Pisces Place

The lady in the chair

2008-09-25T22:53:00.000-07:00

Frances Natalie Pearlman is the lady in the chair.

My mom, who went by the name of Natalie her entire life, passed away from this world Sept. 16, 2008, one day short of age 75 1/2.

My mom was my best friend, there for me until the end.

How grateful i am that i was there beside her holding her hand as she took her last breath.

Full of life, full of laughter, full of love for all her friends - and mine as well.

She was honest, kind and generous... almost to a fault, but she was never a martyr.

She loved clouds and the ocean and a good book - a woman after my own heart!

She always helped her family and friends when we needed it... and many when we didn't even know we needed any help at all.

She had a wicked sense of humor - she could laugh at herself!

She had an eye for a bargain - she loved showing off how well she saved with coupons at the grocery store.

And somehow she was able to find the best in everyone, even in some of the worst of people, even at some of the worst of times.

Always wanting to work from the moment she was able to do so, she kept her photography business thriving with her youngest brother long after her Jan. 1, 2008 diagnosis of cancer.

She was a teacher by profession and also by the way she lived her life - she always taught whomever would listen, but at the same time, she always wanted to - and did - learn.

Though her spirit is with us, my family grieves...

The lady in the chair was:

A wonderful wife for my father for 53+ years,

A shining light of a sister to her two brothers,

An amazing mother to me and my two sisters,

The best Bubbe (grandma) to 12 adoring kids,

A doting aunt to her two nephews,

The one cousin who stayed in contact with dozens of relatives...

She was a friend like no other - her pals from California and from back when she lived in Chicago have made my broken heart heal a little bit... i have smiled after being regaled by/with stories of her devotion and humor, her intelligence and insight; i am only now beginning to find out about the lives she touched around the world.

http://legacy.com/SignOnSanDiego/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=117626992

Mom, i miss you and shall never forget you.

Rick Springfield got it right:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls0W4K7VuYA&feature=related

MY FATHER'S CHAIR

My father's chair still standing there

All alone since the long night

Now it's three years on and I still feel

He'll come home, we'll be alright

So where's this healing time brings

I was told the pain would ease

But it still hurts like the first night

That night my brother, my mother and I

Were looking up at a distant star

And wishing we could reach that far

And back in the house

And alone for the first time

We told each other we cared

We avoided my father's chair

I watch my family, we hold on

We are strong and we'll be alright

The clock continues counting down,

All the while

And every child will share the long night

But do the spirits meet again

Why am I still so filled with doubt

Is my soul everlasting

And the far distant future

When I knew you'd be gone

Came too fast and stays too long

Why do they leave the weaker spirit

And take the strong

But when the world turns sour

And I get sick from the smell

And I can find no comfort there

I climb into my father's chair

Where is everyone?

2008-08-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Beach time!
Hope everyone is doing well out there!
xo Mattie
(and K)

Healthy, Happy Holidaze!

2007-12-10T19:15:00.000-08:00

The fires in San Diego

2007-10-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

Hello from a place that feels like what Hell must be...

It's bad here, really bad.

i want to send out a big thank you all for text messages, phone calls, e-mails, Facebook notes, MySpace messages, regular mail, all of it...

It is scary, very much so right now, so incredibly frightening... so to have support and concern, prayers and good thoughts sent this way right now means EVERYTHING.

As i write this, Mattie and i are safe and all right as is my family here. Peter, who just the other day adopted an older Labrador, and his family are all right as well. Unfortuanately, that could change at any moment. I think the entire county of San Diego is on fire.

This is incredible, tragic, frightening, frustrating. The things i have seen are horrifying, and i am worried most about the animals, both pets and the wildlife, many (too many) of which have perished, in some horrific ways.

Working in the newspaper business has been my dream come true for the last 20-something years of my life, but right now, it's painful to the depths of my soul to be in the newsrooom, to be surrounded by FACTS.

And the fact of what is happening right now is this: devastation.

If you want to help the animals, and if you can, please do:

http://www.sdhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter__HarrisWitchcreekFire

I'm doing what i can to help here...

Please think good thoughts.

I'll be back when this nightmare is over.

Hugs,
Karen (kleo)

http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2007/10/help_for_animals_in_the_fires.html

http://sosdfireblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.signonsandiego.com/

Goodbye, sweet Heidi

2007-10-09T17:59:00.000-07:00

"As the sun hides his head
For another night's rest
And the wind sings
His same old song

And you on the edge
Never close, never far
Always there when I needed a friend

Yet it's hard living life
On this memory-go-round
Always up, always down
Spinning 'round and 'round and 'round

And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye

There once was a time
Never far from my mind
On the beach, on the 4th of July

I remember the sand
How you held out your hand
And we touched for what seemed a lifetime

Now it's hard
Leaving all this behind me now
Like a schoolboy so lost
Never found until now

And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye

Yet it's hard
Living life on this memory-go-round
Always up, always down
Turning 'round and 'round and 'round

And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems
I was never much good at goodbye

And all this could be
Just a dream so it seems

I was never much good at goodbye

Goodbye."

-"Goodbye," Night Ranger

http://www.dogster.com/dogs/246638

Bee-ing kind stings sometimes

2007-08-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

Hmmmmm... i loooooove this Bizarro!

Strange i never saw anything like this when i went to college in the 1980s. For sure a chart worth studying:

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"Sorry to get in yer face but i wanted to make sure you recognize me!"

Mat sez: "Hello!! *sigh* i am still dealing with my haircut..."

Peter took time out from his running training to give Mat a big ol' hug... he's got a little bit of a scary look here but Mattie doesn't seem to mind!

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The bat talk was fantastic! Peter & i spotted this license plate in the parking lot of the library where the talk was given. i learned a lot about these amazing animals and have renewed appreciation for them.

What was the coolest was the 40 or so kids who were there for the discussion... they have knowledge and with that, i hope, compassion... and that gives me such great hope!

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i got stung by a bee yesterday on the ring finger of my right hand and it's blown up huge and pounding like crazy. i was trying to rescue the bee from drowning in the swimming pool at my condominium. Go figure!

Bee-lieve it or not, here's the latest buzz, honey, i'll certainly chance it again to help one of these guys out.

Oddly enough, about 2 weeks ago, i smashed the ring finger of my left hand in my closet and that finger's been huge and sore since, so you can imagine my typing isn't too great of late...

ANYway, no excuses! i apologize for not being around Blogland much! i have been thinking of my online pals and will be sure to drop by every buddy's blog this week! *HUGS*

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My dad's 77th birthday is Wednesday (tomorrow) but we celebrated with brunch Sunday in Coronado at Il Fornaio, an Italian eatery that my parents like. i can't say i was looking forward to eating in a non-veg restaurant but it was a family thing so i went... with a smile.

The exceptional view from our table:

In a pleasant surprise, Il Fornaio offers a vegan minestrone soup and their homemade bread is vegan, too. Guess what i had... i took a photo but it wasn't anything particularly spectacular.

At my parents' house, things were bright & beautiful, festive & fun:
My niece, Shoshana and my nephew, Rubin.
"We are ready to par-tay!" My fam has rockin' & rollin' parties, really.

A close-up of the cake:

My sister Elyse made the cake. It was fab!

As you can see, my dad goes many titles... Len, Dad, Zaidy (grandfather in Yiddish) and Elf, for his volunteer work bringing books to those less fortunate:
http://www.thebookman.org/Volunteers.htm

Anyway, digressing back to Il Fornaio:

Me & the birthday boy.

My uncle Herb and his sister (my mom, Natalie). They have owned their own photography biz in SD for 20 years but i got to take the family photos this time 'round.

Shoshana and her parents. (My sister Elyse and Larry, who was visiting from Idaho - he got to meet Vicki's hubby Art a few weeks ago!)

Bro & sis, i love these two!

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Recently took in the art at the San Diego Convention Center:

http://www.portofsandiego.org/sandiego_publicart/nikidestphalleccart.asp

Called "Coming Together," by the late, great Niki de St. Phalle
http://www.nikidesaintphalle.com/

(We like to work out over there, too! Peter is clothed, i swear.)

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Bowling for the Animals update: Across from the SD Convention Center is Petco Park, home of the San Diego Padres. Rubin's "Bowling for the Animals" tix to the Padres game were finally used during a day game at Petco. Rubin invited my uncle Herb, my dad and i to go. YAY! Amazing seats. Never sat so close to the action! i had to leave early to get to work but it was a great game and the Padres won 11-0!

Did i have fun?

Would these feet lie to you?

Um yes, this chick used to be a card carryin' major league groupie. Never mind, that was a long time ago. i swear. Heh. This shirt says "83 - lives saved per year by going vegetarian." i figured it would be a good idea to spread the message of compassion to the Padres faithful.

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Your thoughts, please, on this, a vegan butcher:
http://www.theunion.com/article/20070813/NEWS/108130133/-1/rss02
Woah. i do believe i've heard it all now.

And, at last, an honest food pyramid/guide for all of us!

http://www.honestfoodguide.org/

One more cool site: Eat kind! :o)

http://eatkind.net/

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WISHING THE BEST TO ALL! AND TO ALL THE BEST...

Beaches, a book, a bistro & bats

2007-07-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

An acquaintance passed away recently and a get-together celebrating his life was held at one of our bays on Friday afternoon.

After that, i decided to go on the other side of the bay (the Pacific Ocean!) for a run on the beach called South Mission Beach, something i had not done for some time.

Here's where i started...

Lotsa these around on my run:

Jellyfish!

Plenty of this, too:

Seaweed! Dinner, anyone?

... the end. (i ran about 3 miles out and then came back.)

Leaving that beach (boo! believe me, i did not want to leave!), one passes the grand, historic and fun roller coaster called The Giant Dipper.

http://www.giantdipper.com/

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Not far away from the coaster on the beach (how Californian, 'eh?), the next city up the coast heading north is Pacific Beach (Vicki's old digs!), where The Vegan Zone is. Peter & i ate dinner there last Wednesday night - more on that further down.

After dinner we walked to the beach and there was this tile mural there, which i somehow had missed before:

Cool octopus! Original, touchy-feely public artwork (especially when it's the likeness of an animal) like this makes me smile.

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A brilliant, witty writer and super cool gal - my friend! - Sara Bongiorni, wrote a book that came out this month: "A Year Without 'MADE IN CHINA' " It's receiving rave reviews! i'm so proud of her!

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780470116135&itm=1

Sara's childhood home is down the street from my sister. We used to live just a few blocks from one another when we wrote at a smaller newspaper together in the San Diego area about 15 years ago. She now lives with her husband and three kids (and dog!) in Louisiana.

She was actually on "The Today Show" today... NBC flew her out to NY. So amazing!! i had Peter tape the show on VHS (how old school am i?) at his parents' house since neither of us have TVs. i haven't seen the show yet...

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Sara is on a book tour and made a special appearance Saturday afternoon at the Barnes & Noble less than a mile from where her mom still resides! i had lost touch w/her and was thrilled to reconnect.

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i also got to meet her mom and hear Sara read a chapter from her book. It was a trip, for realz. The book is very, very good. Funny, thought-provoking, insightful, clever. i read it in four days. My mother read it in three days! My mom brought along three ladies from her book club, all of whom bought the book and had Sara autograph it.

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Sara and her mom, how cute are they?:

My mom took this photo of me & the author extraordinaire:

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OK, so i took Peter to Vegan Zone - self-titled "The Exotic Vegan Bistro" - and it was good the second time around for me. Nice to have company this time, and he liked it too.

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The prices were decent, our waitress attentive, the food delicious and there were plenty of choices on the menu, but there was something missing... maybe i'm just spoiled by SIPZ... It was super dark inside and just not very friendly-feeling.

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Especially for being just three blocks from the beach where peeps are cool and casual, it seems a little out of place. i hope it makes it though - a vegan restaurant is always a welcome thing.

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A huge painted wooden face inside The Vegan Zone:

The Vegan Zone menu cover, which is a lot cooler than the odd, quixotic menu inside:

Pretty decent crispy won ton appetizers ($4):

(My *cough* great food photography striking again...)

"Garlic Lover" ($8) for me:

"Rice baked with mushroom" ($8) for Peter:

Peter also had a glass of Thai iced tea. Refreshing! No desserts on the menu, but that was just as well. We were stuffed.

(Of course later we managed to eat some Trader Joe's Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. HA!)

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Bats.

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What do you think of bats? i think they're fairly adorable, and very misunderstood... and unfortunately feared because of ignorance.

