far. The video shows but a smidgen of what makes the Great Lakes so special.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
So you wanted to take a break...
On hiatus for a bit. I will leave you with this:
And, no, I did not get dumped. It's just the song from which the lyric was lifted.
And, no, I did not get dumped. It's just the song from which the lyric was lifted.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
When we used to be skinny
And the world was a much dirtier place to live, apparently.
Colfax Avenue in Denver, circa 1972. I know right where this picture was taken
Where the Conoco and Sinclair signs are in the above picture is where you'll now find this (the bank sign with the time and temp is still there):
Have things improved in 40 years? I should go snap the the same picture one of these days to compare and contrast.
Anyway, fascinating picture series from the Atlantic. The 70's were a lot more bleak than I remember! But of course, I was anywhere from 2-12 years old during that decade, so my perceptions of that time period are skewed.
Another great find from IBikeMPLS.
Colfax Avenue in Denver, circa 1972. I know right where this picture was taken
Anyway, fascinating picture series from the Atlantic. The 70's were a lot more bleak than I remember! But of course, I was anywhere from 2-12 years old during that decade, so my perceptions of that time period are skewed.
Another great find from IBikeMPLS.
Monday, November 28, 2011
T-day redux
Sadly, the Thanksgiving leftovers are slowly disappearing. The stuffing, rice loaf and green bean casserole bid adieu on Saturday evening. So, I made perennial favorite chickpea cutlets last night, which provided a good stand-in for the turkey approximation. Slather it and the remaining mashed potatoes in round 2 of gravy (use broth instead of water if you try this recipe) and prepare for yet another food coma.
Pie is gone too. It's probably for the best...
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving!
From the left, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rice loaf and green bean casserole--most of it covered in mushroom gravy. The cranberry salad does not appear, as I do not like it touching the other stuff on my plate. There's a time for sweet and a time for savory, and they are definitely separate on my Thanksgiving plate. And the requisite bubbly with the meal.
Had a couple of firsts this Thanksgiving--this version of green bean casserole made its first appearance. It was easy and delicious, so that one is a keeper. It doesn't have mushrooms in it, as most green bean casseroles do, but that made it even more appealing since we had mushroom gravy and mushrooms in the stuffing. Not that it's ever possible to over-mushroom anything, but I didn't want to inadvertently go overboard on them. Crisis averted. And, we made the stuffing using stale bread cubes instead of the prepared stuff like Pepperidge Farms. Definitely highly recommended! We used a hybrid of a few recipes for hints on seasoning, etc., so I don't have a recipe to share on that one.
The pie was stupendous, as well, served with espresso.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
T-day preps
Pie! I'm bucking convention and making cherry pie for Thanksgiving. I haven't had much success with vegan pumpkin pies, and I like cherry better anyway. I was inspired by Vegan Pie in the Sky. I'm not very experienced with pie crusts, as evidenced by my sub-par crust crimping.
The proof is in the pudding, or so they say. We'll find out tomorrow how it tastes.
The proof is in the pudding, or so they say. We'll find out tomorrow how it tastes.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Clark swims in Lake Michigan
Here's a little video of Clark looking for salmon in Lake Michigan. He's a funny guy, that Clark.
Monday, November 07, 2011
Cozy
There's something about setting the clocks back every fall that makes me feel all warm and snuggly inside. I hate that the days are getting shorter and it gets dark so early, but all of that darkness makes it acceptable for me to spend some quality time in the kitchen without guilt.
Tonight I made Cream of Mushroom Soup. I got the recipe out of a book, but I can't remember which one. So, no issues if I share the recipe, right?
2 T. nondairy butter
1 T. olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 large oyster mushrooms, finely chopped
1 lb. white mushrooms, coarsely chopped
2 t. dried parsley
2 t. dried or fresh thyme
1 1/2 c. dry white wine
4 c. vegetable stock
1 c. walnuts
salt and freshly ground pepper
In a large soup pot, heat the nondairy butter and oil together over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the carrot and celery and cook for 5 minutes longer.
Lower the heat, and add the mushrooms, parsley and thyme. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the wine and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid reduces and the alcohol cooks off.
