Thursday, April 28, 2011

Larabars

I recently tried a Larabar for the first time the other day.  I was super impressed.


Larabars are raw vegan nutritional bars.  But, they aren't filled with all the fortified crap that you'll find in a lot of other bars.


These are the five flavors that our neighborhood Trader Joe's has:
-cherry pie
-apple pie
-cashew cookie
-peanut butter cookie
-peanut butter chocolate chip

But, Larabars come in 14 other flavors, too:
-banana bread
-blueberry muffin
-carrot cake
-chocolate chip brownie
-chocolate chip cookie dough
-chocolate coconut chew
-cinnamon roll
-coconut creme pie
-ginger snap
-key lime pie
-lemon bar
-peanut butter and jelly
-pecan pie
-tropical fruit tart


This is the "peanut butter cookie" bar.  It has three ingredients (most of the bars have 5 ingredients or fewer): peanuts, dates and salt.

It tastes like a damn cookie.  I didn't eat that one, though.  I told Ian that I would let him try each of these flavors.  He's not big on bars.


Proof.

It's nice to know that there is a healthy treat out there for grabbing and going, but that's not really why I bought them.  My mom is handing her Ninja blender down to us and I want to experiment with making my own bars.  I intend to use these as a model.


Snack Lunch

Snack lunches are my favorite.  I like to graze, so small portions of several things are the way to go.  It also makes it pretty easy to diversify my nutritional intake.

Trader Joe's soy yogurt (raspberry); left over onigiri (rice ball) stuffed with tofu, almonds and nori; cucumber; carrots and pimento stuffed green olives.

I haven't had soy yogurt in a long time.  When I initially tried it, commercial soy yogurt was pretty rare.  I was also still eating dairy at the time, so it didn't impress me.  This stuff is pretty good.  I like thick yogurt, so I was sad that this is "European" style, runny stuff.  But the berries are great.  Here's the one weird thing about soy yogurt.  As I was eating it, I couldn't place the subtle, almost mustardy flavor note I was getting.  Then I realized a possible answer.  Dairy milk is often curdled with citric acid; soy milk is curdled with vinegar.  I'm not sure if that's part of the process for making soy yogurt, but it would make sense to me.

This lunch is about 305 calories, by the way.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Breaking Early

This month's challenge has not gone well.  Limiting our produce selection was not actually as fruitful (pun intended) as I might have thought.  It wasn't really a learning experience, I already know how food shipment and storage creates the illusion of availability year-round.

It's actually driven us to eating out and buying significantly more packaged food than usual.  In fact, I actually gained a little over a pound this month.  That's not exactly conducive to my goals.

So, I've decided to cut it short by a whole four days.  I'm going grocery shopping today.  Here's my list:


In the late summer months, I look forward to taking full advantage of the season's offerings.  We don't buy things like plums, nectarines and peaches out of season at all.  So, they are the special treat that seasonal fruit should be.

I'm making salad rolls to bring to Rob's tomorrow either tonight or tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Times Like These (Or, Complaints and Musings from a Grumpy Easter)

 (\ /)
 (. .)
   (") (")o
Happy Easter!

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

Most people in the US spend a portion of their lives devoting a disproportionate amount of time to work.  A lot of that work benefits them in no way other than earning a living.

For those reasons, I can't help but feel guilty for complaining about work.

I have a good job that pays very well.  It's a solid company.  Jobs like mine aren't easy to come by these days.  However, because of my schedule (I work weekends) and the lack of time off available (the company is working without a workforce manager) I haven't seen a lot of family or friends.

Maybe I'm being sensitive because our year in Korea was really hard on me in this way.  At least, in Korean culture, it's acceptable for adults for admit that they'd like to spend more time with their families.  Korean adults will openly admit that they miss their folks.  In America, if you're grown and you admit those feelings, your maturity and adult worth are inherently called into question.  I've always been attached to my family, so that particular cultural value is tough for me to swallow. 

I value the importance of striking out on one's own.  No one should feel trapped or obligated because of family ties.  In a perfect world, there would be a fluidity to it.  Come and go as you please, have a place that may function as a "home base."  Put down roots when and if you want to, but not fearing losing connections if you should leave.  

I'm very lucky in that way.  My family, for the most part, allows for that fluidity.

But I miss them.  I would rather be eating home made hummus at my Gramma's today and I'm feeling pretty sour about it.

If you want, tell me about some times that your schedule wasn't ideal or that work obligations kept you from having the life you wanted (read: the average American life).