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Peter and i are going to a "Bat Talk" tomorrow at a local library, and we're both pretty excited. i was invited as part of my job at the newspaper to attend by a woman named Cynthia Myers, who is a bat aficionado with a Web page to prove it: http://home.earthlink.net/~cmsquare/

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Last night Cindy sent me some photos and a story about her recent trip to a place called Bracken Cave in Texas. i'll meet her in person tomorrow - and some bats as well i hope!

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The cave, before the bats come out (No Adam West to be found!):

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Cindy likes these bat sites:

http://www.batrescue.org/

http://www.batworld.org/

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The bats emerge:

Part of the story of her experience:

"The emergence started when we were still around the back of the property and we all rushed back around to the front of the cave. It was absolutely spectacular! (local volunteer) Fran Hutchinson said that this time of year there are about 30 million bats flying out because the pups are starting to fly out with their moms, and it takes the entire colony about 5 hours to exit the cave.

"We figured that, just while we were there, we saw at least 100,000 bats per MINUTE flying out and over our heads, on their way to eat about 200 TONS of corn earworm moths each summer night! So many little wingbeats that they created a nice breeze for us bat tourists."

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And away they go!!:

Bat Conservation International: http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp

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Go Dan Piraro:

May the week ahead be healthy for everyone (well, except Michael Vick & other animal abusers).

Hard to believe August is around the corner. Just like a bat, time flies.

PEACE!

You can't spell evolve without love

2007-07-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

My friend Marina, Chicago-born (like me!) but Californian at heart (same, natch), came for a visit last week, dragging her bro and & Germany-born mom, who i'm pretty sure fell in love with SoCal.

i had small parts of only two days to show 'em around San Diego County and we hit Point Loma, Coronado, Ocean Beach & more. Their fave place was La Jolla - and it's hard to blame them:

Mat was feeling in the pink (HOORAY!) and joined in on our adventures:

Is Mat smiling (above) or is it my imagination?!

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Thanks to Vicki's husband, Art, for the head's up on Vegan Zone in Pacific Beach. I took Marina & co. there but they weren't feelin' the love so i was the only one to order from this fab little eatery. i got a pepper steak wrap that was divine.

i left my camera in the car so i didn't get to take a photo but i'm sure my pal Peter and i will hit this spot again and i'll def take pix. For now, here's Art's take on this place:

http://veganvice.blogspot.com/2007/07/restaurant-review-vegan-zone-san-diego.html

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Sunday was Peter's mom's 86th birthday. EIGHTY-SIX! This angel of a woman wanted to go to my fave veg restaurant SIPZ so we did! Great stuff as usual there. i ordered something new to their menu, BBQ "chicken"... which was outrageous... but of course i left my camera behind (again).

i grabbed the photo below of her and Peter's dad (who turns 88 next month) on their couch at home after we got back from our delicious outing. They have four other children and two of them sent flowers from out of state. Lovely.

Can you believe that last month they celebrated 62 years of wedded bliss?! SIXTY-TWO years. Wow.

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If you have a minute, this is a sweet animal-lovers Web site:

http://www.afa-online.org/

As if you didn't already know:

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Dan Piraro and Bizarro, always right on:

http://www.bizarro.com/vegan/index.htm

i feel fortunate to've been touched by so many... thanks.

Big hearts, some art & SMARTIES!

2007-07-16T19:40:00.000-07:00

A big thank you for the love shown here & elsewhere for Mattie.

THANK YOU!

Your thoughts helped me, which in turn helped Mat, i'm sure!

She's doing a lot better, but still her veterinarians don't know what has been the reason for her issues, which involved some gastrointestinal woes (including ongoing infections that she's had since i adopted her four years ago) and subsequent pooping problems that were frightening.

My poor punkinhead was on six pills a day for a time, and it was a struggle having her take the bitter meds. There was no fooling her by hiding them in food. It was much like this cartoon:

Not only is my little 12-year-old girl deaf, she is, ummmm... stubborn. She's down to one pill a day - and so we press on and it is my great hope that she has many healthy years ahead.

Awesome blogger pals:

Vicki of Vegan Vice http://veganvice.blogspot.com/ sent me this adorable doggie card and a goodie bag for Mattie (and me) filled with doggie biscuits, huge SMARTIES, lavender packets to use as a sachet and for baking cookies, lavender jelly and lavender lip balm. Plus Buddha Mints! Yes! Blew me away... typical thoughtful Vicki.

i got to bring Mattie over to Sheree' 's http://boosveg-a-nut.blogspot.com/ house last week and we had a great time! There are photos of some of our brief adventure over at her blog... it was Mat's first time hangin' out with a dog other than her best pal, Heidi, in a loooong time, and she dug Sheree' 's Shiloh big time. Must be a blonde thing!!

And again thank you to everyone who commented here (so many!!) and on Facebook (Laura!), MySpace (Bazu!), through e-mails (Melody! Candi! Emmy!), snail mail (Vicki!), text messaging (Leslie!) and everywhere (Carrie!) to lend support. What big hearts you all have...

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A few weeks back, i grudgingly went to the San Diego Fair in Del Mar, which i have problems with because of their hypocrite behaviour and the way animals are housed, shown, then weighed and sold. Heartbreaking.

But... i did get to watch a couple of horses away from the main "housing" area and on a "kids' farm" play place, have a good time with one another. It was very sweet.

i had gone to see "Weird Al" Yankovic early on in the fair's 2007 tenure, but i returned about a week later, with my mom and dad (aren't they cute? just celebrated their 52nd anniversary!) to look at some of the art, and here's a small sample of what i saw.

Woodworking, file under amazing:

This painting is supposed to be scary but i couldn't help but laugh:

An artist's rendering of the "Urban Alphabet":

Turning the (picnic) tables, this was cool:

i love this painting, it was so "relate-able":

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This story, called "Where's the Beef?" was cool to see, from the newspaper i wrote for in college:
http://media.www.thedailyaztec.com/media/storage/paper741/news/2007/07/16/HealthFitness/Wheres.The.Beef-2923750.shtml

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Wanted to share a few comics i've been lookin' at from the "Cartoon Bank" that made me smile:

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i met this sweet young lady during Peter's and my trip up the coast, in Arroyo Grande. i forgot her name but she was happy to have me photograph that bag. And even tho i can't say "hate" is a good word to use when describing meat eaters, it had a point to make:

This puts a little more positive of a spin on a similar thought:

Anyway, love makes the world go 'round...

i hope everyone has a great week. Thanks again for showin' so much compassion...

From Mattie

2007-07-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your prayers, support & healing thoughts!

It's been a "ruff" two weeks but i am on the mend...

Mommy is looking forward to visiting everyone this week.

Think good thoughts!

2007-07-02T21:19:00.000-07:00

Mat's been quite sick. i'll be back around these parts at some point. Please keep her in your prayers!

Animals & Veg*nism go paw in hand

2007-06-24T20:51:00.001-07:00

This was my family's first dog. Born in 1974, when i was 8, Misty was mostly Golden retriever with a little bit of German shepherd and a wee bit of Collie. We adopted her as a puppy from my family's best friends, whose dog, Shamber, had a litter of pups... Misty lived a very happy 15 years, five in Illinois and 10 in California.

i adored dogs as a kid... i loved all animals, really, which is why, after a visit with classmates on a field trip to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago at age 10, i stopped eating lamb. It wasn't until age 16 that i eschewed all meat; at 21 i nixed eating fish. Still working on kicking out from my diet products that have whey in them and an occasional bit of ice cream... i don't eat cheese and i'm allergic to eggs...

My fave show when i was a kid was a short-lived Saturday morning series called "Animals, Animals, Animals" with Hal Linden http://www.skooldays.com/categories/saturday/sa1395.htm Not sure if anyone knows that show... i also loved Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/W/htmlW/wildkingdom/wildkingdom.htm

When Peter and i went on our trip last month around coastal California, it seemed that we were constantly around animals in one way or another. Camping led us to some close encounters with wild animals and we made friends with dogs everywhere we went it seemed! i was able to get some snapshots of a few of our doggie pals.

Kota the 4 month old, who reminded me of Misty!

Ralph, our 4-legged next-door-neighbor at Limekiln State Park for 2 nights. i adored this 9-year-old retriever mix. i was decidely not a fan of his "family" of four as they left him out in the cold both nights while they got snuggly in their tent. i spoke up on his behalf but was met with disdain and some quizzical looks. Not surprising... the "dad" had murdered a fish and left it hanging in front of my car (with all those veg*n stickers on it) at Peter's and my water spigot. Incredibly horrifying for me...

Anyway, i digress!

This gorgeous gal waited for her fisherman father come up from his boat at Morro Bay. i thought she was a Chesapeake Bay retriever but she was a very sweet, chocolately Labrador!

This is Blue, who lives in Pacific Grove, lucky boy!

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In yet another coastal town in which we stomped around, Cambria, we stopped at what we thought was a fresh fruit stand but what turned out to be something much bigger... Linn's Fruit Bin Farm Store. http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/

One of the Linn family's 10 dogs... on the prowl.

The Linn family owns and operates this cute little store and among other things, makes preserves, jellies, jams and pies from all sorts of fruit, including the "olallieberry" which is a confounding, confusing (make believe?) berry that i'll leave this place to explain: http://www.linnsfruitbin.com/faqs#1

They also had 10 dogs - and a peacock - on site.

Another Linn family dog. Ralph Nader's his name!

Peter and i snuck up behind the store up a semi-private road to catch a closer glimpse of the Linn family home, check out the view (amazing!) and the farm (so many trees, so little time) and to meet some more of their dogs. We had befriended three of them at the store as well as the peacock, which seemed to like hopping up on the roof and jumping back down again. And again. And again.

The Linn family peacock. Gorgeous.

We decided to eat lunch at the family restaurant "Easy As Pie Cafe" back in town, a few miles away from the store. Not a lot from which to choose, but they had a fantastic roasted veggie/hummus wrap that was a tasty, filling treat!

i also got to meet Mrs. Linn and one of her sons, who runs the restaurant. i told them we'd met quite a few of their dogs and they kind of raised their eyebrows... good thing i didn't tell them about the road less traveled to their home. (Can you say "illegally trespassing"?)

Tasty vegan wrap at Linn's Easy as Pie eatery.

Some last few memories of our trip...

A goat right next to the road in Cambria, and on a leash... Why?
A sweet goat, i wanted to "kid"nap him for REAL.

A wild turtle in San Simeon State Park.

Peter in Pismo Beach, trying to help... too bad it was only a mural!

Peter looking the wrong way in Morro Bay, where we picnicked. The rock is truly AWEsome, isn't that right, Crystal? http://www.slostateparks.com/morro_rock/default.asp

Where all good hikes in Limekiln State Park end. Stellar waterfall.

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HERE'S TO A HEALTHY, HAPPY & COMPASSIONATE WEEK FOR ALL OF US!

Vacation eats & delivered treats

2007-06-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

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During our camping travels up the California coast last month, Peter & i had the opportunity to eat out a few times. In Pacific Grove, we happened upon the Central Avenue Bakery, not far from the famed Monterey Bay Aquarium.

This is a terrific bakery and restaurant, with tons of vegan options. It's also kosher, which was pretty interesting and rare. I talked to one of the owners, Tina, at length about her place and she was candid and refreshing. She also made her own vegan cheez which i sampled and then bought. So good. Highly recommended: http://www.centralavenuebakery.com/

They had a couple of bookshelves making up a nice library with books galore on everything from central coastal California to John Steinbeck (my fave author!) to vegetarianism and animal activism to kids' books and a bunch o'chairs and couches on/in which to read, snack, chat & lounge! How cool is that?

The view looking out the window.

The view toward the kitchen where chefs & bakers work magic.

I ordered the vegan pizza which was outrageously good. Peter had a breakfast burrito (and an Odwalla). For dessert we snacked on samples of their vegan Mexican chocolate cake. They were sold out of 'em so we only got to have a few bites (which is why there's no photo) but they were stellar.

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In Morro Bay (hi Crystal!!), another fave place of mine, we stumbled upon Sunshine Health Food and stopped in twice, both on our way up the coast and again on our way back down (the second time just to eat there!). A terrific health food store, they also have a sweet little eatery in the back. "Shine Cafe," with its solitary wood picnic table that everyone shares in the back in sort of a group setting, is very fun! Both times we ate there we ordered the same things because we so enjoyed 'em. Peter had amazing pancakes while i had two of the hugest, best tofu scrambles ever! (One is pictured below.)

A great place with cool peeps working there. Highly recommended!!