Add the stock and stir. Reduce the heat to low and cover.
Add the walnuts to a blender and add just enough hot water to cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy. Ladle 2-3 cups soup from the pot into the blender and blend until smooth (or you can puree the entire soup).
Stir the pureed walnut mixture into the soup pot and heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Before the addition of the walnut puree:
Tonight I made Cream of Mushroom Soup. I got the recipe out of a book, but I can't remember which one. So, no issues if I share the recipe, right?
2 T. nondairy butter
1 T. olive oil
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
3 stalks celery, finely chopped
2 large oyster mushrooms, finely chopped
1 lb. white mushrooms, coarsely chopped
2 t. dried parsley
2 t. dried or fresh thyme
1 1/2 c. dry white wine
4 c. vegetable stock
1 c. walnuts
salt and freshly ground pepper
In a large soup pot, heat the nondairy butter and oil together over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add the carrot and celery and cook for 5 minutes longer.
Lower the heat, and add the mushrooms, parsley and thyme. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the wine and increase the heat to medium-high. Bring to a boil and cook until the liquid reduces and the alcohol cooks off.
Add the stock and stir. Reduce the heat to low and cover.
Add the walnuts to a blender and add just enough hot water to cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Blend on high speed until smooth and creamy. Ladle 2-3 cups soup from the pot into the blender and blend until smooth (or you can puree the entire soup).
Stir the pureed walnut mixture into the soup pot and heat through. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Before the addition of the walnut puree:
Walnut puree. If you don't have a Vita Mix, get one!
After the walnut puree:
It's dinner
I also made the Post-Punk Kitchen's chocolate pudding pie. Recipe and pics here. Mine turned out okay, but it didn't set up as well as I'd like and didn't plate well enough for a picture. However, it was good enough to consume! I'll add more chocolate chips next time, as it wasn't as chocolatey as I would have liked. Still, it was an easy and satisfying dessert.
The soup gets a thumbs-up, as well. Anything with mushrooms in it has a very good chance of getting the thumbs-up from me. I would have liked this soup to be thicker, though, so I'd make the walnut puree thicker or maybe add some roux. I am looking forward to my soup and pie leftover lunch today!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Hybrid Sunday
Well, I'm back among the living, although I am still trying to come to grips with post-vacation life. Trip report to follow, eventually.
So, I couldn't make up my mind this week between a soup and sandwich, so I made both. Not sure if I'll revert to Soup Sunday, stick with sandwiches or just do whatever the hell I want. Probably the latter. There will be a recipe of some sort featured from the Sunday meal, how'z that?
We returned from vacation to find quite a few ripe tomatoes still on the vine! That was indeed a welcome surprise. We also picked about 40 unripe tomatoes and wrapped them in newspaper to ripen them in the house. We'll see how that turns out. Either way, that leaves me with a lot of tomatoes to work with. And, given that I can't seem to get over my mental block regarding canning, I have to figure out something to do with them. So, this week I made roasted tomato soup. I believe the soup has been featured here before, but too bad, I'm doing it again.
Recipe is here. I made it pretty much to spec, although I did add cashew cream and red pepper flakes to give it some spice.
Veggies roasting:
So, I couldn't make up my mind this week between a soup and sandwich, so I made both. Not sure if I'll revert to Soup Sunday, stick with sandwiches or just do whatever the hell I want. Probably the latter. There will be a recipe of some sort featured from the Sunday meal, how'z that?
We returned from vacation to find quite a few ripe tomatoes still on the vine! That was indeed a welcome surprise. We also picked about 40 unripe tomatoes and wrapped them in newspaper to ripen them in the house. We'll see how that turns out. Either way, that leaves me with a lot of tomatoes to work with. And, given that I can't seem to get over my mental block regarding canning, I have to figure out something to do with them. So, this week I made roasted tomato soup. I believe the soup has been featured here before, but too bad, I'm doing it again.
Recipe is here. I made it pretty much to spec, although I did add cashew cream and red pepper flakes to give it some spice.
Veggies roasting:
After the immersion blender:
A little lighter in color after the addition of the cashew cream:
I also made Black Bean and Corn Burgers. Recipe here. Isn't this just the saddest looking burger you've ever seen?