I know things will get better and soon.  I just need to bark a little about it.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Day One

This will be short and sweet because I am beat.

After work today (I didn't manage to get it off) I went straight to Oasis.  I met some of the staff... Lauren, Joel and Tyson.  I think, I suck at names.  Everyone was friendly and capable.  I did the dishes.  A lot.  I hate dishes.  

In my apartment, I can choose to eat applesauce out of a mug if I run out of bowls.  Not so much in a restaurant.  So, I didn't really mind doing them.  Plus, there's a machine.

(We don't really get to the point where we run out of dishes... it happened once.)

Did I mention I was tired?  This will be an interesting venture, for sure.

Long story short, I'm really happy with our investment.  It feels good to be there.

Good night.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Done Deal


Yesterday Ian and I signed the sale paperwork on Pizza Oasis yesterday.  That's Craig, the previous owner, in the background.


We're already receiving mail under our corporate name.


After, we ran over to Vita Cafe for lunch.  Ian had a celebratory PBR in his flannel shirt.  He was suddenly a little anxious about the whole thing now that it's official.  It'll be better when he can point that nervous energy somewhere.  We're having a team meeting tomorrow at 9am.


I had a celebratory yerba mate.  It was significantly more delicious than a PBR.

So, IT'S OFFICIAL.  We are business owners.  11 people work for us.  How weird is that?

I'm excited to learn a new skill set and to see the direct correlation between what you put in and what you get out.  Also, this gives me opportunity to work free lance and really develop my writing.  

I still work at Netflix, though.  It's too good of a job to give up.  That stuff will have to wait a few months while we get our feet under us.  But, you better believe I'm feeling antsy and thinking about that future.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Unusual

I thought that this picture of Ava was a good illustration of just how bad the weather has been.  We had one nice day (Tuesday) and the sun strip from the back bedroom window seemed to perplex her.


This picture also shows me that I need to cut back on her dry food.  She's a bit rotund.  And she woke us up at 5:30 this morning simply because she didn't want everyone to be asleep anymore.  She does that sometimes. We still like her.  Usually.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Absentee

No worries, I haven't vanished or given up my attempts to keep this blog current.  

We're in a crazy place right now.  Everything if moving forward.  I'll post a full update when the lease on Oasis is finalized.

My head is just a little too cluttered, yet.


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Food Stuffs: 04/06

We're were out and about all day, which was unexpected.  Ian got a call from Craig (owner of Pizza Oasis) just as we were getting up.

Breakfast at "Jam on Hawthorne": Tofu Scramble w/ Spinach and Tomatoes (190 calories)
Hashbrowns (140 calories)
Whole Wheat Toast (110 calories)
Apple Jam (50 calories)

Lunch/Snack at "Sweetpea Vegan Bakery": Cinnamon Roll (250 calories)
Small Soy Latte (110 calories)

Dinner, 8pm: Cashew, Carrot and Ginger Soup (.75 cup, 95 calories)
Toasted Cashew and Tofu topping for soup (80 calories)
Oven Roasted Kale, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli and Green Beans (35 calories)
Olive Oil (.5 tbsp, 60 calories)

Evening "T.V." Treat, 9pm: Pineapple (1 cup, 70 calories)
Dark Chocolate with Freeze Dried Raspberries (1/2 bar, 240 calories)

total calories: 1,430

exercise: We didn't make it to the gym (we're were getting ready to go when Craig called), but we did walk around the city for about 2.5-3 hours today.

notes:  I don't even think it's necessary to say too much sugar and too much grain today.  I don't usually eat so much grain... weird trend in the last couple of days.  Though it is my weekend, so I'm sure that's a factor. 

벚꽃


That's "cherry blossom" in Korean.  It's a tough one to say ('beojkkoch').

Ian and I took a walk downtown today after the meeting with Craig, the current owner of Oasis Pizza.  Things are moving forward pretty quickly.  We may be proprietors here very soon.  Ian had Steve, his boss at Villa (and a former restaurant owner) take a look at the numbers.  From the looks of things, it's pulling in about $5,000 /week.  That's with no management or oversight ...and 11 folks on crew.  Craig only goes in for about an hour a day, five days a week.  He's ready to be done with the place.  There's room for improvement and a whole lot of potential here.  The place just needs somebody to care.