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Thank you to that great gal at http://thehouseofsimon.blogspot.com/ for my groovy CARriE package of Canadian sweets. My mailman delivered the box these goodies were in right to my door and handed it to me, swooning over the words "chocolate inside" so i gave him half of the Coffee Crisp. After i had a bite of it, i was REALLY sorry i had shared! HA! It was that good. The card was super sweet and the Canadian magnet & pins are SO cool... And she knew i'd been having a hard time finding Primal Strips so she sent me four different kinds!! Those maple leaf cookies are my faves...

************************************************************

Here's an excellent read from The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer:

http://www.charlotte.com/192/story/166532.html

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A link to get info sent to you on veg stuff - books, clothes, food (even vegan dog food!), etc.:

http://www.mediabrains.com/client/HomeBPub/LM1/lm/rsdefault.asp

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Ewe are what ewe eat

2007-06-14T19:32:00.000-07:00

Central coastal California, Big Sur, Pacific Grove, i miss you so...
That's Peter, above, as we both stood awe-struck staring at the sunset.

A sweet seal basking in the Pacific Grove semi-sun...
saw him on a nice little afternoon run...
(see next photo)

Oh, hey! Just passing through with a message or two:

--->VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN<---
Fun quiz time! Go for it! http://www.veganstreet.com/funhouse/virtualvegan.html
--->VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN VEGAN<---

A Web site that's tough but terrific:
http://www.rootsofcompassion.org/
ROOTS OF COMPASSION

Peter & i heard and saw "Weird Al" Yankovic in concert last night. (At the [icky] San Diego Fair [icky because of the animal abuse and the hypocrite behaviour that goes on at county fairs]). Such a great show he puts on. And i love him more for his animal-loving, vegan WAYs...

http://weirdal.com/

http://www.myspace.com/weirdal

i've written it before and i'll type it again, Alfred's an engaging, witty artist, a bit tied to the past (he's got that '70s vibe i'm attracted to) while fully engaged "in the present" with a keen eye on the future.

If he's comin' to a venue near you, what can i tell ya? GO! Really. Trust me. He's got a rockin' band behind him that blows me away. But be warned, Al seems to attract bookish, somewhat eclectic (read: odd) "word nerds" (such as myself)... *shrugs*... there are worse things, to be sure...

Uh, can i just say for the record?
i love peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. always have.

hewwo wittle, pb&j. i wuv u.

Saving the world one PB&J at a time...
http://www.pbjcampaign.org/

Who knew?And thank you, Dr. John McDougall...
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007other/nytimes.html

***************************************************

Click it (if you have Adobe Acrobat) for a coupon for $2 off the Minis:
http://www.sodeliciousdairyfree.com/eCard/miniscoupon.pdf

Or visit their site:
http://www.turtlemountain.com/products/minis_vanilla.html

*************************************************

Which witch is which?

Have a stellar weekend!
(i'm gonna be visiting blogs this weekend! YAY!)

a STOP OPTS POTS SPOT TOPS POST!

2007-06-06T21:22:00.001-07:00

... and be grateful for the things that make life grand!

This sweet, tweeting little birdie was spotted taking a breather atop this stop sign as my pal Peter & i opted for a break during our recent week-long travel up the coast of California.

HOW ARE YOU!?! i have been thinking of every one of my blog pals so much of late...

I got an e-mail from a friend of mine who lives in Minnesota today and i am hopeful that you will indulge me in "finishing this sentence" (sentences)... i would LOVE to see your answers, either here or on your own blog or e-mail me... these are mine from earlier this a.m.

1. I love...
... my family... my dog... my friends... animals... happiness... music... sunshine... long runs... laughter... kind people... cookies... honesty

2. Right now I want...
... peace in the world... Twinkies to be vegan... to swing on the swings in Pismo Beach

3. I feel like...
… singing... laughing... dancing... crying...

4. I hate it when...
… people hurt other people... animals die needlessly... things go wrong... i get lost

5. I fear...
... war... rejection... hatred... angry people... losing loved ones

6. I'm lonely without...
… my family... my friends... my dog... writing

We had a fun trip. Here we are in "The Natural Cafe" in San Luis Obispo.

7. I need...
… to be healthy... to be happy... to write...

8. Today I...
... am enjoying the morning and day

9. Tomorrow I'm...
… going to celebrate my nephew's 15th birthday - how did he get this old so soon?

10. I just...
… sent a bunch of my vacation photographs to myself

11. I want to meet...
… Barry Zito again

Hi Barry! He was an awesome teen.

(i didn't take this photo... but i wish i had!)

*****************************************

12. I'm hungry for...
… a huge tofu scramble from Sunshine Cafe in Morro Bay and a Mexican chocolate brownie from Central Avenue Bakery in Pacific Grove

13. I love it when...
… the sun is shining and i'm out enjoying it... peeps i love are happy and healthy... my dog wags her tail

14. I'm afraid of...
… fighting... war... anger... mean people... hunters

The buck stopped here... safely... in San Simeon State Park!

15. I'm listening to...
... birds outside my door singing, my dog snoring

16. I'm wearing...
... a long-sleeve Arcata High shirt, cutoff shorts, white sox and running shooz

17. I wish I was in...
… Hawaii (never been there... they tell me it's nice!)

18. I'm craving...
… a day on the beach

19. I want to get...
... my hair cut soon

20. I can...
... do anything if i set my mind to it

21. I can't...
… deal with life sometimes

Street sign in Pismo Beach... Mattie's famous!!!

22. I have...
… too much clutter

23. I haven't...
... done so many things i want to...

24. I'm nervous...
… about the future of the world

25. My Mom thinks I'm...
… the greatest and i'm so honored to be so loved

26. My Dad thinks I'm...
… in need of a lobotomy

Nah, not really, but he doesn't quite "get" me...

27. I think...
… people need to think about others more than they think about themselves

28. I'm happy when...
… i know my loved ones are safe... i'm eating something i love... i'm running free

29. I'm sad when...
... there's unhappiness/unhealthiness in a loved one's life

30. I like eating...
… just about everything that's not animal-based and i have for 25 years!

This gorgeous cow, like so many others i saw behind "enemy lines" from the road... my heart went out (and goes out, still, and always) to them all...

31. I hate eating...
… animal products (so i avoid them!!)

32. I love watching...
… sunsets

Stellar sunset just south of Big Sur

33. I love listening to...
… birds singing... my dog snoring... (as i am at the present time!) ... the roar of the ocean... animal noises... my family and friends saying "I love you."

34. I love playing...
… Boggle with my mom... catch with baseball gloves... football... ping-pong (thanks for the reminder, Vicki!)... Scrabble with friends... anything with my dog... tennis... "hide the keys"... Red Rover... crossword puzzles (do you "play" them?)...

35. I hate waking up to...
... a loud noise... people arguing... trash collecting in my Dumpster... drunk peeps being obnoxious in the hot tub under my window at my condo at 3 a.m.

36. I can see...
"… clearly now the rain has gone - i can see all obstacles in my way"

"Hold on to 16 as long as you can, changes come around real soon, make us women & men." - John Cougar, and there i am livin' it up at 15 on the "L" in Chicago with my friend of 34 years and counting, Heidi (a vegan living in Arizona who sent me this 26-year-old photo!)

37. I'm glad that...
… i have a lot of living left to do and family and friends to share it with

38. I'm disappointed that...
... many of my family and friends have gone away, one way or another...

39. I look like...
… i need less sun... i'm going to have a long week ahead

40. I wish I looked like...
… Natalie Portman for a day...

Photo taken in "Gum Alley" in San Luis Obispo.

Bowling for the animals...

2007-05-02T18:58:00.000-07:00

... chocolate & strawbs for the peeps!

I spotted the beautiful brown fountain of chocolatey goo and the luscious ripe berries right away in the conference/meeting room at the bowling alley in the city of Vista this past Sunday, part of the fun side notes during the ninth annual "Bowling for the Animals."

As i've mentioned (ad nauseum?!), this is an annual fab, fun fund-raiser for four extremely worthy animal groups... http://www.bowlingfortheanimals.org/

Before we went bowling, we were offered an array of the most tantalizing vegan food, served buffet-style, and given the opportunity to peruse literally hundreds of items available via raffles. Um, i went a little crazy with the food, and then nutty trying to win some of the prizes.

How COOL it was knowing that anything and everything there was not just vegetarian but vegan. Wowza! My plate, below...

My 14-year-old nephew, Rubin, went with me. His plate:

There were over 50 groovy groups of items being raffled off!
I lost track of how many tickets i bought... trying to win some of the items you see below.

The peeps in charge asked me to pick the winning raffle tickets, so i obliged, kinda hoping i might pick one with my name on it! i looked away each time i picked, just so i wouldn't be tempted to "cheat."

Ha! Like i would cheat! Not! Really, how would it have looked if i did pick my name, anyway?

The following two photos were taken by a woman at the event (link to all of her photos is at the end of this post).

My nephew, who bought a bunch of raffle tix won! Four Padres ducats, two baseball caps, a big bag o'peanuts and a magnet in a nice basket! Here's hoping he takes me to that game. Hee hee.

Oh yeah, about the bowling...

This is me below - Rubin's still learning the digital camera thing!

A bit better, Rubin, way to go! I had about 10 people sponsor me, and i was able to contribute a little bit to the cause... no matter what we all bowled (i had a 79 then 134), it was the animals who won!

More photos here, if anyone wants to see more of the event:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3quartermoon/sets/72157600158105728/

Unfortunately, i have a killer cold right now, but will be visiting everyone soon!

Hope you all have a great week/end!!

Heidi & Mattie (not unlike Confucius) say:

2007-04-27T23:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone have a safe, fun weekend!

Earth day is EVERY day...

2007-04-23T21:06:00.000-07:00

...but it was nice to celebrate it "officially" at Balboa Park in San Diego on Sunday. Lots of peeps, myriad environmentalist-run tables offering info on everything from tree planting to vegetable oil-run Mercedez Benz cars...

There was an area where there were Hare Krsnas chanting, a place where there was Mexican wrestling, more peeps, great booths from Last Chance for Animals and Farm Sanctuary (which i "worked" last year!) and some vegan food (not enough!).

There were voter registration booths (including one touting a grass-roots presidential campaign: 'Al Gore in 2008'), a kids' area with lots of hands-on stuff for the younger set, and, did i mention?, a lot of peeps.

"San Diego Earth Fair" - http://www.earthdayweb.org/

This artist wasn't part of the official festivities, but he was not far from the fair, doing great work...

A finished mural from Saturday, done mostly by kids! Beautiful.

Recycled tires make great purses, who knew?!

Peter's half-eaten veggie burger 'n' fries (we shared the fries w/the dogs!)

Peter, a one time hard-core vegan who eats both omni & veggie, totally enjoyed that vegan Boca burger. i had one, too, and it was excellent!

If you click on the photo below, you can see Heidi & Mattie in one of his sunglasses lenses.

There were quite a few vegan choices for food, but this was the place we chose, and so did a lot of others:

They don't get points for spelling (SMOOTIES!) but they were popular! We waited 45 minutes for our burgers! i bought a big bag of kettle corn to get us by till the food was ready.

Their official Web site: http://vegnout.net/

Nice father-daughter team took orders & money:

(i traded them a bunch of $5's and $1's)

Neuter is cuter! Spay is A-OK!

Mattie cozies up to a live recycling bin.

How about those sexy, pouty pink lips & lavender eyeshadow?

**********************************************************

Heidi loves her daddy and you can see that... "down to Earth":

Sign of the thymes

2007-04-20T19:52:00.000-07:00

Ah, mmm... That felt kinda good. Wanna try?

http://signgenerator.peta2.com/index.asp

There're a lot of other things i'd really like to say beyond this rather mild opine, but i try hard to keep this blog "Rated G." And i do <3 chickens...

Happy Mail, "Weird Al" & eBay goes vegan

2007-04-17T21:08:00.000-07:00

Mattie spies some of the goodies i got in the mail over the last couple of weeks from some super terrific friends of mine, the kind Candi http://candi2400.blogspot.com/ and generous Vicki http://veganvice.blogspot.com/! THANK YOU SO MUCH! It's always a treat to get non-bills/non-junk mail, especially notes from friends, and it's beyond awesome to get goodies like these in the mail. I'll be proverbially "paying it forward" very soon. Stay tooned!

Thanks for the recipe books, Candi! A super cool Chicago Diner (where i've been lucky to dine twice!) Cookbook AND Nava Atlas's soups (and accompaniments). Both very enlightening books.

Thanks for the dog biscuits (one eaten and totally enjoyed by the Matster, but i saved the wrapper) and delectable vegan cookies, Vicki!