After making pumpkin bread in addition to the soup and burgs (my idea of a day of kitchen bliss, were it not for the mess), I wasn't much in the mood to fancy up the burger. Slap it on a bun with some Vegenaise and eat. The picture doesn't do the burg justice, because it was really good! It didn't need extra fixins.
I must say that I'm enjoying the comfort foods of fall.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Friday, October 07, 2011
This year's pumpkin take
Plus a couple more that haven't ripened yet. We'll see how they look in a coupla weeks if the squirrels haven't gotten to them.
Thursday, October 06, 2011
Speaking of apples...
Quote from Steve Jobs..."Computers are like a bicycle for our minds."
I get the bicycle part. Computers, not so much. And, I am probably about the only person in America who does not own an Apple product. No i anything for me. I'm not anti-i, I'm just a late adopter. Perhaps one day.
Still, clearly Steve Jobs was a visionary. He's inspiring in that he followed his passion and didn't give up. Now that's something I can aspire to.
I get the bicycle part. Computers, not so much. And, I am probably about the only person in America who does not own an Apple product. No i anything for me. I'm not anti-i, I'm just a late adopter. Perhaps one day.
Still, clearly Steve Jobs was a visionary. He's inspiring in that he followed his passion and didn't give up. Now that's something I can aspire to.
Sandwiches AWOL
Apologies to my scant readership for being remiss in my sammich posts. Hard to believe that I've actually had social engagements that have precluded my Sunday habit. I actually did make TLTs this week in an attempt to use up the tomatoes that are finally ripening in the garden. I even took a picture despite it being a rerun sandwich--I figured a rerun might be better than none at all. Then I realized that I didn't have the memory card in the camera but was hungry and did not want to delay gratification long enough to fetch the card and re-take the picture. Now that's true laziness.
And, I will be otherwise occupied for the next few weeks, so there might be a sandwich here and there or there might not. There could be other postings, too, so I know that you'll all be in pins and needles in anticipation. I've also had a request to post a (soup) recipe from a previous posting, so look for that, as well.
Until then, think sandwich thoughts.
xoxo
And, I will be otherwise occupied for the next few weeks, so there might be a sandwich here and there or there might not. There could be other postings, too, so I know that you'll all be in pins and needles in anticipation. I've also had a request to post a (soup) recipe from a previous posting, so look for that, as well.
Until then, think sandwich thoughts.
xoxo
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Breakfast for dinner
Or, the un-McMuffin.
Vegan sausage patties (recipe from Happy Herbivore, but is basically 1 c. cooked quinoa + 1 pkg Gimme Lean sausage + 2 T. maple syrup formed into patties and pan-fried) with baked tofu, faux cheese and a garden tomato.
Tasty, if only I had time to whip up something like this in the mornings. Thus, breakfast for dinner.
Wash it down with a little 'o this:
Vegan sausage patties (recipe from Happy Herbivore, but is basically 1 c. cooked quinoa + 1 pkg Gimme Lean sausage + 2 T. maple syrup formed into patties and pan-fried) with baked tofu, faux cheese and a garden tomato.
Tasty, if only I had time to whip up something like this in the mornings. Thus, breakfast for dinner.
Wash it down with a little 'o this:
Monday, September 19, 2011
Bison sandwich
Just kidding. No buffalo on the menu here. Are buffalo and bison the same thing? Either way, no carnage on my plate.
I made buffalo tempeh sandwiches last night. I used the recipe for buffalo tempeh (duh) that was featured here a bit ago. Upon further inspection of the previous post, this is the second (and even less creative) use of buffalo tempeh in a sandwich. But this time I'll give ya the recipe. Basically, the marinade is:
1/2 c. cayenne pepper sauce (Frank's)
1/2 c. vegetable broth
6 cloves garlic
2 tsp. oregano
Poach the tempeh, then cover in marinade for 10 minutes or more. Brown the tempeh for about 5 minutes per side, then add the remaining marinade and cook until the marinade cooks down.
I love, love, LOVE this sauce.