We have a second meeting with Craig tomorrow at Oasis and Ian called the landlord (a Thai fellow named Na) today to discuss the future of the lease, as there isn't one right now.  That's something we'll need to nail down.  We need a written guarantee from Na.

This is all a little bizarre to me.  I never really imagined myself as a business owner, but I always saw it in Ian.  I'm stoked to see him so excited.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Food Stuffs: 04/05

7am, breakfast:  banana (105 calories)

11:45am, lunch: carrots (2oz, 25 calories)
applesauce (1/2 cup, 70 calories)
minneola orange (70 calories)
Wasa Sourdough Crispbread (2 crackers, 70 calories)
peanut butter (1 tbsp, 105 calories)

4:30pm, snack: Wasa Sourdough Crispbread (1 cracker, 35 calories)

8pm, dinner: short grain rice (1 cup, 170 calories)
yellow lentil dahl (3/4 cup, 235 calories)

9:30pm, movie: homemade popcorn (~6.5 cups, 360 calories)

total calories: 1,245

exercise: I spent four hours at the gym (as I usually do on Tuesdays because Ian works).  I did personal training, ran, and went to Zumba and yoga.

notes:  Today was unusually low in fruit and vegetables.  More grain than usual.

Oregon Humane Society

Every Tuesday I spend at least a couple of hours volunteering at the shelter.  During the (slightly over) two hours I was there today, I showed four cats and all four were adopted.  A good day indeed.


It's on a super busy street, basically a highway.  Walking from volunteer parking to the entrance always sucks.


One of the coolest things about this shelter is that there is a teaching veterinary hospital in it.  There are giant windows where the spay and neuter surgeries happen, so you can watch.  I think that's a pretty positive thing for the general public.


Sorry about the blurry photos.  This is Shiloh.  He weighs 21 pounds and has the tiniest squeak you've ever heard for a meow.  He was adopted today by a couple who was really excited about getting him healthy.


These are called colony rooms.  6-8 cats coexist in these rooms.  Companies sponsor them and are allowed to design them as they choose:




Here's the website if you want to learn more about it.

Monday, April 4, 2011

I Just Might

I've decided that becoming a teacher may not be my calling. Don't get me wrong, it has nothing to do with a lack of desire or passion for education. It comes from the very simple and real threat of government decimation of of the education budget. Hell, even the term decimation doesn't do the damage down to students and teacher justice. Decimation comes from a Roman form of extreme discipline. The leader of phalanx would walk down the lines and kill every tenth man, but that's only a mere 10% slaughter. That's nothing compared to what we are seeing today.

Not only is education being cut, but the rights of teachers unions to even fight for their rights is being cut too. Thank you Mark Dayton, you son of a bitch. So with this clear and present danger to education, and the already putty filled heads of adolescents that think Snooky and "The Situation" aren't possibly retarded, I say "Ne" to teaching, for now. I'm not giving up, just giving in.

However, I have decided that I want to own my own Pizzeria. This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but simply have had no money to do so. I may have just been given a break. On, the almighty and all knowing, Craigslist, or the "left hand of doom" depending on your viewpoint, I found an establish 25 year old Pizzeria for sale for $20,000. And I just might, assuming he says "yes," I can get the money, the place isn't a rat hole, I can make a profit, et cetera, do it. Really what I'm saying is that an opportunity has presented itself and I might take it. We will have to see. The name of the restaurant was never divulged, but through carefully deciphering the age of the ria and location I believe it to be....


This means little to anyone else, but this place is a stones throw from PGE Park and a slight walk from Powell's books. I can get both drunk sports fans AND overeducated self important "readers." Really how can we lose. I finally pull out we, because Casey has pulled up no objections as of yet. This isn't her dream, but I think she knows that it's mine. So she is, at the very least, letting me pursue it.

What do you think?

I Just Might

I've decided that becoming a teacher may not be my calling. Don't get me wrong, it has nothing to do with a lack of desire or passion for education. It comes from the very simple and real threat of government decimation of of the education budget. Hell, even the term decimation doesn't do the damage down to students and teacher justice. Decimation comes from a Roman form of extreme discipline. The leader of phalanx would walk down the lines and kill every tenth man, but that's only a mere 10% slaughter. That's nothing compared to what we are seeing today.

Not only is education being cut, but the rights of teachers unions to even fight for their rights is being cut too. Thank you Mark Dayton, you son of a bitch. So with this clear and present danger to education, and the already putty filled heads of adolescents that think Snooky and "The Situation" aren't possibly retarded, I say "Ne" to teaching, for now. I'm not giving up, just giving in.