And speaking of happy mail, if you have a minute, do check out Wanda Embar's wonderful Web site and its vegan e-cards (for all occasions, and even some "non occasions") that are free & easy to send as e-mail:
http://www.veganpeace.com
or just click here to see the various e-cards that you can send to brighten someone's day:
http://www.thisiscool.org/ecards/

************************************************************

As seen on eBay, the following (suggested listening... animal-loving, long-time veghead, "Weird Al" Yankovic's "eBay" from his fun CD from a few years back called "Poodle Hat" - lyrics below):

Sung to the Backstreet Boys' "I Want it That Way"

Yeah

A used ... pink bathrobe

A rare ... mint snowglobe

A Smurf ... TV tray

I bought on eBay

My house ... is filled with this crap

Shows up in bubble wrap

Most every day

What I bought on eBay

Tell me why (I need another pet rock)

Tell me why (I got that Alf alarm clock)

Tell me why (I bid on Shatner's old toupee)

They had it on eBay

I'll buy ... your knick-knack

Just check ... my feedback

"A++!" they all say

They love me on eBay

Gonna buy (a slightly-damaged golf bag)

Gonna buy (some Beanie Babies, new with tag)

(From some guy) I've never met in Norway

Found him on eBay

I am the type who is liable to snipe you

With two seconds left to go,

whoa Got Paypal or Visa,

what ever'll please

As long as I've got the dough

I'll buy ... your tchotchkes

Sell me ... your watch, please

I'll buy (I'll buy, I'll buy, I'll buy ...)

I'm highest bidder now

(Junk keeps arriving in the mail)

(From that worldwide garage sale)

(Dukes Of Hazzard ashtray)

(Hey! A Dukes Of Hazzard ashtray)

Oh yeah ... (I bought it on eBay)

Wanna buy (a PacMan Fever lunchbox)

Wanna buy (a case on vintage tube socks)

Wanna buy (a Kleenex used by Dr. Dre, Dr. Dre)

(Found it on eBay)

Wanna buy (that Farrah Fawcett poster)

(Pez dispensers and a toaster)

(Don't know why ... the kind of stuff you'd throw away)

(I'll buy on eBay)

What I bought on eBay-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y-y

Awesome vegan "Weird Al" & his poodle.

(I've seen WAY in concert once - a blast!)

Dog Day Afternoon

2007-04-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

Breezin' ears in the wind, Mattie sports the finished product of her Tuesday grooming when we went to a nearby public park earlier today. She had more tests Wednesday as we try to figure out the source of her urinary tract infection... she's been such a trouper!

I took the freshly shorn Mat & a visiting Heidi for a little outing this afternoon when the sun made a brief apppearance. It was a windy and cool day -- a distant relative of "it was a dark and stormy night," - Snoopy -- Very odd in these parts. (I washed my car and my parents' van earlier, so i figured it would rain for sure. But so far, no precipitation...)

So without further ado, let the race begin!

Suggested listening: "The William Tell Overture."

Heidi holds onto a rare lead in this mini "trail race" of the 12-year-olds.

Yes, toward the end, they're neck-in-neck... Look at those serious faces, the concentration, the determination. They're really in the moment!

The big question in the battle of the blondes: Who will win?
Will it be the sweet Labrador or the deaf Spaniel?

The crowd's going wild, the cheers deafening, the judges prepared for anything... and OK, so it really wasn't a race, the distractions of smells and "restroom" stops were myriad... and of course the finish doesn't matter - they're both winners in my book!

And speaking of winners, did you hear that From this day until Feb. 2, 2008, Tibetans have pledged to "go green," vowing to be vegetarians for a year?!

Animal Place Sanctuary reports:

"According to the Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile Samdhong Rinpoche, the yearlong commitment to vegetarianism is aimed at enhancing the 'collective merit' of Tibetans."

**********************************************

And just an FYI, there's a new place to click at Care2.com - to help reduce global warming.

This goes along with their easy, quick, click-to-donate (free!) for pets (through the Humane Society of the U.S.), the seals of Canada, the oceans & living beings in it, "big cats," primates (through the wondrous Jane Goodall), the precious, dwindling rain forests of the world and more!

i encourage all of you to click daily!
Have i mentioned that it's free?
(and that it just takes a few seconds?)

http://www.care2.com/click2donate/

I have a page there, too, if you want to check it out...
http://my.care2.com/1pisces

Hope you have a terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrific weekend!
Be safe out there!

Baa Baa Ganoush 4 Ewe

2007-04-06T17:29:00.000-07:00

i just found out that my friend Nicki sponsored this adorable guy, whose name is Baa Baa Ganoush, in my name from Best Friends Animal Society - http://www.bestfriends.org/ - a wonderful place in Kanab, Utah! If you have a minute, go check out their Web site. Here's what it says about him there:

"Baa Baa Ganoush feels like a big puffy carpet! He's all powdery tan and very cute. He's not too gregarious, but he likes it when you pet him. Although -- petting him is more like patting a sponge than stroking fur! He's very gentle and nice.

Baa Baa Ganoush was born around 1997. Not much is known about his past, but when he first arrived, he was a very dear friend to another Best Friends sheep who since passed away. He now has new sheep-friends in his life, but he's never quite gotten over losing that one special friend. It'll take time -- and maybe some encouraging letters from his sponsor!"

<---From Pangea http://www.veganstore.com/ !

<<<<-Also from Pangea!

<----Peter showcased his fronds last week at the weekly Farmer's Market in my former digs of Ocean Beach http://oceanbeachsandiego.com/FarmersMarket.shtml .

This is my current fave, above!

Mat caught some shade under Peter's table.

A local organic farm - http://themorningstarranch.org/ - at the Farmer's Market. I tried some of their grapefruit. Really delicious.

Their hippie bus! i loved it!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Happy Pesach/Passover to those who are Matzah-ing it up this week!

(FREEDOM ROCKS!)

Happy Easter on Sunday to those celebrating!

Bowling for Animals & Wedding bells

2007-03-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

It's almost time for the ninth annual Bowling for the Animals! I love their little logos...

http://www.bowlingfortheanimals.org/ (Wo)Man, i wish all of you awesome blogsters could participate in this... even if you think you "can't bowl." They should do stuff like this everywhere!

(I posted about this last year: http://piscesplace.blogspot.com/2006/04/regrets.html .)

This is a totally, totally, totally 100 percent fun event put on every year by a few wonderful animal- and vegan-friendly sponsors. Proceeds go to Spay-Neuter Action Project http://www.snap-sandiego.org/ , California Animal Association http://www.upc-online.org/winter0405/sacramento.htm , Feral Cat Coalition http://www.feralcat.com/ and San Diego Animal Advocates http://www.animaladvocates.org/ . There's vegan food galore, prizes, raffles, bowling and the best thing: meeting like-minded animal lovers.

I couldn't go in 2006 because i was out of town, but i'm planning to join in this year's festivities... I'm soooooo excited!

The BFTA photog caught me after
i probably gutter-balled one in 2005:

Urban Vegan asked me recently about our dear vegan friend, the "ferocious killer kat" and "Mumbai Vegan" (among his many nom de plumes)... Remember fellow blogger Kunsjoi? He moved last year from Los Angeles to his home country of India... and guess what?

He's getting married!

Her name is Dipti and not only is she vegetarian, she's also gorgeous...
i am thrilled for both of them!!

... and speaking of India, here's what Russell Simmons, the vegan pioneer of Def-Jam Records, has to say about a simple life, as told to Daily India:
http://www.dailyindia.com/show/128739.php/Wealthy-people-are-not-happy-people-says-Russell-Simmons

And on a tough note, Mattie's going in for an ultrasound tomorrow at a specialty clinic... my little punkinhead's had a recurring bladder infection that my veterinarians & i have not been able to keep in check. i'm going to see more clearly what's going on... please think good thoughts for her!
***UPDATE!!!*** Mattie got a clean bill (never mind the bill i'm
payin'!!) of health after her ultrasound... YAY! We're still trying to
figure out what is wrong, but it's not anything serious. i am very
thankful! i so appreciate everyone's positive thoughts & prayers.
We certainly felt 'em and i know they helped pull her through.
THANK YOU!

Stuff 'n' more stuff

2007-03-22T17:53:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's "snail mail" above...
Vicki sent me a sweet little note and a super Pisces magnet...
Awwww!! That made my day, fer realz!

Some leftover photos from my trip up the coast, above & below.
Above, Peter and i stopped off in Dana Point and i scored
this photograph of him in front of a doggie wash...

Inline skating (taking a break, above) in scenic Newport Beach.

Oh, um... Hello! Watch me fall now...

Nah, i didn't fall. We caught a nice sunset though.

Below shows the flat screen TV in our hotel room where we stayed (pretty much right on the beach, it was such a treat!) with one station showing a 24-hour live feed of what was goin' on right outside our window. It was ... really weird!!

****************************************************

Bought these yesterday at COSTCO. $10 for 14 patties.

They're vegan and VERY good! Not 'meaty' just very veggie...

Not much info available on the internet on these guys,

but they are soooooo good. Haven't seem 'em anywhere else.

Here's a closer view of 'em, chock full of grains,

sunflower seeds, carrots & other delish vegetables...

They're excellent. I wish i could make 'em myself!!

Don Lee Farms, out of Inglewood (near Los Angeles)...

They make all sorts of animal products, so i am a little

hesitant to send you to their Web site... but here it is:

http://www.donleefarms.com/

Peeps talkin' about 'em last year on the "Veggie Boards" :

http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=60119

And i'm so sad, i found this site and it's not updated anymore!

http://veganreview.blogspot.com/

Eat your art!

2007-03-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

My mom sent me these pix. Kinda cute! Which are your faves?!?

I'm partial to the cauliflower ewes & penguin eggplants, but like 'em all!

Vicki & Art's Great Adventure

2007-03-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

... and lucky me, i got to be part of it last Sunday!

The terrific Vicki ( http://veganvice.blogspot.com/ ) and her fabulous husband Art were in San Diego last weekend. Cause for celebration for sure! We made plans to meet in the lush, beautiful and massive Balboa Park ( http://www.balboapark.org/ ) where Peter was showing some of his art. (Amazingly, she found me 'n' Mattie just as she was calling me on my cell phone!) A prolific photographer and multi-talented musician, Peter also makes incredible masks out of palm tree fronds he finds. ("Recycling at its best," as Vicki noted.)

After the initial meeting (or re-meeting, since we'd already met last year!) in which Peter exclaimed, "Oh my gosh, you and Vicki look like you could be sisters!" Art, Vicki, Mattie & i meandered about a mile over to the vegan restaurant extraordinaire Kung Food, across the street from part of the huge Balboa Park. I recommended that instead of the buffet being offered inside the restaurant we try the KF Drive-Thru - http://www.kung-food.com/drive-thru.html - where you can get burgers, burritos and so much more. And we ordered by foot, then sat down in a shady spot in the outdoor patio and ate.

Here are "the sisters" and trouper Mattie at Kung Food:

At my request, Vicki & Art strike a pose on this sunny day, in front of a sign advertising Kung Food, just a few feet away from the restaurant:

Vicki enjoyed her "Bacon Cheeseburger" & i had the same
burger (and same exact reaction). It was really tasty!

Art had the "Bacon Western Cheeseburger" and said
it was made just like a similar fast-food one, even with
a big ol' onion ring on it! He was impressed. YUM!

Back we walked to Peter's table of art and i thought that
i would surprise Vicki and buy her this one mask she liked
best (and it was my fave as well - so bold & colourful!).

Vicki & Art kindly bought another mask, too. Here they are
with the artist in front of Starlight Bowl in Balboa Park.

Peter's parents also were there and they snagged two of his masks. See 'em all here, if you want: http://petechenard.blogspot.com/

Here's his mother, Irene, posing with both of her purchases.

It was a great day!
Thank you, Vicki & Art for spending time in San Diego with me & Mattie!

Natives are NOT restless

2007-03-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

Costa Mesa's NATIVE FOODS...

http://www.nativefoods.com/ Do check it out!!

VEGAN. ALL vegan! And SO good. Peter's taken me
three years straight for my b'day... He's such a good pal.

Part of the inside of this remarkable restaurant:

Hey! I've got one of those NF cookbooks. Ummm...
no, i haven't used it just yet... ummm... i should !!!

Our pigtastic napkin-holder and a romantic little candle:

Peter ordered the moist and "meaty" California French Dip:
"Thinly sliced roast seitan, caramelized onions, avocado
on an organic French roll with au jus to dip."

He was a little disappointed in the size. And it was
kind of small. :o( We'd worked up a good appetite earlier
in the day, inline skating in Newport Beach.

Here's my insane meal, Philly Peppersteak Sandwich:
"Sliced and seared peppered seitan, sauteed mushrooms,
onions, bell pepper and Native Cheese on an organic French roll."