Served up with a side of collards from the garden. I tried to make ranch dressing for the sammies, but it turned out badly so I went with the old standby of Vegenaise. Can't go wrong there.
And, just so you know, the 3 words every Denver vegan loves to hear from Sweet Action Ice Cream: vegan salted butterscotch. It's as good as it sounds.
I made buffalo tempeh sandwiches last night. I used the recipe for buffalo tempeh (duh) that was featured here a bit ago. Upon further inspection of the previous post, this is the second (and even less creative) use of buffalo tempeh in a sandwich. But this time I'll give ya the recipe. Basically, the marinade is:
1/2 c. cayenne pepper sauce (Frank's)
1/2 c. vegetable broth
6 cloves garlic
2 tsp. oregano
Poach the tempeh, then cover in marinade for 10 minutes or more. Brown the tempeh for about 5 minutes per side, then add the remaining marinade and cook until the marinade cooks down.
I love, love, LOVE this sauce.
Served up with a side of collards from the garden. I tried to make ranch dressing for the sammies, but it turned out badly so I went with the old standby of Vegenaise. Can't go wrong there.
And, just so you know, the 3 words every Denver vegan loves to hear from Sweet Action Ice Cream: vegan salted butterscotch. It's as good as it sounds.
Friday, September 16, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Late again
Sloppy joes this week!
Recipe:
Sloppy Joes
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, cored & chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 oz tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup bulgur
15 oz tomato sauce
1 cup hickory/smoky barbecue sauce
Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Saute the onions, celery and green peppers until the onion begins to caramelize. Add the garlic and stir until aromatic, about a minute. Stir in the remaining ingredients bring to a boil and reduce heat to lowest setting. Cover and let cook for about 20 minutes. Periodically test the bulgur for doneness, adding a little water, if necessary. This makes over a quart, easily enough for 8 heaping sandwiches.
I have no idea where I got this recipe, so I can't give credit where it's due. Anyway, these are definitely sloppy, definitely tasty, and the recipe makes a bunch so you'll have plenty of leftovers.
And, as an aside, I paid a visit to the newly-opened, remodeled City 'O City on Monday. Apparently, reviews are mixed, but I like the new space (the old part looks much the same) and look forward to sampling the menu. My lunch, a BBQ tofu sandwich and a holdover from the old menu, was tasty as always. I spied a number of dishes I'll order on repeat visits. Kudos to the owner for giving it a go and sinking what must have been a lot of money into the remodel.
Recipe:
Sloppy Joes
2 tbs vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 green pepper, cored & chopped
2 stalks celery, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
6 oz tempeh, crumbled
1/2 cup bulgur
15 oz tomato sauce
1 cup hickory/smoky barbecue sauce
Heat the oil in a saute pan over medium high heat. Saute the onions, celery and green peppers until the onion begins to caramelize. Add the garlic and stir until aromatic, about a minute. Stir in the remaining ingredients bring to a boil and reduce heat to lowest setting. Cover and let cook for about 20 minutes. Periodically test the bulgur for doneness, adding a little water, if necessary. This makes over a quart, easily enough for 8 heaping sandwiches.
I have no idea where I got this recipe, so I can't give credit where it's due. Anyway, these are definitely sloppy, definitely tasty, and the recipe makes a bunch so you'll have plenty of leftovers.
And, as an aside, I paid a visit to the newly-opened, remodeled City 'O City on Monday. Apparently, reviews are mixed, but I like the new space (the old part looks much the same) and look forward to sampling the menu. My lunch, a BBQ tofu sandwich and a holdover from the old menu, was tasty as always. I spied a number of dishes I'll order on repeat visits. Kudos to the owner for giving it a go and sinking what must have been a lot of money into the remodel.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
In the olden days
Back before people flew everywhere, they took long car rides for family vacations. Also in olden times, we didn't have DVD players or other digital in-vehicle entertainment. We only had each other, which is why this often happened during car trips:
Monday, September 12, 2011
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Monday, September 05, 2011
It's the most wonderful time of the year
After a miserable August, Saturday's high peaked at something like 72 degrees. Heaven! Yes, fall is in the air. The mornings are cool with a bit of a chilly bite. I love fall, but it's a shame that it goes by so quickly.