However, I have decided that I want to own my own Pizzeria. This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but simply have had no money to do so. I may have just been given a break. On, the almighty and all knowing, Craigslist, or the "left hand of doom" depending on your viewpoint, I found an 25 years established Pizzeria for sale for $20,000. And I just might, assuming he says "yes," I can get the money, the place isn't a rat hole, I can make a profit, et cetera. Really what I'm saying is that an opportunity has presented itself and I might take it. We will have to see. The name of the restaurant was never divulged, but through carefully deciphering the age of the ria and location I believe it to be....


This means little to anyone else, but this place is a stones throw from PGE Park and a slight walk from Powell's books. I can get both drunk sports fans AND overeducated self important "readers." Really how can we lose. I finally pull out we, because Casey has pulled up no objections as of yet. This isn't her dream, but I think she knows that it's mine. So she is, at the very least, letting me pursue it.

What do you think?

Nom!

Over seven months back in the states and I'm still having trouble keeping my eating on track.  What is it about being home that makes me less motivated?  No, that's too easy.  What is it about me in the United States that makes me care less, make excuses and say I'll eat better tomorrow?

Exercise is no trouble for me and I keep track of calories every day.  I do stupendously until dinner time.  It's not dinner that's the trouble, I'm good at portion sizes.  It's snacking.  Granted, I eat mostly healthy snacks, but too much is still too much.  It's in the evening that my body decides that we should consume constantly.  Until bedtime.  I've given myself stomach aches.  It's absurd.  It's not me.  Or, at least, it wasn't.

So, I'm going to try something a little different.  Apparently, being accountable to myself isn't enough.  So, at the end of everyday, I'll take the calorie log from my phone and post it to the blog.  Then that'll be it.  No more eating after that.  Maybe the eyes of others will help me reconsider macking on graham crackers or having quite so much peanut butter with that banana.

Plus, it kind of fits with April's challenge.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Seasonal Food Only

It's April!  We haven't been grocery shopping yet.  We go once a week and we went right at the end of March.  But, from here until the 30th we're only to buy what's in season.  I'll be trying to stick to Oregon and Washington, but I might make an exception (but never outside of North America) or two for things like citrus.  I really don't want to miss out on the end of that season.  

I'm a little sad about bananas.  I recently rediscovered them with peanut butter.  Usually, I'm not a banana eater. You know how it is.  Now that they're off limits, well, I want them.

So, according to "eat the seasons," here's what's around in the beginning of April for North America:

Veggies
artichoke, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, broccolini, celery root, fennel, kale, mache, potatoes (maincrop), rhubarb, sunchoke, turnips

Fruit
blood oranges, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, pineapple

According to the app on my phone, here's what's in season for Oregon and Washington:

Veggies
bamboo shoots, cauliflower, green onions, herbs, leaf lettuce, mushrooms, peas, spinach, rhubarb

Fruit
winter pears

Not much agreement, right?  It looks like I'm in need of more research.  I'm not sure which sources to trust.  In Korea, it was obvious when something was in season (prices dropped to dirt cheap and it became abundant) and when something isn't (it doubled or tripled in price and became scarce).  Here, it's not easy at all.  Anyone have some good, reliable resources for seasonal food by region?

Friday, April 1, 2011

Hip to be Square

Ian's parents came to visit this weekend.  With them they brought Judy's old record player (THANKS!).  A General Electric Deluxe Trimline 600, to be exact.  That's also Ian's new Holga that they got him for his birthday.  And they picked up a bike and packed the street bike that Bruce gave Ian for the Seattle to Portland.  (Read: Ian is spoiled.  Just kidding, it was his birthday in February.)


Closed.


Ta da!


After Al and Judy left for home, we ran over to Everyday Music and picked out some records.  All but the She & Him are from the $0.50 section.  We got:  The Best of Bill Cosby, 1812 Overture Stereo Spectacular, Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits, Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hair, The Musical, Carol King "Tapestry," She & Him "Volume Two," Old Time Radio Hits, Captain &Tennille "Love Will Keep us Together," Peter, Paul and Mary "See What Tomorrow Brings"

Eclectic!

The sound is amazing.  The very first thing we listened to was the 1812 Overture.  I think we need a new needle, but there's significantly less crackle and pop than I expected (especially since the records were fifty cents a piece).

Random:  I spoke with someone in Hoquiam today at work.  It was weird.