I shared it w/Peter as there was quite a bit of it!

**********************************************

(I had planned on ordering the "Meat Lover's Pizza,"

but it seems they no longer offer that tantalizing treat...)

***********************************************

We were both still hungry so we got this beauty:

Portobello & Sausage Burger, "Big grilled beauties

with seitan sausage, pommodoro, caramelized onions,

pesto and sweet roasted garlic clove garnish."

Blurry, because i can't seem to grasp the close-up digital thing.

(Sorry!)

***********************************************
***********************************************

And since it was (almost!) my b'day, the NF folks said

i could have my choice of any dessert "on the house."

(Thank you, Native Foods! Very nice touch there!)

Hmmmm... so many desserts, so little time...

But of course, i had the "Elephant Chocolate Cake," a

sweet dream with cinnamon peanut butter frosting.

Delightful, dense, divine!

Oooh, spooky! There's a fire pit area near

the restaurant and as there was a chill in

the air, we sat out and enjoyed it for a bit.

That's it, Native Foods still rocks my world!

One if Island, Two if by Sea

2007-03-11T18:24:00.000-07:00

Oh, hello.
I'll be your tour guide for the day.

Peter took me to Newport Beach and Catalina island last weekend for my birthday. We work opposite schedules and haven't seen a lot of each other so it was very nice to get away for some time alone together.

I must say it was a blast of a trip!!! But honestly, i was missing Mattie a lot and Peter was missing Heidi. We met and pet so many cats and dogs on this trip; we were reminded of our little buddies constantly.

The top photo and the one below these words were taken en route across the beautiful Pacific Ocean from Balboa Island/Newport Beach to Catalina on the Catalina Flyer, sans Gilligan & The Skipper, thankfully. Sing it with me: "A one-hour tour, a one-hour tour."

We saw a pod of dolphins swimming on the way! That was SO COOL. It was incredibly windy going across the water as fast as we did. Like ohmygosh windy! But we stayed on the top deck and "sucked it up."

Here's a better idea of how windy it was!

We stayed at this cute hotel, Casa Mariquita.
It had incredible, sweeping views of the ocean and the island!

Hee hee. Surprised me with this balloon, he did.

There's a VONS grocery on the island and we had
lunch outside. You can see what i ate (not the
yogurt or the salmon, you can bet). Not bad!

I loved the little doggie poop bag holders:
They were everywhere!

In the background of the photos above & below is the famous "Casino," which, contrary to its name, has nary a thing to do with gambling. It's a huge building that has a very rich (literally and figuratively!) and complex background... now the folks who run the Casino show movies and plays, have a gym complete with spin classes, and rent it out for jazz festivals and fund-raisers and such.

A beautiful cat i came upon not long after we arrived.
Peter went to take a nap and i wandered the streets.
This guy was hanging out in some trees and came out
to say hello and get a scritchy scritchy scratch from me.

We went for a walk up into the hills where "the rich folk" live
and a nice couple took our photo, and we took one of each other.
What a view! It was stunning, truly. A few peeps inquired about
my shirt, which is from APRL, and it reads "Friend Not Food."

On our walk back down to town, where the tourist traps,
i mean attractions, are, and back to our hotel, we ran into
a makeshift pet cemetary. It went on and on for quite a bit.
We walked around, quietly... It was both touching & beautiful.

Anyway, that was part of last weekend. The other part

was Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, where we stayed

on the beach, roller bladed and ate at my fave restaurant,

Native Foods. I'll post about that swoon, i mean soon.

*******************************************************

And as i must end this post today, this sunshiney Sunday afternoon i had the complete and absolute honour of spending some quality time with Vicki - http://veganvice.blogspot.com/ - and her husband, Art, who were here in San Diego. I <3 them. We had burgers at Kung Food! (And i hear they went to SIPZ tonight when i was workin'. Luckies!!!) Stay tooned.

On top of old Smokey...

2007-03-08T23:12:00.000-08:00

Thank you very much for all the b'day wishes!
I turned 41 on Monday. ZOINKS!
At least it's a prime number...

The Friday before I went away last weekend (to Newport Beach and Catalina, with Peter), one of my nephews visiting from England (via Florida where he is attending school), Reuven, went with Mattie & me up Cowles Mountain, which is a good 30-45 minute hike uphill, 20-30 minutes back down. The two of 'em earned a respite up at the top!

It was pretty hot that day but we had planned to go before the weekend so off we went. Reuven was a trouper and the Matster did superb. My little 12-year-old deaf girl is still in great shape. And for that, among myriad other things, i am thankful. Note Reuven's CANADA shirt. He attended a different school in Montreal last year and is a fan of our friendly neighbors to the north.

Above, note the effects of a jaunt uphill on a warm afternoon.
Below, you can see they're patiently waiting for me near
where my parents live. My camera batteries ran out...
before we even left. Good thing we checked beforehand!

***************************************

An informative & relevant, albeit a bit long read about just where produce comes from, the nutritional comparison of locally-grown vs. corporate-type farm harvested fruits & vegetables, and how our food gets shipped around and about.

The story, written by a vegetarian, has a San Diego County angle but i believe it will be enlightening for anyone interested in this subject:

http://www.sdreader.com/php/cover.php?mode=article&showpg=1&id=20070308

Hope everyone's had a fab week!!
What's your plans for the weekend???
March is here... Spring's just around the corner.
YEAH! I love Spring.
I'll be posting about my trip last weekend... this weekend!
And checking in on all your blogs so i can see what you've been up to...

************************
************************

Thoughts for the weekend:

And, if you would, a moment of silence for
BOSTON lead singer and long-time
(no pun intended) vegetarian Brad Delp,
who passed away last Friday in New Hampshire...
A couple of Web pages w/info on this talented,
witty and kind-hearted BEATLES fanatic:
http://www.boston.org/brad.html
http://bandboston.com/html/bd_html.html

The urban Matster for Meatout 2007!

2007-03-01T18:56:00.000-08:00

"Mommy! Feed me!"
Who could deny that cute face?
Mat's in Peter's kitchen here hopin' for a handout.
(Of course i gave her a little something!)

Hey! Just a couple more weeks until "The Great American Meatout" 2007!!

A Web site with info on that - and much more:
http://www.farmusa.org/

Is anyone thinking about going to this?

(Animal Rights 2007 National Conference)

http://www.arconference.org/

Last year's looks like it was fantastic!

http://www.arconference.org/photos6/index.htm

**********************************************

From http://feedsveganneeds.blogspot.com/ i bring you:

THE MOUTH REVOLUTION

http://www.mouthrevolution.com/

*************************************

*************************************

We have a neat little "urban tree" (hi U.V. !!) area around one of our beautiful bays in the city of San Diego, right next to downtown. Peter, Heidi, Mattie & i were there last week, walkin' around. Below are some of the trees we stopped to look at.

There's a Web site that shows all of them... and they seem to change 'em every so often, which was nooz to me. Do take a peek if you have a few minutes.

http://www.portofsandiego.org/sandiego_publicart/urbantrees/

(The bottom photo shows the water where these funky trees are located.)

Hope the month of March is good to everybody! Have a grand rest of your week & weekend, everyone, with thoughts of good health, peace, love + yes, sunshine from San Diego to you, wherever you are! Take care!!

i don't eat anything with a face

2007-02-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

Jyoti Bihanga - http://www.jyotibihanga.com/ - is a mellow, relaxing, spacious, warm and inviting vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant in San Diego. Run under the auspices of peace-loving musician, artist and spiritual rock Sri Chinmoy, this place is a relaxing and wonderful eatery located in a neat, very urban, hardly chic part of San Diego.

They have a fab menu during the week, but it's Sunday that brings a plethora of people. And yesterday was no different. It was packed with peeps! On Sundays, they serve a great all-you-can eat buffet, with plenty of vegan options. Peter & i decided to go there yesterday. Hooray!

Above you can see some of what i had - gently cooked and cubed potatoes with an insanely outrageous vegan mushroom gravy & scrambled tofu with veggies. Below that is a plate of vegan blueberry pancakes and a slice of apple cake with maple syrup, some ultra sweet strawberries and a slice of pineapple. It was an incredible meal. And only $9 per person. Such a bargain!!

We brought the girls with us but ate inside, so they had to wait. Awwwwww! We let the windows down some and kept the top up on his car. Here you can see Heidi looking out intently, waiting for us to get out of Jyoti Bihanga. Mat's in the front seat...

This morning when i was getting out of my car to take Mattie to the vet, a woman stopped me in the parking lot of the shopping center my veterinarians are in and walked over to me and asked me, "What do you do for protein?" I had a nice little chat with her. It's times like that i'm glad i have kind of an obnoxious array of bumper stickers... It's a good day when i spy people behind me on the road or at a stoplight pointing at my car's behind & commenting to one another. Makes me smile.

Yesterday after Peter and i were at Jyoti Bihanga, we drove over to where Heidi's foster mom lives to visit her. Surprisingly enough, we ran into Cheri (Heidi's former caretaker) not far from her house. She was out walking her own yellow Labrador. Peter pulled over. We all talked for a while and i told her where we'd just been for brunch. She said, "You know, i stopped eating meat and i've been thinking about becoming a vegetarian... A lot of my friends are. What do you recommend i do?" Needless to say, i'll be getting her e-mail from Peter and i hope to help her become more knowledgeable... Yay. That made me happy.

***************************************

A cool Web site from "Down Under" with some wonderful ideas, hopes, dreams & plans...

http://www.animal-lib.org.au/

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How do you feel about Wikipedia's entry for "Vegan" and the Vegan Cookbook entry?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegan

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Vegan_cuisine

***************************************

Above photos from http://vaveg.org/

Hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead!

Soakin' it up

2007-02-22T21:11:00.000-08:00

After a little walk with me, Mat caught some rays on her favorite little couch on the porch in the backyard at my parents' house on Wednesday. It rained today and will again tomorrow, but she had it good for a few hours yesterday.

A little later i caught her taking a swig o'water from their swimming pool...

A good read (although some of it bugged me, but please don't let that stop you) from Newsweek magazine via MSNBC found at Richard's blog http://sadlywaiting.blogspot.com/ about omnis & veggies co-existing happily:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17201476/site/newsweek/

"no animals were bothered in the making of lunch"

2007-02-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

I laughed when i read that line in the following news article because it's just so cute. Better than that old Carl's Jr. "don't bother me, i'm eating" line any day.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/other_business/article/0,2777,DRMN_23916_5364029,00.html

But in all seriousness, it's a darn good read. (Mattie agrees.)

There is a sanctuary in Northern California called Animal Place. It seems wonderful. I hope someday to visit the real Animal Place.

But till then, it's online...

http://www.animalplace.org/

And now they have a blog here on blogspot!

http://animalplacesanctuary.blogspot.com/

She's 12 (84,is that?), she's deaf, but Mattie's spry... forever young at heart... i gotta tell ya though, this cartoon made me laugh. AARP AARP!

And while i'm on the subject of older furry ladies (no one's callin' any dawg a b*h here!), here's Heidi 'n' Peter kickin' back recently. They seem to be expressing the "Let Love Rule" way of life, as Lenny Kravitz might sing.

From me, Mattie, to YOU, yes i mean YOU!

2007-02-18T17:03:00.000-08:00

Hi friends!

I had such a good day with Mommy today, a Sunday she finally has off from working at the newspaper. We went for a good hike in the park near where we live and we met some nice four-leggeders, including an adorable and high-energy 11-month-old blonde cocker spaniel puppy, who was much hairier than I. (You might note that my tresses were snipped - that was a couple of weeks ago but it's growing back.)

Mommy says HELLO to everyone out there in blogger-land. I know she has really been missing all of her friends... She will be posting more often than she has in months. She took some time off to concentrate on a lot of "career-related issues."

(At least that's how she put it to me - i think it's just a fancy way of saying she has been working a lot of hours at the newspaper and with her freelance work, and hasn't had enough time to devote to blogging!)

She's going to be visiting everyone this week, if she hasn't done so already. She wishes you a WONDERFUL week! And, of course, so do i.

Love 'n' stuff,

Mattie

P.S. And Mommy also said some of you might want to go to the following Web site to get some vegan freebies! Hooray for freebies!

http://www.purelydecadent.com/

Mattie's in da house

2006-11-11T20:35:00.000-08:00

"ALOHA!" from me, Mattie.
It's been a busy week for mom, she just wanted to me to pop in and say hello! HELLO! and ask how you are HOW ARE YOU? and let you know she will be visiting blogs in person as soon as she's done with a bunch o'deadline-heavy work-related stuff that's due early this week...

Random veg sign.

It's a pig's world.