Anyway, Sunday's sandwich was an easy affair, as it was late in getting prepped. Path of least sandwich resistance, shall we say.
I made black bean burgers from The Happy Herbivore Cookbook. Recipe here.
These aren't bad, and they're easy. But, they do tend to fall apart a bit, so be careful if you decide to make them. Otherwise, they have good flavor. Served up with some potato salad and corn on the cob. Very summery holiday weekend-y.
And, in the spirit of fall, we indulged in this today:
Apparently the Punkin Ale is coveted! I grabbed the last 4-pack at the liquor store yesterday, and they said it's likely they won't be getting more in stock. Oh well, I got mine!
Happy Labor Day, all.
Anyway, Sunday's sandwich was an easy affair, as it was late in getting prepped. Path of least sandwich resistance, shall we say.
I made black bean burgers from The Happy Herbivore Cookbook. Recipe here.
These aren't bad, and they're easy. But, they do tend to fall apart a bit, so be careful if you decide to make them. Otherwise, they have good flavor. Served up with some potato salad and corn on the cob. Very summery holiday weekend-y.
And, in the spirit of fall, we indulged in this today:
Apparently the Punkin Ale is coveted! I grabbed the last 4-pack at the liquor store yesterday, and they said it's likely they won't be getting more in stock. Oh well, I got mine!
Happy Labor Day, all.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Late Sandwich
Once again, I found myself otherwise occupied last night and did not follow through on Sandwich Sunday. In my defense, I didn't get home until 10:00 last night, and it was a work obligation...
So, Sandwich Sunday carried on today! I made Cajun-Spiced Seitan Po Boys from Vegan on the Cheap. I've never had a Po Boy, but I sure do covet one. Anyway, I doubt this would be mistaken for anything near a genuine Po Boy, but it did make for a good sandwich.
I didn't have a baguette, as I'd have for an authentic version of the sandwich, but given how far I've strayed for from the original, it doesn't make all that much difference.
This one was tasty and easy, which was definitely the goal tonight (and most nights, it seems these days).
So, Sandwich Sunday carried on today! I made Cajun-Spiced Seitan Po Boys from Vegan on the Cheap. I've never had a Po Boy, but I sure do covet one. Anyway, I doubt this would be mistaken for anything near a genuine Po Boy, but it did make for a good sandwich.
I didn't have a baguette, as I'd have for an authentic version of the sandwich, but given how far I've strayed for from the original, it doesn't make all that much difference.
This one was tasty and easy, which was definitely the goal tonight (and most nights, it seems these days).
Monday, August 22, 2011
We have a squatter
Someone has taken up unauthorized residence at our house.
Notice the teeny-tiny bat claw. The little guy/gal has squeezed him/herself into the small space between the house and the back patio. This is probably how I ended up with a bat in my shoe last summer. But, hey, I like bats and any creature that eats bugs is okay in my book. Hang out (no pun intended) as long as you like.
Notice the teeny-tiny bat claw. The little guy/gal has squeezed him/herself into the small space between the house and the back patio. This is probably how I ended up with a bat in my shoe last summer. But, hey, I like bats and any creature that eats bugs is okay in my book. Hang out (no pun intended) as long as you like.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
The taste of summer
I had a new sandwich recipe to try this week, but decided to go with an old standby. In fact, I'd be happy eating this sandwich every day until the tomato plants have exhausted themselves.
Tonight's feature:
Not a great picture and not an attractive tomato. I can't recall the variety and now it's too dark to go outside and look. But, cut it open and you get this:
Gorgeous!
With a tomato like this to work with, TLTs (tempeh, lettuce and tomato) sandwiches are the obvious choice. I make my own tempeh bacon (previously covered on this blog, probably more than once), recipe here. Thin sandwich bun, garden tomato, Vegenaise and some lettuce. Heaven.
Grilled green beans and grilled corn on the side.
Meals like this are solace for yet ANOTHER week of temps in the 90's. In the spirit of willing the arrival of fall, I bought this today:
Just trying to give Mother Nature a bit of prompting to bring on my favorite season of the year.
Tonight's feature:
Not a great picture and not an attractive tomato. I can't recall the variety and now it's too dark to go outside and look. But, cut it open and you get this:
Gorgeous!
With a tomato like this to work with, TLTs (tempeh, lettuce and tomato) sandwiches are the obvious choice. I make my own tempeh bacon (previously covered on this blog, probably more than once), recipe here. Thin sandwich bun, garden tomato, Vegenaise and some lettuce. Heaven.
Grilled green beans and grilled corn on the side.
Meals like this are solace for yet ANOTHER week of temps in the 90's. In the spirit of willing the arrival of fall, I bought this today:
Just trying to give Mother Nature a bit of prompting to bring on my favorite season of the year.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Giving up
Ran across this via the Fixed Gear Gallery (all life's answers can be found on the Gallery):
The Best Way to Solve a Problem: Give Up
Sometimes the easiest way to solve a problem is to stop participating in the problem. Sometimes the smartest choice is giving up.
I don’t think that giving up should be your primary method for dealing with problems. But there are certainly a lot of cases where it just seems to be the most intelligent answer.
The more I stop trying to force things to happen, the more they just seem to sort themselves out. The more I let things happen, the less time I spend trying to make them happen.
Giving up is really about honoring your feelings. It’s about giving up trying to force yourself into a mold of societal shoulds and embracing your true self.
So here’s an invitation to…
•Give up trying to be cool.
•Give up your golden handcuffs.
•Give up wanting to be a famous musician, artist, architect, thinker, writer, whatever-it-is. Maybe it’s smarter to make your purpose to have an impact, instead.
•Give up wanting to be different for the sake of being unique.
•Give up trying to be perfect.
•Give up keeping relationships with people you don’t really like.
•Give up trying to be the center of attention.
•Give up trying to be important. (Focusing on community is usually more fulfilling.)
•Give up achieving a lot of ego-driven goals.
•Give up trying to be super-focused. Sometimes the most compelling ideas come from the most messy, unexpected sources.
•Give up trying to be indie.
•Give up trying to popular.
•Give up caring about owning a lot of cool things, which keep you distracted from acknowledging that you don’t like what you’re doing with your life.
•Give up trying to have a perfectly organized workspace and a zero inbox.
With that said, there are a lot of ways we think we’re doing good, but we’re really not.
Counter-intuitive to what you think, it might make more sense to…
•Give up trying to be super happy all the time. Instead, settle for being peaceful.
•Give up needing a reason to share your love. Being alive is reason enough.
•Give up trying to be everything to everyone.
•Give up trying to fit the mold of your race, astrological sign, job title, religious group, political party or other erroneous associations.
•Give up caring about being the smartest, best and fastest. At least don’t let your ego get caught up in it.
•Give up caring about “being a man” or “being a woman.” Or doing what is expected of your gender.
•Give up sacrificing your life for an expensive degree that makes you feel important.
•Give up trying to be ultra productive, especially if productivity is making you miserable.
•Give up caring about having a respectable job, a respectable resume, and a respectable life. Replace following a template, with freestyling life.
•Give up trying to constantly improve yourself. Sometimes too much self improvement can cause you to lose sight of the present.
•Give up caring about doing what works.
•Give up thinking you don’t have the time or skills to make your dreams a reality.
•Give up caring about knowing everything in advance before you take action. Put yourself on auto-response instead.
•Give up trying to always find interesting experiences and interesting things to do. Alternatively, be interesting and be interested.
•Give up trying to live up to the expectation of your parents, your friends, your boss, and peers.
•Give up trying to live up to the expectation of… yourself.
•Give up trying to have a flawless body, perfect face, or an impeccable wardrobe. Care more about beautifying your mind and being a person who takes beautiful actions.
Trying to make things happen all the time creates a lot of unnecessary anxiety. It’s stressful trying to deny what is.
When I give up, I accept life as it is. No strings attached. No wishing things were different. If an action needs to be taken, I take it. But I’ve given up letting my happiness be dependent on a thing.
Most of these problems only exist within our minds. They’re not real physical problems; they’re simply psychic, imagined obstacles.