Catastrophe!? Meowza!

This photo captures the glee (?) of a post-5K race last weekend at which Heidi's dad, Peter, finished second overall (he's super-fast), and mom... uh... well, let's just say she was waaaaaaaay behind, but she was third in her age group. Not sure how many others were in her age group though! HA! Heidi and i were there scopin' things out for snacks 'n' stuff at the post-race festivities. Lotsa goodies...

Where's Mommy?

P.S.

If you have some spare change, there're some groovy auctions goin' on right now to help abandoned cocker spaniels (like i once was!):

http://www.jamdweck.com/phpauction/adsearch.php

P.S. 2

Got teens?

http://www.vegetarianteen.com/

P.S. 3

HUGS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD WEEKEND AND WEEK!

Au revoir, Canada

2006-11-06T19:28:00.000-08:00

<----- This is the CN Tower (http://www.cntower.ca/portal/) in Toronto. I didn't take this photo but it's better than the ones i have. It was blustery and overcast when i was in Toronto so this photo taken in better weather does this edifice better justice...
84.1 for a gallon o'gas? Wow! Wait a minute now... Gas isn't cheaper; it's in litres!

This gull was hangin' out at Niagara Falls in New York. And here i thought these guys were only found hangin' out at the beach in Southern California!

Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls. From the Canadian side. Oh. My. Gosh. Lookit the peeps on the overlook! That must be quite a place to gawk. As my dad drove and my mom did her best to navigate us out of Canada en route to the airport in Buffalo, N.Y., I was hangin' out of the rental car to get this photo as we didn't have time to stop. Incredible.

Had to grab a shot of this snack stand at the airport in Buffalo... (let's hope that's a Smart Dog there!) It would only be a few hours (well, more like 7 or 8) until i saw the *real* Mattie!! My oldest sister & her two kids dog-sat the Matster while i was away.

I had a great time away but i was really glad to get back home!

The weeding... (2nd of 2 posts 2night)

2006-11-04T20:09:00.000-08:00

I'm so cynical... of course, it's wedding, not weeding! My oldest nephew (age 23) got married to a nice young lady he met in Canada... that's why my mom and dad and i trekked to the beautiful city of Toronto to be a part of the festivities. Below are photos from the wedding (and some from before the wedding) of my sister Sheryl and her family (rabbi husband and their 10 children) as well as my mom and my dad and me! It was great to see all of the little ones... you can see Chaya, who was here a month ago, with the rest of her four sisters and five brothers. I don't know how my sis has done it... all the kids are truly smart, funny and nice! Her youngest is 2 1/2 years old. I love the last photo. I hadn't seen this London-living sister of mine in about 3 years.

And i'm really not a sports fan!

2006-11-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

One of the trip highlights was meeting fellow veg blogger and friend, Carrie ( http://thehouseofsimon.blogspot.com/ )! She is absolutely a gem. I love her! I had a blast the night she and her sweet hubby, Jim, took me pretty much all over Toronto! At left and elsewhere on this post, you can see we are at the front of the insanely packed with rabid fans Air Canada Centre ( http://www.theaircanadacentre.com/ ) where their beloved Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League play home games. Below is the happy couple at one of the subway stations in Toronto. We "Rode the Rocket" to a superb vegan restaurant called "Vegetarian Haven," which Carrie recently blogged about. It was in a word: Awesome. The food, the ambiance, the warmth. SO GOOD!

Carrie and Jim and i hung out for a little at a hotel adjacent to the Rogers Centre ( http://www.rogerscentre.com/ ) where the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball play their home games but the field was set up for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. As a longtime sports writer/editor, it was a blast for me to check these venues out. And with Carrie and Jim, it was extra special. It was my last night in Canada... what a way to end things! Superb!!

Trippin'

2006-10-31T19:18:00.000-08:00

<----- New York State of Mind... and below, the Rainbow Bridge really exists, and it's in CANADA!

This reminded me of the funny sign photos Candi has taken on her hikes around Washington state...

Niagara Falls from the U.S. side. Awesome, but even better to see from Canada!

Niagara Falls in New York.

Water heading toward the Falls.

Foliage nearby. Loved the colours!

More foliage as the water heads to the Falls.

My dad walked down a path as we left the actual Falls.

My dad poses on a bridge near the Falls.

The Niagara Falls Park in New York.

Something i'd never seen before and which i saw a lot of in Canada... a black squirrel. I'd only seen gray ones. Very spry, these ebony guys!

Tuning in and toon-ing out (last link, so cute!)

2006-10-13T18:43:00.000-07:00

Hello!
How are YOU!?
I hope the week's been good to you and your loved ones.
I've been preoccupied as tour guide, writing some last-minute stories, and busy preparing for the trip to Canada. But i am curious how you (and you know who you are!) are, and i plan to visit everyone i can in blogland this weekend during down time at work!

My co-worker made this cake for her daughter's birthday this past week and though i know it's not vegetarian (she used marshmallows & Twinkies... gelatin & beef fat, yuck!!), it's still cute...

My niece and i way up high at Cabrillo National Monument. Thanks to my friend Vince ( http://hikeofyourlife.com/ ) for the National Parks Pass that got us in free! YAY! The view of the water (San Diego Bay, which empties out into the Pacific Ocean) and downtown San Diego behind us was spectacular! I'm wearing a t-shirt my mom bought me earlier this year at the vegetarian and vegan-friendly Blind Faith Cafe in suburban Chicago.

My dad and niece at a Kosher (and vegetarian and vegan-friendly) pizza restaurant where some of my family went earlier in the week for dinner.

My mom and niece at Cabrillo. We had a great afternoon up there, it was a sunny day with stunning views!

The view from one of the bathrooms at Cabrillo is insane, a million-dollar view if ever there was one, looking out over the ocean... I was in the next stall over when my niece was checking things out so i grabbed the photo before anyone else came in the bathroom and wondered "What in the world?!"

It's been a fun week showing her around, i forgot how nice some of these places are around San Diego County. I still have places to take her before we head East.

How's the weather out that way? I'm almost afraid to find out because i think i threw out my winter coat and hat and gloves years ago... i'm ill-prepared, so what else is new?

ZOINKS!

I don't know this guy but i like him: J.D. Fortune!

http://www.undercover.com.au/news/2006/oct06/20061012_inxs.html

Not likin' this... giving vegetarians a bad name...
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2006/Oct/20061013Life003.asp

Vegan cyclists, here's a NOISY site for us:

http://cycling.thenoisies.com/

Some deals to be had at Vegan Unlimited:

http://www.veganunlimited.com/specials.html

Get in touch with your scribblin' inner child! It's totally fun:

http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/

Awesome bumper sticker & it's free!

I already ordered mine - your turn now:

http://www.mercyforanimals.org/choose-veg-bumper-sticker.asp

And... without further ado... a cute little cartoon to (i hope!) get the weekend off to a fun start!

http://www.timetogoveggie.com/ttgv/index.html

Tour guide

2006-10-08T22:30:00.000-07:00

The second of five girls and the fourth of 10 children, this is my middle sister's daughter, Chaya. She's been on holiday visiting my family until some of us go to her oldest brother's wedding later this month in Canada.

Mattie & i (and Heidi one day as well) have been pleasantly occupied taking her around San Diego County. The top two photos were taken in Coronado, the bottom one in La Jolla.

********************************************************

Attention all athletes!

A wonderful booklet about sports nutrition that you can read online or as a PDF from those great folks at OrganicAthlete:
http://www.organicathlete.org/civicspace/node/6

and as well, from the U.K., a fab read:
http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/guides/foodofchamps.html

***********************************************************

Hope everyone had a safe, sane, superb weekend and may your week ahead be healthy and upbeat. Planning to surf 'n' hop around blogland sometime Monday... i'm so lookin' forward to seeing how everybody's "bean." Thank you for all the support and kindness through your words i've been reading in response to my last post (and previous ones as well).

Life is good, 'tis.

I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and i do feel the love.

Still puzzled & some puzzling

2006-10-03T00:49:00.000-07:00

HELLO THERE!

This photo of Mattie (small... i'm puzzled... guess i'm just havin' Blogger issues this a.m.) reminds me of an old fave site of mine that is no longer out there, dognoses.com... it had in-your-face photographs of dog noses. Just too cute! I wish it was still in Web-land so you all could see it...

Hey, i want to tell you how much i appreciate the kind comments re: my previous post. Another friend of mine, a young woman, passed away Sunday after a 1 1/2-year battle with breast cancer, so it's been like... i dunno... overwhelming, to say the least! I had a lot to think about praying in synagogue - and away from it as well - on Monday, to be sure.

But, like the TV show i used to watch & love, and the Beatles (go Paul McCartney!) tune it took its title from... "(O-Bla-Di, O-Bla-Da) Life Goes On" ... it has to, ya know?

I finished "Marley & Me" over the weekend and highly recommend it. Poignant & funny, it's little wonder this book's been on the NY Times best-seller list for so long a time. A well-written story by a journalist about a very mischievous but lovable Labrador and the family who shares his wild & crazy life, this is definitely a must-read for dog aficionados as well as those who enjoy taking a peek into other peeps' home lives! And as i am one of those who prefers non-fiction (although i have a soft spot for John Steinbeck), this was right up my proverbial alley.

*************************************

An interesting, relate-able, to-the-point story by a vegan writer in Olympia, Wash.:
http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061001/LIVING/610010326

Pretty inspiring stuff there, Gigi!

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It's almost time for the Vegetarian Film Festival
http://www.vegetarianfilmfest.org.nz/films.htm
in New Zealand. Wow, would i love to go to NZ!
And not just to see "Harvie Krumpet" either...
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0610/S00011.htm

********************************************

This is a good place to voice your opinions (easy, too!)
http://www.theactionblog.com/

******************************

What a good sport she is:

MAT IN SOX!

**********************************

i am too weak and emotionally vulnerable to watch, but if you can/want to... ANIMAL Liberation NSW has launched a graphic television advertising campaign, targeting Australia's battery hen industry:
http://www.nocagedeggs.com/
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,20517430-1702,00.html?from=public_rss

*******************************************************

And on a happier note... any jigsaw puzzle fans out there?
http://www.redjellyfish.com/fun/puzzles.html

My mom's such a nerd...
puzzles! I am so sure!

Mat, here in Peter's parents' garage, wishes you all a colourful week!

Happy World Vegetarian Day!! (1 Oct.)

2006-09-30T19:02:00.000-07:00

Pea-lease, kick up yer heels!

Wanna make sumfin' of it?! :o)

From Friends of Animals...
http://www.friendsofanimals.org/

<--Direct action!

(and of course tomorrow, 2 Oct.,
is World Farm Animals Day...)
World Vegetarian Day's own site:
http://www.worldvegetarianday.org/

Ya know what? I'm puzzled, too!

<--From North American Vegetarian Society:
http://www.navs-online.org/

Sundown Sunday also marks the start of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, and for anyone who wants to know why this is the most important holiday on the calendar for Jews: http://www.aish.com/hhYomK/hhYomKDefault/

Suffice it to say Yom Kippur is considered by all Jews as the most solemn day of the year. We stand before G-d all day long in prayer; we appeal for forgiveness for our errors and plan to improve ourselves in the coming year.

It's been a rough end of the Jewish year/a rough month of September for me, with my friend Emilie's death which was preceded by my friend David going through quintuple bypass surgery. Then a week ago, my friend Steve was flipped and flung from his bicycle going 15 mph by someone carelessly opening up their car door causing him fractures and broken bones - but fortunately he was wearing a helmet!

I'm so grateful for a new month secular-speaking and for a new year ahead - 5767, i do believe.

I'll be away from the computer until well after sundown Monday and hope all of you enjoy World Vegetarian Day and World Farm Animals Day and for all those who are fasting to commemorate Yom Kippur, i wish you an easy fast!!

And if there are any pineapple fans out there, this is pretty cool:

http://www.tinypineapple.com/gallery/

Have a great weekend & week ahead!

Lazy daze

2006-09-26T22:52:00.000-07:00

Those swingers, Mattie & Peter!!

^Above^ and
<---- Peter & Mattie hangin' out in his Sky Chair http://www.skychairs.com/ last weekend. Peter got two of 'em at a street fair and gave one to me as a condo-warming gift 1 1/2 years ago, and i love it! Comfort like you can't believe... I still go on swings at parks & playgrounds, but don't tell anyone! :o)

This t-shirt's on sale for $4.99.
(See link below for more info.)
Anyone gonna get it? I might!

http://www.hottopic.com/store/product.asp?LS=0&ITEM=287979

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Mmmmmmmm! Vegan food porn from Chicago:
http://www.pjchmiel.com/vegan/index.html

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Have you voted?
At Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's Web site, that is.
This was my first look at all of these ads:

http://support.pcrm.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pcrm_worst_commercials&JServSessionIda006=2gtqj6o2b1.app12d

Leppards sometimes change their spots

2006-09-25T22:41:00.000-07:00

Food for thought? Hmmmm:

Yep, you are!