It’s interesting how we seem to have so many problems, so many dilemmas. But most of the time the answer to solving them is doing nothing. Giving up.
So, what do you think? Has giving up ever helped you win?
Hmm, perhaps easier said than done. But what's to lose by saying "eff it?" Either way, I give up.
The Best Way to Solve a Problem: Give Up
Sometimes the easiest way to solve a problem is to stop participating in the problem. Sometimes the smartest choice is giving up.
I don’t think that giving up should be your primary method for dealing with problems. But there are certainly a lot of cases where it just seems to be the most intelligent answer.
The more I stop trying to force things to happen, the more they just seem to sort themselves out. The more I let things happen, the less time I spend trying to make them happen.
Giving up is really about honoring your feelings. It’s about giving up trying to force yourself into a mold of societal shoulds and embracing your true self.
So here’s an invitation to…
•Give up trying to be cool.
•Give up your golden handcuffs.
•Give up wanting to be a famous musician, artist, architect, thinker, writer, whatever-it-is. Maybe it’s smarter to make your purpose to have an impact, instead.
•Give up wanting to be different for the sake of being unique.
•Give up trying to be perfect.
•Give up keeping relationships with people you don’t really like.
•Give up trying to be the center of attention.
•Give up trying to be important. (Focusing on community is usually more fulfilling.)
•Give up achieving a lot of ego-driven goals.
•Give up trying to be super-focused. Sometimes the most compelling ideas come from the most messy, unexpected sources.
•Give up trying to be indie.
•Give up trying to popular.
•Give up caring about owning a lot of cool things, which keep you distracted from acknowledging that you don’t like what you’re doing with your life.
•Give up trying to have a perfectly organized workspace and a zero inbox.
With that said, there are a lot of ways we think we’re doing good, but we’re really not.
Counter-intuitive to what you think, it might make more sense to…
•Give up trying to be super happy all the time. Instead, settle for being peaceful.
•Give up needing a reason to share your love. Being alive is reason enough.
•Give up trying to be everything to everyone.
•Give up trying to fit the mold of your race, astrological sign, job title, religious group, political party or other erroneous associations.
•Give up caring about being the smartest, best and fastest. At least don’t let your ego get caught up in it.
•Give up caring about “being a man” or “being a woman.” Or doing what is expected of your gender.
•Give up sacrificing your life for an expensive degree that makes you feel important.
•Give up trying to be ultra productive, especially if productivity is making you miserable.
•Give up caring about having a respectable job, a respectable resume, and a respectable life. Replace following a template, with freestyling life.
•Give up trying to constantly improve yourself. Sometimes too much self improvement can cause you to lose sight of the present.
•Give up caring about doing what works.
•Give up thinking you don’t have the time or skills to make your dreams a reality.
•Give up caring about knowing everything in advance before you take action. Put yourself on auto-response instead.
•Give up trying to always find interesting experiences and interesting things to do. Alternatively, be interesting and be interested.
•Give up trying to live up to the expectation of your parents, your friends, your boss, and peers.
•Give up trying to live up to the expectation of… yourself.
•Give up trying to have a flawless body, perfect face, or an impeccable wardrobe. Care more about beautifying your mind and being a person who takes beautiful actions.
Trying to make things happen all the time creates a lot of unnecessary anxiety. It’s stressful trying to deny what is.
When I give up, I accept life as it is. No strings attached. No wishing things were different. If an action needs to be taken, I take it. But I’ve given up letting my happiness be dependent on a thing.
Most of these problems only exist within our minds. They’re not real physical problems; they’re simply psychic, imagined obstacles.
It’s interesting how we seem to have so many problems, so many dilemmas. But most of the time the answer to solving them is doing nothing. Giving up.
So, what do you think? Has giving up ever helped you win?
Hmm, perhaps easier said than done. But what's to lose by saying "eff it?" Either way, I give up.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Pickled
My liver, after last night's beer foray with Sandy...
We started our bike and beer journey at Strange Brewing Company in Denver. The brewery is located in a nondescript, one-story industrial strip mall. We almost rode past it, in fact. But, it was well worth the extra effort to get there. It was a small, quiet space that I liked immediately. It felt like the Lucky Lab Brewery in Portland, only on a much, much smaller scale. Plus, they had bike racks inside the building and a popcorn maker! The beer was fantastic. I will be back.
More cukes on the way from the garden = more pickles!
We started our bike and beer journey at Strange Brewing Company in Denver. The brewery is located in a nondescript, one-story industrial strip mall. We almost rode past it, in fact. But, it was well worth the extra effort to get there. It was a small, quiet space that I liked immediately. It felt like the Lucky Lab Brewery in Portland, only on a much, much smaller scale. Plus, they had bike racks inside the building and a popcorn maker! The beer was fantastic. I will be back.
Is that a look of beer glee or what?
After a short ride on the Platte River Trail, we found ourselves at Denver's newest microbrewery, Denver Beer Company. After the quiet, low-key atmosphere at Strange Brewing, we felt like we had arrived at hipsterville when we got to DBC. Given its more favorable location and larger size, it's not surprising that Denver Beer attracted a bigger crowd. The beer was tasty, although my taste buds were kind of buzzed by this time. Keep in mind that I'm a bit of a lightweight and 2 beers in one night is a big event for me.
So pretty
And pickling in the traditional sense: I pursued a different kind of pickling endeavor today--refrigerator pickles! I believe I've featured them before on this blog (probably in August 2010), but they do merit a repeat. Easy and tasty. In 24 hours, I will be enjoying these babies:
More cukes on the way from the garden = more pickles!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Living in Technicolor
Today's Yehuda comic hit me just right today.
Looking forward to Technicolor living, one of these days I'll get there.
Looking forward to Technicolor living, one of these days I'll get there.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
All I can say is...wow
Another one making the rounds on the bikey webs right now. Very well worth the watch!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Southern Sammich
Absence must make the heart grow fonder, because the return to Sandwich Sunday was a rousing success. Really, is there better comfort food than a good sandwich?
I went Southern this week with an Open-Faced BBQ Tempeh Sandwich from Vegan Soul Kitchen. Good choice on my part, as this sandwich was fantastic. I picked up some focaccia bread at the farmer's market, which was an excellent choice (one of these days I'll make it myself). I feel like I should have paired this with a southern beverage like a mint julep or something.
Amazingly good. Recipe here.
I went Southern this week with an Open-Faced BBQ Tempeh Sandwich from Vegan Soul Kitchen. Good choice on my part, as this sandwich was fantastic. I picked up some focaccia bread at the farmer's market, which was an excellent choice (one of these days I'll make it myself). I feel like I should have paired this with a southern beverage like a mint julep or something.
Amazingly good. Recipe here.
When bikes ruled the streets
Denver put on its first Ciclovia today. A ciclovia is "the closing of the street to automobiles for use by others." Denver's event was called Viva Streets and from the looks of things, it enjoyed a very good turnout. This type of event first came to my attention several years ago when I was with the Mayor's Bike Advisory Committee, but the idea didn't have much traction or the political will to come to fruition. The winds of change have blown in Denver, and today was the culmination of what must have been a lot of effort by a lot of people to make this happen.
23rd Avenue in Denver was closed to auto traffic east-west for a distance of about 2.5 miles. The street was taken over by cyclists, skaters and walkers for this distance. Various vendors and neighborhood groups set up shop along the route, offering info, goodies, food and beverages. Since the event took place in my neighborhood (I live a half-block from 23rd Avenue), I took to the streets myself to check out the action. I met up with my friend Andy and his daughter Stella, which provided the kid/parent perspective that I don't usually get.
Stella at the start of the bike rodeo
Stella mastering of the art of riding on the line
Andy's family truckster, which drew attention wherever it went
That's one large fixed gear
While I didn't get more pictures to better capture the spirit of the event, I hope it's something that Denver embraces. Everyone seemed to be having a great time (as for the briefly "inconvenienced" auto drivers, I don't know, which is the beauty of it all), and it would be great to see something like this move to different neighborhoods and to be put on by local organizations. When you talk about the spirit of community, this type of event embodies that concept.
Props to BikeDenver for pulling it off.
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