Remember that silliness from New Zealand?
There's a follow-up story! And it's worth reading:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3804930a7144,00.html

I wish there didn't have to be an "us vs. them," but more power to Ella Soryl!

***************************************************

Pour some sugar on me!
This makes me glad Peter & i caught the Journey/Def Leppard concert (well, we listened to it in the venue's parking lot - ha ha!) back in August:

http://www.market-day.net/article_26624/20060919/Def-Leppard-Rocker-Sings-Vegetarian-Praises.php

(And just a note: Steve Perry, former lead singer of Journey is also vegetarian...)

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Wow, if i'm ever in Portland, Oregon, i'm so here:
http://www.veganopolis.com/

Religion & animal rights (& lefts)

2006-09-22T17:38:00.000-07:00

L'Shana Tova!!

Happy and Healthy New Year to anyone marking the Jewish New Year.

Not exactly like the secular new year, for Jews, this is a time of deep thought and serious introspection...

... and saying "i'm sorry" to those we have wronged in the past year ...

http://www.aish.com/movies/sorry.asp

On being a Jewish vegan:
http://www.chai-online.org/en/compassion/judaism/heritage_judaism_vegan.htm

And for a very interesting Catholic/Christian viewpoint of vegetarianism, check this out:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2004/02/02/urbananimal.DTL

This is one of my fave sites, too, its mellow "believe in a power greater than you" overtones give it a different but nice feel:
http://www.all-creatures.org/

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Hope everyone is doing well!
I've been away from the computer... be back Sunday...
just a couple of things i wanted to share...

******************************************************

A good sign! http://www.tykieslonglife.com/news.php

From http://www.vegsoc.org/index.html ,

this dog's (like all dogs!) got rights (and lefts!)

- and need i tell you: He's got it right all right!

Calling all Californians (top part of post!)

2006-09-19T19:07:00.000-07:00

From an e-mail i got from Animal Place
( http://www.animalplace.org/ )

Californians - Your Help Needed!

SB 1578, a bill that would outlaw the chaining of dogs is headed to the Governor.

Please contact Gov. Schwarzenegger and ask him to support this important piece of legislation.

It is very easy to do - just follow the instructions.

Call (916) 445-2841

Press 1 for English
Press 2 when prompted "to voice your opinion on legislation"
Press 4 (for senate bill 1578)
Press 1 to support

That's it! You don't even need to talk to a person to voice your support!
(i did it & it was painless, trust me!)

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Coming up soon (Oct. 2), for anyone interested, is (drumroll, please):
World Farm Animals Day!
http://wfad.org/

A "die-in" staged in Israel for last year's WFAD:

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My friend since age 8, Heidi, a cat-loving vegan who lives in Tucson, Ariz. (her Web site: http://intelligentinsights.biz/ ), sent me this link. It's really, really good!

A S.C.U.B.A.-diving cat. Unbelievable!
http://www.wservernews.com/1HK4AI/060911-Scubacat

<----- Heidi, in sweater & blue jeans, is on right, Tammy, the mother of these three cute kids and also a friend of mine since i wuz 8, wearing pink & black, is left.

A Vegan Poem/Sanctuary

2006-09-19T00:38:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the TofuBandits,
"Vegan Delight," by Benjamin Zephaniah:
( http://www.benjaminzephaniah.com/ )

http://tofubandits.org.uk/delight.html

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And for other interesting links:
http://www.veganvillage.co.uk/

(there, i found this, the U.K.'s Farm Animal Rescue Sanctuary!)
http://www.farmanimalrescue.org.uk/

And two more sanctuaries, so wonderful to see!
http://www.hillside.org.uk/
http://www.towerhillstables.com/

<----Who's with me here?

Hunt not, lest ye be judged...

2006-09-17T23:26:00.000-07:00

Wishing everyone a fun, productive, healthy, safe week.

Silliness from New Zealand:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3799956a7144,00.html

Friendz @ Dog Beach & @ Sipz

2006-09-16T23:42:00.000-07:00

My friend Marie, in the gorgeous green shirt in the photo of the fearsome threesome, who does Cocker Spaniel rescue work in Pennsylvania, and her mom, Connie, in white, visited San Diego last week, and for one day lucky me was able to hang out with 'em.

Guess where we had lunch!?

SIPZ, of course.
( http://www.sipz.com/ )

We also shopped next door to SIPZ at the Animal Protection and Rescue League's ( http://www.aprl.org/ ) second-hand store. Marie & Connie shopped up a storm and i donated some books 'n' stuff then bought a barely-worn pair of vegan shoes for $3. Such a deal, i tell you!

We had also taken Peter's dog Heidi and my furbuddy Mattie (pre-haircut) to Ocean Beach's Dog Beach as you can see in the other photo. VERY fun!

Just a reminder:
Tuesday's Talk Like A Pirate Day (from Pirates of the Carob Bean http://www.veganpirates.co.uk/ )!
Aaaaaargh!
http://www.piratesofthecarobbean.com/talk-like-a-pirate-day/talk-like-a-pirate-day.html

Reading is FUNdamental

2006-09-15T23:57:00.000-07:00

I recently borrowed this book:

from Peter and i've been reading & enjoying it.

As you can see in the photo below taken the other day, Heidi looks a bit like Marley but her "behaviours" are nothing like Marley's!! Thankfully!

Has anyone read this book? I'm on Chapter 14, not even halfway done, i think.

Hope everyone has a colorful, flavor-filled weekend.

Before & After: Matster in two acts

2006-09-14T23:12:00.000-07:00

Hairy, happy Mattie, with Peter (we stopped the ice cream truck in front of his parents' house for an ice pop & a Sno-cone), a couple of days before her big Wednesday at the groomers...

And today, less than 24 hours post hair cut:

"Mommy, mommy why'dja do this to me?!"

Signs of life...

2006-09-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

Mattie, as i have posted here, my sweet punkinhead, is deaf.
(She also got her hare kut today and i'll post pix later this week!)
Thought i'd post a version of the American Sign Language for
"I am a vegetarian." Here is the link where i found the interesting info:
http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-signs/v/vegetarian.htm

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This may be "the road less traveled" but 'tis my fave road!
How about you?!

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From 1999 "Time Out New York" - "Help! I'm dating a vegetarian!"
Nice look on the dude's face. I can relate to the lady!! ZOINKS!

Here's an excellent, excellent recent Q&A with the brilliant Peter Singer:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/features/story.jsp?story=706008

And his web site:
http://www.princeton.edu/~psinger/

********************************************

Sincere thanks for all of your kind words regarding my friend Emilie. *HUGS* for caring AND for ALWAYS using seat belts when in a moving vehicle. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my healing heart.

What i'm feelin' right now:

Live life with passion.
Live life with purpose.
Love one another.
Laugh with a full heart.
Embrace each and every moment.

Goodbye, my friend

2006-09-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

Words cannot express my sadness. The tears in my eyes speak what my heart can't accept. A true friend of/to all people, a defender of all animals (especially wolves!), a writer, a student, a sister, a daughter and a most wonderful human being. This was Emilie Mondor, proud and passionate Canadian runner extraordinaire. The world has lost a special soul. Her spirit lives on.

http://www.runnersweb.com/running/rw_news_frameset.html?http://www.runnersweb.com/running/news/rw_news_20060910_RRW_Mondor.html

Some photos:

http://www.emiliemondor.com/photos/photos.php3?gal=0

*sigh* She really was such a unique person:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041025/news_1s25barrios.html

Please, please everyone promise me that you and every one of your passengers will ALWAYS WEAR A SEATBELT when traveling in a car, even if it's just around the block. Please promise me that. Please.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Track/2006/09/10/1824812-cp.html

Bigger IS better on Blogger!

2006-09-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Blogger & i are friends again. Hooray!
Some fun pix from www.leicesterveggies.org.uk

"The Big Picture" from yesterday.

Count sheep? Who, vegans?

A respite during last Thursday's hike. No water was consumed at this murky marsh! I finally was able to get a handle on Mat's E.coli. Yuck! No more drinks from weird waterways...

Smallville, Veggie 101 & top 5

2006-09-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

Blogger is being a real brat
with photos!!! *sigh* This is
a large photo that i can't get
any bigger for some reason...
Waaaaaaaah. I love this pic!

The girls rest after a romp in a dog park at Balboa Park.
They had such a good time playing and resting, too.

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"I have never tasted a piece of meat in my life."
-101-year-old Blanche Mannix

Her story:

http://www.bridlingtontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=803&ArticleID=1732698

*****************************************************
A couple of nice peeps "tagged" me for the "5 Foods U Gotta Try B4 U Die" (that's the Prince - he of "Purple Rain" fame- version of it). I guess i have to say (write) that what these are, are some of my current fave snacks. Thanks for the tag, my friends!

1. Uncle Eddie's Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies.
(Trader Joe's has a wonderful knock-off version too!!) Tasty, and can completely fool any non-vegan!!! One day i'll learn to bake something like these great guys.

2. I know this is weird, but, whatever, 'cause i am:
Toasted plain rice cakes with creamy peanut butter and boysenberry fruit spread. Oh.My.Gosh. I can't tell you how much i love this combo. Like the photo but with loads o'fruit spread!

3. Roasted garlic. Oy, so good it's almost sinful. Roasted veggies
are some of my fave eatin's, but there's something special about
garlic when roasted w/a little bit of olive oil & a dash o'salt. Wow.

4. Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs and Almond Breeze soymilk.
Together. Again. For the first time. Forever. At last!

5. "Blanche." This is a top-secret recipe, a frozen drink/shake
created by my pal Peter. It's not vegan 'cause he uses Ovaltine,
which unfortunately contains whey, but all the other ingredients
are vegan. I have been actively seeking a substitute for him to use.
Blanche's got nutrition, it's refreshing, it's made in a Vita-Mix and
it's loaded, loaded, i tell you, with calories - but it is so insanely good.

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Hope everyone has a truly happy weekend!

Here's lookin' at YOU, kids!

2006-09-05T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hi from the Matster! Here i am at the vet's not long ago, in
desperate need of a hare-cut, but mommy doesn't take me very
often. :o( Boo. I'm told that i'm still pretty cute though! What
can i say? This punkinhead is the background photo on mommy's
computer at home AND at work. Yeah, i know: I'm so loved.

Today before work, mommy took me 'n' Heidi to one of the super fun Dog Parks in Balboa Park and we had a total, total blast. I think she will share photos of our fun tomorrow or sumfin' like that!

OK, Mat, my turn!! Yes, i shall share some of the photos of today's outings!! Hi... it's me, with one final photo of the double celebration from last week. A vegetarian brownie i made sits, lit (alit?), in front of the b'day boys and Peter's mother. The brownie had no eggs and i used 8th Continent soy milk for the liquid, but the decorations are mini m&m's. So, not vegan. Boo! It was super sweet - and i do mean super sweet! - but i heard no complaints!

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VEGETARIAN DOGGIE NEWS

Mat's still on her veggie dry food and i have taken to giving her
some canned vegetarian people foodstuffs to wet the dry goods.
I don't recommend it for every dog, but it works for Mat, whose
blood pressure was high when i adopted her as a senior a few years
back... her cholesterol is down into normal range now...

Here's another dog who's a vegetarian (and likes yoga!):
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1785596,0011.htm
and a link to a vegetarian dogs Web site that i just checked out:
http://www.veggiepets.com/

And no, Mattie does not do yoga, but she does know about Doga:
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/Chronicle/excerpt/0811841677-e0.html
And Dog Yoga as well:
http://www.dogyoga.com/

*****************************************************

So since i was frustrated at not being able to post on non-Beta
bloggers' blogs, i created a new identity (is this "identity theft"
or what!?) as kleo2 (i know, how original!) and the "new" web
page is: http://piscesveggie.blogspot.com/ but i really don't plan
on posting there unless i have problems with this blog!

**********************************************************

This saddens me a bit... it does not bode well for the youth of today...
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/092006/09052006/218704

Steve Irwin, never a real "hunter"

2006-09-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060904/ap_on_en_tv/obit_irwin

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html

May "The Crocodile Hunter" of Australia rest in peace and may his spirit live on in all of us who love animals. Steve Irwin's show was one of the rare ones i used to watch on occasion when i watched TV.

He was a caring, compassionate, funny, energetic activist, and as far as i was always able to tell, a true friend to animals.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin

From Wikipedia entry:

Irwin was as enthusiastic about his family as he was about his work. He once described his daughter Bindi as "the reason he was put on the Earth." His wife Terri once said, "The only thing that could ever keep him away from the animals he loves are the people he loves even more."

My heart hurts knowing a caring individual who did so much to share his knowledge of and passion for animals with the public has passed away from this Earthly realm. I am sad today.

Food For Life & Birthday Fun

2006-09-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

I like the song "Get The Balance Right" by Depeche Mode
and i like what this poster espouses! Veggie food - for life!!
And my humming of that tune also led me here:
http://www.essentialvegan.com/

... for EVER and EVER and EVER... AMEN!!

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And the birthday boyz - Peter's dad and Peter - at a table last week
at SIPZ with me & the woman who was 49 years old when she had
Peter (the day after her husband's 51st birthday!) having a night out:

We ate great veg food and the owner, my pal, Sylvia, gave us
two slices of their smashingly good vegan chocolate cake! I'd
brought special candles to mark the occasion, which weren't
lighting up very well but i snapped this photo when i had a
chance. Notice the backwards "B" and how a few aren't lit? Oops.

When we finally got done eating the cake,
which was ooey, gooey, rich & chewy and
sinfully delicious, as always, only a few
candle letters remained. Ever the nerd, i
grabbed 'em and asked if anyone at the
table could make a word with what was left:

And that was what was there. ADAPT
Pretty apropos for life as we know it, no?

The mural on the entirety of one of SIPZ's walls is totally gorgeous...
and i'm kinda partial to the person posing with this imposing fish...

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Is the following link food for thought? I don't think so, but...
http://allafrica.com/stories/200609010119.html
I find it offensive and quite difficult to believe...
What is your take on it? I would love your feedback.

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Now open in Pasadena! Alternative Outfitters!
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/business/ci_4263947#
Here they are online:
http://www.alternativeoutfitters.com/

***********************************************************

Hope everyone is having a safe and fun weekend!!!
P.S. I am now coming to you via BETA BLOGGING.

The Zench & Shania Twain

2006-08-29T23:21:00.000-07:00

The first time my pal Peter & i were at Patrick's Point together was in February of 2005.

We had just finished running a race called "The Trinidad to Clam Beach Run" http://www.trinidadtoclambeach.com/ (which he of course WON - the 5 3/4-miler; i was third in my age group).

We were going to go to Larrupin Cafe for dinner that night and had some time to "kill" between the race and dinner, so we decided to take a journey through Patrick's Point, the place where we returned just a couple o'weeks ago to camp & hike, etc.

While hiking in 2005, we found this amazing bench among the redwoods that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. We named it "Zench" because it was such a peaceful Zen-like setting for a bench to be. He took a photo of it in all its glory, all by itself, and used it on his super cool business cards. So this time when we went back, happy to see it again, we took photos with it, "just because."

I have to tell you, i'm so proud of that long-sleeve shirt i am wearing! I had just bought it a day earlier at a second-hand store that benefited Arcata Hospice. It says "Humboldt State Basketball" on there. Like i went to college @HSU or something. HA! I sorta wish i had...

Go Lumberjacks!

**********************************************

Happy belated (28 August) 41st b'day & wishes for a great year ahead to: Shania "I think there's something odd about eating another living anything" Twain...

More "famous veggie" quotes:
http://www.famousveggie.com/quotes.cfm

The summer season & over 101 reasons

2006-08-27T20:56:00.000-07:00

Last few photos from the trip to Humboldt County!
During one of our hikes, this one at the Prairie Creek
Redwoods State Park way north of where we camped
at Patrick's Point, Peter and i spotted this tree. It had
branches that were swept to the side on top. Neat!

At the Farmer's Market in Arcata, we spotted this
little pup and her four-legged mom as well as her
two-legged "other" mom and got some snuggle time.
We really missed Heidi and Mattie a LOT. We saw
sooooo many dogs (and quite a few cats) on the trip.

We snuck into the back of the esteemed Larrupin Cafe in Trinidad
on a day it was closed (Wednesday?) and there was this papier
mache cow there that i had to stop and get close to... (We
saw lots of cows on our drives all over NoCal, but i did not
get to get up close and personal w/'em. I wanted to, too!) At
the back of the cafe, there is a gorgeous garden. We ran our
hands thru some rosemary and got some free aromatherapy,
then picked some wild blackberries and ate 'em. Good times.

We ate at Larrupin a couple nights later and the waitress,
a former vegan (*sigh*) had the chef whip me up a groovy
vegan meal of portobello mushrooms cooked in olive oil
and some rosemary potatoes and a few other little goodies.
I was thrilled. We had "had" that waitress a year ago February
when we were on vacation and she remembered having the
chef prepare a tofu-and-veggie-skewered grilled dish for me.
They were out of tofu this time. But what i had was darn good,
albeit pricey. But that's Larrupin, a very romantic place *wink*.

Cool light inside a store at the Arcata Plaza.

Breakfast at Wildflower Cafe (posted about it earlier).
Peter's eyes look crazed, no? Too much coffee!?!?! :o)

Relaxing after enjoying a great "hot tub" in Arcata.

****************************************************

Over 101 reasons "not" to be a vegan!
Not negative, all tongue-in-cheek, really.
Vegans and vegan-friendly peeps'll like these:
http://veganconnection.com/reasons.html

*****************************************************

More good nooz on the vegetarian lunch front!
Out of SF/Oakland/Bay area this time...
http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_4246330?source=rss

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Vegetarian quotes:
http://www.quotegarden.com/vegetarianism.html

I like this one from Leo Tolstoy:
"'Thou shalt not kill' does not apply to murder of one's own kind only, but to all living beings; and this Commandment was inscribed in the human breast long before it was proclaimed from Sinai."

Do you have a favorite?

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This week heads us into a new month, wow... time's a'flyin'!
Wishing you a blessed last week of August/first week of September.

Life is a Celebration

2006-08-26T22:34:00.000-07:00

There's an old song by Rick Springfield (i know, i know...) called "Life is a Celebration" from his third album, "Wait for Night" (the one before his 1981 breakthrough "Working Class Dog" - which has one of the all-time best rock album covers, by the way...) and it's been running through my head. Why? I'm not sure... The song goes, in part:

"Life is a celebration, and Lord, I’m gonna celebrate.
Don’t you know that life is a celebration,
so come on now and celebrate, celebrate.
Life is a celebration... look it’s a revelation...
so celebrate now, celebrate life, yeah..."

At Patrick's Point, Peter and i made it to both Wedding Rock and Ceremonial Rock. That was cause for celebration indeed.

Below you can see the view looking toward the Pacific Ocean from atop Ceremonial Rock, and then the view looking up toward Ceremonial Rock from a road below it. Not too shabby!

More on Patrick's Point here:
http://www.humboldt1.com/~popenoe/scenes/PatPoint.htm
(Worth at least one click... trust me!)

Thank you for indulging another round of Patrick's Point photos and this accompanying post.

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Wow, i totally dig this site...
The restaurant listings, at least for my neck o'the woods, are updated.
That's pretty cool...
Plus the site's official title:
VEGAN WORLD ORDER
Sounds so... i dunno... serious. So official!

http://veganworldorder.com/

Making a Point

2006-08-25T21:20:00.000-07:00

Peter looks tiny on this rock at Patrick's Point!

He's microscopic here. The rocks were gigantic!

A bunch of seals were hangin' out on the rocks!
I really thought this one was lookin' up at us...

Agate Beach at Patrick's Point, just down the road
and down a huge set of stairs from where we were
camping. I felt even more giddy than i look here.

That's Agate Beach behind us. We camped just a
short distance away from where we took this pic.
Oy, our heads look sooper huge! Too funny!

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This looks like a cool site, "The Vegan News"
http://www.btinternet.com/~bury_rd/

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Curious as to what this "vegan health study" is all
about... if it's still going on... at $750, i can't do it!
http://www.veganhealthstudy.org/

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Good nooz from the school lunch world.
(Note: There is a difference between a vegetarian and a veterinarian!)
Love the last quote of the story from the first-grader... pretty cool.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/25/AR2006082501387.html?nav=rss_metro

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Behold the vegetarian crocodile!
http://www.newkerala.com/news4.php?action=fullnews&id=12412

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May your weekend be filled with good times & love.
Any plans for you? I'll be working, but also visiting
blogs to see what you're up to. :o)

Marketing 101

2006-08-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

Well, more like a market off Highway 101.

These are photos from the weekly "Farmer's Market" held every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Arcata Plaza in the middle of town in the city of Arcata, of Humboldt County in Northern California.

A colourful array of fruits and vegetables, animals and minerals. And people.

Oh yes, lots of people! Women and men, boys and girls - and some we were unsure of! Peeps of every age, babies to octogenarians, almost every nationality and religion, varying hues of skin colour, differing political viewpoints, all hair types, all sorts of eating habits and drinking choices, wearing (or not wearing- ahem!) clothing and accessories of every description, probably in any possible living situation, those with obvious (and not obvious) physical and/or mental challenges, etc.

A menagerie of everything in life, pretty much. Quite a collective thing to take in, believe me.

We have these kinds of weekly markets throughout San Diego but none as eclectic as what Peter and i saw here. Very, very interesting in every possible way. When he attended school in the area, he said he went to this almost every week and bought fresh organic foodstuffs, flowers and crafty things on occasion, too.

<----This kid, the son of someone in the audience, parked himself in front of a groovalicious band in the middle of the Plaza and did what we all need to do: he danced "like no one was watching." He was entertaining - and i'm sure had a blast!

******************************************************

Love this quote from Andre Benjamin of Outkast, from link below:

“Ten or 11 years ago I became a vegan, and it was because when we first came out (in 1994), you know, I was doing the drinking and smoking and all of that and felt terrible. You look in the mirror and you’ll be like, ‘Man, you’re really going down the drain.’ So I had to stop it.

“I go to Whole Foods at least twice a week because I like to cook. I cook a lot of broccoli. I love broccoli. I learned how to make the split-pea soup that they make here so I make it a lot. And when my son’s (Seven, who’s 8) in town, him and his little friends come over to the house, and I’ll try to experiment and make something. ...

“It’s funny. People think that Erykah (Badu, the R&B singer, his ex-girlfriend and mother of Seven) made me eat a certain way. And made me dress a certain way. But actually that was the reason I met her, because I was already that way.”

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/movies/15342546.htm?source=rss&channel=kansascity_movies

Pisces Place

The lady in the chair

Where is everyone?

Healthy, Happy Holidaze!

The fires in San Diego

Goodbye, sweet Heidi

Bee-ing kind stings sometimes

Beaches, a book, a bistro & bats

You can't spell evolve without love

Big hearts, some art & SMARTIES!

From Mattie

Think good thoughts!

Animals & Veg*nism go paw in hand

Vacation eats & delivered treats

Ewe are what ewe eat

a STOP OPTS POTS SPOT TOPS POST!

Bowling for the animals...

Heidi & Mattie (not unlike Confucius) say:

Earth day is EVERY day...

Sign of the thymes

Happy Mail, "Weird Al" & eBay goes vegan

Dog Day Afternoon

Baa Baa Ganoush 4 Ewe

Bowling for Animals & Wedding bells

Stuff 'n' more stuff

Eat your art!

Vicki & Art's Great Adventure

Natives are NOT restless

One if Island, Two if by Sea

On top of old Smokey...

The urban Matster for Meatout 2007!

i don't eat anything with a face

Soakin' it up

"no animals were bothered in the making of lunch"

From me, Mattie, to YOU, yes i mean YOU!

Mattie's in da house

Au revoir, Canada

The weeding... (2nd of 2 posts 2night)

And i'm really *not* a sports fan!

Trippin'

Tuning in and toon-ing out (last link, so cute!)

Tour guide

Still puzzled & some puzzling

Happy World Vegetarian Day!! (1 Oct.)

Lazy daze

Leppards sometimes change their spots

Religion & animal rights (& lefts)

Calling all Californians (top part of post!)

A Vegan Poem/Sanctuary

Hunt not, lest ye be judged...

Friendz @ Dog Beach & @ Sipz

Reading is FUNdamental

Before & After: Matster in two acts

Signs of life...

Goodbye, my friend

Bigger IS better on Blogger!

Smallville, Veggie 101 & top 5

Here's lookin' at YOU, kids!

Steve Irwin, never a real "hunter"

Food For Life & Birthday Fun

The Zench & Shania Twain

The summer season & over 101 reasons

Life is a Celebration

Making a Point

Marketing 101

And i'm really not a sports fan!